bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiply Methyl‐Branched Fatty Acids and Diacids in the Polar Lipids of a Microaerophilic Subsurface Microbial Community
Authors: Hedrick David B. , Peacock Aaron D. , Long Philip , White David C. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA previously unreported series of di‐ and tri‐methylated fatty acids, as well as saturated and monounsaturated diacids were identified in polar lipids isolated from environmental subsurface sediment samples. Mechanisms are proposed for their formation, but their origin and role in cell membranes remains unknown.
Availability and use of obstetric guidelines in Nigeria
Authors: Olamijulo Joseph , Ogedengbe Olasubomi , Giwa‐Osagie Osato 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the availability and use of obstetric guidelines in Nigeria, and seek the opinions of obstetricians regarding the benefits of such guidelines.MethodsA questionnaire survey of obstetricians attending the Annual Conference of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria held in November 2006. Respondents were asked whether their units had management guidelines for 12 common obstetric complications, and whether they thought the use of guidelines would improve obstetric outcome.ResultsOnly 14.1% of 170 respondents worked in units with guidelines on all 12 obstetric complications, while 28.8% said their units had none. Guidelines were most commonly available for HIV/AIDS and hypertensive disorders, and least available for sepsis and abortion complications. The majority of respondents (96%) agreed that guidelines would improve obstetric outcome.ConclusionThe availability of obstetric guidelines in Nigeria is low and variable. Widespread introduction is advocated as a strategy for improving obstetric outcome.
Uterine electrical activity and cervical shortening in the midtrimester of pregnancy
Authors: Grgic Ozren , Matijevic Ratko 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjective: To determine whether a correlation exists between increased uterine electrical activity and cervical length (CL) in the midtrimester of pregnancy.Method: In this case‐control study, 312 asymptomatic nulliparous women underwent both uterine electromyographic assessment and ultrasound CL measurement between the 16th and 23rd weeks of a singleton pregnancy. The outcome measure was the difference in ultrasound CL measurement between the women found to have uterine action potentials on electromyography and those who did not.Results: Action potentials were detected in 66 (21.1%) of the 312 women; and compared with the remainder of the study population, cervical length was significantly shorter in these women (35.7 ± 8.9 mm vs 38.8 ± 7.9 mm; P < 0.01 by the Mann‐Whitney test).Conclusion: Ultrasound CL measurement in the midtrimester was significantly shorter in women with increased uterine electrical activity.
Trends in the use of epidural analgesia in Australia
Authors: Lain Samantha , Ford Jane , Hadfield Ruth , Blyth Fiona , Giles Warwick , Roberts Christine 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether changes in maternal and birth characteristics explain the increase in the use of epidural analgesia during labor.MethodsUsing data from a statewide surveillance system of all births, the study included 857 667 women who labored at term between 1992 and 2003 in New South Wales, Australia. Annual rates of epidural analgesia use were calculated. Logistic regression models were used to predict epidural analgesia rates over time, and were compared with observed rates.ResultsEpidural analgesia use increased from 17.2% in 1992 to 26.5% in 2003. The increase in the proportion of women with factors associated with epidural analgesia use explained almost half of the increase in rate. After controlling for these factors, the odds of a woman receiving epidural analgesia in 2003 compared with 1992 were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.38–1.46).ConclusionChanges in maternal or birth characteristics partially explain the increase in epidural analgesia rate. The unexplained increase may be due to increased availability or other factors.
Factors affecting uptake of cervical cancer screening among Chinese women in New Zealand
Authors: Gao Wanzhen , DeSouza Ruth , Paterson Janis , Lu Tongjing 
Published: July 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the factors affecting uptake of cervical cancer screening among women born in China now living in Auckland, New Zealand.MethodA community‐based pilot study of 260 women surveyed by questionnaire between November 2006 and February 2007 to ascertain the uptake of cervical screening.ResultsOf 234 returned questionnaires, 152 women (65%) reported being screened in New Zealand and 56% had been screened in the last 3 years. The 4 most important predictive factors affecting uptake were the women's belief that cervical smear tests are necessary for asymptomatic women, having a family doctor, having received gynecologic, obstetric, and family planning services in New Zealand, and having ever received a recommendation for a cervical smear test.ConclusionThe most important influential factors affecting uptake of cervical screening among Chinese women in New Zealand are women's belief in its value and their engagement in general and women's health services.
Prenatal management of anencephaly
Authors: Cook Rebecca J. , Erdman Joanna N. , Hevia Martin , Dickens Bernard M. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAbout a third of anencephalic fetuses are born alive, but they are not conscious or viable, and soon die. This neural tube defect can be limited by dietary consumption of foliates, and detected prenatally by ultrasound and other means. Many laws permit abortion, on this indication or on the effects of pregnancy and prospects of delivery on a woman's physical or mental health. However, abortion is limited under some legal systems, particularly in South America. To avoid criminal liability, physicians will not terminate pregnancies, by induced birth or abortion, without prior judicial approval. Argentinian courts have developed means to resolve these cases, but responses of Brazilian courts are less clear. Ethical concerns relate to late‐term abortion, meaning after the point of fetal viability, but since anencephalic fetuses are nonviable, many ethical concerns are overcome. Professional guidance is provided by several professional and institutional codes on management of anencephalic pregnancies.
Daily ration and feeding activity of juvenile hake in the central Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Carpentieri P. , Colloca F. , Ardizzone G. 
Published: July 2008

We investigated daily ration, feeding rhythms and gastric evacuation rates of juvenile (<16 cm total length) European hake Merluccius merluccius, using stomach samples collected during four 24-hour trawl surveys carried out in 2001–2002 on the continental shelf-break (from 120 m to 160 m in depth) off the western coast of central Italy (central Mediterranean Sea). In each survey 8 hauls of 30 minutes were performed every three hours throughout the 24-hour period to cover the entire diel cycle. Diet of juvenile hake was mostly composed of the euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii, showing a peak in stomach contents during early morning followed by a daytime decrease. Fullness index (%FI) was generally higher during sunrise when migratory activity ceased and juvenile hake return to the bottom after feeding. Concerning the hake abundance the highest density value was obtained in May during the recruitment period.Two independent daily ration estimates were produced. First, an empirical attempt to estimate the daily amount of food consumed was obtained by back-calculating the fresh weight of euphausiid prey ingested by juvenile hake. Estimated values ranged from 4.96–5.89% body wet weight (%BW). Second, the daily ration was computed applying the exponential gastric evacuation models proposed by Elliot & Persson (1978) and Eggers (1979). Daily ration values obtained using these consumption models produced a considerable (15–20%) underestimation of consumption rate for juvenile hake.
The long-term course of depression: development of an empirical index and identification of early adult outcomes
Authors: Pettit J. W. , Lewinsohn P. M. , Roberts R. E. , Seeley J. R. , Monteith L. 
Published: July 2008

BackgroundResearch on the long-term course of major depressive disorder (MDD) is hindered by the absence of established course criteria and by idiosyncratic definitions of chronicity. The aims of this study were to derive an empirical index of MDD course, to examine its predictive validity, and to identify the adulthood outcomes associated with a chronic course.MethodIndicators for a MDD course factor were rationally selected and subjected to principal components (PCA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) among 426 subjects with a lifetime history of MDD by age 30. Scores on the index prior to age 19 were examined as predictors of course from age 19 to 30. Associations between the index and outcomes of interest at age 30 were examined.ResultsThree indicators loaded highly on a chronic course index and displayed adequate internal consistency: early onset age, number of episodes, and duration of ill time. Predictive validity of the index was supported. A more chronic course was associated with greater symptom severity, greater likelihood of treatment utilization, and greater psychosocial impairment in multiple domains. Treatment utilization interacted with chronicity to predict relatively few outcomes and did not reduce the negative impact of a chronic course.ConclusionsThe course of MDD through early adulthood is best represented by a composite of early onset age, number of episodes, and duration of ill time. A chronic course through early adulthood is associated with numerous indicators of psychosocial impairment. Mental health treatment utilization in a naturalistic setting does not appear to reduce the negative impact of chronic MDD.
Pathways to psychiatric care in Ethiopia
Authors: Bekele Y. Y. , Flisher A. J. , Alem A. , Baheretebeb Y. 
Published: July 2008

BackgroundUnderstanding the pathways to psychiatric care and recognition of delay points are crucial for the development of interventions that aim to improve access to mental health-care services.MethodOver a 2-month period in 2003, a total of 1044 patients at the commencement of new episodes of care at Amanuel Specialized Mental Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were interviewed using the encounter form that was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the study of pathways to psychiatric care.ResultsThe mental hospital was contacted directly by 41% of patients. The remaining patients sought care from up to four different caregivers before arriving at the psychiatric hospital. Where the initial service was not received at the psychiatric hospital, 30.9% of patients sought care from priests/holy water/church. The median delay between onset of illness and arrival at the psychiatric hospital was 38 weeks. The longest delays before arriving at the mental hospital were associated with having no formal education, joblessness, and diagnoses of epilepsy and physical conditions.ConclusionsImplementing a robust referral system and establishing a strong working relationship with both traditional and modern health-care providers, as well as designing a service delivery model that targets particular segments of the population, such as those who are uneducated, jobless and/or suffer from epilepsy and somatic conditions, should be the most important strategies towards improving mental health service delivery and shortening of undue delay for patients receiving psychiatric care in Ethiopia.
Hypofractionated whole breast irradiation
Authors: Yarnold J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe international standard regimen of radiotherapy for women with early breast cancer following mastectomy or local tumour excision involves the delivery of daily doses (fractions) of 2.0 Gy to a total dose of 50 Gy. Recent randomised clinical trials suggest that there is most unlikely to be any disadvantages in terms of local tumour control or late adverse effects, and obvious advantages in terms of convenience, for schedules treating to a lower total dose using a smaller number of larger fractions. Fifteen or 16 fractions of 2.67 Gy are being adopted in some countries, and future research will test the limits of this approach, termed accelerated hypofractionation.
The case for life on Mars
Authors: Schulze-Makuch Dirk , Fairén Alberto G. , Davila Alfonso F. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThere have been several attempts to answer the question of whether there is, or has ever been, life on Mars. The boldest attempt was the only ever life detection experiment conducted on another planet: the Viking mission. The mission was a great success, but it failed to provide a clear answer to the question of life on Mars. More than 30 years after the Viking mission our understanding of the history and evolution of Mars has increased vastly to reveal a wetter Martian past and the occurrence of diverse environments that could have supported microbial life similar to that on Earth for extended periods of time. The discovery of Terran extremophilic microorganisms, adapted to environments previously though to be prohibitive for life, has greatly expanded the limits of habitability in our Solar System, and has opened new avenues for the search of life on Mars. Remnants of a possible early biosphere may be found in the Martian meteorite ALH84001. This claim is based on a collection of facts and observations consistent with biogenic origins, but individual links in the collective chain of evidence remain controversial. Recent evidence for contemporary liquid water on Mars and the detection of methane in the Martian atmosphere further enhance the case for life on Mars. We argue that, given the cumulative evidence provided, life has and is likely to exist on Mars, and we have already found evidence of it. However, to obtain a compelling certainty a new mission is needed, one which is devoted to the detection of life on Mars.
Micro-scale variations of iron isotopes in fossilized microorganisms
Authors: Ivarsson Magnus , Gehör Seppo , Holm Nils G. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractLaser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy analyses have been performed on carbonaceous filamentous structures that have been interpreted as fossilized microorganisms containing ~10–50 wt% Fe and on non-carbonaceous filamentous structures that have been interpreted to have been formed abiotically containing ~80 wt% Fe. The obtained laser-ablation profiles of the two structural types show a distinct difference in the iron isotopic variations. The centers of the carbonaceous filaments are enriched in 57Fe and 58Fe and depleted in 56Fe. The surficial parts of the filaments display an opposite behavior of the iron isotopes and are thus enriched in 56Fe and depleted in 57Fe and 58Fe. 54Fe usually follows 57Fe and 58Fe but in some cases it follows 56Fe instead. The outer, surficial parts enriched in 56Fe have been interpreted as iron oxides precipitated on the surfaces of the microorganisms as they mediate oxidation of the iron to achieve metabolic energy. The laser-ablation profiles of the abiotically formed non-carbonaceous filamentous structures do not show the same characteristics as the carbonaceous filaments but only irregular elevations of 56Fe. The characteristic profile patterns of the isotope variations in the microfossils suggest that microbially formed iron oxides may be enriched in 56Fe. If that is the case the isotopic profiles could be used to distinguish abiotically formed iron oxides from biologically formed oxides.
Thermodynamics of the prokaryote nuclear zone
Authors: Braun F.N. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractIn studying the functional and evolutionary significance of compartmentation in biology, it is instructive to consider its thermodynamic context as a conceptual centrepiece of entropy and phase transitions. Here we focus specifically on compartmentation at the intracellular level of microbial organellar cytology. Via a colloid-statistical argument, supplemented with order of magnitude estimates for the relevant physical quantities, we find that the DNA-containing nucleoid of prokaryotes presents a plausible nucleation site for phase-transitional behaviour, provided the genome exceeds some threshold size of the order of 10 Mbp. Large genome size seems capable in this respect of seeding compartmentation effects such as the nuclear envelope of Planctomycetes bacteria, which is widely regarded as a possible precursor to the nuclear envelope of eukaryotes.
Science highlights from Hipparcos
Authors: Perryman M. A. C. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues were published in 1997. In the intervening 10 years, several thousand papers making more-or-less direct use of the data have been published. I summarise a number of scientific applications which illustrate the variety of problems to which the data have been applied. This includes the re-reduction of old and contemporary astrometric observations, investigations of Galactic structure and dynamics, investigations of stellar structure and evolution, investigations of the Solar System and our Earth's environment, and various uses of the binary star and photometric data.
CCD survey with the CMASF from the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Vallejo M. , Muiños J. L. , Belizón F. , Montojo F. J. , Mallamaci C. C. , Pérez J. A. , Marmolejo L. F. , Navarro J. L. , Sedeño J. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractA subcatalogue with positions and magnitudes of stars brighter than V = 16 and declinations between −30° and 0° is presented. The observations have been carried out with the Círculo Meridiano Automático de San Fernando at the Carlos Ulrrico Cesco Observatory in San Juan (Argentina) in the framework of an agreement between the ROA and the OAFA. The final goal of this collaboration is to publish a survey of positions and magnitudes of stars brighter than V = 16 and with declinations between −55° and +30°.
Use of optical and radio astrometric observations of planets, satellites and spacecraft for ephemeris astronomy
Authors: Pitjeva E. V. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractDifferent types of radiometric observations of planets and spacecraft, as well as optical data used for constructing modern high-precision planet ephemerides are presented. New mass values for planets and asteroids are given. The IAA RAS EPM ephemerides (Ephemerides ofPlanets and theMoon) are the basis for the Russian “Astronomical Yearbook” and are used in the navigation program “GLONASS” and the cosmic program “Phobos-Grunt”.
Systematic biases and uncertainties of Hipparcos parallax
Authors: Pan X. P. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractGround-based optical/IR interferometers have provided strong support to the space-based astrometric mission Hipparcos ever since the Hipparcos instrument was in operation in 1989. Interferometric observations also produced critical corrections of orbital motion to many targets, including radio stars, which link the Hipparcos system to the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF). In particular, orbital parallax from interferometers confirmed the 10% bias of the Pleiades distance from Hipparcos, and thus avoids revision of classical astronomy. Significant offsets and errors of Hipparcos parallax introduced by binary jitters are demonstrated in this work. By comparing the Hipparcos results with long baseline interferometry and other techniques including spectroscopy, multi-color photometry, Main-Sequence fitting, light curve measurements, Lunar occultation, Fine Guidance Sensor, etc., systematic biases and uncertainties of Hipparcos parallaxes are investigated and analyzed. We have established good models for major error sources of Hipparcos parallax, such as zonal bias, binary jitters, and luminosity-dependent errors. The lessons learned from the systematic biases of Hipparcos parallax are valuable to future space missions like SIM and Gaia.
Towards a better understanding of Hipparcos
Authors: van Leeuwen F. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe formal errors on the astrometric data in the 1997 publication of the Hipparcos catalogue are, for stars brighter than about magnitude 9, largely the result of inaccuracies in the description of the along-scan attitude of the satellite. A detailed study of the dynamics of the Hipparcos satellite has led to a much improved understanding and modelling of the satellite attitude, taking into account peculiarities in the rotation of the payload (scan-phase jumps) as well as the detections of small hits. A new reduction of the Hipparcos data was initiated, in which the attitude modelling is a direct description of the dynamics of the satellite. In this so-called fully-dynamic attitude modelling the underlying torques acting on the satellite are reconstructed, and rates and error angles are obtained through integrations. Both the hits and the scan-phase jumps could be taken into account in the context of this model. The new model, including the provisions for discontinuities, led to a factor five reduction in the attitude noise. A new reduction, based on a global iterative solution like is also planned for Gaia, was started in 2004, and completed, after some 15 iterations, in 2007. In the process of this reduction, also the sensitivity of the solution to optimal connectivity between the data in the two fields of view was exposed and taken care of, as well as a couple of small-scale calibrations. The latter had not been possible to solve for in the original reductions. In the catalogue that resulted from this new reduction, the errors on the astrometric data for all but stars brighter than magnitude 4, are dominated by photon noise. Error-correlation levels in the underlying abscissa data are down by more than an order of magnitude, and play no longer any significant role. This feature very much simplifies the analysis of, for example, wide-binary stars and open cluster data.
GRAVITY: microarcsecond astrometry and deep interferometric imaging with the VLTI
Authors: Eisenhauer F. , Perrin G. , Straubmeier C. , Brandner W. , Boehm A. , Cassaing F. , Clenet Y. , Dodds-Eden K. , Eckart A. , Fedou P. , Gendron E. , Genzel R. , Gillessen S. , Graeter A. , Gueriau C. , Hamaus N. , Haubois X. , Haug M. , Henning T. , Hippler S. , Hofmann R. , Hormuth F. , Houairi K. , Kellner S. , Kervella P. , Klein R. , Kolmeder J. , Laun W. , Lena P. , Lenzen R. , Marteaud M. , Meschke D. , Naranjo V. , Neumann U. , Paumard T. , Perger M. , Perret D. , Rabien S. , Ramos J. R. , Reess J. M. , Rohloff R. R. , Rouan D. , Rousset G. , Ruyet B. , Schropp M. , Talureau B. , Thiel M. , Ziegleder J. , Ziegler D. 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWe present the adaptive optics assisted, near-infrared VLTI instrument GRAVITY for precision narrow-angle astrometry and interferometric phase referenced imaging of faint objects. With its two fibers per telescope beam, its internal wavefront sensors and fringe tracker, and a novel metrology concept, GRAVITY will not only push the sensitivity far beyond what is offered today, but will also advance the astrometric accuracy for UTs to 10 μas. GRAVITY is designed to work with four telescopes, thus providing phase referenced imaging and astrometry for 6 baselines simultaneously. Its unique capabilities and sensitivity will open a new window for the observation of a wide range of objects, and — amongst others — will allow the study of motion within a few times the event horizon size of the Galactic Center black hole.