bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidental focal colonic lesions found on 18Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan: further support for a national guideline on definitive management
Authors: Farquharson A. L. , Chopra A. , Ford A. , Matthews S. , Amin S. N. , De Noronha R. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAim  18Fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is an established part of staging in a wide variety of malignancies. Incidental abnormal uptake of 18FDG of unknown significance is frequently encountered. Therefore, we investigated patients with abnormal colonic uptake of 18FDG, determined by PET/CT images, using colonoscopy.Method  The radiology reports of all patients referred to a tertiary referral centre for a PET/CT scan were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with abnormal colonic uptake of 18FDG were identified and the PET/CT findings were correlated with colonoscopic findings.Results  Of 555 consecutive patients identified over a 26‐month period, 53 had abnormal colonic uptake of 18FDG, as determined by PET/CT images. Twenty‐nine were not investigated following discussion in a specialist multidisciplinary (MDT) meeting, according to local protocol. Twenty out of 24 patients investigated by endoscopy had a colonic lesion correlating to the site identified on the PET/CT image: 16 patients had tubulovillous adenomas (nine of which were > 10 mm), two had invasive adenocarcinomas, two had diverticular disease and one had collagenous colitis; no colonic lesion was detected in three. These findings were incidental and not related to the primary diagnosis for which the scan was being performed. Accordingly, a positive predictive value of 83% is associated with the finding of abnormal uptake of 18FDG on PET/CT images.Conclusion  Incidental abnormal colonic uptake of 18FDG, determined by a PET/CT scan requires definitive colonic investigation in patients suitable for further treatment because significant colonic pathology is frequently identified. The benefit of this approach should be discussed in specialist MDT meetings and tailored to each patient; however, national guidelines for management are required.
Through efficient use of LORs: Prospective teachers' views on operational aspects of learning object repositories
Authors: Yalcinalp Serpil , Emiroglu Bulent 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAlthough many developments have been made in the design and development of learning object repositories (LORs), the efficient use of such systems is still questionable. Without realising the functional use of such systems or considering the involvement of their dynamic users, these systems would probably become obsolete. This study includes both qualitative and quantitative research methods for the investigation of prospective teachers' views on the operational aspects of such tools. The participants in this study were 75 prospective teachers that were participating in the graduate certification programme for secondary school subject teachers at Baskent University in Turkey. To realise the objectives of this study, prospective teachers were required to use the 17 of the existing LORs in their course. Analysis was also conducted on those LORs identified by the researchers. Afterwards, teachers were asked to answer an open‐ended question in paper and pencil form. Through qualitative analysis, the responses of teachers were coded and presented in a table. The results of this analysis revealed many interesting points regarding teachers' thoughts on the main factors in repositories and are expected to guide the designers, developers and users of LORs to focus on the main issues related to the improvement of functionality and efficiency of such systems.Practitioner NotesWhat is already known about this topic
Role of learning objects (LOs) in education.
Knowledge on general features of well‐known learning object repositories (LORs).
Analysis of the existing LORs in terms of their structural and operational features.
What this paper adds
A useful insight into educators' perceptions of LOs and LORs.
Analysis of user requirements such as teachers' needs in LORs.
Identification of the 17 LORs along with their features from which the reader may benefit and the knowledge of additional few such systems as the Turkish Repositories.
Implications for practice and/or policy
Considerations of structural factors in designing LORs reflecting prospective teachers' requirements such as the use of ontologies and Semantic Webs.
Considerations of usability factors in designing LORs reflecting the prospective teachers' requirements.
Suggestions for considerations of the critical issues in the development and use of LORs such as the needs to be taken into care within the scope of the Open Educational Resources movement.
Food practices, changes, preferences and acculturation of Arab students in US universities
Authors: Brittin Helen C. , Obeidat Bayan A. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractKnowledge of food practices and preferences of various ethnic groups is needed in order to provide effective nutrition education and care to an increasingly diverse population. Scant information on food practices of Arabs in the US is available. This study investigated food practices, changes, preferences and acculturation of some Arab students in US universities. After contacting 248 potential participants by e‐mail, a questionnaire was mailed to a convenience sample of the 70 students enrolled in US universities who were born in an Arab country and had agreed to participate. Completed questionnaires were returned by 45 men and women from nine Arab countries and enrolled in five US universities. While living in the US, the number of meals consumed per day decreased (P < 0.01), and food eaten out changed from Arabic to American. Foods consumed most frequently were soft drinks, white bread, hot tea, orange juice, tomato, pita bread, olive oil, American coffee and bananas. Of 109 foods on the questionnaire, consumption frequency increased (P < 0.05) for 15 American foods and decreased (P < 0.05) for 24 Arabic foods, 19 common foods and total vegetable, meat, milk, fats/sweets and Arabic dishes food groups. Food group mean daily consumption frequencies suggest adequate intake of food groups except bread and milk. Most foods were liked (81%; mean 5.5 or higher on a 9‐point hedonic scale). Consumption frequency and liking were positively correlated (P < 0.05) for 47 foods and total milk food group. Acculturation (mean 2.5, 1–5 scale) was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with length of US residence and with consumption and liking of some American foods, and was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with consumption and liking of some Arabic foods. These findings can be used as a guide in future research on food practices of Arab consumers, and in nutrition education and care of an Arab population.
Defining and using the concept of household: a systematic review
Authors: Casimir Gerda J. , Tobi Hilde 
Published: August 2011

AbstractConsumption and/or domestic activities in the private domain are much studied subjects. In the field of home economics and related fields of study, the household is the main unit of analysis. This paper focuses on how the household is conceptualized in literature during 2000–2010. The paper contains two lines of investigation. The first questions whether and in which way the household is defined in a selection of peer‐reviewed articles of which the concept is part of the title. The second is about the multifaceted nature of the concept and elicits the facets that feature in the articles. A systematic review was performed using the bibliographic database Web of Science, as it covers different branches of science, including, but not limited to, home economics, developmental sociology, environmental sciences and transportation. The search was formulated by means of a Boolean expression. Articles were included when they were written in English, published between 2000 and 2010, and contained Househ* in title and Theor* in the topic, and either member* or product* or care or livelihood in the topic. Abstracts and full papers were assigned to Atlas.ti, a program for computer‐assisted qualitative data analysis. Bottom‐up and top‐down coding procedures were used for a domain analysis and a quantitative content analysis. The results show that very few (less than 10%) of the papers give a definition of the concept ‘household’. Instead, some papers give a study description based on so‐called household characteristics, thereby implicitly indicating dimensions of the concept. In the Results sections, some of the characteristics used for inclusion or exclusion of study participants are mentioned, but also other characteristics. It is concluded that descriptions of households do contain commonly used facets that together construct the concept of household as a group of people sharing resources, expenditures and activities.
Pharmacokinetics of Fentanyl Buccal Tablet: A Pooled Analysis and Review
Authors: Darwish Mona , Xie Fang 
Published: August 2011

AbstractFentanyl buccal tablet (FBT) is indicated for the treatment of breakthrough pain in patients who are already receiving and are tolerant to opioid therapy for underlying, persistent cancer pain. FBT is designed to enhance the rate and efficiency of absorption of fentanyl through the buccal mucosa. FBT was shown to be dose proportional from 100 to 1,300 μg. This analysis provides an overview of the pharmacokinetic profile of FBT based on pooled data from nine pharmacokinetic studies. In all, 365 healthy non‐opioid‐tolerant adults receiving naltrexone were included in the analysis. Single‐dose (100 to 1,300 μg) pharmacokinetic parameters were dose normalized to 100 μg. Pharmacokinetic measures included maximum observed plasma drug concentration (Cmax), plasma drug concentration versus time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0–∞), time to reach Cmax (Tmax), apparent plasma terminal elimination rate constant, and elimination half‐life. After FBT administration, fentanyl was rapidly absorbed, with Tmax ranging from 20 minutes to 4 hours postdose. Mean AUC0–∞ was 1.49 ng•hour/mL, and mean Cmax was 0.237 ng/mL. However, plasma fentanyl concentration reached 80% of Cmax within 25 minutes and was maintained through 2 hours after administration. Based on the individual studies, bioequivalence was shown for sublingual and buccal tablet placement, and no significant effect of dwell time (duration of FBT presence in the oral cavity) was observed. The pharmacokinetic profile of FBT was characterized by rapid absorption, which is consistent with the rapid‐onset efficacy profile of FBT observed in clinical studies.
Improved Outcome with Preventive Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in the Elderly: A MADIT‐CRT Substudy
Authors: PENN JUSTIN , GOLDENBERG ILAN , MOSS ARTHUR J. , McNITT SCOTT , ZAREBA WOJCIECH , KLEIN HELMUT U. , CANNOM DAVID S. , SOLOMON SCOTT D. , BARSHESHET ALON , HUANG DAVID T. ,   for the MADIT‐CRT Trial investigators
Published: August 2011

Preventive Cardiac Resynchronization in the Elderly. Background: Elderly patients comprise a large portion of patients with heart failure (HF). Limited data exist on the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (CRT‐D) in patients with mild HF symptoms in this population.
Methods and Results: The benefit of CRT‐D compared with ICD‐only therapy in reducing HF or death was assessed by age categories (prespecified as <60 [n = 548], 60–74 [n = 941], and ≥75 [n = 331] years) among 1,820 patients in MADIT‐CRT. In patients with ICD‐only, there was a graded age‐related increase in the Kaplan–Meier cumulative probability of HF or death at 3‐year follow‐up (19%, 33%, and 36%, in patients aged <60, 60–74, and ≥75 years, respectively, P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that CRT‐D therapy was associated with a significant reduction in the risks of HF or death in patients aged 60–74, and ≥75 years (HR = 0.57, P = <0.001 and HR = 0.59, P = 0.017, respectively), and no significant benefit in patients aged <60 years (HR = 0.81, P = 0.3; P‐value for all treatment‐by‐age interactions >0.10). There was no significant difference in the rate of device‐related adverse events within 90 days following CRT‐D implantation among age‐subgroups (16.7%, 15.7%, and 11.7%, in patients <60, 60–74, and ≥75 years, respectively, P = 0.42).
Conclusion: CRT‐D was associated with a significant clinical benefit in older patients (≥60 years) during an average 2.4‐year follow‐up. These effects were preserved for the elderly patients ≥75 years of age but attenuated in patients <60 years. Elderly patients had no increase in device‐related adverse events compared with younger patients. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 892‐897, August 2011)
The effect of electronically steering a phased array ultrasound transducer on near‐field tissue heating
Authors: Payne Allison , Vyas Urvi , Todd Nick , de Bever Joshua , Christensen Douglas A. , Parker Dennis L. 
Published: August 2011

Purpose:This study presents the results obtained from both simulation and experimental techniques that show the effect of mechanically or electronically steering a phased array transducer on proximal tissue heating.Methods:The thermal response of a nine‐position raster and a 16‐mm diameter circle scanning trajectory executed through both electronic and mechanical scanning was evaluated in computer simulations and experimentally in a homogeneous tissue‐mimicking phantom. Simulations were performed using power deposition maps obtained from the hybrid angular spectrum (HAS) method and applying a finite‐difference approximation of the Pennes' bioheat transfer equation for the experimentally used transducer and also for a fully sampled transducer to demonstrate the effect of acoustic window, ultrasound beam overlap and grating lobe clutter on near‐field heating.Results:Both simulation and experimental results show that electronically steering the ultrasound beam for the two trajectories using the 256‐element phased array significantly increases the thermal dose deposited in the near‐field tissues when compared with the same treatment executed through mechanical steering only. In addition, the individual contributions of both beam overlap and grating lobe clutter to the near‐field thermal effects were determined through comparing the simulated ultrasound beam patterns and resulting temperature fields from mechanically and electronically steered trajectories using the 256‐randomized element phased array transducer to an electronically steered trajectory using a fully sampled transducer with 40 401 phase‐adjusted sample points.Conclusions:Three distinctly different three distinctly different transducers were simulated to analyze the tradeoffs of selected transducer design parameters on near‐field heating. Careful consideration of design tradeoffs and accurate patient treatment planning combined with thorough monitoring of the near‐field tissue temperature will help to ensure patient safety during an MRgHIFU treatment.
Characterization of the deflections of a catheter steered using a magnetic resonance imaging system
Authors: Gosselin Frédérick P. , Lalande Viviane , Martel Sylvain 
Published: August 2011

Purpose:The authors quantify the deflections of a catheter and a guidewire in MR setting with different designs of ferromagnetic tips and a system of high gradient coils which can generate gradients, and thus forces, 20 times larger than a conventional scanner.Methods:Different designs of catheter tips are experimentally tested in an effort to maximize the deflections. One to two ferromagnetic spheres are attached at the distal tip of the catheter (or guidewire) with different spacing between the spheres. The effect of dipole–dipole interaction on the steering of the catheter is studied through experimentation and theoretical modeling. The effect of using many spheres on the artefact generated in fast imaging sequences is also investigated.Results:A catheter and a guidewire are successfully steered by applying magnetic gradients inside a magnetic resonance scanner. More ferromagnetic material allows for larger magnetic forces, however, the use of two ferromagnetic spheres introduces undesired dipole–dipole interactions. Two ferromagnetic spheres generate a single larger artefact as they are close together.Conclusions:By varying the distance between the two ferromagnetic spheres, a balance can be struck between the need to minimize the size of the tip and the undesirable dipole–dipole interaction.
Cryptococcal Titan Cell Formation Is Regulated by G-Protein Signaling in Response to Multiple Stimuli
Authors: Okagaki Laura H. , Wang Yina , Ballou Elizabeth R. , O'Meara Teresa R. , Bahn Yong-Sun , Alspaugh J. Andrew , Xue Chaoyang , Nielsen Kirsten 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

The titan cell is a recently described morphological form of the pathogenic fungus
Cryptococcus neoformans
. Occurring during the earliest stages of lung infection, titan cells are 5 to 10 times larger than the normal yeast-like cells, thereby resisting engulfment by lung phagocytes and favoring the persistence of infection. These enlarged cells exhibit an altered capsule structure, a thickened cell wall, increased ploidy, and resistance to nitrosative and oxidative stresses. We demonstrate that two G-protein-coupled receptors are important for induction of the titan cell phenotype: the Ste3
a
pheromone receptor (in mating type
a
cells) and the Gpr5 protein. Both receptors control titan cell formation through elements of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. This conserved signaling pathway, in turn, mediates its effect on titan cells through the PKA-regulated Rim101 transcription factor. Additional downstream effectors required for titan cell formation include the G
1
cyclin Pcl103, the Rho104 GTPase, and two GTPase-activating proteins, Gap1 and Cnc1560. These observations support developing models in which the PKA signaling pathway coordinately regulates many virulence-associated phenotypes in diverse human pathogens.
Frequent Mutations within the Genomic Magnetosome Island of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense Are Mediated by RecA
Authors: Kolinko Isabel , Jogler Christian , Katzmann Emanuel , Schüler Dirk 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

Genes for magnetosome formation in magnetotactic bacteria are clustered in large genomic magnetosome islands (MAI). Spontaneous deletions and rearrangements were frequently observed within these regions upon metabolic stress. This instability was speculated to be due to RecA-dependent homologous recombination between the numerous sequence repeats present within the MAI. Here we show that a RecA-deficient strain of
Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
(IK-1) no longer exhibits genetic instability of magnetosome formation. Strain IK-1 displayed higher sensitivity to oxygen and UV irradiation. Furthermore, the lack of RecA abolished allelic exchange in the mutant. Cells of strain IK-1 displayed a slightly altered (i.e., more elongated) morphology, whereas the absence of RecA did not affect the ability to synthesize wild-type-like magnetosomes. Our data provide evidence that the observed genetic instability of magnetosome formation in the wild type is due predominantly to RecA-mediated recombination. In addition, increased genetic stability could make strain IK-1 a useful tool for the expression of genes and further genetic engineering, as well as for biotechnological production of bacterial magnetosomes.
Components of the
Rv0081-Rv0088
Locus, Which Encodes a Predicted Formate Hydrogenlyase Complex, Are Coregulated by Rv0081, MprA, and DosR in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: He Hongjun , Bretl Daniel J. , Penoske Renee M. , Anderson David M. , Zahrt Thomas C. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, the etiological agent of tuberculosis, remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world despite a vaccine and cost-effective antibiotics. The success of this organism can be attributed, in part, to its ability to adapt to potentially harmful stress within the host and establish, maintain, and reactivate from long-term persistent infection within granulomatous structures. The DosRS-DosT/DevRS-Rv2027c, and MprAB two-component signal transduction systems have previously been implicated in aspects of persistent infection by
M. tuberculosis
and are known to be responsive to conditions likely to be found within the granuloma. Here, we describe initial characterization of a locus (
Rv0081-Rv0088
) encoding components of a predicted formate hydrogenylase enzyme complex that is directly regulated by DosR/DevR and MprA, and the product of the first gene in this operon, Rv0081. In particular, we demonstrate that Rv0081 negatively regulates its own expression and that of downstream genes by binding an inverted repeat element in its upstream region. In contrast, DosR/DevR and MprA positively regulate
Rv0081
expression by binding to recognition sequences that either partially or completely overlap that recognized by Rv0081, respectively. Expression of
Rv0081
initiates from two promoter elements; one promoter located downstream of the DosR/DevR binding site but overlapping the sequence recognized by both Rv0081 and MprA and another promoter downstream of the DosR/DevR, Rv0081, and MprA binding sites. Interestingly, Rv0081 represses
Rv0081
and downstream determinants following activation of DosRS-DosT/DevRS-Rv2027c by nitric oxide, suggesting that expression of this locus is complex and subject to multiple levels of regulation. Based on this and other published information, a model is proposed detailing
Rv0081-Rv0088
expression by these transcription factors within particular growth environments.
Localization and Assembly of the Novel Exosporium Protein BetA of Bacillus anthracis
Authors: Thompson Brian M. , Hoelscher Bryce C. , Driks Adam , Stewart George C. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACT

The exosporium of
Bacillus anthracis
is comprised of two distinct layers: a basal layer and a hair-like nap that covers the basal layer. The hair-like nap contains the glycoproteins BclA and, most likely, BclB. BclA and BclB are directed to assemble into the exosporium by motifs in their N-terminal domains. Here, we identify a previously uncharacterized putative gene encoding this motif, which we have named
betA
(
Bacillus
exosporium-targeted protein of
B. anthracis
). Like
bclA
,
betA
encodes a putative collagenlike repeat region.
betA
is present in several genomes of exosporium-producing
Bacillus
species but, so far, not in any others. Using fluorescence microscopic localization of a BetA-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) fusion protein and immunofluorescence microscopy with anti-BetA antibodies, we showed that BetA resides in the exosporium basal layer, likely underneath BclA. BetA assembles at the spore surface at around hour 5 of sporulation and under the control of BxpB, similar to the control of deposition of BclA. We suggest a model in which BclA and BetA are incorporated into the exosporium by a mechanism that depends on their similar N termini. These data suggest that BetA is a member of a growing family of exosporium proteins that assemble under the control of targeting sequences in their N termini.