bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuroticism and post-traumatic stress disorder: a prospective investigation
Authors: Breslau N. , Schultz L. 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundNeuroticism has been consistently correlated with the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) response to traumatic events. Interpretation of these findings is limited by the retrospective nature of these findings: neuroticism was measured after the trauma had occurred. The prospective association of neuroticism with PTSD has not been examined (the relationship of neuroticism with PTSD symptoms was examined in a few prospective studies). We evaluate prospectively the relationship of neuroticism, measured at baseline, with the cumulative occurrence of PTSD during the subsequent 10 years, using data from a longitudinal epidemiological study of young adults.MethodA sample of 1007 young adults randomly selected from the membership of a large health maintenance organization in southeast Michigan was assessed at baseline and followed up at 3, 5 and 10 years later. We conducted a series of multinomial logistic regressions to estimate the relative risk (RR) of exposure to trauma and PTSD by neuroticism at baseline, adjusting for history of major depression (n = 990).ResultsDuring the 10-year follow-up, 50.2% of the sample experienced traumatic events and 5.2% developed PTSD. Neuroticism score at baseline increased significantly the RR of PTSD response to trauma. Additional analysis revealed that, among persons with history of major depression at baseline, RR for PTSD associated with neuroticism was equal to the null value of 1, but was increased significantly among those with no history of major depression.ConclusionsThe results confirm the role of neuroticism as diathesis in the PTSD response to traumatic experiences.
A genetic perspective on the proposed inclusion of cannabis withdrawal in DSM-5
Authors: Verweij K. J. H. , Agrawal A. , Nat N. O. , Creemers H. E. , Huizink A. C. , Martin N. G. , Lynskey M. T. 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundVarious studies support the inclusion of cannabis withdrawal in the diagnosis of cannabis use disorder (CUD) in the upcoming DSM-5. The aims of the current study were to (1) estimate the prevalence of DSM-5 cannabis withdrawal (criterion B), (2) estimate the role of genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in cannabis withdrawal and (3) determine the extent to which genetic and environmental influences on cannabis withdrawal overlap with those on DSM-IV-defined abuse/dependence.MethodThe sample included 2276 lifetime cannabis-using adult Australian twins. Cannabis withdrawal was defined in accordance with criterion B of the proposed DSM-5 revisions. Cannabis abuse/dependence was defined as endorsing one or more DSM-IV criteria of abuse or three or more dependence criteria. The classical twin model was used to estimate the genetic and environmental influences on variation in cannabis withdrawal, along with its covariation with abuse/dependence.ResultsOf all the cannabis users, 11.9% met criteria for cannabis withdrawal. Around 50% of between-individual variation in withdrawal could be attributed to additive genetic variation, and the rest of the variation was mostly due to non-shared environmental influences. Importantly, the genetic influences on cannabis withdrawal almost completely (99%) overlapped with those on abuse/dependence.ConclusionsWe have shown that cannabis withdrawal symptoms exist among cannabis users, and that cannabis withdrawal is moderately heritable. Genetic influences on cannabis withdrawal are the same as those affecting abuse/dependence. These results add to the wealth of literature that recommends the addition of cannabis withdrawal to the diagnosis of DSM-5 CUD.
More than A to B: the role of free bus travel for the mobility and wellbeing of older citizens in London
Authors: GREEN JUDITH , JONES ALASDAIR , ROBERTS HELEN 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThis study contributes to the literature on mobility and wellbeing at older ages through an empirical exploration of the meanings of free bus travel for older citizens, addressing the meanings this holds for older people in urban settings, which have been under-researched. Taking London as a case study, where older citizens have free access to a relatively extensive public transport network through a Freedom Pass, we explore from a public health perspective the mechanisms that link this travel benefit to determinants of wellbeing. In addition to the ways in which the Freedom Pass enabled access to health-related goods and services, it provided less tangible benefits. Travelling by bus provided opportunities for meaningful social interaction; travelling as part of the ‘general public’ provided a sense of belonging and visibility in the public arena – a socially acceptable way of tackling chronic loneliness. The Freedom Pass was described not only as providing access to essential goods and services but also as a widely prized mechanism for participation in life in the city. We argue that the mechanisms linking mobility and wellbeing are culturally, materially and politically specific. Our data suggest that in contexts where good public transport is available as a right, and bus travel not stigmatised, it is experienced as a major contributor to wellbeing, rather than a transport choice of last resort. This has implications for other jurisdictions working on accessible transport for older citizens and, more broadly, improving the sustainability of cities.
Environmental influences on healthy and active ageing: a systematic review
Authors: ANNEAR MICHAEL , KEELING SALLY , WILKINSON TIM , CUSHMAN GRANT , GIDLOW BOB , HOPKINS HEATHER 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the evidence for environmental influences on older adult health and activity participation, identifies current knowledge gaps and limitations within this literature, and offers recommendations for future research via a systematic appraisal of 83 quantitative and qualitative studies. A Cochrane-type review procedure was followed, which incorporated structured database searches, inclusion and exclusion criteria, quality appraisal of included studies, and peer review. The review findings identify support for both personal and environmental influences on health and activity participation in later life. Reported personal influences include ethnicity and cultural norms, energy and motivation, sex, age, education, genetic heritage, self-efficacy, and personal financial circumstances. Reported environmental influences on activity participation include climate, level of pollution, street lighting, traffic conditions, accessibility and appropriateness of services and facilities, socio-economic conditions, aesthetics, pedestrian infrastructure, community life, exposure to antisocial behaviour, social network participation, environmental degradation, level of urbanism, exposure to natural settings, familiarity with local environment and others. Recommendations for future research include the need for innovative research methods; involvement of older adults as research collaborators; investigation of wider aspects of the active ageing concept; in-depth assessment of the environmental characteristics of areas; investigation of the pathways leading from environment to health and activity participation; and more theoretically informed research or increased contribution of research to theory development.
Synchrotron X-ray studies of metal-organic framework M2(2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate), M = (Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) (MOF74)
Authors: Wong-Ng W. , Kaduk J. A. , Wu H. , Suchomel M. 
Published: November 2012

M2(dhtp)·nH2O (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; dhtp = 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalate), known as MOF74, is a family of excellent sorbent materials for CO2 that contains coordinatively unsaturated metal sites and a honeycomb-like structure featuring a broad one-dimensional channel. This paper describes the structural feature and provides reference X-ray powder diffraction patterns of these four isostructural compounds. The structures were determined using synchrotron diffraction data obtained at beam line 11-BM at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) in the Argonne National Laboratory. The samples were confirmed to be hexagonal R 3 (No. 148). From M = Mn, Co, Ni, to Zn, the lattice parameter a of MOF74 ranges from 26.131 73(4) Å to 26.5738(2) Å, c from 6.651 97(5) to 6.808 83(8) Å, and V ranges from 3948.08 Å3 to 4163.99 Å3, respectively. The four reference X-ray powder diffraction patterns have been submitted for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).
Effects of low-density lipoproteins extracted from different avian yolks on boar spermatozoa quality following freezing–thawing
Authors: Wang Peng , Wang Yan-Feng , Wang Chun-Wei , Bu Shu-Hai , Hu Jian-Hong , Li Qing-Wang , Pang Wei-Jun , Yang Gong-She 
Published: November 2012

SummaryLow-density lipoproteins (LDL) is known to protect boar sperm during freezing–thawing, but little information is known about the effects of LDL extracted from different avian egg yolks on post-thaw boar semen quality. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of LDL at various concentrations and different species on boar sperm quality after freezing–thawing. LDL extracted from the yolk of hen egg, duck egg, quail egg, pigeon egg or ostrich egg was added to the extender at the concentrations of 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09 and 0.1 g/ml, respectively, and their effects on frozen–thawed boar sperm quality were assessed. According to all measured parameters, the results showed that sperm motility, acrosome integrity and plasma membrane integrity were 43.20%, 52.57% and 48.13%, respectively, after being frozen–thawed with 0.09 g/ml LDL extracted from pigeon egg yolk. All these quality parameters were higher than that of other groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our results confirmed that LDL extracted from pigeon egg yolk had the best cryoprotective effects on frozen–thawed boar sperm among all of the groups supplemented with LDL from five kinds of avian egg in extender. The optimum concentration of LDL extracted from pigeon egg in boar semen freezing extender was 0.09 g/ml.
Perturbing microtubule integrity blocks AMP-activated protein kinase-induced meiotic resumption in cultured mouse oocytes
Authors: Ya Ru , Downs Stephen M. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryThe oocyte meiotic spindle is comprised of microtubules (MT) that bind chromatin and regulate both metaphase plate formation and karyokinesis during meiotic maturation; however, little information is known about their role in meiosis reinitiation. This study was conducted to determine if microtubule integrity is required for meiotic induction and to ascertain how it affects activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important participant in the meiotic induction process. Treatment with microtubule-disrupting agents nocodazole and vinblastine suppressed meiotic resumption in a dose-dependent manner in both arrested cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes (CEO) stimulated with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and arrested denuded oocytes (DO) stimulated with the AMPK activator, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR). This effect coincided with suppression of AMPK activation as determined by western blotting and germinal vesicle immunostaining. Treatment with the MT stabilizer paclitaxel also suppressed meiotic induction. Targeting actin filament polymerization had only a marginal effect on meiotic induction. Immunolocalization experiments revealed that active AMPK colocalized with γ-tubulin during metaphase I and II stages, while it localized at the spindle midzone during anaphase. This discrete localization pattern was dependent on MT integrity. Treatment with nocodazole led to disruption of proper spindle pole localization of active AMPK, while paclitaxel induced excessive polymerization of spindle MT and formation of ectopic asters with accentuated AMPK colocalization. Although stimulation of AMPK increased the rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVB), spindle formation and polar body (PB) extrusion, the kinase had no effect on peripheral movement of the spindle. These data suggest that the meiosis-inducing action and localization of AMPK are regulated by MT spindle integrity during mouse oocyte maturation.
Affective functioning after delirium in elderly hip fracture patients
Authors: Slor Chantal J. , Witlox Joost , Jansen René W. M. M. , Adamis Dimitrios , Meagher David J. , Tieken Esther , Houdijk Alexander P. J. , van Gool Willem A. , Eikelenboom Piet , de Jonghe Jos F. M. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTBackground: Delirium in elderly patients is associated with various long-term sequelae that include cognitive impairment and affective disturbances, although the latter is understudied.Methods: For a prospective cohort study of elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, baseline characteristics and affective and cognitive functioning were assessed preoperatively. During hospital admission, presence of delirium was assessed daily. Three months after hospital discharge, affective and global cognitive functioning was evaluated again in patients free from delirium at the time of this follow-up. This study compared baseline characteristics and affective functioning between patients with and without in-hospital delirium. We investigated whether in-hospital delirium is associated with increased anxiety and depressive levels, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms three months after discharge.Results: Among 53 eligible patients, 23 (43.4%) patients experienced in-hospital delirium after hip fracture repair. Patients who had experienced in-hospital delirium showed more depressive symptoms at follow-up after three months compared to the 30 patients without in-hospital delirium. This association persisted in a multivariate model controlling for age, baseline cognition, baseline depressive symptoms, and living situation. The level of anxiety and symptoms of PTSD at follow-up did not differ between both groups.Conclusion: This study suggests that in-hospital delirium is associated with an increased burden of depressive symptoms three months after discharge in elderly patients who were admitted to the hospital for surgical repair of hip fracture. Symptoms of depression in patients with previous in-hospital delirium cannot be fully explained by persistent (sub)syndromal delirium or baseline cognitive impairment.Trial name: The Effect of Taurine on Morbidity and Mortality in the Elderly Hip Fracture Patient. URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00497978?term=taurine+hip+fracture&rank=1. Registration number: NCT00497978.
Sensitivity to change of composite and frequency scores of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory in mild to moderate dementia
Authors: Cummings Jeffrey L. , Ihl Ralf , Herrschaft Horst , Hoerr Robert , Tribanek Michael 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTBackground:The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is widely used to assess psychopathology in dementia. The scoring involves ratings of frequency and severity, as well as the calculation of a composite score. It was suggested recently that, due to lower variance, the frequency score might be more sensitive to detect treatment-related change and to discriminate active treatment from placebo than the composite score, particularly in milder forms of the disease.Methods:Based on data from three randomized controlled trials in patients with mild to moderate dementia, standardized changes were calculated for both frequency and composite scores for two strata of disease severity. The two strata were formed by dichotomizing the sample along the median score of the short cognitive performance test (SKT) battery.Results:Across all studies and for both severity strata, standardized changes in frequency scores were not consistently larger than those in composite scores and both scores discriminated active treatment from placebo at similar probabilities for type-1 error.Conclusion:Our findings do not support the notion that there is a difference between frequency score and composite score with respect to their sensitivity to treatment-related change.
Cognitive screening of older adults: the utility of pentagon drawing
Authors: Helmes Edward 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTBackground: Drawing tests have a long history in neuropsychological assessment. A popular geometric figure has been the two intersecting pentagons from the Bender Gestalt test. Reproducing the pentagons is the main visuospatial task on the original Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), remaining in use in revised versions of that widely used screening test. Scoring criteria on the MMSE are binary: perfect reproduction of the figure is required, while the Modified MMSE of Teng and Chui (1987) uses a more refined ten-point scoring for the elements of the figure.Methods: Here, I report on the use of pentagon drawing from 8,702 older community-dwelling Canadians (59.3% female), with a mean age of 75.5 years (SD = 6.99) and 10.1 years of education (SD = 3.89). Mean scores for the whole sample are reported, as well as for subsamples who underwent a full clinical assessment and were diagnosed as cognitively intact, with dementia, or cognitively impaired, but without dementia. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the utility of pentagon drawing as a diagnostic tool to diagnose cognitive impairment.Results: Binary scoring was less effective in discriminating groups than the ten-point system and showed weaker properties by other criteria.Conclusions: The discussion focuses on the role of simple, non-verbal tasks in the cognitive screening of older adults.
ICF-orientierte klinische Dokumentation und Evaluation in der Neuro-Rehabilitation – Teil 1
Authors: Wendel Claudia , Schenk zu Schweinsberg Ellen 
Published: November 2012

In den kommenden Jahren wird die ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) zur Dokumentation von Gesundheitszuständen, Steuerung von Interventionen und Evaluation in der Praxis der Neuro-Rehabilitation konkret Anwendung finden. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden zentrale Begriffs- und Konzeptklärungen bezüglich der ICF vorgenommen und internationale Forschungsergebnisse hinsichtlich ihrer praktischen Implikationen für den klinischen Alltag geprüft. Die ICF erlaubt eine differenzierte Beschreibung der Lebenssituation eines Menschen mit einem Gesundheitsproblem, die wesentlich durch personbezogene und umweltbezogene Kontextfaktoren mitbestimmt wird. Durch die Anwendung des ICF-Konzepts und teilhabe-bezogenes Arbeiten kann das professionelle Handeln in der Neuro-Rehabilitation nachhaltig verbessert werden. Die klare Orientierung auf die Förderung der Funktionsfähigkeit entspricht einem neuen Verständnis von Rehabilitation, das nicht mehr der (defizitären) Logik der Behandlung von Gesundheitsproblemen folgt.
Linking atmospheric dimethyl sulfide and the Arctic Ocean spring bloom
Authors: Park Ki‐Tae , Lee Kitack , Yoon Young‐Jun , Lee Hyun‐Woo , Kim Hyun‐Cheol , Lee Bang‐Yong , Hermansen Ove , Kim Tae‐Wook , Holmén Kim 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWe measured atmospheric dimethyl sulfide (DMS) mixing ratios at approximately hourly intervals over a 1 year period (April 2010 to March 2011) in the Atlantic sector of the Arctic Ocean (Svalbard, Norway; 78.5°N, 11.8°E). The mixing ratios varied by several orders of magnitude over time scales of less than several days, and occasionally reached 200−300 parts per trillion by volume during the major phytoplankton growth period (May to September), whereas during the winter months (October to April) the mixing ratios were on the order of a few parts per trillion by volume. Our results, based on analyses using multiple data products (atmospheric DMS mixing ratios, satellite‐derived ocean colors, and meteorological datasets), indicated that weekly variability in the DMS mixing ratios at Svalbard was highly correlated with variability in the chl‐a concentration in waters in the vicinity of Svalbard (r = 0.89). Hourly‐to‐daily variability in the DMS mixing ratios were satisfactorily explained by changes in the trajectory, altitude, and speed of air masses passing the DMS sources prior to reaching Svalbard. The observed coupling between DMS mixing ratios and chl‐a concentration is surprising, and indicates that the variability in chl‐a concentrations in the study area represents the change in the abundance of phytoplankton capable of producing DMS. The intensive monitoring of DMS levels at Svalbard enabled us to identify in situ production and the flux of oceanic DMS over the Arctic region. It thus constitutes a useful analytical tool for detecting changes in DMS production associated with variations in phytoplankton productivity resulting from changes in sea ice extent as a consequence of Arctic seasonality and warming.
Characterization of speciated aerosol direct radiative forcing over California
Authors: Zhao Chun , Ruby Leung L. , Easter Richard , Hand Jenny , Avise Jeremy 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe WRF‐Chem model, with the added capability of diagnosing the direct radiative forcing of individual aerosol species, is used to characterize the spatial and seasonal distribution of speciated aerosol direct radiative forcing over California. Overall, the simulation in 2005 is able to reproduce the observed spatial and seasonal distribution of total PM2.5 mass concentration and the relative contribution from individual aerosol species. On statewide average over California, all aerosol species reduce the surface net radiation fluxes, with a total by about 1.5 W m−2 (winter minimum) to 3 W m−2 (summer maximum). Elemental carbon (EC) is the largest contributor in summer (−1.1 W m−2 and ~35%), and sulfate is the largest in winter (−0.45 W m−2 and ~30%). In the atmosphere, total aerosol introduces a warming effect of about 0.5 W m−2 (winter minimum) to 2 W m−2 (summer maximum). EC and dust contribute about 75 − 95% and 1 − 10% of the total warming through the seasons, respectively. At the top of the atmosphere (TOA), the overall total aerosol direct radiative effect is cooling of −1.0 W m−2 through the seasons, with sulfate as the biggest contributor of −0.4 W m−2 (winter minimum) to −0.7 W m−2 (summer maximum). EC produces a TOA warming of up to about 0.7 W m−2, whereas all other aerosol species produce a TOA cooling. The diagnostic method implemented in WRF‐Chem can be applied to other regions to understand the roles of different aerosols in the direct radiative forcing and regional climate.
PLI: a web-based tool for the comparison of protein-ligand interactions observed on PDB structures
Authors: Gallina Anna Maria , Bisignano Paola , Bergamino Maurizio , Bordo Domenico 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Motivation: A large fraction of the entries contained in the Protein Data Bank describe proteins in complex with low molecular weight molecules such as physiological compounds or synthetic drugs. In many cases, the same molecule is found in distinct protein-ligand complexes. There is an increasing interest in Medicinal Chemistry in comparing protein binding sites to get insight on interactions that modulate the binding specificity, as this structural information can be correlated with other experimental data of biochemical or physiological nature and may help in rational drug design.
Results: The web service protein-ligand interaction presented here provides a tool to analyse and compare the binding pockets of homologous proteins in complex with a selected ligand. The information is deduced from protein-ligand complexes present in the Protein Data Bank and stored in the underlying database.
Availability: Freely accessible at http://bioinformatics.istge.it/pli/.
Contact: domenico.bordo@istge.it