bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Community‐driven impact of a newborn‐focused behavioral intervention on maternal health in Shivgarh, India
Authors: Kumar Vishwajeet , Kumar Aarti , Das Vinita , Srivastava Neeraj M. , Baqui Abdullah H. , Santosham Mathuram , Darmstadt Gary L. ,   Saksham Study Group
Published: January 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the effect on maternal health outcomes of a community‐based behavior change management intervention for essential newborn care leading to a reduction in neonatal mortality.MethodsA cluster‐randomized controlled trial involving 1 control and 2 intervention arms was conducted in Shivgarh, India, between January 2004 and May 2005. Risk‐enhancing domiciliary newborn care behaviors, including those posing a concomitant risk to maternal health, were targeted through home visits and community meetings. Secondary outcomes included knowledge of maternal danger signs, self‐reported complications, maternal care practices, care‐seeking from trained providers, and maternal mortality ratio (MMR). The intervention arms were combined for analysis, which was done by intention to treat.ResultsSignificant improvements were observed in maternal health equity and outcomes including knowledge of danger signs, care practices, self‐reported complications, and timely care‐seeking from trained providers. The difference in adjusted MMR was not significant (relative risk 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.14–1.43; P = 0.11) owing to the inadequate sample size for this outcome, but may suggest a decline in MMR given improvements in other outcomes in the causal pathway to mortality.ConclusionCommunity‐based strategies focused on prevention and care‐seeking effectively complemented facility‐based strategies toward improving maternal health, while synergizing with newborn care interventions.
International Negotiations and Domestic Politics: The Case of IMF Labor Market Conditionality
Authors: Caraway Teri L. , Rickard Stephanie J. , Anner Mark S. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWhat is the role of international organizations (IOs) in the formulation of domestic policy, and how much influence do citizens have in countries' negotiations with IOs? We examine these questions through a study of labor-related conditionality in International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans. Using new data from IMF loan documents for programs from 1980 to 2000, we test to see if citizens' economic interests influence IMF conditionality. We examine the substance of loan conditions and identify those that require liberalization in the country's domestic labor market or that have direct effects on employment, wages, and social benefits. We find evidence that democratic countries with stronger domestic labor receive less intrusive labor-related conditions in their IMF loan programs. We argue that governments concerned about workers' opposition to labor-related loan conditions negotiate with the IMF to minimize labor conditionality. We find that the IMF is responsive to domestic politics and citizens' interests.
On the existence of multiple positive solutions to some superlinear systems
Authors: Chhetri M. , Raynor S. , Robinson S. 
Published: January 2012

We use the method of upper and lower solutions combined with degree-theoretic techniques to prove the existence of multiple positive solutions to some superlinear elliptic systems of the formon a smooth, bounded domain Ω⊂ℝn with Dirichlet boundary conditions, under suitable conditions on g1 and g2. Our techniques apply generally to subcritical, superlinear problems with a certain concave–convex shape to their nonlinearity.
Unique doubly connected left ventricular diverticulum
Authors: Nagel Bert , Sorantin Erich , Gamillscheg Andreas 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThis case report describes a unique form of a left ventricular diverticulum in a 17-year-old patient. Echocardiography, angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging including virtual endoscopy complete a detailed picture of the size and texture of a diverticulum, as well as the localisation of the two connections into the left ventricle.
Population Structure and Evolutionary History of Southern Flounder in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Anderson Joel D. , Karel William J. , Mione Allison C. S. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma is a key species in recreational flatfish fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Effective management of this species relies on knowing how many populations occur within the range of the species, as knowledge of the underlying genetic structure may be used in stock assessments or in the establishment of management units. Here, the evolutionary history of the southern flounder was elicited with genetic data, and the geographic extent and long‐term female effective population size (Nef) of extant populations were estimated. Mitochondrial DNA sequence data (415 base pairs, control region) were analyzed with a combination of traditional hypothesis testing (analysis of molecular variance) and the coalescent‐based maximum likelihood approach (analysis with the program Migrate). Three main findings resulted from this work. First, two distinct genetic populations of southern flounder exist in the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean, and there is a measured genetic divergence (i.e., FST) of 0.374 between them. Within ocean basins, there was little significant genetic structure among samples. Second, coalescent modeling suggests that the two populations of southern flounder have expanded rapidly in numbers in the past 10,000–22,000 years, timing that approximately coincides with the end of the last North American glacial retreat. Third, historical population growth is coupled with high estimates of long‐term Nef, both of which contrast with present‐day declines in abundance measured by stock assessments. Present‐day southern flounder populations persist in two independent evolutionarily significant units that have divergent evolutionary backgrounds.
Assessing Effects of the Nonindigenous Pike Killifish on Indigenous Fishes in Tampa Bay, Florida, Using a Weighted‐Evidence Approach
Authors: Greenwood Marin F. D. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractNonindigenous fish introductions may result in significant negative ecological and economic effects. Pike killifish Belonesox belizanus, a small‐bodied piscivorous fish native to Central America, was introduced into South Florida in 1957 and raised concerns because of its consumption of small‐bodied fishes. The present study examined the negative effects on indigenous fishes from a second pike killifish population that invaded Tampa Bay several decades later. Four data sets were used to test several hypotheses based on earlier observations from South Florida: potential indigenous prey fish populations are less abundant or less frequently occurring or have a larger size composition (1) in invaded water bodies than in uninvaded water bodies and (2) following invasion than before invasion (with no concurrent change in uninvaded systems). For each prey species, the result of each hypothesis test was scored (2 = accept, 1 = tentatively accept, and 0 = reject) and the average score of all hypotheses was calculated, weighted by the relative rankings of the factors influencing the scope of inference from each data set (e.g., number of samples, years, and water bodies). Three resident (nonmigratory or potamodromous) small‐bodied species (sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna, eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, and sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus) showed the most evidence of potential effects and had overall weighted‐evidence scores of around 50% (i.e., as much evidence for pike killifish effects as against). There was much greater evidence of effects of pike killifish when calculating scores based only on the abundance and frequency‐of‐occurrence hypotheses because the three species were two to six times less abundant or frequently occurring in the presence of, or after invasion by, pike killifish. Migratory species showed little evidence of negative effects, probably because they recruit from larger source populations and are not year‐round residents of pike killifish habitat.
Effects of Suture Material and Ultrasonic Transmitter Size on Survival, Growth, Wound Healing, and Tag Expulsion in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Ivasauskas Tomas J. , Bettoli Phillip W. , Holt Thomas 
Published: January 2012

AbstractWe examined the effects of suture material (braided silk versus Monocryl) and relative ultrasonic transmitter size on healing, growth, mortality, and tag retention in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. In experiment 1, 40 fish (205–281 mm total length [TL], 106–264 g) were implanted with Sonotronics IBT‐96–2 (23 × 7 mm; weight in air, 4.4 g; weight in water, 2.4 g) or IBT 96–2E (30 × 7 mm; weight in air, 4.9 g; weight in water, 2.4 g) ultrasonic telemetry tags. In experiment 2, 20 larger fish (342–405 mm TL; 520–844 g) were implanted with Sonotronics IBT‐96–5 ultrasonic tags (36 × 11 mm; weight in air, 9.1 g; weight in water, 4.1 g). The tag burdens for all implanted fish ranged from 1.1% to 3.4%, and fish in both studies were held at 10–15°C. At the conclusion of both experiments (65 d after surgery), no mortalities were observed in any of the 60 tagged fish, most incisions were completely healed, and all fish in both experiments grew in length, although tagged fish grew more slowly than control fish in experiment 1. In both experiments, fish sutured with silk expelled tags more frequently than those sutured with Monocryl. Expulsion was observed in 45–50% of the fish sutured with silk and 0–25% of the fish sutured with Monocryl. Tag expulsion was not observed until 25–35 d after surgery. Fish sutured with silk exhibited a more severe inflammatory response 3 weeks after surgery than those sutured with Monocryl. In experiment 1, the rate of expulsion was linked to the severity of inflammation. Although braided silk sutures were applied faster than Moncryl sutures in both experiments, knots tied with either material were equally reliable and fish sutured with Monocryl experienced less inflammation and lower rates of tag expulsion.
Assessing Freshwater and Marine Environmental Influences on Life‐Stage‐Specific Survival Rates of Snake River Spring–Summer Chinook Salmon and Steelhead
Authors: Haeseker Steven L. , McCann Jerry A. , Tuomikoski Jack , Chockley Brandon 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. from the Snake River basin experience a wide range of environmental conditions during their freshwater, estuarine, and marine residence, which in turn influence their survival rates at each life stage. In addition, researchers have found that juvenile out‐migration conditions can influence subsequent survival during estuarine and marine residence, a concept known as the hydrosystem‐related, delayed‐mortality hypothesis. In this analysis, we calculated seasonal, life‐stage‐specific survival rate estimates for Snake River spring–summer Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and steelhead O. mykiss and conducted multiple‐regression analyses to identify the freshwater and marine environmental factors associated with survival at each life stage. We also conducted correlation analyses to test the hydrosystem‐related, delayed‐mortality hypothesis. We found that the freshwater variables we examined (the percentage of river flow spilled over out‐migration dams and water transit time) were important for characterizing the variation in survival rates not only during freshwater out‐migration but also during estuarine and marine residence. Of the marine factors examined, we found that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation index was the most important variable for characterizing the variation in the marine and cumulative smolt‐to‐adult survival rates of both species. In support of the hydrosystem‐related, delayed‐mortality hypothesis, we found that freshwater and marine survival rates were correlated, indicating that a portion of the mortality expressed after leaving the hydrosystem is related to processes affected by downstream migration conditions. Our results indicate that improvements in life‐stage‐specific and smolt‐to‐adult survival may be achievable across a range of marine conditions through increasing spill percentages and reducing water transit times during juvenile salmon out‐migration.
Effects of Live Artemia Nauplii Supplementation for Different Periods on Survival and Growth of Juvenile Signal Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus in the First Six Months of Intensive Culture
Authors: González Álvaro , Celada Jesús D , Carral José M , Sáez-Royuela María , García Vanesa , González Rocío 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
The rearing of astacid crayfishes under controlled conditions requires the addition of live zooplankton to basal dry diets. To investigate the possibility of minimizing the labor and costs involved in providing live feed, a 180-d experiment that focused on reducing the brine shrimp Artemia spp. supply period was carried out with stage 2 signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus. From the onset of exogenous feeding, juvenile crayfish were fed a dry diet (formulated for salmonids) that was supplemented with live Artemia nauplii. Five treatments were implemented, varying the time at which the Artemia supplement was withdrawn (at days 80, 100, 120, or 160, or no withdrawal). No significant differences in survival, growth, or cheliped loss were found among groups throughout the trial. Survival rates at the end of the experiment (180 d) ranged from 62.3% to 66.7%, final carapace length averaged 20.6 mm, and final weight averaged 2.29 g. The results presented here indicate that juvenile astacid crayfishes can be reared without live feed supplements after an initial period of 80 d; thereafter, it is feasible to administer only a dry diet.
Safety of Copper Sulfate to Channel Catfish Eggs
Authors: Straus David L , Mitchell Andrew J , Carter Ray R , McEntire Matthew E , Steeby James A 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Copper sulfate (CuSO4) is used in the catfish industry to control saprolegniasis (caused by the watermolds Achlya spp. or Saprolegnia spp.) on eggs. This study was designed to establish the margin of safety of CuSO4 at 10, 30, and 50 mg/L when applied for three times the normal treatment duration to hatching troughs containing channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus eggs in 26°C, flow-through well water. The safety of CuSO4 was indicated by the percentage of fry that hatched from the eggs. Eggs were treated daily until the embryos reached the eyed stage. The least-squares means ± SE of hatch rates were 40.8 ± 9.1, 80.9 ± 6.4, 64.2 ± 8.6, and 80.3 ± 6.6% for the 0-, 10-, 30-, and 50-mg/L CuSO4 treatments, respectively. The hatch rate for the 0-mg/L CuSO4 treatment was significantly different from that of all other CuSO4 treatments. Treating channel catfish eggs with five times the recommended dose of 10-mg/L CuSO4 for three times the recommended duration did not adversely affect the hatch rates in this study. There appears to be an adequate margin of safety above the therapeutic dose of 10 mg/L for channel catfish eggs; therefore, CuSO4 should be considered a safe treatment to alleviate egg losses caused by saprolegniasis.
Effect of bandgap engineering on the performance and reliability of a high-k based nanoscale charge trap flash memory
Authors: Zhu Chenxin , Xu Zhongguang , Huo Zongliang , Zheng Zhiwei , Cui Yanxiang , Wang Yumei , Liu Jing , Li Fanghua , Liu Ming 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
This paper investigates the performance of a bandgap engineered charge trapping structure consisting of HfO2/Al2O3/HfO2 (HAH) multilayer in comparison with a structure with a single HfO2 trapping layer. The study on the role of the inserted Al2O3 layer in improving the performance and reliability shows that the enhancement in charge trapping capability from the interfaces makes a considerable contribution to the larger memory window (7.8 V for the HAH 5/2/5 nm device and 3 V for the single HfO2 layer device, both under 12 V, 0.1 s program condition). The modulation of trapped charge distribution is proved by investigating the effect of varying the inserted Al2O3 layer position on program/erase (P/E) speed and retention characteristics, which is a crucial factor in improving the performance and reliability. This study can provide a guide for future designs of charge trap flash memories.
Bifurcation theory of ac electric arcing
Authors: Christen Thomas , Peinke Emanuel 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
The performance of alternating current (ac) electric arcing devices is related to arc extinction or its re-ignition at zero crossings of the current (so-called ‘current zero’, CZ). Theoretical investigations thus usually focus on the transient behaviour of arcs near CZ, e.g. by solving the modelling differential equations in the vicinity of CZ. This paper proposes as an alternative approach to investigate global mathematical properties of the underlying periodically driven dynamic system describing the electric circuit containing the arcing device. For instance, the uniqueness of the trivial solution associated with the insulating state indicates the extinction of any arc. The existence of non-trivial attractors (typically a time-periodic state) points to a re-ignition of certain arcs. The performance regions of arcing devices, such as circuit breakers and arc torches, can thus be identified with the regions of absence and existence, respectively, of non-trivial attractors. Most important for applications, the boundary of a performance region in the model parameter space is then associated with the bifurcation of the non-trivial attractors. The concept is illustrated for simple black-box arc models, such as the Mayr and the Cassie model, by calculating for various cases the performance boundaries associated with the bifurcation of ac arcs.
Superoxide dismutase activity of Helicobacter pylori per se from 158 clinical isolates and the characteristics
Authors: Morishita Keiko , Takeuchi Hiroaki , Morimoto Norihito , Shimamura Tomoko , Kadota Yoshu , Tsuda Masayuki , Taniguchi Taketoshi , Ukeda Hiroyuki , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Sugiura Tetsuro 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTWe investigated the correlation between the SOD activity of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastroduodenal diseases and the characteristics of strains exposed to oxidative stress. Two sequenced strains, 26695 and J99, and clinical isolates from 156 Japanese patients with gastroduodenal diseases such as gastric cancer (n= 59) and non‐cancer (n= 97) were used. SOD activities of all 158 isolates were measured and were divided into three groups: high‐SOD activity (>0.22, n= 2), moderate‐SOD activity (0.15≦≦0.22, n= 16) and low‐SOD activity (<0.15, n= 140). Expressions of H. pylori Fe‐SOD were examined by western blotting with anti‐H. pylori Fe‐SOD antibody prepared inhouse, and the profiles of Fe‐SOD activity were investigated by zymogram with activity staining in native‐PAGE. The characteristics of strains from high‐SOD and low‐SOD groups were examined under oxidative stress by paraquat. The average of H. pylori SOD activity was significantly higher in the cancer group than in the non‐cancer group (P < 0.05). However, irrespective of SOD activity level, the amount of Fe‐SOD expressed was variable among individual strains. Zymogram revealed a single band in moderate‐SOD and low‐SOD strains, but multiple bands in high‐SOD strains were observed. These bands were confirmed as H. pylori Fe‐SOD. Under oxidative stress with paraquat, low‐SOD strains were drastically eliminated without inducible SOD activity; however, high‐SOD strains were still viable with increased SOD activity. This study is the first to exhibit the characteristics of high‐SOD activity strains representing multiple bands in zymograms and the correlation between H. pylori SOD activity and gastric cancer.
No clinically significant valvular regurgitation in long‐term cabergoline treatment for prolactinoma
Authors: Halperin Irene , Aller Javier , Varela César , Mora Mireia , Abad Ainhoa , Doltra Ada , Santos Alicia Estrella , Batista Esther , García‐Pavía Pablo , Sitges Marta , Mirelis Jesús G. , Lucas Tomás , Puig‐Domingo Manel 
Published: January 2012

SummaryBackgroundAn association between treatment for Parkinson's disease with certain dopaminergic drugs and development of cardiac valve impairment has been reported. Recent studies in hyperprolactinaemic patients treated with cabergoline (CAB) have shown either no significant findings or mild tricuspid regurgitation.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of cardiac valve dysfunction in patients with hyperprolactinaemic conditions chronically treated with CAB or bromocriptine (BR).DesignRetrospective, multicentric, cross‐sectional study of cases vs controls.PatientsEighty‐three hyperprolactinaemic patients (15 men, 68 women aged 16·7–63 years; 64% microprolactinomas, 28% macroprolactinomas and 8% other etiologies) from three Spanish university hospitals chronically treated with BR (14–562·5 weeks, cumulative dose 5603 ± 7729 mg) or CAB (12–765 weeks, 217·4 ± 306·6 mg).MeasurementsTransthoracic echocardiographic assessment of valvular regurgitation and thickening, mitral valve tenting area and left‐ventricular ejection fraction from 83 patients were compared with results from 58 age‐ and sex‐matched controls and correlated with cumulative doses of dopaminergic drugs.ResultsNo significant differences in valvular regurgitation, valve thickness or any other echocardiographic parameter were observed between controls and patients, except for 15 patients in the higher quartile of CAB cumulative dose (>180 mg), with increased prevalence of mild tricuspid regurgitation (6/15, 40% vs 8/58, 13·8%, P = 0·024; OR 4·1; 1·1–14·9). High BR cumulative dose was associated with no significant findings.ConclusionsNo increased valvular involvement was found after long‐term dopaminergic therapy for hyperprolactinaemia except for a significant increase in mild tricuspid regurgitation associated with high cumulative doses of CAB; BR seems spared from this adverse effect, although the low number of cases limits this analysis. Cumulative dose registry and long‐term studies are warranted to definitely clarify this item.
Prolactinomas in men: a multicentre and retrospective analysis of treatment outcome
Authors: Iglesias Pedro , Bernal Carmen , Villabona Carles , Castro José C. , Arrieta Francisco , Díez Juan J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAimsTo assess treatment outcome in male patients with micro‐ and macroprolactinomas.DesignMulticentre and retrospective study.PatientsEighty‐eight male patients (15 micro‐ and 73 macroprolactinomas), aged 40·3 ± 14·7 years, were studied. Time of follow‐up ranged from 3 to 244 months.MethodsClinical, hormonal and radiological data were registered at diagnosis and follow‐up. Treatment outcome was evaluated in relation to the modality of therapy (dopamine agonists, surgery and radiation therapy).ResultsDopamine agonists normalized prolactin levels in 73·3% and 65·2% of patients with micro‐ and macroprolactinomas, respectively. Disappearance of tumour was reached in 53·3% and 28·3% of subjects with micro‐ and macroprolactinomas, respectively. Tumour absence at last visit was achieved in 7 of 14 patients with macroprolactinoma and treated by means of dual therapy (dopamine agonists and neurosurgery) and in 9 of 13 patients with macroprolactinoma managed with triple therapy (dopamine agonists, neurosurgery and radiation therapy). Normalization of prolactin levels at last visit was present in 68·9%, 79·6% and 69·2% of patients treated by medical therapy, dual therapy and triple therapy, respectively (differences not significant). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the time on therapy was the only significant variable related to tumour disappearance.ConclusionWe conclude that medical therapy normalizes prolactin and reduces tumour size in the majority of men with prolactinomas. The addition of pituitary surgery with or without radiation therapy does not offer significant advantages over medical therapy with dopamine agonists in male patients with macroprolactinomas.