bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular identification of Asian lacquers from different trees using Py‐GC/MS and ToF‐SIMS
Authors: Lee Jihye , Jung Se‐Bi , Terlier Tanguy , Lee Kang‐Bong , Lee Yeonhee 
Published: May 2018

Traditional Asian lacquers are natural products with highly valued properties, including beauty, gloss, and durability. Pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is the technique of choice to study insoluble polymeric lacquer films. In the present study, pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry results showed that the pyrolysis products of lacquer films were different for all of the studied trees, with urushiol derivatives detected in Toxicodendron vernicifluum from China, Japan, and Korea; laccol in Toxicodendron succedaneum from Vietnam; and thitsiol in Gluta usitata from Myanmar. Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) was also used to characterize the Asian lacquers, avoiding the time‐consuming and destructive processes of other techniques. The ToF‐SIMS spectra provided structural characterization of a series of urushiol, laccol, and thitsiol derivatives for T vernicifluum from China, Japan, and Korea; T succedaneum from Vietnam; and G usitata from Myanmar, respectively. To differentiate the ToF‐SIMS results for the different Asian lacquer films, principal component analysis was used because it can extract differences in the spectra and indicate what peaks are responsible for these differences. The results indicate that lacquer films from different lacquer trees can be very different. Therefore, ToF‐SIMS with principal component analysis is suitable for the characterization and differentiation of Asian lacquer films in cultural heritage applications.
Different theoretical approaches at optical characterization of randomly rough silicon surfaces covered with native oxide layers
Authors: Ohlídal Ivan , Vohánka Jiří , Mistrík Jan , Čermák Martin , Franta Daniel 
Published: May 2018

Results of the optical characterization of randomly rough silicon surfaces covered with native oxide layers based on processing experimental data obtained by ellipsometry and reflectometry are presented. It is shown that the Rayleigh‐Rice theory is suitable theoretical approach for characterizing micro‐rough surfaces in contrast to effective medium approximation. Combination of the Rayleigh‐Rice theory and scalar diffraction theory is efficient and reliable approach for characterizing rougher surfaces with the rms values of heights larger than 10 nm. Thickness of native oxide layers and roughness parameters, ie, the rms values of heights and autocorrelation lengths, are determined for micro‐rough and rougher surfaces using the corresponding theoretical approaches.
A simple reversed‐phase HPLC method for the estimation of dimethylarginines and homocysteine in plasma and serum
Authors: Ravula Venkatesh , Annapurna Singh Sridevi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractElevated concentrations of asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine and homocysteine are considered as common risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. A simple reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography method has been developed to simultaneously detect these biomarkers in plasma and serum. Straightforward sample preparation involves direct derivatization of deproteinized serum/plasma with phenyl isothiocyanate. Dimethylarginines and homocysteine are resolved using a 250 × 4.6 mm I.D, C18 column and a linear gradient of sodium acetate buffer/acetonitrile. Calibration curves of peak area verses concentration are linear with correlation coefficients near unity. The intraday and interday precisions measured by coefficient of variation of peak areas were 1.34–9.7, 2.7–6.7 and 0.3–7.1 for asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine and homocysteine, respectively. The recoveries of asymmetric dimethylarginine, symmetric dimethylarginine and homocysteine are above 86%. Minimal sample preparation, good recoveries and fast run time makes this method suitable for the analysis of plasma and serum.
Protective Effects of Endothelial Progenitor Cell-Derived Extracellular Mitochondria in Brain Endothelium
Authors: Hayakawa Kazuhide , Chan Su Jing , Mandeville Emiri T. , Park Ji Hyun , Bruzzese Morgan , Montaner Joan , Arai Ken , Rosell Anna , Lo Eng H. 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been pursued as a potential cellular therapy for stroke and central nervous system injury. However, their underlying mechanisms remain to be fully defined. Recent experimental studies suggest that mitochondria may be released and transferred between cells. In this proof-of-concept study, we asked whether beneficial effects of EPCs may partly involve a mitochondrial phenomenon as well. First, EPC-derived conditioned medium was collected and divided into supernatant and particle fractions after centrifugation. Electron microscopy, Western blots, and flow cytometry showed that EPCs were able to release mitochondria. ATP and oxygen consumption assays suggested that these extracellular mitochondria may still be functionally viable. Confocal microscopy confirmed that EPC-derived extracellular mitochondria can be incorporated into normal brain endothelial cells. Adding EPC particles to brain endothelial cells promoted angiogenesis and decreased the permeability of brain endothelial cells. Next, we asked whether EPC-derived mitochondria may be protective. As expected, oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) increased brain endothelial permeability. Adding EPC-derived mitochondria particles to the damaged brain endothelium increased levels of mitochondrial protein TOM40, mitochondrial DNA copy number, and intracellular ATP. Along with these indirect markers of mitochondrial transfer, endothelial tightness was also restored after OGD. Taken together, these findings suggest that EPCs may support brain endothelial energetics, barrier integrity, and angiogenic function partly through extracellular mitochondrial transfer.
Enhancements in full‐field PIXE imaging—Large area elemental mapping with increased lateral resolution devoid of optics artefacts
Authors: Buchriegler Josef , Klingner Nico , Hanf Daniel , Munnik Frans , Nowak Stanisław H. , Scharf Oliver , Ziegenrücker René , Renno Axel D. , Borany Johannes von 
Published: May 2018

The combination of a pn‐junction charge‐coupled device‐based pixel detector with a poly‐capillary X‐ray optics was installed and examined at the Helmholtz‐Zentrum Dresden‐Rossendorf. The set‐up is intended for particle‐induced X‐ray emission imaging to survey the trace elemental composition of flat/polished geological samples. In the standard configuration, a straight X‐ray optics (20 μm capillary diameter) is used to guide the emitted photons from the sample towards the detector with nearly 70 000 pixels. Their dimensions of 48 × 48 μm2 are the main limitation of the lateral resolution. This limitation can be bypassed by applying a dedicated subpixel algorithm to recalculate the footprint of the photon's electron cloud in the detector. The lateral resolution is then mainly determined by the capillary's diameter. Nevertheless, images are still superimposed by the X‐ray optics pattern. The optics' capillaries are grouped in hexagonal bundles resulting in a reduced transmission of X‐rays in the boundary regions. This influence can be largely suppressed by combining a series of short measurements at slightly shifted positions using a precision stage and correcting the image data for this shifting. The use of a subpixel grid for the image reconstruction allows a further increase of the spatial resolution. This approach of image‐stacking and multiframe super‐resolution in combination with the subpixel correction algorithm is presented and illustrated with experimental data. Additionally, a flat‐field correction is shown to remove the remaining imaging inhomogeneity caused by non‐uniform X‐ray transmission. The described techniques can be used for all X‐ray spectrometry methods using an X‐ray camera to obtain high‐quality elemental images.
Differences in Characteristics and Outcome of Patients with Penetrating Injuries in the USA and the Netherlands: A Multi‐institutional Comparison
Authors: Dijkink Suzan , Krijnen Pieta , Hage Aglaia , Van der Wilden Gwendolyn M. , Kasotakis George , Hartog Dennis den , Salim Ali , Goslings J. Carel , Bloemers Frank W. , Rhemrev Steven J. , King David R. , Velmahos George C. , Schipper Inger B. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe incidence and nature of penetrating injuries differ between countries. The aim of this study was to analyze characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with penetrating injuries treated at urban Level‐1 trauma centers in the USA (USTC) and the Netherlands (NLTC).MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 1331 adult patients (470 from five NLTC and 861 from three USTC) with truncal penetrating injuries admitted between July 2011 and December 2014 were included. In‐hospital mortality was the primary outcome. Outcome comparisons were adjusted for differences in population characteristics in multivariable analyses.ResultsIn USTC, gunshot wound injuries (36.1 vs. 17.4%, p < 0.001) and assaults were more frequent (91.2 vs. 77.7%, p < 0.001). ISS was higher in USTC, but the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was comparable. In‐hospital mortality was similar (5.0 vs. 3.6% in NLTC, p = 0.25). The adjusted odds ratio for mortality in USTC compared to NLTC was 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.35–2.54). Hospital stay length of stay was shorter in USTC (difference 0.17 days, 95% CI −0.29 to −0.05, p = 0.005), ICU admission rate was comparable (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.71–1.31, p = 0.80), and ICU length of stay was longer in USTC (difference of 0.39 days, 95% CI 0.18–0.60, p < 0.0001). More USTC patients were discharged to home (86.9 vs. 80.6%, p < 0.001). Readmission rates were similar (5.6 vs. 3.8%, p = 0.17).ConclusionDespite the higher incidence of penetrating trauma, particularly firearm‐related injuries, and higher hospital volumes in the USTC compared to the NLTC, the in‐hospital mortality was similar. In this study, outcome of care was not significantly influenced by differences in incidence of firearm‐related injuries.
Surgical Capacity at District Hospitals in Zambia: From 2012 to 2016
Authors: Cheelo Mweene , Brugha Ruairi , Bijlmakers Leon , Kachimba John , McCauley Tracey , Gajewski Jakub 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundSub‐Saharan Africa has one of the highest burdens of surgically treatable conditions in the world and the highest unmet need, especially in rural areas. Zambia is one of the countries in the region taking steps to improve surgical care for its rural populations.AimTo demonstrate changes in surgical capacity in Zambia’s district hospitals over a 3‐year period and to provide a baseline from which future interventions in surgical care can be assessed.MethodsA cross‐sectional assessment of surgical capacity, using a modified WHO questionnaire, was administered in first‐level hospitals in nine of Zambia’s ten provinces between November 2012 and February 2013 and again between February and April 2016. The two assessments allowed measurement of changes in surgical workforce, infrastructure, equipment, drugs and consumables; and numbers of major surgical procedures performed over two 12‐month periods prior to the assessments.ResultsThere was a significant increase, 2013–2016, in number of theatre staff, from 174 (mean 4.4; SD 1.7) to 235 (mean 6; SD 2.9), P = 0.02. However, the percentage of hospitals with functioning anaesthetic machines dropped from 64 to 41%. There was also a drop in hospitals reporting availability of instruments, drugs and consumables from 38 to 24 (97–62%) and from 28 to 24 (72–62%), respectively. The median number of caesarean sections in 2012 was 99 [interquartile range (IQR) 42–187] and 100 (IQR 42–126) in 2015 (P value =0.53). The median number of major surgical procedures in 2012 was 54 (IQR 10–113) and 66 (IQR 18–168) in 2015 (P = 0.45).ConclusionAn increase in the first‐level hospital surgical workforce between 2013 and 2016 was accompanied by reductions in essential equipment and consumables for surgery, and no changes in surgical output. Periodic monitoring of resource availability is needed to address shortages and make safe surgery available to rural populations.
Disease Burden of Medial Epicondylitis in the USA is Increasing: An Analysis of 19, 856 Patients from 2007 to 2014
Authors: Wiggins Anthony J. , Cancienne Jourdan M. , Camp Christopher L. , Degen Ryan M. , Altchek David W. , Dines Joshua S. , Werner Brian C. 
Published: May 2018

Background Medial epicondylitis (ME), or “golfer's elbow,” is often treated initially by conservative means. Up to 15% of recalcitrant cases require surgical intervention, according to small sample populations, but no national study has determined the incidence of the diagnosis or corroborated the rate of surgical intervention. Purpose/Question We sought to review the annual incidence of ME, surgical rates, and health care costs in a population setting. Methods A national database was queried for ME from 2007 to 2014. Annual rates and the percentage of diagnosed cases subjected to surgical intervention were recorded. Epidemiologic data was reported with descriptive statistics, and the significant trends over time were analyzed using linear regression. Results We identified 19, 856 cases of ME in the study period. There was a significant increase in the annual incidence and overall incidence per 10, 000 patients. The proportion of diagnoses in patients under 65 years of age decreased significantly, while the proportion in those 65 years of age or older significantly increased. The annual number of surgical interventions significantly increased over the study period, although the annual proportion of diagnosed cases proceeding to surgery remained constant. The proportion of patients 65 years of age or older undergoing surgery significantly increased. Total reimbursement for the management of ME during the study period was $1, 877,189. While there was a significant increase in the total annual reimbursement, annual per-patient reimbursement did not change significantly. Conclusions While the annual incidence of ME and surgical treatment of ME increased significantly from 2007 to 2014, the proportion of cases treated surgically did not. Notably, the proportion of patients 65 years of age or older diagnosed with and being surgically treated for ME has increased in recent years. Total reimbursement for ME has steadily risen, although per-patient reimbursement rates have not significantly changed.
Education and Physical Health Trajectories in Later Life: A Comparative Study
Authors: Leopold Liliya 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe cumulative (dis)advantage hypothesis states that health disparities between education groups increase with age. The present study examined this hypothesis in a comparative analysis of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Sweden. These countries offer sharp contrasts in the social conditions that may intensify or inhibit processes of cumulative (dis)advantage. Using harmonized panel data from the HRS, ELSA, and SHARE, the study applied Poisson multilevel regression models to trace changes in the number of chronic conditions and functional limitations of people aged 50–76 (N = 16,887 individuals; 71,154 observations). The four countries showed a clear gradient in levels of physical health and in the extent to which health trajectories were shaped by education. Across all ages and cohorts, health problems were most prevalent in the United States, less prevalent in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and least prevalent in Sweden. A similar cross-national gradient was found for the size of health gaps between education groups and for the extent to which these gaps widened with age. Gaps were largest in the United States, smaller in the United Kingdom and in the Netherlands, and smallest in Sweden.
Comparison of cerebral ventricular volumes and cortical thicknesses in normal rats and Genetic Absence Epilepsy (GAERS): A developmental study
Authors: Kirazlı Özlem , Bay Hüsniye Hacıoğlu , Çakmak Yusuf Özgür , Onat Filiz , Çavdar Safiye 
Published: May 2018

AbstractVentricular enlargement and cortical atrophy have been associated with various central nervous system diseases. The aim of the present study was to measure the volumes of the lateral (LV) and third (3V) ventricles and to determine the cortical thickness for the motor (MCx), somatosensory (SSCx), visual (VCx) and auditory (AuCx) cortex and the striatum of Wistar rats, in a developmental series at 10, 20, 30, and 60 days postnatal, and to compare them with similar data from genetic absence epilepsy rats from Strasbourg (GAERS). Serial sections were taken from the brains of Wistar and GAERS animals and were Nissl stained. Photographs were taken from specific sections of the brain for measurements of ventricular volume, cortical and striatal thickness. The image‐j computer program was used for the volume and thickness measurements. The data was statistically analyzed by 3‐way ANOVA using SPSS 15. Comparison of the measurements of GAERS and Wistar animals showed no statistically significant differences at any of the developmental stages regarding the ventricular (LV and 3V) volumes. However, at P60 and P30 of the MCx, P30 of the SSCx, P20 of the VCx and AuCx showed a significantly thinner cortical thickness in the GAERS than in the Wistar animals. The striatal measurements showed significant decrease in thickness of the striatum at P30 and P60. Further, brain size measurements (between the two temporal poles) showed significant decrease in the size at P30 and P60 of GAERS animals. The presence of thinner cortical and striatal thicknesses and smaller brain size in GAERS animals may suggests that these changes could be involved in the mechanism of epileptogenicity or be a result of the epileptogenicity.
Association of glucocerebrosidase polymorphisms and mutations with dementia in incident Parkinson's disease
Authors: Lunde Kristin Aaser , Chung Janete , Dalen Ingvild , Pedersen Kenn Freddy , Linder Jan , Domellöf Magdalena E. , Elgh Eva , Macleod Angus D. , Tzoulis Charalampos , Larsen Jan Petter , Tysnes Ole‐Bjørn , Forsgren Lars , Counsell Carl E. , Alves Guido , Maple‐Grødem Jodi 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionBoth polymorphisms and mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) may influence the development of dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease.MethodsFour hundred forty‐two patients and 419 controls were followed for 7 years. Dementia was diagnosed using established criteria. Participants were analyzed for GBA genetic variants, including E326K, T369M, and L444P. Associations between GBA carrier status and dementia were assessed with Cox survival analysis.ResultsA total of 12.0% of patients with Parkinson's disease carried a GBA variant, and nearly half (22/53) of them progressed to dementia during follow‐up. Carriers of deleterious GBA mutations (adjusted hazard ratio 3.81, 95% confidence interval 1.35 to 10.72; P = .011) or polymorphisms (adjusted hazard ratio 1.79; 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 3.00; P = .028) progressed to dementia more rapidly than noncarriers.DiscussionGBA variants are of great clinical relevance for the development of dementia in Parkinson's disease, especially due to the relatively higher frequency of these alleles compared with other risk alleles.
PET staging of amyloidosis using striatum
Authors: Hanseeuw Bernard J. , Betensky Rebecca A. , Mormino Elizabeth C. , Schultz Aaron P. , Sepulcre Jorge , Becker John A. , Jacobs Heidi I.L. , Buckley Rachel F. , LaPoint Molly R. , Vannini Patrizia , Donovan Nancy J. , Chhatwal Jasmeer P. , Marshall Gad A. , Papp Kathryn V. , Amariglio Rebecca E. , Rentz Dorene M. , Sperling Reisa A. , Johnson Keith A. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   and the Harvard Aging Brain Study
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionAmyloid positron emission tomography (PET) data are commonly expressed as binary measures of cortical deposition. However, not all individuals with high cortical amyloid will experience rapid cognitive decline. Motivated by postmortem data, we evaluated a three‐stage PET classification: low cortical; high cortical, low striatal; and high cortical, high striatal amyloid; hypothesizing this model could better reflect Alzheimer's dementia progression than a model based only on cortical measures.MethodsWe classified PET data from 1433 participants (646 normal, 574 mild cognitive impairment, and 213 AD), explored the successive involvement of cortex and striatum using 3‐year follow‐up PET data, and evaluated the associations between PET stages, hippocampal volumes, and cognition.ResultsFollow‐up data indicated that PET detects amyloid first in cortex and then in striatum. Our three‐category staging including striatum better predicted hippocampal volumes and subsequent cognition than a three‐category staging including only cortical amyloid.DiscussionPET can evaluate amyloid expansion from cortex to subcortex. Using striatal signal as a marker of advanced amyloidosis may increase predictive power in Alzheimer's dementia research.
MEDICAL MECHANISMS AND THE RESILIENCE OF PROBABILITIES
Authors: Dragulinescu Stefan 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTThis paper argues that there is an important connection between Inference to the Best Explanation and Bayesianism, in the medical context of the interplay between mechanisms and population studies. It is argued that the criteria for evaluating mechanistic evidence can be used in Inference to the Best Explanation and such use thereby increases the resilience of probabilities in a Bayesian framework. This point grows out of the emerging literature on evidence-based medicine and naturally strengthens McCain and Poston's proposal that explanatory information is evidentially relevant.
ENVIRONMENTAL LUCK AND THE STRUCTURE OF UNDERSTANDING
Authors: Boyd Kenneth 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTConventional wisdom holds that there is no lucky knowledge: if it is a matter of luck, in some relevant sense, that one's belief that p is true, then one does not know that p. Here I will argue that there is similarly no lucky understanding, at least in the case of one type of luck, namely environmental luck. This argument has three parts. First, we need to determine how we evaluate whether one has understanding, which requires determining what I will call understanding's evaluative object. I argue that as the evaluative object of (at least a traditional conception of) knowledge is a belief in a proposition, the evaluative object of understanding is a mental representation of a relational structure. Next, I show that arguments that environmental luck is incompatible with understanding miss the mark by considering cases in which one has a belief in a proposition is lucky to be true, instead of ones in which one's mental representation of a relational structure is lucky to obtain. I agree, then, with those who argue that one can have understanding when one's beliefs are environmentally lucky to be true, but that this compatibility is not relevant when considering the question of whether one can have environmentally lucky understanding. I then present what I take to be a properly constructed case which shows the incompatibility of environmental luck with understanding.