bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contribution of NK Cell Education to both Direct and Anti-HIV-1 Antibody-Dependent NK Cell Functions
Authors: Kristensen Anne B. , Kent Stephen J. , Parsons Matthew S. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACT
Antibody Fc-dependent functions are linked to prevention and control of HIV-1 infection. Basic NK cell biology is likely key to understanding the contributions that anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent NK cell activation and cytolysis make to HIV-1 susceptibility and disease progression. The importance of NK cell education through inhibitory receptors specific for self-HLA-I in determining the potency of anti-HIV-1 antibody-mediated NK cell activation and cytolysis is controversial. To address this issue more definitively, we utilized HLA-I genotyping, flow cytometry staining panels, and cytolysis assays to assess the functionality of educated and noneducated peripheral blood NK cells. We now demonstrate that educated NK cells are superior in terms of their capacity to become activated and/or mediate cytolysis following anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent stimulation. The profiles of activation observed were similar to those observed upon direct stimulation of NK cells with target cells devoid of HLA-I. Noneducated NK cells make significantly lower contributions to total NK cell activation than would be expected from their frequency within the total NK cell population (i.e., they are hypofunctional), and educated NK cells make contributions similar to or higher than their frequency in the total NK cell population. Finally, NK cells educated through at least one killer immunoglobulin-like receptor and NKG2A exhibited the most significant difference between actual and expected contributions to the total NK cell response, based on their frequency within the total NK cell population, suggesting that summation of NK cell education through inhibitory receptors determines overall NK cell functionality. These observations have potential implications for understanding HIV-1 vaccine efficacy and disease progression.

IMPORTANCE
NK cells are major mediators of anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent functions, including cytokine production and cytolysis. The mechanisms controlling the capacity of individual NK cells to mediate antibody-dependent functions remain poorly defined. We now show that NK cell education determines the capacity of NK cells to exhibit anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent activation and mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. These observations suggest that the process of NK cell education could be of importance for understanding HIV-1 pathogenesis and designing immune-based prophylactics or therapeutics.
Meibomian gland dysfunction and keratopathy are associated with dry eye disease in aniridia
Authors: Landsend Erlend Christoffer Sommer , Pedersen Hilde Røgeberg , Utheim Øygunn Aass , Xiao Jiaxin , Adil Muhammed Yasin , Tashbayev Behzod , Lagali Neil , Dartt Darlene Ann , Baraas Rigmor C , Utheim Tor Paaske 
Published: March 2018

AimsTo investigate the aetiology and characteristics of dry eye disease (DED) in a Nordic cohort of patients with congenital aniridia.MethodsThirty-four Norwegian and one Danish subject with congenital aniridia and 21 healthy controls were examined. All subjects underwent an extensive dry eye examination, including evaluation of meibomian glands (MGs) by meibography, measurement of tear production and tear film osmolarity and grading of vital staining of the ocular surface. Moreover, slit-lamp biomicroscopy was undertaken, including grading of aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK).ResultsMean tear film osmolarity was significantly higher (314±11 mOsmol/L) in patients with aniridia compared with the healthy control group (303±11 mOsmol/L, p=0.002). Vital staining score was higher in the aniridia group (4.3±3.0) compared with healthy controls (2.4±1.6, p=0.02). The degree of staining correlated positively with the stage of AAK (r=0.44, p=0.008) and negatively with corneal sensitivity (r=−0.45, p=0.012). Number of expressible MGs was lower in aniridia subjects (2.9±1.6) than in controls (4.0±1.3, p=0.007). MG loss, staged from 0 to 3, was higher in the aniridia group than in the control group, both in upper eyelid (0.86±0.89 vs 0.10±0.31, p=0.001) and lower eyelid (0.94±0.73 vs 0.30±0.47, p=0.003). Computerised analyses showed thinning (p=0.004) and lower density (p<0.001) of the MGs compared with the healthy population.ConclusionsPatients with congenital aniridia demonstrate increased tear film osmolarity, ocular surface staining, loss of MGs and lower MG expressibility. We conclude that meibomian gland dysfunction and keratopathy are related to development of DED in aniridia.
Posterior scleral reinforcement using genipin-cross-linked sclera for macular hole retinal detachment in highly myopic eyes
Authors: Zhu Shuang-Qian , Pan An-Peng , Zheng Lin-Yan , Wu Yue , Xue An-Quan 
Published: March 2018

Background/aimsTo investigate the surgical outcomes of posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) using genipin-cross-linked sclera to treat macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) in highly myopic eyes.MethodsNineteen patients with high myopia (19 eyes) with MHRD were treated sequentially with genipin-cross-linked PSR and were followed at least for 1 year after the surgery. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length (AL), optical coherence tomography (OCT) outcomes and the complications were evaluated.ResultsMacular hole was closed in 73.7% of the eyes, foveal reattachment rate was 100%. The mean logMAR BCVA improved from 1.27±0.55 preoperatively to 0.88±0.55 postoperatively. The preoperative AL (29.88±1.97 mm) was decreased (27.73±1.84 mm) after the operation (p<0.001).ConclusionsFor at least a 1-year period of follow-up, PSR with genipin-cross-linked sclera should be considered as a preferred surgical approach to treat MHRD in highly myopic eyes, especially when foveal retinoschisis is also documented.
Intimate partner violence against young women: prevalence and associated factors in Europe
Authors: Sanz-Barbero Belén , López Pereira Patricia , Barrio Gregorio , Vives-Cases Carmen 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundThe magnitude of intimate partner violence (IPV) in young women is a source of increasing concern. The prevalence of IPV has not been analysed in Europe as a whole. The objective was to assess the prevalence and main characteristics of experiencing physical and/or sexual and psychological-only IPV among young women in the European Union and to identify individual and contextual associated risk factors.MethodsWe analysed a cross-sectional subsample of 5976 ever-partnered women aged 18–29 years from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Violence Against Women Survey, 2012. The main outcomes were current physical and/or sexual IPV and lifetime psychological-only IPV. Risk factors were assessed by the prevalence ratio (PR) from multilevel Poisson regression models.ResultsCurrent prevalence of physical and/or sexual IPV was 6.1%, lifetime prevalence of psychological-only IPV was 28.7%. Having suffered physical and/or sexual abuse by an adult before age 15 was the strongest risk factor for IPV (PR: 2.9 for physical and/or sexual IPV, PR: 1.5 for psychological-only IPV). Other individual risk factors were: perceived major difficulties in living within their household income (PR: 2.6), having children (PR: 1.8) and age 18–24 years (PR: 1.5) for physical/sexual IPV and immigration background for psychological-only IPV (PR: 1.4). Living in countries with a higher prevalence of binge drinking or early school dropout was positively associated with IPV.ConclusionsFindings show that the fight against violence in young women should consider individual characteristics, childhood experiences of abuse and also structural interventions including reduction of alcohol consumption and improvement in the education-related indicators.
Developing a novel international undergraduate surgical masterclass during a financial crisis: our 4-year experience
Authors: Sideris Michail , Hanrahan John , Tsoulfas Georgios , Theodoulou Iakovos , Dhaif Fatema , Papalois Vassilios , Papagrigoriadis Savvas , Velmahos George , Turner Patricia , Papalois Apostolos 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundEssential Skills in the Management of Surgical Cases (ESMSC) is a novel 3-day international undergraduate surgical masterclass. Its current curriculum (Cores integrated for Research—Ci4R) is built on a tetracore, multiclustered architecture combining high-fidelity and low-fidelity simulation-based learning (SBL), with applied and basic science case-based workshops, and non-technical skills modules. We aimed to report our experience in setting up ESMSC during the global financial crisis.MethodsWe report the evolution of our curriculum’s methodology and summarised the research outcomes related to the objective performance improvement of delegates, the educational environment of the course and the use of mixed-fidelity SBL. Feedback from the last three series of the course was prospectively collected and analysed using univariate statistics on IBM SPSS V.23.Results311 medical students across the European Union (EU) were selected from a competitive pool of 1280 applicants during seven series of the course between 2014 and 2017. During this period, curriculum 14 s evolved to the final Ci4R version, which integrates a tetracore structure combining 32 stations of in vivo, ex vivo and dry lab SBL with small group teaching workshops. Ci4R was positively perceived across different educational background students (p&gt;0.05 for any comparison).ConclusionsESMSC is considered an innovative and effective multidisciplinary teaching model by delegates, where it improves delegates objective performance in basic surgical skills. Our experience demonstrates provision of high-quality and free surgical education during a financial crisis, which evolved through a dynamic feedback mechanism. The prospective recording and subsequent analysis of curriculum evolution provides a blueprint to direct development of effective surgical education courses that can be adapted to local needs.
Convergence of the Yang–Mills–Higgs flow on Gauged Holomorphic maps and applications
Authors: Trautwein Samuel 
Published: March 2018

The symplectic vortex equations admit a variational description as global minimum of the Yang–Mills–Higgs functional. We study its negative gradient flow on holomorphic pairs [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a connection on a principal [Formula: see text]-bundle [Formula: see text] over a closed Riemann surface [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is an equivariant map into a Kähler Hamiltonian [Formula: see text]-manifold. The connection [Formula: see text] induces a holomorphic structure on the Kähler fibration [Formula: see text] and we require that [Formula: see text] descends to a holomorphic section of this fibration.We prove a Łojasiewicz type gradient inequality and show uniform convergence of the negative gradient flow in the [Formula: see text]-topology when [Formula: see text] is equivariantly convex at infinity with proper moment map, [Formula: see text] is holomorphically aspherical and its Kähler metric is analytic.As applications we establish several results inspired by finite dimensional GIT: First, we prove a certain uniqueness property for the critical points of the Yang–Mills–Higgs functional which is the analogue of the Ness uniqueness theorem. Second, we extend Mundet’s Kobayashi–Hitchin correspondence to the polystable and semistable case. The arguments for the polystable case lead to a new proof in the stable case. Third, in proving the semistable correspondence, we establish the moment–weight inequality for the vortex equation and prove the analogue of the Kempf existence and uniqueness theorem.
Zarqa megafacies: widespread subglacial deformation in the Sarah Formation of Saudi Arabia and implications for the sequence stratigraphy of the Hirnantian glaciation
Authors: Melvin John 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
The late Ordovician glaciation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is spectacularly represented in the rocks of the Sarah Formation, although relatively little has been published about this formation. This paper describes and discusses the Zarqa megafacies of the Sarah Formation, which crops out across a distance of 720 km in the NW of the Kingdom as a heavily deformed diamicton, representing an example of widespread subglacial deformation. At outcrop, this Zarqa megafacies consists of two major subfacies. Subfacies (M) consists of a deformed, pebble-bearing substrate of interstratified, argillaceous, very fine- to fine-grained sandstones and siltstones. It displays a glacio-tectonically derived internal stratigraphy consisting of two units. Unit (i) is a pebbly diamictite displaying recumbent folding and thrusting indicative of progressive simple shear and manifest in a number of glacio-tectonically stacked detachment sheets. Unit (i) is abruptly overlain by Unit (ii). This consists of a lower Unit (iia), which displays soft sediment folding, including common sheath folds, as well as dewatering phenomena, passing up gradationally into almost completely homogenized sandy siltstone of Unit (iib) with rare detached masses of contorted sandstone. Subfacies (M) represents subglacial deforming bed conditions that reflect variable, but overall upwardly increasing, pore fluid overpressure in the pre-glacial substrate as it was overridden by the advancing Hirnantian ice sheet. It has been identified in subsurface core material, displaying asymmetrical strain profiles that also indicate subglacial deforming bed conditions. Subfacies (N) is a heavily deformed, boulder-bearing subglacial tillite commonly expressed in a distinctive mounded landscape of irregular piles of debris up to 8 m high. Extremely poorly sorted, it contains outsize boulders of glaciogenically deformed Lower Paleozoic sediments and striated Precambrian crystalline rocks. This subfacies represents a subglacially uprooted substrate that was transported considerable distances by the overriding ice sheet. Aspects of the Zarqa megafacies have parallels in coeval glaciogenic rocks identified from across northern Gondwana and beyond. This megafacies is therefore considered to have considerable sequence stratigraphic significance, representing deformed lowstand substrate and subglacial deposits associated with the accumulation and advance(s) of the late Ordovician ice sheets.
Locomotor-respiratory coupling is maintained in simulated moderate altitude in trained distance runners
Authors: Fulton Timothy J. , Paris Hunter L. , Stickford Abigail S. L. , Gruber Allison H. , Mickleborough Timothy D. , Chapman Robert F. 
Published: March 2018

To determine whether acute exposure to simulated moderate altitude alters locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC) patterns in runners, 13 trained male distance runners performed a running economy and maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) test in normoxia (NORM) and hypoxia (HYP) ([Formula: see text]= 15.8%; ~2,400 m/8,000 ft) on separate days. Running economy (RE), the degree of LRC, stride frequency-to-breathing frequency quotients (SF/fb), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and dyspnea were assessed at three common submaximal speeds and V̇o2max. SF/fb were significantly lower at each submaximal speed in HYP (12.9 km/h: 2.91 ± 0.20 vs. 2.45 ± 0.17, 14.3 km/h: 2.53 ± 0.17 vs. 2.21 ± 0.14, 16.1 km/h: 2.22 ± 0.14 vs. 1.95 ± 0.09; P < 0.05). The degree of LRC (range: 36–99%) in HYP was not significantly different than NORM at any of the three common submaximal speeds. However, the degree of LRC was significantly higher at V̇o2max in HYP than NORM (43.8 ± 3.4% vs. 57.1 ± 3.8%; P < 0.05). RE and RPE were similar at all running speeds. Dyspnea was significantly greater in HYP compared with NORM at 16.1 km/h ( P < 0.05). Trained distance runners are able to maintain LRC in HYP, despite increases in breathing frequency. Within this unique population, years of training may enhance and optimize the ability to maintain LRC to minimize metabolic costs and dyspnea. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Exposure to acute altitude causes increases in ventilation at rest and any submaximal exercising workload, which may alter locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC). Our data suggest that trained distance runners can maintain LRC during acute exposure to simulated moderate altitude, even when breathing frequency is increased at any submaximal pace.
Does Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Score Impact Survival Endpoints in Women with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics-Stage III Endometrial Cancer?
Authors: Ghanem Ahmed I. , Modh Ankit , Burmeister Charlotte , Munkarah Adnan R. , Elshaikh Mohamed A. 
Published: March 2018

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> We sought to evaluate the impact of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (AACCI) score on survival endpoints for women with advanced stage endometrial carcinoma (EC). <b><i>Methods and Materials:</i></b> We identified 238 women with stage III EC. AACCI score was calculated and 3 groups were created accordingly; group 1 with a score of 0–2, group 2 with score 3–4, and group 3 with score ≥5. Significant predictors of recurrence-free (RFS), disease-specific (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Median follow-up was 54 months and median age was 65 years. Stage IIIC was the most common stage (69%). The 3 groups were well-balanced except for less utilization of adjuvant chemotherapy in group 3 (<i>p</i> = 0.01). Five-year OS was significantly lower in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (23 vs. 65 and 51%, respectively). Similarly, 5-year RFS was 54, 41, and 33% and DSS was 65, 54, and 35% for groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively. On multivariate analyses, AACCI group 3, cervical stromal involvement, positive peritoneal cytology, and higher tumor grade were predictors for shorter OS. Cervical stromal involvement and higher grade were independent predictors for worse RFS and DSS. Additionally, positive cytology, lymphovascular space invasion, and stage IIIC2 were significantly detrimental for RFS. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our study suggests that comorbidity burden is a strong predictor of worse OS in women with stage III EC. Women with higher AACCI are less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Comorbidity score can significantly impact survival endpoints for women with advanced EC.
A Novel Concept of Amino Acid Supplementation to Improve the Growth of Young Malnourished Male Rats
Authors: Furuta Chie , Murakami Hitoshi 
Published: March 2018

<b><i>Backgrounds/Aims:</i></b> This study was aimed at understanding the relationship between plasma amino acids and protein malnutrition and at determining whether amino acid supplementation associated with malnutrition and growth improves linear growth in growing rats. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Body length and plasma amino acids were measured in young male rats that were fed the following diet for 3 weeks, mimicking a low and imbalanced protein diets based on maize, a major staple consumed in developing countries: a 70% calorically restricted cornmeal-based diet (C), C + micronutrients (CM), CM + casein (CMC), CM + soy protein (CMS) or CMS + 0.3% lysine. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A correlation analysis of linear growth and plasma amino acids indicated that lysine, tryptophan, branched-chain amino acids, methionine, and phenylalanine significantly correlated with body length. Supplementation with these 5 amino acids (AA1) significantly improved the body length in rats compared to CMC treatment whereas, nitrogen-balanced amino acid supplemented controls (AA2) did not (CM +1.2 ± 0.2, CMC +2.7 ± 0.3, CMS +2.1 ± 0.3, AA1 +2.8 ± 0.2, and AA2 +2.5 ± 0.3 cm). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> With securing proper amino acid balance, supplementing growth-related amino acids is more effective in improving linear growth in malnourished growing male rats. Analysis of the correlation between plasma amino acids and growth represents a powerful tool to determine candidate amino acids for supplementation to prevent malnutrition. This technology is adaptable to children in developing countries.
Association of Atrial Fibrillation With Cognitive Decline and Dementia Over 20 Years: The ARIC‐NCS (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study)
Authors: Chen Lin Y. , Norby Faye L. , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Mosley Thomas H. , Soliman Elsayed Z. , Agarwal Sunil K. , Loehr Laura R. , Folsom Aaron R. , Coresh Josef , Alonso Alvaro 
Published: March 2018

Background

Previous studies have reported that atrial fibrillation (
AF
) is associated with cognitive decline and dementia. These studies, however, had limited follow‐up, were based mostly on white and highly selected populations, and did not account for attrition. We evaluated the association of incident
AF
with 20‐year change in cognitive performance (accounting for attrition) and incident dementia in the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) Study.

Methods and Results

We analyzed data from 12 515 participants (mean age, 56.9 [
SD
, 5.7] years in 1990–1992; 56% women and 24% black) from 1990 to 1992 through 2011 to 2013. Incident
AF
was ascertained from study
ECG
s and hospital discharge codes. Cognitive tests were performed in 1990 to 1992, 1996 to 1998, and 2011 to 2013. Incident dementia was clinician adjudicated. We used generalized estimating equations and Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association of time‐dependent
AF
with change in
Z
scores of cognitive tests and incident dementia, respectively. During 20 years, 2106 participants developed
AF
and 1157 participants developed dementia. After accounting for cardiovascular risk factors, including ischemic stroke, the average decline over 20 years in global cognitive
Z
score was 0.115 (95% confidence interval, 0.014–0.215) greater in participants with
AF
than in those without
AF
. Further adjustment for attrition by multiple imputation by chained equations strengthened the association. In addition, incident
AF
was associated with an increased risk of dementia (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.45), after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, including ischemic stroke.

Conclusions

AF
is associated with greater cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia, independent of ischemic stroke. Because cognitive decline is a precursor to dementia, our findings prompt further investigation to identify specific treatments for
AF
that will delay the trajectory of cognitive decline and, thus, prevent dementia in patients with AF.
Large-Eddy Simulation Study of Log Laws in a Neutral Ekman Boundary Layer
Authors: Jiang Qingfang , Wang Shouping , Sullivan Peter 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
The characteristics of wind profiles in a neutral atmospheric boundary layer and their dependence on the geostrophic wind speed Ug, Coriolis parameter f, and surface roughness length z0 are examined utilizing large-eddy simulations. These simulations produce a constant momentum flux layer and a log-law layer above the surface characterized by a logarithmic increase of wind speed with height. The von Kármán constant derived from the mean wind profile is around 0.4 over a wide range of control parameters. The depths of the simulated boundary layer, constant-flux layer, and surface log-law layer tend to increase with the wind speed and decrease with an increasing Coriolis parameter. Immediately above the surface log-law layer, a second log-law layer has been identified from these simulations. The depth of this upper log-law layer is comparable to its counterpart in the surface layer, and the wind speed can be scaled as , as opposed to just in the surface log-law layer, implying that in addition to surface processes, the upper log-law layer is also influenced by Earth’s rotation and large-scale conditions. Here is the friction velocity at the surface, and h is the boundary layer depth. An analytical model is proposed to assist in the interpretation of the log laws in a typical Ekman boundary layer. The physics and implications of the upper log-law layer are discussed.