bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A rational use of glucocorticoids in patients with early arthritis has a minimal impact on bone mass
Authors: Ibañez Monica , Ortiz Ana M , Castrejón Isabel , García-Vadillo J Alberto , Carvajal Inmaculada , Castañeda Santos , González-Álvaro Isidoro 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Introduction
Glucocorticoid (GC)-induced osteoporosis is a frequent complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, little information exists about the consequences of GC use in patients with early arthritis. Here we describe the variables underlying the use of GC in early arthritis, as well as its effect on bone-mineral density.

Methods
Data from 116 patients in our early arthritis register were analyzed (90 women; median age, 52.5 years, interquartile range (IQR, 38.5-66); 6-month median disease duration at entry (IQR, 4-9)). In this register, the clinical and treatment information was recorded systematically, including the cumulative GC dose. Lumbar spine, hip, and forearm bone-mineral density (BMD) measurements were performed at entry and after a 2-year follow-up. A multivariate analysis was performed to establish the variables associated with the use of GCs, as well as those associated with variations in BMD.

Results
Of the patients with early arthritis studied, 67% received GCs during the 2-year follow-up. GCs were more frequently prescribed to elderly patients, those with higher basal disease activity and disability, and patients with positive rheumatoid factor. When adjusted for these variables, GCs were less frequently prescribed to female patients. The use of GCs was associated with an increase of BMD in the ultradistal region of the forearm, although it induced a significant loss of BMD in the medial region of the forearm. No relevant effect of GC was noted on the BMD measured at other locations.

Conclusions
The frequent use of GCs as a "bridge therapy" in patients with early arthritis does not seem to be associated with relevant loss of bone mass. Moreover, cumulative GC administration might be associated with an increase of juxtaarticular BMD.
2× genomes - depth does matter
Authors: Milinkovitch Michel C , Helaers Raphaël , Depiereux Eric , Tzika Athanasia C , Gabaldón Toni 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Background
Given the availability of full genome sequences, mapping gene gains, duplications, and losses during evolution should theoretically be straightforward. However, this endeavor suffers from overemphasis on detecting conserved genome features, which in turn has led to sequencing multiple eutherian genomes with low coverage rather than fewer genomes with high-coverage and more even distribution in the phylogeny. Although limitations associated with analysis of low coverage genomes are recognized, they have not been quantified.

Results
Here, using recently developed comparative genomic application systems, we evaluate the impact of low-coverage genomes on inferences pertaining to gene gains and losses when analyzing eukaryote genome evolution through gene duplication. We demonstrate that, when performing inference of genome content evolution, low-coverage genomes generate not only a massive number of false gene losses, but also striking artifacts in gene duplication inference, especially at the most recent common ancestor of low-coverage genomes. We show that the artifactual gains are caused by the low coverage of genome sequence per se rather than by the increased taxon sampling in a biased portion of the species tree.

Conclusions
We argue that it will remain difficult to differentiate artifacts from true changes in modes and tempo of genome evolution until there is better homogeneity in both taxon sampling and high-coverage sequencing. This is important for broadening the utility of full genome data to the community of evolutionary biologists, whose interests go well beyond widely conserved physiologies and developmental patterns as they seek to understand the generative mechanisms underlying biological diversity.
High EVI1 Expression Predicts Outcome in Younger Adult Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Is Associated With Distinct Cytogenetic Abnormalities
Authors: Gröschel Stefan , Lugthart Sanne , Schlenk Richard F. , Valk Peter J.M. , Eiwen Karina , Goudswaard Chantal , van Putten Wim J.L. , Kayser Sabine , Verdonck Leo F. , Lübbert Michael , Ossenkoppele Gert-Jan , Germing Ulrich , Schmidt-Wolf Ingo , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Krauter Jürgen , Ganser Arnold , Döhner Hartmut , Löwenberg Bob , Döhner Konstanze , Delwel Ruud 
Published: March 2010

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate frequency and prognostic significance of high EVI1 expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients and Methods A diagnostic assay detecting multiple EVI1 splice variants was developed to determine the relative EVI1 expression by single real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 1,382 newly diagnosed adult patients with AML younger than 60 years. Patients were treated on four Dutch-Belgian HOVON (n = 458) and two German-Austrian AML Study Group protocols (n = 924). Results The EVI1 assay was tested in the HOVON cohort and validated in the AMLSG cohort. High EVI1 levels (EVI1+) were found with similar frequencies in both cohorts combined, with a 10.7% incidence (148 of 1,382). EVI1+ independently predicted low complete remission (CR) rate (odds ratio, 0.54; P = .002), adverse relapse-free survival (RFS; hazard ratio [HR], 1.32; P = .05), and event-free survival (EFS; HR, 1.46; P < .001). This adverse prognostic impact was more pronounced in the intermediate cytogenetic risk group (EFS; HR, 1.64; P < .001; and RFS; HR, 1.55; P = .02), and was also apparent in cytogenetically normal AML (EFS; HR, 1.67; P = .008). Besides inv(3)/t(3;3), EVI1+ was significantly associated with chromosome abnormalities monosomy 7 and t(11q23), conferring prognostic impact within these two cytogenetic subsets. EVI1+ was virtually absent in favorable-risk AML and AML with NPM1 mutations. Patients with EVI1+ AML (n = 28) who received allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first CR had significantly better 5-year RFS (33% ± 10% v 0%). Conclusion EVI1 expression in AML is unequally distributed in cytogenetic subtypes. It predicts poor outcome, particularly among intermediate cytogenetic risk AML. Patients with EVI1+ AML may benefit from allogeneic transplantation in first CR. Pretreatment EVI1 screening should be included in risk stratification.
Seismic Performance Tests of Masonry and Masonry Veneer
Authors: Klingner Richard E. , Shing P. Benson , McGinley W. Mark , McLean David I. , Okail Hussein , Jo Seongwoo 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
This paper summarizes the preliminary findings of a research project on performance-based design of masonry and masonry veneer. The project includes quasi-static testing of clay masonry veneer with wood-stud and concrete masonry backings; shaking-table tests of concrete masonry and wood-stud wall segments with clay masonry veneer; and shaking-table tests of a full-scale wood-stud structure with clay masonry veneer and a concrete masonry structure with clay masonry veneer; and nonlinear analytical modeling. Based on the test results, recommendations are presented for refinements to current seismic design and detailing provisions for masonry and masonry veneer.
Skiing and Boarding Injuries on Norwegian Slopes during Two Winter Seasons
Authors: Ekeland Arne , Rødven Andreas 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
A central ski patrol-based registration of skiing and boarding injuries was performed by the Norwegian Ski Lift Association during the winter seasons of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008. A total of 8149 injured skiers/boarders and 6.024 million skier/boarder days were recorded during the two seasons, giving an injury rate of 1.35 injured per 1000 skier/boarder days. Most of the injuries occurred during alpine skiing (64 %) and snowboarding (31 %), compared to telemark skiing (2 %) and skiboarding (3 %). Wrist injuries were common among injured snowboarders (25 %) compared to 4–6 % for the others (P&lt;0.001). The knee was the main injury location in alpine skiers (25 %) compared to 21 % among skiboarders, 19 % among telemarkers, and only 8 % among snowboarders (P&lt;0.001). The percentage of knee injuries in females (30 %) was almost twice as high as for males (16 %) (P&lt;0.001), whereas shoulder injuries was twice as high in males (16 %) as in females (7 %) (P&lt;0.001). As percent of all injuries injured snowboarders suffered more fractures (30 %) than skiboarders (27 %), alpine (22 %), and telemark skiers (18 %) (P&lt;0.001), but fracture of the lower leg was uncommon among snowboarders (0.5 %) and telemarkers (0.6 %) compared to alpine skiers (6 %) and skiboarders (9 %) (P&lt;0.001). Lower leg fractures accounted for 5 % of the injured alpine skiers 20 years and older, 3 % for adolescents aged 13–19 years compared to 12 % for children 12 years and younger (P&lt;0.001). Nineteen percent of the skiers/boarders were injured in terrain parks. They suffered more fractures and back injuries than those injured at other locations (P&lt;0.001). Fifty-seven percent of injured skiers/boarders used helmet, and they had a lower prevalence of head injuries (15.9 %) than those without helmet (18.2 %) (P&lt;0.01). In conclusion, injured alpine skiers were most prone to knee injuries, and skiboarders to lower leg fractures. This fracture was still a common injury for children in these two disciplines. Injured snowboarders were most prone to suffer wrist injuries. The prevalence of knee injuries among females was almost twice that of males, whereas the reverse was observed for shoulder injuries. Injured skiers/boarders wearing a helmet had a lower prevalence of head injuries than those without helmet.
Functional Genomic Identification of Genes Required for Male Gonadal Differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kalis Andrea K , Kroetz Mary B , Larson Kathleen M , Zarkower David 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans somatic gonad develops from a four-cell primordium into a mature organ that differs dramatically between the sexes in overall morphology (two arms in hermaphrodites and one in males) and in the cell types comprising it. Gonadal development in C. elegans is well studied, but regulation of sexual differentiation, especially later in gonadal development, remains poorly elucidated. To identify genes involved in this process, we performed a genome-wide RNAi screen using sex-specifically expressed gonadal GFP reporters. This screen identified several phenotypic classes, including ∼70 genes whose depletion feminized male gonadal cells. Among the genes required for male cell fate specification are Wnt/β-catenin pathway members, cell cycle regulators, and genes required for mitotic spindle function and cytokinesis. We find that a Wnt/β-catenin pathway independent of extracellular Wnt ligand is essential for asymmetric cell divisions and male differentiation during gonadal development in larvae. We also find that the cell cycle regulators cdk-1 and cyb-3 and the spindle/cytokinesis regulator zen-4 are required for Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity in the developing gonad. After sex is determined in the gonadal primordium the global sex determination pathway is dispensable for gonadal sexual fate, suggesting that male cell fates are promoted and maintained independently of the global pathway during this period.
Validation of Rapid Neurodevelopmental Assessment Instrument for Under-Two-Year-Old Children in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Naila Zaman , Muslima Humaira , Begum Dilara , Shilpi Asma Begum , Akhter Selina , Bilkis Khaleda , Begum Nasreen , Parveen Monowara , Ferdous Shamim , Morshed Romella , Batra Maneesh , Darmstadt Gary L. 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of a comprehensive assessment procedure for ascertaining neurodevelopmental status of children aged 0 to 24 months for use by multidisciplinary professionals in a developing country.

METHODS:
We developed the Rapid Neurodevelopmental Assessment (RNDA) to determine functional status in the following domains: primitive reflexes, gross motor, fine motor, vision, hearing, speech, cognition, behavior, and seizures. Reliability was determined for 50 children who were aged &lt;3 months and 30 children who were aged ≥3 to 24 months and were administered the RNDA by 8 different professionals (3 physicians, 4 therapists, and 1 special teacher). Validity was determined on 34 children aged &lt;3 months in hospital and 81 children aged ≥3 to 24 months in urban (n = 47) and rural (n = 34) community-based populations by any 1 of the 8 professionals, with simultaneous administration of the adapted Bayley Scales of Infant Development II by a psychologist as the gold standard.

RESULTS:
Mean κ coefficients of agreement among professionals in overall and individual domains in the 2 age groups ranged from good to excellent. For both younger and older children, there was good concurrent validity (ie, significantly lower mean Mental Development Index and Psychomotor Development Index scores) for children with ≥1 neurodevelopmental impairment and for children with impairments in most functional domains, compared with children with no impairments. Significantly more impairments were found in children from disadvantaged compared with socioeconomically more advantaged communities, indicating good discriminant validity.

CONCLUSIONS:
The RNDA can be used by professionals from a range of backgrounds with high reliability and validity for determining functional status of children who are younger than 2 years. The study findings have important practical implications for early identification and intervention to mitigate neurodevelopmental impairments in large populations that live in developing countries where professional expertise is sparse.
Current Pediatrician Practices in Identifying High-risk Behaviors of Adolescents
Authors: Henry-Reid Lisa M. , O'Connor Karen G. , Klein Jonathan D. , Cooper Ellen , Flynn Pat , Futterman Donna C. 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:
In the United States, 15- to 24-year-olds represent ∼14% of HIV cases diagnosed in 2006 and almost 50% of the 19 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) reported annually. This survey assessed pediatricians' practices regarding preventive health care screening, provision of reproductive health services including HIV and STI screening and counseling, and barriers to providing these services.

METHODS:
A random-sample mailed survey of 1626 US members of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2005.A total of 752 completed questionnaires were returned (46% response rate). Analysis was limited to the 468 pediatricians who provided health supervision visits to patients who were older than 11 years.

RESULTS:
Most pediatricians discussed sexual activity at preventive care visits; similar numbers discuss abstinence (62%), condoms (61%), and STIs (61%) with slightly fewer discussing HIV (54%). Pediatricians occasionally or rarely/never discussed homosexuality/sexual identity (82%). Most (71%) identified adolescents with high-risk behaviors by clinical interviews. Approximately 30% prescribed condoms, 22% distributed condoms, and 19% provided condom demonstrations. Whereas 46% of pediatricians recommended STI tests for all sexually active teens, only 28% recommended HIV testing for this population. Hospital/clinic-based and inner-city practitioners were more likely to prescribe, provide, and demonstrate condoms and recommend HIV/STI tests for sexually active teens. The most frequently identified barrier to HIV and STI prevention counseling was lack of time.

CONCLUSIONS:
Pediatricians believed it is important to deliver reproductive health services, and most addressed adolescent sexual activity at preventive care visits but did not routinely address homosexuality/sexual identity. Counseling and testing practices varied by physician characteristics.
Placental Inflammatory Response Is Associated With Poor Neonatal Growth: Preterm Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Mestan Karen , Yu Yunxian , Matoba Nana , Cerda Sandra , Demmin Bethany , Pearson Colleen , Ortiz Katherin , Wang Xiaobin 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:
We sought to determine whether placental markers of intrauterine inflammation were associated with poor weight gain among premature infants in the neonatal period.

METHODS:
We reviewed 697 preterm births prospectively enrolled as part of an ongoing molecular epidemiological study. Placental markers and serial weight gain were analyzed for premature infants who were hospitalized for ≥21 days (N = 256). Placentas were examined for maternal inflammatory response (MIR), defined as subchorionitis, chorioamnionitis, deciduitis, or free membranitis, and fetal inflammatory response (FIR), defined as inflammation extending to the umbilical cord or chorionic plate. Multivariate linear regression and stratified analyses were performed.

RESULTS:
Decreases in weight gain at day 21 were associated with the presence of either MIR or FIR (β coefficient = −4.63 ± 1.41; P = .001). The association was stronger with FIR than MIR (P for trend = .0027) and persisted in the remaining hospitalized infants at day 28 (n = 223; β coefficient = −5.53 ± 1.85; P = .0028). Mean body weights were similar among the 3 groups by corrected age of 36 weeks or discharge, whichever came first. Associations between placental inflammation and poor growth persisted among infants with prenatal corticosteroid exposure and/or neonatal complications and remained marginally significant in the nonexposed groups. Among infants without intrauterine growth restriction, significant association persisted (n = 186; β coefficient = −5.68 ± 1.56; P = .0003).

CONCLUSIONS:
Placental inflammation is associated with poor neonatal growth. MIR and FIR may be useful markers for identifying infants at risk for postnatal growth failure.
Malformations in a Chornobyl-Impacted Region
Authors: Wertelecki Wladimir 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:One of the populations most exposed to chronic low-dose radiation from Chornobyl (Chernobyl in Russian) lives in Polissia, the region representing the northern half of Rivne Province (Oblast) in Ukraine. Here the patterns and population rates of malformations are reported and possible etiologic factors and regional contrasts are explored.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Malformations, as defined by international standards, noted among all 96 438 births in Rivne between 2000 and 2006, were analyzed statistically. Contrasts of rates in Polissia compared with the rest of Rivne also were investigated.RESULTS:The overall rate of neural tube defects in Rivne is among the highest in Europe (22.2 per 10 000 live births). The rates of conjoined twins and teratomas also seem to be elevated. In Polissia, the overall rates of neural tube defects are even higher (27.0 vs 18.3, respectively; odds ratio: 1.46 [95% confidence interval: 1.13–1.93]), and the rates of microcephaly and microphthalmia may also be elevated.CONCLUSIONS:The malformation patterns observed suggest early disruptions of blastogenesis, manifesting as alterations of body axes, twinning, duplications, laterality, and midline formation. The results are sufficiently compelling to justify continuing and expanding this investigation of malformations in chronic low-dose radiation-impacted regions of Ukraine.
Comparative Study on Reliability of InP/InGaAs Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors with Highly Zn- and C-Doped Base Layers
Authors: Koizumi Atsushi , Oshitanai Kazuki , Lee Jaesung , Uchida Kazuo , Nozaki Shinji 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe reliability of InP/InGaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with highly carbon-doped and zinc-doped InGaAs base layers grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy has been investigated. The Raman spectroscopy reveals that the post-growth annealing for the carbon-doped InGaAs base improves the crystallinity to become as good as that of the zinc-doped InGaAs base. However, the photoluminescence intensity remains lower than that of the zinc-doped InGaAs even after the post-growth annealing. The current gains of the carbon- and zinc-doped base InP/InGaAs HBTs are 63 and 75, respectively, and they are affected by the base crystallinity. After the 15-min current stress test, the current gains decreased by 40 and 3% from the initial current gains for zinc- and carbon-doped base HBTs, respectively, are observed. These results indicate that the carbon-doped base HBT is much more reliable than that of zinc-doped base HBT, though it has a lower current gain.
Minority Carrier Lifetime Measurement Based on Low Frequency Fluctuation
Authors: Ke Lin , Huang Sha , Chua Soo Jin , Lai Szu Cheng , Surani Bin Dolmanan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractWe present a novel, simple, and accurate approach based on low frequency voltage fluctuations to determine the averaged carrier lifetime in semiconductor materials and devices. This technique serves to address the limitations faced by existing techniques that use light as the excitation source for lifetime measurement. In this paper, the minority carrier lifetime is inferred from the 1/f low frequency noise profile exhibited by the device during low current operation. The current dependence of the power spectral density and its relation to minority carrier lifetime is modeled and derived directly giving a current dependent carrier lifetime. This technique is solely based on the electrical noise and no light source is required for excitation. The low frequency noise can be easily acquired without significant distortion via a signal analyzer as long as there is a sufficiently good Ohmic contact between the probe and the device under test, and that the device is sufficiently shielded from the influence of EMI. This technique has lower crosstalk, fewer fitting parameters, is low cost and allows the lifetime to be extracted directly from data collected at lower frequencies. These characteristics make our method useful in encapsulated devices, applicable on wafers and devices in
Fabrication of High Performance Organic Thin Film Transistor Arrays and Application to 5-inch Flexible Displays
Authors: Fujisaki Yoshihide , Takei Tatsuya , Nakajima Yoshiki , Sato Hiroto , Suzuki Mitsunori , Fukagawa Hirohiko , Motomura Genichi , Kumaki Daisuke , Yamamoto Toshihiro , Fujikake Hideo , Kurita Taiichiro , Tokito Shizuo 
Published: March 2010

AbstractWe have demonstrated a 5-inch flexible color liquid crystal display (LCD) and organic light emitting display (OLED) driven by low-voltage operation organic TFT. In order to achieve high-quality and high-resolution moving images, OTFTs with high performances such as a high mobility, high ON/OFF ratio, low sub-threshold slope (SS) and low operating voltage, are developed. We fabricated pentacene-based low-voltage operation OTFT with a Ta2O5 gate dielectric prepared at a low temperature process. The resulting OTFT array showed a high mobility of 0.3-0.4 cm2/Vs, ON/OFF ratio over 107, VTH=2.7V, and low SS=0.3 V/decade. OTFTs with solution-processable materials such as fluoropolymer gate dielectric and liquid-crystalline semiconducting polymers, PBTTT, were also investigated. Electrical characteristics and stabilities of these devices will be discussed. In the final section, we will demonstrate OTFT-driven flexible displays. Both of the flexible LC device and the OLED device were successfully integrated on the pentacene-based OTFT arrays. Printing and lamination techniques were introduced to assemble the flexible LC device. Phosphorescent polymer materials, which can be patterned by ink-jet printing, were used for emitting layer of OLED. Color moving images were successively shown on the resulting 5-inch displays using an active-matrix driving technique of the OTFT at a low driving voltage of 15V.