bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A discrepancy of Chlamydia trachomatis incidence and prevalence trends in Finland 1983–2003
Authors: Lyytikäinen Erika , Kaasila Marjo , Hiltunen-Back Eija , Lehtinen Matti , Tasanen Kaisa , Surcel Heljä-Marja , Koskela Pentti , Paavonen Jorma 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Background
Reported rates of Chlamydia trachomatis are on the rise contradicting the declining rates of C. trachomatis associated reproductive sequelae in Western countries. Population based evaluation of the real trend of C. trachomatis infection is important to contemplate prevention efforts. We studied C. trachomatis occurrence during the past 20 years in Finland comparing incidence rate data based on serology and reported C. trachomatis laboratory notifications.

Methods
A random sample of 7999 women with two consecutive pregnancies within five years was selected from the population of the Finnish Maternity Cohort (FMC) serum bank stratified by calendar year and age. C. trachomatis IgG antibodies were determined by a standard peptide-ELISA. The reported incidence rates of C. trachomatis infections based on case notifications were obtained from the National Registry of Infectious Diseases (NIDR).

Results

C. trachomatis seroprevalence rates decreased significantly from 1983 to 2003 both in women under 23 years of age (23.3% to 9.2%) and in women between 23–28-years of age (22.2% to 12.6%). However, seroconversion rates increased from 31 per 10000 person years in 1983–85 to 97 per 10000 person years in 2001–2003 (incidence rate ratio 3.2, 95% CI, 1.1–8.7) among the older age group. Seroconversion rate was highest (264) in 1983–1985 in the younger age-group, then declined and subsequently increased again (188) in 2001–2003. The incidence based on seroconversions was in agreement with the reported incidence rates in both age groups.

Conclusion

C. trachomatis seroprevalence rate decreased during 1983–2003 among fertile-aged women in Finland. During the same time period incidence rates based both on seroconversions and reported laboratory notifications of diagnosed C. trachomatis infections increased. The discrepancy between the C. trachomatis incidence and seroprevalence trends warrants further studies.
Gemcitabine combined with oxaliplatin in pretreated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: an observational study
Authors: Xanthopoulos Athanasios , Bauer Torsten T , Blum Torsten G , Kollmeier Jens , Schönfeld Nicolas , Serke Monika 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin ± gemcitabine in patients with diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) pretreated with pemetrexed.

Methods
The study enrolled consecutive patients with relapsed MPM, all of them pretreated with a platin-pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. Oxaliplatin 80 mg/m2 was administered as monotherapy or in combination with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 given on day 1 and 8. Cycles were repeated every 21 days. The primary endpoints were response rate and disease control rate. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), time to tumour progression (TTP), progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF), and toxicity.

Results
Between February 2005 and September 2007 29 patients (median age: 65.0 years, World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status: 0–3) were enrolled. The follow-up period encompassed 5.4 to 97.4 weeks (median: 24.3 weeks). Out of these 29 patients, 15 were treated in second, 10 in third, 3 in fourth and 1 in fifth line, respectively. The majority of the patients received the combination oxaliplatin and gemcitabine (n = 25 vs. 4; 86.2 vs. 13.8%).
The median overall survival (OS) was 71.7 weeks (30.6–243.3 weeks), whereas survival from the start of oxaliplatin/gemcitabine-treatment was 24.3 weeks (5.4–97.3 weeks). Median time to tumour progression (TTP) was 9.3 weeks (3.0–67.6 weeks).
Partial response (PR) was observed in 2 patients (6.9%), stable disease (SD) for at least three courses of treatment in 11 patients (37.9%). Thus, disease control rate was 44.8%, whereas 16 of 29 patients exhibited progressive disease (55.2%).
The toxicity profile was favourable, with no WHO grade 4-toxicities, only few dose-reductions were performed due to non-symptomatic haematotoxicities (neutropenia, thrombopenia). Mild WHO grade 2 neurotoxicity was seen in 6 patients.

Conclusion
Pemetrexed-pretreated patients with progressive MPM may benefit from a consecutive chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and gemcitabine without significant toxicity.
The influence of genetic variation in 30 selected genes on the clinical characteristics of early onset breast cancer
Authors: Tapper William , Hammond Victoria , Gerty Sue , Ennis Sarah , Simmonds Peter , Collins Andrew ,   the Prospective study of Outcomes in Sporadic versus Hereditary breast cancer (POSH) Steering Group, Eccles Diana 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Introduction
Common variants that alter breast cancer risk are being discovered. Here, we determine how these variants influence breast cancer prognosis, risk and tumour characteristics.

Methods
We selected 1,001 women with early onset nonfamilial invasive breast cancer from the Prospective study of Outcomes in Sporadic versus Hereditary breast cancer (POSH) cohort and genotyped 206 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 30 candidate genes. After quality control, 899 cases and 133 SNPs remained. Survival analyses were used to identify SNPs associated with prognosis and determine their interdependency with recognized prognostic factors. To identify SNPs that alter breast cancer risk, association tests were used to compare cases with controls from the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. To search for SNPs affecting tumour biology, cases were stratified into subgroups according to oestrogen receptor (ER) status and grade and tested for association.

Results
We confirmed previous associations between increased breast cancer risk and SNPs in CASP8, TOX3 (previously known as TNRC9) and ESR1. Analysis of prognosis identified eight SNPs in six genes (MAP3K1, DAPK1, LSP1, MMP7, TOX3 and ESR1) and one region without genes on 8q24 that are associated with survival. For MMP7, TOX3 and MAP3K1 the effects on survival are independent of the main recognized clinical prognostic factors. The SNP in 8q24 is more weakly associated with independent effects on survival. Once grade and pathological nodal status (pN stage) were taken into account, SNPs in ESR1 and LSP1 showed no independent survival difference, whereas the effects of the DAPK1 SNP were removed when correcting for ER status. Interestingly, effects on survival for SNPs in ESR1 were most significant when only ER-positive tumours were examined. Stratifying POSH cases by tumour characteristics identified SNPs in FGFR2 and TOX3 associated with ER-positive disease and SNPs in ATM associated with ER-negative disease.

Conclusions
We have demonstrated that several SNPs are associated with survival. In some cases this appears to be due to an effect on tumour characteristics known to have a bearing on prognosis; in other cases the effect appears to be independent of these prognostic factors. These findings require validatation by further studies in similar patient groups.
Core promoters are predicted by their distinct physicochemical properties in the genome of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Brick Kevin , Watanabe Junichi , Pizzi Elisabetta 
Published: December 2008

AbstractLittle is known about the structure and distinguishing features of core promoters in Plasmodium falciparum. In this work, we describe the first method to computationally identify core promoters in this AT-rich genome. This prediction algorithm uses solely DNA physicochemical properties as descriptors. Our results add to a growing body of evidence that a physicochemical code for eukaryotic genomes plays a crucial role in core promoter recognition.
Anti-Candidaactivity of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptides
Authors: Rauch Isabella , Holzmeister Simone , Kofler Barbara 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPreviously, α-MSH, a 13-amino acid neuropeptide and the tripeptide α-MSH have been shown to possess potent antimicrobial properties. We performed microplate based growth inhibition assays on C. albicans with α-MSH, but could not observe any growth inhibiting effect. Repeating the originally published assay with different C. albicans strains, we detected a mild growth inhibiting effect of 100 μM α-MSH, but again no effect of α-MSH.
Revisiting the simple view of reading
Authors: Kendeou Panayiota , Savage Robert , van den Broek Paul 
Published: December 2008

Background Reading component models such as the Simple View of Reading (SVR; Gough & Tunmer, 1986; Hoover & Gough, 1990) provide a concise framework for describing the processes and skills involved when readers comprehend texts. According to the Independent Review of the Teaching of Early Reading (Rose, 2006) strong evidence for the SVR comes from Factor Analysis of datasets on different measures of reading showing dissociation between decoding skills and comprehension. To the best of our knowledge, only two such published studies exist to date. Of these, only one of is in English and this explores children between the age of 7 and 10 years.Aims To explore the SVR in English‐speaking children aged 4 and 6 using Factor Analysis.Samples 116 4 ‐year‐olds and 116 6 ‐year‐olds in the US; 103 6 ‐year‐olds in Canada.Methods All children were administered a battery of decoding and comprehension related measures.Results Factor Analysis of the diverse measures undertaken independently by two research teams in different countries demonstrated that listening comprehension and decoding measures loaded as distinct factors in both samples of young English‐speaking children.Conclusions The present findings provide important support for the generality and validity of the SVR framework as a model of reading.
The Clinical Utility of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Cardiovascular Disease and the Potential Implication of JUPITER on Current Practice Guidelines
Authors: Mora Samia , Musunuru Kiran , Blumenthal Roger S 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Background: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) testing is relatively inexpensive and has been shown to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes in multiple patient groups, including those treated with statin therapy. JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) is a recently completed large multicenter randomized clinical trial that tested whether statin therapy should be given to apparently healthy individuals with lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations but increased hsCRP concentrations.
Content: This review discusses the literature on hsCRP in asymptomatic populations, analyzes it according to CVD and diabetes, and provides summary recommendations for the use of hsCRP in clinical practice. In this context, we highlight recent data from the landmark JUPITER trial, which demonstrated that hsCRP can be used to target high-risk patients who have typical LDL-C concentrations and no known vascular disease or diabetes and who would benefit from statin use. We also summarize evidence that among patients treated with statin therapy, achieving low hsCRP concentrations may be a clinically relevant therapeutic goal along with achieving very low LDL-C concentrations.
Summary: JUPITER has demonstrated that combining hsCRP testing with traditional testing of lipids can reduce incident CVD in high-risk asymptomatic individuals by 44% and all-cause mortality by approximately 20%, extending the therapeutic use of statins for the primary prevention of CVD. Guidelines for practitioners could include testing asymptomatic individuals for increased concentrations of hsCRP in men ≥50 years and women ≥60 years when LDL-C concentrations are not increased and for whom the decision to treat with statin therapy is not otherwise clear.
Ski Bindings and Lower Leg Injuries, A Case Control Study in Flaine, 2006
Authors: Laporte Jean-Dominique , Binet Marc-Hervé , Fenet Nicolas , Constans Dominique , Joubert Patrick 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
There has been much discussion in recent years regarding appropriate settings for release bindings in Alpine skiing. The authors take into account the fact that current recommended release criteria are based on midshaft tibia bone strength. The hypothesis of this work is to look at a link between binding release values and all lower limb injuries. Additionally, there is a proposal regarding the possibility of reducing injuries to the ligaments in the knee through modification of binding release value standards. Knee injuries including rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament remain a major risk for skiers and for women in particular. In July, 2000, the French standards group, AFNOR, recommended a modification to the ISO 11088 standard for release settings specifically designed to reduce binding release values particularly for women and for individuals with body weight less than 55 kg. The objective of this study is to measure the influence of binding release values on lower leg injuries, in particular for women. A case-control study at Flaine ski resort in 2006 was conducted to determine whether there is proof of causation between ski binding release values and lower leg injuries sustained on the ski slopes. Release torque values were measured for injured (n=129) and control (n=339) groups. The measurements were made for Alpine skiers by using standard measurement devices. Comparisons between recommended release settings based on AFNOR FD S 52-748 compared to actual release levels as a function of fall mechanism speed, type of release, type of ski, and self-reported experience level were analyzed statistically. There is a statistical link between AFNOR standard ski binding release values and injuries of lower limbs. We believe it is important to introduce a gender parameter in ISO binding release value tables to reduce the release values for women.
A New Stomach Sample Collection Device for Fish Gastric Lavage Samples
Authors: Fowler Andy L. , Morris Joseph E. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
We developed a simple, inexpensive, and efficient handling device to collect the regurgitated prey items from fish in the field. To date, an efficient method of collecting stomach contents during the gastric lavage procedure was lacking. This collection device consists of a long wooden trough with a funnel and filtering cup attached to one end. The fish is laid into the trough, the gastric lavage technique is performed, and the water and stomach contents flow into the funnel, where the stomach contents are retained by the filter bottle. Prey items are easily bottled and preserved. Our device improved fish handling during the gastric lavage procedure without the need for anesthetics (e.g., Finquel), thus avoiding the necessity (i.e., U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandate) of retaining fish before returning them to a wild population.
When Eradication is not an Option: Modeling Strategies for Electrofishing Suppression of Nonnative Brook Trout to Foster Persistence of Sympatric Native Cutthroat Trout in Small Streams
Authors: Peterson Douglas P. , Fausch Kurt D. , Watmough James , Cunjak Richard A. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Subspecies of inland cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii occupy a fraction of their historic ranges, and displacement by nonnative brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis is among the greatest threats to existing populations in small, headwater streams. Electrofishing is often used to suppress brook trout and enhance cutthroat trout populations, but these efforts are labor intensive and costly. To help managers more effectively plan and implement brook trout control programs, we used survival estimates from a field experiment to construct matrix population models for both species and linked the models by making the vital rates of young cutthroat trout a function of brook trout density to represent the effect of invasion. We then explored the response of cutthroat trout populations (growth rate [λ] and probability of persistence for 50 years) to brook trout suppression across various levels of electrofishing frequency, sampling intensity, capture efficiency, and brook trout immigration rate. Cutthroat trout (λ = 1.10) and brook trout (λ = 1.20) both had moderate to high values of λ when biotic interactions were weak or absent, but the cutthroat trout λ declined markedly (λ = 0.61) when biotic interactions with brook trout were strong. Model results supported the hypothesis that rapid displacement of cutthroat trout is facilitated by the brook trout's inherent demographic advantage and biotic effects on young cutthroat trout. Where annual brook trout suppression was not possible, the temporal distribution of suppression events within a systematic control design strongly influenced the response of cutthroat trout. The absolute response and cost effectiveness of suppression efforts were influenced particularly by the brook trout immigration rate and also by removal efficiency. Multiple consecutive years of suppression (≥3 years) benefited cutthroat trout, but to be effective such suppression should not be interrupted for more than two consecutive years once initiated. Eradication would be ideal, but the maintenance control of brook trout and the management of cutthroat trout in sympatry with brook trout will probably remain among the viable management options for the foreseeable future.
Genetic Parentage Analysis of Red Drum in South Carolina and the Use of Genotypic Data from Archived Otoliths
Authors: Robbins Stacey N. , Darden Tanya L. , Ball Amy O. , Denson Michael R. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
The red drum Sciaenops ocellatus is an estuarine-dependent fish that is the focus of a large recreational fishery along the U.S. Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. In response to dramatic declines in juvenile abundance, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has been experimentally stocking local estuaries since the late 1980s. Here we report on the genetic parentage approach that has been employed to identify fish of hatchery origin through DNA isolated from fin clips collected from wild-caught fish. In some cases tissue samples were not available, making it necessary to find an alternative source of DNA. Thus, we also examined the use of archived otoliths as a source of genetic material for parentage analysis. Amplification resulted from 96% of the extractions obtained from the extracellular tissue remaining on otoliths. In comparison with extractions obtained from fin clips, otoliths appear to be a reliable DNA source. These results not only present a method for nonlethally identifying hatchery fish but also offer a unique opportunity for fisheries researchers to utilize the archived otoliths typically collected and stored for age and growth studies. As a source of DNA, archived otoliths can be used for a wide variety of applications, including the provision of historical context for the genetic diversity of current fish populations.
An Evaluation of the Precision of Fin Ray, Otolith, and Scale Age Determinations for Brook Trout
Authors: Stolarski Jason T. , Hartman Kyle J. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
The ages of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis are typically estimated using scales despite a lack of research documenting the effectiveness of this technique. The use of scales is often preferred because it is nonlethal and is believed to require less effort than alternative methods. To evaluate the relative effectiveness of different age estimation methodologies for brook trout, we measured the precision and processing times of scale, sagittal otolith, and pectoral fin ray age estimation techniques. Three independent readers, age bias plots, coefficients of variation (CV = 100 × SD/mean), and percent agreement (PA) were used to measure within-reader, among-structure bias and within-structure, among-reader precision. Bias was generally minimal; however, the age estimates derived from scales tended to be lower than those derived from otoliths within older (age &gt; 2) cohorts. Otolith, fin ray, and scale age estimates were within 1 year of each other for 95% of the comparisons. The measures of precision for scales (CV = 6.59; PA = 82.30) and otoliths (CV = 7.45; PA = 81.48) suggest higher agreement between these structures than with fin rays (CV = 11.30; PA = 65.84). The mean per-sample processing times were lower for scale (13.88 min) and otolith techniques (12.23 min) than for fin ray techniques (22.68 min). The comparable processing times of scales and otoliths contradict popular belief and are probably a result of the high proportion of regenerated scales within samples and the ability to infer age from whole (as opposed to sectioned) otoliths. This research suggests that while scales produce age estimates rivaling those of otoliths for younger (age &lt; 3) cohorts, they may be biased within older cohorts and therefore should be used with caution.
Inhomogeneous feed gas processing in industrial ozone generation
Authors: Krogh Fabio , Merz Reto , Gisler Rudolf , Müller Marco , Paolini Bernhard , Lopez Jose L. , Freilich Alfred 
Published: December 2008

The synthesis of ozone by means of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is extensively used in industry. Ozone generators available on the market differ in ozone production capacities, electrode arrangements and working parameters, but operate with a uniformly distributed filamentary discharge plasma pattern.
In the presented work the benefits of inhomogeneous feed gas processing are explored. Causality between power induction, production efficiency and working parameters are investigated. Different electrode arrangements, evenly distributed within a given space parameter, were designed, simulated, manufactured and tested on a representative scale. A finite element model was utilized to simulate an inhomogeneous power induction pattern along the ozone generator tube. The simulation yielded the local power density, the local gas temperature gradient and the relative DBD packing density.
Results show that the degree of filamentation turns out to be decisive, indicating a new potential by means of plasma tailoring. An arrangement with a pronounced power induction at the inlet of the ozone generator revealed several advantages over homogeneous plasma processing arrangements, for which an increase in robustness and a reduction in electrical power consumption are achieved.