bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing the utilization of institutional delivery services by Chepang women in Chitwan district of Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Sakriya , Bhusal Chetnath , Vajanapoom Nitaya 
Published: April 2024

Background: Nepal has not yet achieved less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births of the SDG. To reduce the maternal death rates, a safe motherhood program has been implemented across Nepal to provide pregnant women with free delivery care in a healthcare facility, as well as transportation incentives promoting institutional delivery. Being a marginalized group of people residing in hilly slope areas, the Chepang population is deprived of significance usage of healthcare services.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the incidence of delivery complications, and to investigate the factors associated with the utilization of institutional delivery of the Chepang women in the Chitwan district.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Rapti, Kalika and Ichchhakamana municipalities with a proportional random sample of 557 mothers. A face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire was performed to collect the data. Using stepwise logistic regression analysis, the data were analyzed.
Results: The results show that the incidence of delivery complications among those who utilized an institutional delivery was lower than the non-institutional delivery respondents. The literate parents were strongly associated with the increased usage of an institutional delivery (OR=12.08, 95%CI=6.32-23.06), and (OR=5.45, 95%CI=2.82-10.51) for literate mothers and literate spouses, respectively. Other significant factors were older ages at delivery of mothers as compared to younger ages mothers (OR= 3.28, 95%CI=1.83-5.90 for ages 20-29 year.; OR=3.75, 95%CI=1.80-7.83 for ages ≥30 year.), and engagement in business and services occupation of mothers (OR=2.01, 95%CI=1.01-4.01). The associations were observed for vehicle transportation to the delivery facility (OR =1.99, 95% CI =1.28-3.11) and travel time ≤30 minutes to the delivery facility (OR=2.80, 95%CI=1.58-4.96).
Conclusions: The results revealed a lower incidence of delivery complications among those who utilized the institutional delivery. The analysis also demonstrated that age, education, income, and convenient access to an institutional delivery facility for mothers were associated with the utilization of institutional delivery of Chepang women. The findings could benefit health professionals in developing a health intervention to increase institutional delivery services for marginalized Chepang women.
Analysis of Trade Effects of Parallel Exchange Rate in Nigeria
Authors: Oyetayo Oluwatosin Juliana , Olaifa Felix Gbenga , Olubiyi Ebenezer Adesoji 
Published: April 2024

Aims: The study examines the potency of parallel exchange rates in the movement of international trade in Nigeria. The monetary authorities have embarked on various exchange rate regimes basically because the supply of foreign exchange is not enough to meet the demand. Consequently, a parallel market for exchange rates exists and has become a strong and functional market in the country. But the reason for managing foreign exchange and by extension, introducing various exchange rate regimes was to correct the balance of trade disequilibrium. Yet the balance of trade deteriorates, particularly that of non-oil trade balance. Does the parallel exchange rate contribute to this or does it ameliorate it?
Study Design: Descriptive, Correlation, and Regression analysis on time series data.
Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Monthly data from January 2007 to December 2022 (2007:1-2022:12) were extracted from the online data repository of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Methodology: The autoregressive distributed lag technique was employed on monthly data between January 2007 and December 2022 (2007:1-2022:12).
Results: The result indicates that the short-run dynamics of total exports (total imports) are negatively (positively) and significantly affected by parallel exchange rate. Generally, depreciation of the parallel exchange rate is detrimental to export particularly non-oil exports. Further, depreciation of parallel exchange rate encourages imports and highly persistent in influencing non-oil imports. The J-curve phenomenon breaks down for total balance of trade. However, the J-curve phenomenon cannot be confirmed in the case of oil trade balance because there is no information about the long run effect of parallel exchange rate on oil export due to the non-integration of the model. In the case of non-oil trade balance, the short-run outcome confirms the existence of the J-curve prediction.
Conclusion: Following these results, it is recommended among others that government should activate a single market (window) for foreign exchange. Also, the authorities should ensure that importation of non-oil products such as exotic cars by government officials be stemmed.
Hydrologic drainage of the Greenland Ice Sheet
Authors: Lewis Sarah M. , Smith Laurence C. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA simple hydrologic drainage network for the Greenland Ice Sheet is modelled from available digital elevation models (DEMs) of bedrock, and surface topography and assumptions of hydrostatic water pressure, uniform hydraulic conductivity, and no conduit flow within the ice sheet. As such, it is a first‐order model best suited for broad‐scale hydrological assessment. Results identify 293 distinct hydrologic basins (185–117 000 km2) together with their ‘realized’ (wet) and ‘unrealized’ (dry) drainage patterns. Intersection with 1991–2000 Polar MM5 (PMM5) mesoscale climate model hindcasts of meltwater runoff suggest that these basins route varying amounts of water to the ice edge, ranging from 0 to 16 km3 annually and totalling 242 km3/year for the entire ice sheet. Regionally speaking, average annual volumetric meltwater production (km3/year) is highest in southwest and lowest in northeast Greenland, with greater hydrologic activity in western regions than in eastern regions for a given latitude. The extent to which meltwater truly reaches the ice margin as modelled is difficult to test. However, the simulated flow outlet locations show qualitative agreement with the locations of 460 observed meltwater outlets (proglacial lakes, streams, and rivers; and sediment plumes into fjörds) mapped continuously along the ice sheet perimeter. On average, about 36% of the modelled drainage network was activated (i.e. received water) over the 1991–2000 study period. Remaining areas, barring dynamic changes to ice‐surface topography, would presumably activate if surface melt penetrates deeper into the ice sheet interior. Both new datasets are freely available for scientific use at the National Snow and Ice Data Center (ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/pub/DATASETS/parca/nsidc‐0372‐hydrologic‐outlets; ftp://sidads.colorado.edu/pub/DATASETS/parca/nsidc‐0371‐hydrologic‐sub‐basins). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical grade mesenchymal stem cells transdifferentiated under xenofree conditions alleviates motor deficiencies in a rat model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Shetty Prathibha , Ravindran Geeta , Sarang Shabari , Thakur Anirbhan M. , Rao Harinarayana S. , Viswanathan Chandra 
Published: May 2009

AbstractBone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) is a valid, definitive candidate for repair of damaged tissues in degenerative disorders in general and neurological diseases in particular. We have standardized the processing conditions for proliferation of BMMSCs using xenofree medium and checked their in vitro and in vivo neurogenic potential.Method: The proliferative potential of BMMSCs was analyzed using xenofree media and functionality checked by transplantation into Parkinson's disease (PD) animal models. In vitro neuronal differentiation was investigated by neuronal induction media supplemented with growth factors. Differentiated cells were characterized at cellular and molecular levels. In vitro functionality estimated by dopamine secretion.Results: A pure population of BMMSCs showing an 8–10 fold expansion was obtained using xenofree media. On differentiation to neuronal lineage, they exhibited neuronal morphology. Detectable levels of dopamine (1.93 ng/ml) were secreted into the culture media of differentiated cells. There was a significant behavioural improvement in PD models 3 months post transplantation.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that BMMSCs can be transdifferentiated efficiently into functional dopaminergic neurons both in vitro and in vivo. This holds immense clinical potential as a replacement therapy for PD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Neonatal ontogeny and neurotoxic effect of decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) on levels of synaptophysin and tau
Authors: Viberg Henrik 
Published: May 2009

AbstractMice and rats have a period of rapid growth and development that occurs postnatally, while in humans the corresponding period is perinatal. This gives us the opportunity to study direct effects of chemicals during developmental processes of the central nervous system (CNS) in murine animals. Mammals have a marked period of rapid brain growth and development, the brain growth spurt (BGS), which is postnatal in mice and rats, spanning the first 3–4 weeks of life and reaching its peak around postnatal day 10. The proteins synaptophysin and tau are involved in developmental processes in the nervous system during the BGS in mice. One class of flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), is present and increasing in the environment and in human milk, which is also true for the only congener still in use, decabrominated diphenyl ether (2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′‐decaBDE, PBDE 209). The present study was divided into two parts (a) the neonatal ontogeny of synaptophysin and tau and (b) the developmental neurotoxic effect of PBDE 209 on synaptophysin and tau during the neonatal ontogeny in mice. The level of synaptophysin measured on postnatal days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 28, increased continuously during the neonatal period, while tau has a bell‐shaped ontogeny curve that peaks between postnatal days 7 and 10. The effects of PBDE 209 on the developmental expression of synaptophysin and tau were examined in neonatal NMRI male mice, orally exposed on day 3 to 20.1 mg PBDE 209/kg body weight. The animals were euthanized 7 days after exposure to PBDE 209 and levels of synaptophysin and tau were analyzed in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. The protein analysis showed that synaptophysin had increased significantly in the hippocampus, but not in the cerebral cortex, in mice 7 days after exposure to PBDE 209. The analysis of protein levels showed no changes in tau in the hippocampus or cerebral cortex 7 days after exposure to PBDE 209 on postnatal day 3. A recent study shows that neonatal PBDE 209‐exposure can affect levels of BDNF (brain‐derived neurotrophic factor), CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II), and GAP‐43 (growth associated protein 43), which are proteins that are important for normal brain development. The present study shows that PBDE 209 affects the level of synaptophysin in the developing brain, which further supports the recent findings that PBDE 209 can disturb components of normal brain maturation and act as a developmental neurotoxicological agent. Furthermore, this suggests that certain proteins involved in developmental processes can serve as markers of developmental neurotoxicity.
Endoscopic surgical treatment of posterior glottic stenosis
Authors: Chitose S , Umeno H , Nakashima T 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA six-year-old girl developed posterior glottic stenosis following surgery for lateral curvature. She was post-operatively intubated for 17 days and had inspiratory stridor after extubation. Laryngoscopy revealed an adhesion at the posterior commissure which severely limited abduction of the bilateral vocal folds and arytenoids. Initially, tracheal fenestration was performed and the scar tissue of the posterior commissure was vaporised using a CO2 laser under endolaryngeal microsurgery. However, despite this procedure the stenosis reformed and an interarytenoid adhesion developed.Endolaryngeal microsurgery was performed again three months later. Using endoscopic microscissors, the posterior commissure and interarytenoid scar tissue were submucosally separated and the bilateral corniculate cartilages of the superior arytenoids were debulked using CO2 laser. A posteriorly based mucosal flap obtained from the postcricoid region was extended to approximate to the mucosa of the posterior commissure. The mucosal flap was sutured to the inferior subglottic mucosa by two 4–0 polyglactin absorbable sutures. Three months later, the patient's respiratory and phonatory function was satisfactory.Based on the successful results of the present case, the authors highly recommend the use of a posterior mucosal flap for the treatment of posterior glottic stenosis. This procedure does not require the use of either a laryngofissure or a laryngeal stent.
Tetra-probe, 24-hour pH monitoring for laryngopharyngeal reflux: a technique for simultaneous study of hypopharynx, oesophagus and stomach
Authors: Sato K , Umeno H , Chitose S , Nakashima T 
Published: May 2009

AbstractObjective:This study aimed to introduce the technique of tetra-probe, 24-hour pH monitoring for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.Methods:Tetra-probe, 24-hour pH monitoring was performed for 30 suspected cases of laryngopharyngeal reflux. The proximal probe was placed in the hypopharynx, just above the upper oesophageal sphincter, the second probe was placed in the middle oesophagus, the third probe was placed a few centimetres above the lower oesophageal sphincter, and the distal probe was placed in the stomach.Results:As the pH at the four sensor sites could be monitored simultaneously, gastric acid levels and gastroesophageal and laryngopharyngeal reflux could be examined. This pH monitoring technique enabled the pH relationship between the four sensor locations to be well documented, enabling gastric acid levels and patterns of reflux to be assessed. This procedure was also able to be used as a functional examination to evaluate anti-reflux medication efficacy.Conclusions:Tetra-probe, 24-hour pH monitoring is a reliable functional examination for laryngopharyngeal reflux.
Evaluation of Controlled-Drift Detectors in X-Ray Spectroscopic Imaging Applications
Authors: Castoldi Andrea , Guazzoni Chiara , Ozkan Cigdem , Vedani Giorgio , Hartmann Robert , Bjeoumikhov Aniouar 
Published: May 2009

AbstractA detector that looks promising for advanced imaging modalities—such as X-ray absorption contrast imaging, X-ray fluorescence imaging, and diffraction-enhanced imaging—is the controlled-drift detector (CDD). The CDD is a novel two-dimensional X-ray imager with energy resolving capability of spectroscopic quality. It is built on a fully depleted silicon wafer and features fast readout while being operated at or near room temperature. The use of CDDs in the aforementioned applications allows translating these techniques from synchrotron-based experiments to laboratory-size experiments using polychromatic X-ray generators. We have built a dedicated and versatile detection module based on a 36 mm2 CDD chip featuring pixels of 180 × 180 μm2, and we evaluated the system performance in different X-ray imaging applications both with synchrotron-based experiments and in the laboratory environment.
Seasonal differences in the vertical distribution pattern of Japanese jack mackerel, Trachurus japonicus: changes according to age?
Authors: Nakamura Takeshi , Hamano Akira 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Nakamura, T., and Hamano, A. 2009. Seasonal differences in the vertical distribution pattern of Japanese jack mackerel, Trachurus japonicus: changes according to age? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1289–1295. The Japanese jack mackerel, Trachurus japonicus, is commercially and ecologically one of the most important fishery resources in Japanese waters. A clear understanding of the age-dependent, vertical distribution pattern is important for the effective and sustainable management of this resource. In this study, acoustic surveys were conducted from June to November 2001 in the western Sea of Japan to clarify seasonal differences. The survey area included a number of artificial reefs at depths >100 m. To identify fish species and determine the characteristics of the water column, simultaneous biological sampling and oceanographic surveys were carried out. The vertical distribution of Japanese jack mackerel varied with their age and size and between seasons. In June and July, aggregations of juvenile (age 0; <10 cm in length) Japanese jack mackerel were found in a layer between 20 and 50 m deep associated with a temperature range of 19–21°C. However, the age-0 aggregations were not observed from August to November. Conversely, the age-1+ schools aggregated around the artificial reefs when the temperature was <19°C. It is suggested that there are seasonal differences in the vertical distribution pattern between the early life and adult stages of Japanese jack mackerel. Because of the different vertical distributions of these life stages, acoustic backscatter information is useful for determining the age of the observed fish.
Statistical relationships between the distributions of groundfish and crabs in the eastern Bering Sea and processed returns from a single-beam echosounder
Authors: McConnaughey Robert A. , Syrjala Stephen E. 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
McConnaughey, R. A., and Syrjala, S. E. 2009. Statistical relationships between the distributions of groundfish and crabs in the eastern Bering Sea and processed returns from a single-beam echosounder. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1425–1432. Groundfish and benthic invertebrates are not randomly distributed over the continental shelf of the eastern Bering Sea (EBS). Annual trawl surveys reveal distributional patterns that vary according to species, and substantial interannual variation in these patterns suggests some degree of environmental control. Quantitative habitat models are developed to explain the distribution and abundance of species in the EBS. Simple models based on readily available data (temperature and depth) are somewhat informative, but offer limited practical value. Earlier research in the EBS indicated that surficial sediments affect the distribution and abundance of groundfish. However, traditional sampling with grabs and cores is impractical over large areas, and an efficient sampling strategy is needed. Echosounders allow surveys of large areas, but it is unknown if they measure the relevant properties of sediments. Seabed echoes from a calibrated, single-beam echosounder were recorded over 17 000 km of trackline covering the EBS shelf. Generalized additive models were used to fit acoustic and other variables to abundance data for ten species. The final models explained 28–77% of the variability in abundances, including a marginal contribution of 2–13% by the acoustic predictors.
A comparison of two surveys of invertebrates at Pacific Ocean islands: the giant clam at Raivavae Island, Australes Archipelago, French Polynesia
Authors: Andréfouët Serge , Friedman Kim , Gilbert Antoine , Remoissenet Georges 
Published: May 2009

Abstract
Andréfouët, S., Friedman, K., Gilbert, A., and Remoissenet, G. 2009. A comparison of two surveys of invertebrates at Pacific Ocean islands: the giant clam at Raivavae Island, Australes Archipelago, French Polynesia. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1825–1836. An assessment of invertebrate fisheries is currently taking place at several Pacific Ocean islands. The objectives are to obtain either detailed information on certain stocks at limited sites or to assess more broadly a variety of benthic resources across different islands. In French Polynesia, giant clam (Tridacna maxima) populations were surveyed by Service de la Pêche and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (SPE/IRD). Sampling was optimized to determine stock abundance as a tool to enhance management of the clam fishery. Currently, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is investigating throughout the Pacific the status of invertebrate resources; a large-scale study not necessarily establishing a precise stock estimate for resources such as clams, but comparing resource status for several target species using coverage, density, and size measures. Raivavae Island (French Polynesia) was investigated by both programmes and offered an opportunity to verify whether the different sampling schedules provided consistent perspectives of the status of the T. maxima resource. The different strategies that SPE/IRD and SPC adopted resulted in no direct spatial overlap between the locations investigated: nevertheless, the ranges of densities and clam sizes recorded were generally consistent between surveys, and both programmes described similar spatial variation in clam presence at an island scale. SPE/IRD provided a detailed map of clam densities per habitat using a high-resolution satellite image, which yielded an estimated standing stock of 8.16 ± 0.91 million clams, representing a flesh biomass of 354 ± 41 t. SPC's study delivered coverage, density, and clam length, but no stock estimate. Unavailable from SPE/IRD, SPC also described the status of a variety of important invertebrate species targeted by fishers in the Pacific. Both programmes independently made similar fishery management recommendations. The relative merits and complementarities of the two approaches in the context of Pacific Ocean Island resource management are discussed.
The Effect of Ambiguous Data on Phylogenetic Estimates Obtained by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference
Authors: Lemmon Alan R. , Brown Jeremy M. , Stanger-Hall Kathrin , Lemmon Emily Moriarty 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAlthough an increasing number of phylogenetic data sets are incomplete, the effect of ambiguous data on phylogenetic accuracy is not well understood. We use 4-taxon simulations to study the effects of ambiguous data (i.e., missing characters or gaps) in maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian frameworks. By introducing ambiguous data in a way that removes confounding factors, we provide the first clear understanding of 1 mechanism by which ambiguous data can mislead phylogenetic analyses. We find that in both ML and Bayesian frameworks, among-site rate variation can interact with ambiguous data to produce misleading estimates of topology and branch lengths. Furthermore, within a Bayesian framework, priors on branch lengths and rate heterogeneity parameters can exacerbate the effects of ambiguous data, resulting in strongly misleading bipartition posterior probabilities. The magnitude and direction of the ambiguous data bias are a function of the number and taxonomic distribution of ambiguous characters, the strength of topological support, and whether or not the model is correctly specified. The results of this study have major implications for all analyses that rely on accurate estimates of topology or branch lengths, including divergence time estimation, ancestral state reconstruction, tree-dependent comparative methods, rate variation analysis, phylogenetic hypothesis testing, and phylogeographic analysis.