bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What errors do peer reviewers detect, and does training improve their ability to detect them?
Authors: Schroter Sara , Black Nick , Evans Stephen , Godlee Fiona , Osorio Lyda , Smith Richard 
Published: October 2008

Objective To analyse data from a trial and report the frequencies with which major and minor errors are detected at a general medical journal, the types of errors missed and the impact of training on error detection. Design 607 peer reviewers at the BMJ were randomized to two intervention groups receiving different types of training (face-to-face training or a self-taught package) and a control group. Each reviewer was sent the same three test papers over the study period, each of which had nine major and five minor methodological errors inserted. Setting BMJ peer reviewers. Main outcome measures The quality of review, assessed using a validated instrument, and the number and type of errors detected before and after training. Results The number of major errors detected varied over the three papers. The interventions had small effects. At baseline (Paper 1) reviewers found an average of 2.58 of the nine major errors, with no notable difference between the groups. The mean number of errors reported was similar for the second and third papers, 2.71 and 3.0, respectively. Biased randomization was the error detected most frequently in all three papers, with over 60% of reviewers rejecting the papers identifying this error. Reviewers who did not reject the papers found fewer errors and the proportion finding biased randomization was less than 40% for each paper. Conclusions Editors should not assume that reviewers will detect most major errors, particularly those concerned with the context of study. Short training packages have only a slight impact on improving error detection.
eHealth as a challenge to ‘expert’ power: a focus group study of internet use for health information and management
Authors: Donnelly Louise S , Shaw Rachel L , van den Akker Olga BA 
Published: October 2008

Summary Objective To investigate current use of the internet and eHealth amongst adults. Design Focus groups were conducted to explore participants' attitudes to and reasons for health internet use. Main outcome measures The focus group data were analysed and interpreted using thematic analysis. Results Three superordinate themes exploring eHealth behaviours were identified: decline in expert authority, pervasiveness of health information on the internet and empowerment. Results showed participants enjoyed the immediate benefits of eHealth information and felt empowered by increased knowledge, but they would be reluctant to lose face-to-face consultations with their GP. Conclusions Our findings illustrate changes in patient identity and a decline in expert authority with ramifications for the practitioner–patient relationship and subsequent implications for health management more generally.
The contribution of animal models to the study of obesity
Authors: Speakman John , Hambly Catherine , Mitchell Sharon , Król Elżbieta 
Published: October 2008

SummaryObesity results from prolonged imbalance of energy intake and energy expenditure. Animal models have provided a fundamental contribution to the historical development of understanding the basic parameters that regulate the components of our energy balance. Five different types of animal model have been employed in the study of the physiological and genetic basis of obesity. The first models reflect single gene mutations that have arisen spontaneously in rodent colonies and have subsequently been characterized. The second approach is to speed up the random mutation rate artificially by treating rodents with mutagens or exposing them to radiation. The third type of models are mice and rats where a specific gene has been disrupted or overexpressed as a deliberate act. Such genetically-engineered disruptions may be generated through the entire body for the entire life (global transgenic manipulations) or restricted in both time and to certain tissue or cell types. In all these genetically-engineered scenarios, there are two types of situation that lead to insights: where a specific gene hypothesized to play a role in the regulation of energy balance is targeted, and where a gene is disrupted for a different purpose, but the consequence is an unexpected obese or lean phenotype. A fourth group of animal models concern experiments where selective breeding has been utilized to derive strains of rodents that differ in their degree of fatness. Finally, studies have been made of other species including non-human primates and dogs. In addition to studies of the physiological and genetic basis of obesity, studies of animal models have also informed us about the environmental aspects of the condition. Studies in this context include exploring the responses of animals to high fat or high fat/high sugar (Cafeteria) diets, investigations of the effects of dietary restriction on body mass and fat loss, and studies of the impact of candidate pharmaceuticals on components of energy balance. Despite all this work, there are many gaps in our understanding of how body composition and energy storage are regulated, and a continuing need for the development of pharmaceuticals to treat obesity. Accordingly, reductions in the use of animal models, while ethically desirable, will not be feasible in the short to medium term, and indeed an expansion in activity using animal models is anticipated as the epidemic continues and spreads geographically.
A sheep model for fracture treatment in osteoporosis: Benefits of the model versus animal welfare
Authors: Egermann M , Goldhahn J , Holz R , Schneider E , Lill C A 
Published: October 2008

Summary Animal models are necessary to evaluate new options for the treatment of fractures in osteoporotic bone. They permit both the biological response of a living system and the influence of the pathological processes to be taken into account. A sheep model for osteoporosis was established by combining oestrogen deficiency, calcium and vitamin D-deficient diet with steroid medication. Bone mineral density (BMD) was reduced by >30% after 12 weeks of combined treatment. Osteoporosis similar to the human situation with corresponding changes in the micro-architecture and mechanical properties of bone was observed. This publication focuses on the impressive results obtained with the model and contrasts them with considerations of animal welfare. Considerable side-effects associated with steroid medication became manifest. Animals in the treatment groups showed signs of infection of various degrees due to the immunosuppressive effect of the medication. The infections were mostly caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Antibody testing revealed a 100% prevalence of infection in this breed of sheep. A modification of the steroid treatment, i.e. less-frequent injections, reduced the incidence of side-effects. This sheep model shows a significant and reproducible reduction in cancellous BMD of >30%, including relevant changes in biomechanical properties and increased fracture risk. However, the severity of the side-effects cannot be overlooked. The model must be improved if it is to be used in the future. Options to reduce the side-effects are discussed.
Collection and cryopreservation of preimplantation embryos of Cavia porcellus
Authors: Dorsch M M , Glage S , Hedrich H J 
Published: October 2008

Summary Individual differences and a rather long-lasting reproductive cycle, as well as the relatively small number of oocytes that mature during one reproductive cycle makes it difficult to establish a cryopreserved stock of preimplantation embryos of the guineapig ( Cavia porcellus) when compared with other laboratory rodents. Only a few data for superovulation protocols that can be used for routine laboratory use in guineapigs are available. However, a huge number of different strains exist for many purposes and the establishment of a frozen repository makes sense. Here, we describe the successful freezing of preimplatation embryos of the strain 2BS with a two-step freezing protocol in a freezing medium containing 1,2-propanediol as cryoprotectant. Human menopausal gonodotrophin induced superovulation in the embryo donors.
Biomedical imaging in the safety evaluation of new drugs
Authors: Wang Yi-Xiang J , Yan Sen-Xiang 
Published: October 2008

Summary Toxicology accounts for approximately one-third of attrition in new drug development and is a major concern in the pharmaceutical industry. This paper reviews the role of biomedical imaging in the safety evaluation of new candidate drugs. Ex vivo high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of specimens can provide a quick overview of the specimens. Volumetric measurements of tissue structures and lesions can be made with higher precision and reproducibility than histology approaches. As opposed to histology, in vivo animal imaging permits longitudinal studies of the same animals over an extended period of time, with individual animals serving as their own control. Therefore, the number of animals required for a study can be significantly reduced and the intra-subject variability is minimized. Repeated in vivo imaging allows monitoring of the occurrence and progression, or regression, of various structural and functional abnormalities. Compared with other biological assays, imaging can provide anatomically specific information about tissue abnormality. Imaging offers the opportunity to carry forward the same methodology in animal experiments into human studies and has an important role in clinical trials when other safety biomarkers for early toxicities are not available.
Antibiograms of pathogenic bacteria isolated from laboratory rabbits in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Okewole E A , Olubunmi P A 
Published: October 2008

Summary Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of 21 bacterial isolates from some clinically ill New Zealand rabbits were evaluated against 12 commonly used antibiotics by the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion sensitivity testing method. The 21 isolates consisted of six Bordetella bronchiseptica, eight Pasteurella multocida, four Staphylococcus aureus and three Pseudomonas alcaligenes that were associated with snuffles, pneumonia, otitis media, genital infections and conjunctivitis in these groups of caged rabbits. The four bacteria species were all sensitive to kanamycin, gentamycin and enrofloxacin, with variable sensitivity to the other antibiotics tested. The results of this antibiogram could serve as a field guide in the treatment of very acute bacterial diseases of rabbit prior to the availability of the results of local sensitivity tests. Such sensitivity tests should be reviewed yearly to update this antibiogram.
Quantitative rat liver function test by galactose single point method
Authors: Young T H , Tang H S , Chao Y C , Lee H S , Hsiong C H , Pao L H , Hu O Y P 
Published: October 2008

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to investigate the galactose single point (GSP) method, a residual liver function test recently recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration, which can be a useful tool for rat liver function measurement. Rats were treated either with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) alone (1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) for one day or with isoniazid (INH) alone (150 mg/kg, i.p.) or (in order to ameliorate the effects of INH) with a combination of INH and bis- p-nitrophenyl phosphate (BNPP) (25 mg/kg, i.p.) for 21 days. Hepatotoxicity was assayed by plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities and scores of histological activity index-necroinflammation (HAI-NI) of the respective liver specimens. The GSP method in rats was defined by the galactose blood level after 60 min. Significant differences in GSP values were observed between controls and the CCl4-treated rats. After 21 days of treatment, no significant changes in AST and ALT values were observed among the control, INH and INH-BNPP groups. There were significant differences in average GSP values for controls ( P < 0.001) and INH-BNPP ( P < 0.001) compared with INH alone. Highly significant correlations ( P < 0.001) were obtained between GSP and scores of HAI-NI for all the groups. GSP was concluded to be a more sensitive biomarker of INH-induced hepatotoxicity than AST or ALT in the rats. The GSP method has been proved to be a simple and useful tool for the quantitative determination of liver function in rats, which can possibly be extended to other animals.
Upcoming Computing System Challenges – The HiPEAC Vision Anstehende Herausforderungen der Computer Industrie – Die HiPEAC Vision
Authors: De Bosschere Koen 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Over the last decades, we have witnessed an exponential increase in sequential computing performance, but since few years this progress is slowing down. This paper describes the current evolutions in technology and architecture that cause this slowdown, and lists the major research challenges that need to be tackled in the coming years to further continue this exponential performance growth. If the computing industry fails to solve these challenges soon, this will for the first time lead to a stop of the exponential performance growth, which might eventually impact the economic growth of western economies.
Invasive Algorithms and Architectures Invasive Algorithmen und Architekturen
Authors: Teich Jürgen 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
In this seminal paper, we introduce the notion of invasive algorithms and corresponding parallel computing architectures also called invasive. The main idea of invasion is to add to a given single-processor program the ability to explore neighbor processors and to copy itself to such processors in a phase of invasion, and then to execute the given problem in parallel based on the available (invasible) region on a given multi-processor architecture. After this parallel execution, the program may perform a retreat and resume execution again sequentially on the single processor. In order to support invasion, new architectural concepts as well as means to support invasion on reconfigurable MPSoCs are provided. We do believe that invasion will become an important step towards self-organizing behavior which will be needed in the massively parallel MPSoC area beyond the year 2020 with unrivaled performance and resource efficiency numbers as one of the main challenges for MPSoCs apart from their programming. In case of invasion, an algorithm is able to spread itself for parallel execution based on availability of processing resources.
Towards Dynamic Software/Hardware Transformation in AMIDAR Processors Auf dem Weg zur dynamischen Software/Hardware Transformation in AMIDAR Prozessoren
Authors: Döbrich Stefan , Hochberger Christian 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Reconfigurable architectures have shown their ability to provide high performance and high efficiency in the past. Unfortunately, almost all existing architectures require the usage of heavy weight tool sets to map an application to the reconfigurable fabric. Thus, these architectures can not be dynamically adapted to the requirements of the running applications. The AMIDAR concept fills this gap and has shown its ability to adapt itself to running applications. In this contribution we elaborate on the automatic integration of application specific functional units into the running application code.
Beschreibung und Verifikation räumlicher und zeitlicher Eigenschaften mobiler Systeme Specification and Verification of Spatio-Temporal Properties of Mobile Systems
Authors: Schäfer Andreas 
Published: October 2008

Zusammenfassung
Dieser Aufsatz gibt einen Überblick über eine formale Methode zur Analyse mobiler Realzeitsysteme. Beispiele solcher Systeme sind Fahrzeugsteuerungen und mobile Roboter. Es wird eine spatio-temporale Logik entwickelt, mit der sowohl die Systeme modelliert als auch die gewünschten Eigenschaften beschrieben werden können. Für diese Logik werden die theoretischen Grundlagen wie Entscheidbarkeit und Axiomatisierbarkeit untersucht und daraus der Prototyp eines automatischen Verifikationswerkzeuges entwickelt. Die Anwendung wird anhand einer aus der Industrie stammenden Fallstudie demonstriert.
Neuroimaging-Use Trends in Nonacute Pediatric Headache Before and After Clinical Practice Parameters
Authors: Graf William D. , Kayyali Husam R. , Alexander John J. , Simon Steven D. , Morriss Michael C. 
Published: October 2008

OBJECTIVES. The objective of this study was to determine trends in diagnostic neuroimaging-use rates in nonacute pediatric headache before and after publication of clinical practice guidelines.METHODS. Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted of neuroimaging rates for 725 children and adolescents who were aged 3 to 18 years with nonacute headache and normal neurologic examination and were evaluated in a single pediatric neurology clinic during study years 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. Following recommendations of current practice parameters, patients with conditions that justify consideration for neuroimaging (eg, progressive headache, abnormal neurologic examination) were excluded from this analysis. We recorded the origin of any neuroimaging request at the time of the clinic visit and any abnormal neuroimaging findings that led to major clinical consequences.RESULTS. Overall, the mean rate of neuroimaging for patients with nonacute headache was 45%. Use rates remained steady during the 13-year study period (range: 41%–47%). The majority of neuroimaging studies were ordered originally by primary care providers. The proportion of neuroimaging studies that were ordered by primary care providers increased significantly from 1992 to 2004.CONCLUSIONS. In the evaluation of patients who had nonacute pediatric headache and were referred to a child neurology clinic, neuroimaging-use rates remained stable during the past decade. An increasing proportion of neuroimaging studies are ordered by primary care providers. The influence of evidence-based medicine on medical decision-making may be partly responsible for curbing increases in neuroimaging overuse. The perceived value of neuroimaging by physicians and consumers deserves ongoing study.
State Power as a Vehicle for the Expression and Propagation of Implicit Religion
Authors: Wender Andrew M. 
Published: October 2008

The ‘war on terrorism’ spearheaded by the United States provides a telling example of how state power may act to express and propagate a specific mode of implicit religion, and, moreover, how this variety of implicit religion demonstrates the permeable boundaries between explicit religion and implicit religion. In representing a liberal, democratic capitalist, nationalist ideology that is peculiar for its conflation of evangelical Protestantism together with naturalistic principles, US state power functions as a secular social and political entity, which is simultaneously experienced as a manifestation of the sacred or holy. Employing juridical weaponry ranging from domestic legislation to global military, political, and economic measures, the ‘war on terrorism’ depicts the US as a worldly deliverer of transcendent virtue, anointed to save the world
from the evil of ‘terrorism’. On a domestic level, this depiction bespeaks a form of implicit religion that parallels the idea of US civil religion made famous by Bellah, and relies on a concept of terrorism that discursively asserts the implicit
sacredness of US national ideology. Meanwhile, on an international scale, the US attempt to compel worldwide conversions to liberal capitalism equates to an effort at pursuing global salvation; this, by carrying forth an implicit religious crusade in which a secular ideology functions as a site for the experiencing of transcendence.
Targeted Therapies for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: An Overview of Toxicity and Dosing Strategies
Authors: Hutson Thomas E. , Figlin Robert A. , Kuhn John G. , Motzer Robert J. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Learning Objectives
After completing this course, the reader should be able to: Evaluate the recommended clinical doses and the associated safety data for targeted therapies in RCC.Identify clinical circumstances for which dose modifications should be considered in RCC patients treated with targeted therapies.Employ prescribing guidelines for the management of drug-related toxicities.
CME This article is available for continuing medical education credit at CME.TheOncologist.com
The targeted therapies sunitinib, sorafenib, temsirolimus, and bevacizumab (when used in combination with interferon-α2a) have dramatically improved outcomes for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clinical application of these novel agents outside the trial setting, however, may present some challenges for treating individual patients with unique needs. In some patients, dose modifications may be considered for potential drug interactions and for management of severe cases of hematologic or nonhematologic toxicities. The more common grade 3 or 4 side effects with sunitinib and sorafenib include hypertension, fatigue, hand–foot syndrome, elevated lipase, lymphopenia, and neutropenia. Congestive heart failure is a less common but serious side effect that warrants treatment discontinuation. Temsirolimus exhibits a different side-effect profile, with the more common grade 3 or 4 side effects being metabolic in nature (i.e., elevated triglycerides, elevated glucose, hypophosphatemia) as a result of its inhibitory effects on the mammalian target of rapamycin–regulated lipid and glucose pathways. Asthenia, rash, and dyspnea also occur in patients receiving temsirolimus. Virtually all of the side effects associated with these agents can be managed effectively in the majority of patients with medical treatment or supportive interventions. Recognition and prompt management of side effects are important to avoid unnecessary dose reductions that may result in suboptimal efficacy.