bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Significance and Impotence: Towards a Balanced View of the Null and the Alternative Hypotheses in Marker Selection for Plant Breeding
Authors: Moerkerke B. , Goetghebeur E. , De Riek J. , Roldán-Ruiz I. 
Published: October 2005

SummaryThe isolation of DNA markers that are linked to interesting genes helps plant breeders to select parent plants that transmit useful traits to future generations. Such ‘marker-assisted breeding and selection’ heavily leans on statistical testing of associations between markers and a well-chosen trait. Statistical association analysis is guided by classical p-values or the false discovery rate and thus relies predominantly on the null hypothesis. The main concern of plant breeders, however, is to avoid missing an important alternative. To judge evidence from this perspective, we complement the traditional p-value with a one-sided ‘alternative p-value’ which summarizes evidence against a target alternative in the direction of the null hypothesis. This p-value measures ‘impotence’ as opposed to significance: how likely is it to observe an outcome as extreme as or more extreme than the one that was observed when data stem from the alternative? We show how a graphical inspection of both p-values can guide marker selection when the null and the alternative hypotheses have a comparable importance. We derive formal decision tools with balanced properties yielding different rejection regions for different markers. We apply our approach to study rye-grass plants.
Temporary Layoffs and Unemployment Insurance: Is Experience Rating Desirable?
Authors: Fath Julia , Fuest Clemens 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
This paper explores how the introduction of an experience-rated system of unemployment insurance affects employment and welfare in a model where implicit contracts between firms and workers give rise to wage rigidities and unemployment. In the literature, it has been argued that experience-rated systems of unemployment insurance may reduce long-term employment as firms anticipate the higher costs of layoffs implied by experience rating. Our analysis shows that the introduction of experience rating may increase or decrease long-term employment but it unambiguously raises welfare.
Inflation and Relative Price Variability in a Low Inflation Country: Empirical Evidence for Germany
Authors: Nautz Dieter , Scharff Juliane 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe recent literature on the welfare cost of inflation emphasizes inflation’s effect on the variability of relative prices. Expected and unexpected inflation have both been proposed to increase relative price variability (RPV) and, thereby, to distort the information content of nominal prices. This paper presents new evidence on the impact of inflation on RPV in Germany. Our results indicate that the influence of expected inflation disappears if a credible monetary policy stabilizes inflationary expectations on a low level. Yet the significant impact of unexpected inflation suggests that even low inflation rates can lead to welfare losses by raising RPV above its efficient level.
Thysanoptera dermatitis
Authors: Leigheb G , Tiberio R , Filosa G , Bugatti L , Ciattaglia G 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACTThysanoptera dermatitis is caused by the bite of small (1–2 mm) insects (generally thrips). Thrips usually feed on the juices of vegetables but if they reach human skin they can suck the epidermal lymph after biting. The cutaneous lesions formed are small pink and itchy papules localized mainly on the trunk and the arms. Diagnosis is only possible by demonstrating that the insect is present inside one of the lesions of the skin. Thysanoptera dermatitis is often misdiagnosed as mosquito bites. Although self‐resolving in a few days, Thysanoptera dermatitis should be known not only for the cultural and scientific training of the dermatologist but also to add more detailed diagnostic information to the generic diagnosis of ‘entomodermatosis’ and to confirm the benign evolution of the bites.
Subcutaneous Rosai–Dorfman disease: is surgical excision justified?
Authors: Cheng SP , Jeng KS , Liu CL 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACTRosai–Dorfman disease in soft tissue without nodal disease has been recognized as a distinct clinicopathologic entity. It may represent a diagnostic challenge and the natural history and optimal treatment has not been well clarified. We investigated a patient in whom Rosai–Dorfman disease was confined to the subcutis of the abdominal wall and recurred after incomplete excision. Complete resolution was achieved by wide surgical excision with negative margins. Pathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of extranodal Rosai–Dorfman disease. The patient is disease‐free after 1 year of follow‐up. Despite the possibility that spontaneous remission may occur, our results suggest that when anatomically feasible, complete excision can be a treatment option for persistence or recurrence of exclusively extranodal disease. Larger case series and longer follow‐up are needed to assess the long‐term efficacy in these patients.
Naevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis on the nose
Authors: Sáez Rodríguez M , Rodríguez‐Martin M , Carnerero A , Sidro M , Rodríguez F , Cabrera R , Guimerá F , García M , Sánchez R , Noda A 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACTNaevus lipomatosus cutaneous superficialis (NLCS) is an uncommon hamartomatous lesion with an exceptional presentation on the face. We report the case of an elderly patient who presented with a classic type of NLCS on the right nasal orifice. This patient was taking inhaled steroids for his allergic rhinitis during 35 years.
Neuroimaging tools to rate cognitive impairment
Authors: KANEKO Tomoki , MOMOSE Mitsuhiro , KADOYA Masumi 
Published: October 2005

AbstractVarious neuroimaging techniques have been employed to detect the subtle brain changes related to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current areas of interest in neuroimaging include the detection of predictive indicators, prognostic values and the effects of treatment, as well as the features of disease. In this article, the findings of structural studies, functional imagings and white matter lesions in MCI are reviewed. Several cases of MCI are presented, and the usefulness of neuroimaging in the prediction of the treatment course and prognosis of MCI is evaluated.
Risperidone therapy for post‐operative delirium in elderly patients
Authors: OKUMURA Kazuo 
Published: October 2005

AbstractIn elderly patients, post‐operative delirium can complicate the treatment of any underlying condition that requires surgical intervention. Two elderly patients who underwent surgical procedures for neoplasia developed symptoms of nocturnal delirium soon after recovery from general anesthesia. Risperidone therapy was initiated in both patients (0.5 mg/day in Case 1 and 0.2 mg/day in Case 2) and their mental states rapidly stabilized, enabling treatment of the underlying condition and resulting in good post‐operative progress. Both patients were discharged from hospital without symptoms. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report of the successful use of risperidone in the treatment of post‐operative delirium.
Safe Scanning, but Frequent Artifacts Mimicking Bradycardia and Tachycardia During Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Patients with an Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR)
Authors: Gimbel J. Rod , Zarghami Jamal , Machado Christian , Wilkoff Bruce L. 
Published: October 2005

Background: Patients with implantable devices are generally not permitted to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of potentially deleterious interactions. Little has been reported regarding the safety and effects of MRI scanning of patients with implantable loop recorders (ILRs). We evaluated the safety of scanning patients with ILRs and the output of the ILR after undergoing MRI. Methods: Ten patients underwent 11 MRI scanning events. All patients had Reveal Plus (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) ILRs. Seven cranial, two lumbar‐spine, one shoulder, and one knee MRI were performed. All of the MRIs were performed with the understanding that the patient had an ILR. In each patient, the ILR was cleared moments before the scan and the integrity of the signal and time date stamp were verified. The devices were reinterrogated immediately after MRI in 10 patients and two days post MR scanning in one patient. Each patient was questioned post MRI regarding any symptoms experienced during the scan. Results: Both tachy and bradyarrhythmias appeared as artifacts as a result of ILR exposure to MRI. Post MRI, none of the ILRs showed diminished signal integrity, altered programmed parameters, diminished battery status, inability to communicate or be reprogrammed. No sensations of tugging or warmth at the implant site were noted. Conclusion: MRI was performed in ILR patients without harm to the patient or permanent damage to the ILR. MRI scanning of the Reveal appears safe. Artifact mimicking an arrhythmia was common, however, and must be excluded in any ILR patient undergoing MRI to avoid mistakenly attributing a syncopal episode, or palpitations to the artifacts produced from MRI exposure.
Prediction of the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Successful Cardioversion with P Wave Signal‐Averaged ECG
Authors: Budeus Marco , Hennersdorf Marcus , Perings Christian , Wieneke Heinrich , Erbel Raimund , Sack Stefan 
Published: October 2005

Background: The recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) was often observed after cardioversion. Methods: In our study, a P wave triggered P wave signal‐averaged ECG (P‐SAECG) was performed on 118 consecutive patients 1 day after successful electrical cardioversion in order to evaluate the utility of this method to predict AF after cardioversion. We measured the filtered P wave duration (FPD) and the root mean square voltage of the last 20 ms of the P wave (RMS 20). Results: During a 1‐year follow‐up, a recurrence was observed in 57 patients (48%). Patients with recurrence of AF had a larger left atrial size (41.9 ± 4.0 vs 39.3 ± 3.1 mm, P < 0.0003), a longer FPD (139.6 ± 16.0 vs 118.2 ± 14.1 ms, P < 0.0001), and a lower RMS 20 (2.57 ± 0.77 vs 3.90 ± 0.99 μV, P < 0.0001). A cutoff point (COP) of FPD ≥126 ms and RMS 20 ≤3.1 μV could predict AF with a specificity of 77%, a sensitivity of 72%, a positive value of 75%, a negative predictive value of 75%, and an accuracy of 75%. A stepwise logistic regression analysis of variables identified COP (odds ratio 9.97; 95% CI, 4.10–24.24, P < 0.0001) as an independent predictor for recurrence. Conclusions: We conclude that the probability of recurrence of AF after cardioversion could be predicted by P‐SAECG. This method seems to be appropriate to demonstrate a delayed atrial conduction that might be a possible risk factor of reinitiation of AF.
Relationship of the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and Chronic Resynchronization Therapy: The Perfect Marriage?
Authors: Cannom David S. , Mower Morton 
Published: October 2005

Background: The two major modes of death in the patient with a reduced ejection fraction (EF) are death due to heart failure and death due to lethal arrhythmia, essentially the two sides of the same coin. Over the last 20 years, two therapies—cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)—have been developed and tested in clinical trials. They are now, in conjunction with appropriate medical therapy, the mainstays of therapy for these two commonly encountered clinical problems. Method and Results: Both of these therapies were conceived and patented by two Baltimore cardiologists, Michel Mirowski and Morton Mower (Table I). The path to everyday acceptance of both therapies was remarkably similar. The concept and early success of both devices was accomplished but the proof of concept depended on a series of carefully designed randomized clinical trials that showed that both the CRT and ICD devices saved lives in the low EF population, especially when used together. These trials overcame substantial skepticism on behalf of elements of the cardiology and electrophysiology establishment.

Mirowski/Mower Legacy of Pivotal Therapies

ICD
CRT

Concept
1970
Mid 1970s

Patent
1971
1990

First implant
1981
1991

FDA/CMS approval
1984
2004

Pivotal trials
MADIT I & II
COMPANION

SCD‐HeFT
CARE‐HF

AVID

CIDS

ICD = implantable cardioverter defibrillator; MADIT = Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial; COMPANION = Comparison of Medical Therapy, Pacing and Defibrillation in Heart Failure; SCD‐HeFT = Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial; AVID = Antiarrhythmics versus Implantable Defibrillator; CIDS = Canadian Implantable Defibrillator Study.

Conclusion: We are now at a crossroads in the further extension of either therapy. The majority of the indications for either device alone or in combination are established. In the next few years, assuming the continued commitment on the part of regulatory agencies to fully embrace evidence‐based medicine, we will see indications extended but only by the careful clinical trials that became the bedrock of their initial acceptance.
Cost‐Effectiveness of Implanted Defibrillators in Young People with Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmias
Authors: Goldenberg Ilan , Moss Arthur J. , Maron Barry J. , Dick Andrew W. , Zareba Wojciech 
Published: October 2005

Background:The implanted cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) has been shown to improve survival in adult patients with high risk acquired cardiac disease, with a cost‐effectiveness ratio in the range of $30,000 to $185,000 per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved. However, data on the benefit and cost‐effectiveness of device therapy in high‐risk patients with inherited cardiac disorders are limited.Methods:We developed two separate computer‐based analytical models to compare non‐ICD with ICD therapy in patients (age range: 10–75 years) with long QT syndrome (LQTS) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In each disease entity patients were stratified into low‐risk (no known risk factors); high‐risk (known risk factors [primary prevention]); and very high‐risk (prior near‐fatal events [secondary prevention]). Net costs were defined as the difference between costs resulting from treatment of the disease and savings due to gained productivity attributable to prevention of sudden cardiac death. Outcome was defined as costs per quality‐adjusted life‐years saved.Results:In LQTS, defibrillator therapy was shown to be cost effective in high‐risk male patients (incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio [ICER]=$3328 per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved), and cost saving in high‐risk females (ICER =$7102 gained per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved) and very high‐risk males and females (ICER =$15,483 and 19,393 gained per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved, respectively). In HCM, defibrillator therapy was cost saving in both male and female high‐risk (ICER =$17,892 and $17,526 gained per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved, respectively) and very high‐risk (ICER =$22,944 and $22,329 gained per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved, respectively) patients. Defibrillator therapy was not shown to be cost effective in low‐risk patients with either LQTS or HCM (ICER in the range of $400,000 to $600,000 lost per quality‐adjusted‐life‐year saved). Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the results in each risk group.Conclusions:In appropriately selected patients with inherited cardiac disorders, early intervention with ICD therapy is cost‐effective to cost saving due to added years of gained productivity when the lifespan of an individual at risk is considered.
Infectious episodes before and after a marathon race
Authors: Ekblom B. , Ekblom Ö. , Malm C. 
Published: October 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of self‐reported infectious episodes (IE) during 3 weeks before (pre‐IE) and 3 weeks after (post‐IE) a marathon race and relate these figures to training status, running time, socioeconomic and demographic factors. Two questionnaires, including questions about important factors for IE incidence, were given to a representative cohort of 1694 runners (17% of all finishers) in the Stockholm Marathon 2000.Pre‐IE incidence in the cohort was 17% with no difference between women and men. Post‐IE incidence in the whole cohort was 19% with no significant (P>0.05) difference between women and men. The post‐IE incidence in runners without a pre‐IE was 16% (P>0.05 to pre‐IE incidence). In the group of runners with pre‐IE, 33% experienced an IE after the race also (P<0.05 to Pre‐IE incidence). A logistic regression analysis showed that younger age and pre race health status and, for men only, experienced nausea during and after the race were depended factors explaining post‐IE incidence. Younger runners were more prone to experience IE both before and after the race. There was no relation between training volume 6 months before the race, finishing time and socioeconomic and demographic factors and pre‐IE or post‐IE.This study does not support the theory of increased infection rate after exhaustive long‐distance running (“The Open Window Theory”) in recreational runners, but suggests that the sometimes experienced increased rate of infections among athletes can be caused by strenuous exercise too soon after an infection.
Polymorphisms in the interleukin‐4 and IL‐4 receptor genes and multiple sclerosis: a study in Spanish‐Basque, Northern Irish and Belgian populations
Authors: Suppiah V. , Goris A. , Alloza I. , Heggarty S. , Dubois B. , Carton H. , Antigüedad A. , Mendibe M. , McDonnell G. , Droogan A. , Hawkins S. , Graham C. , Vandenbroeck K. 
Published: October 2005

SummaryCytokine gene polymorphisms are known to influence susceptibility and disease course of many autoimmune diseases. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system white matter characterized by inflammation, demyelination and axonal damage. We analysed both the well‐known intronic variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) and +33 C/T single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the IL‐4 gene, as well as the functional Q551R SNP in the IL4‐R gene in a cohort of three distinct populations comprising sporadic cases and controls from the northern Spanish Basque Country and Northern Ireland, as well as family trios from Belgium. The IL‐4 +33 TT genotype was decreased in primary progressive (PP) versus relapsing‐remitting (RR) patients in the Northern Irish population (OR = 0.14; 95% CI = 0.018–1.09). Two‐marker haplotype distribution of the VNTR and +33 C/T SNP in PP patients differed from that seen in RR patients in Northern Ireland (P = 0.03). The R allele of the Q551R SNP was significantly under‐transmitted in the Belgian trio families (P = 0.003), although this effect was not seen in the Northern Irish and Basque data sets. We did not identify IL‐4–IL4‐R gene–gene interaction in determining susceptibility or clinical parameters of MS. Disease or genetic heterogeneity or both may be responsible for the observed lack of reproduction in different populations. Our data reinforce recent findings for a role of IL4‐R in susceptibility to MS.
A MULTIPLEX POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION ASSAY FOR RAPID DETECTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7, LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES, SALMONELLATYPHIMURIUM AND CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI IN ARTIFICIALLY CONTAMINATED FOOD SAMPLES
Authors: WANG H. , SLAVIK M.F. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was evaluated for simultaneously detecting four major food‐borne pathogens – Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni directly from 10 different artificially contaminated food samples. All food samples, including meat (ground beef, ground turkey and chicken wash solutions), ready‐to‐eat vegetables (fresh‐cut lettuce, broccoli and mushrooms), fruits (watermelon and grapes) and dairy products (cottage cheese and yogurt), were inoculated with the four pathogens at various concentrations. The inocula were allowed to set for 1 h at room temperature and then stomached with a 0.01 M phosphate‐buffered saline (pH 7.5) solution. A 50‐mL sample of each wash solution was centrifuged and the bacterial template DNA was extracted. Primers for the four pathogens were added to a single PCR super‐mix, the DNA was amplified at selected conditions (35 cycles, 52C for annealing temperature which fit all primers) and the products were visualized by ethidium bromide staining. Results indicate that all four pathogens in food samples tested can be detected in one reaction tube in a total test time of 6 h. The sensitivity of the multiplex PCR assay in the detection of all four bacteria in food samples is 104 cfu/PCR reaction. The multiplex PCR method is rapid and cost‐effective for food‐borne pathogen detection and can detect these four target pathogens in any combination by using only one assay.
QUANTIFYING METHIONINE WITH A GREEN FLUORESCENT ESCHERICHIA COLI METHIONINE AUXOTROPH
Authors: FROELICH C.A. , ZABALA DÍAZ I.B. , CHALOVA V.I. , KIM W.‐K. , RICKE S.C. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT Methionine is one of the essential and primary limiting amino acids in animal nutrition. In this study, an Escherichia coli methionine auxotroph bacterial strain that exhibited a linear growth response to methionine concentrations was transformed with a plasmid containing genes encoding for a green fluorescent protein, in order to develop a fluorescent bioassay technique for methionine quantitation. Transformants were grown on arabinose‐supplemental media and kept at 27C. The strain was also tested in supplemented media with increasing methionine concentrations, and growth response (measured as optical density [OD]) was compared with fluorescence. The transformed E. coli methionine auxotroph exhibited low OD values, but the OD and fluorescent standard curves used for estimating methionine concentrations were linear with increasing increments of methionine concentration (OD, R2 = 0.97 and 0.89; fluorescent, R2 = 0.90 and 0.89) as were the corresponding fluorescent responses (OD versus fluorescent, R2 = 0.85 and 0.91). The transformed fluorescent strain also responded to enzymatic digests of selected animal feed proteins, yielding differences in available methionine among the different feed protein sources. Using the fluorescence‐based bacterial growth assay to quantify methionine in microtiter plates has potential for assessment of methionine levels in animal feed samples.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CULTURE‐INDEPENDENT POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION‐BASED ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF LACTOBACILLI IN STRETCHED CHEESE
Authors: BARUZZI FEDERICO , MATARANTE ALESSANDRA , CAPUTO LEONARDO , MOREA MARIA 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to develop a culture‐independent assay based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of lactobacilli present in very low amounts in natural microflora during the processing of traditional pasta filata cheese. The utility of casein micelle solubilization with Triton X‐100 was also evaluated before proceeding to DNA extraction and PCR detection. By using primers related to cell envelope proteinase and gassericin B genes, proteolytic lactobacilli were successfully detected in samples from which they had not previously been isolated by plate counting. The sensitivity of the method is estimated to be 1000 cfu/mL. The speed of the DNA extraction protocol and the sensitivity and reliability of the PCR assay even make it feasible to detect nondominant populations of Lactobacillus species in cheese.