bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Penalized Triograms: Total Variation Regularization for Bivariate Smoothing
Authors: Koenker Roger , Mizera Ivan 
Published: November 2004

SummaryHansen, Kooperberg and Sardy introduced a family of continuous, piecewise linear functions defined over adaptively selected triangulations of the plane as a general approach to statistical modelling of bivariate densities and regression and hazard functions. These triograms enjoy a natural affine equivariance that offers distinct advantages over competing tensor product methods that are more commonly used in statistical applications. Triograms employ basis functions consisting of linear ‘tent functions’ defined with respect to a triangulation of a given planar domain. As in knot selection for univariate splines, Hansen and colleagues adopted the regression spline approach of Stone. Vertices of the triangulation are introduced or removed sequentially in an effort to balance fidelity to the data and parsimony. We explore a smoothing spline variant of the triogram model based on a roughness penalty adapted to the piecewise linear structure of the triogram model. We show that the roughness penalty proposed may be interpreted as a total variation penalty on the gradient of the fitted function. The methods are illustrated with real and artificial examples, including an application to estimated quantile surfaces of land value in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Strong Control, Conservative Point Estimation and Simultaneous Conservative Consistency of False Discovery Rates: A Unified Approach
Authors: Storey John D. , Taylor Jonathan E. , Siegmund David 
Published: November 2004

Summary
The false discovery rate (FDR) is a multiple hypothesis testing quantity that describes the expected proportion of false positive results among all rejected null hypotheses. Benjamini and Hochberg introduced this quantity and proved that a particular step-up p-value method controls the FDR. Storey introduced a point estimate of the FDR for fixed significance regions. The former approach conservatively controls the FDR at a fixed predetermined level, and the latter provides a conservatively biased estimate of the FDR for a fixed predetermined significance region. In this work, we show in both finite sample and asymptotic settings that the goals of the two approaches are essentially equivalent. In particular, the FDR point estimates can be used to define valid FDR controlling procedures. In the asymptotic setting, we also show that the point estimates can be used to estimate the FDR conservatively over all significance regions simultaneously, which is equivalent to controlling the FDR at all levels simultaneously. The main tool that we use is to translate existing FDR methods into procedures involving empirical processes. This simplifies finite sample proofs, provides a framework for asymptotic results and proves that these procedures are valid even under certain forms of dependence.
GB virus C coinfection and vertical transmission in HIV‐infected mothers before the introduction of antiretroviral prophylaxis
Authors: Barqasho B , Navér L , Bohlin AB , Lindgren S , Hultgren C , Birk M 
Published: November 2004

ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of GB virus C (GBV‐C) viraemia and GBV‐C antibodies in a cohort of HIV‐infected mothers and their infants between 1987 and 1994.MethodsGBV‐C viraemia and antibodies were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 52 HIV‐infected mothers and their 53 infants, who were born before antiretroviral prophylaxis for reduction of HIV transmission was introduced at the end of 1994. Ten of these children acquired HIV.ResultsMothers of three children had GBV‐C viraemia and mothers of another 14 children carried antibodies against GBV‐C. No mother had GBV‐C antibodies and GBV‐C viraemia simultaneously. GBV‐C viraemia was detected in only one infant. This child was delivered by the vaginal route to a mother with GBV‐C viraemia, and was not HIV‐infected. No vertical transmission of GBV‐C occurred from mothers with GBV‐C antibodies. However, four of 10 children who were infected with HIV had a mother with past or ongoing GBV‐C infection.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the risk of vertical transmission of GBV‐C is not elevated in HIV‐infected mothers. Furthermore, although the number of HIV‐1‐infected children was low, we saw no evidence that the presence of ongoing or past GBV‐C infection influenced the probability of vertical HIV transmission.
Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of AIDS‐related Mycobacterium kansasii infection during the HIV pandemic: an 11‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Manfredi R , Nanetti A , Valentini R , Ferri M , Morelli S , Calza L 
Published: November 2004

ObjectivesOptimal diagnosis and timely treatment of atypical mycobacteriosis, and especially Mycobacterium kansasii disease, remain a serious challenge for clinicians engaged in the management of the immunocompromised host.Methods and ResultsFrom more than 2700 hospitalizations (over 1800 patients) attributable to HIV‐associated disorders over an 11‐year period, 12 patients were found to have a confirmed M. kansasii infection. This reflects the recent reduction in the frequency of this HIV‐related complication, which virtually disappeared after the introduction of potent antiretroviral combinations in 1996. In the early 1990s, the lack of effective antiretroviral regimens made frequent the association with AIDS, a mean CD4 lymphocyte count of nearly 20 cells/μL, and an extremely variable chest X‐ray features. The recent detection of a further case was attributable to late recognition of very advanced HIV disease, complicated by multiple opportunistic disorders.Conclusions Mycobacterium kansasii respiratory or disseminated infection continues to occur, and poses diagnostic problems in terms of late or missed identification as a result of slow culture and frequently concurrent opportunistic disease. Serious therapeutic difficulties also arise from the unpredictable in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility profile of these organisms, and from the need to start an effective combination therapy that does not interfere with other medications as soon as possible.
Changes in hospital admissions across Europe: 1995–2003. Results from the EuroSIDA study
Authors: Mocroft A , D'Arminio Monforte A , Kirk O , Johnson MA , Friis‐Moller N , Banhegyi D , Blaxhult A , Mulcahy F , Gatell JM , Lundgren JD ,   for the EuroSIDA study group
Published: November 2004

ObjectivesTo describe changes in the proportions of patients admitted to hospital and the duration of admission during the month of March between 1995 and 2003 and to describe the factors related to admission for 9802 patients from EuroSIDA, a pan‐European, observational cohort study.MethodsGeneralized estimating equations were used to determine changes over time in the proportion of patients admitted and the median duration of admission. Logistic regression was used to determine factors related to admission in March 1995, March 1998 and March 2001.ResultsThe proportion of patients admitted during March declined from 7.4% in 1995 to 2.6% in 2003. After adjustment, the estimated reduction in the proportion of patients admitted was 5.5% per year [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5–8.5%; P=0.0004], a 26% reduction. The median duration of hospital admission declined by 58% from 12 days in 1995 [interquartile range (IQR) 5–19 days] to 5 days in 2003 (IQR 3–12 days), a significant decline of 0.7 days per year after adjustment (95% CI 0.5–0.9 days; P=0.031). Patients with a lower CD4 lymphocyte count, and with an AIDS diagnosis made within the 3 months prior to March, all had increased odds of admission during March 1995, 1998 or 2001. In March 2001, patients whose treatment regimen was changed as a consequence of toxicities had increased odds of admission [odds ratio (OR) 2.34; 95% CI 1.26–4.37; P=0.0074]. In addition, patients who were hepatitis C virus‐positive during March 2001 (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.02–2.68; P=0.041) had increased odds of admission.ConclusionsThere has been a considerable decline in both the proportion of patients admitted to hospital and the median duration of the stay. Patients with hepatitis C had increased odds of admission, but there was little evidence of an increase in admissions among patients taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) associated with serious adverse events, although longer follow up is required.
Implicit Morality
Authors: CRACRAFT JAMES 
Published: November 2004

Let us strive then to think well; that is the first principle of morality.Pascal, Pensées, 1670
ABSTRACTMost historians today have abandoned the aspiration to a kind of scientific objectivity in their work—pace their postmodernist critics. Yet we cling nonetheless, with a touch perhaps of hypocrisy, to the closely related standard of strict impartiality, or moral neutrality, in all that we do. This article argues that the latter is as obsolete, now, as the former—if only because of the distinctive though largely implicit moral character of almost all published history, all but the most technically specialized. The issue is not one of professional ethics, narrowly construed; obviously some such code must be maintained if history itself is to thrive. Rather historians are urged both to clarify the basic moral values that inevitably inform their work and to make more explicit, and thus intelligible, their ensuant moral judgments. They are also urged to discharge the task in a way that is commensurate with the pluralist, indeed global, challenges of our time. The implicit morality of conventional historical practice, in short, is no longer good enough.
Historians and Their Duties
Authors: GORMAN JONATHAN 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTWe need to specify what ethical responsibility historians, as historians, owe, and to whom. We should distinguish between natural duties and (non‐natural) obligations, and recognize that historians' ethical responsibility is of the latter kind. We can discover this responsibility by using the concept of “accountability”. Historical knowledge is central. Historians' central ethical responsibility is that they ought to tell the objective truth. This is not a duty shared with everybody, for the right to truth varies with the audience. Being a historian is essentially a matter of searching for historical knowledge as part of an obligation voluntarily undertaken to give truth to those who have a right to it. On a democratic understanding, people need and are entitled to an objective understanding of the historical processes in which they live. Factual knowledge and judgments of value are both required, whatever philosophical view we might have of the possibility of a principled distinction between them. Historians owe historical truth not only to the living but to the dead. Historians should judge when that is called for, but they should not distort historical facts. The rejection of postmodernism's moralism does not free historians from moral duties. Historians and moral philosophers alike are able to make dispassionate moral judgments, but those who feel untrained should be educated in moral understanding. We must ensure the moral and social responsibility of historical knowledge. As philosophers of history, we need a rational reconstruction of moral judgments in history to help with this.
The politics of Europe 2003: differences and disagreements
Authors: Jones Erik 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe European Union (EU) was supposed to make a great leap forward in 2003. In many ways, it did. The European Convention presented its draft constitutional treaty. The 10 candidate countries signed and ratified their treaties of accession, and the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) agreed to share institutional resources. However, the year was marked more by division than by achievement. A series of crises over Iraq, the Stability and Growth Pact and the intergovernmental conference together shook confidence in the future of Europe. This essay examines what the implications of these crises are for Europe’s future. It argues that they represent important disagreements––but not lasting differences––between the member states. The politics of Europe remains on track at the intergovernmental level. If there are problems in Europe’s future, they are more likely to arise between elites and voters than between the member states.
Enlargement and the labour market: perception, theory and fact
Authors: Ingham Mike , Ingham Hilary 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTFavourable labour market outcomes are essential for economic and social cohesion within the newly enlarged European Union. However, Eurobarometer evidence indicates that many in the 10 incoming countries are not convinced that membership will deliver such a result. Also, there is no unambiguous theoretical framework that suggests otherwise. A more optimistic scenario can be obtained by reference to the experiences of earlier low‐income Community entrants during their first years of membership, although long‐term convergence has remained elusive.
The German model in danger
Authors: Grahl John , Teague Paul 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe German high‐skills/high value‐added economy has long been the Mecca for supporters of the European social model. So long as Model Deutschland was thriving the notion of Social Europe was a plausible political project. But Germany is facing a range of economic problems—the aftershock of reunification, high unemployment and internal and external pressures to reform its stakeholder system of economic organisation. Some of these developments strike at core assumptions of the German model. This article reviews the extent to which the German model is in danger and teases out the implications for the wider European economy.
Interviewing children and young people with learning disabilities*: guidelines for researchers and multi‐professional practice
Authors: Lewis Ann , Porter Jill 
Published: November 2004

SummaryWe argue that it is important for researchers and service providers to not only recognize the rights of children and young people with learning disabilities to have a ‘voice’, but also to work actively towards eliciting views from all. A set of guidelines for critical self‐evaluation by those engaged in systematically collecting the views of children and young people with learning disabilities is proposed. The guidelines are based on a series of questions concerning: research aims and ethics (encompassing access/gatekeepers; consent/assent; confidentiality/anonymity/secrecy, recognition, feedback and ownership; and social responsibility) sampling, design and communication.
Developing an approach to involving children with autistic spectrum disorders in a social care research project
Authors: Beresford Bryony , Tozer Rosemary , Rabiee Parvaneh , Sloper Patricia 
Published: November 2004

SummaryA project researching user‐views on the outcomes of social care and support services for disabled children and their families presented new challenges to a research team. While the team had experience of working with other groups of disabled children, this project was the first in which the team sought to work directly with children with autistic spectrum disorders. This paper reports the process by which the research design and methods used were developed and tailored to the needs and abilities of these children. The key lesson learnt was the value of crossing disciplines, research areas and professional boundaries when trying to identify ways of working with a ‘hard to reach group’.
Ovulation induction with a starting dose of 50 IU of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone in WHO group II anovulatory women: the IO‐50 study, a prospective, observational, multicentre, open trial
Authors: Calaf Alsina Joaquim , Ruiz Balda José A. , Romeu Sarrió Alberto , Caballero Fernández Virginia , Cano Trigo Ignacio , Gómez Parga José L. , González Batres Clemente , Rodríguez Escudero Francisco J. 
Published: November 2004

Objective
To assess the efficacy and safety in clinical practice of a low dose regimen of 50 IU of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone in induction of ovulation.Design
Prospective, observational, non‐comparative, open, multicentre study.Setting
Eighty‐eight infertility clinics and teaching hospital fertility units throughout Spain.Population
Women with normogonadotrophic chronic anovulation (WHO group II) with or without echographic diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods
Low dose step‐up protocol of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone administration (follitropin beta, Puregon) with a starting dose of 50 IU and weekly increments according to follicular response monitored prospectively by transvaginal ultrasonography. Patients were followed for a minimum of one cycle and a maximum of six.Main outcome measures
Rate and size of follicular growth, cumulative ovulation rate, follicle stimulating hormone doses and duration of treatment, pregnancy and cycle cancellation rate, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancy.Results
A total of 945 treatment cycles were evaluated. In 817 cycles, ovulation was induced with human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and in 501 (61.3%) unifollicular development (a follicle of ≥18 mm) was achieved. A total of 128 cycles (13.5%) were cancelled because of ovarian hyper‐responsiveness or spontaneous ovulation. The cumulative ovulation rate (confirmed by mid‐luteal serum progesterone concentrations) after six treatment cycles was 84%. There were 136 clinical pregnancies (14.4% pregnancies per cycle). The cumulative pregnancy rate after six treatment cycles was 53.1%. Eight twin pregnancies occurred. Thirteen women miscarried and there were two cases of ectopic pregnancies. The median of average daily doses of follitropin beta in all cycles was 50 IU. Between 68% and 86% of patients received treatment with follitropin beta for a maximum of 14 days. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurred in 64 (6.8%) cases but no case of severe ovarian hyperstimulation developed.Conclusions
Low dose regimen of 50 IU of recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (Puregon) is efficient, safe and well tolerated for inducing follicular development in WHO group II anovulatory women.
Differences in episiotomy technique between midwives and doctors
Authors: Tincello Douglas G. , Williams Abimbola , Fowler Gillian E. , Adams Elisabeth J. , Richmond David H. , Alfirevic Zarko 
Published: November 2004

Objectives
To examine the practice of making an episiotomy and to determine any differences in practice between professional groups.Design
A prospective survey.Setting
A large tertiary referral obstetric hospital and the obstetric department of a district general hospital.Population
All staff routinely involved in the care of women in labour.Methods
A novel validated pictorial questionnaire was designed, validated and distributed to the study population. Differences in outcome measures were compared by profession and by seniority.Main outcome measures
Measurements taken from the questionnaire: the length of episiotomy drawn; the distance from the sagittal plane at which the episiotomy was begun; and the angle of the episiotomy from the sagittal plane.Results
Fifty doctors and 78 midwives completed the forms. Median distance of the episiotomy from the midline was 0 mm (−2 to 11). Episiotomies drawn by doctors were significantly longer and more angled than those drawn by midwives (P= 0.002 and P= 0.001). Sixteen percent of doctors and 1% of midwives drew an episiotomy longer than 20 mm (difference 15%, 95% CI 6 to 24). Twenty‐three percent of midwives and 2% of doctors drew an episiotomy angled 30° or less (difference 21%, 95% CI 9 to 34).Conclusions
This study has demonstrated differences in the reporting of episiotomy practice by doctors and midwives. Theoretically, the differences demonstrated could predispose to a greater risk of anal sphincter injuries. These data need to be confirmed by observational studies of actual practice and by studies to investigate the mechanics of sphincter injury during childbirth.
Microsatellite loci for the Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans
Authors: Painter Jodie N. , Selonen Vesa , Hanski Ilpo K. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe report the isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the Siberian flying squirrel Pteromys volans. The seven most useful loci had between six and 11 alleles and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.477 to 0.866. We also tested the utility of these loci in other squirrel species, northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus and G. volans) and the common red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Three of the Siberian flying squirrel loci were polymorphic in other squirrel species, suggesting a limited potential for cross‐species use.
Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for Microcyclus ulei, causal agent of South American leaf blight of rubber trees
Authors: Le Guen V. , Rodier‐Goud M. , Troispoux V. , Xiong T.‐C. , Brottier P. , Billot C. , Seguin M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractSouth American leaf blight caused by the ascomycete Microcyclus ulei is the most harmful disease of the rubber tree in Latin America and a potential threat to Asiatic and African natural rubber production. Until now, the variability of this fungus was assessed through observation of pathogenicity of isolates on a range of rubber tree clones with known resistance reactions. The present study describes the process used to design 11 microsatellite markers and evaluates their usefulness in detecting genetic polymorphism. Nine of these markers were polymorphic among six isolates from Brazil (with two to three alleles per locus) and five markers were polymorphic among four isolates from French Guiana (with two to four alleles per locus).
Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the European subterranean termite, Reticulitermes santonensis Feytaud
Authors: Dronnet Stéphanie , Bagnères Anne‐Geneviève , Juba Thomas R. , Vargo Edward L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractWe report on the identification and characterization of two dinucleotide, two trinucleotide and eight tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci isolated from the European subterranean termite Reticulitermes santonensis. We tested the loci on 51–92 individuals from 46 colonies from different regions of France. Eleven loci were polymorphic with 2–8 alleles per locus and low observed heterozygosities (0.10–0.48). We also tested the loci on 17–20 individuals from 10 colonies in the closely related North American species R. flavipes and found significantly more alleles (2–9 alleles per locus) and higher observed heterozygosities (0.15–0.80) than in R. santonensis. The lower observed heterozygosities in R. santonensis are consistent with higher levels of inbreeding in these colonies due to the presence of numerous inbred replacement reproductives.