bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship of hypersensitivity to anxiety and depression in children with high‐functioning pervasive developmental disorders
Authors: Tsuji Hisashi , Miyawaki Dai , Kawaguchi Takeshi , Matsushima Noriaki , Horino Akemi , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Suzuki Futoshi , Kiriike Nobuo 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  Sensory–perceptual abnormalities, which include hyper‐ and hyposensitivity, have been identified by numerous researchers as prevalent in individuals with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Hypersensitivity has a greater impact on PDD patients' daily lives than hyposensitivity. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship of hypersensitivity to anxiety, depression and other psychopathology in children with PDD.Methods:  Sixty‐four children were divided into a hypersensitivity group (HG; n = 43) and a non‐hypersensitivity group (non‐HG; n = 21), and compared for anxiety, depression and other psychopathology on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI).Results:  The HG group had significantly higher scores than the non‐HG group in Total, Internalizing, and Somatic complaints on the CBCL. On STAIC, the mean sore of Total Score, State Score and Trait Score in the HG group tended to be higher than in the non‐HG group, but the difference was not significant. The score on the CDI in the HG group was significantly higher than that in the non‐HG group.Conclusion:  PDD children with hypersensitivity have more serious psychopathologies, especially internalizing symptoms including depression.
Increased soluble tumor necrosis factor‐α receptors in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Grassi‐Oliveira Rodrigo , Brietzke Elisa , Pezzi Júlio C. , Lopes Rodrigo P. , Teixeira Antonio L. , Bauer Moisés E. 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  Several lines of evidence suggest that major depressive disorder is associated with an inflammatory status. Tumor necrosis factor‐α has been investigated as a potential molecular target in mood disorders. Tumor necrosis factor‐α exerts its activity through binding to specific cell membrane receptors named as TNFR1 and TNFR2. The aim of the present study was to investigate soluble plasma TNFR1 (sTNFR1) and TNFR2 levels (sTNFR2) in major depressive disorder patients.Methods:  Female outpatients with major depressive disorder (n = 30) were compared with a healthy control group (n = 19). Severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated on Beck Depression Inventory; post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were evaluated on PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version; and childhood abuse and neglect on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Plasma tumor necrosis factor‐α and its soluble receptors were measured by ELISA.Results:  Patients had no changes in tumor necrosis factor‐α concentrations but did have increased sTNFR1 (P < 0.001) and sTNFR2 (P < 0.001) levels compared to controls. Plasma level of sTNFR1 was positively predicted by age (B = 0.25, P = 0.05) and PTSD‐like symptoms (B = 0.41, P = 0.002) and plasma levels of sTNFR2 by depression severity (B = 0.67, P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Soluble tumor necrosis factor‐α receptors could be reliable markers of inflammatory activity in major depression.
Gerontology in the developing Brazil: Achievements and challenges in public policies
Authors: Nóbrega Otávio T , Faleiros Vicente P , Telles José L 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  In the last three decades, the segment of population aged 60 years and older has more than doubled in Brazil. People aged 80 years and older are expected to be the fastest‐growing segment in the near future. This aim of this study was to analyze the legal structures currently in place in Brazil and to provide a framework for care policies and practices towards older‐adults.Methods:  This article focuses on past and present major socioeconomic burdens on this segment of the Brazilian population as well as on public achievements to overcome inequities.Results:  Both the public health and the social security systems have been directed to provide preferential assistance to the aged. Nonetheless, the elderly remain the most impoverished segment of Brazil and carry the burden of an overall lack of specialized services. Moreover, socioeconomic inequalities and population diversity in Brazil affects elderly care, adding complexity to this unique scenario.Conclusion:  Brazil has adopted legal hallmarks that substantially shifted public practices towards the elderly segment from a philanthropic status to a legitimate right for care and assistance. The demographic transition that took place provides an opportunity for innovative solutions in public policies for older adults in a developing economic environment.
Parental aging synergistically decreases offspring sex ratio
Authors: Matsuo Koji , Ushioda Norichika , Udoff Laurence C. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of parental age as a factor in the observed decline in the male to female birth ratio expressed as the offspring sex ratio (OSR).Study Design:  A prospective multicenter study was conducted from August 2005 to February 2007 at five community‐based hospitals in Osaka, Japan. Pregnant women in the first trimester were recruited at their first prenatal care visit and followed until delivery. Multiple pregnancies and assisted conceptions were excluded. Periconceptional parental ages were recorded. Neonatal information was obtained at the time of delivery. Proportional distribution of categorical variables was studied using the χ2 or Fisher's exact tests (two‐tailed).Results:  Data on 3,049 deliveries were available for review. OSR for the largest paternal and maternal subgroup (both, age 30–34) were male dominant (1.17 and 1.12, respectively). Paternal age ≥40 showed a smaller OSR (0.75 vs 1.17, P = 0.001). Advanced maternal age was associated with smaller OSR: age 35–39, 0.87 versus 1.12, P = 0.02; and age ≥40, 0.63 versus 1.12, P = 0.047. Synergistic effects of increasing paternal and maternal age on the OSR were observed. OSR for parental ages ≥40 were significantly smaller than ages 30–34 (0.52 vs 1.17, P = 0.029).Conclusions:  Increasing paternal ages synergistically decrease the male to female birth ratio.
Utero‐relaxant effect of PDE4‐selective inhibitor alone and in simultaneous administration with β2‐mimetic on oxytocin‐induced contractions in pregnant myometrium
Authors: Franova Sona , Janicek Frantisek , Visnovsky Jozef , Dokus Karol , Zubor Pavol , Sutovska Martina , Nosalova Gabriela 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground: The objective of the study was to observe the effect of rolipram, the prototype phosphodiesterase 4 selective inhibitor, on oxytocin‐induced contractions of human term myometrial strips, and compare the effect with salbutamol, β2‐adrenergic agonist, in single and the simultaneous application.Methods: Human myometrium was obtained from pregnant women in term that had a term delivery by the caesarian section. Myometrial strips were excised from the lower uterine segment and placed into an organ‐bath with Krebs‐Henseleit buffer. The mean peak amplitude of contraction (mN) of the myometrial smooth muscle to the doses of oxytocin (10−6 mmol/L−1) with subsequent single administration of rolipram (10−4 mmol/L−1), salbutamol (10−4 mmol/L1) and simultaneous administration of rolipram and salbutamol (both 10−4 mmol/L−1), was used as a parameter of myometrial reactivity.Results: Rolipram alone decreased the oxytocin‐induced contractile amplitude to 47.98%, single salbutamol application resulted in amplitudinal decrease to 56.07%, and the combination of both compounds in their simultaneous administration resulted in the decrease of oxytocin‐induced contractile amplitude to 29.1%.Conclusion: Our data are consistent with previous studies of the enhanced efficiency of the β2‐adrenergic agonist, when administered together with the phosphodiesterase 4‐inhibitor. Moreover we have shown that rolipram alone has a more profound effect on oxytocin‐induced contractions than salbutamol alone.
Disease confined within the ovary and smaller amount of ascites are good prognostic factors for survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary: A case series in Korea and review of the published reports
Authors: Kim Hee Seung , Kim Jae Weon , Chung Hyun Hoon , Park Noh‐Hyun , Song Yong‐Sang , Kang Soon‐Beom 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAim:  To identify clinical prognostic factors for survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) arising from mature cystic teratoma (MCT) of the ovary with review of the published reports.Methods:  Clinical data of 55 patients with SqCC arising from MCT of the ovary who were reported in the Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Korean Journal of Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy between 1992 and 2006 were reviewed. Clinical factors were analyzed to identify their association with disease‐free survival and overall survival (OS), which were evaluated using the Kaplan‐Meier analysis with the log‐rank test. Clinical prognostic factors were identified using Cox's proportional hazard analysis.Results:  Patients with disease confined within the ovary (n = 31) or ascites <500 mL (n = 15) had the benefit of a higher mean OS than those with advanced disease (n = 8) (116 vs 21 months, P = 0.004) and ascites ≥500 mL (n = 7) (106 vs 8 months, P = 0.005), respectively. Disease confined within the ovary and ascites <500 mL were good prognostic factors by univariate but not multivariate Cox's proportional hazard analyses (HR = 0.123 and 0.139, 95% confidence interval = 0.022–0.670 and 0.027–0.722, respectively).Conclusions:  Disease confined within the ovary and a smaller amount of ascites may be good prognostic factors for the OS of patients with SqCC arising from MCT of the ovary.
Quantification of constraint effects in fracture mechanism transition for cracked structures under mixed mode loading
Authors: MOSTAFAVI M. , SMITH D. J. , PAVIER M. J. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTThe objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of plastic constraint on transition between tensile‐type and shear‐type fracture. The T‐stress is employed as the quantifying parameter for constraint and is incorporated into the existing theoretical criteria for modelling this transition. It is found that different constraint levels can dramatically alter the transition point. To verify this finding, two sets of mixed mode tests with different constraint levels are carried out. Alongside the theoretical and experimental study, finite element simulation is performed to verify and support these findings. Substantially improved agreement is observed with experimental data if the effect of plastic constraint on transition is included.
Numerical simulation of interfacial crack growth under fatigue load
Authors: SHI Z. , ZHANG R. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTIn the present paper, the interfacial crack growth of fibre reinforced composites under tension–tension cyclic load was simulated through the secondary development of the commercial finite element package ANSYS. For the importance of frictional degradation on the debonded interface during fatigue process, the modified power degradation model proposed in the authors' previous work is introduced into the present finite element analysis. Energy release rates rather than stress intensity factors are calculated in terms of difference approximation and utilized in Paris formula. Both looping cyclic load, calculating energy release rate, defining debond criterion and crack propagation law; updating parameters are programmed in ANSYS parametric design language, and the relationships between the parameters (such as the damage factor) and the number of cycles are obtained; the non‐uniform stiffness degradation of matrix is taken into account. The numerical results are compared and discussed with the analytical solutions and good agreement is found. At the same time, a comparison between the present investigation and an experiment study is addressed.
On the relation of microstructure and impact toughness characteristics of DSAW steel of grade API X70
Authors: HASHEMI S. H. , MOHAMMADYANI D. , POURANVARI M. , MOUSAVIZADEH S. M. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTIn this research, mechanical characteristics of double submerged arc‐welded line pipe steel of grade API X70 (70 ksi yield strength) were investigated. Different experimental examinations including chemical analysis, microstructural investigation, microhardness, tensile and Charpy tests and standard fractography were carried out on different zones of test material. Impact properties of the fusion zone, the heat‐affected zone (HAZ) and the base metal were measured on an instrumented Charpy rig and correlated then to their microstructural features. The experimental results showed that the base metal was the toughest, and fusion zone was the least tough region with average Charpy energy of 222 and 128 J, respectively. The latter fulfilled service requirements set by API 5L, despite its relatively low impact energy. Interestingly, the cast microstructure and presence of grain boundary phases such as proeutectoid ferrite in fusion zone confirmed its low energy characteristics. Reduction in HAZ impact energy (compared to base metal) was observed too, together with grain coarsening and the associated HAZ softening adjacent to the weld.
Characterization of cellulose production in Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and its biological consequences
Authors: Monteiro Cláudia , Saxena Inder , Wang Xiaoda , Kader Abdul , Bokranz Werner , Simm Roger , Nobles David , Chromek Milan , Brauner Annelie , Brown R. Malcolm , Römling Ute 
Published: January 2009

SummaryBacterial species of the Enterobacteriaceae family produce cellulose and curli fimbriae as extracellular matrix components, and their synthesis is positively regulated by the transcriptional activator CsgD. In this group of bacteria, cellulose biosynthesis is commonly regulated by CsgD via the GGDEF domain protein AdrA, a diguanylate cyclase that produces cyclic‐diguanylic acid (c‐di‐GMP), an allosteric activator of cellulose synthase. In the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 and its recent clonal isolates, CsgD activates the production of curli fimbriae at 28°C, but neither CsgD nor AdrA is required for the c‐di‐GMP‐dependent biosynthesis of cellulose at 28°C and 37°C. In these strains, the GGDEF domain protein YedQ, a diguanylate cyclase that activates cellulose biosynthesis in certain E. coli strains, is not required for cellulose biosynthesis and it has in fact evolved into a novel protein. Cellulose production in Nissle 1917 is required for adhesion of bacteria to the gastrointestinal epithelial cell line HT‐29, to the mouse epithelium in vivo, and for enhanced cytokine production. The role of cellulose in this strain is in contrast to the role of cellulose in the commensal strain E. coli TOB1. Consequently, the role of cellulose in bacterial–host interaction is dependent on the E. coli strain background.
Tobacco‐induced alterations to Porphyromonas gingivalis–host interactions
Authors: Bagaitkar Juhi , Williams Lisa R. , Renaud Diane E. , Bemakanakere Manjunatha R. , Martin Mike , Scott David A. , Demuth Donald R. 
Published: January 2009

SummarySmokers are more susceptible than non‐smokers to persistent infection by Porphyromonas gingivalis, a causative agent of periodontitis. Patients who smoke exhibit increased susceptibility to periodontitis and are more likely to display severe disease and be refractory to treatment. Paradoxically, smokers demonstrate reduced clinical inflammation. We show that P. gingivalis cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induce a lower proinflammatory response (tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐12 p40) from monocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells than do unexposed bacteria. This effect is reversed when CSE‐exposed bacteria are subcultured in fresh medium without CSE. Using microarrays representative of the P. gingivalis genome, CSE‐exposure resulted in differential regulation of 6.8% of P. gingivalis genes, including detoxification and oxidative stress‐related genes; DNA repair genes; and multiple genes related to P. gingivalis virulence, including genes in the major fimbrial and capsular operons. Exposure to CSE also altered the expression of outer membrane proteins, most notably by inducing the virulence factors RagA and RagB, and a putative lipoprotein cotranscribed with the minor fimbrial antigen. Therefore, CSE represents an environmental stress to which P. gingivalis adapts by altering gene expression and outer membrane proteins. These changes may explain, in part, the altered virulence and host–pathogen interactions that have been documented in vivo in smokers with periodontal disease.
Mathematical power of special‐needs pupils: An ICT‐based dynamic assessment format to reveal weak pupils' learning potential1
Authors: Peltenburg Marjolijn , Van Den Heuvel‐Panhuizen Marja , Doig Brian 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThis paper reports a study aimed at revealing special‐educational‐needs pupils' learning potential by means of an ICT‐based assessment including a dynamic visual tool that might help pupils when solving mathematics problems. The study focused on subtraction problems up to 100, which require ‘borrowing’. These problems, in which the value of the ones‐digit of the subtrahend is larger than the ones‐digit of the minuend, are known as a serious difficulty for weak pupils in mathematics. Seven of such problems from a standardised test were placed in the ICT environment. Data were collected from two test conditions: the standardised written test format and the ICT version of the test items including the tool that provided pupils with a set of virtual manipulatives. The 37 pupils involved in the study were 8–12 years old and from two special‐education schools in the Netherlands. Comparison of the performance scores in the two formats showed that an ICT‐based assessment format, including a dynamic visual tool, can reveal weak pupils' learning potential and strategy use. The study also pointed out that ‘partial‐tool use’, ie, not carrying out the complete subtraction operation with the tool, can provide sufficient support to find the correct answer.
e‐Assessment for learning? The potential of short‐answer free‐text questions with tailored feedback
Authors: Jordan Sally , Mitchell Tom 
Published: January 2009

AbstractA natural language based system has been used to author and mark short‐answer free‐text assessment tasks. Students attempt the questions online and are given tailored and relatively detailed feedback on incorrect and incomplete responses, and have the opportunity to repeat the task immediately so as to learn from the feedback provided. The answer matching has been developed in the light of student responses to the questions. A small number of the questions are now in low‐stakes summative use, alongside other e‐assessment tasks and tutor‐marked assignments, to give students instantaneous feedback on constructed response items, to help them to monitor their progress and to encourage dialogue with their tutor. The answer matching has been demonstrated to be of similar or greater accuracy than specialist human markers. Students have been observed attempting the questions and have been seen to respond in differing ways to both the questions themselves and the feedback provided. We discuss features of appropriate items for assessment of this type.
Example‐based Multiple Local Color Transfer by Strokes
Authors: Wen Chung‐Lin , Hsieh Chang‐Hsi , Chen Bing‐Yu , Ouhyoung Ming 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThis paper investigates a new approach for color transfer. Rather than transferring color from one image to another globally, we propose a system with a stroke‐based user interface to provide a direct indication mechanism. We further present a multiple local color transfer method. Through our system the user can easily enhance a defect (source) photo by referring to some other good quality (target) images by simply drawing some strokes. Then, the system will perform the multiple local color transfer automatically. The system consists of two major steps. First, the user draws some strokes on the source and target images to indicate corresponding regions and also the regions he or she wants to preserve. The regions to be preserved which will be masked out based on an improved graph cuts algorithm. Second, a multiple local color transfer method is presented to transfer the color from the target image(s) to the source image through gradient‐guided pixel‐wise color transfer functions. Finally, the defect (source) image can be enhanced seamlessly by multiple local color transfer based on some good quality (target) examples through an interactive and intuitive stroke‐based user interface.
Shrinkability Maps for Content‐Aware Video Resizing
Authors: Zhang Yi‐Fei , Hu Shi‐Min , Martin Ralph R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractA novel method is given for content‐aware video resizing, i.e. targeting video to a new resolution (which may involve aspect ratio change) from the original.We precompute a per‐pixel cumulative shrinkability map which takes into account both the importance of each pixel and the need for continuity in the resized result. (If both x and y resizing are required, two separate shrinkability maps are used, otherwise one suffices). A random walk model is used for efficient offline computation of the shrinkability maps. The latter are stored with the video to create a multi‐sized video, which permits arbitrary‐sized new versions of the video to be later very efficiently created in real‐time, e.g. by a video‐on‐demand server supplying video streams to multiple devices with different resolutions. These shrinkability maps are highly compressible, so the resulting multi‐sized videos are typically less than three times the size of the original compressed video. A scaling function operates on the multi‐sized video, to give the new pixel locations in the result, giving a high‐quality content‐aware resized video.Despite the great efficiency and low storage requirements for our method, we produce results of comparable quality to state‐of‐the‐art methods for content‐aware image and video resizing.
Context Aware Terrain Visualization for Wayfinding and Navigation
Authors: Möser Sebastian , Degener Patrick , Wahl Roland , Klein Reinhard 
Published: January 2009

AbstractTo assist wayfinding and navigation, the display of maps and driving directions on mobile devices is nowadays commonplace. While existing system can naturally exploit GPS information to facilitate orientation, the inherently limited screen space is often perceived as a drawback compared to traditional street maps as it constrains the perception of contextual information. Moreover, occlusion issues add to this problem if the environment is shown from the popular egocentric perspective.In this paper we describe an interactive visualization system that addresses these problems by reallocating the available screen space. At the heart of our system are three novel visualization techniques: First, we propose a non‐standard perspective that allows to blend between the familiar pedestrian perspective and a standard map depiction with reduced occlusion. Second, we derive an efficient deformation technique that allows an interactive allocation of screen space to areas of interest like e.g. nearby touristic attractions. Finally, a path adaptive isometric perspective is proposed that reveals otherwise hidden facades in top‐down views. We describe efficient implementations of all techniques and exemplify our interactive system on real world urban models.