bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Saving or stripping rural industry: an analysis of privatization and efficiency in China
Authors: Li Hongbin , Rozelle Scott 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis paper describes the process of privatization of China's Township Enterprises. Findings from a recent field survey by the authors show how far privatization has proceeded and how it has affected firm performance. The pervasiveness and impact of privatization are readily apparent. The privatization in the mid‐1990s was deep and fundamental. More than 50% of local government‐owned firms have transferred their shares to the private sector, partially or completely. Privatization is widespread, regardless of what definition we use (share shifting, controlling interest shifting, or complete). Although we do not find any evidence in our descriptive statistics that private and privatized firms outperform government ones, the private sector does appear to be beginning to manage its firms (e.g., labor and inventories) somewhat differently. Our multivariate analysis, however, finds a positive impact of privatization on technical efficiency. Efficiency of China's rural industries, including agro‐industrial firms, would rise, if township enterprises privatized. The impact of privatization, however, does not occur immediately. Transitional costs apparently reduce private firm efficiency in the year that firms are being privatized. It is possible to surmise that as privatized firms complete their ownership transition and continue to learn how to adapt to China's business environment that the gains could rise further. However, we cannot say if the gain in efficiency is enough to make rural industries competitive in the future.
Analgosedation with low‐dose morphine for preterm infants with CPAP: risks and benefits
Authors: Enders J , Gebauer C , Pulzer F , Robel‐Tillig E , Knüpfer M 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: CPAP is widely used in preterm infants on NICUs but it poses a stressful stimulus to the patient, sometimes requiring the use of analgosedative drugs.Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the risks and benefits associated with the use of low‐dose morphine in preterm infants with CPAP, especially apnea.Methods: Sixty‐four CPAP‐treated preterm infants, who received a low single dose of morphine (recommended 0.01 mg/kg), were included in this prospective study. Observation‐time was 4 h prior to injection, directly before injecting, until 15 min and 15–30 min, 30 min–1 h, 1–2 h, 2–3 h, 3–4 h, 4–5 h and 5–6 h after injection. For all observation periods incidence of apnea, heart rate, respiratory rate and a score for analgesia and for sedation were recorded.Results: Sixty‐four preterm infants (29.6 ± 3.3 weeks gestational age (GA), birth weight 1401 ± 735 g) received 0.025 ± 0.012 mg/kg morphine i.v. on the day 10–13 of life. The decrease in heart and respiratory rate, scores for analgesia and sedation were significant. The overall incidence of apnea did not increase compared to the 4 h pre‐morphine period. Six patients (9.3%) experienced considerable delayed apnea. This group was significantly younger in GA (p < 0.001) and lighter in birth weight (p = 0.002).Conclusion: Morphine in dosage less than half of recommended dosage has a high analgetic and sedative potential. The danger of delayed severe apnea has to be taken into consideration in the clinical situation, especially in patients <28 weeks.
Risk of low Apgar score and socioeconomic position: a study of Swedish male births
Authors: Odd David E , Doyle Pat , Gunnell David , Lewis Glyn , Whitelaw Andrew , Rasmussen Finn 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal socioeconomic position and a persistent low Apgar score (a score of < 7 at 1 and 5 min following birth).Methods: The research is based on a population cohort study of 183 637 males born in Sweden between 1973 and 1976. Data from the Medical Birth Register were linked to Population and Housing Censuses.Results: There was evidence that mothers working in non‐manual (Odds ratio (OR) 0.83 (0.72–0.97)) and self‐employed (OR 0.64 (0.44–0.93)) occupations were less likely to have an infant with a low Apgar score, compared to manual workers. There was evidence that the risk of a low Apgar score decreased as the mother's level of education increased, if the infant was born by instrumental (OR 0.86 (0.74–0.99)) or caesarean section (OR 0.80 (0.68–0.93)) delivery, but not by unassisted vaginal delivery (OR 1.01 (0.92–1.10)).Conclusion: There was a lower risk of poor birth condition in male infants born to more educated and non‐manual/self‐employed mothers. These differences may contribute to our understanding of socioeconomic differences in infant health and development although the results may not be applicable due to changes over the last 30 years.
European paediatric research and children's therapeutic needs. A trial review
Authors: Pandolfini C , Bonati M 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAim: To evaluate the current paediatric therapeutic research situation in Europe with respect to paediatric needs and drug therapies.Methods: Data from ongoing and published paediatric drug therapy trials from 2004 to 2007 were evaluated and compared to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) priority list for studies on paediatric medicinal products. Ongoing trial data from the DEC‐net paediatric trial register and published trials from two biomedical databases were used.Results: In all, 379 trials from the 27 European Union (EU) countries were found (most common country: Italy, 18.2%). The major disease area covered was ‘infectious and parasitic diseases’ (21.4%). Only four of 25 EMEA priority conditions were addressed, the most common were ‘malignant diseases’ (18.2% of trials) and ‘asthma’ (3.2%). A subset of 190 published trials, representing the same four countries that participated in DEC‐net (France, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom), was compared to the register's 257 ongoing trials. Some significant differences in disease areas covered were found. Concerning the EMEA priority conditions, the ongoing research addressed more of them.Conclusion: Paediatric research is being carried out in Europe, but this study found a general lack of overlap between therapeutic needs and research. The Paediatric Regulation will hopefully lead to research that is more focused on children's needs.
Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of DTPa‐HBV‐IPV/Hib vaccine as primary and booster vaccination in low‐birth‐weight premature infants
Authors: Vázquez Liliana , Garcia Fabiana , Rüttimann Ricardo , Coconier Gustavo , Jacquet Jeanne‐Marie , Schuerman Lode 
Published: May 2008

AbstractAim: To assess suitability of a combined DTPa‐HBV‐IPV/Hib vaccine (Infanrix hexa™) for immunization of low‐birth‐weight (<2.0 kg) preterm infants, with particular focus on the hepatitis B response.Methods: Open‐label study in 170 preterm infants receiving primary vaccination at 2, 4 and 6 months of age and booster vaccination at 18–24 months. Enrolment and analysis were stratified in two groups: infants with birth weight between 1.5 kg and 2.0 kg (low birth weight: LBW), infants with BW <1.5 kg (very low birth weight: VLBW).Results: One month after the three dose primary vaccination, 93.7% and 94.9% of infants in VLBW and LBW groups, respectively, had anti‐HBs antibody concentrations ≥ 10 mIU/mL. High seroprotection and response rates (92.4–100%) to all vaccine antigens were observed. Those were reinforced (>98%) by booster vaccination for all antigens except for HBs in VLBW children: only 88.7% of those had anti‐HBs antibody concentrations ≥ 10 mIU/mL, compared with 96.5% of LBW children (difference statistically not significant). The vaccine was well tolerated in both groups of infants.Conclusion: Preterm infants will benefit by the administration of a primary and booster vaccination with DTPa‐HBV‐IPV/Hib vaccine.
In vitro and clinical evaluation of specific dentifrices for complete denture hygiene
Authors: Panzeri Heitor , Lara Elza Helena Guimarães , Paranhos Helena de Freitas Oliveira , Lovato da Silva Claudia Helena , De Souza Raphael Freitas , De Souza Gugelmin Maria Cristina Monteiro , Tirapelli Camila , Cruz Patrícia Costa , De Andrade Ingrid Machado 
Published: May 2008

Objectives:  To study the physical properties of two experimental dentifrices for complete denture hygiene, their effect on denture biofilm removal and antimicrobial properties by means of a clinical trial.Materials and methods:  The experimental dentifrices comprised two compositions. One was based on the addition of 1% chloramine T (D1) and the other on the presence of 0.01% fluorosurfactant (D2). Measurements of density, pH, consistency, rheological features and abrasiveness were conducted. Sixty complete denture wearers were randomly assigned to three groups and were instructed to brush their dentures with a specific toothbrush: (1) Water (control); (2) D1; or (3) D2. Each method was used for 21 days. Denture biofilm was disclosed by a 1% neutral red solution and quantified by means of digital photos taken from the internal surface. Microbiological assessment was conducted to quantify Candida sp. and mutans streptococci. Data were evaluated by one‐way anova and Tukey HSD, or Kruskal–Wallis (α = 0.05).Results:  Both dentifrices decreased biofilm coverage when compared with the control group. D1 was the most efficacious treatment to reduce mutans streptococci, whereas D2 showed an intermediate outcome (anova, p < 0.040). No treatment influenced Candida albicans or non‐albicans species (Kruskal–Wallis, p = 0.163 and 0.746, respectively).Conclusion:  It can be concluded that brushing complete dentures with the experimental dentifrices tested could be effective for the removal of denture biofilm.
EGR‐1 is Regulated by N‐Methyl‐D‐Aspartate‐Receptor Stimulation and Associated with Patient Survival in Human High Grade Astrocytomas
Authors: Mittelbronn Michel , Harter Patrick , Warth Arne , Lupescu Adrian , Schilbach Karin , Vollmann Henning , Capper David , Goeppert Benjamin , Frei Karl , Bertalanffy Helmut , Weller Michael , Meyermann Richard , Lang Florian , Simon Perikles 
Published: May 2008

AbstractEarly growth response‐1 (EGR‐1) is considered a central regulator in tumor cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis and a promising candidate for gene therapy in human astrocytomas. However, conflicting data have been reported suggesting that both tumor promoting and anti‐tumor activity of EGR‐1 and its regulation, expression and prognostic significance still remain enigmatic. Our study explored EGR‐1 expression and regulation in astrocytomas and its association with patient survival. As we detected two EGR‐1 mRNA variants, one containing a N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate‐receptor (NMDA‐R) responsive cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE), further experiments were performed to determine the functional role of this pathway. After NMDA stimulation of SV‐FHAS and neoplastic astrocytes, real‐time polymerase chain reaction showed an increase of the CPE, containing EGR‐1 splice variant only in astrocytoma cells. The surface expression and functionality of NMDA‐R were demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis and measurement of increased intracellular Ca2+. EGR‐1 was mainly restricted to tumor cells expressing NMDA‐R and significantly up‐regulated in astrocytic tumors compared with normal brain. Further, EGR‐1 expression was significantly (P < 0.007) associated with enhanced patient survival and was an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis in high grade astrocytomas. The NMDA‐R‐mediated EGR‐1 expression, therefore, seems to be a promising target for novel clinical approaches to astrocytoma treatment.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers from the velvet tree, Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae)
Authors: LE ROUX JOHANNES J. , WIECZOREK ANIA M. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractNine polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the invasive velvet tree (Miconia calvescens DC.), a serious forest invader in tropical Pacific oceanic islands. These loci provided markers with polymorphism of three to 10 alleles per locus within 95 individuals. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.0367 to 0.5053 and from 0.0370 to 0.2473, respectively. These markers should be useful to study dispersal and the invasion genetics of the velvet tree.
Validation and Standardization of Virus Neutralizing Test Using Indirect Immunoperoxidase Technique for the Quantification of Antibodies to Rabies Virus
Authors: Ogawa T. , Gamoh K. , Aoki H. , Kobayashi R. , Etoh M. , Senda M. , Hirayama N. , Nishimura M. , Shiraishi R. , Servat A. , Cliquet F. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryA virus neutralizing test using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique (VNT‐IIP) for rabies has been developed for the titration of dog and cat serum samples in Japan. The VNT‐IIP has the advantage that results obtained can be viewed by the naked eye. The purpose of this study was to validate the VNT‐IIP and compare it with one of the international standard methods, the fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test (FAVNT). The VNT‐IIP showed satisfactory repeatability, high analytical specificity and good accuracy. Regarding the comparison between the VNT‐IIP and the FAVNT, the VNT‐IIP showed good agreement (91.9%), high sensitivity (92.8%) as well as specificity (87.0%) and good correlation (r = 0.92). As described above, the validation of the VNT‐IIP was satisfactory and the performances of the test proved to be equivalent to those of an international standard method.
Molecular Evidence forBartonellaspp. in Cat and Dog Fleas from Germany and France
Authors: Just F. T. , Gilles J. , Pradel I. , Pfalzer S. , Lengauer H. , Hellmann K. , Pfister K. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryNine hundred and fifty‐two fleas were collected from 148 cats and 133 dogs at 18 widely distributed geographic locations in Germany and France and examined for the presence of six differentBartonellaspp. (Bartonella bacilliformis, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, Bartonella vinsoniisubsp.berkhoffii) by PCR. Thirty‐five specimens (3.7%) tested positive for eitherB. henselae(14 positive fleas) orB. clarridgeiae(21 positive fleas). DNA of otherBartonellaspp. were not detected.Bartonella clarridgeiaewas the dominating species in samples from France (19 out of 22 positive fleas), whereasB. henselaewas more frequent in Germany (11 out of 13 positive fleas). With 3.5% (22 out of 632 fleas) in France and 4.1% (13 out of 320 fleas) in Germany, the overall prevalences of pathogen did not vary significantly between the flea populations of both countries. 5.4% of cats in France versus 16.1% of cats from Germany were infested by fleas carryingBartonella, whereas 9.5% of dogs in France but none of the examined dogs from Germany were infested byBartonellapositive fleas. The molecular evidence ofBartonellainfections reveals that agents of zoonotic potential are established in flea populations in Germany and France and that the spectrum of species can vary significantly from country to country.
Seroepidemiology of Infection with Toxoplasma gondii in Waste Pickers and Waste Workers in Durango, Mexico
Authors: Alvarado‐Esquivel C. , Liesenfeld O. , Márquez‐Conde J. Á. , Cisneros‐Camacho A. , Estrada‐Martínez S. , Martínez‐García S. A. , González‐Herrera A. , García‐Corral N. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryMunicipal waste is a potential source of infection for Toxoplasma gondii as it may contain contaminated meat with parasite tissue cysts and cat excrement with parasite oocysts. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and associated characteristics in two populations exposed to municipal solid waste in Durango, Mexico. Ninety waste pickers and 83 waste workers of Durango City, Mexico were examined for T. gondii infection. They were tested for anti‐T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme‐linked immunoassays. In addition, socio‐demographic and behavioural characteristics from each participant were obtained. Nineteen (21.1%) of the 90 waste pickers and seven (8.4%) of the 83 waste workers were positive for anti‐T. gondii IgG antibodies. The difference in prevalence among the groups was statistically significant (P =0.03). Waste pickers aged 31–50 years showed a significantly higher prevalence (40.9%) than waste workers of the same age group (2.9%, P < 0.001). Anti‐T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in two (2.2%) of the waste pickers but in none of the waste workers. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher in workers of the waste transfer station (25.0%) than in drivers or helpers of waste vehicles (2.5%) (P =0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii infection was associated with consuming food found in the garbage [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 4.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–11.8] and with lack of education (adjusted OR = 3.2; 95% CI 1.1–8.8). From this study, we conclude: (i) waste pickers may represent a risk group for T. gondii infection; (ii) lack of education might be a contributing factor for T. gondii infection; (iii) the higher the exposure to garbage, the higher the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection; (iv) Eating food products from the garbage may represent an important route for T. gondii infection.
Localized Gene Expression in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Biofilms
Authors: Lenz Ailyn P. , Williamson Kerry S. , Pitts Betsey , Stewart Philip S. , Franklin Michael J. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Gene expression in biofilms is dependent on bacterial responses to the local environmental conditions. Most techniques for studying bacterial gene expression in biofilms characterize average values across the entire population. Here, we describe the use of laser capture microdissection microscopy (LCMM) combined with multiplex quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) to isolate and quantify RNA transcripts from small groups of cells at spatially resolved sites within biofilms. The approach was first tested and analytical parameters were determined for
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
containing an isopropyl-β-
d
-thiogalactopyranoside-inducible gene for the green fluorescent protein (
gfp
). The results show that the amounts of
gfp
mRNA were greatest in the top zones of the biofilms, and that
gfp
mRNA levels correlated with the zone of active green fluorescent protein fluorescence. The method then was used to quantify transcripts from wild-type
P. aeruginosa
biofilms for a housekeeping gene,
acpP
; the 16S rRNA; and two genes regulated by quorum sensing,
phzA1
and
aprA
. The results demonstrated that the amount of
acpP
mRNA was greatest in the top 30 μm of the biofilm, with little or no mRNA for this gene at the base of the biofilms. In contrast, 16S rRNA amounts were relatively uniform throughout biofilm strata. Using this strategy, the RNA amounts of individual genes were determined, and therefore the results are dependent on both gene expression and the half-life of the transcripts. Therefore, the uniform amount of rRNA throughout the biofilms likely is due to the stability of the rRNA within ribosomes. The levels of
aprA
mRNA showed stratification, with the largest amounts in the upper 30-μm zone of these biofilms. The results demonstrate that mRNA levels for individual genes are not uniformly distributed throughout biofilms but may vary by orders of magnitude over small distances. The LCMM/qRT-PCR technique can be used to resolve and quantify this RNA variability at high spatial resolution.
Diversity of Human Vaginal Bacterial Communities and Associations with Clinically Defined Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Oakley Brian B. , Fiedler Tina L. , Marrazzo Jeanne M. , Fredricks David N. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common syndrome associated with numerous adverse health outcomes in women. Despite its medical importance, the etiology and microbial ecology of BV remain poorly understood. We used broad-range PCR to census the community structure of the healthy and BV-affected vaginal microbial ecosystems and synthesized current publicly available bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence data from this environment. The community of vaginal bacteria detected in subjects with BV was much more taxon rich and diverse than in subjects without BV. At a 97% sequence similarity cutoff, the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) per patient in 28 subjects with BV was nearly three times greater than in 13 subjects without BV: 14.8 ± 0.7 versus 5.2 ± 0.75 (mean ± standard error). OTU-based analyses revealed previously hidden diversity for many vaginal bacteria that are currently poorly represented in GenBank. Our sequencing efforts yielded many novel phylotypes (123 of our sequences represented 38 OTUs not previously found in the vaginal ecosystem), including several novel BV-associated OTUs, such as those belonging to the
Prevotella
species complex, which remain severely underrepresented in the current NCBI database. Community composition was highly variable among subjects at a fine taxonomic scale, but at the phylum level,
Actinobacteria
and
Bacteroidetes
were strongly associated with BV. Our data describe a previously unrecognized extent of bacterial diversity in the vaginal ecosystem. The human vagina hosts many bacteria that are only distantly related to known species, and subjects with BV harbor particularly taxon-rich and diverse bacterial communities.
Hos2p/Set3p Deacetylase Complex Signals Secretory Stress through the Mpk1p Cell Integrity Pathway
Authors: Cohen T. J. , Mallory M. J. , Strich R. , Yao T.-P. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

Perturbations in secretory function activate stress response pathways critical for yeast survival. Here we report the identification of the Hos2p/Set3p deacetylase complex (SET3C) as an essential component of the secretory stress response. Strains lacking core components of the Hos2p/Set3p complex exhibit hypersensitivity to secretory stress. Although not required for the unfolded protein response (UPR) and ribosomal gene repression, the Hos2p complex is required for proper activation of the Mpk1p/Slt2p cell integrity kinase cascade. Disruption of the Hos2p complex results in abrogated Mpk1p phosphorylation, whereas constitutive activation of the Mpk1p pathway rescues the
hos2
Δ mutant growth defect in response to secretory stress. Furthermore, Hos2p activity is required for the Mpk1p-mediated activation of stress-responsive transcription factor Rlm1p, but not for the stress-induced degradation of the C-type cyclin Ssn8p. Our results identify the Hos2p complex as a critical component of the secretory stress response and support the existence a coordinated stress response consisting of the UPR, ribosomal gene repression, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in response to defects in secretory function.