bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-traditional markers of metabolic risk in prepubertal children with different levels of cardiorespiratory fitness
Authors: Llorente-Cantarero Francisco Jesús , Pérez-Navero Juan Luis , de Dios Benitez-Sillero Juan , Muñoz-Villanueva Maria Carmen , Guillén-del Castillo Manuel , Gil-Campos Mercedes 
Published: January 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo assess classical and non-classical metabolic risk biomarkers in prepubertal children with different levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).DesignCRF was assessed by the 20 m shuttle run test. To estimate physical activity, participants were observed while engaged in an after-school programme. Additionally, a short test based on a validated questionnaire was used to obtain information about physical activity practice and sedentary habits. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and classical and non-traditional metabolic risk biomarkers – plasma lipid profile, glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), plasma uric acid, transaminases and C-reactive protein (CRP) – were measured.SettingThe study was conducted in local elementary schools in Córdoba, Spain.SubjectsOne hundred and forty-one healthy children (eighty-eight boys, fifty-three girls) aged 7–12 years, in Tanner stage I, were recruited. They were divided into two groups after they performed the 20 m shuttle run test: equal or higher cardiovascular fitness (EHCF) group and low cardiovascular fitness (LCF) group.ResultsThe LCF group displayed significantly higher TAG (P = 0·004) and lower HDL cholesterol levels (P = 0·001), as well as significantly lower values for the non-traditional lipid marker apo-A1 (P = 0·001) compared with the EHCF group. The LCF children displayed higher plasma glucose (P = 0·003) and insulin levels, higher HOMA-IR scores (P < 0·001) and higher plasma uric acid and CRP levels (P < 0·05). After adjustment for BMI, age and sex, no statistically significant differences were found between groups for the biomarkers analysed.ConclusionsThe study provides new information to understand the role not only of weight status but also of the level of CRF on the metabolic health profile of prepubertal children.
A credibility method for profitable cross-selling of insurance products
Authors: Thuring Fredrik 
Published: January 2012

AbstractA method is presented for identifying an expected profitable set of customers, to offer them an additional insurance product, by estimating a customer specific latent risk profile, for the additional product, by using the customer specific available data for an existing insurance product of the specific customer. For the purpose, a multivariate credibility estimator is considered and we investigate the effect of assuming that one (of two) insurance products is inactive (without available claims information) when estimating the latent risk profile. Instead, available customer specific claims information from the active existing insurance product is used to estimate the risk profile and thereafter assess whether or not to include a specific customer in an expected profitable set of customers. The method is tested using a large real data set from a Danish insurance company and it is shown that sets of customers, with up to 36% less claims than a priori expected, are produced as a result of the method. It is therefore argued that the proposed method could be considered, by an insurance company, when cross-selling insurance products to existing customers.
A comparison of three different pension savings products with special emphasis on the payout phase
Authors: Jørgensen Peter Løchte , Linnemann Per 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe purpose of this article is to illustrate how the pension benefits a pension saver will (expect to) receive will depend on the type of pension scheme chosen. We compare three widely different pension savings products: the “traditional” with-profits scheme involving bonus entitlement (average interest rate product), a market-based Unit Link scheme and, finally, a formula based smoothed investment-linked annuity scheme – TimePension in short – which is on many points a cross between the two prior-mentioned types of savings products.The three product types mentioned above have been analysed in previous literature, but those comparisons were based almost entirely on the values of pension savings accounts at the expiry of the accumulation period. This article will include the payout phase (decumulation phase) in the analysis, enabling us to analyse the size of paid-out pension benefits themselves as well as the possibilities of adjusting these benefits periodically. Compared to earlier articles, we have also improved the underlying model for the uncertainty of the underlying financial market.The article demonstrates that expected pension benefits from the three schemes are an increasing function of the allocation to shares in the underlying investment portfolios. TimePension involves the highest allocation to shares and therefore offers, on average, the highest pension benefits, followed by the Unit Link scheme. In the third and last place comes the traditional with-profits scheme, which has a relatively low allocation to shares, but which, in return, also provides relatively safe and stable pension benefits. We also show, however, that the stability of pension benefits from a TimePension scheme is completely level with the stability of benefits from the traditional scheme. Unit Link-based pension benefits, on the other hand, vary far more, and pension savers in this product segment will experience much higher annual adjustments – in a both negative and positive direction – than savers in the other product segments.
Transcriptional regulation mechanisms of hypoxia-induced neuroglobin gene expression
Authors: Liu Ning , Yu Zhanyang , Xiang Shuanglin , Zhao Song , Tjärnlund-Wolf Anna , Xing Changhong , Zhang Jian , Wang Xiaoying 
Published: January 2012

Ngb (neuroglobin) has been identified as a novel endogenous neuroprotectant. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of Ngb expression, especially under conditions of hypoxia. In the present study, we located the core proximal promoter of the mouse Ngb gene to a 554 bp segment, which harbours putative conserved NF-κB (nuclear factor κB)- and Egr1 (early growth-response factor 1) -binding sites. Overexpression and knockdown of transcription factors p65, p50, Egr1 or Sp1 (specificity protein 1) increased and decreased Ngb expression respectively. Experimental assessments with transfections of mutational Ngb gene promoter constructs, as well as EMSA (electrophoretic mobility-shift assay) and ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) assays, demonstrated that NF-κB family members (p65, p50 and cRel), Egr1 and Sp1 bound in vitro and in vivo to the proximal promoter region of the Ngb gene. Moreover, a κB3 site was found as a pivotal cis-element responsible for hypoxia-induced Ngb promoter activity. NF-κB (p65) and Sp1 were also responsible for hypoxia-induced up-regulation of Ngb expression. Although there are no conserved HREs (hypoxia-response elements) in the promoter of the mouse Ngb gene, the results of the present study suggest that HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) is also involved in hypoxia-induced Ngb up-regulation. In conclusion, we have identified that NF-κB, Egr1 and Sp1 played important roles in the regulation of basal Ngb expression via specific interactions with the mouse Ngb promoter. NF-κB, Sp1 and HIF-1α contributed to the up-regulation of mouse Ngb gene expression under hypoxic conditions.
Basic Testing of the duchamp Source Finder
Authors: Westmeier T. , Popping A. , Serra P. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThis paper presents and discusses the results of basic source finding tests in three dimensions (using spectroscopic data cubes) with duchamp, the standard source finder for the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. For this purpose, we generated different sets of unresolved and extended Hi model sources. These models were then fed into duchamp, using a range of different parameters and methods provided by the software. The main aim of the tests was to study the performance of duchamp on sources with different parameters and morphologies and assess the accuracy of duchamp's source parametrisation. Overall, we find duchamp to be a powerful source finder capable of reliably detecting sources down to low signal-to-noise ratios and accurately measuring their position and velocity. In the presence of noise in the data, duchamp's measurements of basic source parameters, such as spectral line width and integrated flux, are affected by systematic errors. These errors are a consequence of the effect of noise on the specific algorithms used by duchamp for measuring source parameters in combination with the fact that the software only takes into account pixels above a given flux threshold and hence misses part of the flux. In scientific applications of duchamp these systematic errors would have to be corrected for. Alternatively, duchamp could be used as a source finder only, and source parametrisation could be done in a second step using more sophisticated parametrisation algorithms.
Toward a natural classification: phylogeny of acontiate sea anemones (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria)
Authors: Rodríguez Estefanía , Barbeitos Marcos , Daly Marymegan , Gusmão Luciana C. , Häussermann Verena 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAcontia—nematocyst‐dense, thread‐like extensions of the mesenterial filaments―are the characteristic feature of the actiniarian group Acontiaria. Phylogenetic analyses have shown that acontiate taxa form a clade that also includes some taxa without acontia. We analyse five molecular markers from 85 actiniarians to explore the phylogenetic relationships among families in Acontiaria, including acontiate species assigned to other higher taxa and species without acontia that have been allied to Acontiaria. Based on our results, we redefine the group to accommodate those lineages that have lost acontia, and formalize it as superfamily Metridioidea. Based on stable and well supported clades, we resurrect Phelliidae and Amphianthidae, redefine Kadosactinidae and Actinoscyphiidae, and move two species to new genera: that previously termed Sagartiogeton erythraios belongs in Jasonactis gen. nov.; and that previously termed Anthosactis pearseae belongs in Ostiactis gen. nov., type genus of Ostiactinidae fam. nov. We also synonymized Halcampoididae and Halcampidae (as Halcampidae) and Andvakiidae and Isophelliidae (as Andvakiidae). The results of our phylogenetic analyses indicate that the diagnostic morphological characters used in the family‐level taxonomy of acontiate actiniarians such as the nematocysts of the acontia, the marginal sphincter muscle, and mesenteries divisible into macro‐ and micro‐cnemes, have to be revisited, as these features are highly homoplasious.
The rising prevalence of prescription opioid injection and its association with hepatitis C incidence among street‐drug users
Authors: Bruneau Julie , Roy Élise , Arruda Nelson , Zang Geng , Jutras‐Aswad Didier 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTAims  To examine trends in prescription opioid (PO) injection and to assess its association with hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroconversion among injection drug users (IDUs).Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Montreal, Canada.Participants  HCV‐negative IDUs at baseline, reporting injection in the past month.Measurements  Semi‐annual visits included HCV antibody testing and an interview‐administered questionnaire assessing risk behaviours. HCV incidence rate was calculated using the person–time method. Time‐updated Cox regression models were conducted to examine predictors of HCV incidence.Findings  The proportion of IDUs reporting PO injection increased from 21% to 75% between 2004 and 2009 (P < 0.001). Of the 246 participants (81.6% male; mean age 34.5 years; mean follow‐up time 23 months), 83 seroconverted to HCV [incidence rate: 17.9 per 100 person‐years; 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.3, 22.1]. Compared to non‐PO injectors, PO injectors were more likely to become infected [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR): 1.87; 95%CI:1.16, 3.03]. An effect modification was also found: PO injectors who did not inject heroin were more likely to become infected (AHR: 2.88; 95%CI: 1.52, 5.45) whereas no association was found for participants using both drugs (AHR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.61, 2.30). Other independent predictors of HCV incidence were: cocaine injection, recent incarceration and >30 injections per month.Conclusions  Prescription opioid injectors who do not inject heroin are at greater risk for HCV seroconversion than are those injecting both heroin and prescription opioids. Important differences in age, behaviour and social context suggest a need for targeted outreach strategies to this population.
Prognostic importance of tumour-infiltrating memory T cells in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Enomoto K , Sho M , Wakatsuki K , Takayama T , Matsumoto S , Nakamura S , Akahori T , Tanaka T , Migita K , Ito M , Nakajima Y 
Published: January 2012

SummaryMemory T cells survive for many months and years and are critically important for host defence in humans. In tumour immunity, they have been also suggested to play a significant role in tumour progression and metastasis. However, the role of memory T cells in actual human cancer remains largely unknown. In this study, the clinical importance of tumour-infiltrating CD45RO+ memory T cells was investigated in human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). CD45RO+ T cells were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in primary OSCC tumours from 105 patients. Patients were classified into two groups as CD45RO+hi or CD45RO+lo based on the number of cells stained positively for CD45RO. No significant difference was observed between CD45RO status and several clinicopathological prognostic factors. However, the postoperative overall and disease-free survival for CD45RO+hi patients was significantly better than for CD45RO+lo patients. Furthermore, there were significant correlations of CD45RO status in the primary tumour with postoperative lymph node and pulmonary recurrence, suggesting that memory T cells may control postoperative metastatic recurrence. Most importantly, CD45RO+ memory T cell status has a significant prognostic value for OSCC independently of conventional tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) classification. Our study may provide a rationale for developing a novel immunotherapy in intentional induction of memory T cells for the treatment of oesophageal cancer.
Type 1 and type 2 cervical carcinomas: some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening
Authors: Austin R. M. , Zhao C. 
Published: January 2012

R. M. Austin and C. Zhao  Type 1 and type 2 cervical carcinomas: some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screeningAlthough the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is medical history’s most successful cancer screening test, some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening than others. Cervical cancers that are difficult to prevent are seen disproportionately among interval cancers arising in previously screened women and in Pap test litigation. These include (i) rapidly progressing cervical cancers; (ii) cervical cancers in younger women; (iii) glandular cervical cancers; and (iv) cervical cancers in elderly women. Screening protocols have generally been designed to optimize prevention of slower‐growing cervical squamous carcinomas in middle‐aged women. To focus further attention on the heterogeneous screening challenges posed by different cervical cancers, we designate the more screening preventable majority as type 1 cervical cancers and the more difficult to prevent minority as type 2 cervical cancers. We review available data on why some cervical cancers are more difficult to prevent with screening and newer methods that may improve prevention.
Spatial and temporal aquatic–terrestrial transitions in the temporary Albarine River, France: responses of invertebrates to experimental rewetting
Authors: DATRY THIBAULT , CORTI ROLAND , PHILIPPE MICHEL 
Published: January 2012

Summary1. In temporary rivers, viewed as coupled terrestrial–aquatic ecosystems, spatial and temporal transition zones between aquatic and terrestrial conditions are common and occur simultaneously.2. The effects of artificial rewetting on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate assemblages were examined in dry sediments collected from the Albarine River, France. Rewetted sediments had previously been dry for between 0.1 and 142 days. Dry sediments were collected directly from the streambed (DS) and from riparian gravel bars (RGB).3. We first predicted that invertebrate responses to rewetting would vary with the duration of the preceding dry period. Second, we predicted convergence of the invertebrate assemblages in DS and RGB sediments with increasing duration of the dry period. Third, we predicted that an aquatic ‘invertebrate seedbank’ (aquatic life stages that persist within streambed sediments during dry periods) would contribute substantially to the resilience of benthic assemblages.4. Results indicated that the duration of the dry period was the primary driver of aquatic and terrestrial responses to artificial rewetting. The density and richness of aquatic taxa decreased with the duration of the dry period in both DS and RGB sediments, whereas the density of terrestrial invertebrates increased in DS sediments.5. No convergence between DS and RGB assemblage composition was observed with an increasing dry period. Although there were more aquatic organisms in DS sediments than in RGB sediments, there was no difference in taxonomic richness between sediment types. Even after prolonged dry periods (142 days), there was typically a lower density and taxonomic richness of terrestrial invertebrates in DS sediments than in adjacent RGB sediments.6. The results suggest that the aquatic invertebrate seedbank could contribute substantially to the resilience of benthic assemblages in the Albarine River, in addition to other mechanisms such as drift and oviposition. Of the taxa in the benthos before and after the summer dry period, 65% were also recovered from artificially rewetted DS sediments. The simultaneous presence of temporal and spatial terrestrial–aquatic transition zones in temporary rivers increases successional diversity (i.e. mosaics of dry and saturated streambed patches at various stages of terrestrial and aquatic succession). This contribution to biodiversity emphasises the need to protect dry reaches of temporary rivers.
Carbohydrate‐active enzymes revealed in Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) transcriptome
Authors: Zhang D. , Lax A. R. , Henrissat B. , Coutinho P. , Katiya N. , Nierman W. C. , Fedorova N. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractCoptotermes formosanus is one of the most destructive wood‐feeding termites. To understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of the termite, a normalized C. formosanus cDNA library was constructed using mixed RNA isolated from workers, soldiers, nymphs and alates of both sexes. The sequencing of this library generated 131 636 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and 25 939 assembled unigenes. The carbohydrate‐active enzymes (CAZymes) revealed in this library were analysed in the present report. A total of 509 putative CAZymes were identified. Diverse cellulolytic enzymes were uncovered from both the host termite and from symbionts harboured by the termite, which were possibly the result of the high efficiency of cellulose utilization. CAZymes associated with trehalose biosynthetic and metabolic pathways were also identified, which are potential regulators of the physiological activities of trehalose, an important insect blood sugar. Representative CAZyme coding genes in glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) were quantitatively analysed. The results showed that the five GH1 β‐glucosidase genes were expressed differentially among different castes and one of them was female alate‐specific. Overall, the normalized EST library provides a comprehensive genetic resource of C. formosanus and will serve a diverse range of research areas. The CAZymes represent one of the repositories of enzymes useful for physiological studies and applications in sugar‐based biofuel production.
Changes in centring and shaping ability using three nickel–titanium instrumentation techniques analysed by micro‐computed tomography (μCT)
Authors: Stern S. , Patel S. , Foschi F. , Sherriff M. , Mannocci F. 
Published: January 2012

Stern S, Patel S, Foschi F, Sherriff M, Mannocci F. Changes in centring and shaping ability using three nickel–titanium instrumentation techniques analysed by micro‐computed tomography (μCT). International Endodontic Journal, 45, 514–523, 2012.AbstractAim  To compare the centring ability and the shaping ability of ProTaper (PT) files used in reciprocating motion and PT and Twisted Files (TF) used in continuous rotary motion, and to compare the volume changes obtained with the different instrumentation techniques using micro‐computed tomography.Methodology  Sixty mesial canals of thirty mandibular molars were randomly assigned to three instrumentation techniques: group 1, canals prepared with the PT series (up to F2) (n = 20); group 2, canals prepared with the F2 PT in reciprocating motion (n = 20); group 3 canals prepared with the TF series (size 25) (n = 20). Teeth were scanned pre‐ and post‐operatively using micro‐computed tomography to measure volume and shaping changes, and the obtained results were statistically analysed using parametric tests.Results  The increase in canal volume obtained with the three instrumentation techniques was not significantly different. Canals were transported mostly towards the mesial aspect in the apical‐ and mid‐third of the roots, and towards the furcal aspect coronally. No difference in the transportation and centring ratio was found between the techniques. There was no significant difference between the times of instrumentation (TF: 62.5 ± 5.4 s; PT: 60.6 ± 3.9 s; and F2 PT file in reciprocating motion: 51.0 ± 3.3 s).Conclusions  ProTaper files used in reciprocating motion and PT and TF used in continuous rotary motion were capable of producing centred preparations with no substantial procedural errors.