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Iron and a mixture of DHA and EPA supplementation, alone and in combination, affect bioactive lipid signalling and morbidity of iron deficient South African school children in a two-by-two randomised controlled trial
No full textWe recently reported that iron supplementation increased respiratory morbidity in iron deficient South African children. This increase, however, was attenuated when iron was provided in combination with a mixture of DHA/EPA. To explore potential underlying mechanisms, we examined the effects of iron and DHA/EPA, alone and in combination, on plasma lipid-derived immune modulator concentrations and related gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). DHA/EPA decreased inflammatory 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and tended to increase anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA), while iron decreased 17-HDHA. However, in combination with iron, the anti-inflammatory effect of DHA/EPA was maintained. These biochemical changes may explain the prevention of iron-induced respiratory morbidity that we observed when iron was supplemented in combination with DHA/EPA during the 8.5 month randomised controlled trial and might lead to a safer approach of delivering iron supplementation. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01092377
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
n-3 Long-chain PUFAs reduce respiratory morbidity caused by iron supplementation in iron-deficient South African schoolchildren: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention
No full textBACKGROUND: Although iron supplementation in malaria-free areas mostly reduces infectious morbidity, it can sometimes increase morbidity from infections as a result of the dependence of pathogenic microorganisms on iron. Supplementation with n-3 (?-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) improved morbidity in several human studies. However, information on the combined effect of iron and n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on infectious morbidity is limited.OBJECTIVE: We determined whether n-3 LCPUFAs and iron supplementation, alone or in combination, affected absenteeism and illness in iron-deficient schoolchildren with low fish intake.DESIGN: A total of 321 South African children (aged 6-11 y) with iron deficiency (ID) were randomly divided into 4 groups to receive 1) iron plus placebo, 2) a mixture of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA) plus placebo, 3) iron plus DHA/EPA, or 4) placebo plus placebo as oral supplements 4 times/wk for 8.5 mo. Morbidity was recorded, and iron-status indexes were measured. The total phospholipid fatty acid composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cell membranes was analyzed in a subsample (n = 130).RESULTS: Iron supplementation increased the number of days with illness when all symptoms were considered (B: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.71, 1.03) as well as illness that was specifically caused by respiratory symptoms (B: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.70), whereas DHA/EPA reduced the number of days with illness at school (B: -0.96; 95% CI: -1.33, -0.59). The increases caused by iron were reduced to the levels seen in the placebo plus placebo group when iron was provided in combination with DHA/EPA as indicated by significant iron × DHA/EPA interactions (both P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Iron supplementation increased morbidity (mostly respiratory) in iron-deficient South African schoolchildren with low DHA/EPA intake, but when iron was given in combination with DHA/EPA, this effect was prevented. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01092377.<br/
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Dietary fat intake and blood lipid profiles of South African communities in transition in the North–West Province : the PURE study
Get PDFThesis (M.Sc. (Dietetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.Aim and objectives: This study set out to investigate the diet and blood lipid profiles of subjects in transition in the North West Province in South Africa. It looked specifically at how the diet differed
between rural and urban areas, how the blood lipid profiles differed between rural and urban subjects, establishing an association between dietary fat, fatty acid and cholesterol intakes respectively and blood lipid profiles, as well as investigating the differences in blood lipid profiles at different ages, body mass
index (BMI) and genders respectively in rural and urban areas. Design: The present study was a cross–sectional data analysis nested within the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study that is currently undertaken in the North West Province of South Africa amongst other countries. Methods: Baseline data was obtained in 2005. A randomised paper selection was done of people between 35 - 70 years of age with no reported chronic diseases of lifestyle, TB or HIV of those enrolled into the PURE study if they had provided written consent. Eventually a paper selection was made of 2000 subjects, 500 people in each of the four communities (rural, urban–rural, urban, established urban). For the interpretation purposes of this study, data was stratified for rural (1000 subjects) and urban (1000 subjects) only, with no further sub–division into communities. Physical activity levels and habitual diets were obtained from these subjects. Demographic and dietary intake data in the PURE study was collected
using validated, culture sensitive questionnaires. Anthropometric measures and lipid analysis were
determined using standardised methodology. Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations and
proportions) were calculated. One–way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences between the different levels of urbanisation on blood lipid profiles and dietary intake. When a
dietary intake variable proved to be significant for different levels of a factor (urbanisation, blood lipid profile), post–hoc tests were calculated to determine which levels for specific variables differed
significantly. Bonferroni–type adjustments were made for the multiple comparisons. Spearman correlations were calculated to determine associations. Results: Mean fat intake was significantly higher in urban areas than in rural areas (67.16 ± 33.78 g vs. 32.56 ± 17.66 g, p<0.001); and the same was true for the individual fatty acid intakes. Fat and fatty acid intakes were still within recommendations even for urban areas, and low for rural areas. N–3 intake was very low in both rural and urban areas. Serum lipids did not differ significantly between rural and urban
areas. Almost half of rural (43%) and urban (47%) subjects presented with elevated total cholesterol (5.0 mmol/L). In rural areas 52% and in urban areas 55% of subjects had elevated LDL–C (3.0
mmol/L). Amongst 23% of males in rural areas and 18% of males in urban areas HDL–C levels were decreased. Of the females living in rural areas 34.3% had decreased HDL–C levels and 39% of those who lived in urban areas presented with lowered HDL–C levels. In rural areas 16.3% of subjects and in urban
areas 23% of subjects presented with high triglyceride levels. TC, LDL–C and triglyceride levels were higher in higher body mass index (BMI) classes, however, obese subjects did not differ significantly from overweight subjects in terms of blood lipids, suggesting that values stabilise after reaching overweight
status. These blood lipids were also higher in higher age groups and higher in women than men, probably due to the high incidence of obesity in women.
Conclusions: Associations between the diet and blood lipid profiles were weak, and diet is not likely to be the only factor responsible for high TC and LDL–C levels. Blood lipid profiles did not differ
significantly between rural and urban areas due to the fact that the diet was prudent in terms of fat intake in both rural and urban areas. Higher prevalence of underweight was noted in males (32% in rural areas and 28% in urban areas), while overwieght was a bigger problem amongst women (48% in rural areas and
54% in urban areas). TC, LDL–C and TAG were higher with higher BMI’s, while HDL–C levels were lower. TC, LDL–C, and TAG were higher in higher age goups while HDL–C levels were lower. Female
subjects presented with higher mean triglycerides than males, probably due to higher prevalence of overweight and obesity.Master
koamabayili/VECTRON-author-checklist: VECTRON author checklist
No full textWe have done our best to complete the author checklist relating to the use of animals in the hut study. Note that the objective for the hut study was to evaluate the IRS treatment applications for residual efficacy against Anopheles mosquitoes, including the local An. coluzzii mosquito population. Cows were only used to attract mosquitoes into the huts and no tests were carried out directly on the cows. The author checklist is intended for use with studies where experiments are carried out on animals, which is why we have had such difficulty in completing this for the hut study, as many of the questions do not relate to how the cows were used
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