bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A simple method of determining confidence intervals for population attributable risk from complex surveys
Authors: Natarajan Sundar , Lipsitz Stuart R. , Rimm Eric 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMethods to assess uncertainty in the estimated population attributable risk (PAR) by calculating 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) are not readily available in software for complex sample surveys. Using the Bonferroni inequality, a simple method to obtain CIs for the PAR is developed. The method is demonstrated using a simulation in a (2 × 2) table as well as a cohort study to calculate CIs for PAR of coronary heart disease death (using proportional hazards regression). This article demonstrates a straightforward, theoretically valid method of determining CIs for the PAR. Using this method, researchers analysing complex surveys can routinely provide a population perspective and a valid measure of the uncertainty for these estimates. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Low‐overhead method for software process appraisal
Authors: Wilkie F. G. , Mc Caffery F. , McFall D. , Lester Neil , Wilkinson Emmanuel 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis article describes a low‐overhead method of software process appraisal that has been developed and used by the Centre for Software Process Technologies (CSPT) to appraise small‐to‐medium sized software development organisations in Northern Ireland (NI) that have little or no experience of software process improvement programmes.During the appraisal, information is collected and reviewed to produce a findings report. The findings report consists of a list of strengths, issues and suggested actions for each of the process areas evaluated. The suggested actions detail how the assessed company may improve their processes in line with their business goals. Because the NI software industry is mainly composed of small‐to‐medium sized software development companies, it is sometimes difficult, both in terms of financial expense and time, for such companies to engage in regular appraisals with the CSPT appraisal team. Therefore, since the main purpose of the CSPT is to instil a software process improvement culture into the NI software industry, a pragmatic and relatively non‐evasive solution has been developed.This solution has two parts. The first part enables an initial software process appraisal to be performed on‐site by the CSPT appraisal team. The second part is an on‐line appraisal tool used by the company itself during the follow‐on periodic self‐appraisals. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evolving strategies for software architecture and reuse
Authors: Nedstam Josef , Staples Mark 
Published: February 2007

AbstractTo achieve their business objectives, software developing companies employ different technical and managerial strategies concerning architecture and reuse. These strategies include component‐based development, software platforms, product lines and highly configurable code bases. Frameworks for describing these strategies have recently emerged, presenting them in orders of ‘increasing maturity’, with researchers declaring specific architectural strategies to be more mature than others. Such frameworks can be useful in helping a company realize a particular architectural strategy but they do not provide guidelines concerning which architectural strategies are appropriate for companies in particular situations.Different companies have different needs—the business context and business goals of a company will determine which architectural strategy is most suitable for that company. There is no universally ‘most mature’ strategy. In this article, we have studied architectural situations in thirteen companies in order to determine why and how these companies have moved between architectural strategies and how these relate to reuse and business goals and conditions. We present a framework for describing these and provide guidelines for companies about how to traverse the maze of architectural evolution. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chronic kidney disease in children: the global perspective
Authors: Warady Bradley A. , Chadha Vimal 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn contrast to the increasing availability of information pertaining to the care of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from large-scale observational and interventional studies, epidemiological information on the incidence and prevalence of pediatric CKD is currently limited, imprecise, and flawed by methodological differences between the various data sources. There are distinct geographic differences in the reported causes of CKD in children, in part due to environmental, racial, genetic, and cultural (consanguinity) differences. However, a substantial percentage of children develop CKD early in life, with congenital renal disorders such as obstructive uropathy and aplasia/hypoplasia/dysplasia being responsible for almost one half of all cases. The most favored end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment modality in children is renal transplantation, but a lack of health care resources and high patient mortality in the developing world limits the global provision of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and influences patient prevalence. Additional efforts to define the epidemiology of pediatric CKD worldwide are necessary if a better understanding of the full extent of the problem, areas for study, and the potential impact of intervention is desired.
Deer density affects ground‐layer vegetation differently in conifer plantations and hardwood forests on the Boso Peninsula, Japan
Authors: Suzuki Maki , Miyashita Tadashi , Kabaya Hajime , Ochiai Keiji , Asada Masahiko , Tange Takeshi 
Published: February 2007

AbstractDeer overabundance reduces forest ground‐layer vegetation and can cause cascading impacts on a forest ecosystem. To predict these effects, we must elucidate the relationship between deer density and the status of ground‐layer vegetation. This relationship was studied in the Boso Peninsula, where the deer population density exhibits a clear geographical gradient. We examined species richness and cover of ground‐layer vegetation at several cedar plantations and hardwood forests in the Boso Peninsula. We also examined whether deer impacts were altered by light condition, soil water content and forest type (cedar and hardwood). Species richness of ground‐layer vegetation was maximized at an intermediate level of deer density, suggesting an intermediate disturbance effect. This phenomenon was compatible with the observation that evergreen species, which were competitive dominants, decreased with increasing deer density, whereas less competitive deciduous species increased until herbivory was intermediate. As deer density increased, cover of ground‐layer vegetation gradually decreased, but species unpalatable to deer increased in abundance, suggesting indirect positive effects of deer for unpalatable species. Cedar plantations tended to have greater species richness and ground‐layer cover than hardwood forests with similar deer levels. Canopy openness, an indicator of light conditions, increased species richness of hardwood forests and ground‐layer cover of cedar plantations, even under deer herbivory. Topographic wetness index, an indicator of soil water content, significantly increased the ground‐layer cover of cedar plantations under deer herbivory. These results emphasize the importance of environmental productivity and forest type in the management of ground‐layer vegetation experiencing deer overabundance.
Does the theory of planned behavior elements mediate the relationship between perceived constraints and intention to participate in physical activities? A study among older individuals
Authors: Alexandris Konstantinos , Barkoukis Vasilis , Tsormpatzoudis Charalampos 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the degree to which the elements of the theory of planned behavior mediate the relationship between constraints and intention to continuing participation in physical activities. The sample of the study consisted of 119 (N = 119) older individuals who participated in organized physical activity programs. The results indicated that attitudes and perceived behavioral control were negatively correlated with constraints, whereas the subjective norm variable had no relationship with them. In terms of the mediation role of the elements of the theory of planned behavior, the results indicated that both attitudes and perceived behavioral control partially mediated the relationship between constraints and intention, with the perceived behavioral control variable being the strongest mediator. These findings suggest that the theory of planned behavior elements mediate the constraints–intention relationship and determine, in a large degree, the older individuals’ intention to continuing taking part in physical activities.
Simultaneous Determination of Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Sodium Sulfate and Linear Alkylbenzensulfonate in Washing Powder by Attenuated Total Reflectance: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry
Authors: Khanmohammadi M. , Ashori A. , Kargosha K. , Garmarudi A. Bagheri 
Published: February 2007

AbstractAn analytical procedure has been developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), sodium sulfate (SS) and Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate (LABS) in a single washing powder sample. The method is based on the partial least squares treatment of data obtained by the Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectrometric method in the wavenumber range of 800–1,290 cm−1. Absorbance spectra were employed for measurement using 29 aqueous standard solutions of STPP, SS and LABS. The method is simple, rapid and accurate and has been applied to commercial washing powders analysis performing the STPP, SS and LABS determination with a simplified sample preparation step consisting only of powder dissolution in distilled water. The other advantage of this method is its minimal time consumption (about 15 min), in comparison with previously introduced methods based on the determination of separated analytes (more than 4 h). The relative standard deviations of the proposed method for analyzing these real samples were 0.99, 0.56 and 0.91% for STPP, SS and LABS, respectively.
Leucine and Calcium Regulate Fat Metabolism and Energy Partitioning in Murine Adipocytes and Muscle Cells
Authors: Sun Xiaocun , Zemel Michael B 
Published: February 2007

AbstractDietary calcium modulation of adiposity is mediated, in part, by suppression of calcitriol, while the additional effect of dairy products is mediated by additional components; these include the high concentration of leucine, a key factor in the regulation of muscle protein turnover. We investigated the effect of leucine, calcitriol and calcium on energy metabolism in murine adipocytes and muscle cells and on energy partitioning between adipocytes and skeletal muscle. Leucine induced a marked increase in fatty acid oxidation in C2C12 muscle cells (P < 0.001) and decreased FAS expression by 66% (P < 0.001) in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. Calcitriol decreased muscle cell fatty acid oxidation by 37% (P < 0.001) and increased adipocyte FAS gene expression by threefold (P < 0.05); these effects were partially reversed by either leucine or calcium channel antagonism with nifedipine. Co‐culture of muscle cells with adipocytes or incubation with 48‐h adipocyte conditioned medium decreased muscle fatty acid oxidation by 62% (P < 0.001), but treating adipocytes with leucine and/or nifedipine attenuated this effect. Leucine, nifedipine and calcitriol also modulated adiponectin production and thereby exerted additional indirect effects on fatty acid oxidation in C2C12 myotubes. Adiponectin increased IL‐15 and IL‐6 release by myotubes and partially reversed the inhibitory effects of calcitriol. Comparable effects of leucine, calcitriol and adiponectin were found in myotubes treated with conditioned medium derived from adipocytes or co‐cultured with adipocytes. These data suggest that leucine and nifedipine promote energy partitioning from adipocytes to muscle cells, resulting in decreased energy storage in adipocytes and increasing fatty acid utilization in muscle.
Acidity of oryzanol and its contribution to free fatty acids value in vegetable oils
Authors: Krishna A. G. Gopala , Hemakumar K. H. , Khatoon Sakina 
Published: February 2007

AbstractModel oil systems containing physically refined rice bran oil to which oryzanol was added were examined to determine the effects of oryzanol concentration on FFA values. When oryzanol was added to the model oils at a 0.5% level and FFA was determined, increases in FFA value were 0.28% as determined with phenolphthalein, 0.58% with thymolphthalein, and 0.07% with alkali blue 6B. Oils containing added oryzanol at 0.5–1.5% showed a proportionate increase in FFA values with an average increase of 0.413% per gram of oryzanol. A direct titration of purified oryzanol showed an acidity of 42.5% expressed as FFA. In spectroscopic studies, the phenolic group in the ferulic acid moiety of oryzanol was titrated by sodium hydroxide. Based on these data, indicator correction factors for oryzanol's acidity and a formula for calculating real FFA content of vegetable oils containing oryzanol were developed.
Phase behavior of the base‐catalyzed transesterification of soybean oil
Authors: Zhou Weiyang , Boocock D. G. B. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBiodiesel is made by the transesterification of vegetable oils to form alkyl FA esters. High levels of conversion (>99%) are required to lower the total concentration of free and chemically bound glycerol to that allowed by the ASTM standard (0.240 wt%) for biodiesel. A polar dye was used to visualize the phase behaviors in methanolysis, ethanolysis, and butanolysis. The dye was more strongly colored in more polar phases. Methanolysis and ethanolysis reactions commenced as two phases (alcohol and oil), then formed emulsions, and ended as two phases as glycerol‐rich phases separated. Ethanolysis was more easily initiated by mixing than was methanolysis. Ethanolysis also exhibited a much longer emulsion period and slower glycerol separation. The glycerol‐rich phase was smaller in volume in ethanolysis than in methanolysis. Butanolysis remained one phase throughout, and no polar phase existed at any time. The results are consistent with the known phase compositions in these reactions. The concentrations of MG, DG, and TG in the products with time in stirred reactions were consistent with the observed phase behavior in the dye experiments.
Age-dependent dynamics of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in southwest Mongolia based on IFAT and/or PCR prevalence data from domestic horses and ticks
Authors: RÜEGG S. R. , TORGERSON P. , DEPLAZES P. , MATHIS A. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYEpidemiological factors of tick-borne equine piroplasmoses, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, were investigated using logistic regression (GLM) and general additive models (GAM) based on the prevalences determined in 510 domestic horses and in ticks in S.W. Mongolia by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and/or multiplex PCR. Prevalences of T. equi and B. caballi in horses were 66·5% (95% CI: 62·1–70·7) and 19·1% (15·6–22·9), respectively by PCR and 78·8% (74·9–82·3) and 65·7% (61·3–69·9) by IFAT. Of 166 ticks analysed from PCR- and IFAT-negative horses 1 was PCR positive for B. caballi and none for T. equi. GAM demonstrated non-linear increasing proportions of T. equi-PCR and -IFAT positive horses with age suggesting persistent infection. In contrast, the B. caballi-PCR prevalence decreased with age despite a concurrent increase in the proportion of IFAT-positive animals suggesting parasite elimination. The tick (Dermacentor nuttalli) burden of the horses increased with age and decreased with advancing season. Geldings were more likely to be infected with, and seroconvert to, T. equi. Neither herd affiliation, date of sample collection nor abundance of tick infestation had a significant influence on parasite prevalence.
Molecular typing ofStreptococcus pyogenesfrom remote Aboriginal communities where rheumatic fever is common and pyoderma is the predominant streptococcal infection
Authors: McDONALD M. I. , TOWERS R. J. , FAGAN P. , CARAPETIS J. R. , CURRIE B. J. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYAboriginal Australians in remote communities have high rates of rheumatic heart disease (RHD); yet pharyngitis is reportedly rare whilst pyoderma is common. Some strains of group A streptococci (GAS) have preference for the throat and others for the skin depending on M protein type. A study in three remote communities provided 350 GAS isolates foremmsequence typing, 244 were alsoemmpattern typed. There was 100% correlation betweenemmsequence and pattern type. Patterns D and E (non-throat tropic) made up 71% of throat and 87% of skin isolates although patterns A–C (throat tropic) were more common in the throat than the skin (RR 2·3, 95% CI 1·4–3·8) whilst the opposite was found for pattern D (RR 2·2, 95% CI 1·7–3·0). Pattern E favoured the throat (RR 1·4, 95% CI 1·1–1·8). Where environmental factors predispose to skin infection,emmpattern types D and E prevail, whatever the recovery site.
The impact of a school-based safe water and hygiene programme on knowledge and practices of students and their parents: Nyanza Province, western Kenya, 2006
Authors: O'REILLY C. E. , FREEMAN M. C. , RAVANI M. , MIGELE J. , MWAKI A. , AYALO M. , OMBEKI S. , HOEKSTRA R. M. , QUICK R. 
Published: February 2007

SUMMARYSafe drinking water and hygiene are essential to reducing Kenya's diarrhoeal disease burden. A school-based safe water and hygiene intervention in Kenya was evaluated to assess its impact on students' knowledge and parents' adoption of safe water and hygiene practices. We surveyed 390 students from nine schools and their parents at baseline and conducted a final evaluation of 363 students and their parents. From baseline to final evaluation, improvement was seen in students' knowledge of correct water treatment procedure (21–65%,P<0·01) and knowing when to wash their hands. At final evaluation, 14% of parents reported currently treating their water, compared with 6% at baseline (P<0·01). From 2004 to 2005, school absenteeism in the September–November term decreased in nine project schools by 35% and increased in nine neighbouring comparison schools by 5%. This novel programme shows promise for reducing school absenteeism and promoting water and hygiene interventions in the home.
Changes in carotenoid intake from fruit and vegetables in the Spanish population over the period 1964–2004
Authors: Granado F , Blázquez S , Olmedilla B 
Published: February 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo assess changes in carotenoid intake based on the variations in the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables in the Spanish population over the period 1964–2004.DesignConsumption data of fresh fruit and vegetables from Family Budget Surveys carried out in 1964, 1980, 1990 and 2004. Consumption data (g per person per day) accounted for >90% of fruit and vegetable consumption at each time point. Quality controlled high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the carotenoid composition of Spanish fruit and vegetable was used.SubjectsRandomly selected, private households throughout Spain (20 800 households in 1964, 30 311 households in 1980, 21 155 households in 1990 and 6000 households in 2004). Twelve vegetables and 16 fruits representing 89–96% of the total consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables were used.ResultsIndividual consumption of fruit and vegetables has changed over this period, altering the total and individual intake of carotenoids. Total carotenoid intake increased from 2.5 mg per person per day in 1964 to 4.1 mg per person per day in 1990, with a decrease to 3.3 mg per person per day in 2004. These increments are due to an increase in lycopene, α- and β-carotene, while a decrease in lutein and zeaxanthin is observed during the last decade. A continuous and consistent decrease in the relative contribution of lutein in the diet is observed over the period studied.ConclusionAlthough the consumption of fruit and vegetables is still consistent with a Mediterranean-type pattern, modifications in the consumption of individual fruits and vegetables have provoked changes in total and specific carotenoid intake with potential relevance in human health.
ClusterDraw web server: a tool to identify and visualize clusters of binding motifs for transcription factors
Authors: Papatsenko Dmitri 
Published: February 2007

AbstractClusterDraw is a program aimed to identification of binding sites and binding-site clusters. Major difference of the ClusterDraw from existing tools is its ability to scan a wide range of parameter values and weigh statistical significance of all possible clusters, smaller than a selected size. The program produces graphs along with decorated FASTA files. ClusterDraw web server is available at the following URL: http://flydev.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/cld/submit.cgiContact: dxp@berkeley.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Position dependencies in transcription factor binding sites
Authors: Tomovic Andrija , Oakeley Edward J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractMotivation: Most of the available tools for transcription factor binding site prediction are based on methods which assume no sequence dependence between the binding site base positions. Our primary objective was to investigate the statistical basis for either a claim of dependence or independence, to determine whether such a claim is generally true, and to use the resulting data to develop improved scoring functions for binding-site prediction.Results: Using three statistical tests, we analyzed the number of binding sites showing dependent positions. We analyzed transcription factor–DNA crystal structures for evidence of position dependence. Our final conclusions were that some factors show evidence of dependencies whereas others do not. We observed that the conformational energy (Z-score) of the transcription factor–DNA complexes was lower (better) for sequences that showed dependency than for those that did not (P &lt; 0.02). We suggest that where evidence exists for dependencies, these should be modeled to improve binding-site predictions. However, when no significant dependency is found, this correction should be omitted. This may be done by converting any existing scoring function which assumes independence into a form which includes a dependency correction. We present an example of such an algorithm and its implementation as a web tool.Availability: http://promoterplot.fmi.ch/cgi-bin/dep.htmlContact: edward.oakeley@fmi.chSupplementary information: Supplementary data (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) are available at Bioinformatics online.