bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cervical cancer risk factors among HIV-infected Nigerian women
Authors: Ononogbu Uzoma , Almujtaba Maryam , Modibbo Fatima , Lawal Ishak , Offiong Richard , Olaniyan Olayinka , Dakum Patrick , Spiegelman Donna , Blattner William , Adebamowo Clement 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women worldwide, and in Nigeria it is the second most common female cancer. Cervical cancer is an AIDS-defining cancer; however, HIV only marginally increases the risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer. In this study, we examine the risk factors for cervical pre-cancer and cancer among HIV-positive women screened for cervical cancer at two medical institutions in Abuja, Nigeria.

Methods
A total of 2,501 HIV-positive women participating in the cervical cancer screen-and-treat program in Abuja, Nigeria consented to this study and provided socio-demographic and clinical information. Log-binomial models were used to calculate relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for the risk factors of cervical pre-cancer and cancer.

Results
There was a 6% prevalence of cervical pre-cancer and cancer in the study population of HIV-positive women. The risk of screening positivity or invasive cancer diagnosis reduced with increasing age, with women aged 40 years and older having the lowest risk (RR=0.4; 95%CI=0.2–0.7). Women with a CD4 count of 650 per mm3 or more also had lower risk of screening positivity or invasive cancer diagnosis (RR=0.3, 95%CI=0.2–0.6). Other factors such as having had 5 or more abortions (RR=1.8, 95%CI=1.0–3.6) and the presence of other vaginal wall abnormalities (RR=1.9, 95%CI=1.3–2.8) were associated with screening positivity or invasive cancer diagnosis.

Conclusion
The prevalence of screening positive lesions or cervical cancer was lower than most previous reports from Africa. HIV-positive Nigerian women were at a marginally increased risk of cervical pre-cancer and cancer. These findings highlight the need for more epidemiological studies of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions among HIV-positive women in Africa and an improved understanding of incidence and risk factors.
Aboriginal Families Study: a population-based study keeping community and policy goals in mind right from the start
Authors: Buckskin Mary , Ah Kit Jackie , Glover Karen , Mitchell Amanda , Miller Roxanne , Weetra Donna , Wiebe Jan , Yelland Jane S , Newbury Jonathan , Robinson Jeffrey , Brown Stephanie J 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are between two to five times more likely to die in childbirth than non-Aboriginal women, and two to three times more likely to have a low birthweight infant. Babies with a low birthweight are more likely to have chronic health problems in adult life. Currently, there is limited research evidence regarding effective interventions to inform new initiatives to strengthen antenatal care for Aboriginal families.

Method/Design
The Aboriginal Families Study is a cross sectional population-based study investigating the views and experiences of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women having an Aboriginal baby in the state of South Australia over a 2-year period. The primary aims are to compare the experiences and views of women attending standard models of antenatal care with those accessing care via Aboriginal Family Birthing Program services which include Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care (AMIC) Workers as members of the clinical team; to assess factors associated with early and continuing engagement with antenatal care; and to use the information to inform strengthening of services for Aboriginal families. Women living in urban, regional and remote areas of South Australia have been invited to take part in the study by completing a structured interview or, if preferred, a self-administered questionnaire, when their baby is between 4–12 months old.

Discussion
Having a baby is an important life event in all families and in all cultures. How supported women feel during pregnancy, how women and families are welcomed by services, how safe they feel coming in to hospitals to give birth, and what happens to families during a hospital stay and in the early months after the birth of a new baby are important social determinants of maternal, newborn and child health outcomes. The Aboriginal Families Study builds on consultation with Aboriginal communities across South Australia. The project has been implemented with guidance from an Aboriginal Advisory Group keeping community and policy goals in mind right from the start. The results of the study will provide a unique resource to inform quality improvement and strengthening of services for Aboriginal families.
Long-term ω-3 fatty acid supplementation induces anti-stress effects and improves learning in rats
Authors: Pérez Miguel Á , Terreros Gonzalo , Dagnino-Subiabre Alexies 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Chronic stress leads to secretion of the adrenal steroid hormone corticosterone, inducing hippocampal atrophy and dendritic hypertrophy in the rat amygdala. Both alterations have been correlated with memory impairment and increased anxiety. Supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids improves memory and learning in rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ω-3 supplementation on learning and major biological and behavioral stress markers. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: 1) Control, 2) Vehicle, animals supplemented with water, and 3) ω-3, rats supplemented with ω-3 (100 mg of DHA+25 mg of EPA). Each experimental group was divided into two subgroups: one of which was not subjected to stress while the other was subjected to a restraint stress paradigm. Afterwards, learning was analyzed by avoidance conditioning. As well, plasma corticosterone levels and anxiety were evaluated as stress markers, respectively by ELISA and the plus-maze test. Restraint stress impaired learning and increased both corticosterone levels and the number of entries into the open-arm (elevated plus-maze). These alterations were prevented by ω-3 supplementation. Thus, our results demonstrate that ω-3 supplementation had two beneficial effects on the stressed rats, a strong anti-stress effect and improved learning.
Identification and characterization of Toxoplasma gondii aspartic protease 1 as a novel vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis
Authors: Zhao Guanghui , Zhou Aihua , Lu Gang , Meng Min , Sun Min , Bai Yang , Han Yali , Wang Lin , Zhou Huaiyu , Cong Hua , Zhao Qunli , Zhu Xing-Quan , He Shenyi 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can pose a serious threat to human health by causing toxoplasmosis. There are no drugs that target the chronic cyst stage of this infection; therefore, development of an effective vaccine would be an important advance. Aspartic proteases play essential roles in the T. gondii lifecycle. The parasite has four aspartic protease encoding genes, which are called toxomepsin 1, 2, 3 and 5 (TgASP1, 2, 3 and 5, respectively).

Methods
Bioinformatics approaches have enabled us to identify several promising linear-B cell epitopes and potential Th-cell epitopes on TgASP1, thus supporting its potential as a DNA vaccine against toxoplasmosis. We expressed TgASP1 in Escherichia coli and used the purified protein to immunize BALB/c mice. The antibodies obtained were used to determine where TgASP1 was localized in the parasite. We also made a TgASP1 DNA vaccine construct and evaluated it for the level of protection conferred to mice against infection with the virulent RH strain of T. gondii.

Results
TgASP1 appears to be a membrane protein located primarily at the tip of the T. gondii tachyzoite. Investigation of its potential as a DNA vaccine showed that it elicited strong humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, and that these responses were mediated by Th-1 cells. Mice immunized with the vaccine had greater levels of protection against mortality following challenge with T. gondii RH tachyzoites than did those immunized with PBS or the empty vector control.

Conclusions
TgASP1 is a novel candidate DNA vaccine that merits further investigation.
Association of high carbohydrate versus high fat diet with glycated hemoglobin in high calorie consuming type 2 diabetics
Authors: Shadman Zhaleh , Khoshniat Mohsen , Poorsoltan Nooshin , Akhoundan Mahdieh , Omidvar Maryam , Larijani Bagher , Hoseini Saeed 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Background
Since both dietary carbohydrate and fatty acids separately affect carbohydrate metabolism, how dietary macronutrients distribution may have different effects on carbohydrate metabolism pathways and regulation of blood glucose especially in diabetic patients.

Methods
In this cross-sectional study 750 type 2 diabetic patients (261 men and 489 women, aged 35–65 years),who at least two years were followed in Diabetes and Metabolic disease Clinic of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, were recruited according to inclusion and exclusion criteria by simple sampling. Dietary data were collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Other variables were anthropometric measurements, Stress, physical activity level, Biochemical analyses including fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, Glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, low and high density lipoproteins, triglycerides and 25-hydoxy D3. Linear regression models were used to assess the association of covariates with the mean concentrations of HbA1C in quintiles and multivariate linear regression model was used to distinguish the impacts of dietary macronutrient composition of the diet.

Results
Carbohydrate and dietary fiber intakes were inversely (P: < 0.0001 and 0.003 respectively) and dietary amount and proportion of saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty were positively (P: < 0.0001, 0.03, 0.01 and 0.01 respectively) associated with HbA1C concentrations.
Multivariate linear regression macronutrient density model that controlled for age, sex, diabetes duration and calorie intake showed that carbohydrate was inversely associated with HbA1C (P < 0.0001, R2 = 15%). Results were also the same in the other three models adjusted for stress and exercise levels in model 2, waist circumference and sum of meals in model 3 and serum triglyceride and 25-hydroxy vitamin D in model 4(P < .0001, <.0001 and 0.0003 respectively). Calorie intake of 25 Kcal/body weight was identified as a cut of point of the negative effect of dietary carbohydrate and 30 for the positive effect of fat on HbA1c respectively (P = 0.04 and 0.03). Moreover, carbohydrate intake was positively (β = 0.08, P = 0.01) and protein (β = −0.04, P < 0.0001), SAFA (β = −0.04, P < 0.0001) and MUFA (β = −0.02, 0.07) proportion were negatively associated with increment in calorie intake.

Conclusion
This study showed that the substitution of fat for carbohydrate is associated with low concentrations of HbA1c in high calorie consuming type 2 diabetic patients.
Production of Sheet-Like Hydroxyapatite Particles Using a Microreactor
Authors: Matsuzawa Mitsuhiro , Togashi Shigenori , Kandori Kazuhiko 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Calcium hydroxyapatite (Hap) particles were produced using a microreactor, and the relationship between the morphology of the Hap particles and the synthesis conditions using a microreactor was investigated. Sheet-like Hap particles could be produced continuously using a microreactor, whereas only rod-like Hap particles were produced by a batch method. The Ca/P atomic ratio of the Hap particles produced by microreactor processing was 1.40–1.46, which was lower than the stoichiometric value of 1.67. This result suggests that the Hap particles produced by microreactor processing were calcium-deficient. The size of the sheet-like Hap particles increased, and the length of b and c axes of the Hap particles increased as the mixing efficiency of the microreactor increased, whereas the length of a axis remained almost unchanged. The X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the lattice constant of the c axis increased while that of the a axis decreased as the mixing efficiency of the microreactor increased and they came close to data reported in a previous study. The size and shape of Hap particles produced by microreactor processing significantly depend on the mixing efficiency of the microreactor.
Study on Structure Characteristics of B2O3 and TiO2-bearing F-Free Mold Flux by Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Zhen , Shu Qifeng , Chou Kuochih 
Published: June 2013

AbstractStructure characteristics of fluoride-Free mold flux containing simultaneously B2O3 and TiO2 have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy in this work. Raman spectra for glass samples with different basicities, different contents of TiO2 and B2O3 were recorded during the experiments. According to the experiments results, increase of TiO2 content leads to the appearance of [TiO4] and [TiO6] structure groups, and [TiO4] becomes the main structure unit in the system. TiO2 produces a certain destructive effect on Si-O-Si network structure as well as large borate group and conducive to the formation of some other complex structure groups, such as (Si,Ti) coupling in sheet unit. It can be concluded that, with the increase of B2O3, the ratio of mixing of the Q0 structure unit and [TiO4] structural group decrease and the ratio of sheet structure unit increase, and there forms large borate group. Existence of B2O3 increases polymerization degree of the slag system. In addition, increasing basicity causes to the decrease of Q2 and sheet structure unit and increase of mixing of the Q0 structure unit and [TiO4] structural group, and weakening the large borate group. It could be concluded that the increase of basicity reduces the degree of polymerization of the system.
Crystal structure of bis(3-phenylpyridine-κN)bis(thiocyanato-κS)-platinum(II), C24H18N4PtS2
Authors: Ha Kwang 
Published: June 2013

Abstract C24H18N4PtS2, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 9.820(1) Å, b = 5.3464(8) Å, c = 21.463(3) Å, β = 102.471(3)°, V = 1100.3 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0254, wRref(F2) = 0.0578, T = 200 K.
“A Distant Land of Snow …”: Russian Language Learners’ Representations of Russia
Authors: Nikitina Larisa , Furuoka Fumitaka 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Extensive research has been done on language learners’ perceptions and representations of the target lan­guage country, culture and speaking community. However, first of all, there is a lack of such studies in the context of Russian language teaching and learning. Secondly, no attempts have been made in the previous stu­dies to quantitatively assess the favourabillity of the country images held by the language learners. The pre­sent study addresses these gaps in research literature. It employs an interdisciplinary approach to explore the content of Russian language learners’ stereotypical representations of Russia and to assess favourability of these stereotypes. The findings indicate that the students’ representations of Russia were predominantly positive though their knowledge about the country was limited. The study offers a discussion on pedagogical implications of its findings.
Deutsches Theater auf polnischen Bühnen. Über die Faszination des polnischen Theaters durch die deutsche Theaterkunst der letzten zwanzig Jahre
Authors: Prykowska-Michalak Karolina 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
The political transformation of the late 1980’s allowed for a significant change of the cultural and artistic exchange between Poland and Germany. Fascination with the new dramatic/spectacle forms, observed in Poland since the end of the 1990’s, was to a large extent the result of new communication forms, the lifting of the political and mental barriers, and in general a stronger presence of artists from Western Europe, predominantly from Germany, in the polish theatre life, who displayed an innovative approach to the dramatic text, new staging methods and performance techniques. These more and more common contacts were a major inspiration for Polish artists, who were looking for a new stage language and creatively customized the German theatrical experience to their own spectacles. The scale of the process was so large that it can be described as a rather unique phenomenon in contemporary art and in the Polish-German relations.
Erbium in Semiconductors: Where are we coming from; Where are we going?
Authors: Peaker A. R. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIt is one of the curious twists of technology that transitions which are parity forbidden in the free ions of rare earths should have become of immense importance in solids used in fluorescent lighting, cathode ray tubes and optical amplifiers. It is not an unreasonable expectation that having achieved such success with excitation from photons and accelerated electrons that junction electroluminescence should also be important. Since Ennen demonstrated good low temperature electroluminescence in silicon in the early 80's, a formidable amount of work has been done to try to understand the excitation and quenching mechanisms in common semiconductor hosts such as silicon and gallium arsenide. Although some remarkable experimental results have been obtained for erbium in nanostructures, insulators and wide bandgap materials the performance in bulk silicon and silicon germanium is disappointing. More importantly we still have not achieved a comprehensive, detailed understanding of the processes of non-radiative competition to the rare earth emission. In this paper the key steps that have been made over the last twenty years towards our present day knowledge of erbium luminescence in semiconducting hosts are reviewed and an assessment made of what remains to be done.
Voluntary Adoption of More Stringent Governance Policy on Audit Committees: Theory and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Chen Feng , Li Yue 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACT:
This study exploits an exogenous change to audit committee policy in Canada and presents new evidence on how high-quality corporate governance mitigates managerial resource diversion and improves firm values. We first examine why some firms listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX Venture) voluntarily adopted the more stringent governance policy in 2004 that requires all audit committee members to be independent and financially literate. We develop a parsimonious analytical model that shows that both compliance costs and financing needs have an impact on firms' adoption decisions. Confirming the model's predictions, we find that TSX Venture firms with low compliance costs and greater future financing needs are more likely to adopt the new policy voluntarily. The analytical model also shows that high-quality audit committees enhance firm values by reducing the likelihood of managerial resource diversion. Consistent with the predictions of our analytical model, we find that the adoption decision has a positive impact on firm value and a negative impact on firms' cost of equity capital for both Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture firms. As corroborating evidence of the economic impact of the more stringent governance policy, we also show that both TSX and TSX Venture firms have improved investment efficiency following the adoption decisions.
Data Availability: Data are available from public sources identified in the paper.
Assembling and testing of quasi-static hybrid piezoelectric motor based on electroactive lubrication principle
Authors: Rouchon Jean-Francois , Harribey Dominique , Tran Duc-Hoan , Ryndzionek Roland , Sienkiewicz Łukasz , Ronkowski Mieczysław , Michna Michal , Kostro Grzegorz 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
The presented paper concerns a novel concept of hybrid piezoelectric motor based on electroactive lubrication principle. Its structure is combined of quasi-static and resonance piezoelectric actuators, synchronizing their work to generate the rotary movement. The hybrid motor topology is compared to the existing piezoelectric motors, regarding its field of applications in embedded systems with very high security requirements. The electroactive lubrication principle is briefly presented with regards to optimization of the hybrid motor. The performance principle of the hybrid motor is described in terms of its working cycle. The assembling process of the prototype hybrid motor is briefly explained with emphasis put on the frequency and impedance tuning of the applied quasi-static and resonance piezoelectric actuators. Next, the hybrid motor power supply system is described and chosen measured performance characteristics are presented. Finally, conclusions concerning the features of the tested prototype hybrid motor and possible solutions of the faced issues, during assembling and testing, are presented.
Fuzzy adaptive Kalman filter for the drive system with an elastic coupling
Authors: Serkies Piotr J. , Szabat Krzysztof 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
In the paper issues related to the design of a robust adaptive fuzzy estimator for a drive system with a flexible joint is presented. The proposed estimator ensures variable Kalman gain (based on the Mahalanobis distance) as well as the estimation of the system parameters (based on the fuzzy system). The obtained value of the time constant of the load machine is used to change the values in the system state matrix and to retune the parameters of the state controller. The proposed control structure (fuzzy Kalman filter and adaptive state controller) is investigated in simulation and experimental tests.
Drug related deaths between 2008 and 2011. A retrospective study in 32 Romanian counties
Authors: Dermengiu Dan , Hostiuc Sorin , Radu Doina , Aciu Florina , Gorun Gabriel , Astarastoae Vasile , Ioan Beatrice , Constantinescu Gabriela , Enache Alexandra , Ciocan Veronica , Talos Ioan , Curca George 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the pattern of drug related deaths in Romania between 2008 and 2011 by analyzing the medical-legal cases, from a significant proportion of Romanian Counties (out of 41 plus the capital), in which the direct causal link between drug overdose and death was drug related. Material and methods. 446 forensic toxicology cases were analyzed in a four year period, obtained from more than two thirds of the counties in Romania. Results. 54.26% yielded a positive toxicological analysis, most often with benzodiazepines, opiates, barbiturates and cannabinoids. Males around 31 years old represented the most affected group. Illegal drug related deaths were more frequent in males and non-illegal drug related deaths were proportionally more frequent in females. Discussions and conclusions. The pattern of consumption is similar to the one obtained by similar studies in neighboring countries. The city capital has a very distinct pattern of consumption compared to other cities/counties.