bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measure for Measure: The Relation between Forecast Accuracy and Recommendation Profitability of Analysts
Authors: ERTIMUR YONCA , SUNDER JAYANTHI , SUNDER SHYAM V. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTWe examine the contemporaneous relation between earnings forecast accuracy and recommendation profitability to assess the effectiveness with which analysts translate forecasts into profitable recommendations. We find that, after controlling for expertise, more accurate analysts make more profitable recommendations, albeit only for firms with value‐relevant earnings. Next, we show that conflicts of interest from investment banking activities affect the relation between accuracy and profitability. In the case of buy recommendations, more accurate forecasts are associated with more profitable recommendations only for the nonconflicted analysts. For hold recommendations, higher levels of accuracy are associated with higher levels of profitability for conflicted analysts, provided these recommendations are treated as sells. Finally, we find that regulatory reforms aimed at mitigating analyst conflicts of interest appear to have improved the relation between accuracy and profitability. Specifically, the integrity of buy and hold recommendations has improved and the change is more pronounced for analysts expected to be most conflicted.
A biomechanical assessment of the relation between the oral implant stability at insertion and subjective bone quality assessment
Authors: Alsaadi Ghada , Quirynen Marc , Michiels Katleen , Jacobs Reinhilde , Van Steenberghe Daniel 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAim: The study was set to evaluate the validity of subjective jaw bone quality assessment.Materials and Methods: A total of 298 patients (198 females, mean age 56.4) were treated with oral implants at the Periodontology Department at the University Hospital of KUL. A total of 761 TiUnite™ implants have been installed. Subjective bone quality assessment was performed on radiographs and by the surgeon's tactile sensation and was compared with torque measurements. In a subset of patients, implant stability was also assessed by implant stability quotient and/or periotest values.Results: Subjective assessment of bone quality was related to the PTV, ISQ and placement torque [in the crestal, the second and the apical third (N cm)], respectively; in grade 1: −5.3, 73.3 (4.2, 9.6, 15.2), and grade 3 or 4: −1.6, 55 (3.3, 5.5, 8.4). For the surgeon's tactile sensation, a good correlation was noted for the presence of a thick cortex: −4.6, 70.3 (4.2, 9.7, 15.1), or a thin one: −0.3, 65.9 (3.6, 6.9, 10.1). For dense trabecular bone, the values were −2.8, 69.4 (4.4, 9.7,14.8), while for poor trabecular bone, the values were−1.7, 66.4 (3.6, 6.4, 9.8).Conclusions: Subjective assessment of bone quality is related to PTV, ISQ and placement torque measurements at implant insertion.
Java project on periodontal diseases: the relationship between vitamin C and the severity of periodontitis
Authors: Amaliya  , Timmerman M. F. , Abbas F. , Loos B. G. , Van der Weijden G. A. , Van Winkelhoff A. J. , Winkel E. G. , Van der Velden U. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjective: To study the relationship between vitamin C and the severity of periodontitis.Material and Methods: The study population consisted of subjects from the Malabar/Purbasari tea estate on West Java, Indonesia. In 2002, clinical measurements were performed in 128 subjects, including evaluation of plaque, bleeding on probing, pocket depth and attachment loss. In 2005, 123 out of 128 subjects could be retrieved who were present at the examination of 2002. Blood samples were taken to measure plasma vitamin C levels. Information about the subject's dietary habit was obtained by means of a personal interview guided by a questionnaire.Results: Plasma levels of vitamin C ranged from 0.02 to 34.45 mg/l with a mean of 7.90 mg/l (±5.35). The correlation coefficient between plasma vitamin C level and periodontal attachment loss was −0.199 (p<0.05); stepwise linear regression revealed that vitamin C levels explained 3.9% of the variance in periodontal attachment loss. Subjects with vitamin C deficiency (14.7% of the study population) had more attachment loss compared with those with depletion or normal plasma vitamin C values.Conclusion: The negative association between plasma vitamin C levels and periodontal attachment loss suggests that vitamin C deficiency may contribute to the severity of periodontal breakdown.
Clinical effects after subgingival polishing with a non‐aggressive ultrasonic device in initial therapy
Authors: Kahl Maren , Haase Eike , Kocher Thomas , Rühling Andreas 
Published: March 2007

Abstract:Objectives: The Vector® ultrasonic system provides root debridement supported by different abrasive irrigation fluids. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcome of initial therapy with subgingival low‐abrasive debridement.Material and Methods: Twenty patients, who had at least two teeth with pocket depths >5 mm in each quadrant, took part in this prospective randomized clinical study. Patients were treated in a split‐mouth design as one test quadrant (1) subgingivally with Vector™ fluid polish (VU‐H) and as three control quadrants, (2) with only supragingival polishing (PO‐H), (3) with hand instruments (HI‐H) performed by a hygienist and (4) with hand instruments (HI‐D) performed by a dentist. At baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment, pocket depths and attachment levels (ALs) were measured and bleeding on probing (BOP) was recorded.Results: At 6‐month evaluation, all groups showed an improvement in clinical parameters. No statistically significant differences in any of the investigated parameters could be observed between the Vector group and the hand scaling groups, or when comparing the results of the two different operators.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Vector™ treatment with polishing fluid was able to reduce pocket depths and the prevalence of BOP and improve clinical AL in a similar way as scaling with curettes.
Effect of Val92Met and Arg163Gln variants of the MC1R gene on freckles and solar lentigines in Japanese
Authors: Motokawa Tomonori , Kato Tomomi , Hashimoto Yuki , Katagiri Takayuki 
Published: March 2007

SummaryMelanocortin‐1 receptor (MC1R) is a highly polymorphic gene. The variety of the variants is dependent on the ethnic background of the individual. In Caucasians, specific variants, such as Arg151Cys, Arg160Trp, and Asp294His, are strongly associated with red hair, skin cancer and pigmented lesions. In Asians, there is no report so far indicating an association such as that observed in Caucasians. Here, we performed an association study on melanogenic phenotypes in 245 Japanese individuals. We focused on freckles and solar lentigines as melanogenic phenotypes. The 92Met allele and the 163Arg allele were positively associated with freckles and severe solar lentigines; the 163Gln allele showed a negative association. Those subjects who were homozygous for both the 92Met and 163Arg alleles had a highly elevated risk of developing freckles (OR: 7.92; 95% CI: 1.52–39.6) and severe solar lentigines (OR: 4.08; 95% CI: 1.34–13.1). Our study is the first report to show a clear association of MC1R variants on melanogenic phenotypes in Asians and also indicates the importance of Arg163Gln. In vitro studies by other groups demonstrated that Val92Met impaired MC1R function but Arg163Gln did not. Based on these in vitro studies, we believe that the result we observed for Val92Met could be attributed to impaired MC1R function, while, for Arg163Gln, other factors, e.g. effect of other loci, need to be considered.
Zebrafish as a new model for phenotype‐based screening of melanogenic regulatory compounds
Authors: Choi Tae‐Young , Kim Jin‐Hwa , Ko Dong Han , Kim Cheol‐Hee , Hwang Jae‐Sung , Ahn Soomi , Kim Sun Yeou , Kim Chang‐Deok , Lee Jeung‐Hoon , Yoon Tae‐Jin 
Published: March 2007

SummaryAlthough many hypo‐pigmenting agents are currently available, the demand for novel whitening agents is increasing, in part due to the weak effectiveness and unwanted side effects of currently available compounds. To screen for novel hypo‐pigmenting agents, many methodologies such as cell culture and enzymatic assays are routinely used. However, these models have disadvantages in terms of physiological and economic relevance. In this study, we validated zebrafish as a whole‐animal model for phenotype‐based screening of melanogenic inhibitors or stimulators. We used both the well‐known melanogenic inhibitors (1‐phenyl‐2‐thiourea, arbutin, kojic acid, 2‐mercaptobenzothiazole) and newly developed small molecule compounds (haginin, YT16i). All the tested compounds produced inhibitory effects on the pigmentation of zebrafish, most likely due to their inhibitory potential on tyrosinase activity. In simultaneous in vivo toxicity tests, a newly developed melanogenic inhibitor YT16i showed massive abnormalities in terms of deformed morphologies and cardiac function. Together, these results provide a rationale in screening and evaluating the putative melanogenic regulatory compounds. We suggest that the zebrafish system is a novel alternative to mammalian models, with several advantages including the rapidity, cost‐effectiveness, and physiological relevance.
No association of SUMO4 M55V with autoimmune diabetes in Asian‐Indian patients
Authors: Sedimbi S. K. , Kanungo A. , Shastry A. , Park Y. , Sanjeevi C. B. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryAutoimmune diabetes [type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and part of malnutrition‐related diabetes] has been shown to have genetic predisposition. Studies in IDDM 5 have lead to the discovery of a novel polymorphism 163 A→G, of SUMO4 (small ubiquitin‐related modifier) gene, associated with risk to T1DM in Asians, but not in Caucasians. We studied patients with T1DM (n = 134), patients with LADA (n = 101), patients with malnutrition‐modulated diabetes mellitus (n = 66) and patients with fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes (n = 43) and healthy controls subjects (n = 114) from Cuttack, India. Polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific primer (PCR‐SSP) was used to amplify the 163 A→G sequences. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was performed using restriction enzyme Taq I (PCR‐RFLP). Differences in the allelic frequencies of the A and the G alleles were tested statistically using Fisher's exact test or chi‐squared test wherever appropriate. P‐values were considered significant when equal to or less than 0.05. No significant association was detected between SUMO4 M55V and T1DM susceptibility in Asian‐Indians. Comparison of the A and G alleles with HLA DR3‐DR4 did not result in any significant P‐values. No significant association was found between SUMO4 M55V and LADA or malnutrition‐related diabetes mellitus (MRDM). Our results show that Asian‐Indians with T1DM are different from other Asian populations. Asian‐Indians show more similarity to Caucasians with respect to the association of SUMO4 M55V variant in T1DM. Association studies on Asian‐Indian patients with LADA and MRDM showed no significant difference in the presence of the A and the G alleles when compared to healthy controls.
Polymorphism of HLA class I genes in Meizhou Han population of Guangdong, China
Authors: Chen S. , Li W. , Hu Q. , Liu Z. , Xu Y. , Xu A. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryHuman leukocyte antigen (HLA) is an invaluable marker for anthropological studies because of its extreme polymorphism. Most of the studies carried out in Chinese populations are about HLA class II genes, but few about class I genes. In the present study, we investigated HLA class I polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction‐sequencing‐based typing (PCR‐SBT) method in 104 unrelated Han individuals in Meizhou of Guangdong, southern China. Twenty‐three HLA‐A, 43 HLA‐B and 27 HLA‐C alleles were identified and allele frequencies and two‐locus (C/B) and three‐locus (A/C/B) haplotypes were statistically analysed. The most frequent HLA‐A allele is A*110101 with a frequency of 30.3%, followed by A*24020101 (22.2%) and A*2420 (11.6%). Among the 43 detected HLA‐B alleles, B*5801 (17.0%), B*400101 (15.5%) and B*4601 (10.0%) were frequently observed. Among the 27 detected C alleles, the most predominant one is Cw*07020101 (25.8%), followed by Cw*0717 (14.7%). The most frequent HLA‐C/B two‐locus haplotype is Cw*07020101/B*400101 (10.1%). The most common HLA‐A/C/B three‐locus haplotype in Meizhou Han is A*110101/Cw*07020101/B*400101 (3.4%). Phylogenetic tree based on HLA class I allele frequencies genetically suggested that Meizhou Han has an affinity to southern Asian populations. The result may also reflect an admixture of Han and ethnic minorities of southern China.
COX‐2 promoter region polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis: lack of association of −765G>C with disease risk
Authors: Mazzola S. , Lira M. Gomez , Benedetti M. D. , Salviati A. , Ottaviani S. , Malerba G. , Ortombina M. , Pignatti P. F. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryCyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) is extensively expressed in multiple sclerosis lesions suggesting that regulatory variants of the COX‐2 gene could be implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS). Screening of the proximal 5′ regulatory region and genotyping of −765G>C and −62C>G showed that polymorphisms in this COX‐2 region are unlikely to be involved in MS susceptibility.
North–south asymmetry in solar activity: predicting the amplitude of the next solar cycle
Authors: Javaraiah J. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Using Greenwich and Solar Optical Observing Network sunspot group data obtained during the period 1874–2005, we find that the sums of the areas of the sunspot groups in the 0°–10° latitude-interval of the Sun's northern hemisphere and in the time-interval of −1.35 yr to +2.15 yr from the time of the preceding minimum – and in the same latitude interval of the southern hemisphere but +1.0 yr to +1.75 yr from the time of the maximum – of a sunspot cycle correlate well with the amplitude (maximum of the smoothed monthly sunspot number) of its immediate following cycle. Using this relationship it is possible to predict the amplitude of a sunspot cycle about 9–13 yr in advance. We predicted 74 ± 10 for the amplitude of the upcoming cycle 24. Variations in solar meridional flows during solar cycles and 9–16 yr variations in solar equatorial rotations may be responsible for the aforementioned relationship, which seems to be related to the 22-yr solar magnetic cycle.
Occam's razor meets WMAP
Authors: Magueijo João , Sorkin Rafael D. 
Published: March 2007

Abstract
Using a variety of quantitative implementations of Occam's razor we examine the low quadrupole, the ‘axis of evil’ effect and other detections recently made appealing to the excellent Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data. We find that some razors fully demolish the much lauded claims for departures from scale-invariance. They all reduce to pathetic levels the evidence for a low quadrupole (or any other low ℓ cut-off), both in the first and third year WMAP releases. The ‘axis of evil’ effect is the only anomaly examined here that survives the humiliations of Occam's razor, and even then in the category of ‘strong’ rather than ‘decisive’ evidence. Statistical considerations aside, differences between the various renditions of the data sets remain worrying.
Cell surface adhesion molecules and cytokine profiles in primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Ukkonen Maritta , Wu Xingchen , Reipert Birgit , Dastidar Prasun , Elovaara Irina 
Published: March 2007

Objective We evaluated the utility of adhesion molecule (AM) and cytokine/chemokine expressions in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as markers of disease activity in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Methods The expressions of AMs and the levels of 17 cytokines in patients with PPMS (n = 25) were compared with those in secondary progressive MS (SPMS) (n = 18) and controls (n =11) and correlated with the volumes of focal and atrophic changes on MRI. Results The expressions of very late activation antigen 4 (VLA-4), lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in blood and CSF were higher in PPMS than in controls. Comparison between PPMS and SPMS showed higher levels of ICAM-1 in blood and CSF in PPMS, while the level of the vascular adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) was higher only in blood. There was no difference in the levels of cytokines in serum or CSF between PPMS and SPMS or controls, but evidence suggesting intrathecal synthesis of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was found in PPMS. The expressions of CSF VLA-4 in PPMS correlated with the total volume of cerebral lesions and the number of diffuse brain lesions in MRI, while the amount of LFA-1 in CSF correlated with the number of spinal T2 lesions. The level of serum MIP-1β correlated with the T2 lesion load and EDSS score in PPMS. Conclusions The upregulated expressions of AMs in blood and CSF and evidence for intrathecal synthesis of MCP-1 and IL-8 in PPMS indicate the importance of inflammatory changes in the pathogenesis of PPMS. Multiple Sclerosis 2007; 13: 701-707. http://msj.sagepub.com
Randomized Controlled Trial of Annual Zoledronic Acid to Prevent Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist–Induced Bone Loss in Men With Prostate Cancer
Authors: Michaelson M. Dror , Kaufman Donald S. , Lee Hang , McGovern Francis J. , Kantoff Philip W. , Fallon Mary Anne , Finkelstein Joel S. , Smith Matthew R. 
Published: March 2007

Purpose Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists decrease bone mineral density (BMD) and increase fracture risk in men with prostate cancer. Annual zoledronic acid increases BMD in postmenopausal women, but its efficacy in hypogonadal men is not known. Patients and Methods In a 12-month study, 40 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer who were receiving a GnRH agonist and had T scores more than −2.5 were randomly assigned to zoledronic acid (4 mg intravenously on day 1 only) or placebo. BMD of the posteroanterior lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results Mean (± SE) BMD of the posteroanterior lumbar spine decreased by 3.1% ± 1.0% in men assigned to placebo and increased by 4.0% ± 1.0% in men assigned to zoledronic acid (P < .001). BMD of the total hip decreased by 1.9% ± 0.7% in men assigned to placebo and increased by 0.7% ± 0.5% in men assigned to zoledronic acid (P = .004). Similar between-group differences were observed for the femoral neck and trochanter. Serum N-telopeptide, a marker of osteoclast activity, decreased significantly after zoledronic acid treatment. Conclusion In men receiving a GnRH agonist, a single treatment with zoledronic acid significantly increased BMD and durably suppressed serum N-telopeptide levels for 12 months. Annual zoledronic acid may be a convenient and effective strategy to prevent bone loss in hypogonadal men.
Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Is Associated With Improved Survival in Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
Authors: Mojica Pablo , Smith David , Ellenhorn Joshua D.I. 
Published: March 2007

Purpose Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous malignancy. Because of the absence of randomized studies, the real benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy in MCC is unclear. The aim of this study was to better define the role of adjuvant radiation therapy in the management of MCC. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) survey from the National Cancer Institute was queried from 1973 through 2002. Retrospective analysis was performed. The end point of the study was overall survival. Results There were 1,665 cases of MCC in the SEER registry. Presentation by stage were 55% stage I, 31% stage II, and 6% stage III. Eight percent of the cases could not be staged because of incomplete data. Surgical intervention was a component of therapy in 89% of the cases (n = 1,487). The median survival for the entire cohort was 49 months, and median follow-up was 40 months. Adjuvant radiation was a component of therapy in 40% of the surgical cases. The median survival for those patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy was 63 months compared with 45 months for those treated without adjuvant radiation. The use of radiation was associated with an improved survival for patients with all sizes of tumors, but the improvement with radiation use was particularly prominent when analyzing those patients with primary lesions larger than 2 cm. Conclusion The use of adjuvant radiation therapy is associated with improved survival in patients with MCC. Prospective evaluation of adjuvant radiation therapy in this setting is warranted.
Identification of High-Risk Patients Among Those Diagnosed With Thin Cutaneous Melanomas
Authors: Gimotty Phyllis A. , Elder David E. , Fraker Douglas L. , Botbyl Jeffrey , Sellers Kimberly , Elenitsas Rosalie , Ming Michael E. , Schuchter Lynn , Spitz Francis R. , Czerniecki Brian J. , Guerry DuPont 
Published: March 2007

Purpose Most patients with melanoma have microscopically thin (≤ 1 mm) primary lesions and are cured with excision. However, some develop metastatic disease that is often fatal. We evaluated established prognostic factors to develop classification schemes with better discrimination than current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging. Patients and Methods We studied patients with thin melanomas from the US population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry (1988 to 2001; n = 26,291) and those seen by the University of Pennsylvania's Pigmented Lesion Group (PLG; 1972 to 2001; n = 2,389; Philadelphia, PA). AJCC prognostic factors were thickness, anatomic level, ulceration, site, sex, and age; PLG prognostic factors also included a set of biologically based candidate prognostic factors. Recursive partitioning was used to develop a SEER-based classification tree that was validated using PLG data. Next, a new PLG-based classification tree was developed using the expanded set of prognostic factors. Results The SEER-based classification tree identified additional criteria to explain survival heterogeneity among patients with thin, nonulcerated lesions; 10-year survival rates ranged from 89.1% to 99%. The new PLG-based tree identified groups using level, tumor cell mitotic rate, and sex. With survival rates from 83.4% to 100%, it had better discrimination. Conclusion Prognostication and related clinical decision making in the majority of patients with melanoma can be improved now using the validated, SEER-based classification. Tumor cell mitotic rate should be incorporated into the next iteration of AJCC staging.