bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
U.S. Diasporas and Their Impacts on Homeland Technological and Socioeconomic Development: How Does Sub-Sahara Africa Compare?
Authors: Patterson Rubin 
Published: May 2005

AbstractMore science and technology talented nationals emigrate to the United States from a few Asian countries, by far, than from all of Africa, yet only the latter suffers a "brain drain" whereas the former group experiences net gains as a result of "brain circulation." Brain drain is the one-way flow of talent out of countries where it is most needed in absolute terms (south) to locations where it is most needed in productive terms (the West). The paper finds that, unlike African nations, a number of Asian nations have a brain circulation or technical talent continuously cycling out of the homeland into the United States where the talent is amplified and wealth is generated as the homeland state encourages redirection of some of each to the homeland economy. In these instances, the homeland state and the US-based diaspora work collaboratively in the interest of both. African nations experience little of this brain circulation, partially as a result of weak diaspora—homeland collaborative development agendas. The principal proposition clarified in this comparative analytic project is that developing nations with ongoing collaborative technology development agendas between the homeland state and its US-based diaspora have a huge comparative advantage over those developing nations that do not.
Cooperating pre–T-cell receptor and TCF-1–dependent signals ensure thymocyte survival
Authors: Goux Delphine , Coudert Jérôme D. , Maurice Diane , Scarpellino Leonardo , Jeannet Grégoire , Piccolo Stefano , Weston Kathleen , Huelsken Joerg , Held Werner 
Published: May 2005

AbstractIntrathymic T-cell maturation critically depends on the selective expansion of thymocytes expressing a functionally rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) β chain. In addition, TCR-independent signals also contribute to normal T-cell development. It is unclear whether and how signals from the 2 types of pathways are integrated. Here, we show that T-cell factor-1 (TCF-1), a nuclear effector of the canonical wingless/int (wnt)/catenin signaling pathway, ensures the survival of proliferating, pre-TCR+ thymocytes. The survival of pre-TCR+ thymocytes requires the presence of the N-terminal catenin-binding domain in TCF-1. This domain can bind the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin and may also bind γ-catenin (plakoglobin). However, in the absence of γ-catenin, T-cell development is normal, supporting a role for β-catenin. Signaling competent β-catenin is present prior to and thus arises independently from pre-TCR signaling and does not substantially increase on pre-TCR signaling. In contrast, pre-TCR signaling significantly induces TCF-1 expression. This coincides with the activation of a wnt/catenin/TCF reporter transgene in vivo. Collectively, these data suggest that efficient TCF-dependent transcription requires that pre-TCR signaling induces TCF-1 expression, whereas wnt signals may provide the coactivator such as β-catenin. The 2 pathways thus have to cooperate to ensure thymocyte survival at the pre-TCR stage. (Blood. 2005;106:1726-1733)
Psychological illness is commonly associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders and is important to consider during patient consultation: a population-based study
Authors: Ålander Ture , Svärdsudd Kurt , Johansson Sven-Erik , Agréus Lars 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Background
Some individuals with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) suffer long-lasting symptoms without ever consulting their doctors. Our aim was to study co-morbidity and lifestyle differences among consulters and non-consulters with persistent FGID and controls in a defined adult population.

Methods
A random sample of the general adult Swedish population was obtained by a postal questionnaire. The Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ) was used to measure GI symptomatology and grade of GI symptom severity and the Complaint Score Questionnaire (CSQ) was used to measure general symptoms. Subjects were then grouped for study by their symptomatic profiles. Subjects with long-standing FGID (n = 141) and subjects strictly free from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (n = 97) were invited to attend their local health centers for further assessment.

Results
Subjects with FGID have a higher risk of psychological illness [OR 8.4, CI95(4.0–17.5)] than somatic illness [OR 2.8, CI95(1.3–5.7)] or ache and fatigue symptoms [OR 4.3, CI95(2.1–8.7)]. Subjects with psychological illness have a higher risk of severe GI symptoms than controls; moreover they have a greater chance of being consulters. Patients with FGID have more severe GI symptoms than non-patients.

Conclusion
There is a strong relation between extra-intestinal, mental and somatic complaints and FGID in both patients and non-patients. Psychological illness increases the chance of concomitantly having more severe GI symptoms, which also enhance consultation behaviour.
Peripheral Interaction of Ghrelin with Cholecystokinin on Feeding Regulation
Authors: Date Yukari , Toshinai Koji , Koda Shuichi , Miyazato Mikiya , Shimbara Takuya , Tsuruta Tomoko , Niijima Akira , Kangawa Kenji , Nakazato Masamitsu 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Ghrelin and cholecystokinin (CCK) are gastrointestinal hormones regulating feeding. Both transmitted via the vagal afferent, ghrelin elicits starvation signals, whereas CCK induces satiety signals. We investigated the interaction between ghrelin and CCK functioning in short-term regulation of feeding in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, which have a disrupted CCK type A receptor (CCK-AR), and their lean littermates, Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats. Intravenous administration of ghrelin increased 2-h food intake in both OLETF and LETO rats. Because OLETF rats are CCK insensitive, iv-administered CCK decreased 2-h food intake in LETO, but not in OLETF, rats. Although preadministration of CCK to LETO rats blocked food intake induced by ghrelin, CCK preadministration to OLETF rats did not affect ghrelin-induced food intake. Conversely, preadministration of ghrelin to LETO rats blocked feeding reductions induced by CCK. In electrophysiological studies, once gastric vagal afferent discharges were altered by ghrelin or CCK administration, they could not be additionally affected by serial administrations of either CCK or ghrelin, respectively. The induction of Fos expression in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus by ghrelin was also attenuated by CCK preadministration. Using immunohistochemistry, we also demonstrated the colocalization of GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), the cellular receptor for ghrelin, with CCK-AR in vagal afferent neurons. These results indicate that the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in determining peripheral energy balance. The efficiency of ghrelin and CCK signal transduction may depend on the balance of their respective plasma concentration and/or on interactions between GHS-R and CCK-AR.
Reattendance in the Swiss mammography screening pilot programme
Authors: Bulliard J-L , De Landtsheer J-P , Levi F 
Published: May 2005

Objectives: To explore the patterns and determinants of reattendance among initial attendees at an organised breast cancer screening programme. Setting: Swiss mammography screening pilot programme, based on first-round enrolment in 1993-1995. Methods: Data on socio-demographic features, health preventive behaviour and history, prior screening round and referring physicians' attributes were collected at initial attendance. First-round attendees (n=4162) were followed prospectively through next screening round. Determinants of reattendance were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Results: Reattendance rate was high (80%). Women most likely to reattend were urban, Swiss residents with a true-negative first-round screening result. The more intensive the initial recruitment efforts, the lesser were the odds of reattendance. Mammography screening prior to screening enrolment increased reattendance. Having a gynaecologist, a female and a younger doctor as a referring physician was positively associated with reattendance. Conclusion: Mammography screening attendance is not only influenced by women-related factors but also by structural factors, and thus requires a global approach. For strategies aimed at improving performances of organised cancer screening programmes, understanding and quantification of determinants of (re)attendance are key elements to consider.
Accuracy of conventional cytology: results from a multicentre screening study in India
Authors: Sankaranarayanan R , Thara S , Sharma A , Roy C , Shastri S , Mahé C , Muwonge R , Fontanière B ,   The Multicentre Study Group On Cervical Cancer Early Detection in India
Published: May 2005

Objective: We conducted a multi-centre cross-sectional study in India to evaluate the accuracy of conventional cytology to detect high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Setting: Cross-sectional studies in Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Trivandrum, India, during 1999-2003. Methods: A common protocol and questionnaire were used to test 22,663 women aged 25-65 years with conventional cytology in five cross-sectional studies. Three thresholds were used to define test positivity: atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesion (LSIL), or HSIL. All screened women were investigated with colposcopy, and biopsies were taken when necessary. The reference standard for final disease status was histology or negative colposcopy. Data from the studies were pooled to evaluate the test characteristics for the detection of histologically confirmed HSIL. Results: The test positivity rates of cytology were 8.8% at ASCUS, 6.2% at LSIL and 1.8% at HSIL thresholds, and 355 women had histologically confirmed HSIL while 74 had invasive cancer. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values at ASCUS threshold were 64.5%, 92.3%, 11.8% and 99.4% respectively. The corresponding values at LSIL threshold were 58.0%, 94.9%, 15.2% and 99.3%, while at the HSIL threshold they were 45.4%, 99.2%, 46.3% and 99.1%. The sensitivity varied between 37.8-81.3% at ASCUS , 28.9-76.9% at LSIL and 24.4-72.3% at HSIL thresholds. A significantly low sensitivity was observed in women aged 25-39 years (p<0.001). The wide variation in sensitivity across study sites persisted even after age standardisation. Conclusion: The sensitivity of cytology varied widely between the study sites. Findings from our study and other reviews indicate that sustained efforts in improving sampling, preparation and reading of cytological specimens and improvements in clinical judgement are essential to achieve concurrently high sensitivity and specificity.
Strategies to improve the effectiveness of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programmes
Authors: Hobbs S , Claridge M , Drage M , Quick C , Bradbury A , Wilmink A 
Published: May 2005

Objective: Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) occurring in patients with screen-detected aneurysms could be regarded as a failure of screening and reduce effectiveness of screening. To understand this issue, we studied the reasons why rAAAs occur in screened patients and estimated the cost-benefit ratio if these ruptures could be prevented. Methods: All rAAAs occurring in the Huntingdon district in the UK during the study period (1991-2000) were traced via a combination of hospital admission, accident and emergency attendance, and intensive therapy unit admission records, operating theatre registers and post-mortem reports. Cross-referencing with the aneurysm-screening database identified those patients who had attended screening. Previously used cost-effectiveness models were used to estimate the cost benefits to screening. Results: Ninety-three rAAAs occurred in men over the study period, of whom 23 (25%) had been invited for screening and 13 (14%) had accepted the invitation. All who had been screened (mean age 75 [65-82]) had abnormal aortic diameters (>30 mm) on their first scan. Of those invited, 10/23 (43%) did not attend their screening appointment, 4/23 (17%) were deemed not fit for open surgery, 4/23 (17%) ruptured whilst being assessed for aneurysm repair, 2/23 (9%) ruptured whilst under six-monthly surveillance, and 3/23 (13%) failed to attend scheduled six-monthly surveillance appointments. Reducing screened ruptures by one half could increase the cost-effectiveness of screening by 27%. Conclusion: There were no failures of the screening test. The benefits of aneurysm screening can be improved by increasing the uptake of screening, the compliance with surveillance, and by streamlining the work-up process before surgery.
Drawing lessons from across the pond: the fungibility of US and British telephone regulation
Authors: Zarkin Michael J. 
Published: May 2005

English
During the last two decades there has been an increasing amount of attention within policy studies to ‘lesson-drawing’ – a process through which governmental jurisdictions formulate policy by learning from the experiences of political actors in other times and places. While a substantial body of theoretical literature has been generated on the topic, insufficient attention has been paid to issues of ‘fungibility’ or adaptability of lessons from one context to another. The purpose of this article is to begin to fill in this gap in the literature by adapting and testing several fungibility hypotheses posited by Rose (1993) against a case study of US telephone rate regulation.
Environmental sustainability and management reform in local government: an empirical analysis
Authors: Enticott Gareth , Walker Richard M. 
Published: May 2005

English
A new stage of environmental policy making in local government has emerged as managerial reforms to improve the performance of local government in England seek to secure sustainability alongside more traditional measures such as economy, efficiency and effectiveness. In this article we present the first empirical test of the relationship between environmental sustainability and managerial reform, using the example of Best Value. Data are drawn from a large survey of 706 officers in 102 English local authorities. Statistical results suggest that sustainability, inspired by managerial reform, is assisted by favourable environmental attitudes and the presence of strong corporate values but is frustrated by poor integration and departmental cultures towards sustainability. An agenda of further research is offered in conclusion.
Policy, theory and pragmatism: implementing the UK's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme
Authors: Rigby John 
Published: May 2005

English
The concept of a gap between policy and impact – mainly conceived of as deficit between intended and actual effects – is a major theme in policy studies and public administration. While evaluation researchers have reflected on the relevance of causal theories to policy, political scientists have devoted diminishing attention to it, particularly as implementation studies shift their focus from government to governance. This case study analysis focuses on the role of gaps between causal theories used by policy makers and those influencing policy, revealing the important problematic for policy and programme implementation of the relationship of causal theories to policy.
Perceptions of politics and perceived performance in public and private organisations: a test of one model across two sectors
Authors: Vigoda-Gadot Eran , Kapun Danit 
Published: May 2005

English
This article suggests a theoretical model and empirical examination of the relationship between organisational politics and perceived employees’ performance across two separate settings: the private sector and the public sector. 700 employees of private sector and public sector organisations provided data on perceptions of organisational politics, job satisfaction, organisational commitment, job distress and burnout, as well as self-reported turnover intentions, negligent behaviour and absenteeism. Our findings indicate that politics perceptions differ substantially across sectors and prove higher in the public than in the private sector. The theoretical model was tested using an SEM technique and was found valid in both sectors. However, when closely analysed, the same model still fits private sector organisations better than public sector ones.
Distribution of LDL Particle Size in a Population-Based Sample of Children and Adolescents and Relationship with Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Stan Simona , Levy Emile , Delvin Edgard E , Hanley James A , Lamarche Benoît , O’Loughlin Jennifer , Paradis Gilles , Lambert Marie 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackground: Smaller, denser LDL particles are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In youths, data on the distribution of LDL particle size and on its association with other CVD risk factors are limited.Methods: We determined LDL peak particle size by nondenaturing 2%–16% gradient gel electrophoresis in a representative sample of 2249 youths 9, 13, and 16 years of age who participated in a school-based survey conducted in 1999 in the province of Quebec, Canada. Standardized clinical measurements and fasting plasma lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations were available.Results: The LDL peak particle size distribution was gaussian. The 5th, 50th (median), and 95th percentiles by age and sex were 255.5–258.6, 262.1–263.2, and 268.1–269.5 Å, respectively. The prevalence of the small, dense LDL phenotype (LDL peak particle size ≤255 Å) was 10% in participants with insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), in contrast to 1% in those without IRS. In a multiple regression analysis, the association of LDL size with other CVD risk factors [apolipoprotein B, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and insulin concentrations, and body mass index] was strongest with TG and HDL-C concentrations: a 1 SD increase in loge-transformed TG concentration was associated with a 1.2 Å reduction in LDL size, and a 1 SD increase in HDL-C was associated with a 1.1 Å increase in LDL size.Conclusions: Although the small, dense LDL phenotype is less prevalent in youths than adults, its prevalence is clearly increased in childhood IRS. Metabolic correlates of LDL size are similar in youths and adults.
Population Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Short DNA Fragments
Authors: Kim Yoon Jun , Kim Soo-Ok , Chung Hyun Jae , Jee Mi Sun , Kim Byeong Gwan , Kim Kang Mo , Yoon Jung-Hwan , Lee Hyo-Suk , Kim Chung Yong , Kim Sukjoon , Yoo Wangdon , Hong Sun Pyo 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Background: Identifying hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes has become increasingly important for determining clinical course and the outcome of antiviral therapy. Here we describe the development of restriction fragment mass polymorphism (RFMP) analysis, a novel matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) assay suitable for high-throughput, sensitive, specific genotyping of multiple HCV species.
Methods: The assay is based on PCR amplification and mass measurement of oligonucleotides containing genotype-specific motifs in the 5′ untranslated region, into which a type IIS restriction endonuclease recognition was introduced by PCR amplification. Enzymatic cleavage of the products led to excision of multiple oligonucleotide fragments representing variable regions whose masses were determined by MALDI-TOF MS.
Results: The RFMP assay identified viral genotypes present at concentrations as low as 0.5% and reliably determined their relative abundance. When sera from 318 patients were analyzed, the RFMP assay exhibited 100% concordance with results obtained by clonal sequencing and identified mixed-genotype infections in 22% of the samples, in addition to several subtype variants.
Conclusions: The RFMP assay has practical advantages over existing methods, including better quantitative detection of mixed populations and detection of genotype variants without need for population-based cloning, enabling reliable viral genotyping in laboratories and efficient study of the relationship between viral genotypes and clinical outcome.
Quantification of Cleaved β2-Microglobulin in Serum from Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Corlin Dorthe B , Sen Jette W , Ladefoged Søren , Lund Grethe Bjerregaard , Nissen Mogens H , Heegaard Niels HH 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackground: Patients on chronic hemodialysis are prone to develop amyloid deposits of misfolded β2-microglobulin (β2M) in osteoarticular tissues. β2M with various deletions/truncations and chemical modifications has been found together with structurally intact β2M in extracts of β2M amyloid fibrils. The state of the circulating population of β2M molecules has not been characterized previously with high-resolution methods.Methods: We used immunoaffinity–liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of serum samples to examine whether structurally modified β2M is generated in the circulation. In addition, we developed an immunoassay for the quantification of a cleaved β2M variant in biological fluids based on novel monoclonal antibodies and applied this assay to patient and control sera.Results: A specific alteration compatible with the generation of lysine-58–cleaved and truncated β2M (ΔK58-β2M) was found in the sera of many (20%–40%) dialysis patients but not in control sera or sera from patients with cerebral amyloidosis (Alzheimer disease). Applied to patient sera, specific immunoassays revealed that dialysis, as expected, significantly lowered the total β2M concentration, but the concentrations of ΔK58-β2M remained unchanged after dialysis. The results also show that patients dialyzed with less biocompatible membranes have higher serum concentrations of cleaved β2M (mean, 8.5, 1.8, and 0.7 mg/L in cuprophane membrane-dialyzed, polysulfone membrane-dialyzed, and control sera, respectively).Conclusions: This study for the first time demonstrates and assigns the structure of a specific β2M variant in sera from dialysis patients. Because this variant is conformationally unstable in vitro, it may be involved in in vivo amyloidogenesis.
Neue Richtlinien zur Ermittlung der Unsicherheit von Härtemessungen (New Guidelines to the Determination of the Uncertainty of Hardness Measurements)
Authors: Herrmann Konrad , Polzin Thomas 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
In dem Beitrag werden die Grundzüge von in jüngster Zeit geschaffenen Richtlinien zur Ermittlung der Unsicherheit von Härtemessungen vorgestellt. Die Richtlinien für die in den ISO-Härtenormen beschriebenen konventionellen Härtemessverfahren Rockwell, Vickers, Brinell und Knoop bauen darauf auf, dass mit der Messunsicherheit die Einhaltung der in den genannten Normen enthaltenen Toleranzen überprüft wird. Demgegenüber werden in der Messunsicherheitsrichtlinie der European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) die Unsicherheiten der direkten Kalibrierungen nach dem Fehlerfortpflanzungsgesetz zu einer Messunsicherheit in Härteeinheiten zusammengefasst.
Recycling, Glass
Authors: Ross C. Philip 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
The properties of glass provide attributes for many commercial products. As some of these products reach the end of their useful life and are discarded, there is the opportunity to have the material recycled into other useful products. This alternative is preferred over having the material enter a municipal waste stream for landfill disposal. Glass can be remelted and refabricated over and over again without any deterioration of the material properties. Limitations for recycling of glass involve the level of contamination from other categories or colors of glass, as well as from a variety of nonglass materials. For successful recycling, glass must be processed to meet the requirements of the glass manufacturing industry.