bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Negative effect of a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diet on small peripheral artery reactivity in patients with increased cardiovascular risk
Authors: Merino Jordi , Kones Richard , Ferré Raimon , Plana Núria , Girona Josefa , Aragonés Gemma , Ibarretxe Daiana , Heras Mercedes , Masana Luis 
Published: July 2012

Low-carbohydrate diets have become increasingly popular for weight loss. Although they may improve some metabolic markers, particularly in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) or the metabolic syndrome (MS), their net effect on arterial wall function remains unclear. The objective was to evaluate the relation between dietary macronutrient composition and the small artery reactive hyperaemia index (saRHI), a marker of small artery endothelial function, in a cohort of patients at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. The present cross-sectional study included 247 patients. Diet was evaluated by a 3-d food-intake register and reduced to a novel low-carbohydrate diet score (LCDS). Physical examination, demographic, biochemical and anthropometry parameters were recorded, and the saRHI was measured in each patient. Individuals in the lowest LCDS quartile (Q1, 45 % carbohydrate; 20 % protein; 32 % fat) had higher saRHI values than those in the top quartile (Q4, 29 % carbohydrate, 24 % protein, 40 % fat; 1·66 (sd 0·41) v. 1·52 (sd 0·22), P= 0·037). These results were particularly strong in patients with the MS (Q1 = 1·82 (sd 0·32) v. Q4 = 1·61 (sd 027); P= 0·021) and T2D (Q1 = 1·78 (sd 0·31) v. Q4 = 1·62 (sd 0·35); P= 0·011). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that individuals in the highest LCDS quartile had a significantly negative coefficient of saRHI, which was independent of confounders (OR − 0·85; 95 % CI 0·19, 0·92; P= 0·031). These findings suggest that a dietary pattern characterised by a low amount of carbohydrate, but high amounts of protein and fat, is associated with a poorer small artery vascular reactivity in patients with increased CV risk.
Mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt modestly improves iodine status in schoolchildren
Authors: Skeaff Sheila A. , Lonsdale-Cooper Emily 
Published: July 2012

Iodine deficiency has re-emerged in many parts of the world including the UK, Australia and New Zealand (NZ). In 2009, the NZ government introduced the mandatory fortification of bread with iodised salt as a strategy to improve iodine intakes. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of fortification on the iodine status of NZ schoolchildren. A school-based cluster survey was used to randomly select schools from two NZ cities. Children aged 8–10 years were administered a general questionnaire, and asked to provide a casual urine and finger-prick blood sample. The median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) of the children (n147) was 113 μg/l, which falls between 100 and 199 μg/l indicating adequate iodine status; 12 % of children had a UIC < 50 μg/l and 39 % had a UIC < 100 μg/l. The median serum thyroxine concentration was 115 nmol/l. The median serum thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration was 10·8 μg/l and falls in the 10·0–19·9 μg/l range indicative of mild iodine deficiency, suggesting that these children still had enlarged thyroid glands. When compared with the median UIC of 68 μg/l reported in the 2002 NZ Children's Nutrition Survey, the UIC of children in the present study had increased, which is probably caused by the addition of iodised salt to bread. However, the elevated concentration of Tg in these children suggests that the increase in UIC is not sufficient to ensure that thyroid volume has normalised. The fortification of other staple foods, in addition to bread, should be considered to ensure good iodine status in NZ children.
SUBGROUPS OF FINITE INDEX IN (2, 3, n)-TRIANGLE GROUPS
Authors: STOTHERS W. WILSON 
Published: July 2012

AbstractFor an integer n ≥ 7, let Δ(n) denote the (2, 3, n)-triangle group, and let M(n) be the positive integer determined by the conditions that Δ(n) has a subgroup of index m for all m ≥ M(n), but no subgroup of index M(n) − 1. The main purpose of the paper is to obtain information (bounds, in some cases explicit values) concerning the function M(n) (cf. Theorem 1). We also show that Δ(n) is replete (i.e., has a subgroup of index m for every integer m ≥ 1) if, and only if, n is divisible by 20 or by 30 (see Theorem 2).
Children's knowledge of hierarchical phrase structure: quantifier floating in Japanese
Authors: SUZUKI TAKAAKI , YOSHINAGA NAOKO 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe interpretation of floating quantifiers in Japanese requires knowledge of hierarchical phrase structure. However, the input to children is insufficient or even misleading, as our analysis indicates. This presents an intriguing question on learnability: do children interpret floating quantifiers based on a structure-dependent rule which is not obvious in the input or do they employ a sentence comprehension strategy based on the available input? Two experiments examined four- to six-year-old Japanese-speaking children for their interpretations of floating quantifiers in SOV and OSV sentences. The results revealed that no child employed a comprehension strategy in terms of the linear ordering of constituents, and most five- and six-year-olds correctly interpreted floating quantifiers when word-order difficulty was reduced. These facts indicate that children's interpretation of floating quantifiers is structurally dependent on hierarchical phrase structure, suggesting that this knowledge is a part of children's grammar despite the insufficient input available to them.
Hepatitis B virus transmission in pre-adolescent schoolchildren in four multi-ethnic areas of England
Authors: BALOGUN M. A. , PARRY J. V. , MUTTON K. , OKOLO C. , BENONS L. , BAXENDALE H. , HARDIMAN T. , BOXALL E. H. , SIRA J. , BROWN M. , BARNETT S. , GUNGABISSOON U. , WILLIAMS A. , KELLY D. A. , VIJERATNAM S. , IJAZ S. , TAYLOR B. , TEO C. G. , RAMSAY M. E. 
Published: July 2012

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to estimate the amount of childhood hepatitis B virus transmission in children born in the UK, a very low-prevalence country, that is preventable only by universal hepatitis B immunization of infants. Oral fluid specimens were collected from schoolchildren aged 7–11 years in four inner city multi-ethnic areas and tested for the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Those found positive or indeterminate were followed up with testing on serum to confirm their hepatitis B status. The overall prevalence of anti-HBc in children was low [0·26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·14–0·44]. The estimated average annual incidence of hepatitis B was estimated to be 29·26/100 000 children (95% CI 16·00–49·08). The total incidence that is preventable only by a universal infant immunization programme in the UK was estimated to be between 5·00 and 12·49/100 000. The study demonstrates that the extent of horizontal childhood hepatitis B virus transmission is low in children born in the UK and suggests that schools in the UK are an uncommon setting for the transmission of the virus. Targeted hepatitis B testing and immunization of migrants from intermediate- and high-prevalence countries is likely to be a more effective measure to reduce childhood transmission than a universal infant immunization programme.
The implementation and effectiveness of school-based nutrition promotion programmes using a health-promoting schools approach: a systematic review
Authors: Wang Dongxu , Stewart Donald 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate implementation and effectiveness of nutrition promotion programmes using the health-promoting schools (HPS) approach, to indicate areas where further research is needed and to make recommendations for practice in this field.DesignThe searched electronic databases included: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Health Reference Center, Informit Search, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Social Services Abstracts and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were: (i) controlled or before-and-after studies evaluating a nutrition intervention and involving the HPS approach, either fully or in part; (ii) provision of information about components and delivery of the intervention; and (iii) report on all evaluated outcomes.SettingSchools.SubjectsStudents, parents and school staff.ResultsAll included studies described intervention delivery and six reported on process evaluation. In intervention schools school environment and ethos were more supportive, appropriate curriculum was delivered and parents and/or the community were more engaged and involved. Students participated in interventions at differing levels, but the majority was satisfied with the intervention. The evidence indicates that nutrition promotion programmes using the HPS approach can increase participants’ consumption of high-fibre foods, healthier snacks, water, milk, fruit and vegetables. It can also reduce participants’ ‘breakfast skipping’, as well as reduce intakes of red food, low-nutrient dense foods, fatty and cream foods, sweet drinks consumption and eating disorders. It can help to develop hygienic habits and improved food safety behaviours.ConclusionsMore professional training for teachers in the HPS approach, further qualitative studies, longer intervention periods, improved follow-up evaluations and adequate funding are required for future school-based nutrition promotion programmes.
Determinants of Dutch general practitioners’ nutrition and physical activity guidance practices
Authors: van Dillen Sonja ME , Hiddink Gerrit J , van Woerkum Cees MJ 
Published: July 2012

AbstractObjectiveGeneral practitioners (GP) are uniquely placed to guide their patients on nutrition and physical activity. The aims of the present study were to assess: (i) the extent to which GP guide on nutrition and physical activity; (ii) the determinants that cause GP to give guidance on nutrition and physical activity; and (iii) the extent to which these guidance practices have the same determinants.DesignCross-sectional study, mail questionnaire.SettingDutch general practice.SubjectsFour hundred and seventy-two GP in practice for 5–30 years.ResultsOur study showed that the majority of GP had similar practices for both nutrition and physical activity guidance. Fair associations were found between nutrition and physical activity guidance practices. More than half of the explained variance in the models of physical activity guidance practices was improved by the inclusion of nutrition guidance practices in the models. Moreover, GP reported higher frequencies of physical activity guidance practices than nutrition guidance practices. Nutrition guidance practices predicted the same physical activity guidance practices.ConclusionsThe majority of GP had similar practices for nutrition and physical activity guidance. GP were more inclined to guide their patients on physical activity than on nutrition. Self-efficacy was found to be a determinant in most models for guidance practices. Guidance practices proved to be a mix of prevention and treatment components. Consequently, we advise raising the self-efficacy of GP by training in medical school and in continuing medical education. We also recommend the combination of both nutrition and physical activity guidance in general practice.
Improving the identification of male pelvic structures in post-prostatectomy patients on cone-beam CT: a region of interest atlas study
Authors: Sahota K. , Bell L. , Cox J. , Atyeo J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractPurpose: To investigate the benefits of a regions of interest atlas for radiation therapists (RTTs) to aid in the identification of male pelvic structures in radiotherapy for prostate cancer, post-prostatectomy.Methods and materials: Recruiting 35 radiation therapists from the Royal North Shore Hospital, a pretest- post-test study design was employed, with the atlas as the intervention. Using two patient CT data-sets, structure identification was scored as correct or incorrect and RT confidence levels were recorded using a visual analogue scale. The number of years of experience of each RT was also documented. Statistical significance was calculated using the Wilcoxon signed ranks test, paired samples t-test and chi-square tests.Results: A statistically significant improvement was found between the pre-test and post-test in terms of both structure identification (p < 0.001) and confidence (p < 0.001) levels, with use of the atlas. The atlas was of use to staff of varying experience levels. Structures that were not normally used for target volume localisation were the hardest to identify.Conclusion: Regions of interest atlases should be implemented to help identification of areas of anatomical complexity.
Monoamine oxidase A and A/B knockout mice display autistic-like features
Authors: Bortolato Marco , Godar Sean C. , Alzghoul Loai , Zhang Junlin , Darling Ryan D. , Simpson Kimberly L. , Bini Valentina , Chen Kevin , Wellman Cara L. , Lin Rick C. S. , Shih Jean C. 
Published: July 2012

Abstract
Converging lines of evidence show that a sizable subset of autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) is characterized by increased blood levels of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), yet the mechanistic link between these two phenomena remains unclear. The enzymatic degradation of brain 5-HT is mainly mediated by monoamine oxidase (MAO)A and, in the absence of this enzyme, by its cognate isoenzyme MAOB. MAOA and A/B knockout (KO) mice display high 5-HT levels, particularly during early developmental stages. Here we show that both mutant lines exhibit numerous behavioural hallmarks of ASDs, such as social and communication impairments, perseverative and stereotypical responses, behavioural inflexibility, as well as subtle tactile and motor deficits. Furthermore, both MAOA and A/B KO mice displayed neuropathological alterations reminiscent of typical ASD features, including reduced thickness of the corpus callosum, increased dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and disrupted microarchitecture of the cerebellum. The severity of repetitive responses and neuropathological aberrances was generally greater in MAOA/B KO animals. These findings suggest that the neurochemical imbalances induced by MAOA deficiency (either by itself or in conjunction with lack of MAOB) may result in an array of abnormalities similar to those observed in ASDs. Thus, MAOA and A/B KO mice may afford valuable models to help elucidate the neurobiological bases of these disorders and related neurodevelopmental problems.
Between Political Engagement and Aesthetic Autonomy: Fernando Lopes-Graça's Dialectical Approach to Music and Politics
Authors: VIEIRA DE CARVALHO MÁRIO 
Published: July 2012

AbstractIn this article the highly contested relationship between art and politics in the twentieth century is discussed by way of the life and work of the Portuguese composer Fernando Lopes-Graça (1906–94). Lopes-Graça, who described himself as ‘a communist from birth’, lived for almost fifty years in Salazar's ‘New State’, a Fascist-type dictatorship, which emerged from a military putsch in 1926 and lasted until 1974. His experience as a communist under a right-wing régime was therefore very different from that of either communist composers living in Western democratic countries or those active in the Eastern bloc. Lopes-Graça stood apart from most other party intellectuals in his resistance to the doctrine of socialist realism. Yet from 1945 onwards he composed revolutionary songs in which his communist engagement is directly evident. Understanding this apparent tension within his output requires both a careful and nuanced understanding of his own personal position and a clear distinction between political engagement in music on the one hand and socialist realist or neo-realist tendencies on the other. It is that latter distinction – between (in the composer's own terms) ‘lived action’ and ‘imagined action’ – that accounts for the seemingly contradictory coexistence in Lopes-Graça's thinking of aesthetic autonomy and political commitment, and in his music of (to adopt categories posited by Heinrich Besseler) both ‘presentational’ music (for conventional concert settings) and ‘colloquial’ music (to be sung and played ad libitum in political meetings, at demonstrations, in the home, or even in political prisons).
Correction of detector noise and recalibration of NOAA/MEPED energetic proton fluxes
Authors: Asikainen T. , Mursula K. , Maliniemi V. 
Published: July 2012

We report here on new problems in the NOAA/MEPED instruments and the related energetic proton dataset. These problems are solved, and the implied modifications to the earlier recalibration of the dataset are evaluated and adopted. We show that, besides degrading due to radiation damage, the NOAA‐12 and NOAA‐08 satellites suffer from increased electronic noise in the back detector of the proton instrument. We correct the effects of the noise, and present improved estimates for the effective energy thresholds of the MEPED proton detectors which are now determined more robustly than previously. We show that the cumulative Ap index can be used to produce a refined estimate for the temporal evolution of the effective MEPED energy thresholds. The derived energy thresholds of all MEPED instruments increase systematically with the cumulative particle fluxes, and this increase is similar in all satellites. Using the improved energy thresholds we obtain a uniform series of corrected MEPED energetic proton fluxes above 120 keV from 1979 onwards. We find that, due to the effect of the radiation damage and noise, the uncorrected fluxes at these energies were underestimated in the worst case by more than an order of magnitude, and that the earlier correction method also occasionally led to underestimation of the fluxes by nearly an order of magnitude. Such underestimation becomes severe already 1–2 years after the launch of the satellite.
Examination of the absence of noontime bite‐out in equatorial total electron content
Authors: Lee Chien‐Chih 
Published: July 2012

This study examines the absence of noontime bite‐out in the total electron content (TEC) near the geomagnetic equator, using the data of observation and simulation. The results show that the noontime bite‐out is absent not only in TEC, but in the bottomside and topside TECs. In the bottomside ionosphere, the ionizations below about 200 km increase with an increasing solar production from 10:00 to 12:00 LT. Meanwhile, the ionizations between hmF2 and an altitude of about 200 km are removed by the upward E × B drifts. Moreover, because hmF2 is uplifted, there are other increasing ionizations in the bottomside ionosphere. These increasing ionizations are much greater than the former increasing ionizations, and the uplifted hmF2 is caused by the upward E × B drifts. Since the sum of the increasing ionizations is slightly greater than the decreasing ones, the bottomside TEC does not have the noontime bite‐out. In the topside ionosphere, the transport processes dominate. The upward E × B drifts would move ionizations from altitudes near the F2‐peak to the topside ionosphere during noontime. Accordingly, the noontime bite‐out is absent in the topside TEC. Overall, the absent noontime bite‐out in TEC is mainly formed by the upward E × B drifts.
Trends of upper‐layer circulation in the South China Sea during 1959–2008
Authors: Yang Haiyuan , Wu Lixin 
Published: July 2012

In this paper, the trend of upper‐layer circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) is studied based on the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation product for 1959–2008. It is found that the basin‐averaged SST in winter displays a warming rate close to the global mean value while it does not have significant trend in summer. The upper‐layer circulation in the SCS has been weakened in winter by 10% over this period, while in summer it tends to be more energetic. Further analyses suggest that the weakening of the winter SCS ocean circulation in winter is associated with weakening of the East Asian monsoon over recent decades. Moreover, an eastward retreat of the anti‐cyclonic “Kuroshio loop” from the SCS is found, which may be due to an intensification of the Kuroshio transport in the past 50 years.
Chemical composition of tropospheric air masses encountered during high altitude flights (>11.5 km) during the 2009 fall Operation Ice Bridge field campaign
Authors: Yang Mei Ying Melissa , Vay Stephanie A. , Stohl Andreas , Choi Yonghoon , Diskin Glenn S. , Sachse Glen W. , Blake Donald R. 
Published: July 2012

As part of the 2009 Operation Ice Bridge campaign, the NASA DC‐8 aircraft was used to fill the data‐time gap in laser observation of the changes in ice sheets, glaciers and sea ice between ICESat‐I (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite) and ICESat‐II. Complementing the cryospheric instrument payload were four in situ atmospheric sampling instruments integrated onboard to measure trace gas concentrations of CO2, CO, N2O, CH4, water vapor and various VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). This paper examines two plumes encountered at high altitude (12 km) during the campaign; one during a southbound transit flight (13°S) and the other at 86°S over Antarctica. The data presented are especially significant as the Southern Hemisphere is heavily under‐sampled during the austral spring, with few if any high‐resolution airborne observations of atmospheric gases made over Antarctica. Strong enhancements of CO, CH4, N2O, CHCl3, OCS, C2H6, C2H2 and C3H8 were observed in the two intercepted air masses that exhibited variations in VOC composition suggesting different sources. The transport model FLEXPART showed that the 13°S plume contained predominately biomass burning emissions originating from Southeast Asia and South Africa, while both anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions were observed at 86°S with South America and South Africa as indicated source regions. The data presented here show evidence that boundary layer pollution is transported from lower latitudes toward the upper troposphere above the South Pole, which may not have been observed in the past.
Molecular structure of human GM-CSF in complex with a disease-associated anti-human GM-CSF autoantibody and its potential biological implications
Authors: Blech Michaela , Seeliger Daniel , Kistler Barbara , Bauer Margit M. T. , Hafner Mathias , Hörer Stefan , Zeeb Markus , Nar Herbert , Park John E. 
Published: July 2012

Polyclonal autoantibodies against human GM-CSF (granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor) are a hallmark of PAP (pulmonary alveolar proteinosis) and several other reported autoimmune diseases. MB007 is a high-affinity anti-(human GM-CSF) autoantibody isolated from a patient suffering from PAP which shows only modest neutralization of GM-CSF bioactivity. We describe the first crystal structure of a cytokine-directed human IgG1λ autoantibody-binding fragment (Fab) at 1.9 Å (1 Å=0.1 nm) resolution. Its CDR3-H substantially differs from all VH7 germline IgG1 structures reported previously. We derive a reliable model of the antigen–autoantibody complex by using NMR chemical shift perturbation data in combination with computational methods. Superposition of the modelled complex structure with the human GM-CSF–GM-CSF ternary receptor complex reveals only little overlap between receptor and Fab when bound to GM-CSF. Our model provides a structural basis for understanding the mode of action of the MB007 autoantibody.