bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oxidative stress and antioxidative systems: recipes for successful data collection and interpretation
Authors: Noctor Graham , Mhamdi Amna , Foyer Christine H. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractOxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are common to many fundamental responses of plants. Enormous and ever‐growing interest has focused on this research area, leading to an extensive literature that documents the tremendous progress made in recent years. As in other areas of plant biology, advances have been greatly facilitated by developments in genomics‐dependent technologies and the application of interdisciplinary techniques that generate information at multiple levels. At the same time, advances in understanding ROS are fundamentally reliant on the use of biochemical and cell biology techniques that are specific to the study of oxidative stress. It is therefore timely to revisit these approaches with the aim of providing a guide to convenient methods and assisting interested researchers in avoiding potential pitfalls. Our critical overview of currently popular methodologies includes a detailed discussion of approaches used to generate oxidative stress, measurements of ROS themselves, determination of major antioxidant metabolites, assays of antioxidative enzymes and marker transcripts for oxidative stress. We consider the applicability of metabolomics, proteomics and transcriptomics approaches and discuss markers such as damage to DNA and RNA. Our discussion of current methodologies is firmly anchored to future technological developments within this popular research field.
Coexisting anxiety disorders alter associations with physical disorders in the elderly: A Taiwan cross‐sectional nationwide study
Authors: Chang Wei Hung , Chen Wei Tseng , Lee I Hui , Chen Po See , Yang Yen Kuang , Chen Kao Chin 
Published: February 2016

AimWe used population‐based analyses to explore whether anxiety disorders are associated with certain physical illnesses, as previous studies have suggested, and whether a greater number of comorbid anxiety disorders would influence physical illnesses in the elderly.MethodsUsing the National Health Insurance Research Database, we included subjects aged over 60 years. The study included 954 subjects with anxiety disorders (as defined by the ICD‐9‐CM) and 4770 control subjects without anxiety disorders. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the risks of physical illnesses in both groups.ResultsSubjects with anxiety disorders had higher OR for cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.33–2.80), cerebrovascular disease (OR = 2.07), peptic ulcer (OR = 3.41), and hyperlipidemia (OR = 2.99). Furthermore, a greater number of comorbid anxiety disorders may further increase the OR of the aforementioned physical illnesses, except for peripheral vascular disorder, when compared to those without anxiety disorders.ConclusionElderly subjects with more anxiety disorders may be associated with vascular and metabolic problems. Clinicians should carefully assess the physical illnesses of elderly patients with anxiety disorders.
Clinical and genetic features of lysinuric protein intolerance in Japan
Authors: Noguchi Atsuko , Nakamura Kimitoshi , Murayama Kei , Yamamoto Shigenori , Komatsu Hiroshi , Kizu Rika , Takayanagi Masaki , Okuyama Torayuki , Endo Fumio , Takasago Yuhei , Shoji Yutaka , Takahashi Tsutomu 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackgroundLysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting the transport of cationic amino acid caused by mutations in solute carrier family 7 amino acid transporter light chain, y+L system, member 7 (SLC7A7). This disorder occurs worldwide, especially in Finland and Japan, where founder effect mutations have been reported. Detailed features of the clinical symptoms and mutation types in Japanese LPI, however, remain unclear to date.MethodsAn epidemiological nationwide survey of LPI patients was carried out via mail to all domestic university and general hospitals in Japan. Next, the clinical information for each LPI patient was obtained, in the form of a questionnaire, from the attending physicians who replied to the letters.ResultsWe received answered questionnaires for 43 LPI patients in 19 hospitals. We selected 35 patients who were genetically diagnosed with LPI. The most common clinical manifestations were with protein aversion, ferritinemia, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase, and hyperammonemia. The most frequent SLC7A7 mutation in Japanese LPI patients is p.R410*, which is a founder effect mutation in northern Japan. In total, nine types of mutation were detected in this survey, six of which (p.R410*, p.S238F, c.1630delC, p.S489P, c.1673delG, and IVS3‐IVS5del9.7 kb) have not been reported in other countries.ConclusionThe clinical and genetic features of 35 Japanese patients with LPI were characterized, and no correlation between genotype and phenotype was observed. The importance of early diagnosis for better prognosis of LPI is emphasized.
Efficacy of rituximab therapy against intractable steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Nakagawa Taku , Shiratori Atsutoshi , Kawaba Yasuo , Kanda Kyoko , Tanaka Ryojiro 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackgroundSome cases of childhood steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) are intractable. We examined the cases of three patients with SRNS resistant to various treatment, but who achieved complete remission after being treated with rituximab (RTX) followed by methylprednisolone pulse (MP) therapy.MethodsA retrospective chart review of all new‐onset SRNS in the period from January 1997 to December 2013 was performed. Three of the 13 patients who received conventional treatment continued to have NS for >6 months, despite also being treated with immunosuppressants and receiving frequent albumin treatment. In addition, two of the patients received plasma exchange therapy, but it was ineffective. Therefore, RTX was used once a week for 4 weeks, followed by several courses of MP therapy.ResultsTwo of the three intractable SRNS patients achieved complete remission after treatment with RTX followed by MP therapy, and the remaining patient achieved incomplete remission after the first round of this treatment. That patient subsequently achieved complete remission after the second round of the treatment. RTX did not cause any serious side‐effects, and all three patients had normal renal function at the final observation.ConclusionsComplete remission was achieved in all 13 SRNS patients. RTX followed by MP therapy might be effective against SRNS refractory to conventional treatments and requiring frequent albumin treatment. Prospective clinical study examining the effectiveness and safety of this approach is required.
An Empirical Analysis of Post‐Merger Organizational Integration
Authors: Smeets Valerie , Ierulli Kathryn , Gibbs Michael 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe study post‐merger organizational integration using linked employer–employee data. Integration is implemented by reassigning a small number of high‐skilled workers, especially in R&D and management. Workforce mixing is concentrated to establishments set up after merger, rather than to previously existing establishments. Worker turnover is high after merger, but new hiring yields stable total employment. Target employees have higher turnover and reassignment, particularly if the target firm is small relative to the acquiring firm. These findings might suggest that integration is costly, but can be achieved by focusing on key employees. Alternatively, the reassignment of a few key employees is sufficient for achieving integration.
Do Lower Caseloads Improve the Performance of Public Employment Services? New Evidence from German Employment Offices
Authors: Hainmueller Jens , Hofmann Barbara , Krug Gerhard , Wolf Katja 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe caseworker‐to‐clients ratio is an important, but understudied, policy parameter that affects both the quality and cost of public employment services that help job seekers find employment. We exploit a large‐scale pilot by Germany's employment agency, which hired 490 additional caseworkers in 14 of its 779 offices. We find that lowering caseloads caused a decrease in the rate and duration of local unemployment as well as a higher re‐employment rate. Disentangling the mechanisms that contributed to this improvement, we find that offices with lowered caseloads increased monitoring and imposed more sanctions but also intensified search efforts and registered additional vacancies.
Discriminant musculo‐skeletal leg characteristics between sprint and endurance elite Caucasian runners
Authors: Bex T. , Iannaccone F. , Stautemas J. , Baguet A. , De Beule M. , Verhegghe B. , Aerts P. , De Clercq D. , Derave W. 
Published: February 2016

Excellence in either sprinting or endurance running requires specific musculo‐skeletal characteristics of the legs. This study aims to investigate the morphology of the leg of sprinters and endurance runners of Caucasian ethnicity. Eight male sprinters and 11 male endurance runners volunteered to participate in this cross‐sectional study. They underwent magnetic resonance imaging and after data collection, digital reconstruction was done to calculate muscle volumes and bone lengths. Sprinters have a higher total upper leg volume compared to endurance runners (7340 vs 6265 cm3). Specifically, the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and hamstrings showed significantly higher muscle volumes in the sprint group. For the lower leg, only a higher muscle volume was found in the gastrocnemius lateralis for the sprinters. No differences were found in muscle volume distribution, center of mass in the different muscles, or relative bone lengths. There was a significant positive correlation between ratio hamstrings/quadriceps volume and best running performance in the sprint group. Sprinters and endurance runners of Caucasian ethnicity showed the greatest distinctions in muscle volumes, rather than in muscle distributions or skeletal measures. Sprinters show higher volumes in mainly the proximal and lateral leg muscles than endurance runners.
Comprehensive description of blood microbiome from healthy donors assessed by 16S targeted metagenomic sequencing
Authors: Païssé Sandrine , Valle Carine , Servant Florence , Courtney Michael , Burcelin Rémy , Amar Jacques , Lelouvier Benjamin 
Published: February 2016

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed that the blood of healthy humans is not as sterile as previously supposed. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the microbiome present in different fractions of the blood of healthy individuals.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe study was conducted in 30 healthy blood donors to the French national blood collection center (Établissement Français du Sang). We have set up a 16S rDNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay as well as a 16S targeted metagenomics sequencing pipeline specifically designed to analyze the blood microbiome, which we have used on whole blood as well as on different blood fractions (buffy coat [BC], red blood cells [RBCs], and plasma).RESULTSMost of the blood bacterial DNA is located in the BC (93.74%), and RBCs contain more bacterial DNA (6.23%) than the plasma (0.03%). The distribution of 16S DNA is different for each fraction and spreads over a relatively broad range among donors. At the phylum level, blood fractions contain bacterial DNA mostly from the Proteobacteria phylum (more than 80%) but also from Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. At deeper taxonomic levels, there are striking differences between the bacterial profiles of the different blood fractions.CONCLUSIONWe demonstrate that a diversified microbiome exists in healthy blood. This microbiome has most likely an important physiologic role and could be implicated in certain transfusion‐transmitted bacterial infections. In this regard, the amount of 16S bacterial DNA or the microbiome profile could be monitored to improve the safety of the blood supply.
High cystatin C levels predict undesirable outcome for diabetic foot ulcerations
Authors: Ai Ligen , Hu Yanyun , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zeng Hui , Zhao Jun , Zhao Jungong , Chai Yimin , Lu Junxi , Tang Junling , Bao Yuqian , Liu Fang , Jia Weiping 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe investigated the relationship between serum cystatin C levels and the prognosis of diabetic foot ulcerations (DFU). A population‐based cohort study involving 1018 patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted. These patients recruited and divided into two groups: nondiabetic foot ulcer group (NDF, n = 865, 85.5%) and diabetic foot ulcer group (DFU, n = 147, 14.5%).After a 1‐year‐follow‐up, DFUs were grouped into healing (n = 110, 74.8%) and nonhealing (n = 37, 25.2%) group based on the clinical prognosis. Compared with the healing group, the nonhealing group were older, had long diabetic duration and had significantly increased serum cystatin C concentrations in DFU (p < 0.01). After adjustments for age, diabetes duration, renal function and infection control, multiple logistical regression analysis revealed that cystatin C remained associated increased risk of undesirable DFU outcome (OR = 7.279, 95% CI: 1.299–40.784, p < 0.05). When divided into quartiles according to cystatin C levels, the healing rate of Quartile 4 was significantly lower (57.9%) compared with other groups (p < 0.01). The odd is ratio (OR) analysis showed that the risk of undesirable DFU outcome in Quartile 4 was significantly higher (OR = 4.554, 95% CI: 3.14–5.12, p < 0.05) compared with that in Quartile 1. We concluded that there was a strong and independent association between serum cystatin C and diabetic foot ulceration prognosis, cystatin C > 1.35 mg/L predicts more than sixfold increased risk of incurable foot ulceration.
The use of brief post‐surgical low frequency electrical stimulation to enhance nerve regeneration in clinical practice
Authors: Chan K. M. , Curran M. W. T. , Gordon T. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDespite efforts to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration, there has been little progress in improving clinical outcomes. Recently, a method of brief post‐surgical low frequency electrical stimulation of surgically repaired nerves has been developed. It was shown to accelerate axon outgrowth across the repair site and it hastened target reinnervation. In this brief review, we describe the mechanistic insights and functional impacts of the post‐surgical electrical stimulation that have been gained through animal studies. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, cyclic AMP and regeneration‐associated genes play a vital role in expediting the outgrowth of axons across the injury site. The method of stimulation has also been shown to be effective in patients with severe compressive neuropathy as well as those with digital nerve laceration. Its clinical feasibility and positive impact open the door of further clinical translation in other peripheral nerve injuries.
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Defining a stem cell hierarchy in the intestine: markers, caveats and controversies
Authors: Smith Nicholas R. , Gallagher Alexandra C. , Wong Melissa H. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe past decade has appreciated rapid advance in identifying the once elusive intestinal stem cell (ISC) populations that fuel the continual renewal of the epithelial layer. This advance was largely driven by identification of novel stem cell marker genes, revealing the existence of quiescent, slowly‐ and active‐cycling ISC populations. However, a critical barrier for translating this knowledge to human health and disease remains elucidating the functional interplay between diverse stem cell populations. Currently, the precise hierarchical and regulatory relationships between these ISC populations are under intense scrutiny. The classical theory of a linear hierarchy, where quiescent and slowly‐cycling stem cells self‐renew but replenish an active‐cycling population, is well established in other rapidly renewing tissues such as the haematopoietic system. Efforts to definitively establish a similar stem cell hierarchy within the intestinal epithelium have yielded conflicting results, been difficult to interpret, and suggest non‐conventional alternatives to a linear hierarchy. While these new and potentially paradigm‐shifting discoveries are intriguing, the field will require development of a number of critical tools, including highly specific stem cell marker genes along with more rigorous experimental methodologies, to delineate the complex cellular relationships within this dynamic organ system.
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European Project “Supercritical Water Reactor–Fuel Qualification Test”: Results of Fuel Pin Mock-up Tests
Authors: Novotný Radek , Visser Dirk , Timke Theo , Vojáček Aleš , Frýbort Otakar , Siegl Jan , Haušild Petr , Macák Jan 
Published: February 2016

The main target of the EURATOM FP7 project “fuel qualification test for supercritical water-cooled reactor” was to make significant progress toward the design, analysis, and licensing of a fuel assembly cooled with supercritical water (SCW) in a research reactor. Within the project, fuel pin mock-ups of a future fuel qualification test facility were designed and manufactured by Centrum Výzkumu Řež (CVR). Following that, it was decided to conduct three different types of tests considering two possible accident scenarios. Simulation of loss of external pressure was the target of Test 1. The autoclave was depressurized as fast as possible from 20 to 1 MPa by opening the close valve located behind the cooling part of the high-pressure part of the loop. Pressure inside the pin was held at a constant value of 20 MPa by pumping high-pressure water via the pin and in parallel via a separate relief valve that was connected directly to the pin using the filling pressure tube. A similar approach was chosen when the opposite case, i.e., loss of internal pressure in the pin, was simulated in Test 2A. Eventually, Test 2A was repeated with modified setup to determine the lower limit of the internal pin pressure (i.e., collapse/buckling of the pin due to external overpressure) more accurately. The presented paper summarizes the results of all three performed tests.
Minimum Weight Design of Aero Engine Turbine Disks
Authors: Kasina Lakshman , Kotur Raghavan , Gnanasundaram Govindaraji 
Published: February 2016

The aero engine rotating parts are always fracture critical components and their failure in service affects the aircraft safety. Rotors / disks will burst at a certain speed if they operate at ever-increasing speed. Rotor burst is one of important failure mode in aero engine and resulting in disk disintegration into multiple fragments with high speed resulting in containment breach. Disks are subjected to fatigue loading and it limits the service life. Fatigue loading on disk includes high temperature environment, tremendous centrifugal and aerodynamic forces caused by blades.
The main aspect of turbine disk design is to safe guard against LCF failure. Design of disk should ensure that stresses due to thermal, centrifugal and aerodynamics loads during operating conditions should be within the limits. Turbine disks are also designed to operate at speed above 20% of maximum operating speed for maximum power and referred as over speed capability or burst margin. This over speed capability may require for the aircraft during emergency conditions.
The objective of this study is to design a turbine disk for minimum weight. A numerical investigation is performed to predict stresses and burst margins of turbine disk. A parametric disk model is developed with bore width, bore height, web width and web height parameters. Optimization of turbine disk design is carried out to achieve minimum weight. Sensitivity studies are carried out to understand the geometry parameters influence on the stress and burst margins.
Design Considerations for Syngas Turbine Power Plants
Authors: Ganjikunta Jaya 
Published: February 2016

Market demands such as generating power at lower cost, increasing reliability, providing fuel flexibility, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions have renewed the interest in Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plants in the Indian refinery segment. This technology typically uses coal or petroleum coke (petcoke) gasification and gas turbine based combined cycle systems as it offers potential advantages in reducing emissions and producing low cost electricity. Gasification of coal typically produces syngas which is a mixture of Hydrogen (H) and Carbon Monoxide (CO). Present state of gas turbine technology facilitates burning of low calorific fuels such as syngas and gas turbine is the heart of power block in IGCC. Selecting a suitable gas turbine for syngas fired power plant application and optimization in integration can offer the purchaser savings in initial cost by avoiding oversizing as well as reduction in operating cost through better efficiency.
This paper discusses the following aspects of syngas turbine IGCC power plant:
• Considerations in design and engineering approach
• Review of technologies in syngas fired gas turbines
• Design differences of syngas turbines with respect to natural gas fired turbines
• Gas turbine integration with gasifier, associated syngas system design and materials
• Syngas safety, HAZOP and Hazardous area classification
• Retrofitting of existing gas turbines suitable for syngas firing
• Project execution and coordination at various phases of a project
This paper is based on the experience gained in the recently executed syngas fired gas turbine based captive power plant and IGCC plant. This experience would be useful for gas turbine technology selection, integration of gas turbine in to IGCC, estimating engineering efforts, cost savings, cycle time reduction, retrofits and lowering future syngas based power plant project risks.
Gas Dynamic Designing of Pneumatic Braking System for Gas Turbine Engine Test Bench
Authors: Popov Grigorii M. , Novikova Yulia D. , Goriachkin Evgenii S. 
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this research was the gas-dynamic design of the pneumatic brake system on the basis of the existing geometry of the three stage axial flow low-pressure compressor for application in the GTE test benches.
The pneumatic brake system has been obtained by adding of the add stage to the low-pressure compressor, the geometry of which repeats the geometry of the stages of the base compressor. In this work, two options were considered. First, the second stage of the base compressor was used as the add stage. Second, the third stage of the base compressor was used as the add stage.