bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Image quality and myocardial scar size determined with magnetic resonance imaging in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation: a comparison of two imaging protocols
Authors: Rosendahl Lene , Ahlander Britt‐Marie , Björklund Per‐Gunnar , Blomstrand Peter , Brudin Lars , Engvall Jan E. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryBackground:  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart generally requires breath holding and a regular rhythm. Single shot 2D steady‐state free precession (SS_SSFP) is a fast sequence insensitive to arrhythmia as well as breath holding. Our purpose was to determine image quality, signal‐to‐noise (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise (CNR) ratios and infarct size with a fast single shot and a standard segmented MRI sequence in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation and chronic myocardial infarction.Methods:  Twenty patients with chronic myocardial infarction and ongoing atrial fibrillation were examined with inversion recovery SS_SSFP and segmented inversion recovery 2D fast gradient echo (IR_FGRE). Image quality was assessed in four categories: delineation of infarcted and non‐infarcted myocardium, occurrence of artefacts and overall image quality. SNR and CNR were calculated. Myocardial volume (ml) and infarct size, expressed as volume (ml) and extent (%), were calculated, and the methodological error was assessed.Results:  SS_SSFP had significantly better quality scores in all categories (P = 0·037, P = 0·014, P = 0·021, P = 0·03). SNRinfarct and SNRblood were significantly better for IR_FGRE than for SS_SSFP (P = 0·048, P = 0·018). No significant difference was found in SNRmyocardium and CNR. The myocardial volume was significantly larger with SS_SSFP (170·7 versus 159·2 ml, P<0·001), but no significant difference was found in infarct volume and infarct extent.Conclusion:  SS_SSFP displayed significantly better image quality than IR_FGRE. The infarct size and the error in its determination were equal for both sequences, and the examination time was shorter with SS_SSFP.
First record of male drumming call of the genus Capnioneura Ris, 1905 (Plecoptera, Capniidae)
Authors: TIERNO DE FIGUEROA J. Manuel , LUZÓN‐ORTEGA Julio M. , LÓPEZ‐RODRÍGUEZ Manuel J. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThe male call of Capnioneura mitis, produced by drumming, is recorded and analyzed for the first time. It also represents the first known signal for the genus. It consists of a highly variable number of beats (2–32) with inter‐beat duration approximately constant along the call, but inter‐beat duration is temperature dependent. Thus, at 13°C the mean inter‐beat duration is 1.397 s (SD = 0.050) while at 21°C it is 1.139 s (SD = 0.093). The call pattern exhibited by this species, as those of the majority of previously studied Capniidae species, can be catalogued as an ancestral or near‐ancestral percussive monophasic signal.
Exploring the Social Dynamics of Proenvironmental Behavior Change
Authors: Nye Michael , Hargreaves Tom 
Published: December 2009

SummaryThis article explores the intrinsic role of context in shaping the course and outcomes of interventions aimed at changing environmentally significant behavior in home and workplace settings. Drawing on sociological theories of symbolic interactionism, we evaluate the social dynamics and mechanisms of two similar, team‐based behavior change interventions at work (Environment Champions) and at home (EcoTeams). The analysis shows that the interventions open up different levels of opportunity for reviewing and renegotiating new environmentally friendly behaviors against the reactions and expectations of the immediate peer group, existing workplace or domestic roles, and the situation‐specific definitions of what counts as appropriate behavior in the home and the workplace. We argue that policy studies should pay greater attention to the processes of behavior change, or the contextually sensitive relationship between interventions and outcomes, as a step toward refining or streamlining interventions aimed at changing environmentally significant behavior.
Needlet bispectrum asymmetries in the WMAP 5-year data
Authors: Pietrobon Davide , Cabella Paolo , Balbi Amedeo , Crittenden Robert , De Gasperis Giancarlo , Vittorio Nicola 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
We apply the needlet formalism to the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe 5-year data, looking for evidence of non-Gaussianity in the bispectrum of the needlet amplitudes. We confirm earlier findings of an asymmetry in the non-Gaussianity between the Northern and Southern Galactic hemispheres. We attempt to isolate which scales and geometrical configurations are most anomalous and find that the bispectrum is most significant on large scales and in the more co-linear configurations and also in the ‘squeezed’ configurations. However, these anomalies do not appear to affect the estimate of the non-linear parameter fNL, and we see no significant difference between its values measured in the two hemispheres.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Under‐filled blood collection tubes containing K2EDTA as anticoagulant are acceptable for automated complete blood counts, white blood cell differential, and reticulocyte count
Authors: XU M. , ROBBE V. A. , JACK R. M. , RUTLEDGE J. C. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryCurrent laboratory standards from Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and manufacturer’s (Becton Dickinson) data indicate that under‐filling K2EDTA blood collection tubes can result in erroneous hematology values. To accommodate under‐filled tubes and reduce collection volumes while optimizing our automation, we explored the acceptable limit of under‐filled tubes for hematology values. We collected 8.0 ml of blood from 30 normal adult volunteers. Each donation was aliquoted in the following volumes: 4.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 ml × 2. These samples were analyzed within 1 h of blood collection on Sysmex XE‐2100 (Sysmex America Inc., Mundelein, IL, USA) for complete blood count, reticulocyte, and white blood cell differentials. Results of the under‐filled tubes were compared to those of the standard volume. The Deming regression analysis show excellent correlation for all parameters between each under‐filled blood collection volume compared to a standard 4 ml volume. The Bland and Altman analysis shows good agreement between both 1.0 and 2.0 ml compared to a 4.0 ml volume. The 0.5 ml compared to a 4.0 ml volume, however, shows increased variation on many parameters. In addition all three collection volumes show negative bias compared to the standard volume for platelet count, but the difference is considered insignificant with a percent difference of 5.5%, 3.2%, and 1.5% for 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ml collection volume respectively. Finally for 0.5 ml collection volume we noticed a low level of false positive flagging rate for white blood cell. Acceptable complete blood count values of under‐filled powdered K2EDTA tubes can be obtained with as little as 1.0 ml of blood.
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Alpha Interferon Response Induced by a Toll-Like 7 Receptor Agonist in Mice
Authors: Benson Neil , de Jongh Joost , Duckworth Jonathan D. , Jones Hannah M. , Pertinez Henry E. , Rawal Jaiessh K. , van Steeg Tamara J. , Van der Graaf Piet H. 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTRecombinant alpha interferon (IFN-α) is used in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients but is not optimal in terms of efficacy or tolerability. Toll-like 7 receptor (TLR-7) agonists stimulate the innate immune system to produce, among other cytokines, IFN-α and are being evaluated as alternative drugs to treat HCV infection. This paper describes the application of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling to understanding the behavior of a TLR-7 agonist [9-benzyl-8-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxyethoxy) adenine (BHMA)] in mice, using IFN-α as a biomarker. This is the first report of such a PK-PD model, and the conclusions may be of utility in the clinical development of TLR-7 agonists for HCV infection.
Elucidation of the Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Determinant of Colistin Activity againstPseudomonas aeruginosain Murine Thigh and Lung Infection Models
Authors: Dudhani Rajesh V. , Turnidge John D. , Coulthard Kingsley , Milne Robert W. , Rayner Craig R. , Li Jian , Nation Roger L. 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTColistin is increasingly used as last-line therapy against Gram-negative pathogens. The pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) index that best correlates with the efficacy of colistin remains undefined. The activity of colistin against three strains ofPseudomonas aeruginosawas studied in neutropenic mouse thigh and lung infection models. The PKs of unbound colistin were determined from single-dose PK studies together with extensive plasma protein binding analyses. Dose-fractionation studies were conducted over 24 h with a dose range of 5 to 160 mg/kg of body weight/day. The bacterial burden in the thigh or lung was measured at 24 h after the initiation of treatment. Relationships between antibacterial effect and measures of exposure to unbound (f) colistin (area under the concentration-time curve [fAUC/MIC], maximum concentration of drug in plasma [fCmax]/MIC, and the time that the concentration in plasma is greater than the MIC [fT> MIC]) were examined by using an inhibitory sigmoid maximum-effect model. Nonlinearity in the PKs of colistin, including its plasma protein binding, was observed. The PK/PD index that correlated best with its efficacy wasfAUC/MIC in both the thigh infection model (R2= 87%) and the lung infection model (R2= 89%). ThefAUC/MIC targets required to achieve 1-log and 2-log kill against the three strains were 15.6 to 22.8 and 27.6 to 36.1, respectively, in the thigh infection model, while the corresponding values were 12.2 to 16.7 and 36.9 to 45.9 in the lung infection model. The findings of thisin vivostudy indicate the importance of achieving adequate time-averaged exposure to colistin. The results will facilitate efforts to define the more rational design of dosage regimens for humans.
QseC MediatesSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium VirulenceIn VitroandIn Vivo
Authors: Moreira Cristiano G. , Weinshenker David , Sperandio Vanessa 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTThe autoinducer-3 (AI-3)/epinephrine (Epi)/norepinephrine (NE) interkingdom signaling system mediates chemical communication between bacteria and their mammalian hosts. The three signals are sensed by the QseC histidine kinase (HK) sensor.Salmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium is a pathogen that uses HKs to sense its environment and regulate virulence.Salmonellaserovar Typhimurium invades epithelial cells and survives within macrophages. Invasion of epithelial cells is mediated by the type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded inSalmonellapathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1), while macrophage survival and systemic disease are mediated by the T3SS encoded in SPI-2. Here we show that QseC plays an important role inSalmonellaserovar Typhimurium pathogenicity. AqseCmutant was impaired in flagellar motility, in invasion of epithelial cells, and in survival within macrophages and was attenuated for systemic infection in 129x1/SvJ mice. QseC acts globally, regulating expression of genes within SPI-1 and SPI-2in vitroandin vivo(during infection of mice). Additionally, dopamine β-hydroxylase knockout (Dbh−/−) mice that do not produce Epi or NE showed different susceptibility toSalmonellaserovar Typhimurium infection than wild-type mice. These data suggest that the AI-3/Epi/NE signaling system is a key factor duringSalmonellaserovar Typhimurium pathogenesisin vitroandin vivo. Elucidation of the role of this interkingdom signaling system inSalmonellaserovar Typhimurium should contribute to a better understanding of the complex interplay between the pathogen and the host during infection.
Morphopédologie et anomalie géochimique
Authors: Bamba Ousmane 
Published: December 2009

L’intense altération géochimique, qui a affecté l’ensemble de la zone transcontinentale des boucliers pendant plusieurs millions d’années, a dissous partiellement la partie supérieure de la croûte continentale dont une partie des éléments résiduels (essentiellement du quartz) est aujourd’hui associée aux phases supergènes, issues de la reprécipitation à l’échelle régionale d’une partie du fer, de la silice et de l’aluminium parental. Il s’en suit la formation d’un manteau de débris parfois chapeauté par des cuirasses ferrugineuses, alumineuses ou manganésifères. Cette configuration implique une difficulté de traçage des signatures parentales des minéralisations primaires, la localisation et l’interprétation des anomalies géochimiques. En effet, les processus pédologiques et géomorphologiques, en occurrence le cuirassement, affectent l’expression de la localisation de ces anomalies. Le paysage de la zone d’étude, interprété et traduit en terme de susceptibilité à rendre d’éventuelles anomalies géochimiques, en d’autres termes du caractère résiduel ou transporté de celles-ci, donne quatre classes à potentiel de déplacement d’anomalie : (i) anomalie résiduelle, (ii) anomalie sub-résiduelle, (iii) anomalie déplacée, (iv) anomalie fortement déplacée et (ou) masquée. Une telle caractérisation et spatialisation de l’espace à prospecter constitue un support substantiel pour l’orientation des campagnes de prospections géochimiques. La cartographie des altérites doit se poser comme une composante essentielle des techniques modernes, novatrices d’exploration géochimique, qui créent le besoin croissant de mieux comprendre aussi bien la cuirasse transportée que la mesure suivant laquelle elle cache ou révèle des minéralisations en profondeur.
Late-successional riparian forest structure results in heterogeneous periphyton distributions in low-order streams
Authors: Stovall Jeremy P. , Keeton William S. , Kraft Clifford E. 
Published: December 2009

Late-successional riparian forests often regulate autotrophic microhabitats in low-order streams through shading provided by canopies. However, few studies have linked forest structure with periphyton microhabitat in adjoining streams. Our hypotheses were that (1) the heterogeneous horizontal structure in old-growth forests creates more spatially variable below-canopy light environments compared with mature forests and (2) site-specific light availability over streams correlates with spatial distributions of periphyton microhabitat. We surveyed 15 low-order stream reaches in late-successional northern hardwood–hemlock forests in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, USA. We measured forest structure and the below-canopy light environment at all reaches and the periphyton chlorophyll a concentration on artificial substrates in eight reaches. While stand age was not statistically significant, multivariate models of horizontal forest structure (e.g., gap distribution) and topography showed strong relationships (R2 > 0.70) with the below-canopy light environment across all late-successional forests. Furthermore, metrics of below-canopy light availability explained a small but statistically significant proportion of the variation in chlorophyll a concentration. This variation in chlorophyll a indicates that complex late-successional riparian forests, both mature and old-growth, create a mosaic of heterotrophic (shaded) and autotrophic (lighted) microhabitats along low-order streams. These results reveal important and previously unrecognized links between stream habitat heterogeneity and the horizontal heterogeneous late-successional forest structure.
The different strategies of Pinus sylvestris and Larix sibirica to deal with summer drought in a northern Mongolian forest–steppe ecotone suggest a future superiority of pine in a warming climate
Authors: Dulamsuren Choimaa , Hauck Markus , Bader Martin , Oyungerel Shagjjav , Osokhjargal Dalaikhuu , Nyambayar Suran , Leuschner Christoph 
Published: December 2009

Pinus sylvesteris L. is locally common at the lower forest line to the steppe in Mongolia’s taiga forests, which are otherwise dominated by Larix sibirica Ledeb. The factors responsible for the occurrence of pine patches in the forest–steppe ecotone are insufficiently studied. We analyzed the response of P. sylvestris to summer drought in the western Khentey Mountains, northern Mongolia, by measuring shoot water potentials and exemplary measurements of δ13C signatures, CO2–H2O gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence yield, and concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates. Pine trees growing in the forest–steppe ecotone show conservative water consumption with a sensitive stomatal regulation and relatively constant shoot water potentials under dry conditions. This might be a selective advantage for P. sylvestris against increasing aridity driven by global warming, since the main competitor, L. sibirica, often suffers from drought stress even under the current climate in the study area.
HD-QUANTUM VERTEX ALGEBRAS AND BICHARACTERS
Authors: ANGUELOVA IANA I. , BERGVELT MAARTEN J. 
Published: December 2009

We define a new class of quantum vertex algebras, based on the Hopf algebra HD= ℂ[D] of "infinitesimal translations" generated by D. Besides the braiding map describing the obstruction to commutativity of products of vertex operators, HD-quantum vertex algebras have as a main new ingredient a "translation map" that describes the obstruction of vertex operators to satisfying translation covariance. The translation map also appears as obstruction to the state-field correspondence being a homomorphism.We use a bicharacter construction of Borcherds to construct a large class of HD-quantum vertex algebras. One particular example of this construction yields a quantum vertex algebra that contains the quantum vertex operators introduced by Jing in the theory of Hall–Littlewood polynomials.
油尖旺区的贫穷: 市区旧区的贫穷集中及对策
Authors: 黄 洪 
Published: December 2009

本文之目的是探索香港市区旧区尤其是油尖旺区贫穷集中的情况，分析市区旧区出现贫穷集中原因，希望能引起社会人士及有关政府部门的关注，避免市区旧区「贫民窟化」的出现。这研究对统计处九六年中期人口统计有关区议会及统计规划小区的统计作资料再分析，当中会集中探讨油尖旺区的贫穷状况及需要。研究的结果显示香港的贫穷问题相当集中于乡郊区及市区旧区，而在市区旧区贫穷状况更集中于地域相当细小的社区。贫穷小社区的特色以私人楼宇及以出租单位为主，共同租户的比例非常高，而居民中老人、单身男性及新来港人士的比例较高，在劳动特徵方面，居民多是零售、批发、出入口、饮食及酒店业的服务工人及建造业的技术工人。本文指出低价私营租务房屋的供应及需求的互动，及社区经济的特色是令贫穷地域集中的原因。最後，本文建议以社区发展的手法为这些贫穷的小社区，进行扶贫作初步的建议，避免市区旧区「贫民窟化」的出现。 This study is a secondary data analysis of the 1996 Population By-census to explore and explain the geographical concentration of poverty in the old urban area in Hong Kong especially in the Yau Tsim Mong District. It suggests that poverty problem in Hong Kong is concentrated in small geographical localities in old urban areas. The characteristic of these small localities is the high ratio of households sharing a quarter with other households. More elderly, unmarried male adult and new arrival residents can be found in these poor communities. Moreover, more residents are employed as service workers and construction workers. The study reports that the concentration of poverty is a result of the interaction between the supply and demand of the low-end rental market of private housing and the development and characteristics of the community economics. Finally, this study recommends using community development as a strategy to alleviate poverty in these localities, as to prevent gettoisation of these old urban areas.
香港与内地中学生偶像崇拜差异之调查与分析
Authors: 岳 晓东 , 黄 成荣 , 张 宙桥 
Published: December 2009

本研究抽样调查了763名香港和中国大陆(南京、长沙和南通)中学生对自己偶像人物的看法。首先，受访者需提名三名其生活中最钦佩的人物，然后就其可成为个人之偶像或榜样的程度打分(1=最低，10=最高)。其后，受访者需填写一个26道题目的问卷，其中涉及个人在偶像崇拜方式、取向和选择方式的差异。结果表明，香港中学生主要提名娱乐界名人(如歌坛、体坛和演艺界名人)为其偶像，而中国大陆的中学生主要提名思想界名人(如著名政治家、科学家、文学家、企业家等)。此外，香港中学生所选择的偶像相当单一化和商业化，而中国大陆中学生所选择的偶像则相当多元化和政治化。最后，香港中学生在偶像崇拜中很看重偶像的浪漫性和性感特徵，而中国大陆中学生在偶像崇拜中很看重偶像的人格和思想性特徵。本文在结尾就香港和中国大陆青少年在偶像崇拜的差异进行了深入的探讨。 The present study examined how youths in Hong Kong and mainland China view idols in life; 763 high school students in Hong Kong, Nanjing, Changsha and Nantong (Tibetan students) participated in the study. They were first required to nominate three most admired people in their lives and rate them based on degrees to which these people could become their idols and models. Then, they were required to complete a 25-item questionnaire that examined their differences in manners, motives and perceived influence of idol worship. Hong Kong students mostly nominated recreational celebrities in the entertainment and sports industries while mainland Chinese students mostly nominated ideological celebrities in politics and academics. The most admired people nominated by mainland Chinese youths were a lot more diverse than those nominated by the Hong Kong youths. Hong Kong students were more interested in romantic and sexual characteristics while mainland Chinese students were more interested in personality and ideological characteristics of those whom they admire. The different idol worship cultures in Hong Kong and mainland China may be attributed to a strong commercialisation of adolescent idol worship culture in Hong Kong and a strong ideological identification of adolescent idol worship culture in mainland China.
《内经》的病因学与现代 “生物 · 心理 · 社会” 医学模型
Authors: 吴 兆文 
Published: December 2009

《内经》为中国现存最早的医学典藉，在多处内容论述发病学，并确立了中医学基础理论，有别於西方医学，自成学术体系。 本文尝试比较中西医学的病因学说，并讨论其对临床的意义和影响。二千多年前，《内经》已确立了中医学的 “整体观” 和 “双因致病学说”，多年来的临床实践已累积了丰富多层次、多样化的治疗和复康手段，当中有很多都可以作为临床社会工作者所借用，与西方理论和介入方法结合，向精神病患者提供更全面的综合治疗。 Inner Canon is the oldest Chinese medicine book in existence. It has detailed discussions on aetiology and established the theoretical foundation of Chinese medicine. Due to its huge difference from the Western medical model, Chinese medicine itself is a unique academic system. This article attempts to compare the aetiology models of Chinese and Western medicine, and discuss the implications for clinical practice. For over 2000 years, Inner Canon has established the holistic view and dual-factor aetiology as the foundation of Chinese medicine. Chinese medicine practitioners have accumulated much clinical experience in multi-level and multi-dimensional treatment and rehabilitation approaches. Many of these approaches can be borrowed by social workers. Incorporating these interventions with Western theories and skills can provide more comprehensive services to persons suffering from mental disorders.
PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG: ARE THEY EFFECTIVE?
Authors: CHEUNG SIU-KAU 
Published: December 2009

The study examined whether participants of parent education programmes in Hong Kong experienced gains in parental efficacy, parental empathy, availability of social support, and parenting satisfaction as a result of programme attendance. A single-group pre- and post-programme design was adopted. Data from 130 mother participants showed that they had positive gains in the four dimensions. However, mothers aged 40 and above and those with more than one child did not experience higher parenting satisfaction after the programme. Results also indicated that among the three instrumental variables, social support was the most crucial determinant of parenting satisfaction. Implications for social work practice were discussed. 这项研究主要在探讨家长在参加亲职教育活动後，在作为家长的效能感、对子女的同理心、能得到的支持和作为家长的满足感四方面，是否会有得益。研究采用单组活动前和活动后的设计，参与者包括130名女性家长。结果显示，家长在活动后，在四方面均有显著的提升。 但是他们的获益也因其背景有所分别。对於四十岁以上的家长和那些有多过一名子女的家长，他们在活动後并没有加强了作为家长的满足感。另外，结果指出，家长在过程中是否获得更多支持，是影响他们作为家长的满足感的最重要因素。作者就这些结果，提出了一些实务的启示。