bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Female Infant Mortality Disadvantage in India
Authors: Chaudhuri Sanjukta 
Published: May 2012

Son preference in India manifests into extreme forms of daughter avoidance either through pre-natal sex selective abortion or post-natal excess female infant mortality. These victims of daughter aversion are India’s “missing girls.” This paper demonstrates a novel methodology for estimating India’s missing girls. Estimates were made of number and incidence of missing girls due to sex selective abortion and excess female infant mortality by age one for the time period 1950-2010. State level analysis reveals wide variations in incidence and source of missing girls. National level analysis shows that between 1950 and 2010, a total of 58.29 million girls went missing, of which 28 percent were due to sex selective abortion and 72 percent due to post-natal excess mortality. Over the time period examined, the contribution of post-natal excess mortality to the number of missing girls has reduced while the contribution of sex selective abortion has increased. Policy recommendations are discussed. JEL codes: J11; J13; J16.
The New “Voodoo Economics”
Authors: Davis Ann E. 
Published: May 2012

Marx’s notion of the “fetishism of commodities” and money is used to analyze the modern phenomenon of the public/private divide, the apparent division of society into state and market. The public/private divide, in turn, provides greater insights into the sources and limits of public finance. The importance of the role of the state as the issuer of the currency is highlighted in the development of Marx’s analysis, as well as in recent debates regarding economic policy and the causes of global financial crises. Using Marx’s analysis of the rules of capitalist property, along with the distribution of the surplus and the formation of the equal average rate of profit, the illusion that money is productive is found to be the source of distortions in understanding, and erroneous policies for the management of, the capitalist economy. According to Marx, the existence of money as a commodity is a sign that the economy is already beyond social control. JEL code: B51, P16, P43
Acute effects of methiocarb on oxidative damage and the protective effects of vitamin E and taurine in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats
Authors: Ozden Sibel , Catalgol Betul , Gezginci-Oktayoglu Selda , Karatug Ayse , Bolkent Sehnaz , Alpertunga Buket 
Published: May 2012

Methiocarb (MC) is a widely used carbamate pesticide in agriculture and health programs. Although the main molecular mechanism of carbamate toxicity involves acetylcholinesterase inhibition, studies have also implicated the induction of oxidative stress. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of acute MC exposure on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense systems, histological changes in Wistar rats and the protective effect of pretreatment with vitamin E and taurine. A total of 48 rats were randomly divided into six groups. Rats in group I were given corn oil, while those in group III were dosed with vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) and in group V were dosed with taurine (50 mg/kg b.w.). Rats in group II were administered with MC only (25 mg/kg b.w., 1/4 of median lethal dose (LD50)), while those in groups IV and VI were pretreated with vitamin E (100 mg/kg b.w.) and taurine (50 mg/kg b.w.) for 20 days, respectively, and then exposed to MC (25 mg/kg b.w.). The rats administered with MC showed significant increase in the levels of malondialdehyde in the liver and kidney as an index of lipid peroxidation. Levels of glutathione and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased, while activity of glutathione reductase remained unchanged in both the tissues after MC treatment. Mild degenerative histological changes were observed in liver tissue, while the changes in kidney tissue were more severe then liver after MC treatment. Pretreatment with vitamin E and taurine resulted in a significant decrease in the lipid peroxidation and alleviating effects on antioxidant defense systems in both the tissues, while protective effects on the histological changes were shown only in kidney when compared with liver. In conclusion, the study has demonstrated that the acute MC exposure in Wistar rats caused oxidative damage on liver and kidney, which were partly ameliorated by the pretreatment of vitamin E and taurine.
Functional study of dextran-graft-poly((2-dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) gene delivery vector for tumor therapy
Authors: Li Wen-Bin , Yuan Wei , Xu Fu-Jian , Zhao Chen , Ma Jie , Zhan Qi-Min 
Published: May 2012

The obstacle of gene therapy is the shortage of efficient delivery system. The development of the gene delivery system with high transfection efficiency and low toxicity appears to be crucial. Recently, we reported that the dextran-graft-poly((2-dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate) (DPD) can be potentially used as efficient gene vector. Herein, DPD was systematically studied for its potential in tumor gene therapy. DPD was synthesized and characterized by agarose gel electrophoresis, particle size and zeta potential. The particle size and zeta potential of the DPD/enhanced green fluorescent protein (pEGFP-C1) plasmid complexes at various N/P ratios were 130–150 nm and about 40 mV, respectively. The results showed that DPD exhibit a higher transfection effect compared with Lipofectamine 2K (Lipo 2K), a commercialized vector. The possibility of DPD in gene therapy was evaluated using p53, a gene that has been wildly applied in the research of cancer gene therapy. DPD/pEGFP-C1–p53 complex was found to be able to inhibit tumor cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, the tumor growth was found to be restrained when DPD/pEGFP-C1–p53 complex was used in a xenograft MCF7 tumor model in vivo. These observations indicated that DPD/pEGFP-C1–p53 complex may be considered to be an efficient delivery system for tumor gene therapy.
Radiation vulcanization of thermoplastic low-density polyethylene/bromobutyl rubber blends
Authors: Maysa AM 
Published: May 2012

Blends of thermoplastic low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) with varying ratios have been prepared. Vulcanization of prepared blends has been induced by gamma ionizing radiation of varying doses of up to 250 kGy. Physical properties, namely gel fraction percentage, and mechanical properties, namely tensile strength, tensile modulus at 50% elongation, percentage elongation at break, hardness and permanent set have been followed up as a function of irradiation dose and blend compositions. Moreover, measurements of thermogravimetric analysis and heat shrinking properties have been carried out. The results indicated that blending with LDPE has improved the properties of BIIR rubber. Moreover, the presence of BIIR enhances the heat shrinking properties of the obtained blends.
Occurrence of selected antiphospholipid antibodies in offspring born from mothers with autoimmunity
Authors: Mocková A , Ulčová-Gallová Z , Náhlovský J , Lukášová V , Dort J , Bibková K , Micanová Z 
Published: May 2012

Autoimmune diseases can be accompanied by presence of various antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). The laboratory criteria of antiphospholipid syndrome are based on detection of anticardiolipin, lupus anticoagulant or to antiβ2- glycoprotein I but currently a significance of other multiple aPL is being discussed. Because of their vascular and neuroinflammatory effect aPL, if being transplacentally transferred, might inflict damage in developing organism. The aim of our study was to determine the occurrence of eight selected aPL in offspring of mothers with proven autoimmune disease with aPL positivity. The possible influence of aPL presence on clinical, ultrasound and laboratory outcome of children was observed as well. The prospective study included 38 women: 17 women with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and 21 women with other diagnosed autoimmune disease with detected aPL. Also included were 39 children born to the above mentioned mothers between January 2009 and April 2010 in Perinatology Centre in Pilsen, Czech Republic. The control group consisted of 30 mothers without AD and their 30 healthy singletons. Preliminary results of the study showed the presence of aPL in 42.1% neonates of aPL positive mothers with autoimmune disease, six month later aPL were present in only 37.5 % of these children. Observed occurrence of aPL positivity at 6 months of age in originally negative offspring could be attributed to vaccination or food exposure. Psychomotor development of children has proceeded without major deviations. The follow-up study continues and will evaluate both groups of children at two years of age.
Thrombin generation in antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Zuily S , Aissa K Ait , Membre A , Regnault V , Lecompte T , Wahl D 
Published: May 2012

Our objective was to study acquired Activated Protein C (APC) resistance in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) using a thrombin generation based assay. We compared patients with and without lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE). A parameter summarizing APC inhibition of thrombin generation with increasing APC concentrations (IC50-APC) was increased in all patient groups compared to controls: median values were 15.3 (interquartile range, IQR, 9.7 to 34.0) in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), 27.3 (IQR 23.5 to 43.5) in patients with SLE without APS, 64.1 (IQR 25.9 to 65.0) in patients with SLE/APS compared to 10.4 [IQR 8.5 to 15.8] in controls, respectively p = 0.003, p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0001. In conclusion, patients with SLE and primary APS displayed a hypercoagulable state characterized by APC resistance.
Complementemia and obstetric outcome in pregnancy with antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: De Carolis S , Botta A , Santucci S , Salvi S , Moresi S , Di Pasquo E , Del Sordo G , Martino C 
Published: May 2012

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of serum C3 and C4 complement component levels in relation to pregnancy outcome in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Materials and methods: A prospective study of 47 pregnancies associated with APS was performed. Pregnancy outcome was analyzed in terms of: fetal loss, preterm delivery (≤34 gestational weeks), fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), birth weight <2500 g and preeclampsia. Week at delivery, neonatal birth weight and neonatal birth weight percentile were also investigated. Hypocomplementemia, positivity for anti-dsDNA and triple positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were related to pregnancy outcome. Results: Forty-three pregnancies ended in live births with a fetal loss rate of 8.5%. Fetal death, preterm delivery and birth weight <2500 g were associated with hypocomplementemia ( p = 0.019, p = 0.0002, p < 0.0001 respectively). Lower neonatal birth weight, lower neonatal birth weight percentile and lower week at delivery were associated with hypocomplementemia ( p < 0.0001, p = 0.0003, p < 0.0001 respectively) and with triple aPL positivity ( p = 0.008, p = 0.014, p = 0.03 respectively). A poor pregnancy outcome was confirmed among primary APS (PAPS) pregnancies with hypocomplementemia. Multivariate analysis confirmed that hypocomplementemia was an independent predictor of lower neonatal birth weight ( p = 0.0001) and lower week at delivery ( p = 0.002). Conclusion: Hypocomplementemia could be considered a novel prognostic factor for pregnancy outcome in APS patients.
Inducible expression and pathophysiologic functions of T-plastin in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Bégué Elodie , Jean-Louis Francette , Bagot Martine , Jauliac Sébastien , Cayuela Jean-Michel , Laroche Liliane , Parquet Nathalie , Bachelez Hervé , Bensussan Armand , Courtois Gilles , Michel Laurence 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA molecular feature of Sézary syndrome (SS) is the abnormal expression of T-plastin by malignant T cells. Herein, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in T-plastin synthesis and the functions of this actin-binding protein, with a special interest in chemoresistance and migration. We confirm the specific expression of T-plastin in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from SS patients and its total absence in PBLs from patients with mycosis fungoides, inflammatory cutaneous or hematologic diseases, and from healthy volunteers. Only 3 of 4 SS patients did constitutively express T-plastin. To assess whether T-plastin expression was inducible, T-plastin–negative PBLs were stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and ionomycin. Our results demonstrate that T-plastin synthesis was induced in negative PBLs from SS patients, other studied patients, and healthy volunteers. Both constitutive and calcium-induced T-plastin expression was down-regulated by calcineurin inhibitors and involved nuclear factor of activated T cells transcription pathway. Constitutive T-plastin expression in SS was associated with resistance to etoposide-induced apoptosis and cell migration toward chemokines (TARC/CCL17, IP-10). In conclusion, T-plastin is a marker restricted to malignant lymphocytes from SS patients and plays a role for cell survival and migration. This opens new strategies for the treatment of SS advanced stages.
Childhood attention problems and socioeconomic status in adulthood: 18-year follow-up
Authors: Galéra Cédric , Bouvard Manuel-Pierre , Lagarde Emmanuel , Michel Grégory , Touchette Evelyne , Fombonne Eric , Melchior Maria 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been associated with socioeconomic difficulties later in life. Little research in this area has been based on longitudinal and community studies.AimsTo examine the relationship between childhood attention problems and socioeconomic status 18 years later.MethodUsing a French community sample of 1103 youths followed from 1991 to 2009, we tested associations between childhood attention problems and socioeconomic status between ages 22 and 35 years, adjusting for potential childhood and family confounders.ResultsIndividuals with high levels of childhood attention problems were three times more likely to experience subsequent socioeconomic disadvantage than those with low levels of attention problems (odds ratio 3.44, 95% CI 1.72–6.92). This association remained statistically significant even after adjusting for childhood externalising problems, low family income, parental divorce and parental alcohol problems.ConclusionsThis longitudinal community-based study shows an association between childhood attention problems and socioeconomic disadvantage in adulthood. Taking into account ADHD and associated difficulties could help reduce the long-term socioeconomic burden of the disorder.
Comparison of neuroleptic malignant syndrome induced by first- and second-generation antipsychotics
Authors: Trollor Julian N. , Chen Xiaohua , Chitty Kate , Sachdev Perminder S. 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundReports of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) induced by second-generation antipsychotic drugs highlight a propensity for atypical clinical presentations.AimsTo systematically compare the clinical profile of NMS induced by first- (1G-NMS) and second-generation antipsychotic drugs (2G-NMS).MethodThe Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (ADRAC) database was searched to identify individuals with NMS reported between April 1994 and September 2010. The clinical characteristics of 208 people with NMS induced by monotherapy with first- or second-generation antipsychotic drugs, as well as presenting features of NMS, were compared.ResultsThe individuals with 2G-NMS were younger and more likely to have a psychotic disorder diagnosis. The features of NMS in the two groups were very similar, except that people with 2G-NMS were less likely to present with rigidity or extrapyramidal signs compared with those with 1G-NMS. This difference was due to the lower rates of rigidity in those with clozapine-induced NMS. Mortality was considerably lower for those with 2G-NMS (3.0%) compared with 1G-NMS (16.3%), and the former were more likely to have received supportive treatment.ConclusionsThe clinical profile of 2G-NMS is largely similar to 1G-NMS, with clozapine-induced NMS being differentiated by the relative lack of rigidity as a feature. Mortality is lower for 2G-NMS.
Rendering Infant Abandonment Technical and Moral: Expertise, Neoliberal Logics, and Class Differentiation in Ho Chi Minh City
Authors: Leshkowich Ann Marie 
Published: May 2012

Over the past several decades, transnational adoption of Vietnamese children has developed from a response to war into a routine option for foreigners trying to build families. This article explores how the logics that have emerged within Vietnam to make sense of the transnational movement of children reflect both broader neoliberal ideologies of family and selfhood and late socialist anxieties about class differentiation.
Child welfare professionals, the media, and casual observers in Ho Chi Minh City explain rising adoption rates as due to the desperation, ignorance, or emotional inadequacies of poor, rural single mothers who abandon their children. Such claims about maternal unfitness are part of a growing neoliberal tendency in Vietnam to render the family and reproduction technical problems to be solved through the application of scientific expertise. Although rendering technical has elsewhere been analyzed as a process of depoliticization, this article argues that it is neither objective nor value neutral. Rendering technical succeeds by convincingly rendering its targets moral: in this case, expert intervention and social commentary about monstrous abandoning mothers construct a morally ideal maternal subject who recognizes that appropriate child rearing requires particular family configurations, material resources, and forms of knowledge. At the same time, ascribing such notions of personhood, self-improvement, and expertise to a global neoliberal advance ignores details of ethnographic context and history in Vietnam, where neoliberalism operates as much through exception as through normalization. Recent idealizations of particular family configurations and forms of personhood compellingly resonate with preexisting moral discourses about motherhood, family, and political economy, including those promoted by the state in earlier phases of socialism.
Schema Mapping and Data Exchange Tools: Time for the Golden
Age
Authors: Mecca Giansalvatore , Mecca Paolo 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
In the last 10 years, schema mapping management has become an important research
area in data transformation, exchange, and integration systems. The reasons for
its success can be found in the declarative nature of its building block (thus
enabling clean semantics and easy to use design tools) paired with the
efficiency and modularity in the deployment step. In this paper we sketch a line
of evolution in schema-mappings and data exchange systems, through what we
identify as three main ages. We start presenting the foundations of schema
mapping tools and the first tools aimed at translating data from a source to a
target schema in the first, heroic age. We then discuss the silver age, when
schema mapping tools have grown their way into complex systems and have been
translated into both commercial and open-source tools. Finally, we show how
recent results in schema-mapping and data-exchange research may be considered
the starting point for a forthcoming golden age, with novel research
opportunities and a new generation of systems capable of dealing with a
significantly larger class of real-life applications.
Nonvolatile Memory Characteristics of Nanocrystalline Molybdenum Oxide Embedded High-kFilm - Device Performance and Light Wavelength Effects
Authors: Kuo Yue , Liu Xi , Yang Chia-Han , Lin Chi-Chou 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTThe nanocrystalline molybdenum oxide embedded Zr-doped HfO2high-knonvolatile memory device has been fabricated using the one pumpdown sputtering process and a rapid thermal annealing step. The majority embedded molybdenum existed in the MoO3nanocrystal form but a small amount of metallic molybdenum was also detected. The memory function of this device was based on the hole trapping-and-detrapping mechanism. The embedded nanocrystals retained charges after the breakdown of the high-kstack. The charge storage capacity was influenced by light exposure, especially the wavelength. The silicon/high-kinterface was also affected by the exposed light. This study provided an insight of the function of the embedded nanocrystals and the light effects on the device.
SONOS memory devices with ion beam modified nitride layers
Authors: Simatos D. , Dimitrakis P. , Ioannou-Sougleridis V. , Normand P. , Giannakopoulos K. , Pecassou B. , BenAssayag G. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTIn this work we examine the development of ion beam modified oxide-nitride-oxide structures formed by low-energy (1 keV) implantation of Si, N and Ar ions (1x1016 ions/cm2) into oxide-nitride gate stacks and subsequent wet-oxidation to form the blocking oxide. Transmission electron microscopy indicates that the thickness of the blocking oxide layer is strongly affected by the implantation process going from 1 nm (non-implanted sample) to 4-5 nm (N and Ar implants) and 7.5 nm (Si implant). The Si implanted stacks exhibit the highest attainable memory window (∼ 8.5 V for a 1 ms pulse regime), which involve both electron and hole storage. In contrast the thinner blocking oxide that develops to the nitrogen and argon implanted stacks limits the memory window which is due only to electron trapping. Room temperature charge retention measurements of the programming state reveal that the electron loss rate is faster in samples implanted with Si than N, allowing for a memory window of 1.7 V and 2.5 V respectively after ten years extrapolation. This retention behavior is mainly attributed to the different nature of the traps generated in the implanted materials.
Intrinsic Resistive Switching in Bulk SiOx Films
Authors: Mehonic Adnan , Cueff Sébastien , Wojdak Maciej , Hudziak Stephen , Jambois Olivier , Labbé Christophe , Garrido Blas , Rizk Richard , Kenyon Anthony J. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTWe report a study of resistive switching in a silicon-based memristor/resistive RAM (RRAM) device in which the active layer is silicon-rich silica. The resistive switching phenomenon is an intrinsic property of the silicon-rich oxide layer and does not depend on the diffusion of metallic ions to form conductive paths. Both unipolar and bipolar programming is demonstrated.Switching exhibits the pinched hysteresis I/V loop characteristic of RRAM/memristive systems, and on/off resistance ratios of 104:1 or higher can be easily achieved. Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy suggests that switchable conductive pathways are 10nm in diameter or smaller.
Identification of the Location of Conductive Filaments Formed in Pt/NiO/Pt Resistive Switching Cells and Investigation on Their Properties
Authors: Iwata Tatsuya , Nishi Yusuke , Kimoto Tsunenobu 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTExact locations of conductive filaments formed in NiO-based resistive switching (RS) cells were detected by C-AFM, and their electrical as well as chemical properties were investigated. After a forming process, a part of top electrodes of Pt/NiO/Pt RS cells is deformed. NiO layers are also deformed, and conductive spots, i.e. filaments have been found preferentially along the edges of deformations. Detailed C-AFM investigation has revealed that variation of cell resistances originates from differences in size and shape of filaments, not their resistivity. Furthermore, cross-sectional TEM analysis has demonstrated that filaments determining cell resistance consist of reduced NiO with an inclusion of Pt.