bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age class differences in the feeding behavior of captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscataia) in the forested and nonvegetated enclosure groups
Authors: Jaman M. Firoj , Huffman Michael A. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractAge class differences in feeding behavior of primates are affected by many factors, including feeding competition, foraging skills, habitat type, food abundance and distribution, body mass, and food types. Two captive groups of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), one housed in a forested enclosure and the other in a nonvegetated enclosure, were studied to examine the effect of environmental enrichment on age class differences in feeding behavior. Although there was no significant age class difference in time spent feeding on provisioned foods in either enclosure, the feeding rate (intake of unit food/minute) of adults consuming provisioned monkey chow was significantly higher than that of immatures in both enclosures, and was faster for both age groups in the nonvegetated than in the forested enclosure. Overall, feeding time was greatly extended for individuals of both age classes in the forested enclosure compared with their counterparts in the nonvegetated enclosure. Immatures in the forested enclosure utilized a significantly greater number of plant species and food items, exploiting many food items available among the terminal branches, and spent significantly more time feeding than adults. Perhaps constrained by larger body size, adults fed more often on the ground or middle height of the trees, likely reducing competition over plant food resources between adults and immatures. The natural vegetation played an important role in extending feeding time and segregating substrate use during feeding by adults and immatures. This study revealed the benefits concerning environmental enrichment of a naturally forested enclosure, which provides captive primates the opportunity to exhibit age class and species‐typical feeding behaviors of importance for their dietary maintenance and general health. Zoo Biol 30:260–274, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving Diagnostic Accuracy: Simple Statistical Nomograms to Interpret Medical Literature
Authors: Bliss David , Diggs Brian , Matar Marla 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackgroundAuthors of medical diagnostic literature frequently report sensitivity and specificity as measures of the quality of an evaluative study. However, these representations are easily misinterpreted by clinicians to be indicative of the prospective value of a test as predictive of the presence (positive predictive value, PPV) or absence of disease (negative predictive value, NPV). Although these phenomena are related, the mathematical expression and, therefore, the conclusions are more complex.MethodsUsing algebraic methods, we derived simplified formulas to determine PPV, NPV, and accuracy (A). These general terms were solved by constraining individual variables, resulting in the development of curves that may be used routinely to analyze medical diagnostic literature.ResultsEquations for PPV, NPV, and A were generated by using sensitivity, specificity, and incidence/prevalence as the dependent variables. These equations have been employed to generate representative graphs of PPV, NPV, and A and to clarify trends in these features with respect to commonly reported data.DiscussionThese simplified equations allow clinicians to determine the utility of diagnostic studies in prospect, despite having only sensitivity, specificity, and incidence or prevalence of disease.
Rapid automatized naming as an index of genetic liability to autism
Authors: Losh Molly , Esserman Denise , Piven Joseph 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
This study investigated rapid automatized naming (RAN) ability in high functioning individuals with autism and parents of individuals with autism. Findings revealed parallel patterns of performance in parents and individuals with autism, where both groups had longer naming times than controls. Significant parent-child correlations were also detected, along with associations with language and personality features of the broad autism phenotype (retrospective reports of early language delay, socially reticent personality). Together, findings point towards RAN as a potential marker of genetic liability to autism.
Impact of Administered Bifidobacterium on Murine Host Fatty Acid Composition
Authors: Wall Rebecca , Ross R. Paul , Shanahan Fergus , O’Mahony Liam , Kiely Barry , Quigley Eamonn , Dinan Timothy G. , Fitzgerald Gerald , Stanton Catherine 
Published: April 2010

AbstractRecently, we reported that administration of Bifidobacteria resulted in increased concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in murine adipose tissue [1]. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of co‐administration of Bifidobacterium breve NCIMB 702258 and the substrate for EPA, α‐linolenic acid, on host fatty acid composition. α‐Linolenic acid‐supplemented diets (1%, wt/wt) were fed to mice (n = 8), with or without B. breve NCIMB 702258 (daily dose of 109 microorganisms) for 8 weeks. Two further groups received either supplement of B. breve alone or unsupplemented diet. Tissue fatty acid composition was assessed by gas liquid chromatography. Dietary supplementation of α‐linolenic acid resulted in higher (P < 0.05) α‐linolenic acid and EPA concentrations in liver and adipose tissue and lower (P < 0.05) arachidonic acid in liver, adipose tissue and brain compared with mice that did not receive α‐linolenic acid. Supplementation with B. breve NCIMB 702258 in combination with α‐linolenic acid resulted in elevated (P < 0.05) liver EPA concentrations compared with α‐linolenic acid supplementation alone. Furthermore, the former group had higher (P < 0.05) DHA in brain compared with the latter group. These results suggest a role for interactions between fatty acids and commensals in the gastrointestinal tract. This interaction between administered microbes and fatty acids could result in a highly effective nutritional approach to the therapy of a variety of inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions.
Cloud computing: state-of-the-art and research challenges
Authors: Zhang Qi , Cheng Lu , Boutaba Raouf 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Cloud computing has recently emerged as a new paradigm for hosting and delivering services over the Internet. Cloud computing is attractive to business owners as it eliminates the requirement for users to plan ahead for provisioning, and allows enterprises to start from the small and increase resources only when there is a rise in service demand. However, despite the fact that cloud computing offers huge opportunities to the IT industry, the development of cloud computing technology is currently at its infancy, with many issues still to be addressed. In this paper, we present a survey of cloud computing, highlighting its key concepts, architectural principles, state-of-the-art implementation as well as research challenges. The aim of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the design challenges of cloud computing and identify important research directions in this increasingly important area.
Chronic widespread pain predicts physical inactivity: Results from the prospective EPIFUND study
Authors: McBeth John , Nicholl Barbara I. , Cordingley Lis , Davies Kelly A. , Macfarlane Gary J. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThis study tested the hypothesis that chronic widespread pain (CWP) would predict low levels of physical activity (PA). Pain status and PA levels were ascertained at baseline and 32 months in community subjects. Three PA questions were used: “in comparison with others your own age, is your PA “the same” (referent), “more‐much more” or “less‐much less””, and “during the past month on average how many days/week have you taken exercise that has (i) lasted at least 20 min? and (ii) made you sweat?: “4–7” (referent), “1–3” or “none””. Multinomial logistic regression models quantified the relationship between baseline CWP and PA at follow‐up (relative risk ratios (RRR) (95% confidence intervals)). Two thousands one hundred and eighty‐two subjects participated and provided complete pain and PA information at both timepoints. CWP was reported by 18% (n = 429) of participants at baseline. Compared to subjects who were free of CWP at baseline, those with CWP had an increased odds of reporting “less‐much less” PA at follow‐up (RRR = 4.5 (3.2–6.2)). This relationship remained after adjustment for confounders (RRR = 1.9 (1.3–2.9)). A similar association was observed with exercise that lasted at least 20 min (RRR = 1.9 (1.3–2.8)). The current study suggests that low self‐reported levels of physical activity are a consequence of having CWP.
Risk factors for persistence of multiple musculoskeletal pains in adolescence: A 2‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Paananen Markus V. , Taimela Simo P. , Auvinen Juha P. , Tammelin Tuija H. , Kantomaa Marko T. , Ebeling Hanna E. , Taanila Anja M. , Zitting Paavo J. , Karppinen Jaro I. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractMusculoskeletal pain in multiple sites is common already in adolescence, and may lead to subsequent musculoskeletal complaints in adulthood. We examined predictive factors for the persistence of multiple musculoskeletal pains in adolescence over a 2‐year time span. A postal questionnaire was administered to a subsample of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 (n = 1773) when subjects were aged 16 and 18. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the possible risk factors of new‐onset of multiple pains at 18 years and 2‐year persistence of multiple pains were obtained using multinomial logistic regression. Multiple musculoskeletal pains were common; 43% of boys and 63% of girls at 16, and 61% of boys and 81% of girls at 18 reported pain in more than one site during the last 6 months. Moreover, multiple pains had a high persistence rate, as 75% of boys and 88% of girls with multiple pains at 16 reported multiple pains also at 18. In the multivariate analysis, emotional and behavioral problems (internalizing problems, OR 2.3; externalizing problems, OR 2.2), and high sitting time (OR 1.6) among boys, and internalizing problems (OR 3.7), high physical activity level (OR 1.6), short sleeping time (OR 1.7), and smoking (OR 1.9) among girls were predictive factors for the persistence of multiple pains. No statistically significant associations between the baseline variables and new‐onset multiple pains were found. Multiple musculoskeletal pains appear to have a high tendency to persist in adolescence; both psychosocial factors and lifestyle factors contribute to this vulnerability.
Alterations of interneurons in the striatum and frontal cortex of mice during postnatal development
Authors: Eto Risa , Abe Manami , Kimoto Hiroki , Imaoka Eri , Kato Hiroyuki , Kasahara Jiro , Araki Tsutomu 
Published: April 2010

AbstractWe investigated the postnatal alterations of neuronal nuclei (NeuN)‐positive neurons, parvalbumin (PV)‐positive interneurons, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)‐positive interneurons, and neurotrophic factors in the mouse striatum and frontal cortex using immunohistochemistry. NeuN, PV, nNOS, nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunoreactivity were measured in 1‐, 2‐, 4‐ and 8‐week‐old mice. Total number of NeuN‐positive neurons was unchanged in the mouse striatum and frontal cortex from 1 up to 8 weeks of age. In contrast, a significant decrease in the number of PV‐positive interneurons was observed in the striatum and frontal cortex of 1‐, 2‐ and 4‐week‐old mice. Furthermore, a significant increase of nNOS‐positive interneurons was found in the striatum and frontal cortex of 1‐ and/or 2‐week‐old mice. NGF‐positive neurons were unchanged in the mouse striatum from 1 up to 8 weeks of age. In the frontal cortex, a significant increase in the number of NGF‐positive neurons was observed only in 1‐week‐old mice. In contrast, a significant increase in the number of NGF‐positive glia 1 cells was found in the striatum and frontal cortex of 4‐week‐old mice. Our double‐labeled immunostaining showed that nNOS immunoreactivity was not found in PV‐immunopositive interneurons. Furthermore, BDNF immunoreactivity was observed in both nNOS‐positive and PV‐positive interneurons in the striatum of 1‐ or 2‐week‐old mice. These results show that the maturation of nNOS‐immunopositive interneurons precedes the maturation of PV‐immunopositive interneurons in the striatum and frontal cortex during postnatal development. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the expression of BDNF may play some role in the maturation of interneurons in the striatum and frontal cortex during postnatal development. Moreover, our findings suggest that the expression of NGF in glia cells may play some role in the maturation of glial cells and PV‐positive interneurons in the striatum and frontal cortex during postnatal development.
Effect of dimethylsulphoxide and curcumin on protein carbonyls and reactive oxygen species of cerebral hemispheres of mice as a function of age
Authors: Dkhar Preeticia , Sharma Ramesh 
Published: April 2010

AbstractOxidative modification alters the function of proteins and is thought to play an important role in the decline of cellular functions during aging. Reactive oxygen species generated as by‐products of oxidative metabolism frequently damage cellular macromolecules such as DNA, lipids and proteins. Protein carbonyls are commonly used as a marker of protein oxidation in cells and tissues. The brain is a highly oxidative organ consuming 20% of the body's oxygen despite accounting for only 2% of the total body weight. In the present study, we have evaluated the levels of free radicals and protein carbonyls in the cerebral hemispheres of young and old mice. Dimethylsulphoxide treatment to the mice has been shown to cause a reduction in reactive oxygen species and protein carbonylation. In this study, we have also investigated the combined effect of dimethylsulphoxide and curcumin on free radicals and protein oxidation. Curcumin (90 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide was administered to the mice for three consecutive days. A significant reduction in the level of reactive oxygen species and protein carbonylation was seen with co‐supplementation of the two antioxidants. The present study, thus demonstrated the antioxidative effects of dimethylsulphoxide and curcumin in the brain which may help in preventing free‐radical‐induced damage to the proteins during the later stages of life.
Can common stocks provide a hedge against inflation? Evidence from African countries
Authors: Alagidede Paul , Panagiotidis Theodore 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe extent to which the stock market provides a hedge to investors against inflation is examined for African stock markets. By employing parametric and nonparametric cointegration procedures, we show that the point estimates of the elasticities of stock prices with respect to consumer prices range from 0.015 for Tunisia to 2.264 for South Africa, evidence of a positive long‐run relationship. Further, the time path of the response of stock prices to innovations in consumer prices exhibits a transitory negative response for Egypt and South Africa, which becomes positive over longer horizons: important indication that the stock market tends to provide a hedge against rising consumer prices in African markets.
Internal versus external control in Asian and West Indian adolescents in Britain
Authors: Louden Delroy M. 
Published: April 2010

The aim of this paper is twofold, first to examine whether the reaction to minority group status found in the United States and elsewhere will be present among the adolescents of Asian and West Indian immigrants to Britain. Secondly to ascertain the differences, if any, between Asian and West Indian adolescents in terms of their ideas concerning Locus of Control. Reading ability and social class of subjects were controlled; a minimum reading age of 10·0 years was required and the sample was drawn from categories 3–5 of the Registrar‐General's classification of occupation.Analysis of variance revealed considerable race difference with respect to Locus of Control. Asian and English adolescents were found to be at the internal dimension whilst West Indian adolescents were at the external dimension. Within each ethnic group Asian girls were the most internal; however English girls were more external in orientation than English boys.
A four-stage evaluation of the Paediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score in a tertiary paediatric hospital and a district general hospital
Authors: Gerasimidis Konstantinos , Keane Orla , Macleod Isobel , Flynn Diana M. , Wright Charlotte M. 
Published: April 2010

Paediatric in-patients are at high risk of malnutrition but validated paediatric screening tools suitable for use by nursing staff are scarce. The present study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the new Paediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS). During a pilot introduction in a tertiary referral hospital and a district general hospital, two research dietitians assessed the validity of the PYMS by comparing the nursing screening outcome with a full dietetic assessment, anthropometry and body composition measurements. An additional PYMS form was completed by the research dietitians to assess its inter-rater reliability with the nursing staff and for comparison with the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP) and the Paediatric Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA). Of the 247 children studied, the nurse-rated PYMS identified 59 % of those rated at high risk by full dietetic assessment. Of those rated at high risk by the nursing PYMS, 47 % were confirmed as high risk on full assessment. The PYMS showed moderate agreement with the full assessment (κ = 0·46) and inter-rater reliability (κ = 0·53) with the research dietitians. Children who screened as high risk for malnutrition had significantly lower lean mass index than those at moderate or low risk, but no difference in fat. When completed by the research dietitians, the PYMS showed similar sensitivity to the STAMP, but a higher positive predictive value. The SGNA had higher specificity than the PYMS but much lower sensitivity. The PYMS screening tool is an acceptable screening tool for identifying children at risk of malnutrition without producing unmanageable numbers of false-positive cases.
Biochemical risk indices, including plasma homocysteine, that prospectively predict mortality in older British people: the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of People Aged 65 Years and Over
Authors: Bates Christopher J. , Mansoor Mohammed A. , Pentieva Kristina D. , Hamer Mark , Mishra Gita D. 
Published: April 2010

Predictive power, for total and vascular mortality, of selected indices measured at baseline in the British National Diet and Nutrition Survey (community-living subset) of People Aged 65 Years and Over was tested. Mortality status and its primary and underlying causes were recorded for 1100 (mean age 76·7 (sd7·5) years, 50·2 % females) respondents from the baseline survey in 1994–5 until September 2008. Follow-up data analyses focussed especially on known predictors of vascular disease risk, together with intakes and status indices of selected nutrients known to affect, or to be affected by, these predictors. Total mortality was significantly predicted by hazard ratios of baseline plasma concentrations (persd) of total homocysteine (tHcy) (95 % CI) 1·19 (1·11, 1·27), pyridoxal phosphate 0·90 (0·81, 1·00), pyridoxic acid 1·10 (1·03, 1·19), α1-antichymotrypsin 1·21 (1·13, 1·29), fibrinogen 1·14 (1·05, 1·23), creatinine 1·20 (1·10, 1·31) and glycosylated Hb 1·23 (1·14, 1·32), and by dietary intakes of energy 0·87 (0·80, 0·96) and protein 0·86 (0·77, 0·97). Prediction patterns and significance were similar for primary-cause vascular mortality. The traditional risk predictors plasma total and HDL cholesterol were not significant mortality predictors in this age group, nor were the known tHcy-regulating nutrients, folate and vitamin B12(intakes and status indices). Model adjustment for known risk predictors resulted in the loss of significance for some of the afore-mentioned indices; however, tHcy 1·34 (1·04, 1·73) remained a significant predictor for vascular mortality. Thus, total and primary vascular mortality is predicted by energy and protein intakes, and by biochemical indices including tHcy, independent of serum folate or vitamin B12.
The Politics of Judicial Economy at the World Trade Organization
Authors: Busch Marc L. , Pelc Krzysztof J. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractInternational institutions often moderate the legal decisions they render. World Trade Organization (WTO) panels do this by exercising judicial economy. This practice, which is evident in 41 percent of all rulings, involves the decision not to rule on some of the litigants' arguments. The constraint is that it can be appealed. We argue that panels exercise judicial economy when the wider membership is ambivalent about the future consequences of a broader ruling. This is proxied by the “mixed” (that is, nonpartisan) third-party submissions, which are informative because they are costly, jeopardizing a more decisive legal victory that would benefit these governments too. We empirically test this hypothesis, and find that mixed third-party submissions increase the odds of judicial economy by upwards of 68 percent. This suggests that panels invoke judicial economy to politically appease the wider WTO membership, and not just to gain the litigants' compliance in the case at hand.
Adaptation of super-sweet maize to cold conditions: mutant×genotype interaction
Authors: ORDÁS B. , RODRÍGUEZ V. M. , ROMAY M. C. , MALVAR R. A. , ORDÁS A. , REVILLA P. 
Published: April 2010

SUMMARYSuper-sweet maize (shrunken2,sh2) has a longer post-harvest life than standard sweetcorn (sugary1,su1), but is less well-adapted to cold conditions. The objective of the present work was to determine if the replacement ofsu1bysh2alters the combining abilities of sweetcorn inbreds for adaptation to early planting under cold conditions. Two diallel sets ofsu1andsh2near-isogenic inbred lines were evaluated in a cold chamber and by early field planting. For most of the traits related to adaptation, except silking date, there were significant mutant×genotype interactions and the estimates of general combining ability (GCA) of each version of the same inbred were different, probably due to epistasis. Therefore, to widen the genetic base of the super-sweet germplasm for adaptation, conversion of the earliestsu1inbreds tosh2, ignoring other characteristics such as emergence or early vigour in early planting or cold tests, is proposed.
Customised acrylic nasal stents following recanalisation of modified Young's procedure
Authors: Pavithran P , Pujary K , Mahesh S G , Parul P , Aziz B 
Published: April 2010

AbstractIntroduction:Maintaining the patency of the nasal vestibule following recanalisation of a modified Young's procedure can be a difficult task, as restenosis is quite common.Materials and methods:Sixteen patients underwent recanalisation of a modified Young's procedure, between January 2005 and December 2007, in the ENT – head and neck surgery department of a tertiary centre. Three different stent types were used following recanalisation: silicone suction tube tips, dental wax plate stents and customised acrylic stents.Results:The silicone suction tube stents prevented restenosis. They were visible in the post-operative period, and there appeared to be some blunting of the nasal valve region, with no functional impairment. Dental wax plates had a high rate of restenosis and were uncomfortable and unsightly. The customised acrylic stents were more acceptable in the post-operative period, and enabled nasal valve angulation to be maintained.Conclusion:The customised acrylic stent described was a superior alternative to such stenting methods as repeated packing, silicone suction tubes and dental wax plates, following recanalisation of a modified Young's procedure.