bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reviews
Authors: Kerrick Lisa , Ouellette Maj Mary‐Ellen , Walker Nathalie , Hembree Patricia A. 
Published: January 2008

Ensuring Fairness in Health Care Coverage: An Employer's Guide to Making Good Decisions on Tough IssuesMatthew K. Wynia and Abraham P. Schwab 2006, 240 pages $29.95 hardcoverA Survival Guide to Managing Employees From Hell: Handling Idiots, Whiners, Slackers, and Other Workplace DemonsGini Graham Scott, 2006, 224 pages, $15 softcoverComplementary and Alternative Medicine Sourcebook, third edition, Sandra J. Judd, Ed., 2006, 657 pages, $87 hardcoverThe Manager's Guide to Rewards: What You Need to Know to Get the Best for—and From—Your Employees, Doug Jensen, Tom McMullen, and Mel Stark, 2006, 156 pages, $24.95 hardcover
Influence of apolipoprotein E genotype and dietary α-tocopherol on redox status and C-reactive protein levels in apolipoprotein E3 and E4 targeted replacement mice
Authors: Jofre-Monseny Laia , Huebbe Patricia , Stange Inken , Boesch-Saadatmandi Christine , Frank Jan , Jackson Kim , Minihane Anne-Marie , Rimbach Gerald 
Published: January 2008

The molecular basis of the positive association between apoE4 genotype and CVD remains unclear. There is directin vitroevidence indicating that apoE4 is a poorer antioxidant relative to the apoE3 isoform, with some indirectin vivoevidence also available. Therefore it was hypothesised that apoE4 carriers may benefit from α-tocopherol (α-Toc) supplementation. Targeted replacement mice expressing the human apoE3 and apoE4 were fed with a diet poor (0 mg/kg diet) or rich (200 mg/kg diet) in α-Toc for 12 weeks. Neither apoE genotype nor dietary α-Toc exerted any effects on the antioxidant defence system, including glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities. In addition, no differences were observed in mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. α-Toc concentrations were modestly higher in plasma and lower in tissues of apoE4 compared with apoE3 mice, with the greatest differences evident in the lung, suggesting that an apoE4 genotype may reduce α-Toc delivery to tissues. A tendency towards increased plasma F2-isoprostanes in apoE4 mice was observed, while liver thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances did not differ between apoE3 and apoE4 mice. In addition, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were reduced in apoE4 mice indicating that this positive effect on CRP may in part negate the increased CVD risk associated with an apoE4 genotype.
Effects of long-term administration of a cocoa polyphenolic extract (Acticoa powder) on cognitive performances in aged rats
Authors: Bisson Jean-François , Nejdi Amine , Rozan Pascale , Hidalgo Sophie , Lalonde Robert , Messaoudi Michaël 
Published: January 2008

Numerous studies have indicated that increased vulnerability to oxidative stress may be the main factor involved in functional declines during normal and pathological ageing, and that antioxidant agents, such as polyphenols, may improve or prevent these deficits. We examined whether 1-year administration of a cocoa polyphenolic extract (Acticoa powder), orally delivered at the dose of 24 mg/kg per d between 15 and 27 months of age, affects the onset of age-related cognitive deficits, urinary free dopamine levels and lifespan in old Wistar-Unilever rats. Acticoa powder improved cognitive performances in light extinction and water maze paradigms, increased lifespan and preserved high urinary free dopamine levels. These results suggest that Acticoa powder may be beneficial in retarding age-related brain impairments, including cognitive deficits in normal ageing and perhaps neurodegenerative diseases. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms of cocoa polyphenols in neuroprotection and to explore their effects in man.
SCHUR–NEVANLINNA SEQUENCES OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
Authors: Bultheel Adhemar , Lasarow Andreas 
Published: January 2008

AbstractWe study certain sequences of rational functions with poles outside the unit circle. Such kinds of sequences are recursively constructed based on sequences of complex numbers with norm less than one. In fact, such sequences are closely related to the Schur–Nevanlinna algorithm for Schur functions on the one hand, and to orthogonal rational functions on the unit circle on the other. We shall see that rational functions belonging to a Schur–Nevanlinna sequence can be used to parametrize the set of all solutions of an interpolation problem of Nevanlinna–Pick type for Schur functions.
WHEN THE SUM OF ALIQUOTS DIVIDES THE TOTIENT
Authors: Banks William D. , Luca Florian 
Published: January 2008

AbstractLet $\varphi(\cdot)$ be the Euler function and let $\sigma(\cdot)$ be the sum-of-divisors function. In this note, we bound the number of positive integers $n\le x$ with the property that $s(n)=\sigma(n)-n$ divides $\varphi(n)$.
DUAL $L_{p}$ JOHN ELLIPSOIDS
Authors: Yu Wuyang , Leng Gangsong , Wu Donghua 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIn this paper, the dual $L_p$ John ellipsoids, which include the classical Löwner ellipsoid and the Legendre ellipsoid, are studied. The dual $L_p$ versions of John's inclusion and Ball's volume-ratio inequality are shown. This insight allows for a unified view of some basic results in convex geometry and reveals further the amazing duality between Brunn–Minkowski theory and dual Brunn–Minkowski theory.
Field testing of six decision support systems for scheduling fungicide applications to control Mycosphaerella graminicola on winter wheat crops in Ireland
Authors: BURKE J. J. , DUNNE B. 
Published: January 2008

SUMMARYField experiments were conducted between 2003 and 2005 to compare the efficacy of five interactive decision support systems (DSSs) (DESSAC, PLANT-Plus, proPLANT Expert, CerDis and Crop Protection Online (CPO)) and an in-crop system (Septoria Timer) to schedule fungicide applications to winter wheat cultivars (Madrigal and Claire) for the control of Mycosphaerella graminicola. The effectiveness of the crop management programmes proposed by the DSSs was compared with that of standard 2-spray programmes applied at GS 37 and 65 and 3-spray programmes applied at GS 32, 39 and 65. Compared with the 3-spray programme, the programme scheduled by CPO advised application of the least active ingredient to the six trials over three seasons, while together with the Septoria Timer it also advised the least number of applications (average 2·3 per crop). The PLANT-Plus system advised the highest input of active ingredient and the highest number of applications (average of 4·0 per crop). The interactive DSSs responded to cultivar susceptibility to M. graminicola by scheduling more applications to the susceptible cv. Madrigal compared with the moderately resistant cv. Claire. Whether control of M. graminicola is expressed as reduction in the proportion of necrosis per leaf or a reduction of the area under the disease progress curve, the 3-spray programme provided the most effective control. The Septoria Timer provided a similar level of control. For the remaining programmes, the effectiveness of control varied with observation date, leaf and cultivar. The 2-spray programme provided the least successful control. Fungicide application significantly increased grain yield each season. The fungicide scheduling programme that provided the highest grain yield varied by cultivar and season. Grain specific weight was enhanced by fungicide application compared with the untreated control, except for cv. Claire in 2004. The fungicide scheduling programme that provided the highest specific weight varied with cultivar and season. The highest average margin over fungicide cost was provided by the Septoria Timer.
Modulational instabilities of surface plasmons on metallic plasma surfaces with nanoparticles
Authors: SHUKLA P. K. , STENFLO L. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe nonlinear coupling between high-frequency surface plasmons (SPs) and low-frequency ion oscillations on metallic plasma surfaces with charged nanoparticles is considered. It is shown that a finite-amplitude SP wave is modulationally unstable against the excitation of non-resonant ion oscillations. The growth rates and thresholds of the modulational instabilities are presented.
Nature and Nurture on Imperial China's Frontiers
Authors: PERDUE PETER C. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractEcologies of production and state classifications shaped Chinese imperial frontier policies. In Chinese classical debates about the effect of environment on human character, the dominant view held that all peoples could become civilised, but a dissenting view held that barbarians could never change their ways. Nomadic pastoralists likewise debated whether to adopt certain Han cultural practices or reject them. Chinese dynasties often accepted diversity, but at certain times tried to eliminate difference by persuasion or by force. Three cases illustrate these processes during the Qing period: the relationship between Manchus and Mongols, Qing policies towards aboriginal peoples and the settlement of Taiwan, and Qing policies towards southwestern mountain peoples. In each case, policies came out of the interaction of ethnic categorization, views on cultural transformation and frontier environments. When Qing rulers lost the ability to recognise such cultural distinctions, they lost a key to the endurance of the empire.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT IN MEDIEVAL JAPAN
Authors: Sakurai Eiji 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIn contrast to the currency issued for use in ancient and early modern Japan, a feature of the currency of that country's medieval period was that the Japanese state did not mint its own coinage but rather imported the entirety of its supply of copper coins from China. An economy based on Chinese coins therefore lasted for 650 years, from the middle of the twelfth century, through the upheavals of the sixteenth century, down to the seventeenth century when the Tokugawa Bakufu once again minted coins. This article outlines the situation of currency and its specific features during this period, paying particular attention to the trend towards the use of credit, in such forms as bills of exchange and promissory notes. In addition, it points out that the medieval Japanese state had absolutely no motivation, either financially or geopolitically, to issue its own currency.
ASPECTS OF CHINESE LEGAL CULTURE – THE ARTICULATION OF WRITTEN LAW, STATE, AND SOCIETY: A REVIEW (PART TWO). PRIVATE LAW AND PRIVATE LAWYERS: A DISCUSSION ON THE “FIELDS” OF LAW
Authors: Bourgon Jérôme 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe International Journal of Asian Studies has published four seminal articles by Japanese scholars of the history of Chinese law (2004–2007). In the first part of his review and analysis of the series (see IJAS 4:2, 2007), Jérôme Bourgon dealt in the main with the work of Shigeo Nakamura and Osamu Takamizawa. In the present part he concludes his discussion with an examination of the remaining articles, “The Nature of Social Agreements (yue) in the Legal Order of Ming and Qing China” by Hiroaki Terada and “Litigation Masters and the Litigation System of Ming and Qing China” by Susumu Fuma.
FAST: Fourier transform based algorithms for significance testing of ungapped multiple alignments
Authors: Nagarajan Niranjan , Keich Uri 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
Summary: As was shown in Nagarajan et al. (2005), commonly used approximations for assessing the significance of multiple alignments can be be very inaccurate. To address this, we present here the FAST package, an open-source collection of programs and libraries for efficiently and reliably computing the significance of ungapped local alignments. We also describe other potential applications in Bioinformatics where these programs can be adapted for significance testing.
Availability: The FAST package includes C++ implementations of various algorithms that can be used as stand-alone programs or as a library of subroutines. The package and a web-server for some of the programs are available at www.cs.cornell.edu/~keich/FAST
Contact: keich@cs.cornell.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Expectation and experiences of childbirth in primiparae with caesarean section
Authors: Wiklund I , Edman G , Ryding E‐L , Andolf E 
Published: January 2008

Objective  The aim of this study was to examine the expectations and experiences in women undergoing a caesarean section on maternal request and compare these with women undergoing caesarean section with breech presentation as the indication and women who intended to have vaginal delivery acting as a control group. A second aim was to study whether assisted delivery and emergency caesarean section in the control group affected the birth experience.Design  A prospective group‐comparison cohort study.Setting  Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.Sample  First‐time mothers (n= 496) were recruited to the study in week 37–39 of gestation and follow up was carried out 3 months after delivery. Comparisons were made between ‘caesarean section on maternal request’, ‘caesarean section due to breech presentation’ and ‘controls planning a vaginal delivery’.Methods  The instrument used was the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W‐DEQ).Main outcome measures  Expectations prior to delivery and experiences at 3 months after birth.Results  Mothers requesting a caesarean section had more negative expectations of a vaginal delivery (P < 0.001) and 43.4% in this group showed a clinically significant fear of delivery. Mothers in the two groups expecting a vaginal delivery, but having an emergency caesarean section or an assisted vaginal delivery had more negative experiences of childbirth (P < 0.001).Conclusions  Women requesting caesarean section did not always suffer from clinically significant fear of childbirth. The finding that women subjected to complicated deliveries had a negative birth experience emphasises the importance of postnatal support.
Use of a decision aid for prenatal testing of fetal abnormalities to improve women’s informed decision making: a cluster randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN22532458]
Authors: Nagle C , Gunn J , Bell R , Lewis S , Meiser B , Metcalfe S , Ukoumunne OC , Halliday J 
Published: January 2008

Objective  To evaluate the effectiveness of a decision aid for prenatal testing of fetal abnormalities compared with a pamphlet in supporting women’s decision making.Design  A cluster randomised controlled trial.Setting  Primary health care.Population  Women in early pregnancy consulting a GP.Methods  GPs were randomised to provide women with either a decision aid or a pamphlet. The decision aid was a 24‐page booklet designed using the Ottowa Decision Framework. The pamphlet was an existing resource available in the trial setting.Main outcome measures  Validated scales were used to measure the primary outcomes, informed choice and decisional conflict, and the secondary outcomes, anxiety, depression, attitudes to the pregnancy/fetus and acceptability of the resource. Outcomes were measured at 14 weeks of gestation from questionnaires that women completed and returned by post.Findings  Women in the intervention group were more likely to make an informed decision 76% (126/165) than those in the control group 65% (107/165) (adjusted OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.14–3.81). A greater proportion of women in the intervention group 88% (147/167) had a ‘good’ level of knowledge than those in the control group 72% (123/171) (adjusted OR 3.43; 95% CI 1.79–6.58). Mean (SD) decisional conflict scores were low in both groups, decision aid 1.71 (0.49), pamphlet 1.65 (0.55) (adjusted mean difference 0.10; 95% CI −0.02 to 0.22). There was no strong evidence of differences between the trial arms in the measures of psychological or acceptability outcomes.Conclusion  A tailored prenatal testing decision aid plays an important role in improving women’s knowledge of first and second trimester screening tests and assisting them to make decisions about screening and diagnostic tests that are consistent with their values.
Selective single blastocyst transfer reduces the multiple pregnancy rate and increases pregnancy rates: a pre‐ and postintervention study
Authors: Khalaf Y , El‐Toukhy T , Coomarasamy A , Kamal A , Bolton V , Braude P 
Published: January 2008

Objective  To examine the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and multiple pregnancy rate (MPR) in a large in vitro fertilisation (IVF) programme before and after the introduction of single blastocyst transfer (SBT) strategy in a selected group of women.Design  A 3‐year pre‐ and postintervention study.Setting  A tertiary reproductive medicine and assisted conception unit in a London teaching hospital.Population  Two thousand four hundred and fifty‐one fresh IVF cycles performed between July 2004 and June 2007 at the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust were included in the study.Methods  In January 2006, we implemented a multidisciplinary intervention involving the introduction of a selective day 5 SBT service together with an educational programme on the risks of multiple pregnancy and potential advantages of blastocyst transfer aimed at couples at high risk of multiple pregnancy.Main outcome measures  The CPR per cycle started and MPR per clinical pregnancy achieved.Results  A statistically significant increase in the CPR from 27% (324/1198) to 32% (395/1253) (risk difference [RD] 5%, risk ratio [RR] 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.32, P= 0.015) and reduction in the MPR per clinical pregnancy from 32% (103/272) to 17% (69/395) (RD 15%, RR 0.46, 95% CI 0.35–0.60, P < 0.001) were observed after introduction of the SBT service.Conclusion  Selective SBT in women with good prognosis can reduce the MPR after IVF while maintaining the overall success rate of the IVF programme.
The effect of early versus delayed postcaesarean feeding on women’s satisfaction: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Izbizky GH , Minig L , Sebastiani MA , Otaño L 
Published: January 2008

Objective  To evaluate the effect of early versus delayed feeding after caesarean section on the woman’s satisfaction.Design  Randomised, controlled trial.Setting  Tertiary care hospital.Population  Healthy pregnant women were enrolled for the study during antenatal care visits.Methods  Uncomplicated singleton pregnancies undergoing a planned or intrapartum caesarean section performed under regional anaesthesia were randomly assigned to either (1) a ‘delayed feeding’ group who started oral fluids 4 hours after surgery with diet introduced at 24 hours; or (2) an ‘early feeding’ group who were offered a regular diet within the first 8 hours.Main outcome measures  Primary outcome was the woman’s satisfaction measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS) before their hospital discharge. The secondary outcomes were: pain, anorexia, abdominal distension, persistent nausea and/or vomiting, time to the first bowel movement and passage of flatus.Results  Two hundred women were recruited, with 103 randomised to delayed feeding and 97 to early feeding. The woman’s satisfaction (mean VAS ± SD) was similar in both groups; 73 ± 17 mm in the delayed feeding group and 77 ± 13 mm in the early feeding group (P= 0.12). A statistically significant difference was observed in mean postoperative pain: 29 ± 13 mm in the delayed feeding group versus 24 ± 11 mm in the early feeding group (P= 0.008). No other significant differences in postoperative variables were recorded, and there were no major postoperative complications observed in either group.Conclusion  Early feeding after uncomplicated caesarean in low‐risk women is equivalent in terms of the woman’s satisfaction and the reduced perceived pain.
The impact of psychological abuse by an intimate partner on the mental health of pregnant women
Authors: Tiwari A , Chan KL , Fong D , Leung WC , Brownridge DA , Lam H , Wong B , Lam CM , Chau F , Chan A , Cheung KB , Ho PC 
Published: January 2008

Objective  The objective of this first population‐based study in Hong Kong was to assess the impact of psychological abuse by an intimate partner on the mental health of pregnant women.Design  Survey.Setting  Antenatal clinics in seven public hospitals in Hong Kong.Population  Three thousand two hundred and forty‐five pregnant women.Methods  The Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) and demographic questionnaires were administered face‐to‐face at 32–36 weeks of gestation. At 1 week postpartum, the AAS, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and SF‐12 Health Survey were administered by telephone.Main outcome measures  Intimate partner violence, postnatal depression and health‐related quality of life.Results  Two hundred and ninety six (9.1%) of the participants reported abuse by an intimate partner in the past year. Of those abused, 216 (73%) reported psychological abuse only and 80 (27%) reported physical and/or sexual abuse. Forty six (57.5%) in the physical and/or sexual abuse group also reported psychological abuse. Women in the psychological abuse only group had a higher risk of postnatal depression compared with nonabused women (adjusted OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.12–3.02). They were also at a higher risk of thinking about harming themselves (adjusted OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.49–8.20) and had significantly poorer mental health‐related quality of life (P < 0.001). The higher risks of postnatal depression and thinking of harming themselves were not observed in the physical and/or sexual abuse group although significantly poorer mental health‐related quality of life (P < 0.001) was observed.Conclusions  Psychological abuse by an intimate partner against pregnant women has a negative impact on their mental health postdelivery. Furthermore, psychological abuse in the absence of physical and/or sexual abuse can have a detrimental effect on the mental health of abused women. The findings underscore the importance of screening pregnant women for abuse by an intimate partner and the need for developing, implementing and evaluating interventions to address psychological abuse.
Normal Intrauterine Pregnancy Is Unlikely in Patients Who Have Echogenic Material Identified within the Endometrial Cavity at Transvaginal Ultrasonography
Authors: Dart Robert , Dart Linda , Mitchell Patricia 
Published: January 2008

AbstractIn first‐trimester patients with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, pelvic ultrasonography (US) is often performed to assess the status of the pregnancy. Identification of echogenic material within the endometrial cavity in the absence of a gestational sac has been attributed to the presence of either retained products of conception or clotted blood. However, to the authors' knowledge, no study has directly addressed whether this finding reliably excludes the diagnosis of a normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP). Objective: To determine whether the identification of echogenic material within the endometrial cavity at transvaginal US excludes the diagnosis of a normal IUP. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from August 1991 to August 1997 on consecutive urban teaching hospital ED patients with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding who had a transvaginal US performed during the ED visit that demonstrated echogenic material within the endometrial cavity. Patients were excluded if they had a dilatation and evacuation (D+E) procedure performed prior to the exclusion of a normal IUP by other means [open cervical os, falling quantitative beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) values, a progesterone value <5.0 ng/mL or β‐hCG >3,000 mIU/mL] or if they were lost to follow‐up. Patients were followed until a final diagnosis was ultimately determined. Results: A total of 83 patients with echogenic material were identified. Of these, three patients were excluded because a D+E was performed prior to an IUP being excluded by other means, and two patients were lost to followup. Of the 78 enrolled patients, none had a final diagnosis of normal IUP. Ectopic pregnancy was confirmed in nine patients, five of whom had no adnexal or cul de sac findings to suggest this diagnosis. Conclusion: In symptomatic patients who have echogenic material but no gestational sac visualized within the endometrial cavity at US, the likelihood of a normal IUP is low.