bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Voluntary Unemployment Insurance and Trade Union Membership: Investigating the Connections in Denmark and Sweden
Authors: CLASEN JOCHEN , VIEBROCK ELKE 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe high rate of trade union membership in Nordic countries is often attributed to the way in which unemployment insurance is organised: that is, as a voluntary scheme which is administered by trade union-linked funds (the so-called Ghent system). However, since trade unions and unemployment insurance funds are formally independent from each other, and alternatives to traditional trade union-linked unemployment funds are available, it is far from clear why the more expensive option of a dual membership in trade union and unemployment insurance is generally favoured. Comparing current characteristics and the operation of the Ghent system in Denmark and Sweden, the article identifies incentives for joining an unemployment insurance fundper seand, secondly, factors which make such a dual membership appealing. It shows that some of these apply to both countries, such as the strong identification with trade unions or the lack of a transparent institutional separation, while others are country-specific, such as job search support in Denmark and access to improved benefit provision in Sweden.
Distantly sampled soils carry few species in common
Authors: Fulthorpe Roberta R , Roesch Luiz FW , Riva Alberto , Triplett Eric W 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
The bacterial phylogenetic structure of soils from four distinctly different sites in South and North America was analyzed. One hundred and thirty-nine thousand sequences of the V9 region of the small subunit of the bacterial ribosomal RNA gene generated for a previous study were used for this work. Whereas the previous work estimated levels of species richness, this study details the degree of bacterial community overlap between the four soils. Sequences from the four soils were classified and grouped into different phyla and then assigned to operational taxonomic units (OTUs) as defined by 97 or 100% sequence similarity. Pairwise Jaccard and θ similarity indices averaged over all phyla equalled 6 and 12% respectively at the 97% similarity level, and 15% for both at the 100% similarity level. At 100 and 97% sequence similarity, 1.5 and 4.1% of OTUs were found in all four soils respectively, and 87.9 and 74.4%, respectively were a unique particular soil. These analyses, based on the largest soil bacterial sequence retrieval to date, establish the high degree of community structure difference for randomly sampled dissimilar soils and support the idea that wide sampling is important for bioprospecting. The 10 most abundant cultured genera were determined in each soil. These 10 genera comprised a significant proportion of the reads obtained from each soil (31.3–37.4%). Chitinophaga was the most abundant or the second most abundant genus in all four soils with 7.5–13.8% of the total bacterial sequences in these soils. The striking result is that several culturable genera, whose roles in soil are virtually unknown, were found among these dominant sequences.
A‐FABP—A Biomarker Associated With the Metabolic Syndrome and/or an Indicator of Weight Change?
Authors: Engl Julia , Ciardi Christian , Tatarczyk Tobias , Kaser Susanne , Laimer Markus , Laimer Elisabeth , Weiss Helmut , Aigner Franz , Molnar Clemens , Tilg Herbert , Patsch Josef R. , Ebenbichler Christoph F. 
Published: June 2008

Objective: Adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein (A‐FABP) is a plasma biomarker recently associated with the metabolic syndrome. The aim of these studies was to investigate changes of A‐FABP during profound weight loss induced by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB).Methods and Procedures: In study one, 29 severely obese female subjects were examined before and 1 year after surgical treatment. A subgroup of 10 patients was investigated in 3‐month intervals. Metabolic parameters were determined using standard methods, and A‐FABP was detected using a commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Mean weight loss after 1 year was 24.9 kg (P < 0.001), mainly due to a decrease in fat mass. Metabolic parameters improved substantially. However, serum A‐FABP remained stable. In study two, a subgroup of 10 patients was examined quarterly to determine the time course of A‐FABP changes. Quarterly measurements of serum A‐FABP were significantly higher than baseline levels with the highest A‐FABP value after the first 3 months, where patients had highest weight loss.Discussion: Our results in study one show that A‐FABP serum levels are positively associated with body weight and fat mass. However, 1 year after pronounced weight loss A‐FABP levels remained unchanged. In study two, time course analyses revealed maximum increase of serum A‐FABP in parallel to highest weight loss, which allows to suppose that A‐FABP is not only a biomarker of the metabolic syndrome in the steady state, but also a marker of weight changes in dynamic situations.
The Association of Pericardial Fat With Calcified Coronary Plaque
Authors: Ding Jingzhong , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Harris Tamara B. , Burke Gregory L. , Detrano Robert C. , Szklo Moyses , Carr J. Jeffrey ,   Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Published: June 2008

Background: Pericardial fat has a higher secretion of inflammatory cytokines than subcutaneous fat. Cytokines released from pericardial fat around coronary arteries may act locally on the adjacent cells.Objective: We examined the relationship between pericardial fat and calcified coronary plaque.Methods and Procedures: Participants in the community‐based Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan for the assessment of calcified coronary plaque in 2000/2002. We measured the volume of pericardial fat using these scans in 159 whites and blacks without symptomatic coronary heart disease from Forsyth County, NC, aged 55–74 years.Results: Calcified coronary plaque was observed in 91 participants (57%). After adjusting for height, a 1 s.d. increment in pericardial fat was associated with an increased odds of calcified coronary plaque (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.92 (1.27, 2.90)). With further adjustment of other cardiovascular factors, pericardial fat was still significantly associated with calcified coronary plaque. This relationship did not differ by gender and ethnicity. On the other hand, BMI and height‐adjusted waist circumference were not associated with calcified coronary plaque.Discussion: Pericardial fat is independently associated with calcified coronary plaque.
Validity of Physical Activity Intensity Predictions by ActiGraph, Actical, and RT3 Accelerometers
Authors: Rothney Megan P. , Schaefer Emily V. , Neumann Megan M. , Choi Leena , Chen Kong Y. 
Published: June 2008

Objective: Accelerometers are promising tools for characterizing physical activity (PA) patterns in free‐living persons. To date, validation of energy expenditure (EE) predictions from accelerometers has been restricted to short laboratory or simulated free‐living protocols. This study seeks to determine the capabilities of eight previously published regression equations for three commercially available accelerometers to predict summary measures of daily EE.Methods and Procedures: Study participants were outfitted with ActiGraph, Actical, and RT3 accelerometers, while measurements were simultaneously made during overnight stays in a room calorimeter, which provided minute‐by‐minute EE measurements, in a diverse subject population (n = 85). Regression equations for each device were used to predict the minute‐by‐minute metabolic equivalents (METs) along with the daily PA level (PAL).Results: Two RT3 regressions and one ActiGraph regression were not significantly different from calorimeter measured PAL. When data from the entire visit were divided into four intensity categories—sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous—significant (P < 0.001) over‐ and underpredictions were detected in numerous regression equations and intensity categories.Discussion: Most EE prediction equations showed differences of <2% in the moderate and vigorous intensity categories. These differences, though small in magnitude, may limit the ability of these regressions to accurately characterize whether specific PA goals have been met in the field setting. New regression equations should be developed if more accurate prediction of the daily PAL or higher precision in determining the time spent in specific PA intensity categories is desired.
Use of an Operant Task to Estimate Food Reinforcement in Adult Humans With and Without BED
Authors: Nasser Jennifer A. , Evans Suzette M. , Geliebter Allan , Pi‐Sunyer F. Xavier , Foltin Richard W. 
Published: June 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility of food‐reinforced operant task performance in modeling binge‐eating disorder (BED). We hypothesized that food reinforcement after a caloric preload would be related to BED status, but not hunger.Methods and Procedures: We investigated the association between reports of hunger, binge tendency, and food reinforcement in a sample of 18 women (12 non‐BED, 7 lean, 5 obese, and 6 obese BED). Participants completed two sessions of operant task performance after consuming 600 ml of flavored water or 600 ml of a 1 kcal/ml liquid meal.Results: Under the water condition, food reinforcement did not differ between the non‐BED and BED groups, and was positively correlated with hunger ratings across all participants (r = 0.55, P = 0.023). Under the liquid meal condition, food reinforcement was significantly decreased compared with the water condition in the non‐BED group (t = −2.6, P = 0.026). There was also a significant difference between the non‐BED and BED groups in the fed condition (41 ± 40, 117 ± 60, F = 10.3, P = 0.005, non‐BED vs. BED, respectively, mean ± s.d.). The correlation between food reinforcement and hunger remained significant only in the non‐BED group (r = 0.69, P = 0.011).Discussion: Our results support the hypothesis that food reinforcement measured after a caloric preload is related to BED status but not hunger in those subjects with BED. The data also suggest that operant task performance can be useful in modeling BED criteria such as “eating when not physically hungry.”
Seasonal patterns and diets of wild fish assemblages associated with Mediterranean coastal fish farms
Authors: Fernandez-Jover Damian , Sanchez-Jerez Pablo , Bayle-Sempere Just Tomás , Valle Carlos , Dempster Tim 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Fernandez-Jover, D., Sanchez-Jerez, P., Bayle-Sempere, J. T., Valle, C., and Dempster, T. 2008. Seasonal patterns and diets of wild fish assemblages associated with Mediterranean coastal fish farms. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1153–1160. Fish are attracted to floating structures, including coastal cage fish farms, sometimes in dense aggregations. To understand better the influence of aquaculture on wild fish stocks, we carried out seasonal visual censuses around three southwestern Mediterranean farms over 2 years to assess the temporal patterns of the aggregated fish assemblage. In addition, we analysed the diet of the five most abundant species. Aggregations around all farms were large throughout the year, although species composition and abundance differed among farms and seasons. Fish farms are attractive habitats for certain species of wild fish in specific seasons. Adult fish of reproductive size dominated the assemblages, and stomach content analysis revealed that 66–89% of fish of the five most abundant taxa had consumed food pellets lost from the cages. We estimated that wild fish consume up to 10% of the pellets used at farms, indicating that food is a key attractant. Regional monitoring of farm-associated wild fish assemblages could aid management of the interaction of aquaculture and wild fish resources, because changes in feeding behaviour may have consequences for fish populations and local fisheries.
Experimental evidence for latent developmental plasticity: intertidal whelks respond to a native but not an introduced predator
Authors: Edgell Timothy C , Neufeld Christopher J 
Published: June 2008

SummaryAnimals with highly inducible traits may show no inducible response when exposed to a related but wholly novel cue. This appears to be true for the intertidal whelkNucella lamellosafaced with a voracious introduced predator. In the laboratory, we exposed whelks to effluent from two species of predatory crab, the native red rock crabCancer productusand the invasive European green crabCarcinus maenas.NucellaandCancerhave a long shared history in the northeast Pacific, whereas potential interaction withCarcinusbegan here less than 10 years ago. AlthoughNucellaresponded adaptively toCancereffluent by increasing shell thickness and decreasing somatic growth, there was no such response toCarcinus. Furthermore, thicker shelledNucellawere less likely to be eaten byCarcinus.BecauseNucellaproduces thicker shells when exposed toCancercues, its ability to respond similarly toCarcinusdepends only on the coupling of theCarcinuscue to the existing developmental pathways for adaptive changes in shell form. Such coupling of latent plasticity to a novel cue—via genetic changes or associative learning—could explain many cases of rapid phenotypic change following a sudden shift in the environment.
Sex-specific responses to vocal convergence and divergence of contact calls in orange-fronted conures (Aratinga canicularis)
Authors: Balsby Thorsten J.S , Scarl Judith C 
Published: June 2008

SummaryWe investigated the signal function of vocal imitation of contact calls in orange-fronted conures (OFCs;Aratinga canicularis) in Costa Rica. OFCs live in dynamic social systems with frequent flock fusions and fissions. Exchanges of contact calls precede these flock changes. During call exchanges, the similarity between the contact calls of different individuals may either increase (converge) or decrease (diverge). We conducted a playback experiment on wild-caught captive birds in which we simulated convergent, divergent and no-change interaction series with male and female contact calls. OFCs responded differently to convergent and divergent series of contact calls, but only when we considered the sex of the test birds. Males called most in response to convergent series, whereas females demonstrated high calling rates in response to both convergent and divergent interactions. Both sexes responded most to contact calls from the opposite sex, but overall females produced more calls and had shorter latencies to calling than males. These results demonstrate that OFCs can discriminate between male and female contact calls and that subtle changes in contact call structure during interactions have signal function. The stronger overall response to convergent series suggests that convergence of contact calls is an affiliative signal.
Evolutionary species–area curves as revealed by single‐island endemics: insights for the inter‐provincial species–area relationship
Authors: Triantis Kostas A. , Mylonas Moisis , Whittaker Robert J. 
Published: June 2008

The species–area relationship (SAR) between different biological provinces is one of the most interesting, but least explored aspects of the well‐known species–area pattern. Following the usage that a biological province is a region whose species have for the most part evolved within it, rather than immigrating from somewhere else, we propose that islands can be considered equivalent to biological provinces for single island endemic species (SIEs). Hence, analyses of the relationships between numbers of SIEs and island area can be used as model systems to explore the form of inter‐provincial SARs. We analyzed 13 different data sets derived from 11 sources, using the power (log–log) model. Eleven of the SIE–area relationships were statistically significant, explaining high proportions of the variance in SIE numbers (R2 0.57–0.95). The z‐values (slopes) of the statistically significant SIE–area relationships ranged from 0.47 to 1.13, with a mean value of 0.80 (SD±0.24).All the island systems in which SIE represent >50% of species exhibited z‐values for the SARs of native species higher than those deemed typical of archipelagic SARs. The SIE–area slopes are quite similar to those previously calculated for inter‐provincial SARs, indicating that, when speciation becomes the dominant process adding to the species richness of assemblages, high z‐values should be anticipated, regardless of the biogeographical scale of the study system.
Recent advances in the understanding and management of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma in children
Authors: Reiter Alfred , Klapper Wolfram 
Published: June 2008

SummaryDiffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are neoplasms of transformed mature B cells, accounting for approximately 10% of non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) of childhood. Increasing evidence indicates that DLBCL are composed of biologically distinct subsets. Clinical features of children with DLBCL differ from those with other NHL entities, e.g. by a lower frequency of bone‐marrow and central nervous sytem involvement. Treatment strategies originally designed for Burkitt lymphoma appear to be efficacious for children with DLBCL. However, children with primary mediastinal large B‐cell lymphoma may need a more specific treatment approach, given their inferior outcome in recent studies. The addition of the monoclonal anti‐CD20 antibody rituximab to standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy improved outcome of adults with DLBCL significantly. However, preliminary data suggest differences between DLBCL of children and adults concerning cell of origin, genetic abnormalities and responsiveness to current treatments. Thus, the potential role of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of children with DLBCL remains to be determined. The availability of new methodological tools, such as gene expression profiling, will greatly enhance our insights into the biology of childhood DLBCL and its similarities and disparities compared to adult DLBCL. Furthermore, these tools may enable a more risk‐adapted and rationally targeted subtype‐specific therapy in the future.
Most acute myeloid leukaemia patients with intermediate mutant FLT3/ITD levels do not have detectable bi‐allelic disease, indicating that heterozygous disease alone is associated with an adverse outcome
Authors: Green Claire , Linch David C. , Gale Rosemary E. 
Published: June 2008

Summary FLT3 internal tandem duplication mutant levels >50%, indicative of bi‐allelic disease in some cells, are associated with a particularly poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukaemia; lower levels have an intermediate prognosis relative to wild‐type FLT3. To examine whether a small population of homozygous mutant cells is responsible for the worse relapse risk rather than heterozygous disease per se, we determined the genetic composition of 34 intermediate mutant level (25–50%) samples. Only two had evidence of mutant homozygosity; only one had more homozygous than heterozygous mutant cells. Bi‐allelic disease in intermediate mutant level cases is uncommon and heterozygous disease is sufficient for adverse outcome.
Epigenetic inactivation of secreted Frizzled‐related proteins in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Jost E. , Schmid J. , Wilop S. , Schubert C. , Suzuki H. , Herman J. G. , Osieka R. , Galm O. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe Wnt signalling pathway has a key function in stem cell maintenance and differentiation of haematopoietic progenitors. Secreted Frizzled‐related protein genes (SFRPs), functioning as Wnt signalling antagonists, have been found to be downregulated by promoter hypermethylation in many tumours. To analyse epigenetic dysregulation of SFRPs in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), we examined the promoter methylation status of SFRP1, ‐2, ‐4 and ‐5 in AML cell lines by methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). Aberrant CpG island methylation was found for all four SFRP genes. By real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR, corresponding transcriptional silencing for SFRP1 and ‐2 was demonstrated and treatment of cell lines with 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine resulted in re‐expression. The methylation status of the SFRP genes was analysed in 100 specimens obtained from AML patients at diagnosis. The frequencies of aberrant methylation among the patient samples were 29% for SFRP1, 19% for SFRP2, 0% for SFRP4 and 9% for SFRP5. For SFRP2, a correlation between promoter hypermethylation and transcriptional downregulation was found in primary AML samples. Among AML cases with a favourable karyotype, hypermethylation of SFRP genes was restricted to patients with core binding factor (CBF) leukaemia, and aberrant methylation of the SFRP2 promoter was an adverse risk factor for survival in CBF leukaemia.
The impact of childhood conditions and concurrent morbidities on child health and well‐being
Authors: Waters E. , Davis E. , Nicolas C. , Wake M. , Lo S. K. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground  Understanding the impact of illnesses and morbidities experienced by children and adolescents is essential to clinical and population health programme decision making and intervention research. This study sought to: (1) examine the population prevalence of physical and mental health conditions for children and quantify their impact on multiple dimensions of children's health and well‐being; and (2) examine the cumulative effect of concurrent conditions.Methods  We conducted a cross‐sectional school‐based epidemiological study of 5414 children and adolescents aged 5–18 years, and examined parental reports of child health and well‐being using the parent‐report Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) PF50 13 scales are scored on a 0–100 pt scale with clinically meaningful differences of five points and the presence of childhood conditions (illnesses and health problems).Results  Asthma, dental, vision and allergies are the most commonly identified health problems for children and adolescents, followed by attention‐ and behaviour‐related problems (asthma 17.9–23.2%, dental 11.9–22.7%, vision 7.2–14.7%, chronic allergies 8.8–13.9%, attention problems 5.1–13.8% and behaviour problems 5.7–12.0%). As the number of concurrent health problems increase, overall health and well‐being decreases substantively with mean differences in CHQ scale scores of 14 points (−7.69 to −21.51) for physical health conditions, and 28 points (−5.15 to −33.81) for mental health conditions.Conclusions  Children's health and well‐being decreases linearly with increasing presence and frequency of health problems. Having three or more conditions concurrently significantly burdens children's health and well‐being, particularly for family‐related CHQ domains, with a greater burden experienced for mental health conditions than physical health conditions.