bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardias Using Remote Magnetic Navigation: A Consecutive Case–Control Study
Authors: SZILI‐TOROK TAMAS , SCHWAGTEN BRUNO , AKCA FERDI , BAUERNFEIND TAMAS , ABKENARI LARA DABIRI , HAITSMA DAVID , BELLE YVES VAN , GROOT NATASJA DE , JORDAENS LUC 
Published: May 2012

Remote Magnetic Navigation for VT Ablation. Background: This study aimed to compare acute and late outcomes of VT ablation using the magnetic navigation system (MNS) to manual techniques (MAN) in patients with (SHD) and without (NSHD) structural heart disease.Methods: Ablation data of 113 consecutive patients (43 SHD, 70 NSHD) with ventricular tachycardia treated with catheter ablation at our center were analyzed. Success rate, complications, procedure, fluoroscopy, and ablation times, and recurrence rates were systematically recorded for all patients.Results: A total of 72 patients were included in the MNS group and 41 patients were included in the MAN group. Patient age, gender, and right ventricular and left ventricular VT were equally distributed. Acute success was achieved in 59 patients in the MNS group (82%) versus 27 (66%) patients in the MAN group (P = 0.046). Overall procedural time (177 ± 79 vs 232 ± 99 minutes, P < 0.01) and mean patient fluoroscopy time (27 ± 19 vs 56 ± 32 minutes, P < 0.001) were all significantly lower using MNS. In NSHD pts, higher acute success was achieved with MNS (83,7% vs 61.9%, P = 0.049), with shorter procedure times (151 ± 57 vs 210 ± 96, P = 0.011), whereas in SHD‐VT these were not significantly different. No major complications occurred in the MNS group (0%) versus 1 cardiac tamponade and 1 significantly damaged ICD lead in the MAN group (4.9%, NS). After follow‐up (20 ± 11 vs 20 ± 10 months, NS), VT recurred in 14 pts (23.7%) in the MNS group versus 12 pts (44.4%) in the MAN group (P = 0.047).Conclusions: The use of MNS offers advantages for ablation of NSHD‐VT, while it offers similar efficacy for SHD‐VT. ((J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 948‐954, September 2012)
Assessment of Emotional Status of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zambia
Authors: Kirkpatrick Sharon M. , Rojjanasrirat Wilaiporn , South Beverly J. , Sindt Jeri A. , Williams Lee A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractPurpose: To describe the emotional status of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in two communities in Zambia.Methods: The Health Ed Connect Adaptation Questionnaire (HECAQ) was used to interview 306 OVC and 158 primary caregivers in Zambia in 2010.Findings: Child participants and caregivers reported evidence of emotional distress behaviors in the majority of OVC.Conclusions: More research to evaluate the efficacy of intervention programs for loss and grief, normal and abnormal reactions to grief, and positive coping skills is needed to assist both children and their caretakers. In the population studied, caregivers and OVC could benefit from additional support for promoting emotional health and managing emotional distress in vulnerable children.Clinical Relevance: Healthcare professionals play a key role in promoting the emotional health of OVC through identification of deviant behaviors and the development of interventions to alleviate emotional and psychological distress.
Identification by DNA microarray of genes involved in Candida albicans‐treated gingival epithelial cells
Authors: Ikuta Tonami , Bhawal Ujjal K. , Tsushima Katsumasa , Aoki Akinobu , Kuboyama Noboru , Abiko Yoshimitsu 
Published: May 2012

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 769–778Background:  Oral epithelial cells significantly influence host inflammatory responses against Candida albicans in oropharyngeal candidiasis. Pro‐inflammatory cytokines function as an early innate immune system mediator during C. albicans infection in oral epithelial cells. We sought to elucidate the pattern of the molecular mechanisms governing the human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) to C. albicans infection likely involve multiple converging signal transduction pathways.Materials and methods:  Primary HGECs were cultured with C. albicans ATCC90029. Total RNA was extracted after 8 h of infection and monitored mRNA levels using Affymetrix GeneChip (Human Genome U133 plus 2.0 Array, 48 000 genes). GeneChip data was analyzed by GeneSpring software and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis system. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), real‐time RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate gene expression changes.Results:  The differentially expressed genes represented functions as diverse as immune response and inflammatory disease. IL‐8, ICAM‐1 and Cox‐2 showed a greater than two fold change in expression relative to those in control cells. Altered mRNA levels in GeneChip analysis were confirmed by RT‐PCR and real‐time RT‐PCR. Stronger immunoreactivity against ICAM‐1 and Cox‐2 was also observed in the infection with C. albicans in rat gingival epithelium. We have identified differential gene expression up‐regulated or down‐regulated with the up‐regulation of IL‐8 in C. albicans‐treated cells.Conclusion:  These findings indicate that the molecular mechanisms underlying the IL‐8 response of HGECs to C. albicans infection likely involve multiple converging signal transduction pathways.
The calf training for loading onto vehicle at weaning
Authors: FUKASAWA Michiru 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to examine whether calf training for loading at the weaning period improves later loading. Five calves were allocated to the trained group and the control group, respectively. Calves in the trained group were loaded onto a livestock trailer for 5 successive days at weaning. Trainers led or hauled the calves by rope only. When loading was completed, trainers fed calves with sugar cubes as rewards. Calves in the control group were weaned without any treatment. Five weeks after weaning, tests were carried out under similar conditions as the trained group. Loading efficiency, physical effort on the handler and handling stress on calves between groups were compared. Trained calves were loaded significantly faster than control calves. Trained calves balked less during loading than control calves. Heart rates of handlers after loading were significantly lower in the trained group than in the control group; however, salivary amylase activity and cortisol concentration was not different between groups. Physical effort and stress on handlers would be almost the same in both groups. Heart rate, plasma cortisol, NEFA and CPK of calves were significantly increased only in the control group after loading. These results show calf training improves loading efficiency and reduces stress on calves.
The mcrA gene and 16S rRNA gene in the phylogenetic analysis of methanogens in the rumen of faunated and unfaunated cattle
Authors: OZUTSUMI Yuhei , TAJIMA Kiyoshi , TAKENAKA Akio , ITABASHI Hisao 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTThe influence of rumen protozoa on the composition of rumen methanogens was studied by using seven growing Holstein cattle divided into two groups: four faunated and three unfaunated. 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) and methyl coenzyme‐M reductase (MCR) α subunit (mcrA) gene clonal libraries were constructed. The results of each analysis showed that Methanobacteriales was dominant in the rumen of both groups. By mcrA gene analysis, 22.1% of unfaunated clones were classified into unfaunated group 1, which was not detected from faunated cattle. The 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the number of operational taxonomic units was higher in unfaunated than faunated cattle, suggesting the diversity of methanogens tended to be higher by the removal of protozoa. The results of the LIBSHUFF program indicated that the 16S rRNA gene and mcrA gene clone libraries for the faunated group differed from those for the unfaunated group (P = 0.001). It was suggested that the presence of protozoa strongly affected the composition of rumen methanogens.
Management of venous thromboembolism for older adults in long‐term care facilities
Authors: Choi Myunghan , Hector Melvin 
Published: May 2012

Abstract  Purpose: To provide information on current evidence‐based clinical management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) for nurse practitioners working for older adults in long‐term care facilities.Methods and data resources: A systematic review and summary using current clinical guidelines and reliable clinical research studies: American Medical Directors Association, American College of Chest Physicians, Medline, PubMed, Refworks, and CINAHL.Conclusions: The management of VTE focuses on a comprehensive approach including acute and long‐term pharmacologic approach, surgical and mechanical approach, prophylaxis of recurrent VTE, maintaining INR, and monitoring lab values.Implications: Recommendations based on the most current clinical research studies and guidelines will facilitate a cost‐effective management of venous thromboembolism for older adults in long‐term care facilities.
Proteomic Profiling of the Photo‐Oxidation of Silk Fibroin: Implications for Historic Tin‐Weighted Silk
Authors: Solazzo Caroline , Dyer Jolon M. , Deb‐Choudhury Santanu , Clerens Stefan , Wyeth Paul 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe stability of silk proteins to ultraviolet light is an issue of significant concern in both the appearance retention of silk‐derived products and the preservation of historic silk textiles. Until now, evaluation of silk degradation has only been performed at the holistic, rather than molecular level. This article describes the first proteomic profiling of silk photo‐oxidation, characterizing protein primary level modification leading to coloration changes, and evaluating the effects of tin weighting on photodegradation. Heavy‐chain fibroin, the main proteinaceous component of the silk thread, is a repetitive, highly crystalline protein with a content rich in tyrosine. Photoproducts of tyrosine were characterized and the levels of oxidative modification at the protein primary structural level correlated with changes in coloration and tensile strength. The effect of tin as a weighting agent used on historical fabrics was examined. Tin‐weighted fabrics were evaluated following two treatments (pink and dynamite) and proteomic analysis revealed a significant increase in oxidatively modified amino acid residues within the pink‐treated silk. These findings offer new insight into the molecular‐level oxidation of silk proteins under UV exposure, and the effects of silk treatments in either exacerbating or ameliorating this degradation.
Current state of biology and diagnosis of clonal mast cell diseases in adults
Authors: ALVAREZ‐TWOSE I. , MORGADO J. M. , SÁNCHEZ‐MUÑOZ L. , GARCÍA‐MONTERO A. , MOLLEJO M. , ORFAO A. , ESCRIBANO L. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryMastocytosis comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the presence of clonal mast cells (MC) in organs such as skin, bone marrow (BM), and gastrointestinal tract, among other tissues. The clonal nature of the disease can be established in most adult patients by the demonstration of activating KIT mutations in their BM MC. When highly sensitive techniques capable of identifying cells present at very low frequencies in a sample are applied, BM MC from virtually all systemic mastocytosis patients display unique immunophenotypical features, particularly the aberrant expression of CD25. By contrast, large, multifocal BM MC aggregates (the only World Health Organization major criterion for systemic mastocytosis) are absent in a significant proportion of patients fulfilling at least three minor criteria for systemic mastocytosis, particularly in subjects studied at early stages of the disease with very low MC burden. Moreover, recent molecular and immunophenotypical investigations of BM MC from patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis have revealed a close association of some biological features (e.g., multilineage involvement of hematopoiesis by the KIT mutation and an immature mast cell immunophenotype) with an increased risk for disease progression. These observations support the fact that, although the current consensus diagnostic criteria for systemic mastocytosis have been a major advance for the diagnosis and classification of the disease, rationale usage of the most sensitive diagnostic techniques available nowadays is needed to improve the diagnosis, refine the classification, and reach objective prognostic stratification of adult mastocytosis.
Management of Water Shortage in the Colorado River Basin: Evaluating Current Policy and the Viability of Interstate Water Trading1
Authors: Wildman Richard A. , Forde Noelani A. 
Published: May 2012

Wildman, Richard A., Jr. and Noelani A. Forde, 2012. Management of Water Shortage in the Colorado River Basin: Evaluating Current Policy and the Viability of Interstate Water Trading. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(3): 411‐422. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00665.xAbstract:  The water of the Colorado River of the southwestern United States (U.S.) is presently used beyond its reliable supply, and the flow of this river is forecast to decrease significantly due to climate change. A recent interim report of the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study is the first acknowledgment of these facts by U.S. federal water managers. In light of this new stance, we evaluate the current policy of adaptation to water shortages in the Colorado River Basin. We find that initial shortages will be borne only by the cities of Arizona and Nevada and farms in Arizona whereas the other Basin states have no incentive to reduce consumptive use. Furthermore, the development of a long‐term plan is deferred until greater water scarcity exists. As a potential response to long‐term water scarcity, we evaluate the viability of an interstate water market in the Colorado River Basin. We inform our analysis with newly available data from the Murray‐Darling Basin of Australia, which has used interstate water trading to create vital flexibility during extreme aridity during recent years. We find that, despite substantial obstacles, an interstate water market is a compelling reform that could be used not only to adapt to increased water scarcity but also to preserve core elements of Colorado River Basin law.
Study on Ticks and Tick‐Borne Zoonoses in Public Parks in Italy
Authors: Corrain R. , Drigo M. , Fenati M. , Menandro M. L. , Mondin A. , Pasotto D. , Martini M. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryA survey on tick density and on tick‐borne zoonoses was carried out in four public parks in the outskirts of Imola (northern Italy) from June to October 2006. All stages of Ixodes ricinus and only larvae of Riphicephalus sanguineus were recovered by dragging, performed on 100‐m transects. Almost all ticks (99%) were harvested in one park. I. ricinus density (nymphs/100 m2) ranged from 0 in park L to 6.3 in park F. Nymphs and adults of I. ricinus were subjected to PCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. and Rickettsia spp. The observed prevalences were 38.3% for Bartonella henselae, 5.2% for Bartonella clarridgeiae, 10.4% for B. burgdorferi s. l., 2.6% for Rickettsia helvetica and 13% for Rickettsia monacensis, respectively. No DNA of A. phagocytophilum was found. Acarological risks (AR) were calculated as probabilities of collecting at least one infected nymph per transect. The AR values calculated for the various zoonotic agents were 11.4% for R. helvetica, 27.7% for B. clarridgeiae, 49.7% for B. burgdorferi s. l., 57.2% for R. monacensis and 90.4% for B. henselae, respectively. In this study, B. clarridgeiae was for the first time identified in I. ricinus ticks.
Relationship between interleukin‐6 and ammonia in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy due to liver cirrhosis
Authors: Luo Ming , Li Lei , Yang Er‐Na , Cao Wu‐Kui 
Published: May 2012

Aim:  Previous studies have shown significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)‐6 in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), but the relationship between circulating levels of IL‐6 and ammonia is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between both variables in cirrhotic patients with MHE.Methods:  Psychometric tests including number connection test part A (NCT‐A) and digit symbol test (DST) were performed to diagnose MHE in 85 cirrhotic patients. Simultaneously, circulating levels of IL‐6 and ammonia were measured.Results:  Thirty‐two (37.6%) cirrhotic patients were diagnosed with MHE. IL‐6 and ammonia were the independent predictors of the presence of MHE (P < 0.05 for both variables). Circulating levels of IL‐6 and ammonia correlated with the severity of MHE represented by results of NCT‐A (r = 0.56, P < 0.05 and r = 0.39, P < 0.05, respectively) and DST (r = −0.48, P < 0.05 and r = −0.47, P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between circulating levels of IL‐6 and those of ammonia in patients with MHE (r = 0.61, P < 0.05), and a positive additive interaction was found between IL‐6 and ammonia on the presence of MHE, with a significant synergy index of 1.51 (95% confidence interval = 1.12–3.46).Conclusion:  The present study demonstrates a significant correlation and a positive additive interaction between IL‐6 and ammonia in cirrhotic patients with MHE, suggesting that IL‐6 may have a potential synergistic relationship with ammonia in the induction of MHE.
Biodiversity soup: metabarcoding of arthropods for rapid biodiversity assessment and biomonitoring
Authors: Yu Douglas W. , Ji Yinqiu , Emerson Brent C. , Wang Xiaoyang , Ye Chengxi , Yang Chunyan , Ding Zhaoli 
Published: May 2012

Summary1. Traditional biodiversity assessment is costly in time, money and taxonomic expertise. Moreover, data are frequently collected in ways (e.g. visual bird lists) that are unsuitable for auditing by neutral parties, which is necessary for dispute resolution.2. We present protocols for the extraction of ecological, taxonomic and phylogenetic information from bulk samples of arthropods. The protocols combine mass trapping of arthropods, mass‐PCR amplification of the COI barcode gene, pyrosequencing and bioinformatic analysis, which together we call ‘metabarcoding’.3. We construct seven communities of arthropods (mostly insects) and show that it is possible to recover a substantial proportion of the original taxonomic information. We further demonstrate, for the first time, that metabarcoding allows for the precise estimation of pairwise community dissimilarity (beta diversity) and within‐community phylogenetic diversity (alpha diversity), despite the inevitable loss of taxonomic information inherent to metabarcoding.4. Alpha and beta diversity metrics are the raw materials of ecology and the environmental sciences, facilitating assessment of the state of the environment with a broad and efficient measure of biodiversity.
Teacher feedback during active learning: Current practices in primary schools
Authors: van den Bergh Linda , Ros Anje , Beijaard Douwe 
Published: May 2012

Background. Feedback is one of the most powerful tools, which teachers can use to enhance student learning. It appears difficult for teachers to give qualitatively good feedback, especially during active learning. In this context, teachers should provide facilitative feedback that is focused on the development of meta‐cognition and social learning.Aims. The purpose of the present study is to contribute to the existing knowledge about feedback and to give directions to improve teacher feedback in the context of active learning.Sample. The participants comprised 32 teachers who practiced active learning in the domain of environmental studies in the sixth, seventh, or eighth grade of 13 Dutch primary schools. A total of 1,465 teacher–student interactions were examined.Methods. Video observations were made of active learning lessons in the domain of environmental studies. A category system was developed based on the literature and empirical data. Teacher–student interactions were assessed using this system.Results. About half of the teacher–student interactions contained feedback. This feedback was usually focused on the tasks that were being performed by the students and on the ways in which these tasks were processed. Only 5% of the feedback was explicitly related to a learning goal. In their feedback, the teachers were directing (rather than facilitating) the learning processes.Conclusions. During active learning, feedback on meta‐cognition and social learning is important. Feedback should be explicitly related to learning goals. In practice, these kinds of feedback appear to be scarce. Therefore, giving feedback during active learning seems to be an important topic for teachers’ professional development.
Interlaboratory Reproducibility of Etest Amphotericin B and Caspofungin Yeast Susceptibility Testing and Comparison with the CLSI Method
Authors: Ranque S. , Lachaud L. , Gari-Toussaint M. , Michel-Nguyen A. , Mallié M. , Gaudart J. , Bertout S. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the interlaboratory reproducibility at four university hospital laboratories in the southeast region of France of the Etest technique for the determination of caspofungin (CAS) and amphotericin B (AMB) MICs and to compare it to the CLSI broth microdilution reference method. Consecutive clinical yeast isolates (
n
= 198) were included in the study. AMB and CAS MICs were read at 24 and 48 h. Interlaboratory reproducibility was estimated by using (i) an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), (ii) essential agreement (EA), and (iii) categorical agreement (CA). For Etest interlaboratory reproducibility for CAS, ICCs were 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76 to 0.84) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.85) at 24 and 48 h, respectively. For AMB, the ICCs were 0.51 (95% CI, 0.43 to 0.58) and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.74) at 24 and 48 h, respectively. At 48 h, the between-center EAs ranged from 94.4 to 99.0% for both antifungals. For the comparison of the CLSI method and the Etest, the between-technique ICCs were 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.74) and 0.62 (95% CI, 0.55 to 0.68) for CAS and AMB, respectively. The EAs ranged from 76.5 to 98.5% for CAS and from 90.3 to 97.4% for AMB according to the centers. CAs ranged from 87.9% to 91.4%, with four very major errors for 2 strains (1
Candida albicans
strain and 1
Candida krusei
strain), for CAS and from 97.5 to 99.5%, with four major errors, for AMB. In conclusion, the Etest showed a good interlaboratory reproducibility and a good correlation with the CLSI technique. It is well suited for the routine clinical laboratory and can thus be used to monitor clinical yeast isolates'
in vitro
susceptibilities in this setting.