bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differences in macular thickness studied by time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and spectral domain OCT in healthy subjects
Authors: IDOIPE M , GIL ARRIBAS L , PINILLA I , GARCIA MARTIN E , FUERTES LAZARO M 
Published: September 2009

Abstract Purpose To compare Stratus Time‐Domain optical coherence (OCT) with Spectralis Spectral‐domain OCT for measuring macular thickness in healthy patients. Methods Prospective study. Fifty‐ five healthy subjects were studied. All them undewent 3 Time Domain Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT) scanning (Stratus OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.), fast macular thickness scan strategy, and 3 Spectral Domain OCT (Spectralis OCT; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) with macular scan 512 x 128 volume cube. Mean values of macular thickness measurement of the nine areas corresponding with “Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study” (ETDRS) were compared between both tomographs. Results We examined 55 healthy subjects, 43 women and 12 men, mean age was 35.64 ±13.73 years. Central thickness measured by Status OCT was 200.51 ± 17.98; central thickness obtained by Spectralis was 276.34 ± 20.71 microns. The t‐test assesses whether the means of all ETDRS macular areas measuremnts of the two tomographs are statistically different from each other, finding that Spectralis central thickness measuments was 75.83 microns higher than using the Stratus OCT. Conclusion Time Domain OCT uses the joint of the inner and outer segments of the photoreceptors as outer reference for macular thickness calculation whereas Spectral Domain OCT bases its reference in the retinal pigment epithelium, so differences between both of them are predictable. With our study we obtain a measurement of useful conversion to extrapolate the results obtained with a tomograph to the other one, being of great utility in the clinical practice.
Choroidal blood flow and retinal ganglion cell function in early glaucoma
Authors: MARANGONI D , COLOTTO A , SALGARELLO T , STIFANO G , PARISI V , RIVA CE , CAMPOS EC , FALSINI B 
Published: September 2009

Abstract Purpose To assess subfoveal choroidal blood flow in patients with early manifest glaucoma (EMG) and to compare blood flow with functional measures of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) integrity. Methods Subfoveal choroidal blood flow was determined by confocal, real‐time laser Doppler flowmetry in 25 EMG patients (<‐6 dB Humphrey mean deviation, age range: 42‐64 years, visual acuity: 0.8‐1.0) and in 20 age‐matched controls. All patients had a therapeutically (topical beta‐blockers with or without a prostaglandin) controlled intraocular pressure (IOP <20 mmHg). Subfoveal choroidal blood volume (ChBVol), velocity (ChBVel) and flow (ChBF) were determined as the average of three 60 sec recordings with changes in the DC < 10% between the recordings (DC measures the intensity of the light scattered by the tissue and red blood cells in the illuminated volume). In all patients and controls pattern electroretinograms (PERGs) were recorded according to a standardized protocol. Results In EMG patients, average ChBVel and ChBF were reduced by 31 and 35%, respectively (p <0.01) compared to control values. No significant difference in ChBVol was found between the two groups. PERG amplitudes were reduced by 40% (p <0.01) in EMG patients compared to controls. No correlation was found between anyone of the choroidal flow parameters and PERG data or IOP values. Conclusion The results suggest a significant alteration of subfoveal choroidal hemodynamics in EMG patients, involving both ChBVel and ChBF. These changes do not appear to be associated with the severity of functional retinal ganglion cell loss. Our findings may have implications for the pathophysiology of early glaucomatous damage and its treatment.
Intravitreal combination of triamcinolone acetonide – bevacizumab (Kenacort–Avastin) in diabetic macular edema
Authors: ELEFTHERIADOU M , FRAGISKOU S , PANTELEONTIDIS V , PAPADAKI T , TSILIMBARIS M , PALLIKARIS IG 
Published: September 2009

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of intravitreal injection of Triamcinolone Acetonide – Bevacizumab (Kenacort®)‐(Avastin®) in the treatment of diabetic macular edema Methods Twenty seven eyes of 17 patients with diabetic macular edema participated in this study. Each patient received an intravitreal injection of 0,1 ml triamcinolone acetonide (Kenacort®) (0,2mg)combined with bevacizumab (Avastin®) (1,25mg). Mean age was 64years and mean duration of diabetes 15,5years. The primate outcome measures were changes in best corrected visual acuity and in central macular thickness measured by OCT. The follow up period was six months from the first intravitreal therapy. Results During the follow up period 3 eyes(11%) received one, 18 eyes(67%) received two and 6 eyes(22%) received three intravitreal injections according to the monthly follow up examination. There were not observed any important complications of the intravitreal combination of Triamcinolone Acetonide – Bevacizumab either during or after the treatment. The mean visual acuity increased 0,12 (decimal) (p<0,0001) and the central macular thickness decreased 235μm (p=0,018). Conclusion Intravitreal combination of Triamcinolone Acetonide – Bevacizumab seems to be effective in improving visual acuity and macular edema in patients with diabetes.
Ocular blood flow and visual field preservation?
Authors: MARTINEZ‐GARCIA A 
Published: September 2009

Abstract Purpose The aetiology of primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) is almost certainly multifactorial. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) has been recognized as one of the most important risk factor for the progression of the glaucomatous damage. Nevertheless, other risk factors have been considered to be involved on the progression of the glaucomatous damage. Several population‐based studies have shown that low diastolic blood pressure and diastolic ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) are major risk factors for the genesis and progression of POAG. Additionally, there is increasing evidence that ocular ischemia is a primary and independent factor for the progression of the glaucomatous damage. Because OBF alterations are associated with the progression of the glaucomatous damage and dorzolamide seems to be capable of increasing OBF, it is conceivable that an increase of the OBF may protect against the glaucomatous visual field deterioration. Methods This hypothesis has been suggested by a recently paper published by our group, which has shown that dorzolamide 2% added to timolol 0.5%, each given twice daily, may prevent the visual field deterioration over the course of 4 years in individuals with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG). Finally, in a prospective, randomized, evaluator‐masked, and parallel study we compared the impact of dorzolamide and brinzolamide, each added to timolol, on the progression of the glaucomatous damage. The results of our study suggested that the patients treated with dorzolamide/timolol had half of the progression risk of patients treated with brinzolamide/timolol.
Commercial interest
Lack of Effect of Efavirenz on the Pharmacokinetics of Tipranavir-Ritonavir in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: la Porte C. J. L. , Sabo J. P. , Béïque L. , Cameron D. W. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTPreviously it has been shown that tipranavir-ritonavir (TPV/r) does not affect efavirenz (EFV) plasma concentrations. This study investigates the effect of steady-state EFV on steady-state TPV/r pharmacokinetics. This was a single-center, open-label, multiple-dose study of healthy adult female and male volunteers. TPV/r 500/200 mg twice a day (BID) was given with food for 24 days. After dosing with TPV/r for 10 days, EFV 600 mg once a day was added to the regimen. Intensive pharmacokinetic (PK) sampling was done on days 10 and 24. Validated bioanalytical high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods were used to determine plasma tipranavir (TPV), ritonavir (RTV), and EFV concentrations. Thirty-four subjects were entered into the study, and 16 subjects completed it. The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) for TPV and RTV area under the curves,Cmaxs, andCmins comparing TPV/r alone and in combination with EFV were 0.97 (0.87 to 1.09), 0.92 (0.81 to 1.03), and 1.19 (0.93 to 1.54) for TPV and 1.03 (0.78 to 1.38), 0.92 (0.65 to 1.30), and 1.04 (0.72 to 1.48) for RTV. Frequently observed adverse events were diarrhea, headache, dizziness, abnormal dreams, and rash. EFV had no effect on the steady-state PK of TPV or RTV, with the exception of a 19% increase in the TPVCmin, which is not clinically relevant. TPV/r can be safely coadministered with EFV and without the need for a dose adjustment.
Rapid Detection of a Point Mutation in the
parC
Gene Associated with Decreased Susceptibility to Fluoroquinolones in
Mycoplasma bovis
Authors: Lysnyansky I. , Mikula I. , Gerchman I. , Levisohn S. 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

Comparison of the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) in 42
Mycoplasma bovis
clinical isolates revealed amino acid substitutions at both GyrA (position 83) and ParC (position 84) in 10/11 enrofloxacin-resistant strains. The mutation present in the
parC
QRDR was discriminative for enrofloxacin resistance by
parC
PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Comparison of molecular profiles by insertion sequence typing suggests that the currently prevalent enrofloxacin-resistant
M. bovis
strain evolved by selection under field conditions from one of the susceptible strains.
Characterization of Two Seryl-tRNA Synthetases in Albomycin-Producing
Streptomyces
sp. Strain ATCC 700974
Authors: Zeng Yu , Roy Hervé , Patil Preeti B. , Ibba Michael , Chen Shawn 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT

The Trojan horse antibiotic albomycin, produced by
Streptomyces
sp. strain ATCC 700974, contains a thioribosyl nucleoside moiety linked to a hydroxamate siderophore through a serine residue. The seryl nucleoside structure (SB-217452) is a potent inhibitor of seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) in the pathogenic bacterium
Staphylococcus aureus
, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC
50
) of ∼8 nM. In the albomycin-producing
Streptomyces
sp., a bacterial SerRS homolog (Alb10) was found to be encoded in a biosynthetic gene cluster in addition to another
s
erRS
gene (
serS1
) at a different genetic locus. Alb10, named SerRS2 herein, is significantly divergent from SerRS1, which shows high homology to the housekeeping SerRS found in other
Streptomyces
species. We genetically and biochemically characterized the two genes and the proteins encoded. Both genes were able to complement a temperature-sensitive
serS
mutant of
Escherichia coli
and allowed growth at a nonpermissive temperature.
serS2
was shown to confer albomycin resistance, with specific amino acid residues in the motif 2 signature sequences of SerRS2 playing key roles. SerRS1 and SerRS2 are comparably efficient in vitro, but the

K
m

of serine for SerRS2 measured during tRNA aminoacylation is more than 20-fold higher than that for SerRS1. SB-217452 was also enzymatically generated and purified by two-step chromatography. Its IC
50
against SerRS1 was estimated to be 10-fold lower than that against SerRS2. In contrast, both SerRSs displayed comparable inhibition kinetics for serine hydroxamate, indicating that SerRS2 was specifically resistant to SB-217452. These data suggest that mining
Streptomyces
genomes for duplicated aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes could provide a novel approach for the identification of natural products targeting aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases.
Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Display Impaired Th1 Responses and Enhanced Regulatory T-Cell Levels in Response to an Outbreak of Multidrug-ResistantMycobacterium tuberculosisM and Ra Strains
Authors: Geffner Laura , Yokobori Noemí , Basile Juan , Schierloh Pablo , Balboa Luciana , Romero María Mercedes , Ritacco Viviana , Vescovo Marisa , González Montaner Pablo , Lopez Beatriz , Barrera Lucía , Alemán Mercedes , Abatte Eduardo , Sasiain María C. , de la Barrera Silvia 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACTIn Argentina, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) outbreaks emerged among hospitalized patients with AIDS in the early 1990s and thereafter disseminated to the immunocompetent community. Epidemiological, bacteriological, and genotyping data allowed the identification of certain MDRMycobacterium tuberculosisoutbreak strains, such as the so-called strain M of the Haarlem lineage and strain Ra of the Latin America and Mediterranean lineage. In the current study, we evaluated the immune responses induced by strains M and Ra in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with active MDR-TB or fully drug-susceptible tuberculosis (S-TB) and in purified protein derivative-positive healthy controls (group N). Our results demonstrated that strain M was a weaker gamma interferon (IFN-γ) inducer than H37Rv for group N. Strain M induced the highest interleukin-4 expression in CD4+and CD8+T cells from MDR- and S-TB patients, along with the lowest cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity in patients and controls. Hence, impairment of CTL activity is a hallmark of strain M and could be an evasion mechanism employed by this strain to avoid the killing of macrophages by M-specific CTL effectors. In addition, MDR-TB patients had an increased proportion of circulating regulatory T cells (Treg cells), and these cells were further expanded upon in vitroM. tuberculosisstimulation. Experimental Treg cell depletion increased IFN-γ expression and CTL activity in TB patients, with M- and Ra-induced CTL responses remaining low in MDR-TB patients. Altogether, these results suggest that immunity to MDR strains might depend upon a balance between the individual host response and the ability of differentM. tuberculosisgenotypes to drive Th1 or Th2 profiles.
What is web science and why is it important to CSE
Authors: Hall Wendy 
Published: September 2009

The World Wide Web has changed the world. It has changed the ways we communicate, collaborate, and educate. We increasingly live in a Web-dependent society in a Web-dependent world. The Web is also the largest human information construct and it is growing faster than any other system. However, it is a striking fact that there is no systematic discipline to study the Web. We need to understand the current, evolving, and potential Web but at the moment we have no means of predicting the impact that future developments in the Web will have on society or business. Web Science aims to anticipate these impacts. It is the study of the social behaviours in the Web at the inter-person, inter-organizational and societal level, the technologies that enable and support this behaviour, and the interactions between these technologies and behaviours. It is therefore inherently interdisciplinary and at even the simplest level represents a fundamental collaboration between computer science and the social sciences.
Computer Science as a discipline has not grasped the Web and the implications of its development. Most Computer Science departments do not teach "Web Science" fundamentals let alone specialist courses in this area, either with or without contributions from the social sciences or other relevant disciplines. This talk will explore the fundamentals of Web Science and make the case for Computer Science educators to meet this challenge head-on. Not only will it revitalise Computer Science degrees, it will also encourage the development of new degrees that we argue will attract a wider diversity and increasing number of students in the future.
Teaching an object-oriented CS1 -
Authors: Goldwasser Michael H. , Letscher David 
Published: September 2009

There is an ongoing debate regarding the role of object orientation in the introductory programming sequence. While the pendulum swings to and fro between the "objects first" and "back to basics" extremes, there is general agreement that object-oriented programming is central to modern software development and therefore integral to a computer science curriculum. Developing effective approaches to teach these principles raises challenges that have been exacerbated by the use of Java or C++ as the first instructional language.
In this paper, we recommend Python as an excellent choice for teaching an object-oriented CS1. Although often viewed as a "scripting" language, Python is a fully object-oriented language with a consistent object model and a rich set of built-in classes. Based upon our experiences, we describe aspects of the language that help support a balanced introduction to object orientation in CS1. We also discuss the downstream effects on our students' transition to Java and C++ in subsequent courses.
Computing research methods multi-perspective digital library
Authors: Applin Anne G. , Holz Hilary J. 
Published: September 2009

For the past three years, SIGCSE has sponsored a design research project on teaching Computing Research Methods (CRM) [4]. The initial phase of the work included an ITiCSE working group that gathered a great deal of literature on and about: computing research; CRM; and teaching CRM [3]. During the literature review, we discovered a number of similar current and prior efforts, some of which had even met with limited success within their discourse community. However, because the CRM literature is divided across publishers, indices, and discourse communities, none of the earlier efforts established the common ground necessary for meaningful dialog on curricular issues (see section 1.1. of [1])

To establish that common ground, we decided to foster a
scholar-produced digital resource
to facilitate integrating teaching / learning research methods across the computing curriculum [1]. Scholar-produced digital resources are digital libraries that are produced by scholarly communities of practice, rather than by external stakeholders such as commercial publishers or libraries. These digital libraries are rich interactive web locales that ". . . include aggregations of resources that support research, such as field-based topic gateways and bibliographies; products of original research such as novel multimedia publications and handbook type web publications, communication forums such as preprint archives and pure e-journals; and research tools such as non-proprietary software available via the web." [2]

We started work on the CRM Multi-Perspective Digital Library (CRM-MPDL) in early 2007. A second ITiCSE working group [1] focused on the faculty perspectives in CRM-MPDL. A SIGCSE special projects grant funded student research assistants for CRM-MPDL. As a consequence, students have become a very active and vocal constituency in the project, and they have made significant progress on a set of student design and content elements for CRM-MPDL.
To date, we have developed an international participatory design community [4]; conducted and published an extensive literature review and glossary [3]; developed some initial curricular materials [4]; and constructed a prototype design for the faculty perspective in a multiperspective digital resource to integrate teaching research methods across the computing curriculum [1].
One of the goals of the project has been to build a tool that is useful to faculty, students, industry, administrators, and anyone else who is interested in teaching or learning about CRM. A prototype of CRM-MPDL is ready to be tested, interacted with, and critiqued. The goal of this poster is to solicit participation from the ITiCSE conference attendees. An international audience is necessary for us to get the most comprehensive feedback for the tool. We have a growing set of content materials and a growing set of design materials. A laptop will be available at the poster for attendees to experience CRM-MPDL on site.
Students' perceptions of python as a first programming language at wits
Authors: Sanders Ian D. , Langford Sasha 
Published: September 2009

The first year curriculum at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is a breadth-first curriculum where students are introduced to a variety of topics in Computer Science (see Sanders and Mueller [5] for details). As part of the course the students are expected to come to terms with a number of basic algorithms and data structures which they are required to implement. When the curriculum was designed we chose Scheme as the implementation language. One reason for doing so was because the main entrance requirement for our course is a solid mathematics background as evidenced by good marks at school level. Our students thus have a good understanding of functions and we felt that Scheme?s functional style would make it accessible to all of our students. Another reason for choosing Scheme was because it is a language which would be new to all of our students.
Scheme was well received by those students who had never programmed before and proved to be a good language for meeting our teaching objectives but there was resistance to the language from the students who could already program as they considered it a waste of time to learn a language which was not (as they believed) used in the real world [3]. In addition, the use of Scheme did not really reduce the performance gap between the students with and without prior programming experience [2].
Python has been found to be a good first language for both experienced and inexperienced users [4] and its simple syntax and support of different programming paradigms seemed to make it an attractive option for our first year course. We believed that using Python would still allow us to meet our educational objectives ? it would be easily accessible to those students who had never programmed before and would support our approach of formulating algorithms Python has been found to be a good first language for both experienced and inexperienced users [4] and its simple syntax and support of different programming paradigms seemed to make it an attractive option for our first year course. We believed that using Python would still allow us to meet our educational objectives ? it would be easily accessible to those students who had never programmed before and would support our approach of formulating algorithms
In late 2007 we did a survey to assess the first year students? impressions of Python. The students were asked to indicate agreement, disagreement or neutrality to a number of questions about the use of Python. 55 students completed the survey ? 27 of these had no prior programming experience and 28 had programmed before. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test the hypotheses that both groups believed that Python was a good first year language. The results show strong evidence that the students feel that Python is a suitable language. There are. however, still some students with prior programming experience who are resistant to new languages.