bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acquisition of genome information from single-celled unculturable organisms (radiolaria) by exploiting genome profiling (GP)
Authors: Kouduka Mariko , Matsuoka Atsushi , Nishigaki Koichi 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
There is no effective method to obtain genome information from single-celled unculturable organisms such as radiolarians. Even worse, such organisms are often very difficult to collect. Sequence analysis of 18S rDNA has been carried out, but obtaining the data has been difficult and it has provided a rather limited amount of genome information. In this paper, we have developed a method which provides a sufficient amount of data from an unculturable organism. The effectiveness of this method was demonstrated by applying it to the provisional classification of a set of unculturable organisms (radiolarians).

Results
Dendrogram was drawn regarding the single-celled unculturable species based on the similarity score termed PaSS, offering a consistent result with the conventional taxonomy of them built up based on phenotypes. This fact has shown that genome profiling-based technology developed here can obtain genome information being sufficient for identifying and classifying species from a single-celled organism.

Conclusion
Since this method is so simple, general, and yet powerful, it can be applied to various organisms and cells, especially single-celled, uncluturable ones, for their genome analysis.
Health costs in anthroposophic therapy users: a two-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Hamre Harald J , Witt Claudia M , Glockmann Anja , Ziegler Renatus , Willich Stefan N , Kiene Helmut 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Background
Anthroposophic therapies (counselling, special medication, art, eurythmy movement, and rhythmical massage) aim to stimulate long-term self-healing processes, which theoretically could lead to a reduction of healthcare use. In a prospective two-year cohort study, anthroposophic therapies were followed by a reduction of chronic disease symptoms and improvement of quality of life. The purpose of this analysis was to describe health costs in users of anthroposophic therapies.

Methods
717 consecutive outpatients from 134 medical practices in Germany, starting anthroposophic therapies for chronic diseases, participated in a prospective cohort study. We analysed direct health costs (anthroposophic therapies, physician and dentist consultations, psychotherapy, medication, physiotherapy, ergotherapy, hospital treatment, rehabilitation) and indirect costs (sick leave compensation) in the pre-study year and the first two study years. Costs were calculated from resource utilisation, documented by patient self-reporting. Data were collected from January 1999 to April 2003.

Results
Total health costs in the first study year (bootstrap mean 3,297 Euro; 95% confidence interval 95%-CI 3,157 Euro to 3,923 Euro) did not differ significantly from the pre-study year (3,186 Euro; 95%-CI 3,037 Euro to 3,711 Euro), whereas in the second year, costs (2,771 Euro; 95%-CI 2,647 Euro to 3,256 Euro) were significantly reduced by 416 Euro (95%-CI 264 Euro to 960 Euro) compared to the pre-study year. In each period hospitalisation and sick-leave together amounted to more than half of the total health costs. Anthroposophic therapies and medication amounted to 3%, 15%, and 8% of total health costs in the pre-study year, first year, and second study year, respectively. The cost reduction in the second year was largely accounted for by a decrease of inpatient hospitalisation, leading to a hospital cost reduction of 519 Euro (95%-CI 377 Euro to 904 Euro) compared to the pre-study year.

Conclusion
In patients starting anthroposophic therapies for chronic disease, total health costs did not increase in the first year, and were reduced in the second year. This reduction was largely explained by a decrease of inpatient hospitalisation. Within the limits of a pre-post design, study findings suggest that anthroposophic therapies are not associated with a relevant increase in total health costs.
Rapid Urban Malaria Appraisal (RUMA) IV: Epidemiology of urban malaria in Cotonou (Benin)
Authors: Wang Shr-Jie , Lengeler Christian , Smith Thomas A , Vounatsou Penelope , Akogbeto Martin , Tanner Marcel 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
An estimated 40 % of the population in Benin lives in urban areas. The purpose of the study was to estimate malaria endemicity and the fraction of malaria-attributable fevers in health facilities in Cotonou.

Methods
A health care system evaluation and a series of school parasitaemia surveys and health facility-based surveys were carried out during the dry season in of 2003, applying standard Rapid Urban Malaria Appraisal (RUMA) methodology. This study was part of a multi-site assessment supported by the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.

Results
The field work was carried out in February-March 2003. In 2002 and out of 289,342 consultations in the public health facilities of Cotonou there were 100,257 reported simple malaria cases (34.6%) and 12,195 complicated malaria cases (4.2%). In the school parasitaemia surveys, a malaria infection was found in 5.2 % of all samples. The prevalence rates of parasitaemia in the centre, intermediate and periphery zones were 2.6%, 9.0% and 2.5%, respectively. In the health facility surveys the malaria infection rates in presenting fever cases were 0% (under one year old), 6.8% (one to five years old), 0% (> five to 15 years old) and 0.9% (over 15 years old), while these rates in the control group were 1.4%, 2.8%, 1.3% and 2.0%. The malaria-attributable fractions among presenting fever cases were 0.04 in the one to five years old and zero in the three other age groups. Hence, malaria played only a small role in fever episodes at the end of the dry season. In total, 69.2% of patients used a mosquito net the night before the survey and 35.1% used an insecticide-treated net, which was shown to be protective for an infection (OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.07–0.78). Travelling to a rural area (5.8% of all respondents) did not increase the infection risk.

Conclusion
The homogenously low malaria prevalence might be associated with urban transformation and/or a high bednet usage. Over-diagnosis of malaria and over-treatment with antimalarials was found to be a serious problem.
Proteome-level display by 2-dimensional chromatography of extracellular matrix-dependent modulation of the phenotype of bladder cancer cells
Authors: Hurst Robert E , Kyker Kimberly D , Dozmorov Mikhail G , Takemori Nobuaki , Singh Anil , Matsumoto Hiroyuki , Saban Ricardo , Betgovargez Edna , Simonian Michael H 
Published: June 2006

Abstract

Background
The extracellular matrix can have a profound effect upon the phenotype of cancer cells. Previous work has shown that growth of bladder cancer cells on a matrix derived from normal basement membrane suppresses many malignant features that are displayed when the cells are grown on a matrix that has been modified by malignant tumors. This work was undertaken to investigate proteome-level changes as determined by a new commercially available proteome display involving 2-dimensional chromatography for bladder cancer cells grown on different extracellular matrix preparations that modulate the expression of the malignant phenotype.

Results
Depending on the matrix, between 1300 and 2000 distinct peaks were detected by two-dimensional chromatographic fractionation of 2.1 – 4.4 mg of total cellular protein. The fractions eluting from the reversed-phase fractionation were suitable for mass spectrometric identification following only lyophilization and trypsin digestion and achieved approximately 10-fold higher sensitivity than was obtained with gel-based separations. Abundant proteins that were unique to cells grown on one of the matrices were identified by mass spectrometry. Following concentration, peaks of 0.03 AU provided unambiguous identification of protein components when 10% of the sample was analyzed, whereas peaks of 0.05 AU was approximately the lower limit of detection when the entire sample was separated on a gel and in-gel digestion was used. Although some fractions were homogeneous, others were not, and up to 3 proteins per fraction were identified. Strong evidence for post-translational modification of the unique proteins was noted. All 13 of the unique proteins from cells grown on Matrigel were related to MYC pathway.

Conclusion
The system provides a viable alternative to 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis for proteomic display of biological systems. The findings suggest the importance of MYC to the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells.
Identification and characterisation of the high-risk surgical population in the United Kingdom
Authors: Pearse Rupert M , Harrison David A , James Philip , Watson David , Hinds Charles , Rhodes Andrew , Grounds R Michael , Bennett E David 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Introduction
Little is known about mortality rates following general surgical procedures in the United Kingdom. Deaths are most common in the 'high-risk' surgical population consisting mainly of older patients, with coexisting medical disease, who undergo major surgery. Only limited data are presently available to describe this population. The aim of the present study was to estimate the size of the high-risk general surgical population and to describe the outcome and intensive care unit (ICU) resource use.

Methods
Data on inpatient general surgical procedures and ICU admissions in 94 National Health Service hospitals between January 1999 and October 2004 were extracted from the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre database and the CHKS database. High-risk surgical procedures were defined prospectively as those for which the mortality rate was 5% or greater.

Results
There were 4,117,727 surgical procedures; 2,893,432 were elective (12,704 deaths; 0.44%) and 1,224,295 were emergencies (65,674 deaths; 5.4%). A high-risk population of 513,924 patients was identified (63,340 deaths; 12.3%), which accounted for 83.8% of deaths but for only 12.5% of procedures. This population had a prolonged hospital stay (median, 16 days; interquartile range, 9–29 days). There were 59,424 ICU admissions (11,398 deaths; 19%). Among admissions directly to the ICU following surgery, there were 31,633 elective admissions with 3,199 deaths (10.1%) and 24,764 emergency admissions with 7,084 deaths (28.6%). The ICU stays were short (median, 1.6 days; interquartile range, 0.8–3.7 days) but hospital admissions for those admitted to the ICU were prolonged (median, 16 days; interquartile range, 10–30 days). Among the ICU population, 40.8% of deaths occurred after the initial discharge from the ICU. The highest mortality rate (39%) occurred in the population admitted to the ICU following initial postoperative care on a standard ward.

Conclusion
A large high-risk surgical population accounts for 12.5% of surgical procedures but for more than 80% of deaths. Despite high mortality rates, fewer than 15% of these patients are admitted to the ICU.
Toward a new era of plasma spray processing
Authors: Yoshida Toyonobu 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
The recent global trend of materials R&D is shifting from "monolithic" to "materials system" and from "bulk" to "thin film and coating". It is thus a natural consequence that plasma spray processing, as an affordable and effective thin film and coating technology, is attracting global attention in materials engineering. Unfortunately, however, the current plasma spray technology for thin film and coating seems to not yet reach the sufficient technological level to meet the requirements from the fields where this technique was not applicable in the past. In this context, this paper will point out the disregarded but important issues involved in conventional plasma powder spraying to fit for high technologies and infer the future potential of novel plasma spray processing with the use of extended feedstock like gases, liquids, and various-sized powders. In particular, special attention will be given to recent challenges aiming at a development of a co-deposition process of droplets and vapors, namely, comprehensive plasma spraying.
Formation of soot particles in Ar/H2/CH4 microwave discharges during nanocrystalline diamond deposition: A modeling approach
Authors: Hassouni K. , Mohasseb F. , Bénédic F. , Lombardi G. , Gicquel A. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Homogenous mechanism of soot formation in moderate-pressure Ar/CH4/H2 microwave discharges was analyzed with the help of kinetics modeling of the thermally nonequilibrium plasmas. Two main reaction mechanisms based on either neutral molecular growth and condensation reaction nucleation process were considered. These mechanisms were incorporated in a numerical model that solves for the plasma species and energy equations under a quasi-uniform plasma assumption. This enabled us to estimate the plasma species density and temperature along with the nucleation rate at different discharge conditions. The results showed that soot particles might form at significant density values by both neutral and ionic mechanisms. Their formation mainly takes place at the discharge edges where the temperature level favors the development of large molecular edifices. Simulations showed that the formation of soot is unlikely to happen in the bulk of the discharge where the gas temperature is high and the large molecular hydrocarbon (HC) cannot form at significant concentrations.
Miniature atmospheric pressure glow discharge torch (APGD-t) for local biomedical applications
Authors: Coulombe S. , Léveillé V. , Yonson S. , Leask R. L. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
The operating parameters of a miniature atmospheric pressure glow discharge torch (APGD-t) are optimized for the production of excited atomic oxygen, and the effect of the plasma jet on endothelial cells grown in Petri dishes is studied. We first demonstrate the importance of accounting for the effect of the voltage probe used to measure the electrical parameters of the torch on its ignition and operation characteristics. When operated with a main plasma gas flow rate of 1 SLM He and a power level of ~1 W, the torch shows an optimum in the production of excited atomic oxygen for a O2 flow of ~3.5 SCCM injected downstream from the plasma-forming region through a capillary electrode (i.e., 0.35 v/v % O2/He). It is shown that endothelial cells are detached from the Petri dishes surface under the action of the optimized plasma jet and that this effect does not originate from heating and fluid shearing effects. It is postulated that the cell detachment is caused solely by plasma-induced biochemical processes taking place at the cell-substrate interface.
Reduction of perfluorinated compound emissions using atmospheric pressure microwave plasmas: Mechanisms and energy efficiency
Authors: Nantel-Valiquette M. , Kabouzi Y. , Castaños-Martinez E. , Makasheva K. , Moisan M. , Rostaing J. C. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
The abatement of perfluorinated compound (PFC) gases is investigated using atmospheric pressure microwave-surface-wave plasmas. These PFCs are diluted in nitrogen gas with concentration ranging from 5000 to 10 000 ppmv. The abatement mechanisms of SF6 and CF4 are examined, and conversion schemes are presented in the case where oxygen is added to the gas mixture. The PFC fragments are oxidized, forming acid-like by-products that are finally trapped irreversibly using a humidified soda lime scrubber. Gas-phase analysis was performed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The abatement efficiency is found to increase with increasing absorbed microwave power and gas residence time. The energy efficiency of the abatement process is shown to increase, with PFC concentrations in the gas mixture up to 10 000 ppmv. A complete conversion of SF6 is achieved for energy densities ranging from 700 to 1200 J/cm3 for concentrations ranging from 5000 to 10 000 ppmv. Lowering the microwave excitation frequency and using swirling flow are shown to reduce the energy cost per abated molecule.
Production of reactive species by atmospheric pressure streamers in N2-O2 mixtures
Authors: Šimek Milan , Člupek Martin , Babický Václav , Šunka Pavel 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
Streamer discharges in atmospheric gases are currently receiving increased attention in connection with environmental issues or new material treatment technologies. The chemical reactivity of streamer-produced plasma, created by various active atomic and molecular species, is a critical parameter for most application areas. Recently, advanced diagnostics based on optical and energy transfer methods have been applied to study dynamics and spatial distribution of several important streamer-produced species. This paper presents an overview of the most recently reported experimental achievements to monitor and detect reactive species, such as, e.g., NO, OH, and O3 radicals, nitrogen and oxygen atoms, or N2(A3Σ) metastables.
Plasma application for more environmentally friendly catalyst preparation
Authors: Liu Chang-jun , Zou Jijun , Yu Kailu , Cheng Dangguo , Han You , Zhan Jason , Ratanatawanate Chalita , Jang Ben W.-L. 
Published: June 2006

Abstract
The present status of catalyst preparation using nonthermal plasma treatment has been summarized in this paper. Improved dispersion, better low-temperature activity, enhanced stability, and better anti-carbon deposition performance can be achieved with nonthermal plasma-treated catalysts. The improvement in catalyst preparation with nonthermal plasma treatment can reduce or avoid the use of hazardous chemicals. Nonthermal plasma catalyst treatment has especially induced a new development of nonthermal plasma for catalyst reduction. The reduction using hydrogen at high temperatures or using hazardous liquid chemicals can be replaced by the developed plasma reduction process. The mechanism for nonthermal plasma treatment has been presented. An analog between the man-made gas discharge plasmas and the environment inside the zeolite pores and around catalyst surface defects is also proposed.
Neospora caninum and neosporosis — recent achievements in host and parasite cell biology and treatment
Authors: Hemphill Andrew , Gottstein Bruno 
Published: June 2006

AbstractNeospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite, which owes its importance to the fact that it represents the major infectious cause of bovine abortion worldwide. Its life cycle is comprised of three distinct stages: Tachyzoites, representing the proliferative and disease-causing stage, bradyzoites, representing a slowly replicating, tissue cyst-forming stage, and sporozoites, which represent the end product of a sexual process taking place within the intestinal tissue of the final canine host. Tachyzoites are capable of infecting a large variety of host cells in vitro and in vivo, while bradyzoites have been found mainly within the central nervous system. In order to survive, proliferate, and proceed in its life cycle, N. caninum has evolved some amazing features. First, the parasite profits immensely from its ability to interact with, and invade, a large number of host cell types. Secondly, N. caninum exploits its capability to respond to alterations in living conditions by converting into another stage (tachyzoite-to-bradyzoite or vice versa). Thirdly, this parasite has evolved mechanisms that modulate its host cells according to its own requirements, and these must, especially in the case of the bradyzoite stage, involve mechanisms that ensure long term survival of not only the parasite but also of the host cell. These three key events (host cell invasion — stage conversion — host cell modulation) represent potential targets for intervention. In order to elucidate the molecular and cellular bases of these important features of N. caninum, cell culture-based approaches and laboratory animal models are extensively exploited. In this review, we will summarize the present knowledge and achievements related to host cell and parasite cell biology.
Henneguya shackletoni sp. nov. (Myxosporea, Bivalvulida, Myxobolidae) from the Falklands mullet, Eleginops maclovinus (Cuvier) (Teleostei, Eleginopidae) in the Falkland Islands
Authors: Brickle Paul , Kalavati Chaganti , MacKenzie Ken 
Published: June 2006

AbstractDuring a survey of the parasite fauna of the euryhaline notothenioid fish Eleginops maclovinus (Cuvier) caught in brackish water creeks in the Falkland Islands, small white cysts were observed in the mesenteries and on the surfaces of the visceral organs and heart. On dissection these proved to be plasmodia of a species of the myxosporean genus Henneguya. This is the first record of a member of this genus from a marine or euryhaline fish in the south-west Atlantic. A comparison of the spore of our species with other species in the genus convinced us that our species is new. This paper describes it as Henneguya shackletoni sp. nov. after the Shackleton Fund which funded the study.
Is Radix peregra a new intermediate host of Fascioloides magna (Trematoda) in Europe? Field and experimental evidence
Authors: Faltýnková Anna , Horáčková Eva , Hirtová Lenka , Novobilský Adam , Modrý David , Scholz Tomáš 
Published: June 2006

AbstractRediae and immature cercariae of the giant liver fluke, Fascioloides magna, a pathogenic and important parasite of game animals, were found in 6 out of 7,277 Radix peregra (Gastropoda, Lymnaeidae) from two localities in Western and Central Bohemia, Czech Republic. In one of these localities a relatively high infection of Galba truncatula (26 out of 76) with mature cercariae of F. magna was detected. R. peregra, which is dominant over Galba truncatula, has never been reported as the natural intermediate host of F. magna. Its potential susceptibility to F. magna infection was confirmed experimentally with 67 snails of R. peregra (out of 371) infected. The present data indicate the capability of F. magna to expand the spectrum of its intermediate hosts and demonstrate the potential epizootiological importance of lymnaeid snails, other than G. truncatula, for transmission of the parasite in Europe.
Acanthocephalans from Red Sea fishes. Family Cavisomidae Meyer, 1932: The seasonal cycle of Diplosentis nudus (Harada, 1938) Pichelin et Cribb, 2001 in a definitive fish host, and a comment on Sclerocollum Schmidt et Paperna, 1978
Authors: Hassanine Reda 
Published: June 2006

AbstractSpecimens of the fishes Rastrelliger kanagurta (Scombridae) and Siganus luridus (Siganidae) were caught in the Red Sea off the coast of Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. R. kanagurta was parasitised by Diplosentis nudus (Harada, 1938) Pichelin et Cribb, 2001 (Acanthocephala, Cavisomidae), and S. luridus by Sclerocollum rubrimaris Schmidt et Paperna, 1978 (Acanthocephala, Cavisomidae). The infection of R. kanagurta was followed monthly for one year (from September, 2004 to August, 2005). As a result, the seasonal cycle of D. nudus in its definitive host is described herein for the first time. The cycle is well-defined and extends for about 11 months (from October to August); in October, new generation of D. nudus starts to appear in the intestine of R. kanagurta; during the winter, the juvenile worms continued their growth; during the spring, most of the worms attained maturity and the mature worms copulated; during the summer, the worms began to die off naturally prior to their elimination from the intestine of the host. Sclerocollum rubrimaris is redescribed and Sclerocollum Schmidt et Paperna, 1978 is retained as a valid genus within the Cavisomidae.