bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fetal growth and neonatal mortality in Korea
Authors: Hong Jae S. , Yi Sang‐Wook , Han Young J. , Park Yong W. , Nam Chung M. , Kang Hee C. , Ohrr Heechoul 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe fetal growth curve and neonatal mortality rate, based on gestational age and birthweight, are important for identifying groups of high‐risk neonates and developing appropriate medical services and health‐care programmes. The purpose of this study was to develop a national fetal growth curve for neonates in Korea, and examine the Korean national references for fetal growth and death according to their characteristics. Data of Korean vital statistics linked National Infant Mortality Survey conducted on births in 1999 were used in this study. The total livebirths were 621 764 in 1999, which were grouped into singletons (n = 609 643) and twins (n = 9805) for analysis. Birthweight/gestational age‐specific fetal growth curves and neonatal mortality rates were based on 250 g of birthweight and weekly gestational age intervals for each characteristic of the birth.The features of high‐risk neonates such as small‐for‐gestational‐age and the limit of viability in Korea were different from those of Western countries. Difference in fetal growth and death was also detected in other characteristics of the fetus (gender and plurality of birth) besides race. The fetal growth curve of males was higher than that of females, and was higher in singleton than in twins. The neonatal mortality rate was higher in males (singleton, 2.6; twin, 23.5) than females (singleton, 2.1; twin, 15.9), and higher in twins (19.8/1000) than in singletons (2.4/1000). However, in neonates with gestational age >29 weeks and birthweight >1000 g, the neonatal mortality rate was lower in twins than in singletons. The limit of viability was gestational age 27 weeks and birthweight 1000 g, which was similar in singletons and twins regardless of gender.To improve the health of neonates in a country, it is imperative to investigate the characteristics of fetal growth and death under the particular circumstances of the country. When risk is defined for neonates account must be taken of differences in race, gender and plurality of birth, as the neonatal mortality rate varies depending on those factors.
Distribution of Mating Types and Genetic Diversity of Ascochyta rabiei Populations in Tunisia Revealed by Mating‐type‐specific PCR and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers
Authors: Rhaiem A. , Cherif M. , Dyer P. S. , Peever T. L. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe distribution of mating types of Ascochyta rabiei (teleomorph: Didymella rabiei) was determined in Tunisia using a MAT‐specific PCR assay. Among 123 isolates tested, 80% were MAT1‐1 and 20%MAT1‐2. Only MAT1‐1 isolates were present in the Beja and Bizerte regions of Tunisia, whereas both mating types were present in Nabeul, Kef and Jendouba. In the latter three regions, the hypothesis of random mating could not be rejected based on chi‐squared tests of mating‐type ratios (P > 0.05). The lower frequency of the MAT1‐2 coupled with the restricted distribution of this mating type in Tunisia may indicate a recent introduction of MAT1‐2 in Tunisia. This speculation is consistent with the recent (2001) observation of D. rabiei pseudothecia on chickpea debris in Tunisia. Forty isolates representative of the five regions were genetically analysed using 10 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers to provide a preliminary estimate of genetic diversity of the pathogen in Tunisia. Among 129 putative RAPD loci amplified, 81% were polymorphic and 32 unique RAPD fingerprints were detected. A high level of genetic differentiation was detected among subpopulations (GST = 0.33). Cluster analyses revealed that isolates from Bizerte, Beja and Jendouba were genetically similar and distinct from isolates sampled in Nabeul and Kef. MAT1‐1 isolates were clustered separately from MAT1‐2 isolates in Jendouba and Nabeul suggesting that recombination may not yet be occurring in these regions despite the occurrence of both mating types in equal frequency in these regions. This lack of recombination between MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2 also supports the hypothesis of a recent introduction of MAT1‐2 into Tunisia.
Genetic Diversity of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 in China, Japan and Italy
Authors: Liu F.‐X. , Ding P. , Xu C.‐X. , Wang K.‐R. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the origin of Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1) which infects chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. The genetic diversity of 39 CHV1 isolates from China, Japan and Italy was assessed by combining sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphic (RFLP) experiments. Based on their partial sequences, 26 CHV1 isolates within 26 haplotypes were grouped into three subtypes. The 17 viruses from China were distributed between subtypes I and III, while all four of the isolates from Japan were subtype II. Of the five isolates from Italy, four were subtype I, and one (IT 192) was subtype III. Our analysis of the geographic distribution of the isolates indicated that all but one of the Chinese subtype III CHV1s are present in northern China; meanwhile all but three of the Chinese subtype I CHV1s are present in South China. Unlike in Europe where there is one predominant CHV1 subtype, our distribution analysis indicates that there has been gene flow between the populations in Asia. Cluster analysis based on the RFLP banding patterns showed that the viral isolates could be separated into four clusters. Most of the viral isolates (29 of 39, 74.4%) were grouped into one large cluster. Greater genetic diversity was observed among the CHV1s from China than among those from Japan and Italy. The Italian isolates were genetically more similar to the Japanese and South Chinese isolates than to the North Chinese isolates, indicating that CHV1 in Italy may have originated from Japan and/or South China.
Effect of N‐acetylcysteine on renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: MAINRA RAHUL , GALLO KERRI , MOIST LOUISE 
Published: August 2007

SUMMARY:Background:  N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) is commonly administered to high‐risk individuals to attenuate the risk of contrast‐induced nephropathy in spite of the debate regarding its efficacy. In several studies serum creatinine decreased after exposure to NAC and contrast dye. The mechanism by which NAC attenuates the decline in renal function is not known. Studies in subjects with normal renal function suggest NAC may have an effect on tubular secretion.Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine the effect of NAC on renal function, measured by serum creatinine and Cystatin C, in patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease.Method:  Serum creatinine and Cystatin C were measured prior to, 4, 24 and 48 h after the administration of 600 mg oral NAC in 30 patients. The protocol was repeated with the addition of 1200 mg oral cimetidine administered 3 h before NAC.Results:  Serum creatinine was not significantly different from baseline (186 ± 65 μmol/L) to 4 h (185 ± 62 μmol/L), 24 h (187 ± 64 μmol/L) or 48 h (184 ± 61 μmol/L) post NAC, nor were Cystatin C levels. Co‐administration of cimetidine resulted in a significant rise in serum creatinine with no change in Cystatin C levels.Conclusion:  This study failed to detect a change in serum creatinine or Cystatin C after a single dose of NAC in participants with stage 3 chronic kidney disease. Further randomized trials of multiple doses and longer follow up are needed to confirm these results.
Renal‐related deaths in Indigenous people in Queensland, Australia
Authors: ANDREASYAN KAREN , HOY WENDY E 
Published: August 2007

SUMMARY:Aim:  Indigenous Australians have much higher mortality than non‐Indigenous Australians. We aimed to quantify the excess of deaths with a renal causal assignment among Indigenous people aged 25 years and over in Queensland, Australia, 1997–2000 and their distribution by remoteness.Methods:  Both underlying and associated causes defined by ICD, 10th edition, were examined. Mortality rates were standardized to the concurrent non‐Indigenous population.Results:  In Indigenous people, standardized mortality ratios with a renal assignment of death by remoteness of residence were 194% (Major City and Inner Regional), 439% (Outer Regional and Remote) and 782% (Very Remote). Of all these deaths with a renal assignment, only 18% had a renal assignment as the underlying cause. Diabetes and cardiovascular disease were frequent concomitant causes in deaths with a renal assignment.Conclusion:  The Indigenous population in Queensland has elevated rates of renal deaths compared with the non‐Indigenous population. This disparity increases markedly with increasing remoteness of residence. Reliance on underlying causes of death alone greatly underestimates the association of renal disease with deaths in this population.
The maximum entropy formalism and the idiosyncratic theory of biodiversity
Authors: Pueyo Salvador , He Fangliang , Zillio Tommaso 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWhy does the neutral theory, which is based on unrealistic assumptions, predict diversity patterns so accurately? Answering questions like this requires a radical change in the way we tackle them. The large number of degrees of freedom of ecosystems pose a fundamental obstacle to mechanistic modelling. However, there are tools of statistical physics, such as the maximum entropy formalism (MaxEnt), that allow transcending particular models to simultaneously work with immense families of models with different rules and parameters, sharing only well‐established features. We applied MaxEnt allowing species to be ecologically idiosyncratic, instead of constraining them to be equivalent as the neutral theory does. The answer we found is that neutral models are just a subset of the majority of plausible models that lead to the same patterns. Small variations in these patterns naturally lead to the main classical species abundance distributions, which are thus unified in a single framework.
Managing breeding forest songbirds with conspecific song playbacks
Authors: Hahn B. A. , Silverman E. D. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractRecent studies confirm that several territorial songbird species use conspecific cues, including song, when selecting habitat. We conducted a controlled experiment with a population of black‐throated blue warblersDendroica caerulescens, a species of concern in boreal hardwood transition forests, to determine whether song playbacks influence settlement patterns. We tested whether conspecific song broadcast during spring arrival attracts black‐throated blue warblers during territory establishment, and whether song playbacks shift territories from the previous year's breeding distributions. The results of our experiment demonstrate that song playbacks significantly increased territorial occupancy and shifted territories closer to the speakers. Loss of breeding habitat is implicated in population declines of many songbirds, and our results suggest that song playbacks should be further investigated as a tool for mitigating the effects of disruptive management actions. Additional work should consider the spatial arrangement of playback speakers to avoid attracting birds from safe areas. The demographic consequences of conspecific attraction must also be explored before this technique is widely implemented.
Resistance to chytridiomycosis varies among amphibian species and is correlated with skin peptide defenses
Authors: Woodhams D. C. , Ardipradja K. , Alford R. A. , Marantelli G. , Reinert L. K. , Rollins‐Smith L. A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractInnate immune mechanisms of defense are especially important to ectothermic vertebrates in which adaptive immune responses may be slow to develop. One innate defense in amphibian skin is the release of abundant quantities of antimicrobial peptides. Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease of amphibians caused by the skin fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Susceptibility to chytridiomycosis varies among species, and mechanisms of disease resistance are not well understood. Previously, we have shown that Australian and Panamanian amphibian species that possess skin peptides that effectively inhibit the growth of B. dendrobatidis in vitro tend to survive better in the wild or are predicted to survive the first encounter with this lethal pathogen. For most species, it has been difficult to experimentally infect individuals with B. dendrobatidis and directly evaluate both survival and antimicrobial peptide defenses. Here, we demonstrate differences in susceptibility to chytridiomycosis among four Australian species (Litoria caerulea, Litoria chloris, Mixophyes fasciolatus and Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) after experimental infection with B. dendrobatidis, and show that the survival rate increases with the in vitro effectiveness of the skin peptides. We also observed that circulating granulocyte, but not lymphocyte, counts differed between infected and uninfected Lit. chloris. This suggests that innate granulocyte defenses may be activated by pathogen exposure. Taken together, our data suggest that multiple innate defense mechanisms are involved in resistance to chytridiomycosis, and the efficacy of these defenses varies by amphibian species.
The role of nucleotides in the neuron–glia communication responsible for the brain functions
Authors: Inoue Kazuhide , Koizumi Schuichi , Tsuda Makoto 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAccumulating findings indicate that nucleotides play an important role in cell‐to‐cell communication through P2 purinoceptors, even though ATP is recognized primarily to be a source of free energy and nucleotides are key molecules in cells. P2 purinoceptors are divided into two families, ionotropic receptors (P2X) and metabotropic receptors (P2Y). P2X receptors (7 types; P2X1–P2X7) contain intrinsic pores that open by binding with ATP. P2Y (8 types; P2Y1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 14) are activated by nucleotides and couple to intracellular second‐messenger systems through heteromeric G‐proteins. Nucleotides are released or leaked from non‐excitable cells as well as neurons in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. One of the most exciting cells in non‐excitable cells is the glia cells, which are classified into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia. Astrocytes express many types of P2 purinoceptors and release the ‘gliotransmitter’ ATP to communicate with neurons, microglia and the vascular walls of capillaries. Microglia also express many types of P2 purinoceptors and are known as resident macrophages in the CNS. ATP and other nucleotides work as ‘warning molecules’ especially through activating microglia in pathophysiological conditions. Microglia play a key role in neuropathic pain and show phagocytosis through nucleotide‐evoked activation of P2X4 and P2Y6 receptors, respectively. Such strong molecular, cellular and system‐level evidence for extracellular nucleotide signaling places nucleotides in the central stage of cell communications in glia/CNS.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES: A maximum‐likelihood relatedness estimator allowing for negative relatedness values
Authors: KONOVALOV DMITRY A. , HEG DIK 
Published: August 2007

AbstractPreviously reported maximum‐likelihood pairwise relatedness (r) estimator of Thompson and Milligan (M) was extended to allow for negative r estimates under the regression interpretation of r. This was achieved by establishing the equivalency of the likelihoods used in the kinship program and the likelihoods of Thompson. The new maximum‐likelihood (ML) estimator was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations. It was found that the new ML estimator became unbiased significantly faster compared to the original M estimator when the amount of genotype information was increased. The effects of allele frequency estimation errors on the new and existing relatedness estimators were also considered.
Verbal and Physical Abuse and Neglect as Manifestations of HIV/AIDS Stigma in Five African Countries
Authors: Dlamini Priscilla S. , Kohi Thecla W. , Uys Leana R. , Phetlhu René Deliwe , Chirwa Maureen L. , Naidoo Joanne R. , Holzemer William L. , Greeff Minrie , Makoae Lucy N. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the experience of HIV/AIDS‐related stigma for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) in Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania.Design and sample: Descriptive study using 43 focus groups (n=251 participants), which included male and female PLWA from both rural and urban areas and nurses working with PLWA.Methods: Participants were asked to relate incidents of HIV/AIDS‐related stigma that they had experienced or observed. Focus group discussions were taped, and data were content analyzed to identify examples of abuse (verbal and physical abuse and neglect) related to HIV/AIDS stigma. Data analysis also explored targets of abuse, abusers, and consequences of abuse.Results: Participant reports documented extensive verbal and physical abuse and neglect or negating (disallowing of access to services and opportunities) experienced by PLWA and observed by nurses caring for them, and identified negative consequences experienced by PLWA whose HIV‐positive status was disclosed to family, friends, or community members.Conclusions: Health care workers who encourage PLWA to disclose their HIV status must carefully consider the implications of encouraging disclosure in an environment with high levels of stigma, and must recognize the real possibility that PLWA may experience serious verbal and physical abuse as a consequence of disclosure.
Physical Activity and Leg Strength Predict Decline in Mobility Performance in Older Persons
Authors: Buchman Aron S. , Wilson Robert S. , Boyle Patricia A. , Tang Yuxiao , Fleischman Debra A. , Bennett David A. 
Published: August 2007

OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent to which physical activity and leg strength are associated with change in mobility in older persons.DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study.SETTING: Retirement communities across the Chicago metropolitan area participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project.PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred eighty‐six ambulatory older persons without dementia.MEASUREMENT: Rate of change in mobility.RESULTS: In a linear mixed‐effects model that controlled for age, sex, education, and a term for baseline physical activity, a higher level of physical activity was associated with a slower rate of mobility decline (estimate=0.006, standard error (SE)=0.003, P=.03); each additional hour of physical activity at baseline was associated with an approximately 3% decrease in the rate of mobility decline. In a similar model, a higher level of baseline leg strength was associated with a slower rate of mobility decline (estimate=0.031, SE=0.132, P=.02); each additional unit of leg strength at baseline was associated with an approximately 20% decrease in the rate of mobility decline. In a final model, which included terms for physical activity and leg strength together, both were associated with decline in mobility. Furthermore, both remained associated with mobility even after controlling for body composition, balance, pulmonary function, cognition, history of joint pain, cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, and medications.CONCLUSION: Physical activity and leg strength are relatively independent predictors of mobility decline in older persons. Although physical activity may improve strength, the beneficial effect of physical activity on mobility is likely to involve other pathways.
Rational Inattention and Portfolio Selection
Authors: HUANG LIXIN , LIU HONG 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTCostly information acquisition makes it rational for investors to obtain important economic news with only limited frequency or limited accuracy. We show that this rational inattention to important news may make investors over‐ or underinvest. In addition, the optimal trading strategy is “myopic” with respect to future news frequency and accuracy. We find that the optimal news frequency is nonmonotonic in news accuracy and investment horizon. Furthermore, when both news frequency and news accuracy are endogenized, an investor with a higher risk aversion or a longer investment horizon chooses less frequent but more accurate periodic news updates.
Cross‐Disciplinarity in Australian Geography Presidential Address to the Institute of Australian Geographers’ Conference, Melbourne, July 20071
Authors: KIRKPATRICK J.B. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe disciplinary space that geographers conceive to be theirs has all been previously possessed, or latterly colonised, by other disciplines. Geographers defend their existence on the basis of their oft‐asserted, but never tested, cross‐disciplinarity. The journals in which refereed papers were published by members of the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) and the papers in Australian Geographical Studies were analysed for the period 1998–2002 to test the hypothesis of cross‐disciplinarity in both subject and method. IAG members do strongly tend to publish in more than one disciplinary area, and a large proportion of papers in Australian Geographical Studies are integrative across subdisciplines in geography, with many using more than one methodological approach. However, transgression of the physical geography/human geography divide was sufficiently uncommon to create a statistical break between sets of subdisciplines. Based on the data used in the present paper, Australian geographers can make a case for being members of a vital, integrative discipline, likely to make substantial advances in the hybrid spaces.
Deep Regolith Weathering on the Summit Surface of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia: a Contribution to the ‘Laterite’ Debate
Authors: BOURMAN ROBERT P. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractChemical and mineralogical analyses of samples from a 102 m deep borehole and from road cuts on the summit surface of the Mount Lofty Ranges near Willunga Hill, are used to assess critically the view that the regolith here developed as a result of tropical, so‐called ‘lateritic’ weathering processes that developed a standard ‘laterite’ profile of great antiquity. There is no evidence of a former surface crust that comprises the upper part of a ‘standard laterite profile’. Moreover, there is no dramatic variation in chemical composition down the profile, with largely in situ localised weathering transformations explaining mineralogical variability. The presence of 2:1 layer silicates and the absence of gibbsite do not favour the operation of former intense tropical weathering, but the possible presence of chloritised smectite may have inhibited gibbsite formation. An iron‐depleted pallid zone does not occur at depth in the profile, but is present on the plateau margin. Many of the weathering features exposed in the road cuts can be explained in terms of modifications and developments under environmental conditions similar to those of the present, arguing against the view that the summit surface and its associated weathering mantle have been preserved in pristine form since the Mesozoic.