bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the Segregation of Genetically Modified, Conventional and Organic Products in European Agriculture: A Multi‐market Equilibrium Analysis
Authors: Moschini GianCarlo , Bulut Harun , Cembalo Luigi 
Published: November 2007

AbstractEvaluating the possible benefits of the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops must address the issue of consumer resistance as well as the complex regulation that has ensued. In the European Union (EU), this regulation envisions the co‐existence of GM food with conventional and quality‐enhanced products, mandates the labelling and traceability of GM products and allows only a stringent adventitious presence of GM content in other products. All these elements are brought together within a partial equilibrium model of the EU agricultural food sector. The model comprises conventional, GM and organic food. Demand is modelled in a novel fashion, whereby organic and conventional products are treated as horizontally differentiated but GM products are vertically differentiated (weakly inferior) relative to conventional ones. Supply accounts explicitly for the land constraint at the sector level and for the need for additional resources to produce organic food. Model calibration and simulation allow insights into the qualitative and quantitative effects of the large‐scale introduction of GM products in the EU market. We find that the introduction of GM food reduces overall EU welfare, mostly because of the associated need for costly segregation of non‐GM products, but the producers of quality‐enhanced products actually benefit.
The Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy: The first 1002 pregnancies
Authors: VAJDA Frank J. E. , HITCHCOCK Alison , GRAHAM Janet , O’BRIEN Terence , LANDER Cecilie , EADIE Mervyn 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground:  Prospective studies are needed to assess the maternal and fetal hazards of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy in pregnancy.Aims:  To make the Australian Register of AEDs in Pregnancy better known to the Australian obstetric community by presenting results derived from it.Methods:  Analysis of data collected by the Register between 1999 and December 2006.Results:  The Register contained data on 1002 epileptic or AED‐treated pregnancies, 992 with known outcomes, 83 not exposed to AEDs in at least their first trimester, and 30 prescribed AEDs for indications other than epilepsy. Statistically significant findings included more frequent folate supplementation and decreased alcohol intake during pregnancy in women with epilepsy; a dose‐related increased risk of fetal malformation associated with valproate therapy; a tendency towards lower birthweights in live‐born malformed offspring; and a substantially reduced decreased risk of seizures in pregnancy with one year seizure freedom before pregnancy. The small numbers of patients may have prevented other differences from reaching a P < 0.05 value.Conclusions:  The Register has already produced important information for the management of pregnant women with epilepsy in Australia, but greater rates of recruitment into the Register are desirable to allow it to achieve its full potential.
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene polymorphism in pre‐eclampsia: A pilot study in North India
Authors: BHATNAGAR Sonu , BHATTACHARJEE Jayashree , VAID Mudit , MADAN Taruna , TRIVEDI Shubha S. , SARMA Puranam U. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground:  Pre‐eclampsia is one of the most frequent complications of pregnancy, however, little is known about its aetiology.Aims:  The objective of this study was to investigate the association between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genotypes and pre‐eclampsia. We also measured the concentrations of tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with pre‐eclampsia to evaluate their relations to the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) observed.Methods:  This cross‐sectional study included 30 pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia and 30 healthy pregnant women. They were screened at 28th, 36th weeks of gestation and just after delivery (within 48 h), and their blood samples were analysed for NO, SOD, TNF‐α and iNOS gene polymorphism.Results:  Patients with pre‐eclampsia at 36 weeks gestation showed significantly increased serum NO levels (P = 0.007), whereas SOD activity was decreased significantly (P = 0.004). A doublefold increase was observed in TNF‐α levels at 36 weeks in patients with pre‐eclampsia (P = 0.003) which decreased significantly (P = 0.001) after delivery. A total of four SNPs were observed, of which two (G300A exon 8 and G274T exon 16) showed statistically significant association with pre‐eclampsia. When compared, G274T exon 16 SNP also showed association with TNF‐α levels and SOD activity in pre‐eclamptic patients.Conclusion:  As pre‐eclampsia is a disease of multifactorial aetiopathology, NO, TNF‐α, SOD activity and NOS2A polymorphism might play an intermingled role in its development.
Long‐term follow up of women with laparoscopic ovarian diathermy for women with clomiphene‐resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome
Authors: MOHIUDDIN Seema , BESSELLINK Dagmar , FARQUHAR Cynthia 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground:  Laparoscopic ovarian diathermy (LOD) is one of the options for managing women with anovulation secondary to polycystic ovarian syndrome. The long‐term benefits and harms of LOD are unknown.Aims:  The aim of this report was to establish the long‐term benefits and harms of LOD in the group of women who took part in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) six to ten years earlier.Methods:  Women who took part in the fertility PLUS RCT comparing laparoscopic ovarian diathermy and gonadotrophins were contacted six to ten years following the end of the study. A postal questionnaire of clinical symptoms and pregnancy outcomes was collected, and follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were measured.Results:  Of the 33 women who completed the postal questionnaire, 29 had subsequently undergone LOD. The mean FSH level of these women was 5.7 IU/L (SD 3.7) ranging from < 0.1 to 18.4 IU/L. The number of periods per year increased from 3.5 at study entry to 7.8 in the follow‐up period in women not on the oral contraceptive. At the follow up, 15 of 29 women undergoing LOD (52%) reported symptoms of hirsutism and 14.0% reported acne. After undergoing laparoscopic ovarian diathermy, 79.0% (23 of 29) of the women delivered live infants, and over the follow‐up period, 35 babies were delivered. Further fertility treatment was needed by 14 of 29 women who underwent LOD.Conclusions:  There are the benefits of ongoing fertility and regular menstrual cycles in more than half of the women who underwent LOD.
Methods to Detect Helicobacter pylori: From Culture to Molecular Biology
Authors: Hirschl Alexander M. , Makristathis Athanasios 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSince the first successful attempts of growing Helicobacter pylori, a variety of tests for detecting infection with this pathogen has been described. These tests may be classified as invasive and noninvasive or minimally invasive tests. Conventional tests such as histology and culture still play a major role in the diagnostic spectrum. Culture continues to be the only test allowing for a comprehensive analysis of pathogen characteristics and susceptibility to antibiotics. Urea breath test is the gold standard among noninvasive tests, with both stool antigen test and serology as appropriate substitutes or alternatives in specific situations. Among the multiple potential uses of molecular tests, noninvasive determination of resistance to antibiotics is of particular interest.
The Long‐term Impact of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on Gastric Histology: a Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Rokkas Theodoros , Pistiolas Dimitios , Sechopoulos Panos , Robotis Ioannis , Margantinis Georgios 
Published: November 2007

SummaryBackground:  Helicobacter pylori infection is a crucial factor in the multistep carcinogenic process of gastric cancer. In this process the gastric mucosa evolves through the stages of acute gastritis, chronic gastritis, gastric atrophy (GA), and intestinal metaplasia (IM) before developing gastric adenocarcinoma.Aims:  The main aim of this study was to systematically review the long‐term effects of H. pylori eradication on gastric histology (i.e. effects on GA and IM for both antrum and corpus) by meta‐analyzing all relevant studies.Methods:  Extensive English‐language medical literature searches for human studies were performed through October 2006, using suitable key words. Pooled estimates [odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI)] were obtained using random‐effects model.Results:  For antrum GA the pooled OR with 95% CI was 0.554 (0.372–0.825), p = 0.004. For corpus GA the pooled OR was 0.209 (0.081–0.538), p < 0.001. For antrum IM the pooled OR was 0.795 (0.587–1.078), p = 0.14. For corpus IM the pooled OR was 0.891 (0.663–1.253), p = 0.506.Conclusion:  The results showed significant improvement of GA, whereas improvement was not shown for IM.
Evolution of Helicobacter pylori Therapy from a Meta‐analytical Perspective
Authors: Gisbert Javier P. , Pajares Ramón , Pajares José María 
Published: November 2007

AbstractEven before the discovery of Helicobacter pylori as their cause, chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease were empirically treated with anti‐infectious agents. However, it was not until that finding that an antibiotic approach began to be used systematically. The main aim of this article is to review the evolution of H. pylori therapy from a meta‐analytical perspective. Initially, antibiotic monotherapy had a minor efficacy on H. pylori. Dual therapy including either bismuth compounds or proton‐pump inhibitors (PPI) and one antibiotic also resulted in insufficient cure rates. Bismuth‐based triple therapy (the first used) and PPI‐based triple therapies (combined with two antibiotics, including amoxicillin, nitroimidazole, or clarithromycin) have been the most widely recommended. PPI‐based regimens are superior to H2‐antagonist–based ones. The influence of the type of PPI, the dose and the duration of the treatment will be discussed. Among the factors influencing the efficacy of therapy, resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole are the most important risk factors for eradication failure. Several rescue therapies can be used. Bismuth‐based quadruple therapy is effective, but the complexity of the regimen and the associated adverse effects limit the compliance. PPI‐based triple therapy with amoxicillin and levofloxacin is at least equally effective and better tolerated.
Helicobacter pylori– a Timeless Source of Lessons and Research Initiatives
Authors: Malfertheiner Peter 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe beginning of the H. pylori era was characterized by objections and even refusal to accept the new H. pylori‐related theories. The shift from peptic ulcer disease as an acid‐driven disease to a disease with an infectious etiology had to overcome major obstacles and the dogma of the stomach as a sterile organ. Strong effort and commitment of several medical disciplines with a large collection of scientific data gave decisive support to it. However what had started as a revolutionary and completely opposing concept to the one pre‐existing evolved to a novel but integrative concept.The new theories were able to reconcile the new critical factor H. pylori with pre‐existing knowledge carefully build up during several decades of intensive studies reserved to mechanisms regulating gastric physiology.On its way to full recognition and praise the difficult story of H. pylori has allowed the collection of many lessons which have allowed the medical and scientific profession to progress, and these lessons are also valuable for life beyond scientific boundaries.
Microscopic and physiologic evidence for biofilm‐associated wound colonization in vivo
Authors: Davis Stephen C. , Ricotti Carlos , Cazzaniga Alex , Welsh Esperanza , Eaglstein William H. , Mertz Patricia M. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTA biofilm is a collection of microbial cells that are attached to a surface and embedded in a self‐produced extrapolymeric substance. The understanding of the biofilm phenotype is important in the understanding of bacteria in vitro but it has been difficult to translate biofilm science to the clinical setting. More recently, preliminary criteria for defining biofilm associated diseases have been proposed and the purpose of this study was to create a biofilm‐associated wound model based on these criteria. Using a porcine model, partial thickness wounds were inoculated with a wound isolate Staphylococcus aureus strain. Wounds were then treated with either one of two topical antimicrobial agents (mupriocin cream or triple antibiotic ointment) within 15 minutes to represent planktonic bacteria or 48 hours after initial inoculation to represent biofilm‐associated wound infection. Using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and epifluorescence microscopy, we were able to observe biofilm‐like structures in wounds after 48 hours of inoculation and occlusion. The in vivo antimicrobial assay was used to demonstrate that both mupirocin cream and the triple antibiotic ointment were effective in reducing planktonic S. aureus but had reduced efficacy against biofilm‐embedded S. aureus. Our results demonstrated that S. aureus form firmly attached microcolonies and colonies of bacteria encased in an extracellular matrix on the surface of the wounds. These biofilm‐like communities also demonstrated increased antimicrobial resistance when compared with their planktonic phenotype in vivo. The structural and physiological results support the hypothesis that bacterial biofilms play a role in wound colonization and infection.
Randomized, multicenter, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled trial using topical recombinant human acidic fibroblast growth factor for deep partial‐thickness burns and skin graft donor site
Authors: Bing Ma , Da‐Sheng Cheng , Zhao‐Fan Xia , Dao‐Feng Ben , Wei Lu , Zhi‐Fang Cao , Qiang Wang , Jia He , Jia‐Ke Chai , Chuan‐An Shen , Yong‐Hua Sun , Guo‐An Zhang , Xiao‐Hua Hu 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTWound healing is a dynamic and complex biologic process that could be accelerated by growth factors. To investigate the efficacy of topical recombinant human acidic fibroblast growth factor (rh‐aFGF) treatment in deep partial‐thickness burn or skin graft donor sites, we designed a randomized, multicenter, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled clinical trial. The healing rate, fully healed rate, and healing time were evaluated to assess the efficacy of rh‐aFGF application. Laboratory examinations and abnormal signs were used to assess the side and toxic effects. The results showed that the healing rate of burn wounds and skin graft donor sites treated by rh‐aFGF was significantly higher than that by placebo, and the mean healed time of burn wounds and skin graft donor sites in the rh‐aFGF group was significantly the shorter than that in the placebo group. In conclusion, topical administration of rh‐aFGF can accelerate the wound healing process and shorten the healed time. It is a potential therapeutic application for promoting healing of deep partial‐thickness burns or skin graft donor sites.
More of a Bridge than a Gap: Gender Differences in Arab‐American Political Engagement*
Authors: Read Jen'nan Ghazal 
Published: November 2007

Objective.Research on immigrant women's economic and cultural adaptation has increasingly come to the fore of immigration research, yet relatively little remains known about their engagement in the political arena. This study examines this question among Arab Muslims, a group that has been at the center of much public debate but little scholarly discourse.Methods.Using nationally representative data on Arab Muslims, this study examines gender differences in political consciousness and activity and assesses the degree to which different dimensions of religious identity contribute to differences in men's and women's attitudes and behaviors.Results.Both women and men have high levels of political engagement, in part reflecting their relatively affluent socioeconomic positions. Men are slightly more involved than women, and this is explained by their greater participation in religious activities and higher levels of political religiosity. In contrast, subjective dimensions of religiosity—or being a devout Muslim—have no effect on political engagement.Conclusions.Overall, there are few gender differences in Arab Muslim political engagement, suggesting that collective identity based on ethnicity and religion is more salient for the political mobilization of this group. Further, religion is not uniformly associated with political activity, varying by gender and the dimension of religious identity in question, suggesting that future research needs to focus on how different facets of religion influence U.S. political involvement.
Globalization and Political Change in the Women's Movement: The Politics of Scale and Political Empowerment in the World March of Women*
Authors: Dufour Pascale , Giraud Isabelle 
Published: November 2007

Objective. The objective of the article is to show that in order to understand the ongoing transnational mobilizations of the European wing of the World March of Women (WMW) between 2000 and 2006 we also need to consider the politics of scale of the transnational social movements' mobilizations. The WMW is a transnational collective action that integrates women from grassroots organizations, labor unions, and leftist political parties in over 150 countries (approximately 6,000 groups) into a process of transnationalization of solidarities.Method. The method is based on the analysis of internal documents of the international and European wings of the movement, interviews with key actors and militants, and direct observations over the years 1998–2005.Results. The results are twofold: we investigate the shift in the politics of scale of the movement, from using the same scale as the political authorities with which they interact to the creation of its own scales of action (first part); we focus on the articulation of different scales of protest, showing how, by constructing networks and coalitions, actions, and demands under the WMW umbrella, grassroots women's groups are becoming empowered and are regaining political power over the definition, dissemination, and resolution of gender issues (second part).Conclusion. The conclusion is that this specific process of empowerment helps to explain why feminist activists pursue transnationalization actions despite all the material, ideological, and relational difficulties that accompany such actions.
Risk Compensation or Risk Reduction? Seatbelts, State Laws, and Traffic Fatalities*
Authors: Houston David J. , Richardson Lilliard E. 
Published: November 2007

Objective. The risk compensation hypothesis suggests that drivers enjoying greater safety will drive more recklessly and thereby impose greater risks on nonoccupants. We provide a test of the risk compensation hypothesis in the context of state seatbelt laws and belt use rates.Methods. Fixed‐effects models with policy and demographic variables are estimated using annual state data from 1985 to 2002 to test the effect of seatbelt laws and seatbelt use rates on logged fatality rates for occupants, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and all nonoccupants in separate models.Results. Contrary to the risk compensation hypothesis, the results indicate that both occupants and nonoccupants enjoy greater safety due to state mandatory use laws and increased safety belt use rates.Conclusion. Overall, seatbelt laws and the higher belt use these laws induce do not increase nonoccupant risk exposure. If anything, these laws and the accompanying increase in belt use result in safer driving behavior.
Voting for Catholic Candidates: The Evolution of a Stereotype*
Authors: McDermott Monika L. 
Published: November 2007

Objectives. This article looks at the effects of candidate Catholicism on individual voters, turning the traditional inquiry into voters' religion on its head. Specifically, it hypothesizes that individuals stereotype Catholic candidates based on the voting behavior of Catholics in general, and that these stereotypes help voters make a decision in elections with Catholic candidates.Methods. Using data from the American National Election Studies (ANES), this article argues that citizens hold stereotypes of Catholics based on actual Catholic political behavior—solidly Democratic from the 1950s to the 1970s, but trending Republican starting in the 1980s. It also tests these stereotypes with Gallup data on hypothetical Catholic candidates and analyzes, through election‐day exit polls, the impact on voters of the Catholic conversion of a sitting U.S. Senator.Results. The data analyses strongly support the article's hypothesis, demonstrating that partisan attitudes toward hypothetical Catholic candidates shifted direction as the Catholic electorate shifted. In addition, Senator Sam Brownback's (R‐KS) conversion to Catholicism increased partisan polarization in his support—indicating a conservative shift in perceptions.Conclusions. Candidate religion plays a role in elections. Specifically, voters stereotype candidates based on candidate religion and use this stereotyped information to help them make an electoral decision. This article demonstrates this effect for Catholicism, but other religions should evidence similar impacts.
Grandparents Responsible for Grandchildren in Native‐American Families*
Authors: Mutchler Jan E. , Baker Lindsey A. , Lee SeungAh 
Published: November 2007

Objectives. The primary goal of this article is to examine factors associated with grandparent care giving within the American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) population.Methods. Data from the 2000 Census of Population, 5% Public Use Microdata Sample, are used to evaluate a multivariate logistic regression model focusing on living with and caring for grandchildren. Particular emphasis is placed on characteristics that may reflect culturally‐based ideas about grandparents' responsibility for the care of their grandchildren.Results. Indicators related to Native‐American identity—specifically, reporting race as AIAN only rather than mixed race, reporting tribal membership, and living in a nonmetropolitan area of an “Indian” state—increase the likelihood of being responsible for a grandchild among Native‐American singles and couples aged 45 and over.Conclusions. Cultural and resource characteristics combine to produce high levels of grandparent care giving within the AIAN population. Inasmuch as those with lower educational and economic resources are especially likely to have responsibility for a grandchild, special attention should be directed toward ensuring adequate support for these caregivers.