bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating trial and treatment heterogeneity in an individual patient data meta‐analysis of survival data by means of the penalized maximum likelihood approach
Authors: Rondeau V. , Michiels S. , Liquet B. , Pignon J. P. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn a meta‐analysis combining survival data from different clinical trials, an important issue is the possible heterogeneity between trials. Such intertrial variation can not only be explained by heterogeneity of treatment effects across trials but also by heterogeneity of their baseline risk. In addition, one might examine the relationship between magnitude of the treatment effect and the underlying risk of the patients in the different trials. Such a scenario can be accounted for by using additive random effects in the Cox model, with a random trial effect and a random treatment‐by‐trial interaction. We propose to use this kind of model with a general correlation structure for the random effects and to estimate parameters and hazard function using a semi‐parametric penalized marginal likelihood method (maximum penalized likelihood estimators). This approach gives smoothed estimates of the hazard function, which represents incidence in epidemiology. The idea for the approach in this paper comes from the study of heterogeneity in a large meta‐analysis of randomized trials in patients with head and neck cancers (meta‐analysis of chemotherapy in head and neck cancers) and the effect of adding chemotherapy to locoregional treatment. The simulation study and the application demonstrate that the proposed approach yields satisfactory results and they illustrate the need to use a flexible variance–covariance structure for the random effects. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Meta‐analysis of continuous outcomes combining individual patient data and aggregate data
Authors: Riley Richard D. , Lambert Paul C. , Staessen Jan A. , Wang Jiguang , Gueyffier Francois , Thijs Lutgarde , Boutitie Florent 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMeta‐analysis of individual patient data (IPD) is the gold‐standard for synthesizing evidence across clinical studies. However, for some studies IPD may not be available and only aggregate data (AD), such as a treatment effect estimate and its standard error, may be obtained. In this situation, methods for combining IPD and AD are important to utilize all the available evidence. In this paper, we develop and assess a range of statistical methods for combining IPD and AD in meta‐analysis of continuous outcomes from randomized controlled trials.The methods take either a one‐step or a two‐step approach. The latter is simple, with IPD reduced to AD so that standard AD meta‐analysis techniques can be employed. The one‐step approach is more complex but offers a flexible framework to include both patient‐level and trial‐level parameters. It uses a dummy variable to distinguish IPD trials from AD trials and to constrain which parameters the AD trials estimate. We show that this is important when assessing how patient‐level covariates modify treatment effect, as aggregate‐level relationships across trials are subject to ecological bias and confounding. We thus develop models to separate within‐trial and across‐trials treatment–covariate interactions; this ensures that only IPD trials estimate the former, whilst both IPD and AD trials estimate the latter in addition to the pooled treatment effect and any between‐study heterogeneity. Extension to multiple correlated outcomes is also considered. Ten IPD trials in hypertension, with blood pressure the continuous outcome of interest, are used to assess the models and identify the benefits of utilizing AD alongside IPD. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Timing of lung size assessment in the prediction of survival in fetuses with diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Jani J. , Nicolaides K. H. , Benachi A. , Moreno O. , Favre R. , Gratacos E. , Deprest J. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate whether the prediction of postnatal outcome of fetuses with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia depends on the gestational age at assessment using the fetal observed to expected (O/E) lung area to head circumference ratio (LHR), by comparing the performance of the test at 22–23 weeks with that at 32–33 weeks of gestation.MethodsFollowing prenatal diagnosis of isolated diaphragmatic hernia before 22 weeks, we evaluated the O/E LHR at 22–32 weeks and again at 32–33 weeks of gestation. Only cases liveborn beyond 34 weeks of gestation and with postnatal follow‐up available until discharge from the hospital were included. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect on postnatal survival of O/E LHR, gestational age at delivery, side of the diaphragmatic hernia and intrathoracic position of the liver. Wilcoxon rank test for paired samples was used to compare median O/E LHR at 22–23 weeks and 32–33 weeks, in babies who survived and in those who died. Receiver–operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed for the prediction of survival by O/E LHR at 22–23 weeks and at 32–33 weeks.ResultsIn total, 53 pairs of measurements could be assessed. Univariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that significant predictors of survival were the presence or absence of intrathoracic herniation of the liver, the O/E LHR at 22–23 weeks and the O/E LHR at 32–33 weeks of gestation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that only O/E LHR at 22–23 weeks or 32–33 weeks provided significant independent prediction of survival. The median O/E LHR at 22–23 weeks was not significantly different from that at 32–23 weeks either in survivors or in babies that subsequently died in the neonatal period (P = 0.25 and P = 0.09, respectively). The area under the ROC curve for prediction of postnatal survival from the O/E LHR at 22–23 weeks was 0.789 (P < 0.001) and that for prediction from the O/E LHR at 32–33 weeks was 0.842 (P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn isolated diaphragmatic hernia, O/E LHR measurement at 22–23 weeks as well as at 32–33 weeks provides useful independent prediction of subsequent survival. The prediction of postnatal survival using O/E LHR is independent of the timing of assessment. Copyright © 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Diagenesis evaluation in Middle Ages human bones using EDXRF
Authors: Carvalho M. L. , Marques A. F. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe elemental concentration in buried human bones is studied by energy dispersive x‐ray fluorescence. Several cortical and trabecular bones: skulls, peroneus, mandibles, tibias, femurs, ribs, vertebras and omoplates, belonging to a population dating to the Middle Ages were analysed. The purpose of this study is to compare the behaviour of the different structures of the several bones during the diagenetic process affecting bone during burial. Quantitative analysis was performed for K, Ca, Zn, Sr, Ti, Mn, Fe and Pb and cluster analysis was achieved considering the elemental concentrations for the different bones. There is a clear distinction for bone association regarding Ca, Zn, Sr and K, Mn, Fe, Ti and Pb in the several bones. These results do not allow a clear categorization into cortical and trabecular bones for some of the samples studied, as far as distinguishing between the remains of the original bone and the environmental contamination from the surrounding soil. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The certification of the Mondex electronic purse to ITSEC Level E6
Authors: Woodcock Jim , Stepney Susan , Cooper David , Clark John , Jacob Jeremy 
Published: December 2007

Abstract.
Ten years ago the Mondex electronic purse was certified to ITSEC Level E6, the highest level of assurance for secure systems. This involved building formal models in the Z notation, linking them with refinement, and proving that they correctly implement the required security properties. The work has been revived recently as a pilot project for the international Grand Challenge in Verified Software. This paper records the history of the original project and gives an overview of the formal models and proofs used.
Modeling and validating Mondex scenarios described in UML and OCL with USE
Authors: Kuhlmann Mirco , Gogolla Martin 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis paper describes the Mondex case study with UML class diagrams and restricting OCL constraints. The constraints have been formulated either as OCL class invariants or as OCL pre- and postconditions. The proposed two models include UML class diagrams and OCL constraints which have been checked by the UML and OCL tool USE (UML-based Specification Environment). USE allows validation of a model by testing it with scenarios. The Mondex case study has been validated by positive and negative test cases. The test cases allow the validity of the various constraints to be traced and checked. Validation results are presented as textual protocols or as UML sequence diagrams where starting, intermediate, and resulting system states are represented by UML object diagrams. UML sequence diagrams, UML object diagrams, and textual protocols are shown with varying degrees of detail for the attributes, constraints, and executed commands.
The Clinical Conundrum of Corticotropin‐independent Autonomous Cortisol Secretion in Patients with Bilateral Adrenal Masses
Authors: Young William F. , du Plessis Hendrick , Thompson Geoffrey B. , Grant Clive S. , Farley David R. , Richards Melanie L. , Erickson Dana , Vella Adrian , Stanson Anthony W. , Carney J. Aidan , Abboud Charles F. , Carpenter Paul C. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractBackgroundManagement of patients with bilateral adrenal masses and corticotropin (ACTH)‐independent Cushing syndrome (CS) or subclinical CS is problematic. We report our experience with adrenal venous sampling (AVS) in the evaluation of 10 patients with bilateral masses who had ACTH‐independent CS or subclinical CS.Patients and MethodsTen patients (9 women, 1 man, mean age 56.4 years) with bilateral adrenal masses and ACTH‐independent CS (n = 3) or subclinical CS (n = 7) underwent AVS. Autonomous cortisol secretion was documented in all cases with suppressed serum ACTH concentrations and lack of cortisol suppression with dexamethasone administration. Adrenal venous sampling was performed on the second day of dexamethasone administration. Cortisol and epinephrine levels were measured from each adrenal vein (AV) and from a peripheral vein (PV).ResultsMean (± SD) maximal diameter of the adrenal masses on computed tomography was 3.3 ± 1.3 cm (range: 1.2–6.0 cm). Successful catheterization was confirmed with AV:PV epinephrine gradients. A cortisol AV:PV gradient >6.5 was consistent with a cortisol‐secreting adenoma in 11 adrenal glands; 5 patients had clinically important bilateral autonomous cortisol hypersecretion, 3 had bilateral cortisol‐secreting adenomas, and 2 had ACTH‐independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. Adrenal venous sampling‐guided adrenalectomy was completed in all 10 patients—2 patients had total bilateral adrenalectomy and 2 others had subtotal bilateral adrenalectomy. During a mean follow‐up of 36.1 months (range: 0.7–123 months), CS or clinically important cortisol secretory autonomy did not recur.ConclusionsAdrenal venous sampling contributed to the localization of autonomous hypercortisolism in the setting of ACTH‐independent CS or subclinical CS in patients with bilateral adrenal masses.
Mathematical modeling of colony formation in algal blooms: phenotypic plasticity in cyanobacteria
Authors: Serizawa Hiroshi , Amemiya Takashi , Enomoto Takatoshi , Rossberg Axel G. , Itoh Kiminori 
Published: December 2007

AbstractIn this paper, we analyzed a mathematical model of algal‐grazer dynamics, including the effect of colony formation, which is an example of phenotypic plasticity. The model consists of three variables, which correspond to the biomasses of unicellular algae, colonial algae, and herbivorous zooplankton. Among these organisms, colonial algae are the main components of algal blooms. This aquatic system has two stable attractors, which can be identified as a zooplankton‐dominated (ZD) state and an algal‐dominated (AD) state, respectively. Assuming that the handling time of zooplankton on colonial algae increases with the colonial algae biomass, we discovered that bistability can occur within the model system. The applicability of alternative stable states in algae‐grazer dynamics as a framework for explaining the algal blooms in real lake ecosystems, thus, seems to depend on whether the assumption mentioned above is met in natural circumstances.
Short‐term variations in abundances and potential activities of viruses, bacteria and nanoprotists in Lake Bourget
Authors: Sime‐Ngando T. , Colombet J. , Personnic S. , Domaizon I. , Dorigo U. , Perney P. , Hustache J. C. , Viollier E. , Jacquet S. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractSamples were collected at four depths every 6 h over a 42‐h period during two contrasting seasons (June vs. December) from Lake Bourget, France, for evidence of circadian fluctuations in the concentrations and potential activities of viruses, prokaryotes and protists in relation to environmental conditions: temperature, chlorophyll a and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Considerable vertical and temporal fluctuations were observed for all variables. Circadian variations were noted for DOC and chlorophyll a concentrations. Despite the external abiotic forcing (light, water movements), the fluctuations of microbial variables (including viruses) in most cases were apparently linked to biotic factors and interactions. Standing stocks and activities, as well as the number and levels of correlations among the microbial components, were, surprisingly, higher in winter than in summer. We speculate that this was because trophic interactions prevailed over the seasonal forcing (i.e. temperature) in shaping the observed differences.
Indonesian women and political Islam
Authors: Blackburn Susan 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThis article investigates the history of women's relationship to political Islam in Indonesia over the last century. It addresses three questions: how Islamic women have been politically active in Indonesia, how Indonesian women have been affected by political Islam, and how they have influenced political Islam. Independence marked a turning point. In the colonial period, women were more active within radical Islamic organisations than in moderate ones. Since independence, however, the situation has changed. Instead, the role of women has strengthened in moderate organisations while radical Islam has kept women in the background.
Antarctic politics and Antarctic science — are they at loggerheads?
Authors: Heap John A 
Published: December 2007

“Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only …… Freedom of scientific investigation and co-operation toward that end …… shall continue, subject to the provisions of the present Treaty.”These are the fundamental objectives of the Antarctic Treaty as expressed in Articles I and II. What
follows in the Treaty, and in most of the many “Recommendations” to the Governments of Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCPs), is aimed at securing these objectives by the creation of a
framework of law. Unusually for a system of laws, most of this legal framework is hortatory rather
than mandatory in character - it cajoles rather than orders. Perhaps not surprisingly this has given rise
to damaging suggestions about its ability to provide adequate protection for the Antarctic environment.
The response of the ATCPs to this criticism has been to embark on a review of existing Antarctic law,
to make it more consistent, reduce overlaps and more especially, make much of it mandatory. This
process began at the XIth Special Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Chile last November.
Since it aims to provide greater clarity, accessibility and certainty in the law, it must be welcomed.
But within these admirable objectives a prospect of loggerheads begins to loom.
Introduction
Authors: Goodwin Ian D. , Pudsey Carol J. 
Published: December 2007

This issue contains a group of papers selected from those presented at the 1st workshop of the SCAR-GLOCHANT and IGBP-PAGES cosponsored programme on the Late Quaternary Sedimentary Record of the Antarctic Ice Margin Evolution (ANTIME), held in Hobart, 6-1 1 July 1997. ANTIME is focused on the circurn Antarctic reconstruction of palaeoclimate, palaeoenvironment, and ice sheet palaeogeography throughout the last glacial cycle. There were 65 participants from Australia, USA, UK, Italy, Spain, Japan, Sweden, Germany and Russia at the workshop. The participants included representatives of PAGES, IMAGES, and INQUA. The workshop included three scientific sessions on:
Extent, timing and regional differences during Glacial Stage 2 (10–30 kyr BP) in Antarctica, from the terrestrial and marine records;Climatic, environmental and glacial events during the Holocene;Late Quaternary geochronological problems in Antarctica.
POLITICAL COMMUNICATION ABOUT EUROPE ON THE INTERNET DURING THE 2004 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN NINE EU MEMBER STATES
Authors: van Os Renée , Jankowski Nicholas W. , Vergeer Maurice 
Published: December 2007

ABSTRACT
This article considers the possibility of a European public sphere contributing to a reduction of the so-called ‘democratic deficit’ through engagement of citizens in the European project and enhancing processes of identification beyond the local or national environment. We elaborate on our interpretation of the European public sphere, emphasizing that political actors, including citizens, are engaged in political communication about Europe, either directly or indirectly through media or Internet-based representations. The study presented in this article investigates the extent of Europeanization of political communication on the Internet by measuring the visibility of communication about Europe on websites produced by various political actors in nine EU member states in the context of the 2004 European Parliament election. Two-thirds of the websites included in the study actually had European Parliamentary election-related content on the front page at the time of the election; a percentage we consider relatively low because of the search strategy followed. Actors addressed general European issues somewhat more frequently on their websites: in nearly three-quarters of cases, which can be considered an indicator of the existence of a European public sphere.
First Report of Cucumber mosaic virus on Jatropha curcas in India
Authors: Raj S. K. , Kumar S. , Snehi S. K. , Pathre U. 
Published: December 2007

Jatropha curcas L. is a major commercial biodiesel fuel crop grown on 98 million acres (39.66 million ha) in India. Severe mosaic disease accompanied by yellow spots was noticed on 15% of J. curcas growing in the experimental plots of NBRI, Lucknow, India, during October of 2006. Inoculations with sap from symptomatic plants resulted in systemic mosaic on three of seven J. curcas seedlings. Gel diffusion tests were performed with antiserum to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Tobacco ringspot virus, and Chrysanthemum virus B (PVAS-242a, PVAS-157, and PVAS-349, respectively; ATCC, Manassas, VA). Leaf sap of infected plants reacted only with PVAS-242a, indicating the presence of CMV. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays with CMV coat protein gene specific primers (Genbank Accession Nos. AM180922 and AM180923) and total nucleic acid extracted from symptomatic J. curcas leaf tissue yielded the expected ~650-bp amplicon, which was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. EF153739). BLAST analysis indicated 98 to 99% nucleotide identity with CMV isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. DQ914877, DQ640743, AF350450, AF281864, X89652, AF198622, DQ152254, DQ141675, and DQ028777). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the J. curcas isolate was more closely related to Indian isolates of CMV belonging to subgroup Ib. Literature surveys revealed records of Jatropha mosaic virus on J. gossypiifolia in Puerto Rico (1) and on J. curcas in India (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV on J. curcas. References: (1) J. K. Brown et al. Arch. Virol. 146:1581, 2001. (2) D. S. A. Narayana et al. Curr. Sci. 91:584, 2006.
First Report of Anthracnose Fruit Rot Caused by Colletotrichum acutatum on Pepper and Tomato in Bulgaria
Authors: Jelev Z. J. , Bobev S. G. , Minz D. , Maymon M. , Freeman S. 
Published: December 2007

In the late summer of 2005, sporadic and unusual damage was observed on pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Kurtovska kapia and local cv. Ribka) on two farms and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Florida 47) fruits on one farm in the Plovdiv Region of Bulgaria. Dry, round, sunken zones (10 to 20 mm) were observed on pepper fruits that preserved their natural skin color even after black acervuli containing orange masses of conidia appeared. Eventually, the lesions turned brown, coalesced, and the fruits mummified on the plants. Tomato fruits developed similar symptoms, with less prominent discoloration and fewer acervuli. The pathogen was easily isolated from both hosts on potato dextrose agar where it formed white-to-gray colonies with salmon orange pigmentation on the reverse side of the plates. Conidia that formed were hyaline, fusiform, aseptate, and measured 13.3 to 17.4 × 3.5 to 5.5 μm and 11.6 to 15.5 × 4.1 to 5.0 μm for pepper and tomato isolates, respectively. Both cultural and morphological characteristics of the isolates were similar to those described for Colletotrichum acutatum (3). Koch's postulates were performed with two representative isolates from each host by artificial inoculation of healthy, green pepper and ripe tomato fruits from the respective cultivars. Fruits were wound inoculated with a sterile scalpel, and small agar plugs (3 to 4 mm) containing 7-day-old sporulating cultures were placed on each wound (five fruits per isolate), or by pipette tip-pricking and pipetting a 5-μl droplet of a conidial suspension (5 × 106 conidia ml–1) on each wound. The same number of wounded, noninoculated fruits was used as a control. Fruits were maintained in a humidity chamber at 22 to 25°C, and 4 days later, sunken necrotic zones were observed around the wounds of inoculated fruit, whereas control fruits remained symptomless. The pathogen was subsequently reisolated from the inoculated diseased tissues but not from the control fruits. Species-specific PCR (using primer pair CaInt2/ITS4) (2,4) of genomic DNA from three representative isolates (two from pepper and one from tomato) resulted in an amplification product of 490 bp, specific for C. acutatum, further confirming the identity of the pathogen. To our knowledge, this is the second report of C. acutatum in Bulgaria (1), and the first occurrence of that agent on tomato and pepper in this country. References: (1) S. G. Bobev et al. Plant Dis. 86:1178, 2002. (2) S. Freeman et al. Phytopathology 91:586, 2001. (3) P. S. Gunnell and W. D. Gubler. Mycologia 84:157, 1992. (4) M. L. Lewis Ivey et al. Plant Dis. 88:1198, 2004.