bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring psychological well‐being in South Asians with diabetes; a qualitative investigation of the PHQ‐9 and the WHO‐5 as potential screening tools for measuring symptoms of depression
Authors: Lloyd C. E. , Roy T. , Begum S. , Mughal S. , Barnett A. H. 
Published: October 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 140–147 (2012)AbstractBackground  People from South Asian backgrounds living in the UK have a greatly increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Whether or not this patient group also experience high rates of depressive symptoms (known to be the case in Caucasian populations with diabetes) remains unknown, partly because it is unclear whether the screening tools used are culturally relevant. The aim of this study was to develop culturally competent translations (in both written and audio formats) of two screening tools used to measure symptoms of depression in languages with no written form and establish their face validity.Methods  Adults with Type 2 diabetes from two South Asian minority ethnic groups (from Bangladesh and Pakistan) whose main language is only spoken (Sylheti and Mirpuri) were recruited via the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital Diabetes Centre. Participants attended two focus group meetings to consider the content and method of delivery of two questionnaires measuring symptoms of depression, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9) and the World Health Organization Well‐being Index (WHO‐5).Results  Culturally equivalent content was achieved for both questionnaires in both languages. The Mirpuri men and women groups did not indicate a clear preference for either mode of questionnaire delivery; however, the Sylheti groups’ preference was for independent audio‐delivery in their spoken language.Conclusions  The face validity of the PHQ‐9 and the WHO‐5 was established for Sylheti and Mirpuri in an audio delivery format. Psychometric testing is now needed among minority ethnic populations so that the feasibility of wider use can be determined.
Phylogenetic beta diversity of native and alien species in European urban floras
Authors: Ricotta Carlo , La Sorte Frank A. , Pyšek Petr , Rapson Gillian L. , Celesti‐Grapow Laura , Thompson Ken 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACTAim  Human activities have weakened biogeographical barriers to dispersal, increasing the rate of introduction of alien plants. However, their impact on beta diversity and floristic homogenization is poorly understood. Our goal is to compare the phylogenetic beta diversity of native species with that of two groups of alien species, archaeophytes and neophytes (introduced before and after ad 1500, respectively), across European urban floras to explore how biological invasions affect phylogenetic turnover at a continental scale.Location  Twenty European cities located in six countries between 49 and 53° N latitude in continental Europe and the British Isles.Methods  To compare the phylogenetic beta diversity of native and alien species we use the average phylogenetic dissimilarity of individual floras from their group centroid in multivariate space. Differences in phylogenetic beta diversity among different species groups are then assessed using a randomization test for homogeneity of multivariate dispersions.Results  Across European urban floras, and when contrasted with natives, archaeophytes are usually associated with lower levels of phylogenetic beta diversity while neophytes tend to increase phylogenetic differentiation.Main conclusions  While archaeophytes tend to promote limited homogenization in phylogenetic beta diversity, because of their diverse geographical origin together with short residence times in the invaded regions, neophytes are not promoting biotic homogenization of urban floras across Europe. Therefore, in spite of the increasing rate of alien invasion, an intense phylogenetic homogenization of urban cities is not to be expected soon.
Exploring Real‐Time Geoprocessing in Cloud Computing: Navigation Services Case Study
Authors: Karimi Hassan Ali , Roongpiboonsopit Duangduen , Wang Haopeng 
Published: October 2011

AbstractToday, many real‐time geospatial applications (e.g. navigation and location‐based services) involve data‐ and/or compute‐intensive geoprocessing tasks where performance is of great importance. Cloud computing, a promising platform with a large pool of storage and computing resources, could be a practical solution for hosting vast amounts of data and for real‐time processing. In this article, we explored the feasibility of using Google App Engine (GAE), the cloud computing technology by Google, for a module in navigation services, called Integrated GNSS (iGNSS) QoS prediction. The objective of this module is to predict quality of iGNSS positioning solutions for prospective routes in advance. iGNSS QoS prediction involves the real‐time computation of large Triangulated Irregular Networks (TINs) generated from LiDAR data. We experimented with the Google App Engine (GAE) and stored a large TIN for two geoprocessing operations (proximity and bounding box) required for iGNSS QoS prediction. The experimental results revealed that while cloud computing can potentially be used for development and deployment of data‐ and/or compute‐intensive geospatial applications, current cloud platforms require improvements and special tools for handling real‐time geoprocessing, such as iGNSS QoS prediction, efficiently. The article also provides a set of general guidelines for future development of real‐time geoprocessing in clouds.
Local adaptation: simultaneously considering herbivores and their host plants
Authors: Garrido Etzel , Andraca‐Gómez Guadalupe , Fornoni Juan 
Published: October 2011

Summary
Although a major expectation of coevolutionary theory between plants and herbivores is the occurrence of reciprocal local adaptation, this has remained almost untested. Thus, we evaluated the presence and variation in the patterns of reciprocal local adaptation between an herbivorous insect and its host plant.
Two four‐by‐four cross‐infestation experiments were performed under similar abiotic conditions. The first one was done under laboratory conditions to estimate herbivore individual performance while the second one was performed in a common garden to simultaneously estimate herbivore population growth rate as well as seed production and plant defenses (resistance and tolerance to herbivory).
The patterns of population differentiation for the herbivore and the plant were not independent of each other, showing all the possible outcomes from locally adapted to maladapted populations. These results indicate differences in the magnitude of local adaptation. While an association between resistance and herbivore performance was observed, there was no clear pattern between tolerance and herbivore local adaptation.
Our results demonstrated the occurrence of reciprocal local adaptation following the pattern expected by theory: when the herbivores or the plants were adapted, the other species was non‐adapted or even maladapted.
Comparison of actions of systemically and locally administrated local anaesthetics in diabetic rats with painful neuropathy
Authors: Mert Tufan , Gunes Yasemin , Gunay Ismail 
Published: October 2011

AbstractNothing is known about actions of levobupivacaine, a long‐acting local anaesthetic belonging to the amino amide group, in diabetes‐induced neuropathic pain conditions. In this study, we therefore investigated the possible antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects of levobupivacaine in diabetic animal model. Actions of systemically (intraperitoneal) or locally (intraplantar) administrated levobupivacaine on streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats with painful neuropathy were examined using a thermal plantar test and a dynamic plantar aesthesiometer. Effects of levobupivacaine were compared with those of a well‐known amide local anaesthetic lidocaine. Levobupivacaine was more potent than lidocaine in all tests employed on diabetic rats. After intraperitoneal injections to diabetic rats, levobupivacaine, but not lidocaine, produced pronounced antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects. However, intraplantar administration of both levobupivacaine and lidocaine produced antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic action in diabetic rats. In contrast to the transient effects of lidocaine (30 min), antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic actions of levobupivacaine gradually disappeared within 120 min after intraplantar injections. Intraperitoneal or intraplantar administrations of levobupivacaine or lidocaine at the effective dose had no effect on any parameters in intact rats. Findings revealed that antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic potency of levobupivacaine was higher in comparison with that of lidocaine after their intraperitoneal or intraplantar administration to diabetic animals. Furthermore, locally administrated levobupivacaine has the greatest antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic actions in diabetic rats.
Advanced glycation end‐products inhibition improves endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: SYNGLE Ashit , VOHRA Kanchan , GARG Nidhi , KAUR Ladbans , CHAND Prem 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Aim:  Chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction. The objective was to study the efficacy and safety of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibitor (benfotiamine 50 mg + pyridoxamine 50 mg + methylcobalamin 500 μg, Vonder® (ACME Lifescience, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India)) on endothelial function in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods:  Twenty‐four patients with established active RA with high disease activity (Disease Activity Score of 28 joints [DAS28 score] > 5.1) despite treatment with stable doses of conventional disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs were investigated. Inflammatory disease activity (DAS28 and Health Assessment Questionnaire‐Disability Index [HAQ‐DI] scores, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] and C‐reactive protein [CRP]), markers of endothelial dysfunction, serum nitrite concentration and endothelium‐dependent and ‐independent vasodilation of the brachial artery were measured before and after 12 weeks therapy with twice a day oral AGEs inhibitor.
Results:  After treatment, flow‐mediated vasodilation improved from 9.64 ± 0.65% to 15.82 ± 1.02% (P < 0.01), whereas there was no significant change in endothelium‐independent vasodilation with nitroglycerin and baseline diameter; serum nitrite concentration significantly reduced from 5.6 ± 0.13 to 5.1 ± 0.14 μmol/L (P = 0.004), ESR from 63.00 ± 3.5 to 28.08 ± 1.5 mm in the first h (P < 0.01) and CRP levels from 16.7 ± 4.1 to 10.74 ± 2.9 mg/dL (P < 0.01). DAS28 and HAQ‐DI scores were significantly reduced, from 5.9 ± 0.17 to 3.9 ± 0.17 (P < 0.01) and 4.6 ± 0.17 to 1.7 ± 0.22 (P < 0.01), respectively.
Conclusions:  Advanced glycation end products inhibitor improves endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory disease activity in RA. In RA, endothelial dysfunction is part of the disease process and is mediated by AGEs‐induced inflammation.
On the role of the optimization algorithm of RapidArc® volumetric modulated arc therapy on plan quality and efficiency
Authors: Vanetti Eugenio , Nicolini Giorgia , Nord Janne , Peltola Jarkko , Clivio Alessandro , Fogliata Antonella , Cozzi Luca 
Published: October 2011

Purpose:The RapidArc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning process is based on a core engine, the so‐called progressive resolution optimizer (PRO). This is the optimization algorithm used to determine the combination of field shapes, segment weights (with dose rate and gantry speed variations), which best approximate the desired dose distribution in the inverse planning problem. A study was performed to assess the behavior of two versions of PRO. These two versions mostly differ in the way continuous variables describing the modulated arc are sampled into discrete control points, in the planning efficiency and in the presence of some new features. The analysis aimed to assess (i) plan quality, (ii) technical delivery aspects, (iii) agreement between delivery and calculations, and (iv) planning efficiency of the two versions.Methods:RapidArc plans were generated for four groups of patients (five patients each): anal canal, advanced lung, head and neck, and multiple brain metastases and were designed to test different levels of planning complexity and anatomical features. Plans from optimization with PRO2 (first generation of RapidArc optimizer) were compared against PRO3 (second generation of the algorithm). Additional plans were optimized with PRO3 using new features: the jaw tracking, the intermediate dose and the air cavity correction options.Results:Results showed that (i) plan quality was generally improved with PRO3 and, although not for all parameters, some of the scored indices showed a macroscopic improvement with PRO3. (ii) PRO3 optimization leads to simpler patterns of the dynamic parameters particularly for dose rate. (iii) No differences were observed between the two algorithms in terms of pretreatment quality assurance measurements and (iv) PRO3 optimization was generally faster, with a time reduction of a factor approximately 3.5 with respect to PRO2.Conclusions:These results indicate that PRO3 is either clinically beneficial or neutral in terms of dosimetric quality while it showed significant advantages in speed and technical aspects.
Lack of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 2 Leads to Exacerbated Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Adverse Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in Response to Biomechanical Stress
Authors: Kandalam Vijay , Basu Ratnadeep , Moore Linn , Fan Dong , Wang Xiuhua , Jaworski Diane M. , Oudit Gavin Y. , Kassiri Zamaneh 
Published: October 2011

Background—
Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key aspect of myocardial response to biomechanical stress and heart failure. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) regulate the ECM turnover through negative regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which degrade the ECM structural proteins. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 is unique among TIMPs in activating pro-MMP2 in addition to inhibiting a number of MMPs. Given this dual role of TIMP2, we investigated whether TIMP2 serves a critical role in heart disease.

Methods and Results—

Pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in 8-week-old male mice resulted in greater left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, dilation, and dysfunction in TIMP2-deficient (TIMP2
−/−
) compared with wild-type mice at 2 weeks and 5 weeks post-TAC. Despite lack of MMP2 activation, total collagenase activity and specific membrane type MMP activity were greater in TIMP2
−/−
–TAC hearts. Loss of TIMP2 resulted in a marked reduction of integrin β1D levels and compromised focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation, resulting in impaired adhesion of cardiomyocytes to ECM proteins, laminin, and fibronectin. Nonuniform ECM remodeling in TIMP2
−/−
–TAC hearts revealed degraded network structure as well as excess fibrillar deposition. Greater fibrosis in TIMP2
−/−
–TAC compared with wild-type TAC hearts was due to higher levels of SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) and posttranslational stabilization of collagen fibers rather than increased collagen synthesis. Inhibition of MMPs including membrane type MMP significantly reduced left ventricular dilation and dysfunction, hypertrophy, and fibrosis in TIMP2
−/−
–TAC mice.

Conclusions—
Lack of TIMP2 leads to exacerbated cardiac dysfunction and remodeling after pressure overload because of excess activity of membrane type MMP and loss of integrin β1D, leading to nonuniform ECM remodeling and impaired myocyte–ECM interaction.
Reduced Degradation of the Chemokine MCP-3 by Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Exacerbates Myocardial Inflammation in Experimental Viral Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Westermann Dirk , Savvatis Kostantinos , Lindner Diana , Zietsch Christin , Becher Peter Moritz , Hammer Elke , Heimesaat Markus M. , Bereswill Stefan , Völker Uwe , Escher Felicitas , Riad Alexander , Plendl Johanna , Klingel Karin , Poller Wolfgang , Schultheiss Heinz-Peter , Tschöpe Carsten 
Published: October 2011

Background—
Myocarditis is an important cause for cardiac failure, especially in younger patients, followed by the development of cardiac dysfunction and death. The present study investigated whether gene deletion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 influences cardiac inflammation and function in murine coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)–induced myocarditis.

Methods and Results—

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 knockout mice (MMP-2
−/−
) and their wild-type controls (WT) were infected with CVB3 to induce myocarditis. Three days after infection, an increased invasion of CD4
+
-activated T cells into the myocardium was documented, followed by an excess of inflammatory cells 7 days after infection, which was significantly higher in the MMP-2
−/−
animals compared with the WT animals. Moreover, cardiac apoptosis, remodeling, viral load, and function were deteriorated in MMP-2
−/−
animals after CVB3 infection. This overwhelming inflammation was followed by 100% mortality after 15 days. This was associated with increased levels of MCP-3 in the cardiac tissue of MMP-2
−/−
mice. Because MMP-2 cleaves the chemokine MCP-3, the loss of this cleavage lead to an overreaction of the immune system with pronounced myocardial damage mediated by the inflammatory cells. When a neutralizing antibody against MCP-3 was given to MMP-2
−/−
mice, this exaggerated reaction of the immune system could be normalized to levels similar to WT-CVB3 animals.

Conclusions—
Loss of MMP-2 increased the inflammatory response after CVB3 infection, which impaired cardiac function and survival during CVB3-induced myocarditis. Matrix metalloproteinase-2–mediated chemokine cleavage has an important role in cardiac inflammation as a negative feedback mechanism.
Protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II production is a strong predictive marker for extrahepatic metastases in early hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective evaluation
Authors: Bae Hyun-Mi , Lee Jeong-Hoon , Yoon Jung-Hwan , Kim Yoon Jun , Heo Dae Seog , Lee Hyo-Suk 
Published: October 2011

Abstract

Background
Clinicians often experience extrahepatic metastases associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), even if no evidence of intrahepatic recurrence after treatment is observed. We investigated the pretreatment predictors of extrahepatic metastases in HCC patients.

Methods
Patients diagnosed with HCC without evidence of extrahepatic metastases were prospectively enrolled. We evaluated the correlation between extrahepatic metastases and pretreatment clinical variables, including serum tumor markers.

Results
A total of 354 patients were included. Seventy-six patients (21%) had extrahepatic metastases during the observation period (median, 25.3 months; range, 0.6-51.3 months). Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) production levels, the intrahepatic tumor stage, platelet count, and portal vein thrombosis were independent risk factors for extrahepatic metastases. Patients with a PIVKA-II production ≥ 300 mAU/mL had a 2.7-fold (95% confidence interval; 1.5-4.8; P < 0.001) and 3.7-fold (95% confidence interval; 2.0-6.6; P < 0.001) increased risk for extrahepatic metastases after adjustment for stage, platelet count, alpha-fetoprotein ≥ 400 ng/mL, and portal vein thrombosis according to the AJCC and BCLC staging systems, respectively.

Conclusion
PIVKA-II production levels might be a good candidate predictive marker for extrahepatic HCC metastases, especially in patients with smaller and/or fewer tumors in the liver with in stages regardless of serum alpha-fetoprotein.
Autotransporter protein secretion
Authors: Tame Jeremy R.H. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAutotransporter proteins are a large family of virulence factors secreted from Gram-negative bacteria by a unique mechanism. First described in the 1980s, these proteins have a C-terminal region that folds into a β-barrel in the bacterial outer membrane. The so-called passenger domain attached to this barrel projects away from the cell surface and may be liberated from the cell by self-cleavage or surface proteases. Although the majority of passenger domains have a similar β-helical structure, they carry a variety of sub­domains, allowing them to carry out widely differing functions related to pathogenesis. Considerable biochemical and structural characterisation of the barrel domain has shown that ‘autotransporters’ in fact require a conserved and essential protein complex in the outer membrane for correct folding. Although the globular domains of this complex projecting into the periplasmic space have also been structurally characterised, the overall secretion pathway of the autotransporters remains highly puzzling. It was presumed for many years that the passenger domain passed through the centre of the barrel domain to reach the cell surface, driven at least in part by folding. This picture is complicated by conflicting data, and there is currently little hard information on the true nature of the secretion intermediates. As well as their medical importance therefore, autotransporters are proving to be an excellent system to study the folding and membrane insertion of outer membrane proteins in general. This review focuses on structural aspects of autotransporters; their many functions in pathogenesis are beyond its scope.
Rheological and Rutting Characterization of Asphalt Mixes with Modified Binders
Authors: Anjan kumar S. , Veeraragavan A. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
This paper presents the results of investigations on the rheological properties of modified asphalt binders and their influence on the performance of asphalt mixes. Asphalt mixes with modified binders such as styrene butadiene styrene polymer, crumb rubber, natural rubber, and waste plastics were evaluated for their rheological properties and compared to the properties of asphalt mixes with unmodified VG30 (viscosity grade) asphalt binder. The dynamic modulus values and rutting characteristics of the asphalt mixes were studied with due consideration to different levels of aging and temperature variations. Studies on the rheological properties showed that the energy dissipated by unmodified asphalt (VG30) binder is higher than that of modified asphalt binders. Long-term aged natural rubber and waste plastic modified asphalt binders showed significant increase in the properties compared to unmodified asphalt binder (VG30). Reduced temperature susceptibility of polymer modified asphalt binder showed that only polymer modification can enhance both high temperature rutting resistance and low temperature thermal cracking resistance of asphalt mixes. The transient nature of polymer modified asphalt mix from viscoelastic solid-like to viscoelastic fluid-like condition is significantly shifted to higher temperature compared to that of the mix with unmodified asphalt binder. Aging and rutting indices showed that rubber modified asphalt mixes are highly susceptible to aging. Statistical analysis of test results showed that the process of modification of asphalt binder, aging, and temperature during the test influence the rheological and rutting characteristics of asphalt mixes significantly. Correlation between the asphalt binder properties and its influence on the rutting resistance are found to be statistically significant. The analysis using least significant difference showed that polymer modified asphalt binder significantly improves the aging and rutting resistance of asphalt mixes compared to unmodified asphalt binder.