bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysing duration of episodes of pharmacological care: an example of antidepressant use in Danish general practice
Authors: Gichangi Anthony , Andersen Morten , Kragstrup Jakob , Vach Werner 
Published: November 2005

AbstractAnalysing duration of treatment episodes has become a standard task in many pharmacoepidemiological studies. However, such analyses are often carried out in a rather simplistic manner and more subtle issues are often ignored. In this paper, methods of analysing duration treatment episodes beyond simple analyses allowing investigation of the risk for certain events over time are demonstrated. In particular, the use of cumulative incidence functions, cause‐specific hazard functions, hazard rate models and expected mortality in analysing duration of episodes is presented. We used these statistical techniques in analysing the early treatment history of patients who started a regular treatment with antidepressant drugs in the primary health care sector in Denmark. We have extracted some important features: The risk of discontinuing and switching treatment was very high around 10 weeks after starting treatment. After discontinuing the first treatment period, many patients soon started a second treatment period depending on the duration of the first treatment period with highest risk around 10 weeks. The mortality rate among the patients in treatment was about three times higher than the expected mortality. The risk of dying immediately after stopping treatment was about twice the expected mortality. The analysis suggests that: (1) there is a critical period for a first discontinuing, switching and restarting treatment around 10 weeks, (2) the GPs prescribing habits have more influence on the patterns than patient or drug characteristics, (3) over time Danish GPs tend to prolong the duration of first treatment period and avoid longer treatment breaks. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein design simulations suggest that side‐chain conformational entropy is not a strong determinant of amino acid environmental preferences
Authors: Hu Xiaozhen , Kuhlman Brian 
Published: November 2005

AbstractLoss of side‐chain conformational entropy is an important force opposing protein folding and the relative preferences of the amino acids for being buried or solvent exposed may be partially determined by which amino acids lose more side‐chain entropy when placed in the core of a protein. To investigate these preferences, we have incorporated explicit modeling of side‐chain entropy into the protein design algorithm, RosettaDesign. In the standard version of the program, the energy of a particular sequence for a fixed backbone depends only on the lowest energy side‐chain conformations that can be identified for that sequence. In the new model, the free energy of a single amino acid sequence is calculated by evaluating the average energy and entropy of an ensemble of structures generated by Monte Carlo sampling of amino acid side‐chain conformations. To evaluate the impact of including explicit side‐chain entropy, sequences were designed for 110 native protein backbones with and without the entropy model. In general, the differences between the two sets of sequences are modest, with the largest changes being observed for the longer amino acids: methionine and arginine. Overall, the identity between the designed sequences and the native sequences does not increase with the addition of entropy, unlike what is observed when other key terms are added to the model (hydrogen bonding, Lennard‐Jones energies, and solvation energies). These results suggest that side‐chain conformational entropy has a relatively small role in determining the preferred amino acid at each residue position in a protein. Proteins 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fe(CO)4 flexible as a two‐level system avoided conical intersection
Authors: Apostolova E. S. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThis article reports new square‐planar Fe(CO)4 D4h structures that are optimized, using the Hartree–Fock (HF) approach, and multiconfiguration self‐consistent field (MCSCF) theory in active space [2b2g2ega1ga2u]8, and which energy increased in sequence: 3B2g TS < 1A1g TS < 1A1g GS. A triple ζ valence basis set supplemented with 4f for Fe and 3d for C and O polarization shells [TZV (DF)] was used. At the HF/TZV (DF) level, 1A1g TS and 3B2g TS (3B2g TS energetically more favorable), there are transition states of tetrahedral inversion (defining stereochemical flexibility of Fe(CO)4) between known equivalent 1A1 and 3B2 Jahn–Teller distorted tetrahedron C2v structures with activation energy at ∼0.96 kcal/mol according to the experimental data. 1A1g TS differs from 1A1g GS in electronic configuration by occupation of a1g and a2u MOs. At the MCSCF/ TZV (DF) level, 1A1g TS and 1A1g GS are optimized as near‐pure states in different potential energy surfaces (PES) avoided conical intersection with near‐equal interatomic distances, and define electronic flexibility of Fe(CO)4. Estimation of the energy separation in a two‐level system that avoids a conical intersection from vibrational spectrum is based on the effective Hamiltonian of the perturbation theory. The energy gap between two square‐planar Fe(CO)4 D4h 1A1g TS < 1A1g GS is 0.27 kcal/mol. The energy gap between 1A1g GS and 1A1 is 1.28 kcal/mol. It is possible to observe 3B2, 1A1 and 1A1g GS separately in the course of the experiment. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Severe dilated cardiomyopathy and quadriceps myopathy due to lamin A/C gene mutation: A phenotypic study
Authors: Charniot Jean‐Christophe , Desnos Michel , Zerhouni Khaled , Bonnefont‐Rousselot Dominique , Albertini Jean‐Paul , Salama Jeffrey Zaketto , Bassez Guillaume , Komajda Michel , Artigou Jean‐Yves 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThis study reports a family affected by a new phenotype associated with dilated cardiomyopathy and quadriceps myopathy.Methods:29 family members underwent a physical and neurological examination, including an electromyogram and biopsy of muscle abnormalities. A cardiac examination was performed in all subjects.Results:The family pedigree (n=72) demonstrated that transmission was autosomal dominant. Eleven subjects had cardiac involvement, only four had quadriceps muscle involvement. Cardiac impairment preceded neurological involvement. The mean age for neurological involvement was 44±0.8 years (range 43–45) and cardiac involvement was 37±7.9 years (range: 24–45). Cardiac involvement consisted of: hypokinetic dilated cardiomyopathy (64%); atrial fibrillation (100%); ventricular arrhythmias (64%); impaired conduction with bundle branch or complete atrio ventricular block (73%). Four patients required pacemakers and anti arrhythmic therapies. Four patients died: two of refractory heart failure and two of sudden death; two patients were resuscitated following cardiac arrest. Three patients required a prophylactic implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD). Muscle morphological abnormalities were characterized by a variable number of fibers with rimmed vacuoles. The quadriceps deteriorated progressively without impairment of other muscles. Genotypic study showed a lamin A/C gene mutation.Conclusions:This family was affected by a new phenotype composed of an autosomal dominant severe dilated cardiomyopathy with conduction defects or arrhythmias and quadriceps myopathy. Cardiac abnormalities preceded neuromuscular disorders and defined the prognosis of this disease.
The effect of mass influenza immunization in children on the morbidity of the unvaccinated elderly
Authors: GHENDON Y. Z. , KAIRA A. N. , ELSHINA G. A. 
Published: November 2005

SUMMARYThe objectives of these studies were to analyse the effect of mass influenza immunization in children on the morbidity of unvaccinated non-institutionalized elderly during an influenza epidemic. A mass vaccination campaign with vaccine was conducted in children aged 3–6 years attending kindergartens (57·4% of 6374) and aged 7–17 years attending schools (72% of 34 237) in two communities of the Moscow region. The clinical effectiveness of vaccination was 60·9% for kindergartens and 68·8% for schools. There were 3·4 times fewer episodes of influenza-like illnesses and 1·7–2·6 fewer episodes in all seven diseases which are possible complications of influenza out of the 10 evaluated diseases in 158 451 unvaccinated non-institutionalized elderly people during the influenza epidemic compared with the control communities. The differences were found to be statistically significant. Mass vaccination of children attending child institutions brought about a significant reduction of both influenza-like illnesses in children and influenza-associated illnesses in unvaccinated non-institutionalized elderly persons living in the home setting.
The effects of anthropogenic food on the spatial behaviour of small Indian mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) in a subtropical rainforest
Authors: Quinn Jessica H. , Whisson Desley A. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the extent to which mongooses Herpestes javanicus in the Caribbean National Forest use areas of high human use, and to compare space use patterns in these areas to those in areas of low human use. It was expected that the abundance of anthropogenic food in areas of high human use would lead to (1) higher population densities; (2) smaller home ranges; (3) more extensive range overlap and reduced territorial behaviour, than areas of low use. During the dry season, 14 mongooses were radio‐collared and tracked in each of two areas: an area of high human use and an area of low human use. Six of these mongooses, one in an area of low human use and five in an area of high human use, were also tracked during the wet season. In both seasons, mongooses in the area of high human use used picnic areas more than expected based on availability. In the dry season, mongooses in the area of high human use had smaller home ranges than those in the area of low human use. Ranges overlapped extensively in both areas, and slightly more so in the area of low human use. However, individuals avoided each other spatially within the shared area of their ranges, and core home ranges overlapped little. In the wet (breeding) season, home‐range size and overlap increased more for males than for females. Such differences in behaviour and population dynamics in these two areas have implications for rabies transmission rates and management throughout the forest.
A comparative study of environmental factors that affect nesting in Australian and North American freshwater turtles
Authors: Bowen Kenneth D. , Spencer Ricky‐John , Janzen Fredric J. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractThe timing of reproductive events is critical for fitness, and these events are often linked to weather and climate. Weather components are thought to influence the nesting behaviour of freshwater turtles, but to date there have been few quantitative studies and no comparative studies. We compared the environmental cues used by nesting Australian (Emydura macquariiandChelodina expansa) and North American (Chrysemys picta) freshwater turtles, and quantified the differences in weather between days with and without nesting activity within the nesting season. We also characterized the diel time of nesting for each species. The results suggest that nesting behaviour is related to warm air and water temperatures inC. pictaand to rainfall inE. macquariiandC. expansa.Chrysemys pictaprimarily nests in the afternoon and evening,E. macquariiis a crepuscular nester, andC. expansanests diurnally. While changes in life history resulting from climate change are difficult to predict, we suggest that an increase in the number of El Niño events may have adverse effects on the two Australian species, whereas increases in environmental temperature may expand the number of nesting opportunities forC. picta.
Natal dispersal of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Switzerland
Authors: Zimmermann Fridolin , Breitenmoser‐Würsten Christine , Breitenmoser Urs 
Published: November 2005

AbstractDispersal influences the dynamics and persistence of populations, the distribution and abundance of species, and gives the communities and ecosystems their characteristic texture in space and time. The Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx is a medium‐sized solitary carnivore that has been re‐introduced in central Europe and currently occurs in rather small populations, where dispersal is believed to play a prominent role for the recolonization of unsettled areas and persistence of subpopulations. Between 1988 and 2001 the spatio‐temporal behaviour of sub‐adult Eurasian lynx was studied in two re‐introduced populations in Switzerland, based on 31 juveniles of which 24 were radio‐tagged to find out which factors influence dispersal. Age at independence ranged from 8.1 to 10.7 months and did not differ between populations or sex. Independence began from January to the beginning of May with a peak in April. After independence, sub‐adults stayed a few days in the maternal home range. Age at dispersal differed between the areas of origin and was possibly affected by sex and the presence of new progeny. Dispersers of both sexes established transient home ranges; however, only one male in the saturated population established a transient home range. Although only females took over the maternal home range, there was no significant sex bias in the proportion of individuals that dispersed in both populations. Successful dispersers settled in a territory at distances that differed between populations with effects of sex, but not condition. The mean dispersal distance in the high‐density population was 25.9 km compared to 63.1 km in the low‐density population. Dispersal distances in the high‐density population – shorter than those reported in other Eurasian lynx studies but comparable to those observed in an Iberian lynx population – are limited by habitat restrictions hindering connections with a neighbouring population.
‘Island syndrome’ in a population of Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) from Mednyi Island
Authors: Goltsman Mikhail , Kruchenkova Elena P. , Sergeev Sergei , Volodin Ilja , Macdonald David W. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractComparative analysis of the biology of insular and mainland populations has demonstrated a number of differences in characteristics of insular populations, termed the ‘island syndrome’. A subspecies of Arctic fox on the Commander Islands (Alopex lagopus semenovion Mednyi Island) has been isolated for an evolutionarily significant time in small territories at the periphery of the species' range. The number of foxes on Mednyi had been observed to be very high since the islands were discovered in 1741, but a drastic decline in population density in the late 1970s, owing to mange, has left the population low. The aim of the study was to determine whether the Mednyi Arctic fox population exhibited the features expected in an isolated insular population, such as difference in body size, increased population density, larger social groups, lower tendency to disperse and lower fertility, and whether any behavioural changes were evolutionarily reinforced or were a temporal response to current ecological factors on the island. Eight predictions were identified based on the island syndrome, of which the Mednyi Arctic foxes conformed to seven. We suggest a new prediction, namely that the tendency for increased sex dimorphism in dispersal may also be a distinguishing feature of insular populations. All the features displayed by the insular population on Mednyi – conservative use of space, increased tendency to form complex groups, decreased fertility and dispersal – seemed to be preserved regardless of the currently comparatively low populations. Thus, although foxes have been below carrying capacity for at least 10 generations, island syndrome characteristics have persisted.
Kinematic analysis of swimming in Australian box jellyfish, Chiropsalmus sp. and Chironex fleckeri (Cubozoa, Cnidaria: Chirodropidae)
Authors: Shorten Marc , Davenport John , Seymour James E. , Cross Mary C. , Carrette Teresa J. , Woodward Guy , Cross Thomas F. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractLocomotion of the box jellyfish Chiropsalmus sp. (cf quadrigatus)1 (Haeckel) and Chironex fleckeri (Southcott) was analysed using digital video. Specimens of Chiropsalmus sp. and C. fleckeri were collected in 2001 and 2002, respectively, from coastal waters of Northern Queensland, Australia. Chiropsalmus sp. animals were videoed swimming in an aquarium, and C. fleckeri in a large outdoor tank. Locomotor sequences of nine Chiropsalmus sp. and seven C. fleckeri individuals were analysed using video techniques. A subset of animals had fluorescent dye injected into the sub‐umbrellar cavity, to allow observation of water movements during ejection from the bell. Both species used an intermittent style of jet propulsion similar to that documented for some other species of cubozoan medusae. Computer analysis allowed examination of positions of bell parts over time intervals (0.04 s) by comparing coordinates of nodes marked on various bell parts using imaging software. Examination of node coordinates allowed a detailed qualitative description of gait, in addition to quantitative statistical analyses. General linear modelling showed that interspecific differences in locomotion were explicable in terms of body size. Larger animals of both species tended to swim faster, and with a lower pulse frequency, than smaller individuals. Smaller animals also tended to swim faster relative to their bell diameter.
Does prey size induce head skeleton phenotypic plasticity during early ontogeny in the snake Boa constrictor?
Authors: Schuett Gordon W. , Hardy David L. , Earley Ryan L. , Greene Harry W. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractDiet was manipulated in juveniles of the snake Boa constrictor (Serpentes: Boidae) to test the hypothesis of whether prey size induces phenotypic plasticity of the head skeleton. Additionally, the onset of sexual size dimorphisms (SSDs) was determined under a feeding schedule where total prey mass consumed by snakes was held constant. Twenty‐three neonatal B. constrictor from a single‐sired litter were placed into two treatment groups but maintained under identical environmental conditions. Group 1 (small‐food treatment) was fed weanling mice throughout the entire study; group 2 (large‐food treatment) was fed weanling mice, followed by rats of increasing size as the size of the snakes increased. At the termination of the study, group 1 consumed more meals but both groups consumed an equivalent mass of rodents. The snakes were measured twice during the study (5 weeks and 58 weeks). All measurements were obtained while the snakes were under general anaesthesia. Linear measurements of the head skeleton (premaxilla–basioccipital (rostrum–occipital) length, ROL; mandible length, ML) were derived from radiographs. The remaining measurements were snout–vent length (SVL), body length (BL), tail length (TL), and body mass (BM). Treatment effects between groups were equivalent, with the exception of BM and TL (group 1>group 2), and interactions between main effects were not statistically significant. Between‐group differences in ROL and ML were not significant; thus, prey size did not exert an influence on growth of the head skeleton. In contrast, significant sex effects on SVL and BL (females>males) and TL (males>females) were detected, and sex effects on BM (females>males) approached significance. Because SSDs emerged during early ontogeny under conditions where prey mass consumed was held constant, a genetic role is implicated.
Synchrony and timing of breeding influences sexual segregation in western grey and red kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus and M. rufus)
Authors: MacFarlane Abigail M. , Coulson Graeme 
Published: November 2005

AbstractWe examined whether synchrony and timing of breeding influenced magnitude and timing of sexual segregation in sympatric western grey kangaroos Macropus fuliginosus and red kangaroos M. rufus, at Hattah‐Kulkyne National Park, in south‐eastern Australia. These species vary in the synchrony and timing of their mating activity: western grey kangaroos mate during a relatively synchronous period, predominantly during spring, while red kangaroos mate throughout the year. Surveys were conducted during autumn and spring 2000 to examine seasonal patterns of mating activity, group composition, spatial distribution, and habitat selection of adults of both species. Habitat selection was also examined by analysing data from culls conducted from 1998 to 2002. Mating activity occurred synchronously in western grey kangaroos, thus, like in many ungulate species, there was a time of peak segregation, during autumn, when females were in lactational anoestrus, and a time of peak aggregation, during the period of peak mating activity in spring. In red kangaroos, mating activity occurred during both seasons, but showed a slight peak during autumn. Consequently, segregation was weaker than in western grey kangaroos but occurred through‐out the year, with a slight peak during spring. The degree of social and spatial segregation in western grey and red kangaroos was comparable to that in ungulates, while habitat segregation was considerably lower than is typically seen in ungulates. These results indicate that breeding phenology is a major factor involved in sexual segregation, and highlight the importance of directing attention at the general conditions underlying this phenomenon.
The Effect of SNP Marker Density on the Efficacy of Haplotype Tagging SNPs – a Warning
Authors: Iles Mark M. 
Published: November 2005

SUMMARYWe investigate here the efficacy of selecting haplotype tagging SNPs at different marker densities (2kb‐10kb). Our results are based on publicly available data on 5324 markers with a median spacing of 1kb from chromosome 20. We find that whatever density of SNPs is used, htSNP analysis indicates in most cases that at least 80% of the variation can be captured using a subset of SNPs. However, as marker density decreases these htSNPs become increasingly unreliable. In this dataset htSNPs were selected to capture at least 80% of the variation at every observed SNP. At an observed SNP density of 2kb, htSNP analysis suggests that the htSNPs capture on average 95% of the observed variation, when in fact they capture 88% of the unobserved variation. At a density of 10kb, htSNP analysis suggests that 93% of the observed variation was captured, when in fact they capture on average only 78%. Our results indicate that htSNP analysis is only reliable when markers are dense – a spacing of even 2kb shows a considerable loss of information. Such findings are important both for individual studies utilising htSNPs to reduce costs, and for projects such as HapMap which try to characterise human genomic variation using htSNPs.