bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of clinicians and an artificial neural network regarding accuracy and certainty in performance of visual field assessment for the diagnosis of glaucoma
Authors: Andersson Sabina , Heijl Anders , Bizios Dimitrios , Bengtsson Boel 
Published: May 2012

Abstract.Purpose:  To compare clinicians and a trained artificial neural network (ANN) regarding accuracy and certainty of assessment of visual fields for the diagnosis of glaucoma.Methods:  Thirty physicians with different levels of knowledge and experience in glaucoma management assessed 30‐2 SITA Standard visual field printouts that included full Statpac information from 99 patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and 66 healthy subjects. Glaucomatous eyes with perimetric mean deviation values worsethan −10 dB were not eligible. The fields were graded on a scale of 1–10, where 1 indicated healthy with absolute certaintyand 10 signified glaucoma; 5.5 was the cut‐off between healthy and glaucoma. The same fields were classified by a previously trained ANN. The ANN output was transformed into a linear scale that matched the scale used in the subjective assessments. Classification certainty was assessed using a classification error score.Results:  Among the physicians, sensitivity ranged from 61% to 96% (mean 83%) and specificity from 59% to 100% (mean 90%). Our ANN achieved 93% sensitivity and 91% specificity, and it was significantly more sensitive than the physicians (p < 0.001) at a similar level of specificity. The ANN classification error score was equivalent to the top third scores of all physicians, and the ANN never indicated a high degree of certainty for any of its misclassified visual field tests.Conclusion:  Our results indicate that a trained ANN performs at least as well as physicians in assessments of visual fields for the diagnosis of glaucoma.
Modelling the carbon and nitrogen balances of direct land use changes from energy crops in Denmark: a consequential life cycle inventory
Authors: Hamelin Lorie , Jørgensen Uffe , Petersen Bjørn M. , Olesen Jørgen E. , Wenzel Henrik 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis paper addresses the conversion of Danish agricultural land from food/feed crops to energy crops. To this end, a life cycle inventory, which relates the input and output flows from and to the environment of 528 different crop systems, is built and described. This includes seven crops (annuals and perennials), two soil types (sandy loam and sand), two climate types (wet and dry), three initial soil carbon level (high, average, low), two time horizons for soil carbon changes (20 and 100 years), two residues management practices (removal and incorporation into soil) as well as three soil carbon turnover rate reductions in response to the absence of tillage for some perennial crops (0%, 25%, 50%). For all crop systems, nutrient balances, balances between above‐ and below‐ground residues, soil carbon changes, biogenic carbon dioxide flows, emissions of nitrogen compounds and losses of macro‐ and micronutrients are presented. The inventory results highlight Miscanthus as a promising energy crop, indicating it presents the lowest emissions of nitrogen compounds, the highest amount of carbon dioxide sequestrated from the atmosphere, a relatively high carbon turnover efficiency and allows to increase soil organic carbon. Results also show that the magnitude of these benefits depends on the harvest season, soil types and climatic conditions. Inventory results further highlight winter wheat as the only annual crop where straw removal for bioenergy may be sustainable, being the only annual crop not involving losses of soil organic carbon as a result of harvesting the straw. This, however, is conditional to manure application, and is only true on sandy soils.
Amixicile, a Novel Inhibitor of Pyruvate:Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase, Shows Efficacy against Clostridium difficile in a Mouse Infection Model
Authors: Warren Cirle A. , van Opstal Edward , Ballard T. Eric , Kennedy Andrew , Wang Xia , Riggins Mary , Olekhnovich Igor , Warthan Michelle , Kolling Glynis L. , Guerrant Richard L. , Macdonald Timothy L. , Hoffman Paul S. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Clostridium difficile
infection (CDI) is a serious diarrheal disease that often develops following prior antibiotic usage. One of the major problems with current therapies (oral vancomycin and metronidazole) is the high rate of recurrence. Nitazoxanide (NTZ), an inhibitor of pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) in anaerobic bacteria, parasites,
Helicobacter pylori
, and
Campylobacter jejuni
, also shows clinical efficacy against CDI. From a library of ∼250 analogues of NTZ, we identified leads with increased potency for PFOR. MIC screens indicated
in vitro
activity in the 0.05- to 2-μg/ml range against
C. difficile
. To improve solubility, we replaced the 2-acetoxy group with propylamine, producing amixicile, a soluble (10 mg/ml), nontoxic (cell-based assay) lead that produced no adverse effects in mice by oral or intraperitoneal (i.p.) routes at 200 mg/kg of body weight/day. In initial efficacy testing in mice treated (20 mg/kg/day, 5 days each) 1 day after receiving a lethal inoculum of
C. difficile
, amixicile showed slightly less protection than did vancomycin by day 5. However, in an optimized CDI model, amixicile showed equivalence to vancomycin and fidaxomicin at day 5 and there was significantly greater survival produced by amixicile than by the other drugs on day 12. All three drugs were comparable by measures of weight loss/gain and severity of disease. Recurrence of CDI was common for mice treated with vancomycin or fidaxomicin but not for mice receiving amixicile or NTZ. These results suggest that gut repopulation with beneficial (non-PFOR) bacteria, considered essential for protection against CDI, rebounds much sooner with amixicile therapy than with vancomycin or fidaxomicin. If the mouse model is indeed predictive of human CDI disease, then amixicile, a novel PFOR inhibitor, appears to be a very promising new candidate for treatment of CDI.
Effects of Antimicrobial Peptides on Methanogenic Archaea
Authors: Bang C. , Schilhabel A. , Weidenbach K. , Kopp A. , Goldmann T. , Gutsmann T. , Schmitz R. A. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

As members of the indigenous human microbiota found on several mucosal tissues,
Methanobrevibacter smithii
and
Methanosphaera stadtmanae
are exposed to the effects of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) secreted by these epithelia. Although antimicrobial and molecular effects of AMPs on bacteria are well described, data for archaea are not available yet. Besides, it is not clear whether AMPs affect them as the archaeal cell envelope differs profoundly in terms of chemical composition and structure from that of bacteria. The effects of different synthetic AMPs on growth of
M. smithii
,
M. stadtmanae
, and
Methanosarcina mazei
were tested using a microtiter plate assay adapted to their anaerobic growth requirements. All three tested methanoarchaea were highly sensitive against derivatives of human cathelicidin, of porcine lysin, and a synthetic antilipopolysaccharide peptide (Lpep); however, sensitivities differed markedly among the methanoarchaeal strains. The potent AMP concentrations affecting growth were below 10 μM, whereas growth of
Escherichia coli
WBB01 was not affected at peptide concentrations up to 10 μM under the same anaerobic growth conditions. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the structural integrity of the methanoarchaeal cells is destroyed within 4 h after incubation with AMPs. The disruption of the cell envelope of
M. smithii
,
M. stadtmanae
, and
M. mazei
within a few minutes of exposure was verified by using LIVE/DEAD staining. Our results strongly suggest that the release of AMPs by eukaryotic epithelial cells is a potent defense mechanism targeting not only bacteria, but also methanoarchaea.
Caenorhabditis elegans Immune Conditioning with the Probiotic Bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain NCFM Enhances Gram-Positive Immune Responses
Authors: Kim Younghoon , Mylonakis Eleftherios 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Although the immune response of
Caenorhabditis elegans
to microbial infections is well established, very little is known about the effects of health-promoting probiotic bacteria on evolutionarily conserved
C. elegans
host responses. We found that the probiotic Gram-positive bacterium
Lactobacillus acidophilus
NCFM is not harmful to
C. elegans
and that
L. acidophilus
NCFM is unable to colonize the
C. elegans
intestine. Conditioning with
L. acidophilus
NCFM significantly decreased the burden of a subsequent
Enterococcus faecalis
infection in the nematode intestine and prolonged the survival of nematodes exposed to pathogenic strains of
E. faecalis
and
Staphylococcus aureus
, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. Preexposure of nematodes to
Bacillus subtilis
did not provide any beneficial effects. Importantly,
L. acidophilus
NCFM activates key immune signaling pathways involved in
C. elegans
defenses against Gram-positive bacteria, including the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway (via TIR-1 and PMK-1) and the β-catenin signaling pathway (via BAR-1). Interestingly, conditioning with
L. acidophilus
NCFM had a minimal effect on Gram-negative infection with
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
or
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium and had no or a negative effect on defense genes associated with Gram-negative pathogens or general stress. In conclusion, we describe a new system for the study of probiotic immune agents and our findings demonstrate that probiotic conditioning with
L. acidophilus
NCFM modulates specific
C. elegans
immunity traits.
YghG (GspS
β
) Is a Novel Pilot Protein Required for Localization of the GspS
β
Type II Secretion System Secretin of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Strozen Timothy G. , Li Gang , Howard S. Peter 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

The enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) pathotype, characterized by the prototypical strain H10407, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. A major virulence factor of ETEC is the type II secretion system (T2SS) responsible for secretion of the diarrheagenic heat-labile enterotoxin (LT). In this study, we have characterized the two type II secretion systems, designated alpha (T2SS
α
) and beta (T2SS
β
), encoded in the H10407 genome and describe the prevalence of both systems in other
E. coli
pathotypes. Under laboratory conditions, the T2SS
β
is assembled and functional in the secretion of LT into culture supernatant, whereas the T2SS
α
is not. Insertional inactivation of the three genes located upstream of
gspC
β
(
yghJ
,
pppA
, and
yghG
) in the atypical T2SS
β
operon revealed that YghJ is not required for assembly of the GspD
β
secretin or secretion of LT, that PppA is likely the prepilin peptidase required for the function of T2SS
β
, and that YghG is required for assembly of the GspD
β
secretin and thus function of the T2SS
β
. Mutational and physiological analysis further demonstrated that YghG (redesignated GspS
β
) is a novel outer membrane pilotin protein that is integral for assembly of the T2SS
β
by localizing GspD
β
to the outer membrane, whereupon GspD
β
forms the macromolecular secretin multimer through which T2SS
β
substrates are translocated.
REFINEMENT OF CONVERGENCE RATES FOR WEIGHTED SUMS OF INDEPENDENT RANDOM VARIABLES
Authors: Niu Si-Li , Baek Jong-Il 
Published: May 2012

In this paper, we establish one general result on precise asymptotics of weighted sums for i.i.d. random variables. As a corollary, we have the results of Lanzinger and Stadtmüller [Refined Baum–Katz laws for weighted sums of iid random variables, Statist. Probab. Lett. 69 (2004) 357–368], Gut and Spătaru [Precise asymptotics in the law of the iterated logarithm, Ann. Probab. 28 (2000) 1870–1883; Precise asymptotics in the Baum–Katz and Davis laws of large numbers, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 248 (2000) 233–246], Gut and Steinebach [Convergence rates and precise asymptotics for renewal counting processes and some first passage times, Fields Inst. Comm. 44 (2004) 205–227] and Heyde [A supplement to the strong law of large numbers, J. Appl. Probab. 12 (1975) 173–175]. Meanwhile, we provide an answer for the possible conclusion pointed out by Lanzinger and Stadtmüller [Refined Baum–Katz laws for weighted sums of iid random variables, Statist. Probab. Lett. 69 (2004) 357–368].
SIGCSE by the numbers
Authors: Walker Henry M. 
Published: May 2012

Are the SIGCSE Symposia becoming more international in representation? In the June 2011 issue of the SIGCSE Bulletin newsletter, I examined paper submissions from SIGCSE 2011 and ITiCSE 2011 according to the continent of the authors.
This article examines trends in paper submissions for SIGCSE 2010, SIGCSE 2011, and SIGCSE 2012, according to the continent(s) of the author(s).
Cyclophosphamide Creates a Receptive Microenvironment for Prostate Cancer Skeletal Metastasis
Authors: Park Serk In , Liao Jinhui , Berry Janice E. , Li Xin , Koh Amy J. , Michalski Megan E. , Eber Matthew R. , Soki Fabiana N. , Sadler David , Sud Sudha , Tisdelle Sandra , Daignault Stephanie D. , Nemeth Jeffrey A. , Snyder Linda A. , Wronski Thomas J. , Pienta Kenneth J. , McCauley Laurie K. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
A number of cancers predominantly metastasize to bone, due to its complex microenvironment and multiple types of constitutive cells. Prostate cancer especially has been shown to localize preferentially to bones with higher marrow cellularity. Using an experimental prostate cancer metastasis model, we investigated the effects of cyclophosphamide, a bone marrow–suppressive chemotherapeutic drug, on the development and growth of metastatic tumors in bone. Priming the murine host with cyclophosphamide before intracardiac tumor cell inoculation was found to significantly promote tumor localization and subsequent growth in bone. Shortly after cyclophosphamide treatment, there was an abrupt expansion of myeloid lineage cells in the bone marrow and the peripheral blood, associated with increases in cytokines with myelogenic potential such as C-C chemokine ligand (CCL)2, interleukin (IL)-6, and VEGF-A. More importantly, neutralizing host-derived murine CCL2, but not IL-6, in the premetastatic murine host significantly reduced the prometastatic effects of cyclophosphamide. Together, our findings suggest that bone marrow perturbation by cytotoxic chemotherapy can contribute to bone metastasis via a transient increase in bone marrow myeloid cells and myelogenic cytokines. These changes can be reversed by inhibition of CCL2. Cancer Res; 72(10); 2522–32. ©2012 AACR.
Transcriptional Signatures of Ral GTPase Are Associated with Aggressive Clinicopathologic Characteristics in Human Cancer
Authors: Smith Steven C. , Baras Alexander S. , Owens Charles R. , Dancik Garrett , Theodorescu Dan 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
RalA and RalB are small GTPases that support malignant development and progression in experimental models of bladder, prostate, and squamous cancer. However, demonstration of their clinical relevance in human tumors remains lacking. Here, we developed tools to evaluate Ral protein expression, activation, and transcriptional output and evaluated their association with clinicopathologic parameters in common human tumor types. To evaluate the relevance of Ral activation and transcriptional output, we correlated RalA and RalB activation with the mutational status of key human bladder cancer genes. We also identified and evaluated a transcriptional signature of genes that correlates with depletion of RalA and RalB in vivo. The Ral transcriptional signature score, but not protein expression as evaluated by immunohistochemistry, predicted disease stage, progression to muscle invasion, and survival in human bladder cancers and metastatic and stem cell phenotypes in bladder cancer models. In prostate cancer, the Ral transcriptional signature score was associated with seminal vesicle invasion, androgen-independent progression, and reduced survival. In squamous cell carcinoma, this score was decreased in cancer tissues compared with normal mucosa, validating the experimental findings that Ral acts as a tumor suppressor in this tumor type. Together, our findings show the clinical relevance of Ral in human cancer and provide a rationale for the development of Ral-directed therapies. Cancer Res; 72(14); 3480–91. ©2012 AACR.
Why Do Children With ADHD Discontinue Their Medication?
Authors: Toomey Sara L. , Sox Colin M. , Rusinak Donna , Finkelstein Jonathan A. 
Published: May 2012

Objective. To examine factors associated with parent-reported discontinuation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. Methods. The authors conducted a telephone survey of parents of children 6 to 18 years old who had recently initiated ADHD medication according to insurance claims. Results. A total of 127 parents of children with ADHD who had recently initiated ADHD medication completed the survey (43% response rate); 21% discontinued the ADHD medication. Parents of discontinuers were less likely to report having discussed the risks and benefits of ADHD medication with primary care providers (59% vs 82%, P = .03) and were more likely to report psychological side effects (58% vs 21%, P > .001). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that both psychological side effects and perceived inadequate medication effectiveness were associated with discontinuation. Conclusions. Many children discontinue ADHD medication within the first year, often because of psychological side effects or perceived inadequate medication effectiveness. Improved methods for psychological side effect management, setting realistic medication goals, and assessing therapeutic success are needed.
The influence of pulsed electric field on hematological parameters in rat
Authors: Coskun Ozlem , Comlekci Selcuk 
Published: May 2012

The aim of the present study is to investigate whether or not pulsed electric field (PEF) affects some hematological parameters in rats. Sixteen healthy male Wistar rats weighting 150–200 g were used and were randomly divided into two groups. Exposure group ( n = 8) was exposed to a PEF (10 kV m−1 for 1 h d−1) for 10 consecutive days. The control group rats ( n = 8) were not exposed to PEF. The following hematological parameters were measured in both the groups: white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht) and platelets (PLTs). Some of the hematological parameters under investigation were similar in both the groups. Exposure group, exposed for 1 h d−1 during 10 consecutive days, induced a significant increase in the rates of WBC ( p < 0.05), RBC ( p < 0.05), Hb ( p < 0.05), Ht ( p < 0.05) and PLTs ( p < 0.05) in blood when compared with control. These results suggest that PEFs affect the hematological parameters in rat. Results of the parameters are statistically significant.
The genotoxic and teratogenic effects of maltitol in rats
Authors: Canimoglu Semir , Rencuzogullari Eyyup 
Published: May 2012

In the present study, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the low-caloric artificial sweetener maltitol, which is a sugar alcohol (polyol), were investigated in the bone marrow cells of rats using the chromosome aberration (CA) test. In addition, the teratogenicity and embryotoxicity of maltitol was also investigated in rats. To reveal the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of maltitol, rats were intraperitoneally administered 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg body weight (bw) concentrations of maltitol for 6, 12 and 24 h treatment period. The pregnant females were intraperitoneally treated with 1, 2 and 4 g/kg bw/day concentrations of maltitol during the first 7 days of gestation (first trimester) to investigate the teratogenicity of maltitol. The embryos were collected after killing the dams by cervical dislocation under ether anaesthesia on gestation day 19. Maltitol did not induce the CA and did not decrease the mitotic index in bone marrow cells of rats at all concentrations and treatment periods. In addition, maltitol was not teratogenic; however, it decreased the foetuses weight and at the highest dose (4 g/kg bw) caused growth retardation.
What Do Kramer’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative PROBIT Studies Tell Us? A Review of a Decade of Research
Authors: Martens Patricia J. 
Published: May 2012

Background: Kramer et al’s PROBIT (Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial) research in Belarus studied effects of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) training on breastfeeding duration, exclusivity, and health outcomes. Aims: To critique inclusion criteria, context, approaches to data analysis, and health outcome results. Method: Twenty-two articles were retrieved from PubMed and the PROBIT Website for 2001-2010; 6 were excluded as not focusing on breastfeeding and health outcomes. Results: PROBIT data from the cluster randomized hospital comparisons included only breastfed babies since all non-breastfed babies were excluded from the research. Context may affect outcomes, knowing that Belarus has good basic health services, 3-year maternity leaves with little use of daycare, 95% breastfeeding initiation rate, and a well-educated population. PROBIT data were analyzed in 2 ways: (a) intent-to-treat analyses of breastfeeding and health differences by cluster randomized intervention and control site mother/baby pairs; and (b) as an observational cohort study of health outcomes for all mother/baby pairs, analyzed by various breastfeeding categorizations and controlling for biases. PROBIT demonstrated links between BFHI and longer breastfeeding duration (19.7% vs 11.4% at 12 months, P < .001) and exclusivity (43.3% vs 6.4% at 3 months, P < .001), reductions in gastrointestinal episodes and rashes, higher verbal IQ scores, and longer exclusive breastfeeding rates for subsequent children but no statistically significant differences in the child’s body mass index, blood pressure, or dental health. Conclusion: PROBIT provides foundational evidence for BFHI policy and follow-up care. Knowing that non-breastfed babies were excluded, caution must be exercised for health comparisons.
Effect of a Compassion-Focused Training Program in Palliative Care Education for Medical Students
Authors: Shih Chih-Yuan , Hu Wen-Yu , Lee Long-Teng , Yao Chien-An , Chen Ching-Yu , Chiu Tai-Yuan 
Published: May 2012

Background: Compassion is the key value of humanities perspective. Little is known, however, concerning the impact of enhancing compassion on ethical decision making in end-of-life care. Methods: A total of 251 preclinical medical students were enrolled in a palliative care training course. A structured self-report questionnaire was administered before and after training. Results: Experience with caring for patients with terminal cancer was positively related to improvement in the decision of “truth telling is helpful to a good death.” In addition, improvement in the perception of “compassionate care” was correlated with higher improvement in the decision of “discharge planning and home care.” Conclusion: Compassion-focused training program can be helpful to improve medical students’ competence in making more appropriate ethical decisions in end-of-life care.