bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Light‐Driven, Caterpillar‐Inspired Miniature Inching Robot
Authors: Zeng Hao , Wani Owies M. , Wasylczyk Piotr , Priimagi Arri 
Published: May 2017

AbstractLiquid crystal elastomers are among the best candidates for artificial muscles, and the materials of choice when constructing microscale robotic systems. Recently, significant efforts are dedicated to designing stimuli‐responsive actuators that can reproduce the shape‐change of soft bodies of animals by means of proper external energy source. However, transferring material deformation efficiently into autonomous robotic locomotion remains a challenge. This paper reports on a miniature inching robot fabricated from a monolithic liquid crystal elastomer film, which upon visible‐light excitation is capable of mimicking caterpillar locomotion on different substrates like a blazed grating and a paper surface. The motion is driven by spatially uniform visible light with relatively low intensity, rendering the robot “human‐friendly,” i.e., operational also on human skin. The design paves the way toward light‐driven, soft, mobile microdevices capable of operating in various environments, including the close proximity of humans.
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Improving symptom management for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Nicholson Katharine , Murphy Alyssa , McDonnell Erin , Shapiro Jordan , Simpson Ericka , Glass Jonathan , Mitsumoto Hiroshi , Forshew Dallas , Miller Robert , Atassi Nazem 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionSymptomatic management is the main focus of ALS clinical care. We aim to report the prevalence of ALS‐related symptoms and characterize self‐reported symptomatic management.MethodsA symptom management survey developed by the Muscular Dystrophy Association Clinical Research Network was completed by ALS registrants. Logistic regression identified potential predictors of symptom prevalence, severity, and treatment.ResultsA total of 567 ALS participants reported fatigue (90%), muscle stiffness (84%), and muscle cramps (74%) as most prevalent symptoms. Fatigue (18%), muscle stiffness (14%), and shortness of breath (12%) were most bothersome. Although fatigue was the most prevalent symptom, it was also least treated (10%). Neither location of care nor disease duration was associated with symptom prevalence, severity, or probability of receiving treatment.DiscussionThis large patient‐reported symptom survey suggests that fatigue is the most prevalent, bothersome, and undertreated ALS symptom. Improving ALS symptom management is an unmet medical need and clinical trials of symptomatic treatments are needed. Muscle Nerve 57: 20–24, 2018
Quantitative sonographic assessment of myotonia
Authors: Abraham Alon , Breiner Ari , Barnett Carolina , Bril Vera , Katzberg Hans D. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionThis study explores ultrasound imaging for qualitative and quantitative assessment of myotonia.MethodsSixteen patients with myotonia and 16 controls underwent sonographic evaluation of the thenar eminence muscles to assess the relaxation time after muscle percussion.ResultsThe mean time for complete muscle relaxation in patients with myotonia was longer than that of controls. A cutoff of > 0.9 s for myotonia detection had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100%. The interrater reliability was moderate for qualitative assessment but was high for quantitative assessment. The relaxation time did not correlate with the number of trinucleotide repeats in patients with myotonic dystrophy.DiscussionSonographic evaluation for the presence of myotonia is feasible, sensitive, and specific but does not correlate with disease severity in myotonic dystrophy. Muscle Nerve 57: 146–149, 2018
Gastrointestinal tract carcinoma in pediatric and adolescent age: The Italian TREP project experience
Authors: Indini Alice , Bisogno Gianni , Cecchetto Giovanni , Vitellaro Marco , Signoroni Stefano , Massimino Maura , Riccipetitoni Giovanna , Zecca Marco , Dall'Igna Patrizia , Debora De Pasquale Maria , Inserra Alessandro , Chiaravalli Stefano , Basso Eleonora , Virgone Calogero , Sorbara Silvia , Di Bartolomeo Maria , D'Angelo Paolo , Ferrari Andrea 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundGastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas are very rare in the pediatric and adolescent age range. We report the clinical features, treatment, and outcome of a series of children and adolescents with GI carcinoma prospectively registered in the Italian Tumori Rari in Età Pediatrica (TREP) project.MethodsThe TREP project developed diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines based on recommendations currently in use for adults. Clinical data were centrally registered and reviewed.ResultsFifteen patients were registered over the years 2000–2016. Most of the tumors were colorectal carcinomas (12 cases). All but one patient had advanced‐stage disease (American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III–IV), and the majority of patients had aggressive histological subtypes, i.e. poorly differentiated (G3) (five patients), mucinous (four patients), and signet ring (two patients) adenocarcinomas. Surgery was performed in 13 of 15 patients, and was radical in nine of 13 patients. Only one patient received postoperative radiotherapy. All patients received chemotherapy, with the addition of bevacizumab in two cases. Nine patients were still alive at the time of the present report, but two of them had only just completed their treatment program and one patient is still on treatment. Six patients died due to disease progression.ConclusionsThis prospective report on pediatric GI tract carcinomas confirms the rarity and biological aggressiveness of these diseases in pediatric and adolescent age. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the distinct biology of tumor in this age group in order to find new therapeutic targeted agents.
Design and interaction mechanism of ligand targeted with folate receptor α and β
Authors: Wang C. , Jiang Y. , Fei X. , Gu Y. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractFour compounds 1 to 4 (folic acid, methotrexate and 2 dyes) were used to interact with folate receptor (FR)α and FRβ. The interaction structures and binding energies of the bound complexes were investigated. In order to analyze the differences between FRα and FRβ complexes, the details of the weak intermolecular interactions were analyzed, and the frontier orbital properties of the FR complexes were studied by a dispersion complemented density functional tight‐binding method. By comparing the different interaction properties of the 4 compounds with FRα and FRβ, the basic strategies for design of novel compound targeted with FR subtype were suggested. Further, a novel compound with high selectively with FRα based on compound 3 was designed to illustrate our conclusion. These data should be helpful for the design of novel molecules with extreme discerningly with FRα and FRβ.
Clinician agreement and influence of medication‐related characteristics on assessment of polypharmacy
Authors: Ong Gao‐Jing , Page Amy , Caughey Gillian , Johns Sally , Reeve Emily , Shakib Sepehr 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIt is not known how clinicians assess polypharmacy or the medication‐related characteristics that influence their assessment. The aim of this study was to examine the level of agreement between clinicians when assessing polypharmacy and to identify medication‐related characteristics that influence their assessment. Twenty cases of patients with varying levels of comorbidity and polypharmacy were used to examine clinician assessment of polypharmacy. Medicine‐related factors within the cases included Beers and STOPP Criteria medicines, falls‐risk medicines, drug burden index (DBI) medicines, medicines causing postural hypotension, and pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions. Clinicians were asked to rate cases on the degree of polypharmacy, likelihood of harm, and potential for the medication list to be simplified. Inter‐rater reliability analysis, correlations, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify medicine factors associated with clinicians' assessment. Eighteen expert clinicians were recruited (69.2% response rate). Strong agreement was observed in clinicians' assessment of polypharmacy (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC] = 0.94), likelihood to cause harm (ICC = 0.89), and ability to simplify medication list (ICC = 0.90). Multivariate analyses demonstrated number of medicines (P < 0.0001) and DBI scores (P = 0.047) were significantly associated with assessment of polypharmacy. Medicines associated with harm were significantly associated with the number of medicines (P = 0.01) and Beers criteria medicines (P = 0.003). Ability to simplify the medication regimen was significantly associated with number of medicines (P = 0.03) and medicines from the STOPP criteria (P = 0.018). Among clinicians, strong consensus exists with regard to assessment of polypharmacy, medication harm, and ability to simplify medications. Definitions of polypharmacy need to take into account not only the numbers of medicines but also potential for medicines to cause harm or be inappropriate, and validate them against clinical outcomes.
Benchmarking of density functionals for the kinetics and thermodynamics of the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds catalyzed by glycosidases
Authors: Pereira Andreia T. , Ribeiro António J. M. , Fernandes Pedro A. , Ramos Maria J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn recent years, there has been an increased interest in understanding the enzymatic mechanism of glycosidases resorting mostly to DFT and DFT/MM calculations. However, the performance of density functionals (DFs) is well known to be system and property dependent. Trends drawn from general studies, despite important to evaluate the quality of the DFs and to pave the way for the development of new DFs, may be misleading when applied to a single specific system/property. To overcome this issue, we carried out a benchmarking study of 40 DFs applied to the geometry optimization and to the electronic barrier height (EBarrier) and electronic energy of reaction (ER) of prototypical glycosidase‐catalyzed reactions. Additionally, we report calculations with SCC‐DFTB and four semiempirical MO methods applied to the same problem. We have used a universal molecular model for retaining glycosidases, comprising only a 22‐atoms system that mimics the active site and substrate. High accuracy reference geometries and energies were calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS//MP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level of theory. Most DFs reproduce the reference geometries extremely well, with mean unsigned errors (MUE) smaller than 0.05 Å for bond lengths and 3° for bond angles. Among the DFs, wB97X‐D, CAM‐B3LYP, B3P86, and PBE1PBE have the best performance in geometry optimizations (MUE = 0.02 Å). Conversely, semiempirical MO and SCC‐DFTB methods yielded less accurate geometries (MUE between 0.09 and 0.17 Å). The inclusion of D3 correction has a small, but still relevant, influence in the geometry predicted by some DFs. Regarding EBarrier, 11 DFs (MPW1B95, CAM‐B3LYP, M06 ‐ 2X, PBE1PBE, wB97X ‐ D, B1B95, BMK, MN12 – SX, M05, M06, and M11) presented errors below 1 kcal.mol−1, in relation to the reference energy. Most of these functionals belong to the family of hybrid functionals (H‐GGA, HH‐GGA, and HM‐GGA), which shows a positive influence of HF exchange in the determination of EBarrier. The inclusion of D3 correction has not affected significantly the EBarrier and ER. The use of geometries at the accurate but expensive MP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level of theory has a small, albeit not insignificant, influence in the EBarrier when compared with energies calculated with geometries determined with the DFs (usually a few tenths of kcal.mol−1, with exceptions). In general, semiempirical MO methods and DFTB are associated with larger errors in the determination of EBarrier, with unsigned errors from 6.9 to 24.7 kcal.mol−1.
Confocal macro X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer on commercial 3D printer
Authors: Szalóki I. , Gerényi A. , Radócz G. 
Published: May 2017

Novel confocal X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was designed and constructed for 3D analysis of elementary composition in the surface layer of spatially extended objects having unlimited chemical composition and geometrical shape. The main elements of the XRF device were mounted on a moving frame of a commercial 3D printer. The XRF unit consists of a silicon drift detector and a low‐power transmission‐type X‐ray tube. Both the excitation and secondary X‐ray beams were formed and regulated by simple collimator systems in order to create a macro confocal measuring setup. The spatial accuracy of the mechanical stages of the 3D printer achieved was less than 5 μm at 100‐μm step‐size. The diameter of the focal spot of the confocal measuring arrangement was between 1.5 and 2.0 mm. The alignment of the excitation and secondary X‐ray beams and the selection of the measuring spot on the sample surface were ensured by two laser beams and a digital microscope for visualization of the irradiated spot. The elements of the optical system together with the XRF spectrometer were mounted on the horizontal arm of the 3D printer, which mechanical design is capable of synchronized moving the full spectroscopic device within vertical directions. Analytical capability and the 3D spatial resolution of the confocal spectrometer were determined. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hearing loss in children with Fabry disease
Authors: Suntjens E. , Dreschler W. A. , Hess‐Erga J. , Skrunes R. , Wijburg F. A. , Linthorst G. E. , Tøndel C. , Biegstraaten M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackgroundHearing loss (HL) is a well‐known feature of Fabry disease (FD). Its presence and characteristics have mainly been studied in adult patients, while only limited data are available on the presence and degree of HL in children with FD. This prompted us to study hearing sensitivity in pediatric FD patients.MethodsAll available audiograms of the Dutch and Norwegian children with FD were retrospectively collected. First, hearing sensitivity was determined by studying hearing thresholds at low, high, and ultra‐high frequencies in children with FD and comparing them to zero dB HL, i.e., healthy children. In addition, the presence and type of slight/mild HL (defined as hearing thresholds at low frequencies of 25–40 dB HL) and moderate to severe HL (hearing thresholds >40 dB HL) at first visit were analyzed. If available, follow‐up data were used to estimate the natural course of hearing sensitivity and HL in children with FD.ResultsOne‐hundred‐thirteen audiograms of 47 children with FD (20 boys, median age at first audiogram 12.0 (range 5.1–18.0) years) were analyzed. At baseline, slight/mild or moderate to severe HL was present in three children (6.4%, 2 boys). Follow‐up measurements showed that three additional children developed HL before the age of 18. Of these six children, five had sensorineural HL, most likely caused by FD. Compared to healthy children (zero dB HL), FD children showed increased hearing thresholds at all frequencies (p < 0.01), which was most prominent at ultra‐high frequencies (>8 kHz). Hearing sensitivity at these ultra‐high frequencies deteriorated in a period of 5 years of follow‐up.ConclusionA minority of children with FD show slight/mild or moderate to severe HL, but their hearing thresholds are poorer than the reference values for normal‐hearing children. Clinical trials in FD children should demonstrate whether HL can be prevented or reversed by early treatment and should specifically study ultra‐high frequencies.
Isolation, characterization and genetic diversity of NBS-LRR class disease-resistant gene analogs in multiple virus resistant line of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Naresh P. , Krishna Reddy M. , Reddy Anand C. , Lavanya B. , Lakshmana Reddy D. C. , Madhavi Reddy K. 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Viruses are serious threat to chilli crop production worldwide. Resistance screening against several viruses resulted in identifying a multiple virus resistant genotype ‘IHR 2451’. Degenerate primers based on the conserved regions between P-Loop and GLPL of Resistance genes (R-genes) were used to amplify nucleotide binding sites (NBS)—encoding regions from genotype ‘IHR 2451’. Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences and phylogenetic analyses of isolated sequences distinguished into two groups representing toll interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) and non-TIR, and different families within the group confirming the hypotheses that dicots have both the types of NBS-LRR genes. The alignment of deduced amino acid sequences revealed conservation of subdomains P-loop, RNBS-A, kinase2, RNBS-B, and GLPL. The distinctive five RGAs showing specific conserved motifs were subjected to BLASTp and indicated high homology at deduced amino acid level with R genes identified such as Pvr9 gene for potyvirus resistance, putative late blight resistance protein homolog R1B-23 and other disease resistance genes suggesting high correlation with resistance to different pathogens. These pepper RGAs could be regarded as candidate sequences of resistant genes for marker development.
Cost-effective screening and isolation of xylano-cellulolytic positive microbes from termite gut and termitarium
Authors: Varghese Libin Mathew , Agrawal Sharad , Sharma Divya , Mandhan Rishi Pal , Mahajan Ritu 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
In this study, screening and isolation of xylano-cellulolytic enzymes producing positive microbes from termitarium and termite gut microbiome were done using cost-effective agricultural wastes. The enrichment of xylano-cellulolytic microbes was done in three steps using wheat bran and waste paper. The qualitative screening of xylanase and cellulase producing micro-organisms was done on nutrient agar plates containing wheat bran and waste paper, respectively. Xylanase and cellulase positive colonies were analysed by observing the zone of substrate (wheat bran and waste paper) hydrolysis around the colonies. A total of 30 bacterial isolates were obtained from termite gut and termitarium, respectively. Xylan and cellulose degrading potential of the positive isolates was also quantitatively estimated using agro-wastes-based medium. All the bacterial isolates displayed cellulase and xylanase activities in the range of 0.45–6.80 and 51–380 IU/ml, respectively. This is the first report mentioning the isolation of xylano-cellulolytic microbes from termite gut and termitarium using very simple cost-effective methodology.
Assessment of amyloid β in pathologically confirmed frontotemporal dementia syndromes
Authors: Tan Rachel H. , Kril Jillian J. , Yang Yue , Tom Nicole , Hodges John R. , Villemagne Victor L. , Rowe Christopher C. , Leyton Cristian E. , Kwok John B.J. , Ittner Lars M. , Halliday Glenda M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe diagnostic utility of in vivo amyloid β (Aβ) imaging to aid in the clinical distinction between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease remains unclear without data on the prevalence and severity of Aβ in pathologically confirmed FTD syndromes.MethodsAβ was assessed in 98 autopsy‐confirmed FTD and 36 control cases, and the pathological accuracy of 11C‐Pittsburgh compound B (PiB)–positron emission tomography imaging was assessed in a subset of FTD cases (n = 15).ResultsAβ was identified in a similar proportion of FTD syndromes and age‐matched controls and increases with age. Alzheimer's disease pathology was identified in all cases with high PiB retention and in one case with low PiB retention. We further demonstrate a strong regional correlation between volume fraction of histological Aβ with PiB standard uptake value ratio scaled to the white matter.DiscussionThe present study provides a pathologic reference to assist in the interpretation of in vivo assessments in FTD syndromes.
Dementia registries around the globe and their applications: A systematic review
Authors: Krysinska Karolina , Sachdev Perminder S. , Breitner John , Kivipelto Miia , Kukull Walter , Brodaty Henry 
Published: May 2017

AbstractPatient registries are valuable tools helping to address significant challenges in research, care, and policy. Registries, well embedded in many fields of medicine and public health, are relatively new in dementia. This systematic review presents the current situation in regards to dementia registries worldwide. We identified 31 dementia registries operating on an international, national, or local level between 1986 and 2016. More than half of the registries aimed to conduct or facilitate research, including preclinical research registries and registries recruiting research volunteers. Other dementia registries collected epidemiological or quality of care data. We present evidence of practical and economic outcomes of registries for research, clinical practice and policy, and recommendations for future development. Global harmonization of recruitment methods and minimum data would facilitate international comparisons. Registries provide a positive return on investment; their establishment and maintenance require ongoing support by government, policy makers, research funding bodies, clinicians, and individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
Development and Application of an Antibiotic Spectrum Index for Benchmarking Antibiotic Selection Patterns Across Hospitals
Authors: Gerber Jeffrey S. , Hersh Adam L. , Kronman Matthew P. , Newland Jason G. , Ross Rachael K. , Metjian Talene A. 
Published: May 2017

Standard metrics for antimicrobial use consider volume but not spectrum of antimicrobial prescribing. We developed an antibiotic spectrum index (ASI) to classify commonly used antibiotics based on activity against important pathogens. The application of this index to hospital antibiotic use reveals how this tool enhances current antimicrobial stewardship metrics.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:993–997
Medical and psychosocial determinants of risk of postpartum depression: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Maliszewska Karolina , Bidzan Mariola , Świątkowska-Freund Małgorzata , Preis Krzysztof 
Published: May 2017

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the degree of risk of maternal postpartum depression during the second month of puerperium.MethodIn total, 387 postnatal women filled out a questionnaire concerning their health and social status, as well as the following tests: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Neo Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) Personality Inventory and the Berlin Social Support Scales. After 4–8 weeks, patients responded to another questionnaire with the EPDS and the PHQ-9.ResultsIn total, 48 patients (12.40%) were found to be at risk of postpartum depression between the fourth and eighth weeks after delivery. Premenstrual syndrome [adjusted odds ratio (ORa)=2.93, confidence interval (CI) 1.30–6.63] and EPDS>12 points during the first week after the delivery (ORa=3.74, CI 1.59–9.04) increased the risk of postnatal depression. A similar role is played by a high result in neuroticism scale of the NEO-FFI (ORa=1.50, CI 1.17–1.92) and a positive family history of any psychiatric disorder (ORa=1.03, CI 1.01–1.06).ConclusionA history of premenstrual syndrome and a higher risk of affective disorder soon after a childbirth are associated with greater chances of depressive symptoms in the second month postpartum. This is also the case if a patient is neurotic and has a relative with a history of any psychiatric disorder. Such women should have their mental status carefully evaluated.