bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Case report on vertebral artery dissection in mixed martial arts
Authors: Slowey Michael , Maw Graeme , Furyk Jeremy 
Published: November 2011

AbstractA 41‐year‐old man presented to the ED with severe vertigo 2 days after a grappling injury while training in mixed martial arts. Imaging revealed a cerebellar infarct with complete occlusion of the right vertebral artery secondary to dissection. Management options are discussed as is the ongoing controversy regarding the safety of the sport.
Real‐time PCR to quantify composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities—marker design, verification, calibration and field validation
Authors: THONAR C. , ERB A. , JANSA J. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractQuantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) is slowly becoming established as a tool to quantify abundance of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) taxa in roots and in soil. Here, we describe the development and field validation of qPCR markers (i.e. primers with associated hydrolysis probes), targeting taxon‐specific motifs in the nuclear large ribosomal subunit RNA genes. Design of such markers is complicated by the multinuclear and multigenomic cellular organization of these fungi and the high DNA sequence diversity within the smallest biologically relevant units (i.e. single‐spore isolates). These limitations are further compounded by inefficient biomass production of these fungi, resulting in limited availability of pure genomic DNA (gDNA) of well‐defined isolates for cross‐specificity testing of the markers. Here we demonstrate, using a number of AMF isolates, the possibility to establish stringent qPCR running conditions allowing quantification of phylogenetically disjunctive AMF taxa. Further, we show that these markers can more generally be used to quantify abundance (i.e. number of target gene copies or amount of gDNA) of what is usually considered the level of AMF species, regardless of the isolate identities. We also illustrate the range of variation within qPCR signal strength across different AMF taxa with respect to the detected number of gene copies per unit amount of gDNA. This information is paramount for interpretation of the qPCR analyses of field samples. Finally, the field validation of these markers confirmed their potential to assess composition of field AMF communities and monitor the changes owing to agricultural practices such as soil tillage.
Application of a prescribing indicators tool to assist in identifying drug-related problems in a cohort of older Australians
Authors: Basger Benjamin J , Chen Timothy F , Moles Rebekah J 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Objective
Drug-related problems (DRPs) are common in older people, resulting in a disproportionate number of serious medication adverse events. Pharmacist-led interventions have been shown to be effective in identifying and reducing DRPs such as medication interactions, omission of recommended medications and use of ineffective medications. In 2008 we proposed a prescribing indicators tool to assist in identifying DRPs as part of the Australian medication review process. The objective was to apply the proposed prescribing indicators tool to a cohort of older Australians, to assess its use in detecting potential DRPs.

Methods
The prescribing indicators tool was applied in a cross-sectional observational study to 126 older (aged ≥65 years) English-speaking Australians taking five or more medications, as they were being discharged from a small private hospital into the community. Indicators were unmet when prescribing did not adhere to indicator tool guidelines.

Key findings
We found a high incidence of under-treatment, and use of inappropriate medications. There were on average 18 applicable indicators per patient, with each patient having on average seven unmet indicators.

Conclusion
The use of a prescribing indicators tool for commonly used medications and common medical conditions in older Australians may contribute to the efficient identification of DRPs.
Compliance with legal requirements at community pharmacies: a cross sectional study from Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Azha , Ibrahim Mohamed I M , Baber Zaheer-ud-Di 
Published: November 2011

AbstractObjectivesThe study evaluated the compliance of community pharmacies with legal requirements as laid down by the drug regulatory framework in Pakistan.MethodsAn exploratory cross sectional survey was conducted with a total of 371 randomly selected community pharmacies in three cities in Pakistan, namely Islamabad (n = 118), Peshawar (n = 120) and Lahore (n = 133). A questionnaire was developed and finalized by focus-group discussions and pilot testing. The questionnaire included background information and a legal requirement scale consisting of six subscales: licensing requirements, premises requirements, storage requirements, documentation requirements, narcotics section requirements and prescription checking. The data were coded, entered and analysed using SPSS software (version 16). Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney and chi square tests were used for analysis.Key findingsThe pharmacies were operating with one of the three licence types operating in Pakistan: type A (n = 96, 25.9%), type B (n = 186, 50.1%) and type C (n = 89, 24.0%). A narcotics licence was issued to 133 (35.8%) pharmacies; licences of 66 (17.8%) pharmacies were expired while the validity of 87 (23.0%) licences could not be determined. Only 113 (30.5%) pharmacies were totally clean. Eighty percent of the pharmacies had a refrigerator for storage of medicines, but only 284 (76%) of the refrigerators were in working condition. Complete medicine purchase records with warranties were available at 210 (56.6%) pharmacies.ConclusionsNone of the pharmacies completely complied with the legal requirements in terms of licensing, premises, storage, documentation, narcotics section, drug labelling and prescription checking. This speaks of poor regulation and control by health authorities on the sale and dispensing of medicines in Pakistan. This study will serve as a baseline for policy makers, managers, researchers and other stakeholders in developing designs for future interventions as well as for methods of accountability and control.
Fears of compassion and happiness in relation to alexithymia, mindfulness, and self‐criticism
Authors: Gilbert P. , McEwan K. , Gibbons L. , Chotai S. , Duarte J. , Matos M. 
Published: November 2011

Background. There is increasing research to suggest that fears of, and resistances to, affiliative and positive emotions are linked to self‐criticism and a range of psychopathologies. It is unclear how these fears and resistances are linked to each other and how these in turn are linked to psychological processes, such as abilities to be mindful and recognize and describe emotions.Objectives. This research explores the relationship between fears of compassion and happiness in general, with capacities for emotional processing (alexithymia), capacities for mindfulness, and empathic abilities. To advance this research, a new scale was developed to measure general fears of positive feelings – the Fear of Happiness Scale.Results. The results showed that fears of compassion for self, from others and in particular fear of happiness, were highly linked to different aspects of alexithymia, mindfulness, empathy, self‐criticism and depression, anxiety and stress. Especially noteworthy was the very high correlation between fear of happiness and depression (r= .70).Conclusion. While the development of positive emotions, especially those linked to affiliation and connectedness are increasingly seen as important therapeutic targets, little research has focused on the blocks and fears to positive emotions. This study used newly developed fears of positive affect scales (e.g., compassion and happiness) to explore these aspects and found they were significantly linked to psychopathology variables self‐criticism and difficulties such as alexithymia.
Evolution of Nasal Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci in a Remote Population
Authors: Lebeaux David , Barbier François , Angebault Cécile , Benmahdi Lahcene , Ruppé Etienne , Felix Benjamin , Gaillard Kevin , Djossou Félix , Epelboin Loïc , Dupont Claire , Renard Magaly , Peroz Gilles , Vandenesch François , Wolff Michel , Andremont Antoine , Ruimy Raymond 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTNasal carriage of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) is highly prevalent in community subjects, but its dynamic has been little investigated. Nasal swabbing was performed in 2006 and 2008 in 154 Amerindians living isolated in French Guiana. MR-CoNS strains were identified and characterized by non-β-lactam susceptibility testing and staphylococcal cassette chromosomemecelement (SCCmec) typing, characterizing the associations ofccrandmecgene complex allotypes, and for MRStaphylococcus epidermidis(MRSE), multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) was used. The impact of sociodemographic and medical characteristics on the persistence of MR-CoNS carriage was assessed by bivariate analysis. Prevalence of MR-CoNS carriage was 50.6% in 2006 and 46.8% in 2008. The 274 MR-CoNS isolates, includingS. epidermidis(n= 89, 62 MLVA patterns),Staphylococcus haemolyticus(n= 78), andStaphylococcus hominis(n= 72), exhibited 41 distinctccrandmecgene complex associations. Persistent carriage (in 2006 and 2008), intermittent carriage (either in 2006 or 2008), and noncarriage were documented in 25.3, 47.4, and 27.3% of the participants, respectively. Persistent carriage of a given MRSE isolate was rarely observed (n= 8 isolates). Furthermore, no epidemiological factor, including antibiotic exposure, was associated with persistent carriage. The high diversity of MRSE clones and theirccrandmecgene complex associations contrasted with the high carriage rates in this isolated community, which might reflect the occurrence of SCCmecrearrangement and the generation of new MR-CoNS strains.
Pharmacodynamic Effects of Simulated Standard Doses of Antifungal Drugs against Aspergillus Species in a New
In Vitro
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model
Authors: Meletiadis Joseph , Al-Saigh Rafal , Velegraki Aristea , Walsh Thomas J. , Roilides Emmanuel , Zerva Loukia 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

In conventional ΜΙC tests, fungi are exposed to constant drug concentrations, whereas
in vivo
, fungi are exposed to changing drug concentrations. Therefore, we developed a new
in vitro
pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model where human plasma pharmacokinetics of standard doses of 1 mg/kg amphotericin B, 4 mg/kg voriconazole, and 1 mg/kg caspofungin were simulated and their pharmacodynamic characteristics were determined against three clinical isolates of
Aspergillus fumigatus
,
Aspergillus flavus
, and
Aspergillus terreus
with identical MICs (1 mg/liter for amphotericin B, 0.5 mg/liter for voriconazole) and minimum effective concentrations (0.5 mg/liter for caspofungin). This new model consists of an internal compartment (a 10-ml dialysis tube made out of a semipermeable cellulose membrane allowing the free diffusion of antifungals but not galactomannan) inoculated with
Aspergillus
conidia and placed inside an external compartment (a 700-ml glass beaker) whose content is diluted after the addition of antifungal drugs by a peristaltic pump at the same rate as the clearance of the antifungal drugs in human plasma. Fungal growth was assessed by galactomannan production. Despite demonstrating the same MICs, amphotericin B completely inhibited (100%)
A. fumigatus
but not
A. flavus
and
A. terreus
, whose growth was delayed for 7.53 and 22.8 h, respectively. Voriconazole partially inhibited
A. fumigatus
(49.5%) and Α.
flavus
(27.9%) but not Α.
terreus
; it delayed their growth by 3.99 h (
A. fumigatus
) and 5.37 h (Α.
terreus
). Caspofungin did not alter galactomannan production in all of the species but
A. terreus
. The new model simulated human pharmacokinetics of antifungal drugs and revealed important pharmacodynamic differences in their activity.
Virologic Escape during Danoprevir (ITMN-191/RG7227) Monotherapy Is Hepatitis C Virus Subtype Dependent and Associated with R155K Substitution
Authors: Lim Sharlene R. , Qin Xiaoli , Susser Simone , Nicholas John B. , Lange Christian , Herrmann Eva , Hong Jin , Arfsten Ann , Hooi Lisa , Bradford Williamson , Nájera Isabel , Smith Patrick , Zeuzem Stefan , Kossen Karl , Sarrazin Christophe , Seiwert Scott D. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACT

Danoprevir is a hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A protease inhibitor that promotes multi-log
10
reductions in HCV RNA when administered as a 14-day monotherapy to patients with genotype 1 chronic HCV. Of these patients, 14/37 experienced a continuous decline in HCV RNA, 13/37 a plateau, and 10/37 a rebound. The rebound and continuous-decline groups experienced similar median declines in HCV RNA through day 7, but their results diverged notably at day 14. Plateau group patients experienced a lesser, but sustained, median HCV RNA decline. Baseline danoprevir susceptibility was similar across response groups but was reduced significantly at day 14 in the rebound group. Viral rebound in genotype 1b was uncommon (found in 2/23 patients). Population-based sequence analysis of NS3 and NS4A identified treatment-emergent substitutions at four amino acid positions in the protease domain of NS3 (positions 71, 155, 168, and 170), but only two (155 and 168) were in close proximity to the danoprevir binding site and carried substitutions that impacted danoprevir potency. R155K was the predominant route to reduced danoprevir susceptibility and was observed in virus isolated from all 10 rebound, 2/13 plateau, and 1/14 continuous-decline patients. Virus in one rebound patient additionally carried partial R155Q and D168E substitutions. Treatment-emergent substitutions in plateau patients were less frequently observed and more variable. Single-rebound patients carried virus with R155Q, D168V, or D168T. Clonal sequence analysis and drug susceptibility testing indicated that only a single patient displayed multiple resistance pathways. These data indicate the ascendant importance of R155K for viral escape during danoprevir treatment and may have implications for the clinical use of this agent.
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus): a state-dependent energy allocation model for growth, maturation, and reproductive investment
Authors: Chapman Erik W. , Jørgensen Christian , Lutcavage Molly E. 
Published: November 2011

The relationship between Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT, Thunnus thynnus ) life history patterns and environmental conditions was investigated by developing a state-dependent model that optimizes energy allocation between growth and energy stores and the decision to spawn. The model successfully recreates growth, age-at-maturity, and seasonal variability in condition for western ABFT that spawn primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Eastern ABFT spawning in the Mediterranean Sea display a life history trajectory shifted toward earlier maturation and, perhaps, reduced growth — a pattern predicted by the model when mortality was higher, migration distance shorter, and food intake during migration and spawning higher. Simulations highlight the sensitivity of the optimal ABFT life history strategy to variability in net energy intake, particularly during migration and spawning, a poorly understood component of their life cycle. Results also emphasize the importance for optimal life history patterns of the timing of spawning migrations in relation to the phenology and amplitude of seasonal prey availability. This study provides insight into potential mechanisms that underlie observations that are at the heart of current discussions regarding ABFT subpopulation structure and variable life history patterns.
Fractalkine Receptor CX3CR1 Is Expressed in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma Cells and Required for Motility and Adhesion to Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells
Authors: Kim Mijung , Rooper Lisa , Xie Jia , Kajdacsy-Balla Andre A. , Barbolina Maria V. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractEpithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is a deadly disease, and little is known about the mechanisms underlying its metastatic progression. Using human specimens and established cell lines, we determined that the G-protein–coupled seven-transmembrane fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) is expressed in primary and metastatic ovarian carcinoma cells. Ovarian carcinoma cells robustly migrated toward CX3CL1, a specific ligand of CX3CR1, in a CX3CR1-dependent manner. Silencing of CX3CR1 reduced migration toward human ovarian carcinoma ascites fluid by approximately 70%. Importantly, adhesion of ovarian carcinoma cells to human peritoneal mesothelial cells was dependent on CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling. In addition, CX3CL1 was able to induce cellular proliferation. Together, our data suggest that the fractalkine network may function as a major contributor to the progression of EOC, and further attention to its role in the metastasis of this deadly malignancy is warranted. Mol Cancer Res; 10(1); 11–24. ©2011 AACR.
On the Use of Potential Vorticity Tendency Equations for Diagnosing Atmospheric Dynamics in Numerical Models
Authors: Tory K. J. , Kepert J. D. , Sippel J. A. , Nguyen C. M. 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
This study critically assesses potential vorticity (PV) tendency equations used for analyzing atmospheric convective systems. A generic PV tendency format is presented to provide a framework for comparing PV tendency equations, which isolates the contributions to PV tendency from wind and mass field changes. These changes are separated into forcing terms (e.g., diabatic or friction) and flow adjustment and evolution terms (i.e., adiabatic motions).
One PV tendency formulation analyzed separates PV tendency into terms representing PV advection and diabatic and frictional PV sources. In this form the PV advection is shown to exhibit large cancellation with the diabatic forcing term when used to analyze deep convective systems, which compromises the dynamical insight that the PV tendency analysis should provide. The isentropic PV substance tendency formulation of Haynes and McIntyre does not suffer from this cancellation problem. However, while the Haynes and McIntyre formulation may be appropriate for many convective system applications, there are likely to be some applications in which the formulation is difficult to apply or is not ideal.
This study introduces a family of PV tendency equations in geometric coordinates that is free from the deficiencies of the above formulations. Simpler forms are complemented by more complex forms that expand the vorticity tendency term to offer additional insight into flow dynamics. The more complex forms provide insight similar to the influential Haynes and McIntyre isentropic formulation.
Gravity Wave Characteristics in the Southern Hemisphere Revealed by a High-Resolution Middle-Atmosphere General Circulation Model
Authors: Sato Kaoru , Tateno Satoshi , Watanabe Shingo , Kawatani Yoshio 
Published: November 2011

AbstractGravity wave characteristics in the middle- to high-latitude Southern Hemisphere are analyzed using simulation data over 3 yr from a high-resolution middle-atmosphere general circulation model without using any gravity wave parameterizations. Gravity waves have large amplitudes in winter and are mainly distributed in the region surrounding the polar vortex in the middle and upper stratosphere, while the gravity wave energy is generally weak in summer. The wave energy distribution in winter is not zonally uniform, but it is large leeward of the southern Andes and Antarctic Peninsula. Linear theory in the three-dimensional framework indicates that orographic gravity waves are advected leeward significantly by the mean wind component perpendicular to the wavenumber vector. Results of ray-tracing and cross-correlation analyses are consistent with this theoretical expectation. The leeward energy propagation extends to several thousand kilometers, which explains part of the gravity wave distribution around the polar vortex in winter. This result indicates that orographic gravity waves can affect the mean winds at horizontal locations that are far distant from the source mountains. Another interesting feature is a significant downward energy flux in winter, which is observed in the lower stratosphere to the south of the southern Andes. The frequency of the downward energy flux is positively correlated with the gravity wave energy over the southern Andes. Partial reflection from a rapid increase in static stability around 10 hPa and/or gravity wave generation through nonlinear processes are possible mechanisms to explain the downward energy flux.
Long‐Term Effect of Prednisolone on Functional Blink Recovery after Transient Peripheral Facial Motor Paralysis
Authors: VanderWerf Frans , Reits Dik , Metselaar Mick , De Zeeuw Chris I. 
Published: November 2011

ObjectiveTo determine the functional recovery in patients with severe transient peripheral facial motor paralysis (Bell palsy).Study DesignProspective controlled trial.SettingAcademic medical center.Subjects and MethodsBlink recovery was studied in 2 groups of severely affected Bell palsy patients during a follow‐up period of 84 weeks. The patients in one group received prednisolone within the first week after the onset of symptoms. No medication was given to the other group. A control group of healthy subjects was also included. Simultaneous orbicularis oculi muscle activity and eyelid kinematics were recorded by surface electromyographic (EMG) recording and eyelid search coils, respectively.ResultsAt the beginning of the paralysis, very little integrated orbicularis oculi muscle activity and eyelid movement was measured at the palsied side of the face. Thirteen weeks later, the integrated orbicularis oculi EMG and functional blink recovery gradually improved until 39 weeks. Beyond, only the integrated orbicularis oculi EMG slightly increased. At 84 weeks, the integrated orbicularis oculi EMG was significantly larger in the prednisolone group compared with the control group. The integrated EMG of the nonmedicated group recovered to normal values. Curiously enough, the functional blink recovery at the palsied side remained reduced to 64% compared with the healthy controls in the prednisolone‐treated group and to 36% in the nonmedicated group.ConclusionThe authors demonstrate that prednisolone significantly increased the orbicularis oculi muscle activity and significantly improved functional blink recovery in severely affected Bell palsy patients. However, the increase of muscle activity was insufficient to restore functional blinking to normal values.
The Victimisation Motif as a Guiding Principle of Israeli Discourse
Authors: Yurman Ada 
Published: November 2011

The present study describes and systematically analyses the victimization of the Holocaust, in Israeli society's cultural-political discourse, focusing on the interaction among various processes that Israeli society has experienced, including ideological changes that have led to individualism of values and changes in cultural political discussions related to the victimization of the Holocaust. It deals with the collective memory of Israeli society and with the impact that past events have on Israeli discourse, with a focus on the question of whether the voice of victimization has turned into a collective voice that represents Israeli society. The analysis of Israeli discouse of the holocaust over a period of about fifty years shows that ever since the establishment of the State, Israeli society has not ceased to discuss the Holocaust. It not only remembers scenes of the Holocaust, but it also reminds its citizens and the world, that the Holocaust victimization does not belong to the past alone.