bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experience Plays a Role in Female Preference for Symmetry in the Swordtail Fish Xiphophorus malinche
Authors: Tudor M. Scarlett , Morris Molly R. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractVariation in female mating preferences was previously detected in wild‐caught Xiphophorus cortezi and Xiphophorus malinche females: smaller (presumed younger) females preferred symmetrical males, while larger (presumed older) females preferred asymmetrical males. We examined the influence of experience on this variation in female preference by determining if X. malinche females would express a preference for symmetry as virgins, shift their preferences for bar symmetry as they got larger (older) and if experience with males of different bar number symmetry could explain the variation in female preference previously detected. Virgin females exhibited no preference for vertical bar number symmetry when tested in the young‐ or old‐age classes. However, young virgins spent more time with the opposite treatment in the second when compared with first test, indicating an ability to detect the difference between symmetry and asymmetry, and potentially a preference to mate with multiple males. When females were reared in one of three treatments, housed with symmetrical, barless or both symmetrical and asymmetrical males, we detected both a treatment and tank effect on strength of preference for symmetry, suggesting that barring pattern and some other aspect of the social environment influenced the development of this mating preference. Finally, we detected no effect of age class on mean strength of preference for symmetry; however, there was a statistically different relationship between female size and strength of preference for symmetry across the two age classes, suggesting that the preference function for symmetry may not be linear in relation to female size.
Naked Mole‐Rat is Sensitive to Social Hierarchy Encoded in Antiphonal Vocalization
Authors: Yosida Shigeto , Okanoya Kazuo 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe maintenance of social relationships is critical for group‐dwelling species. Social animals often exhibit behaviors such as antiphonal vocalizations that reduce conflict and maintain affiliations. Naked mole‐rats (Heterocephalus glaber) have a complex hierarchical society comparable to that of bees and ants. They are also known for their extensive vocal repertoire, which may have evolved in the absence of visual cues. The most frequent vocalization used by naked mole‐rats is the soft chirp (SC). It has an antiphonal nature and may function in rank identification and in maintaining affiliations. Relative body weight differences, which are directly related to social rank, are positively correlated with SC emission rates. SCs are elicited from either physical touch or the SC of another conspecific, and other cues might contribute to SC utterance. In the current study, we examined whether an SC alone was able to elicit SC responses. Specifically, we presented artificial SC‐like sounds and determined whether the response rate was modulated by the acoustic properties of the stimulus. An analysis of response latency revealed that animals responded to the audio stimuli, and a single audio stimulus could elicit responses from two animals. Thus, antiphony in naked mole‐rats may occur among three or more animals. We also found that animals were able to discriminate the acoustic properties of the stimulus and responded more frequently to audio stimuli resembling SCs from large animals than to those resembling SCs from small animals. Therefore, naked mole‐rats may be able to judge social relationships (dominant or subordinate) based solely on SCs. The constraints of subterranean habitats and increased social complexity may have led to the evolution of this communication system.
Proteomic analysis of the rice seed for quality improvement
Authors: Kim Y. J. , Choi S. H. , Park B. S. , Song J. T. , Kim M. C. , Koh H. J. , Seo H. S. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe amount, composition and distribution of seed storage proteins in rice are important factors for flavour and quality. We have analysed the seed proteomes of a relatively high‐quality cultivar, ‘Gopum’ and a relatively low‐quality cultivar, ‘Dobong’. By two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and subsequent MALDI‐TOF/MS, we identified ‘Gopum’‐ and ‘Dobong’‐specific seed proteins at 15 or 50 days after flowering. Of 53 identified proteins, we chose 15 that may have important roles in quality determination or maintenance through regulation of protein stability or disease resistance during grain filling and storage. By real‐time (RT)‐PCR, the expression of a few proteins tightly correlated with transcript levels at specific stages, while that of others did not. Our results suggest that levels of the identified proteins are determined post‐transcriptionally or post‐translationally, and that proteins which were expressed in the seeds of either ‘Gopum’ or ‘Dobong’ may affect rice flavour and quality.
Practice‐based depression screening for psychiatry outpatients: Feasibility comparison of two‐types of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scales
Authors: Nishiyama Takeshi , Ozaki Norio , Iwata Nakao 
Published: August 2009

Aims:  The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) has been validated to avoid misdiagnoses of major depression in routine psychiatric outpatient settings, but it was reported to be only marginally feasible in these specific settings. A briefer and simpler version, known as the 10‐item CES‐D, meant to attain adequate feasibility, has been validated in geriatric outpatient settings, but it has not yet been examined in psychiatry outpatient settings. The purpose of the present study was therefore to compare the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the two types of CES‐D.Methods:  A cross‐sectional analysis was conducted of 86 consecutive outpatients in a psychiatric department in a general hospital.Results:  The 10‐item CES‐D has a higher feasibility than the 20‐item CES‐D, and its internal consistency, reliability, and validity are almost identical to those of the 20‐item CES‐D.Conclusions:  The 10‐item CES‐D is the better instrument to use because of the higher feasibility than the 20‐item CES‐D in psychiatric outpatient settings. The different answer format used in each questionnaire (a yes or no format in the former vs a multiple‐choice format in the latter) may influence the feasibility, rather than the number of items.
Total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status in patients with major depression: Impact of antidepressant treatment
Authors: Cumurcu Birgul Elbozan , Ozyurt Huseyin , Etikan Ilker , Demir Suleyman , Karlidag Rifat 
Published: August 2009

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS) are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and to evaluate the impact of antidepressant treatment on TAC and TOS in MDD.Methods: Fifty‐seven MDD patients and 40 healthy controls participated in the study. Serum TAC and TOS were measured both in patients and controls using Erel's methods. Patients were treated with antidepressant drugs for 12 weeks. The treatment course was evaluated using the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in all patients.Results: TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) were higher (P = 0.0001 for both) and TAC was lower (P = 0.0001) in the MDD group compared with those of the controls. After 3 months of antidepressant treatment, TOS and OSI were decreased and TAC was increased compared with the pretreatment values (P = 0.0001, for all). Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between the severity of the disease and serum TOS and OSI (r = 0.584,P = 0.0001; r = 0.636,P = 0.0001, respectively). A negative correlation was found between the severity of the disease and serum TAC (r = −0.553,P = 0.0001) at the pre‐treatment stage.Conclusion: Treatment administered for 3 months to MDD patients increases TAC while decreasing TOS and OSI.
Distribution, stand characteristics and habitat of a critically endangered plant Euryodendron excelsum H. T. Chang (Theaceae): implications for conservation
Authors: SHEN SHI‐KANG , WANG YUE‐HUA , WANG BO‐YI , MA HAI‐YING , SHEN GUO‐ZHU , HAN ZHEN‐WEI 
Published: August 2009

AbstractIn the present study, the distribution, population size and structure, habitat and stand disturbance of a critically endangered plant Euryodendron excelsum H. T. Chang were examined using field investigations. A total of 179 individual plants, including 23 adult trees, were found. The population was distributed in 10 highly isolated and fragmented patches. Half of the 10 patches had less than 10 individual plants and two patches had only one remnant adult; there were no adult plants in two of the patches. Although the overall population structure trends to a reversed ‘J’ shape, two fragile stages of E. excelsum limit its natural recruitment and regeneration: seed germination and seedling growth toward adulthood. The major threats for the survival of this species are its specific small population size and the high frequency of anthropogenic destruction. Based on the results, some strategies were put forward for the conservation of E. excelsum populations.
Prognostic factors for cases with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the era of targeted medicine
Authors: Neuzillet Yann , Culine Stéphane , Patard Jean‐Jacques 
Published: August 2009

AbstractPrognostic factors in the setting of treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) can theoretically predict drug response, progression‐free survival or overall survival. These factors are potentially useful for informing patients and for tailoring medical treatment according to risk assessment. Prognostic factors were well defined in the era of immunotherapy. Since 2006, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and anti‐angiogenic drugs have revolutionized the treatment of mRCC by improving progression‐free survival and overall survival. Physicians now need new predictive tools adapted to targeted therapies. The aim of our study was to review the current knowledge about prognostic factors in mRCC by focusing on anatomical, clinical, biological, histological, radiological and molecular parameters. The most recent integrated prognostic models will be reviewed as well.
Fatigue performance of metallic reverse‐bent joints
Authors: FESSEL G. , BROUGHTON J. G. , FELLOWS N. A. , DURODOLA J. F. , HUTCHINSON A. R. 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTAdhesively bonded lap shear joints have been investigated widely and several ideas have been proposed for improving joint strength by reducing bondline stress concentrations. These include application of adhesive fillets at the overlap ends and use of adhesive with graded properties in the overlap area. Another, less common, approach is to deform the substrates in the overlap area in order to obtain a more desirable bondline stress distribution.Previous work carried out by the authors on a number of different substrate materials indicated that a reverse‐bent joint geometry is useful for increasing joint strength. Results from static stress analysis and experimental testing demonstrated that significant improvements could be achieved. This paper presents results of further work carried out to assess the fatigue performance of reverse‐bent joints. Substrates with different yield and plastic deformation characteristics were used and the effects of different overlap lengths on strength were examined. The results of this research show that the improvements obtained under static tests conditions translate to even higher benefits in fatigue. The paper also explains the failure mechanism of the joints under fatigue loading.
Work Hours and Caseload as Predictors of Physician Burnout: The Mediating Effects by Perceived Workload and by Autonomy
Authors: Shirom Arie , Nirel Nurit , Vinokur Amiram D. 
Published: August 2009

We tested a model in which perceived workload and autonomy were hypothesised to mediate the effects of work hours and caseload on physician burnout. The study was based on data provided by 890 specialists representing six medical specialties. We used structural equation modeling to test our hypotheses. Controlling for the effects of gender, seniority, and the specialists' academic affiliation, we found that the study data fit the hypothesised model—reflecting these hypotheses—quite well. As expected, workload predicted higher levels of global burnout and physical fatigue, while autonomy predicted lower levels of global burnout. Work hours and caseload predicted global burnout only indirectly, via their effects on either perceived workload or autonomy. These findings suggest that public policies, designed to reduce physician work hours in order to reduce burnout and improve patients' safety, should take into account physician perceived workload and autonomy.Nous avons mis à l'épreuve un modèle centré sur l'hypothèse selon laquelle la charge de travail perçue et l'autonomie régulaient l'impact de la durée du travail médical et administratif sur le burnout des médecins. La recherche a exploité des données fournies par 890 spécialistes relevant de six spécialités médicales. On a fait appel à une modélisation en équations structurales pour valider nos hypothèses. En contrôlant l'action du genre, de l'âge et du type de spécialité, il est apparu que les données correspondaient parfaitement au modèle hypothétique. Comme prévu, la charge de travail prédisait des niveaux plus élevés de burnout global et de fatigue physique, alors que l'autonomie débouchait sur des niveaux plus faibles de burnout global. La durée du travail ne prédisait qu'indirectement le burnout global, par l'entremise des retombées sur la charge de travail perçue et l'autonomie. Ces résultats montrent que la réglementation publique qui envisage de réduire le temps de travail des médecins dans le souci d'atténuer le burnout et d'améliorer la sécurité des malades devrait prendre en considération la charge de travail perçue et l'autonomie des médecins.
Stages of condom use and decisional balance among college students
Authors: Tung W‐C. , Farmer S. , Ding K. , Tung W‐K. , Hsu C‐H. 
Published: August 2009

Aims:  To explore sexual behaviours and condom use and differences in specific items of perceived benefits and barriers to condoms using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) stages among college students in southern Taiwan.Background:  The TTM suggests that individuals in the action or maintenance stage exhibit higher levels of perceived benefits and lower levels of perceived barriers related to condom use than people in the precontemplation, contemplation or preparation stage.Methods:  This was a descriptive, cross‐sectional design with cluster sampling among college students from two universities in southern Taiwan. Participants completed self‐administered questionnaires, including demographic data, Sexual History and Condom Use Scale and Condom Use Decisional Balance Scale.Results:  Of the 279 participants, 57% were sexually active, of these only 11.9% used condoms consistently. Respondents in the TTM stage of action/maintenance perceived greater benefits in relation to feeling more responsible (P = 0.031) and protecting their partners as well as themselves (P = 0.028), and perceived more barriers in believing that using condom needs to rely on partner's cooperation (P = 0.046) than participants in precontemplation. Participants in precontemplation and contemplation perceived more barriers related to worry about making their partner angry if condoms were used than those in action/maintenance (P = 0.008).Conclusion:  Low levels of condom use among Taiwanese college students remain a significant public health concern. HIV prevention programmes for college students in Taiwan may be enhanced if they incorporate readiness to change and perceived benefits and barriers. Future research should include a larger sample with diverse groups.
Nurses' positive attitudes to nutritional management but limited knowledge of nutritional assessment in Korea
Authors: Kim H. , Choue R. 
Published: August 2009

Background:  Nurses' involvement in nutritional management has received greater emphasis as an accountable factor for the nutritional status of patients. Studies have shown that there are deficiencies in awareness of the importance of nutritional assessment and limited nutritional knowledge in nurses.Aim:  The purpose of this study was to investigate nutritional attitudes and knowledge of nurses working in the hospital environment.Methods:  A questionnaire survey was conducted. It is focused on nutritional management with regard to assessment of nutritional status and implementation of nutritional care. Nurses were recruited from the university hospital in Seoul, Korea.Findings:  A majority of nurses had positive attitudes towards patients' nutritional status and had a high desire to receive nutritional information. However, they had limited knowledge of nutrition, especially nutritional assessment criteria which are basic to the evaluation of patient's nutritional status. Nurses did not perform the nutritional assessment appropriately in practice.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that nurses have limited nutritional knowledge and they use nutritional assessment criteria poorly in clinical settings. This study provides a framework for developing nutritional management programmes and a standardized protocol for nutritional assessment.
The prevalence, characteristics and correlates of falls in Korean community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Shin K.‐R. , Kang Y. , Hwang E.‐H. , Jung D. 
Published: August 2009

Background:  The risk factors for falls that have been reported in Caucasian older adults may not be the same for Korean older adults.Objective:  To examine the prevalence, characteristics and correlates of falls among community‐dwelling older adults in Korea.Methods:  A stratified random sampling method was conducted to recruit participants, and 335 were eligible to participate from September 2006 to March 2007. Socio‐demographic data, history of disease and medications, activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive status, health behaviour and fall incidents were collected. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. The prevalence of falls was obtained. Univariate analyses for risk factors of falls using chi‐square and t‐test statistics, and multivariate logistic regression analyses for correlates of falls were performed.Results:  Of the 335 older adults, 48 (15%) elderly had experienced falls. There was a significant difference between older adults who fell and those who did not fall with regard to ADL and exercise behaviour. Non‐fallers had higher ADL scores and showed higher levels of adherence to exercise than fallers. The independent risk factor for falls was ADL.Conclusions/implications:  In this study, an individual's functional status and exercise engagement were significant factors that differentiated fallers and non‐fallers. Therefore, an effective fall prevention programme should be focused on encouraging older adults to participate in regular exercise.
Innovative self‐management programme for diabetics following coronary care unit admission
Authors: Wu C‐J. (Jo) , Chang A.M. , McDowell J. 
Published: August 2009

Background:  Evidence indicates self‐management programmes based on improving self‐efficacy in managing diabetes can reduce the risk of a further cardiac event. Many current cardiac rehabilitation or diabetes self‐management programmes do not address the needs of people with both type 2 diabetes and a critical cardiac condition in their transition from coronary care unit (CCU) to home.Aims/Methods:  The aim was to develop and pilot test a Cardiac–Diabetes Self‐Management Program (CDSMP) using an experimental design.Findings/Conclusion:  Results demonstrated the feasibility of the CDSMP for CCU patients with type 2 diabetes in their transition to home, and a full study is warranted.
The Effect of Marriage on Education of Immigrants: Evidence from a Policy Reform Restricting Marriage Migration*
Authors: Nielsen Helena Skyt , Smith Nina , Çelikaksoy Aycan 
Published: August 2009

AbstractWe investigate the effect of immigrants’ marriage behavior on dropout from education. To identify the causal effect, we exploit a recent Danish policy reform that generated exogenous variation in marriage behavior by a complete abolishment of marriage migration for immigrants below 24 years. The reform influenced immigrants from countries with a high historical rate of marriage migration more than immigrants from country groups with a low rate. We find that the dropout rate for males increases by 25 percentage points as a consequence of marriage to a marriage migrant, whereas the effect for females is small and mostly insignificant.
How Important are Financial Frictions in the United States and the Euro Area?
Authors: Queijo von Heideken Virginia 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis paper aims to evaluate whether frictions in credit markets are important for business cycles in the United States and the euro area. I modify the DSGE financial accelerator model developed by Bernanke, Gertler and Gilchrist (1999) by adding such frictions as price indexation to past inflation, sticky wages, consumption habits and variable capital utilization. When estimating the model using Bayesian methods, I find that financial frictions are relevant in both areas. According to the posterior odds ratio, the data clearly favor the model with financial frictions, both in the United States and the euro area. Moreover, financial frictions are larger in the euro area.
Will non‐humans be saved? An argument in ecotheology*
Authors: Latour Bruno 
Published: August 2009

The growing interest in ecology has had the unexpected effect of granting new relevance to a theology interested not so much in the salvation of humans as in the salvation of the whole creation – non‐humans included. Since science studies has for many years probed several alternatives to the modernist divide between subject and object, it is interesting to combine the tools of science studies and theology to elicit a new contrast between nature and creation. Using tools from an anthropological inquiry of the moderns, the article draws a different connection between religion and science that bypasses the notion of nature.RésuméL'intérêt croissant pour l'écologie a eu pour effet inattendu de remettre en lumière une théologie qui s'intéresse moins au salut des humains qu'à celui de toute la Création, non‐humains compris. À l'heure où des études scientifiques explorent depuis de nombreuses années différentes alternatives à la dichotomie moderniste entre sujet et objet, il est intéressant d'associer les outils de ces études et ceux de la théologie pour établir une nouvelle différenciation entre nature et création. À l'aide des outils d'étude anthropologique des modernes, le présent article établit un lien différent entre religion et science, qui s'affranchit de la notion de nature.