bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Susceptibility of preparasitic stages of Chordodes nobilii (Gordiida, Nematomorpha) to the fungicide carbendazim
Authors: Achiorno C.L. , De Villalobos C. , Ferrari L. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of carbendazim on non-target organisms using the parasite Chordodes nobilii as a test organism. The Gordiida act as a link between freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems; and C. nobilii, a neotropical representative species of this group, has been shown to be sensitive to other contaminants even at environmentally acceptable concentrations. The taxa susceptible to carbendazim, however, may not be adequately represented among the standard aquatic test species used in ecotoxicological risk assessment. Moreover, the autochthonous organisms in this area that could be used as bioindicators still need to be found. The aim of the present work was therefore to assess the susceptibility of the preparasitic stages of C. nobilii to noxious effects by carbendazim. The assay protocol consisted in 96- and 48-h acute exposures of early embryonic stages and larvae, respectively, to concentrations ranging from 10 to 360 μg/l. Embryonic development was not inhibited by carbendazim at any of the evaluated concentrations, but the infectivity of larvae emerging from the exposed eggs was significantly diminished. Larval survival rate was also affected at the lowest concentration assayed. Values of the mean inhibition concentration (IC50) were 7 and 11 μg/l for embryos and larvae, respectively. Compared to other freshwater organisms, C. nobilii can be considered a species moderately to highly susceptible to carbendazim. As the expected environmental concentrations of carbendazim range from 6.25 to 41.3 μg/l, C. nobilii could well be a species in danger when exposed to this fungicide.
Assessing the distribution of a Vulnerable felid species: threats from human land use and climate change to the kodkodLeopardus guigna
Authors: Cuyckens Griet A.E. , Morales Miriam M. , Tognelli Marcelo F. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractClimate change and habitat fragmentation are considered key pressures on biodiversity, and mammalian carnivores with a limited geographical distribution are particularly vulnerable. The kodkodLeopardus guigna, a small felid endemic to the temperate forests of southern Chile and Argentina, has the smallest geographical range of any New World felid. Although the species occurs in protected areas in both countries, it is not known how well these areas protect the kodkod either currently or under climate change scenarios. We used species distribution models and spatial analyses to assess the distribution of the kodkod, examining the effects of changes in human land use and future climate change. We also assessed the species’ present representation in protected areas and in light of climate change scenarios. We found that the kodkod has already lost 5.5% of its range as a result of human land use, particularly in central areas of its distribution with intermediate habitat suitability. Climate change, together with human land use, will affect 40% of the kodkod's present potential distribution by the year 2050. Currently, 12.5% of the species’ potential distribution lies in protected areas and this will increase to 14% in the future. This increase does not, however, mean an increase in protected habitat but rather a reduction of the species' total potential range; a relatively larger percentage will be protected in Argentina than in Chile but the species is more susceptible to extinction in Argentina and the Chilean Matorral.
Has the Tea Party Era Radicalized the Republican Party? Evidence from Text Analysis of the 2008 and 2012 Republican Primary Debates
Authors: Medzihorsky Juraj , Littvay Levente , Jenne Erin K. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTMuch ink has been spilled to describe the emergence and likely influence of the Tea Party on the American political landscape. Pundits and journalists declared that the emergence of the Tea Party movement pushed the Republican Party to a more extreme ideological position, which is generally anti-Washington. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the ideological positions taken by candidates in the 2008 and 2012 pre-Iowa caucus Republican presidential-primary debates. To establish the positions, we used the debate transcripts and a text-analytic technique that placed the candidates on a single dimension. Findings show that, overall, the 2012 candidates moved closer to an anti-Washington ideology—associated with the Tea Party movement—and away from the more traditional social conservative Republican ideology, which was more salient in the 2008 debates. Both Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, the two candidates who ran in both elections, shifted significantly in the ideological direction associated with the Tea Party.
Secondary Students and the Deliberation of Public Issues
Authors: Avery Patricia G. , Levy Sara A. , Simmons Annette M. M. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTNine secondary teachers who were taught to use one model of deliberation, Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) (Johnson and Johnson 1979), were matched with nine teachers in their schools who taught similar grade levels and subjects. Teachers in the Deliberation Classes engaged students in three deliberations across six months. Deliberations focused on current public issues, such as whether violent juvenile offenders should be tried as adults. Five of the nine classroom pairs were analyzed using both pre- and post-questionnaires. There were no statistically significant differences in the pre- and post-questionnaire responses of students in the Deliberation Classes (n = 244) and Comparison Classes (n = 249) in terms of self-reported issue knowledge. Variance in student opinion in the Deliberation Classes showed a significant decrease. Students in the Deliberation Classes (n = 297) demonstrated greater perspective-taking abilities than students in the Comparison Classes (n = 238). Within classes, diversity of opinion regarding issues was evident.
Is It Better to Be Feared Than Loved? Investigating the Efficacy of Different Teaching Methods on the Learning of Specific Content
Authors: Amyot Robert P. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThe use and efficacy of problem-based learning (PBL) exercises during single class periods, especially in political science courses, have largely been unstudied. This article explores the ability of a PBL exercise to provide better learning outcomes than a standard lecture-discussion presentation on a particular topic in an introductory political science course. The author finds that the PBL approach, as a one-time pedagogical exercise, is not more effective at producing learning. In exploring the data, however, the author finds that differences in course structure and methods of learning assessment can have a larger impact on learning outcomes than specific teaching techniques.
Disrupted Structural Connectome Is Associated with Both Psychometric and Real-World Neuropsychological Impairment in Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kim Junghoon , Parker Drew , Whyte John , Hart Tessa , Pluta John , Ingalhalikar Madhura , Coslett H. B. , Verma Ragini 
Published: October 2014

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is likely to disrupt structural network properties due to diffuse white matter pathology. The present study aimed to detect alterations in structural network topology in TBI and relate them to cognitive and real-world behavioral impairment. Twenty-two people with moderate to severe TBI with mostly diffuse pathology and 18 demographically matched healthy controls were included in the final analysis. Graph theoretical network analysis was applied to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to characterize structural connectivity in both groups. Neuropsychological functions were assessed by a battery of psychometric tests and the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe). Local connection-wise analysis demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in TBI arising from subcortical areas including thalamus, caudate, and hippocampus. Global network metrics revealed that shortest path length in participants with TBI was longer compared to controls, and that this reduced network efficiency was associated with worse performance in executive function and verbal learning. The shortest path length measure was also correlated with family-reported FrSBe scores. These findings support the notion that the diffuse form of neuropathology caused by TBI results in alterations in structural connectivity that contribute to cognitive and real-world behavioral impairment. (JINS, 2014,20, 1–10)
Breakfast intake is associated with nutritional status, Mediterranean diet adherence, serum iron and fasting glucose: the CYFamilies study
Authors: Lazarou Chrystalleni , Matalas Antonia-Leda 
Published: October 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the association of breakfast intake with Mediterranean diet adherence, physical activity levels, obesity, selected cardiovascular risk markers and Fe status.DesignCross-sectional study. BMI, body fat percentage and waist circumference were assessed. Physical activity was assessed using a pedometer and diet quality was evaluated by applying the KIDMED index. Blood tests to assess blood lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fasting glucose, serum Fe and ferritin, as well as Hb, were performed.SettingPrimary-school children of the Troodos mountainous area in Cyprus.SubjectsEighty-three Cypriot children (mean age 9·2 (sd1·7) years).ResultsCompared with breakfast skippers, regular breakfast eaters were 40 % more likely to have a KIDMED score higher by one point on average (OR=1·41; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·84) after accounting for obesity levels and other confounders. Breakfast skippers, on the other hand, were by about 14 % more likely to have a body fat percentage value higher by one unit, as well as higher values for both BMI and waist circumference. The relationship was significantly strengthened when combining body fat percentage and waist circumference into a composite variable (OR=0·20; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·69). Fasting glucose was inversely correlated to breakfast intake in descriptive analyses, whereas serum Fe was positively correlated to breakfast intake after considering age, gender and diet quality. The latter relationship disappeared, however, after considering physical activity levels.ConclusionsCypriot children who take breakfast regularly exhibit a higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet and have higher serum Fe concentrations and lower BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage and fasting glucose levels, compared with children who skip breakfast. Public health professionals, educators and parents should prioritize on actions that will motivate children to regularly eat breakfast.
A Multi-Step Transmission Electron Microscopy Sample Preparation Technique for Cracked, Heavily Damaged, Brittle Materials
Authors: Weiss Brennan Claire V. , Walck Scott D. , Swab Jeffrey J. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractA new technique for the preparation of heavily cracked, heavily damaged, brittle materials for examination in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) is described in detail. In this study, cross-sectional TEM samples were prepared from indented silicon carbide (SiC) bulk ceramics, although this technique could also be applied to other brittle and/or multiphase materials. During TEM sample preparation, milling-induced damage must be minimized, since in studying deformation mechanisms, it would be difficult to distinguish deformation-induced cracking from cracking occurring due to the sample preparation. The samples were prepared using a site-specific, two-step ion milling sequence accompanied by epoxy vacuum infiltration into the cracks. This technique allows the heavily cracked, brittle ceramic material to stay intact during sample preparation and also helps preserve the true microstructure of the cracked area underneath the indent. Some preliminary TEM results are given and discussed in regards to deformation studies in ceramic materials. This sample preparation technique could be applied to other cracked and/or heavily damaged materials, including geological materials, archaeological materials, fatigued materials, and corrosion samples.
Beliefs about management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care: cross-sectional survey in one locality
Authors: Shivaji Uday N. , Ford Alexander C. 
Published: October 2014

AimTo examine beliefs about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) management among primary care physicians.BackgroundThere have been considerable advances in evidence synthesis concerning management of IBS in the last five years, with guidelines for its management in primary care published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).MethodsThis was a cross-sectional web-based questionnaire survey of 275 primary care physicians. We emailed a link to a SurveyMonkey questionnaire, containing 18 items, to all eligible primary care physicians registered with three clinical commissioning groups in Leeds, UK. Participants were given one month to respond, with a reminder sent out after two weeks.FindingsOne-hundred and two (37.1%) primary care physicians responded. Among responders, 70% believed IBS was a diagnosis of exclusion, and &gt;80% checked coeliac serology often or always in suspected IBS. Between &gt;50% and &gt;70% believed soluble fibre, antispasmodics, peppermint oil, and psychological therapies were potentially efficacious therapies. The respondents were less convinced that antidepressants or probiotics were effective. Despite perceived efficacy of psychological therapies, 80% stated these were not easily available. Levels of use of soluble fibre, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil were in the range of 40% to &gt;50%. Most primary care physicians obtained up-to-date evidence about IBS management from NICE guidelines. Most primary care physicians still believe IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, and many are reluctant to use antidepressants or probiotics to treat IBS. More research studies addressing diagnosis and treatment of IBS based in primary are required.
Weaknesses of the Post-Soviet Religious Model: The Kremlin and “Traditional” Religions in face of Interethnic Tensions in Russia
Authors: Curanović Alicja 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThis article examines interethnic tensions in Russia within the framework of the “post-Soviet religious model.” This term is understood as a set of mechanisms of cooperation between the state and representatives of “traditional” religious organizations. The article includes an analytical overview of the state of interethnic relations in Russia and how this issue is approached by the state and “traditional” religions. Based on this analysis, the author tries to expose weaknesses of the model and point out possible future problems.
Gigahertz single-trap electron pumps in silicon
Authors: Yamahata Gento , Nishiguchi Katsuhiko , Fujiwara Akira 
Published: October 2014

AbstractManipulation of single electrons is the key to developing ultimate electronics such as single-electron-based information processors and electrical standards in metrology. Especially, high-frequency and high-accuracy single-electron pumps are essential to realize practical current standards. While electrically defined quantum dots are widely used to build single-electron pumps, a localized state in semiconductors is also a potential candidate for accurate pumps because it can have a large activation energy for the captured electron. However, the transfer mechanism of such localized-state-mediated single-electron pumps for high-accuracy operation at a high frequency has not been well examined. Here we demonstrate a single-electron pump using a single-trap level with an activation energy of a few ten millielectron volts in Si nanotransistors. By means of gate control of capture and emission rates, the pump operates at a frequency of 3 GHz with an accuracy of better than 10−3 at 17 K, indicating that an electric field at the trap level lowers the capture and emission time to less than 25 ps.
ABRO1 suppresses tumourigenesis and regulates the DNA damage response by stabilizing p53
Authors: Zhang Jianhong , Cao Mengmeng , Dong Jiahong , Li Changyan , Xu Wangxiang , Zhan Yiqun , Wang Xiaohui , Yu Miao , Ge Changhui , Ge Zhiqiang , Yang Xiaoming 
Published: October 2014

AbstractAbraxas brother 1 (ABRO1) has been reported to be a component of the BRISC complex, a multiprotein complex that specifically cleaves ‘Lys-63’-linked ubiquitin. However, current knowledge of the functions of ABRO1 is limited. Here we report that ABRO1 is frequently downregulated in human liver, kidney, breast and thyroid gland tumour tissues. Depletion of ABRO1 in cancer cells reduces p53 levels and enhances clone formation and cellular transformation. Conversely, overexpression of ABRO1 suppresses cell proliferation and tumour formation in a p53-dependent manner. We further show that ABRO1 stabilizes p53 by facilitating the interaction of p53 with USP7. DNA-damage induced accumulation of endogenous ABRO1 as well as translocation of ABRO1 to the nucleus, and the induction of p53 by DNA damage is almost completely attenuated by ABRO1 depletion. Our study shows that ABRO1 is a novel p53 regulator that plays an important role in tumour suppression and the DNA damage response.
Long-distance endosome trafficking drives fungal effector production during plant infection
Authors: Bielska Ewa , Higuchi Yujiro , Schuster Martin , Steinberg Natascha , Kilaru Sreedhar , Talbot Nicholas J. , Steinberg Gero 
Published: October 2014

AbstractTo cause plant disease, pathogenic fungi can secrete effector proteins into plant cells to suppress plant immunity and facilitate fungal infection. Most fungal pathogens infect plants using very long strand-like cells, called hyphae, that secrete effectors from their tips into host tissue. How fungi undergo long-distance cell signalling to regulate effector production during infection is not known. Here we show that long-distance retrograde motility of early endosomes (EEs) is necessary to trigger transcription of effector-encoding genes during plant infection by the pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. We demonstrate that motor-dependent retrograde EE motility is necessary for regulation of effector production and secretion during host cell invasion. We further show that retrograde signalling involves the mitogen-activated kinase Crk1 that travels on EEs and participates in control of effector production. Fungal pathogens therefore undergo long-range signalling to orchestrate host invasion.
Coupled ferroelectric polarization and magnetization in spinel FeCr2S4
Authors: Lin L. , Zhu H. X. , Jiang X. M. , Wang K. F. , Dong S. , Yan Z. B. , Yang Z. R. , Wan J. G. , Liu J.-M. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractOne of the core issues for multiferroicity is the strongly coupled ferroelectric polarization and magnetization, while so far most multiferroics have antiferromagnetic order with nearly zero magnetization. Magnetic spinel compounds with ferrimagnetic order may be alternative candidates offering large magnetization when ferroelectricity can be activated simultaneously. In this work, we investigate the ferroelectricity and magnetism of spinel FeCr2S4 in which the Fe2+ sublattice and Cr3+ sublattice are coupled in antiparallel alignment. Well defined ferroelectric transitions below the Fe2+ orbital ordering termperature Too = 8.5 K are demonstrated. The ferroelectric polarization has two components. One component arises mainly from the noncollinear conical spin order associated with the spin-orbit coupling, which is thus magnetic field sensitive. The other is probably attributed to the Jahn-Teller distortion induced lattice symmetry breaking, occuring below the orbital ordering of Fe2+. Furthermore, the coupled ferroelectric polarization and magnetization in response to magnetic field are observed. The present work suggests that spinel FeCr2S4 is a multiferroic offering both ferroelectricity and ferrimagnetism with large net magnetization.
Experimental study for selection of electrode material for ZnO‐based memristors
Authors: Kumar A. , Baghini M.S. 
Published: October 2014

The fabrication and characterisation of 400 nm‐thick zinc oxide (ZnO)‐based memristor devices with platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr) and gold (Au) metal electrodes are presented. The effect of these electrode materials on the performance of ZnO‐based memristors has been experimentally studied. Metal/ZnO contact limits the memristor switching mechanism, dominating during the resistive switching. It is observed that the ZnO‐based memristor with the Pt electrode shows a better hysteresis compared to Cr and Au metal electrodes. In the case of the Pt electrode, a current ratio of six times in magnitude is observed between the high resistive state and low resistive state at 1 V, where a maximum current density value of 1.25 A/cm2 is measured. The capacitance of these devices strongly depends on the charge distributed on the surface. Therefore, the capacitance–voltage (C–V) behaviour can be used to understand the charge distribution, under various bias conditions. The C–V behaviour of the Pt memristor, so as to understand the contact interface, where the maximum capacitance of 2.3 × 10−7 F/cm2 is obtained at 0 V, is also explained.
Deep submicron parallel scanning probe lithography using two‐degree‐of‐freedom microelectromechanical systems actuators with integrated nanotips
Authors: Mehdizadeh Emad , Pourkamali Siavash 
Published: October 2014

A new enabling technology for low‐cost high throughput parallel scanning probe nanolithography is presented. Monolithic integration of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuators with two‐dimensional probe arrays as well as preliminary results in the simultaneous generation of multiple submicron patterns using such structures is reported. Two‐degree‐of‐freedom electrothermal MEMS positioning structures integrated with nanoscale probe‐tips are used to perform parallel scanning probe nanolithography circumventing the main deficiency of tip‐based nanolithography, that is, low throughput. Simultaneous generation of multiple patterns scratched into 800 nm thick photoresist and 200 nm thick gold layers has been successfully demonstrated. Scratch marks as narrow and as long as ∼50 and 27 µm, respectively, have been generated in the X and Y directions using two different microactuator structures carrying 10 and 64 nanotips.
Effect of current density on silicon surface in electrochemical etching
Authors: Burham Norhafizah , Hamzah Azrul Azlan , Majlis Burhanuddin Yeop 
Published: October 2014

A simple and reliable fabrication technique for producing nanoporous filters is presented. The nanoporous filter plays an important role in biomedical microelectromechanical systems applications, especially in filtering out waste and solute from inside human blood. Nanosized components in the biological fluid are filtered using silicon membranes that are controlled by nanosized pores. The technique explored was the electrochemical etching (ECE) process of silicon. This approach starts with thinning the bulk silicon until only several micrometres thick using the KOH process and then carry out ECE to produce pores. The yield of the process was a 3 µm thick nanoporous silicon membrane with pore sizes of less than 100 nm. This physical characteristic enables the membrane to filter all the waste and solute particles of less than 100 nm. Owing to this simple and reliable method, the development of nanoporous silicon membrane can be used in nanofiltration applications especially in an artificial kidney.