bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cuticular hydrocarbons as queen adoption cues in the invasive Argentine ant
Authors: Vásquez Gissella M. , Schal Coby , Silverman Jules 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYIn social insects, individuals typically recognize and behave aggressively towards alien conspecifics, thereby maintaining colony integrity. This is presumably achieved via a nestmate recognition system in which cuticular compounds, usually cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC), of genetic and/or environmental origin serve as recognition cues. Most invasive populations of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), display minimal nestmate–non-nestmate discrimination, resulting in low levels of intraspecific aggression allowing free movement of workers and queens among nests. However, invasive L. humile in the southeastern United States show relatively high levels of intraspecific aggression, and selectively adopt non-nestmate queens. Using behavioral assays and gas chromatography, we found an association between non-nestmate queen adoption and similarity of the CHC profiles of adopted and host colony queens. Also, nestmate and non-nestmate queen CHC profiles became more similar after adoption by queenless colonies. Furthermore, queens treated with non-nestmate queen CHC had distinct CHC profiles and were generally attacked by nestmate workers. We suggest that in L. humile, CHC are used as queen recognition cues, and that queen recognition errors are more likely to occur when the CHC profiles of non-nestmate and host colony queens are similar. Our findings provide further evidence for the complex and dynamic nature of L. humile nestmate discrimination, which may in part underlie the success of introduced populations of this invasive ant.
Influence of antiretroviral treatment on quality of life in seropositive inmates
Authors: Del Castillo L Sordo , Ruiz-PÉRez I , De Labry-Lima A Olry , Soto-Blanco J M , Girela-LÓPez E , Castro-Recio J M , Antón-Basanta J J 
Published: March 2008

Summary The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of antiretroviral treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of three groups of HIV-positive inmates: those who are taking antiretroviral treatment, those who are not on treatment as it has not yet been indicated, and those who refuse to take treatment even though it has been recommended. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 585 HIV+ inmates in three prisons. The response variable was HRQOL. Independent variables were: sociodemographic variables, psychosocial and drug-related variables. Two multivariate linear regression models were constructed in order to determine the HRQOL, physical health score (PHS) and mental health score (MHS), for each of the three groups identified, using patients who refused treatment as the reference category. Patients who refused therapy had a lower MHS compared with patients in whom treatment was not indicated (P = 0.038). With regard to PHS, patients refusing therapy had a lower score than patients who were not indicated therapy (P = 0.005), and than patients receiving therapy (P = 0.010).
Prevalence and factors associated with anal lesions mediated by human papillomavirus in men with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Pereira A , Lacerda H R , Barros R R 
Published: March 2008

Summary Prevalence and risk factors for human papillomavirus-related anal lesions were evaluated in 60 men with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Patients underwent anal cytology, anuscopy under colposcopic vision and anal biopsy for detection of the lesions. The mean age was 41.9 years and the mean time of HIV infection was 6.8 years, 88.3% of them having been on highly active antiretroviral therapy for an average of 6.5 years. Homosexuals represented 43.3% and bisexuals 15.0% whereas heterosexuals comprised 41.7%. The prevalence of anal lesions detected by anuscopy under colposcopic vision, cytology and biopsy were, respectively, 35.0, 16.7 and 23.3%. Homosexuals or bisexuals accounted for 85.7% of the patients with an abnormal biopsy, the remaining 14.3% being heterosexuals (P = 0.02). The T-CD4+ lymphocyte count, HIV viral load and use of antiretrovirals did not reveal any association with anal lesions. The occurrence of anal lesions was high in the individuals with HIV/AIDS, especially in the homosexuals and bisexuals, but it also occurred in heterosexuals, justifying the screening of anal lesions of all men with the infection.
Improved injection network ascertainment with supplementary elicitation techniques
Authors: Brewer Devon D , Hagan Holly , Hough Eileen S 
Published: March 2008

Summary Prior research indicates that injection drug users forget substantial proportions of their injection partners when asked to recall them. Such under-reporting hampers both ascertainment of the injection networks that underlie transmission of blood-borne pathogens and contact-tracing efforts for disease control. We report here an evaluation of supplementary elicitation techniques – a set of prompting strategies and recall cues – employed in a study that involved tracing of injection partners. Sixty-one index drug injectors in Seattle participated in the study. The supplementary partner elicitation techniques enhanced recall of injection partners substantially and identified persons relevant to transmission of blood-borne pathogens. As a set, the supplementary techniques elicited additional partners from 70% of injectors, and the additional partners elicited represent a 75% increase on average. Drug injectors who recalled many partners before administration of the supplementary techniques tended to report more additional partners in response to the supplementary techniques than injectors who freely recalled few partners. In addition, partners elicited by the supplementary techniques were as likely as freely recalled partners to test positive for hepatitis C virus antibody and engage in risk behaviour with indexes. Furthermore, we found that the supplementary techniques boosted connectivity in the observed injection network considerably.
An educative genitourinary medicine clinic website: value to users and impact on service demand
Authors: Basta Medhat S T , Hussey Jane , Pattman Richard S , Sankar K Nathan 
Published: March 2008

Summary In 2004, the Newcastle genitourinary medicine clinic launched a new website. To assess its value to users and impact on service demand, we surveyed those attending the clinic with a new episode between September and December 2005 by a questionnaire. One hundred and fifteen of 601 respondents (19%) visited the website. Fifty-nine percent of users were men with those aged between 35 and 44 ranking the highest percentage (31.7%) among those who visited the website. Fourteen (12.5%) would not have attended if they had not visited the website. One hundred and two (88.7%) found it easy to use and 81 (70.4%) looked for specific information of whom 73 (89%) were successful. Web users were more likely to present with an episode not requiring treatment possibly indicating increased demand promoted by our prevention information but less likely to have bacterial vaginosis, anaerobic balanitis and anogenital candidosis (not statistically significant).
HIV-related knowledge and stigma among high school students in Libya
Authors: El-Gadi Saleh , Abudher Abdulhafid , Sammud Mohamed 
Published: March 2008

Summary This study aims to measure indicators of HIV-related stigma among students of high schools in the North West of Libya. The results will be part of baseline data and evaluation of the impact of successive interventions. Understanding the behaviour of risk groups in a society, such as young people, is essential in order to draw effective prevention strategies. Behavioural surveillance surveys have been shown to make an important and useful contribution to informing the response to HIV. This study was part of a large Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practice survey. A self-administrated questionnaire method was used. The response rates were high (83–92%). Despite high level of stigma shown by both boys and girls in the study, 91% of students supported providing free care to HIV infected individuals. The HIV intervention programmes for young people should operate within a comprehensive strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. The stigmatizing and the discriminatory perceptions of HIV infected individuals should be addressed as part of the education campaign.
Fulminant autoimmune hepatitis after successful interferon treatment in an HIV–HCV co-infected patient
Authors: Coriat Romain , Podevin Philippe 
Published: March 2008

Summary Hepatitis C (HCV) treatment using interferon-α (IFN-α) and ribavirin is recommended in HIV/HCV co-infected patients to prevent liver cirrhosis and liver-related death. However, in addition to its antiviral activity, IFN is a pleiotropic cytokine able to synergistically amplify T-cell autoreactivity. Here, we report for the first time the induction of a subfulminant autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) after four months of a successful treatment of HCV-1b infection using peg-IFN and ribavirin, in a 48-year-old woman co-infected with HIV. Diagnosis was assessed according to the international AIH scoring system, including liver biopsy and confirmed by positive response to steroid challenge.
Does using self-completed sexual history questionnaires in HIV-positive men who have sex with men affect clinical outcomes?
Authors: Koch Oliver , De Silva Shamela , Edwards Simon , Peake Tabitha , George Brian , Brough Garry , Miles Kevin , Benn Paul 
Published: March 2008

Summary This audit compared sexual histories taken by self-completed questionnaires (SQ) versus the ‘gold-standard’ of ‘traditional’ face-to-face interviews by health-care professionals (HP). It compared reporting of symptoms and sexual behaviour and looked at outcomes in terms of diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections. SQ were at least equal to HP and might therefore be a valuable tool in streamlining services.
Are women from high-risk ethnic minority groups more likely to decline antenatal HIV screening?
Authors: Southgate J , Mital D , Stock A 
Published: March 2008

Summary Eight new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were diagnosed in the antenatal population of Milton Keynes within the first two years of our ‘opt-out’ antenatal testing scheme; the majority (6/8) occurred in women of black African origin. Since it is suggested that individuals from high-risk groups are more likely to decline HIV testing, we were concerned that women from this high-risk ethnic group might not be accepting testing. Such a situation would increase the risk of undiagnosed HIV-positive women delivering at Milton Keynes and undermine the potential benefits of the screening programme. Retrospective review of pregnant women delivering in our area over six months was performed. Hospital obstetric and microbiology databases were analysed for results of HIV screening and ethnic origin of patients. A total of 1586 women delivered during the study period. Among the black African women 13/158 (8.2%) declined screening, compared with 120/1214 (9.8%) and 15/153 (9.8%) of white and Asian women, respectively. The high uptake of testing across all groups suggests that the policy of offering and recommending HIV screening to all women is being appropriately implemented. Black African women were more likely to have undergone screening than white or Asian women, although the differences were not statistically significant.
The polymicrobial hypothesis of bacterial vaginosis causation: a reassessment
Authors: Josey W E , Schwebke J R 
Published: March 2008

Summary The cause of bacterial vaginosis remains controversial. The two leading hypotheses are that Gardnerella vaginalis is the specific aetiologic agent versus the polymicrobial hypothesis that G. vaginalis acts in concert with other bacteria, principally anaerobes, to produce the disease. Here we reassess the prevailing polymicrobial hypothesis, finding it conceptually problematical. No host initiating factors as postulated have been identified, nor is there conclusive evidence that G. vaginalis lacks diagnostic specificity for the disease. The polymicrobial hypothesis, presupposing a unique disruption of vaginal microecology, is inconsistent with the epidemiological profile of the syndrome, which is that of a sexually transmitted disease. The epidemiological and clinical similarities between bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis suggest a similar pathogenetic process; i.e., primary causation by a specific agent, with secondary anaerobic activation and resultant amine production.
Management of recurrent varices at the popliteal fossa after surgical treatment
Authors: Perrin M , Gillet Jean-Luc 
Published: March 2008

Objectives To analyze prevalence, incidence mechanisms, physiopathology, investigations, treatment techniques and results of recurrent varices at the popliteal fossa after surgery. Methods Published literature was analyzed as personal experience. Results Recurrent varices after surgery at the popliteal fossa are much less frequent than at the sapheno-femoral junction because the short saphenous vein is less often the site of incompetence and treated by surgery. Precise prevalence and incidence is unknown. An analysis of recurrences at the popliteal fossa revealed three causes: Incomplete division of the sapheno-popliteal junction (SPJ) at the terminal valve, which was incompetent at the initial surgery. The persisting reflux fills tributaries still connected to the saphenous stump; Neovascularization reconnects the popliteal vein to the superficial network with new vessels, which are valveless; Because the initial diagnoses is wrong and the incompetence involves the other veins of the popliteal fossa or arises from pelvic veins, which had not been recognized. Duplex scanning (DS) should identify the various sites of reflux and give precise anatomical and haemodynamic data. Treatment methods after recurrence at the popliteal fossa are repeat surgery, sclerotherapy or pelvic vein embolization when identified as the cause. Results provided by these different methods were analysed. Conclusions At present, no randomized control has given grade 1A, 1B or 2A, 2B recommendations. We recommend that ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy should be the treatment of choice unless DS shows an incompetent stump at the SPJ with a gross reflux filling the venous network.
Are Laboratories Reporting Serum Quantitative hCG Results Correctly?
Authors: Cao Zhimin (Tim) , Rej Robert 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
Background: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone that exists in multiple forms. Immunoassays commonly used in clinical laboratories measure intact hCG, total β hCG (intact hCG + hCG free β-subunit), and/or hCG free β-subunit. Measurement of serum concentrations of hCG is useful for confirmation and monitoring of pregnancy, diagnosis of trophoblastic diseases and monitoring of the efficacy of treatment, and prenatal screening. Correctly reporting results for the various forms of hCG is clinically important.
Method: We prepared samples by addition of intact hCG and hCG free β-subunit to an essentially hCG-free human serum matrix. The samples were analyzed by participant laboratories using various immunoassay methods.
Results: We identified errors in participant reporting of intact hCG results as total β hCG (9.3%; 22 of 235 laboratories) and total β hCG as intact hCG (13.1%; 8 of 61 laboratories).
Conclusions: Many factors contribute to the erroneous reporting of hCG results, including (a) the complexity of hCG molecule and confusion of nomenclature on the various forms of hCG; (b) laboratory personnel’s lack of awareness of the distinctions of the forms of hCG and failure to recognize the specificity of assays for their measurement; (c) lack of clarity and uniformity in manufacturers’ reagent labeling; and (d) most product inserts’ lack of information on the specificity of each method to the various forms of hCG.
Laboratory Assessment of HDL Heterogeneity and Function
Authors: Movva Rajesh , Rader Daniel J 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground: Plasma concentrations of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and its major protein component apolipoprotein (apo) A-I are strongly inversely associated with cardiovascular risk, leading to the concept that therapy to increase HDL-C and apoA-I concentrations would be antiatherosclerotic and protective against cardiovascular events. The recent failure of the drug torcetrapib, a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor that substantially increased HDL-C concentrations, has brought focus on the issues of HDL heterogeneity and function as distinct from HDL-C concentrations.Content: This review addresses the current state of knowledge regarding assays of HDL heterogeneity and function and their relationship to cardiovascular disease. HDL is highly heterogeneous, with subfractions that can be identified on the basis of density, size, charge, and protein composition, and the concept that certain subfractions of HDL may be better predictors of cardiovascular risk is attractive. In addition, HDL has been shown to have a variety of functions that may contribute to its cardiovascular protective effects, including promotion of macrophage cholesterol efflux and reverse cholesterol transport and antiinflammatory and nitric oxide–promoting effects.Summary: Robust laboratory assays of HDL subfractions and functions and validation of the usefulness of these assays for predicting cardiovascular risk and assessing response to therapeutic interventions are critically important and of great interest to cardiovascular clinicians and investigators and clinical chemists.
Crack Arrest Testing Using Small Wide Plate SE(T) Specimens
Authors: Link Richard E. , Roe Charles 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
A greatly scaled-down version of the wide plate crack arrest test has been developed to characterize the crack arrest performance of a high strength, low alloy (HSLA) steel alloy in the upper region of the ductile-brittle transition. The specimen is a single-edge notched, 152 mm wide by 19 mm thick by 910 mm long plate subjected to a strong thermal gradient and a tensile loading. The thermal gradient is required to arrest the crack at temperatures high in the transition region, close to the expected service temperature for crack arrest applications in surface ships. Strain gages are placed along the crack path to obtain crack position and crack velocity data, and this data, along with the applied loading is combined in a “generation mode” analysis using finite element analysis to obtain a dynamic analysis of the crack arrest event. A prior investigation demonstrated the feasibility of the technique and this investigation was devised to obtain a larger dataset of crack arrest toughness values of an HSLA-100 steel plate to better characterize the upper transition crack arrest performance of this alloy. Brittle crack initiation, significant cleavage crack propagation, and subsequent crack arrest was achieved in all eight of the tests conducted in this investigation. The cleavage cracks were observed to propagate at nearly constant velocity, typically in the range of 350–400 m/s before arresting abruptly. A crack arrest master curve approach was used to characterize the fracture toughness and a crack arrest reference temperature, TKIA=−136°C was determined for the HSLA-100 plate. This corresponded to a shift in the crack initiation reference temperature of +36°C. The shift in reference temperature was much less than that observed for low Ni steel alloys.
A Simple Analytical Model for Predicting Gas Productivity of Horizontal Drain Holes with High-Friction
Authors: Guo Boyun , Ai Chi , Zhang Ling 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
It has been recognized that horizontal-wellbore friction significantly affects deliverability of gas wells in highly productive reservoirs. But there is lack of a simple and rigorous flow model for prediction and evaluation of such type of gas wells. This paper fills the gap.
Starting from the first law of thermodynamics and Darcy's law, the reservoir-horizontal wellbore cross-flow was modeled analytically in this study. Pressure and flow rate variations in the horizontal wellbore were formulated analytically. A simple closed-form equation for the total gas production rate from the well was derived. This newly developed mathematical model was compared with Joshi’s model and Furui’s model in a field-case study. The result shows that the error of the new model is 11.04%, which is much accurate than the other two models. Sensitivity analyses indicated that use of the new model is more beneficial in situations of high-permeability reservoirs, long horizontal wellbores, and small flow paths in the horizontal sections. This paper provides reservoir engineers an accurate and easy-to-use tool for prediction and evaluation of horizontal gas wells.
Cement Bond Evaluation
Authors: Shook Eddie H. , Frisch Gary J. , Lewis Tony 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
Because of increasing rig rates, the costs associated with the cement bond evaluation are now subject to scrutiny. Traditionally, the cost of the service and interpretation were linked to the value of the information provided, i.e. the quality of data gathered was directly related to the necessity of zonal isolation. The daily rig cost must now be considered, specifically costs directly related to the operating time required to acquire the cement evaluation data. The cost of operating rig time is often an order of magnitude higher than that of the cement bond logging service and should be a critical factor in the determination of the service provider and type of equipment run.
The correct logging tool and evaluation method provides the best process for evaluating the cement sheath. Several wellbore factors should be considered when selecting the proper tool for optimal results, including casing size, well deviation, fluid type, and fluid weight during the logging operations. However, the reservoir and the chosen completion should also influence the selection of the cement evaluation tool. Reservoir properties to consider include water contacts in or near zone of interest, drive mechanisms and isolation between production zones. The completion design, including perforation strategies, stimulation method, and sand control, should also influence the cement sheath evaluation process.
The challenges of a cost efficient and complete cement sheath evaluation required the development of a new cement evaluation tool. The FASTCAST™ tool expands the capabilities of CAST-V™ and existing analysis software. The new ultrasonic tools increase the logging speed up to five times, significantly reducing logging time, rig time, and costs. The tool provides cement evaluation and casing evaluation during the same logging pass. The existing software packages for cement and casing evaluation were updated to provide a complete analysis package for the new tool. The paper presents case histories to provide details about the economic advantage from using this new technology and processed logs showing both casing and cement evaluation.