bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MHP‐OSGi convergence: a new model for open residential gateways
Authors: Vilas Ana Fernández , Díaz Redondo Rebeca P. , Cabrer Manuel Ramos , Pazos Arias José J. , Solla Alberto Gil , Duque Jorge García , Nores Martín López , Fernández Yolanda Blanco 
Published: June 2006

AbstractNowadays, we are living in a time of important technological changes that affect our lives at home and our communication with the outside world. Among them, the developments in Interactive Digital TV (IDTV) and the smart home field can be considered as particularly important. Related to the former, the new Set‐Top Boxes (STBs) are not only a decoder for digital television broadcast but also an entry point to the Information Society and a suitable platform to support the execution of interactive applications. With regards to the latter, the Residential Gateways (RGs) combine different network technologies to allow the connection of different electronics devices and appliances at home, not only with each other but also with the Internet. Since there is no widespread consensus about the configurations and functions of the RGs, we propose to coordinate the two aforementioned worlds by extending the functionality of STBs to become a RG. Our proposal consists of merging the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP), one of the main standard frameworks for IDTV, with Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi), the most widely used open platform to set up RGs. To overcome the radically different nature of these specifications—the function‐oriented MHP middleware and the service‐oriented OSGi framework—we define a new kind of application, coined as XbundLET. This application is able to bridge the gap between the two frameworks and make their interaction feasible. We also show how this proposal has the potential to enable the production of scenarios that cannot currently be put into practice in a natural way. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
International perspectives on newborn screening
Authors: Pollitt R. J. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryThe development of electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS‐MS) has greatly increased the number of diseases that can be detected by newborn blood‐spot screening. Different countries are introducing the technology at different rates and for different disease panels. Current policies in the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States are taken as examples. In the United Kingdom, many laboratories are using MS‐MS for routine screening for phenylketonuria but, except for those participating in a two‐year pilot study of screening for medium‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, are forbidden use MS‐MS to screen for other disorders. In Germany there has been considerable experience of MS‐MS screening for a wide range of diseases, but recently the Federal Ministry for Health and Social Security prescribed a much more restricted disease panel, with the instruction that any other diagnostic results are to be suppressed and not reported. By contrast, a recent report from the American College of Medical Genetics, still being debated, recommends screening procedures that will detect an extremely broad range of disorders, including some that are very rare or of unproven clinical significance. The lack of even broad concordance at the level of national policy is extremely disturbing. Though all discussion is nominally founded on the ten principles laid down by Wilson and Jungner in 1968, there seems no generally accepted way of using these principles, or derived criteria, as objective decision tools. Alternative, less categorical, approaches are needed: the disorders concerned are not homogeneous entities and there may be advantages to screening other than reducing morbidity or mortality.
Echinococcus multilocularis – a zoonosis of anthropogenic environments?
Authors: Romig T. , Thoma D. , Weible A.-K. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractTransmission of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of human alveolar echinococcosis, is known to depend on various environmental factors which are subject to human influence. Epidemiological data suggest that in most endemic regions anthropogenic landscape changes (e.g. deforestation and agricultural practices) have led to more favourable conditions for the parasite's animal hosts, especially arvicolid rodents, thereby increasing the risk for parasite transmission and human disease. Examples are the conversion of forests or crop fields into meadows and pastures in Europe, China and North America, and overgrazing of natural grassland in central Asia. Other anthropogenic factors include interference with host population densities by wildlife disease control, changing hunting pressure and provision of new habitats, e.g. in urban areas. Domestic dogs may, under certain conditions, get involved in the otherwise largely wildlife-based transmission, and thereby greatly increase the infection pressure to humans. The introduction of neozootic host species may increase transmission, or even initiate the parasite's life-cycle in previously non-endemic regions. Lastly, the parasite itself may be accidentally introduced into non-endemic areas, if suitable host populations are present (e.g. in northern Japan).
Resistance against heterogeneous sequential infections: experimental studies with a tapeworm and its copepod host
Authors: Kurtz J. , Hammerschmidt K. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractParasite heterogeneity is thought to be an important factor influencing the likelihood and the dynamics of infection. Previous studies have demonstrated that simultaneous exposure of hosts to a heterogeneous mixture of parasites might increase infection success. Here this view is extended towards the effect of parasite heterogeneity on subsequent infections. Using a system of the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus and its copepod intermediate host, heterogeneity of the tapeworm surface carbohydrates is investigated, i.e. structures that are potentially recognized by the invertebrate host's immune system. With lectin labelling, a significant proportion of variation in surface carbohydrates is related to differences in worm sibships (i.e. families). Tapeworm sibships were used for experimental exposure of copepods to either homogeneous combinations of tapeworm larvae, i.e. worms derived from the same sibship or heterogeneous mixtures of larvae, and copepods were subsequently challenged with an unrelated larva to study re-infection. Contrary to expectation, neither an effect of parasite heterogeneity on the current infection, nor on re-infection were found. The effect of parasitic heterogeneity on host immunity is therefore complex, potentially involving increased cross-protection on the one hand, with higher costs of raising a more heterogeneous immune response on the other.
Impact of changes in natural ultraviolet radiation on pigment composition, physiological and morphological characteristics of the Antarctic moss, Grimmia antarctici
Authors: Robinson Sharon A. , Turnbull Johanna D. , Lovelock Catherine E. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe impact of ambient ultraviolet (UV)‐B radiation on the endemic bryophyte, Grimmia antarctici, was studied over 14 months in East Antarctica. Over recent decades, Antarctic plants have been exposed to the largest relative increase in UV‐B exposure as a result of ozone depletion. We investigated the effect of reduced UV and visible radiation on the pigment concentrations, surface reflectance and physiological and morphological parameters of this moss. Plexiglass screens were used to provide both reduced UV levels (77%) and a 50% decrease in total radiation. The screen combinations were used to separate UV photoprotective from visible photoprotective strategies, because these bryophytes are growing in relatively high light environments compared with many mosses. G. antarctici was affected negatively by ambient levels of UV radiation. Chlorophyll content was significantly lower in plants grown under near‐ambient UV, while the relative proportions of photoprotective carotenoids, especially β‐carotene and zeaxanthin, increased. However, no evidence for the accumulation of UV‐B‐absorbing pigments in response to UV radiation was observed. Although photosynthetic rates were not affected, there was evidence of UV effects on morphology. Plants that were shaded showed fewer treatment responses and these were similar to the natural variation observed between moss growing on exposed microtopographical ridges and in more sheltered valleys within the turf. Given that other Antarctic bryophytes possess UV‐B‐absorbing pigments which should offer better protection under ambient UV‐B radiation, these findings suggest that G. antarctici may be disadvantaged in some settings under a climate with continuing high levels of springtime UV‐B radiation.
The regression of a canine Langerhans cell tumour is associated with increased expression of IL‐2, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and iNOS mRNA
Authors: Kaim Ute , Moritz Andreas , Failing Klaus , Baumgärtner Wolfgang 
Published: June 2006

SummaryCanine cutaneous histiocytoma is a benign epidermal neoplasm of Langerhans cell origin, which usually displays spontaneous regression. Based on the degree of lymphocytic infiltration, 30 histiocytomas were classified into four groups representing different stages of tumour regression. To elucidate further the mechanisms of the antitumour immune response CD3+, CD21+, CD4+, CD8+ and myeloid/histiocyte antigen+ inflammatory cells were differentiated by immunohistochemistry and quantified. In addition, the number of apoptotic cells was detected using the TdT‐mediated biotin–dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) method. Furthermore, the expression of interleukin‐ (IL‐2), IL‐12(p40), tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), IL‐10 and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) as well as inducible nitric oxid synthase (iNOS) mRNA was determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Phenotyping of inflammatory cells revealed a significantly increased infiltration of all lymphocyte subsets and myeloid/histiocytic cells with the onset of tumour regression. The latter was significantly correlated to up‐regulation of IL‐2, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ and iNOS mRNA expression. Expression of remaining cytokines and percentage of apoptotic cells showed no group‐specific changes. The results indicate an initial infiltration of CD4+ T cells followed by increased expression of Th1 cytokines and recruitment of antitumour effector cells as the principal mechanism for tumour regression. Canine cutaneous histiocytoma is a unique example for an effective immune response in a naturally occurring neoplasm derived from epidermal Langerhans cells and might represent a valuable animal model to investigate tumour immunity.
Maternal and birth characteristics in relation to childhood leukaemia
Authors: Podvin Danise , Kuehn Carrie M. , Mueller Beth A. , Williams Michelle 
Published: June 2006

SummaryOur objective was to investigate the association of childhood leukaemia with selected maternal and birth characteristics by conducting a population‐based case–control study using linked cancer registry and birth certificate records for Washington State. We compared maternal and infant characteristics of 595 Washington‐born residents <20 years old with leukaemia diagnosed during 1981–2003, and 5950 control children, using stratified analysis and logistic regression. Maternal age 35+ years (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 2.0), infant birthweight 4000+ g (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1, 1.8), neonatal jaundice (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 2.1), and Down’s syndrome (OR 31.3; 95% CI 6.4, 153.4) were associated with an increased risk of leukaemia. Among women with 2+ pregnancies, having at least two prior early (<20 weeks’ gestation) fetal deaths was also associated with an increased risk (OR 1.5; 95% CI 0.97, 2.1). Maternal unmarried status (OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.6, 0.9) and African American race (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.3, 0.9) were associated with a decreased risk. These results were more marked for acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) than for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and for leukaemia diagnosed <5 years of age. These results may provide clues to the aetiology of childhood leukaemia. Genetic epidemiological studies are needed to expand our knowledge of inherent and possibly prenatal influences on the occurrence of this disease.
The Asian birth outcome gap
Authors: Qin Cheng , Gould Jeffrey B. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryAsians are often considered a single group in epidemiological research. This study examines the extent of differences in maternal risks and birth outcomes for six Asian subgroups. Using linked birth/infant death certificate data from the State of California for the years 1992–97, we assessed maternal socio‐economic risks and their effect on birthweight, preterm delivery (PTD), neonatal, post‐neonatal and infant mortality for Filipino (87 120), Chinese (67 228), Vietnamese (45 237), Korean (23 431), Cambodian/Laotian (21 239) and Japanese (18 276) live singleton births. The analysis also included information about non‐Hispanic whites and non‐Hispanic blacks in order to give a sense of the magnitude of risks among Asians. Logistic regression models explored the effect of maternal risk factors and PTD on Asian subgroup differences in neonatal and post‐neonatal mortality, using Japanese as the reference group. Across Asian subgroups, the differences ranged from 2.5‐ to 135‐fold for maternal risks, and 2.2‐fold for infant mortality rate. PTD was an important contributor to neonatal mortality differences. Maternal risk factors contributed to the disparities in post‐neonatal mortality. Significant differences in perinatal health across Asian subgroups deserve ethnicity‐specific interventions addressing PTD, teen pregnancy, maternal education, parity and access to prenatal care.
Trends in childhood renal cancer mortality in Brazil, 1980–2000
Authors: De Cássia Braga Ribeiro Karina , De Camargo Beatriz 
Published: June 2006

SummaryMortality from childhood cancers has shown substantial declines in developed countries since 1960, with smaller favourable trends in South America. This study describes mortality trends in renal childhood cancer mortality in São Paulo state, Brazil, from 1980 to 2000. The age‐standardised mortality rates among the boys decreased from 0.36 per 100 000 inhabitants in 1984 to 0.09 in 1992, whereas the observed corresponding decline among girls was from 0.43 per 100 000 inhabitants in 1981 to 0.07 in 1990. Statistically significant declining trends in mortality rates were observed for boys (adjusted r2 = 0.51, P < 0.001) and also for girls (adjusted r2 = 0.40, P = 0.002), achieving in this group a significant reduction in age‐standardised mortality rates in the period (annual percentage change = −4.21). Consistent decrease in mortality rates from childhood renal cancer was noted at São Paulo state. In the absence of changes in incidence rates, this decline could be attributed to the improvement in treatment protocols and supportive measures.
Parasitic worms and inflammatory diseases
Authors: ZACCONE P. , FEHERVARI Z. , PHILLIPS J. M. , DUNNE D. W. , COOKE A. 
Published: June 2006

SUMMARY The debate on whether infection precipitates or prevents autoimmunity remains a contentious one. Recently the suggestion that some unknown microbe can be at the origin of some chronic inflammatory diseases has been countered by accumulating evidence that decreasing infection rates might have an important role to play in the rising prevalence of autoimmune disorders. The ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’ was initially postulated to explain the inverse correlation between the incidence of infections and the rise of allergic diseases, particularly in the developed world. Latterly, the Hygiene Hypothesis has been extended to also incorporate autoimmune diseases in general. Amongst the various infectious agents, a particular emphasis has been put on the interaction between parasitic worms and humans. Worm parasites have co‐evolved with the mammalian immune system for many millions of years and during this time, they have developed extremely effective strategies to modulate and evade host defences and so maintain their evolutionary fitness. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that the human immune system has been shaped by its relationship with parasitic worms and this may be a necessary requirement for maintaining our immunological health. Fully understanding this relationship may lead to novel and effective treatments for a host of deleterious inflammatory reactions.
Trichomonas vaginalis promotes apoptosis of human neutrophils by activating caspase‐3 and reducing Mcl‐1 expression
Authors: KANG J. H. , SONG H. O. , RYU J. S. , SHIN M. H. , KIM J. M. , CHO Y. S. , ALDERETE J. F. , AHN M. H. , MIN D. Y. 
Published: June 2006

SUMMARY Neutrophils are the predominant inflammatory cells found in the vaginal discharge of patients with Trichomonas vaginalis infection. However, it is not known whether neutrophil apoptosis is induced by live T. vaginalis. Therefore, we examined whether T. vaginalis can influence neutrophil apoptosis, and also whether caspase‐3 and the Bcl‐2 family members are involved in the apoptosis. Thus, human neutrophils were incubated with live T. vaginalis and neutrophil apoptosis was evaluated by Giemsa, annexin V‐PI, and DiOC6 stainings. The neutrophil apoptosis was significantly higher in those incubated with T. vaginalis than in the control group. When trichomonads were pre‐treated with mAb to AP65 (adhesin protein), or when trophozoites were separated from neutrophils using a Transwell chamber, neutrophil apoptosis was significantly reduced. The activation of caspase‐3 was evident in neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis but was markedly enhanced during T. vaginalis‐induced apoptosis. Moreover, the inhibition of caspase‐3 effectively reduced T. vaginalis‐induced apoptosis. Trichomonad‐induced apoptosis was also associated with reduced expression of the neutrophil anti‐apoptotic protein, Mcl‐1. These results indicate that T. vaginalis alters Mcl‐1 expression and caspase‐3 activation, thereby inducing apoptosis of human neutrophils.
Mechanical reinforcement of tracheids compromises the hydraulic efficiency of conifer xylem
Authors: PITTERMANN JARMILA , SPERRY JOHN S. , WHEELER JAMES K. , HACKE UWE G. , SIKKEMA ELZARD H. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTWood structure and function of juvenile wood from 18 conifer species from four conifer families (Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae, Pinaceae and Podocarpaceae) were examined for a trade‐off between wood reinforcement and hydraulic efficiency. Wood density and tracheid ‘thickness‐to‐span’ ratio were used as anatomical proxies for mechanical properties. The thickness:span represented the ratio of tracheid double wall thickness to lumen diameter. Hydraulic resistivity (R) of tracheids on a cross‐sectional area basis (RCA) increased over 50‐fold with increasing density and thickness:span, implying a strength versus efficiency conflict. The conflict arose because density and thickness:span were increased by narrowing tracheid diameter rather than by thickening walls, which may be developmentally difficult. In the Pinaceae and Cupressaceae species, density and thickness:span correlated strongly with protection from drought‐induced embolism, suggesting that mechanical strength was required in part to withstand tracheid collapse by negative sap pressure. These species showed a corresponding trade‐off between increasing RCA and embolism protection. In contrast, species of Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae were overbuilt for their embolism protection and were hydraulically inefficient, having greater density, thickness:span and RCA, none of which were correlated with vulnerability to embolism.
Increased C availability at elevated carbon dioxide concentration improves N assimilation in a legume
Authors: ROGERS ALISTAIR , GIBON YVES , STITT MARK , MORGAN PATRICK B. , BERNACCHI CARL J. , ORT DONALD R. , LONG STEPHEN P. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACTPlant growth is typically stimulated at elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]), but a sustained and maximal stimulation of growth requires acquisition of additional N in proportion to the additional C fixed at elevated [CO2]. We hypothesized that legumes would be able to avoid N limitation at elevated [CO2]. Soybean was grown without N fertilizer from germination to final senescence at elevated [CO2] over two growing seasons under fully open‐air conditions, providing a model legume system. Measurements of photosynthesis and foliar carbohydrate content showed that plants growing at elevated [CO2] had a c. 25% increase in the daily integral of photosynthesis and c. 58% increase in foliar carbohydrate content, suggesting that plants at elevated [CO2] had a surplus of photosynthate. Soybeans had a low leaf N content at the beginning of the season, which was a further c. 17% lower at elevated [CO2]. In the middle of the season, ureide, total amino acid and N content increased markedly, and the effect of elevated [CO2] on leaf N content disappeared. Analysis of individual amino acid levels supported the conclusion that plants at elevated [CO2] overcame an early‐season N limitation. These soybean plants showed a c. 16% increase in dry mass at final harvest and showed no significant effect of elevated [CO2] on leaf N, protein or total amino acid content in the latter part of the season. One possible explanation for these findings is that N fixation had increased, and that these plants had acclimated to the increased N demand at elevated [CO2].
Prostate‐specific antigen changes as a result of chlormadinone acetate administration to patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A retrospective multi‐institutional study
Authors: FUJIMOTO KIYOHIDE , HIRAO YOSHIHIKO , MASUMORI NAOYA , ARAI YOICHI , YAMANAKA HIDETOSHI , KATO TOSHIHIKO , MIYAZAWA KATSUHITO 
Published: June 2006

Background:  Antiandrogens used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may affect the diagnosis of prostate cancer by decreasing serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) values. We conducted a retrospective survey of BPH patients treated with chlormadinone acetate (CMA) and analysed the effect of CMA on their PSA values.Methods:  A chart‐based, retrospective, multi‐institutional survey of clinically diagnosed patients with BPH who had been treated with CMA (Prostal; 50 mg/day) was conducted. The patients were divided into three groups according to their baseline PSA values: <4 ng/mL, Group I; ≥4 ng/mL and <10 ng/mL, Group II; and ≥10 ng/mL, Group III. The changes in the PSA values from baseline after 16, 26, and 52 weeks of CMA therapy were predicted using a nonlinear regression model analysis.Results:  Data from 192 of the 303 enrolled patients were analysed. The predicted percent changes from baseline among all patients after 16, 26, and 52 weeks of treatment were −49.6%, −49.8%, and −49.9%, respectively. The corresponding values were −42.4%, −43.7% and −43.8% in Group I; −57.4%, −58.4% and −58.5% in Group II; and −50.6%, −50.6% and −50.6% in Group III, respectively.Conclusion:  The PSA values reached a nadir, approximately −50% of the baseline, after 16 weeks of CMA administration and remained at the same level thereafter. When CMA is used to treat BPH patients, the possibility of abnormal increases in PSA associated with prostate cancer must be considered; if prostate cancer is suspected, prompt testing, including a biopsy, should be performed.