bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation on the properties of gamma irradiated of polytetrafluoroethylene fibers
Authors: Yassien Khaled M. , El‐Zahhar Adel A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe physical, thermal, and chemical properties of gamma‐irradiated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers were investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to analyze the surface morphology of irradiated fiber samples. PTFE fiber samples were irradiated by gamma radiation doses ranging from 3 kGy to 40 kGy. The XRD analyses and DSC measurements showed the improvement of crystallinity by gamma irradiation with dose up to 25 kGy reflecting the induced crosslinking with irradiation for PTFE fibers. The crystallinity was found to decrease with higher dose of 40 kGy, reflecting induced amorphization of the polymer sample at the high radiation dose. The calculated crystallite size and XRD parameters showed obvious variations with sample irradiation. The FTIR results showed the liberation of CF2 groups and the formation of some new chemical bonding with crosslinking‐induced irradiation. The SEM micrographs revealed no variation in the surface morphology of the irradiated fiber samples than the pristine fiber.
Determination of lower cut‐off levels of adalimumab associated with biochemical remission in Crohn's disease
Authors: Carlsen Arne , Omdal Roald , Karlsen Lars , Kvaløy Jan Terje , Aabakken Lars , Steinsbø Øyvind , Bolstad Nils , Warren David , Lundin Knut Erik Aslaksen , Grimstad Tore 
Published: October 2019

Background and AimAdalimumab is administered and dosed using a standardized treatment regimen. Although therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may help optimize treatment efficacy, the lower cut‐off concentration of adalimumab needed to retain disease remission has not been established. This cross‐sectional study of patients with Crohn's disease on stable medication aimed to determine a lower therapeutic drug concentration threshold of adalimumab associated with biochemical disease remission.MethodsC‐reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin were used as established markers and albumin as an explorative marker of disease activity. Time since introduction, treatment interval, drug dosage, serum drug concentration and antidrug antibodies, disease duration, age, and sex were recorded.ResultsThe study included 101 patients who were divided into “active disease” and “remission” groups for inflammatory markers based on cut‐off levels of 5 mg/L for CRP and 50 mg/kg for fecal calprotectin. Cut‐off levels for albumin of 36.5 and 41.5 g/L were also added as further indicatives of remission. Receiver operating characteristic analysis found optimal thresholds for adalimumab associated with remission at 6.8–7.0 mg/L for the combination of CRP and fecal calprotectin and when combining CRP, fecal calprotectin, and albumin.ConclusionsIn patients with Crohn's disease, serum adalimumab of at least 6.8 mg/L was associated with biochemical disease remission based on CRP and fecal calprotectin, supporting the use of TDM to ensure disease control. Albumin should be further tested in this setting.
Neutralising anti‐drug antibodies in Fabry disease can inhibit endothelial enzyme uptake and activity
Authors: Stappers Franciska , Scharnetzki David , Schmitz Boris , Manikowski Dominique , Brand Stefan‐Martin , Grobe Kay , Lenders Malte , Brand Eva 
Published: October 2019

AbstractFabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disease, treatable by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) that substitutes deficient α‐galactosidase A (AGAL). The formation of neutralising anti‐drug antibodies (ADA) inhibiting AGAL activity during infusion is associated with disease progression in affected male patients. In this study we analysed if ADAs also inhibit endothelial enzyme uptake as well as intracellular enzyme activity. Therefore, fluorescence‐labelled AGAL in combination with ADA‐positive sera from FD patients (n = 8) was used to analyse enzyme uptake in endothelial and FD‐specific cells. Furthermore, immune adsorption and a comprehensive ADA epitope mapping were performed. Pre‐incubation of AGAL with ADAs significantly inhibited intracellular enzyme activity, which was rescued by immune adsorption (both P < .01). ADAs from some patients also inhibited enzyme uptake. ADA epitope mapping identified an epitope at position 121 to 140 aa potentially responsible for uptake inhibition for these patients. Further analyses revealed the presence of stable AGAL/ADA‐immune complexes at pH 4.5 and decreased intracellular enzyme activity in endothelial cells (P < .001). Finally, the pre‐incubation of AGAL with ADAs resulted in a reduced depletion of intracellular globotriaosylceramide in patient‐derived AGAL‐deficient cells, demonstrating a direct negative impact of ADAs on intracellular clearance. Neutralising ADAs may not only inhibit infused AGAL activity, but according to their epitopes can also inhibit endothelial AGAL uptake. Indeed, internalised AGAL/ADA‐complexes may not dissociate, underlining the importance of novel therapeutic approaches for ADA reduction and prevention to increase therapy efficiency in affected patients.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy use in New Zealand (ANZACS‐QI 33)
Authors: Foo Fang Shawn , Lee Mildred , Looi Khang‐Li , Larsen Peter , Clare Geoffrey C. , Heaven David , Stiles Martin K. , Voss Jamie , Boddington Dean , Jackson Rod , Kerr Andrew J. ,   on behalf of the ANZACS‐QI investigators
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe ANZACS‐QI Cardiac Implanted Device Registry (ANZACS‐QI DEVICE) collects nationwide data on cardiac implantable electronic devices in New Zealand (NZ). We used the registry to describe contemporary NZ use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).MethodsAll ICD and CRT Pacemaker implants recorded in ANZACS‐QI DEVICE between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017 were analyzed.ResultsOf 1579 ICD implants, 1152 (73.0%) were new implants, including 49.0% for primary prevention and 51.0% for secondary prevention. In both groups, median age was 62 years and patients were predominantly male (81.4% and 79.2%, respectively). Most patients receiving a primary prevention ICD had a history of clinical heart failure (80.4%), NYHA class II‐III symptoms (77.1%) and LVEF ≤35% (96.9%). In the secondary prevention ICD cohort, 88.4% were for sustained ventricular tachycardia or survived cardiac arrest from ventricular arrhythmia. Compared to primary prevention CRT Defibrillators (n = 155), those receiving CRT Pacemakers (n = 175) were older (median age 74 vs 66 years) and more likely to be female (38.3% vs 19.4%). Of the 427 (27.0%) ICD replacements (mean duration 6.3 years), 46.6% had received appropriate device therapy while 17.8% received inappropriate therapy. The ICD implant rate was 119 per million population with regional variation in implant rates, ratio of primary prevention ICD implants, and selection of CRT modality.ConclusionIn contemporary NZ practice three‐quarters of ICD implants were new implants, of which half were for primary prevention. The majority met current guideline indications. Patients receiving CRT pacemaker were older and more likely to be female.
Climate change impacts under representative concentration pathway scenarios on streamflow and droughts of basins in the Brazilian Cerrado biome
Authors: Rodrigues Jéssica A. M. , Viola Marcelo R. , Alvarenga Lívia A. , de Mello Carlos R. , Chou Sin C. , de Oliveira Vinícius A. , Uddameri Venkatesh , Morais Marco A. V. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBrazilian Cerrado biome is the largest and richest tropical savanna in the world. In order to understand the effects of climate changes on the hydrology of the Cerrado basins, this paper investigates the hydrological impacts of climate change throughout the 21st century under different emissions scenarios on the streamflow and on the droughts in the Sono, Manuel Alves da Natividade and Palma basins, located in the Brazilian Cerrado. For this purpose, the SWAT hydrological model driven by the downscaling of the HadGEM2‐ES and MIROC5 global climate models associated with RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios were used in three time slices (2011–2040, 2041–2070 and 2071–2099). The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Streamflow Index (SSFI) were used to characterize droughts. In general, the results showed that the duration, intensity and frequency of the meteorological and hydrological droughts are expected to increase during the future periods. However, the hydrological droughts are projected to be larger than the meteorological droughts. Reductions in the streamflow are indicated in all future time slices and under both RCPs, especially, during dry periods, which may cause negative impacts in the ecological functions of the Cerrado biome, risk for reduction of the recharge of aquifers and risk for the electric energy production in northern Brazil.
Relationship between sea surface temperature and the maximum intensity of tropical cyclones affecting Vietnam's coastline
Authors: Thanh Nguyen T. , Cuong Hoang D. , Hien Nguyen X. , Kieu Chanh 
Published: October 2019

AbstractEstimating an upper bound for tropical cyclone (TC) intensity in a given environment is important for TC intensity forecasts and risk management. While theoretical limits for the TC maximum potential intensity have been well examined in previous studies, the actual maximum intensity (
Vmax) that a TC attains in real atmospheric conditions varies from basin to basin and is subject to much more uncertainties. This study examines different empirical relationships between sea surface temperature (SST) and
Vmax in the South China Sea that affect Vietnam's coastal region. Using different SST datasets and the TC intensity record from 1982 to 2016, it is shown that
Vmax in this area increases slower than the typical linear or exponential function form found in previous studies. Such different dependence of
Vmax on SST in the South China Sea is due to the narrow range of SST variation in this region, which is between 24 and 30°C as compared to the range of 15 and 30°C used in previous studies. An alternative functional form based on the natural logarithm of SST is then proposed, which captures better the characteristics of the actual TC maximum intensity in Vietnam's coastal region. Examination of the variability of
Vmax also indicates an uptrend of the TC maximum intensity over last 30 years in the South China Sea, which has a potentially large effect on Vietnam's coastal region. This increase of
Vmax is consistent with the warmer trend of the SST as projected in the Fifth Assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
An optimized mixed‐mode stationary phase based on silica monolith particles for the separation of peptides and proteins in high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Sun Genlin , Ali Ashraf , Kim Yune Sung , Kim Jeong Soo , An Hyun Joo , Cheong Won Jo 
Published: October 2019

AbstractA phase with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic functionalities has been synthesized by modification of ground silica monolith particles with C18 and 1‐[3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] urea ligands. A series of phases was prepared by changing the ratio of the two ligands to determine the optimal ratio in view of separation efficiency. The resultant optimized stationary phase was packed in narrow‐bore glass‐lined stainless‐steel columns (1 × 300 mm and 2.1 × 100 mm) and used for the separation of synthetic peptides and proteins. The average numbers of theoretical plates (N) of 52 100/column (174 000/m, 5.75 µm plate height) and 35 500/column (118 000/m, 8.47 µm plate height) were achieved with the 300 mm column at a flow rate of 25 µL/min (0.86 mm/s) in 60:40 v/v acetonitrile/30 mM aqueous ammonium formate for the mixture of peptides (Thr‐Tyr‐Ser, Val‐Ala‐Pro‐Gly, angiotensin I, isotocin, and bradykinin) and for the mixture of proteins (myoglobin, human serum albumin, and insulin), respectively. Fast analysis of the peptides and proteins was also carried out at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min (6.88 mm/s) with the 100 mm column and all the analytes were eluted within 2 min with good separation efficiency.
Technical Note: Optimal sampling schedules for kidney dosimetry based on the hybrid planar/SPECT method in 177Lu‐PSMA therapy
Authors: Rinscheid Andreas , Kletting Peter , Eiber Matthias , Beer Ambros J. , Glatting Gerhard 
Published: October 2019

PurposeAccurate and precise renal dosimetry during 177Lu‐labeled prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radioligand therapy is crucial for therapy decisions. Sampling schedules for estimating the necessary time‐integrated activity coefficients (TIACs) are not optimized and standardized for clinical practice. Therefore, a simulation study to determine optimal sampling schedules (OSSs) was performed on 13 virtual 177Lu‐PSMA I&T therapy patients.MethodA total of 880 clinically feasible sampling schedules for planar imaging (three time points) were investigated. To simulate the hybrid planar/SPECT method, an additional quantitative SPECT/CT measurement following one planar image was considered. For each sampling schedule and patient, the activity values were generated separately. Measurement noise was modeled by drawing random numbers of log‐normal distributions. The used fractional standard deviations (FSD) differed depending on the imaging modality. For activity values assigned to planar imaging, systematic noise between 25% and 75% of the total noise was simulated. After fitting with a mono‐exponential function, the root‐mean‐squared errors of the deviations of the simulated TIACs from the ground truth for 1000 replications were used to determine the OSS. The uncertainties of the TIACs and renal dose coefficients were estimated.ResultsFor the hybrid planar/SPECT method, OSSs were determined to be (3–4, 72–76, 124–144)  h post injection (p.i.) with the quantitative SPECT/CT scan shortly after the second measurement. The accuracy and precision of the determined TIACs were in the range of (−3.0 ± 6.2)% and (−1.0  ±  6.5)%. This precision was improved by a factor 2–3 compared to dosimetry based on planar images only. Similar results were obtained for the renal dose coefficients. The virtual patients' renal dose coefficients were (0.68  ± 0.24)  Gy/GBq indicating that a population‐based method yields an uncertainty of 35%.ConclusionsDosimetry based on the hybrid planar/SPECT method with OSS outperforms dosimetry based on planar images. The high variability in dose coefficients between the virtual patients demonstrates the need for individualized dosimetry.
Abduction range: A potential parameter for the long exercise test in hypokalemic periodic paralysis during inter‐attack periods
Authors: Zhang Lei , Niu Jingwen , Li Yi , Guan Yuzhou , Cui Liying , Liu Mingsheng 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe abduction range of the little finger in the long exercise test (ET) has rarely been reported in patients with hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) during inter‐attack periods, and the diagnostic value requires clarification.MethodsThe long ET was performed in 43 HypoPP patients during inter‐attack periods and in 20 healthy controls (HCs). The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and the abduction range of the little finger were recorded concurrently.ResultsThere were significant differences in the percent changes of the CMAP amplitudes and the abduction ranges after exercise between HypoPP patients and the HCs. The curve of percent changes in abduction ranges overlapped substantially with that of the CMAP amplitudes, and the sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values were 0.860, 0.900, and 22.6%, respectively.ConclusionsThe abduction range of the little finger can serve as a novel parameter in the long ET for the diagnosis of HypoPP during inter‐attack periods.
Transthyretin amyloidosis: Putting myopathy on the map
Authors: Pinto Marcus V. , Milone Margherita , Mauermann Michelle L. , Dyck P. James B. , Alhammad Reem , McPhail Ellen D. , Grogan Martha , Liewluck Teerin 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIntroductionAlthough peripheral neuropathy and cardiomyopathy are well‐recognized manifestations of transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis, myopathy has been rarely reported.MethodsIn this study we reviewed our muscle biopsy database (January 1998 to June 2018) to identify patients with ATTR amyloid myopathy confirmed by molecular or proteomic analysis. Clinical and laboratory findings were reviewed.ResultsWe identified eight ATTR amyloid myopathy patients (5 hereditary ATTR [ATTRv] and 3 wild‐type ATTR [ATTRwt]). Myopathy was the initial manifestation in all ATTRwt patients and followed peripheral neuropathy (4 patients) or cardiomyopathy (1 patient) in ATTRv patients. One ATTRv patient developed myopathy after liver transplant. Peripheral neuropathy and cardiac amyloidosis occurred in seven and six patients, respectively. Muscle biopsy showed interstitial amyloid deposition in all patients, rare necrotic/regenerating fibers in six, and vacuoles in four.DiscussionMyopathy can be the initial manifestation of ATTRwt amyloidosis and can precede the peripheral neuropathy or occur after liver transplant in ATTRv amyloidosis.
Applying two minds theory to self‐management of Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Messer Laurel H. , Sousa Karen , Cook Paul F. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractTwo minds theory (TMT) offers a new approach to changing health behavior. Here, TMT is applied to self‐management of Type 1 diabetes. TMT can be conceptualized as a cycle where a stimulus produces an immediate Intuitive system response leading to health behavior, followed by a conscious narrative system response that is temporally delayed. Narrative responses do not produce behaviors directly but instead lead to conscious beliefs about past events and behavioral intentions for the future, both of which become part of the material considered by the intuitive system in selecting future behaviors. Because of the temporal delay between intuitive behavior and narrative interpretation, and the nonconscious nature of intuitive thought, there is often a gap between intentions and behaviors. This has implications for nursing practice. First, nurses should consider that patient‐reported impressions of the past or future are fundamentally narrative system responses and understand that these may be less predictive of behavior than biopsychosocial measures that are more temporally immediate. Second, nurses can use TMT to inform new strategies for behavior change interventions. For diabetes self‐management, nurses can encourage individuals to leverage environmental cues to prompt self‐management (tricking the intuitive system), provide rewards for self‐management (training the intuitive system), or engage the narrative system via planning, reframing, or attention practices for healthier future decisions. Overall, the TMT addresses the gap between intentions and behavior and should be further developed to inform behavioral health interventions.
Synthesis of peptides with cysteine sulfinic acid via the cysteine methoxybenzyl sulfone
Authors: Urmey Andrew R. , Zondlo Neal J. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCysteine sulfinic acid is a protein posttranslational modification that is formed under oxidative conditions and is regulated both enzymatically and nonenzymatically. Cysteine oxidation to the sulfinic acid has been observed broadly throughout the proteome and can induce activation or inhibition of function in proteins. Recently, wide‐scale, reversible regulation of the sulfinic acid state of cysteine within proteins was identified, posing new questions in cysteine sulfinic acid biology. Existing methods to synthesize peptides with cysteine sulfinic acid can suffer from low yield, due to the formation of side products in the disulfide, sulfenic acid, and/or sulfonic acid oxidation states. Herein, a method for the synthesis of peptides with cysteine sulfinic acids was developed, via protection of cysteine sulfinic acid as the methoxybenzyl (Mob) sulfone. Cysteine Mob sulfone was synthesized as an Fmoc amino acid in one step from the commercially available Mob‐protected Fmoc‐cysteine (Fmoc‐Cys(Mob)‐OH). This amino acid was directly incorporated into peptides via solid‐phase peptide synthesis. Alternatively, peptides were synthesized using Fmoc‐Cys(Mob)‐OH, followed by subsequent oxidation within peptides of the thioether to the Mob sulfone via H2O2 and catalytic niobium carbide. Deprotection of peptides under strongly acidic conditions (50% triflic acid, 45% trifluoroacetic acid, 5% water) generated peptides with cysteine sulfinic acid. This approach was applied to the synthesis of peptides containing cysteine sulfinic acid within diverse peptide sequence contexts.
New insights into differential aggregation of enantiomerically pure and racemic Aβ40 systems
Authors: Dutta Subrata , Foley Alejandro R. , Kuhn Ariel J. , Abrams Benjamin , Lee Hsiau‐Wei , Raskatov Jevgenij A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractRacemic mixtures frequently display properties that are different from those associated with their enantiopure counterparts, and are often characterized by higher propensity to form aggregates. Our previous research established that mixing of the enantiomers of Alzheimer amyloid β (Aβ) 42 peptides is an effective strategy to induce an oligomer‐to‐fibril conversion, which puts Aβ42 into a substantially less toxic state. Here, new insights into this chiral inactivation effect are presented. In addition to the commonly used Thioflavin T fibril formation assays, the use of the less aggregation‐prone Aβ40 system allowed us to monitor peptide aggregation by NMR. Whereas enantiopure peptide was well soluble under the chosen experimental conditions and showed no sign of precipitation, addition of one equivalent of the mirror‐image peptide triggered an instant and rapid aggregation, observable through the attenuation of the NMR signal. The racemic Aβ40 fibrils were found by transmission electron microscopy to be distinct in morphology, exhibiting a ~2‐fold narrowing as compared with their enantiopure counterparts.
Constructing and deconstructing the bacterial cell wall
Authors: Fisher Jed F. , Mobashery Shahriar 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe history of modern medicine cannot be written apart from the history of the antibiotics. Antibiotics are cytotoxic secondary metabolites that are isolated from Nature. The antibacterial antibiotics disproportionately target bacterial protein structure that is distinct from eukaryotic protein structure, notably within the ribosome and within the pathways for bacterial cell‐wall biosynthesis (for which there is not a eukaryotic counterpart). This review focuses on a pre‐eminent class of antibiotics—the β‐lactams, exemplified by the penicillins and cephalosporins—from the perspective of the evolving mechanisms for bacterial resistance. The mechanism of action of the β‐lactams is bacterial cell‐wall destruction. In the monoderm (single membrane, Gram‐positive staining) pathogen Staphylococcus aureus the dominant resistance mechanism is expression of a β‐lactam‐unreactive transpeptidase enzyme that functions in cell‐wall construction. In the diderm (dual membrane, Gram‐negative staining) pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa a dominant resistance mechanism (among several) is expression of a hydrolytic enzyme that destroys the critical β‐lactam ring of the antibiotic. The key sensing mechanism used by P. aeruginosa is monitoring the molecular difference between cell‐wall construction and cell‐wall deconstruction. In both bacteria, the resistance pathways are manifested only when the bacteria detect the presence of β‐lactams. This review summarizes how the β‐lactams are sensed and how the resistance mechanisms are manifested, with the expectation that preventing these processes will be critical to future chemotherapeutic control of multidrug resistant bacteria.