bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Challenging homeostasis to define biomarkers for nutrition related health
Authors: van Ommen Ben , Keijer Jaap , Heil Sandra G. , Kaput Jim 
Published: June 2009

AbstractA primary goal of nutrition research is to optimize health and prevent or delay disease. Biomarkers to quantify health optimization are needed since many if not most biomarkers are developed for diseases. Quantifying “normal homeostasis” and developing validated biomarkers are formidable tasks because of the robustness of homeostasis and of inter‐individual diversity. In this paper, we discuss the science, strategies, and technologies for measuring parameters that define individual health. The following concepts are central to define the physiology of the healthy individual: (i) responses to a challenge of homeostasis will be more informative than static homeostatic measures; (ii) processes involved in maintaining homeostasis usually are multi‐factorial and require quantitative analyses of the many individual components involved; (iii) health includes a large variation in “normality” and the effects of nutritional interventions may remain hidden in this “diversity of robustness,” if incompletely analyzed. Specifically, comprehensive multi‐parameter (“omics”) analysis may identify key parameters (biomarkers) and lead to a greater understanding of health supporting processes. Perturbation tests that accurately target aspects of the overarching drivers of health (metabolism, oxidation, inflammation, and psychological stress) may be instrumental in creating knowledge for maintaining health and preventing disease through nutrition.
On modeling the composition dependence of the bulk viscosity of immiscible polymer blends
Authors: Han Chang Dae 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to clear the confusion in the literature on the following two issues: (1) determination of the bulk viscosity of immiscible polymer blends using a plunger‐type capillary viscometer and (2) modeling the composition dependence of the bulk viscosity of immiscible polymer blends. Related to the first issue, it is pointed out that measurement of the total pressure drop across the entire length of a capillary die, while using a plunger‐type viscometer, to determine the bulk viscosity of an immiscible polymer blend is not justified. This is because the morphology (the state of dispersion) of an immiscible polymer blend varies along the axis of a capillary die. Related to the second issue, it is pointed out that the use of such empirical expressions as inverse additivity or logarithmic additivity relationships is of no rheological significance to determine the composition dependence of the bulk viscosity of immiscible polymer blends. This is because such empirical expressions do not contain terms describing the state of dispersion of an immiscible polymer blend. A computational approach is suggested, though formidable but not insurmountable, which will lead to establishing rheology–morphology–processing relationships in immiscible polymer blends. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Characterisation of enzymatically oxidised lignosulfonates and their application on lignocellulosic fabrics
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Silva Carla , Zille Andrea , Lopez Carmen , Evtuguin Dmitry V , Cavaco‐Paulo Artur 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: The ‘double function’ of laccase, from the ascomycete Myceliophthora, to depolymerise/polymerise lignin was studied in this work. A lignosulfonate (LS) compound was oxidised by enzymatic action and several techniques were applied to measure the polymeric changes obtained. This study was focused on the attachment level of the oxidised LS at the flax surface.RESULTS: Modified solutions were studied in terms of surface charge. Zeta potential values obtained showed an increase of polymerisation after several days of incubation. The change in molecular weight after LS polymerisation was detected using gel permeation chromatography. An increase of 1700 Da was achieved. Fourier transform infrared and UV‐visible spectroscopy techniques were applied and the results showed an increase of the degree of polymerisation. The colour strength of flax fabrics incubated with oxidised LS solutions was also measured and an increase of K/S (K, absorption coefficient; S, scattering coefficient) after enzymatic oxidation was observed.CONCLUSION: The oxidised lignin products obtained show good potential for use in natural surface modification of textile materials containing flavonoids. These findings have important practical implications for lignocellulosic fibre coloration, where new polymers can replace harsh chemicals in the textile industry. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of starting‐solution pH on the growth of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis
Authors: Kumar Y. B. Kishore , Babu G. Suresh , Bhaskar P. Uday , Raja V. Sundara 
Published: June 2009

AbstractCu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films, a potential solar‐cell absorber material, have been successfully deposited onto soda lime glass held at a substrate temperature of 643 K. The effect of starting‐solution pH on the properties of deposited films is investigated. The solution pH was varied in the range 3.0 to 5.5. The films were characterized by studying their composition, structural, optical and electrical properties. X‐ray diffraction studies revealed that polycrystalline CZTS films with kesterite structure could be obtained from a solution with pH = 3.0. However, the films are nonstoichiometric and may contain binary phases in the amorphous form. Films deposited from a solution with pH = 4.5 contain binary phases in addition to CZTS. The lattice parameters of CZTS films are found to be a = 0.542 nm and c = 1.085 nm. The optical bandgap of these films is 1.45 eV and the optical absorption coefficient is >104 cm–1. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Structure, optical and electrical properties of Al:ZnO thin films deposited by DC sputtering at room temperature on glass and plastic substrates
Authors: Guillén C. , Herrero J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractTransparent and conductive Al‐doped ZnO (AZO) films with thickness between 0.2 and 1.1 μm were deposited by sputtering at room temperature on glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. All films were polycrystalline with average crystallite size increasing when the film thickness was increased, being smaller for the layers grown on PET, which showed also a higher lattice distortion. For a same thickness, the optical band gap energy is found higher for the AZO layers deposited on PET, and such variation is related to the corresponding structural distortion. Besides, carrier mobility is found increasing and resistivity decreasing when the film thickness was increased, achieving a minimum value of 1.6 mΩ cm on glass and PET samples. An inverse relationship between the free carrier concentration and the mobility has been established, applying to the films grown on both substrates. With the thickest AZO layers, sheet resistance below 15 Ω sq–1 and average visible transmittance about 85% have been obtained by sputtering at room temperature on glass and PET substrates. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Micrometer‐sized DNA–Single‐Fluorophore–DNA Supramolecule: Synthesis and Single‐Molecule Characterization
Authors: Lee Jungkyu K. , Jäckel Frank , Moerner W. E. , Bao Zhenan 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe synthesis of single‐fluorophore‐bis(micrometer‐sized DNA) triblock supramolecules and the optical and structural characterization of the construct at the single‐molecule level is reported. A fluorophore‐bis(oligodeoxynucleotide) triblock is synthesized via the amide‐coupling reaction. Subsequent protocols of DNA hybridization/ligation are developed to form the supramolecular triblock structure with λ‐DNA fragments on the micrometer length scale. The successful synthesis of the micrometer‐sized DNA–single‐fluorophore–DNA supramolecule is confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis with fluorescence imaging under UV excitation. Single triblock structures are directly imaged by combined scanning force microscopy and single‐molecule fluorescence microscopy, and provide unambiguous confirmation of the existence of the single fluorophore inserted in the middle of the long DNA. This type of triblock structure is a step closer to providing a scaffold for single‐molecule electronic devices after metallization of the DNAs.
Endometrial thickness following medical abortion is not predictive of subsequent surgical intervention
Authors: Reeves M. F. , Fox M. C. , Lohr P. A. , Creinin M. D. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the ability of endometrial thickness after medical abortion to predict the need for subsequent dilatation and curettage (D&C).MethodsWe pooled data from two multicenter medical abortion trials involving 2208 women who received mifepristone orally followed by misoprostol vaginally. Women returned for transvaginal ultrasonography approximately 7 days later. The endometrial thickness was measured if no gestational sac was present. Final status was confirmed by a phone interview at 5 weeks. The area under the receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curve was calculated to assess the overall ability of endometrial thickness to predict the need for subsequent D&C. Endometrial thickness was dichotomized using threshold values at 5‐mm increments from 10 to 30 mm. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value were calculated to evaluate the ability of each endometrial thickness threshold value to predict subsequent D&C. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to adjust endometrial thickness values for study, treatment group, and study site.ResultsAt 7 days after misoprostol treatment, 1870 women (84.7%) had endometrial thickness assessed. Thirty of these women (1.6%) subsequently underwent D&C. The mean endometrial thickness was 14.5 mm for women who underwent D&C and 10.9 mm for those who did not (difference 3.5 mm (95% CI, 1.8–5.3 mm)). Endometrial thickness was poorly predictive of the need for D&C, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.65. All endometrial thickness thresholds had positive predictive values of 25% or less. The results were unchanged by adjustment of endometrial thickness values by multivariable modeling.ConclusionsAlthough endometrial thickness following successful expulsion of the gestational sac is thicker in women who will eventually require surgical intervention after medical abortion, endometrial thickness is not a clinically useful predictor of the subsequent need for D&C. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Framework for risk‐based planning of operation and maintenance for offshore wind turbines
Authors: Sørensen John Dalsgaard 
Published: June 2009

AbstractFor offshore wind turbines, costs to operation and maintenance (OM) are substantial. This paper describes a risk‐based life cycle approach for optimal planning of OM. The approach is based on pre‐posterior Bayesian decision theory, and can be used both to overall, initial planning of OM, and to sequential optimal decision making on planning of OM taking into account new information. Deterioration mechanisms such as fatigue, corrosion, wear and erosion are associated with significant uncertainty. Observations of the degree of damage can increase the reliability of predictions, especially in connection with condition‐based maintenance. The approach can be used for gearboxes, generators, fatigue cracks, corrosion, etc. This paper also describes how probabilistic indicators can be used to quantify indirect information about the damage state for critical components, e.g. gearboxes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dating and disclosure: Adolescent management of information regarding romantic involvement
Authors: Daddis Christopher , Randolph Danielle 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTVoluntary disclosure regarding romantic involvement was examined in a sample of 222 middle and late adolescents (124 female adolescents, M = 16.19 years). Disclosure was described with three empirically derived, conceptually meaningful composites that pertained to identity/choice of romantic partner, everyday expression of romantic relationship, and parental supervision/sexual contact. Disclosure regarding identity/choice and expression was greater for females than for males and mothers were targets more than were fathers. Older adolescents disclosed less regarding supervision/sex than did younger adolescents. Trust was positively associated with disclosure, particularly for females when considering supervision issues. Assessment of adolescents' beliefs regarding act's potential for self‐harm and consequences to others illuminated adolescents' reasoning regarding disclosure and nondisclosure. Potential harm was positively associated with disclosure regarding supervision/sex issues. The potential for an activity to affect other people was positively associated with disclosure regarding identity/choice and expression for middle adolescents but not for late adolescents.
Random data Cauchy problem for supercritical Schrödinger equations
Authors: Thomann Laurent 
Published: June 2009

In this paper we consider the Schrödinger equation with power-like nonlinearity and confining potential or without potential. This equation is known to be well-posed with data in a Sobolev space

\mathcal{H}^{s}

if

s

is large enough and strongly ill-posed is

s

is below some critical threshold

s_{c}

. Here we use the randomisation method of the inital conditions, introduced by N. Burq and N. Tzvetkov, and we are able to show that the equation admits strong solutions for data in

\mathcal{H}^{s}

for some

s < s_{c}

.

Résumé

Dans cet article on s'intéresse à l'équation de Schrödinger avec non-linéarité polynômiale et potentiel confinant ou sans potentiel. Cette équation est bien posée pour des données dans un espace de Sobolev

\mathcal{H}^{s}

si

s

est assez grand, et fortement instable si

s

est sous un certain seuil critique

s_{c}

. Grâce à une randomisation des conditions initiales, comme l'ont fait N. Burq et N. Tzvetkov, on est capable de construire des solutions fortes pour des données dans

\mathcal{H}^{s}

avec des

s < s_{c}

.
Increasing use of opioids from 2004 to 2007 – Pharmacoepidemiological data from a complete national prescription database in Norway
Authors: Fredheim Olav Magnus S. , Skurtveit Svetlana , Breivik Harald , Borchgrevink Petter C. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground: A high opioid consumption for cancer related and acute pain may indicate adequate pain treatment. Analysis of a national, compulsory and complete database of all dispensed prescription drugs in Norway (NorPD) may reveal important epidemiological data on prescription pattern of opioids. This study investigated the prevalence of opioid dispensions in 2004–2007 and explored patterns of use.Methods: All pharmacies in Norway submit data electronically to NorPD on all dispensed prescriptions. All prescriptions to any individual are identified by a unique pseudonym. All persons who were dispensed opioids from 2004 to 2007 are included in the study. Cancer patients are identified by a reimbursement code. Non‐cancer pain indications are inferred from pattern of prescriptions.Results: 470,638 Norwegians were dispensed opioids in 2007, corresponding to 9.7% of the population (13.0% of adults). Only 13,220 persons (2.8% of all patients) received opioids for cancer pain, accounting for 10% of all dispensed opioids measured in defined daily doses (DDDs). Among persons with non‐cancer pain 77% received only one dispension per year or less than 50 DDDs/year. Fifteen percent received from 50 to 200 DDDs/year. Only 13,846 (4%) received >400 DDDs/year and are likely to be daily users for chronic non‐cancer pain. From 2004 to 2007 a 9 % increase was observed in the number of persons receiving opioids and the number of dispensions, whereas opioid types, doses, and indications appeared stable.Interpretation: From these prescription patterns it can be concluded that the majority of patients received opioids for acute, non‐cancer pain.
DEALING WITH CHINA'S FUTURE POPULATION DECLINE: A PROPOSAL FOR REPLACING LOW BIRTH RATES WITH SUSTAINABLE RATES
Authors: CAO SHIXIONG , WANG XIUQING 
Published: June 2009

SummaryDecreasing population levels due to declining birth rates are becoming a potentially serious social problem in developed and rapidly developing countries. China urgently needed to reduce birth rates so that its population would decline to a sustainable level, and the family planning policy designed to achieve this goal has largely succeeded. However, continuing to pursue this policy is leading to serious, unanticipated problems such as a shift in the country's population distribution towards the elderly and increasing difficulty supporting that elderly population. Social and political changes that promoted low birth rates and the lack of effective policies to encourage higher birth rates suggest that mitigating the consequences of the predicted population decline will depend on a revised approach based on achieving sustainable birth rates.
Irrationality measures for some automatic real numbers
Authors: ADAMCZEWSKI BORIS , RIVOAL TANGUY 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis paper is devoted to the rational approximation of automatic real numbers, that is, real numbers whose expansion in an integer base can be generated by a finite automaton. We derive upper bounds for the irrationality exponent of famous automatic real numbers associated with the Thue–Morse, Rudin–Shapiro, paperfolding and Baum–Sweet sequences. These upper bounds arise from the construction of some explicit Padé or Padé type approximants for the generating functions of these sequences. In particular, we prove that the Thue–Morse–Mahler numbers have an irrationality exponent at most equal to 4. We also obtain an explicit description of infinitely many convergents to these numbers.
Maturity and growth population dynamics of Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Kattegat
Authors: Lambert Gwladys , Nielsen J. Rasmus , Larsen Lena I. , Sparholt Henrik 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
Lambert, G., Nielsen, J. R., Larsen, L. I., and Sparholt, H. 2009. Maturity and growth population dynamics of Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Kattegat. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1899–1914. The population dynamics of the Norway pout stock in the North Sea are investigated by statistical analyses, and GIS of ICES International Bottom Trawl Surveys (IBTS) and Danish commercial catch data from 1983 to 2006. The stock spawns mainly around mid-February along the northeastern English and Scottish coasts and between Shetland and Norway. Sex ratios indicate that males, which mature younger than females (age-at-50%-maturity, respectively, 1.2 and 1.5 years), migrate out of the Skagerrak–Kattegat to the spawning grounds before females. There is a decrease in the 2+-group maturity ratios as well as in weight and female length from before to after spawning. The results indicate spawning mortality. Only some 20% of the 1-group reaches maturity in the first quarter, which is higher than assumed in the stock assessment. Although the maturity ogives are variable over time, this difference should be taken into account when estimating spawning-stock biomass in routine assessments. Growth is also variable, with a tendency for male maximum length to be smaller than that of females, and immature fish to be smaller than mature ones in each age group. The juvenile growth rate is higher when the stock density is low and results in a reduced age-at-50%-maturity. Besides these intraspecific patterns, the growth rates show interspecific links to stock sizes of the important predators: cod, haddock, and whiting.
Connectivity effects on productivity, stability, and persistence in a herring metapopulation model
Authors: Secor David H. , Kerr Lisa A. , Cadrin Steven X. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract
Secor, D. H., Kerr, L. A., and Cadrin, S. X. 2009. Connectivity effects on productivity, stability, and persistence in a herring metapopulation model. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1726–1732. Diverse and interacting spawning groups of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) have varying degrees of independence to environmental conditions. How these population components respond independently to the same set of environmental conditions, and are connected through straying or entrainment, will contribute to the aggregate metapopulation dynamics. The consequences of connectivity for productivity, stability, and persistence were evaluated in an age-structured model of a two-component metapopulation. Simulation scenarios of straying and entrainment were developed to examine the effects of component interchange and recruitment covariance on metapopulation attributes. Asynchronous component responses should result in reduced variance in metapopulation dynamics, which was measured as the portfolio effect (PE). Most types and magnitudes of connectivity reduced metapopulation productivity and stability. Increased connectivity tended to increase instability of a component by distributing the effect of strong year classes among components and disrupting the “storage effect” within components. Density-dependent straying and entrainment, respectively, showed stabilizing and destabilizing feedback cycles on metapopulation stability and persistence. Furthermore, high rates of connectivity tended to result in increased synchronous responses between components and depressed metapopulation productivity, stability, and PE. Exploitation on a metapopulation should similarly depress independence among components because high mortality will dampen component responses to environmental forcing.
Microsatellite analysis of red mullet Mullus barbatus (Perciformes, Mullidae) reveals the isolation of the Adriatic Basin in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Maggio Teresa , Lo Brutto Sabrina , Garoia Flavio , Tinti Fausto , Arculeo Marco 
Published: June 2009

AbstractMaggio, T., Lo Brutto, S., Garoia, F., Tinti, F., and Arculeo, M. 2009. Microsatellite analysis of red mullet Mullus barbatus (Perciformes, Mullidae) reveals the isolation of the Adriatic Basin in the Mediterranean Sea. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 1883–1891. The red mullet Mullus barbatus is commercially one of the most important demersal fish resources in the Mediterranean. Molecular data on its genetic population structure throughout the Mediterranean are reported. Six microsatellite loci displayed a high degree of expected heterozygosity and a high allele number per locus. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium test revealed an overall tendency towards heterozygote deficiency, probably caused by the admixture of various demes. Population differentiation was assessed by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and Bayesian analysis. AMOVA showed that most of the variation was within the population, but the mean value of FST was significant, indicating genetic differentiation among the samples analysed. This differentiation is primarily attributable to the isolation of the Adriatic samples and partly to a weaker substructuring of the populations in the Gulf of Lions, Tyrrhenian Sea, Strait of Sicily, and Ionian Sea. Bayesian analysis also revealed genetic differentiation among the samples analysed, identifying two genetic clusters. The restricted gene flow from and to the Adriatic, also recorded for other fish species, most likely reflects the environmental separation of the Adriatic and suggests that management protocols for the red mullet in the Mediterranean should be revisited.