bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intraseasonal Variability of the Zonal-Mean Extratropical Tropopause Height
Authors: Son Seok-Woo , Lee Sukyoung , Feldstein Steven B. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
The physical processes that drive the fluctuations of the extratropical tropopause height are examined with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction–National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP–NCAR) reanalysis data.
A composite zonal-mean heat budget analysis for the Northern Hemisphere winter shows that fluctuations in the extratropical tropopause height result not only from a warming of the troposphere but also from an even stronger cooling of the lower stratosphere. While the tropospheric warming is caused by a poleward eddy heat transport associated with baroclinic eddies, the stratospheric cooling is driven primarily by planetary-scale waves. The results from analyses of synoptic- and planetary-scale eddy kinetic energy and Eliassen–Palm fluxes are consistent with the planetary waves first gaining their energy within the troposphere, and then propagating vertically into the stratosphere.
For the Southern Hemisphere, while lower-stratospheric temperature anomalies still play an important role for the fluctuations in the tropopause height, the temperature anomalies are accounted for primarily by a poleward eddy heat transport associated with synoptic-scale eddies, and by diabatic heating.
These results indicate that, although the height of the extratropical tropopause is modulated by baroclinic eddies, which is consistent with existing theories, the amount of the modulation is highly influenced by stratospheric processes.
Sodar Measurements of Wing Vortex Strength and Position
Authors: Bradley Stuart , Mursch-Radlgruber Erich , von Hünerbein Sabine 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
A method is developed for robust real-time visualization of aircraft vortex spatial and temporal development based on measurement data from a line array of sodars. The method relies on using a potential-flow vortex model, with spatial averaging according to the along-beam and transverse spatial resolution of the sodar. The model comprises the wing vortex pair, together with two image vortices below ground such that there is no flow through the ground surface. An analytic solution for the temporal–spatial evolution of this four-vortex system is obtained as an aid to establishing relevant scales and performance criteria for any sodar. Field results from an array of four sodars are used on an individual profile basis (every 2 s of real time) to fit the model parameters of vortex circulation, position, and spacing. This method gives vortex trajectories and strength as a function of real time without dependence on assumptions regarding interactions with the atmosphere. Estimates of parameter uncertainties are also produced in real time, and it is found that estimates of position and spacing can be obtained to around ±4 m and of vortex circulation to ±50 m2 s−1. Recommendations are given for optimizing sodars for vortex measurements using practical technology.
Particularism and Reasons: A Reply to Kirchin
Authors: Norman Richard 
Published: February 2007

AbstractValency switching can appear especially puzzling if we think of moral reasons as ‘pushes and pulls’—considerations whose job it is to get us to act or to stop us acting. Talk of ‘default valency’ doesn't remove the puzzle, it merely restates it. We need a different picture of reasons—perhaps as providing a map of the moral terrain which helps us to see which actions are appropriate to which situations, and who the appropriate agents are. The role of virtue concepts in particular is more complex and varied than that of providing ‘reasons for acting’. A more holistic picture of reasons can make valency switching less mysterious.
Defending the Right
Authors: Dancy Jonathan 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn this paper I consider what might be my best response to various difficulties and challenges that emerged at a conference held at the University of Kent in December 2004, the contributions to which are given in the same volume. I comment on Crisp's distinction between ultimate and non-ultimate reasons, and reply to McKeever and Ridge on default reasons, and to Norman on the idea of a reason for action. I don't here consider what other particularists might want to say; I certainly don't think that my way of doing these things is the only possible one, but not surprisingly I am interested in seeing what resources it might have to defend itself.
Childhood asthma and fruit consumption
Authors: Okoko B. J. , Burney P. G. , Newson R. B. , Potts J. F. , Shaheen S. O. 
Published: February 2007

The present authors investigated whether wheezing is less common in children who consume more apples and other fruits.A population-based survey of 2,640 primary school children aged 5–10 yrs was carried out in Greenwich (South London, UK). Information about asthma symptoms and fruit consumption was obtained by means of a questionnaire.After controlling for potential confounding variables, eating bananas at least once a day (compared with less than once a month) was negatively associated with current wheeze (odds ratio 0.66; 95% confidence interval 0.44–1.00) and ever wheeze (0.69 (0.50–0.95)), but not with ever asthma (0.80 (0.56–1.14)). Drinking apple juice from concentrate at least once a day (compared with less than once a month) was also negatively associated with current wheeze (0.53 (0.34–0.83)), weakly associated with ever wheeze (0.74 (-0.54–1.02)), but not associated with ever asthma. Consumption of apples, other fruits and orange juice was not significantly associated with asthma symptoms.No association was found between eating fresh apples and asthma symptoms in the study population, but some evidence was found to suggest that a higher consumption of apple juice from concentrate and bananas may protect against wheezing in children.
Macrolides, quinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate for chronic bronchitis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Siempos I. I. , Dimopoulos G. , Korbila I. P. , Manta K. , Falagas M. E. 
Published: February 2007

The comparative effectiveness and safety of macrolides, quinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate (A/C) for the treatment of patients with acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (ABECB) was evaluated in the present study.PubMed, Current Contents and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to identify relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs).In total, 19 RCTs (20 comparisons) were included in the present analysis. There was no difference regarding treatment success in intention-to-treat and clinically evaluable patients between macrolides and quinolones, A/C and quinolones or A/C and macrolides. The treatment success in microbiologically evaluable patients was lower for macrolides compared with quinolones (odds ratio (OR) 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31–0.69). Fewer quinolone-recipients experienced a recurrence of ABECB after resolution of the initial episode compared with macrolide-recipients during the 26-week period following therapy. Adverse effects in general were similar between macrolides and quinolones. Administration of A/C was associated with more adverse effects (mainly diarrhoea) than quinolones (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01–1.85).Macrolides, quinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate may be considered equivalent for the treatment of patients with an acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis in terms of short-term effectiveness. Quinolones are associated with better microbiological success and fewer recurrences of acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis than macrolides, while amoxicillin/clavulanate is associated with more adverse effects than both comparators.
Inhibition of PDGF, VEGF and FGF signalling attenuates fibrosis
Authors: Chaudhary N. I. , Roth G. J. , Hilberg F. , Müller-Quernheim J. , Prasse A. , Zissel G. , Schnapp A. , Park J. E. 
Published: February 2007

BIBF 1000 is a small molecule inhibitor targeting the receptor kinases of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, which have known roles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.The anti-fibrotic potential of BIBF 1000 was determined in a rat model of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and in anex vivofibroblast differentiation assay. Rats exposed to a single intra-tracheal injection of bleomycin were treated with BIBF 1000 starting 10 days after bleomycin administration. To gauge for anti-fibrotic activity, collagen deposition and pro-fibrotic growth factor gene expression was analysed in isolated lungs. Furthermore, the activity of BIBF 1000 was compared with imatinib mesylate (combined PDGF receptor, c-kit and c-abl kinase inhibitor) and SB-431542 (transforming growth factor (TGF)-β receptor I kinase inhibitor) in anex vivoTGF-β-driven fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation assay, performed in primary human bronchial fibroblasts.Treatment of rats with BIBF 1000 resulted in the attenuation of fibrosis as assessed by the reduction of collagen deposition and the inhibition of pro-fibrotic gene expression. In the cellular assay both SB-431542 and BIBF 1000 showed dose-dependent inhibition of TGF-β-induced differentiation, whereas imatinib mesylate was inactive.BIBF 1000, or related small molecules with a similar kinase inhibition profile, may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
In silico identification of NF-kappaB-regulated genes in pancreatic beta-cells
Authors: Naamane Najib , van Helden Jacques , Eizirik Decio L 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBackgroundPancreatic beta-cells are the target of an autoimmune attack in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This is mediated in part by cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and interferon (IFN)-γ. These cytokines modify the expression of hundreds of genes, leading to beta-cell dysfunction and death by apoptosis. Several of these cytokine-induced genes are potentially regulated by the IL-1β-activated transcription factor (TF) nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and previous studies by our group have shown that cytokine-induced NF-κB activation is pro-apoptotic in beta-cells. To identify NF-κB-regulated gene networks in beta-cells we presently used a discriminant analysis-based approach to predict NF-κB responding genes on the basis of putative regulatory elements.ResultsThe performance of linear and quadratic discriminant analysis (LDA, QDA) in identifying NF-κB-responding genes was examined on a dataset of 240 positive and negative examples of NF-κB regulation, using stratified cross-validation with an internal leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) loop for automated feature selection and noise reduction. LDA performed slightly better than QDA, achieving 61% sensitivity, 91% specificity and 87% positive predictive value, and allowing the identification of 231, 251 and 580 NF-κB putative target genes in insulin-producing INS-1E cells, primary rat beta-cells and human pancreatic islets, respectively. Predicted NF-κB targets had a significant enrichment in genes regulated by cytokines (IL-1β or IL-1β + IFN-γ) and double stranded RNA (dsRNA), as compared to genes not regulated by these NF-κB-dependent stimuli. We increased the confidence of the predictions by selecting only evolutionary stable genes, i.e. genes with homologs predicted as NF-κB targets in rat, mouse, human and chimpanzee.ConclusionThe presentin silicoanalysis allowed us to identify novel regulatory targets of NF-κB using a supervised classification method based on putative binding motifs. This provides new insights into the gene networks regulating cytokine-induced beta-cell dysfunction and death.
Rapid evolution in response to introduced predators II: the contribution of adaptive plasticity
Authors: Latta Leigh C , Bakelar Jeremy W , Knapp Roland A , Pfrender Michael E 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBackgroundIntroductions of non-native species can significantly alter the selective environment for populations of native species, which can respond through phenotypic plasticity or genetic adaptation. We examined phenotypic and genetic responses ofDaphniapopulations to recent introductions of non-native fish to assess the relative roles of phenotypic plasticity versus genetic change in causing the observed patterns. TheDaphniacommunity in alpine lakes throughout the Sierra Nevada of California (USA) is ideally suited for investigation of rapid adaptive evolution because there are multiple lakes with and without introduced fish predators. We conducted common-garden experiments involving presence or absence of chemical cues produced by fish and measured morphological and life-history traits inDaphnia melanicapopulations collected from lakes with contrasting fish stocking histories. The experiment allowed us to assess the degree of population differentiation due to fish predation and examine the contribution of adaptive plasticity in the response to predator introduction.ResultsOur results show reductions in egg number and body size ofD. melanicain response to introduced fish. These phenotypic changes have a genetic basis but are partly due to a direct response to chemical cues from fish via adaptive phenotypic plasticity. Body size showed the largest phenotypic change, on the order of nine phenotypic standard deviations, with approximately 11% of the change explained by adaptive plasticity. Both evolutionary and plastic changes in body size and egg number occurred but no changes in the timing of reproduction were observed.ConclusionNativeDaphniapopulations exposed to chemical cues produced by salmonid fish predators display adaptive plasticity for body size and fecundity. The magnitude of adaptive plasticity was insufficient to explain the total phenotypic change, so the realized change in phenotypic means in populations exposed to introduced fish may be the result of a combination of initial plasticity and subsequent genetic adaptation. Our results suggest that immediately following the introduction of fish predators, adaptive plasticity may reduce the impact of selection through "Baldwin/Bogert effects" by facilitating the movement of populations toward new fitness optima. Our study of the response of a native species to an introduced predator enhances our understanding of the conditions necessary for rapid adaptive evolution and the relationship between rapid evolution and adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
Quality or equality? The Norwegian experience with medical monopolies
Authors: Rasmussen Knut , Bratlid Dag 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBackgroundIn order to maintain both quality and efficiency of health services in a small country with a scattered population, Norway established a monopoly system for 38 highly specialized medical services. The geographical distributions of these services, which are provided by one or two university hospitals only, were analysed.MethodsThe counties of residence for 2 711 patients admitted for the first time in 2001 to these 31 monopolies and 7 duopolies were identified.ResultsThe general tendency observed was that with increasing distance from residential home to monopoly hospitals there was a declining coverage of these health services. The same pattern was found even with regard to explicit diagnoses or treatments such as organ transplantations (except renal transplantations). Duopolies seemed to yield a more even geographical distribution of the services.ConclusionMonopolies may serve as a useful means for maintaining quality in highly specialized medical services, but seem to have an inherent tendency to do this at the expense of geographical equality.
Achieving a high coverage – the challenge of controlling HIV spread in heroin users
Authors: Li Ming-qiang , Lee Shui-shan , Gan Zhi-gao , Tan Yi , Meng Jin-Huai , He Ming-liang 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
In China, the national plan to open 1000 methadone clinics over a five-year period provides a unique opportunity to assess the impacts of harm reduction in a country with concentrated HIV epidemic amongst heroin users. To track the progress of this public health response, data were collected from the first methadone clinic in Liuzhou, Guangxi, a province with a high HIV prevalence. In the first 15 months of its operation, a cumulative total of 488 heroin users, 86% of which male, had joined the programme. The first dose of methadone was given efficiently at a median of 2 days after registration. Of the 240 heroin users attending the clinic in August 2006, 61% took methadone for four days or more each week. The number of active methadone users, however, leveled off at around 170 after the first two months, despite the availability of capacity to deliver more services. The reasons for this observation are: firstly, the provision of one single service that may not be convenient to all heroin users; and secondly, concerns of heroin users who may feel insecure to come forward. As broad coverage is essential in ultimately reducing HIV risk, a low threshold approach is crucial, which should be supported by the removal of social obstacles and a refinement of the administrative procedures.
Health sector reforms and human resources for health in Uganda and Bangladesh: mechanisms of effect
Authors: Ssengooba Freddie , Rahman Syed Azizur , Hongoro Charles , Rutebemberwa Elizeus , Mustafa Ahmed , Kielmann Tara , McPake Barbara 
Published: February 2007

Abstract

Background
Despite the expanding literature on how reforms may affect health workers and which reactions they may provoke, little research has been conducted on the mechanisms of effect through which health sector reforms either promote or discourage health worker performance. This paper seeks to trace these mechanisms and examines the contextual framework of reform objectives in Uganda and Bangladesh, and health workers' responses to the changes in their working environments by taking a 'realistic evaluation' approach.

Methods
The study findings were generated by triangulating both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis among policy technocrats, health managers and groups of health providers. Quantitative surveys were conducted with over 700 individual health workers in both Bangladesh and Uganda and supplemented with qualitative data obtained from focus group discussions and key interviews with professional cadres, health managers and key institutions involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of the reforms of interest.

Results
The reforms in both countries affected the workforce through various mechanisms. In Bangladesh, the effects of the unification efforts resulted in a power struggle and general mistrust between the two former workforce tracts, family planning and health. However positive effects of the reforms were felt regarding the changes in payment schemes. Ugandan findings show how the workforce responded to a strong and rapidly implemented system of decentralisation where the power of new local authorities was influenced by resource constraints and nepotism in recruitment. On the other hand, closer ties to local authorities provided the opportunity to gain insight into the operational constraints originating from higher levels that health staff were dealing with.

Conclusion
Findings from the study suggest that a) reform planners should use the proposed dynamic responses model to help design reform objectives that encourage positive responses among health workers b) the role of context has been underestimated and it is necessary to address broader systemic problems before initiating reform processes, c) reform programs need to incorporate active implementation research systems to learn the contextual dynamics and responses as well as have inbuilt program capacity for corrective measures d) health workers are key stakeholders in any reform process and should participate at all stages and e) some effects of reforms on the health workforce operate indirectly through levels of satisfaction voiced by communities utilising the services.
Dual-lumen catheters for continuous venovenous hemofiltration: limits for blood delivery via femoral vein access and a potential alternative in an experimental setting in anesthetized pigs
Authors: Unger Juliane K , Pietzner Klaus , Francis Roland C , Birnbaum Juergen , Theisen Marc Michael , Lemke Arne-Joern , Niehues Stefan M 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Introduction
Small intravascular volume, pathophysiological hemorheology, and/or low cardiac output [CO] are assumed to reduce available blood flow rates via common dual-lumen catheters (except for those with a right atrium catheter tip position) in the critically ill patient. We performed an experimental animal study to verify these assumptions.

Methods
Anesthetized, ventilated pigs (35 to 50 kg) were allocated to different hemorheological conditions based on the application of different volume substitutes (that is, colloids and crystalloids, n = 6 to 7 per volume substitute). In a second step, allocation to the final study group was performed after the determination of the highest values for access flow (Qa) via an axial dual-lumen catheter (11 French, 20 cm long, side holes) placed in the femoral vein. High Qa rates (>300 ml/minute) were allocated to the dual-lumen catheter group; low Qa rates were switched to a 'dual-vein approach' using an alternative catheter (8.5-French sheath) for separate blood delivery. Hemodynamics (CO and central venous pressure [CVP]) and blood composition (blood cell counts, plasma proteins, and colloid osmotic pressure) were measured. Catheter tip positions and vessel diameters were exemplified by computed tomography.

Results
Forty-four percent of the animals required an alternative vascular access due to only minimal Qa via the dual-lumen catheter. Neither hemorheologically relevant aspects nor CO and CVP correlated with the Qa achievable via the femoral vein access. Even though the catheter tip of the alternative catheter provided common iliac vein but not caval vein access, this catheter type enabled higher Qa than the dual-lumen catheter positioned in the caval vein.

Conclusion
With respect to the femoral vein approach, none of the commonly assumed reasons for limited Qa via the arterial line of an axial dual-lumen catheter could be confirmed. The 8.5-French sheath, though not engineered for that purpose, performed quite well as an alternative catheter. Thus, in patients lacking right jugular vein access with tip positioning of large-French dual-lumen catheters in the right atrium, it would be of interest to obtain clinical data re-evaluating the 'dual-vein approach' with separate blood delivery via a tip-hole catheter in order to provide high-volume hemofiltration.