bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PET Imaging in the Photosensitive Baboon: Case‐controlled Study
Authors: Szabó C. Ákos , Narayana Shalini , Kochunov Peter V. , Franklin Crystal , Knape Koyle , Davis M. Duff , Fox Peter T. , Leland M. Michelle , Williams Jeff T. 
Published: February 2007

Summary:  Purpose: The baboon (Papio hamadryas spp) offers a natural primate animal model of photosensitive generalized epilepsy. This study compared changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) during intermittent light stimulation (ILS) between photosensitive and asymptomatic baboons. Methods: Six photosensitive, epileptic (PS) and four nonphotosensitive, asymptomatic (CTL) baboons, matched for age, gender, and weight, were selected based on previous scalp EEG evaluation. Continuous intravenous ketamine (5–13 mg/kg) was used for sedation. Subjects underwent five sequential blood‐flow PET studies within 60 min with 20 mCi 15O‐labeled water. Images were acquired in 3D mode (CTI/Siemens HR+ scanner, 63 contiguous slices, 2.4‐mm thickness). Three resting scans were alternated with two activation scans during ILS. ILS was performed at 25 Hz for 60 s before to 60 s after the start of an activation scan. PET images were coregistered with MRI (3T Siemens Trio, T1‐weighted 3D Turboflash sequence; TE/TR/TI, 3.04/2,100/785 ms; flip angle, 13 degrees). PET scans were reviewed and corrected for motion artifact. Resting scans were contrasted with activation scans and averaged independently for both groups. Quantitative CBF analyses were performed for the occipital and motor cortices. Results: The CTL baboons showed greatest ILS‐induced activation in the left middle frontal and inferior temporal gyri, left brainstem structures and right postcentral gyrus, bilateral occipital lobes, and in the posterior cingulate gyrus and cerebellum. In contrast, the PS animals showed strongest ILS activation in the right anterior cingulate and medial orbital gyri, amygdala, globus pallidum, and left inferior and superior temporal gyri. A striking finding was the absence of occipital and variable motor cortex activation in the PS animals. Deactivations were noted in the right orbitofrontal and anterior cingulate cortices in the CTL baboons and in the posterior cingulate gyrus, brainstem and cerebellum of the PS animals. Conclusions: The patterns of ILS‐induced CBF changes differed between CTL and PS groups. These differences of activations and inhibitions suggest involvement of specific cortical–subcortical or networks in photosensitivity.
Intrinsic Ictal Dynamics at the Seizure Focus: Effects of Secondary Generalization Revealed by Complexity Measures
Authors: Jouny Christophe C. , Adamolekun Bola , Franaszczuk Piotr J. , Bergey Gregory K. 
Published: February 2007

Summary:  Purpose: Partial seizures (PSs) may be self‐limited regional events or propagate further and secondarily generalize. The mechanisms and dynamics of secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCSs) are not well understood. Methods with which to assess the dynamic of those events are also limited. Methods: Seizures were analyzed from patients with intractable partial seizures undergoing monitoring with intracranial electrodes. Inclusion in this study required patients to have at least one PS and one GTCS. From >120 patients, seven patients fulfilled these criteria, three with mesial temporal (MTLE) onset seizures and four with neocortical lesional (NCLE) onset seizures. In total, 50 seizures were analyzed by using the matching pursuit (MP) method and the Gabor atom density (GAD), a measure of signal complexity derived from the MP method. Results: The GAD complexity pattern at the seizure focus for the initial ictal period is remarkably consistent in a given patient, regardless of whether secondary generalization occurs. Secondary generalization produces greater modification of seizure activity at the focus in patients with NCLE than in patients with MTLE. In seizures from four patients with NCLE, secondary generalization resulted in an average increase of 115% in complexity at the focus compared to PSs. Conclusions: GAD shows that seizure dynamics of PSs are often very stereotyped from seizure to seizure in a given patient, particularly during early ictal evolution. Secondary generalization is more likely to produce changes in the duration and dynamics at the seizure focus in NCLE patients compared with MTLE patients. These observations suggest distinct mechanisms (e.g., feedback) that are operational during secondary generalization.
Correlation between Provoked Ictal SPECT and Depth Recordings in Adult Drug‐Resistant Epilepsy Patients
Authors: Barba Carmen , Di Giuda Daniela , Policicchio Domenico , Bruno Isabella , Papacci Fabio , Colicchio Gabriella 
Published: February 2007

Summary:  Purpose: To correlate ictal hyperperfusion single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) area during provoked seizures to the epileptogenic zone (EZ), as defined by depth recordings in adult drug‐resistant patients. Methods: We included in the study eight drug‐resistant epilepsy patients, subjected to both noninvasive and invasive (stereo‐electroencephalography, SEEG) presurgical evaluation in the Epilepsy Surgery Center of the Catholic University in Rome, from 2001 to 2003. All patients were subjected to interictal and provoked ictal SPECT scans during scalp video‐EEG monitoring. The ictal hyperperfusion area assessed by visual image analysis and, when possible, by statistical parametric mapping (SPM), was compared with the EZ, as assessed by SEEG, to define whether they colocalized. Results: For each provoked seizure, we obtained a SPECT hyperperfusion area. In five patients, the SPECT hyperperfusion area was included in the EZ as assessed by SEEG. The effectiveness of provoked SPECT was confirmed by comparison with SEEG data, SPM analysis (four patients), and spontaneous ictal SPECT (two patients). Our data were obtained in adult drug‐resistant epilepsy patients whose EZ was either located in or extended to extratemporal regions in all but two patients. Conclusions: Provoked ictal SPECT confirmed its efficacy and accuracy in the presurgical evaluation because of the colocalization to the EZ. Although the low number of patients precluded any statistical correlation with the surgical outcome, it is worth pointing out that the five patients in whom the hyperperfusion area was included in the EZ showed very satisfactory results.
Evaluation of Effects of Intra aortic Balloon Counterpulsation on Autonomic Nervous System Functions by Heart Rate Variability Analysis
Authors: Ozdemir Ozcan , Alyan Omer , Kacmaz Fehmi , Kaptan Zekeriya , Ozbakir Cemal , Geyik Bilal , Cagirci Goksel , Soylu Mustafa , Demir Ahmet Duran 
Published: February 2007

Background: In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) may improve cardiac performance, decrease the incidence of recurrent ischemia, and improve survival. Although there have been several reports concerning circulatory maintenance with the IABC, response of the autonomic nervous system to these hemodynamic changes is not clear. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis has been extensively used to evaluate autonomic modulation of sinus node and to identify patients at risk for an increased cardiac mortality. In this study, we evaluated effects of the IABC on autonomic nervous system functions by HRV analysis. Methods: The study group was composed of 32 consecutive patients (13 female, 19 male aged 61.8 ± 8.8 years) undergoing IABC. Transthoracic echocardiography and 1‐hour Holter recordings for HRV analysis in each IAB pumping mode were obtained. Results: The IABC improved left ventricular diastolic and systolic functions as well as caused an increase in SDNN1, PNN50(1), RMSSD1, and HF1 and a decrease in LF1, LF/HF1, mean heart rate, and the number of ventricular extrasystoles. The improvements in HRV parameters were correlated with some hemodynamic changes such as the increase in MAP and CO during counterpulsation. The only independent factors affecting in‐hospital mortality were the change in LF/HF1 ratio (ΔLF/HF1) and the change in the number of ventricular extrasystole (ΔVES). The decrease in LF/HF1 ≥4.9 decreased the mortality by 1.7‐folds (RR = 0.6, P = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.1–2.3). The decrease in VES ≥27/15 minutes resulted in mortality reduction by 16‐folds (RR = 0.06, P = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01–0.4). Conclusions: As a result, the IABC, especially in 1:1 support, causes an increase in HRV, decrease in sympathetic overactivity, and improvement in sympathovagal balance besides the favorable hemodynamic changes, and these electrophysiologic changes may explain the role of the IABC in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.
QT Dispersion Significantly Increases after Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator Shocks
Authors: Topaloglu Serkan , Aras Dursun , Sahin Onur , Ergun Kumral , Deveci Bulent , Ozdemir Ozcan , Ozeke Ozcan , Yildiz Ali , Alyan Omer , Demir Ahmet Duran , Soylu Mustafa , Kisacik Halil Lutfi , Korkmaz Sule 
Published: February 2007

Objective: To determine whether QT dispersion (QTd), a noninvasive electrocardiographic parameter of ventricular tachyarrhythmia risk assessment, is changed by implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) shocks delivered during implantation process, to analyze the duration of these changes, and to further evaluate the effect of amiodarone on these parameters. Methods: Twenty‐six consecutive patients who are scheduled to undergo ICD implantation for aborted sudden cardiac death or documented symptomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia were enrolled into the study. A simultaneous 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded after the ICD implantation just before starting the testing shock when the patients were under general anesthesia (baseline record) and at 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th minutes after the successful shocks. RR interval, QT interval, corrected QT interval (QTc), QTd, and corrected QTd (QTcd) were all measured and calculated on ECG. Results: At 1st minute after the successful shock, an abrupt increase (from 67.0 ± 13.8 ms to 94.8±21 ms, P < 0.0001) was observed in QTcd, which was followed by a gradual return to the preshock values at 20th minute. Analysis of patients with and without long‐term oral amiodarone treatment showed that in amiodarone‐pretreated patients QTcd returned to the baseline value earlier than in patients without amiodarone treatment (15 minutes vs 20 minutes, respectively). Conclusions: ICD shocks cause an increase in QTcd lasting for up to 20th minute, which may predominate in some important clinical problems like electrical storm. Amiodarone, with the desirable effect on QTcd, may reduce the proarrhythmic effects of ICD shocks.
The Relationship between Heart Rate Variability and Heart Rate Turbulence Dynamics after Primary Coronary Angioplasty
Authors: Kurpesa Małgorzata , Trzos Ewa , Rechciński Tomasz , Krzemińska‐Pakuła Maria 
Published: February 2007

Background: The application of heart rate turbulence (HRT) analysis for risk assessment after pharmacologically treated myocardial infarction (MI) was described in 1999. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dynamics of HRT changes in long‐term observation after MI treated with primary coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Moreover, the usefulness was assessed of early postinfarction heart rate variability (HRV) analysis for predicting HRT dynamics. Methods: The study group consisted of 96 patients with MI treated with primary PTCA. Holter monitoring with HRV and HRT analysis was performed 3 days after the procedure and 1 year later. Results: Twelve months after primary PTCA, an improvement (Type I HRT dynamics) was noted in 51 patients, and the worsening of both the HRT parameters (Type II HRT dynamics) in 34 patients. Fourteen patients showed the worsening of only one HRT parameter (Type III HRT dynamics). The following HRV parameters recorded in early postinfarction Holter monitoring had a significant influence on the risk of Type II HRT dynamics: SDNN, RMSSD, Triangle Index and Δ LF/HF (mean day‐time LF/HF – mean night‐time LF/HF). Only the latter was found in the multivariate analysis as significantly connected with worsened HRT. During the follow‐up, SDNN and Triangular Index improved in all the patients. Conclusions: HRT after myocardial infarction treated with primary PTCA presents a significant dynamics, which is different than dynamics of HRV. An abnormal circadian pattern of autonomic activity is a finding that helps identify patients who need to have HRT analysis repeated during a long‐term follow‐up, due to the tendency for HRT to change with time toward the prognostically unfavorable values.
Design Optimization and Reliability of PWB Level Electronic
Package
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Masum , Jagarkal Sudhakar G. , Agonafer Dereje , Lulu Menberu , Reh Stefan 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
As the electronic packaging industry develops technologies for fabrication of smaller, faster, economical and reliable products, thermal management and design play an important role. Temperature fluctuations caused by either power consumption or environmental changes, along with the resulting thermal expansion mismatch between the various packages materials result in deformation stresses in packages/assemblies especially in solder interconnects. Increased power dissipation and density in modern electronics system requires efficient and intelligent design and thermal management strategies to ensure the reliability of electronic products. In the past reliability issues related to optimization of electronic packages were dealt with by coupling analysis tools with optimization solvers. In this paper, ANSYS APDL code is used with a built-in optimization tool for optimization of electronic packages, and for improving the solder joint life and arriving at optimal design. It has been shown that, design optimization would enormously decrease the lead time. The finite element tool ANSYS is used to estimate the cycles to fatigue failure of solder joint of the package coupled with optimization module present in the solver for providing the details on determining optimal design parameters that affect the product reliability. Four model characteristics: printed wiring board (PWB) core in-plane Young’s modulus, PWB core in-plane coefficient of thermal expansion, PWB core thickness, and the standoff solder joint height are chosen as the optimization inputs (design variables) that ensure higher reliability and improved performance of the assembled product. The objective junction of the paper is to minimize average plastic work to improve the fatigue life of solder joints of the package. Subapproximation, design of experiment and central composite design based response surface modeling methodologies are used to study the effects of each design variables on the fatigue life.
Erosion from
Staphylococcus aureus
Biofilms Grown under Physiologically Relevant Fluid Shear Forces Yields Bacterial Cells with Reduced Avidity to Collagen
Authors: Ymele-Leki Patrick , Ross Julia M. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

An estimated 65% of infective diseases are associated with the presence of bacterial biofilms. Biofilm-issued planktonic cells promote blood-borne, secondary sites of infection by the inoculation of the infected sites with bacteria from the intravascular space. To investigate the potential role of early detachment events in initiating secondary infections, we studied the phenotypic attributes of
Staphylococcus aureus
planktonic cells eroding from biofilms with respect to expression of the collagen adhesin, CNA. The collagen-binding abilities of
S. aureus
have been correlated to the development of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis. In this study, we focused on the impact of CNA expression on
S. aureus
adhesion to immobilized collagen in vitro under physiologically relevant shear forces. In contrast to the growth phase-dependent adhesion properties characteristic of
S. aureus
cells grown in suspension, eroding planktonic cells expressed invariant and lower effective adhesion rates regardless of the age of the biofilm from which they originated. These results correlated directly with the surface expression level of CNA. However, subsequent analysis revealed no qualitative differences between biofilms initiated with suspension cells and secondary biofilms initiated with biofilm-shed planktonic cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that, despite their low levels of CNA expression,
S. aureus
planktonic cells shed from biofilms retain the capacity for metastatic spread and the initiation of secondary infection. These findings demonstrate the need for a better understanding of the phenotypic properties of eroding planktonic cells, which could lead to new therapeutic strategies to target secondary infections.
Comparison of a Reporter Assay and Immunomagnetic Separation Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR for the Detection of Enteroviruses in Seeded Environmental Water Samples
Authors: Hwang Yu-Chen , Leong Oymon M. , Chen Wilfred , Yates Marylynn V. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT
Two newly developed protocols for infective virus detection were compared to the plaque assay. An immunomagnetic separation procedure coupled with real-time reverse transcription-PCR of viral nucleic acids was developed to identify intact enteroviral particles, and a reporter cell system responding to viral replication based on fluorescent resonance energy transfer for detection of infectious enteroviruses was tested. Both new procedures detected infective viruses in environmental samples at the same level as the plaque assay.
Rapid Screening Method for Analyzing the Conjugated Linoleic Acid Production Capabilities of Bacterial Cultures
Authors: Barrett E. , Ross R. P. , Fitzgerald G. F. , Stanton C. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT
In this paper we describe a rapid method for identifying bacteria which convert free linoleic acid to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This method is based on spectrophotometric detection of CLA and compares well with the standard gas-liquid chromatography method. This method should facilitate high-throughput screening of bacterial isolates for the ability to produce conjugated fatty acids.
Vertical Transmission of a Phylogenetically Complex Microbial Consortium in the Viviparous SpongeIrcinia felix
Authors: Schmitt Susanne , Weisz Jeremy B. , Lindquist Niels , Hentschel Ute 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTMany marine demosponges contain large amounts of phylogenetically complex yet highly sponge-specific microbial consortia within the mesohyl matrix, but little is known about how these microorganisms are acquired by their hosts. Settlement experiments were performed with the viviparous Caribbean demospongeIrcinia felixto investigate the role of larvae in the vertical transmission of the sponge-associated microbial community. Inspections by electron microscopy revealed large amounts of morphologically diverse microorganisms in the center ofI. felixlarvae, while the outer rim appeared to be devoid of microorganisms. In juveniles, microorganisms were found between densely packed sponge cells. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was performed to compare the bacterial community profiles of adults, larvae, and juvenile sponges. Adults and larvae were highly similar in DGGE band numbers and banding patterns. Larvae released by the same adult individual contained highly similar DGGE banding patterns, whereas larvae released by different adult individuals showed slightly different DGGE banding patterns. Over 200 bands were excised, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. The bacterial diversity of adultI. felixand its larvae was comparably high, while juveniles showed reduced diversity. In total, 13 vertically transmitted sequence clusters, hereafter termed “IF clusters,” that contained sequences from both the adult sponge and offspring (larvae and/or juveniles) were found. The IF clusters belonged to at least four different eubacterial phyla and one possibly novel eubacterial lineage. In summary, it could be shown that inI. felix, vertical transmission of microorganisms through the larvae is an important mechanism for the establishment of the sponge-microbe association.
Novel Method for Rapid Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance in
Escherichia coli
Isolates from Environmental Waters by Use of a Modified Chromogenic Agar
Authors: Watkinson A. J. , Micalizzi G. R. , Bates J. R. , Costanzo S. D. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

We validated a novel method for screening
Escherichia coli
resistance to antibiotics in environmental samples using modified Difco MI agar (Becton Dickinson) impregnated with selected antibiotics (tetracycline, ampicillin, cephalexin, and sulfamethoxazole), termed MI-R. This method combines an existing rapid assessment technique for
E. coli
enumeration with clinical reference data for breakpoint analysis of antibiotic resistance and was developed to address issues encountered when clinical methods are used with environmental samples. Initial trials conducted using strains of
E. coli
with resistance to the selected antibiotics showed that this method was reproducible and accurate with respect to antibiotic resistance. Trials using wastewater effluent demonstrated the precision of the method, and the levels of resistance found in effluent were directly comparable to the levels of antibiotic resistance determined using the more traditional CLSI (formerly NCCLS) disk susceptibility test. All wastewater isolates growing on MI-R plates were confirmed to be resistant using the CLSI disk susceptibility test. Bacterial resistance to ampicillin (38% ± 4% overall), sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline (21% ± 3% overall), and ciprofloxacin (6% ± 1%) were found in wastewater effluent. A successful trial was also conducted with water collected from the Brisbane River, Australia. The levels of antibiotic resistance in
E. coli
ranged from 0 to 47% for ampicillin, from 0 to 24% for tetracycline, from 0 to 63% for sulfamethoxazole, and from 0 to 1% for ciprofloxacin, with the highest incidence of resistance associated with wastewater treatment plant discharges. This method has great potential for rapid and representative assessment of antibiotic resistance in
E. coli
and could allow increased sample analysis, resulting in greater confidence in spatial analysis in environmental studies.