bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Better adherence to a transdermal tulobuterol patch than inhaled salmeterol in elderly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
Authors: Mochizuki Hideaki , Nanjo Yuta , Takahashi Hideki 
Published: July 2012

Background:  Inhaled long‐acting β2‐agonists (LABA) are often poorly adhered to by elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that older age and compromised cognitive function might contribute to poor adherence to inhaled medications among COPD patients, and that transdermally delivered medications could improve adherence, exercise tolerance and quality of life (QOL).Objective:  To compare adherence and effects on health outcomes between transdermal and inhaled LABA.Methods:  A total of 44 treatment‐naïve, elderly Japanese patients with moderate‐to‐severe COPD were treated with a transdermal tulobuterol patch (TP; 2 mg, once a day) or inhaled salmeterol (50 µg, twice a day) in a randomized crossover manner. The primary outcomes were adherence to the LABA medications and changes in QOL measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were changes in 6‐min walk distance (6MWD) and spirometric values.Results:  The overall adherence rate was 90.3 ± 1.6% for TP and 75.5 ± 2.9% for salmeterol (P < 0.001). Adherence to salmeterol was correlated with age and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), although that to TP was relatively constant regardless of age and MMSE score. 6MWD and QOL were significantly improved from baseline after TP, but not after salmeterol treatment (P < 0.05). Similar degrees of increase in spirometric values occurred after treatment with TP and salmeterol.Conclusions:  Adherence levels were higher overall with TP than with inhaled salmeterol, and more stable across age groups and MMSE levels. TP might be a favorable treatment option for COPD patients with poor adherence to an inhaled LABA. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 398–404.
Ca2+‐dependent ion channels underlying spontaneous activity in insect circadian pacemaker neurons
Authors: Wei Hongying , Stengl Monika 
Published: July 2012

AbstractElectrical activity in the gamma frequency range is instrumental for temporal encoding on the millisecond scale in attentive vertebrate brains. Surprisingly, also circadian pacemaker neurons in the cockroach Rhyparobia maderae (Leucophaea maderae) employ fast spontaneous rhythmic activity in the gamma band frequency range (20–70 Hz) together with slow rhythmic activity. The ionic conductances controlling this fast spontaneous activity are still unknown. Here, Ca2+ imaging combined with pharmacology was employed to analyse ion channels underlying spontaneous activity in dispersed circadian pacemakers of the adult accessory medulla, which controls circadian locomotor activity rhythms. Fast spontaneous Ca2+ transients in circadian pacemakers accompany tetrodotoxin (TTX)‐blockable spontaneous action potentials. In contrast to vertebrate pacemakers, the spontaneous depolarisations from rest appear to be rarely initiated via TTX‐sensitive sustained Na+ channels. Instead, they are predominantly driven by mibefradil‐sensitive, low‐voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels and DK‐AH269‐sensitive hyperpolarisation‐activated, cyclic nucleotide‐gated cation channels. Rhythmic depolarisations activate voltage‐gated Na+ channels and nifedipine‐sensitive high‐voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels. Together with Ca2+ rises, the depolarisations open repolarising small‐conductance but not large‐conductance Ca2+‐dependent K+ channels. In contrast, we hypothesise that P/Q‐type Ca2+ channels coupled to large‐conductance Ca2+‐dependent K+ channels are involved in input‐dependent activity.
Impact of different bioenergy crops on N‐cycling bacterial and archaeal communities in soil
Authors: Mao Yuejian , Yannarell Anthony C. , Davis Sarah C. , Mackie Roderick I. 
Published: July 2012

SummaryBiomass production for bioenergy may change soil microbes and influence ecosystem properties. To explore the impact of different bioenergy cropping systems on soil microorganisms, the compositions and quantities of soil microbial communities (16S rRNA gene) and N‐cycling functional groups (nifH, bacterial amoA, archaeal amoA and nosZ genes) were assessed under maize, switchgrass and Miscanthus x giganteus at seven sites representing a climate gradient (precipitation and temperature) in Illinois, USA. Overall, the site‐to‐site variation in community composition surpassed the variation due to plant type, and microbial communities under each crop did not converge on a ‘typical’ species assemblage. Fewer than 5% of archaeal amoA, bacterial amoA, nifH and nosZ OTUs were significantly different among these crops, but the largest differences observed at each site were found between maize and the two perennial grasses. Quantitative PCR revealed that the abundance of the nifH gene was significantly higher in the perennial grasses than in maize, and we also found significantly higher total N in the perennial grass soils than in maize. Thus, we conclude that cultivation of these perennial grasses, instead of maize, as bioenergy feedstocks can improve soil ecosystem nitrogen sustainability by increasing the population size of N‐fixing bacteria.
Should diabetes retinal screening intervals change?
Authors: Leese G. P. 
Published: July 2012

Diabet. Med. 30, 43–45 (2013)AbstractThere is accumulating evidence that the natural history of diabetic eye disease is sufficiently slow that 2‐yearly retinal screening, or even longer, may be safe for some patients with diabetes. The information technology underpinning call–recall systems within screening programmes permits a more sophisticated approach to organizing retinal screening, as directed by the clinical evidence. This commentary explores the evidence for moving towards a biennial retinal screening programme for patients with Type 2 diabetes and diabetes duration of less than 10 years. Such an approach may allow capacity to introduce 6‐monthly screening for high‐risk patients, a targeted approach to recurrent defaulters and possible introduction of new aspects of screening such as optical coherence tomography, in addition to accommodating for the expanding number of patients with diabetes. A UK–four nations group is now critically looking at the evidence for any such changes.
Do Different Work Characteristics Have Different Distributional Impacts on Job Satisfaction? A Study of Slope Heterogeneity in Workers’ Well‐Being
Authors: Chongvilaivan Aekapol , Powdthavee Nattavudh 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThis article is an empirical study of slope heterogeneity in job satisfaction. It provides evidence from the generalized ordered probit models that different job characteristics tend to have different distributional impacts on the overall job satisfaction. For instance, standard models tend to significantly underestimate the effects of monthly salary and hours worked at generating the ‘highly’ satisfied workers, while lowering the incidence of the ‘very dissatisfied’ workers. Although our results should be viewed as illustrative, we provide discussions of their potential implications for employers and on how they could help with the design of employment contracts.
WHO’S THE BOSS? HOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IN A NON‐COOPERATIVE FRAMEWORK
Authors: Mahmud Ahmed Saber , Jahan Sarwat 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACTWhen labour market participation influences bargaining power in a household, the male and the female labour supplies can be either positively or negatively related. If negatively related, possibilities include: ‘balance of power’, the complete dominance of one member, and circumstances where inequity persists with incomplete dominance. If effort levels are positively sloped, it is possible to have equilibrium at either high or low effort levels leading to equity. The effects of economic development and wage discrimination are also discussed.
Low‐Complexity Intervisibility in Height Fields
Authors: Timonen Ville 
Published: July 2012

AbstractGlobal illumination systems require intervisibility information between pairs of points in a scene. This visibility problem is computationally complex, and current interactive implementations for dynamic scenes are limited to crude approximations or small amounts of geometry. We present a novel algorithm to determine intervisibility from all points of dynamic height fields as visibility horizons in discrete azimuthal directions. The algorithm determines accurate visibility along each azimuthal direction in time linear in the number of output visibility horizons. This is achieved by using a novel visibility structure we call the convex hull tree. The key feature of our algorithm is its ability to incrementally update the convex hull tree such that at each receiver point only the visible parts of the height field are traversed. This results in low time complexity; compared to previous work, we achieve two orders of magnitude reduction in the number of algorithm iterations and a speedup of 2.4 to 41 on
height fields, depending on geometric content.
Syrian Self‐Initiated Expatriates: Emotional Connections from Abroad
Authors: Beitin Ben K. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe relationship of an expatriate to his or her country of origin is complicated by reasons for leaving, ease of acculturation into the new country, nostalgia, loneliness and the ability to remain connected to his or her country of origin while abroad. Research on expatriate experiences has been limited to certain countries of origin and host countries, as well as a narrow definition of the term “expatriate”. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and relationships with host and home countries of Syrian self‐initiated expatriates, an underrepresented group in the literature. Phenomenological interviews were conducted with 13 Syrian self‐initiated expatriates during an expatriate conference in Damascus, Syria. The results showed that Syrian self‐initiated expatriates have left Syria to advance their education and their careers. For many of the men interviewed, Syria’s mandate of military service was a factor in leaving. When in their host countries, they faced adjustment issues such as language barriers and difficulty remaining connected to Syria. Relationships with both countries were fluid and changing, based on factors such as adjustment and ease of communication. I make recommendations for improving travel, communication and cultural maintenance to support the connection between Syrian self‐initiated expatriates and Syrian society.
Decongestion improves cell‐mediated immunity in postmastectomy arm lymphoedema: a pilot study
Authors: Szolnoky G. , Dobozy A. , Kemény L. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  Chronic lymphoedematous limbs have an increased propensity for infections and primary or secondary malignant tumours. It has been attributed to suppressed delayed‐type hypersensitivity measured in lymphoedemas related to Stewart–Treves syndrome, Kaposi’s sarcoma or breast cancer treatment. Cell‐mediated immunity is an effective defence mechanism against bacteria, fungi, viruses and tumour cells.Objective  We aimed to examine whether decongestive lymphoedema therapy could improve cell‐mediated immunity in breast cancer treatment‐related lymphoedema (BCRL).Methods  Eight women with unilateral BCRL were included in this study. At baseline, tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed on the volar surfaces of the forearms of the affected and non‐affected sides using 0.5, 1 and 5 tuberculin units in the form of three consecutive injections with 3‐cm spaces in‐between, and arm volumes were measured using the Kuhnke’s disc model. Decongestive lymphatic therapy was given to swollen arms in 10 consecutive working days. At the end of intensive decongestion, TST on affected side and bilateral volumetry were repeated.Results  Baseline test using undiluted (5 units) and fivefold diluted (1 unit) tuberculin solutions has shown significant differences (P < 0.05) between the mean sizes (11.81 ± 2.32 and 7.75 ± 1.92; 7.12 ± 1.12 and 5.12 ± 0.91 respectively) in favour to healthy arms. Post therapeutically, the mean sizes were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the dilutions of 1 : 1 and 1 : 5 (7.75 ± 1.92 and 10.56 ± 1.23 mm, 5.12 ± 0.91 and 5.93 ± 1.74 mm respectively).Conclusion  Significant increase in TST sizes suggests that decongestive lymphatic therapy is able to partially restore impaired cellular immune function in BCRL.
Correlation among metallothionein expression, intratumoural macrophage infiltration and the risk of metastasis in human cutaneous malignant melanoma
Authors: Emri E. , Egervari K. , Varvolgyi T. , Rozsa D. , Miko E. , Dezso B. , Veres I. , Mehes G. , Emri G. , Remenyik E. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground  The formation of metastases and the efficacy of systemic therapies in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) depend on the characteristics of the tumour cells and the host immune response. Aberrant expression of metallothionein (MT) has been observed in several types of cancers with poor prognoses.Objective  To perform an immunohistochemical study on primary CMM comparing the MT expression of tumours without metastases (n = 23) to that of samples with haematogenous metastases (n = 23) and to examine the correlation between MT staining and immunological markers relevant in CMM progression.Methods  The immunohistochemical labelling of different tumour sections was analysed using tissue microarrays for the evaluation of the suitability of this method in future studies.Results  Our results suggest that MT overexpression is significantly more frequent in primary CMM with haematogenous metastases (P = 0.018) and that the overexpression is independent of the Breslow tumour thickness (R = 0.102, P = 0.501). Interestingly, MT overexpression of the tumour cells was correlated with the presence of tumour‐infiltrating CD68+ macrophages (P = 0.003), a known predictive factor for melanoma progression, thereby suggesting a role for MT in the development of a defective host immune response. Furthermore, the presence of CD163+ macrophages infiltrating the tumours correlated with metastasis formation (P < 0.001), whereas the presence CD1a+ dendritic cells surrounding the tumours was associated with a lower risk of haematogenous spread (P = 0.003).Conclusion  Our results demonstrate that MT may represent a suitable prognostic factor that can characterize the metastasising ability of CMM and the tumour‐promoting host immune response.
Sex‐ and age‐biased mortality in wildGreyPartridgePerdix perdixpopulations
Authors: Rymešová Dana , Šmilauer Petr , Šálek Miroslav 
Published: July 2012

Differing reproductive effort, individual qualities and local environmental conditions can lead to uneven mortality risk among individuals within populations and may result in survival differences according to age and sex. Identification of factors contributing to unequal operational sex ratios has been important for understanding population dynamics and conservation management. In this study, sex‐ and age‐specific mortality was estimated in three wildGreyPartridge populations from analysis of year‐round radiotracking data from 168 individuals. Survival days were counted in three periods defined individually for each bird: the pairing period (covey break‐up to laying of the first egg); the nesting period (between clutch initiation date and failure of the last nesting attempt, or the date when chicks were 14 days old); and the covey period (the end of the nesting period or joining a group until covey break‐up). Predation was the main cause of mortality. A significant effect of age on survival was found during the pairing period, when older individuals paired off faster and survived better. The highest mortality risk overall was found during the nesting period. Furthermore, significantly higher mortality of females was recorded during the nesting period, suggesting that greater investments in reproduction, behaviour at the nest or the quality of nesting habitats can decrease survival of females and cause a male‐skewed sex ratio. No significant effect of age or sex was found during the covey period, or for the year as a whole, but there was a significant difference in annual mortality rates between the three study populations. Our results confirm age‐ and sex‐specific variation of adult mortality in a ground‐nesting bird with biparental care during the annual cycle, documenting differing sensitivities of various population cohorts to predation.
Medication Overuse Headache in School‐Aged Children: More Common Than Expected?
Authors: Piazza Fausta , Chiappedi Matteo , Maffioletti Erika , Galli Federica , Balottin Umberto 
Published: July 2012

Objective.— To investigate the prevalence of medication overuse headache (MOH) in a group of children and adolescents seen for headache in a third‐level center in Italy.Background.— Epidemiological studies indicate a prevalence of MOH in children and adolescents between 0.3 and 0.5%; no data are available for the Italian population.Methods.— We studied a group of first‐seen children and adolescents (118 patients, 43.2% male and 56.8% female, mean age: 11.9 years). A detailed history was taken, using criteria defined by Olesen et al to assess the presence of MOH. Statistical correlations between demographic and diagnostic variables were assessed.Results.— Eleven (9.3%) of our patients presented MOH; in the group with chronic daily headache, the prevalence raised to 20.8%. At follow up, after introduction of a more rationale treatment, most patients improved, but 2 of them reported a worsening of their headache.Conclusions.— We believe that a strong warning regarding medication overuse in headache therapy is essential for pediatricians and neuropsychiatrists.
Age‐ and Ethanol Concentration‐Dependent Effects of Acute Binge Drinking in the HIV‐1 Transgenic Rat
Authors: Sarkar Sraboni , Mao Xin , Liu Chuang , Chang Sulie L. 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundBinge drinking is common in young people. Alcoholic beverages vary significantly in their ethanol (EtOH) concentration (alcohol by volume). We previously showed EtOH concentration‐dependent activation of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus. In the HIV‐infected population, incidence of alcohol abuse is close to 50%. We found age‐dependent expression of HIV‐1 viral proteins in the HIV‐1 transgenic (HIV‐1Tg) rat. Thus, we hypothesized that there are age‐ and EtOH concentration‐dependent effects of binge drinking in HIV‐1‐positive individuals.MethodsBlood ethanol concentration was measured in adult F344 rats after gavage (i.g.) administration of water, 20% EtOH, or 52% EtOH. We also compared expression of the HIV‐1 viral protein Tat in the brain, spleen, and liver of adult and adolescent HIV‐1Tg rats following binge i.g. administration of water, 20% EtOH, or 52% EtOH for 3 days (4.8 g/kg/d) using absolute quantitative real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. In a parallel study, we assessed age‐dependent motor function in the HIV‐1Tg rats 1 day after exposure to 20% EtOH using the open‐field test.ResultsBlood ethanol concentration was significantly higher in the 52% EtOH‐treated F344 rats compared to the 20% EtOH animals at 90 minutes posttreatment. In the adult HIV‐1Tg rats, HIV‐1 Tat expression (copies per microgram of total RNA) was significantly increased in the brain, liver, and spleen of the 52% EtOH group, but not in the 20% EtOH group. However, in the adolescent animals, HIV‐1 Tat expression in the 52% EtOH group was increased in the brain and liver, but not in the spleen. A significant reduction in locomotor activity occurred in 20% EtOH‐treated adult HIV‐1Tg rats compared to the water control, although no difference was observed in the adolescent HIV‐1Tg animals.ConclusionsOur data indicate that binge alcohol drinking can have age‐ and EtOH concentration‐dependent effects in the presence of HIV‐1 infection.
Measurement of Femoral and Tibial Joint Reference Angles and Pelvic Limb Alignment in Cats
Authors: Swanson Elizabeth A. , Tomlinson James L. , Dismukes David I. , Fox Derek B. 
Published: July 2012

ObjectiveTo report pelvic limb joint reference angles, limb alignment, and mechanical axis deviation for the feline pelvic limb.Study DesignCadaveric radiographic anatomic study.AnimalsSkeletally mature, mixed breed cats (n = 50).MethodsExtended pelvic limb radiography was performed and images analyzed to determine femoral anatomic joint reference angles, femoral and tibial mechanical joint reference angles, tibiofemoral angle, metatarsotibial angle, mechanical axis‐femur and mechanical axis‐metatarsus angles, and mechanical axis deviation of the stifle and tarsus. Mean ±SDand 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated.ResultsMean ±SDangles and 95%CIwere: anatomic lateral proximal femoral (103.9° ± 3.8°; 103.1° − 104.6°), anatomic lateral distal femoral (93.8° ± 2.5°; 93.3° − 94.3°), mechanical lateral proximal femoral (100.5° ± 3.7°; 99.8° − 101.2°), mechanical lateral distal femoral (97.2° ± 2.2°; 96.7° − 97.6°), mechanical medial proximal tibial (88.0° ± 3.2°; 87.3° − 88.6°), mechanical medial distal tibial (107.6° ± 4.8°; 106.6° − 108.5°), mechanical tibiofemoral (7.4° varus ± 2.5°; 6.9° − 7.9°), mechanical metatarsotibial (6.0° valgus ± 3.5°; 5.3° − 6.7°); mechanical axis‐femur (3.2° ± 1.4°; 2.9° − 3.5°) and mechanical axis‐metatarsus (2.4° ± 2.0°; 1.7° − 2.1°). Mechanical axis deviation of the stifle and of the tarsus were 2.0% ± 0.9% (95%CI: 1.9–2.2) and 0.8% ± 1.0% (95%CI: 0.7–1.0), respectively.ConclusionsMean pelvic limb joint reference and limb alignment angles can be used for diagnosing angular limb deformities of the feline pelvic limb and for planning corrective osteotomies in affected cats.
Consistency of the Automatic Algorithm in Detecting Complex Fractionated Electrograms using an Electroanatomical Navigation System
Authors: TSAI WEN‐CHIN , WANG JI‐HUNG , LIN YENN‐JIANG , TSAO HSUAN‐MING , CHANG SHIH‐LIN , LO LI‐WEI , HU YU‐FENG , CHANG CHIEN‐JUNG , TANG WEI‐HUA , HUANG SHIH‐YU , SUENARI KAZUYOSHI , TUAN TA‐CHUN , CHEN SHIH‐ANN 
Published: July 2012

Background:

The different settings of the automatic algorithm in the Carto system (Carto XP, Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) used for detecting complex fractionated electrograms (CFEs) during atrial fibrillation (AF) may influence the identification of the fragmented electrograms.
Objectives:

We aimed to evaluate the impact of the different parameters on the detection of CFEs and the efficacy of the substrate modification after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).
Methods:

A total of 1,159 electrograms were analyzed from 11 consecutive patients (age = 56 ± 12 years). The effect of the different algorithm factors, such as the high‐voltage thresholds (0.12, 0.25, 0.5, 20 mV), detection algorithms (average complex interval [ACI] vs interval confidence level), and recording duration (2.5 seconds vs 5 seconds), on the disparities of the CFEs was investigated.
Results:

The proportion of the different grades of CFEs depended on the detection algorithm and recording duration. The high‐voltage threshold would not affect the consistency of the CFEs irrespective of the different settings of the detection algorithm or recording duration. High‐grade CFEs were most consistent with an ACI algorithm and recording duration of 5 seconds (Cronbach's alpha = 0.952). Ablation consisting of a PVI and high‐grade CFE sites converted AF directly to sinus rhythm in eight of 11 patients or into atrial tachycardia in one of 11.
Conclusions:

The distribution and consistency of the CFE detection depended on the detection algorithm and recording duration, but not on the high‐voltage threshold. Under the ACI algorithm and a recording duration of 5 seconds, high‐grade CFE sites remained highest consistency. (PACE 2012; 35:980–989)