bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen deposition and plant species interact to influence soil carbon stabilization
Authors: Dijkstra Feike A. , Hobbie Sarah E. , Knops Johannes M. H. , Reich Peter B. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAnthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition effects on soil organic carbon (C) decomposition remain controversial, while the role of plant species composition in mediating effects of N deposition on soil organic C decomposition and long‐term soil C sequestration is virtually unknown. Here we provide evidence from a 5‐year grassland field experiment in Minnesota that under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (560 ppm), plant species determine whether N deposition inhibits the decomposition of soil organic matter via inter‐specific variation in root lignin concentration. Plant species producing lignin‐rich litter increased stabilization of soil C older than 5 years, but only in combination with elevated N inputs (4 g m−2 year−1). Our results suggest that N deposition will increase soil C sequestration in those ecosystems where vegetation composition and/or elevated atmospheric CO2 cause high litter lignin inputs to soils.
Long‐term results of a self‐expanding wallstent in the treatment of urethral stricture
Authors: Hussain Mahreen , Greenwell Tamsin J. , Shah Julian , Mundy Anthony 
Published: November 2004

OBJECTIVETo report the long‐term outcome over 12 years of using the urethral UrolumeTM wallstent (AMS, Minnetonka, MI, USA) for treating recurrent bulbar urethral stricture disease.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe case‐notes of 60 consecutive men with urethral Urolume wallstents placed for treating recurrent bulbar strictures were reviewed retrospectively. Information was collected on patient demographics, stricture aetiology, stent‐related complications and the need for further surgery to treat stent‐ or stricture‐related complications.RESULTSThe mean (range) age of the men was 58 (32–76) years. The most common cause of stricture was iatrogenic, arising after previous endoscopic surgery or after an indwelling catheter (45%). Thirty‐five men had complications, with re‐operation required in 27 (45%) of them. The most frequent nonsurgical complications were post‐micturition dribble (32%) and recurrent urinary tract infections (27%). The most common surgical interventions required were transurethral resection of obstructing stent hyperplasia (32%), urethral dilatation or urethrotomy for stent obstruction or stricture (25%) and endoscopic litholapaxy for stent encrustation or stone (17%).CONCLUSIONSThe Urolume wallstent should only be used in patients who are unfit for or who refuse a bulbar urethroplasty.
Comparison of survival following coronary artery bypass grafting vs. percutaneous coronary intervention in diabetic and non‐diabetic patients: retrospective cohort study of 6320 procedures
Authors: Pell J. P. , Pell A. C. H. , Jeffrey R. R. , Jennings K. , Oldroyd K. , Eteiba H. , Hogg K. J. , Murday A. , Faichney A. , Colquhoun I. , Berg G. , Starkey I. R. , Flapan A. , Mankad P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAim  To determine whether mortality following percutaneous coronary intervention vs. coronary bypass grafting varies according to whether or not patients have diabetes.Methods  We used the Scottish Coronary Revascularization Register to identify all patients undergoing revascularization in Scottish NHS hospitals since 1997. We excluded single‐vessel disease, left main stem stenosis, and bypass grafting performed at the same time as other operations. We used death certificate data from the Registrar General to identify all subsequent deaths.Results  Of the 6320 eligible procedures, 5042 (80%) were bypass grafts and 1278 (20%) angioplasties. Overall 831 (13%) patients had diabetes with no significant difference by procedure (13% vs. 12%). A total of 382 deaths occurred over a mean follow‐up of 2.3 years. Diabetic patients had a poorer prognosis following both surgery (adjusted hazards ratio (HR) 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08, 1.89) and percutaneous intervention (adjusted HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.43, 4.63). Among non‐diabetic patients, no significant differences in mortality were detected between the two procedures. Among diabetic patients, no significant difference was detected in those with two‐vessel disease. In those with impaired left ventricular function and triple‐vessel disease, angioplasty was associated with a significantly higher risk of death (adjusted HR 3.58, 95% CI 1.40, 9.19).Conclusions  This is the first study to demonstrate statistically significant results that support the BARI trial findings. Our study demonstrated a significant difference for triple‐vessel disease but not two‐vessel disease. The former may be due to incomplete revascularization using percutaneous intervention. Our results require corroboration from randomized trials.
Evaluation of a bedside blood ketone sensor: the effects of acidosis, hyperglycaemia and acetoacetate on sensor performance
Authors: Khan A. S. A. , Talbot J. A. , Tieszen K. L. , Gardener E. A. , Gibson J. M. , New J. P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAims  To assess the performance of a handheld bedside ketone sensor in the face of likely metabolic disturbances in diabetic ketoacidosis, namely: pH, glucose and acetoacetate.Methods  The effects of pH (7.44–6.83), glucose (5–50 mmol/l) and acetoacetate (0–5 mmol/l) were examined in venous blood to investigate the accuracy of betahydroxybutyrate measurement (0–5 mmol/l) by a handheld ketone sensor. Sensor results were compared with a reference method. Linear regression models were fitted to the difference between the methods with the concentration of metabolite as the explanatory factor.Results  Decreasing pH and increasing glucose had no effect on the accuracy of the handheld ketone sensor; the gradients of the fitted lines were −0.14 and −0.003, respectively. The 95% confidence intervals were −0.7–0.4 and −0.01–0.004, respectively (P = 0.59 and 0.4, respectively). In the acetoacetate study, a positive relationship between the sensor and reference method results was found, the gradient was 0.09. The 95% confidence interval was 0.05–0.14 (P ≤ 0.001), indicating that high concentrations of acetoacetate interfere with the sensor performance.Conclusions  Acidosis and hyperglycaemia have minimal effects on the sensor performance. However, high concentrations of acetoacetate result in some overestimation of betahydroxybutyrate. This bedside ketone sensor provides useful data over a broad range of conditions likely to be encountered during moderate to severe diabetic ketoacidosis.
Independent association of uric acid levels with peripheral arterial disease in Taiwanese patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Tseng C.‐H. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAims  Hyperuricaemia may be a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Its association with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has not been studied in Taiwanese patients with Type 2 diabetes.Methods  Uric acid (UA) levels and PAD were evaluated in 508 Taiwanese outpatients with Type 2 diabetes (210 men, 298 women; mean age ± sd, 63.8 ± 10.6 years). PAD was diagnosed when the ankle‐brachial index was < 0.9. Patients with an ankle‐brachial index of ≥ 1.3 were excluded because of possible medial arterial calcification. Potential confounding variables with P < 0.10 were adjusted for in multivariate analyses.Results  In univariate analyses, UA levels were higher in patients with PAD than in those without PAD (345.0 ± 95.2 vs. 309.3 ± 89.2 µmol/l; P < 0.0005). Prevalences of PAD for quintiles of UA levels were 6.8, 8.9, 10.2, 13.1 and 16.5%, respectively (P‐trend < 0.05). With UA level as a continuous variable, the multivariate‐adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for PAD was 1.005 (1.001–1.008) (P < 0.01). The optimal cut‐off point for UA as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve was 264.7 µmol/l. The sensitivity and specificity at this cut‐off point was 82.6 and 33.3%, respectively. The area under curve was 0.60 (95% confidence interval: 0.53–0.68). The multivariate‐adjusted odds ratio for PAD for UA above this level was 2.736 (1.239–6.043) (P < 0.05). The results after excluding 56 cases using diuretics were similar.Conclusions  Elevated uric acid level is a significant and independent risk factor for PAD in Taiwanese patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Inhaled micronized crystalline human insulin using a dry powder inhaler: dose‐response and time‐action profiles1
Authors: Rave K. , Nosek L. , Heinemann L. , Gonzales C. , Ernest C. S. , Chien J. , Muchmore D. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAim  The aim of this euglycaemic glucose clamp study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics, glucodynamics, safety and tolerability of micronized crystalline human insulin inhalation powder delivered by a Spiros® dry powder inhaler system in healthy volunteers.Methods  Thirteen healthy, non‐smoking, male and female volunteers [age 30 ± 7 years; BMI 23.5 ± 2.7 kg/m2; (mean ± sd)] with normal pulmonary function participated in an open‐label, randomised, 6‐period crossover trial. Each volunteer received four single doses of inhaled insulin (60, 90, 120, 150 U) on separate occasions. For comparison, each volunteer also received two of three possible doses of subcutaneous (s.c.) injected regular human insulin (8, 14, or 20 U).Results  Serum immunoreactive insulin following inhalation of insulin peaked an average of 60 min earlier compared with s.c. injected insulin (P < 0.0001). Following inhalation, the time to maximum glucose infusion rate occurred an average of 70 min earlier than with s.c. insulin: 187, 129, 161 and 162 min vs. 227, 241 and 241 min (P < 0.0001). The dose‐response relationships for serum insulin pharmacokinetics and glucodynamics were linear for both inhaled and s.c. insulin. Relative bioavailability (based on serum insulin levels) ranged from 11.5 to 12.2% for the four doses of inhaled insulin and relative biopotency (based on glucose infusion rates) was 10.0 to 16.5%, respectively. Dosing was well tolerated by all volunteers.Conclusion  This study demonstrates that inhalation of human insulin via a dry powder inhaler system provides a promising alternative route for administration of insulin.
Introduction of IFCC reference method for calibration of HbA1c: implications for clinical care
Authors: Manley S. , John W. G. , Marshall S. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractHbA1c is recommended for monitoring glycaemic control and quantifying the risk of complications in patients with diabetes. National guidelines for treatment of patients with diabetes in UK specify that HbA1c measurements should be Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT)‐aligned i.e. comparable to the DCCT and UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS).The IFCC reference method for HbA1c will be introduced in Europe in December 2003 for calibration of all laboratory and POCT (point of care testing) methods for HbA1c following the recent EC ‘In Vitro Diagnostic’ (IVD) directive. This reference method involves measurement of HbA1c and HbA0 by electron‐spray ionisation‐mass spectrometry or capillary electrophoresis with the reference range approximately 2% HbA1c lower than the corresponding range from the DCCT. However, this EC IVD directive will not change reporting of DCCT‐aligned HbA1c in the UK.Professionals involved in the care of patients with diabetes in the UK met with Dr Sue Roberts in London in July 2003. It was decided that in the UK DCCT‐aligned HbA1c will continue to be reported from December 2003 for patient care and that laboratories currently reporting non‐aligned DCCT HbA1c should change to reporting DCCT‐aligned results as soon as possible. It was considered important for diabetes care in the UK that the reporting of HbA1c should not fragment. The UK HbA1c Standardization Committee was set up to hold ‘a watching brief’ on HbA1c especially with relation to reporting of HbA1c in other countries.
Low Order Approximations in Deconvolution and Regression with Errors in Variables
Authors: Carroll Raymond J. , Hall Peter 
Published: November 2004

SummaryWe suggest two new methods, which are applicable to both deconvolution and regression with errors in explanatory variables, for nonparametric inference. The two approaches involve kernel or orthogonal series methods. They are based on defining a low order approximation to the problem at hand, and proceed by constructing relatively accurate estimators of that quantity rather than attempting to estimate the true target functions consistently. Of course, both techniques could be employed to construct consistent estimators, but in many contexts of importance (e.g. those where the errors are Gaussian) consistency is, from a practical viewpoint, an unattainable goal. We rephrase the problem in a form where an explicit, interpretable, low order approximation is available. The information that we require about the error distribution (the error-in-variables distribution, in the case of regression) is only in the form of low order moments and so is readily obtainable by a rudimentary analysis of indirect measurements of errors, e.g. through repeated measurements. In particular, we do not need to estimate a function, such as a characteristic function, which expresses detailed properties of the error distribution. This feature of our methods, coupled with the fact that all our estimators are explicitly defined in terms of readily computable averages, means that the methods are particularly economical in computing time.
Estimation and Testing Stationarity for Double-Autoregressive Models
Authors: Ling Shiqing 
Published: November 2004

SummaryThe paper considers the double-autoregressive model yt = φyt−1+ɛt with ɛt =ηt√(ω+αyt−12). Consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimated parameters are proved under the condition E ln |φ +√αηt|&lt;0, which includes the cases with |φ|=1 or |φ|&gt;1 as well as E(εt2)=∞. It is well known that all kinds of estimators of φ in these cases are not normal when ɛt are independent and identically distributed. Our result is novel and surprising. Two tests are proposed for testing stationarity of the model and their asymptotic distributions are shown to be a function of bivariate Brownian motions. Critical values of the tests are tabulated and some simulation results are reported. An application to the US 90-day treasury bill rate series is given.
Effect of concurrent zidovudine use on the resistance pathway selected by abacavir‐containing regimens
Authors: Lanier ER , Givens N , Stone C , Griffin P , Gibb D , Walker S , Tisdale M , Irlbeck D , Underwood M , St Clair M , Ait‐Khaled M 
Published: November 2004

ObjectivesAbacavir (ABC) selects for four mutations (K65R, L74V, Y115F and M184V) in HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase (RT), both in vitro and during monotherapy in vivo. The aim of this analysis was to compare the selection of these and other nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)‐associated mutations by ABC‐containing therapies in the presence and absence of concurrent lamivudine (3TC) and/or zidovudine (ZDV) and to assess the effect of these mutations on phenotypic susceptibility to the NRTIs.DesignThis study was a retrospective analysis of the patterns of NRTI‐associated mutations selected following virological failure in six multicentre trials conducted during the development of ABC.MethodsVirological failure was defined as confirmed vRNA above 400 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL. RT genotype and phenotype were determined using standard methods.ResultsK65R was selected infrequently by ABC‐containing regimens in the absence of ZDV (13 of 127 patients), while L74V/I was selected more frequently (51 of 127 patients). Selection of both K65R and L74V/I was significantly reduced by co‐administration of ZDV with ABC (one of 86 and two of 86 patients, respectively). Y115F was uncommon in the absence (seven of 127 patients) or presence (four of 86 patients) of ZDV. M184V was the most frequently selected mutation by ABC alone (24 of 70 patients) and by ABC plus 3TC (48 of 70 patients). Thymidine analogue mutations were associated with ZDV use. The K65R mutation conferred the broadest phenotypic cross‐resistance of the mutations studied.ConclusionsThe resistance pathway selected upon virological failure of ABC‐containing regimens is significantly altered by concurrent ZDV use, but not by concurrent 3TC use. These data may have important implications for the efficacy of subsequent lines of NRTI therapies.
Symptomatic bone disorders in HIV‐infected patients: incidence in the Aquitaine cohort (1999–2002)
Authors: Martin K , Lawson‐Ayayi S , Miremont‐Salamé G , Blaizeau MJ , Balestre E , Lacoste D , Ragnaud JM , Malvy D , Dupon M , Mercié P , Schaeverbeke T , Haramburu F , Dabis F ,   for the Groupe d'Epidémiologie Clinique du SIDA en Aquitaine (GECSA)
Published: November 2004

BackgroundSince the inception of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), mortality among HIV‐infected patients has decreased, but this has been accompanied by the appearance of several complications.ObjectivesTo estimate the incidence of symptomatic bone disorders in HIV‐infected patients of the Aquitaine cohort (from south‐west France) for the period 1999–2002, and to describe cases.MethodsWe retrospectively studied the records of 2700 patients of the Aquitaine cohort, which was derived from a hospital‐based surveillance system of HIV infection in France. All cases of symptomatic bone disorders diagnosed from 1 January 1999 to 30 June 2002 were reviewed.ResultsFourteen cases of bone disorders were diagnosed, eight cases of aseptic osteonecrosis and six cases of severe osteoporosis, representing incidences of 0.3/1000 patient‐years [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14–0.62] and 0.22/1000 patient‐years (95% CI: 0.09–0.52), respectively. All patients with aseptic osteonecrosis were male, while all but one with osteoporosis were female. The ages of patients ranged from 36 to 54 years for osteonecrosis and from 39 to 50 for severe osteoporosis. At the time of clinical diagnosis, all patients were treated with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (duration of treatment ranging from 19 to 123 months for osteonecrosis and from 46 to 132 months for severe osteoporosis). Ten patients were treated with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [duration of treatment ranging from 6 to 31 months for osteonecrosis (n=6) and from 4 to 29 months for severe osteoporosis (n=4)]. Thirteen patients were treated with protease inhibitors [duration of treatment ranging from 12 to 62 months for osteonecrosis (n=8) and from 3 to 44 months for severe osteoporosis (n=5)]. All osteonecrosis and five osteoporosis patients had at least one known risk factor or comorbidity associated with the bone disorder occurrence.ConclusionsIn our study, the aetiology of clinical bone disorders seemed to be multifactorial, as almost all the patients had at least one possible risk factor in addition to HAART exposure.
Ethics and Method
Authors: ERMARTH ELIZABETH DEEDS 
Published: November 2004

It is possible for historians to mislead a nation in respect of what it might regard as its historic mission.Herbert Butterfield

History as we knew it was a lie, a deceit.Slavenka Drakuliç
ABSTRACTHistorical method rests on the common‐denominator values that characterize modernity. Postmodernity challenges those values across the range of practice and with them the very foundations of historical explanation. Responding to this challenge is central to the ethics of history at the present time. An adequate response requires at least three things summarized here: a clear understanding of the cultural function of history as one of the representational methods characterizing modernity; a definition of postmodernity and its challenges that is less trivial than those currently prevailing in North America; and even some experimental effort to explore some of the positive possibilities of the postmodern challenge, including alternative uses for “the past.”
The ups and downs of European gender equality policy
Authors: Rubery Jill , Figueiredo Hugo , Smith Mark , Grimshaw Damian , Fagan Colette 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTIn 2003, equal opportunities policy in the European Union suffered both ups and downs. New opportunities came in the guise of the hotly contested new directive on gender equality outside the field of employment, in the invitation to present the first of an annual report on equality between women and men to the Spring Council, in the consolidation of gender mainstreaming within the second round of the National Action Plans on social inclusion and in the new commitments to ‘substantial reductions by 2010’ in gender gaps in employment, unemployment and pay that were included in the new employment guidelines in 2003. These new guidelines presented, however, a major challenge to gender equality as the new phase of the European Employment Strategy dispensed with the four pillars, and therefore the equal opportunities pillar. Instead gender equality became just one of 10 new guidelines. In December the launch of the Employment Taskforce report appeared to push employment policy back more to a ‘full employment with flexibility’ approach and away from concerns with job quality. The focus was therefore more on the integration of women into employment rather than on closing the equality gap.
Wettbewerbsorientierte Reformen im Gesundheitssystem der Schweiz – Vorbild für regulierten Wettbewerb in der deutschen GKV?
Authors: Greß Stefan , Kocher Ralf , Wasem Jürgen 
Published: November 2004

Abstract Recent reforms of the Swiss health care system to introduce regulated competition have raised expectations about the possible combination of more efficient services, while at same time maintaining or even increasing the level of solidarity in health care systems. In this article we examine expected behavioral changes of the market actors, the way incentives for market actors have been changed and analyze the way market actors in fact changed their behavior. We conclude that so far only some of the targets of the reforms have been met. For a reasonable assessment of the Swiss experience in regulating competition in health care it is paramount to distinguish expected effects from actual effects.
Actions of R‐ and S‐verapamil and nifedipine on rat vascular and intestinal smooth muscle
Authors: Cleary L. , Vandeputte C. , Kelly J. G. , Docherty J. R. 
Published: November 2004

Summary1 We have investigated the actions of the calcium entry blockers nifedipine, R‐verapamil and S‐verapamil in rat aorta, colon and vas deferens.2 In aorta and colon, these agents produced concentration‐dependent relaxations of KCl (80 mm)‐induced contractions. In both tissues, the order of potency was nifedipine > S‐verapamil > R‐verapamil. However, nifedipine showed selectivity for aorta (potency ratio, colon/aorta: 4.36), S‐verapamil showed no selectivity (0.62), but R‐verapamil showed selectivity for colon (0.19).3 In prostatic portions of rat vas deferens, nifedipine (10 μm) abolished the contraction to a single electrical stimulus, but R‐ and S‐verapamil were without effect. In epididymal portions of rat vas deferens, R‐ and S‐verapamil inhibitedα1‐adrenoceptor‐mediated contractions to a single electrical stimulus at concentrations of 10 μmand above.4 In conclusion, R‐verapamil may prove useful as an intestinal selective calcium entry blocker in the treatment of intestinal disease with a hypermotility component, e.g. irritable bowel syndrome.