bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐reported vision and health of indigenous Australians
Authors: Goujon Nicolas , Brown Cherylee M , Xie Jing , Arnold Anna‐Lena , Dunn Ross A , Keeffe Jill E , Taylor Hugh R 
Published: April 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To describe the self‐reported vision, history of eye disease and general health of indigenous Australian participants in the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey.Methods:  Using a multistage cluster sampling methodology, 30 geographic areas, stratified by remoteness, were selected to provide a representative population of indigenous Australians aged 5–15 years and 40 years and over. Before an eye examination, participants completed a questionnaire about their eye health and eye care facilities consulted, satisfaction with their vision and general health.Results:  A total of 1694 indigenous children (49.2% female, mean age 9.5 ± 2.9 years) and 1189 adults (61.0% female, mean age 53.1 ± 9.7 years) participated. Three‐quarters of adults (259/342) and 88.4% of children (129/146) wore the right distance glasses. Adults from remote areas were less likely to have refractive error (P = 0.002) as well as males versus females (P = 0.02). Similar results were found for children. Adults wearing appropriate distance glasses were as satisfied with their vision as people with normal vision who did not need glasses (P = 0.6). Both groups were more satisfied with their distance vision than people with poor presenting vision (P = 0.007). Self‐report of cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age‐related macular degeneration did not match with clinical findings (P < 0.001). Over 37% of adults (417/1187) and 1.3% of children (22/1691) reported having diabetes.Conclusion:  The National Indigenous Eye Health Survey provided information to guide future planning of eye health prevention strategies for indigenous Australians. Findings indicate the importance of correcting refractive error to improve quality of life. Prevention messages should be renewed in appropriate sociocultural formats.
Retrospective study of an as required dosing regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration in an Australian population
Authors: Luu Susie T , Gray Timothy , Warrier Sunil K , Patel Ilesh , Muecke James S , Casson Robert , Gilhotra Jagjit S 
Published: April 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) using an as required dosing regimen.Methods:  A retrospective study of 210 patients (231 eyes) with choroidal neovascularization resulting from neovasacular AMD. Patients were treated with 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab at a vitreoretinal practice in Adelaide, South Australia. Patients were followed up at 2–4 weeks and then at 1‐month intervals; repeat injections were offered in the event of recurrence. Recurrence was defined as either a decrease of best‐corrected visual acuity or an increase in macular oedema, subretinal fluid or intraretinal fluid on optical coherence tomography, after complete or partial resolution in previous follow‐up visits. Patient data were collected for 12 months of follow up or until the patient's treatment was changed to ranibizumab.Results:  Significant improvement in visual acuity and central retinal thickness was demonstrated at 1 month with an improvement of vision from logMAR equivalent 0.76 to 0.68 (P < 0.001) and a decrease of central retinal thickness from 306 µm to 244 µm (P < 0.001). This overall improvement was continued throughout the 12‐month follow‐up period; however, follow up was poor with 12‐month data available for only a small number of patients (7.8%). Ocular and systemic side‐effects were rare at 3.5% and 0.4%, respectively.Conclusion:  Eyes with neovascular AMD treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for up to 12 months had significant functional and anatomical improvement. Further studies need to confirm the long‐term safety and efficacy of this treatment.
Strategic Orientations, Knowledge Acquisition, and Firm Performance: The Perspective of the Vendor in Cross‐Border Outsourcing
Authors: Li Yuan , Wei Zelong , Liu Yi 
Published: April 2010

abstractFrom the perspective of the vendors in emerging countries (VECs), this article investigates how the vendor firms in China respond to cross‐border outsourcing trends differently by examining the different effects of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and market orientation (MO), as well as their interaction, on local vendors' acquisition of knowledge from foreign outsourcers in cross‐border outsourcing. We find that the knowledge acquisition of the vendors positively affects firm performance. Thus, the vendors need to correctly choose their strategic orientation to improve the knowledge acquisitions. Our results show the EO of the vendors has a positive effect on the knowledge acquisition, but the relationship between MO and the knowledge acquisition is an inverted U‐shape. Further, the interactive effect between EO and MO on the knowledge acquisition is positive. All these findings extend the literature in organizational learning and cross‐border outsourcing, and suggest that VECs should not only correctly choose their strategic orientation, but also pay more attention to the orientation interaction in acquiring knowledge from their partners through cross‐border outsourcing so that they can more efficiently improve their performance.
The relationship between dietary supplement use in late pregnancy and birth outcomes: a cohort study in British women
Authors: Alwan NA , Greenwood DC , Simpson NAB , McArdle HJ , Cade JE 
Published: April 2010

Please cite this paper as:Alwan N, Greenwood D, Simpson N, McArdle H, Cade J. The relationship between dietary supplement use in late pregnancy and birth outcomes: a cohort study in British women. BJOG 2010;117:821–829.Objective To examine the relationship between dietary supplement use during pregnancy and birth outcomes.Design A prospective birth cohort.Setting Leeds, UK.Sample One thousand two hundred and seventy‐four pregnant women aged 18–45 years.Methods Dietary supplement intake was ascertained using three questionnaires for the first, second and third trimesters. Dietary intake was reported in a 24‐hour dietary recall administered by a research midwife at 8–12 weeks of gestation. Information on delivery details and antenatal pregnancy complications was obtained from the hospital maternity records.Main outcome measures Birthweight, birth centile and preterm birth.Results Reported dietary supplement use declined from 82% of women in the first trimester of pregnancy to 22% in the second trimester and 33% in the third trimester. Folic acid was the most commonly reported supplement taken. Taking any type of daily supplement during any trimester was not significantly associated with size at birth taking into account known relevant confounders. Women taking multivitamin‐mineral supplements in the third trimester were more likely to experience preterm birth (adjusted OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.2, 9.6,P = 0.02).Conclusions Regular multivitamin–mineral supplement use during pregnancy, in a developed country setting, is not associated with size at birth. However, it appears to be associated with preterm birth if taken daily in the third trimester. The mechanism for this is unclear and our study’s findings need confirming by other cohorts and/or trials in developed countries.
Acupuncture for pain relief in labour: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cho S‐H , Lee H , Ernst E 
Published: April 2010

Please cite this paper as: Cho S‐H, Lee H, Ernst E. Acupuncture for pain relief in labour: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. BJOG 2010;117:907–920.Background  Acupuncture is frequently used for pain relief in labour, but the evidence is not clear.Objectives  To critically evaluate the evidence for or against acupuncture for labour pain management.Search strategy  Nineteen electronic databases, including English, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese databases, were systematically searched.Selection criteria  All randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving women receiving acupuncture alone, or as an adjunct to conventional analgesia, for pain relief in labour were considered.Data collection and analysis  Pain intensity on a 100‐mm visual analogue scale (VAS; 0, no pain; 100, worst pain) and use of other analgesic methods were used as primary outcomes, and for statistical pooling. Maternal/fetal outcomes were secondary outcomes, and adverse events were also recorded. Risk of bias was assessed regarding randomisation, allocation concealment, blinding, incomplete outcome data, selective outcome reporting, and other biases.Main results  Ten RCTs involving 2038 women were included. VAS for pain intensity data were available in seven studies; the meta‐analysis shows that acupuncture was not superior to minimal acupuncture at 1 hour (pooled mean difference −8.02; 95% CI −21.88, 5.84; I2 = 94%) and at 2 hours (−10.15; 95% CI −23.18, 2.87; I2 = 92%). Patients reported significantly reduced pain by 4 and 6% during electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at 15 (−4.09; 95% CI −8.05, −0.12) and 30 minutes (−5.94; 95% CI −9.83, −2.06), compared with placebo EA, but the effect was not maintained afterwards. Compared with no intervention, acupuncture reduced pain by only 11% for the first 30 minutes (−10.56; 95% CI −16.08, −5.03). In trials where acupuncture was compared with conventional analgesia, women receiving acupuncture required less meperidine (pooled risk ratio 0.20; 95% CI 0.12, 0.33) and other analgesic methods (0.75; 95% CI 0.66, 0.85). No acupuncture‐related adverse events were reported. Most trials did not blind participants, care providers and/or evaluators.Author’s conclusions  The evidence from RCTs does not support the use of acupuncture for controlling labour pain. The primary studies are diverse and often flawed. Further research seems warranted.
Involvement of Src kinase in T‐type calcium channel‐dependent neuronal differentiation of NG108‐15 cells by hydrogen sulfide
Authors: Tarui Takeshi , Fukami Kazuki , Nagasawa Keita , Yoshida Shigeru , Sekiguchi Fumiko , Kawabata Atsufumi 
Published: April 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 512–519.AbstractHydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gasotransmitter, induces neuronal differentiation characterized by neuritogenesis and functional up‐regulation of high voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels, via activation of T‐type Ca2+ channels in NG108‐15 cells. We thus analyzed signaling mechanisms for the H2S‐evoked neuronal differentiation. NaHS, a donor for H2S, facilitated T‐type Ca2+ channel‐dependent membrane currents, an effect blocked by ascorbic acid that selectively inhibits Cav3.2 among three T‐type channel isoforms. NaHS, applied once at a high concentration (13.5 mM) or repetitively at a relatively low concentration (1.5 mM), as well as ionomycin, a Ca2+ ionophore, evoked neuritogenesis. The neuritogenesis induced by NaHS, but not by ionomycin, was abolished by mibefradil, a T‐type Ca2+ channel blocker. PP2, a Src kinase inhibitor, completely suppressed the neuritogenesis caused by NaHS or ionomycin, while it only partially blocked neuritogenesis caused by dibutyryl cAMP, a differentiation inducer. NaHS, but not dibutyryl cAMP, actually caused phosphorylation of Src, an effect blocked by 1,2‐bis(2‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl, an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, mibefradil or ascorbic acid. The up‐regulation of high voltage‐activated currents in the cells treated with NaHS was also inhibited by PP2. Together, our data reveal that Src kinase participates in the T‐type Ca2+ channel‐dependent neuronal differentiation caused by NaHS/H2S in NG108‐15 cells.
The Quality of Insurance Intermediary Services—Empirical Evidence for Germany
Authors: Eckardt Martina , Räthke‐Döppner Solvig 
Published: April 2010

AbstractCompeting insurance intermediaries provide heterogeneous services that are difficult for incompletely informed consumers to assess. Transaction cost economics, search theory, and principal‐agent theory provide arguments on product quality differences between exclusive agents and independent intermediaries. This article uses a sample of 927 insurance intermediaries in Germany. By performing OLS estimations, we test the impact of the different distribution channels and other factors on intermediaries’ service quality. Depending on the proxies used for service quality, we find mixed evidence for the product quality hypothesis. Service quality depends to a large extent on the information‐gathering and processing activities of the individual intermediaries, independent of the respective distribution channel.
EXPECTATIONS AND ACCEPTABILITY OF DIABETIC AND REDUCED‐CALORIE MILK CHOCOLATES AMONG NONDIABETICS AND DIABETICS IN THE U.S.A.
Authors: MELO LAURO , CHILDS JESSICA L. , DRAKE MARYANNE , ANDRÉ BOLINI HELENA MARIA , EFRAIM PRISCILLA 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT Consumer expectations and acceptance of six laboratory‐developed prototypes of milk chocolate were evaluated by conjoint analysis and consumer acceptance testing with nondiabetics (n = 103 conjoint, n = 75 acceptance) and diabetics (n = 68 for conjoint, n = 71 acceptance). A conventional laboratory‐developed chocolate was produced with sucrose. Diabetic laboratory‐developed chocolates were made with a substitution of sucrose with high‐intensity sweeteners, sucralose or stevioside, and a polydextrose/lactitol blend as a bulking agent. Diabetic/reduced‐calorie milk chocolates were manufactured with an additional partial replacement of cocoa butter with whey protein concentrate. Sugar claim attribute was more important to diabetics than to nondiabetics; within this attribute, reduced sugar and sugar‐free levels were more important to diabetics, while sugar‐free was more important to nondiabetics. There was no difference for sweetener type and calorie reduction between the two groups. Differences in acceptance means (P < 0.05) for conventional, diabetic and diabetic/reduced‐calorie milk chocolates (especially for samples made with stevioside) were documented within nondiabetic and diabetic consumers and between the two consumer groups. All samples were different across nondiabetic and diabetic consumers regarding overall liking. These results demonstrate that alternative products must be developed and labeled according to the specific consumer groups they are intended to address.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThis study indicated which levels of sugar claim, sweetener type and calorie reduction should be used depending on whom – nondiabetics or diabetics – diabetic/reduced‐calorie milk chocolates are being developed. Conjoint analysis is very important for development of new products because it allows for understanding which characteristics are most important prior to actual evaluation of products. Consumer testing using nondiabetic and diabetic consumers was helpful to validate the expectations determined through conjoint analysis with experimental samples.
Allele‐specific genetic interactions between Mitf and Kit affect melanocyte development
Authors: Wen Bin , Chen Yu , Li Huirong , Wang Jing , Shen Jie , Ma Aobo , Qu Jia , Bismuth Keren , Debbache Julien , Arnheiter Heinz , Hou Ling 
Published: April 2010

SummaryThe tyrosine kinase receptor KIT and the transcription factor MITF, each required for melanocyte development, have been shown to interact functionally both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, KIT signaling leads to MITF phosphorylation, affecting MITF activity and stability. In vivo, the presence of the Mitf Mi‐wh allele exacerbates the spotting phenotype associated with heterozygosity for Kit mutations. Here, we show that among a series of other Mitf alleles, only the recessive Mitf mi‐bws mimics the effect of Mitf Mi‐wh on Kit. Intriguingly, Mitf mi‐bws is characterized by a splice defect that leads to a reduction of RNAs containing MITF exon 2B which encodes serine‐73, a serine phosphorylated upon KIT signaling. Nevertheless, other Mitf alleles that generally affect Mitf RNA levels, or carry a serine‐73‐to‐alanine mutation that specifically reduces exon 2B‐containing RNAs, do not show similar interactions with Kit in vivo. We conclude that the recessive Mitf mi‐bws is a complex allele that can display a semi‐dominant effect when present in a Kit‐sensitized background. We suggest that human disease variability may equally be due to complex, allele‐specific interactions between different genes.
International Multicenter Study To Assess a Panel of Reference Materials for Quantification of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus RNA in Plasma
Authors: Ham Claire , Srinivasan Priya , Thorstensson Rigmor , Verschoor Ernst , Fagrouche Zahra , Sernicola Leonardo , Ramos Artur , Titti Fausto , Almond Neil , Berry Neil 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

An international multicenter study was conducted to assess the performance of a panel of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) RNA reference materials for plasma viral load determinations. Reliable quantification was demonstrated across an ∼6 log
10
dynamic range. Availability of external reference materials will enable independent calibration of SIV plasma viral load assays.
Rearranged Genomic RNA Segments Offer a New Approach to the Reverse Genetics of Rotaviruses
Authors: Troupin Cécile , Dehée Axelle , Schnuriger Aurélie , Vende Patrice , Poncet Didier , Garbarg-Chenon Antoine 
Published: April 2010

ABSTRACT

Group A rotaviruses (RV), members of the
Reoviridae
family, are a major cause of infantile acute gastroenteritis. The RV genome consists of 11 double-stranded RNA segments. In some cases, an RNA segment is replaced by a rearranged RNA segment, which is derived from its standard counterpart by partial sequence duplication. We report here a reverse genetics system for RV based on the preferential packaging of rearranged RNA segments. Using this system, wild-type or
in vitro
-engineered forms of rearranged segment 7 from a human rotavirus (encoding the NSP3 protein), derived from cloned cDNAs and transcribed in the cytoplasm of COS-7 cells with the help of T7 RNA polymerase, replaced the wild-type segment 7 of a bovine helper virus (strain RF). Recombinant RF viruses (i.e., engineered monoreassortant RF viruses) containing an exogenous rearranged RNA were recovered by propagating the viral progeny in MA-104 cells, with no need for additional selective pressure. Our findings offer the possibility to extend RV reverse genetics to segments encoding nonstructural or structural proteins for which no potent selective tools, such as neutralizing antibodies, are available. In addition, the system described here is the first to enable the introduction of a mutated gene expressing a modified nonstructural protein into an infectious RV. This reverse genetics system offers new perspectives for investigating RV protein functions and developing recombinant live RV vaccines containing specific changes targeted for attenuation.
Nitric oxide derivatives and soluble plasma selectins in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Cella Giuseppe , Marchetti Marina , Vianello Fabrizio , Panova-Noeva Marina , Vignoli Alfonso , Russo Laura , Barbui Tiziano , Falanga Anna 
Published: April 2010

SummaryEssential thrombocythaemia (ET) and polycythaemia vera (PV) are characterised by a high incidence of thrombotic complications due to highshear stress of the vessel wall, blood hyperviscosity and hypoxaemia, all factors responsible for chronic endothelial dysfunction and platelet and leukocyte activation. We evaluated the activation status of vascular cells in 18 consecutive ET and 14 PV patients by measuring the plasma levels of the nitric oxide derivatives (NOX) (i.e. nitrites and nitrates) and of soluble selectins of platelet (P-selectin), endothelial cell (P-selectin and E-selectin) and leukocyte (L-selectin) origin. The effect of hydroxyurea (HU) therapy on these parameters was also investigated. NOX were significantly (p<0.01) increased in ET patients treated with HU (11.5 ± 2.6 nM) compared to non-HU treated ET (1.41 ± 0.3 nM) and to controls (4.78 ± 2.49 nM). Multivariate analysis confirmed HU therapy as an independent predictor of higher NOX levels in ET. In addition, NOX significantly correlated with haematocrit. Plasma P-selectin was significantly elevated in ET (350 ± 40 ng/106 platelets) and PV (482 ± 53 ng/106 platelets) patients compared to controls (120 ± 8 ng/106 platelets). In PV, also E-selectin (23.8 ± 4.2 ng/ml) was significantly increased compared to controls (11.2 ± 1.1 ng/ml; p<0.01). P-selectin was significantly correlated to platelet (R=0.33; p=0.01) and leukocyte count (R=0.6; p=0.000), while E-selectin (R=0.34; p=.014) and sL-selectin (R=0.3; p=0.03) were correlated with leukocyte count only. In the multivariate analysis, NOX predicted increased levels of E-selectin in ET, but not in PV patients. Our data demonstrate that ET and PV are characterised by an altered pattern of soluble selectins and NOX. HU-mediated increase of NOMX levels could represent an additional antithrombotic mechanism of this drug.
Gelatinase B (MMP-9) deficiency does not affect murine adipose tissue development
Authors: Van Hul Matthias , Piccard Heléne , Lijnen H. Roger 
Published: April 2010

SummaryThis study was performed to follow up on the observation that gelatinase A (MMP-2) deficiency impairs adipose tissue development in mice. The aim was to evaluate the role of its functional homologue gelatinase B (MMP-9) in adipose tissue growth. MMP-9 antigen levels were determined in lean and in obese women before and after weight loss. MMP-9-deficient mice and wild-type littermates (genetic background 50% 129sv : 50% CDI or 99.975% C57Bl/6, ten generations backcrossed into C57Bl/6 background) were kept on a high-fat diet (HFD) for 15 weeks. Subcutaneous and gonadal fat pads were analysed in terms of weight and size/density of adipocytes and blood vessels. Obese women had higher MMP-9 serum levels than lean controls (383 ± 29 vs. 304 ± 27 ng/ml, p = 0.02); after weight reduction MMP-9 levels dropped to 334 ± 17 ng/ml (p = 0.1 vs. obese). However, MMP-9-deficient and littermate wild-type mice kept on HFD were indistinguishable in terms of body and fat weight. No effect of MMP-9 deficiency was observed on size or density of adipocytes or blood vessels in subcutaneous or gonadal fat depots. Similar observations were made when mice were kept on normal chow. In conclusion, in lean and obese women, body mass index correlates positively with MMP-9 serum levels (p < 0.0001). However, MMP-9 does not seem to play a major role in adipose tissue development in murine models of diet-induced obesity.
Implications of the UN Convention against Corruption for International Organizations: Oversight, Due Process, and Immunities Issues
Authors: Trebilcock Anne 
Published: April 2010

AbstractWhile public international organizations share the aspirations and values behind the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the way in which this instrument is being followed up may pose some practical challenges for them. The Convention mentions such organizations and their officials, but in the context of an instrument whose logic is overwhelmingly directed towards States. In the course of UNCAC implementation review, some unfortunate confusion has arisen between administrative justice and criminal jurisdiction, and around the privileges and immunities regime for international organizations. At the same time, follow-up to the Convention may offer new opportunities for such organizations to strengthen their alignment of responsibility, authority and accountability through so far underutilized means of coordination and cooperation. Strengthening accountability mechanisms and respect for due process – two components of the Global Administrative Law approach – offer the best prospects for enhancing international organizations' efforts against corruption. An exaggerated focus on transparency, on the other hand, could run counter to effective measures to combat it.