bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
WAS THERE A MID-20THCENTURY FERTILITY BOOM IN LATIN AMERICA?
Authors: Reher David , Requena Miguel 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe historic process of fertility decline was interrupted during the central decades of the 20thcentury with an unexpected period of increasing fertility that has been called the baby boom. Normally it is considered a phenomenon exclusive to countries participating in the historic demographic transition. A recent study suggests that a similar trend change in fertility may have also taken place in a few developing nations at approximately the same time and with similar characteristics to the fertility boom in the developed world. The main goal of this paper is to examine the extent to which these trend changes took place in Latin America and whether or not their characteristics were similar to those holding in the developed world.
Intratropical migration of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbird (Catharus fuscescens) in South America with implications for migration theory
Authors: Heckscher Christopher M. , Halley Matthew R. , Stampul Pamela M. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract:Recent advances in tracking technology have revealed significant intratropical movement of Nearctic–Neotropical migratory songbirds during their non-breeding season. We report the movement of 25 veeries (Catharus fuscescens) over multiple seasons (2009–2013) through equatorial rain forests of South America. Veeries initially settled on the Brazilian Shield geological formation but undertook an intratropical migration to a second South American region in January, February or March. Consequently, our study is the first to track individual forest passerines to document an annual migration from the Brazilian Shield to the Guiana Shield and into lowland regions of Amazonia. The movement and settlement patterns showed no spatiotemporal relationships with Nearctic–Neotropical migration, remained in accordance with the flood pulse of the Amazon basin, and were spatially and temporally complex suggesting relatively ancient ancestral origins. The ability to isolate the migration event from Nearctic–Neotropical migration is an important contribution to the ongoing discourse regarding the evolution of trans-hemispheric migration in the genusCatharus.
Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission ofLeptospira interrogansin transhumant farming systems in Mexico
Authors: ARTEAGA-TRONCOSO G. , JIMÉNEZ-ESTRADA J. M. , MONTES DE OCA-JIMENEZ R. , LÓPEZ-HURTADO M. , LUNA-ALVAREZ M. , HERNANDEZ-ANDRADE L. , MORENO-ALFARO A. , GALAN-HERRERA J. F. , GUERRA-INFANTE F. M. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYA number of recent reports emphasize the risk of zoonotic diseases and the high degree of prevalence of asymptomatic animals infected withLeptospira interrogans. This report sought to assess the prevalence of antibodies to certain serovars ofL. interrogans, and to describe the association between seropositivity and risk factors associated with within-flock transmission in a mountainous region of Mexico. Overall seroprevalence toL. interroganswas 54·5% (95% confidence interval 48·3–60·7); the most frequent serovar was Icterohaemorrhagiae. The accumulation of placentas and fetuses at a site close to lambing paddocks can play a significant role as a risk factor for within-flock transmission ofL. interrogansin transhumant farming systems in the municipality of Xalatlaco. The high prevalence ofL. interrogansantibodies supports the hypothesis that natural foci of this zoonosis are present in sheep flocks in this area. These findings emphasize the need for planning and implementation of control programmes for ovine leptospirosis in Mexico and elsewhere.
Hepatitis C virus infection and risk factors in the general population: a large community-based study in eastern China, 2011–2012
Authors: HUANG P. , ZHU L. G. , ZHAI X. J. , ZHU Y. F. , YUE M. , SU J. , WANG J. , YANG H. T. , ZHANG Y. , SHEN H. B. , PENG Z. H. , YU R. B. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYLimited information is available on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the general population in China. A community-based epidemiological study was conducted in three counties in eastern China. A total of 149 175 individuals were investigated in 60 communities in three counties in Jiangsu province, eastern China, of whom 1175 subjects [0·79%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·74–0·83] were HCV antibody positive. The prevalence was low in children (0·09%, 95% CI 0·04–0·17), but increased progressively from adolescents (0·20%, 95% CI 0·15–0·28) to adults aged ⩾21 years (95% CI 0·15–1·64). Women had a higher prevalence of HCV infection than men in most age groups. In a multilevel regression analysis, age, sex, education, occupation, blood transfusion [odds ratio (OR) 2·91, 95% CI 1·09–5·37], invasive testing (OR 1·28, 95% CI 1·14–1·61), and dental therapy (OR 2·27, 95% CI 1·41–3·42) were associated with HCV infection. In conclusion, although the prevalence of HCV in this population was lower than reported from national levels, the total reservoir of infection is significant and warrants public health measures, such as health education to limit the magnitude of the problem.
Serological responses to Cryptosporidium antigens in inhabitants of Hungary using conventionally filtered surface water and riverbank filtered drinking water
Authors: FARKAS K. , PLUTZER J. , MOLTCHANOVA E. , TÖRÖK A. , VARRÓ M. J. , DOMOKOS K. , FROST F. , HUNTER P. R. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYIn this study the putative protective seroprevalence (PPS) of IgG antibodies to the 27-kDa and 15/17-kDa Cryptosporidium antigens in sera of healthy participants who were and were not exposed to Cryptosporidium oocysts via surface water-derived drinking water was compared. The participants completed a questionnaire regarding risk factors that have been shown to be associated with infection. The PPS was significantly greater (49−61%) in settlements where the drinking water originated from surface water, than in the control city where riverbank filtration was used (21% and 23%). Logistic regression analysis on the risk factors showed an association between bathing/swimming in outdoor pools and antibody responses to the 15/17-kDa antigen complex. Hence the elevated responses were most likely due to the use of contaminated water. Results indicate that waterborne Cryptosporidium infections occur more frequently than reported but may derive from multiple sources.
Hepatitis B immunity in Australia: a comparison of national and prisoner population serosurveys
Authors: GIDDING H. F. , MAHAJAN D. , REEKIE J. , LLOYD A. R. , DWYER D. E. , BUTLER T. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYIn Australia, hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination is recommended for injecting drug users (IDUs), Indigenous adults and prisoners. We compared immunity to HBV in prisoners and the general population obtained from national serosurveys in 2007. Individuals with HBV surface antibody (HBsAb) positive sera were considered immune from past infection [HBV core antibody (HBcAb) positive] or from vaccination (HBcAb negative). Male prisoners aged 18–58 years had a higher HBsAb seroprevalence than the general population (46·4% vs. 39·4%, P = 0·061). Comparison of HBcAb results was possible for males aged 18–29 years. In this group, higher HBsAb seroprevalence was due to past infection (12·9% vs. 3·0%, P < 0·001), rather than vaccine-conferred immunity (35·3% vs. 43·4%, P = 0·097). All prisoner groups, but especially IDUs, those of Indigenous heritage or those with a previous episode of imprisonment had higher levels of immunity from past infection than the general population (19·3%, 33·0%, 17·1%, respectively, vs. 3·0%, P < 0·05). Indigenous prisoners, non-IDUs and first-time entrants had significantly lower levels of vaccine-conferred immunity than the general population (26·4%, 26·2% and 20·7% respectively vs. 43·4%, P < 0·05). Improving prison-based HBV vaccination would prevent transmission in the prison setting and protect vulnerable members of the community who are at high risk of both infection and entering the prison system.
Severe decline in Cantabrian Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus cantabricus habitat use after construction of a wind farm
Authors: GONZÁLEZ MANUEL A. , GARCÍA-TEJERO SERGIO , WENGERT ERIC , FUERTES BENITO 
Published: January 2015

SummaryTetrao urogallus cantabricus is the most endangered capercaillie subspecies and unlike the others it inhabits deciduous forests in the Cantabrian Mountains (north-west Spain). Its southernmost distribution occurs in Mediterranean forests outside conservation areas where wind farm construction is increasing. We surveyed Cantabrian Capercaillie presence in a wintering site one year before and four years after wind farm construction. Sign abundance greatly decreased after wind farm construction indicating a likely negative effect on Cantabrian Capercaillie habitat use. According to the precautionary principle, in order to conserve Cantabrian Capercaillie, all its range should be legally protected to avoid further wind farm construction and human disturbance.
Ultrastructural analysis of five patients with total sperm immotility
Authors: Sousa Mário , Oliveira Elsa , Alves Ângela , Gouveia Mónica , Figueiredo Helena , Ferraz Luís , Barros Alberto , Sá Rosália 
Published: January 2015

SummaryAsthenozoospermia has been related to structural defects of the sperm flagellum. However, few reports have studied in detail the ultrastructure of sperm with total immotility. We present an ultrastructural study of sperm from five patients with total sperm immotility, four due to dysplasia of the fibrous sheath (DFS) and one with situs-inversus. Of the four patients with DFS, three cases presented a hypertrophic and hyperplastic fibrous sheath that invaded the midpiece space, absence of the annulus, and a short midpiece containing a few disorganized and pale mitochondria. Of these cases, two presented absence of the central complex and radial spokes; another additionally presented absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges; and the other patient presented an intact annulus with a dysplastic fibrous sheath restricted to the principal piece with disorganized microtubule doublets. The patient with situs-inversus presented severe respiratory symptoms, with absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges. In conclusion, we present three cases with DFS associated with total sperm immotility, abnormal mitochondria, and absence of the annulus, central pair complex and radial spokes, of which one had in addition absence of dynein arms and nexin bridges. We also describe a patient, with total sperm immotility and a different presentation of DFS, as the annulus was present and the dysplastic fibrous sheath was restricted to the principal piece. These findings thus confirm the heterogeneity of the DFS condition. The changes observed in the patient with situs-inversus also further support previous observations.
Important knowledge for parents of children with heart disease: parent, nurse, and physician views
Authors: Daily Joshua , FitzGerald Mike , Downing Kimberly , King Eileen , del Rey Javier Gonzalez , Ittenbach Richard , Marino Bradley 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectivesParental understanding of their children’s heart disease is inadequate, which may contribute to poor health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine what parental knowledge is important in the care of children with heart disease from the perspective of parents, nurses, and physicians.MethodsFocus groups were formed with parents of children with single ventricle congenital heart disease (CHD), biventricular CHD, and heart transplantation, and with nurses and physicians who provide care for these children. A nominal group technique was used to identify and prioritise important parental knowledge items and themes. The voting data for each theme were reported by participant type – parent, nurse, and physician – and patient diagnosis – single ventricle CHD, biventricular CHD, and heart transplantation.ResultsThe following three themes were identified as important by all groups:recognition of and response to clinical deterioration,medications, andprognosis and plan. Additional themes that were unique to specific groups included the following:medical team members and interactions(parents),tests and labs(parents),neurodevelopmental outcomes and interventions(physicians),lifelong disease requiring lifelong follow-up(physicians and nurses), anddiagnosis, physiology, and interventions(single ventricle and biventricular CHD).ConclusionsParents, nurses, and physicians have both common and unique views regarding what parents should know to effectively care for their children with single ventricle CHD, biventricular CHD, or heart transplantation. Specific targeted parental education that incorporates these findings should be provided to each group. Further development of questionnaires regarding parental knowledge with appropriate content validity is warranted.
The impact of illness perceptions and disease severity on quality of life in congenital heart disease
Authors: O’Donovan Claire E. , Painter Liz , Lowe Boris , Robinson Hayley , Broadbent Elizabeth 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundDespite an increasing prevalence of adults living with a CHD, little is known about the psychosocial impact of CHD. We sought to investigate the relative impact of disease severity and patients’ perceptions about their condition on depression, anxiety, and quality of life over a period of a year.MethodsA total of 110 patients aged over 16 years completed an initial questionnaire containing measures for anxiety, depression, quality of life, and illness perceptions when they attended the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. Cardiologists rated the patients’ disease severity and illness course. A year later, patients were invited to complete the same measures. Regression analyses were performed to determine the relative impact of illness perceptions and disease severity on psychological outcomes a year later.ResultsAt baseline, 23% of the study population had depressive symptoms and 30% had elevated trait anxiety. After controlling for associations with disease-related variables, illness perceptions explained 28% of the variance in depression, 40% anxiety, and 27% overall quality of life at baseline. Baseline illness perceptions bivariately predicted quality of life, cardiac anxiety, and depression 1 year later, and regression analyses controlling for other factors showed that they were significant predictors of outcomes 1 year later.ConclusionSymptoms of depression and anxiety are common among adults with CHD. Patients’ illness perceptions are related to psychological outcomes, especially cross-sectionally. Future research could investigate whether an intervention to discuss patients’ perceptions about their CHD can improve mental health and quality of life.
Evidence on individual preferences for longevity risk
Authors: DELPRAT G. , LEROUX M.-L. , MICHAUD P.-C. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe standard model of intertemporal choice assumes risk neutrality towards the length of life: under additivity of lifetime utility and expected utility assumptions, agents are not sensitive to a mean preserving spread in the length of life. Using a survey fielded in the RAND American Life Panel, this paper provides empirical evidence on possible deviation from risk neutrality with respect to longevity in the US population. The questions we ask allow to find the distribution as well as to quantify the degree of risk aversion with respect to the length of life in the population. We find evidence that roughly 75% of respondents were not neutral with respect to longevity risk. Hence, there is a little empirical support for the joint use of the expected utility and additive lifetime utility assumptions in life-cycle models. Higher income households are more likely to be risk averse towards the length of life. We do not find evidence that the degree of risk aversion varies with age or education.
How organic farmers practice conservation agriculture in Europe
Authors: Peigné Joséphine , Casagrande Marion , Payet Vincent , David Christophe , Sans F. Xavier , Blanco-Moreno José M. , Cooper Julia , Gascoyne Kate , Antichi Daniele , Bàrberi Paolo , Bigongiali Federica , Surböck Andreas , Kranzler Andreas , Beeckman Annelies , Willekens Koen , Luik Anne , Matt Darja , Grosse Meike , Heß Juergen , Clerc Maurice , Dierauer Hansueli , Mäder Paul 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe interest of organic farmers in adopting conservation agriculture principles, including minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotation has been growing since the early 2000s. However, currently there is no network for organic farmers practicing conservation agriculture, and a lack of knowledge on how organic farmers implement conservation agriculture in practice. Consequently, few technical references are available for organic farmers when they start applying conservation agriculture practices, in particular on controlling weeds without the use of herbicides. The main objectives of this study were: (1) to explore the diversity of conservation agriculture techniques (i.e., reduced tillage, no-tillage and green manures) practiced among European farmers, and (2) to identify farmers’ main strategies for implementing conservation agriculture and the agronomic and environmental factors that determine these strategies. Strategies were identified by analyzing survey results on: (1) the type and degree of use of conservation agriculture practices by farmers, and (2) the effects it produces in terms of soil disturbance and soil cover (low, medium and high). We carried out a survey of 159 European organic farmers and collected 125 data sets on management of winter-sown crops. Among the conservation agriculture practices, reduced tillage was used by 89%, no-tillage by 27% and green manure by 74% of the 159 interviewed farmers. Green manures were more frequently used in northern Europe than in the south (below 45°N). Most of the farmers used crop rotations, with a mean duration of 6 years. A wide diversity of conservation agriculture practices were used, with farmers rarely using all three techniques (no-till, reduced till and green manures) within one system. The range of practices was grouped into five strategies ranging from intensive non-inversion tillage without soil cover to very innovative techniques with no-tillage and intercrops. The five strategies for conservation agriculture could be grouped into two larger categories based on weed control approach: (1) intensification of the mechanical work without soil inversion or (2) biological regulation of weeds with cover crops. The diversity of strategies identified in this study shows that organic farmers use innovative approaches to implement conservation agriculture without herbicides. This study's findings will help organic farmers to experiment with innovative practices based on conservation agriculture principles and also benefit conventional farmers who use conservation agriculture practices and would like to reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides.
Attitudes toward Mormons and Voter Behavior in the 2012 Presidential Election
Authors: Hawley George 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPrior to the 2012 presidential election, some commentators speculated that Mitt Romney's status as a devout and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would undermine his presidential aspirations. Using the 2012 American National Election Survey, this study examines the relationship between attitudes toward Mormons and voter behavior in the United States in that election year. It finds that attitudes toward Mormons had a statistically-significant effect on turnout — though these effects differed according to party identification. It additionally finds that these attitudes influenced vote choice. In both cases, the substantive effects were small, indicating that anti-Mormon feelings did play a role in the 2012 presidential election, but they did not determine the final outcome.
Alnus peptides modify membrane porosity and induce the release of nitrogen-rich metabolites from nitrogen-fixing Frankia
Authors: Carro Lorena , Pujic Petar , Alloisio Nicole , Fournier Pascale , Boubakri Hasna , Hay Anne E , Poly Franck , François Philippe , Hocher Valerie , Mergaert Peter , Balmand Severine , Rey Marjolaine , Heddi Abdelaziz , Normand Philippe 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Actinorhizal plant growth in pioneer ecosystems depends on the symbiosis with the nitrogen-fixing actinobacterium Frankia cells that are housed in special root organs called nodules. Nitrogen fixation occurs in differentiated Frankia cells known as vesicles. Vesicles lack a pathway for assimilating ammonia beyond the glutamine stage and are supposed to transfer reduced nitrogen to the plant host cells. However, a mechanism for the transfer of nitrogen-fixation products to the plant cells remains elusive. Here, new elements for this metabolic exchange are described. We show that Alnus glutinosa nodules express defensin-like peptides, and one of these, Ag5, was found to target Frankia vesicles. In vitro and in vivo analyses showed that Ag5 induces drastic physiological changes in Frankia, including an increased permeability of vesicle membranes. A significant release of nitrogen-containing metabolites, mainly glutamine and glutamate, was found in N2-fixing cultures treated with Ag5. This work demonstrates that the Ag5 peptide is central for Frankia physiology in nodules and uncovers a novel cellular function for this large and widespread defensin peptide family.
Total synthesis of periploside A, a unique pregnane hexasaccharide with potent immunosuppressive effects
Authors: Zhang Xiaheng , Zhou Yu , Zuo Jianping , Yu Biao 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPeriploside A is a pregnane hexasaccharide identified from the Chinese medicinal plant Periploca sepium, which features a unique seven-membered formyl acetal bridged orthoester (FABO) motif and potent immunosuppressive activities. Here, we show the synthesis of this molecule in a total of 76 steps with the longest linear sequence of 29 steps and 9.2% overall yield. The FABO motif is constructed via a combination of Sinaÿ’s and Crich’s protocol for the formation of orthoester and acetal glycosides, respectively. The 2-deoxy-β-glycosidic linkages are assembled stereoselectively with judicious choice of the glycosylation methods. The epimer at the spiro-quaternary carbon in the FABO motif has also been elaborated in a stereo-controlled manner. This epimer, as well as the synthetic analogues bearing the FABO motif, retain largely the inhibitory activities of periploside A against the proliferation of T-lymphocyte, indicating the importance of the chemical connection of the FABO motif to their immunosuppressive activity.
A dynamically coupled allosteric network underlies binding cooperativity in Src kinase
Authors: Foda Zachariah H. , Shan Yibing , Kim Eric T. , Shaw David E. , Seeliger Markus A. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractProtein tyrosine kinases are attractive drug targets because many human diseases are associated with the deregulation of kinase activity. However, how the catalytic kinase domain integrates different signals and switches from an active to an inactive conformation remains incompletely understood. Here we identify an allosteric network of dynamically coupled amino acids in Src kinase that connects regulatory sites to the ATP- and substrate-binding sites. Surprisingly, reactants (ATP and peptide substrates) bind with negative cooperativity to Src kinase while products (ADP and phosphopeptide) bind with positive cooperativity. We confirm the molecular details of the signal relay through the allosteric network by biochemical studies. Experiments on two additional protein tyrosine kinases indicate that the allosteric network may be largely conserved among these enzymes. Our work provides new insights into the regulation of protein tyrosine kinases and establishes a potential conduit by which resistance mutations to ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors can affect their activity.