bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Domain I of β2GPI is capable of blocking serum IgA antiphospholipid antibodies binding in vitro: an effect enhanced by PEGylation
Authors: Albay A , Artim-Esen B , Pericleous C , Wincup C , Giles I , Rahman A , McDonnell T 
Published: May 2019

Objectives This study aims to inhibit antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) serum derived IgA anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) binding using Domain I (DI). Methods Serum from 13 APS patients was tested for IgA aβ2GPI and Anti-Domain I. Whole IgA was purified by peptide M affinity chromatography from positive serum samples. Serum was tested for IgA aβ2GPI binding in the presence and absence of either DI or of two biochemically modified variants containing either 20 kDa of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) or 40 kDa of PEG. Results Significant inhibition with DI was possible with average inhibition of 23% ( N = 13). Further inhibitions using 20 kDa PEG-DI and 40 kDa PEG-DI variants showed significant inhibition ( p = 0.0001) with both the 40 kDa PEG-DI and 20 kDa PEG-DI variants showing increased inhibition compared with DI alone ( p = 0.0001 and p = 0.001, n = 10). Conclusions Inhibition of IgA aβ2GPI by DI is possible and can be enhanced by biochemical modification in a subset of patients.
Taking a Glimpse Into the Future by Playing?
Authors: Lohmann Robert 
Published: May 2019

Background. This article analyses whether an experimental policy-simulation might help political scientists in making predictions about prospective situations. Within the presented simulation-game, two groups of randomly assigned participants discussed the same issues but had different demographic structures. The ways in which their discussions transpired and results of the negotiation might provide a glimpse at how decisions might be made by societies in the future. Purpose. This article presents this special simulation-game. Furthermore, it seeks to discuss whether policy-simulations can be designed as experiments, whether there is a benefit, and for whom. Method. This study is based on both qualitative and quantitative data. The partici-pants in the simulation-game have been questioned in a pretest and in two post-tests. Furthermore, six pre- and post-interviews were conducted with involved experts. Results. The results show that the simulation-game can provide some ideas about the future, if perhaps not necessarily a wholly accurate image of the future. Observing experts and the participants gained some knowledge about how future generations might work together and where potential conflicts might be. Conclusion. Policy-simulations can be designed as experiments and might help to provide a glimpse into future, but designing such simulation-games is even more com-plex than designing simulationgames for a solely educational use.
Supporting Interventions to Reduce Household Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Transdisciplinary Role-Playing Game Development
Authors: Agusdinata Datu Buyung , Lukosch Heide 
Published: May 2019

Background. Designing interventions for conserving the food, energy, and water nexus at household level poses a significant challenge due to the complex interplay between human behaviors, technologies, and policies. Games show potential to increase awareness for environmental issues and influence behaviors towards more sustainable practices. Aim. By bringing together scientists and practitioners in the game design process, a transdisciplinary (TD) approach is seen as a promising way to integrate available knowledge and establish ownership of the problem and solution options. Few gaming literature, however, looked at combining the two approaches in addressing resource conservation issues. Method. We present a systematic account of the TD approach process of developing a role-playing game (RPG) - called HomeRUN (Role-play for Understanding Nexus). Results. We documented our experiences in terms of challenges as well as the benefits of the TD approach. Interacting disciplines in this process include psychology, economics, engineering, climate, sociology, and computer science. Inputs from each discipline combined with feedback from social actors that include city government, utility companies, and community members facilitated continuous improvements of the RPG design.
The Impact of International Business Strategy Simulation Games on Student Engagement
Authors: Rogmans Tim , Abaza Wasseem 
Published: May 2019

Background. Despite the increasing use of business simulation games in management education little is known about their effectiveness as learning tools. Aim. The aims of this study were to assess the effectiveness of an international business simulation game in enhancing levels of student engagement. Methods. We investigated student engagement levels after using a simulation game, as measured through quantitative self-reports obtained through a survey among students. The results were compared to engagement levels experienced in more traditional classroom based case discussions with the same students in the same course. The study was carried out across six class sections taught by two professors over two semesters. Results. The results show that average student engagement levels were higher during the traditional case study class than during the class using the simulation game. The standard deviation of the reported levels of student engagement was higher for the simulation game than for the traditional class, indicating that student responses were more extreme (either positive or negative) for the class using the simulation game. Students who were generally more motivated to learn reported higher levels of engagement with the simulation, whereas students with low levels of motivation who found the game complex became less engaged. Conclusion. Simulation games are not always necessarily effective in enhancing engagement among all students. The choice between traditional and experiential learning methods may be partly determined on the basis of the level of student motivation and other student characteristics.
Loss of Placental P-Glycoprotein May Be a Common Pathophysiologic Pathway for First Trimester Spontaneous Miscarriages
Authors: Lanjewar Sonali , Jayakumar Rajeswari , Axiotis Constantine A 
Published: May 2019

Introduction P-glycoprotein the highly conserved mammalian adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transmembrane multidrug protein transporter is involved in peri-implantation events and fetal placental development. Greater expression in early versus late pregnancy and localization in both syncytio- and cytotrophoblast indicate that P-glycoprotein transports substances across the uterine epithelium during early pregnancy and protects the conceptus from toxic substances during implantation and early embryogenesis. We hypothesized that P-glycoprotein is involved in the physiologic maintenance of early pregnancy and that P-glycoprotein dysregulation may be involved in early pregnancy pathologies. Methods First trimester dilation and curettage specimens were selected retrospectively from the archives of the Department of Pathology from spontaneous miscarriages (n = 36) and elective termination of pregnancy (n = 20). Two P-glycoprotein specific monoclonal antibodies JSB1and C219 were used on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded 5µ tissue sections. The location, intensity, and percentage of P-glycoprotein chorionic villous immunostaining were semiquantitated. Results Spontaneous miscarriages demonstrated absence or significant reduction in P-glycoprotein compared to elective terminations; 75% (27/36) showed total absence of P-glycoprotein, 19% (7/36) showed only rare villi with discontinuous immunostaining, and 6% (2/36) showed weak immunostaining. In contrast, 90% of elective terminations (18/20) showed positive immunostaining for P-glycoprotein and only 10% (2/20) showed loss of P-glycoprotein expression ( P < .0001). Discussion We report a dramatic loss/decrease of P-glycoprotein in first trimester spontaneous miscarriages. This finding in conjunction with the known high expression of P-glycoprotein in normal first trimester placental tissues suggests an important role of P-glycoprotein in the maintenance of early pregnancy.
Drug-coated balloon angioplasty in failing haemodialysis arteriovenous shunts: 12-month outcomes in 200 patients from the Aperto Italian registry
Authors: Tozzi Matteo , Franchin Marco , Savio Daniele , Comelli Simone , Di Maggio Luca , Carbonari Luciano , Ebrahimi Reza , Fontana Federico , Piacentino Filippo , Cervarolo Maria Cristina , Palermo Vincenzo , Piffaretti Gabriele 
Published: May 2019

Background: We evaluated the safety and technical and clinical outcomes of angioplasty with a drug-coated balloon for the management of venous stenosis in arteriovenous grafts and arteriovenous fistulas in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Methods: Data were obtained from an ongoing prospective, non-randomised registry conducted at three Italian centres. Patients were treated with a drug-coated balloon according to standard procedures in each participating centre. Evaluation was by colour Doppler imaging every 3 months. The primary end-point was primary assisted patency. The secondary end-point was the rate of assisted patency of the vascular access. Results: A total of 311 angioplasty procedures in 200 patients, (60.4% male), were analysed. The procedural success rate was 100%. A total of 192 treatments of restenosis were necessary in 81 patients during average 21 ± 8 months follow-up. Kaplan–Meier estimates indicated that 88.0%, 64.2% and 40.6% of treated lesions were free from restenosis at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. Including multiple angioplasty, circuit patency rates were 99.2%, 92.5% and 84.8% at 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. Primary patency rates were highest in shunts treated de novo with drug-coated balloons. Risk of restenosis was associated with circuit age (p = 0.017), history of treatment with conventional angioplasty (p < 0.001) and the kind of balloon used during pre-dilation (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that favourable long-term patency rates can be achieved with the drug-coated balloon in a varied population of patients with failing haemodialysis arteriovenous shunts treated under conditions of actual care.
Hear–Communicate–Remember: Feasibility of delivering an integrated intervention for family caregivers of people with dementia and hearing impairment via telehealth
Authors: Meyer Carly J , Koh Sheena SH , Hill Annie J , Conway Erin R , Ryan Brooke J , McKinnon Eril R , Pachana Nancy A 
Published: May 2019

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of Hear–Communicate–Remember, a training programme developed for family caregivers of people with dementia and hearing impairment that integrated hearing, communication and memory strategies, which was intended to be delivered via telehealth. Materials and methods Participants included six dyads consisting of adults with dementia and hearing impairment and their family caregivers. Data collection involved a combination of semi-structured interviews, self-report questionnaires and field notes. Results Analysis of the qualitative interviews revealed four themes: appropriateness of intervention resources, considerations for the delivery of intervention via telehealth, knowledge and application of intervention strategies, and impact of the intervention on day-to-day life. Results from the satisfaction survey indicated that caregiver participants were mostly satisfied with all aspects of the intervention except the use of some technological components. The field notes described challenges with implementation via telehealth. Conclusions Future research involving a cohort comparison study with a larger cohort of dyads is needed to establish treatment efficacy.
Impact of Somatic Yoga and Meditation on Fall Risk, Function, and Quality of Life for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Syndrome in Cancer Survivors
Authors: Galantino Mary Lou , Tiger Robyn , Brooks Jennifer , Jang Shera , Wilson Kim 
Published: May 2019

Objective. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) syndrome causes significant pain as an adverse effect of treatment, with few nonpharmacological interventions tested. A somatic yoga and meditation (SYM) intervention on functional outcomes and quality of life (QOL) was investigated. Design and methods. Individuals diagnosed with CIPN were enrolled in an open-label, single-arm, mixed-methods feasibility trial. Participants and Setting. In an outpatient rehabilitation center, ten participants with median age 64.4 years (47-81) attended 61% of the sessions with no adverse events. Intervention. SYM twice a week for 8 weeks for 1.5 hours, with home program and journaling. Main outcome measures. Primary functional outcomes included Sit and Reach (SR), Functional Reach (FR), and Timed Up and Go (TUG). Self-reported Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Neurotoxicity (FACT-GOG-NTX) were secondary CIPN outcomes. Biomarkers included salivary cortisol (stress) and bioesthesiometer (vibration). Results: Quantitative findings. Significant improvements were found in flexibility (SR; P = .006); balance (FR; P = .001) and fall risk (TUG; P = .004). PNQ improved significantly ( P = .003) with other measures improving non-significantly. Qualitative findings. Five themes emerged: (1) vacillation of CIPN pain perception over time; (2) transferability of skills to daily activities; (3) improvement in physical function; (4) perceived relaxation as an effect of SYM; and (5) group engagement provided a social context for not feeling isolated with CIPN. Conclusion. Preliminary data suggest SYM may improve QOL, flexibility, and balance in cancer survivors with CIPN, with a fully powered randomized controlled trial indicated. Trial registration: NCT03786055
Functional OCT angiography reveals early physiological dysfunction of hyaloid vasculature in developing mouse eye
Authors: Kim Tae-Hoon , Son Taeyoon , Yao Xincheng 
Published: May 2019

Hyaloid vascular system (HVS) is a transient capillary network nourishing developing eye. Better study of the HVS regression correlated with eye development is essential for in-depth understanding of the nature of vision system. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of longitudinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) monitoring of the HVS in C57BL/6J mice. OCT enables morphological monitoring of the HVS regression, and OCTA allows physiological assessment of the HVS involution correlated with eye development. Functional OCTA reveals early physiological dysfunction before morphological regression of the hyaloid vasculature in developing mouse eye. We anticipate that noninvasive, simultaneous OCT/OCTA observation of morphological regression and physiological degradation in normal and diseased animal models will be valuable to unravel the complex mechanisms of the HVS regression correlated with normal eye development and abnormal persistent hyaloid conditions.Impact statementHyaloid vascular system (HVS) is known to have an essential role in the eye development. However, established knowledge of the HVS largely relies on end-point studies with biochemically fixed tissues, lacking a full description of the natural dynamics of the HVS correlated with eye development. An imaging methodology for noninvasive, longitudinal, and high-resolution monitoring of the HVS is important not only for better understanding of the nature of the vision system and is also valuable for better study of abnormal eye conditions. Here, we report the feasibility of in vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) imaging of the HVS regression in developing mouse eye. OCT enables morphological imaging of the HVS structure, and OCTA allows functional assessment of the HVS physiology correlated with eye development.
Acute myocardial infarction: Does survival depend on geographical location and social background?
Authors: Kjærulff Thora Majlund , Bihrmann Kristine , Zhao Jinfeng , Exeter Daniel , Gislason Gunnar , Larsen Mogens Lytken , Ersbøll Annette Kjær 
Published: May 2019

Aims This study described the interplay between geographical and social inequalities in survival after incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and examined whether geographical variation in survival exists when accounting for sociodemographic characteristics of the patients and their neighbourhood. Methods Ringmap visualization and generalized linear models were performed to study post-AMI mortality. Three individual-level analyses were conducted: immediate case fatality, mortality between days 1 and 28 after admission and 365-day survival among patients who survived 28 days after admission. Results In total, 99,013 incident AMI cases were registered between 2005 and 2014 in Denmark. Survival after AMI tended to correlate with sociodemographic indicators at the municipality level. In individual-level models, geographical inequality in immediate case fatality was observed with high mortality in northern parts of Jutland after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics. In contrast, no geographical variation in survival was observed among patients who survived 28 days. In all three analyses, odds and rates of mortality were higher among patients with low educational level (odds ratio (OR) (95% credible intervals) of 1.20 (1.12–1.29), OR of 1.12 (1.01–1.24) and mortality rate ratio of 1.45 (1.30–1.61)) and low income (OR of 1.24 (1.15–1.33), OR of 1.33 (1.20–1.48) and mortality rate ratio of 1.25 (1.13–1.38)). Conclusion Marked geographical inequality was observed in immediate case fatality. However, no geographically unequal distribution of survival was found among patients who survived 28 days after AMI. Results additionally showed social inequality in survival following AMI.
The prediction of colorectal cancer using anthropometric measures: A Swedish population‐based cohort study with 22 years of follow‐up
Authors: Andreasson Anna , Hagström Hannes , Sköldberg Filip , Önnerhag Kristina , Carlsson Axel C , Schmidt Peter T , Forsberg Anna M 
Published: May 2019

BackgroundObesity is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC).ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to investigate whether anthropometric measures reflecting visceral obesity are better predictors of CRC than body mass index (BMI).MethodsData were analysed from the Malmö Diet and Cancer study in Sweden, comprising 16,669 women and 10,805 men (median age 56.6 and 59.1 years) followed for a median 21.5 years. Diagnoses of CRC were identified using Swedish national registers. Cox regression was used to test the associations of BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist‐hip ratio, waist‐to‐height ratio, waist‐to‐hip‐to‐height ratio, A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and percentage body fat with the development of CRC adjusted for age, alcohol consumption, smoking, education and physical activity in men and women.ResultsNone of the measures were significantly associated with an increased risk for CRC in women. WC was the strongest predictor of colon cancer (CC) in men and the only measure that was independent of BMI. ABSI was the only measure significantly associated with the risk of rectal cancer in men.ConclusionsVisceral obesity, best expressed as WC, is a risk factor for CC in men but a poor predictive marker for CRC in women.
Quality of acute stroke care in Korea (2008–2014): Retrospective analysis of the nationwide and nonselective data for quality of acute stroke care
Authors: Park Hong-Kyun , Kim Seong-Eun , Cho Yong-Jin , Kim Jun Yup , Oh Hyunji , Kim Beom Joon , Kang Jihoon , Lee Keon-Joo , Jang Min Uk , Park Jong-Moo , Park Kwang-Yeol , Lee Kyung Bok , Lee Soo Joo , Lee Ji Sung , Lee Juneyoung , Yang Ki Hwa , Choi Ah Rum , Kang Mi Yeon , Smith Eric E , Gorelick Philip B , Bae Hee-Joon 
Published: May 2019

Background There is limited information about non-selective and contemporary data on quality of stroke care and its variation among hospitals at a national level. Patients and methods We analysed data of the patients admitted to 258 acute stroke care hospitals covering the entire country from the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program, which was performed by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2008 to 2014 in South Korea. The primary outcome measure was defect-free stroke care (all-or-none), based on six get with the guidelines-stroke performance measures (except venous thromboembolism prophylaxis). Results Among 43,793 acute stroke patients (mean age, 67 ± 14 years; male, 55%), 31,915 (72.9%) were hospitalised due to ischaemic stroke. At a patient level, defect-free stroke care steadily increased throughout the study period (2008, 80.2% vs. 2014, 92.1%), but there were large disparities among hospitals (mean = 50.7%, SD = 21.7%). Defect-free stroke care was given more frequently in patients being treated in hospitals with 25 or more stroke cases per month (odds ratio [OR] 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69–4.72), delivery of intravenous thrombolysis one or more times per month (OR 2.37; 95% CI 1.44–3.92), or provision of stroke unit care (OR 1.75; 95% CI 1.22–2.52). Discussion This study shows that the quality of stroke care in Korea is improving over time and is higher in centres with a larger volume of stroke or intravenous thrombolysis cases and providing stroke unit care but hospital disparities exist. Conclusion Reducing large differences in defect-free stroke care among acute stroke care hospitals should be continuously pursued.
Mixotrophic Growth of Chlorella Sp. Using Glycerol for the Production of Biodiesel: A Review
Authors: Bansal Sakshi 
Published: May 2019

Microalgae have great potential for the production of lipids that can be converted into biodiesel. Glycerol is generated as a by-product of the transesterification reaction of the lipid produced by the algae into biodiesel. The process of converting this crude glycerol into the pharmaceutical grade is expensive. Also, glycerol formation from biodiesel production creates surplus glycerol reserves. In this review, the use of crude glycerol as a carbon source for the mixotrophic growth of Chlorella Sp. is discussed. Addition of other nutritional sources like nitrogen and phosphorus was also systematically studied and the relationship between the concentration of these nutrients and the growth pattern of the algae was analyzed which is presented in the article as well.

, , Crude Glycerol, Nitrogen Sources, Phosphorus Addition