bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic iloprost for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (the ThIlo trial): a prospective, randomized, multicenter phase II study
Authors: Haeberle Helene , Prohaska Stefanie , Martus Peter , Straub Andreas , Zarbock Alexander , Marx Gernot , Zago Manola , Giera Martin , Koeppen Michael , Rosenberger Peter 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is caused by rapid-onset (within hours) acute inflammatory processes in lung tissue, and it is a life-threatening condition with high mortality. The treatment of ARDS to date is focused on the prevention of further iatrogenic damage of the lung rather than the treatment of the initial inflammatory process. Several preclinical studies have revealed a beneficial effect of iloprost on the control of pulmonary inflammation, and in a small number of patients with ARDS, iloprost treatment resulted in improved oxygenation. Therefore, we plan to conduct a large multicenter trial to evaluate the effect of iloprost on ARDS.

Methods
The Therapeutic Iloprost during ARDS trial (ThIlo trial) is a multicenter, randomized, single blinded, clinical phase II trial assessing the efficacy of inhaled iloprost for the prevention of the development and progression of ARDS in critically ill patients. One hundred fifty critically ill patients suffering from acute ARDS will be treated either by nebulized iloprost or NaCl 0.9% for 5 days. Blood samples will be drawn at defined time points to elucidate the serum levels of iloprost and inflammatory markers during treatment. Mechanical ventilation will be standardized. In follow-up visits at days 28 and 90 as well as 6 months after enrollment, functional status according to the Barthel Index and a health care-related questionnaire, and frailty (Vulnerable Elders Survey) will be evaluated. The primary endpoint is the improvement of oxygenation, defined as the ratio of PaO2/FiO2. Secondary endpoints include 90-day all-cause mortality, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores during the study period up to day 90, the duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ventilator-associated pneumonia, delirium, ICU-acquired weakness, and discharge localization. The study will be conducted in three university ARDS centers in Germany.

Discussion
The results of the ThIlo trial will highlight the anti-inflammatory effect of iloprost on early inflammatory processes during ARDS, resulting in the improvement of outcome parameters in patients with ARDS.

Trial registration
EUDRA-CT: 2016-003168-37. Registered on 12 April 2017. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03111212. Registered on 4 June 2017.
Small-angle X-ray scattering characterization of a $$\beta $$-amyloid model in phantoms
Authors: Breedlove Sophya , Crentsil Jasson , Dahal Eshan , Badano Aldo 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Objective
We present a method to prepare an amyloid model at scalable quantities for phantom studies to evaluate small-angle x-ray scattering systems for amyloid detection. Two amyloid models were made from a plasma protein with and without heating. Both models mimic the $$\beta $$β-sheet structure of the $$\beta $$β-amyloid ($$\beta \text {A}$$βA) plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid detection is based on the distinct peaks in the scattering signature of the $$\beta $$β-sheet structure. We characterized the amyloid models using a spectral small-angle x-ray scattering (sSAXS) prototype with samples in a plastic syringe and within a cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom.

Results
sSAXS data show that we can detect the scattering peaks characteristic of amyloid $$\beta $$β-sheet structure in both models around 6 and 13 $$\text {nm}^{-1}$$nm-1. The $$\beta \text {A}$$βA model prepared without heating provides a stronger signal in the PMMA phantom. The methods described can be used to prepare models in sufficiently large quantities and used in samples with different packing density to assess the performance of $$\beta \text {A}$$βA quantification systems.
Research progress on the role of type I vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT1) in nervous system diseases
Authors: Du Xianchao , Li Jiashuo , Li Minghui , Yang Xinxin , Qi Zhipeng , Xu Bin , Liu Wei , Xu Zhaofa , Deng Yu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractGlutamate (Glu) is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamatergic transmission is critical for controlling neuronal activity. In presynaptic neurons, Glu is stored in synaptic vesicles and released by stimulation. The homeostasis of glutamatergic system is maintained by a set of transporters in the membrane of synaptic vesicles. The family of vesicular Glu transporters in mammals is comprised of three highly homologous proteins: VGLUT1-3. Among them, VGLUT1 accounts for the largest proportion. However, most of the Glu is transported into the synaptic vesicles via the type 1 vesicle Glu transporter (VGLUT1). So, the expression of particular VGLUT1 is largely complementary with limited overlap and so far it is most specific markers for neurons that use Glu as neurotransmitter. Controlling the activity of VGLUT1 could potentially modulate the efficiency of excitatory neuro-transmission and change the filling level of synaptic vesicles. This review summarizes the recent knowledge concerning molecular and functional characteristic of VGLUT1, their development, contribution to a series of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system diseases such as learning and memory disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and sensitized nociception or pain pathology et al.
Effectiveness and safety of opicapone in Parkinson’s disease patients with motor fluctuations: the OPTIPARK open-label study
Authors:   the OPTIPARK investigators, Reichmann Heinz , Lees Andrew , Rocha José-Francisco , Magalhães Diogo , Soares-da-Silva Patrício 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
The efficacy and safety of opicapone, a once-daily catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, have been established in two large randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational pivotal trials. Still, clinical evidence from routine practice is needed to complement the data from the pivotal trials.

Methods
OPTIPARK (NCT02847442) was a prospective, open-label, single-arm trial conducted in Germany and the UK under clinical practice conditions. Patients with Parkinson’s disease and motor fluctuations were treated with opicapone 50 mg for 3 (Germany) or 6 (UK) months in addition to their current levodopa and other antiparkinsonian treatments. The primary endpoint was the Clinician’s Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) after 3 months. Secondary assessments included Patient Global Impressions of Change (PGI-C), the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8), and the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS). Safety assessments included evaluation of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs).

Results
Of the 506 patients enrolled, 495 (97.8%) took at least one dose of opicapone. Of these, 393 (79.4%) patients completed 3 months of treatment. Overall, 71.3 and 76.9% of patients experienced any improvement on CGI-C and PGI-C after 3 months, respectively (full analysis set). At 6 months, for UK subgroup only (n = 95), 85.3% of patients were judged by investigators as improved since commencing treatment. UPDRS scores at 3 months showed statistically significant improvements in activities of daily living during OFF (mean ± SD change from baseline: − 3.0 ± 4.6, p < 0.0001) and motor scores during ON (− 4.6 ± 8.1, p < 0.0001). The mean ± SD improvements of − 3.4 ± 12.8 points for PDQ-8 and -6.8 ± 19.7 points for NMSS were statistically significant versus baseline (both p < 0.0001). Most of TEAEs (94.8% of events) were of mild or moderate intensity. TEAEs considered to be at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 45.1% of patients, with dyskinesia (11.5%) and dry mouth (6.5%) being the most frequently reported. Serious TEAEs considered at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 1.4% of patients.

Conclusions
Opicapone 50 mg was effective and generally well-tolerated in PD patients with motor fluctuations treated in clinical practice.

Trial registration
Registered in July 2016 at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02847442).
Hippocampal tau oligomerization early in tau pathology coincides with a transient alteration of mitochondrial homeostasis and DNA repair in a mouse model of tauopathy
Authors: Zheng Jin , Akbari Mansour , Schirmer Claire , Reynaert Marie-Line , Loyens Anne , Lefebvre Bruno , Buée Luc , Croteau Deborah L. , Galas Marie-Christine , Bohr Vilhelm A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInsoluble intracellular aggregation of tau proteins into filaments and neurodegeneration are histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD) and other tauopathies. Recently, prefibrillar, soluble, oligomeric tau intermediates have emerged as relevant pathological tau species; however, the molecular mechanisms of neuronal responses to tau oligomers are not fully understood. Here, we show that hippocampal neurons in six-month-old transgenic mouse model of tauopathy, THY-Tau22, are enriched with oligomeric tau, contain elongated mitochondria, and display cellular stress, but no overt cytotoxicity compared to the control mice. The levels of several key mitochondrial proteins were markedly different between the THY-Tau22 and control mice hippocampi including the mitochondrial SIRT3, PINK1, ANT1 and the fission protein DRP1. DNA base excision repair (BER) is the primary defense system against oxidative DNA damage and it was elevated in six-month-old transgenic mice. DNA polymerase β, the key BER DNA polymerase, was enriched in the cytoplasm of hippocampal neurons in six-month-old transgenic mice and localized with and within mitochondria. Polβ also co-localized with mitochondria in human AD brains in neurons containing oligomeric tau. Most of these altered mitochondrial and DNA repair events were specific to the transgenic mice at 6 months of age and were not different from control mice at 12 months of age when tau pathology reaches its maximum and oligomeric forms of tau are no longer detectable. In summary, our data suggests that we have identified key cellular stress responses at early stages of tau pathology to preserve neuronal integrity and to promote survival. To our knowledge, this work provides the first description of multiple stress responses involving mitochondrial homeostasis and BER early during the progression of tau pathology, and represents an important advance in the etiopathogenesis of tauopathies.
Imaging of polymer:fullerene bulk-heterojunctions in a scanning electron microscope: methodology aspects and nanomorphology by correlative SEM and STEM
Authors: Li Yonghe , Müller Erich , Sprau Christian , Colsmann Alexander , Gerthsen Dagmar 
Published: March 2020

AbstractScanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) at low energies (≤ 30 keV) in a scanning electron microscope is well suited to distinguish weakly scattering materials with similar materials properties and analyze their microstructure. The capabilities of the technique are illustrated in this work to resolve material domains in PTB7:PC71BM bulk-heterojunctions, which are commonly implemented for light-harvesting in organic solar cells. Bright-field (BF-) and high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF-) STEM contrast of pure PTB7 and PC71BM was first systematically analyzed using a wedge-shaped sample with well-known thickness profile. Monte-Carlo simulations are essential for the assignment of material contrast for materials with only slightly different scattering properties. Different scattering cross-sections were tested in Monte-Carlo simulations with screened Rutherford scattering cross-sections yielding best agreement with the experimental data. The STEM intensity also depends on the local specimen thickness, which can be dealt with by correlative STEM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging of the same specimen region yielding additional topography information. Correlative STEM/SEM was applied to determine the size of donor (PTB7) and acceptor (PC71BM) domains in PTB7:PC71BM absorber layers that were deposited from solution with different contents of the processing additive 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO).
In vitro anthelmintic activity and phytochemical characterization of Corallocarpus epigaeus (Rottler) Hook. f. tuber from ethyl acetate extracts
Authors: Ishnava Kalpesh B. , Konar Priya S. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Background
Helminth infections occur in poverty-stricken areas and developing countries with warm and humid environments and where sanitary conditions are poor. Only few drugs are regularly used for the treatment of these parasite infections.

Results
For checking the anthelmintic activity, taking Corallocarpus epigaeus extracts and their composition was done using organic solvents, namely methanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and hexane against Pheretima posthuma (earthworms). Four different concentrations (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/ml, respectively) while normal saline and albendazole (20 mg/ml) were taken as the control and standard drug, respectively. Time of paralysis and death of the worms were determined. The result depict that the ethyl acetate extract showed finest activity. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was found out to be 12.5 mg/ml against albendazole drug (20 mg/ml). The preliminary phytochemical qualitative analysis of the promising ethyl acetate extract showed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, phenol, tannins and steroids. HPTLC analysis of ethyl acetate extract showed 6 bands. GC–MS results analysis of ethyl acetate extract showed 6 bands, the identified compounds were n-hexadecanoic acid and octadecanoic acid.

Conclusion
Identified bioactive compounds were n-hexadecanoic acid and 1-octadecanoic acid which may be useful for the treatment of helminthiasis.
Co-administration of Paediatric Medicines with Food and Drinks in the Context of Their Physicochemical Properties—a Global Perspective on Practices and Recommendations
Authors: Martir Joana , Flanagan Talia , Mann James , Fotaki Nikoletta 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMedicine co-administration with food or drink vehicles is a common administration practice in paediatrics. The aims of this review were (i) to describe the current recommended strategies for co-administration of paediatric medicines with food and drinks (vehicles); (ii) to compare current administration recommendations from different countries; and (iii) to obtain a global perspective on the rationale behind the choice of recommended vehicle, in the context of the physicochemical properties of the drug and formulation. This study used a defined search strategy on the practices of paediatric medicine co-administration with vehicles, recommended in a commonly used paediatric and neonatal handbook, in addition to the information previously gathered from UK formularies. Logistic regression analysis was performed to further understand the biopharmaceutical basis of the choice of recommended vehicle for medicine co-administration. Differences were identified in the type of vehicles globally recommended for medicine co-administration. Ultimately, a statistical model was developed which provided an understanding on which vehicle is recommended for use with drugs/formulations, with basis on their biopharmaceutical properties. Overall, this review highlights the areas where further information is needed to support standardised procedures and guide the recommendation of age-appropriate and acceptable vehicles for use in the co-administration of paediatric medicines. Unified requirements are needed for harmonisation of the practice of medicine co-administration with vehicles. In vitro and/or in silico tools should be developed to evaluate the potential clinical outcomes of this practice during paediatric drug development.
Surveillance of neonatal herpes in the British Isles 2004-2006
Authors: Tookey Pat A , Mahdavi Saboura , Peckham Catherine S 
Published: March 2020

Background: Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is rare but potentially devastating and can result in neonatal death or serious disability. National incidence was estimated at 1.65/100,000 live births in an earlier British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) study of births 1986-1991. Methods: A second surveillance study of neonatal HSV was undertaken through the BPSU 2004-2006, with follow-up information collected on surviving children in early childhood. Results: Over the three-year period, 85 infants were reported with confirmed neonatal HSV, an estimated incidence of 3.58/100,000 live births (95% CI 2.86-4.42), about double that reported almost two decades earlier. Over 40% of infants were pre-term compared with 25% in the earlier period. Just over 70% had central nervous system (CNS) or disseminated infection, and among these 54% had no skin, eye or mouth lesions noted. Almost all received antivirals, but 22 (26%) neonates died, all with disseminated or CNS infection. All but six infections were typed, of which 57% involved HSV-2; the increased risk of adverse outcomes associated with HSV-2 in the earlier study was confirmed and strengthened, with twice as many deaths or long term disability in infants with HSV-2 than HSV-1. As before, a reported history or diagnosis of maternal HSV infection was rare prior to infant diagnosis. Likely timing of infant exposure to HSV could only be assigned in 43% of cases, of which just over half were probable postnatal transmissions. Conclusions: Neonatal HSV infection remains rare although incidence doubled in the British Isles between the late 1990s and the mid-2000s. These findings suggest that future research should explore the relationship between pre-term delivery and infant susceptibility, and also the role of postnatal acquisition of infection. Healthcare professionals and new parents must continue to be aware of this rare condition in order to enable prompt investigation and instigation of treatment.
Dispersion measurement assisted by a stimulated parametric process
Authors: Riazi Arash , Chen Changjia , Zhu Eric Y. , Gladyshev Alexey V. , Kazansky Peter G. , Sipe J. E. , Qian Li 
Published: March 2020

Dispersion plays a major role in the behavior of light inside photonic devices. Current state-of-the-art dispersion measurement techniques utilize linear interferometers that can be applied to devices with small dispersion-length products. However, linear interferometry often requires beam alignment and phase stabilization. Recently, common-path nonlinear interferometers in the spontaneous regime have been used to demonstrate alignment-free and phase-stable dispersion measurements. However, they require single-photon detectors, resulting in high system cost and long integration times. We overcome these issues by utilizing a nonlinear interferometer in the stimulated regime and demonstrate the ability to measure the dispersion of a device with a dispersion-length product as small as 0.009 ps/nm at a precision of 0.0002 ps/nm. Moreover, this regime allows us to measure dispersion with shorter integration times (in comparison to the spontaneous regime) and conventional optical components and detectors.
Observation on temperature and strain dependency of Brillouin dynamic grating in a few-mode fiber with a ring-cavity configuration
Authors: Liu Yinping , Yang Guangyao , Wang Ning , Ma Lin , Alvarado-Zacarias J. C. , Antonio-Lopez J. E. , Sillard Pierre , Amezcua-Correa A. , Amezcua-Correa R. , Fan Xinyu , He Zuyuan , Li Guifang 
Published: March 2020

We experimentally conduct Brillouin dynamic grating (BDG) operation using a 1-km-long four-mode fiber. By employing a simplified ring-cavity configuration with single-end pumping, the BDG is effectively generated inLP01mode within a range of 250 m, and three higher-order modes, namely,LP11b,LP21a, andLP02, are chosen as probes to analyze the BDG with a spatial resolution of 1 m. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to characterize the responses of BDG frequency to temperature and strain for different modes in a conventional few-mode fiber. By employing the pump–probe pair ofLP01−LP02mode, the highest temperature and strain sensitivities of 3.21 MHz/°C and−0.0384MHz/µεhave been achieved. Also, the performance of simultaneously distributed temperature and strain sensing based on BDG is evaluated.
IR femtosecond laser micro-filaments in diamond visualized by inter-band UV photoluminescence
Authors: Kudryashov S. I. , Levchenko A. O. , Danilov P. A. , Smirnov N. A. , Ionin A. A. 
Published: March 2020

Single microscale filaments were produced in monocrystalline Ia-type diamond by 1030 nm, 300 fs laser pulses tightly focused at NA = 0.3 and different peak powers, visualized by transverse imaging and spectrally characterized by longitudinal micro-spectroscopy, using intrinsic UV A-band photoluminescence (PL) with its peak at about 430 nm. Power-dependent scaling relationships for the local PL yield and diameters of the accompanying luminous micro-channels of recombining electron-hole plasma indicate a transition from three-photon absorption to free-carrier plasma absorption, as the consequent energy deposition mechanisms at increasing peak laser power. Power-dependent elongation of the luminous micro-channels versus peak laser power fitted by a Marburger formula yields, on average a diffraction-based estimate of 0.6 MW critical power for self-focusing within the diamond at the pump laser wavelength of 1030 nm.
Interview with Professor Dorothy Kelly
Authors: Esqueda Marileide Dias 
Published: March 2020

This interview was carried out in December 2019, via e-mail, with Dorothy Kelly, Professor of Translation at the University of Granada, Spain, where she is also Vice-President for International Relations and Development Cooperation. She obtained her B.A. in Translating and Interpreting at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh (Scotland), and her doctoral degree from the University of Granada. Her main research interests are translator training, directionality in translation and intercultural competence. She is the founding editor of Interpreter and Translator Trainer (Taylor & Francis publishing house), the only indexed journal devoted specifically to translator education, and consultant editor of the Translation Practices Explained series (Taylor & Francis). She was a member of the European Group of Translation Experts appointed by the European Commission. Among her main works is A Handbook for Translator Trainers (2005), a book specially dedicated to translation teaching, with special emphasis on translation teachers. Professor Dorothy Kelly provides several important contributions in the following interview on the topic "evaluation of translations".
Effect of microstructure on the properties of polystyrene microporous foaming material
Authors: Guo Anfu , Li Hui , Xu Jie , Li Jianfeng , Li Fangyi 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The performance of Polystyrene microporous foaming (PS-MCF) materials is influenced by their microstructures. Therefore, it is essential for industrializing them to investigate the relationship between their microstructure and material properties. In this study, the relationship between the microstructure, compressive property, and thermal conductivity of the PS-MCF materials was studied systematically. The results show that the ideal foaming pressure of PS-MCF materials, obtaining compression performance, is around 20 MPa. In addition, the increase of temperature causes the decrease of sample density. It effects that the compression modulus and strength increase with the decrease of foaming temperature. Because the expansion rate and cell diameter of the PS-MCF materials reduce the thickness of cell wall, they are also negatively correlated with their mechanical properties. Moreover, there is a negative linear correlation between the thermal conductivity and cell rate, whereas the cell diameter is positively correlated with the thermal conductivity.