bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Subject retention and adherence in a randomized placebo‐controlled trial of a disease‐modifying osteoarthritis drug
Authors: Mazzuca Steven A. , Brandt Kenneth D. , Katz Barry P. , Lane Kathleen A. , Bradley John D. , Heck Louis W. , Hugenberg Steven T. , Manzi Susan , Moreland Larry W. , Oddis Chester V. , Schnitzer Thomas J. , Sharma Leena , Wolfe Frederick , Yocum David E. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the methods by which remarkable levels of subject retention and adherence were achieved in a 30‐month multicenter randomized placebo‐controlled trial (RCT) of a disease‐modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD).MethodsSubjects were obese 45–64‐year‐old women with unilateral knee osteoarthritis. Before randomization, each volunteer completed a 4‐week “faintness‐of‐heart” (FOH) test, during which she was required to demonstrate reliable appointment keeping and ≥80% adherence to the dosing regimen. Subjects who passed the FOH test were randomized to treatment with doxycycline or placebo for 30 months. The double‐blind phase entailed 15 bimonthly followup visits; intervisit adherence data were downloaded from the dosing monitor and used to estimate therapeutic coverage and to identify correctable patterns of nonadherence. Subjects received token incentives and a small cash payment at each followup visit. Measures to prevent or treat side effects of doxycycline were dispensed free of charge. Study coordinators monitored safety and reinforced participation through between‐visit telephone calls.ResultsOf 463 eligible volunteers, 32 (7%) failed the FOH test and were excluded from the double‐blind phase. Among the 431 subjects randomized to treatment groups, 307 (71%) completed the 30‐month RCT and 124 discontinued the study drug prematurely. Nearly half of the dropouts returned for their 16‐ and 30‐month radiographs, resulting in loss to followup of 14.8% of randomized subjects. The 2 treatment groups did not differ significantly with respect to rates of discontinuation or retention. Therapeutic coverage over 30 months was very high in both groups.ConclusionThe rate of discontinuation in this 30‐month RCT (29%) was lower than that of any DMOAD trial of ≥2 years duration published to date. The proportion of subjects for whom 30‐month radiographs were available (85%) and adherence to the dosing regimen (mean >80%) also were remarkably high.
Identifying SNPs predictive of phenotype using random forests
Authors: Bureau Alexandre , Dupuis Josée , Falls Kathleen , Lunetta Kathryn L. , Hayward Brooke , Keith Tim P. , Van Eerdewegh Paul 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThere has been a great interest and a few successes in the identification of complex disease susceptibility genes in recent years. Association studies, where a large number of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are typed in a sample of cases and controls to determine which genes are associated with a specific disease, provide a powerful approach for complex disease gene mapping. Genes of interest in those studies may contain large numbers of SNPs that classical statistical methods cannot handle simultaneously without requiring prohibitively large sample sizes. By contrast, high‐dimensional nonparametric methods thrive on large numbers of predictors. This work explores the application of one such method, random forests, to the problem of identifying SNPs predictive of the phenotype in the case‐control study design. A random forest is a collection of classification trees grown on bootstrap samples of observations, using a random subset of predictors to define the best split at each node. The observations left out of the bootstrap samples are used to estimate prediction error. The importance of a predictor is quantified by the increase in misclassification occurring when the values of the predictor are randomly permuted. We extend the concept of importance to pairs of predictors, to capture joint effects, and we explore the behavior of importance measures over a range of two‐locus disease models in the presence of a varying number of SNPs unassociated with the phenotype. We illustrate the application of random forests with a data set of asthma cases and unaffected controls genotyped at 42 SNPs in ADAM33, a previously identified asthma susceptibility gene. SNPs and SNP pairs highly associated with asthma tend to have the highest importance index value, but predictive importance and association do not always coincide. Genet. Epidemiol. 28:171–182, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The development and maintenance of exemplary formal mentoring programs in fortune 500 companies
Authors: Hegstad Christine D. , Wentling Rose Mary 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis study sought to advance current mentoring research by examining the development and maintenance of exemplary formal mentoring programs in the nation's top performing companies. The ADDIE model of instructional systems design, which incorporates five steps from needs analysis to evaluation, formed the conceptual framework guiding the study. The methodology involved interviewing twenty‐nine participants within a sample of seventeen companies, selected from the Fortune 500 listing, housing exemplary formal mentoring programs. Results indicated that the steps of the ADDIE design system provide a useful framework in the development and maintenance of exemplary formal mentoring programs. A discussion of the results and recommendations for further research are presented.
The relationship between organizational commitment and organizational climate in manufacturing
Authors: McMurray Adela J. , Scott D. R. , Pace R. Wayne 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between organizational commitment and organizational climate. Subjects were chosen from three large Australian automotive component manufacturing companies. A questionnaire was administered to 1,413 employees from forty‐two countries of origin. A 97.8 percent response rate yielded 1,382 usable questionnaires. A significant correlation (.66) between organizational commitment and organizational climate was discovered.
Duration dependence in the exit rate out of unemployment in Belgium. Is it true or spurious?
Authors: Cockx Bart , Dejemeppe Muriel 
Published: December 2004

AbstractOn the basis of aggregate data for the early 1990s, we analyse the determinants of unemployment duration for laid‐off male workers in Wallonia (Belgium). Our results indicate that if ranking in recruitment occurs, the standard mixed proportional hazard specification can be too restrictive, leading to an overstatement of the extent of true negative duration dependence. We conclude that negative duration dependence is largely spurious. We also decompose the time variation of the hazard in (unobserved) compositional and direct cyclical and seasonal effects. We find counter‐cyclical variation in the quality of young workers, but none for the prime aged. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modules, kinds, and homology
Authors: Rieppel Olivier 
Published: December 2004

AbstractDevelopmental modules are best conceptualized as homeostatic property cluster natural kinds. As is true in other fields of biology, an individual may instantiate properties of various natural kinds. Through their dissociability, developmental modules can be recruited to function as evolutionary modules. The proper analogy to developmental modules, atoms, or biological species depends on the scope over which specific developmental modules allow generalizations. The nature of the relationship between developmental modules, evolutionary modules, and taxic (phylogenetic) homology are explored. Similarity of gene expression patterns and developmental pathways as captured by biological homology may support hypotheses of taxic homology, but not the other way around.J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol). 304B:000–000, 2005.© 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hypoglycemic effect of extract of Hericium erinaceus
Authors: Wang Jinn Chyi , Hu Shu Hui , Wang Jih Terng , Chen Ker Shaw , Chia Yi Chen 
Published: December 2004

AbstractRecent studies have determined that many types of mushroom (eg Hericium spp), may have important physiological functions in humans, including antioxidant activities, the regulation of blood lipid levels and reduction of blood glucose levels. In this study, a methanol extract of the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus was adsorbed on silica gel columns and eluted using polarity gradients of chloroform/ethyl acetate/acetone/methanol. The major components of the extract were D‐threitol, D‐arabinitol and palmitic acid identified by their chromatographic profiles and spectroscopic characteristics. The methanol extract of H erinaceus was concentrated to remove solvent yielding a residue (referred to as HEM) which was added to the diet. The hypoglycemic effects of feeding HEM to streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats were studied. Polydipsia was stronger in induced diabetic rats not fed HEM than in those receiving HEM. Rats fed with HEM had significantly lower elevation rates of blood glucose level than those not fed with HEM. The effects on blood glucose, serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were more significant in the rats fed daily with HEM at doses of 100 mg kg−1 body weight (bw) rather than 20 mg kg−1 bw (p < 0.05). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Relationship of climate and genotype to seasonal variation in the glucosinolate–myrosinase system. II. Myrosinase activity in ten cultivars of Brassica oleracea grown in fall and spring seasons
Authors: Charron Craig S , Saxton Arnold M , Sams Carl E 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMyrosinase catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucosinolates found in the Brassicaceae, generating a variety of bioactive reaction products that may aid in the prevention of some cancers and that are suppressive to soil‐borne plant pathogens. Two cultivars each of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var italica), Brussels sprouts (B oleracea var gemmifera), cabbage (B oleracea var capitata), cauliflower (B oleracea var botrytis), and kale (B oleracea var acephala) were grown during two fall seasons and two spring seasons to determine if myrosinase activity varied by season. Regression models that included mean temperature and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) during the growing seasons showed that climatic variables explained seasonal differences for myrosinase activity. Activity‐FW (FW = fresh weight; U g−1) and specific activity (U mg−1) were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected by season, botanical group and group × season. Activity‐FW had a negative linear relationship with temperature, and a positive linear but negative quadratic relationship with PPF. Specific activity had a positive linear and a negative quadratic relationship with both temperature and PPF. Therefore the influence of climatic factors on myrosinase activity in Brassica species may affect the potential benefits of the glucosinolate–myrosinase system. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry
Fast Fatigue Testing of Spinal Implant Systems by the Load Stage Product (LSP)‐Test Method
Authors: Holzwarth U. , Lorenz S. , Schuh A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe LSP test method was used to compare various surface treatments of spinal rods for dorsal spine implant systems. This test method allowed a fast testing. Result were given after one or two weeks in comparison to 6 to 8 months. Rods made of two different cp‐Titanium materials ( Ti‐2 and Ti‐4) were tested. Best results with a LSP value of 167 Mio. were achieved with Ti‐4 material, shot peened with steel balls and glass beads. In comparison the lowest LSP value showed 81 Mio with Ti‐2 material shot peened with glass beads only.This kind of high speed testing reduced the typical development period from two years to at least 6 months.
Cortical laminar necrosis in childhood intracranial germ cell tumor survivors
Authors: Khong Pek‐Lan , Ng Kim‐Ching , Kwong Dora LW , Ooi Gaik‐Cheng , Chan Godfrey CF 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe report two childhood germ cell tumor survivors treated for multifocal or large suprasellar tumors followed by the presentation of acute neurological deficits and extensive cortical laminar necrosis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 7 and 34 months after cranial irradiation. This complication, though uncommon, represents another manifestation of delayed treatment‐related brain injury that can be catastrophic and leads to significant morbidity. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Angiotensin II (AII) induced hypertension chemotherapy (IHC) for unresectable gastric cancer: With reference to resection after down staging
Authors: Sato Haruhiko , Sugiyama Katsuo , Hoshi Masahiko , Urushiyama Masanobu , Ishizuka Keiichi 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAngiotensin II induced hypertension chemotherapy (IHC) is a drug delivery system for augmentation of anti‐cancer effects on the experimental basis of the functional difference of microcirculation between tumor and normal tissue. Blood flow in tumor tissue increased selectively when the blood pressure was elevated by the infusion of angiotensin II. Two randomized controlled trials (RCT) for advanced gastric cancer using AFM regimen; a combination of adriamycin (ADM), 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), and mitomycin (MMC), showed increased response tate by IHC (response rate: IHC/non‐IHC; 42.9% vs 10.5% in RCT‐1, and 31.3% vs 6.7% in RCT‐2, respectively). Toxicities were not different statistically between groups. In phase II for stage IVB gastric cancer patients (the criteria according to the General Rules of the Gastric Cancer Study of Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer), 5 complete response (CR) and 10 partial response (PR) (58%) were obseved out of 26 unresectable cases without prior chemotherapy. Moreover, 5 of 15 responders could receive curative gastrectomy and obtained conclusive down staging (19%). Here we discuss the role of enhancement of drug delivery for cancer chemotherapy on the basis of a series of clinical and experimental evidences.
Multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of unresectable breast cancer
Authors: Shen Zhen‐Zhou , Zhang Ya‐Wei , Pan Tian‐Xi , Xia Chuan‐Jiang 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBetween January 1960 and December 1990, 163 patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) were treated by multidisciplinary treatment regimens. Forty‐six cases received preoperative intraarterial perfusion of cytotoxic drugs. Fifty‐four cases received preoperative systemic chemotherapy. Forty‐one cases received preoperative radiotherapy, and twenty‐two cases received both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Preoperative systemic chemotherapy gives the best results. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy did not improve the survival rate as compared to the control group. The authors suggest that preoperative induction chemotherapy be used for LABC patients.
Role of radiotherapy following total mastectomy in patients with early breast cancer
Authors: Houghton J. , Baum M. , Haybittle J. L. ,   Closed Trials Working Party of the CRC Breast Cancer Trials Group
Published: December 2004

AbstractBetween June 1970 and April 1975 the CRC (King's/Cambridge) Trial for early breast cancer randomized 2800 patients folowing mastectomy to immediate prophylactic radiotherapy (DXT group, n=1376) or control (WP group, n=1424). Although no difference in overall survival has been demonstrated, there is an increase in mortality in the irradiated patients from nonbreast cancer causes beyond 5 years. It is because of an increase in the number of deaths due to new nonbreast malignancies [RR=1.89 (1.18–3.05)] and to cardiac‐related disease [RR=1.52 (1.01–2.29)]. This increased cardiac death rate may be related to the use of orthovoltage, which has greater scatter. There was a significant increase in risk for those with left‐sided rather than right‐sided tumors in this subgroup [χ2(int) = 5.08; p = 0.02]. Local relapse was significantly reduced in those patients randomized to radiotherapy [RR=0.44 (0.39–0.51)]. Median survival following local relapse was 1.35 years in the DXT group and 2.66 years in the WP group (logrank p<0.001). Patients with the first relapse in the supraclavicular nodes had a particularly poor prognosis (median survival: DXT 0.69 years; WP 1.37 years). Almost 50% of patients who have had a recurrence on the chest wall or in the axilla and subsequently died have had disease at the same site at death, regardless of whether they had radiotherapy immediately following surgery. However, the actual number of patients dying with persistent disease is halved by the use of prophylactic radiotherapy (DXT 66; WP 143). Classic pathologic features such as tumor size, tumor grade, and nodal involvement help define those patients at high risk of local failure who should be recommended for immediate radiotherapy.
Does the method of management of papillary thyroid carcinoma make a difference in outcome?
Authors: DeGroot Leslie J. , Kaplan Edwin L. , Straus Francis H. , Shukla Manan S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWe have analyzed data on a group of 269 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma followed on average for 12 years to determine (1) if a prognostic classification scheme can be used to predict an appropriate surgical approach; (2) the effect of treatment on prognosis; and (3) if patients with a “excellent” prognosis benefit from more extensive surgical resection and 131I ablation. Prognostic classification schemes developed by the American Joint Commission, Cady et al., Hay et al., the European Thyroid Association, and our own clinical class scheme each appropriately divided patients into risk category groups. With each system, some patients classified in the low risk group eventually died of the tumor. Considering the excellent but not perfect precision of the prognostic schemes, the need for detailed pathologic analysis, and ideally postoperative thyroid scanning, we conclude that the prognostic classification schemes do not allow the decision at the operating table regarding the appropriate extent of surgery. Patients followed at our institution, operated on by one of three experienced surgeons, and usually given 131I ablation were compared to other patients in the follow‐up group operated on by other surgeons and not routinely ablated. There were significantly fewer deaths and recurrences among the patients managed by our method. However, when the groups were restricted to those considering only patients who had more extensive surgery, postoperative 131I ablation, or both, the differences between the groups became insignificant. This finding indicates that the difference in prognosis, comparing patients treated at our institution and those initially treated elsewhere, was primarily due to the routine use of more extensive surgery and postoperative radioactive iodide ablation. Patients under age 45 with intrathyroidal disease or positive neck nodes and tumors less than 2.5 cm in diameter had an excellent prognosis, as shown by the absence of deaths due to tumor during the follow‐up period. However, extensive surgery and 131I ablation was associated with a significant reduction in recurrences. These data support the use of lobectomy plus contralateral subtotal lobectomy or near‐total thyroidectomy as the primary operative procedures for thyroid cancers larger than 1 cm in size and in patients beyond age 45; they also support the use of 131I ablation postoperatively to provide the best prognosis with reduction in deaths and recurrences.
THE BLUEBEARD BAROMETER: CHARLES DICKENS AND CAPTAIN MURDERER
Authors: Barzilai Shuli 
Published: December 2004

“You mustn't marry more than one person at a time, may you, Peggotty?”“Certainly not,” says Peggotty, with the promptest decision.“But if you marry a person, and the person dies, why then you may marry another person, mayn't you, Peggotty?”“You MAY,” says Peggotty, “if you choose, my dear. That's a matter of opinion.”—David Copperfield(1849–50)THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF CAPTAIN MURDERERwas in the Jerusalem Theater many years ago when the Welsh actor Emlyn Williams (1905–87) gave a reading of scenes from the works of Charles Dickens. Williams's performance was a recreation of the initiative of Dickens himself who, in the late 1850s, took on yet another activity and persona, that of the itinerant player, and began a series of public tours in which he read from his own works. Of all the pieces Williams performed on that occasion, the story of “a certain Captain Murderer” remains most vividly present to memory not only for its eerie atmosphere and plot but especially for its effect on the audience. I can still recall the collective gasp of horror, as well as the outbursts of laughter, that the story's denouement elicited from a captivated company of listeners.
Resistance variation within and among host populations in a plant–pathogen metapopulation: implications for regional pathogen dynamics
Authors: LAINE ANNA‐LIISA 
Published: December 2004

SummaryStudies conducted on natural host‐pathogen metapopulations have revealed considerable diversity of host resistance phenotypes within populations. The resistance structure of non‐infected populations has, however, been largely ignored and the role of among‐population variation in resistance profiles in the dynamics of natural pathogen populations is poorly understood.ThePlantago lanceolata–Podosphaera plantaginispathosystem in the Åland Islands in south‐west Finland is characterized by the highly fragmented distribution of the host. Only a small fraction of the host populations is infected at one point in time and pathogen turnover rate is high. I studied a sample of these populations to find out whether adjacent host populations are differentiated in their resistance structure and whether variable levels of disease resistance among host populations could be linked to disease incidence patterns.Results show striking differences in the resistance structure both within and among host populations. Sixteen resistance phenotypes were identified in a sample of 64 host individuals. Populations varied from one in which all sampled individuals represented a different resistance phenotype, to one in which half showed identical resistance responses.There was no association between local resistance composition and the geographical distance between populations, suggesting that within‐population processes, such as founder effects and genetic drift, largely determine local resistance structure.Non‐infected populations showed significantly higher mean levels of resistance than infected populations, suggesting that differences in the mean level of resistance among host populations may retard the spread of the fungus and thereby decrease the probability of regional epidemics.