bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What We Don’t Talk About When We Don’t Talk About Sex1: Results of a National Survey of U.S. Obstetrician/Gynecologists
Authors: Sobecki Janelle N. , Curlin Farr A. , Rasinski Kenneth A. , Lindau Stacy Tessler 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Sexuality is a key aspect of women’s physical and psychological health. Research shows both patients and physicians face barriers to communication about sexuality. Given their expertise and training in addressing conditions of the female genital tract across the female life course, obstetrician/gynecologists (ob/gyns) are well positioned among all physicians to address sexuality issues with female patients. New practice guidelines for management of female sexual dysfunction and the importance of female sexual behavior and function to virtually all aspects of ob/gyn care, and to women’s health more broadly, warrant up-to-date information regarding ob/gyns’ sexual-history-taking routine.

Aims
To determine ob/gyns’ practices of communication with patients about sexuality, and to examine the individual and practice-level correlates of such communication.

Method
A population-based sample of 1,154 practicing U.S. ob/gyns (53% male; mean age 48 years) was surveyed regarding their practices of communication with patients about sex.

Main Outcome Measures
Self-reported frequency measures of ob/gyns’ communication practices with patients including whether or not ob/gyns discuss patients’ sexual activities, sexual orientation, satisfaction with sexual life, pleasure with sexual activity, and sexual problems or dysfunction, as well as whether or not one ever expresses disapproval of or disagreement with patients’ sexual practices. Multivariable analysis was used to correlate physicians’ personal and practice characteristics with these communication practices.

Results
Survey response rate was 65.6%. Sixty-three percent of ob/gyns reported routinely assessing patients’ sexual activities; 40% routinely asked about sexual problems. Fewer asked about sexual satisfaction (28.5%), sexual orientation/identity (27.7%), or pleasure with sexual activity (13.8%). A quarter of ob/gyns reported they had expressed disapproval of patients’ sexual practices. Ob/gyns practicing predominately gynecology were significantly more likely than other ob/gyns to routinely ask about each of the five outcomes investigated.

Conclusion
The majority of U.S. ob/gyns report routinely asking patients about their sexual activities, but most other areas of patients’ sexuality are not routinely discussed.
Financial effect of bovine Johne's disease in beef cattle herds in Australia
Authors: Webb Ware JK , Larsen JWA , Kluver P 
Published: March 2012

Objective  To assess the financial effect of programs for controlling bovine Johne's disease (BJD) in beef herds.Design  A spreadsheet simulation model of a self‐replacing beef herd in south‐eastern Australia selling 400‐kg steers at 15 months old.Methods  The model calculated the monthly cash flow, and net present value (NPV) of cumulative cash flow, over 10 years. Four main control options were compared: (1) a base herd (no action to control the disease), (2) test and cull, and (3) partial and (4) total destocking. It was assumed that BJD was eradicated after 3 and 5 years with total and partial destocking, respectively, and not eradicated with a test and cull program. Scenarios were compared for both commercial and stud enterprises.Results  If there was no discount on the sale price of cattle in commercial herds, deaths from BJD had to exceed 5% before the NPV of partial or total destocking was similar to taking no action to control the disease over a 10‐year period. When cattle sales incurred a 10% discount, deaths had to exceed 1% before the destocking strategies would break even after 10 years.Conclusion  Control options for BJD should be carefully planned on an individual herd basis, as significant production and financial risks accompany destocking programs. Eradication will only be more profitable in the longer term, compared with living with the disease, when discounts on the sale of stock from infected herds are high. This can occur with the selling of store cattle or breeders. In stud herds, BJD will usually cause the total failure of the business.
A non‐lethal sampling method for estimating the trophic position of an endangered giant water bug using stable isotope analysis
Authors: OHBA SHIN‐YA , TAKAHASHI JUN‐ICHI , OKUDA NOBORU 
Published: March 2012

Abstract.  1. We propose a non‐lethal sampling method involving stable isotope analysis for estimating the trophic position of the endangered giant water bug Kirkaldyia (=Lethocerus) deyrolli (Heteroptera: Belostomatidae) in the wild.2. Kirkaldyia deyrolli individuals were collected and their δ15N and δ13C values were measured. The δ15N and δ13C values of periphyton and particulate organic matter, the basal food sources in lentic ecosystems of rice fields, were also measured to estimate the trophic position of K. deyrolli. When individual isotopic signatures of the whole body were compared with those of their middle leg tarsus, we found strong correlations between them for both δ15N and δ13C. To estimate their trophic position without killing individuals, we constructed a regression model incorporating their middle leg tarsus’s isotopic signatures and their body size as explanatory variables. This non‐lethal method revealed that K. deyrolli showed great individual variation in its δ15N which is a proxy of trophic position, ranging from 5.60‰ to 8.11‰.3. To evaluate the negative effects of our non‐lethal method on the fitness of K. deyrolli, we examined how the removal of the middle leg tarsus affected reproductive performance under laboratory conditions. A comparison between the manipulated and unmanipulated individuals revealed that the removal treatment did not have any negative effects on female clutch size or egg hatchability for males.4. In conclusion, stable isotope analysis of the middle leg tarsus of K. deyrolli is useful for estimating its trophic position without lethal or any negative fitness effects.
Seasonality in phytophagous scarabaeid (Melolonthinae and Rutelinae) abundances in an ‘aseasonal’ Bornean rainforest
Authors: KISHIMOTO‐YAMADA KEIKO , ITIOKA TAKAO 
Published: March 2012

Abstract.  1. Seasonal patterns in insect population fluctuations have rarely been examined in rainforests of the central part of Southeast Asia where the climate is aseasonal.2. We examined the seasonality of population fluctuations in a Bornean rainforest phytophagous scarabaeid assemblage (six species of Melolonthinae and seven of Rutelinae). We also investigated effects on abundances of these insects of irregularly fluctuating environmental changes, such as short‐term rainfall, and community‐level leaf flushing and flowering of canopy trees. Scarabaeids were collected over 6 years by monthly light‐trapping.3. Eight scarabaeid species had clear seasonality in occurrence and abundance. Seasonal trends were synchronised across the eight species; their monthly catches peaked from March to May and were nearly zero in other months. An analysis of correlations between environmental changes and insect abundances suggested that short‐term changes in rainfall affected the synchrony.4. In contrast, fluctuations in abundances of five other scarabaeid species were unrelated to calendar seasons. In one of the five scarabaeids, which is a flower‐visiting species, the patterns in population fluctuation strongly correlated with flowering changes. In the remaining four species, no correlations were observed between environmental changes and population fluctuation patterns.5. While previous studies have demonstrated that aseasonal patterns in population fluctuations are common in various insect assemblages in Southeast Asian rainforests, we show that clear seasonality is prevalent for the phytophagous scarabaeid assemblage.
The impact on quality of life after en‐bloc resection for non‐small‐cell lung cancer involving the chest wall
Authors: Tacconi Federico , Ambrogi Vincenzo , Mineo Davide , Mineo Tommaso Claudio 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBackground:  En‐bloc resection for non‐small cell lung cancer with chest‐wall involvement may achieve a 5‐year survival rate higher than 40%, but the impact on postoperative quality of life is not yet known.Methods:  Twenty‐six patients undergoing en‐bloc lung resections were included. Life quality ratings were assessed through a Short‐Form 36 questionnaire preoperatively and at six, 12, 18 and 24 month follow‐up visits. The degree of dyspnea, pain level, and flow‐volume curves were also obtained at the same time periods. Changes occurring over time were analyzed by means of repeated‐measure ANOVA.Results:  As a whole, the Physical Component Summary score declined six months postoperatively (P < 0.0001) and failed to improve thereafter. Patients with preoperative Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), <80% predicted (P = 0.029), resected ribs >2 (P = 0.03), and chest wall defect ≥50 cm2 (P = 0.007) experienced a greater and lasting impairment. Net postoperative decrease in FVC (P = 0.02; r = 0.48) and dyspnea worsening (P = 0.03; r =−043 at six months, P = 0.05; r =−0.39 at 12 months) were also correlated with the extent of physical deterioration, whereas age (P = 0.92), gender (P = 0.51), type of resection (P = 0.71), and adjuvant therapy (P = 0.68) did not. The Physical Component Summary didn't change significantly in patients with high pain levels (VAS >7). The Mental Component Summary score increased slightly at six months, with no difference in any patients' subgroup.Conclusions:  The extent of chest wall resection, preoperative FEV1, and postoperative decline in FVC were the main indicators of quality of life impairment after en‐bloc resection for lung cancer. The impact upon quality of life should be considered in a cost‐to‐benefit ratio of planning this surgery in suboptimal candidates.
EP4 receptor signalling in immature B cells involves cAMP and NF-κB dependent pathways
Authors: Prijatelj Matevz , Celhar Teja , Gobec Martina , Mlinaric-Rascan Irena 
Published: March 2012

Abstract

Objectives
Delineation of EP4 receptor signalling properties in immature B cells.

Methods
WEHI 231 cells were used as a model of immature B lymphocytes. The effects of PGE2, EP4 receptor antagonist, EP4 receptor agonist, forskolin and adenylate cyclase inhibitor on proliferation of WEHI 231 cells were examined by MTS assay. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were examined by ELISA, whereas phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2, IκB-α and nuclear factor (NF)-κB subunit p105 were subjected to Western blot analysis. Translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 and EPRAP (EP4 receptor associated protein) was examined by fluorescence microscopy. Levels of early growth response factor (Egr)-1 mRNA were determined by quantitative PCR.

Key findings
We identified the EP4 receptor as the principal molecule mediating the growth-suppressive effect of prostaglandin E2 in WEHI 231 cells. EP4 receptor activation results in cAMP formation and the activation of protein kinase A, NF-κB1 p105 subunit stabilization and inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation, followed by the accumulation of NF-κB p65 subunit in the cell cytoplasm, whereas the activation of PI3K is not involved in EP4 receptor signalling. Elevation of cAMP and inhibition of NF-κB activation are two possible mechanisms by which the EP4 receptor inhibits the proliferation of immature B lymphocytes.

Conclusions
Modulation of the EP4 receptor on immature B lymphocytes provides important insight into the observed action of PGE2 and opens new possibilities for the development of therapies for autoimmune diseases, leukaemia and lymphomas.
Suitability for Psychotherapy Scale (SPS) and its reliability, validity, and prediction
Authors: Laaksonen Maarit A. , Lindfors Olavi , Knekt Paul , Aalberg Veikko 
Published: March 2012

Objectives. To present an interview‐based 7‐item Suitability for Psychotherapy Scale (SPS) created to evaluate suitability for short‐ and long‐term therapy, and to assess its reliability, validity, and prediction.Design. Reliability of the SPS was evaluated by measuring both repeatability and agreement (cross‐sectional design). Validity of the SPS was evaluated by measuring both criterion and discriminating validity (cross‐sectional design). Prediction of the SPS was evaluated using a cohort study design.Methods. Suitability of 326 psychiatric outpatients from the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study was assessed at baseline with the SPS, and a summary score of the seven items was formed. Reliability of the SPS was evaluated using kappa coefficients and validity using linear models. The ability of the SPS to predict changes in symptoms (SCL‐90‐GSI) during a 1‐year follow‐up was measured. The analysis of validity and prediction of SPS were based on data of all 326 patients and analysis of reliability of SPS on a sample of 28 patients.Results. Both the repeatability of the interviewers’ assessments over 3 years and agreement between interviewers and reference were fair or good. An association of the SPS with personality functions but not with psychiatric symptoms supported criterion and discriminating validity of the SPS. The SPS also significantly predicted changes in symptoms during follow‐up.Conclusions. The SPS appeared to be a valid and reliable method for assessing pre‐treatment suitability, with good prediction of psychotherapy outcome.
Online monitoring and error detection of real‐time tumor displacement prediction accuracy using control limits on respiratory surrogate statistics
Authors: Malinowski Kathleen , McAvoy Thomas J. , George Rohini , Dieterich Sonja , D'Souza Warren D. 
Published: March 2012

Purpose:To evaluate Hotelling'sT2 statistic and the input variable squared prediction error (Q(X)) for detecting large respiratory surrogate‐based tumor displacement prediction errors without directly measuring the tumor's position.Methods:Tumor and external marker positions from a database of 188 Cyberknife Synchrony™ lung, liver, and pancreas treatment fractions were analyzed. The first ten measurements of tumor position in each fraction were used to create fraction‐specific models of tumor displacement using external surrogates as input; the models were used to predict tumor position from subsequent external marker measurements. A partial least squares (PLS) model with four scores was developed for each fraction to determineT2 and Q(X) confidence limits based on the first ten measurements in a fraction. The T2 and Q(X) statistics were then calculated for every set of external marker measurements. Correlations between model error and both T2 and Q(X) were determined. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was applied to evaluate sensitivities and specificities of T2, Q(X), and T2∪Q(X) for predicting real‐time tumor localization errors >3 mm over a range of T2 and Q(X) confidence limits.Results:Sensitivity and specificity of detecting errors >3 mm varied with confidence limit selection. At 95% sensitivity,T2∪Q(X) specificity was 15%, 2% higher than either T2 or Q(X) alone. The mean time to alarm for T2∪Q(X) at 95% sensitivity was 5.3 min but varied with a standard deviation of 8.2 min. Results did not differ significantly by tumor site.Conclusions:The results of this study establish the feasibility of respiratory surrogate‐based online monitoring of real‐time respiration‐induced tumor motion model accuracy for lung, liver, and pancreas tumors. TheT2 and Q(X) statistics were able to indicate whether inferential model errors exceeded 3 mm with high sensitivity. Modest improvements in specificity were achieved by combining T2 and Q(X) results.
A realistic deformable prostate phantom for multimodal imaging and needle‐insertion procedures
Authors: Hungr Nikolai , Long Jean‐Alexandre , Beix Vincent , Troccaz Jocelyne 
Published: March 2012

Purpose:Phantoms are a vital step for the preliminary validation of new image‐guided procedures. In this paper, the authors present a deformable prostate phantom for use with multimodal imaging (end‐fire or side‐fire ultrasound, CT and MRI) and more specifically for transperineal or transrectal needle‐insertion procedures. It is made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and includes a prostate, a perineum, a rectum, a soft periprostatic surrounding and embedded targets for image registration and needle‐targeting. Its main particularity is its realistic deformability upon manipulation.Methods:After a detailed manufacturing description, the imaging and mechanical characteristics of the phantom are described and evaluated. First, the speed of sound and stress‐strain relationship of the PVC material used in the phantom are described, followed by an analysis of its storage, imaging, needle‐insertion force, and deformability characteristics.Results:The average speed of sound in the phantom was measured to be 1380 ± 20 m/s, while the stress‐strain relationship was found to be viscoelastic and in the range of typical prostatic tissues. The mechanical and imaging characteristics of the phantom were found to remain stable at cooler storage temperatures. The phantom had clearly distinguishable morphology in all three imaging modalities, with embedded targets that could be precisely segmented, resulting in an average US‐CT rigid registration error of 0.66 mm. The mobility of the phantom prostate upon needle insertion was between 2 and 4 mm, with rotations between 0° and 2°, about the US probe head.Conclusion:The phantom's characteristics compare favorably within vitro and in vivo measurements found in the literature. The authors believe that this realistic phantom could be of use to researchers studying new needle‐based prostate diagnosis and therapy techniques.
Improving the sensitivity of high‐frequency subharmonic imaging with coded excitation: A feasibility study
Authors: Shekhar Himanshu , Doyley Marvin M. 
Published: March 2012

Purpose:Subharmonic intravascular ultrasound imaging (S‐IVUS) could visualize the adventitialvasa vasorum, but the high pressure threshold required to incite subharmonic behavior in an ultrasound contrast agent will compromise sensitivity—a trait that has hampered the clinical use of S‐IVUS. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of using coded‐chirp excitations to improve the sensitivity and axial resolution of S‐IVUS.Methods:The subharmonic response of Targestar‐pTM, a commercial microbubble ultrasound contrast agent (UCA), to coded‐chirp (5%–20% fractional bandwidth) pulses and narrowband sine‐burst (4% fractional bandwidth) pulses was assessed, first using computer simulations and then experimentally. Rectangular windowed excitation pulses with pulse durations ranging from 0.25 to 3 μs were used in all studies. All experimental studies were performed with a pair of transducers (20 MHz/10 MHz), both with diameter of 6.35 mm and focal length of 50 mm. The size distribution of the UCA was measured with a CasyTM Cell counter.Results:The simulation predicted a pressure threshold that was an order of magnitude higher than that determined experimentally. However, all other predictions were consistent with the experimental observations. It was predicted that: (1) exciting the agent with chirps would produce stronger subharmonic response relative to those produced by sine‐bursts; (2) increasing the fractional bandwidth of coded‐chirp excitation would increase the sensitivity of subharmonic imaging; and (3) coded‐chirp would increase axial resolution. The experimental results revealed that subharmonic‐to‐fundamental ratios obtained with chirps were 5.7 dB higher than those produced with sine‐bursts of similar duration. The axial resolution achieved with 20% fractional bandwidth chirps was approximately twice that achieved with 4% fractional bandwidth sine‐bursts.Conclusions:The coded‐chirp method is a suitable excitation strategy for subharmonic IVUS imaging. At the 20 MHz transmission frequency and 20% fractional bandwidth, coded‐chirp excitation appears to represent the ideal tradeoff between subharmonic strength and axial resolution.
False-Negative Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Surface Antigen in a Vaccinated Dialysis Patient with a High Level of HBV DNA in the United States
Authors: Foy Matthew C. , Thio Chloe L. , Hwang Hyon S. , Saulynas Melissa , Hamilton James P. , Fine Derek M. , Atta Mohamed G. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTScreening with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is highly recommended for at-risk individuals. Mutations in the HBsAg can result in an inability to detect the virus during routine screening. We describe a hemodialysis patient found to have high levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and HBV antibody but negative HBsAg on two routine assays.
Detection of Human Bocaviruses 1 to 4 from Nasopharyngeal Swab Samples Collected from Patients with Respiratory Tract Infections
Authors: Koseki Naoko , Teramoto Shinobu , Kaiho Miki , Gomi-Endo Rika , Yoshioka Mikio , Takahashi Yutaka , Nakayama Tsuguyo , Sawada Hiroyuki , Konno Mutsuko , Ushijima Hiroshi , Kikuta Hideaki , Ariga Tadashi , Ishiguro Nobuhisa 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT
Human bocaviruses (HBoV) 1, 2, 3, and 4 (HBoV1-4) were detected in 132 (15.5%), 5 (0.6%), 3 (0.4%), and 5 (0.6%) of 850 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from children with respiratory tract infections, respectively. Out of the 145 HBoV1-4-positive samples, 62 (42.8%) were codetected with other respiratory viruses.
Molecular Detection of Rifabutin-Susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Chen Huang-Yao , Yu Ming-Chih , Huang Wei-Lun , Wu Mei-Hua , Chang Yung-Lin , Che Chien-Rai , Jou Ruwen 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACT

Rapid assays are still needed to detect rifabutin (RFB) susceptibility for proper tuberculosis treatment. To assess the use of the GenoType MTBDR
plus
assay and subsequent
rpoB
gene sequencing on detection of RFB susceptibility, we analyzed 800 multidrug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates, and 13% (104/800) were RFB susceptible. Of the 104 RFB-susceptible isolates, 71 (68.3%) isolates were rapidly identified using two molecular assays, while the remaining isolates could be determined using conventional drug-susceptibility testing according to the clinician's decision.