bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MODELLING THE VICIOUS CIRCLE BETWEEN OBESITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS USING A BIVARIATE PROBIT MODEL WITH ENDOGENOUS REGRESSORS
Authors: YEH C-Y. , CHEN L-J. , KU P-W , CHEN C-M. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryThe increasing prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has become one of the most important public health issues around the world. Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for obesity, while being obese could reduce the likelihood of participating in physical activity. Failing to account for the endogeneity between obesity and physical activity would result in biased estimation. This study investigates the relationship between overweight and physical activity by taking endogeneity into consideration. It develops an endogenous bivariate probit model estimated by the maximum likelihood method. The data included 4008 boys and 4197 girls in the 5th–9th grades in Taiwan in 2007–2008. The relationship between overweight and physical activity is significantly negative in the endogenous model, but insignificant in the comparative exogenous model. This endogenous relationship presents a vicious circle in which lower levels of physical activity lead to overweight, while those who are already overweight engage in less physical activity. The results not only reveal the importance of endogenous treatment, but also demonstrate the robust negative relationship between these two factors. An emphasis should be put on overweight and obese children and adolescents in order to break the vicious circle. Promotion of physical activity by appropriate counselling programmes and peer support could be effective in reducing the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents.
Detection of hydatid-specific antibodies in the serum and urine for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis in patients from the Kashmir Valley, India
Authors: Chirag S. , Fomda B.A. , Khan A. , Malik A.A. , Lone G.N. , Khan B.A. , Zahoor D. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractSerological diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) is usually made by detecting specific antibodies in serum samples. However, collection of blood samples is difficult and may be hazardous and unsafe. Thus, it is important to assess alternative simple methods of sampling body fluids that give similar results. Saliva and urine have been suggested as possible alternatives to detect specific antibodies for the diagnosis of various diseases. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previously published study regarding the detection of CE-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G subclass antibodies (IgG1–4) in urine. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the value of hydatid-specific antibodies of IgG, IgM, IgE and IgG subclass in urine and serum samples for the diagnosis of CE. Serum and urine samples of 41 surgically confirmed patients of CE, 40 patients with other diseases and 16 healthy subjects were included in the study. CE-specific total IgG, IgE and IgG4 in sera and total IgG, IgG4 and IgG1 in the urine of CE patients were the most important specific antibodies for the diagnosis of CE. However, total IgG usually persists for an extended period and has a very high cross-reactivity. The diagnostic sensitivity of hydatid-specific IgM in serum and urine samples was very low and therefore cannot be used as a diagnostic marker. There was no significant difference between IgG1 and IgG4 in serum and urine and both showed the best correlation for the diagnosis of CE. These considerations suggest that detection of antibodies in urine could provide a new approach in the diagnosis of CE.
Wave theories of non-laminar charged particle beams: from quantum to thermal regime
Authors: Fedele Renato , Tanjia Fatema , Jovanović Dusan , De Nicola Sergio , Ronsivalle Concetta 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe standard classical description of non-laminar charged particle beams in paraxial approximation is extended to the context of two wave theories. The first theory that we discuss (Fedele R. and Shukla, P. K. 1992 Phys. Rev. A45, 4045. Tanjia, F. et al. 2011 Proceedings of the 38th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics, Vol. 35G. Strasbourg, France: European Physical Society) is based on the Thermal Wave Model (TWM) (Fedele, R. and Miele, G. 1991 Nuovo Cim. D13, 1527.) that interprets the paraxial thermal spreading of beam particles as the analog of quantum diffraction. The other theory is based on a recently developed model (Fedele, R. et al. 2012a Phys. Plasmas19, 102106; Fedele, R. et al. 2012b AIP Conf. Proc.1421, 212), hereafter called Quantum Wave Model (QWM), that takes into account the individual quantum nature of single beam particle (uncertainty principle and spin) and provides collective description of beam transport in the presence of quantum paraxial diffraction. Both in quantum and quantum-like regimes, the beam transport is governed by a 2D non-local Schrödinger equation, with self-interaction coming from the nonlinear charge- and current-densities. An envelope equation of the Ermakov–Pinney type, which includes collective effects, is derived for both TWM and QWM regimes. In TWM, such description recovers the well-known Sacherer's equation (Sacherer, F. J. 1971 IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.NS-18, 1105). Conversely, in the quantum regime and in Hartree's mean field approximation, one recovers the evolution equation for a single-particle spot size, i.e. for a single quantum ray spot in the transverse plane (Compton regime). We demonstrate that such quantum evolution equation contains the same information as the evolution equation for the beam spot size that describes the beam as a whole. This is done heuristically by defining the lowest QWM state accessible by a system of non-overlapping fermions. The latter are associated with temperature values that are sufficiently low to make the single-particle quantum effects visible on the beam scale, but sufficiently high to make the overlapping of the single-particle wave functions negligible. This lowest QWM state constitutes the border between the fundamental single-particle Compton regime and the collective quantum and thermal regimes at larger (nano- to micro-) scales. Comparing it with the beam parameters in the existing accelerators, we find that it is feasible to achieve nano-sized beams in advanced compact machines.
Exact equilibria for nonlinear force-free magnetic fields with its applications to astrophysics and fusion plasmas
Authors: Moawad S. M. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractKnowledge of the structure of coronal magnetic field originating from the photosphere is relevant to the understanding of many solar activity phenomena, e.g. flares, solar prominences, coronal loops, and coronal heating. In most of the existing literature, these loop-like magnetic structures are modeled as force-free magnetic fields (FFMF) without any plasma flow. In this paper, we present several exact solution classes for nonlinear FFMF, in both translational and axisymmetric geometries. The solutions are considered for their possible relevance to astrophysics and solar physics problems. These are used to illustrate arcade-type magnetic field structures of the photosphere and twisted magnetic flux ropes through the coronal mass ejections (CMEs), as well as magnetic confinement fusion plasmas.
Seasonal and spatial distribution of chaetognaths on the north-west continental shelf of the South China Sea
Authors: Wu X. , Li K. , Huang L. , Yin J. , Tan Y. 
Published: January 2014

The seasonal variation and spatial distribution of chaetognaths were studied based on samples collected from July to August 2006 (summer), December 2006 to January 2007 (winter), and in April 2007 (spring) on the north-west continental shelf of the South China Sea. A total of 19 species of chaetognaths were identified. The average chaetognath abundances (mean ±SD) were 54.0 ± 44.5, 36.8 ±16.7 and 48.9 ± 95.5 ind. m−3in summer, winter and spring, respectively.Flaccisagitta enflataandSerratosagitta pacificawere the dominant species during the whole sampling period, andF. enflatadetermined the spatial distribution of total chaetognath abundance. According to the topography and hydrological conditions, the survey area was divided into three sub-regions: inshore waters of the western Guangdong (Region I), inshore waters to the east of Hainan Island (Region II) and offshore waters from the western Guangdong to Hainan Island (Region III). The community structure and abundance distribution of chaetognaths varied significantly between the three sub-regions. The species richness was significantly different among the three sub-regions, with the lowest in Region I and the highest in Region III. The species richness was correlated positively with temperature and salinity. The abundance of chaetognaths was significantly higher in Region I than in both Regions II and III in summer and spring. The increasing food availability caused by the cold eddy, coastal upwelling and the western Guangdong coastal current was able support a greater abundance of chaetognaths during warm seasons on the north-west continental shelf of the South China Sea.
Indian Institutions in the Early 1980s: The pre-history of the great transformation
Authors: MAIORANO DIEGO 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn 1989 India's political system underwent a process of profound change which affected the entire institutional setup of the country. Power was radically redistributed—it began to flow from the central government to the states, and from the Prime Minister's Office to the other institutions of the state. By analysing the severe institutional crisis which occurred during Mrs Gandhi's final term in office, this paper seeks to show how state institutions worked on the eve of such a redrawing of India's institutional setup. In addition, an effort is made to link the working of India's institutions to the configuration of the party system, thus stressing the importance of political dynamics in the functioning of parliamentary democracies.
The Spirit in creation
Authors: Williams David T. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe result of the Arian controversy was the affirmation of the total equality of the trinitarian persons. This led to the realisation that all three persons of the Trinity are involved in every external action of God. Despite this, the role of the Holy Spirit in creation has not been clear, partly due to few specific references in the creation narratives. However, it may be suggested that the Spirit does not act in the creation of matter, which is the role of the second person, but in the provision of the underlying form and order necessary for very existence, and specifically for the dynamic interaction which is of the essence of life, as in the second account of the creation of the man (Gen 2). This reflects the fact that the action of the Spirit is also essential in salvation to link Christ's work on the cross to the believer. While separation is a feature of the Genesis creation narrative, this is balanced by the interrelating of what had been created.So, although Christian theology has commonly seen the world as ‘spirit’-less, restricting the action of the Holy Spirit to the church, this would be understood as referring to the limitation of his direct action. His immanent presence is nevertheless essential in all for very existence. The Spirit is not in the world, but underlies it.Creation may be seen as a theistic act, by transcendent intervention to give matter, and giving interaction in immanent presence. The nature of the world therefore reflects the theistic nature of God, involving both distinction and relating. Indeed it then reflects the trinitarian nature of the creator, in which the persons maintain their absolute distinction at the same time as their total equality through the interaction ofperichōrēsis, specifically enabled by the action of the Spirit as generating and undergirding relationship. The parallel between the created and the creator is seen especially insofar as the discrete elements of matter interrelate to give form and interaction.It is in their interaction that the elements of creation fulfil their purpose, and so specifically that humanity reflects its nature as created inimago Dei.
Development of a two-wheel mobile manipulator: balancing and interaction control
Authors: Ahn Jae Kook , Jung Seul 
Published: January 2014

SUMMARYThis paper focuses on practical application of a mobile manipulator by presenting the development and control of a two-wheel mobile robot with two arms called a balancing service robot (BSR) designated for indoor services. The mobile manipulator requires not only robust balancing position control but also force control to interact with objects. Movements with two wheels are controlled to satisfy stable balancing control for navigation and manipulation with two arms to perform given tasks. The robot is required to deal with external forces to maintain balance. The position-based impedance force control method (the admittance control) is utilized by filtering the force with the impedance function to react to the applied force from the operator. Experimental studies of navigation control under balancing condition and interacting control with a human operator are demonstrated. Experimental results confirm that the robot has smooth reaction against the disturbance induced by the applied external force.
Mumps virus infection in vaccinated patients can be detected by an increase in specific IgG antibodies to high titres: a retrospective study
Authors: BORGMANN S. , SCHWAB F. , SANTIBANEZ S. , MANKERTZ A. 
Published: January 2014

SUMMARYMumps outbreaks in highly vaccinated populations with genotype G have been reported repeatedly. Detection of these outbreaks can be difficult in a setting with relatively high vaccination coverage when acute cases of mumps are routinely diagnosed by IgM serology since this marker is not reliable for diagnosis of mumps re-infection. To learn whether diagnostic tests performed in a large private laboratory may be useful to detect mumps outbreaks retrospectively, we reviewed the results of almost 7000 mumps tests. Two groups were compared: group 1 comprised of 3438samples from patients submitted by physicians and clinicians (it was assumed that these patients visited their doctor due to acute disease). Group 2 comprised of 3398 samples submitted from company medical officers and occupational physicians. Since these patients usually attend for routine check-ups and certification of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases, these samples comprised a control group. From July 2010 to May 2011, a mumps virus outbreak with more than 300 cases occurred in Bavaria, Southeast Germany. Our study includes samples received for serological mumps tests from January 2009 until December 2011 (36 months). The two groups were analysed with regard to the number of IgM-positive cases per month and the level of IgG titre. We found a marked increase for both parameters in group 1 during the time of the outbreak, while the samples submitted by the occupational medical physicians did not display significant alterations. These parameters reflect the outbreak with high accuracy, indicating that a retrospective analysis of IgG titres may be a useful tool for detection of mumps outbreaks when, as was the case in Germany, (i) a nationwide notification system has not been implemented and (ii) a highly vaccinated population is affected.
Use of the pressure wire method for measuring pulmonary arterial pressures in patients with pulmonary atresia
Authors: Haddad Jorge L. , Novaes Gustavo C. , Figueiredo Geraldo L. , Lemos Daniel C. , Macedo Leon G. R. , Lago Igor M. , Pavão Rafael B. , Badran André V. , Lima-Filho Moysés O. , Manso Paulo H. , Marin-Neto José A. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjective:The objective of the study was to analyse the use of the pressure wire for the acquisition of intravascular pulmonary pressures in the presence of pulmonary atresia and systemic-dependent pulmonary blood flow.Methods:In this study, we included patients with pulmonary atresia and systemic-dependent pulmonary circulation referred for diagnostic catheterisation for evaluation of pulmonary pressures during the period from April, 2012 to April, 2013. The systemic-pulmonary collateral arteries were selectively catheterised, and in the absence of a critical stenosis angiographically determined; the pressure wire was introduced in these arteries to reach the main pulmonary artery, and/or lobar, and segmental branches. Aortic and pulmonary pressures were simultaneously obtained. We evaluated the feasibility and safety of the method.Results:We studied 10 patients (age 21 days to 11 years). In all of them, the pressures of pulmonary circulation – main artery, and/or lobar, and segmental branches – were successfully measured with the pressure wire. Of eight patients with indication for Rastelli surgery, the pulmonary pressures were considered normal in five, and slightly increased in three. In two patients requiring univentricular correction – total cavopulmonary anastomosis – the diastolic pressure was increased (20 mmHg). All procedures were performed without haemodynamic instability, cardiac arrhythmia, systemic saturation reduction, death, or any other complication.Conclusion:Measurement of pulmonary vascular pressures using the pressure wire in small patients with pulmonary atresia is safe and effective. It allows the acquisition of reliable pressure curves, even in the presence of small vessels, bending and tortuosity, without the risk usually associated with the use of conventional diagnostic catheters.
Development of an Evaluation Framework Suitable for Assessing Humanitarian Workforce Competencies During Crisis Simulation Exercises
Authors: Cranmer Hilarie , Chan Jennifer L. , Kayden Stephanie , Musani Altaf , Gasquet Philippe E. , Walker Peter , Burkle Frederick M. , Johnson Kirsten 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe need to provide a professionalization process for the humanitarian workforce is well established. Current competency-based curricula provided by existing academically affiliated training centers in North America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union provide a route toward certification. Simulation exercises followed by timely evaluation is one way to mimic the field deployment process, test knowledge of core competences, and ensure that a competent workforce can manage the inevitable emergencies and crises they will face. Through a 2011 field-based exercise that simulated a humanitarian crisis, delivered under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), a competency-based framework and evaluation tool is demonstrated as a model for future training and evaluation of humanitarian providers.CranmerH, ChanJ, KaydenS, MusaniA, GasquetP, WalkerP, BurkleF, JohnsonK. Development of an evaluation framework suitable for assessing humanitarian workforce competencies during crisis simulation exercises. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(1):1-6.
Dietary patterns and breakfast consumption in relation to insulin resistance in children. The Healthy Growth Study
Authors: Karatzi Kalliopi , Moschonis George , Barouti Afroditi-Alexandra , Lionis Christos , Chrousos George P , Manios Yannis 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectiveInsulin resistance is a significant cross-point for the manifestation of several chronic diseases in children and adults. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible relationship of certain dietary patterns and breakfast consumption habits with insulin resistance in children.SubjectsA representative sample of 1912 schoolchildren (aged 9–13 years) participated in a cross-sectional epidemiological study, the Healthy Growth Study, which was initiated in May 2007 and completed in June 2009.SettingIt was conducted in seventy-seven primary schools in four large regions in Greece.DesignDietary intake, breakfast consumption, anthropometric and physical examination data, biochemical indices and socio-economic information collected from parents were assessed in all children. Principal components analysis was used to identify dietary patterns.ResultsA dietary pattern of increased consumption of margarine, sweets (candies, lollipops, jellies, traditional fruit in heavy syrup) and savoury snacks (chips, cheese puffs and not home-made popcorn) was associated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR;β= 0·08,P< 0·001) in multivariate models. Children in the third tertile of this dietary pattern had a 2·51 (95 % CI 1·30, 4·90) times higher risk of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 3·16) than those in the first tertile. Breakfast consumption had an inverse correlation with insulin resistance, but the correlation lost its significance after adjustments for waist circumference, birth weight, parental BMI and socio-economic status.ConclusionsIncreased consumption of margarine, sweets and savoury snacks, which is a common dietary pattern in childhood, was positively associated with insulin resistance, while breakfast consumption had an inverse association with HOMA-IR, in schoolchildren (aged 9–13 years). Identification of dietary behaviours that might affect insulin resistance in children offers valuable advice in cardiometabolic risk prevention strategies.
Research on subsoil biopores and their functions in organically managed soils: A review
Authors: Kautz Timo 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe living soil is the basis for crop production in organic agriculture. Biopores are voids in the soil which were formed by the activity of soil life. The first scientific studies on biopores were published in the 1870s–90s by Victor Hensen who stated that earthworms were opening channels to the subsoil and coating them with humus, thus creating a beneficial environment for root growth. His work was originally widely recognized, but then research on biopores was neglected for many decades and was only revitalized with the rise of ecological concerns in the 1960s. In recent times, biopores have attracted the attention of agronomists with a focus on organic agriculture. New visualization techniques, such as X-ray micro computed tomography,in-situendoscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging have been applied. Biopores contribute to air transport through the soil, increase water infiltration, reduce water runoff and soil erosion, serve as preferential pathways for root elongation and can facilitate the acquisition of water and nutrients from the subsoil. The relevance of biopores for nutrient acquisition can be pronounced particularly in organic production systems, where crops are more dependent on nutrient acquisition from the solid soil phase than under conditions of conventional agriculture. Organic land-use strategies should aim to increase number, stability and quality of biopores. The biopore density can be increased by the share of dicotyledons in the crop rotation and by cultivating perennial crops with taproot systems. Moreover, density and—in particular—the quality of biopores, e.g., the nutrient contents of pore walls, can be influenced by anecic earthworms which can be promoted by adapted tillage practices.