bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Morphometric Properties of Muscle Fibres Measured on Cross‐Sections of rat Hindlimb Muscles
Authors: Mierzejewska‐Krzyżowska B. , Drzymała‐Celichowska H. , Bukowska D. , Celichowski J. 
Published: October 2011

With 2 figures and 2 tablesSummaryThe study was aimed at demonstrating gender differences in the numbers, diameters and cross‐section areas of muscle fibres for three hindlimb skeletal muscles responsible for locomotion and maintenance of body posture: soleus, tibialis anterior and flexor digitorum brevis in rats. The experiments were performed on five 6‐month‐old male and female Wistar rats. In both genders, all studied muscles of the right and left hindlimbs were isolated from surrounding tissues and excised for further procedures. The muscle transverse cross‐sections taken from the muscle mid‐belly were analysed. Following staining of reticular fibres by silver impregnation, the numbers, diameters and cross‐section areas of muscle fibres were determined from microscopic images of muscle sections. The body mass of male rats was 80% higher than that of females. In addition, the muscle mass and the cross‐section area were 53–82 and 26–45% higher in males, respectively. The number of muscle fibres was 11–42% higher in males than in females whereas the fibre diameters were 7–29% higher in males. The most conspicuous differences between males and females were found with respect to tibialis anterior, whereas the smallest differences were evident in soleus. The present study revealed that the gender morphometric differences in the studied rat hindlimb muscles were mainly owing to differences in number and size of muscle fibres and that the difference in muscle mass could be explained mainly from higher number of muscle fibres in males and to smaller degree from their larger diameters.
Using genome‐wide information to minimize the loss of diversity in conservation programmes
Authors: de Cara M.A.R. , Fernández J. , Toro M.A. , Villanueva B. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryWe study here the effect of using genome‐wide marker data versus genealogical data in population management for the maintenance of diversity in conservation schemes using optimal contributions. We re‐examine the benefits of using molecular data for different population and genome sizes and compare different management strategies according to the group of individuals where we take decisions (parents or offspring). We also study the consequences of using estimated genealogical coancestries calculated from molecular information. Using genome‐wide marker data performed usually better than using genealogical data or estimated genealogical coancestry to maintain expected and observed heterozygosity. Furthermore, when we could take decisions acting on the offspring, a larger heterozygosity was maintained than when we based our decisions on the potential parents.
Paediatric growth charts: How do we use them and can we use them better?
Authors: Ramsden Louise , Day Andrew S 
Published: October 2011

Aim:  Measurement of growth parameters is a key aspect of paediatric care. The aim of this retrospective study was to ascertain rates of growth assessment in children in an acute paediatric setting and to define the frequency of placement of growth data on appropriate growth charts. The accuracy of plotting of growth data and role of potential factors were also examined.Methods:  The charts of children attending the Children's Acute Assessment (CAA) unit at Christchurch Public Hospital, New Zealand, were reviewed. The frequency of documentation of height, weight and head circumference in the notes and on the appropriate growth chart was ascertained, along with review of the accuracy of the plotted data.Results:  Weight was documented in the charts of 95% and height in 5% of 103 children. None of the children had measurement of their head circumference. A growth chart was present in the notes of 27% of children, but just 7% of the group had a growth chart with the current measurements plotted.Conclusions:  This study identifies a missed opportunity for assessment of the nutritional status of children in the hospital setting in New Zealand. The results highlight a need for optimising child growth assessment, particularly at a time of growing awareness of health inequalities and childhood obesity.
Missed immunisation opportunities in emergency departments in northern New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Way Andrew SC , Durrheim David N , Vally Hassan , Massey Peter D 
Published: October 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of children less than 12 months of age presenting to Hunter New England (HNE) emergency departments (EDs) during 2009 who were overdue for immunisations and identify factors associated with overdue status.Methods:  The immunisation status of all children aged between 3 months and 1 year (120–365 days) who presented at an HNE ED between 1 January and 31 December 2009 was determined using Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) 30‐day overdue reports. The ED dataset and ACIR reports were linked using a deterministic method.Results:  Six per cent (253/4218) of children who attended an HNE ED in 2009 were overdue for immunisation and 28.1% (71/253) presented multiple times while overdue. There was a median delay of 77 days from their first presentation while overdue until they no longer appeared on the ACIR 30‐day overdue report. Children who presented while overdue were more likely to present multiple times to EDs (RR = 1.45; P = 0.0025), be in a life‐threatening triage category (P = 0.012) and present at tertiary referral hospitals (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Important missed immunisation opportunities occurred in HNE EDs and may occur in other EDs in Australia. Half of the children who presented to Hunter New England emergency departments while overdue for immunisation remained overdue for greater than 77 days following their presentation. Opportunities exist in EDs and paediatric inpatient wards for ensuring that all children are protected against vaccine‐preventable diseases.
Diluted seawater promoted the green tide of Ulva prolifera (Chlorophyta, Ulvales)
Authors: Lin A.‐Peng , Wang Chao , Pan Guang‐Hua , Song Li‐Yun , Gao Shan , Xie Xiu‐Jun , Wang Zhi‐Yuan , Niu Jian‐Feng , Wang Guang‐Ce 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYUlva prolifera (Müller) J. Agardh is the main causative species of the 2008 Yellow Sea green tide incident. We investigated the influences of diluted seawater on the vegetative growth and reproductive cell formation of the alga. The thalli that were cultivated under low salinities (10‰ and 20‰) and low pH values (pH around 7.0) showed obvious and steady biomass gain, while those cultivated under high salinities (40‰) and relatively higher pH conditions (pH around 8.0) manifested significant biomass loss. The trend was, however, completely the opposite for reproductive cell formation and there were indications that enrichment, over very wide concentration ranges of both nitrogen and phosphate, could significantly promote vegetative growth. Results also indicated that relatively low salinity and low pH regimes boosted vegetative growth but were unfavorable for reproductive cell formation and vice versa. Based on these results, the possible origin and development mechanisms of the green tide event are discussed. Eutrophication in the Changjiang River estuary and adjacent sea areas, as well as extremely high freshwater inflows before, and during, the flood of 2007 – due to the full operation of large‐scale water facilities in the area – may have both played an important role in the formation and development of the green tide event.
Seed germination temperatures of eight Mexican Agave species with economic importance
Authors: RAMÍREZ‐TOBÍAS HUGO M. , PEÑA‐VALDIVIA CECILIA B. , AGUIRRE R. J. ROGELIO , REYES‐AGÜERO J. ANTONIO , SÁNCHEZ‐URDANETA ADRIANA B. , VALLE G. SALVADOR 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe genetic diversity of Agave plants is threatened by clonal commercial reproduction and climatic change. Sexual reproduction is uncommon and research on seed germination is scarce. The present study evaluated the seed germination of Agave lechuguilla, Agave striata, Agave americana var. marginata, Agave asperrima, Agave cupreata, Agave duranguesis, Agave angustifolia ssp. tequilana and Agave salmiana at constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C). Initial imbibition (after the first 12 h) was significantly variable among species, positively correlated with seed weight (r = 0.6560, P < 0.001) and increased with temperature (from 35% at 10°C to 66% at 40°C). Temperature affected maximum imbibition (83–150%) for A. asperrima, A. lechuguilla, A. salmiana and A. striata; other species averaged 110%. Most germination kinetics best fitted a logistic model, whereas only a few treatments fit a Weibull model. The time to germination onset diminished (P < 0.05) from 125–173 h at 15°C to 68–84 h at 25°C, and then ascended to 84–196 h at 35°C. The mean germination rate and seed germination percentage after 312 h peaked at 25°C (0.50–0.95% seeds/h and 85–99%, respectively) and fell (P < 0.05) to near zero at 10 and 40°C. Temperatures of 10, 35 and 40°C were partially lethal to A. asperrima, A. duranguensis and A. salmiana seeds. The time to germination onset, seed germination percentage after 312 h and mean germination rate are best described by a Gaussian distribution, with its optimum at approximately 25°C. Thus, optimum temperatures are related to the ecological characteristics of each species area.
Influence of loading path on fatigue crack growth under multiaxial loading condition
Authors: YANG F.P. , YUAN X.G. , KUANG Z.B. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTIn this study, the specimens made of carbon steel S45 with an initial surface straight edge notch were subjected to combined cyclic axial‐torsion loading at room temperature. The fatigue life, surface crack extension direction and crack length were experimentally investigated. The effects of loading path, stress amplitude ratio and phase angle on the crack growth behaviour were also discussed. The results showed that, under the combination of cyclic axial and torsion loading, the tension stress amplitude had more effect on the initial crack growth path than the latter. The shear stress amplitude contributed mainly to the latter crack extension. The crack extension path was mainly determined by the stress amplitudes and the ratio of the normal stress to the shear stress, and almost independent of the mean stresses. The increase of the tension stress amplitude and shear stress amplitude would both accelerate the crack growth rate.
Potential role of photodynamic techniques combined with new generation flexible ureterorenoscopes and molecular markers for the management of urothelial carcinoma of the upper urinary tract
Authors: Audenet François , Traxer Olivier , Yates David R. , Cussenot Olivier , Rouprêt Morgan 
Published: October 2011

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Sporadic clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) is dominated by mutations of the VHL gene located on chromosome 3p in up to 90% of cases. This gene plays a critical role in hypoxia response, including stimulation of neoangiogenesis. Since 2006, anti‐angiogenic therapies targeting this pathway are used in metastatic patients with objective response rate as high as 45%. However, these treatments don't target directly the tumour cell, allowing the potential for disease progression despite treatment.Large scale analysis recently showed that substantial genetic heterogeneity exists in ccRCC. Associated alterations include genes implicated in methylation regulation in 15% of cases, underlying the importance of epigenetic modifications, and truncating mutations in chromatin remodeling complex PRMB1 in 41% of cases. Systematic screening of these tumours is a way to fully determine the somatic genetic architecture of RCC in order to improve tumour classification, to develop prognostic and predictive markers and to target new molecular pathways involved in carcinogenesis.OBJECTIVES
To discuss how the development of new generation flexible ureterorenoscopes in combination with photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) improves the assessment of urothelial cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UUT‐UCC).
Ultimately, this may allow accurate tumour classification and the ability to select which patients would benefit from conservative treatment as opposed to radical surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted an exhaustive Pubmed literature search using a combination of keywords including: ureterorenoscopy, UUT‐UCC diagnosis, PDD, narrow band imaging, conservative treatment UUT‐UCC and molecular urinalysis.
We then selected salient high calibre articles relevant to our objective.
RESULTS
We give specific consideration to anatomical aspects of UUT‐UCC investigation, PDD in UCC, aminolevulinic acid and its derivatives, autofluorescence, narrow band imaging, molecular marker analysis and the recent advances in ureterorenoscopic technology.
The traditional pitfalls of UUT‐UCC diagnosis, namely poor visualisation and difficulty in obtaining representative histological samples, are being circumvented by the introduction of modern digital flexible ureteroscopes that can be combined with PDD and molecular analysis to improve tumour classification, deferring to conservative treatment accordingly.
CONCLUSION
The accuracy of the diagnostic work‐up of UUT‐UCC is improving due to advances in technology, pharmaceutical agents and incorporation of molecular markers, all factors allowing us to characterise tumours of the UUT more definitively.
Intraprostatic testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Part I: concentrations and methods of determination in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer
Authors: van der Sluis Tim M. , Vis André N. , van Moorselaar R. Jeroen A. , Bui Hong N. , Blankenstein Marinus A. , Meuleman Eric J.H. , Heijboer Annemieke C. 
Published: October 2011

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?The male steroid hormone metabolism is an important target in the treatment of prostatic diseases. However, present literature is inconsistent about intraprostatic concentrations of steroid hormones and the role of intraprostatic steroid hormones in the arise and the course of prostatic disease is yet to be determined.Part I of this two‐piece reviews the different methods of steroid hormone measurement and gives an overview of steroid hormone concentrations in normal and diseased prostatic tissue. More accurate methods of measurement and increased knowledge of androgenic steroid hormonal pathways of the prostate could lead to better treatment of prostatic diseases.Owing to inconsistencies and methodological differences, the present peer‐reviewed literature lacks conclusive data on the intraprostatic levels of androgens, in particular dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in untreated benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. To date, no difference has been shown between DHT concentrations in normal prostatic tissue and BPH, and nor has a difference been shown in DHT concentrations between the histologically distinct regions of the prostate. Recent literature has also failed to show a consistent difference in androgen level between BPH and prostate cancer. The role of intraprostatic DHT in the pathogenesis of BPH and in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer thus remains to be established. Increased knowledge of the mechanisms of the androgenic steroid pathways in prostatic diseases, with a special focus on intraprostatic androgen levels may lead to more optimized and more personalized forms of treatment, and probably new therapeutic targets as well.
Mechanistic insights into insulin resistance in the genetic era
Authors: Parker V. E. R. , Savage D. B. , O’Rahilly S. , Semple R. K. 
Published: October 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 1476–1486 (2011)AbstractSir Harold Himsworth first observed and articulated the phenomenon of insulin resistance in the late 1930s. Although a long delay followed before his observations were acknowledged and enshrined in formal diagnostic classifications of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance‐related pathology in the early 21st century poses one of the major global healthcare challenges for contemporary physicians. Whilst insulin resistance is closely related to obesity and decreased physical fitness, despite intensive investigation it has proved extremely challenging to discriminate key events in its causation from epiphenomena, many related to compensation for the primary defect. Thus, a complete account of the molecular pathogenesis of insulin resistance‐related diseases remains elusive. One approach circumventing such problems is the study of patients with single gene defects causing severe insulin resistance. In such patients the primary defect is known, and thus lessons may be learned about human physiology from detailed physiological study allied to knowledge of the function of the mutated protein. This review discusses developments in understanding of monogenic severe insulin resistance since discovery of the first insulin receptor mutations in 1988 and reviews the physiological lessons learnt, including the critical role of adipose tissue in human metabolic health and the meaning and importance of ‘partial’ insulin resistance for major human disease.
Variance Estimation Using Refitted Cross-Validation in Ultrahigh Dimensional Regression
Authors: Fan Jianqing , Guo Shaojun , Hao Ning 
Published: October 2011

SummaryVariance estimation is a fundamental problem in statistical modelling. In ultrahigh dimensional linear regression where the dimensionality is much larger than the sample size, traditional variance estimation techniques are not applicable. Recent advances in variable selection in ultrahigh dimensional linear regression make this problem accessible. One of the major problems in ultrahigh dimensional regression is the high spurious correlation between the unobserved realized noise and some of the predictors. As a result, the realized noises are actually predicted when extra irrelevant variables are selected, leading to a serious underestimate of the level of noise. We propose a two-stage refitted procedure via a data splitting technique, called refitted cross-validation, to attenuate the influence of irrelevant variables with high spurious correlations. Our asymptotic results show that the resulting procedure performs as well as the oracle estimator, which knows in advance the mean regression function. The simulation studies lend further support to our theoretical claims. The naive two-stage estimator and the plug-in one-stage estimators using the lasso and smoothly clipped absolute deviation are also studied and compared. Their performances can be improved by the refitted cross-validation method proposed.
Hybrid Confidence Regions Based on Data Depth
Authors: Lee Stephen M. S. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryWe consider the general problem of constructing confidence regions for, possibly multi-dimensional, parameters when we have available more than one approach for the construction. These approaches may be motivated by different model assumptions, different levels of approximation, different settings of tuning parameters or different Monte Carlo algorithms. Their effectiveness is often governed by different sets of conditions which are difficult to vindicate in practice. We propose two procedures for constructing hybrid confidence regions which endeavour to integrate all such individual approaches. The procedures employ the concept of data depth to calibrate the confidence region in two different ways, the first rendering its coverage error minimax and the second rendering its coverage error conservative. The resulting region reconciles in many important aspects the discrepancies between the various approaches, and is robust against misspecification of their governing conditions. Theoretical and empirical properties of our procedures are investigated in comparison with those of the constituent individual approaches.
Conditional Quantile Analysis When Covariates are Functions, with Application to Growth Data
Authors: Chen Kehui , Müller Hans-Georg 
Published: October 2011

SummaryMotivated by the conditional growth charts problem, we develop a method for conditional quantile analysis when predictors take values in a functional space. The method proposed aims at estimating conditional distribution functions under a generalized functional regression framework. This approach facilitates balancing of model flexibility and the curse of dimensionality for the infinite dimensional functional predictors. Its good performance in comparison with other methods, both for sparsely and for densely observed functional covariates, is demonstrated through theory as well as in simulations and an application to growth curves, where the method proposed can, for example, be used to assess the entire growth pattern of a child by relating it to the predicted quantiles of adult height.
Managing Structural Uncertainty in Health Economic Decision Models: A Discrepancy Approach
Authors: Strong Mark , Oakley Jeremy E. , Chilcott Jim 
Published: October 2011

SummaryHealthcare resource allocation decisions are commonly informed by computer model predictions of population mean costs and health effects. It is common to quantify the uncertainty in the prediction due to uncertain model inputs, but methods for quantifying uncertainty due to inadequacies in model structure are less well developed. We introduce an example of a model that aims to predict the costs and health effects of a physical activity promoting intervention. Our goal is to develop a framework in which we can manage our uncertainty about the costs and health effects due to deficiencies in the model structure. We describe the concept of ‘model discrepancy’: the difference between the model evaluated at its true inputs, and the true costs and health effects. We then propose a method for quantifying discrepancy based on decomposing the cost-effectiveness model into a series of subfunctions, and considering potential error at each subfunction. We use a variance-based sensitivity analysis to locate important sources of discrepancy within the model to guide model refinement. The resulting improved model is judged to contain less structural error, and the distribution on the model output better reflects our true uncertainty about the costs and effects of the intervention.
Governing Migrant Workers at a Distance: Managing the Temporary Status of Guestworkers in Taiwan
Authors: Tseng Yen‐fen , Wang Hong‐zen 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis paper explores how a liberal democratic state keeps migrant workers in temporary status by preventing their permanent settlement. Using Taiwan’s guestworker policy as an example, we argue that through expertise discourses and strategies of “governance at a distance” involving private sector, the Taiwan government has formulated policies and implemented measures that effectively kept guestworkers in temporary status. Analyzing Taiwan’s guestworker policy helps us to understand how the state and its collaborators work together to enhance the control capacity over migrants, while at the same time, enabling the state to keep its liberal pretense.
Executive Pay and Performance: Did Bankers’ Bonuses Cause the Crisis?
Authors: Gregg Paul , Jewell Sarah , Tonks Ian 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis paper examines the pay‐performance relationship between executive cash compensation (including bonuses) and company performance for a sample of large UK companies, focusing particularly on the financial services industry, since incentive misalignment has been blamed as one of the factors causing the global financial crisis of 2007–2008. Although we find that pay in the financial services sector is high, the cash‐plus‐bonus pay‐performance sensitivity of financial firms is not significantly higher than in other sectors. Consequently, we conclude that it unlikely that incentive structures could be held responsible for inducing bank executives to focus on short‐term results.