bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipid modification in type 2 diabetes: the role of LDL and HDL
Authors: Vergès Bruno 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPatients with type 2 diabetes feature important modification of both low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein particles which are likely to play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Although plasma LDL cholesterol level is usually normal in type 2 diabetic patients, LDLs show a significant increase in their plasma residence time which may promote cholesterol deposition in the arterial wall. Moreover, important qualitative abnormalities of LDLs, potentially atherogenic, are observed in type 2 diabetic patients: small dense, triglyceride‐rich, LDL particles (known as subclass B), oxidized LDL and glycated LDL. All these qualitative modification of LDLs amplify the atherosclerotic process.Plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is decreased in type 2 diabetes related to increased catabolism of HDL particles. One of the mechanism responsible for increased catabolism of HDLs is hypertriglyceridemia, promoting through cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) the transfer of triglycerides (TG) to HDL leading to the formation of TG‐rich HDLs which are very good substrates for hepatic lipase, enzyme in charge of HDLs catabolism. The reduction in plasma adiponectin level, observed in type 2 diabetes may be another mechanism involved in the diminution of HDL cholesterol. Furthermore, qualitative abnormalities of HDLs are described in type 2 diabetes: enrichment in triglycerides and glycation, which may impair HDL‐mediated cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport. In addition to their role in reverse cholesterol transport, HDLs usually show antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, anti‐thrombotic and endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxant effects. It has been shown that HDLs from patients with type 2 diabetes have a significant reduction in their antioxidative and endothelium‐dependent vasorelaxant properties.
Robust multi‐objective optimization for water distribution system design using a meta‐metaheuristic
Authors: Raad Darian , Sinske Alexander , Van Vuuren Jan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe design of an urban water distribution system (WDS) is a challenging problem involving multiple objectives. The goal of robust multi‐objective optimization for WDS design is to find the set of solutions which embodies an acceptable trade‐off between system cost and reliability, so that the ideal solution may be selected for a given budget. In addition to satisfying consumer needs, a system must be built to accommodate multiple demand loading conditions, withstand component failures and allow surplus capacity for growth. In a developmental setting, WDS robustness becomes even more crucial, owing to the limited availability of resources, especially for maintenance. Recent optimization studies have achieved success using multi‐objective evolutionary algorithms, such as the Non‐dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA‐II). However, the multi‐objective design of a large WDS within a reasonable timeframe remains a formidable problem, owing to the extremely high computational complexity of the problem. In this paper, a meta‐algorithm called AMALGAM is applied for the first time to WDS design. AMALGAM uses multiple metaheuristics simultaneously in an attempt to improve optimization performance. Additionally, a Jumping‐gene Genetic Algorithm (NSGA‐II‐JG) is also applied for the first time to WDS design. These two algorithms were tested against some other metaheuristics (including NSGA‐II and a new greedy algorithm) with respect to a number of benchmark systems documented in the literature, and AMALGAM demonstrated the best performance overall, while NSGA‐II‐JG fared worse than the ordinary NSGA‐II. Large cost savings and reliability improvements are demonstrated for a real WDS developmental case study in South Africa.
Vegetation Restoration and Its Effects on Carbon Balance in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Peng Shao‐Lin , Hou Yu‐Ping , Chen Bao‐Ming 
Published: July 2009

Abstract The significance of the regional carbon (C) balance of vegetation restoration to global change was studied in Guangdong Province, one of the most populated provinces in China. The percentage of the province in forestland cover increased steadily from 26.23% in 1979 to 50.11% in 1998 owing to restoration of forests. During this period, the area increase in the conifer forest was 424.83 × 104 ha, whereas the area in broad‐leaved, mixed, and other forests increased by 68.82 × 104, 18.94 × 104, and 60.46 × 104 ha, respectively. C sequestration by forest soils from 1979 to 1998 was 389.36 Mt, equivalent to 1.43 Pg fixed carbon dioxide (CO2). The total annual CO2 sequestration by forests and the soils was 118.05 Mt, which was about half of the annual CO2 emission in Guangdong. The role of forest management and restoration in improving the carbon balance is discussed.
Effects of Native and Non‐Native Grassland Plant Communities on Breeding Passerine Birds: Implications for Restoration of Northwest Bunchgrass Prairie
Authors: Kennedy Patricia L. , DeBano Sandra J. , Bartuszevige Anne M. , Lueders Andrea S. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract One common problem encountered when restoring grasslands is the prominence of non‐native plant species. It is unclear what effect non‐native plants have on habitat quality of grassland passerines, which are among the most imperiled groups of birds. In 2004 and 2005, we compared patterns of avian reproduction and the mechanisms that might influence those patterns across a gradient of 13 grasslands in the Zumwalt Prairie in northeastern Oregon that vary in the degree of non‐native plant cover (0.9–53.4%). We monitored the fate of 201 nests of all the breeding species in these pastures and found no association of percent non‐native cover with nest densities, clutch size, productivity, nest survival, and nestling size. Regardless of the degree of non‐native cover, birds primarily fed on Coleoptera, Orthoptera, and Araneae. But as percent non‐native cover in the pastures increased, Orthoptera made up a greater proportion of diet and Coleoptera made up a smaller proportion. These diet switches were not the result of changes in terrestrial invertebrate abundance but may be related to decreases in percent bare ground associated with increasing cover of non‐native vegetation. Measures of nest crypticity were not associated with cover of non‐native vegetation, suggesting that predation risk may not increase with increased cover of non‐native vegetation. Thus, the study results show that increased non‐native cover is not associated with reduced food supplies or increased predation risk for nesting birds, supporting the growing body of evidence that grasslands with a mix of native and non‐native vegetation can provide suitable habitat for native grassland breeding birds.
European Nature Conservation and Restoration Policy—Problems and Perspectives
Authors: Keulartz Jozef 
Published: July 2009

Abstract The implementation of Natura 2000 has met with considerable resistance from farmers, fishermen, foresters, and other local residents in most European Union Member States. In response to the rural protest, the majority of governments have gradually abandoned their centralist, top‐down approach and increasingly switched over to methods of participatory and interactive policy‐making. However, this “democratisation” of European nature conservation policy is not without its problems and pitfalls. The inclusion of an ever‐growing group of stakeholders with different and often diverging interests, ideas, views, and values will more often than not lead to conflicts over the future of nature and the landscape. The causes and consequences of these conflicts need to be examined to improve the policy process.
Survival and complication rates of implant‐supported fixed partial dentures with cantilevers: a systematic review
Authors: Zurdo José , Romão Cristina , Wennström Jan L. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective: The objective of the present systematic review was to analyze the potential effect of incorporation of cantilever extensions on the survival rate of implant‐supported fixed partial dental prostheses (FPDPs) and the incidence of technical and biological complications, as reported in longitudinal studies with at least 5 years of follow‐up.Methods: A MEDLINE search was conducted up to and including November 2008 for longitudinal studies with a mean follow‐up period of at least 5 years. Two reviewers performed screening and data abstraction independently. Prosthesis‐based data on survival/failure rate, technical complications (prosthesis‐related problems, implant loss) and biological complications (marginal bone loss) were analyzed.Results: The search provided 103 titles with abstract. Full‐text analysis was performed of 12 articles, out of which three were finally included. Two of the studies had a prospective or retrospective case–control design, whereas the third was a prospective cohort study. The 5‐year survival rate of cantilever FPDPs varied between 89.9% and 92.7% (weighted mean 91.9%), with implant fracture as the main cause for failures. The corresponding survival rate for FPDPs without cantilever extensions was 96.3–96.2% (weighted mean 95.8%).Technical complications related to the supra‐constructions in the three included studies were reported to occur at a frequency of 13–26% (weighted mean 20.3%) for cantilever FPDPs compared with 0–12% (9.7%) for non‐cantilever FPDPs. The most common complications were minor porcelain fractures and bridge‐screw loosening.For cantilever FPDPs, the 5‐year event‐free survival rate varied between 66.7% and 79.2% (weighted mean 71.7%) and between 83.1% and 96.3% (weighted mean 85.9%) for non‐cantilever FPDPs.No statistically significant differences were reported with regard to peri‐implant bone‐level change between the two prosthetic groups, either at the prosthesis or at the implant level.Conclusion: Data on implant‐supported FPDPs with cantilever extensions are limited and therefore survival and complication rates should be interpreted with caution. The incorporation of cantilevers into implant‐borne prostheses may be associated with a higher incidence of minor technical complications.
Clinical outcomes of sinus floor augmentation for implant placement using autogenous bone or bone substitutes: a systematic review
Authors: Nkenke Emeka , Stelzle Florian 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground: To date, there are still no clear cut guidelines for the use of autogenous bone or bone substitutes.Aim: The aim of the present review was to analyze the current literature in order to determine whether there are advantages of using autogenous bone (AB) over bone substitutes (BS) in sinus floor augmentation. The focused question was: is AB superior to BS for sinus floor augmentation in partially dentate or edentulous patients in terms of implant survival, patient morbidity, sinusitis, graft loss, costs, and risk of disease transmission?Materials and methods: The analysis was limited to titanium implants with modified surfaces placed in sites with 6 mm of residual bone height and a lateral wall approach to the sinus. A literature search was performed for human studies focusing on sinus floor augmentation.Results: Twenty‐one articles were included in the review. The highest level of evidence consisted of prospective cohort studies. A descriptive analysis of the constructed evidence tables indicated that the type of graft did not seem to be associated with the success of the procedure, its complications, or implant survival. Length of healing period, simultaneous implant placement or a staged approach or the height of the residual alveolar crest, sinusitis or graft loss did not modify the lack of effect of graft material on the outcomes. Three studies documented that there was donor site morbidity present after the harvest of AB. When iliac crest bone was harvested this sometimes required hospitalization and surgery under general anesthesia. Moreover, bone harvest extended the operating time. The assessment of disease transmission by BS was not a topic of any of the included articles.Discussion and Conclusion: The retrieved evidence provides a low level of support for selection of AB or a bone substitute. Clear reasons could not be identified that should prompt the clinician to prefer AB or BS.
Clinical outcomes of GBR procedures to correct peri‐implant dehiscences and fenestrations: a systematic review
Authors: Chiapasco Matteo , Zaniboni Marco 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective: To analyze the clinical outcomes of endosseous implants following guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures to correct dehiscence/fenestration defects associated with implant placement.Methods/Search strategy: A Medline search was performed for human studies published in English focusing on GBR procedures for the correction of dehiscence/fenestration defects associated with the placement of screw‐shaped titanium implants. The selected studies had to include at least 10 consecutively treated patients with a minimum follow‐up of 12 months after the start of prosthetic loading. The clinical outcomes in terms of the complication rate of the GBR procedure, implant survival, and stability of marginal soft tissues around implants were evaluated.Results: Seven publications were included in this review. A total of 238 patients received 374 implants. Defects were treated with resorbable or non‐resorbable membranes, in association with or without graft materials. Patients were followed for 1–10 years after the start of prosthetic loading. In the postoperative period, 20% of the non‐resorbable membranes and 5% of the resorbable ones underwent exposure/infection. However, in the majority of cases, a complete or an almost complete coverage of the initial defect was obtained. The overall survival rate of implants, irrespective of the type of membrane and grafting materials, was 95.7% (range: 84.7–100%). No significant modifications of probing depth and/or variation of clinical attachment level around implants were observed during the follow‐up period.Conclusion: Despite the favorable results obtained, it was difficult to draw a significant conclusion as far as the more reliable grafting material and membrane barrier for the correction of dehiscence/fenestration defects are concerned, due to the limited sample of patients and the wide variety of grafting materials and membranes, used alone or in combination. Moreover, due to the lack of randomized clinical trials, it was impossible to demonstrate that such augmentation procedures are actually needed to allow the long‐term survival of implants.
Re‐osseointegration on previously contaminated surfaces: a systematic review
Authors: Renvert Stefan , Polyzois Ioannis , Maguire Rory 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjectives: The aim of this review was to search the literature for the existing evidence of re‐osseointegration after treatment of peri‐implantitis at contaminated implant surfaces.Material and Methods: A search of PubMed as well as additional hand search of articles were conducted. Publications and articles accepted for publication up to November 2008 were included.Results: A total of 25 animal studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this review. Access surgery with closed healing has been observed to positively influence the rate of re‐osseointegration when compared with non‐surgical decontamination of the implant surface with open healing. Open debridement including surface decontamination may result in re‐osseointegration and this integration was more pronounced on rougher than on smooth implant surfaces. The adjunctive use of regenerative procedures resulted in varying amounts of re‐osseointegration.Conclusions: Re‐osseointegration is possible to obtain on a previously contaminated implant surface and can occur in experimentally induced peri‐implantitis defects following therapy. The amount of re‐osseointegration, varied considerably within and between studies. Implant surface characteristics may influence the degree of re‐osseointegration. Surface decontamination alone can not achieve substantial re‐osseointegration on a previously contaminated implant surface. No method predictably accomplished complete resolution of the peri‐implant defect.
A systematic review of the performance of ceramic and metal implant abutments supporting fixed implant reconstructions
Authors: Sailer Irena , Philipp Alexander , Zembic Anja , Pjetursson Bjarni E. , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Zwahlen Marcel 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjectives: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the 5‐year survival rates and incidences of complications associated with ceramic abutments and to compare them with those of metal abutments.Methods: An electronic Medline search complemented by manual searching was conducted to identify randomized‐controlled clinical trials, and prospective and retrospective studies providing information on ceramic and metal abutments with a mean follow‐up time of at least 3 years. Patients had to have been examined clinically at the follow‐up visit. Assessment of the identified studies and data abstraction was performed independently by three reviewers. Failure rates were analyzed using standard and random‐effects Poisson regression models to obtain summary estimates of 5‐year survival proportions.Results: Twenty‐nine clinical and 22 laboratory studies were selected from an initial yield of 7136 titles and data were extracted. The estimated 5‐year survival rate of ceramic abutments was 99.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 93.8–99.9%] and 97.4% (95% CI: 96–98.3%) for metal abutments. The estimated cumulative incidence of technical complications after 5 years was 6.9% (95% CI: 3.5–13.4%) for ceramic abutments and 15.9% (95% CI: 11.6–21.5%) for metal abutments. Abutment screw loosening was the most frequent technical problem, occurring at an estimated cumulative incidence after 5 years of 5.1% (95% CI: 3.3–7.7%). All‐ceramic crowns supported by ceramic abutments exhibited similar annual fracture rates as metal–ceramic crowns supported by metal abutments. The cumulative incidence of biological complications after 5 years was estimated at 5.2% (95% CI: 0.4–52%) for ceramic and 7.7% (95% CI: 4.7–12.5%) for metal abutments. Esthetic complications tended to be more frequent at metal abutments. A meta‐analysis of the laboratory data was impossible due to the non‐standardized test methods of the studies included.Conclusion: The 5‐year survival rates estimated from annual failure rates appeared to be similar for ceramic and metal abutments. The information included in this review did not provide evidence for differences of the technical and biological outcomes of ceramic and metal abutments. However, the information for ceramic abutments was limited in the number of studies and abutments analyzed as well as the accrued follow‐up time. Standardized methods for the analysis of abutment strength are needed.
Reticular erythematous mucinosis – (REM syndrome) in twins
Authors: Fühler Maren , Ottmann Karl , Tronnier Michael 
Published: July 2009

SummaryWe present female twins with reticular erythematous mucinosis (REM syndrome). Remarkably, the lesions developed in both sisters almost at the same time in the same locations after UV exposure. Reports of familial manifestations of REM syndrome are very rare and an association to a distinct HLA constellation has not been proven. Our report clearly suggests a genetic predisposition.
Land degradation: A global perspective
Authors: Conacher Arthur 
Published: July 2009

AbstractLand degradation has a long history and is on the increase. It has adverse consequences for people's economies, health and well‐being, and for ecosystems, and it is causally linked to population growth and inappropriate land‐use practices. It is an urban as well as a rural problem. Solutions require an integrated, geographical approach. Otherwise, some problems may be ignored and others created inadvertently.
Changes in the age of New Zealand farmers: Problems for the future?
Authors: Fairweather John , Mulet‐Marquis Stephanie 
Published: July 2009

AbstractEarlier research shows that between 1971 and 1981, the number of farmers in New Zealand increased and their average age decreased, whereas between 1981 and 1991, the opposite trend occurred. This article addresses the issue of change in the average age of farmers since 1991 using recent census data. It reviews the difficulties in obtaining good data and describes the adjustments need to be made to obtain a consistent data series from 1971 to 2006. The long‐term trend for increasing age of farmers and farm workers continues. This demographic aspect of farm structural change is then discussed in terms of the sustainability of farming by reference to productivity and potential problems with succession.
Comparison of Video Laryngoscopy Technologies
Authors: Chiesa C. , Miljkovic N. , Schulte N. , Callahan J. B. , Miller D. J. , Boedeker B. H. 
Published: July 2009

Indirect laryngoscopy allows practitioners to “see around the corner” of a patient's airway during intubation. Inadequate airway management is a major contributor to patient injury, morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the video quality of commercially available video laryngoscopy systems. A team of four investigators at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Peter Kiewit Institute performed intubation simulations using a number of video laryngoscopy systems. Testing was done with a Laerdal Difficult Airway Manikin (Laerdal Medical Corp., Wappingers Falls, NY) in a setting that simulated difficult airways, adverse lighting conditions and various system configurations (e.g., maximizing screen contrast, minimizing screen brightness, maximizing screen color hue, etc.). Systems included the STORZ C-MACTM (KARL STORZ Endoscopy, Tuttlingen, Germany), a prototype developed by STORZ (a McIntosh #3 video blade with USB connectivity to an ultra mobile PC; “UMPC”) and a GlideScope® Portable GUL (Verathon Inc., Bothell, WA). Equipment was evaluated based on investigator's perceptions of the color (“C”), clarity (“L”) and brightness (“B”) of the image onscreen for each of the systems. Perceptions were given one of three possible ratings: High=3, Moderate=2 or Low=1. Statistics were performed using a two-tailed Wilcoxon Rank Sum test for independent samples. A summary of the results of the testing are shown below (shown as “Mean±Standard Deviation”):
• C-MAC–L=2.13±0.99, C=1.75±0.89, B=2.5±0.93, Total=6.38±2.5
• GlideScope®–L=2.38±0.92, C=1.38±0.52, B=2.38±0.92, Total=6.13±1.96
• UMPC–L=1.88±0.83, C=1.75±1.04, B=1.88±0.83, Total=5.5±2.2
Testing showed that there were no significant differences between image clarity, color, brightness or overall score of any of the tested systems (α=0.05). Since there were no significant differences in video quality between the three systems, the choice of system falls to user preference, which can vary from person to person, and qualitative analysis of features that are outside the scope of this study. Investigators plan to evaluate additional video laryngoscopy solutions in an effort to create a platform-agnostic video laryngoscopy suite. Funding by KARL STORZ Endoscopy. Investigators were blinded to funding source until after testing was completed. The authors wish to thank Dr. W. Bosseau Murray for his insightful comments.