bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial of Reciprocal Peer Support in Heart Failure
Authors: Heisler Michele , Halasyamani Lakshmi , Cowen Mark E. , Davis Matthew D. , Resnicow Ken , Strawderman Robert L. , Choi Hwajung , Mase Rebecca , Piette John D. 
Published: February 2013

Background—
Although disease management programs for patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF) are effective, they are, however, often resource intensive, limiting their uptake. Peer support programs have led to improved outcomes among patients with other chronic conditions and may result in similar improvements for patients with HF.

Methods and Results—
In this randomized controlled trial, Reciprocal Peer Support (RPS) arm patients participated in a HF nurse practitioner–led goal setting group session, received brief training in peer communication skills, and were paired with another participant in their cohort with whom they were encouraged to talk weekly using a telephone platform. Participants were also encouraged to attend 3 nurse practitioner–facilitated peer support group sessions. Patients in the nurse care management arm attended a nurse practitioner–led session to address their HF care questions and receive HF educational materials and information on how to access care management services. The median age of the patients was 69 years; 51% were female and 26% were racial/ethnic minorities. Only 55% of RPS patients participated in peer calls or group sessions. In intention-to-treat analyses, the RPS and nurse care management groups did not differ in time-to-first all-cause rehospitalization or death or in mean numbers of rehospitalizations or deaths. There were no differences in improvements in 6-month measures of HF-specific quality of life or social support.

Conclusions—
Among patients recently hospitalized for HF, more than half of RPS participants had no or minimal engagement with the RPS program, and the program did not improve outcomes compared with usual HF nurse care management.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00508508.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Heart Failure and a QRS Complex <120 Milliseconds
Authors: Thibault Bernard , Harel François , Ducharme Anique , White Michel , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. , Frasure-Smith Nancy , Roy Denis , Philippon François , Dorian Paul , Talajic Mario , Dubuc Marc , Guerra Peter G. , Macle Laurent , Rivard Léna , Andrade Jason , Khairy Paul 
Published: February 2013

Background—
Although the benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy are well established in selected patients with heart failure and a prolonged QRS duration, salutary effects in patients with narrow QRS complexes remain to be demonstrated.

Methods and Results—

The Evaluation of Resynchronization Therapy for Heart Failure (LESSER-EARTH) trial is a randomized, double-blind, 12-center study that was designed to compare the effects of active and inactive cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and a QRS duration <120 milliseconds. The trial was interrupted prematurely by the Data Safety and Monitoring Board because of futility and safety concerns after 85 patients were randomized. Changes in exercise duration after 12 months were no different in patients with and without active cardiac resynchronization therapy (−0.7 minutes [95% confidence interval (CI), −2.9 to 1.5] versus 0.8 minutes [95% CI, −1.2 to 2.9];
P
=0.31]. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in left ventricular end-systolic volumes (−6.4 mL [95% CI, −18.8 to 5.9] versus 3.1 mL [95% CI, −9.2 to 15.5];
P
=0.28) and ejection fraction (3.3% [95% CI, 0.7–6.0] versus 2.1% [95% CI, −0.5 to 4.8];
P
=0.52). Moreover, cardiac resynchronization therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the 6-minute walk distance (−11.3 m [95% CI, −31.7 to 9.7] versus 25.3 m [95% CI, 6.1–44.5];
P
=0.01), an increase in QRS duration (40.2 milliseconds [95% CI, 34.2–46.2] versus 3.4 milliseconds [95% CI, 0.6–6.2];
P
<0.0001), and a nonsignificant trend toward an increase in heart failure–related hospitalizations (15 hospitalizations in 5 patients versus 4 hospitalizations in 4 patients).

Conclusions—
In patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, symptoms of heart failure, and a QRS duration <120 milliseconds, cardiac resynchronization therapy did not improve clinical outcomes or left ventricular remodeling and was associated with potential harm.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00900549.
Early Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Perfusion-Weighted Imaging Lesion Volumes Forecast Final Infarct Size in DEFUSE 2
Authors: Wheeler Hayley M. , Mlynash Michael , Inoue Manabu , Tipirneni Aaryani , Liggins John , Zaharchuk Greg , Straka Matus , Kemp Stephanie , Bammer Roland , Lansberg Maarten G. , Albers Gregory W. 
Published: February 2013

Background and Purpose—
It is hypothesized that early diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions accurately estimate the size of the irreversibly injured core and thresholded perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) lesions (time to maximum of tissue residue function [Tmax] >6 seconds) approximate the volume of critically hypoperfused tissue. With incomplete reperfusion, the union of baseline DWI and posttreatment PWI is hypothesized to predict infarct volume.

Methods—
This is a substudy of Diffusion and Perfusion Imaging Evaluation for Understanding Stroke Evolution Study 2 (DEFUSE 2); all patients with technically adequate MRI scans at 3 time points were included. Baseline DWI and early follow-up PWI lesion volumes were determined by the RAPID software program. Final infarct volumes were assessed with 5-day fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and were corrected for edema. Reperfusion was defined on the basis of the reduction in PWI lesion volume between baseline and early follow-up MRI. DWI and PWI volumes were correlated with final infarct volumes.

Results—

Seventy-three patients were eligible. Twenty-six patients with >90% reperfusion show a high correlation between early DWI volume and final infarct volume (
r
=0.95;
P
<0.001). Nine patients with <10% reperfusion have a high correlation between baseline PWI (Tmax >6 seconds) volume and final infarct volume (
r
=0.86;
P
=0.002). Using all 73 patients, the union of baseline DWI and early follow-up PWI is highly correlated with final infarct volume (
r
=0.94;
P
<0.001). The median absolute difference between observed and predicted final volumes is 15 mL (interquartile range, 5.5–30.2).

Conclusions—
Baseline DWI and early follow-up PWI (Tmax >6 seconds) volumes provide a reasonable approximation of final infarct volume after endovascular therapy.
Harmony between Arkhē and Telos in Patristic Platonism and the Imagery of Astronomical Harmony Applied to Apokatastasis
Authors: Ramelli Ilaria 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
This study investigates the idea of harmony as a protological and eschatological principle in three outstanding Patristic philosophers, well steeped in the Platonic tradition: Origen, Gregory Nyssen, and Evagrius. All of them attached an extraordinary importance to harmony, homonoia, and unity in the arkhē and, even more, in the telos. This ideal is opposed to the disagreement/dispersion of rational creatures’ acts of volition after their fall and before the eventual apokatastasis. These Christian Platonists are among the strongest supporters of the final universal restoration. Their reflection on the unity-multiplicity dialectic, which parallels that between harmony and disorder/discord/dissonance, is informed by the Platonic tradition. In Gregory, the idea of harmony assumes musical connotations, especially in relation to the telos.
In this connection, I examine the relationship between their notion of harmony in the arkhē and telos and Plotinus’ concept of harmony. Plotinus was well known to Gregory, the author of a Christianized version of Plato’s Phaedo in which apokatastasis is prominent. Origen, whose readings included many Middle-Platonic and Neo-Pythagorean texts, in Alexandria attended the classes of the “proto-Neoplatonist” Ammonius, who was also Plotinus’ teacher. A wide-ranging methodical investigation of the relation between Origen’s and Plotinus’ philosophical thoughts is still a notable desideratum.
Finally, I concentrate on the concept of harmony in astronomy as a metaphor for intellectual harmony and apokatastasis in Patristic Platonism, especially in Evagrius’ Kephalaia Gnōstika. The noun apokatastasis was used in an astronomical sense, and employed in Stoicism for the conclusion of a cosmic cycle. Evagrius, who loved astronomical metaphors, focussed a kephalaion on a wordplay—which escaped Guillaumont and all other scholars—concerning the astronomical meaning of apokatastasis, thus embedding his theory of the eventual restoration in an allegorical framework that rests on a notion of astronomical harmony. A strong case is made in this connection that Evagrius was elaborating on Plato’s pivotal link between cosmological (astronomical) and intellectual harmony, and was aware that the Stoic theory of cosmological apokatastasis drew on Plato.
Changing Interpretations of Plotinus: The 18th-Century Introduction of the Concept of a ‘System of Philosophy’
Authors: Catana Leo 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
This article critically explores the history and nature of a hermeneutic assumption which frequently guided interpretations of Plotinus from the 18th century onwards, namely that Plotinus advanced a system of philosophy. It is argued that this assumption was introduced relatively late, in the 18th and 19th centuries, and that it was primarily made possible by Brucker’s methodology for the history of philosophy, dating from the 1740s, to which the concept of a ‘system of philosophy’ was essential. It is observed that the concept is absent from Ficino’s commentary from the 15th century, and that it remained absent in interpretations produced between the 15th and 18th centuries. It is also argued that the assumption of a ‘system of philosophy’ in Plotinus is historically incorrect—we do not find this concept in Plotinus’ writings, and his own statements about method point in other directions.
Eduard Zeller (active in the second half of the 19th century) is typically regarded as the first to give a satisfying account of Plotinus’ philosophy as a whole. In this article, on the other hand, Zeller is seen as having finalised a tradition initiated in the 18th century. Very few Plotinus scholars have examined the interpretative development prior to Zeller. Schiavone (1952) and Bonetti (1971), for instance, have given little attention to Brucker’s introduction of the concept of a ‘system of philosophy’. The present analysis, then, has value for an understanding of Plotinus’ Enneads. It also explains why “pre-Bruckerian” interpretations of Plotinus appear alien to the modern reader; the analysis may even serve to make some sense of the hermeneutics employed by Renaissance Platonists and commentators, who are often eclipsed from the tradition of Platonism.
Energetic Arousal and Language
Authors: Zajenkowski Marcin 
Published: February 2013

Objective: The author examines the relationship between energetic arousal (EA) and the processing of sentences containing natural-language quantifiers. Background: Previous studies and theories have shown that energy may differentially affect various cognitive functions. Recent investigations devoted to quantifiers strongly support the theory that various types of quantifiers involve different cognitive functions in the sentence–picture verification task. Method: In the present study, 201 students were presented with a sentence–picture verification task consisting of simple propositions containing a quantifier that referred to the color of a car on display. Color pictures of cars accompanied the propositions. In addition, the level of participants’ EA was measured before and after the verification task. Results: It was found that EA and performance on proportional quantifiers (e.g., “More than half of the cars are red”) are in an inverted U-shaped relationship. Conclusion: This result may be explained by the fact that proportional sentences engage working memory to a high degree, and previous models of EA–cognition associations have been based on the assumption that tasks that require parallel attentional and memory processes are best performed when energy is moderate. Application: The research described in the present article has several applications, as it shows the optimal human conditions for verbal comprehension. For instance, it may be important in workplace design to control the level of arousal experienced by office staff when work is mostly related to the processing of complex texts. Energy level may be influenced by many factors, such as noise, time of day, or thermal conditions.
ERK1/2 activity contributes to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Zheng Chunning , Jiao Xuelong , Jiang Yingsheng , Sun Shaochuan 
Published: February 2013

Objective To test the hypothesis that chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer is mediated via extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 overactivity. Methods The human pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC3, PANC-1 and a stably gemcitabine-resistant subline, PANC1GemRes, were treated with combinations of gemcitabine and the ERK1/2 inhibitor, U0126. Phosphorylated (p)ERK1/2 was examined by Western blotting; cell proliferation and apoptosis were quantified. A nude mouse xenograft model was established with each cell line, and the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine and U0126 alone or in combination was examined. Results Gemcitabine treatment visibly increased pERK1/2 levels in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells. PANC-1GemRes constitutively produced high levels of pERK1/2. U0126 treatment reversed the gemcitabine-associated increase in cell proliferation and reduction in apoptosis, in all three cell lines. Combination treatment with U0126 and gemcitabine inhibited tumour growth and promoted apoptosis in xenograft tumours derived from all three cell lines. Conclusions ERK1/2 activity may protect pancreatic cancer cells from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. The combined use of an ERK1/2 inhibitor (such as U0126) together with gemcitabine may result in synergistic therapeutic effects at tolerable gemcitabine doses.
Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and cognitive function in lacunar infarct
Authors: Zhang Min , Chen Maogang , Wang Qizhang , Yun Wenwei , Zhang Zhizhong , Yin Qin , Huang Qinsong , Zhu Wusheng 
Published: February 2013

Objective Little is known about the impact of cerebral microbleeds on cognitive function. This study investigated the distribution of cerebral microbleeds and their impact on cognitive function, in patients with lacunar infarct. Methods Patients with lacunar infarct were enrolled prospectively. Cerebral microbleeds were classified as absent, mild, moderate or severe, based on magnetic resonance imaging findings. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire, with a total score of <26 indicating cognitive impairment. Results Of the 85 patients included in the study, 35 (41.2%) had cerebral microbleeds. They were more frequently observed in mixed and deep brain regions, but rarely in the cerebral lobes. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that presence of cerebral microbleeds (odds ratio [OR] 5.320), duration of education (OR 0.938) and age (OR 1.464) were independent predictors of cognitive impairment. There was a significant correlation between cerebral microbleed severity and MoCA score. Conclusion The number and location of cerebral microbleeds were both closely associated with cognitive impairment, in patients with lacunar infarct.
Consolidation therapy is necessary following successful biofeedback treatment for pubertal chronic prostatitis patients: A 3-year follow-up study
Authors: Wang Jun , Qi Lin , Zhang Xiang Yang , Dai Yuan Qing , Li Yuan 
Published: February 2013

Objective To assess long-term effects of biofeedback training on pubertal chronic prostatitis (CP). Methods Pubertal CP patients received 12-week intensive biofeedback training and were divided into two groups: group 1 received further monthly training ≥24 (26–36) months; group 2 received further monthly training <24 (13–23) months. National Institutes of Health–CP Symptom Index (NIH–CPSI) scores, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) were recorded monthly. Results Total NIH–CPSI scores decreased significantly in group 1 ( n = 10; mean age ± SD 16.5 ± 1.1 years) together with all subdomain scores (pain, urination, life impact). Total NIH–CPSI scores increased significantly in group 2 ( n = 12; mean age ± SD 16.3 ± 1.2 years) at 30 and 36 months, and were significantly different from group 1 at these time points. Urination and life-impact scores increased significantly and Qmax decreased significantly in group 2 at 30 and 36 months. PVR was unchanged in either group. Conclusions Twelve-week intensive biofeedback training requires lengthy consolidation sessions to achieve long-term success. Further investigation should assess longer intervals between consolidation sessions, for improving patient compliance and outcome.
Property enhancement of epoxy resin using a combination of amine-terminated butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymer and nanoclay
Authors: Bakar M , Szymańska J 
Published: February 2013

The present work investigates the effect of organomodified nanoclay (ZW1) and butadiene–acrylonitrile copolymer terminated with amine group (ATBN copolymer) on the properties of epoxy resin (EP). The impact strength (IS) and the critical stress intensity factor ( KC) values of EP containing 1% nanoclay increased approximately by 200% and 75%, respectively, in relation to neat EP. Moreover, hybrid composites containing 1% or 2% nanoclay and ATBN showed improved mechanical properties in relation with unmodified EP. The magnification and analysis of the Fourier-transform infrared spectra showed an increase in the peak height of 3338 cm-1 due to polymeric modifier incorporation. This finding might be explained by the reaction between modifier or hardener amine groups and the unreacted part of EP cured at room temperature. Hybrid composite containing 2% Nanobent ZW1 and 5% ATBN exhibited synergistic effect in terms of tensile adhesive strength toward composites with one modifier. Moreover, scanning electron micrographs showed more elongated and leaf-like structure for hybrid compositions, explaining the enhancement of IS and KC values of the tested composites.
Rheological and thermomechanical behaviour of polylactide/hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium–modified layered silicate nanocomposites
Authors: Prakalathan K , Mohanty Smita , Nayak Sanjay K 
Published: February 2013

This work is focused on the modification of montmorillonite by hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA) as a surfactant by cation exchange reaction. HDTMA-modified layered silicate (HDTMA-MLS) was compounded with polylactide (PLA) by melt extrusion technique for making nanocomposites. These nanocomposites were subjected to morphological, rheological, thermal and mechanical analyses. Variations in mechanical properties, plasticity and thermal stability with the addition of modified nanoclays in PLA were investigated. The presence of HDTMA in clay minerals was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis that shows two absorption bands at 2927 cm−1 and 2860 cm−1 that corresponds to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of C–CH2 of alkyl chain, respectively, and the band at about 1470 cm−1 was assigned to the vibration of trimethyl ammonium quaternary group C–N(CH3)3. Melt rheology of virgin PLA and nanocomposites performed by small amplitude oscillation shear measurement. Incorporation of HDTMA-MLS (1–7 wt%) into PLA matrix yields significant improvements in the elastic modulus ( G′) of nanocomposites due to intercalation at high temperature. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy determined that PLA/HDTMA-MLS nanocomposites were intercalated. Nanocomposite prepared using 5 wt% HDTMA-MLS exhibited optimum mechanical performance with an increase in the tensile and flexural modulus and impact strength as compared to virgin PLA, which confirms intercalation morphology. Dynamic mechanical analysis study revealed an increase in the storage modulus ( G′) confirming a strong interaction between the modified clays and PLA. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis showed improved thermal properties. Heat deflection temperature of the matrix also increases in the presence of nanoclays.
Enhancement of thermal stability and degradation kinetics study of poly(vinyl alcohol)/zinc oxide nanoparticles composite
Authors: Abd-Elrahman Mostafa I 
Published: February 2013

The thermal degradation behaviors of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and PVA/zinc oxide (ZnO) composite are investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The degradation activation energy ( Ed), frequency factor ( ko) and Avrami exponent ( n) as thermal kinetic parameters are calculated from the DTA results. The calculated values of Ed are 80.94 and 148.58 kJ mol−1 for PVA and PVA/ZnO composite, respectively, indicating the enhancement of the PVA thermal stability as ZnO nanoparticles are filled in PVA matrix. The n values are evaluated from the shape analyses of degradation peaks. From estimated n values, the degradation mechanisms are determined for both the complexes under investigation.
Effects of Sleep Loss on the Rest–Activity Circadian Rhythm of Helpers Participating in Continuous Dogsled Races
Authors: Calogiuri Giovanna , Weydahl Andi 
Published: February 2013

Objective: The Finnmarksløpet dogsled race lasts up to 7 days. Helpers, who keep time, coach, and transport equipment, have to be alert though they have little and fragmented sleep. This study investigated disruptions of the rest–activity rhythm among helpers. Methods: 10 helpers were monitored by actigraph a week before, during, and after the race. Sleep logs, sleepiness rate, and self-reported quality of sleep were collected. Results: Nonparametric circadian rhythm analysis showed significant differences between the pre- and postrace interdaily stability and amplitude of rhythm. Compared to prerace, sleepiness at bedtime was increased and number of nocturnal awakenings was reduced postrace, although the actigraphic outputs showed no improvement in sleep quality. Helpers who were engaged in the race for a longer span (5–6 days) had more difficulty recovering from the sleep loss accumulated during the race than those engaged for a shorter time (2–3 days). Conclusion: Poor sleep combined with prolonged and demanding mental focus for 2 days or more has a negative influence upon the rest–activity cycle, though complete restoration of the cycle occurs over 1 week or more. Being in such a condition for ≥ 5 days leads to disruptions of the circadian component of the sleep–wake cycle that hampers the sleep recovery process. Disrupted sleep and demanding mental requirements are common in long-distance sporting events as well as among shift workers. Follow-up intervention should be made in such cases to ensure the return of a healthy rest–activity rhythm and sleep quality.