bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Natural selection inIpomopsishybrid zones: implications for ecological speciation
Authors: Campbell Diane R. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe fitness of hybrids relative to parental species plays an important role in models of speciation. In ecological speciation, reproductive isolation evolves owing to divergent natural selection, which implies reduced fitness of hybrid phenotypes. The source of the divergent selection in flowering plants may be animal pollinators, or environmental features of habitats that lead to physiological adaptations. Reciprocal transplants, combined with examination of pollination and other fitness components, allow exploration of these mechanisms of speciation. Much of this information is available from hybrid zones betweenIpomopsis aggregataandIpomopsis tenuituba. Pollination studies reveal some disruptive selection on corolla width, but also geographical variation in pollinator preference, and hybrids do not generally suffer lower pollination. Survival of hybrids depends on both genotype and environment. One genotypic class of hybrids is as fit or more fit than the parents, while another type suffers reduced fitness in parental environments. The dynamics of this hybrid zone involve a complex mixture of selection mediated by pollinators and other sources, and this combination of selection may have contributed to the original speciation.
Ivermectin and filariasis
Authors: Richard‐Lenoble Dominique , Chandenier Jacques , Gaxotte Philippe 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIvermectin, a parasiticide that long ago proved its worth in veterinary medicine, became one of the most effective tools for control programs against human filarial diseases in the 1980s. It is provided at no cost, is effective against microfilariae (blocking their transmission) and can be administered annually as a single oral dose with virtually no side‐effects: these considerations led the WHO to officially declare eradicable two endemic filarial diseases (among the major endemic diseases worldwide), onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis.
Examining the Debate on the Use of Medical Marijuana
Authors: DuPont Robert L. 
Published: December 2004

The opium poppy and the coca leaf offer useful perspectives on the current controversies over medical marijuana. In both cases, purified synthetic analogues of biologically active components of ancient folk remedies have become medical mainstays without undermining efforts to reduce nonmedical drug use. A decade ago, a campaign strove to legalize heroin for the compassionate treatment of pain in terminally ill patients. Like the current campaign to legalize medical marijuana, many well‐meaning people supported this effort. The campaign for medical heroin was stopped by science when double‐blind studies showed that heroin offered no benefits over the standard opioid analgesics in the treatment of severe cancer pain.Scientific medicine requires purified chemicals in carefully controlled doses without contaminating toxic substances. That a doctor would one day write a prescription for leaves to be burned is unimaginable. The Controlled Substances Act and international treaties limit the use of abused drugs or medicines. In contrast to smoked marijuana, specific chemicals in marijuana or, more likely, synthetic analogues, may prove to be of benefit to some patients with specific illnesses. Most opponents of medical use of smoked marijuana are not hostile to the medical use of purified synthetic analogues or even synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has been available in the United States for prescription by any licensed doctor since 1985. In contrast, most supporters of smoked marijuana are hostile to the use of purified chemicals from marijuana, insisting that only smoked marijuana leaves be used as “medicine,” revealing clearly that their motivation is not scientific medicine but the back door legalization of marijuana.
The Audit Commission: guiding, steering and regulating local government
Authors: Kelly Josie 
Published: December 2004

How does the non‐executant state ensure that its agents are fulfilling their obligations to deliver nationally determined policies? In the case of elected local government in England and Wales, this function is carried out by the Audit Commission (AC) for Local Authorities and the Health Service for England and Wales. Since being established in 1983, it is the means by which local authorities are held to account by central government, both for its own purposes and on behalf of other interested stakeholders.Although the primary function of the AC is to ensure that local authorities are fulfilling their obligations, it does so by using different methods. By acting as a regulator, an independent expert, an opinion former and a mediator, the AC steers local authorities to ensure that they are compliant with the regulatory regime and are implementing legislation properly.
On Quantum Statistical Inference
Authors: Barndorff-Nielsen Ole E. , Gill Richard D. , Jupp Peter E. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryInterest in problems of statistical inference connected to measurements of quantum systems has recently increased substantially, in step with dramatic new developments in experimental techniques for studying small quantum systems. Furthermore, developments in the theory of quantum measurements have brought the basic mathematical framework for the probability calculations much closer to that of classical probability theory. The present paper reviews this field and proposes and interrelates some new concepts for an extension of classical statistical inference to the quantum context.
Accommodating Stochastic Departures from Percentile Invariance in Causal Models
Authors: Dobbin Kevin K. , Louis Thomas A. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryConsider a clinical trial in which participants are randomized to a single-dose treatment or a placebo control and assume that the adherence level is accurately recorded. If the treatment is effective, then good adherers in the treatment group should do better than poor adherers because they received more drug; the treatment group data follow a dose–response curve. But, good adherers to the placebo often do better than poor adherers, so the observed adherence–response in the treatment group cannot be completely attributed to the treatment. Efron and Feldman proposed an adjustment to the observed adherence–response in the treatment group by using the adherence–response in the control group. It relies on a percentile invariance assumption under which each participant’s adherence percentile within their assigned treatment group does not depend on the assigned group (active drug or placebo). The Efron and Feldman approach is valid under percentile invariance, but not necessarily under departures from it. We propose an analysis based on a generalization of percentile invariance that allows adherence percentiles to be stochastically permuted across treatment groups, using a broad class of stochastic permutation models. We show that approximate maximum likelihood estimates of the underlying dose–response curve perform well when the stochastic permutation process is correctly specified and are quite robust to model misspecification.
Der Markt für Venture Capital: Anreizprobleme, Governance Strukturen und staatliche Interventionen
Authors: Gebhardt Georg , Schmidt Klaus M. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract In this paper we give an overview, with special emphasis on Germany, of the recent development of the market for venture capital. We analyse the financial contracting problems that arise when entrepreneurs need capital from outside investors, and demonstrate how these problems are addressed by the institutions and contracts observed in the market for venture capital. Finally, we discuss the arguments in favour of government subsidies for private R&D, and argue that there are positive incentive effects if these subsidies are given to venture capital financed projects, rather than to established firms.
Eyelash Length in Children and Adolescents with Allergic Diseases
Authors: Levy Y. , Segal N. , Ben‐Amitai D. , Danon Y. L. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Long eyelashes may be congenital, acquired in association with certain systemic diseases, or drug induced. In the past, long eyelashes were considered an external sign found in children with allergic diseases. However, this claim has never been examined in a controlled study. We compared the eyelash lengths of allergic children and adolescents with perennial allergic rhinitis, with or without bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis (n = 60) to those of age‐ and sex‐matched nonallergic controls (n = 80). The eyelashes of the allergic patients were found to be significantly longer than those of the controls: 9.43 ± 1.39 mm versus 8.45 ± 1.30 mm (p < 0.001). Eyelash length did not differ between patients with allergic rhinitis only (n = 31; 9.65 ± 1.43 mm) and patients with allergic rhinitis and other allergic diseases (n = 29; 9.19 ± 1.31 mm) (p = 0.196). These results indicate that children and adolescents with allergic diseases have longer eyelashes compared to nonatopic controls and that long eyelashes may be a part of the phenotype of the allergic patient.
Vaginal and Cervical Anatomic Modifications During the Oestrus Cycle in Relation to Transcervical Catheterization in the Domestic Cat
Authors: Zambelli D , Buccioli M , Castagnetti C , Belluzzi S 
Published: December 2004

ContentsIn a previous study we observed that it is possible to reach the cervix in all queens with a 1 mm diameter probe only. So, we developed both a new technique and a catheter (1 mm diameter) to allow transcervical insemination [Zambelli and Castagnetti 2001]. The aims of this study were to investigate vaginal and cervical anatomic modifications during the various stages of the oestrus cycle and to test the previously described technique of transcervical catheterization during the various stages of the oestrus cycle. In experiment 1, silicon impression moulds were obtained from the reproductive tracts of 21 queens’ cadavers and vaginal and cervical measures were taken. The results showed that there are some significant anatomic modifications during the various stages of the oestrus cycle in vaginal and cervical anatomy, principally related to the dorsal medial fold increase induced by the follicular phase. In experiment 2, transcervical catheterization was attempted in 95 queens at various stages of oestrus cycle both during reproductive and non‐reproductive season. After catheterization, methylene blue solution was injected through the cervical catheter. Successful catheterization was assessed during surgery, when colour was observed in the uterine horns. It was possible to perform transcervical catheterization during non‐reproductive season in 16 of 20 anoestrus queens and in 12 of 15 induced oestrus queens; during reproductive season in nine of 21 interoestrus queens, in eight of 13 dioestrus/pregnancy queens, in four of 18 oestrus queens and in seven of eight queens in first oestrus during lactation.
Comparison of caudal ropivacaine, ropivacaine plus ketamine and ropivacaine plus tramadol administration for postoperative analgesia in children
Authors: Güneş Y. , Seçen M. , Özcengi̇z D. , Gündüz M. , Balcioǧlu O. , Işik G. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : The aim of this study was to compare the effect of single‐dose caudal ropivacaine, ropivacaine plus ketamine and ropivacaine plus tramadol in children for postoperative pain management.Methods : Following ethics committee approval and informed parental consent, 99 ASA PS I or II children, between 1 and 10 years of age, scheduled for elective inguinal hernia repair with general anaesthesia, were recruited. After induction of anaesthesia and placement of a laryngeal mask airway (LMATM), the patients were randomly divided into three groups to receive either caudal ropivacaine alone (0.4%, 2 mg·kg−1) in group R (n = 32) or ropivacaine (0.2%, 1 mg·kg−1) plus ketamine (0.25 mg·kg−1) in group RK (n = 33) or ropivacaine (0.2%, 1 mg·kg−1) plus tramadol (1 mg·kg−1) in group RT (n = 34) with a total volume of 0.5 ml·kg−1. Systemic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate (HR), peripheral O2 saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate (RR), sedation and pain scores were recorded at 5, 10, 15 and 30 min, 1, 3, 4 and 6 h following recovery from anaesthesia. Pain was evaluated by Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale, and sedation with a five‐point sedation test.Results : No difference was found regarding age, weight and duration of operation between the groups (P > 0.05). No patient experienced hypotension, bradycardia or respiratory depression. Duration of analgesia was longer in group RT (1377 ± 204 min) than group R (1006 ± 506 min) (P = 0.001). In the tramadol group, fewer patients required supplementary analgesics in the first 24 h (P = 0.005). Sedation scores were below 2 in all groups. Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was higher in group RT (eight patients) and group RK (seven patients) than group R (one patient, P = 0.032).Conclusions : Ropivacaine (0.4%), ropivacaine (0.2%) plus ketamine (0.25 mg·kg−1) and ropivacaine (0.2%) plus tramadol (0.5 mg·kg−1) provided sufficient analgesia in children, but the duration of analgesia was longer in the RT group.
An evaluation of brainstem death documentation: the importance of full documentation
Authors: Kafrawy Ula , Stewart David 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : With the introduction of the concept of brainstem death as acceptable proof that life has ended, rather than cessation of the beating heart, the process of determining brain death has to be rigorous to ensure maintenance of confidence in the definition. A recent study from South Thames in the UK revealed that only 44% of brainstem death documentation was complete at the time of referral to the transplant coordinator. The aim of our study was to see whether our documentation of brainstem death in paediatric practice complied with the UK Royal College's guidelines and to determine whether any changes are required to be instituted.Methods : We studied retrospectively the case notes of children who underwent brainstem testing over a 3‐year period (1994–1997) at two tertiary referral children's hospitals. The results of the audit were disseminated and a reaudit was performed over a 3‐year period (1998–2001).Results : A proforma was completed in 61% of cases and in only 54% of cases was the ideal standard of two tests by two doctors documented. Of the 26 sets of case notes studied, the cause of coma was not stated in 85% of cases and exclusion of other causes was stated in 54%. For the reaudit, 32 sets of case notes were studied and the proforma was completed in 100% of cases. In 91% of cases, the cause of coma was stated and in 94%, exclusion of other causes was documented. In 94% of cases two tests were performed by two doctors.Conclusions : Documentation of adherence to the Royal Colleges, guidelines on brainstem death testing improved significantly between the two study periods as a consequence of major changes in practice within the PICU. With the appointment of dedicated intensive care consultants, care became largely consultant intensivist led and emphasis was placed on the documentation and completion of a single validated brainstem death proforma. It is essential to improve and maintain the quality of brainstem death test documentation in order to ensure the integrity of the process.
Rofecoxib administration to paediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy
Authors: Sheeran P.W. , Rose J.B. , Fazi L.M. , Chiavacci R. , McCormick L. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryBackground : Rofecoxib is a selective COX‐2 inhibitor that does not interfere with platelet function and is associated with fewer bleeding complications than other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory agents (NSAIDs). Our aims were to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of rofecoxib administration to paediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy (T&A).Methods : We conducted a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study of rofecoxib in 45 ASA 1–2 patients ≥4 years of age undergoing outpatient T&A. All patients received midazolam 0.5 mg·kg−1 (max 15 mg) p.o. and either rofecoxib 1 mg·kg−1 (max 25 mg) or placebo p.o. 30 min preoperatively. All patients had a standardized anaesthetic and were extubated awake in the operating room at the conclusion of surgery. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (CHEOPS) scores were obtained on arrival in the postanaesthetic care unit (PACU). Morphine 25 μg·kg−1 i.v. were administered up to six times for pain in the PACU. Wong–Baker FACES Scales were obtained at discharge from the PACU and the day surgery unit (DSU). Outcome measures included intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL), pain scores, PACU morphine requirements and discharge times.Results : There were 23 patients in the rofecoxib group and 22 patients in the placebo group. There were no differences between the rofecoxib and placebo groups in terms of bleeding, pain scores, PACU morphine requirements, PACU times or DSU times.Conclusion : Rofecoxib administration to paediatric patients undergoing T&A did not result in increased bleeding. Rofecoxib, however, was not found to decrease morphine use or improve pain scores prior to hospital discharge in T&A patients who received intraoperative morphine and acetaminophen.
A Framework for Progressively Improving Small Area Population Estimates
Authors: Rees Philip , Norman Paul , Brown Dominic 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe paper presents a framework for small area population estimation that enables users to select a method that is fit for the purpose. The adjustments to input data that are needed before use are outlined, with emphasis on developing consistent time series of inputs. We show how geographical harmonization of small areas, which is crucial to comparisons over time, can be achieved. For two study regions, the East of England and Yorkshire and the Humber, the differences in output and consequences of adopting different methods are illustrated. The paper concludes with a discussion of how data, on stream since 1998, might be included in future small area estimates.
Parental Partnership and Joblessness in Childhood and their Influence on Young People's Outcomes
Authors: Ermisch John , Francesconi Marco , Pevalin David J. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe paper estimates the relationship between several outcomes in early adulthood (education, inactivity, early birth, distress and smoking) and experiences of life in a single-parent family and with jobless parent(s) during childhood. The analysis is performed using a sample of young adults, who are selected from the first nine waves of the British Household Panel Survey (1991–1999) and can be matched with at least one parent and one sibling over the same period. This sample allows us to estimate the relationship of interest by using sibling differences. We also use another sample of young adults from the British Household Panel Survey, matched to at least one parent, to estimate more conventional level models and to compute nonparametric bounds and point estimates. The estimates based on sibling differences require weaker assumptions (compared with the assumptions that are imposed by nonparametric estimators under conditional independence and level estimators) for the identification of the effects of family structure and parental joblessness on the outcomes under analysis. We find that experiences of life in a single-parent family and with jobless parents during childhood are usually associated with disadvantageous outcomes for young adults, the effect of family structure is in general significantly greater (in absolute value) than the effect of parental worklessness and most of the unfavourable outcomes are linked to an early family disruption, when the child was aged 0–5 years, whereas the timing of parental joblessness during childhood has more complex effects, with different outcomes being more strongly influenced by parental worklessness at different ages of the child.
Distribution of HPV infection and tumour markers in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia from cone biopsies of Mozambican women
Authors: Carrilho C , Cirnes L , Alberto M , Buane L , Mendes N , David L 
Published: December 2004

Aims:To evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in whole cervical cone specimens with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). In addition, to evaluate the relation between the presence of CIN lesions and HPV infection and the expression of Ki-67, p53, cytokeratins, Gp230 glycoprotein, and simple mucin-type carbohydrates.Methods:Cervical cone specimens from five patients with CIN were studied. For each specimen, serial sections encompassing the whole cone were collected (52 samples). HPV infection and HPV types were detected by the polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay. The expression of Ki-67, p53, cytokeratins, Gp230, and simple mucin-type carbohydrates was examined immunohistochemically.Results:All cases showed high risk HPV types, namely types 16, 33, 35, and 58. Four of the five patients were infected by multiple viral types. HPV-58 was always seen in CIN III, whereas HPV-35 was more frequent in CIN I. The expression of Ki-67 and p53 was higher in CIN III lesions. The expression of cytokeratins 8 and 17 showed complete or almost complete overlap with CIN III. Altered expression of Gp230, Tn, and sialyl-T was often seen in all grades of CIN.Conclusions:When whole cervical cone specimens are evaluated the rate of multiple HPV infection is very high. The expression of cytokeratins 8 and 17 is a useful marker of CIN III.
ADAPTIVE MODELING OF BIOCHEMICAL PATHWAYS
Authors: BRAUSE R. 
Published: December 2004

In bioinformatics, biochemical pathways can be modeled by many differential equations. It is still an open problem how to fit the huge amount of parameters of the equations to the available data. Here, the approach of systematically learning the parameters is necessary. In this paper, for the small, important example of inflammation modeling a network is constructed and different learning algorithms are proposed. It turned out that due to the nonlinear dynamics evolutionary approaches are necessary to fit the parameters for sparse, given data.