bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in patients with untreated age-related hearing loss
Authors: Chew H S , Yeak S 
Published: April 2010

AbstractBackground:Hearing loss commonly affects quality of life in the elderly, yet is often neglected.Objectives:To investigate the impact of untreated age-related hearing loss on the quality of life of elderly individuals, and to assess the usefulness of quality of life questionnaires as screening tools for significant hearing loss.Methods:We recruited 80 patients aged 50 years or more with untreated hearing impairment. The Short Form 36 Health Survey and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version questionnaire were administered.Results:There was no significant association between severity of hearing impairment and Short Form 36 Health Survey scores. However, dose-graded correlation was observed between severity of hearing loss and Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version questionnaire scores (p < 0.001). A score for the latter questionnaire of more than 8 was 72.8 per cent sensitive and 71.4 per cent specific in detecting clinically significant hearing loss of at least 40 dB (receiver operating characteristic = 0.83).Conclusion:The Short Form 36 Health Survey, a generic measure, lacked specificity and sensitivity in detecting clinically significant hearing loss. However, significant hearing impairment was reflected in the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version questionnaire scores, suggesting that this is a good, disease-specific screening tool. A combination of functional (i.e. the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version questionnaire) and physiological (i.e. audiometric) assessment is recommended to investigate hearing loss in elderly individuals.
A case of paraganglioma of the hypoglossal nerve
Authors: Farr M R B , Martin T P C , Walsh A R , Irving R M 
Published: April 2010

AbstractIntroduction:Paragangliomas are rare tumours arising from the paraganglia of the autonomic nervous system.Case report:We present a case of a paraganglioma arising from the hypoglossal nerve and producing an unusual clinical picture at presentation.Discussion:We supply radiological evidence of a paraganglioma originating from the hypoglossal nerve, and thus extend the evidence base for this rare site of origin. Our patient presented as an emergency with long tract neurological symptoms and progressive brainstem involvement. This presentation is not characteristic of paragangliomas in general, which usually have an indolent growth pattern and often demonstrate benign symptoms for a number of years prior to diagnosis. The location of a hypoglossal paraganglioma differs significantly from more common paragangliomas described in the neck and skull base, and this should inform the surgical approach undertaken.
Vestibular substitution: comparative study
Authors: Polat S , Uneri A 
Published: April 2010

AbstractObjective:To determine the efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation with the electrotactile vestibular substitution system, as a new treatment modality in patients with bilateral vestibular disorders.Study design and settings:Nineteen patients with bilateral, chronic, idiopathic vestibulopathy were studied prospectively. Patients were divided to two groups. Patients in the first group were rehabilitated with the electrotactile vestibular substitution system, while patients in the second group were treated with standard vestibular rehabilitation therapy. The sensory organisation test and dizziness handicap inventory were used to compare the pre- and post-training results of both rehabilitative treatments.Results:All group one patients in the standardised testing subset demonstrated improved results for both the composite sensory organisation test and for the functional transfer aspect of the dizziness handicap inventory, after five days' training with the electrotactile vestibular substitution system. In contrast, group two patients showed no significant improvement in their composite sensory organisation test or dizziness handicap inventory scores after eight weeks of therapy, compared with pre-treatment levels.Conclusion:These preliminary results indicate the efficacy of the electrotactile vestibular substitution system in improving patients' symptoms of vestibulopathy, and constitute evidence of successful sensory substitution.
Immediate tonsillectomy: indications for use as first-line surgical management of peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) and parapharyngeal abscess
Authors: Page C , Chassery G , Boute P , Obongo R , Strunski V 
Published: April 2010

AbstractObjectives:This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and morbidity of immediate tonsillectomy used to treat peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) and parapharyngeal abscess.Subjects and method:This four-year, retrospective study was based on 31 patients hospitalised in a university hospital ENT and head and neck surgery department for peritonsillar and/or parapharyngeal abscess. All patients underwent immediate, bilateral tonsillectomy. The length of hospital stay, duration of antibiotic therapy, microbiological findings, complications, and the time to complete recovery and oropharyngeal healing were recorded.Results:The patients' mean post-tonsillectomy hospital stay was 2.84 days (median: 3 days). No post-operative haemorrhage was observed. All patients were considered to be cured at the day 10 follow-up visit, and complete oropharyngeal healing was observed at the day 21 visit. The duration of antibiotic therapy ranged from 10 to 15 days (mean: 11.5 days; median: 10 days).Discussion and conclusion:Immediate tonsillectomy appears to be a safe and effective surgical technique for the management of peritonsillar and parapharyngeal abscess; in particular, it markedly reduces patients' hospital stay (when performed early in the course of the disease) and duration of antibiotic therapy. Immediate tonsillectomy has become the first-line treatment for parapharyngeal abscess and several types of peritonsillar abscess in our department.
Slow pace of life of the Antarctic colossal squid
Authors: Rosa Rui , Seibel Brad A. 
Published: April 2010

The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is the world's largest invertebrate and its large size and some unique morphological characters have fuelled speculation that it is an aggressive top predator in the circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean. Here, we present estimates on the metabolic and energetic demands of this cold-water deep-sea giant. The estimated mass-specific routine metabolic rate for the colossal squid at 1.5°C was 0.036 µmol O2h−1g−1and the projected daily energy consumption (45.1 kcal day−1) was almost constant as a function of depth in the nearly isothermal Antarctic waters. Our findings also indicate the squid shows a slow pace of life linked with very low prey requirements (only 0.03 kg of prey per day). We argue that the colossal squid is not a voracious predator capable of high-speed predator–prey interactions. It is, rather, an ambush or sit-and-float predator that uses the hooks on its arms and tentacles to ensnare prey that unwittingly approach.
Temporal and spatial variability on rocky intertidal macrofaunal assemblages affected by an oil spill (Basque coast, northern Spain)
Authors: Bustamante María , Tajadura-Martín Francisco Javier , Saiz-Salinas José Ignacio 
Published: April 2010

A large (100 km) rocky coast intertidal was sampled several times (from 2004 to 2006) to assess the affection degree of invertebrate assemblages impacted by a continuous oil spill. Twelve locations and two intertidal heights were selected along the coast representing two spatial scales (kilometres and tens of metres). Univariate and multivariate analyses of variance were used to test whether faunal assemblages exposed to different intensities of oil disturbance differ in terms of diversity, total cover, key species cover and trophic guilds. Whereas no significant differences in midshore assemblages were noted, the low intertidal zone exhibited comparatively lower abundance values of the limpet Patella ulyssiponensis at worst affected sites. Besides, a generalized increasing diversity trend was found in the low intertidal from 2004 to 2006. Natural variability of communities is also discussed as the cause of the differences we observed. With respect to spatial and temporal scales of variation, mid- intertidal communities showed a more consistent structure, while lowshore assemblages were markedly heterogeneous in practically all the variables measured.
Using DTSA-II to Simulate and Interpret Energy Dispersive Spectra from Particles
Authors: Ritchie Nicholas W.M. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractA high quality X-ray spectrum image of a 3.3 μm diameter sphere of K411 glass resting on a copper substrate was collected at 25 keV. The same sample configuration was modeled using the NISTMonte Monte Carlo simulation of electron and X-ray transport as is integrated into the quantitative X-ray microanalysis software package DTSA-II. The distribution of measured and simulated X-ray intensity compare favorably for all the major lines present in the spectra. The simulation is further examined to investigate the influence of angle-of-incidence, sample thickness, and sample diameter on the generated and measured X-ray intensity. The distribution of generated X-rays is seen to deviate significantly from a naive model which assumes that the distribution of generated X-rays is similar to bulk within the volume they share in common. It is demonstrated that the angle at which the electron beam strikes the sample has nonnegligible consequences. It is also demonstrated that within the volume that the bulk and particle share in common that electrons, which have exited and later reentered the particle volume, generate a significant fraction of the X-rays. Any general model of X-ray generation in particles must take into account the lateral spread of the scattered electron beam.
Changes in the inequality of mental health: suicide in Australia, 1907–2003
Authors: Doessel Darrel P. , Williams Ruth F. G. , Robertson Jennie R. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractRising suicide rates have been identified as a social problem in several Western countries. The application of a Welfare Economics argument justifies a role for policy that reduces the welfare impact of suicide, whereas the measurement of that impact can inform policy making. Two dimensions of the concept can be measured: the social loss from suicide, and the inequality in the distribution of that loss. In this study, an alternative measure of suicide to the conventional suicide headcount,viz.the potential years of life lost (PYLL), is employed. The PYLL measure is a proxy measure of the social impact of suicide, and involves the concept of ‘premature’ loss of life. The PYLL also lends itself to inequality measurement. We apply the approach to inequality measurement of health phenomena that was pioneered in the 1980s by Jacques Silber and Julian Le Grand, in a literature now described as measuring health inequalityper se. The empirical part of the paper statistically estimates equations on Australian suicide data for the period 1907–2003 and determines the trends in the social loss from suicide and the inequality of its age distribution. Some illustrative examples assist in interpreting the welfare impact of suicide measured both ways, by the headcount rate and the PYLL rate.
Millimeter-wave GaN-based HEMT development at ETH-Zürich
Authors: Sun Haifeng , Marti Diego , Tirelli Stefano , Alt Andreas R. , Benedickter Hansruedi , Bolognesi C.R. 
Published: April 2010

We review the AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) activities in the Millimeter-Wave Electronics Group at ETH-Zürich. Our group's main thrust in the AlGaN/GaN arena is the extension of device bandwidth to higher frequency bands. We demonstrated surprising performances for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs grown on high-resistivity (HR) silicon (111) substrates, and extended cutoff frequencies of 100 nm gate devices well into the millimeter (mm)-wave domain. Our results narrow the performance gap between GaN-on-SiC (or sapphire) and GaN-on-silicon and establish GaN-on-Si as a viable technology for low-cost mm-wave electronics. We here contrast the difference in behaviors observed in our laboratory between nominally identical devices built on high-resistivity silicon (HR-Si) and on sapphire substrates; we show high-speed devices with high-cutoff frequencies and breakdown voltages which combine fT,MAX × BV products as high as 5–10 THz V, and show AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with fT values exceeding 100 GHz on HR-Si. Although the bulk of our activities have so far focused on AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on HR-Si, our process produces excellent device performances when applied to GaN HEMTs on SiC as well: 100 nm gate transistors with fT > 125 GHz have been realized at ETH-Zürich.
AlGaN/GaN-based power amplifiers for mobile radio applications: a review from the system supplier's perspective
Authors: Wiegner Dirk , Luz Gerhard , Jüschke Patrick , Machinal Robin , Merk Thomas , Seyfried Ulrich , Templ Wolfgang , Pascht Andreas , Quay Rüdiger , Van Raay Friedbert 
Published: April 2010

This paper gives a summarized overview on the progress and achievements on AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMT)-based power amplifiers (PAs) for mobile radio applications which have been achieved within two national funded German projects during a period of six years. Starting with a first 34 dBm (2.5 W, peak) amplifier in 2003 the impressive progress toward highly efficient S-band mobile radio PAs with up to >50 dBm (100 W) peak output power is described by means of some selected single- and multiband amplifier demonstrators. This progress has been mainly enabled by clear progress on GaN technology, device packaging, and PA design. Targeting at highly efficient single-band amplifier applications, a 2.7 GHz symmetrical Doherty amplifier with up to 45% drain efficiency at close to 45 dBm average output power under single-carrier W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) operation using digital predistortion can be highlighted. In case of multiband capable amplifiers addressing software-defined radio applications, a class-AB-based demonstrator covering a frequency range from 1.8 to 2.7 GHz was realized. The amplifier showed >30% drain efficiency up to 2.5 GHz as well as up to 40 dBm average output power under single-carrier W-CDMA operation using proprietary digital predistortion. Finally, Alcatel-Lucent's activities on envelope tracking for future efficiency improved GaN-based amplifiers are described.
Genome-wide analysis of diel gene expression in the unicellular N2-fixing cyanobacterium Crocosphaera watsonii WH 8501
Authors: Shi Tuo , Ilikchyan Irina , Rabouille Sophie , Zehr Jonathan P 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Correction to: The ISME Journal (2010) 4, 621–632; doi:10.1038/ismej.2009.148; published online 28 January 2010 Since the publication of this paper, the authors have noticed an error in Figure 4. The correct figure is shown below. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Distributions of putative aerobic methanotrophs in diverse pelagic marine environments
Authors: Tavormina Patricia L , Ussler William , Joye Samantha B , Harrison Benjamin K , Orphan Victoria J 
Published: April 2010

Abstract
Correction to: The ISME Journal (2010) 4, 700–710; doi:10.1038/ismej.2009.155; published online 11 February 2010 Since the publication of this paper, the authors have noticed an error regarding a unit of measurement (μM) in the first paragraph under the heading ‘5′ exonuclease (Taqman) assay’, on page 5.
Activation of the MAPKs ERK1/2 by cell swelling in turbot hepatocytes
Authors: Fouchs Audrey , Ollivier Hélène , Haond Christophe , Roy Stella , Calvès Patrick , Pichavant‐Rafini Karine 
Published: April 2010

Background information. Activation of MAPKs (mitogen‐activated protein kinases), in particular ERK1/2 (extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase 1/2), has been reported to take place in a large variety of cell types after hypo‐osmotic cell swelling. Depending on cell type, ERK1/2 phosphorylation can then serve or not the RVD (regulatory volume decrease) process. The present study investigates ERK1/2 activation after aniso‐osmotic stimulations in turbot hepatocytes and the potential link between phosphorylation of these proteins and RVD.Results. In turbot hepatocytes, Western‐blot analysis shows that a hypo‐osmotic shock from 320 to 240 mOsm·kg−1 induced a rapid increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation, whereas a hyper‐osmotic shock from 320 to 400 mOsm·kg−1 induced no significant change in the phosphorylation of these proteins. The hypo‐osmotic‐induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation was significantly prevented when hypo‐osmotic shock was performed in the presence of the specific MEK (MAPK/ERK kinase) inhibitor PD98059 (100 μM). In these conditions, the RVD process was not altered, suggesting that ERK1/2 did not participate in this process in turbot hepatocytes. Moreover, the hypo‐osmotic‐induced activation of ERK1/2 was significantly prevented by breakdown of extracellular ATP by apyrase (10 units·ml−1), by inhibition of purinergic P2 receptors by suramin (100 μM) or by calcium depletion using EGTA (1 mM) and thapsigargin (1 μM).Conclusions. In turbot hepatocytes, hypo‐osmotic swelling but not hyper‐osmotic shrinkage induced the activation of ERK1/2. However, these proteins do not seem to be involved in the RVD process. Their hypo‐osmotic‐induced activation is partially due to cascades of signalling events triggered by the binding of released ATP on purinergic P2 receptors and requires the presence of calcium.
A translational approach to micro-inflammation in end-stage renal disease: molecular effects of low levels of interleukin-6
Authors: Memoli Bruno , Salerno Simona , Procino Alfredo , Postiglione Loredana , Morelli Sabrina , Sirico Maria Luisa , Giordano Francesca , Ricciardone Margherita , Drioli Enrico , Andreucci Vittorio E. , de Bartolo Loredana 
Published: April 2010

Inflammation plays a key role in the progression of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in ESRD (end-stage renal disease). Over recent years, inflammation has been greatly reduced with treatment, but mortality remains high. The aim of the present study was to assess whether low (&lt;2 pg/ml) circulating levels of IL-6 (interleukin-6) are necessary and sufficient to activate the transcription factor STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) in human hepatocytes, and if this micro-inflammatory state was associated with changes in gene expression of some acute-phase proteins involved in cardiovascular mortality in ESRD. Human hepatocytes were treated for 24 h in the presence and absence of serum fractions from ESRD patients and healthy subjects with different concentrations of IL-6. The specific role of the cytokine was also evaluated by cell experiments with serum containing blocked IL-6. Furthermore, a comparison of the effects of IL-6 from patient serum and rIL-6 (recombinant IL-6) at increasing concentrations was performed. Confocal microscopy and Western blotting demonstrated that STAT3 activation was associated with IL-6 cell-membrane-bound receptor overexpression only in hepatocytes cultured with 1.8 pg/ml serum IL-6. A linear activation of STAT3 and IL-6 receptor expression was also observed after incubation with rIL-6. Treatment of hepatocytes with 1.8 pg/ml serum IL-6 was also associated with a 31.6-fold up-regulation of hepcidin gene expression and a 8.9-fold down-regulation of fetuin-A gene expression. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that low (&lt;2 pg/ml) circulating levels of IL-6, as present in non-inflamed ESRD patients, are sufficient to activate some inflammatory pathways and can differentially regulate hepcidin and fetuin-A gene expression.
Activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and extracellular matrix and inflammatory gene profile in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Fang Lu , Du Xiao-Jun , Gao Xiao-Ming , Dart Anthony M. 
Published: April 2010

Inflammation and ECM (extracellular matrix) remodelling play important roles in LV (left ventricular) remodelling following acute MI (myocardial infarction). Previous studies show elevated plasma MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) levels in patients with acute MI, but their sources are not clear. The recruitment of mononuclear cells into the infarcted myocardium is critical for inflammatory responses, but their exact roles in LV remodelling have not been fully investigated, as it is difficult to isolate and study the function of regional inflammatory cells. To address these questions, we isolated PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) from blood samples of patients with acute MI or stable angina, or healthy controls (n=14, 8 and 12 respectively). PBMCs were cultured for 24 h and the MMP9 level in the culture medium was measured by gelatin zymography, and MMP9 gene expression was measured by real-time PCR. Two superarrays (ECM and adhesion molecules, and common cytokines; 84 genes included in each array) were employed to screen gene expression profiles by PBMCs in five patients with acute MI and five controls. We found that MMP9 expression by PBMCs at both the mRNA and protein levels was increased 2-fold (both P&lt;0.05) in patients with acute MI compared with the two control groups. Notably, MMP2 was not expressed by PBMCs. Superarray screening revealed that PBMCs not only expressed MMPs, TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases) and matrix proteins, but also served as an important source of cell adhesion molecules, inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. A total of 42 genes were differentially expressed in patients with acute MI compared with controls. Expression of selected genes was confirmed by real-time PCR. In conclusion, PBMCs constitute a key cellular source for elevated plasma MMP9, but not for MMP2. PBMCs also contribute to systemic and regional inflammation and matrix remodelling in acute MI.
Globular cluster x-ray sources
Authors: Pooley David 
Published: April 2010

Globular clusters and x-ray astronomy have a long and fruitful history.
Uhuru
and
OSO-7
revealed highly luminous (> 10
36
ergs
-1
) x-ray sources in globular clusters, and
Einstein
and
ROSAT
revealed a larger population of low-luminosity (< 10
33
ergs
-1
) x-ray sources. It was realized early on that the high-luminosity sources were low-mass x-ray binaries in outburst and that they were orders of magnitude more abundant per unit mass in globular clusters than in the rest of the galaxy. However, the low-luminosity sources proved difficult to classify. Many ideas were put forth—low-mass x-ray binaries in quiescence (qLMXBs), cataclysmic variables (CVs), active main-sequence binaries (ABs), and millisecond pulsars (MSPs)—but secure identifications were scarce. In
ROSAT
observations of 55 clusters, about 25 low-luminosity sources were found.
Chandra
has now observed over 80 Galactic globular clusters, and these observations have revealed over 1,500 x-ray sources. The superb angular resolution has allowed for many counterpart identifications, providing clues to the nature of this population. It is a heterogeneous mix of qLMXBs, CVs, ABs, and MSPs, and it has been shown that the qLMXBs and CVs are both, in part, overabundant like the luminous LMXBs. The number of x-ray sources in a cluster correlates very well with its encounter frequency. This points to dynamical formation scenarios for the x-ray sources and shows them to be excellent tracers of the complicated internal dynamics. The relation between the encounter frequency and the number of x-ray sources has been used to suggest that we have misunderstood the dynamical states of globular clusters.