bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liver Disease and Neurology
Authors: Schwendimann Robert N. , Minagar Alireza 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Purpose of Review: Neurologists often encounter patients with acute and chronic liver disease and must be aware of how these diseases can affect the nervous system. This is particularly true when evaluating patients with alterations in cognition and level of consciousness. Wilson disease, while uncommon, is a treatable condition with many neurologic and psychiatric symptoms. Neurologic disorders associated with liver disease may affect not only the brain, but also the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. This article reviews the association of liver disease and the nervous system and provides new information regarding diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to evaluating patients with liver diseases.

Recent Findings: Early recognition of hepatic encephalopathy may be possible using a combination of clinical suspicion and various neuropsychological studies. Management of severe hepatic encephalopathy from acute liver failure is important to neurologists involved in neurocritical care. Next-generation genetic testing may aid in the diagnosis of patients suspected of having Wilson disease. The relationship of numerous neurologic findings from hepatocerebral degeneration and from viral hepatitis is more widely recognized.

Summary: It is important for neurologists to recognize the neurologic symptoms that may occur in patients with acute and chronic liver failure, Wilson disease, and viral hepatitis to inform prompt diagnostic and management decisions.
Autoimmune Neurology of the Central Nervous System
Authors: Tobin W. Oliver , Pittock Sean J. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACT

Purpose of Review: This article reviews the rapidly evolving spectrum of autoimmune neurologic disorders with a focus on those that involve the central nervous system, providing an understanding of how to approach the diagnostic workup of patients presenting with central nervous system symptoms or signs that could be immune mediated, either paraneoplastic or idiopathic, to guide therapeutic decision making.

Recent Findings: The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the discovery of novel neural antibodies and their targets. Many commercial laboratories can now test for these antibodies, which serve as diagnostic markers of diverse neurologic disorders that occur on an autoimmune basis. Some are highly specific for certain cancer types, and the neural antibody profiles may help direct the physician’s cancer search.

Summary: The diagnosis of an autoimmune neurologic disorder is aided by the detection of an objective neurologic deficit (usually subacute in onset with a fluctuating course), the presence of a neural autoantibody, and improvement in the neurologic status after a course of immunotherapy. Neural autoantibodies should raise concern for a paraneoplastic etiology and may inform a targeted oncologic evaluation (eg, N-methyl-d-aspartate [NMDA] receptor antibodies are associated with teratoma, antineuronal nuclear antibody type 1 [ANNA-1, or anti-Hu] are associated with small cell lung cancer). MRI, EEG, functional imaging, videotaped evaluations, and neuropsychological evaluations provide objective evidence of neurologic dysfunction by which the success of immunotherapy may be measured. Most treatment information emanates from retrospective case series and expert opinion. Nonetheless, early intervention may allow reversal of deficits in many patients and prevention of future disability.
Measurement of Swelling of Individual Smectite Tactoids in situ using Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Arndt Diana S. , Mattei Michael , Heist Christopher A. , McGuire Molly M. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAtomic force microscopy (AFM) is a novel method for measuring changes in clay swelling in situ at the tactoid level in an aqueous environment. While the swelling process has been directly observed at the mesoscale level for multi-tactoid aggregates and the associated pores, no method to date has allowed the direct observation of swelling dynamics at the nanoscale. In initial proof-of-concept studies, individual tactoids of a Na-exchanged nontronite (NAu-1) were imaged in a solution of 5 mM NaCl. When multiple line profiles were examined on the same tactoid, the changes in height varied and depended on which layers of the profile were transected, and demonstrated that AFM analyses can be used to directly probe intratactoid heterogeneity in the swelling process. To better visualize this heterogeneity, a method was developed to restrict AFM images to include only the portions of a tactoid above a threshold height. A comparison of the changes in these images for multiple threshold values revealed that swelling in one part of a tactoid may occur simultaneously with compression in another portion, which suggests that the encroachment of layers into intra-tactoid micropores can partially compensate for the overall volume change. Finally, to demonstrate the ability of this technique to monitor in situ swelling changes as the surrounding aqueous environment is modified, a tactoid of K-montmorillonite (SWy-2) was monitored during cation exchange as a KCl solution was replaced with NaCl. After exchange, a transition from the crystalline swelling regime to the osmotic regime was observed. Subsequent height profiles were unchanged for a period of several hours and indicated that the AFM measurements were stable in the absence of changes to the aqueous phase composition. Because this technique is the first method that allows the swelling of a single tactoid to be monitored in an aqueous solution, it complements the ensemble-averaged data obtained from diffraction and scattering techniques.
Outcomes of 12 Years of the Reynolds Cup Quantitative Mineral Analysis Round Robin
Authors: Raven Mark D. , Self Peter G. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn 2000, The Clay Minerals Society established a biennial quantitative mineralogy round robin. The so-called Reynolds Cup competition is named after Bob Reynolds for his pioneering work in quantitative clay mineralogy and exceptional contributions to clay science. The first contest was run in 2002 with 40 sets of three samples, which were prepared from mixtures of purified, natural, and synthetic minerals that are commonly found in clay-bearing rocks and soils and represent realistic mineral assemblages. The rules of the competition allow any method or combination of methods to be used in the quantitative analysis of the mineral assemblages. Throughout the competition, X-ray diffraction has been the method of choice for quantifying the mineralogy of the sample mixtures with a multitude of other techniques used to assist with phase identification and quantification. In the first twelve years of the Reynolds Cup competition (2002 to 2014), around 14,000 analyses from 448 participants have been carried out on a total of 21 samples. The data provided by these analyses constitute an extensive database on the accuracy of quantitative mineral analyses and also has given enough time for the progression of improvements in such analyses. In the Reynolds Cup competition, the accuracy of a particular quantification is judged by calculating a “bias” for each phase in an assemblage. Determining exactly the true amount of a phase in the assemblage would give a bias of zero. Generally, the higher placed participants correctly identified all or most of the mineral phases present. Conversely, the worst performers failed to identify or misidentified phases. Several contestants reported a long list of minor exotic phases, which were likely reported by automated search/match programs and were mineralogically implausible. Not surprisingly, clay minerals were among the greatest sources of error reported. This article reports on the first 12 years of the Reynolds Cup competition results and analyzes the competition data to determine the overall accuracy of the mineral assemblage quantities reported by the participants. The data from the competition were also used to ascertain trends in quantification accuracy over a 12 year period and to highlight sources of error in quantitative analyses.
The effect of parliamentary reforms (2011–16) on the Oireachtas committee system
Authors: Lynch Catherine 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
The literature on parliament identifies many factors which facilitate or impede parliamentary committees in their quest to scrutinise legislation and to oversee and hold government to account, including the formal powers assigned to them, political factors associated with the make-up of parliament, structural factors associated with parliamentary tradition, and the rules and procedure adopted by parliament. This article is concerned with how parliamentary rules and procedure can affect committees. It develops a framework of the procedural variables associated with ‘effective committee systems’ and uses it to assess the Oireachtas committee system prior to and after the reforms introduced by the thirty-first and thirty-second Dáileanna. It finds that many, though not all, of the procedural conditions for a strong committee system have been put in place. However, while changes to procedure can remove obstacles to effective committee systems, other factors - above all, the incentive for politicians to engage with committee work - will ultimately determine whether the reforms truly strengthen parliament.
Political-administrative relations: The role of political advisers
Authors: Connaughton Bernadette 
Published: June 2017

AbstractMinisterial advisers were first formally appointed as support for individual Irish ministers in 1973, and since then their numbers and tasks have considerably expanded. As ‘temporary civil servants’, they are regarded as both an accepted and criticised feature of executive government. This article focuses on the role of political staff during the period 2011-16 and centres on the period of the economic crisis and its immediate aftermath. It considers themes arising in the international literature that raise questions for the reform of the Irish ‘special adviser’. In order to unpack the specifics of the Irish case, the position and function of special advisers are explored through two theoretical perspectives - public adviser bargains and the core executive. It is argued that the special adviser continues to fit somewhat uneasily within the imperatives of the political-administrative system because they are personally appointed by ministers and their selection is determined by the level and type of support required by individual ministers, as opposed to any preordained skills set.
Non-invasive Diagnostics of Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Mihaylov R. , Pencheva B. , Stoeva D. , Ruseva A. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
Detecting new units of pathogenesis in the liver fibrosis due to alcoholism, chronic viral Hepatitis B and C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune, parasitic and metabolic diseases and other, reveals perspective for new non-invasive serum biomarkers. In fibrosis, from the wide variety of markers enzymes, proteins and cytokines are mainly used. While direct biomarkers reflect the stage of fibrosis and fibrinogenesis, indirect markers allow assessment of the general liver functions. The combination of direct and indirect markers increases the diagnostic reliability and therefore these panels and indices are investigated quite intensively in recent years in order to decrease the number of liver biopsies without completely replace it, which is still regarded as the reference method.
T Helper Cells in the Immunopathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis – Current Trends
Authors: Krasimirova E. , Kyurkchiev D. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease characterized by skin and multiorgan involvement with alterations in both the innate and adaptive immunities. The hallmark of the disease is widespread fibrosis engaging the skin and multiple internal organs, as well as the musculoskeletal system. There is mounting evidence that T cells are key players in the pathogenesis of scleroderma. The current review discusses the role of the different T helper (Th) lymphocyte subsets in the processes of inflammation and fibrosis, characteristics for the pathogenesis of the disease. Cytokines produced by Th cell populations have a major effect on endothelial cells and fibroblasts in the context of favoring/inhibiting the vasculopathy and the fibrosis spread. The Th2 pro-fibrotic cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 have been shown to induce collagen synthesis by fibroblasts, whereas IFN-γ demonstrates an inhibitory effect. Increased Th17 cells are present in the scleroderma skin infiltrates. The combination of IL-17, IFN-γ and TGF-β levels in CD45RO and CD45RA cells from patients with SSc is useful to distinguish between the limited and the diffuse phenotype of the disease. There are accumulating data for functional and numerical alterations in the Tregs in SSc. High levels of TNF-α which might reduce the suppressive ability of Tregs have been described. According to some studies, the number of Tregs in scleroderma skin biopsies has been decreased against the normal absolute number of Tregs in peripheral blood of the same patients, which suggests suppressed immunomodulatory response. Other studies reported increased frequency of Tregs in peripheral blood of patients with systemic sclerosis and established a correlation with disease activity. The main immunological challenge remains the identification of the trigger of the autoimmune response in SSc, the causes for preferential Th2-type cell responses and the immunological differences between the diffuse and the limited cutaneous form of the disease.
New monotonicity conditions in discrete fractional calculus with applications to extremality conditions
Authors: Dahal Rajendra , Drvol Stanley , Goodrich Christopher S. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
We present some initial results for detecting extrema of a function

f
:

ℕ
a

→
ℝ

{f:\mathbb{N}_{a}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}}

when the only a priori information is some limited pointwise data about f as well as information about an appropriate fractional difference of f. In particular, such results provide some analogues of the well-known tests for detecting local extrema using the sign of

Δ
⁢
f
⁢

(
t
)

{\Delta f(t)}

. Certain of these results are consequences of some new monotonicity conditions, which relate conditions on the sign of

Δ
a
ν

⁢
f
⁢

(
t
)

{\Delta_{a}^{\nu}f(t)}

, for

0
<
ν
<
1

{0<\nu<1}

, to the monotonicity of f. Finally, we provide some numerical examples to illustrate the results.
Econometrics Illustrated, with Applications from Insurance-Research Awards
Authors: Butler Richard J 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
The linear regression model is the dominant tool employed in applied risk and insurance research. Based on my 2016 APRIA lecture at Chengdu, China, I illustrate the simple geometry of the linear regression model, as well as some standard results from it: omitted variable bias (OVB), classical measurement error (CME), simultaneous equation models (SEM), and instrumental variable estimation. Instrumental variable estimation solves OVB, CME, and SEM problems by constructing similar triangles to retrieve consistent estimates. I apply these tools by estimating the determinants of the Witt and Mehr awards given annually for Journal of Risk and Insurance articles, as two examples. The Witt vs. Mehr awards also contrasts short-term scholarly recognition (Witt) versus long-term scholarly recognition (Mehr). The comments made here apply to other paper awards, such as those presented by the Asian Pacific Journal of Risk and Insurance. I also present a simple index function based on the classical Gini index (hence, this new index is denoted as the regression gini index, RGI) useful for comparing two regression models, and apply this to explain the empirical difference between the determinants of the Witt and Mehr awards.
Makkabi, Jutrzenka, Wisla and Cracovia. Polish-Jewish Krakow from the Perspective of Football
Authors: Wilczyńska Bogna 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDer vorliegende Beitrag versucht das Phänomen des jüdischen Fußballs in Krakau in der Zwischenkriegszeit zu beleuchten. Basierend auf Erinnerungen von Zeitzeugen, Literatur und Zeitungsartikeln beschreibt die Autorin die signifikante Rolle von Juden bei der Entwicklung des polnischen Fußballs. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf der Bedeutung sportlichen Wettbewerbs für Vertreter von Minderheiten, insbesondere im Zusammenhang mit der katholischen Mehrheitsbevölkerung. Dabei ist es das primäre Ziel des Artikels, das Verhältnis zwischen Polen und Juden aus der Perspektive von vier Fußballvereinen – Jutrzenka, Makkabi, Wisla und Cracovia – darzustellen. Die vier Vereine lagen nicht nur auf dem Sportplatz im Wettstreit, sondern vertraten auch in ideologischer Hinsicht und bezüglich ihrer Einstellungen sehr unterschiedliche Standpunkte. Differenzen zwischen dem linksgerichteten Jutrzenka, dem Zionistischen Makkabi, dem demokratischen Cracovia und dem nationalistisch orientierten Wisla reflektieren wichtige Antagonismen zwischen Polen und Juden wie auch die Gegensätze innerhalb der ethnischen Gruppierungen.
Mythos »Judenklub« – Feindbildkonstruktionen im mitteleuropäischen Fußball der Zwischenkriegszeit
Authors: Oswald Rudolf 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe article focuses on a certain aspect of Central European soccer history – the turning of traditional urban images into enemy stereotypes by the inter-war fan culture. Generally, pejorative images were based on the origin of a club. Village clubs and their fans were considered »Saubauern«. If they had their home in a suburb, they were denigrated as a »Mob«, and if they were city-clubs, they had to cope with anti-Semitism. The images were in fact misleading. Even those clubs which were denounced as »Judenklubs« only had a very small minority of Jews among their fans, members and officials.
Does Previous Marijuana Use Increase the Use of Other Drugs: An Almost Ideal Demand System Approach
Authors: Thompson Alexi , Koichi Yamaura 
Published: June 2017

Abstract
From a policy standpoint, the legalization of marijuana may affect other drug markets. The Almost Ideal Demand Model is used to estimate drug substitution between the most common illegal street drugs in the US including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamines. We control for past marijuana consumption. Results indicate that past marijuana consumption does not contribute to increased current consumption of other drugs. Further, marijuana is a weak complement to methamphetamines but marijuana price changes do not affect heroin or cocaine consumption.
Frequency of Thrombophilic Gene Mutations in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis and in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Elgari Mahmoud Mohamed , Ibrahim Nadir Ahmed , Muddathir Abdel Rahim Mahmoud , Eltoom Faris Mergheni , Ibrahim Ibrahim M 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThrombophilia may be anticipated by single or combined hereditary defects in encoding genes factor V, Prothrombin, and MTHFR. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risks of V Leiden (G1691A), Prothrombin (G20210A), and MTHFR (C677T) mutations in Saudi women with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Protein C and protein S activity were measured to determine combined effects, if any. We examined 60 women with a history of DVT and 60 with RPL, extracted DNA from EDTA blood and determined three mutations by using multiplex PCR reactions followed by Strip Assay KIT. Pro C Global assay was used to determine the cutoff value [PCATNR = 0.80]. Protein C/S chromogenic assay was used to estimate protein C and S percentages. Frequency of Factor V Leiden G/A genotype in patients with DVT 7 (11.6%) had a significant association for DVT χ2 (OR = 5.1, P = 0.03). In women with RPL the three mutations did not show any significant association, levels of Protein C, protein S and PCAT-NR in patient groups not different from controls (P > 0.05). In conclusion, we recommend expanding on these data to provide larger-scale studies.
Genetic Defects Underlie the Non-syndromic Autosomal Recessive Intellectual Disability (NS-ARID)
Authors: Saleha Shamim , Sajid Muhammad , Zafar Shaista , Pervaiz Neelam 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIntellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which appears frequently as the result of genetic mutations and may be syndromic (S-ID) or non-syndromic (NS-ID). ID causes an important economic burden, for patient's family, health systems, and society. Identifying genes that cause S-ID can easily be evaluated due to the clinical symptoms or physical anomalies. However, in the case of NS-ID due to the absence of co-morbid features, the latest molecular genetic techniques can be used to understand the genetic defects that underlie it. Recent studies have shown that non-syndromic autosomal recessive (NS-ARID) is extremely heterogeneous and contributes much more than X-linked ID. However, very little is known about the genes and loci involved in NS-ARID relative to X-linked ID, and whose complete genetic etiology remains obscure. In this review article, the known genetic etiology of NS-ARID and possible relationships between genes and the associated molecular pathways of their encoded proteins has been reviewed which will enhance our understanding about the underlying genes and mechanisms in NS-ARID.
Nitrophorins and nitrobindins: structure and function
Authors: De Simone Giovanna , Ascenzi Paolo , di Masi Alessandra , Polticelli Fabio 
Published: June 2017

AbstractClassical all α-helical globins are present in all living organisms and are ordered in three lineages: (i) flavohemoglobins and single domain globins, (ii) protoglobins and globin coupled sensors and (iii) truncated hemoglobins, displaying the 3/3 or the 2/2 all α-helical fold. However, over the last two decades, all β-barrel and mixed α-helical-β-barrel heme-proteins displaying heme-based functional properties (e.g. ligand binding, transport and sensing) closely similar to those of all α-helical globins have been reported. Monomeric nitrophorins (NPs) and α1-microglobulin (α1-m), belonging to the lipocalin superfamily and nitrobindins (Nbs) represent prototypical heme-proteins displaying the all β-barrel and mixed α-helical-β-barrel folds. NPs are confined to the Reduviidae and Cimicidae families of Heteroptera, whereas α1-m and Nbs constitute heme-protein families spanning bacteria toHomo sapiens. The structural organization and the reactivity of the stable ferric solvent-exposed heme-Fe atom suggest that NPs and Nbs are devoted to NO transport, storage and sensing, whereasHs-α1-m participates in heme metabolism. Here, the structural and functional properties of NPs and Nbs are reviewed in parallel with those of sperm whale myoglobin, which is generally taken as the prototype of monomeric globins.
Aptamer-modified nanomaterials: principles and applications
Authors: Urmann Katharina , Modrejewski Julia , Scheper Thomas , Walter Johanna-G. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAptamers are promising alternative binders that can substitute antibodies in various applications. Due to the advantages of aptamers, namely their high affinity, specificity and stability, along with the benefits originating from the chemical synthesis of aptamers, they have attracted attention in various applications including their use on nanostructured material. This necessitates the immobilization of aptamers on a solid support. Since aptamer immobilization may interfere with its binding properties, the immobilization of aptamers has to be investigated and optimized. Within this review, we give general insights into the principles and factors controlling the binding affinity of immobilized aptamers. Specific features of aptamer immobilization on nanostructured surfaces and nanoparticles are highlighted and a brief overview of applications of aptamer-modified nanostructured materials is given.