bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Circulating Brain‐Enriched MicroRNAs for Detection and Discrimination of Idiopathic and Genetic Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Ravanidis Stylianos , Bougea Anastasia , Papagiannakis Nikolaos , Maniati Matina , Koros Christos , Simitsi Athina‐Maria , Bozi Maria , Pachi Ioanna , Stamelou Maria , Paraskevas George P. , Kapaki Elisabeth , Moraitou Marina , Michelakakis Helen , Stefanis Leonidas , Doxakis Epaminondas 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundA minimally invasive test for early detection and monitoring of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a highly unmet need for drug development and planning of patient care. Blood plasma represents an attractive source of biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are conserved noncoding RNA molecules that serve as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. As opposed to ubiquitously expressed miRNAs that control house‐keeping processes, brain‐enriched miRNAs regulate diverse aspects of neuron development and function. These include neuron‐subtype specification, axonal growth, dendritic morphogenesis, and spine density. Backed by a large number of studies, we now know that the differential expression of neuron‐enriched miRNAs leads to brain dysfunction.ObjectivesThe aim was to identify subsets of brain‐enriched miRNAs with diagnostic potential for familial and idiopathic PD as well as specify the molecular pathways deregulated in PD.MethodsInitially, brain‐enriched miRNAs were selected based on literature review and validation studies in human tissues. Subsequently, real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed in the plasma of 100 healthy controls and 99 idiopathic and 53 genetic (26 alpha‐synucleinA53T and 27 glucocerebrosidase) patients. Statistical and bioinformatics analyses were carried out to pinpoint the diagnostic biomarkers and deregulated pathways, respectively.ResultsAn explicit molecular fingerprint for each of the 3 PD cohorts was generated. Although the idiopathic PD fingerprint was different from that of genetic PD, the molecular pathways deregulated converged between all PD subtypes.ConclusionsThe study provides a group of brain‐enriched miRNAs that may be used for the detection and differentiation of PD subtypes. It has also identified the molecular pathways deregulated in PD. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Salivary microR‐153 and microR‐223 Levels as Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Cressatti Marisa , Juwara Lamin , Galindez Julia M. , Velly Ana M. , Nkurunziza Eva S. , Marier Sara , Canie Olivia , Gornistky Mervyn , Schipper Hyman M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder among adults, affecting 2% of the world population older than 65 years of age. No diagnostic biomarker for routine use in clinical settings currently exists. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been implicated in various neurodegenerative conditions, including PD. Distinct miRNAs have been demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of α‐synuclein, a key player in PD pathogenesis; miR‐153 and miR‐223 are downregulated in the brain and serum of parkinsonian GFAP.HMOX1 transgenic mice where they directly regulate α‐synuclein.ObjectiveTo ascertain whether salivary miR‐153 and miR‐223 are similarly downmodulated in, and may serve as diagnostic biomarkers of, idiopathic PD.MethodsUsing reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction, miR‐153 and miR‐223 levels were evaluated in the saliva of 77 non‐neurological controls and 83 PD patients. Levels of heme oxygenase‐1 and α‐synuclein were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Analyses were adjusted by age, sex, medication exposure, disease duration, and relevant comorbidities.ResultsLog‐transformed expression levels of miR‐153 and miR‐223 were significantly decreased in the saliva of human PD patients in comparison with nonneurological controls. The miRNA expression levels did not change as a function of disease progression (Hoehn and Yahr staging). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve separating controls from PD patients was 79% (95% confidence interval, 61%–96%) for miR‐153 and 77% (95% confidence interval, 59%–95%) for miR‐223. The ratios of miRNAs to oligomeric α‐synuclein, total α‐synuclein, or heme oxygenase‐1 protein did not improve accuracy of the test.ConclusionSalivary miR‐153 and miR‐223 levels may serve as useful, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive diagnostic biomarkers of idiopathic PD. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Effectiveness of Physiotherapy on Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses
Authors: Cosentino Carola , Baccini Marco , Putzolu Martina , Ristori Diego , Avanzino Laura , Pelosin Elisa 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFreezing of gait is considered one of the most disabling gait disorders in patients with PD. An effective treatment for freezing of gait is missing, thus current management requires a multidisciplinary approach. Among treatment options, physiotherapy is acknowledged to be crucial; however, a systematic review that demonstrates its efficacy is missing. This review aims at examining the short‐ and long‐term effects of physiotherapy in improving freezing of gait in PD patients. Five electronic databases were searched for English‐language full‐text articles, and only randomized controlled trials were considered. The freezing of gait questionnaire was selected as the primary outcome measure because it is the only validated measure used to evaluate the severity and impact of freezing of gait on patients’ daily life. From 1,130 trials, 19 relevant studies, including 913 patients, were selected. The included studies varied for sample size, methodology, and type of intervention. None of the studies had a low risk of bias, but the majority of randomized control trials presented a low risk for at least 6 of 13 biases. Our findings provide evidence for short‐term effectiveness of physiotherapy in improving freezing of gait (physiotherapy vs. no treatment: effect size = –0.28 [–0.45, –0.11], P = 0.001; physiotherapy vs. control: effect size = 0.43 [–0.65, –0.21], P < 0.0001), particularly when tailored interventions are applied. These results seem to be maintained at the follow‐up examinations (effect size = –0.52 [–0.78, –0.26]; P = 0.001). Promising findings on the potential benefits of physiotherapy in improving freezing of gait were found, although further randomized control trial studies are still needed. Questions remain on the type and duration of intervention that best fits for treating freezing of gait symptom in PD. © 2019 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A representation for Jost solutions and an efficient method for solving the spectral problem on the half line
Authors: Delgado Briceyda B. , Khmelnytskaya Kira V. , Kravchenko Vladislav V. 
Published: December 2019

For the one‐dimensional Schrödinger equation with short‐range potential on a half‐line x>0, the knowledge of the Jost solution e(ρ,x)∼eiρx, Imρ ≥ 0, x→∞ allows one to solve corresponding spectral problems. In the present work, a new series representation for e(ρ,x) is derived with the aid of the Levin formula for the Jost solution and a recently proposed Fourier‐Laguerre series expansion of the integral kernel from the Levin formula. The representation for e(ρ,x) has the form
, where, for the coefficients bn(x), a simple recurrent integration procedure is obtained and the parameter
belongs to the unit disk. An analogous representation is derived for the derivative of the Jost solution as well.With the aid of the series representations, numerical solution of the classical spectral problem on the half‐line becomes an easy task. Indeed, computation of the eigenvalues reduces to finding zeros of a polynomial for z∈(−1,1). For computing corresponding normalizing constants, a simple formula is derived. Moreover, computation of the (usually) most difficult spectral characteristics, the spectral density function (or its derivative) for all positive values of the spectral parameter reduces to calculation of an easily computable function along the unitary upper half‐circle. Numerical illustrations of the efficiency of the computational method based on the obtained results are presented.
Fair‐Weather Friends: Evidence of Lipoxin Dysregulation in Neurodegeneration
Authors: Kim Changmo , Livne‐Bar Izhar , Gronert Karsten , Sivak Jeremy M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractLipoxins (LXs) are autacoids, specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs) acting locally in a paracrine or autocrine fashion. They belong to a complex superfamily of dietary small polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)–metabolites, which direct potent cellular responses to resolve inflammation and restore tissue homeostasis. Together, these SPM activities have been intensely studied in systemic inflammation and acute injury or infection, but less is known about LX signaling and activities in the central nervous system. LXs are derived from arachidonic acid, an omega‐6 PUFA. In addition to well‐established roles in systemic inflammation resolution, they have increasingly become implicated in regulating neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes. In particular, chronic inflammation plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiology, and dysregulated LX production and activities have been reported in a variety of AD rodent models and clinical tissue samples, yet with complex and sometimes conflicting results. In addition, reduced LX production following retinal injury has been reported recently by the authors, and an intriguing direct neuronal activity promoting survival and homeostasis in retinal and cortical neurons is demonstrated. Here, the authors review and clarify this growing literature and suggest new research directions to further elaborate the role of lipoxins in neurodegeneration.
Numerical modelling of internal erosion during hydrate dissociation based on multiphase mixture theory
Authors: Akaki Toshifumi , Kimoto Sayuri 
Published: December 2019

SummaryIt has been reported that sand production, which is a simultaneous production of soil particles along with gas and water into a production well, forced to terminate the operation during the world's first offshore methane production test from hydrate‐bearing sediments in the Eastern Nankai Tough. The sand production is induced by internal erosion, which is the detachment and migration of soil particles from soil skeleton due to seepage flow. The inflow of the eroded soil particles into the production well leads to damage of the production devices. In the present study, a numerical model to predict the chemo‐thermo‐mechanically coupled behavior including internal erosion during hydrate dissociation has been formulated based on the multiphase mixture theory. In the proposed model, the internal erosion is expressed as mass transition of soil particles from soil skeleton to the fluidized soil particles. Since the internal erosion is considered to depend on the soil particle size, mass of soil particles are divided into several groups that have different representative particle diameters, and the constitutive equations for the onset condition and the mass transition rate of the internal erosion are formulated for each group. Also, transportation of soil particles in the liquid phase is formulated for each particle size group in the proposed model. Finally, a simulation of the methane gas production from the hydrate‐bearing sediment by depressurization method is presented, and the internal erosion and the dissociation behavior are discussed.
Feasibility of coronary endothelial function assessment using arterial spin labeled CMR
Authors: Javed Ahsan , Yoon Andrew , Cen Steven , Nayak Krishna S. , Garg Parveen 
Published: December 2019

Coronary endothelial dysfunction (CED) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, but its assessment has been limited to invasive coronary angiography. Myocardial perfusion imaging using arterial spin labeled (ASL) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) may be an effective non‐invasive alternative for detection of CED.Thirty‐four patients were recruited: 10 healthy volunteers, 13 at high‐risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), and 11 with established CAD. ASL‐CMR was performed continuously in a single mid‐short axis slice during rest, stress, and recovery. Stress was induced with sustained isometric handgrip exercise, an endothelial dependent stressor. Myocardial perfusion (MP) during rest, peak stress, and recovery were calculated and compared.After excluding subjects unable to complete the protocol or who exhibited poor data quality, 6 healthy, 10 high‐risk, and 7 CAD patients were included in the analysis. Average MP (ml/g/min) was 1.31 ± 1.23, 1.61 ± 1.12, and 1.40 ± 0.97 at rest, and 1.64 ± 1.49, 2.31 ± 1.61, and 2.84 ± 1.77 during stress, for the CAD, high‐risk and healthy group, respectively. The average MP response (MPstress – MPrest, ml/g/min) was 0.32 ± 1.93, 0.69 ± 1.34, and 1.44 ± 1.46 for CAD, high‐risk and healthy group, respectively. MP during handgrip stress was significantly lower for both the CAD (p = 0.0005) and high‐risk groups (p = 0.05) compared to the healthy volunteers. In only the healthy subjects, MP was significantly higher in stress compared to rest (p = 0.0002).Participants with CAD had significantly lower MP response compared to healthy volunteers, as detected by ASL‐CMR. These findings support the feasibility of ASL‐CMR for non‐invasive assessment of CED.
Multiparametric classification of sub‐acute ischemic stroke recovery with ultrafast diffusion, 23Na, and MPIO‐labeled stem cell MRI at 21.1 T
Authors: Leftin Avigdor , Rosenberg Jens T. , Yuan Xuegang , Ma Teng , Grant Samuel C. , Frydman Lucio 
Published: December 2019

MRI leverages multiple modes of contrast to characterize stroke. High‐magnetic‐field systems enhance the performance of these MRI measurements. Previously, we have demonstrated that individually sodium and stem cell tracking metrics are enhanced at ultrahigh field in a rat model of stroke, and we have developed robust single‐scan diffusion‐weighted imaging approaches that utilize spatiotemporal encoding (SPEN) of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for these challenging field strengths. Here, we performed a multiparametric study of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) biomarker evolution focusing on comparison of these MRI biomarkers for stroke assessment during sub‐acute recovery in rat MCAO models at 21.1 T. T2‐weighted MRI was used as the benchmark for identification of the ischemic lesion over the course of the study. The number of MPIO‐induced voids measured by gradient‐recalled echo, the SPEN measurement of ADC, and 23Na MRI values were determined in the ischemic area and contralateral hemisphere, and relative performances for stroke classification were compared by receiver operator characteristic analysis. These measurements were associated with unique time‐dependent trajectories during stroke recovery that changed the sensitivity and specificity for stroke monitoring during its evolution. Advantages and limitations of these contrasts, and the use of ultrahigh field for multiparametric stroke assessment, are discussed.
Simultaneous single‐loop multimaterial and multijoint topology optimization
Authors: Florea Vlad , Pamwar Manish , Sangha Balbir , Kim Il Yong 
Published: December 2019

SummaryAs the aerospace and automotive industries continue to strive for efficient lightweight structures, topology optimization (TO) has become an important tool in this design process. However, one ever‐present criticism of TO, and especially of multimaterial (MM) optimization, is that neither method can produce structures that are practical to manufacture. Optimal joint design is one of the main requirements for manufacturability. This article proposes a new density‐based methodology for performing simultaneous MMTO and multijoint TO. This algorithm can simultaneously determine the optimum selection and placement of structural materials, as well as the optimum selection and placement of joints at material interfaces. In order to achieve this, a new solid isotropic material with penalization‐based interpolation scheme is proposed. A process for identifying dissimilar material interfaces based on spatial gradients is also discussed. The capabilities of the algorithm are demonstrated using four case studies. Through these case studies, the coupling between the optimal structural material design and the optimal joint design is investigated. Total joint cost is considered as both an objective and a constraint in the optimization problem statement. Using the biobjective problem statement, the tradeoff between total joint cost and structural compliance is explored. Finally, a method for enforcing tooling accessibility constraints in joint design is presented.
A hybrid stabilization approach for reduced‐order models of compressible flows with shock‐vortex interaction
Authors: Rezaian Elnaz , Wei Mingjun 
Published: December 2019

SUMMARYModel order reduction approaches, such as proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)‐Galerkin projection, provide a systematic manner to construct Reduced‐Order Models (ROM) from pregenerated high‐fidelity datasets. The current study focuses on the stabilization of ROMs built from high‐fidelity simulation data of a supersonic flow passing a circular cylinder, which features strong interactions between shockwaves and vortices. As shown in previous literatures and the current study, an implicit subspace correction (ISC) method is efficient in the stabilization of similar problems, but its accuracy is not consistent when applied on different ROMs; on the other hand, an eigenvalue reassignment (ER) method delivers superb accuracy when the mode number is small, but becomes too expensive and less robust as the number increases. A Hybrid method is proposed here to balance the computational cost while improving the overall robustness/accuracy in ROM stabilization. The Hybrid method first handles the majority of the modes using the ISC method and then applies the ER method to fine tune a smaller number of modes under a constraint for accuracy. Furthermore, when the typical L2 inner product is changed to a symmetry inner product in both POD computation and Galerkin projection, the performance of the stabilized ROMs is substantially improved for all methods.
It’s Absolutely Relative: The Effect of Age on the BMI–Mortality Relationship in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Banack Hailey R. , Bea Jennifer W. , Stokes Andrew , Kroenke Candyce H. , Stefanick Marcia L. , Beresford Shirley A. , Bird Chloe E. , Garcia Lorena , Wallace Robert , Wild Robert A. , Caan Bette , Wactawski‐Wende Jean 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveThe use of relative and absolute effect estimates has important implications for the interpretation of study findings. Likewise, examining additive and multiplicative interaction can lead to differing conclusions about the joint effects of two exposure variables. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between BMI and mortality on the relative and absolute scales and investigate interaction between BMI and age.MethodsData from 68,132 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study were used. The risk ratio and risk difference of BMI on mortality were estimated. A product term was also included to examine interaction between BMI and age on the multiplicative scale, and the relative excess risk of interaction was calculated to measure additive interaction.ResultsResults demonstrated that the mortality risk ratio decreased as women aged, but the mortality risk difference increased as women aged. Evidence of additive and multiplicative interaction between age and BMI was found.ConclusionsIn postmenopausal women, the relative mortality risk associated with high BMI decreased with increasing age, but the absolute risk of high BMI increased with increasing age. This indicates the importance of considering the interaction between age and BMI to understand mortality risk in older women.
Alternative South–South development collaboration? The role of China in the Coega Special Economic Zone in South Africa
Authors: Thompson Lisa 
Published: December 2019

SummaryAid, in the form of financial aid and investment, has become increasingly prevalent in both bilateral and multilateral partnerships in the BRICS. In Africa, the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation provides the official framings for forms of development assistance to the continent, with financial forms of aid available through the New Development Bank and the China–Africa Development Bank (CADFund). This article explores how Chinese international development assistance has influenced South Africa's economic growth and development strategies and is reshaping South Africa as “gateway” to Africa and continental leader. Special economic zones (SEZs) have become a prioritised form of BRICS development collaboration particularly in terms of Chinese trade and investment expansionism into Africa through South Africa. Chinese international development assistance and foreign direct investment in South Africa in particular are very notable and have been strengthened during the Chinese official state visit prior to the Johannesburg BRICS Summit in 2018. The article critically analyses the development policy discourse on BRICS spearheading an alternative model of South–South international cooperation by examining the Coega SEZ in South Africa, hailed as the most SEZ in Africa. The article critically examines the development alternative potential of the Coega SEZ.
Interface strength of glass fibers in polypropylene: Dependence on the cooling rate and the degree of crystallinity
Authors: Mahato Biltu , Babarinde Victor O. , Abaimov Sergey G. , Lomov Stepan V. , Akhatov Iskander 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe article experimentally investigates the interface strength of glass fibers in polypropylene (PP) with two different levels of crystallinity. The different degrees of crystallinity, 46.6% and 52.5%, were achieved using fast (quenching, ~4500°C/min) and slow (~2°C/min) cooling, respectively, during production of the PP film. The degree of crystallinity was measured using the differential scanning calorimetry. The mechanical properties of the films were characterized with the dynamic mechanical analysis and with a tensile test on Deben micro‐tester. Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of glass fiber/PP was determined using fiber fragmentation test. Interfacial normal strength (IFNS) was determined using inverse identification based on finite‐element modeling of transverse tensile loading of a single fiber (Deben micro‐tester with digital image correlation‐based observation of the debonding). The measurements have confirmed the expected trend in mechanical properties of the film: increase of the storage and Young's moduli (room temperature) with the increase of degree of crystallinity, accompanied by the decrease in the loss modulus and tan δ. Interfacial strength followed the trend of the PP stiffness: both the IFSS and IFNS values for the PP with high crystallinity (slow cooling) are three (IFSS) and four (IFNS) times higher than those for the low crystallinity (fast cooling) case.