bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sealing efficiency of shales
Authors: Luo Xiaorong , Vasseur Guy 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThe sealing efficiency of shale layers is studied through the hydraulic parameters which are required for sustaining overpressure during geologically significant periods. Assuming a 1D sedimentary complex composed of a sealing layer overlying a permeable one, we give approximate solutions for the dissipation of a given initial overpressure. The time constant for relaxation involves the thickness, hydraulic conductivity and specific storage of the seal and also those of the permeable layer. The values of the various hydraulic parameters are discussed. It is argued first that the specific storage corresponding to plastic deformation during burial compaction is larger than the one which would correspond to elastic deformation. When taking into account (i) plausible values for specific storage of the upper shale layer and (ii) the storage effect of the lower permeable layer, it is found that a shale layer of several tens of m with an hydraulic conductivity of the order of 10‐15 ms‐1 maintains overpressure for 1 Myr. For such hydraulic parameter values, in the absence of on‐going pressuring forces, initial overpressures would decay with a time constant (corresponding to a decrease by a factor e ∼, 2.7) of 1 Myr. This is interpreted as supporting a dynamic origin for observed abnormal pressures.
Modelling the effects of sub‐lethal doses of herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer on crop–weed competition
Authors: KIM D S , MARSHALL E J P , BRAIN P , CASELEY J C 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe effects of sub‐lethal dose of herbicide and nitrogen fertilizer on crop–weed competition were investigated. Biomass increases of winter wheat and a model weed, Brassica napus, at no‐herbicide treatment with increasing nitrogen were successfully described by the inverse quadratic model and the linear model respectively. Increases in weed competitivity (β0) of the rectangular hyperbola and parameter B in the dose–response curve for weed biomass, with increasing nitrogen were also successfully described by the exponential model. New models were developed by incorporating inverse quadratic and exponential models into the combined rectangular hyperbola with the standard dose–response curve for winter wheat biomass yield and the combined standard dose—response model with the rectangular hyperbola for weed biomass, to describe the complex effects of herbicide and nitrogen on crop–weed competition. The models developed were used to predict crop yield and weed biomass and to estimate the herbicide doses required to restrict crop yield loss caused by weeds and weed biomass production to an acceptable level at a range of nitrogen levels. The model for crop yield was further modified to estimate the herbicide dose and nitrogen level to achieve a target crop biomass yield. For the target crop biomass yield of 1200 g m−2 with an infestation of 100 B. napus plants m−2, the model recommended various options for nitrogen and herbicide combinations: 140 and 2.9, 180 and 0.9 and 360 kg ha−1 and 1.7 g a.i. ha−1 of nitrogen and metsulfuron‐methyl respectively.
Cytomegalovirus in transplantation – challenging thestatus quo
Authors: Fishman Jay A , Emery Vincent , Freeman Richard , Pascual Manuel , Rostaing Lionel , Schlitt Hans J , Sgarabotto Dino , Torre‐Cisneros Julian , Uknis Marc E 
Published: November 2006

Abstract: Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients causes both ‘‘direct’’ and ‘‘indirect’’ effects including allograft rejection, decreased graft and patient survival, and predisposition to opportunistic infections and malignancies. Options for CMV prevention include pre‐emptive therapy, whereby anti‐CMV agents are administered based on sensitive viral assays, or universal prophylaxis of all at‐risk patients. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages in terms of efficacy, costs, and side effects. Standards of care for prophylaxis have not been established.Methods: A committee of international experts was convened to review the available data regarding CMV prophylaxis and to compare preventative strategies for CMV after transplantation from seropositive donors or in seropositive recipients.Results: Pre‐emptive therapy requires frequent monitoring with subsequent treatment of disease and associated costs, while universal prophylaxis results in greater exposure to potential toxicities and costs of drugs. The advantages of prophylaxis include suppressing asymptomatic viremia and prevention of both direct and indirect effects of CMV infection. Meta analyses reveal decreased in mortality for patients receiving CMV prophylaxis. Costs associated with prophylaxis are less than for routine monitoring and pre‐emptive therapy. The optimal duration of antiviral prophylaxis remains undefined. Extended prophylaxis may improve clinical outcomes in the highest‐risk patient populations including donor‐seropositive/recipient‐seronegative renal transplants and in CMV‐infected lung and heart transplantation.Conclusions: Prophylaxis is beneficial in preventing direct and indirect effects of CMV infection in transplant recipients, affecting both allograft and patient survival. More studies are necessary to define optimal prophylaxis regimens.
Histology of Diplodia pinea in diseased and latently infected Pinus nigra shoots
Authors: Flowers J. L. , Hartman J. R. , Vaillancourt L. J. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryDiplodia tip blight is a serious disease of >30 conifer species worldwide. Symptoms are particularly severe on non‐native, two‐needled Pinus species, and typically include stunted, necrotic needles and shoots and a general decline of the tree. Latent Diplodia pinea infections occur in current‐year shoots of some symptomless pines, and in some apparently healthy current‐year shoots of diseased pines. Latent infections also occur in symptomless terminal buds. A histological approach was used to investigate the nature of latent infections in shoot stems and terminal buds of landscape Pinus nigra. Fungal colonization was compared in healthy, diseased and latently infected tissues. A nested‐PCR technique that is specific for D. pinea was used to differentiate latently infected tissues from uninfected ones. Latent D. pinea infections were localized in the outer stem cortex, usually in the vicinity of needle scales at leaf axes. In contrast, pathogenic D. pinea infections were characterized by fungal colonization throughout the shoot stem tissues, even very early in symptom development. The presence of necrophylatic periderms in two of the latently infected samples suggests that host defences play a role in the production and maintenance of latent stem infections. Latent infections of terminal buds appeared to originate from the distal bud scales of axillary buds in the terminal bud cluster, and not from the subtending shoot. Fungal tissues were never observed inside asymptomatic, PCR‐negative shoots.
Hypernatraemia in preterm infants born at less than 27 weeks gestation
Authors: Gawlowski Zuzanna , Aladangady Narendra , Coen Pietro G 
Published: November 2006

Aims:  To study the incidence of hypernatraemia (plasma sodium >145 mmol/L), identify predisposing factors to and associated complications of hypernatraemia in preterm infants born less than 27 weeks gestation in the first 5 days of life.Methods:  Preterm infants less than 27 week gestation over an 18‐month period were studied by retrospective analysis of patient records. Data were collected on gestation, birthweight, sex, antenatal steroid use, phototherapy, incubator humidity, time of transfer to incubator, plasma sodium, urea and creatinine. Actual fluid and sodium intake was calculated for the first 5 days of life. Data were collected on chronic lung disease, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular haemorrhage, necrotising enterocolitis and death.Results:  In this study 46 (69.7%) of 66 infants studied developed hypernatraemia (>145 mmol/L), occurring most frequently between 24 and 48 h of age. The median gestation of hypernatraemic babies was significantly lower. There was no significant difference in median birthweight, or factors associated with increased insensible water loss between the hypernatraemic and the non‐hypernatraemic groups. Fluid intake was significantly higher on days 2, 3 and 4 in the hypernatraemic group. There was no difference in sodium intake between the two groups. More hypernatraemic babies compared with controls developed chronic lung disease, patent ductus arteriosus, significant intraventricular haemorrhage, necrotising enterocolitis and died, but was not significant.Conclusion:  Hypernatraemia occurs commonly in preterm infants less than 27 weeks gestation and was not associated with significant morbidity. The more immature infants developed hypernatraemia and all cases resolved after increasing fluid intake.
Cefepime monotherapy for treatment of febrile neutropenia in children
Authors: Ariffin Hany , Ai Chong Lee , Lee Chan Lee , Abdullah Wan Ariffin 
Published: November 2006

Aim:  Empirical therapy for children with febrile neutropenia has traditionally consisted of combination antibiotics, usually a beta‐lactam and an aminoglycoside. However, recent trends and international guidelines have now made monotherapy a feasible option in the management of this group of patients. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of cefepime monotherapy in our population of paediatric cancer patients with febrile neutropenia.Methods:  An audit was performed on children aged 16 years and younger presenting with fever and neutropenia who were managed with empirical single‐agent cefepime. The patients were analysed for clinical outcome, documented infections and side‐effects of the study drug. Success was defined as clinical improvement without treatment modification. Death or any change to the empirical antibiotic was considered as failure.Results:  In this study 79 children (median age 5.2 years) with 133 episodes of febrile neutropenia were prospectively studied between August 2004 and August 2005. A microbiologically documented infection was seen in 26 episodes. The success rate of cefepime monotherapy was 60%. The rate of survival through neutropenia (with or without modification) was 98%. No significant adverse effects were seen.Conclusion:  Cefepime monotherapy is a safe and feasible option for treatment of childhood cancer patients with febrile neutropenia.
Acne, anxiety, depression and suicide in teenagers: A cross‐sectional survey of New Zealand secondary school students
Authors: Purvis Diana , Robinson Elizabeth , Merry Sally , Watson Peter 
Published: November 2006

Aim:  To examine the associations between acne and depressive symptoms, anxiety and suicidal behaviours.Methods:  This was a secondary analysis of a cross‐sectional survey –‘Youth2000’ (New Zealand national survey of youth health). A total of 9567 secondary school students aged 12–18 years participated in the survey. The main outcome measures were self‐reported acne, depressive symptoms (Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale > 77), anxiety (Anxiety Disorder Index from Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children) and self‐reported suicide attempts.Results:  ‘Problem acne’ was associated with an increased probability of depressive symptoms, odds ratio 2.04 (95% confidence interval 1.70–2.45); anxiety, odds ratio 2.3 (1.74–3.00); and suicide attempts, odds ratio 1.83 (1.51–2.22) in a logistic model that included age, gender, ethnicity, school decile and socio‐economic status. The association of acne with suicide attempts remained after controlling for depressive symptoms and anxiety, odds ratio 1.50 (1.21–1.86).Conclusion:  Young people presenting with acne are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicide attempts. Attention should be paid to their mental health, and the importance of asking directly regarding suicide is emphasised.
Venous thromboembolic disease: A single‐centre case series study
Authors: Newall Fiona , Wallace Tim , Crock Catherine , Campbell Janine , Savoia Helen , Barnes Chris , Monagle Paul 
Published: November 2006

Aim:  The epidemiology of venous thromboembolism in children has likely changed since first being described a decade ago because of evolving management strategies and a greater awareness of predisposing factors for thrombosis in children. The Royal Children's Hospital commenced a 4‐year prospective registry of venous thrombosis in 1999 to determine the current Australian epidemiology of venous thrombosis in infants and children.Methods:  A prospective, single‐centre registry was established to determine the prevalence, aetiology, diagnostic criteria, management and outcome of venous thromboembolism in an Australian tertiary paediatric centre.Results:  The incidence of venous thrombosis was 8.0/10 000 hospital admissions. Fifty‐eight per cent of infants and 49% of children were male. Seventy‐seven per cent of venous thromboses in infants were associated with central venous cannulation compared with 47% in children. Doppler ultrasonography was the most frequently used diagnostic tool. Treatment strategies varied between age groups. The all‐cause mortality rate for infants and children in this study was 8.4% (direct thrombus‐related mortality 0%). Fifteen per cent of all patients demonstrated complete resolution of their venous thrombosis at discharge, with 48% demonstrating complete resolution at follow‐up assessment. Fifteen per cent of patients experienced significant thrombosis‐related morbidity at follow‐up assessment.Conclusion:  In this single‐centre registry, venous thrombosis in infants and children occurred with greater frequency than has previously been reported and its epidemiology varied. Central venous catheterisation continues to be a common precipitant to venous thrombosis. Optimal diagnostic and treatment interventions for venous thromboembolism have not yet been determined for infants and children, despite the significant incidence of long‐term sequelae.
Effect of formula thickened with locust bean gum on gastric emptying in infants
Authors: Miyazawa Reiko , Tomomasa Takeshi , Kaneko Hiroaki , Morikawa Akihiro 
Published: November 2006

Aim:  We investigated the effects of milk‐based formulas thickened with two different concentrations of locust bean gum on gastric emptying in infants with recurrent regurgitation episodes.Methods:  Thirty‐nine infants with three or more episodes of regurgitation per day but no complications who were fed mainly with infant formula were studied. We first compared gastric emptying in infants fed with formulas thickened with two different concentrations of locust bean gum (HL‐350, 0.35 g/100 mL; HL‐450, 0.45 g/100 mL) or a regular formula (HL‐00). To evaluate gastric emptying, we measured antral cross‐sectional areas ultrasonographically at various time points after feeding. Next, to investigate the clinical effect of thickened formulas on regurgitation episodes, 27 infants with episodes were assigned randomly to receive HL‐350 and HL‐00 or HL‐450 and HL‐00 for 1 week each.Results:  Antral cross‐sectional areas at 60, 90, 120 and 150 min with HL‐450, and at 60 min with HL‐350, were greater than with HL‐00. The median gastric emptying rate at 120 min with HL‐450 (52.8%) was lower than with HL‐00 (97.9%; P = 0.0019), while HL‐350 (80.3%) and HL‐00 did not differ significantly. The mean number of regurgitation episodes was significantly smaller when infants were fed with either HL‐350 or HL‐450 than with HL‐00.Conclusions:  HL‐450, a thickened formula with typical commercially available concentrations of locust bean gum, slowed gastric emptying in infants with gastroesophageal reflux.
Bloodstream infections in a secondary and tertiary care hospital setting
Authors: Raymond N. J. , Blackmore T. K. , Humble M. W. , Jones M. R. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground: Bloodstream infections (BSI) occurring in community and health‐care settings vary with the patient group and treatment of underlying medical conditions. We studied the clinical infectious syndromes occurring in patients with positive blood cultures routinely obtained at a regional secondary and tertiary care hospital.Methods: BSI were categorized as either community‐acquired (C‐BSI), or health‐care‐associated (H‐BSI) acquired either as a (i) non‐inpatient (outpatient) or (ii) hospital inpatient. Clinical information was collected prospectively during the 1‐year study.Results: There were 193 C‐BSI and 230 H‐BSI. The large majority of C‐BSI were caused by bacterial pathogens susceptible to narrow‐spectrum antibiotics, particularly in children. Cefuroxime was active against 90% of C‐BSI isolates and 46% of H‐BSI isolates, excluding anaerobes. Of all H‐BSI, the 35% occurring in outpatients had a similar source, microbiological cause and bacterial susceptibilities to the inpatients. H‐BSI were infrequently due to enterococci (4%), Candida (3%) or methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (0.4%). No BSI were due to vancomycin‐resistant enterococci or extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase producing Enterobacteriaciae. I.v. catheters, predominantly central lines, were the source of 60% of all H‐BSI, mostly in haematology–oncology or neonatal patients. Mortality at 1 month was 12% overall for both C‐BSI and H‐BSI, varying markedly by underlying disease and increasing age (for C‐BSI).Conclusion: In this population, C‐BSI have remained susceptible to narrow‐spectrum antibiotics, whereas H‐BSI due to multiresistant organisms were rare. Obtaining a history of recent medical procedures is important for community patients presenting with a BSI.
Mortality and airflow obstruction in asthma: a 17‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Panizza J. A. , James A. L. , Ryan G. , De Klerk N. , Finucane K. E. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractBackground: Asthma is associated with fixed airflow obstruction and an increased risk of death. The aim of this study was to relate asthma mortality and airflow obstruction to severity of asthma in a cohort of patients with chronic asthma studied over a 17‐year period.Methods: In 1980, asthma severity based on symptoms, asthma duration, treatment and smoking habits were assessed and lung function was measured after maximal therapy in 89 patients. In 1997, mortality was recorded and 44 of 60 patients known to be alive were restudied.Results: Eighteen patients had died: eight deaths were associated with asthma (seven occurred before and one after 1990). The risk of death was higher with decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), increased FEV1 variability, age and treatment requirements but not symptom severity, at initial study. In the patients restudied, asthma severity and FEV1 variability decreased whereas the dose of inhaled corticosteriods increased 2.8‐fold. Highest FEV1 was negatively related to treatment score and smoking history at initial study, but not at follow up and was <80% predicted in 19 (43%) patients, 11 of whom had never smoked. The mean (±standard deviation) decrement in FEV1 was 32 ± 24 mL/year and correlated positively with FEV1 at initial study, smoking history, age of onset of asthma and treatment requirements at follow up.Conclusion: In this cohort study, asthma was associated with chronic airflow obstruction and that with increased risk of mortality. Symptoms and mortality risk improved in association with increased reported use of inhaled corticosteroids; however, there was ongoing chronic airflow obstruction.
“I’m glad I’m not young anymore”
Authors: Allen R. K. A. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe author, a physician in late middle age reflects on his own medical career, the aging of those who have taught him and also of those whom he has taught. He describes the sense of ennui and déjà vu. The things that seemed important as a younger doctor seem less important. He has adopted a different paradigm and has come to see that both playfulness and integrity are essential ingredients for health. As a sailor, he more keenly appreciates the struggles our patients and colleagues have with illness and draws an analog between sailing and life.
Ice age legacies in the geographical distribution of tree species richness in Europe
Authors: Svenning Jens‐Christian , Skov Flemming 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTAim This study uses a high‐resolution simulation of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) climate to assess: (1) whether LGM climate still affects the geographical species richness patterns in the European tree flora and (2) the relative importance of modern and LGM climate as controls of tree species richness in Europe.Location The parts of Europe that were unglaciated during the LGM.Methods Atlas data on the distributions of 55 tree species were linked with data on modern and LGM climate and climatic heterogeneity in a geographical information system with a 60‐km grid. Four measures of species richness were computed: total richness, and richness of the 18 most restricted species, 19 species of medium incidence (intermediate species) and 18 most widespread species. We used ordinary least‐squares regression and spatial autoregressive modelling to test and estimate the richness–climate relationships.Results LGM climate constituted the best single set of explanatory variables for richness of restricted species, while modern climate and climatic heterogeneity was best for total and widespread species richness and richness of intermediate species, respectively. The autoregressive model with all climatic predictors was supported for all richness measures using an information‐theoretic approach, albeit only weakly so for total species richness. Among the strongest relationships were increases in total and intermediate richness with climatic heterogeneity and in restricted richness with LGM growing‐degree‐days. Partial regression showed that climatic heterogeneity accounted for the largest unique variation fraction for intermediate richness, while LGM climate was particularly important for restricted richness.Main conclusions LGM climate appears to still affect geographical patterns of tree species richness in Europe, albeit the relative importance of modern and LGM climate depends on range size. Notably, LGM climate is a strong richness control for species with a restricted range, which appear to still be associated with their glacial refugia.
Isolation and characterization of eight microsatellite loci in Leporinus macrocephalus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) and cross‐species amplification
Authors: MORELLI KARINA A. , REVALDAVES ELOISA , OLIVEIRA CLAUDIO , FORESTI FAUSTO 
Published: November 2006

Abstract Leporinus macrocephalus is a species endemic to the Paraguay River basin and an important fishery resource, as well as a valuable species in aquaculture programs. A total of eight polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized. A population survey was conducted involving 45 specimens whereby a large number of alleles (range 5–17 among loci), a highly observed (0.1667–0.6129) and an expected (0.6967–0.9448) heterozygosity was detected, indicating its usefulness in population genetics studies. Cross‐species amplification was successful in eight Characiformes species.
Isolation and characterization of swift fox tetranucleotide microsatellite loci
Authors: CULLINGHAM C. I. , SMEETON C. , WHITE B. N. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractPrimers have been developed for nine polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci isolated from the swift fox (Vulpes velox). These can be amplified in three multiplex reactions and all loci can be scored easily and without ambiguity. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 14 and the overall heterozygosities ranged from 0.54 to 1.00. All loci were in Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium, but two loci were in linkage disequilibrium. These loci will be used to monitor endangered swift fox populations on the Canadian prairies.