bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Toward Understanding the Value of Climate Information for Multiobjective Reservoir Management under Present and Future Climate and Demand Scenarios
Authors: Graham Nicholas E. , Georgakakos Konstantine P. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Numerical simulation techniques and idealized reservoir management models are used to assess the utility of climate information for the effective management of a single multiobjective reservoir. Reservoir management considers meeting release and reservoir volume targets and minimizing wasteful spillage. The influence of reservoir size and inflow variability parameters on the management benefits is examined. The effects of climate and demand (release target) change on the management policies and performance are also quantified for various change scenarios. Inflow forecasts emulate ensembles of dynamical forecasts for a hypothetical climate system with somewhat predictable low-frequency variability. The analysis considers the impacts of forecast skill. The mathematical problem is cast in a dimensionless time and volume framework to allow generalization. The present work complements existing research results for specific applications and expands earlier analytical results for simpler management situations in an effort to draw general conclusions for the present-day reservoir management problem under uncertainty. The findings support the following conclusions: (i) reliable inflow forecasts are beneficial for reservoir management under most situations if adaptive management is employed; (ii) tolerance to forecasts of lower reliability tends to be higher for larger reservoirs; (iii) reliable inflow forecasts are most useful for a midrange of reservoir capacities; (iv) demand changes are more detrimental to reservoir management performance than inflow change effects of similar magnitude; (v) adaptive management is effective for mitigating climatic change effects and may even help to mitigate demand change effects.
Observed Trends in Summertime Precipitation over the Southwestern United States
Authors: Anderson Bruce T. , Wang Jingyun , Salvucci Guido , Gopal Suchi , Islam Shafiqul 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
In this paper, the authors evaluate the significance of multidecadal trends in seasonal-mean summertime precipitation and precipitation characteristics over the southwestern United States using stochastic, chain-dependent daily rainfall models. Unlike annual-mean precipitation, trends during the summertime monsoon, covering the period 1931–2000, indicate an overall increase in seasonal precipitation, the number of rainfall events, and the coverage of rainfall events in peripheral regions north of the “core” monsoon area of Arizona and western New Mexico. In addition, there is an increasing trend in intense storm activity and a decreasing trend in extreme dry-spell lengths. Over other regions of the domain, there are no discernible trends found in any of the observed characteristics. These trends are robust to the choice of start dates and, in the case of seasonal-mean precipitation, appear to persist into the current century.
Post-Partum Depression in the Community: a Qualitative Study From Rural South India
Authors: Savarimuthu R.J.S. , Ezhilarasu P. , Charles H. , Antonisamy B. , Kurian S. , Jacob K.S. 
Published: November 2009

Background: Post-partum depression, although heterogeneous, is often considered a medical disease when viewed from the biomedical perspective. However, recent reports from the Indian subcontinent have documented psychosocial causal factors. Method: This study employed qualitative methodology in a representative sample of women in rural South India. Women in the post-partum period were assessed using the Tamil versions of the Short Explanatory Model Interview, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a semi-structured interview to diagnose ICD 10 depression. Socio-demographic and clinical details were also recorded. Results: Some 137 women were recruited and assessed, of these, 26.3% were diagnosed to have post-partum depression. The following factors were associated with post-partum depression after adjusting for age and education: age less than 20 or over 30 years, schooling less than five years, thoughts of aborting current pregnancy, unhappy marriage, physical abuse during current pregnancy and after childbirth, husband’s use of alcohol, girl child delivered in the absence of living boys and a preference for a boy, low birth weight, and a family history of depression. Post-partum depression was also associated with an increased number of causal models of illness, a number of non-medical models, treatment models and non-medical treatment models. Conclusion: Many social and cultural factors have a major impact on post-partum depression. Post-partum depression, when viewed from a biomedical framework, fails to acknowledge the role of context in the production of emotional distress in the post-partum period.
Clinical Characteristics of Self-Mutilating Behavior in Turkish Male Subjects With Antisocial Personality Disorder: Relationship To Psychopathy
Authors: Alpay Ates M. , Algul Ayhan , Semiz Umit B. , Gecici Omer , Basoglu Cengiz , Ebrinc Servet , Cetin Mesut 
Published: November 2009

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the characteristics of self-mutilation (SM) and examine the relationship between SM and psychopathy in male subjects with antisocial personality disorder (APD). Methods: APD diagnosis was established by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Axis II Disorders. Subjects ( N = 116) were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and a semi-structured self-mutilation questionnaire form. Results: In males with APD, the percentages of psychopathy and SM were 48.3% ( N =56) and 96.6% ( N = 112), respectively. There were positive correlations between severity of psychopathy and severity, number, and frequency of SM. Conclusion: Considerably high rates of SM and psychopathy were found in Turkish males with APD. The features of SM were associated with comorbidity of psychopathy. These results showed the importance of exploring the self-injurious behavior and psychopathy when diagnosed with APD.
Pain exposure physical therapy may be a safe and effective treatment for longstanding complex regional pain syndrome type 1: a case series
Authors: Ek Jan-Willem , van Gijn Jan C , Samwel Han , van Egmond Jan , Klomp Frank PAJ , van Dongen Robert TM 
Published: November 2009

Objective: To determine if treatment of longstanding complex regional pain syndrome type 1, focusing on functional improvement only while neglecting pain, results in clinical improvement of this syndrome. Design: Prospective description of a case series of 106 patients. Setting: Outpatient clinic for rehabilitation. Interventions: Physical therapy of the affected limb directed at a functional improvement only while neglecting the pain, was performed following an extensive explanation. Normal use of the limb between the treatments was encouraged despite pain. A maximum of five of these sessions were performed in three months. Measures: Radboud Skills Test was used to monitor functional improvement of the arms. Speed and walking distance was used as the measure of outcome for the legs. Results: The function of the affected arm or leg improved in 95 patients. Full functional recovery was experienced in 49 (46%) of them. A reduction in pain presented in 75 patients. In 23 patients functional recovery was reached despite an increase in pain. Four patients stopped early due to pain increase. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ‘pain exposure physical therapy’ is effective and safe for patients who are unresponsive to accepted standard therapies. Avoiding the use of a limb due to pain will result in loss of function. Forced usage of limbs restores the function, reverses these adaptive processes and leads to regain of control by practice with a reduction of pain in most cases.
Does the use of TENS increase the effectiveness of exercise for improving walking after stroke? A randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ng Shamay SM , Hui-Chan Christina WY 
Published: November 2009

Objective: To investigate whether surface electrical stimulation can increase the effectiveness of task-related exercises for improving the walking capacity of patients with chronic stroke. Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Setting: Home-based programme. Subjects: One hundred and nine hemiparetic stroke survivors were assigned randomly to: (1) transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), (2) TENS + exercise, (3) placebo stimulation + exercise, or (4) control group. Interventions: The TENS group received 60 minutes of electrical stimulation. Both the TENS + exercise group and placebo stimulation + exercise group did 60 minutes of exercises, followed respectively by 60 minutes of electrical and placebo stimulation. Treatment was given five days a week for four weeks. The control group had no active treatment. Outcome measures: Comfortable gait speed was measured using a GAITRite II walkway system. Walking endurance and functional mobility were measured by the distance covered during a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and by timed up and go test scores before treatment, after two weeks and after four weeks of treatment, and at follow-up four weeks after treatment ended. Results: When compared with the other three groups, only the combined TENS + exercise group showed significantly greater absolute and percentage increases in gait velocity (by 37.1—57.5%, all P<0.01) and reduction in timed up and go scores (by —14.9 to —23.3%, P<0.01) from week 2 onwards. When compared with the control and TENS groups, only the combined TENS + exercise group covered significantly more distance in the 6MWT (by 22.2—34.7%, P<0.01) from week 2 onwards. Conclusion: TENS can improve the effectiveness of task-related exercise for increasing walking capacity in hemiparetic stroke survivors.
Hip abductor control in walking following stroke — the immediate effect of canes, taping and TheraTogs on gait
Authors: Maguire Clare , Sieben Judith M , Frank Matthias , Romkes Jacqueline 
Published: November 2009

Objective: To confirm previous findings that hip abductor activity measured by electromyography (EMG) on the side contralateral to cane use is reduced during walking in stroke patients. To assess whether an orthosis (TheraTogs) or hip abductor taping increase hemiplegic hip abductor activity compared with activity during cane walking or while walking without aids. To investigate the effect of each condition on temporo-spatial gait parameters. Design: Randomized, within-participant experimental study. Setting: Gait laboratory. Subjects: Thirteen patients following first unilateral stroke. Intervention: Data collection over six gait cycles as subjects walked at self-selected speed during: baseline (without aids) and in randomized order with (1) hip abductor taping, (2) TheraTogs, (3) cane in non-hemiplegic hand. Main measures: Peak EMG of gluteus medius and tensor fascia lata and temporo-spatial gait parameters. Results: Cane use reduced EMG activity in gluteus medius from baseline by 21.86%. TheraTogs increased it by 16.47% (change cane use—TheraTogs P=0.001, effect size = -0.5) and tape by 5.8% (change cane use—tape P=0.001, effect size = -0.46). In tensor fascia lata cane use reduced EMG activity from baseline by 19.14%. TheraTogs also reduced EMG activity from baseline by 1.10% (change cane use—TheraTogs P=0.009, effect size -0.37) and tape by 3% (not significant). Gait speed (m/s) at: baseline 0.44, cane use 0.45, tape 0.48, TheraTogs 0.49. Conclusion: Hip abductor taping and TheraTogs increase hemiplegic hip abductor activity and gait speed during walking compared with baseline and cane use.
Opting in and opting out: a grounded theory of nursing’s contribution to inpatient rehabilitation
Authors: Pryor Julie , Walker Annette , O'Connell Beverly , Worrall-Carter Linda 
Published: November 2009

Aim: To develop a grounded theory of nursing’s contribution to patient rehabilitation from the perspective of nurses working in inpatient rehabilitation. Design: Grounded theory method, informed by the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism, was used to guide data collection and analysis, and the development of a grounded theory. Setting: Five inpatient rehabilitation units in Australia. Participants: Thirty-five registered and 18 enrolled nurses participated in audio-taped interviews and/or were observed during periods of their everyday practice. Findings: The analysis revealed a situation whereby nurses made decisions about when to ‘opt in’ and when to ‘opt out’ of inpatient rehabilitation. This occurred on two levels: with their interaction with patients and allied health professionals, and when faced with negative system issues that impacted on their ability to contribute to patient rehabilitation. The primary contribution nurses made to inpatient rehabilitation was working directly with patients, enabling them to self-care. Nurses coached patients when their decisions about ‘opting in’ and ‘opting out’ were based on assessment of the person in their particular context. In contrast, the nurses mostly distanced themselves from system-based problems, ‘opting out’ of addressing them. They did this not to make their working lives easier, but more manageable. Conclusion: System-based problems impacted negatively on the nurses’ ability to deliver comprehensive rehabilitation care. As a consequence, some nurses felt unable to influence the care and they withdrew professionally to make their work lives more manageable.
Comparison of Affymetrix Gene Array with the Exon Array shows potential application for detection of transcript isoform variation
Authors: Ha Kevin CH , Coulombe-Huntington Jasmin , Majewski Jacek 
Published: November 2009

Abstract

Background
The emergence of isoform-sensitive microarrays has helped fuel in-depth studies of the human transcriptome. The Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST Array (Exon Array) has been previously shown to be effective in profiling gene expression at the isoform level. More recently, the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Array (Gene Array) has been released for measuring gene expression and interestingly contains a large subset of probes from the Exon Array. Here, we explore the potential of using Gene Array probes to assess expression variation at the sub-transcript level. Utilizing datasets of the high quality Microarray Quality Control (MAQC) RNA samples previously assayed on the Exon Array and Gene Array, we compare the expression measurements of the two platforms to determine the performance of the Gene Array in detecting isoform variations.

Results
Overall, we show that the Gene Array is comparable to the Exon Array in making gene expression calls. Moreover, to examine expression of different isoforms, we modify the Gene Array probe set definition file to enable summarization of probe intensity values at the exon level and show that the expression profiles between the two platforms are also highly correlated. Next, expression calls of previously known differentially spliced genes were compared and also show concordant results. Splicing index analysis, representing estimates of exon inclusion levels, shows a lower but good correlation between platforms. As the Gene Array contains a significant subset of probes from the Exon Array, we note that, in comparison, the Gene Array overlaps with fewer but still a high proportion of splicing events annotated in the Known Alt Events UCSC track, with abundant coverage of cassette exons. We discuss the ability of the Gene Array to detect alternative splicing and isoform variation and address its limitations.

Conclusion
The Gene Array is an effective expression profiling tool at gene and exon expression level, the latter made possible by probe set annotation modifications. We demonstrate that the Gene Array is capable of detecting alternative splicing and isoform variation. As expected, in comparison to the Exon Array, it is limited by reduced gene content coverage and is not able to detect as wide a range of alternative splicing events. However, for the events that can be monitored by both platforms, we estimate that the selectivity and sensitivity levels are comparable. We hope our findings will shed light on the potential extension of the Gene Array to detect alternative splicing. It should be particularly suitable for researchers primarily interested in gene expression analysis, but who may be willing to look for splicing and isoform differences within their dataset. However, we do not suggest it to be an equivalent substitute to the more comprehensive Exon Array.
The impact of renal insufficiency and anaemia on survival in patients with cardiovascular disease: a cohort study
Authors: Anderson Jocelyn , Glynn Liam G , Newell John , Iglesias Alberto A , Reddan Donal , Murphy Andrew W 
Published: November 2009

Abstract

Background
The simultaneous occurrence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), kidney disease, and anaemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In the community setting, little data exists about the risk associated with milder levels of anaemia when it is present concurrently with CVD and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of CKD and anaemia in patients with CVD in the community and to examine whether the presence of anaemia was associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Methods
This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study and involved a random sample of 35 general practices in the West of Ireland. A practice-based sample of 1,609 patients with established cardiovascular disease was generated in 2000/2001 and followed for five years. The primary endpoint was death from any cause. Statistical analysis involved using one-way ANOVA and Chi-squared tests for baseline data and Cox proportional-hazards models for mortality data.

Results
Of the study sample of 617 patients with blood results, 33% (n = 203) had CKD while 6% (n = 37) had CKD and anaemia. The estimated risk of death from any cause, when compared to patients with cardiovascular disease only, was almost double (HR = 1.98, 95% CI 0.99 to 3.98) for patients with both CVD and CKD and was over 4 times greater (HR = 4.33, 95% CI 1.76 to 10.68) for patients with CVD, CKD and anaemia.

Conclusion
In patients with cardiovascular disease in the community, chronic kidney disease and anaemia occur commonly. The presence of chronic kidney disease carries an increased mortality risk which increases in an additive way with the addition of anaemia. These results suggest that early primary care diagnosis and management of this high risk group may be worthwhile.
PIN1 gene variants in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Maruszak Aleksandra , Safranow Krzysztof , Gustaw Katarzyna , Kijanowska-Haładyna Beata , Jakubowska Katarzyna , Olszewska Maria , Styczyńska Maria , Berdyński Mariusz , Tysarowski Andrzej , Chlubek Dariusz , Siedlecki Janusz , Barcikowska Maria , Żekanowski Cezary 
Published: November 2009

Abstract

Background
Peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) plays a significant role in the brain and is implicated in numerous cellular processes related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. There are confounding results concerning PIN1 activity in AD brains. Also PIN1 genetic variation was inconsistently associated with AD risk.

Methods
We performed analysis of coding and promoter regions of PIN1 in early- and late-onset AD and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients in comparison with healthy controls.

Results
Analysis of eighteen PIN1 common polymorphisms and their haplotypes in EOAD, LOAD and FTD individuals in comparison with the control group did not reveal their contribution to disease risk.
In six unrelated familial AD patients four novel PIN1 sequence variants were detected. c.58+64C>T substitution that was identified in three patients, was located in an alternative exon. In silico analysis suggested that this variant highly increases a potential affinity for a splicing factor and introduces two intronic splicing enhancers. In the peripheral leukocytes of one living patient carrying the variant, a 2.82 fold decrease in PIN1 expression was observed.

Conclusion
Our data does not support the role of PIN1 common polymorphisms as AD risk factor. However, we suggest that the identified rare sequence variants could be directly connected with AD pathology, influencing PIN1 splicing and/or expression.
Evidence for genetic association of RORB with bipolar disorder
Authors: McGrath Casey L , Glatt Stephen J , Sklar Pamela , Le-Niculescu Helen , Kuczenski Ronald , Doyle Alysa E , Biederman Joseph , Mick Eric , Faraone Stephen V , Niculescu Alexander B , Tsuang Ming T 
Published: November 2009

Abstract

Background
Bipolar disorder, particularly in children, is characterized by rapid cycling and switching, making circadian clock genes plausible molecular underpinnings for bipolar disorder. We previously reported work establishing mice lacking the clock gene D-box binding protein (DBP) as a stress-reactive genetic animal model of bipolar disorder. Microarray studies revealed that expression of two closely related clock genes, RAR-related orphan receptors alpha (RORA) and beta (RORB), was altered in these mice. These retinoid-related receptors are involved in a number of pathways including neurogenesis, stress response, and modulation of circadian rhythms. Here we report association studies between bipolar disorder and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RORA and RORB.

Methods
We genotyped 355 RORA and RORB SNPs in a pediatric cohort consisting of a family-based sample of 153 trios and an independent, non-overlapping case-control sample of 152 cases and 140 controls. Bipolar disorder in children and adolescents is characterized by increased stress reactivity and frequent episodes of shorter duration; thus our cohort provides a potentially enriched sample for identifying genes involved in cycling and switching.

Results
We report that four intronic RORB SNPs showed positive associations with the pediatric bipolar phenotype that survived Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons in the case-control sample. Three RORB haplotype blocks implicating an additional 11 SNPs were also associated with the disease in the case-control sample. However, these significant associations were not replicated in the sample of trios. There was no evidence for association between pediatric bipolar disorder and any RORA SNPs or haplotype blocks after multiple-test correction. In addition, we found no strong evidence for association between the age-at-onset of bipolar disorder with any RORA or RORB SNPs.

Conclusion
Our findings suggest that clock genes in general and RORB in particular may be important candidates for further investigation in the search for the molecular basis of bipolar disorder.