bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two-year course of cognitive function and instrumental activities of daily living in older adults with bipolar disorder: evidence for neuroprogression?
Authors: Gildengers A. G. , Chisholm D. , Butters M. A. , Anderson S. J. , Begley A. , Holm M. , Rogers J. C. , Reynolds C. F. , Mulsant B. H. 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundWhile bipolar disorder (BD) is a leading cause of disability, and an important contributor to disability in BD is cognitive impairment, there is little systematic research on the longitudinal course of cognitive function and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) in late-life. In this report, we characterize the 2-year course of cognitive function and IADLs in older adults with BD.MethodWe recruited non-demented individuals 50 years and older with BD I or BD II (n = 47) from out-patient clinics or treatment studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Comparator subjects (‘controls’) were 22 individuals of comparable age and education with no psychiatric or neurologic history, but similar levels of cardiovascular disease. We assessed cognitive function and IADLs at baseline, 1- and 2-year time-points. The neuropsychological evaluation comprised 21 well-established and validated tests assessing multiple cognitive domains. We assessed IADLs using a criterion-referenced, performance-based instrument. We employed repeated-measures mixed-effects linear models to examine trajectory of cognitive function. We employed non-parametric tests for analysis of IADLs.ResultsThe BD group displayed worse cognitive function in all domains and worse IADL performance than the comparator group at baseline and over follow-up. Global cognitive function and IADLs were correlated at all time-points. The BD group did not exhibit accelerated cognitive decline over 2 years.ConclusionsOver 2 years, cognitive impairment and associated functional disability of older adults with BD appear to be due to long-standing neuroprogressive processes compounded by normal cognitive aging rather than accelerated cognitive loss in old age.
Australian-Chinese families caring for elderly relatives
Authors: BRYANT LIA , LIM SUZANE 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTCaring for elderly relatives has predominately been explored from the standpoint of the needs and experiences of the hegemonic culture in multicultural countries like Australia, Canada and the United States of America. Australia, in particular, has paid scant attention to cultural and linguistically diverse groups in relation to caring for the aged. In this paper we focus on Chinese-Australian families caring for elderly relatives. We explore the traditional value of filial piety which is said to underpin social norms and beliefs about caring for aged parents in Chinese cultures. Specifically we draw on four in-depth interviews with Chinese-Australian care-givers of elderly relatives to identify meanings of filial piety and practices of filial piety. Findings indicate that while filial piety is still an important value in caring for the aged, meanings about how to practise filial piety are changing and vary across families.
Fast electron beam with manageable spotsize from laser interaction with the tailored cone-nanolayer target
Authors: Wang Huan , Cao Lihua , Zhao Zongqing , Yu M.Y. , Gu Yuqiu , He X.T. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAn advanced cone-nanolayer target with nanolayers on both inside and outside of the hollow-cone tip is proposed. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that laser interaction with such cone-nanolayer targets can efficiently produce fast electron beams with manageable spotsize, and the beams can propagate for a relatively long distance in the vacuum beyond the cone tip.
The relation between order of acquisition, segmental frequency and function: the case of word-initial consonants in Dutch
Authors: VAN SEVEREN LIEVE , GILLIS JORIS J. M. , MOLEMANS INGE , VAN DEN BERG RENATE , DE MAEYER SVEN , GILLIS STEVEN 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThe impact of input frequency (IF) and functional load (FL) of segments in the ambient language on the acquisition order of word-initial consonants is investigated. Several definitions of IF/FL are compared and implemented. The impact of IF/FL and their components are computed using a longitudinal corpus of interactions between thirty Dutch-speaking children (age range: 0 ; 6–2 ; 0) and their primary caretaker(s). The corpus study reveals significant correlations between IF/FL and acquisition order. The highest predictive values are found for the token frequency of segments, and for FL computed on minimally different word types in child-directed speech. Although IF and FL significantly correlate, they do have a different impact on the order of acquisition of word-initial consonants. When the impact of IF is partialed out, FL still has a significant correlation with acquisition order. The reverse is not true, suggesting that the acquisition of word-initial consonants is mainly influenced by their discriminating function.
God is Not Dead or Violent: The Catholic Church, Just War, and the “Resurgence” of Religion
Authors: Chu Lan T. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWhile scholars have recognized a resurgence of religion, their focus mainly has been on religion's more violent aspects, overlooking its peaceful capacities and effects. This oversight is due in part to the lack of theoretical rigor when it comes to the study of politics and religion. Using the Catholic Church's opposition to the United States’ 2003 war in Iraq, this article highlights the political significance of religion's moral, symbolic voice, which is as important as the hard power that has traditionally dominated international relations. The post-Vatican II Catholic Church's modern articulation of human dignity and interpretation of just war theory challenges both scholars and policymakers to utilize the peaceful, diplomatic methods that international relations theory and practitioners have made available. Religion's role in politics, therefore, can be one that is supportive of modern political societies and it need not be violent.
Absolute plate motions in a reference frame defined by moving hot spots in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans
Authors: Doubrovine Pavel V. , Steinberger Bernhard , Torsvik Trond H. 
Published: August 2012

We defined a new global moving hot spot reference frame (GMHRF), using a comprehensive set of radiometric dates from arguably the best‐studied hot spot tracks, refined plate circuit reconstructions, a new plate polygon model, and an iterative approach for estimating hot spot motions from numerical models of whole mantle convection and advection of plume conduits in the mantle flow that ensures their consistency with surface plate motions. Our results show that with the appropriate choice of a chain of relative motion linking the Pacific plate to the plates of the Indo‐Atlantic hemisphere, the observed geometries and ages of the Pacific and Indo‐Atlantic hot spot tracks were accurately reproduced by a combination of absolute plate motion and hot spot drift back to the Late Cretaceous (∼80 Ma). Similarly good fits were observed for Indo‐Atlantic tracks for earlier time (to ∼130 Ma). In contrast, attempts to define a fixed hot spot frame resulted in unacceptable misfits for the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (80–50 Ma), highlighting the significance of relative motion between the Pacific and Indo‐Atlantic hot spots during this period. A comparison of absolute reconstructions using the GMHRF and the most recent global paleomagnetic frame reveals substantial amounts of true polar wander at rates varying between ∼0.1°/Ma and 1°/Ma. Two intriguing, nearly equal and antipodal rotations of the Earth relative to its spin axis are suggested for the 90–60 Ma and 60–40 Ma intervals (∼9° at a 0.3–0.5°/Ma rate); these predictions have yet to be tested by geodynamic models.
Glacier volume‐area relation for high‐order mechanics and transient glacier states
Authors: Adhikari S. , Marshall S. J. 
Published: July 2012

Glacier volume is known for less than 0.1% of the world's glaciers, but this information is needed to quantify the impacts of glacier changes on global sea level and regional water resources. Observations indicate a power‐law relation between glacier area and volume, with an exponentγ≈ 1.36. Through numerical simulations of 3D, high‐order glacier mechanics, we demonstrate how different topographic and climatic settings, glacier flow dynamics, and the degree of disequilibrium with climate systematically affect the volume‐area relation. We recommend more accurate scaling relations through characterization of individual glacier shape, slope and size. An ensemble of 280 randomly‐generated valley glaciers spanning a spectrum of plausible glaciological conditions yields a steady‐state exponentγ= 1.46. This declines to 1.38 for glaciers that are 100 years into a sustained retreat, which corresponds exceptionally well with the observed value for present‐day glaciers.
Tone Discrimination as a Window Into Acoustic Perceptual Deficits in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Troche Joshua , Troche Michelle S. , Berkowitz Rebecca , Grossman Murray , Reilly Jamie 
Published: July 2012

Purpose
Deficits in auditory perception compromise a range of linguistic processes in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD), including speech perception and sensitivity to affective and linguistic prosody. An unanswered question is whether this deficit exists not only at the level of speech perception, but also at a more pervasive level of auditory perception. It is possible that PD produces a selective impairment in the perception of a salient acoustic feature such as frequency, amplitude, or duration.

Method

Auditory perception in persons with PD was investigated using a tone discrimination task where clients (
N
= 12) and age-matched controls (
N
= 15) made same/different judgments for pairs of pure tones that were factorially varied by acoustic feature (i.e., frequency, amplitude, or duration) crossed with perceptual distance (i.e., close vs. far).

Results
Relative to healthy age-matched controls, persons with PD showed marked impairment in tone discrimination. Persons with PD showed an acoustic feature by perceptual distance interaction that was characterized by deficits in detecting frequency and amplitude differences for perceptually near tones.

Conclusion
These results suggest that persons with PD show a reduced ability to notice change in frequency and amplitude as compared to normal older adults. More generally, these findings implicate a frontal–striatal contribution to auditory perception.
Investigating the Use of Traditional and Spectral Biofeedback Approaches to Intervention for /r/ Misarticulation
Authors: Byun Tara McAllister , Hitchcock Elaine R. 
Published: July 2012

Purpose
Misarticulation of /r/ is among the most challenging developmental speech errors to remediate. Case studies suggest that visual biofeedback treatment can establish perceptually accurate /r/ in clients who have not responded to traditional treatments. This investigation studied the response of children with persistent /r/ misarticulation to a course of traditional treatment and a course of biofeedback treatment.

Method
Eleven children with /r/ misarticulation completed 10 weeks of individual treatment consisting of 4–6 weeks of traditional treatment followed by 4–6 weeks of biofeedback treatment. Progress was measured by tracking correct /r/ productions within treatment and probing /r/ in words at 3 time points.

Results
At the group level, there was no difference in independent judges’ ratings of /r/ sounds produced by the children before and after traditional treatment. However, /r/ sounds produced after biofeedback treatment were significantly more likely to be rated by the judges as perceptually correct. Eight of the 11 children made measurable gains in the accuracy of isolated /r/ produced within treatment, with 4 showing significant generalization to untreated /r/ in words.

Conclusion
This descriptive study shows that treatment incorporating spectral biofeedback can facilitate accurate /r/ production in children with treatment-resistant errors. A follow-up period using traditional intervention methods may be necessary to encourage generalization.
Feedback Frequency in Treatment for Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Authors: Maas Edwin , Butalla Christine E. , Farinella Kimberly A. 
Published: July 2012

Purpose
To examine the role of feedback frequency in treatment for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Reducing the frequency of feedback enhances motor learning, and recently, such feedback frequency reductions have been recommended for the treatment of CAS. However, no published studies have explicitly compared different feedback frequencies in this population.

Method
Using an alternating treatments single-subject design with multiple baselines across behaviors, retention and transfer of learning were compared following high-frequency feedback and low-frequency feedback in 4 children with CAS. Feedback frequency was manipulated in the context of an integral stimulation treatment. Changes in perceptual accuracy were quantified with effect sizes and were compared across conditions.

Results
Findings were mixed, with 2 children showing an advantage for low-frequency feedback, 1 child showing a small advantage for high-frequency feedback, and 1 child showing no clear improvement in either condition.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that reducing the frequency of feedback may be beneficial for some children with CAS, although this may vary with the child’s age or severity of apraxia. Caution is warranted in extrapolating from the nonspeech motor learning literature to speech treatment for CAS. Finally, this study contributes another replication to the literature on the efficacy of integral stimulation treatment for children with CAS.
Blood Chemistry Values for Shovelnose and Lake Sturgeon
Authors: Sepúlveda Maria S. , Sutton Trent M. , Patrick Holly K. , Amberg Jon J. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Blood chemistry panels are commonly used for assessing the general health of vertebrate animals. Here, we present novel blood chemistry data for two North American sturgeon species, shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus and lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. Measurements were done using a portable chemistry analyzer (VetScan Analyzer; Abaxis). Among the plasma values measured (mean ± SD for shovelnose and lake sturgeon, respectively) were total proteins (3.7 ± 0.9 and 2.8 ± 0.4 g/dL), albumin (2.0 ± 0.5 and 1.1 ± 0.2 g/dL), globulin (1.7 ± 0.7 and 1.7 ± 0.3 g/dL), glucose (107 ± 46 and 62 ± 9.7 mg/dL), sodium (Na+; 132 ± 3.6 and 150 ± 14 mEq/L), potassium (K+; 3.5 ± 0.2 and 2.8 ± 1.7 mEq/L), phosphorus (10.4 ± 1.9 and 11.6 ± 3.6 mg/dL), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 676 ± 433 and 634 ± 234 IU/L). Higher values for total proteins, albumin, glucose, and Na+ in shovelnose sturgeon than in lake sturgeon probably are the result of handling stress. In addition, the plasma of male shovelnose sturgeon had higher concentrations of AST, glucose, and globulin than did that of females, whereas the plasma of females had higher concentrations of albumin and K+ than that of males. This study is the first to report blood chemistry data for shovelnose sturgeon. Robust blood chemistry databases can be used by aquaculturists and fish managers for monitoring sturgeon health.
Received July 8, 2011; accepted February 2, 2012
INTEGRATION – WHAT INTEGRATION?
Authors: Grötsch Florian , Schnabel Annette 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT
Since the founding of the European Union, religion has become an increasingly important aspect in shaping European identity and thereby social cohesion in Europe. Social cohesion depends to a high degree on a successfully established distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Religion became one important marker of such boundaries. However, religion works both as an individual-level and an EU-level property. In order to take religion into consideration on the level of individual religiousness and as an institutionalised framework, we combine an analysis of key documents of the European Commission with a quantitative analysis of individual attitudes towards Europe. This combination of methods enables us to track the ‘discovery of religion’ by the European Commission as a means for social cohesion and the potential of religion to create Europeanness among the EU-citizens. We focus on the crucial period between 1990 and 2000 in which the major system transformation from EEC to EU took place. The quantitative analysis is conducted as a multi-level analysis on the basis of the European Value Survey 1990 and 2000. The data reveal that in fact over a 10-year period, the European integration project has begun to evolve towards an identity project with religion as a key factor on both levels.
An open‐label, single‐arm, phase 2 study of single‐agent carfilzomib in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma who have been previously treated with bortezomib
Authors: Vij Ravi , Siegel David S. , Jagannath Sundar , Jakubowiak Andrzej J. , Stewart Alexander Keith , McDonagh Kevin , Bahlis Nizar , Belch Andrew , Kunkel Lori A. , Wear Sandra , Wong Alvin F. , Orlowski Robert Z. , Wang Michael 
Published: July 2012

SummaryCarfilzomib is a next‐generation proteasome inhibitor that selectively and irreversibly binds to its target. In clinical studies, carfilzomib has shown efficacy in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (MM) and has demonstrated a tolerable safety profile. In this phase 2, open‐label, multicentre clinical trial, 35 patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM following 1–3 prior therapies, including at least one bortezomib‐based regimen, received carfilzomib 20 mg/m2 in a twice‐weekly, consecutive‐day dosing schedule for ≤12 monthly cycles. The best overall response rate (ORR) was 17·1% and the clinical benefit response rate (ORR + minimal response) was 31·4%. The median duration of response was >10·6 months and the median time to progression was 4·6 months. The most common adverse events were fatigue (62·9%), nausea (60·0%), and vomiting (42·9%). No exacerbation of baseline peripheral neuropathy was observed. Single‐agent carfilzomib was generally well tolerated for up to 12 treatment cycles and showed activity in patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM who had received prior treatment with bortezomib. These data, combined with an acceptable toxicity profile, support the potential use of carfilzomib in patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM and warrant continued investigation of carfilzomib as single agent or in combination with other agents.
Microfluidic study of competence regulation in Streptococcus mutans: environmental inputs modulate bimodal and unimodal expression of comX
Authors: Son Minjun , Ahn Sang‐Joon , Guo Qiang , Burne Robert A. , Hagen Stephen J. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryStreptococcus mutans regulates genetic competence through a complex network that receives inputs from a number of environmental stimuli, including two signalling peptides designated as CSP and XIP. The response of the downstream competence genes to these inputs shows evidence of stochasticity and bistability and has been difficult to interpret. We have used microfluidic, single‐cell methods to study how combinations of extracellular signals shape the response of comX, an alternative sigma factor governing expression of the late competence genes. We find that the composition of the medium determines which extracellular signal (XIP or CSP) can elicit a response from comX and whether that response is unimodal or bimodal across a population of cells. In a chemically defined medium, exogenous CSP does not induce comX, whereas exogenous XIP elicits a comX response from all cells. In complex medium, exogenous XIP does not induce comX, whereas CSP elicits a bimodal comX response from the population. Interestingly, bimodal behaviour required an intact copy of comS, which encodes the precursor of XIP. The comS‐dependent capability for both unimodal and bimodal response suggests that a constituent – most likely peptides – of complex medium interacts with a positive feedback loop in the competence regulatory network.
Association of ICU size and annual case volume of renal replacement therapy patients with mortality
Authors: VAARA S. T. , REINIKAINEN M. , KAUKONEN K. ‐M. , PETTILÄ V. ,   FOR THE FINNISH INTENSIVE CARE CONSORTIUM
Published: July 2012

BackgroundWe aimed to reveal whether the size of an intensive care unit (ICU) or its annual case volume of patients treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) for acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with hospital mortality.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study in the Finnish Intensive Care Consortium (FICC) database in 2007–2008. We divided the 23 FICC‐member ICUs first into small or large according to ICU size, and second into low, medium, or high‐volume tertiles according to annual case volume of patients with RRT. We compared crude hospital mortality, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II‐, and case‐mix‐adjusted hospital mortality in small vs. large ICUs and in low‐ or medium‐volume vs. high‐volume ICUs.ResultsThe median (interquartile range) annual case volume of patients with RRT for AKI per one ICU was 25 (19–45). Patients in small or low‐volume ICUs were older and less severely ill. Crude and SAPS II ‐adjusted hospital mortality rates were significantly higher in small ICUs but not significantly different in case volume tertiles. After adjusting for age, severity of illness, intensity of care, propensity to receive RRT, and day of RRT initiation, treatment in low or medium volume ICUs was associated with an increased risk for hospital mortality.ConclusionsCrude and adjusted hospital mortality rates of patients treated with RRT for AKI were higher in small ICUs. Patients treated in high‐volume ICUs had a decreased adjusted risk for hospital mortality compared to those in low‐or medium volume ICUs.
Effects of high‐sulphur water on hepatic gene expression of steers fed fibre‐based diets
Authors: Kessler K. L. , Olson K. C. , Wright C. L. , Austin K. J. , McInnerney K. , Johnson P. S. , Cockrum R. R. , Jons A. M. , Cammack K. M. 
Published: August 2012

SummarySulphur‐induced polioencephalomalacia (sPEM), a neurological disorder affecting ruminants, is frequently associated with the consumption of high‐sulphur (S) water and subsequent poor performance. Currently, there is no economical method for S removal from surface water sources, and alternative water sources are typically neither readily available nor cost‐effective. Determination of genes differentially expressed in response to high‐S water consumption may provide a better understanding of the physiology corresponding to high dietary S and ultimately lead to the development of treatment and prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to determine changes in gene expression in the liver, an organ important for S metabolism, of fibre‐fed steers consuming high‐S water. For this study, liver tissues were collected on the final day of a trial from yearling steers randomly assigned to low‐S water control (566 mg/kg SO4;n = 24), high‐S water (3651 mg/kg SO4;n = 24) or high‐S water plus clinoptilolite supplemented at either 2.5% (n = 24) or 5.0% (n = 24) of diet dry matter (DM). Microarray analyses on randomly selected healthy low‐S control (n = 4) and high‐S (n = 4; no clinoptilolite) steers using the Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine Genome Array revealed 488 genes upregulated (p < 0.05) and 154 genes downregulated (p < 0.05) in response to the high‐ vs. low‐S water consumption. Real‐time RT‐PCR confirmed the upregulation (p < 0.10) of seven genes involved in inflammatory response and immune functions. Changes in such genes suggest that ruminant animals administered high‐S water may be undergoing an inflammation or immune response, even if signs of sPEM or compromised health are not readily observed. Further study of these, and other affected genes, may deliver new insights into the physiology underlying the response to high dietary S, ultimately leading to the development of treatments for high S–affected ruminant livestock.