bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A twenty‐year survey of dermatophytoses in Braga, Portugal
Authors: Valdigem G. L. , Pereira T. , Macedo C. , Duarte M. L. , Oliveira P. , Ludovico P. , Sousa‐Basto A. , Leão C. , Rodrigues F. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground  Modifications in social habits together with the increase of emigration have contributed not only to increased dermatophytoses but also to an altered etiology. During the last few years, Braga has suffered a radical change from a rural to a cosmopolitan life‐style.Methods  A statistical study of dermatophytoses and the etiology of their causative agents was performed by a retrospective survey carried out among patients of Hospital de São Marcos, Braga, Portugal, from 1983–2002. In this study, a total of 10 003 patients were analyzed.Results  Over this period the frequency of dermatophytoses, as defined by the recovery of a dermatophyte in culture, was found to be 23.6%, whereas nondermatophytic infections accounted for 7.0%. Analysis of the clinical forms and the isolated fungi supports that the dermatophyte species have a predilection for certain body areas (P ≤ 0.01). Age is a very important factor regarding the occurrence of dermatophytoses (P ≤ 0.0001), with a correlation between increasing age and infection, positive for Trichophyton rubrum and negative for Microsporum canis. Overall the gender of the patients is not an association factor for the development of dermatophytoses; however, significant differences were detected in the distribution of some etiologic agents (P ≤ 0.05).Conclusions  The results showed the main etiologic agent of dermatophytoses to be Trichophyton rubrum (37.4%). Moreover, dermatophytoses are both decreasing and showing a new profile in Braga, and a pronounced decrease of Trichophyton megninii was observed throughout the study.
Effect of Straw on Yield Components of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Under Rice‐Rice Cropping System
Authors: Surekha K. , Pavan Chandra Reddy K. , Padma Kumari A. P. , Sta Cruz P. C. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractField experiments were conducted at the Directorate of Rice Research experimental farm, ICRISAT campus, Patancheru, Hyderabad, during 1998–2000 for five consecutive seasons (three wet and two dry seasons) with five treatments [T1 – 100 % straw incorporation; T2 – 50 % straw incorporation; T3 – 100 % straw + green manure (GM) incorporation; T4 – 100 % straw burning and T5 – 100 % straw removal (control)] along with the recommended dose of fertilizers to evaluate the effect of different crop residue management (CRM) practices on yield components and yield of rice in rice–rice cropping sequence. The ammonium N measured at active tillering was higher in 100 % straw‐added plots over 50 % straw addition and straw removal with maximum values in the straw + GM‐incorporated plots. Among the yield components, tillers, panicles and spikelets were influenced from the second season of residue incorporation with significant increase in 100 % straw‐added treatments. The increase in tiller and panicle number could be attributed to the increased NH4‐N in these treatments, which is evident from the significant correlation between tiller number and NH4‐N (r = 0.82**) and panicle number and NH4‐N (r = 0.87**). The influence of residue treatments on rice grain yield was observed from the third season onwards where incorporation of straw alone or in combination with GM and burning of straw significantly increased grain and straw yields. Grain yield showed significant positive correlation with the number of tillers (r = 0.74*–0.81**) and panicles (r = 0.74*–0.84**) in three treatments (T1, T3 andT4) where grain yields were significantly higher. The regression analysis showed that 57–66 % and 64–75 % of the variation in yield could be explained by tillers and panicles together in these three treatments during wet and dry seasons respectively. Thus, CRM practices such as addition of 100 % straw either alone or with GM and straw burning influenced the yield components (tillers, panicles and spikelets) positively and thereby increased rice grain yields.
Thoracic ventral dural defect: Idiopathic spinal cord herniation
Authors: Morley S , Naidoo P , Robertson A , Chong W 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThoracic ventral dural defect, and resultant idiopathic spinal cord herniation, is a rare but increasingly recognized cause of a chronic progressive thoracic myelopathy, particularly in middle‐aged women. A neurosurgically confirmed case is presented, together with a review of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, imaging features, treatment options and progress of this entity post‐treatment.
Intussusception of the small bowel discovered incidentally by computed tomography
Authors: Jain P , Heap SW 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThree cases of asymptomatic intussusception in adults are reported, discovered incidentally during a CT scan of the abdomen. It is being increasingly observed in adults, possibly aided by the reformatting capabilities of the new multislice CT scanners. It has been documented in children where it is considered to be transient and of no clinical significance.
Spiral computed tomography–intravenous cholangiography with three‐dimensional reconstructions for imaging the biliary tree
Authors: Alibrahim E , Gibson RN , Vincent J , Speer T , Collier N , Jardine C 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThis study aimed to assess the ability of CT–i.v. cholangiography to show the perihilar biliary and cystic duct anatomy and to assess the relative performance of axial, maximum intensity projection and surface rendered displays. We also assessed the correlation between serum bilirubin levels and adequacy of biliary opacification. Spiral CT was carried out following infusion of 100 mL of Biliscopin in 181 patients with suspected biliary disease. The display of biliary anatomy was of high quality, with 91% of patients having good opacification of at least first‐order bile ducts and 84% having good opacification of at least third‐order right and left hepatic ducts. The quality of biliary opacification correlated inversely to serum bilirubin levels, with levels above two to three times the normal value being associated with lower rates of good opacification. Maximum intensity projection and surface rendered reformats aided anatomical interpretation to a similar degree. The relative frequency of types of perihilar branching patterns and cystic duct junctional anatomy correlated closely to those reported from previous anatomical studies.
Accelerated partial breast irradiation using interstitial high dose rate 192iridium brachytherapy: Early Australian experience and review of the literature
Authors: Stevens MJ , Cooper SG , Cross P , Wang Y 
Published: March 2006

SummaryAccelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an evolving new technique of adjuvant irradiation in selected women with early‐stage breast cancer. We developed a pilot programme of APBI in 2000 and report end results in seven patients followed for a mean of 42.7 months (range 29–55 months). Good to excellent cosmesis and no loco‐regional relapse or systemic metastases have occurred. The literature related to APBI is reviewed.
Differential support of lake food webs by three types of terrestrial organic carbon
Authors: Cole Jonathan J. , Carpenter Stephen R. , Pace Michael L. , Van de Bogert Matthew C. , Kitchell James L. , Hodgson James R. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractOrganic carbon inputs from outside of ecosystem boundaries potentially subsidize recipient food webs. Four whole‐lake additions of dissolved inorganic 13C were made to reveal the pathways of subsidies to lakes from terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (t‐DOC), terrestrial particulate organic carbon (t‐POC) and terrestrial prey items. Terrestrial DOC, the largest input, was a major subsidy of pelagic bacterial respiration, but little of this bacterial C was passed up the food web. Zooplankton received <2% of their C from the t‐DOC to bacteria pathway. Terrestrial POC significantly subsidized the production of both zooplankton and benthic invertebrates, and was passed up the food web to Chaoborus and fishes. This route supplied 33–73% of carbon flow to zooplankton and 20–50% to fishes in non‐fertilized lakes. Terrestrial prey, by far the smallest input, provided some fishes with >20% of their carbon. The results show that impacts of cross‐ecosystem subsidies depend on characteristics of the imported material, the route of entry into the food web, the types of consumers present, and the productivity of the recipient system.
Variable interaction strengths stabilize marine community pattern
Authors: Navarrete Sergio A. , Berlow Eric L. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractHigh variability in the strength of species interactions is usually considered a source of unstable or unpredictable community patterns. However, recent theoretical work suggests that some types of variance in interaction strength may actually promote stability. Here we provide the first empirical evidence that highly variable, context‐dependent species interaction strengths and resilient community patterns can be two sides of the same coin. Field experiments show that a persistent rocky intertidal seascape is remarkably resilient to multiple sources of environmental stochasticity largely because of scale dependent and variable species interaction strengths. Biological interactions exert a stabilizing effect because their intensity varies systematically with changes in both physical sources of mortality of established species, as well as recruitment of new individuals. Strong variation in species interaction strengths with disturbance size and environmental conditions is ubiquitous in nature. Elucidating when this context dependency will be stabilizing is critical to predict community‐level responses to anthropogenic disturbances.
Biotic interactions and plant invasions
Authors: Mitchell Charles E. , Agrawal Anurag A. , Bever James D. , Gilbert Gregory S. , Hufbauer Ruth A. , Klironomos John N. , Maron John L. , Morris William F. , Parker Ingrid M. , Power Alison G. , Seabloom Eric W. , Torchin Mark E. , Vázquez Diego P. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIntroduced plant populations lose interactions with enemies, mutualists and competitors from their native ranges, and gain interactions with new species, under new abiotic conditions. From a biogeographical perspective, differences in the assemblage of interacting species, as well as in abiotic conditions, may explain the demographic success of the introduced plant populations relative to conspecifics in their native range. Within invaded communities, the new interactions and conditions experienced by the invader may influence both its demographic success and its effects on native biodiversity. Here, we examine indirect effects involving enemies, mutualists and competitors of introduced plants, and effects of abiotic conditions on biotic interactions. We then synthesize ideas building on Darwin's idea that the kinds of new interactions gained by an introduced population will depend on its relatedness to native populations. This yields a heuristic framework to explain how biotic interactions and abiotic conditions influence invader success. We conclude that species introductions generally alter plants’ interactions with enemies, mutualists and competitors, and that there is increasing evidence that these altered interactions jointly influence the success of introduced populations.
Severe acidosis in patients taking metformin—rapid reversal and survival despite high APACHE score
Authors: Nyirenda M. J. , Sandeep T. , Grant I. , Price G. , McKnight J. A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground  Metformin has been shown to reduce complications and mortality from Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is increasingly used to treat this condition. This agent is, however, associated with a rare but serious risk of lactic acidosis.Case report  We present cases of 10 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who developed acute renal failure and severe lactic acidosis. Despite the severity of their illness, all patients but one survived.Conclusions  The increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and its treatment with metformin might result in more cases of lactic acidosis. However our case report demonstrates that early and aggressive treatment with haemofiltration can improve outcomes even in the presence of severe acidosis.Diabet. Med. 23, 432–435 (2006)
The impact of second‐level specialized care on hospitalization in persons with diabetes: a multilevel population‐based study
Authors: Giorda C. , Petrelli A. , Gnavi R. ,   the Regional Board for Diabetes Care of Piemonte
Published: March 2006

AbstractAims  We evaluated whether differences in the use of specialized care have an impact on rates of hospitalization for diabetes.Methods  In 2001 we determined the number of hours of second‐level diabetes care provided by local health units (LHU) of the Piemonte Region (Italy) and created an indicator of the mean weekly number of hours of care per 1000 residents for each LHU. From the database of the Piemonte Hospital Information System, we extracted all hospitalizations for 20–75‐year‐old residents with a main discharge diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (n = 3457). For each LHU, we calculated the hospitalization rate, the percentage of unplanned hospital admissions, the mean length of hospital stay, the percentage of day‐hospital admissions and the percentage of re‐admissions for diabetes‐related complications within 6 months. The association between the indicators of specialized care and of hospital care was studied using two‐level generalized hierarchical linear regression models (level 1: patient; level 2: LHU), taking into account the clustered nature of the data. Age, educational level and an indicator of disease severity were used as adjustment parameters.Results  In the tertile of LHUs that provided the greatest number of hours of diabetes care, we observed, compared with the lowest tertile fewer unplanned hospital admissions [odds ratio (OR) 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20–0.67], greater day‐hospital use (OR 1.99; 0.72–5.49) and a lower mean duration of hospital stay (coefficient −0.26; 95% CI −0.45 to −0.06), independently of the socio‐economic level, which was a separate risk factor.Conclusions  The intensity of specialized diabetes care greatly influences the characteristics of hospitalization.Diabet. Med. 23, 377–383 (2006)
Diabetes with partial lipodystrophy following sclerodermatous chronic graft vs. host disease
Authors: Rooney D. P. , Ryan M. F. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBackground  The importance of adipose tissue in metabolism, as a target for insulin action and a secretor of metabolic regulatory proteins, is increasingly recognized. Lipodystrophic conditions are often associated with significant insulin resistance. The commonest acquired form occurs with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Other medical conditions and drugs also have the potential to cause chronic subcutaneous fat damage.Case report  We describe an unfamiliar partial lipodystrophy in a young woman, associated with markedly insulin‐resistant diabetes, acquired following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for childhood leukaemia complicated by late sclerodermatous chronic graft vs. host disease (GVHD). Clinical examination revealed scarring and lipodystrophy affecting mainly legs, thighs, buttocks and forearms but sparing her face, neck and thorax. Her serum adiponectin level was markedly reduced.Conclusions  However, although thiazolidinediones lower insulin resistance and increase subcutaneous peripheral fat in Type 2 diabetes, pioglitazone treatment had little effect on either serum adiponectin, glycaemic control or the lipoatrophy. In this case, effective glycaemic control was best achieved using a combination of metformin and highly concentrated soluble insulin injections.Diabet. Med. 23, 436–440 (2006)
Towards male sterility in Pinus radiata– a stilbene synthase approach to genetically engineer nuclear male sterility
Authors: Höfig Kai P. , Möller Ralf , Donaldson Lloyd , Putterill Joanna , Walter Christian 
Published: March 2006

SummaryA male cone‐specific promoter from Pinus radiata D. Don (radiata pine) was used to express a stilbene synthase gene (STS) in anthers of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum plants, resulting in complete male sterility in 70% of transformed plants. Three plants were 98%−99.9% male sterile, as evidenced by pollen germination. To identify the stage at which transgenic pollen first developed abnormally, tobacco anthers from six different developmental stages were assayed microscopically. Following the release of pollen grains from tetrads, transgenic pollen displayed an increasingly flake‐like structure, which gradually rounded up during the maturation process. We further investigated whether STS expression may have resulted in an impaired flavonol or sporopollenin formation. A specific flavonol aglycone stain was used to demonstrate that significant amounts of these substances were produced only in late stages of normal pollen development, therefore excluding a diminished flavonol aglycone production as a reason for pollen ablation. A detailed analysis of the exine layer by transmission electron microscopy revealed minor structural changes in the exine layer of ablated pollen, and pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy indicated that the biochemistry of sporopollenin production was unaffected. The promoter–STS construct may be useful for the ablation of pollen formation in coniferous gymnosperms and male sterility may potentially be viewed as a prerequisite for the commercial use of transgenic conifers.
A REVISIT OF INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET LINKAGES: NEW EVIDENCE FROM RANK TESTS FOR NONLINEAR COINTEGRATION
Authors: Li Xiao‐Ming 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTBased on a theory proposed for the possible link between financial market integration and nonlinear cointegration, this study reinvestigates international stock market linkages by performing both conventional linear cointegration tests and newly developed rank tests for nonlinear cointegration. The stock price indexes of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States are used, with daily data spanning from 29 May 1992 to 10 April 2001. Much more evidence of market integration emerges from nonlinear than linear cointegration analysis, suggesting that comovements among various national stock markets may well take nonlinear forms. Our findings challenge the conclusion of market segmentation reached in some previous studies that only conducted linear cointegration analysis.
A REGIONAL MODEL OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN THE UKCS
Authors: Kemp Alexander , Kasim Sola 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTExisting exploration–discovery models are generally characterised by equations describing the behaviour of exploration, success rates, and discoveries. The present paper adds two equations describing the behaviour of finding costs and exploration efficiency. The model was disaggregated along regional lines. Applying the model to UK Continental Shelf data over the period 1964–2002 produced results that supported the new approach. Analysis of the model dynamics and simulation forecast reveals similarities, but also important differences in the responsiveness of activity in the regions to policy multipliers, implying that uniform policy instruments will produce unequal responses in areas with different levels of maturity.
A MODEL OF AN OPPORTUNISTIC‐PARTISAN POLITICAL BUSINESS CYCLE
Authors: Sieg Gernot 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTAccording to political business cycle theory, separate opportunistic and partisan approaches exist. It is obvious, as seen from theoretical and empirical points of view, that politicians aim for both opportunistic as well as partisan goals. This paper presents a model of a pre‐election political business cycle that manifests an indication of competence and a post‐election political business cycle that occurs because of the uncertainty of an election's winner monetary policy. In the pre‐election period competent governments expand the economy. The post‐election cycle depends on whether a leftist or a conservative government is in power in the pre‐election period, and if they are re‐elected or not.
Influence of fault map resolution on pore pressure distribution and secondary hydrocarbon migration; Tune area, North Sea
Authors: LOTHE A. E. , SYLTA Ø. , LAUVRAK O. , SPERREVIK S. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractPressure and hydrocarbon migration modelling was carried out in the Tune Field area, Viking Graben, offshore Norway. The pressures are considered to be controlled by compartments bounded by mapped faults. Two different interpreted fault maps at the top reservoir level (Brent Group) are used as input to the modelling. First, a low‐resolution fault map is used, with only the large faults interpreted, and next, both large and small faults are included. The simulations show high overpressures generated in the western area, in the deeper part of the Viking Graben, and hydrostatic in the eastern areas. A sharp transition zone results from using the low‐resolution fault map in the simulations. Small N–S striking faults situated in between the wells have to have higher sealing capacity than expected from juxtaposition analysis alone, to be able to match the overpressures measured in well 30/5‐2 and 30/8‐1S in the Tune Field, and well 30/8‐3 east of Tune. The intermediate pressure in the western part is probably related to flow in the deeper parts of the sedimentary column in the compartment, where well 30/8‐3 is situated. The secondary oil migration models show that overpressures have major effects on the migration pathways of hydrocarbons. The level of detail in the fault interpretation is important for simulation results, both for pressure distribution and for hydrocarbon migration.
Can intrinsic factors explain population declines in North American breeding shorebirds? A comparative analysis
Authors: Thomas G. H. , Lanctot R. B. , Székely T. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractMany shorebirds that breed in North America are declining. These trends reflect global patterns in shorebird populations. Here we ask what factors make some shorebird species more prone to decline than others. Specifically, we test the influence of migratory behaviour (route and distance), biogeography (population size and range), life history (body size, clutch size) and sexual selection (social mating system and testis size) on population trends in North American breeding shorebirds. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we show that species that migrate across continental North America are more prone to decline than species that do not. Our finding that continental migrants are associated with population decline indicates that intrinsic factors may play an important role in predisposing a species to decline. Previous studies within the class Aves have failed to identify migration route as a correlate of decline or extinction risk. Two other intrinsic factors (oceanic migrants and threats on the non‐breeding grounds) were also important in our overall models, although neither was significant alone. The moderate explanatory power of our variables indicates that other factors are also important for explaining shorebird declines. We suggest that contemporary threats, most notably habitat loss and degradation at migratory stopover sites, are likely to be important.