bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical and imaging correlates of amyloid deposition in dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Donaghy Paul C. , Firbank Michael J , Thomas Alan J. , Lloyd Jim , Petrides George , Barnett Nicola , Olsen Kirsty , O'Brien John T. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTBackground: Amyloid deposition is common in dementia with Lewy bodies, but its pathophysiological significance is unclear.Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between amyloid deposition and clinical profile, gray matter volume, and brain perfusion in dementia with Lewy bodies.Methods: Dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 37), Alzheimer's disease (n = 20), and controls (n = 20) underwent a thorough clinical assessment, 3T MRI, and early‐ and late‐phase 18F‐Florbetapir PET‐CT to assess cortical perfusion and amyloid deposition, respectively. Amyloid scans were visually categorized as positive or negative. Image analysis was carried out using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) 8.Results: There were no significant differences between amyloid‐positive and amyloid‐negative dementia with Lewy bodies cases in age (P = .78), overall cognitive impairment (P = .83), level of functional impairment (P = .80), or any other clinical or cognitive scale. There were also no significant differences in hippocampal or gray matter volumes. However, amyloid‐positive dementia with Lewy bodies cases had lower medial temporal lobe perfusion (P = .03) than amyloid‐negative cases, although a combination of medial temporal lobe perfusion, hippocampal volume, and cognitive measures was unable to accurately predict amyloid status in dementia with Lewy bodies.Conclusions: Amyloid deposition was not associated with differences in clinical or neuropsychological profiles in dementia with Lewy bodies, but was associated with imaging evidence of medial temporal lobe dysfunction. The presence of amyloid in dementia with Lewy bodies cannot be identified on the basis of clinical and other imaging features and will require direct assessment via PET imaging or CSF. © 2018 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Magic angle spinning NMR with metallized rotors as cylindrical microwave resonators
Authors: Scott Faith J. , Sesti Erika L. , Choi Eric J. , Laut Alexander J. , Sirigiri Jagadishwar R. , Barnes Alexander B. 
Published: April 2018

We introduce a novel design for millimeter wave electromagnetic structures within magic angle spinning (MAS) rotors. In this demonstration, a copper coating is vacuum deposited onto the outside surface of a sapphire rotor at a thickness of 50 nm. This thickness is sufficient to reflect 197‐GHz microwaves, yet not too thick as to interfere with radiofrequency fields at 300 MHz or prevent sample spinning due to eddy currents. Electromagnetic simulations of an idealized rotor geometry show a microwave quality factor of 148. MAS experiments with sample rotation frequencies of ωr/2π = 5.4 kHz demonstrate that the drag force due to eddy currents within the copper does not prevent sample spinning. Spectra of sodium acetate show resolved 13C J‐couplings of 60 Hz and no appreciable broadening between coated and uncoated sapphire rotors, demonstrating that the copper coating does not prevent shimming and high‐resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additionally, 13C Rabi nutation curves of ω1/2π = 103 kHz for both coated and uncoated rotors indicate no detrimental impact of the copper coating on radio frequency coupling of the nuclear spins to the sample coil. We present this metal coated rotor as a first step towards an MAS resonator. MAS resonators are expected to have a significant impact on developments in electron decoupling, pulsed dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), room temperature DNP, DNP with low‐power microwave sources, and electron paramagnetic resonance detection.
Myocardial perfusion quantification using simultaneously acquired 13NH3‐ammonia PET and dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI in patients at rest and stress
Authors: Kunze Karl P. , Nekolla Stephan G. , Rischpler Christoph , Zhang Shelley HuaLei , Hayes Carmel , Langwieser Nicolas , Ibrahim Tareq , Laugwitz Karl‐Ludwig , Schwaiger Markus 
Published: April 2018

PurposeSystematic differences with respect to myocardial perfusion quantification exist between DCE‐MRI and PET. Using the potential of integrated PET/MRI, this study was conceived to compare perfusion quantification on the basis of simultaneously acquired 13NH3‐ammonia PET and DCE‐MRI data in patients at rest and stress.MethodsTwenty‐nine patients were examined on a 3T PET/MRI scanner. DCE‐MRI was implemented in dual‐sequence design and additional T1 mapping for signal normalization. Four different deconvolution methods including a modified version of the Fermi technique were compared against 13NH3‐ammonia results.ResultsCohort‐average flow comparison yielded higher resting flows for DCE‐MRI than for PET and, therefore, significantly lower DCE‐MRI perfusion ratios under the common assumption of equal arterial and tissue hematocrit. Absolute flow values were strongly correlated in both slice‐average (R2 = 0.82) and regional (R2 = 0.7) evaluations. Different DCE‐MRI deconvolution methods yielded similar flow result with exception of an unconstrained Fermi method exhibiting outliers at high flows when compared with PET.ConclusionThresholds for Ischemia classification may not be directly tradable between PET and MRI flow values. Differences in perfusion ratios between PET and DCE‐MRI may be lifted by using stress/rest‐specific hematocrit conversion. Proper physiological constraints are advised in model‐constrained deconvolution.
Solution for the general integral‐type nonlocal plasticity model with Tikhonov regularization
Authors: Wu Shouxin 
Published: April 2018

SummaryA new solution approach, based on Tikhonov regularization on the Fredholm integral equations of the first kind, is proposed to find the approximate solutions of the strain softening problems. In this approach, the consistency condition is regularized with the Tikhonov stabilizers along with a regularization parameter, and the internal variable increments are solved from the resulting Euler's equations. It is shown that, as the regularization parameter is increased, the solutions converge to a unique one. A nonlocal yield condition and a nonlocal return mapping algorithm are proposed to carry out the integration of constitutive equations in the time and spatial domains. A global plastic dissipation principle is proposed to relax the classical local plastic dissipation postulate. Numerical examples show that the proposed approach leads to objective, mesh‐independent solutions of the softening‐induced localization problems. A comparison of the results from the proposed approach with those from the gradient‐dependent plasticity model shows that the two models give close solutions.
America's worst charities: The effect of bad press on philanthropic giving behavior
Authors: Jones Jennifer A. , Cantrell Randall A. , Lindsey Angela B. 
Published: April 2018

Negative media stories about nonprofits can potentially lead to decreased financial donations. We used agenda setting theory to study donors' perceptions of what could arguably be called one of the most negative nonprofit media stories in recent times: the 2013 Tampa Bay Times report titled “America's worst charities.” This news story identified and ranked America's 50 worst charities based on solicitation (i.e., fundraising) costs and was investigated further by CNN. We surveyed 655 individuals in August 2016 and found that approximately 3 years since the story had aired, 278 (42.4%) of the sample still remembered the news story, and the majority of them reported that it negatively influenced their thinking (63%) and philanthropic donation behavior (62%). These findings have implications for nonprofit media relations and fundraising.
Menin regulates the serine biosynthetic pathway in Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Svoboda Laurie K , Teh Selina Shiqing K , Sud Sudha , Kerk Samuel , Zebolsky Aaron , Treichel Sydney , Thomas Dafydd , Halbrook Christopher J , Lee Ho‐Joon , Kremer Daniel , Zhang Li , Klossowski Szymon , Bankhead Armand R , Magnuson Brian , Ljungman Mats , Cierpicki Tomasz , Grembecka Jolanta , Lyssiotis Costas A , Lawlor Elizabeth R 
Published: April 2018

AbstractDevelopmental transcription programs are epigenetically regulated by multi‐protein complexes, including the menin‐ and MLL‐containing trithorax (TrxG) complexes, which promote gene transcription by depositing the H3K4me3 activating mark at target gene promoters. We recently reported that in Ewing sarcoma, MLL1 (lysine methyltransferase 2A, KMT2A) and menin are overexpressed and function as oncogenes. Small molecule inhibition of the menin–MLL interaction leads to loss of menin and MLL1 protein expression, and to inhibition of growth and tumorigenicity. Here, we have investigated the mechanistic basis of menin–MLL‐mediated oncogenic activity in Ewing sarcoma. Bromouridine sequencing (Bru‐seq) was performed to identify changes in nascent gene transcription in Ewing sarcoma cells, following exposure to the menin–MLL interaction inhibitor MI‐503. Menin–MLL inhibition resulted in early and widespread reprogramming of metabolic processes. In particular, the serine biosynthetic pathway (SSP) was the pathway most significantly affected by MI‐503 treatment. Baseline expression of SSP genes and proteins (PHGDH, PSAT1, and PSPH), and metabolic flux through the SSP were confirmed to be high in Ewing sarcoma. In addition, inhibition of PHGDH resulted in reduced cell proliferation, viability, and tumor growth in vivo, revealing a key dependency of Ewing sarcoma on the SSP. Loss of function studies validated a mechanistic link between menin and the SSP. Specifically, inhibition of menin resulted in diminished expression of SSP genes, reduced H3K4me3 enrichment at the PHGDH promoter, and complete abrogation of de novo serine and glycine biosynthesis, as demonstrated by metabolic tracing studies with 13C‐labeled glucose. These data demonstrate that the SSP is highly active in Ewing sarcoma and that its oncogenic activation is maintained, at least in part, by menin‐dependent epigenetic mechanisms involving trithorax complexes. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metabolomic profiling and biological investigation of the marine sponge‐derived bacterium Rhodococcus sp. UA13
Authors: Elsayed Yasmin , Refaat John , Abdelmohsen Usama Ramadan , Othman Eman Maher , Stopper Helga , Fouad Mostafa Ahmed 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroductionMarine sponge‐associated actinomycetes are potent sources of bioactive natural products of pharmaceutical significance. They also contributed to the discovery of several clinically relevant antimicrobials.ObjectiveTo apply the non‐targeted metabolomics approach in chemical profiling of the sponge‐derived bacterium Rhodococcus sp. UA13, formerly recovered from the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia aff. Implexa, along with testing for the anti‐infective potential of its different fractions.MethodologyMetabolomic analysis of the crude extract was carried out using liquid chromatography with high resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC‐HR‐ESI‐MS) for dereplication purposes. Besides, the three major fractions (ethyl acetate, methanol, and n‐butanol) obtained by chromatographic fractionation of the crude extract were evaluated for their anti‐infective properties.ResultsA variety of metabolites, mostly peptides, were characterised herein for the first time from the genus Rhodococcus. Among the tested samples, the n‐butanol fraction showed potent inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Trypanosoma brucei brucei with IC50 values of 9.3, 6.7, and 8.7 μg/mL, respectively, whereas only the ethyl acetate fraction was active against Chlamydia trachomatis (IC50 = 18.9 μg/mL). In contrast, both fractions did not exert anti‐infective actions against Enterococcus faecalis and Leishmania major, whereas the methanol fraction was totally inactive against all the tested organisms.ConclusionThis study showed the helpfulness of the established procedure in metabolic profiling of marine actinomycetes using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) data, which aids in reducing the complex isolation steps during their chemical characterisation. The anti‐infective spectrum of their metabolites is also interestingly relevant to future drug development.
Assessment of mechanical performance, thermal stability and water resistance of novel conductive poly(lactic acid)/modified natural rubber blends with low loading of polyaniline
Authors: Shahdan Dalila , Chen Ruey S , Ahmad Sahrim , Zailan Farrah D , Mat Ali Adilah 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTBiodegradable conductive polymer blends made from poly(lactic acid) (PLA), liquid natural rubber (LNR) and polyaniline (PANI) were prepared via a melt‐blending technique assisted by ultrasonic treatment. The effects of PANI at low loading (0.03 to 0.11 wt%) on the electrical conductivity and mechanical, thermal and physical properties of PLA/LNR/PANI blends were investigated. It was found that the mechanical properties of samples improved when PANI was introduced into PLA/LNR. Tensile results showed that the optimum loading of PANI was achieved at 0.07 wt% with an improvement of 8% in tensile strength compared to neat PLA/LNR. Although it was at low loading, the incorporation of PANI promoted an outstanding electrical conductivity to PLA/LNR blends. Thermal analysis of the PLA/LNR/PANI blends was conducted using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The thermal stabilities of the blends were improved markedly with the presence of PANI. Comparing to PLA/LNR, the incorporation of PANI component improved the resistance towards water absorption. Variable‐pressure scanning electron microscopy micrographs of PLA/LNR/PANI confirmed the good mixing of PANI with PLA/LNR and strong interaction networks among the PANI, PLA and LNR components. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Fabrication and characteristics of graphene‐reinforced silver nanowire/polybenzoxazine/epoxy copolymer composite thin films
Authors: Chou Tsung‐Yu , Tsai Hung‐Yin , Hsu Chen‐Hao , Yip Ming‐Chuen 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this study, composite thin films were fabricated by mixing one‐dimensional silver nanowires (AgNWs) with graphene, polybenzoxazine (PBZ) and epoxy. Their electrical and thermal properties under different environmental conditions were investigated. The AgNWs were prepared by a polyol reduction method using ethylene glycol as a reducing agent and polyvinylpyrrolidone as a soft template to reduce silver ions. High aspect ratio AgNWs were then mixed into polymer matrices to allow them to form electrical and thermal conductive paths. Next, a trace amount of graphene was added into the nanocomposites in order to enhance their electrical and thermal properties. The results showed that the addition of graphene and AgNWs improved the threshold leakage current, and a 33% increase in thermal diffusivity was observed. The water resistance and gas barrier properties of PBZ and graphene effectively improved the thermal oxidation stability, and a 200% increase in electrical conductivity was achieved after 120 h of thermal oxidation treatment. A considerable difference was observed between the moduli of epoxy and PBZ. Hardness and phase analyses using atomic force microscopy showed that material modulus mismatch occurred across the interface between the materials, triggering phonon scattering. However, the increase in thermal conductivity was not significant for either material. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Space degradation of 3J solar cells: I—Proton irradiation
Authors: Park Seonyong , Bourgoin Jacques C. , Sim Hyeonseok , Baur Carsten , Khorenko Victor , Cavani Olivier , Bourcois Jérôme , Picard Sandrine , Boizot Bruno 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTo understand the influence of proton irradiation on lattice‐matched GaInP/GaAs/Ge triple junction (TJ) solar cells under low intensity, low temperature (LILT) conditions, we investigated electrical behaviors of top, middle, and bottom component cells together with TJ cells under these conditions. Proton irradiations with energies of 1 MeV and fluences ranging from 2 × 1010 to 1.6 × 1012 cm−2 were performed at temperatures ranging from 100 to 300 K. Our study reveals that any of the 3 subcells can become the current limiting cell in the TJ cell, depending on temperature and fluence. In particular, remarkable degradation of the bottom cell at low temperature can make this subcell the current limiting in a TJ cell even for limited fluences. The results indicate that the defect distribution is non‐uniform for low temperature irradiation.
Electronic cigarette use among patients with cancer: Reasons for use, beliefs, and patient‐provider communication
Authors: Correa John B. , Brandon Karen O. , Meltzer Lauren R. , Hoehn Hannah J. , Piñeiro Bárbara , Brandon Thomas H. , Simmons Vani N. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjectiveSmoking tobacco cigarettes after a cancer diagnosis increases risk for several serious adverse outcomes. Thus, patients can significantly benefit from quitting smoking. Electronic cigarettes are an increasingly popular cessation method. Providers routinely ask about combustible cigarette use, yet little is known about use and communication surrounding e‐cigarettes among patients with cancer. This study aims to describe patterns, beliefs, and communication with oncology providers about e‐cigarette use of patients with cancer.MethodsPatients with cancer (N = 121) who currently used e‐cigarettes were surveyed in a cross‐sectional study about their patterns and reasons for use, beliefs, and perceptions of risk for e‐cigarettes, combustible cigarettes, and nicotine replacement therapies. Patient perspectives on provider communication regarding e‐cigarettes were also assessed.ResultsMost participants identified smoking cessation as the reason for initiating (81%) and continuing (60%) e‐cigarette use. However, 51% of patients reported current dual use of combustible cigarettes and e‐cigarettes, and most patients reported never having discussed their use of e‐cigarettes with their oncology provider (72%). Patients characterized e‐cigarettes as less addictive, less expensive, less stigmatizing, and less likely to impact cancer treatment than combustible cigarettes (Ps < .05), and more satisfying, more useful for quitting smoking, and more effective at reducing cancer‐related stress than nicotine replacement therapies (Ps < .05).ConclusionsPatients with cancer who use e‐cigarettes have positive attitudes toward these devices and use them to aid in smoking cessation. This study also highlights the need for improved patient‐provider communication on the safety and efficacy of e‐cigarettes for smoking cessation.
Trends of neuraminidase inhibitors use in children with influenza related respiratory infections
Authors: Uda Kazuhiro , Okubo Yusuke , Shoji Kensuke , Miyairi Isao , Morisaki Naho , Michihata Nobuaki , Matsui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Yasunaga Hideo 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundNeuraminidase inhibitors are recommended for children hospitalized with influenza‐related respiratory infections, and oseltamivir is the first choice of treatment in most situations. However, little is known regarding the recent trend in using neuraminidase inhibitors and their difference in health economy. The aim of this study was to reveal recent trends in neuraminidase inhibitor use and compare hospitalization costs across different treatment regimens.MethodsWe retrospectively obtained the hospital discharge records of inpatients under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of influenza‐related respiratory infections using a national inpatient database in Japan. We excluded patients with chronic medical conditions from the analyses. Multivariable mixed effects regression models were used to investigate the recent treatment trends and healthcare costs.ResultsWe identified 27 771 inpatients with influenza‐related respiratory infections. The proportions of neuraminidase inhibitor use increased from 62.6% in 2010 to 71.8% in2014 (Ptrend < 0.001). Correspondingly, the proportions of peramivir use showed an upward trend, ranging from 31.4% to 57.4% (Ptrend < 0.001). In contrast, proportions of oseltamivir and zanamivir use decreased from 26.1% to 12.1% and from 4.9% to 1.5%, respectively (Ptrend < 0.001). Laninamivir use did not change over the period. Total hospitalization costs were higher in the peramivir group than in the oseltamivir group (adjusted difference, $84.3; 95%CI, $70.7‐$98.4).ConclusionsWe observed an increasing trend in peramivir use and decreasing trends in use of oseltamivir and zanamivir. Treatment with peramivir required higher hospitalization costs.
Two long non‐coding RNAs, Prcat17.3 and Prcat38, could efficiently discriminate benign prostate hyperplasia from prostate cancer
Authors: Bayat Hamid , Narouie Behzad , Ziaee Seyed‐Amir Mohsen , Mowla Seyed Javad 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundLong non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently appeared as new players in cancer biology. Recently, a number of new prostate cancer‐associated lncRNAs has been listed via RNA‐seq approach by Mitranscriptome project. By analyzing this data we chose four lncRNAs (Prcat17.3, Prcat38, Prcat47, and Cat2184.4) and evaluated their expressions and their abilities to discriminate prostate tumors from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).MethodsFresh Prostate tissue samples (30 BPH, and 30 tumor samples) and urine samples (19 BPH, and 19 tumor samples) were collected and their total RNA extracted for cDNA syntheses. The expression of candidate lncRNAs was assessed by the real‐time PCR technique.ResultsOur data revealed that the expression levels of PRCAT17.3 (P < 0.0001) and PRCAT38 (P < 0.0002) were significantly upregulated in human prostate cancer tissues, compared to BPH ones. Moreover, the altered expression was much higher for PRCAT17.3 (∼2000 folds) than PRCAT38 (∼50 folds). In contrast, the expression of Cat2184.4 showed a significant down‐regulation in tumor samples (P < 0.0001), compared to BPH ones. While the expression level of PRCAT47 was increased in cancer samples, the changes were not statistically significant. In discriminating prostate tumors from BPH samples, Prcat17.3 (AUC‐ROC, 0.927) demonstrated a better diagnostic efficacy than Prcat38 (AUC‐ROC, 0.778). Moreover, real‐time RT‐PCR analyses on urine samples of prostate cancer patients revealed that prcat17.3 level is significantly elevated, (P < 0.0197; AUC‐ROC value of 0.72), compared to that of BPH patients.ConclusionWe introduce here two novel lncRNAs with a potential application in diagnosis of prostate cancer.