bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interactive virtual reality Wii in geriatric day hospital: A study to assess its feasibility, acceptability and efficacy
Authors: Chan Tuen Ching , Chan Fei , Shea Yat Fung , Lin Oi Yee , Luk James Ka Hay , Chan Felix Hon Wai 
Published: April 2012

Aim:  Rehabilitation using interactive virtual reality Wii (Wii‐IVR) was shown to be feasible in patients with different medical problems, but there was no study examining its use in a geriatric day hospital (GDH). The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of Wii‐IVR in GDH.Methods:  It was a clinical trial with matched historic controls. Patients of a GDH were recruited to participate in Wii‐IVR by playing “Wii Fit”. Participants used a Wii controller to carry out movements involved in an arm ergometer. Each participant received eight sessions of Wii‐IVR in addition to conventional GDH rehabilitation. Feasibility was assessed by the total time receiving Wii‐IVR, the percentage of maximal heart rate reserve (%MHR) and Borg perceived exertion scale (BS) after participating in Wii‐IVR. %MHR and BS were compared with those after carrying out an arm ergometer for the same duration. Acceptability was assessed by an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Efficacy was assessed by comparing improvements in Functional Independence Measure (FIM) between participants and matched historic controls, who received conventional GDH rehabilitations only.Results:  A total of 30 patients completed the study. Participants completed a total of 1941 min of event‐free Wii‐IVR. The mean %MHR was 15.9% ± 9.9% and the mean BS was 7.9 ± 2.3. There was no significant difference in %MHR and BS between participating in Wii‐IVR and arm ergometer. Most participants found Wii‐IVR similar to the arm ergometer, and would like to continue Wii‐IVR if they had Wii at home. Improvements in FIM of participants were significantly more than that of historic controls.Conclusions:  Wii‐IVR in GDH was feasible and most participants accepted it. Participants had more improvements in FIM. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; ••: ••–••.
At what time is the cocktail party? A late locus of selective attention to natural speech
Authors: Power Alan J. , Foxe John J. , Forde Emma‐Jane , Reilly Richard B. , Lalor Edmund C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractDistinguishing between speakers and focusing attention on one speaker in multi‐speaker environments is extremely important in everyday life. Exactly how the brain accomplishes this feat and, in particular, the precise temporal dynamics of this attentional deployment are as yet unknown. A long history of behavioral research using dichotic listening paradigms has debated whether selective attention to speech operates at an early stage of processing based on the physical characteristics of the stimulus or at a later stage during semantic processing. With its poor temporal resolution fMRI has contributed little to the debate, while EEG–ERP paradigms have been hampered by the need to average the EEG in response to discrete stimuli which are superimposed onto ongoing speech. This presents a number of problems, foremost among which is that early attention effects in the form of endogenously generated potentials can be so temporally broad as to mask later attention effects based on the higher level processing of the speech stream. Here we overcome this issue by utilizing the AESPA (auditory evoked spread spectrum analysis) method which allows us to extract temporally detailed responses to two concurrently presented speech streams in natural cocktail‐party‐like attentional conditions without the need for superimposed probes. We show attentional effects on exogenous stimulus processing in the 200–220 ms range in the left hemisphere. We discuss these effects within the context of research on auditory scene analysis and in terms of a flexible locus of attention that can be deployed at a particular processing stage depending on the task.
Anthropogenic mortality on coral reefs in Caribbean Panama predates coral disease and bleaching
Authors: Cramer Katie L. , Jackson Jeremy B. C. , Angioletti Christopher V. , Leonard‐Pingel Jill , Guilderson Thomas P. 
Published: April 2012

Ecology Letters (2012)AbstractCaribbean reef corals have declined precipitously since the 1980s due to regional episodes of bleaching, disease and algal overgrowth, but the extent of earlier degradation due to localised historical disturbances such as land clearing and overfishing remains unresolved. We analysed coral and molluscan fossil assemblages from reefs near Bocas del Toro, Panama to construct a timeline of ecological change from the 19th century—present. We report large changes before 1960 in coastal lagoons coincident with extensive deforestation, and after 1960 on offshore reefs. Striking changes include the demise of previously dominant staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis and oyster Dendrostrea frons that lives attached to gorgonians and staghorn corals. Reductions in bivalve size and simplification of gastropod trophic structure further implicate increasing environmental stress on reefs. Our paleoecological data strongly support the hypothesis, from extensive qualitative data, that Caribbean reef degradation predates coral bleaching and disease outbreaks linked to anthropogenic climate change.
The ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus converts organic matter in plant litter using a trimmed brown‐rot mechanism involving Fenton chemistry
Authors: Rineau Francois , Roth Doris , Shah Firoz , Smits Mark , Johansson Tomas , Canbäck Björn , Olsen Peter Bjarke , Persson Per , Grell Morten Nedergaard , Lindquist Erika , Grigoriev Igor V. , Lange Lene , Tunlid Anders 
Published: April 2012

SummarySoils in boreal forests contain large stocks of carbon. Plants are the main source of this carbon through tissue residues and root exudates. A major part of the exudates are allocated to symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi. In return, the plant receives nutrients, in particular nitrogen from the mycorrhizal fungi. To capture the nitrogen, the fungi must at least partly disrupt the recalcitrant organic matter–protein complexes within which the nitrogen is embedded. This disruption process is poorly characterized. We used spectroscopic analyses and transcriptome profiling to examine the mechanism by which the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus degrades organic matter when acquiring nitrogen from plant litter. The fungus partially degraded polysaccharides and modified the structure of polyphenols. The observed chemical changes were consistent with a hydroxyl radical attack, involving Fenton chemistry similar to that of brown‐rot fungi. The set of enzymes expressed by Pa. involutus during the degradation of the organic matter was similar to the set of enzymes involved in the oxidative degradation of wood by brown‐rot fungi. However, Pa. involutus lacked transcripts encoding extracellular enzymes needed for metabolizing the released carbon. The saprotrophic activity has been reduced to a radical‐based biodegradation system that can efficiently disrupt the organic matter–protein complexes and thereby mobilize the entrapped nutrients. We suggest that the released carbon then becomes available for further degradation and assimilation by commensal microbes, and that these activities have been lost in ectomycorrhizal fungi as an adaptation to symbiotic growth on host photosynthate. The interdependence of ectomycorrhizal symbionts and saprophytic microbes would provide a key link in the turnover of nutrients and carbon in forest ecosystems.
Routine preoperative chest computed tomography does not influence therapeutic strategy in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Restivo A. , Zorcolo L. , Piga S. , Cocco I. M. F. , Casula G. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAim  Patients with lung metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC) may benefit from surgical resection. Chest computed tomography (CT) is often included in the preoperative staging. Interpretation of the nature of pulmonary lesions is not always easy and many question its clinical value.Method  Clinical data for all patients treated at our institution for CRC have been collected prospectively in a dedicated database. Since August 2008 chest CT has been routinely performed for preoperative staging. The outcome of 147 patients operated on since then (Group A) was compared with a numerically equal group of patients (147) (Group B) treated before the introduction of preoperative routine chest CT.Results  Pulmonary lesions were identified in 45 (30%) patients in Group A and 10 (6.8%) in Group B. Ten and nine lesions, respectively, were interpreted as metastases. In 28 (19%) patients in Group A, the lesions were considered to be indeterminate and only four were confirmed as malignant. Overall metastases were present after 1 year of follow‐up in 5 (50%) of 10 patients in Group A and 5 (55%) of 9 in Group B. The global incidence of synchronous and metachronous metastases was 6.8%, with no statistical difference between the two groups.Conclusion  This study shows that chest CT reveals a higher number of pulmonary lesions, only a small proportion of which were malignant. The investigation does not add value to routine staging methods in patients with CRC.
Development of a social morbidity score in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis as a potential guide to treatment
Authors: Smith J. J. , Netuveli G. , Sleight S. P. , Das P. , Tekkis P. P. , Gabe S. M. , Clark S. K. , Nicholls R. J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAim  Present quality of life instruments for inflammatory bowel disease do not evaluate many social aspects of patients’ lives that are potentially important in clinical decision making. We have developed a new Social Impact of Chronic Conditions – Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SICC‐IBD) questionnaire to assess these areas.Method  A 34‐item questionnaire was piloted to determine quality of life relating to education, personal relationships, employment, independence and finance. It was compared with the Short Form 36‐Item version 2 (SF‐36v2) and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) in 150 patients with chronic ulcerative colitis on an endoscopic surveillance register who had never had surgery.Results  Reliability and validity testing enabled the questionnaire to be shortened to only eight items. There was a high level of reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.72). The questionnaire correlated well with the social functioning domain of the SF‐36 (rs = 0.56) and was able to distinguish clinical severity of disease.Conclusion  The SICC‐IBD is a new tool for assessment of patients with ulcerative colitis, which has identified new aspects of social disability for further study and for potential use as an additional tool in therapy decisions.
Role of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) in focal therapy of prostate cancer: report from a Consensus Panel
Authors: Smeenge Martijn , Barentsz Jelle , Cosgrove David , de la Rosette Jean , de Reijke Theo , Eggener Scott , Frauscher Ferdinand , Kovacs Gyoergy , Matin Surena F. , Mischi Massimo , Pinto Peter , Rastinehad Ardeshir , Rouviere Olivier , Salomon Georg , Polascik Thomas , Walz Jochen , Wijkstra Hessel , Marberger Michael 
Published: April 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Focal therapy techniques are emerging in prostate cancer treatment. However, several key questions about patient selection, treatment and monitoring still have to be addressed. The concept of focal therapy is barely discussed in current urological guidelines.In the present manuscript, we report the results of a consensus meeting focused on ultrasonography, the most common used urological imaging method, in relation to focal therapy of prostate cancer.
To establish a consensus on the utility of ultrasonography (US) to select patients for focal therapy. Topics were the current status of US to determine focality of prostate cancer, to monitor and assess outcome of focal therapy and the diagnostic advantages of new US methods. In addition, the biopsy techniques required to identify focal lesions were discussed.
Urological surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, and basic researchers from Europe and North America participated in a consensus meeting on the use of transrectal US (TRUS) in focal therapy of prostate cancer. The consensus process was face‐to‐face and specific clinical issues were raised and discussed with agreement sought when possible.
TRUS is commonly used and essential for diagnosing men with prostate cancer. It is particularly useful for targeting specific anatomical regions or visible lesions. However, it has several limitations and there is a need for improvement. Newer visualisation techniques, e.g. colour Doppler US, contrast‐enhanced US and elastography, are being developed but currently there is no US technique that can accurately characterise a cancer suitable for focal therapy. Systematic biopsy is the only known procedure that allows the identification of prostate cancers suitable for focal therapy. Scarce data exist about the role of US for monitoring patients during or after ablative therapy.
Consensus was reached on all key aspects of the meeting.
US cannot reliably identify focal prostate cancer. New US methods show promising results in identifying prostate cancer focality.
Currently selecting appropriate candidates for focal therapy should be performed using dedicated protocols and biopsy schemes.
Evaluating an intensive ward‐based writing coach programme to improve nursing documentation: lessons learned
Authors: Jefferies D. , Johnson M. , Nicholls D. , Langdon R. , Lad S. 
Published: April 2012

JEFFERIES D., JOHNSON M., NICHOLLS D., LANGDON R. & LAD S. Evaluating an intensive ward‐based writing coach programme to improve nursing documentation: lessons learned. International Nursing Review59, 394–401Aim:  This study aimed to develop a ward‐based writing coach programme to improve the quality of patient information in nursing documentation.Background:  Omissions in the patient information make nursing notes an unreliable source for care planning. Strategies to improve the quality of nursing documentation have been unsuccessful. An education programme, with one‐to‐one coaching in the clinical environment, was tested.Method:  A concurrent mixed methods approach including a pre–post test intervention and control design for the quantitative component combined with a qualitative approach using a focus group (eight nurses) was used. Healthcare records for 87 patients (intervention) (46 pre and 41 post) and 88 patients (control) (51 pre and 37 post) were reviewed using the Nursing and Midwifery Content Audit Tool for quality nursing documentation. Sixteen nurses from two intervention wards participated in an introductory workshop with 2 weeks of coaching. No intervention was given to the control ward.Results:  No significant differences were found between the wards across the 14 criteria representing quality documentation; most criteria were present in 75% or more of the records. Improvements were demonstrated in both the intervention and comparison units. Themes identified from the focus groups included the impact these changes had on nurses and patients, perceived difficulties with nursing documentation, medicolegal aspects and the attributes of an effective writing coach.Conclusion:  Writing coaching is a supportive approach to improving nursing documentation. Also, regular auditing prompts nurses to improve nursing documentation. Further research using larger sample sizes can further confirm or refute these findings.
Predicting the century‐long post‐fire responses of reptiles
Authors: Nimmo Dale. G. , Kelly Luke T. , Spence‐Bailey Lisa M. , Watson Simon J. , Haslem Angie , White John G. , Clarke Mike F. , Bennett Andrew F. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAim  We examined the century‐long post‐fire responses of reptiles to (1) determine the time‐scales over which fauna – fire relationships occur, (2) assess the capacity of a conceptual model to predict faunal response to fire, and (3) investigate the degree to which models of fauna – fire relationships can predict species occurrence and are transferable across space.Location  A 104,000 km2 area in the semi‐arid Murray Mallee region of south‐eastern Australia.Methods  We surveyed reptiles at 280 sites across a century‐long post‐fire chronosequence. We developed generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) of the relationship between time since fire and the occurrence of 17 species in two subregions, and compared modelled responses with predictions derived from the conceptual model. The predictive capacity of GAMMs was then assessed (1) within the subregion the model was developed and (2) when transferred into a novel subregion.Results  Eleven species displayed a significant relationship with time‐since‐fire, with changes in species probability of occurrence continuing up to 100 years post‐fire. Predictions of the timing of species post‐fire peak in occurrence were accurate for 9 of 13 species models for which a significant fire response was detected, but little success was achieved in predicting the shape of a species' response. GAMMs predicted species occurrence more accurately when applied within the subregion in which they were developed than when transferred into a novel subregion, primarily due to some species responding to fire more strongly in one part of their geographic range.Main conclusions  Fire influences the occurrence of reptiles in semi‐arid ecosystems over century‐long time frames. Habitat‐use conceptual models have value in predicting the peak occurrence of species following fire, particularly for species with distributions strongly shaped by fire. Species relationships with fire can differ across their geographic range, probably associated with variation in climatic influences on post‐fire succession and the consequent provision of habitat resources.
Exploring the phylogenetic history of mammal species richness
Authors: Davies T. Jonathan , Buckley Lauren B. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAim At broad geographical scales, species richness is a product of three basic processes: speciation, extinction and migration. However, determining which of these processes predominates is a major challenge. Whilst palaeontological studies can provide information on speciation and extinction rates, data are frequently lacking. Here we use a recent dated phylogenetic tree of mammals to explore the relative importance of these three processes in structuring present‐day richness gradients.Location The global terrestrial biosphere.Methods We combine macroecological data with phylogenetic methods more typically used in community ecology to describe the phylogenetic history of regional faunas. Using simulations, we explore two simple phylogenetic metrics, the mean and variance in the pairwise distances between taxa, and describe their relationship to phylogenetic tree topology. We then use these two metrics to characterize the evolutionary relationships among mammal species assemblages across the terrestrial biome.Results We show that the mean and variance in the pairwise distances describe phylogenetic tree topology well, but are less sensitive to phylogenetic uncertainty than more direct measures of tree shape. We find the phylogeny for South American mammals is imbalanced and ‘stemmy’ (long branches towards the root), consistent with recent diversification within evolutionarily disparate lineages. In contrast, the phylogeny for African mammals is balanced and ‘tippy’ (long branches towards the tips), more consistent with the slow accumulation of diversity over long times, reflecting the Old World origin of many mammal clades.Main conclusions We show that phylogeny can accurately capture biogeographical processes operating at broad spatial scales and over long time periods. Our results support inferences from the fossil record – that the New World tropics are a diversity cradle whereas the Old World tropics are a museum of old diversity.
Geographic isolation and climate govern the functional diversity of native fish communities in European drainage basins
Authors: Schleuter Diana , Daufresne Martin , Veslot Jacques , Mason Norman W. H. , Lanoiselée Cédric , Brosse Sébastien , Beauchard Olivier , Argillier Christine 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAim  In times of biodiversity crisis, it is extremely important to understand diversity gradients. In particular, the study of the diversity of ecological functions is a key issue for the management of ecosystem integrity. Here we identify areas of low functional diversity of the native fish fauna in European drainage basins and we determine the relative importance of three underlying mechanisms: environmental filtering, geographic isolation and climatic history.Location  The European continent.Methods  Based on 14 morphological traits that are closely related to fish function (habitat and dietary niches), three independent functional diversity indices [functional richness (FR), functional evenness (FE), functional divergence (FD)] were calculated for 128 European drainage basins with a total of 230 fish species. The indices were standardized for species richness using null models. The patterns of the standardized indices are described and three potentially underlying mechanisms are tested using variance partitioning and multi‐linear regression models.Results  FR and FD were highest in eastern European drainage basins and in Great Britain and lowest in the Mediterranean. FE patterns were less pronounced. All observed patterns were mainly governed by geographic isolation and present environmental conditions. Within the environmental conditions, average annual temperature and precipitation were good predictors for functional diversity. The role of habitat diversity and size was negligible.Main conclusions  Geographic isolation coupled with harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures and low precipitation, as in Mediterranean regions, can lead to low FR and FD. This can be explained by extinction that could not be compensated by re‐colonization and high speciation. Due to their high functional redundancy, communities in these areas might better withstand further species extinctions on a small scale. Over the short term, however, their often extremely low FR suggests a less flexible functioning that can hinder their ability to withstand today's rapid environmental and anthropogenic threats.