bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in Benue State, Nigeria
Authors: Musa Danladi I. , Toriola Abel L. , Monyeki Makama A. , Lawal Badamasi 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjective  To evaluate demographic variation in the prevalence of overweight (OW) and obesity (OB) among 3240 children and adolescents (girls: n = 1714; boys: n = 1526) aged 9–16 years attending primary and secondary schools in Benue State of Nigeria.Methods  Participants’ anthropometric characteristics (body weight, stature, body mass index: BMI and lean body mass: LBM) were determined using standard protocols. OW and OB were estimated using International Obesity task Force diagnostic criteria. Data were analysed with one‐way anova and binary logistic regression method.Results  Overall, 88.5%, 9.7% and 1.8% of the adolescents had normal BMI and were OW and obese, respectively. Prevalence of OW was higher among girls (20.3%) than boys (16.2%), whereas a relatively higher incidence of OB was noted among the boys (3.5%). Girls in urban areas had a significantly higher BMI (t524 = 3.61, P = 0.002) than their rural peers, but the rural girls were more significantly OW than their urban counterparts (BMI: t1186 = 2.506). Logistic regression models assessing the influence of age, gender and location on OW/OB in children (α2(3, N = 1014) = 6.185, P = 0.103) and adolescents (α2(3, N = 2226) = 1.435, P = 0.697) did not turn up significant results. In the gender‐specific analysis, the younger boys’ model was also not significant (α2(2, N = 488) = 1.295, P = 0.523) in contrast to the girls’ (α2(2, N = 526) = 15.637, P = 0.0005), thus discriminating between OW and healthy weight among the children. Overall, the model explained 2.9–4.4% of the variance in weight status and correctly classified 76.8% of the cases. Age wise, the model yielded a significant odds ratio of 1.49, suggesting that the likelihood of being OW increases by a factor of 1.5 with a unit increase in age. Also, the likelihood of an urban girl becoming OW or obese was 0.57 times that of a rural girl.Conclusions  In general, girls in urban areas had higher prevalence of OW and OB than girls in rural settings. Among the boys, similar but less marked trends were found, except that the rural boys tended to be more OW on average than their peers in urban areas. In view of its public health significance, it is important to periodically evaluate the prevalence of weight disorders in children and adolescents so that appropriate preventative strategies can be instituted.
Reduced expression of α‐synuclein in alcoholic brain: influence of SNCA‐Rep1 genotype
Authors: Janeczek Paulina , MacKay Rachel K. , Lea Rodney A. , Dodd Peter R. , Lewohl Joanne M. 
Published: September 2012

Abstractα‐Synuclein has recently been implicated in the pathophysiology of alcohol abuse due to its role in dopaminergic neurotransmission. In these studies, genetic variability in the α‐synuclein gene influences its expression which may contribute to susceptibility to chronic alcohol abuse. Real‐time PCR was used to quantify α‐synuclein mRNA expression in autopsy samples of human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Because of the association between length of the α‐synuclein‐repeat 1 microsatellite marker and expression levels of the gene, this marker was genotyped in a Caucasian sample of 126 controls and 117 alcoholics using capillary gel electrophoresis. The allele and genotype frequencies of α‐synuclein‐repeat 1 marker differed significantly between alcoholics and controls. Alcoholics had greater frequencies of the shortest allele found (267 bp). The shortest allele of the α‐synuclein‐repeat 1 marker was associated with decreased expression of α‐synuclein in prefrontal cortex. Individuals with at least one copy of the 267 bp allele were more likely to exhibit an alcohol abuse phenotype. These results suggest that individuals with the 267 bp allele may be at increased risk of developing alcoholism and that genetic variation at the α‐synuclein‐repeat 1 locus may influence α‐synuclein expression in the prefrontal cortex.
Renal grafts from anti‐hepatitis B core‐positive donors: a quantitative review of the literature
Authors: Mahboobi N. , Tabatabaei S.V. , Blum H.E. , Alavian S.M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgrounds and aimsOrgan shortage is a major problem in transplantation. The use of organs from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)‐positive donors could significantly increase the donor pool. However, little information is available about the impact of HBcAb status of renal donors on viral transmission to recipients. To address this issue, the present quantitative review of relevant studies has been performed.Materials and methodsElectronic databases including Medline, EMBASE, ISI, and Scopus were systematically searched for studies that evaluated risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission through renal transplantation from HBsAg‐/HBcAb+ donors. Eligible studies were identified according to predefined criteria. The final outcome was one of HBV markers seroconversion defined as HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), or HBcAb detection in previously seronegative end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients after transplantation, and without other identified major sources of infection.ResultsNine studies with 1385 eligible kidney recipients were included. In total, 45 subjects showed seroconversion of HBV markers as follows: HBsAg (n = 4) (0.28%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.006; 0.57), HBcAb (n = 32), HBsAb (n = 5), and either HBcAb or HBsAb (n = 4). The total rate of seroconversion after renal transplantation was calculated to be 3.24% (95% CI: 2.31–4.18).ConclusionOur review indicates that the risk of HBV transmission from HBcAb‐positive kidney donors is extremely low. Therefore, kidneys from these donors can be transplanted safely into ESRD patients.
Anti‐gal antibodies in α1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene‐knockout pigs
Authors: Fang Jason , Walters Anneke , Hara Hidetaka , Long Cassandra , Yeh Peter , Ayares David , Cooper David K. C. , Bianchi John 
Published: September 2012

Fang J, Walters A, Hara H, Long C, Yeh P, Ayares D, Cooper DKC, Bianchi J. Anti‐gal antibodies in α1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene‐knockout pigs. Xenotransplantation 2012; 19: 305–310. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract  Serum anti‐galactose‐α1,3‐galactose (Gal) IgM and IgG antibody levels were measured by ELISA in α1,3‐galactosyltransferase gene‐knockout (GTKO) pigs (78 estimations in 47 pigs). A low level of anti‐Gal IgM was present soon after birth, and rose to a peak at 4–6 m, which was maintained thereafter even in the oldest pigs tested (at >2 yr). Anti‐Gal IgG was also present at birth, peaked at 3 m, and after 6 m steadily decreased until almost undetectable at 20 m. No differences in this pattern were seen between pigs of different gender. Total IgM followed a similar pattern as anti‐Gal IgM, but total IgG did not decrease after 6m. The data provide useful baseline data for future experimental studies in GTKO pigs, e.g., relating to the antibody response to WT pig allografts.
Postoperative phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor administration increases the rate of urinary continence recovery after bilateral nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy
Authors: Gandaglia Giorgio , Albersen Maarten , Suardi Nazareno , Gallina Andrea , Abdollah Firas , Castiglione Fabio , Capitanio Umberto , Salonia Andrea , Rigatti Patrizio , Hedlund Petter , Montorsi Francesco , Briganti Alberto 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor on urinary continence recovery after bilateral nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy.MethodsWe analyzed data of 393 open bilateral nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomies carried out between 2005 and 2010. Patients who recovered urinary continence within the first month after catheter removal (n = 52) were excluded. This resulted in 341 evaluable patients. Urinary continence recovery was defined as being completely pad free over a period of 24 h. Patients were stratified according to postoperative daily (n = 58; 17%), on‐demand (n = 112; 32.8%) and no (n = 171; 50.1%) phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use. The effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use on urinary continence was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Uni‐ and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to test the association between phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor and urinary continence recovery after adjusting for cofounders.ResultsAt a mean follow up of 36.4 months after surgery (median: 33), 288 patients (84.5%) recovered urinary continence after bilateral nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy. Patients who did not use phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor after surgery had lower rates of urinary continence recovery at 1‐ and 2‐year follow up as compared with patients taking phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (67.1 vs 86.7% and 76 vs 94.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). After adjusting for all confounders, multivariable analysis showed that phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use, either on demand or daily, had a positive impact on urinary continence recovery (P = 0.03).ConclusionsPatients taking phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor have higher urinary continence recovery rates as compared with patients left untreated after bilateral nerve‐sparing radical prostatectomy. An improvement in sphincteric and pelvic floor blood supply might be responsible for this beneficial effect associated with the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.
The genome of the ammonia‐oxidizing CandidatusNitrososphaera gargensis: insights into metabolic versatility and environmental adaptations
Authors: Spang Anja , Poehlein Anja , Offre Pierre , Zumbrägel Sabine , Haider Susanne , Rychlik Nicolas , Nowka Boris , Schmeisser Christel , Lebedeva Elena V. , Rattei Thomas , Böhm Christoph , Schmid Markus , Galushko Alexander , Hatzenpichler Roland , Weinmaier Thomas , Daniel Rolf , Schleper Christa , Spieck Eva , Streit Wolfgang , Wagner Michael 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe cohort of the ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) of the phylum Thaumarchaeota is a diverse, widespread and functionally important group of microorganisms in many ecosystems. However, our understanding of their biology is still very rudimentary in part because all available genome sequences of this phylum are from members of the Nitrosopumilus cluster. Here we report on the complete genome sequence of Candidatus Nitrososphaera gargensis obtained from an enrichment culture, representing a different evolutionary lineage of AOA frequently found in high numbers in many terrestrial environments. With its 2.83 Mb the genome is much larger than that of other AOA. The presence of a high number of (active) IS elements/transposases, genomic islands, gene duplications and a complete CRISPR/Cas defence system testifies to its dynamic evolution consistent with low degree of synteny with other thaumarchaeal genomes. As expected, the repertoire of conserved enzymes proposed to be required for archaeal ammonia oxidation is encoded by N. gargensis, but it can also use urea and possibly cyanate as alternative ammonia sources. Furthermore, its carbon metabolism is more flexible at the central pyruvate switch point, encompasses the ability to take up small organic compounds and might even include an oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Furthermore, we show that thaumarchaeota produce cofactor F420 as well as polyhydroxyalkanoates. Lateral gene transfer from bacteria and euryarchaeota has contributed to the metabolic versatility of N. gargensis. This organisms is well adapted to its niche in a heavy metal‐containing thermal spring by encoding a multitude of heavy metal resistance genes, chaperones and mannosylglycerate as compatible solute and has the genetic ability to respond to environmental changes by signal transduction via a large number of two‐component systems, by chemotaxis and flagella‐mediated motility and possibly even by gas vacuole formation. These findings extend our understanding of thaumarchaeal evolution and physiology and offer many testable hypotheses for future experimental research on these nitrifiers.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Capital, the Crisis and the Alternatives: Marx's Legacy beyond Revolutionary Marxism
Authors: Strange Gerard 
Published: September 2012

Research Highlights and Abstract Critically engages with analyses of fundamental principles associated with capitalist crisis as differently presented in the theories of Karl Marx and John Maynard Keynes. Critiques the narrow labour-focused account of Marx's circuit theory of capital found in so-called ‘Open Marxism’. Highlights the importance of Keynes's treatment of money as an independent variable to the further development of circuit and crisis theories. More generally opens up Marxian circuit and crisis theory to broader heterodox perspectives in political economy, especially critical Keynesian and Schumpeterian perspectives. Seeks to apply a critical evaluation of crisis and circuit theories to the contemporary global financial crisis, not least by critiquing Peter Burnham's ‘depoliticisation’ account of the crisis of macro-economic management. Argues instead that the politicized nature of money remains deeply embedded both nationally and internationally. This article critically engages with Peter Burnham's recent call for a ‘return to fundamentals’ and specifically to Marx as a basis for understanding the global financial crisis (GFC) and its still unfolding aftermath. The article criticises Burnham's ‘Open Marxist’ account of Marx's capital theory and his reading of the crisis in terms of ‘depoliticisation’ and the reassertion of the law of value over the state. The article focuses on Schumpeterian and Keynesian theories of crisis and crisis management as derived from fundamentals. It argues that Keynes, in particular, offered a theory of crisis that, while consistent with Marx's circuit theory of capital, was also distinct in its focus on money. In short, Keynes politicised money and its management. How the current global crisis is ultimately resolved depends crucially on understanding both the limits and possibilities for the repoliticisation of money in the post-neoliberal era.
STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING UNDER ECONOMIES OF SCALE
Authors: Chen Yutian , Sen Debapriya 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTWe show that economies of scale in upstream production can lead both the disintegrated downstream firm as well as its vertically integrated rival to outsource offshore for intermediate goods, even if offshore production has a moderate cost disadvantage compared to in‐house production of the vertically integrated firm.
PROBLEMS WITH LEWIS' ARGUMENT FOR THE IDENTITY THEORY
Authors: Michael Michaelis 
Published: September 2012

AbstractDavid Lewis presented a celebrated argument for the identity theory of mind. His argument has provided the model for the program of analytic functionalism. He argues from two premises, that mental states are analytically tied to their causal roles and that, contingently, there is never a need to explain any physical change by going outside the realm of the physical, to the conclusion that mental states are physical. I show that his argument is mistaken and that it trades on a crucial ambiguity in the second premise. He argues for a weaker version of that premise and then uses a stronger version in the argument. The weaker version of that premise will not allow the inference and the stronger version is contested in the dialectical context. In general then this strategy for providing analytic reductions will not be guaranteed to succeed.
PRUSSIAN ANGLOPHILIA: GUSTAV FREYTAG, VICKY AND THE KAISER
Authors: Keppler‐Tasaki Stefan 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT Belief in the social impact of literature played a significant role for the British Princess Royal Victoria and her German husband, Prussian Crown Prince Friedrich, because they had no political powers in their own right. The couple had to resort to a politics of symbols, using intellectual means. Freytag, the most popular German novelist of his time, was the crown jewel in the symbolic capital that was meant to facilitate their liberal agenda. Victoria continued a personal mission, as set out by her parents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, namely to foster a long‐term alliance between Britain and Prussia and thus liberalise Germany. This objective is reflected in the rigorous reading programme which she prescribed for her son Wilhelm and which included Freytag's Die Ahnen. This novel cycle was dedicated to the Crown Princess and refers frequently to German‐British relations. At that period Freytag regarded literature as a tool for nation‐building and, at the same time, as a medium of intercultural understanding. Later on, in his reminiscences Der Kronprinz und die Kaiserkrone, Freytag broke with Victoria and subjected the project of interventionist literature to sceptical review. Freytag had once helped to stage‐manage politics, but in the end, with Kaiser Wilhelm II in mind, criticised political stage‐management.Der Gebrauchswert von Literatur spielte für die britische Princess Royal Victoria und ihren deutschen Ehemann, Kronprinz Friedrich von Preußen, eine erhebliche Rolle, weil sie keine politischen Befugnisse aus eigenem Recht besaßen. Das Paar war auf eine Symbolpolitik angewiesen, die mit intellektuellen Mitteln arbeitete. Freytag, der populärste deutsche Romanautor seiner Zeit, war das Kronjuwel im symbolischen Kapital, das den Kronprinzenliberalismus finanzieren sollte. Victoria setzte eine persönliche Mission fort, die von ihren Eltern, Königin Victoria und Prinz Albert begonnen wurde: ein langfristiges Bündnis zwischen England und Preußen, das Deutschland liberalisieren sollte. Diese Absicht schlug sich im konkreten Inhalt des strengen Leseprogramms nieder, das Victoria ihrem Sohn Wilhelm vorschrieb und das Freytags Die Ahnen umfasste. Dieser Romanzyklus war der Kronprinzessin gewidmet und bietet zahlreiche Referenzen auf die britisch‐deutschen Beziehungen. Freytag betrachtete die Literatur als ein Werkzeug des Nation Building und gleichzeitig als ein interkulturelles Verständigungsmedium. Später, in seinen Erinnerungen Der Kronprinz und die Kaiserkrone, fiel Freytag von Victoria ab und unterzog das Projekt einer tätigen Literatur einer skeptischen Revision. Freytag hatte einmal geholfen, Politik zu inszenieren und kritisierte schließlich, mit Kaiser Wilhelm II. vor Augen, diese Art der Inszenierung.
RILKE'S EARLY ANGELS’ CONNECTIONS TO CORPOREALITY AND LANGUAGE
Authors: Koch Michael L. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT Faith in and fascination with angels have been on the rise in popular culture in Germany. Rainer Maria Rilke's poetry is frequently mentioned in connection with these supposedly divine beings, which perpetuates a conflation of Rilke's works with spirituality and transcendence among the broad population. Various media outlets in Germany reinforce this connection in time for Christmas each year. Rilke's angel figure is, however, not exclusively or even primarily a foil for metaphysical or spiritual considerations. Rather, Rilke's angel often rubs prevalent and solely spiritual understandings of these divine messengers against the grain, employing the angel in connection with human language and other physiological processes. Rilke's Duineser Elegien make this connection explicit, but his earlier works also point clearly to the angel as a motif in his considerations of language and communication. At a much earlier point in his career, Rilke's Engellieder cycle of 1897 turns the conventional human‐angel relationship on its head, while three angel poems he wrote in the summer of 1899 reveal an attempt to approach the issue of verbal communication via the angel in a systematic manner.Der Glaube an Engel und die geistige Beschäftigung mit ihnen nehmen in der breiten Bevölkerung in Deutschland zu. Die Gedichte von Rainer Maria Rilke werden häufig im Zusammenhang mit diesen überirdischen Wesen erwähnt, und das fördert die verbreitete Verbindung seiner Werke mit Spiritualität und geistiger Transzendenz. Zu Weihnachten wird diese Verbindung von mehreren Medien in Deutschland verstärkt. Dennoch ist Rilkes Engel‐Figur nicht ausschließlich – ja, nicht einmal in erster Linie – ein Gegenstand metaphysischer oder spiritueller Überlegungen. Stattdessen geht Rilke vorherrschenden Vorstellungen von Engeln gegen den Strich und verwendet den Engel im Zusammenhang mit menschlicher Sprache und anderen physiologischen Vorgängen. Das wird deutlich in Rilkes Duineser Elegien, aber auch seine viel früheren Werke weisen eindeutig auf den Engel als Vehikel für Überlegungen zu Sprache und Kommunikationen. Schon Rilkes Engellieder Zyklus (1897) dreht das herkömmliche Verhältnis zwischen Mensch und Engel auf den Kopf; und drei Engel‐Gedichte aus dem Sommer 1897 deuten auf den Versuch Rilkes hin, das Thema von verbaler Mitteilung und dem Engel systematisch anzugehen.
Young Children's Attitudes Toward Peers with Intellectual Disabilities: Effect of the Type of School
Authors: Georgiadi Maria , Kalyva Efrosini , Kourkoutas Elias , Tsakiris Vlastaris 
Published: September 2012

BackgroundThis study explored typically developing children's attitudes towards peers with intellectual disabilities, with special reference to the type of school they attended.Materials and MethodsTwo hundred and fifty‐six Greek children aged 9–10 (135 in inclusive settings) completed a questionnaire and an adjective list by Gash (European Journal of Special Needs Education 1993; 8, 106) and drew a child with intellectual disabilities, commenting also on their drawings.ResultsTypically developing children expressed overall neutral attitudes towards peers with intellectual disabilities. Type of school differentiated their attitudes, with children from inclusive settings being more positive towards peers with intellectual disabilities and choosing less negative adjectives to describe them than children from non‐inclusive settings. Girls and students who expressed more positive social, emotional and overall attitudes towards students with intellectual disabilities chose more positive adjectives to describe a child with intellectual disabilities. It was also found that children from inclusive settings drew children with intellectual disabilities as more similar to a child with Down syndrome in comparison with children from non‐inclusive settings.ConclusionsEffective inclusive practices should be promoted to foster social acceptance of students with intellectual disabilities.
The Recognition of Web Pages' Hyperlinks by People with Intellectual Disabilities: An Evaluation Study
Authors: Rocha Tânia , Bessa Maximino , Gonçalves Martinho , Cabral Luciana , Godinho Francisco , Peres Emanuel , Reis Manuel C. , Magalhães Luís , Chalmers Alan 
Published: September 2012

BackgroundOne of the most mentioned problems of web accessibility, as recognized in several different studies, is related to the difficulty regarding the perception of what is or is not clickable in a web page. In particular, a key problem is the recognition of hyperlinks by a specific group of people, namely those with intellectual disabilities.Materials and MethodsThis experiment investigated a methodology based on the direct observation, video recording, interview and data obtained by an eye tracker device. Ten participants took part in this study. They were divided into two groups and asked to perform two tasks: ‘Sing a song’ and ‘Listen to a story’ in two websites. These websites were developed to include specific details. The first website presented an image navigation menu (INM), whereas the other one showed a text navigation menu (TNM).ResultsThere was a general improvement regarding the participants' performance when using INMs.ConclusionThe referred analysis indeed shows that not only did these specific participants gain a better understanding of the demanding task, but also they showed an improved perception concerning the content of the navigation menu that included hyperlinks with images.