bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The utility of PSA velocity in prediction of prostate cancer and high grade cancer after an initially negative prostate biopsy
Authors: ElShafei Ahmed , Li Yong‐Hong , Hatem Asmaa , Moussa Ayman S. , Ethan Vargo , Krishnan Nirmal , Li Jianbo , Jones J. Stephen
Published: August 2013

BACKGROUND

Prostate specific antigen kinetics (PSAK) including prostate specific antigen velocity (PSAV) and PSA doubling time (PSADT) are used as predictors of prostate cancer (PCa) therapeutic outcome, disease prognosis, and cancer‐specific mortality. However controversy persists regarding use of these parameters in cancer detection. Our aim is to evaluate PSAV as a predictor of PCa and intermediate/high grade PCa (HGPCa).

METHODS

We included 682 patients that underwent repeat transrectal ultrasound guided biopsy after initial negative biopsy. Univariate and multivariate analyses as well as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC–AUC) were performed to assess predictive accuracy regarding detection of PCa and intermediate/HGPCa (Gleason score ≥ 7).

RESULTS

PCa was detected in 179/682 (26.24%) patients. Our univariate analysis suggested that age, total prostate volume (TPV), atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) and PSA indices in the form of PSA at the time of repeat biopsy (PSA2), PSAV, PSA density (PSAD2) and percent free PSA at time of repeat biopsy (%FPSA2) were all predictors of overall PCa and intermediate/HGPCa. Meanwhile, our multivariate model showed that factors associated with overall PCa and intermediate/HGPCa were age, PSAV and TPV.

CONCLUSIONS

In men pursuing a second biopsy after an initial negative biopsy, PSAV was an independent predictor of overall PCa, intermediate and high grade cancer. Prostate 73:1796–1802, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characteristics and mechanism of nano‐polycrystalline La2O3 thin‐film resistance switching memory
Authors: Zhao Hongbin , Tu Hailing , Wei Feng , Xiong Yuhua , Zhang Xinqaing , Du Jun
Published: August 2013

We investigated the characteristics and the mechanism of Pt/La2O3/Pt resistance switching memory with a set of measurements. The La2O3 films were determined as nano‐poly‐crystalline (diameter of the nanocrystals 5–10 nm) by XRD and HRTEM analysis. The Pt/La2O3/Pt device exhibited excellent resistive switching properties, including low switching voltage (<2 V), large low/high resistance ratio (>108), and good cycling endurance property. The conduction mecha‐ nisms of the Pt/La2O3/Pt device were revealed with current–voltage characteristics, which are different in the low and high resistance states. Furthermore, XPS analysis and temperature‐dependent resistance measurement in the low resistance state showed that the conducting filaments in the Pt/La2O3/Pt device are mainly affected by oxygen defects rather than metallic La. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Progress towards the assimilation of all‐sky infrared radiances: an evaluation of cloud effects
Authors: Okamoto K. , McNally A. P. , Bell W.
Published: August 2013

As a step toward the assimilation of cloud‐affected infrared radiances in multi‐layer cloud conditions, this study evaluates cloud effects on model first‐guess simulations (background) and observations using the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) radiances. It is found from an extensive statistical analysis that over oceans the magnitude of observation‐minus‐background departures (O–B) – even in the most cloud‐sensitive window channels – is typically less than 10 K for 85% of all‐sky IASI data. A parameter has been developed to express the magnitude of the cloud effect based upon observed and simulated cloudy radiances. It is shown that the variations in the standard deviation (SD) of O–B departures can be described (and thus predicted) by this cloud effect parameter – such that the probability density function (PDF) of O–B normalized with predicted O–B SD exhibits a near‐Gaussian form. It is argued that the predicted cloud effect can be used in an assimilation context to define cloud‐dependent quality controls and aid observation error assignment. Simple linear estimation theory is used to simulate the possible benefits of state‐dependent observation errors according to cloud effect.
A multilevel model for spatially correlated binary data in the presence of misclassification: an application in oral health research
Authors: Mutsvari Timothy , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar , Declerck Dominique , Lesaffre Emmanuel
Published: August 2013

Dental caries is a highly prevalent disease affecting the tooth's hard tissues by acid‐forming bacteria. The past and present caries status of a tooth is characterized by a response called caries experience (CE). Several epidemiological studies have explored risk factors for CE. However, the detection of CE is prone to misclassification because some cases are neither clearly carious nor noncarious, and this needs to be incorporated into the epidemiological models for CE data. From a dentist's point of view, it is most appealing to analyze CE on the tooth's surface, implying that the multilevel structure of the data (surface–tooth–mouth) needs to be taken into account. In addition, CE data are spatially referenced, that is, an active lesion on one surface may impact the decay process of the neighboring surfaces, and that might also influence the process of scoring CE. In this paper, we investigate two hypotheses: that is, (i) CE outcomes recorded at surface level are spatially associated; and (ii) the dental examiners exhibit some spatial behavior while scoring CE at surface level, by using a spatially referenced multilevel autologistic model, corrected for misclassification. These hypotheses were tested on the well‐known Signal Tandmobiel® study on dental caries, and simulation studies were conducted to assess the effect of misclassification and strength of spatial dependence on the autologistic model parameters. Our results indicate a substantial spatial dependency in the examiners' scoring behavior and also in the prevalence of CE at surface level. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A refined method for multivariate meta‐analysis and meta‐regression
Authors: Jackson Daniel , Riley Richard D.
Published: August 2013

Making inferences about the average treatment effect using the random effects model for meta‐analysis is problematic in the common situation where there is a small number of studies. This is because estimates of the between‐study variance are not precise enough to accurately apply the conventional methods for testing and deriving a confidence interval for the average effect. We have found that a refined method for univariate meta‐analysis, which applies a scaling factor to the estimated effects’ standard error, provides more accurate inference. We explain how to extend this method to the multivariate scenario and show that our proposal for refined multivariate meta‐analysis and meta‐regression can provide more accurate inferences than the more conventional approach. We explain how our proposed approach can be implemented using standard output from multivariate meta‐analysis software packages and apply our methodology to two real examples. © 2013 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using variability in gene expression as a tool for studying gene regulation
Authors: Padovan‐Merhar Olivia , Raj Arjun
Published: August 2013

With the advent of quantitative tools for measuring gene expression in single cells, researchers have made the discovery that in many contexts, messenger RNA and protein levels can vary widely from cell to cell, often because of inherently stochastic events associated with gene expression. The study of this cellular individuality has become a field of study in its own right, characterized by a blend of technological development, theoretical analysis, and, more recently, applications to biological phenomena. In this review, we focus on the use of the variability inherent to gene expression as a tool to understand gene regulation. We discuss the use of variability as a natural systems‐level perturbation, its use in quantitatively characterizing the biological processes underlying transcription, and its application to the discovery of new gene regulatory interactions. We believe that use of variability can provide new biological insights into different aspects of transcriptional control and can provide a powerful complementary approach to that of existing techniques. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:751–759. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1243

This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Analytical Methods

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Genetic/Genomic Methods
Importance of microbial natural products and the need to revitalize their discovery
Authors: Demain Arnold L
Published: August 2013

Microbes are the leading producers of useful natural products. Natural products from microbes and plants make excellent drugs. Significant portions of the microbial genomes are devoted to production of these useful secondary metabolites. A single microbe can make a number of secondary metabolites, as high as 50 compounds. The most useful products include antibiotics, anticancer agents, immunosuppressants, but products for many other applications, e.g., antivirals, anthelmintics, enzyme inhibitors, nutraceuticals, polymers, surfactants, bioherbicides, and vaccines have been commercialized. Unfortunately, due to the decrease in natural product discovery efforts, drug discovery has decreased in the past 20 years. The reasons include excessive costs for clinical trials, too short a window before the products become generics, difficulty in discovery of antibiotics against resistant organisms, and short treatment times by patients for products such as antibiotics. Despite these difficulties, technology to discover new drugs has advanced, e.g., combinatorial chemistry of natural product scaffolds, discoveries in biodiversity, genome mining, and systems biology. Of great help would be government extension of the time before products become generic.
From Constraints to Opportunities? Provision of Psychosocial Support in Portuguese Oncogenetic Counseling Services
Authors: Mendes Álvaro , Sousa Liliana , Paneque Milena
Published: August 2013

Although available guidelines for familial cancer risk counseling clearly state the need to provide adequate psychosocial assessments and support, this feature of care is only available in part for individuals and families in oncogenetic counseling protocols in Portugal. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial aspects of oncogenetic counseling provided by a sample of Portuguese genetics professionals. We sought to ascertain perceived need for the provision of psychosocial services and ways to enhance the psychosocial focus in service delivery. A qualitative study was designed; semi‐structured focus groups and individual interviews were performed with 30 professionals from Portuguese healthcare institutions where oncogenetic counseling is offered. Findings suggest: current practice is aligned with the teaching model, with a mainly information‐based focus; use of psychosocial counseling techniques and psychosocial support is limited throughout the genetic counseling timeline; there is a limited workforce of adequately trained psychosocial professionals, who are disadvantaged by structural and organizational constraints. These factors are considered to be serious barriers for psychosocial delivery. Development of multidisciplinary teams working in oncogenetics, and need for further counselling skills and training for genetics healthcare professionals were identified as priorities. Implications for practice and policy are discussed. Portuguese genetic counselors who have recently completed their training, may therefore contribute to enhanced psychosocial services delivery.
Crystal structure at 1.5 Å resolution of the PsbV2 cytochrome from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus
Authors: Suga Michihiro , Lai Thanh-Lan , Sugiura Miwa , Shen Jian-Ren , Boussac Alain
Published: August 2013

PsbV2 is a c‐type cytochrome present in a very low abundance in the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus. We purified this cytochrome and solved its crystal structure at a resolution of 1.5 Å. The protein existed as a dimer in the crystal, and has an overall structure similar to other c‐type cytochromes like Cytc
6 and Cytc
550, for example. However, the 5th and 6th heme iron axial ligands were found to be His51 and Cys101, respectively, in contrast to the more common bis‐His or His/Met ligands found in most cytochromes. Although a few other c‐type cytochromes were suggested to have this axial coordination, this is the first crystal structure reported for a c‐type heme with this unusual His/Cys axial coordination. Previous spectroscopic characterizations of PsbV2 are discussed in relation to its structural properties.
Central Line Infections in Repaired Catheters: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Gordon Stuart , Gardiner Stuart
Published: August 2013

Background: There have been very few studies conducted to assess the infection risk of repairing a ruptured or broken tunneled central venous access device or a ruptured peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), a procedure that is fairly common in a certain population of patients.

Methods: In a retrospective review of repairs to both tunneled central venous access devices and PICCs in a large metropolitan health system, 258 medical records were reviewed. During a 4-year period there were 258 repairs, 202 to PICC lines and 56 to tunneled catheters. The system-wide infection database was the source queried to provide evidence for and confirmation of a central line infection. This database is maintained by the infection control team using strict guidelines, reducing inter-rater reliability issues.

Results: The Fisher exact test for proportions was used to compare infection rates between repaired infected and repaired noninfected lines. The infection rate was 5% in repaired catheters and 5.9% in unrepaired catheters (P = 1.00). On average, repaired catheters were in place longer (mean log [time-days in situ] 2.71 vs 2.31). Despite repairs and longer dwell times the repaired catheters did not have a significantly higher rate of infection when compared with unrepaired catheters.

Conclusions: Despite longer dwell times the infection rate for repaired catheters was not statistically significant when compared with unrepaired catheters.
Does Lumbar Dorsal Ramus Syndrome Have an Objective Clinical Basis?
Authors: Annaswamy Thiru M. , Bierner Samuel M. , Doppalapudi Hima
Published: August 2013

Background

Degenerative processes can cause chronic low back pain that occasionally creates impingement of the lumbar dorsal rami, resulting in a clinical syndrome previously described as lumbar dorsal ramus syndrome (LDRS).

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical basis of LDRS by comparing pain, disability, and objective measures of pathophysiology in 3 groups of subjects defined by needle electromyography examination (NEE) findings.

Design

Prospective group cohort study with retrospective chart review.

Setting

Veterans Affairs medical center outpatient clinic.

Patients

Subjects who had undergone lower limb NEE and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

A total of 71 subjects' records that met the study criteria were retrospectively reviewed for interventional spine procedures performed and to measure the lumbosacral paraspinal cross‐sectional area (PSP CSA); 28 of the 71 subjects underwent further clinical assessment. One‐way analysis of variance was performed to evaluate group differences.

Main Outcome Measurements

In the retrospective arm: (1) PSP CSAs measured at 4 lower lumbar disk levels (average of 3 consecutive slices/level) bilaterally and overall left and right lumbar average PSP CSA and (2) the frequency and type of interventional spine procedures performed. In the prospective arm: (1) temporal changes of NEE abnormalities, (2) pain measured using the Visual Analog Scale, (3) Pain Disability Questionnaire responses, and (4) Short Form–36 scores.

Results

The right L5 CSA was significantly greater in the group with mechanical low back pain compared with the group with lumbar radicular syndrome (F = 3.3; P < .05). No significant group differences were noted in the number of spine procedures performed. No significant differences in pain or disability scores were found among the groups. NEE findings improved over time predominantly in the LDRS group.

Conclusions

LDRS is a diagnosis with identifiable NEE (lumbar multifidus denervation) findings and magnetic resonance imaging findings that may include lower lumbar paraspinal atrophy. NEE (paraspinal denervation) findings in persons with LDRS may change over time, and the clinical relevance of LDRS to pain, functional disability, and treatment response is unclear.
A Voice for Children and Young People in the City
Authors: Wilks Judith , Rudner Julie
Published: August 2013

A major challenge for researchers and urban planning practitioners is how to obtain meaningful and influential contributions on urban and environmental planning activities from children and young people within the constraints of adult policy and practice. The key elements of this challenge concern traditional methods of communication between ‘experts’ and children and young people in rationalist planning settings, versus emerging research in relation to children's and young people's views and agency around civic participation. This article will address the work of a number of researchers and practitioners who have grappled with the inherent tenions of making planning practice and urban design more inclusionary, while facilitating and respecting children and young people's civic participation. This article also advocates the advantages and strengths of their participation in planning and urban design processes.With a focus on two exploratory programs developed by the authors in the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, this article will demonstrate how the sharing of knowledge and skills between planning and design professionals and children and young people can lead to more meaningful and influential contributions from them. The programs examined were informed by leading practice both in Australia and internationally, and have assisted to develop children and young people's sense of spatial competence, and their confidence and efficacy in their local environment, contributing ultimately to their wellbeing. They have also supported the establishment of youth leadership groups with the confidence and skills to contribute to ongoing local government urban and environmental planning activities.
The Place of Experience and the Experience of Place: Intersections Between Sustainability Education and Outdoor Learning
Authors: Hill Allen
Published: August 2013

As social, economic and environmental issues have become more prominent in the 21st century, there has been increased critical scrutiny into the ways that outdoor learning interacts with sustainability issues and concepts. As a result, a number of discourses have emerged which interrogate human/nature relationships in traditional outdoor education and propose greater engagement with place-responsive or sustainable approaches. Drawing on research with teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand, this article explores possible intersections between sustainability education outdoor learning. Accordingly, this article focuses on two key ideas: First, the nexus of experience and place offers significant promise for educational endeavours that seek to educate for a sustainable future. Second, traditional conceptions of wilderness as a pedagogical site, can be problematic for outdoor education programs which seek to claim the ground of sustainability. While there is much that can be gained from journeys in remote pristine environments, not all of these experiences necessarily lead to the development of attitudes, understandings, skills, and motivation to live more sustainably. Furthermore, approaches to outdoor learning that seek to develop connection to and care for remote, pristine places, at the same time ignoring more local or impacted places, could present a dichotomous view of ‘nature’ to students, thereby disrupting efforts to educate for sustainability.
Education for Sustainability, Graduate Capabilities, Professional Employment: How They All Connect
Authors: Thomas Ian , Barth Matthias , Day Teresa
Published: August 2013

Education for Sustainability (EfS) has an intimate relationship with professional employment as we seek to develop graduates who will take EfS values and understanding into their workplaces to build a sustainable future. The connection is through the capabilities that employers are wanting in the people they employ, and they are the outcomes of the educational experiences that we educators provide for the graduates. This article discusses the role of capabilities and their articulation in universities, particularly the types of capabilities sought by employers, both in Australia and more generally. We discuss similarities and differences articulated by academics and industry, and the implications for curriculum design and outcomes. In parallel, we note the discussion of capabilities associated with EfS and identify similarities with more broadly defined graduate capabilities. Research associated with the exploration of the breadth of the environment profession provides examples of the connections. These insights combine to highlight tension between what is sought by industry and what is needed to embed sustainable development actions into industry through the change agents graduated from our universities.
Cognitive performance in irritable bowel syndrome: evidence of a stress-related impairment in visuospatial memory
Authors: Kennedy P. J. , Clarke G. , O‘Neill A. , Groeger J. A. , Quigley E. M. M. , Shanahan F. , Cryan J. F. , Dinan T. G.
Published: August 2013

Background

Central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction is a prominent feature of the functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, the neurobiological and cognitive consequences of key pathophysiological features of IBS, such as stress-induced changes in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis functioning, is unknown. Our aim was to determine whether IBS is associated with cognitive impairment, independently of psychiatric co-morbidity, and whether cognitive performance is related to HPA-axis function.

Method

A cross-sectional sample of 39 patients with IBS, a disease control group of 18 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in clinical remission and 40 healthy age- and IQ-matched control participants were assessed using the Paired Associates Learning (PAL), Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift (IED) and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and a computerized Stroop test. HPA-axis function was determined by measuring the cortisol awakening response (CAR).

Results

IBS patients exhibited a subtle visuospatial memory deficit at the PAL six- pattern stage (p = 0.03), which remained after psychiatric co-morbidity was controlled for (p = 0.04). Morning cortisol levels were lower in IBS (p = 0.04) and significantly associated with visuospatial memory performance within IBS only (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

For the first time, altered cognitive function on a hippocampal-mediated test of visuospatial memory, which was related to cortisol levels and independent of psychiatric co-morbidity, has been identified in IBS. Visuospatial memory impairment may be a common, but currently neglected, component of IBS. Further elucidation of the nature of this impairment may lead to a greater understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of IBS, and may provide novel therapeutic approaches.
Cold climates demand more intertemporal self-control than warm climates
Authors: Ainslie George
Published: August 2013

A climate that is too cold to grow crops for part of the year demands foresight and self-control skills. To the extent that a culture has developed intertemporal bargaining, its members will have more autonomy, but pay the cost of being more compulsive, than members of societies that have not. Monetary resources will be a consequence but will also be fed back as a cause.
Is there a role for “climatotherapy” in the sustainable development of mental health?
Authors: Desseilles Martin , Duclos Catherine , Flohimont Valérie , Desseilles François
Published: August 2013

Climate, diet, lifestyle, and environmental settings have all been shown to modulate mood, play a role in mental disorders, and even pose a mental health risk. Can climatotherapy, in its adaptive approach aiming to restore balance among the economic, social, and ecological realms of human societies, situate itself as a therapeutic avenue for the promotion of sustainable mental health?
Ecological priming: Convergent evidence for the link between ecology and psychological processes
Authors: Gelfand Michele J. , Lun Janetta
Published: August 2013

This commentary describes the use of ecological priming methods to address the limitations of the correlational research discussed in the target article. We provide examples from our own work on cultural tightness–looseness to illustrate how we can bring ecological and societal conditions into the laboratory in order to study the impact of ecological threats on psychological processes experimentally.
Extending climato-economic theory: When, how, and why it explains differences in nations' creativity
Authors: Karwowski Maciej , Lebuda Izabela
Published: August 2013

The climato-economic theory postulates mechanisms of threat and challenge to explain differences between countries. Interestingly, both of these mechanisms are often considered to be components of the models of organizational climate for creativity. We show that among rich countries, climatic demands are related to creative achievement in a reversed-U manner, whereas the relationship is linear among poor countries.
Methodological suggestions for climato-economic theory
Authors: Leung Kwok , Cheng Grand H.-L.
Published: August 2013

To evaluate and extend climato-economic theory, the use of more micro units of analysis, such as cities and families, may open up new data sources. The consideration of environmental demands other than thermal climate may also broaden the range of useful data. Longitudinal designs can provide causal evidence, and so can experiments if the theory can be applied to individuals.
Cultural adaptations to the differential threats posed by hot versus cold climates
Authors: Murray Damian R.
Published: August 2013

Hot and cold climates have posed differential threats to human survival throughout history. Cold temperatures can pose direct threats to survival in themselves, whereas hot temperatures may pose threats indirectly through higher prevalence of infectious disease. These differential threats yield convergent predictions for the relationship between more demanding climates and freedom of expression, but divergent predictions for freedom from discrimination.
Personality traits, national character stereotypes, and climate–economic conditions
Authors: Terracciano Antonio , Chan Wayne
Published: August 2013

Cross-cultural personality research suggests that individuals from wealthier countries tend to be more open-minded. This openness to values may support more democratic governments and the expansion of fundamental freedoms. The link between wealth and freedom is evident in cold-to-temperate climates, but not across wealthy nations in hot climates. Furthermore, temperature and economic conditions shape perceptions of national character stereotypes.
White, gray, and black domains of cultural adaptations to climato-economic conditions
Authors: Van de Vliert Evert
Published: August 2013

Forty-nine commentators have reviewed the theory that needs-based stresses and freedoms are shaped differently in threatening, comforting, and challenging climato-economic habitats. Their commentaries cover the white domain, where the theory does apply (e.g., happiness, collectivism, and democracy), the gray domain, where it may or may not apply (e.g., personality traits and creativity), and the black domain, where it does not apply (e.g., human intelligence and gendered culture). This response article provides clarifications, recommendations, and expectations.
Stanislavski and the Tactical Potential of Everyday Images
Authors: AQUILINA STEFAN
Published: August 2013

This essay discusses Stanislavski's rehearsal use of images derived from everyday life. This discussion focuses on a relatively obscure chapter of Stanislavski's career, his 1932–3 work onArtists and Admirers, the rehearsal notes of which are unavailable in English translation. The essay contends that everyday images not only facilitated communication between rehearsal participants, but also projected outwards to the highly regulatory political scene of the time. More specifically, the ephemeral nature of everyday images will be identified as a ploy that eluded the Communist Party's appropriation of Stanislavski's work. Michel de Certeau's theories on everyday life, particularly his elaboration on strategies and tactics, will serve as a theoretical framework for such a discussion.
Rückenschmerzen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Saurenmann Rotraud K.
Published: August 2013

Lumbalgien sind im Erwachsenenalter ein weit verbreitetes Phänomen, die meisten Erwachsenen sind irgendwann in ihrem Leben einmal davon betroffen [1]. Für den Rheumatologen auf der Notfallstation sind Rückenschmerzen bei unter 20-Jährigen ein „red flag“, wie wir im vorhergehenden Artikel dieser Ausgabe lesen konnten (Marcel Weber: Rückenschmerzen im Notfall). Wie sieht die Situation also aus im Kindes- und Jugendalter?
Akute psychische Störungen deutscher Soldatinnen und Soldaten in Afghanistan
Authors: Ungerer Jörn , Weeke Anna , Zimmermann Peter , Petermann Franz , Kowalski Jens T.
Published: August 2013

Psychische Belastungen können während und nach Auslandseinsätzen zu akuten psychiatrischen Störungsbildern bei Soldaten führen. In der vorliegenden Studie werden die akuten einsatzbedingten psychischen Störungen deutscher Soldaten in Afghanistan in den Jahren 2009 (n = 40) und 2011/2012 (n = 41) miteinander verglichen. Während 2009 signifikant häufiger die akute Belastungsreaktion (ICD-10: F 43.0) diagnostiziert wurde, standen bei den untersuchten Patienten im Vergleichszeitraum 2011/2012 die Anpassungsstörungen (ICD-10: F 43.2) im Vordergrund. Diese Verschiebung im Diagnosespektrum lässt sich hypothetisch auf Unterschiede der einwirkenden einsatz-assoziierten Stressoren zurückführen. Während 2009 akute traumatische Erlebnisse den Einsatz bestimmten, standen in 2011/2012 eher alltägliche Belastungen wie Trennungsreaktionen und Konflikte mit Vorgesetzten und Kameraden im Vordergrund. Die Ergebnisse können helfen, die Anbieter psychiatrisch-psychotherapeutischer Leistungen besser auf die Bedingungen vorzubereiten und so die Akutversorgung in Einsatzgebieten zu optimieren.
ADHS im Vorschulalter
Authors: Zenglein Yvonne , Beyer Anke , Freitag Christine M. , Schwenck Christina
Published: August 2013

Aktivitäts- und Aufmerksamkeitsstörungen (ADHS) im Vorschulalter sind der ADHS im Grundschulalter bezüglich Erscheinungsbild und Komorbiditäten teils ähnlich und teils unähnlich. Zudem ergeben sich besondere Herausforderungen hinsichtlich der Diagnostik und Behandlung u. a. aufgrund altersabhängiger Diagnosekriterien, einer schwierigen Unterscheidung von altersadäquatem und abweichendem Verhalten und erhöhten Nebenwirkungen bei der medikamentösen Behandlung. Daher werden in diesem Übersichtsartikel Subtypen und Komorbiditäten von ADHS, für den klinischen Gebrauch geeignete Diagnostikinstrumente sowie gezielte Behandlungsansätze, insbesondere Elterntrainings und Medikation, genauer betrachtet.
Physiologic and metagenomic attributes of the rhodoliths forming the largest CaCO3 bed in the South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Cavalcanti Giselle S , Gregoracci Gustavo B , dos Santos Eidy O , Silveira Cynthia B , Meirelles Pedro M , Longo Leila , Gotoh Kazuyoshi , Nakamura Shota , Iida Tetsuya , Sawabe Tomoo , Rezende Carlos E , Francini-Filho Ronaldo B , Moura Rodrigo L , Amado-Filho Gilberto M , Thompson Fabiano L
Published: August 2013

Rhodoliths are free-living coralline algae (Rhodophyta, Corallinales) that are ecologically important for the functioning of marine environments. They form extensive beds distributed worldwide, providing a habitat and nursery for benthic organisms and space for fisheries, and are an important source of calcium carbonate. The Abrolhos Bank, off eastern Brazil, harbors the world’s largest continuous rhodolith bed (of ∼21 000 km2) and has one of the largest marine CaCO3 deposits (producing 25 megatons of CaCO3 per year). Nevertheless, there is a lack of information about the microbial diversity, photosynthetic potential and ecological interactions within the rhodolith holobiont. Herein, we performed an ecophysiologic and metagenomic analysis of the Abrolhos rhodoliths to understand their microbial composition and functional components. Rhodoliths contained a specific microbiome that displayed a significant enrichment in aerobic ammonia-oxidizing betaproteobacteria and dissimilative sulfate-reducing deltaproteobacteria. We also observed a significant contribution of bacterial guilds (that is, photolithoautotrophs, anaerobic heterotrophs, sulfide oxidizers, anoxygenic phototrophs and methanogens) in the rhodolith metagenome, suggested to have important roles in biomineralization. The increased hits in aromatic compounds, fatty acid and secondary metabolism subsystems hint at an important chemically mediated interaction in which a functional job partition among eukaryal, archaeal and bacterial groups allows the rhodolith holobiont to thrive in the global ocean. High rates of photosynthesis were measured for Abrolhos rhodoliths (52.16 μmol carbon m−2s−1), allowing the entire Abrolhos rhodolith bed to produce 5.65 × 105 tons C per day. This estimate illustrates the great importance of the Abrolhos rhodolith beds for dissolved carbon production in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Compartmentalized microbial composition, oxygen gradients and nitrogen fixation in the gut ofOdontotaenius disjunctus
Authors: Ceja-Navarro Javier A , Nguyen Nhu H , Karaoz Ulas , Gross Stephanie R , Herman Donald J , Andersen Gary L , Bruns Thomas D , Pett-Ridge Jennifer , Blackwell Meredith , Brodie Eoin L
Published: August 2013

Coarse woody debris is an important biomass pool in forest ecosystems that numerous groups of insects have evolved to take advantage of. These insects are ecologically important and represent useful natural analogs for biomass to biofuel conversion. Using a range of molecular approaches combined with microelectrode measurements of oxygen, we have characterized the gut microbiome and physiology of Odontotaenius disjunctus, a wood-feeding beetle native to the eastern United States. We hypothesized that morphological and physiological differences among gut regions would correspond to distinct microbial populations and activities. In fact, significantly different communities were found in the foregut (FG), midgut (MG)/posterior hindgut (PHG) and anterior hindgut (AHG), with Actinobacteria and Rhizobiales being more abundant toward the FG and PHG. Conversely, fermentative bacteria such as Bacteroidetes and Clostridia were more abundant in the AHG, and also the sole region where methanogenic Archaea were detected. Although each gut region possessed an anaerobic core, micron-scale profiling identified radial gradients in oxygen concentration in all regions. Nitrogen fixation was confirmed by 15N2 incorporation, and nitrogenase gene (nifH) expression was greatest in the AHG. Phylogenetic analysis of nifH identified the most abundant transcript as related to Ni–Fe nitrogenase of a Bacteroidetes species, Paludibacter propionicigenes. Overall, we demonstrate not only a compartmentalized microbiome in this beetle digestive tract but also sharp oxygen gradients that may permit aerobic and anaerobic metabolism to occur within the same regions in close proximity. We provide evidence for the microbial fixation of N2 that is important for this beetle to subsist on woody biomass.
Host-specific adaptation governs the interaction of the marine diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia and their microbiota
Authors: Sison-Mangus Marilou P , Jiang Sunny , Tran Kevin N , Kudela Raphael M
Published: August 2013

The association of phytoplankton with bacteria is ubiquitous in nature and the bacteria that associate with different phytoplankton species are very diverse. The influence of these bacteria in the physiology and ecology of the host and the evolutionary forces that shape the relationship are still not understood. In this study, we used the Pseudo-nitzschia–microbiota association to determine (1) if algal species with distinct domoic acid (DA) production are selection factors that structures the bacterial community, (2) if host-specificity and co-adaptation govern the association, (3) the functional roles of isolated member of microbiota on diatom–hosts fitness and (4) the influence of microbiota in changing the phenotype of the diatom hosts with regards to toxin production. Analysis of the pyrosequencing-derived 16S rDNA data suggests that the three tested species of Pseudo-nitzschia, which vary in toxin production, have phylogenetically distinct bacterial communities, and toxic Pseudo-nitzschia have lower microbial diversity than non-toxic Pseudo-nitzschia. Transplant experiments showed that isolated members of the microbiota are mutualistic to their native hosts but some are commensal or parasitic to foreign hosts, hinting at co-evolution between partners. Moreover, Pseudo-nitzschia host can gain protection from algalytic bacteria by maintaining association with its microbiota. Pseudo-nitzschia also exhibit different phenotypic expression with regards to DA production, and this depends on the bacterial species with which the host associates. Hence, the influences of the microbiota on diatom host physiology should be considered when studying the biology and ecology of marine diatoms.
The (d)evolution of methanotrophy in the Beijerinckiaceae—a comparative genomics analysis
Authors: Tamas Ivica , Smirnova Angela V , He Zhiguo , Dunfield Peter F
Published: August 2013

The alphaproteobacterial family Beijerinckiaceae contains generalists that grow on a wide range of substrates, and specialists that grow only on methane and methanol. We investigated the evolution of this family by comparing the genomes of the generalist organotroph Beijerinckia indica, the facultative methanotroph Methylocella silvestris and the obligate methanotroph Methylocapsa acidiphila. Highly resolved phylogenetic construction based on universally conserved genes demonstrated that the Beijerinckiaceae forms a monophyletic cluster with the Methylocystaceae, the only other family of alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs. Phylogenetic analyses also demonstrated a vertical inheritance pattern of methanotrophy and methylotrophy genes within these families. Conversely, many lateral gene transfer (LGT) events were detected for genes encoding carbohydrate transport and metabolism, energy production and conversion, and transcriptional regulation in the genome of B. indica, suggesting that it has recently acquired these genes. A key difference between the generalist B. indica and its specialist methanotrophic relatives was an abundance of transporter elements, particularly periplasmic-binding proteins and major facilitator transporters. The most parsimonious scenario for the evolution of methanotrophy in the Alphaproteobacteria is that it occurred only once, when a methylotroph acquired methane monooxygenases (MMOs) via LGT. This was supported by a compositional analysis suggesting that all MMOs in Alphaproteobacteria methanotrophs are foreign in origin. Some members of the Beijerinckiaceae subsequently lost methanotrophic functions and regained the ability to grow on multicarbon energy substrates. We conclude that B. indica is a recidivist multitroph, the only known example of a bacterium having completely abandoned an evolved lifestyle of specialized methanotrophy.
Measurement of crystal growth velocity in a melt-quenched phase-change material
Authors: Salinga Martin , Carria Egidio , Kaldenbach Andreas , Bornhöfft Manuel , Benke Julia , Mayer Joachim , Wuttig Matthias
Published: August 2013

Phase-change materials are the basis for next-generation memory devices and reconfigurable electronics, but fundamental understanding of the unconventional kinetics of their phase transitions has been hindered by challenges in the experimental quantification. Here we obtain deeper understanding based on the temperature dependence of the crystal growth velocity of the phase-change material AgInSbTe, as derived from laser-based time-resolved reflectivity measurements. We observe a strict Arrhenius behaviour for the growth velocity over eight orders of magnitude (from ~10 nm s−1to ~1 m s−1). This can be attributed to the formation of a glass at elevated temperatures because of rapid quenching of the melt. Further, the temperature dependence of the viscosity is derived, which reveals that the supercooled liquid phase must have an extremely high fragility (>100). Finally, the new experimental evidence leads to an interpretation, which comprehensively explains existing data from various different experiments reported in literature.
Promiscuity as a functional trait: intrinsically disordered regions as central players of interactomes
Authors: Cumberworth Alexander , Lamour Guillaume , Babu M. Madan , Gsponer Jörg
Published: August 2013

Because of their pervasiveness in eukaryotic genomes and their unique properties, understanding the role that ID (intrinsically disordered) regions in proteins play in the interactome is essential for gaining a better understanding of the network. Especially critical in determining this role is their ability to bind more than one partner using the same region. Studies have revealed that proteins containing ID regions tend to take a central role in protein interaction networks; specifically, they act as hubs, interacting with multiple different partners across time and space, allowing for the co-ordination of many cellular activities. There appear to be three different modules within ID regions responsible for their functionally promiscuous behaviour: MoRFs (molecular recognition features), SLiMs (small linear motifs) and LCRs (low complexity regions). These regions allow for functionality such as engaging in the formation of dynamic heteromeric structures which can serve to increase local activity of an enzyme or store a collection of functionally related molecules for later use. However, the use of promiscuity does not come without a cost: a number of diseases that have been associated with ID-containing proteins seem to be caused by undesirable interactions occurring upon altered expression of the ID-containing protein.
Optimal pre‐equalisation for wireless multi‐carrier code division multiple access systems under quality of service requirements
Authors: Campos‐Delgado Daniel U. , Luna‐Rivera Jose M.
Published: August 2013

This work addresses an optimal pre‐equalisation scheme to provide power and phase compensation in multi‐carrier code division multiple access wireless systems under quality of service (QoS) restrictions. Two assignation schemes are studied: independent and uniform pre‐equalised transmission (IPT and UPT) per subcarrier. First, the QoS was quantified in terms of the signal‐to‐interference noise ratio (SINR) after using a linear detector in the receiver. The SINR expressions for IPT and UPT were explicitly derived, to highlight their dependence on the pre‐equalisation factors. These relations are exploited to derive analytical procedures to obtain the required pre‐equalisation factors that satisfy an objective SINR per active user. The author's proposal for IPT achieves the lowest power while requiring a simple detector independent of the channel state information (CSI). For IPT, two minimum norm solutions are derived by translating the SINR restrictions into linear equations: one based on spectral factorisation, and a second one based on a simultaneous zero‐forcing effect plus an energy scaling. On the other hand, for UPT, multi‐user detectors like zero‐forcing (ZF) and minimum‐mean‐square error (MMSE) have to be employed at the receiver to achieve a solution to the QoS requirements. In the numerical evaluations, IPT attained roughly a 2.5–3% reduction in the overall transmission power compared to UPT with ZF and MMSE by varying the objective SINR and noise variance. Although this reduction is further expanded as the number of active users increases, achieving a reduction in transmission power larger than 50% for a fully‐loaded system.
Imaging spectroscopy for scene analysis: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Robles‐Kelly Antonio , Simpson‐Young Bill
Published: August 2013

In this study, the authors explore the opportunities, application areas and challenges involving the use of imaging spectroscopy as a means for scene understanding. This is important, since scene analysis in the scope of imaging spectroscopy involves the ability to robustly encode material properties, object composition and concentrations of primordial components in the scene. The combination of spatial and compositional information opens‐up a vast number of application possibilities. For instance, spectroscopic scene analysis can enable advanced capabilities for surveillance by permitting objects to be tracked based on material properties. In computational photography, images may be enhanced taking into account each specific material type in the scene. For food security, health and precision agriculture it can be the basis for the development of diagnostic and surveying tools which can detect pests before symptoms are apparent to the naked eye. This combination of a broad domain of application with the use of key technologies makes the use of imaging spectroscopy a worthwhile opportunity for researchers in the areas of computer vision and pattern recognition.
Real‐time depth enhancement by fusion for RGB‐D cameras
Authors: Garcia Frederic , Aouada Djamila , Solignac Thomas , Mirbach Bruno , Ottersten Björn
Published: August 2013

This study presents a real‐time refinement procedure for depth data acquired by RGB‐D cameras. Data from RGB‐D cameras suffer from undesired artefacts such as edge inaccuracies or holes owing to occlusions or low object remission. In this work, the authors use recent depth enhancement filters intended for time‐of‐flight cameras, and extend them to structured light‐based depth cameras, such as the Kinect camera. Thus, given a depth map and its corresponding two‐dimensional image, we correct the depth measurements by separately treating its undesired regions. To that end, the authors propose specific confidence maps to tackle areas in the scene that require a special treatment. Furthermore, in the case of filtering artefacts, the authors introduce the use of RGB images as guidance images as an alternative to real‐time state‐of‐the‐art fusion filters that use greyscale guidance images. The experimental results show that the proposed fusion filter provides dense depth maps with corrected erroneous or invalid depth measurements and adjusted depth edges. In addition, the authors propose a mathematical formulation that enables to use the filter in real‐time applications.