bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temperature-dependent terahertz conductivity of tin oxide nanowire films
Authors: Zou Xingquan , Luo Jingshan , Lee Dongwook , Cheng Chuanwei , Springer Daniel , Nair Saritha K , Cheong Siew Ann , Fan Hong Jin , Chia Elbert E M 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Temperature-dependent terahertz conductivity of tin oxide (SnO2) nanowire films was measured from 10 to 300 K using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The optical parameters, including the complex refractive index, optical conductivity and dielectric function, were obtained using a simple effective medium theory. The complex conductivity was fitted with the Drude–Smith model and the plasmon model. The results show that the carrier density (N) and plasmon resonance frequency (ω
0) increase while the scattering time decreases with increasing temperature. The reduced carrier mobility compared with bulk SnO2 indicates the presence of carrier localization or trapping in these nanowires.
Left cardiac sympathetic denervation for treatment of symptomatic systolic heart failure patients: a pilot study
Authors: Conceição‐Souza Germano Emílio , Pêgo‐Fernandes Paulo Manuel , Cruz Fatima das Dores , Guimarães Guilherme Veiga , Bacal Fernando , Vieira Marcelo Luiz Campos , Grupi Cesar José , Giorgi Maria Clementina Pinto , Consolim‐Colombo Fernanda Marciano , Negrão Carlos Eduardo , Rondon Maria Urbana P. , Moreira Luiz Felipe Pinho , Bocchi Edimar Alcides 
Published: October 2012

AimsTo evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential beneficial effects of left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) in systolic heart failure (HF) patients.Methods and resultsIn this prospective, randomized pilot study, inclusion criteria were New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%, sinus rhythm, and resting heart rate >65 b.p.m., despite optimal medical therapy (MT). Fifteen patients were randomly assigned either to MT alone or MT plus LCSD. The primary endpoint was safety, measured by mortality in the first month of follow‐up and morbidity according to pre‐specified criteria. Secondary endpoints were exercise capacity, quality of life, LVEF, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and 24 h Holter mean heart rate before and after 6 months. We studied clinical effects in long‐term follow‐up. Ten patients underwent LCSD. There were no adverse events attributable to surgery. In the LCSD group, LVEF improved from 25 ± 6.6 to 33 ± 5.2 (P = 0.03); 6 min walking distance improved from 167 ± 35 to 198 ± 47 m (P = 0.02). Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) score physical dimension changed from 21 ± 5 to 15 ± 7 (P = 0.06). The remaining analysed variables were unchanged. During 848 ± 549 days of follow‐up, in the MT group, three patients either died or underwent cardiac transplantation (CT), while in the LCSD group six were alive without CT.ConclusionsLCSD was feasible and seemed to be safe in systolic HF patients. Its beneficial effects warrant the development of a larger randomized trial.Trail registration: NCT01224899.
Association between glycated haemoglobin and the risk of congestive heart failure in diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Erqou Sebhat , Lee Chee‐Tin Christine , Suffoletto Matthew , Echouffo‐Tcheugui Justin B. , de Boer Rudolf A. , van Melle Joost P. , Adler Amanda I. 
Published: October 2012

BackgroundClinical trials to date have not provided definitive evidence regarding the effects of glucose lowering on the incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). We synthesized available prospective epidemiological data on the association between glycaemia measured by haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and incident CHF in individuals with diabetes.Methods and resultsWe searched electronic databases and reference lists of selected articles for relevant prospective epidemiological studies. We abstracted data from relevant studies using standardized forms and obtained additional data from investigators when required. We pooled study‐specific relative risk estimates using random‐effects model meta‐analysis.Of the 1044 citations identified, we included 10 studies comprising 178 929 participants with diabetes and 14 176 incident CHF cases. Five studies included only patients with type 2 diabetes, four studies had predominantly patients with type 2 diabetes, and one study included only patients with type 1 diabetes. All studies except one showed an increased risk of CHF with higher HbA1c. The overall adjusted risk ratio (RR) for CHF was 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.21] for each percentage point higher HbA1c. There was substantial heterogeneity across the 10 studies (I2: 83%; 95% CI 69–91%; P < 0.001) not explained by available study‐level characteristics such as study design or average HbA1c level. In seven studies reporting RRs with more than one degree of adjustment, the association was minimally altered after adjustment for several cardiovascular risk factors.ConclusionsIn observational studies of individuals with diabetes, a higher HbA1c level was associated with a significantly increased incidence of CHF.
Further insights into the underlying electrophysiological mechanisms for reduction of atrial fibrillation by ranolazine in an experimental model of chronic heart failure
Authors: Frommeyer Gerrit , Schmidt Marco , Clauß Catharina , Kaese Sven , Stypmann Jörg , Pott Christian , Eckardt Lars , Milberg Peter 
Published: October 2012

AimsRanolazine (RAN) was reported to be effective and safe in converting atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm by administration of a single dose (‘pill in the pocket’) to patients with structural heart disease. This study examines the underlying mechanisms for the antiarrhythmic benefit of RAN application in chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods and resultsIn 10 female rabbits, CHF was induced by rapid ventricular pacing, leading to a significant decrease in ejection fraction in the presence of a dilated left ventricle and atrial enlargement. Twelve rabbits were sham‐operated and served as controls. Isolated hearts were perfused using the Langendorff method. Burst pacing was used to induce AF. Monophasic action potential recordings showed an increase of atrial action potential duration (aAPD) and effective refractory period (aERP) in CHF hearts compared with sham hearts. Infusion of acetylcholine (1 µM) and isoproterenol (1 µM) led to AF in all failing hearts and in 11 sham hearts. Simultaneous infusion of RAN (10 µM) remarkably reduced inducibility of AF in 50% of sham and 50% of failing hearts. RAN had no effect on aAPD but significantly increased aERP, leading to a marked increase in atrial post‐repolarization refractoriness. Moreover, RAN application moderately increased interatrial conduction time.ConclusionRAN has been shown to be effective in reducing the inducibility of AF in an experimental model of AF. The antiarrhythmic effect is mainly due to development of atrial post‐repolarization refractoriness and a moderate increase in conduction time. The described electrophysiological mechanisms remain preserved in the setting of CHF.
High-field magnetic white dwarfs as the progeny of early-type stars?
Authors: Dobbie P. D. , Külebi B. , Casewell S. L. , Burleigh M. R. , Parker Q. A. , Baxter R. , Lawrie K. A. , Jordan S. , Koester D. 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
We present an analysis of the newly resolved components of two hot, double-degenerate systems, SDSS J074853.07+302543.5 + J074852.95+302543.4 and SDSS J150813.24+394504.9 + J150813.31+394505.6 (CBS 229). We confirm that each system has widely separated components (a &gt; 100 au) consisting of a H-rich, non-magnetic white dwarf and a H-rich, high-field magnetic white dwarf (HFMWD). The masses of the non-magnetic degenerates are found to be larger than typical of field white dwarfs. We use these components to estimate the total ages of the binaries and demonstrate that both magnetic white dwarfs are the progeny of stars with Minit &gt; 2 M⊙. We briefly discuss the traits of all known hot, wide, magnetic + non-magnetic double degenerates in the context of HFMWD formation theories. These are broadly consistent (chance probability, P ≈ 0.065) with HFMWDs forming primarily from early-type stars and, in the most succinct interpretation, link their magnetism to the fields of their progenitors. Our results do not, however, rule out that HFMWDs can form through close binary interactions and studies of more young, wide double degenerates are required to reach firm conclusions on these formation pathways.
Effect of superfluidity on neutron star oscillations
Authors: Sotani Hajime , Nakazato Ken’ichiro , Iida Kei , Oyamatsu Kazuhiro 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
We consider how superfluidity of dripped neutrons in the crust of a neutron star affects the frequencies of the crust's fundamental torsional oscillations. A non-negligible superfluid part of dripped neutrons, which do not comove with nuclei, acts to reduce the enthalpy density and thus enhance the oscillation frequencies. By assuming that the quasi-periodic oscillations observed in giant flares of soft gamma repeaters arise from the fundamental torsional oscillations and that the mass and radius of the neutron star are in the range 1.4 ≤ M/M⊙ ≤ 1.8 and 10 ≤ R ≤ 14 km, we constrain the density derivative of the symmetry energy as 100 ≲ L ≲ 130 MeV, which is far more severe than the previous one, L ≳ 50 MeV, derived by ignoring the superfluidity.
Solution structure of the cold-shock-like protein fromRickettsia rickettsii
Authors: Gerarden Kyle P. , Fuchs Andrew M. , Koch Jonathan M. , Mueller Melissa M. , Graupner David R. , O'Rorke Justin T. , Frost Caleb D. , Heinen Heather A. , Lackner Emily R. , Schoeller Scott J. , House Paul G. , Peterson Francis C. , Veldkamp Christopher T. 
Published: October 2012

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused byRickettsia rickettsiiinfection.R. rickettsiican be transmitted to mammals, including humans, through the bite of an infected hard-bodied tick of the family Ixodidae. Since theR. rickettsiigenome contains only one cold-shock-like protein and given the essential nature of cold-shock proteins in other bacteria, the structure of the cold-shock-like protein fromR. rickettsiiwas investigated. With the exception of a short α-helix found between β-strands 3 and 4, the solution structure of theR. rickettsiicold-shock-like protein has the typical Greek-key five-stranded β-barrel structure found in most cold-shock domains. Additionally, theR. rickettsiicold-shock-like protein, with a ΔGof unfolding of 18.4 kJ mol−1, has a similar stability when compared with other bacterial cold-shock proteins.
The effect of emotional distress on persistent pelvic girdle pain after delivery: a longitudinal population study
Authors: Bjelland EK , Stuge B , Engdahl B , Eberhard‐Gran M 
Published: October 2012

Objective  To study the prognosis for pelvic girdle pain, and to explore the association between presence of emotional distress during pregnancy and pelvic girdle syndrome 6 months after delivery.Design  Longitudinal population study.Setting  Norway, for the period 1999–2008.Population  A follow‐up of 41 421 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort who reported pelvic girdle pain at 30 weeks of gestation.Methods  Data were obtained by self‐administered questionnaires in weeks 17 and 30 of gestation, and 6 months after delivery.Main outcome measure  Pelvic girdle syndrome 6 months after delivery, defined as pain in the anterior pelvis and on both sides in the posterior pelvis.Results  Six months after delivery, 78.0% of the women had recovered, 18.5% reported persistent pain in one or two pelvic locations, 3.0% reported pelvic girdle syndrome and 0.5% reported severe pelvic girdle syndrome. The recovery rates decreased with increasing levels of pain severity in pregnancy. Being emotionally distressed at two time points during pregnancy was associated with the presence of pelvic girdle syndrome (adjusted OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.9) and severe pelvic girdle syndrome (adjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.1), after adjustment for pain severity in pregnancy, other medical conditions, body mass index, age at menarche, previous low back pain, and smoking during pregnancy.Conclusions  In this follow‐up of women with pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy, the recovery rates after delivery were high. Our findings suggest that the presence of emotional distress during pregnancy is independently associated with the persistence of pelvic girdle pain after delivery.
Pulmonary Fat Embolism—A Prospective Study within the Forensic Autopsy Collective of the Republic of Iceland
Authors: Voisard Matthias X. , Schweitzer Wolf , Jackowski Christian 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIn the last century, studies established the origin of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE) and identified mechanical trauma as main source for PFE. This prospective study focused on determining a possible influence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), in the context of an aging population, on the occurrence of PFE. Lung tissue samples from 256 bodies were examined using the twin‐edged knife technique without preliminary fixation but after staining with Sudan III. PFE grading was determined according to Falzi and performed at a 10× magnification. For statistical analysis, bodies were grouped by age, gender, and putrefaction and categorized following whether they had experienced trauma, CPR, the combination of both, or no mechanical impact. There was a significant correlation of trauma, CPR, and the combination of both to PFE but no noticeable influence of gender or putrefaction. An age over 70 years promotes a PFE due to resuscitation.
Two‐year course of anxiety disorders: different across disorders or dimensions?
Authors: Hendriks Sanne M. , Spijker Jan , Licht Carmilla M. M. , Beekman Aartjan T. F. , Penninx Brenda W. J. H. 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveThis study compares diagnostic and symptom course trajectories across different anxiety disorders, and examines the role of anxiety arousal vs. avoidance behaviour symptoms in course prediction.MethodData were from 834 subjects with a current anxiety disorder from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) who were re‐interviewed after 2 years. DSM‐IV‐based diagnostic interviews and Life Chart Interviews (LCI) were used to assess the diagnostic and symptom course trajectory over 2 years. Anxiety arousal and avoidance behaviour symptoms were measured with LCI, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Fear Questionnaire.ResultsPrognosis varied across disorders, with favourable remittance rates of 72.5% for panic disorder without agoraphobia and 69.7% for generalized anxiety disorder; gradually declining to 53.5% for social phobia and 52.7% for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Only 42.9% of those with multiple anxiety disorder remitted, and this group showed a more chronic course than pure anxiety disorders. Both baseline duration and severity were course predictors. Avoidance behaviour symptoms predicted the outcome better than anxiety arousal symptoms.ConclusionsThese data suggest that the specific anxiety disorders such as recognized by DSM‐IV are useful in predicting the outcome and that this may be determined largely by the relative severity of avoidance behaviour that patients have developed.
Agreeableness, conscientiousness, and psychoticism: Distinctive influences of three personality dimensions in adolescence
Authors: Heaven Patrick C. L. , Ciarrochi Joseph , Leeson Peter , Barkus Emma 
Published: October 2012

Researchers have suggested that the psychoticism (P) personality dimension of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire may be largely redundant with the agreeableness (A) and conscientiousness (C) constructs of the five‐factor model. Little research has examined the distinctiveness of these constructs. We utilized a multi‐wave, multi‐method design to examine the ability of C, A, and P to uniquely predict a number of important outcomes amongst high school students. A total of 778 students (391 males, 387 females; mean age 15.41 years.) completed personality measures in Grade 10. Self‐reported self‐esteem, social support, health‐related behaviours, religious values as well as teachers' assessments of students, were collected 1 and 2 years later. A, C, and P were distinctive in their ability to predict these outcomes, after controlling for gender and socio‐economic status as well as Grade 10 extraversion, openness, and neuroticism. The individual P items explained unique variance over and above that explained by A and C. It was concluded that P is not merely the opposite of A and C. Implications for interventions are raised.
Children's use of addition to solve two‐digit subtraction problems
Authors: Peters Greet , De Smedt Bert , Torbeyns Joke , Ghesquière Pol , Verschaffel Lieven 
Published: October 2012

Subtraction problems of the type M − S = ? can be solved with various mental calculation strategies. We investigated fourth‐ to sixth‐graders' use of the subtraction by addition strategy, first by fitting regression models to the reaction times of 32 two‐digit subtractions. These models represented three different strategy use patterns: the use of direct subtraction, subtraction by addition, and switching between the two strategies based on the magnitude of the subtrahend. Additionally, we compared performance on problems presented in two presentation formats, i.e., a subtraction format (81 − 37 = .) and an addition format (37 + . = 81). Both methods converged to the conclusion that children of all three grades switched between direct subtraction and subtraction by addition based on the combination of two features of the subtrahend: If the subtrahend was smaller than the difference, direct subtraction was the dominant strategy; if the subtrahend was larger than the difference, subtraction by addition was mainly used. However, this performance pattern was only observed when the numerical distance between subtrahend and difference was large. These findings indicate that theoretical models of children's strategy choices in subtraction should include the nature of the subtrahend as an important factor in strategy selection.
Chromogenic in situ Hybridization is a Reliable Alternative to Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Diagnostic Testing of 1p and 19q Loss in Paraffin‐Embedded Gliomas
Authors: Lass Ulrike , Hartmann Christian , Capper David , Herold‐Mende Christel , von Deimling Andreas , Meiboom Maren , Mueller Wolf 
Published: October 2012

AbstractRecent studies imply the importance of rapid and reliable diagnostic assessment of 1p/19q status in oligodendroglial tumors. To date, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the most commonly applied technique. FISH, however, has several technical shortcomings that are suboptimal for diagnostic applications: results must be viewed in a fluorescence microscope, results are usually evaluated by a single investigator only, and signal fading excludes physical archiving. Also, in gliomas, the distinction of diffusely infiltrating tumor cells from reactively altered normal tissue may be challenging in fluorescence microscopy. Dual‐color chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) has started to replace FISH in some diagnostic tests performed in pathology. Here, we present the first single institute experience with a side‐by‐side analysis of 1p/19q FISH and CISH in a series of 42 consecutive gliomas. FISH and CISH produced identical results for 1p and 19q in 93% of cases (n = 39/42). Discrepant results were reevaluated by repeated FISH and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based microsatellite marker analysis for loss of heterozygosity. Reevaluation confirmed CISH data in all three cases. We conclude that CISH is a reliable alternative in 1p/19q testing in paraffin‐embedded tissues likely to be more sensitive to detect 1p/19q status than FISH analysis.
Identification of the internal anal opening and seton placement improves the outcome of deep postanal space abscess
Authors: Tan K.‐K. , Liu X. , Tsang C. B. , Koh D. C. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractAimThis study aimed to determine if successful seton placement at the initial drainage procedure improves outcomes in the management of deep postanal space abscesses.MethodA retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent initial drainage of a DPA space abscess between December 2002 and August 2010. A seton was placed through the internal opening if it could be identified.ResultsThirty‐two patients of median age 41 (21–64) years formed the study group. Twenty‐four (75.0%) had a seton inserted at the initial drainage procedure. The patients underwent a total of 56 operations. The median interval from the initial to the final operation was 5 (2–18) months with 17 (70.8%) patients having the final operation within 6 months. In the 8 (25.0%) patients whose internal opening could not be found, 26 operations were required with a median interval from the initial to the final surgery of 11 (3–24) months. Patients who had a seton successfully inserted at drainage underwent significantly earlier definitive surgery and required fewer operations (P < 0.038).ConclusionIdentification of an internal opening with placement of a seton at the initial drainage procedure is associated with earlier definitive surgery and fewer operations.
Muscle satellite cells are activated after exercise to exhaustion in Thoroughbred horses
Authors: Kawai M. , Aida H. , Hiraga A. , Miyata H. 
Published: October 2012

SummaryReasons for performing studyAlthough satellite cells are well known as muscle stem cells capable of adding myonuclei during muscle repair and hypertrophy, the response of satellite cells in horse muscles to a run to exhaustion is still unknown.ObjectivesTo investigate the time course of satellite cell activation in Thoroughbred horse muscle after running to exhaustion. We hypothesised that this type of intense exercise would induce satellite cell activation in skeletal muscle similar to a resistance exercise.MethodsNine de‐trained Thoroughbred horses (6 geldings and 3 mares) aged 3–6 years were studied. Biopsy samples were taken from the gluteus medius muscle of the horses before and 1 min, 3 h, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week and 2 weeks after a treadmill run to exhaustion. The numbers of satellite cells for each fibre type were determined by using immunofluorescence staining. Total RNA was extracted from these samples, and the expressions of interleukin (IL)‐6, paired box transcriptional factor (Pax) 7, myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD), myogenin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐I and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA were analysed using real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR.ResultsThe numbers of satellite cells were significantly increased in type I and IIa fibres at 1 week and in type IIa/x fibre at 2 weeks post exercise. The expression of IL‐6 mRNA increased significantly by 3 h post exercise. The expression of PCNA mRNA also increased by 1 day after running, indicating that running can initiate satellite cell proliferation. The expression of Pax7, MyoD, myogenin, IGF‐I and HGF mRNA peaked at 1 week post exercise.ConclusionSatellite cell activation and proliferation could be enhanced after a run to exhaustion without detectable injury as assessed by the histochemical analysis. Understanding the response of satellite cell activation to running exercise provides fundamental information about the skeletal muscle adaptation in Thoroughbred horses.