bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Early intervention for conversion disorder: neurologists and psychiatrists working together
Authors: Aybek Selma , Hubschmid Monica , Mossinger Corinna , Berney Alexandre , Vingerhoets François 
Published: May 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of an early multidisciplinary (neurology and psychiatry) intervention for conversion disorder (CD).MethodsConsecutive patients newly diagnosed with CD from 2005 to 2007 were compared to a control group of newly diagnosed CD patients receiving usual care. At 3 years, a questionnaire evaluated self‐rated subjective outcome, symptom severity, SF‐36 scores, employment status and medical care use.ResultsData from 12 cases (mean age 25.5 ± 8.2; 9 females) and 11 controls (mean age 34.7 ± 13.5; 10 females) showed that 83% of cases had a good subjective outcome (symptom improved or cured) when only 36% of controls had a good outcome (p < 0.05). Cases significantly improved their SF‐36 scores on subscales involving physical complaints compared to controls. A minority (20%) of cases reduced or ceased professional activity when 70% of controls did (p < 0.001). Only 16% of cases sought further medical advice for the initial symptom when 73% of controls did. Both groups accepted psychiatric referrals (83% of cases and 73% of controls) and found it beneficial.ConclusionsEarly intervention involving both neurologists and psychiatrists is effective for CD in alleviating physical complaints, reducing sick leave and health care use.
Interventions to improve patient participation in the treatment process for culturally and linguistically diverse people with cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Harun Aisha , Harrison James D. , Young Jane M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDisparities in cancer outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups are well known. Improving CALD patients' active participation in treatment processes holds potential to improve outcomes, but little is known of effective strategies to facilitate this. This systematic review investigated interventions to improve three aspects of participation in cancer care among CALD groups, namely involvement in decision‐making, communication with health providers and treatment adherence. A comprehensive search of electronic bibliographic databases was conducted to identify intervention studies that reported outcomes relevant to patient participation for CALD groups. Two reviewers independently critically appraised the studies and abstracted data. Of 10 278 potential articles, seven met the inclusion criteria, including three randomized controlled, three non‐randomized and one mixed‐method experimental studies. Interventions included the use of patient navigators, videos and decision aids. The impact on patient participation was varied. The effect of a decision aid and patient navigator interventions on communication with health providers was positive. While the use of a decisions aid successfully facilitated shared decision‐making and patients' perception of treatment adherence, the use of patient navigators was ineffective. A computer support system was found to improve general patient participation; however little clarification of what this involved was provided. This systematic review identified few rigorous evaluations of interventions to improve treatment participation for CALD people with cancer, highlighting the lack of a robust evidence base to improve this crucial aspect of care. The development and evaluation of interventions for diverse populations remains a priority.
The Effect of Bottle Fill Rate and Pour Technique on the Recovery of Volatile Organics
Authors: Parker Louise , Britt Sanford 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis field study was conducted to examine whether the method or the flow rate (fill rate) used to fill a sample vial affects recovery of volatile organics (VOCs). To our knowledge, there have not been any systematic studies that have examined this issue. For this field study, three fill rates (50 mL/min, 250 mL/min, and ~1 L/min) and three filling methods (top‐pour, side‐pour, and bottom‐fill) were used to fill sample vials. We found that the bottom‐fill method, with the tubing submerged in the sample as it fills, yielded the greatest recovery (i.e., highest concentrations) of VOCs. Little improvement was observed by pouring down the side of a vial vs. simply pouring straight down from the top. We also found that filling the vials at the fastest fill rate (~1 L/min) yielded higher recovery than the slowest fill rate (50 mL/min) using all three filling methods. These results are counter to prevailing guidance and conventional wisdom that slower filling is preferable to faster filling and that pouring down the side of a sample vial is the best practice for VOC sampling. However, because we were unable to randomize the order the samples were collected with respect to fill rate, we recommend a follow‐on study be conducted that will allow us to confirm our findings and better determine which fill rates minimize losses of VOCs
Establishment of reed canary grass with perennial legumes or barley and different fertilization treatments: effects on yield, botanical composition and nitrogen fixation
Authors: Lindvall Eva , Gustavsson Anne‐Maj , Palmborg Cecilia 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn two field experiments in northern Sweden, we investigated if intercropping reed canary grass (RCG; Phalaris arundinacea L.) with nitrogen‐fixing perennial legumes could reduce N‐fertilizer requirements and also if RCG ash or sewage sludge could be used as a supplement for mineral P and K. We compared biomass production, N uptake and N‐fixation of RCG in monoculture and mixtures of RCG with alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), goat's rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) and kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.). In one experiment, RCG was also undersown in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Three fertilization treatments were applied: 100 kg N ha−1, 50 kg N ha−1 and 50 kg N ha−1 + RCG ash/sewage sludge. We used a delayed harvest method: cutting the biomass in late autumn, leaving it on the field during the winter and harvesting in spring. The legume biomass of the mixtures at the inland experimental site was small and did not affect RCG growth negatively. At the coastal site, competition from higher amount of clover biomass affected RCG growth and spring yield negatively. N‐fixation in red clover and alsike clover mixtures in the first production year approximately covered half of recommended N‐fertilization rate. Goat's rue and kura clover did not establish well at the costal site, but at the inland site goat's rue formed a small but vital undergrowth. RCG undersown in barley gave lower yield, both in autumn and spring, than the other treatments. The high N treatment gave a higher spring yield at the inland site than the low N treatments, but there were no differences due to fertilization treatments at the coastal site. For spring harvest, there were no yield benefits of RCG/legume intercropping compared with RCG monoculture. However, intercropping might be more beneficial in a two‐harvest system.
Cohomological Hall algebra of a symmetric quiver
Authors: Efimov Alexander I. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn [M. Kontsevich and Y. Soibelman,Cohomological Hall algebra, exponential Hodge structures and motivic Donaldson–Thomas invariants, Preprint (2011), arXiv:1006.2706v2[math.AG]], the authors, in particular, associate to each finite quiverQwith a set of verticesIthe so-called cohomological Hall algebra ℋ, which is ℤI≥0-graded. Its graded component ℋγis defined as cohomology of the Artin moduli stack of representations with dimension vectorγ. The product comes from natural correspondences which parameterize extensions of representations. In the case of a symmetric quiver, one can refine the grading to ℤI≥0×ℤ, and modify the product by a sign to get a super-commutative algebra (ℋ,⋆) (with parity induced by the ℤ-grading). It is conjectured in [M. Kontsevich and Y. Soibelman,Cohomological Hall algebra, exponential Hodge structures and motivic Donaldson–Thomas invariants, Preprint (2011), arXiv:1006.2706v2[math.AG]] that in this case the algebra (ℋ⊗ℚ,⋆) is free super-commutative generated by a ℤI≥0×ℤ-graded vector space of the formV=Vprim⊗ℚ[x] , wherexis a variable of bidegree (0,2)∈ℤI≥0×ℤ, and all the spaces ⨁k∈ℤVprimγ,k,γ∈ℤI≥0. are finite-dimensional. In this paper we prove this conjecture (Theorem 1.1). We also prove some explicit bounds on pairs (γ,k) for whichVprimγ,k≠0 (Theorem 1.2). Passing to generating functions, we obtain the positivity result for quantum Donaldson–Thomas invariants, which was used by Mozgovoy to prove Kac’s conjecture for quivers with sufficiently many loops [S. Mozgovoy,Motivic Donaldson–Thomas invariants and Kac conjecture, Preprint (2011), arXiv:1103.2100v2[math.AG]]. Finally, we mention a connection with the paper of Reineke [M. Reineke,Degenerate cohomological Hall algebra and quantized Donaldson–Thomas invariants form-loop quivers, Preprint (2011), arXiv:1102.3978v1[math.RT]].
A lower bound on the waist of unit spheres of uniformly convex normed spaces
Authors: Memarian Yashar 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn this paper we give a lower bound on the waist of the unit sphere of a uniformly convex normed space by using the localization technique in codimension greater than one and a strong version of the Borsuk–Ulam theorem. The tools used in this paper follow ideas of Gromov in [Isoperimetry of waists and concentration of maps, Geom. Funct. Anal. 13 (2003), 178–215] and we also include an independent proof of our main theorem which does not rely on Gromov’s waist of the sphere. Our waist inequality in codimension one recovers a version of the Gromov–Milman inequality in [Generalisation of the spherical isoperimetric inequality to uniformly convex Banach spaces, Compositio Math. 62 (1987), 263–282].
Functional coupling of the metabotropic glutamate receptor, InsP3 receptor and L‐type Ca2+ channel in mouse CA1 pyramidal cells
Authors: Kato Hiroyuki K. , Kassai Hidetoshi , Watabe Ayako M. , Aiba Atsu , Manabe Toshiya 
Published: May 2012

Key points
While the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) is supposed to modulate L‐type voltage‐dependent calcium channels (L‐VDCCs), its reported actions include both facilitation and suppression, and thus the modulation of L‐VDCCs by synaptic activity has still been under debate.
In this study, using acute hippocampal slices of subtype‐specific knockout mice, we have shown that mGluR5 induces facilitation of the depolarization‐evoked calcium current.
This facilitation was not accompanied by the change in single‐channel properties of the L‐VDCC itself, but required the activation of calcium‐induced calcium release that was triggered by L‐VDCC opening.
L‐VDCCs and mGluR5 were shown to form a complex by coimmunoprecipitation, suggesting that the specific functional coupling between mGluR5, InsP3 receptors and L‐VDCCs played a pivotal role in the calcium‐current facilitation.
Our study has identified a novel mechanism of the interaction between the mGluR and calcium signalling, and suggested a contribution of mGluR5 to synaptic plasticity.
Abstract  Activity‐dependent regulation of calcium dynamics in neuronal cells can play significant roles in the modulation of many cellular processes such as intracellular signalling, neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity. Among many calcium influx pathways into neurons, the voltage‐dependent calcium channel (VDCC) is the major source of calcium influx, but its modulation by synaptic activity has still been under debate. While the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) is supposed to modulate L‐type VDCCs (L‐VDCCs), its reported actions include both facilitation and suppression, probably reflecting the uncertainty of both the molecular targets of the mGluR agonists and the source of the recorded calcium signal in previous reports. In this study, using subtype‐specific knockout mice, we have shown that mGluR5 induces facilitation of the depolarization‐evoked calcium current. This facilitation was not accompanied by the change in single‐channel properties of the VDCC itself; instead, it required the activation of calcium‐induced calcium release (CICR) that was triggered by VDCC opening, suggesting that the opening of CICR‐coupled cation channels was essential for the facilitation. This facilitation was blocked or reduced by the inhibitors of both L‐VDCCs and InsP3 receptors (InsP3Rs). Furthermore, L‐VDCCs and mGluR5 were shown to form a complex by coimmunoprecipitation, suggesting that the specific functional coupling between mGluR5, InsP3Rs and L‐VDCCs played a pivotal role in the calcium‐current facilitation. Finally, we showed that mGluR5 enhanced VDCC‐dependent long‐term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission. Our study has identified a novel mechanism of the interaction between the mGluR and calcium signalling, and suggested a contribution of mGluR5 to synaptic plasticity.
Automated treatment planning for a dedicated multi‐source intracranial radiosurgery treatment unit using projected gradient and grassfire algorithms
Authors: Ghobadi Kimia , Ghaffari Hamid R. , Aleman Dionne M. , Jaffray David A. , Ruschin Mark 
Published: May 2012

Purpose:The purpose of this work is to develop a framework to the inverse problem for radiosurgery treatment planning on the Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ (PFX) for intracranial targets.Methods:The approach taken in the present study consists of two parts. First, a hybrid grassfire and sphere‐packing algorithm is used to obtain shot positions (isocenters) based on the geometry of the target to be treated. For the selected isocenters, a sector duration optimization (SDO) model is used to optimize the duration of radiation delivery from each collimator size from each individual source bank. The SDO model is solved using a projected gradient algorithm. This approach has been retrospectively tested on seven manually planned clinical cases (comprising 11 lesions) including acoustic neuromas and brain metastases.Results:In terms of conformity and organ‐at‐risk (OAR) sparing, the quality of plans achieved with the inverse planning approach were, on average, improved compared to the manually generated plans. The mean difference in conformity index between inverse and forward plans was −0.12 (range: −0.27 to +0.03) and +0.08 (range: 0.00–0.17) for classic and Paddick definitions, respectively, favoring the inverse plans. The mean difference in volume receiving the prescribed dose () between forward and inverse plans was 0.2% (range: −2.4% to +2.0%). After plan renormalization for equivalent coverage (i.e., ), the mean difference in dose to 1 mm3 of brainstem between forward and inverse plans was −0.24 Gy (range: −2.40 to +2.02 Gy) favoring the inverse plans. Beam‐on time varied with the number of isocenters but for the most optimal plans was on average 33 min longer than manual plans (range: −17 to +91 min) when normalized to a calibration dose rate of 3.5 Gy/min. In terms of algorithm performance, the isocenter selection for all the presented plans was performed in less than 3 s, while the SDO was performed in an average of 215 min.Conclusions:PFX inverse planning can be performed using geometric isocenter selection and mathematical modeling and optimization techniques. The obtained treatment plans all meet or exceed clinical guidelines while displaying high conformity.
Efficacy of Rifaximin Vaginal Tablets in Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis: a Molecular Characterization of the Vaginal Microbiota
Authors: Cruciani Federica , Brigidi Patrizia , Calanni Fiorella , Lauro Vittoria , Tacchi Raffaella , Donders Gilbert , Peters Klaus , Guaschino Secondo , Vitali Beatrice 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal disorder characterized by an alteration of the vaginal bacterial morphotypes, associated with sexually transmitted infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of different doses of rifaximin vaginal tablets (100 mg/day for 5 days, 25 mg/day for 5 days, and 100 mg/day for 2 days) on the vaginal microbiota of 102 European patients with BV enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. An integrated molecular approach based on quantitative PCR (qPCR) and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was used to investigate the effects of vaginal tablets containing the antibiotic. An increase in members of the genus
Lactobacillus
and a decrease in the BV-related bacterial groups after the antibiotic treatment were demonstrated by qPCR. PCR-DGGE profiles confirmed the capability of rifaximin to modulate the composition of the vaginal microbial communities and to reduce their complexity. This molecular analysis supported the clinical observation that rifaximin at 25 mg/day for 5 days represents an effective treatment to be used in future pivotal studies for the treatment of BV.
Efficacy of Daptomycin-Cloxacillin Combination in Experimental Foreign-Body Infection Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Garrigós C. , Murillo O. , Lora-Tamayo J. , Verdaguer R. , Tubau F. , Cabellos C. , Cabo J. , Ariza J. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Despite the use of daptomycin alone at high doses (greater than 6 mg/kg of body weight/day) against difficult-to-treat infections, clinical failures and resistance appeared. Recently, the combination daptomycin-cloxacillin showed enhanced efficacy in clearing bacteremia caused by methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of daptomycin at usual and high doses (equivalent to 6 and 10 mg/kg/day in humans, respectively) in combination with cloxacillin in a rat tissue cage infection model by MRSA and to compare its efficacy to that of daptomycin-rifampin. We used MRSA strain ATCC BAA-39. In the log- and stationary-phase kill curves, daptomycin-cloxacillin improved the bactericidal activity of daptomycin, especially in log phase. For
in vivo
studies, therapy was administered intraperitoneally for 7 days with daptomycin at 100 mg/kg/day and 45/mg/kg/day (daptomycin 100 and daptomycin 45), daptomycin 100-cloxacillin at 200 mg/kg/12 h, daptomycin 45-cloxacillin, and daptomycin 100-rifampin at 25 mg/kg/12 h. Daptomycin-rifampin was the best therapy (
P
< 0.05). Daptomycin 45 was the least effective treatment and did not protect against the emergence of resistant strains. There were no differences between the two dosages of daptomycin plus cloxacillin in any situation, and both protected against resistance. The overall effect of the addition of cloxacillin to daptomycin was a significantly greater cure rate (against adhered bacteria) than that for daptomycin alone. In conclusion, daptomycin-cloxacillin enhanced modestly the
in vivo
efficacy of daptomycin alone against foreign-body infection by MRSA and was less effective than daptomycin plus rifampin. The benefits of adding cloxacillin to daptomycin should be especially evaluated against infections by rifampin-resistant MRSA and for protection against the emergence of daptomycin nonsusceptibility.
Mechanistic Assessment of DNA Ligase as an Antibacterial Target in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Podos Steven D. , Thanassi Jane A. , Pucci Michael J. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

We report the use of a known pyridochromanone inhibitor with antibacterial activity to assess the validity of NAD
+
-dependent DNA ligase (LigA) as an antibacterial target in
Staphylococcus aureus
. Potent inhibition of purified LigA was demonstrated in a DNA ligation assay (inhibition constant [

K
i

] = 4.0 nM) and in a DNA-independent enzyme adenylation assay using full-length LigA (50% inhibitory concentration [IC
50
] = 28 nM) or its isolated adenylation domain (IC
50
= 36 nM). Antistaphylococcal activity was confirmed against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant
S. aureus
(MSSA and MRSA) strains (MIC = 1.0 μg/ml). Analysis of spontaneous resistance potential revealed a high frequency of emergence (4 × 10
−7
) of high-level resistant mutants (MIC > 64) with associated
ligA
lesions. There were no observable effects on growth rate in these mutants. Of 22 sequenced clones, 3 encoded point substitutions within the catalytic adenylation domain and 19 in the downstream oligonucleotide-binding (OB) fold and helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) domains.
In vitro
characterization of the enzymatic properties of four selected mutants revealed distinct signatures underlying their resistance to inhibition. The infrequent adenylation domain mutations altered the kinetics of adenylation and probably elicited resistance directly. In contrast, the highly represented OB fold domain mutations demonstrated a generalized resistance mechanism in which covalent LigA activation proceeds normally and yet the parameters of downstream ligation steps are altered. A resulting decrease in substrate

K
m

and a consequent increase in substrate occupancy render LigA resistant to competitive inhibition. We conclude that the observed tolerance of staphylococcal cells to such hypomorphic mutations probably invalidates LigA as a viable target for antistaphylococcal chemotherapy.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exopolysaccharide Psl Promotes Resistance to the Biofilm Inhibitor Polysorbate 80
Authors: Zegans Michael E. , Wozniak Daniel , Griffin Edward , Toutain-Kidd Christine M. , Hammond John H. , Garfoot Andrew , Lam Joseph S. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Polysorbate 80 (PS80) is a nonionic surfactant and detergent that inhibits biofilm formation by
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
at concentrations as low as 0.001% and is well tolerated in human tissues. However, certain clinical and laboratory strains (PAO1) of
P. aeruginosa
are able to form biofilms in the presence of PS80. To better understand this resistance, we performed transposon mutagenesis with a PS80-resistant clinical isolate, PA738. This revealed that mutation of
algC
rendered PA738 sensitive to PS80 biofilm inhibition. AlgC contributes to the biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharides Psl and alginate, as well as lipopolysaccharide and rhamnolipid. Analysis of mutations downstream of AlgC in these biosynthetic pathways established that disruption of the
psl
operon was sufficient to render the PA738 and PAO1 strains sensitive to PS80-mediated biofilm inhibition. Increased levels of Psl production in the presence of arabinose in a strain with an arabinose-inducible
psl
promoter were correlated with increased biofilm formation in PS80. In
P. aeruginosa
strains MJK8 and ZK2870, known to produce both Pel and Psl, disruption of genes in the
psl
but not the
pel
operon conferred susceptibility to PS80-mediated biofilm inhibition. The laboratory strain PA14 does not produce Psl and does not form biofilms in PS80. However, when PA14 was transformed with a cosmid containing the
psl
operon, it formed biofilms in the presence of PS80. Taken together, these data suggest that production of the exopolysaccharide Psl by
P. aeruginosa
promotes resistance to the biofilm inhibitor PS80.