bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Objective assessment of involved surface area in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Yune Young‐Min , Park Sang Yong , Oh Hyun Sook , Kim Dong‐Jun , Yoo Dong‐Su , Kim Il‐Hwan , Moon Jong‐Sub , Kim Min‐Ki , Oh Chil‐Hwan 
Published: October 2003

Background/aims: Although difficult, it is essential to assess the disease severity of psoriasis objectively. The visual grading method currently used for assessing the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis, which is included on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scoring system, is a subjective method. The aim of this study was to establish the reliable objective method, in estimating the involved surface area in patients with psoriasis.Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis participated in this study. The skin lesions of each patient were estimated using the visual grading method and an image analysis system.Results: The differences between five dermatologists' estimates of the involved surface area obtained from the visual grading method were highly significant (P<0.05, Kruskal–Wallis test). The comparison between the visual grading method and the image analysis system showed that the involved areas measured by the visual grading method were significantly higher than those from the image analysis (P<0.05, Wilcoxon signed rank test).Conclusions: The visual grading method was neither objective nor reproducible. On the other hand, the image analysis system can be used as an objective method of measuring the involved surface area of patients with psoriasis. Therefore, the image analysis system can be used as a standard for the assessment of the involved area of patients with psoriasis.
Melanoma and seborrheic keratosis differentiation using texture features
Authors: Deshabhoina Srinivas V. , Umbaugh Scott E. , Stoecker William V. , Moss Randy H. , Srinivasan Subhashini K. 
Published: October 2003

Purpose: To explore texture features in two‐dimensional images to differentiate seborrheic keratosis from melanoma.Methods: A systematic approach to consistent classification of skin tumors is described. Texture features, based on the second‐order histogram, were used to identify the features or a combination of features that could consistently differentiate a malignant skin tumor (melanoma) from a benign one (seborrheic keratosis). Two hundred and seventy‐one skin tumor images were separated into training and test sets for accuracy and consistency. Automatic induction was applied to generate classification rules. Data analysis and modeling tools were used to gain further insight into the feature space.Result and Conclusions: In all, 85–90% of seborrheic keratosis images were correctly differentiated from the malignant skin tumors. The features correlation_average, correlation_range, texture_energy_average and texture_energy_range were found to be the most important features in differentiating seborrheic keratosis from melanoma. Over‐all, the seborrheic keratosis images were better identified by the texture features than the melanoma images.
Genetic versus environmental influence on pigment variation in the ephippia ofDaphnia pulicaria
Authors: Gerrish Gretchen A. , Cáceres Carla E. 
Published: October 2003

Summary1. The dormant eggs ofDaphnia(Crustacea: cladocera) are encased in a protective, chitonous casing known as an ephippium. Ephippia are pigmented with melanin, and the degree of pigmentation ranges from transparent to opaque. Variation in pigmentation exists within and across populations and species, raising questions about the factors that influence the natural distribution of pigmentation.2. We used image analysis to quantify pigmentation in ephippial casings ofDaphnia pulicariathat were produced both in the field and in the laboratory. The percentage of the surface area of ephippia that is darkly pigmented ranged from 0.5 to 99.5%. The range, mean and variance of ephippial pigmentation varied across our 11 study lakes.3. Laboratory experiments compared clonal variation (five clones/lake) and population variation (five lakes) at three temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C). The degree of pigment variation between clones was much greater than pigment variation between temperatures, indicating that there is a genetic component to pigmentation in the ephippia which is stronger than the effect of temperature.4. Comparisons of pigment levels and lake characteristics were used to identify physical and biological factors associated with ephippial pigmentation. Investment in ephippial production was the strongest predictor with darker ephippia occurring more often in lakes with the highest ephippial production.
Invertebrate traits for the biomonitoring of large European rivers: an initial assessment of alternative metrics
Authors: Gayraud Sébastien , Statzner Bernhard , Bady Pierre , Haybachp Arne , Schöll Franz , Usseglio‐Polatera Philippe , Bacchi Michel 
Published: October 2003

Summary1. The application of environmental policy and legislation across large‐scale administrative units creates a growing need for standard tools to assess and monitor the ‘ecological health’ of rivers, a requirement that can be achieved through the description of ecological functions of lotic invertebrate species in river communities.2. To assess alternative metrics, we tested how the functional structure (described by 14 biological traits) of invertebrate communities in 190 large river reaches differed with respect to differences in taxonomic resolution (species, genus, family), taxa weighting of traits (raw abundance, ln‐transformed abundance, presence–absence data) and consideration of alien species (inclusion or exclusion), and how these differences influenced the potential of functional descriptions to discriminate river reaches across a gradient of multiple human impacts.3. Functional descriptions derived at the level of species, genera and families were very similar, whereas functional descriptions derived from raw abundances differed significantly from those derived from both ln‐transformed abundances and presence–absence data. Functional descriptions after the exclusion of alien species differed considerably from those including alien species.4. Generally, the functional descriptions significantly discriminated river reaches according to the level of human impact. Taxonomic resolution scarcely influenced the discrimination of impact levels, whereas the use of raw abundances decreased impact discrimination in comparison with ln‐transformed abundances and presence–absence data. Exclusion of alien species also decreased discrimination of impact levels.5. When considered separately, individual biological traits describing maximal size, number of descendants per reproductive cycle, number of reproductive cycles per individual, life duration of adults, reproductive method, parental care, body form and feeding habits had the highest potential to discriminate the level of human impact.6. Our findings indicate that genus or perhaps family identifications are sufficient for large‐river biomonitoring using invertebrate traits. Although raw abundances could provide a better discrimination of low levels of human impact, presence–absence data should be sufficient to discriminate functional community changes caused by elevated levels of human impact across Europe.
Linking autotrophic activity in environmental samples with specific bacterial taxa by detection of 13C‐labelled fatty acids
Authors: Knief Claudia , Altendorf Karlheinz , Lipski André 
Published: October 2003

SummaryA method for the detection of physiologically active autotrophic bacteria in complex microbial communities was developed based on labelling with the stable isotope 13C. Labelling of autotrophic nitrifying, sulphur‐oxidizing and iron‐oxidizing populations was performed in situ by incubation with NaH[13C]O3. Incorporated label into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) was detected and quantified using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry in single ion monitoring mode. Before the analyses of different environmental samples, the protocol was evaluated in pure culture experiments. In different environmental samples a selective labelling of fatty acids demonstrated which microbial taxa were responsible for the respective chemolithoautotrophic activity. The most strongly labelled fatty acids of a sample from a sulphide treating biofilter from an animal rendering plant were cis‐7‐hexadecenoic acid (16:1 cis7) and 11‐methyl hexadecanoic acid (16:0 11methyl), which are as‐yet not known for any sulphide‐oxidizing autotroph. The fatty acid labelling pattern of an experimental biotrickling filter sample supplied with dimethyl disulphide clearly indicated the presence and activity of sulphide‐oxidizing bacteria of the genus Thiobacillus. For a third environmental sample from an acid mining lake sediment, the assignment of autotrophic activity to bacteria of the genus Leptospirillum but not to Acidithiobacillus could be made by this method, as the fatty acid patterns of these bacteria show clear differences.
Microsite‐dependent changes in methanogenic populations in a boreal oligotrophic fen
Authors: Galand Pierre E. , Fritze Hannu , Yrjälä Kim 
Published: October 2003

SummaryWetlands, including peatlands, are the main source of natural methane emission. Well‐defined fen microsites have different methane emissions rates, but it is not known whether the methane‐producing Archaea communities vary at these sites. Possible horizontal variations of communities, in a natural oligotrophic fen, were analysed by characterizing the methanogens from two well‐defined microsites: Eriophorum lawn and Hummock. Community structures were studied at two different layers of the fen, showing, respectively, high and low methane production. The structure of methanogen populations was determined using molecular techniques targeting the 16SrRNA gene and combined denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Results subjected to non‐metric multidimensional scaling (MDS), diversity indices calculation and phylogenetic analysis revealed that upper layer communities changed with site while deeper layer communities remained the same. Phylogenetic analyses revealed six different clusters of sequences grouping with only two known orders of methanogens. Upper layers of Hummock were dominated by sequences clustering with members of Methanomicrobiales and sequences dominating the upper part of the Eriophorum lawn were related to members of the order Methanosarcinales. Novel methanogenic sequences were found at both sites at both depths. Vegetation characterizing the microsites probably influences the microbial communities in the layers of the fen where methane is produced.
Sampling strategy in molecular microbial ecology: influence of soil sample size on DNA fingerprinting analysis of fungal and bacterial communities
Authors: Ranjard Lionel , Lejon David P. H. , Mougel Christophe , Schehrer Lucie , Merdinoglu Didier , Chaussod Rémi 
Published: October 2003

SummaryAssessing soil microbial community structure by the use of molecular techniques requires a satisfactory sampling strategy that takes into account the high microbial diversity and the heterogeneous distribution of microorganisms in the soil matrix. The influence of the sample size of three different soil types (sand, silt and clay soils) on the DNA yield and analysis of bacterial and fungal community structure were investigated. Six sample sizes from 0.125 g to 4 g were evaluated. The genetic community structure was assessed by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (A‐RISA fingerprint). Variations between bacterial (B‐ARISA) and fungal (F‐ARISA) community structure were quantified by using principal component analysis (PCA). DNA yields were positively correlated with the sample size for the sandy and silty soils, suggesting an influence of the sample size on DNA recovery, whereas no correlation was observed in the clay soil. B‐ARISA was shown to be consistent between the different sample sizes for each soil type indicating that the sampling procedure has no influence on the assessment of bacterial community structure. On the contrary for F‐ARISA profiles, strong variations were observed between replicates of the smaller samples (<1 g). Principal component analysis analysis revealed that sampling aliquots of soil ≥1 g are required to obtain robust and reproducible fingerprinting analysis of the genetic structure of fungal communities. However, the smallest samples could be adequate for the detection of minor populations masked by dominant ones in larger samples. The sampling strategy should therefore be different according to the objectives: rather large soil samples (≥1 g) for a global description of the genetic community structure, or a large number of small soil samples for a more complete inventory of microbial diversity.
Diversity of fungi in organic soils under a moorland – Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) gradient
Authors: Anderson Ian C. , Campbell Colin D. , Prosser James I. 
Published: October 2003

SummaryThe conservation and regeneration of native Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) woodlands is being actively encouraged by conservation agencies in the UK because of their high biodiversity value. In the present study, the consequences of regeneration on terrestrial fungal communities was determined in three parallel transects running from open moorland, through an intermediate zone showing seedling colonization, into a mature Scots pine forest at Abernethy Forest, Cairngorm, Scotland. Soil cores were taken at 18 m intervals along each 180 m transect, and the diversity of the soil fungal community was investigated by DGGE and sequence analysis of ITS fragments PCR‐amplified from DNA extracted from soil. Analysis of DGGE profiles generated for two of the three transects indicates a clear shift in the community from the moorland region of the transects to the forest region. Whereas a few bands were present at all sampling points across the transects, the majority of bands were unique to either the moorland or forest samples. FASTA database searches of ITS sequence data generated from excised DGGE bands revealed the closest species match for each band. In some cases, the similarity of ITS sequences to database sequences was poor, but the remaining sequences were most closely related to ITS sequences of both mycorrhizal and non‐mycorrhizal fungi. The data are discussed in relation to the effect of native pine woodland expansion on the soil fungal community.
The efficacy and safety of terbinafine in children
Authors: Gupta AK , Adamiak A , Cooper EA 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTTerbinafine is an allylamine antifungal agent that has been effective and safe in the treatment of superficial and some deep mycotic infections in adults. An increasing amount of data is available where terbinafine has been used in the paediatric population to treat superficial fungal infections, in particular tinea capitis. The data suggest that terbinafine is effective and safe using treatment regimens that involve short duration therapy, leading to an increased compliance and providing a cost‐effective means of treating paediatric superficial fungal infections such as tinea capitis. Terbinafine has been approved for the treatment of tinea capitis in many countries worldwide, and provides good efficacy rates for Trichophyton tinea capitis using shorter regimens than the gold standard griseofulvin. The adverse events profile for children is similar to that in adults with few adverse effects associated with its use. The evidence favours the use of terbinafine in the treatment of superficial infections in children.
Conditional phase‐type distributions for modelling patient length of stay in hospital
Authors: Marshall A. H. , McClean S. I. 
Published: October 2003

AbstractThe proportion of elderly in the population is continuing to increase, placing additional demands on highly competitive medical budgets. The management of the care of the elderly within hospitals can be assisted by the accurate modelling of the length of stay of patients in hospital. This paper uses conditional phase‐type distributions for modelling the length of stay of a group of elderly patients in hospital. The model incorporates the use of Bayesian belief networks with Coxian phase‐type distributions, a special type of Markov model that describes the duration of stay in hospital as a process consisting of a sequence of latent phases. The incorporation of the Bayesian belief network in the model permits the inclusion of additional patient information which may provide a better understanding of the system, in particular the incorporation of any potential causal information that may exist in the data.
The Effect Of International Acquisitions on Firm Leverage
Authors: Chkir Imed , Cosset Jean‐Claude 
Published: October 2003

AbstractTo determine whether corporate international diversification leads firms to increase their leverage, we perform an event study that compares the leverage of corporations before and after they acquire foreign subsidiaries. We find that on average leverage increases from the first to the third year following the acquisition. When we examine the relation between additional debt financing after foreign acquisitions and the characteristics of these acquisitions, we find that in addition to such major determinants as size and profitability, debt financing is explained by geographical and industrial diversification effects.
A Comparison of Underwriting Costs of Initial Public Offerings by Investment and Commercial Banks
Authors: Fields Paige , Fraser Donald , Bhargava Rahul 
Published: October 2003

AbstractWe examine differences in underwriting costs between commercial‐bank‐Section‐20‐underwritten initial public offerings (IPOs) and investment‐bank‐underwritten IPOs. Our results suggest that total underwriting costs (gross margin plus underpricing) are significantly lower for commercial bank IPOs. The lower cost for commercial bank IPOs is attributable to less severe underpricing for these issues. Gross margin costs generally do not differ between commercial bank and investment bank issues. Furthermore, we find that the long‐run stock price performance for commercial bank issues is superior to that of investment bank issues. That is, lower underpricing for Section 20 issues may not be a short‐run phenomenon. Rather, there appears to be a favorable outcome for investors in the long run for holding IPOs underwritten by Section 20 commercial banks. These results are inconsistent with the conflict of interest hypothesis often associated with merging commercial and investment bank functions in one organization.
Tenofovir Resistance and Resensitization
Authors: Wolf Katharina , Walter Hauke , Beerenwinkel Niko , Keulen Wilco , Kaiser Rolf , Hoffmann Daniel , Lengauer Thomas , Selbig Joachim , Vandamme Anne-Mieke , Korn Klaus , Schmidt Barbara 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACTHuman immunodeficiency viruses in 321 samples from tenofovir-naïve patients were retrospectively evaluated for resistance to this nucleotide analogue. All virus strains with insertions between amino acids 67 and 70 of the reverse transcriptase (n= 6) were highly resistant. Virus strains with the Q151M mutation were divided into susceptible (n= 12) and highly resistant (n= 8) viruses. This difference was due to the absence or presence of the K65R mutation, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Viral clones with various combinations of the mutations M41L, K70R, L210W, and T215F or T215Y were analyzed for cross-resistance induced by thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs). The levels of increased resistance induced by single, double, and triple mutations at the indicated positions could be ranked as follows: for mutants with single mutations, mutations at positions 41 > 215 > 70; for mutants with double mutations, mutations at positions 41 and 215 > 70 and 215 = 210 and 215 > 41 and 70; for mutants with triple mutations, mutations at positions 41, 210, and 215 > 41, 70, and 215. Viral clones with M184V or M184I exhibited slightly increased susceptibilities to tenofovir (0.7-fold). Almost all clones with TAM-induced resistance were resensitized when M184V was present (P< 0.001). Among the viruses in the clinical samples, the rate of tenofovir resistance significantly increased with the number of TAMs both in the samples with 184M and in those with 184V (P= 0.005 andP= 0.003, respectively). A resensitizing effect of M184V was confirmed for all samples exhibiting at least one TAM (P= 0.03). However, accumulation of at least two TAMs resulted in more than 2.0-fold reduced susceptibility to tenofovir, irrespective of the presence of M184V. Decision tree building, a classical machine learning technique, was used to generate models for the interpretation of mutations with respect to tenofovir resistance. The application of previously proposed cutoffs for a reduced response to therapy and treatment failure demonstrated the central roles of positions 215 and 65 for 1.5- and 4.0-fold reduced susceptibilities, respectively. Thus, clinically relevant resistance may be conferred by the accumulation of TAMs, and the resensitizing effect of M184V should be considered only minor.
In Vitro Activity and Interaction of Clindamycin Combined with Dihydroartemisinin against
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Ramharter M. , Noedl H. , Winkler H. , Graninger W. , Wernsdorfer W. H. , Kremsner P. G. , Winkler S. 
Published: October 2003

ABSTRACT

Combination regimens are considered a valuable tool for the fight against drug-resistant falciparum malaria. This study was conducted to evaluate the antimalarial potential of clindamycin in combination with dihydroartemisinin in continuously cultured and in freshly isolated
Plasmodium falciparum
parasites, measuring the inhibition of
Plasmodium falciparum
histidine-rich protein II synthesis. Interaction analysis revealed a synergistic or additive mode of interaction at various concentration ratios in all continuously cultured parasites at the 50% effective concentration (EC
50
) level. Antagonism was not found for any of the culture-adapted parasites. In fresh
P. falciparum
isolates, a fixed clindamycin-dihydroartemisinin combination exhibited additive activity at the EC
50
and EC
90
levels. The drug mixture showed no significant activity correlation to other commonly used antimalarials. The clindamycin-dihydroartemisinin combination appears to be a promising candidate for clinical investigation.