bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Should All Patients Undergo Postoperative Duplex Imaging to Detect a Deep Vein Thrombosis After Varicose Vein Surgery?
Authors: Bhogal R. H. , Nyamekye I. K. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjectivesDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious complication of varicose vein surgery, with attendant risks of pulmonary embolization. Prospective duplex screening identifies DVT in 5% of patients compared to clinical incidence of approximately 1%. Universal duplex screening is costly, and the benefits of diagnosing subclinical DVT are unproven. This study evaluates whether a policy of using clinical indications (leg swelling) to determine the need for duplex imaging is safe after varicose vein surgery.MethodsPatients undergoing varicose vein surgery over a 4‐year period were studied. Postoperative venous duplex imaging was performed if leg swelling occurred within 6 weeks of surgery. Long‐term follow‐up was performed to detect any missed occurrence of clinical DVT or pulmonary embolism.ResultsA total of 411 patients had 491 leg operations with 80 bilateral procedures (27%); 29 patients with leg swelling underwent duplex imaging, 5 of whom had duplex‐proven DVT. No patient without early clinical signs went on to develop clinical DVT on long‐term follow‐up.ConclusionA policy of using clinical signs as a triage for duplex imaging detected all clinically significant DVTs and generated manageable workloads for our vascular laboratory.
Seasonal population dynamics ofPallisentis (Neosentis) celatus(Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) in the intestine of the rice-field eelMonopterus albusin China
Authors: Boping Zeng , Wenbin Wang 
Published: November 2007

AbstractStudies on the seasonal population dynamics ofPallisentis (Neosentis) celatus(Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) in the intestine of the rice-field eelMonopterus albusfrom the paddies and ditches in the Dong-ting Lake basin of China, were carried out with samples taken from June 2002 to May 2003. Prevalences were above 21% in all seasons sampled and with a distinct seasonal trend, which was highest (45.81%) in the spring and decreased by degrees. The mean intensity of infection was above 4.0 worms per fish. The maximum intensity of worms recovered from a single fish was 86 in the autumn of 2002. No significant seasonal differences were found in mean intensities, and differences in the mean abundance between winter and spring, winter and autumn were significant. Over-dispersed distributions ofP. (N.) celatusin the host population, due to heterogeneity and feeding habits, were observed in all seasons. The size composition of both sexes ofP. (N.) celatusshowed males between 2.0 mm and 14.0 mm and females between 2.2 mm and 22.2 mm, with the main recruitment phase in the worm populations occurring in the summer and autumn, especially in the autumn, with the lowest recruitment occurring in the winter. The maturation and copulation of worms were mainly focused in the spring season. The sex ratio of female to male was both high in summer (1.09:1) and autumn (1.08:1). The higher proportion of females and the change in the worm sex ratio in summer can be attributed to the reduced longevity of male worms. As immature male worms exhibit a higher proportion of the worm population than females in all seasons, further studies are needed to determine if such a situation compensates for the shorter life span of males.
The Crisis of Labor Politics in Latin America: Parties and Labor Movements during the Transition to Neoliberalism
Authors: Roberts Kenneth M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractFollowing the onset of mass politics in early twentieth-century Latin America, party systems were distinguished by different patterns of labor incorporation. In some countries, political competition was realigned by the emergence of a mass-based, labor-mobilizing populist or leftist party. In other countries, party systems remained under the control of traditional oligarchic parties or elite personalities who provided little impetus for labor mobilization. Countries with labor-mobilizing party systems were more deeply embedded in the state-led model of capitalist development known as import substitution industrialization in the middle of the twentieth century, and they suffered severe economic trauma when this development model collapsed in the debt crisis of the 1980s. Economic austerity and free-market reforms undermined the social foundations of these party systems, which experienced sharp declines in trade-union density and widespread electoral volatility during the waning decades of the twentieth century.
What Has Happened to Organized Labor in Southern Africa?
Authors: Pitcher M. Anne 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWhy have labor movements in Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa increasingly been marginalized from the economic debates that are taking place in their countries, even though they have supported ruling parties? Policy reforms such as trade liberalization, privatization, and revisions to labor legislation in all three countries partially account for the loss of power by organized labor as many scholars have claimed. Yet, these policy “adjustments” have also interacted with long-run, structural changes in production, distribution, and trade of goods as well as with processes of democratization to undermine the position of trade unions across much of southern Africa. The article explores this puzzle by first examining the different historical trajectories of organized labor in Mozambique, Zambia, and South Africa. It then analyzes how policy reforms, global restructuring, and democracy had similar consequences across all three cases; collectively, they produced declines in trade-union membership and weakened the influence of organized labor. Although trade unions face a number of daunting challenges, the conclusion traces emerging opportunities for labor to recover from its current malaise.
Tea and Sympathy: A Study of Diversity among Women Activists in the National Federation of Women Workers in Coventry, England, 1907–14
Authors: Hunt Cathy 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis article considers the ways in which three local activists sought to inspire women workers to become active and loyal trade unionists at the start of the twentieth century, at a time when the great majority of female workers in Britain was unorganized. It employs evidence of tactics used by organizers of the all-female trade union, the National Federation of Women Workers in Coventry, in the industrial West Midlands of Britain in the years before the First World War. This in turn encourages consideration of the extent to which the aims and policies advocated by the Federation's national leadership suited the economic and social characteristics in the regions of Britain. It offers an opportunity to look beyond the dominant and charismatic personalities who shaped and dominated the union's national headquarters and instead considers the successes and failures of local women who attempted to establish a regional branch of the Federation.
Evaluation of data quality in a laboratory-based surveillance of M. tuberculosis drug resistance and impact on the prevalence of resistance: France, 2004
Authors: KHUÊ P. M. , MALLET A. , VEZIRIS N. , JARLIER V. , ROBERT J. 
Published: November 2007

SUMMARYIn France, surveillance of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance is performed by the Azay-Mycobacteria network, representing 30% of all culture-positive cases. We sought to validate administrative and clinical data gathered by the network in 2004 and to produce corrected resistance rates accounting for the observed misclassification. We reviewed a 10% sample of patients' records diagnosed in 2004 and measured the agreement between controlled data and data collected by the network by using the kappa (κ) statistic. A re-sampling bootstrap-based method was used to investigate the impact of bias found on resistance rates. Most of data collected by the network, such as demographic data, and country of birth had an excellent agreement (κ>0·8) with controlled data. The concordance was good (κ>0·6) for HIV status and tuberculosis site. The only variable slightly discordant with controlled data was prior history of treatment (κ=0·52). However, after correcting crude resistance rates for the observed misclassification, all estimated rates were within confidence intervals based on reported rates. This validation study is in favour of a good quality of data produced by the network, even though corrected rates are slightly different from observed rates. Therefore, data collected through the network may be used for policy making and tuberculosis programme evaluation. However, improvement in data collection regarding prior history of treatment should be considered.
Morphological and genetic diversity of Mexican guava germplasm
Authors: Hernández-Delgado Sanjuana , Padilla-Ramírez José Saúl , Nava-Cedillo Alejandro , Mayek-Pérez Netzahualcoyotl 
Published: November 2007

Fifty morphological characteristics, fruit production over 3 years (from 1999 to 2002) and the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique were used to analyse a set of 48 guava (Psidium guajavaL.) accessions cultivated in Mexico, in order to characterize their genetic relationships. Germplasm was collected from the Calvillo-Cañones region and planted in Huanusco, Mexico. The study included twoP. cattleianum(Sabine) and twoP. friedrichsthalianum(Berg-Niedenzu) accessions from Costa Rica as outgroups. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained less than 30% of total variation and 14 characteristics from trees (1), leaves (2) and fruits (11) were the most informative. PCA analysis separated the germplasm into three major groups of accessions based on fruit size and weight, stem diameter and leaf size. Significant differences in fruit yield were detected among accessions and years, whereP.guajavaproduced 36 kg/year/tree of fresh fruit whileP. cattleianumandP. friedrichsthalianumshowed fruit yield lower than 7 kg/year/tree. The fruit yield broad sense heritability was 0.25. The AFLP analysis produced two clusters ofPsidiumaccessions, the first includedP. cattleianumandP. friedrichsthalianum, and the secondP. guajavaaccessions. This is the first report about the use of AFLP marker methodology for the genetic characterization of Mexican native guava germplasm and the results based on phenotypic and productive characteristics suggest that germplasm was selected from open pollinated trees.
Correlated biofilm imaging, transport and metabolism measurements via combined nuclear magnetic resonance and confocal microscopy
Authors: McLean Jeffrey S , Ona Ositadinma N , Majors Paul D 
Published: November 2007

Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are complex, three-dimensional communities found nearly everywhere in nature and are also associated with many human diseases. Detailed metabolic information is critical to understand and exploit beneficial biofilms as well as combat antibiotic-resistant, disease-associated forms. However, most current techniques used to measure temporal and spatial metabolite profiles in these delicate structures are invasive or destructive. Here, we describe imaging, transport and metabolite measurement methods and their correlation for live, non-invasive monitoring of biofilm processes. This novel combination of measurements is enabled by the use of an integrated nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). NMR methods provide macroscopic structure, metabolic pathway and rate data, spatially resolved metabolite concentrations and water diffusion profiles within the biofilm. In particular, current depth-resolved spectroscopy methods are applied to detect metabolites in 140–190 nl volumes within biofilms of the dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1 and the oral bacterium implicated in caries disease, Streptococcus mutans strain UA159. The perfused sample chamber also contains a transparent optical window allowing for the collection of complementary fluorescence information using a unique, in-magnet CLSM. In this example, the entire three-dimensional biofilm structure was imaged using magnetic resonance imaging. This was then correlated to a fluorescent CLSM image by employing a green fluorescent protein reporter construct of S. oneidensis. Non-invasive techniques such as described here, which enable measurements of dynamic metabolic processes, especially in a depth-resolved fashion, are expected to advance our understanding of processes occurring within biofilm communities.
TEnest: Automated Chronological Annotation and Visualization of Nested Plant Transposable Elements
Authors: Kronmiller Brent A. , Wise Roger P. 
Published: November 2007

Abstract
Organisms with a high density of transposable elements (TEs) exhibit nesting, with subsequent repeats found inside previously inserted elements. Nesting splits the sequence structure of TEs and makes annotation of repetitive areas challenging. We present TEnest, a repeat identification and display tool made specifically for highly repetitive genomes. TEnest identifies repetitive sequences and reconstructs separated sections to provide full-length repeats and, for long-terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons, calculates age since insertion based on LTR divergence. TEnest provides a chronological insertion display to give an accurate visual representation of TE integration history showing timeline, location, and families of each TE identified, thus creating a framework from which evolutionary comparisons can be made among various regions of the genome. A database of repeats has been developed for maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and barley (Hordeum vulgare) to illustrate the potential of TEnest software. All currently finished maize bacterial artificial chromosomes totaling 29.3 Mb were analyzed with TEnest to provide a characterization of the repeat insertions. Sixty-seven percent of the maize genome was found to be made up of TEs; of these, 95% are LTR retrotransposons. The rate of solo LTR formation is shown to be dissimilar across retrotransposon families. Phylogenetic analysis of TE families reveals specific events of extreme TE proliferation, which may explain the high quantities of certain TE families found throughout the maize genome. The TEnest software package is available for use on PlantGDB under the tools section (http://www.plantgdb.org/prj/TE_nest/TE_nest.html); the source code is available from http://wiselab.org.
Examining multi‐level relationships between bars, hostility and aggression: social selection and social influence
Authors: Treno Andrew J. , Gruenewald Paul J. , Remer Lillian G. , Johnson Fred , LaScala Elizabeth A. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTAims  This paper considers statistical relationships often observed between densities of bars and pubs and rates of violence as suggested by two general approaches: (i) social influence and (ii) social selection.Methods  A stratified sample of 36 zip code areas in California was identified as having ‘high’, ‘medium’ and ‘low’ densities of bars and pubs. Aggregate US Census 2000 data were used to characterize population demographics of each zip code area. Telephone surveys were conducted assessing respondent demographics, drinking patterns, utilization of different places for drinking, self‐report measures of hostility, norms for aggression and norms for alcohol‐related aggression. Hierarchical linear models assessed the degree to which densities of bars and pubs were related to self‐reports of hostility and norms for aggression, and if the individual measures of hostility and norms for aggression were related to choice of drinking venue.Results  Respondents living in areas with greater densities of bars and pubs reported lower norms for aggression and greater norms for alcohol‐related aggression. Greater peak drinking levels were related directly to greater levels of hostility and norms for both aggression and alcohol‐related aggression. Self‐reported hostility and norms for alcohol‐related aggression were related directly to drinking at bars and pubs, parties and friends' homes. Aggressive norms were related to drinking at parties.Conclusions  Whether bars serve to concentrate aggressive people into selected environments, whether these environments serve to increase levels of aggression, or whether both these processes reinforce each other mutually is not known. However, our findings do indicate relationships between certain exogenous measures, including alcohol outlet densities and social–psychological characteristics associated with violence. Many of these measures are also associated with the social contexts in which people drink.
Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico–US border cities
Authors: Pollini Robin A. , Brouwer Kimberly C. , Lozada Remedios M. , Ramos Rebeca , Cruz Michelle F. , Magis‐Rodriguez Carlos , Case Patricia , Burris Scott , Pu Minya , Frost Simon D. W. , Palinkas Lawrence A. , Miller Cari , Strathdee Steffanie A. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTAims  To identify factors associated with receptive syringe sharing among injection drug users (IDUs) and elucidate the association between syringe possession arrests and syringe sharing.Design  Cross‐sectional study.Setting  Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Baja California and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.Participants  IDUs in Tijuana (n = 222) and Ciudad Juarez (n = 206) were recruited using respondent‐driven sampling (RDS). IDUs were ≥ 18 years and had injected illicit drugs in the past month.Measurements  An interviewer‐administered survey was used to collect quantitative data on socio‐demographic, behavioral and contextual characteristics, including self‐reported syringe sharing and arrests for syringe possession. Associations with receptive syringe sharing were investigated using logistic regression with RDS adjustment.Findings  Overall, 48% of participants reported ever being arrested for carrying an unused/sterile syringe, even though syringe purchase and possession is legal in Mexico. Arrest for possessing unused/sterile syringes was associated independently with receptive syringe sharing [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26, 3.35], as was injecting in a shooting gallery (AOR = 3.60; 95% CI: 2.21, 5.87), injecting in the street (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.18, 3.54) and injecting methamphetamine (AOR = 2.77; 95% CI: 1.41, 5.47) or cocaine (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.36). More than half of participants (57%) had been arrested for possessing a used syringe; in a second model, arrest for used syringe possession was also associated independently with receptive sharing (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.76, 4.69).Conclusions  We documented high levels of syringe‐related arrests in two Mexican–US border cities and an independent association between these arrests and risky injection practices. Public health collaborations with law enforcement to modify the risk environment in which drug use occurs are essential to facilitate safer injection practices.
Relationship between road dust and ungulate density in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Authors: Ndibalema Vedasto G. , Mduma Simon , Stokke Sigbjørn , Røskaft Eivin 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe measured the responses of ungulate grazers to roads by recording the density of dust on grasses and compared distance sampling of ungulates in Serengeti National Park (SNP), Tanzania. Data were collected on the east and west side of the Ngorongoro–Seronera main gravel road to test if road traffic and dust were important factors determining distribution patterns amongst grazers. Results indicate that dust increased progressively with traffic speed and volume during dry season. More dust was intercepted on the west than on the east side of the road mainly because of wind effects. Dust deposition (measured as density g grass g−1dust) was higher on short grasses than on long grasses during the dry and late‐dry seasons than during the wet season, when paired perpendicular distances up to 300 m were compared. Mean number of observed grazer species indicated that most fed further from the west side of the road than from the east perhaps to minimize higher density of dust commonly spread on foliage up to 200 m away from the road. Despite that most grazers avoided road side grass shoulders, supporting the ‘dust aversion hypothesis’, the test predictions from the ‘road disturbance’ and the ‘road attraction’ hypotheses did not support the responsive behaviours of grazers toward roads.
Protein disulphide isomerase in platelet function
Authors: Manickam Nagaraj , Sun Xiuhua , Li Mengru , Gazitt Yair , Essex David W. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryPlatelet protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) has a role in platelet aggregation, probably targeting a thiol‐containing platelet surface protein. The thiol‐containing P2Y12 ADP receptor is involved in aggregation induced by most agonists and may be the target of PDI. By excluding the P2Y12 pathway and using the anti‐PDI antibody RL90 this study showed that PDI targets a non‐P2Y12 thiol‐protein in aggregation. Anti‐PDI inhibited signalling‐independent activation of the thiol‐containing fibrinogen receptor αIIbβ3 by Mn2+, suggesting that PDI directly interacts with αIIbβ3. The thiol‐containing form of PDI increased on the platelet surface with platelet activation, suggesting that active PDI readily becomes available for redox regulation of αIIbβ3. Finally, using purified proteins PDI had greater ability to isomerize disulphide bonds than the αIIbβ3 integrin, which also has PDI‐like activity. In summary, a mechanism exists in platelets to increase the functional form of surface PDI and this PDI has a non‐P2Y12 target that may be αIIbβ3.
TBXA2R gene polymorphism and responsiveness to leukotriene receptor antagonist in children with asthma
Authors: Kim J‐H. , Lee S‐Y. , Kim H‐B. , Jin H‐S. , Yu J‐H. , Kim B‐J. , Kim B‐S. , Kang M‐J. , Jang S‐O. , Hong S‐J. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryBackground
Thromboxane A2 receptor (TBXA2R) gene polymorphism has been associated with atopy and asthma, but few studies have reported the effect of this gene polymorphism on asthma‐related phenotype or responsiveness to leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) in asthmatic children. This study investigated associations between asthma‐related phenotypes and TBXA2R polymorphism, and also analysed whether the TBXA2R polymorphism has an effect on the efficacy of the LTRA, montelukast, in asthmatic children with exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).Methods
Asthmatic children (n=695) and control children (n=159) were evaluated for asthma‐related phenotypes including total IgE, pulmonary function test, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine or exercise. Genotypes were detected by PCR‐RFLP. In the montelukast study, exercise challenge was performed before and after an 8‐week montelukast treatment.Results
The TBXA2R polymorphism was not associated with asthma susceptibility and the clinical parameters of asthma. However, asthmatic children with combinations of the TBXA2R+795T>C and +924T>C risk alleles had significantly higher total IgE levels (P=0.01), total eosinophil counts (P<0.01) and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (P=0.02) and forced expiratory rates at 25–75% of vital capacity (P=0.02) than those carrying the common alleles. When compared with individuals with the common alleles, patients with the TBXA2R+924T>C TT homozygote and TBXA2R+795T>C hetero‐ or homozygote (CT or CC) had a 3.67‐fold poor response to 8‐week montelukast treatment with respect to maximum percent fall in FEV1 after exercise (odds ratio, 3.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–11.15).Conclusions
A combined effect of TBXA2R+795T>C and +924T>C risk alleles may be linked to IgE production, eosinophilic inflammation, and severity of asthma. In addition, the TBXA2R+795T>C genotype may be a predictive marker of a clinical response to the LTRA in Korean asthmatic children with EIB.