bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High‐performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phlorotannins from the brown alga Fucus Vesiculosus
Authors: Koivikko Riitta , Loponen Jyrki , Pihlaja Kalevi , Jormalainen Veijo 
Published: May 2007

AbstractSeparating individual compounds by HPLC represents an effective method for the detection and quantification of phenolic compounds and has been widely utilised. However, phlorotannins are commonly quantified using colorimetric methods, as the total amount of the whole compound group. In the present paper the separation of a set of individual soluble phlorotannins from the phenolic crude extract of Fucus vesiculosus was achieved by HPLC with UV photodiode array detection. Different gradient programs for reversed‐ and normal‐phase HPLC methods were developed and tested. Normal‐phase (NP) conditions with a silica stationary phase and a mobile phase with a linear gradient of increasing polarity were found to separate 16 individual components of the phenolic extract. The suitability of the NP‐HPLC method for mass spectrometric application was preliminarily tested. Sample preparation was found to be a critical step in the analysis owing to the rapid oxidation of phlorotannins; ascorbic acid was used as an antioxidant. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Einige Bemerkungen über Strömungen in rotierenden Flüssigkeiten
Authors: Görtler H. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractTheoretische Betrachtungen über erzwungene kleine Schwingungen in rotierenden Flüssigkeiten führen zu ähnlich überraschenden Ergebnissen, wie sie vom Verfasser kürzlich für Flüssigkeiten mit Dichteschichtung vorausgesagt und experimentell bestätigt wurden. Diese werden im folgenden im Zusammenhang mit verwandten Untersuchungen anderer Autoren diskutiert. Einige Bemerkungen über die Theorie der ebenen Strömungen in rotierenden Systemen schließen sich an.
Logic programs with monotone abstract constraint atoms
Authors: MAREK VICTOR W. , NIEMELÄ ILKKA , TRUSZCZYŃSKI MIROSŁAW 
Published: May 2007

AbstractWe introduce and study logic programs whose clauses are built out ofmonotone constraint atoms. We show that the operational concept of the one-step provability operator generalizes to programs with monotone constraint atoms, but the generalization involves nondeterminism. Our main results demonstrate that our formalism is a common generalization of (1) normal logic programming with its semantics of models, supported models and stable models, (2) logic programming with weight atomslparseprograms) with the semantics of stable models, as defined by Niemelä, Simons and Soininen, and (3) of disjunctive logic programming with the possible-model semantics of Sakama and Inoue.
Cochlear Implantation in Children With CHARGE Syndrome: Therapeutic Decisions and Outcomes
Authors: Lanson Biana G. , Green Janet E. , Roland J Thomas , Lalwani Anil K. , Waltzman Susan B. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractObjectives: Ear anomalies and deafness are associated with CHARGE syndrome, which also presents with a cluster of features including coloboma of the eye, heart defects, atresia of the choanae, developmental retardation, and genitourinary abnormalities. The aim of this study is to explore the viability of cochlear implantation in children with CHARGE syndrome and to assess the outcome.Study Design: Retrospective chart review.Methods: Eleven children presenting with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss associated with CHARGE syndrome were the subjects of this study. Routine audiometric measurements and the Infant Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT‐MAIS) were performed pre‐ and postoperatively. In addition, the degree of the subjects' cochlear deformity were measured and correlated to outcome.Results: All patients had varying degrees of ear anomalies, seven patients suffered from coloboma of the eyes, two had heart defects, five exhibited choanal atresia, eleven showed developmental retardation, and six had genitourinary abnormalities. Ten of the children underwent cochlear implantation with complete insertion of the electrode array without complication and were followed over a 3‐month to a 7‐year period. The eleventh child was not implanted because of severe retardation. All of the implanted children showed varying, but limited degrees, of auditory benefit as measured by routine audiometry and the IT‐MAIS.Conclusions: Careful treatment planning for children with sensorineural hearing loss and CHARGE syndrome can lead to varying, but limited degrees, of auditory benefit with no increase in surgical complications. Although the implant enhanced the children's ‘connectivity’ to the environment, it did not promote the development of oral language skills in this population.
Reliable selfing rate estimates from imperfect population genetic data
Authors: DAVID PATRICE , PUJOL BENOÎT , VIARD FRÉDÉRIQUE , CASTELLA VINCENT , GOUDET JÉRÔME 
Published: May 2007

AbstractGenotypic frequencies at codominant marker loci in population samples convey information on mating systems. A classical way to extract this information is to measure heterozygote deficiencies (FIS) and obtain the selfing rate s from FIS = s/(2 − s), assuming inbreeding equilibrium. A major drawback is that heterozygote deficiencies are often present without selfing, owing largely to technical artefacts such as null alleles or partial dominance. We show here that, in the absence of gametic disequilibrium, the multilocus structure can be used to derive estimates of s independent of FIS and free of technical biases. Their statistical power and precision are comparable to those of FIS, although they are sensitive to certain types of gametic disequilibria, a bias shared with progeny‐array methods but not FIS. We analyse four real data sets spanning a range of mating systems. In two examples, we obtain s = 0 despite positive FIS, strongly suggesting that the latter are artefactual. In the remaining examples, all estimates are consistent. All the computations have been implemented in a open‐access and user‐friendly software called rmes (robust multilocus estimate of selfing) available at http://ftp.cefe.cnrs.fr, and can be used on any multilocus data. Being able to extract the reliable information from imperfect data, our method opens the way to make use of the ever‐growing number of published population genetic studies, in addition to the more demanding progeny‐array approaches, to investigate selfing rates.
Mineral absorption in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as compared with the domestic horse
Authors: Clauss M. , Castell J. C. , Kienzle E. , Schramel P. , Dierenfeld E. S. , Flach E. J. , Behlert O. , Streich W. J. , Hummel J. , Hatt J‐M. 
Published: May 2007

SummaryTo test whether mineral recommendations for horses are likely to guarantee adequate mineral provision for black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), we investigated the apparent absorption (aA) of macro‐ and microminerals in eight black rhinoceroses from three zoological institutions in a total of 32 feeding trials with total faecal collection, with additional data from three unpublished studies (18 feeding trials). Feeds and faeces were analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Co. The resulting aA coefficients, and the linear relationships of apparently absorbable dietary mineral content to total dietary mineral content [per 100 g dry matter (DM)], were compared with data for domestic horses. Rhinoceroses had significantly higher aA coefficients for Ca and Mg (because of a higher calculated ‘true’ absorption), and lower ones for Na and K (because of calculated higher endogenous faecal losses). High absorption efficiency for divalent cations is hypothesized to be an adaptation to a natural diet of particularly high Ca:P ratio (approximately 14:1); an effective removal of Ca from the ingesta guarantees sufficient P availability at the fermentation site in the hindgut. Higher faecal losses of Na and K are hypothesized to be linked to a higher faecal bulk per DM intake in black rhinoceroses as compared with horses because of a generally lower digestive efficiency. There were no relevant differences in the absorption patterns of microminerals. In particular, there were no discernable differences in Fe absorption within the rhinoceroses for diets with and without tannin supplementation. Several of the zoo diets assessed in this study were deficient in Cu, Mn or Zn, and most contained excessive levels of Fe when compared with horse requirements. The findings of this study indicate that differences in mineral absorption between occur even between species of similar digestive anatomy; that in particular, Ca absorption might vary between hindgut fermenters with Ca:P ratio in their natural diet; that Na might be a particularly limiting factor in the ecology of free‐ranging rhinoceroses; that moderate doses of tannins do not seem to markedly influence mineral absorption; and that diets for captive animals should contain adequate, but not excessive mineral levels.
Alu sequence variants of the BPY2 gene in proven fertile and infertile men with Sertoli cell‐only phenotype
Authors: Choi Jin , Koh Eitetsu , Suzuki Hiromi , Maeda Yuji , Yoshida Atsumi , Namiki Mikio 
Published: May 2007

Objective:  The basic protein on Y chromosome, 2 gene (BPY2) is implicated in the spermatogenic process. Three copies (paralogs) of the BPY2 sequence lie in the AZFc region, within huge palindromic repeats consisting of Alu sequences located in 5′ flanking regions. Our objective was to screen the single nucleotide variation of BPY2 gene paralogously.Methods:  Mutation screening of the exons and 5′ flanking region of the BPY2 genes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 106 infertile patients with a Sertoli cell‐only (SCO) phenotype and in 126 fertile men.Results:  No sequence variation was detected in any of the BPY2 exons. Paralogous A/A/A and mixed A/G genotypes are referred to the promoter of the gene. The G/G/G genotype (wild type) was observed at the rates of 89.6% (95/106) in the SCO subjects and 96.0% (121/126) in the proven‐fertile subjects. The G/G/G plus mixed A/G paralogous variants and the A/A/A paralogous variant were detected in 96.2% (102/106) and 3.8% (4/106) of infertile patients with SCO, respectively. The G/G/G plus mixed A/G paralogous variants were detected in 100% (126/126) of the fertile controls, with no instances of the A/A/A phenotype, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.038, Fisher's exact test).Conclusion:  The A/A/A genotype may be associated with the SCO phenotype. The alteration of all three copies of BPY2 within the AZFc region on the Y chromosome may affect spermatogenic process.
The influence of maternal smoking habits on the risk of subsequent stillbirth: is there a causal relation?
Authors: Högberg L , Cnattingius S 
Published: May 2007

Objective  Maternal smoking has previously been associated with risk of stillbirth. If women who quit smoking reduce their risk of stillbirth, the hypothesis of a causal association would be supported.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Nationwide study in Sweden.Population  All primiparous women who delivered their first and second consecutive single births between 1983 and 2001, giving a total number of 526 691 women.Method  A population‐based Swedish study with data from the Medical Birth Registry, the Immigration Registry and the Education Registry. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios, using 95% confidence intervals.Main outcome measure  Stillbirth in the second pregnancy.Results  Compared with nonsmokers in both pregnancies, women who smoked during the first pregnancy but not during the second do not have an increased risk of stillbirth (OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.79–1.30), while corresponding risk among women who smoked during both pregnancies was 1.35 (95% CI 1.15–1.58).Conclusion  The result supports that maternal smoking during pregnancy is causally associated with stillbirth risk. Smoking is a preventable cause of stillbirth, and smoking interventions is an important issue in antenatal care.
The feasibility, success and patient satisfaction associated with outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation
Authors: Sinha D , Kalathy V , Gupta JK , Clark TJ 
Published: May 2007

Objective  To determine the feasibility and patient satisfaction of female sterilisation using the Essure™ system in an outpatient hysteroscopy clinic without conscious sedation or general anaesthesia.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Outpatient hysteroscopy clinic in a large teaching hospital.Population  Women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation using the Essure™ system for permanent fertility control.Methods  Demographic and procedural data were prospectively collected from 112 consecutive women undergoing outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation without sedation or general anaesthesia. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) was performed routinely in all women 3 months after the procedure to confirm bilateral tubal occlusion. Postal questionnaires were sent at this time enquiring about patient satisfaction and experience with the outpatient procedure. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently predictive of successful completion of the procedure.Main outcome measures  Technical feasibility, predictive factors for technical success (operator, body mass index, uterine size, axis, menstrual phase and cervical stenosis), complications, tubal occlusion on HSG, patient satisfaction and procedure‐related experience.Results  Successful bilateral tubal placement of the Essure™ microinserts was achieved in 103/112 (92%, 95% CI 85–96%) women. Nonsecretory phase of the menstrual cycle (P = 0.04) and a clinically normal‐sized uterus (P = 0.003) were independently predictive for successful completion of the outpatient procedure on multivariable modelling. There were no major procedure‐related complications recorded, but transient vasovagal reactions occurred in 5/112 (5%) women. Of the original cohort of 112 women with successful procedures, 84 women were 3 months postprocedure and had undergone a HSG. Bilateral tubal occlusion was confirmed in 83/84 (99%, 95% CI 94–100%) women at 3 months and in 100% at 6 months. Seventy‐six of 84 (91%) had returned the questionnaires, and 70/73 (96%, 95% CI 88–99%) were satisfied with their overall experience of the procedure including radiological follow up, with most reporting being ‘very satisfied’ (64/73, 88%, 95% CI 78–94%).Conclusions  Outpatient hysteroscopic sterilisation using the Essure™ system without sedation or general anaesthesia is a successful and safe procedure associated with high rates of patient satisfaction. If practical, women should be scheduled to have their procedures in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle to optimise successful placement of Essure™ devices, especially if the uterus is clinically enlarged.
Concurrent oxytocin with dinoprostone pessary versus dinoprostone pessary in labour induction of nulliparas with an unfavourable cervix: a randomised placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Tan PC , Valiapan SD , Tay PYS , Omar SZ 
Published: May 2007

Objective  To compare concurrent oxytocin with dinoprostone pessary versus dinoprostone pessary in labour induction for nulliparas with an unfavourable cervix.Design  A randomised double‐blind study.Setting  University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia.Population  Nulliparas at term with intact membranes, Bishop score ≤ 6 and admitted for labour induction.Methods  All women received 3 mg dinoprostone pessary for labour induction. Those randomised to the oxytocin arm received oxytocin infusion started at 1 mu/minute and doubled every 30 minutes to a maximum 16 mu/minute. Women assigned to placebo received identical volume of saline infusion. After 6 hours, infusion was stopped and vaginal reassessment performed to guide further management.Main outcome measures  Primary outcome was vaginal delivery within 24 hours.Results  Concurrent oxytocin infusion with dinoprostone pessary did not significantly increase vaginal delivery rate within 24 hours (48.6 versus 35.9%; P= 0.07, relative risk [RR] 1.4 [95% CI 1.0–1.9]). It reduced the requirement for repeat dinoprostone (37.1 versus 61.2%; P= 0.001, RR 0.61 [95% CI 0.45–0.81]) and improved maternal satisfaction with the birth process (median score of 3 versus 5 on a 10‐point visual analogue scale, P= 0.007). Caesarean rates were not different (41.9 versus 44.7%, P= 0.52).Conclusions  Labour induction with concurrent oxytocin infusion and vaginal dinoprostone could be considered for nulliparas with an unfavourable cervix. Larger studies are needed.
Glutamate Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Triptans Overuse in Chronic Migraine
Authors: Vieira Domingos Sávio deSouza , Naffah‐Mazzacoratti Maria da Graça , Zukerman Eliova , Soares Carlos Augusto Senne , Cavalheiro Esper Abräo , Peres Mario Fernando Prieto 
Published: May 2007

Objective.—Chronic migraine (CM) is a common disorder, affecting 2% to 3% of the general population. Glutamate is implicated in cortical spreading depression, trigeminovascular activation, central sensitization, and may be linked to migraine chronification. Triptans brought a novel option for the acute migraine treatment. As the development of central sensitization impacts upon the effectiveness of triptan therapy, we hypothesized that glutamate might be related to triptan response mechanisms.Methods.—We studied 19 patients diagnosed with CM according to the International Headache Society (2004) criteria. Patients were divided in those overusing analgesics (NSAIDs); those without overuse, and those overusing triptans.Results.—Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glutamate levels were similar in patients overusing acute medications (0.335 ± 0.225 μmol) compared to those without overuse (0.354 ± 0.141 μmol), P= NS). In contrast, patients overusing triptans had CSF glutamate levels significantly lower than that observed in nonoverusers (0.175 ± 0.057 vs 0.354 ± 0.141 μmol, P= 0.015), and significantly higher than controls (0.175 ± 0.057 vs 0.109 ± 0.066 μmol, P= 0.039). In triptan overusers, CSF glutamate levels, although lower, were not significantly different from patients overusing other types of analgesics.Conclusions.—Our study showed lower glutamate levels in CSF of CM patients overusing triptans. Glutamate may be implicated in triptan response mechanisms, triptans may work in part by reducing extracellular glutamate levels in the brain.
Selection Bias and Auditing Policies for Insurance Claims
Authors: Pinquet Jean , Ayuso Mercedes , Guillén Montserrat 
Published: May 2007

AbstractSelection bias results from a discrepancy between the range of estimation of a statistical model and its range of application. This is the case for fraud risk models, which are estimated on audited claims but applied on incoming claims in the design of auditing strategies. Now audited claims are a minority within the parent sample since they are chosen after a severe selection performed by claims adjusters. This article presents a statistical approach that counteracts selection bias without using a random auditing strategy. A two‐equation model on audit and fraud (a bivariate probit model with censoring) is estimated on a sample of claims where the experts are left free to take the audit decision. The expected overestimation of fraud risk derived from a single‐equation model is corrected. Results are close to those obtained with a random auditing strategy, at the expense of some instability with respect to the regression components set. Then we compare auditing policies derived from the different approaches.
Genetic characterization of wild and captive rhesus macaques in China*
Authors: Satkoski J. , George D. , Smith D.G. , Kanthaswamy S. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe genetic structures of wild and captive rhesus macaque populations within China were compared by analyzing the mtDNA sequences of 203 captive‐bred Chinese rhesus macaques with 77 GenBank sequences from wild‐caught animals trapped throughout China. The genotypes of 22 microsatellites of captive Chinese rhesus macaques were also compared with those of captive Indian animals. The Chinese population is significantly differentiated from the Indian population and is more heterogeneous. Thus, compared with Indian rhesus macaques the phenotypic variance of traits with high heritability will be inflated in Chinese animals. Our data suggest that the western Chinese provinces have more subdivided populations than the eastern and southern Chinese provinces. The southern Chinese populations are the least structured and might have been more recently established. Human‐mediated interbreeding among captive Chinese populations has occurred, implying that Chinese breeding strategies can influence the interpretation of biomedical research in the USA.
Myosins in melanocytes: to move or not to move?
Authors: Coudrier Evelyne 
Published: May 2007

SummaryThe actin network has been implicated in the intracellular transport and positioning of the melanosomes, organelles that are specialized in the biosynthesis and the storage of melanin. It contributes also to molecular mechanisms that underlie the intracellular membrane dynamics and thereby can control the biogenesis of melanosomes. Two mechanisms for actin‐based movements have been identified: one is dependent on the motors associated to actin namely the myosins; the other is dependent on actin polymerization. This review will focus on to the role of the actin cytoskeleton and myosins in the transport and in the biogenesis of melanosomes. Myosins involved in membrane traffic are largely seen as transporters of organelles or membrane vesicles containing cargos along the actin networks. Yet increasing evidence suggests that some of the myosins contribute to the dynamics of internal membrane by using other mechanisms. The role of the myosins and the different molecular mechanisms by which they contribute or may contribute to the distribution, the movement and the biogenesis of the melanosomes in epidermal melanocytes and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells will be discussed.
Developing a corpus of the nursing literature: A pilot study
Authors: BUDGELL Brian , MIYAZAKI Michiko , O’BRIEN Myles , PERKINS Robert , TANAKA Yoshiko 
Published: May 2007

AbstractAim:  The purpose of this project was to develop and analyze a pilot corpus of the nursing literature.Methods:  The first issues for 2005 of six representative nursing journals were used to create a corpus of ≈ 250,000 words. This corpus was analyzed for word frequency using a concordance software package.Results:  The process of developing and analyzing the corpus took the equivalent of ≈ 2 weeks’ work for a single person. Approximately 7000 unique words were identified and sorted according to frequency.Conclusions:  In terms of time and cost, the development and analysis of a corpus is an efficient way of identifying the vocabulary which the nursing profession uses in its research publications. Even this brief pilot exercise was able to identify previously unexpected patterns of usage.
MAGNETOPHONON RESONANCE IN MnxCdyHg1-x-yTe
Authors: PLOCH D. , CEBULSKI J. , SHEREGII E. M. 
Published: May 2007

The aim of this work is to analyze the band-structure parameters of Mn x Cd y Hg 1- x - y Te (MMCT) alloys by means of Magnetophonon Resonance (MPR) and to compare that obtained for Zn x Cd y Hg 1- x - y Te (ZMCT). MPR was observed for two samples of Mn x Cd y Hg 1- x - y Te (MMCT) (I- x =0.095 and y =0.09, II-0.04 and y =0.19). The measurements of MPR were performed in pulsed magnetic fields at different temperatures ranging from 77 K to 200 K. The several wide maxima are clearly visible on the experimental curves corresponding to four series of peaks. These series are related to three kinds of phonons analogous to ZMCT. The system of MPR peaks in MMCT is shifted significantly to the higher magnetic fields in comparison with the ZMCT resonance curves of approximately the same content of Zn . The value of effective mass obtained by MPR experiment is of 66% greater than those calculated in the framework of three-band Kane model, in which the value of Eg, was extracted from the photoconductivity data.