bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is reduced in Alzheimer’s disease in association with increasing amyloid-β and tau pathology
Authors: Kehoe Patrick Gavin , Wong Steffenny , AL Mulhim Noura , Palmer Laura Elyse , Miners J. Scott 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Background
Hyperactivity of the classical axis of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), mediated by angiotensin II (Ang II) activation of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) degrades Ang II to angiotensin 1–7 (Ang ﻿﻿(1-7)) and counter-regulates the classical axis of RAS. We have investigated the expression and distribution of ACE-2 in post-mortem human brain tissue in relation to AD pathology and classical RAS axis activity.

Methods
We measured ACE-2 activity by fluorogenic peptide substrate assay in mid-frontal cortex (Brodmann area 9) in a cohort of AD (n = 90) and age-matched non-demented controls (n = 59) for which we have previous data on ACE-1 activity, amyloid β (Aβ) level and tau pathology, as well as known ACE1 (rs1799752) indel polymorphism, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy severity scores.

Results
ACE-2 activity was significantly reduced in AD compared with age-matched controls (P < 0.0001) and correlated inversely with levels of Aβ (r = −0.267, P < 0.001) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) pathology (r = −0.327, P < 0.01). ACE-2 was reduced in individuals possessing an APOE ε4 allele (P < 0.05) and was associated with ACE1 indel polymorphism (P < 0.05), with lower ACE-2 activity in individuals homozygous for the ACE1 insertion AD risk allele. ACE-2 activity correlated inversely with ACE-1 activity (r = −0.453, P < 0.0001), and the ratio of ACE-1 to ACE-2 was significantly elevated in AD (P < 0.0001). Finally, we show that the ratio of Ang II to Ang (1–7) (a proxy measure of ACE-2 activity indicating conversion of Ang II to Ang (1–7)) is reduced in AD.

Conclusions
Together, our findings indicate that ACE-2 activity is reduced in AD and is an important regulator of the central classical ACE-1/Ang II/AT1R axis of RAS, and also that dysregulation of this pathway likely plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Colloidal Dispersion of Gold Nanorods and Gold-Silver Core-Shell Nanorods in Polar Organic Solvents
Authors: Kitamura Takeharu , Niidome Yasuro 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Gold nanorods and gold-silver core-shell nanorods were colloidally dispersed in polar organic solvents, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, and dimethylformamide, and their water mixtures. The gold nanorods showed narrow longitudinal surface plasmon bands in 100% dimethylformamide, 25% dimethylsulfoxide, and 25% acetonitrile solutions, indicating that the gold nanorods were well dispersed in these solutions. For the core-shell nanorods, acetonitrile and its water mixtures gave well-dispersed colloidal solutions. Amphiphilic molecules in the dispersions did not influence the systems; however, thiol-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-SH) strongly stabilized the colloidal dispersions. The nanorods in the organic dispersions with the addition of PEG-SH could be redispersed in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solutions. The zeta potentials of the gold nanorods in 1/10 PBS solutions ranged from −7.5 to +3.3 mV. Steric effects of the bulky PEG chains attached to the nanorod surfaces stabilized their colloidal dispersions in PBS.
Mixed-Valence States of Orthorhombic [Fe3O(C6F5COO)6(C5H5N)3]·CH2Cl2 Characterized by X-ray Crystallography and 57Fe Mössbauer Spectroscopy: Comparison with a Hexagonal Polymorph
Authors: Sakai Yoichi , Ogiso Ryo , Kawasaki Takeshi , Kitazawa Takafumi , Nakamoto Tadahiro , Takayama Tsutomu , Takahashi Masashi 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
An orthorhombic form of polymorphs of mixed-valence trinuclear iron pentafluorobenzoate containing dichloromethane as a crystal solvent molecule, [Fe3O(C6F5COO)6(C5H5N)3]·CH2Cl2 (o-1), was newly prepared and confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis at 123 and 300 K. Three bond lengths of Fe–O in the central Fe3O moiety are not identical, which is in contrast to our previously reported hexagonal form (h-1) having D3h local symmetry.157Fe Mössbauer spectra of o-1 showed a valence-trapped state consisting of high-spin Fe(III) and high-spin Fe(II) atoms with an area ratio of 2/1 to 3/1 between 78 and 300 K, being in complete contrast to those of h-1 with the valence-detrapped (averaged) state above ∼90 K. The present findings are consistently explained from the viewpoints of the crystal and molecular structures.
YeATSAM analysis of the walnut and chickpea transcriptome reveals key genes undetected by current annotation tools
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep , Martínez-García Pedro J. , Dandekar Abhaya M. 
Published: November 2016

Background: The transcriptome, a treasure trove of gene space information, remains severely under-used by current genome annotation methods. Methods: Here, we present an annotation method in the YeATS suite (YeATSAM), based on information encoded by the transcriptome, that demonstrates artifacts of the assembler, which must be addressed to achieve proper annotation. Results and Discussion: YeATSAM was applied to the transcriptome obtained from twenty walnut tissues and compared to MAKER-P annotation of the recently published walnut genome sequence (WGS). MAKER-P and YeATSAM both failed to annotate several hundred proteins found by the other. Although many of these unannotated proteins have repetitive sequences (possibly transposable elements), other crucial proteins were excluded by each method. An egg cell-secreted protein and a homer protein were undetected by YeATSAM, although these did not produce any transcripts. Importantly, MAKER-P failed to classify key photosynthesis-related proteins, which we show emanated from Trinity assembly artifacts potentially not handled by MAKER-P. Also, no proteins from the large berberine bridge enzyme (BBE) family were annotated by MAKER-P. BBE is implicated in biosynthesis of several alkaloids metabolites, like anti-microbial berberine. As further validation, YeATSAM identified ~1000 genes that are not annotated in the NCBI database by Gnomon. YeATSAM used a RNA-seq derived chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) transcriptome assembled using Newbler v2.3. Conclusions: Since the current version of YeATSAM does not have an ab initio module, we suggest a combined annotation scheme using both MAKER-P and YeATSAM to comprehensively and accurately annotate the WGS.
Monitoring the compliance of the academic enterprise with the Fair Labor Standards Act
Authors: Bankston Adriana , McDowell Gary S. 
Published: November 2016

Background: On December 1 2016, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be updated by the U.S. Department of Labor. The key changes are an increase in the salary threshold for exemption from overtime for working more than 40 hours per week, and indexing the salary level so that it is updated automatically every 3 years. This update is predicted to have a profound effect on the academic enterprise as a large proportion of the postdoctoral researcher population is currently paid at a salary below the new threshold for exemption. Here we review the key changes to the FLSA, how they came about, and how the postdoctoral population is affected by the ruling. Methods: We describe recent data collection efforts (checking university websites and contacting HR departments) to uncover what institutions in the 2014 NSF Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering are doing to comply with the FLSA ruling for postdocs. Results: Our data show that 41% of the estimated postdoctoral workforce in STEM and 57% of institutions checked have not decided or have no public decision yet available one month prior to implementation, and only 35.5% of institutions are planning to raise salaries to the new minimum. Conclusions: Our data show the uncertainty of postdoc salaries in the U.S. one month prior to implementation of the FLSA ruling. This implementation also gives rise to various issues that have arisen in an already strained research enterprise, including short-, medium- and long-term effects on academe.
Impact of IL-27 on hepatocyte antiviral gene expression and function
Authors: Ramamurthy Narayan , Boninsegna Sara , Adams Rebecca , Sahgal Natasha , Lockstone Helen , Baban Dilair , Marchi Emanuele , Klenerman Paul 
Published: November 2016

Background:Interleukin (IL)-27 is a member of the IL-6/IL-12 family of cytokines. It is a potent cytokine, with potential antiviral impact, and has been shown to play a role in modulating functions of diverse cell types, including Th1, Th2, and NK and B cells, demonstrating both pro- and anti-inflammatory roles. In hepatocytes, it is capable of inducing signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1, STAT3 and interferon-stimulated genes.Methods:To address its role in viral hepatitis, the antiviral activity of IL-27 against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) was testedin vitrousing cell-culture-derived infectious HCV (HCVcc) cell culture system and the HepaRG HBV cell culture model. To further investigate the impact of IL-27 on hepatocytes, Huh7.5 cells were treated with IL-27 to analyse the differentially expressed genes by microarray analysis. Furthermore, by quantitative PCR, we analyzed the up-regulation of chemokine(CXCL)-10in response to IL-27.Results:In both HCV and HBV infection models, we observed only a modest direct antiviral effect. Microarray analysis showed that the up-regulated genes mostly belonged to antigen presentation and DNA replication pathways, and involved strong up-regulation ofCXCL-10, a gene associated with liver inflammation. Overall, gene set enrichment analysis showed a striking correlation of these genes with those up-regulated in response to related cytokines in diverse cell populations.Conclusion:Our data indicate that IL-27 can have a significant pro-inflammatory impactin vitro, although the direct antiviral effect is modest. It may have a potential impact on hepatocyte function, especially chemokine expression and antigen presentation.
Is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test better suited than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) detection among people aged over 60? Meta-analysis
Authors: Ciesielska Natalia , Sokołowski Remigiusz , Mazur Ewelina , Podhorecka Marta , Polak-Szabela Anna , Kędziora-Kornatowska Kornelia 
Published: November 2016

CelAnaliza wiarygodności MoCA vs. MMSE w wykrywaniu łagodnych zaburzeń poznawczych z uwzględnieniem czułości i swoistości wg. punktów odcięcia.MetodaPosługując się słowami kluczami: łagodne zaburzenia funkcji poznwczych (mild cognitive impairment), krótka skala oceny stanu umysłu (mini mental state examination), montrealska skala oceny funkcji poznawczych (montreal cognitive assessment), wartość diagnostyczna (diagnostics value) przeszukano EBSCO host Web, Wiley Online Library, Springer Link, Science Direct oraz Medline. Uwzględniono artykuły spełniające kryteria włączenia i wyłączenia. Do oceny MoCA zakwalifikowano 20 badań, natomiast do MMSE 13 badań. Siłę badań oceniono przy zastosowaniu średniej ważonej, gdzie wagą była liczebność populacji w każdym badaniu, dla której uzyskano wynik czułości i swoistości dla danego punktu odcięcia. Punkty odcięcia zostały przedstawione jako krzywa ROC, a dokładność diagnozy dla MoCA i MMSE została obliczona jako powierzchnia pod krzywą AUC.WynikiAnaliza krzywej ROC dla MoCA ukazała, że najlepszą wykrywalność MCI można uzyskać przy punkcie odcięcia 24/25 (n= 9350, czułość 80,48% i swoistość 81.19%). AUC wyniosło 0,846 (95% CI 0,823-0,868). Natomiast dla MMSE bardziej istotnym punktem odcięcia okazało się 27/28 (n=882, czułość 66,34% i swoistość 72,94%). AUC wyniosło 0,736 (95% CI 0,718-0,767).WnioskiTest MoCA lepiej spełnia kryteria testu przesiewowego w kierunku wykrywania MCI u osób po 60 roku życia niż MMSE.
The efficacy and safety of ECT in population before and after 60 years of age
Authors: Antosik-Wójcińska Anna , Święcicki Łukasz 
Published: November 2016

CelCelem badania była ocena skuteczności i bezpieczeństwa leczenia elektrowstrząsowego w dwóch grupach wiekowych-przed i po 60 r.ż.MetodaDo badania włączono 107 pacjentów, 62 kobiety i 45 mężczyzn hospitalizowanych w IPIN i leczonych EW w latach 2013 i 2014.W grupie poniżej 60 r. ż znalazło się 76 osób, po 60- 32 osoby. Analizowano przebieg 1086 EW,747 zabiegów u pacjentów przed 60 r. ż i 339 zabiegów u chorych po 60 r.ż. Skuteczność EW oceniano z wykorzystaniem skali CGI.WynikiNie odnotowano poważnych powikłań takich jak zgon, stan zagrożenia życia, konieczność hospitalizacji na innym oddziale czy trwały uszczerbek na zdrowiu.
U 67,11% chorych przed 60 r.ż.nie wystąpiły w trakcie EW żadne działania niepożądane, najczęściej zgłaszanym działaniem niepożądanym były bóle głowy (13,16% pacjentów). U 42% pacjentów po 60 r.ż nie wystąpiły działania niepożądane, najczęściej stwierdzanym działaniem niepożądanym były zaburzenia pamięci (22,58% badanych). Zaburzenia rytmu serca wystąpiły u 5 pacjentów po 60 r.ż . Zaburzenia świadomości zdarzały się po 60 nieco rzadziej niż u pacjentów młodszych (3,25%vs 3,95%).
W starszym wieku odsetek remisji był podobny jak w młodszym(32,89% vs 32,26%)a odsetek znaczącej poprawy nawet wyższy (61,29% po 60 r.ż. vs 48,68 przed 60 r.ż). Brak poprawy zaobserwowano u 7,89% zaś pogorszenie u 2,63% chorych przed 60. W populacji, która przekroczyła 60r.ż. wszyscy pacjenci odnieśli korzyści z leczenia.WnioskiSkuteczność leczenia EW w starszym wieku jest podobna jak w młodszych grupach wiekowych. Tolerancja zabiegów jest po 60 r.ż gorsza niż u młodszych pacjentów. Największy problem stanowiły po 60 r.ż. nie zaburzenia funkcji poznawczych, ale powikłania sercowo-naczyniowe.
Personality traits in alcohol-dependent individuals in the context of childhood abuse
Authors: Gerhant Aneta , Olajossy Marcin 
Published: November 2016

Cel pracyCelem naukowym badania było poszukiwanie grup osób uzależnionych od alkoholu różniących się nasileniem przemocy fizycznej, emocjonalnej i seksualnej w dzieciństwie a następnie poszukiwanie zmiennych osobowościowych różnicujących te grupyMetodaBadaniem objęto 90 osób uzależnionych od alkoholu. Zastosowano następujące metody kwestionariuszowe: Kwestionariusz Temperamentu i Charakteru (TCI), Inwentarz do Pomiaru Radzenia Sobie ze Stresem (COPE), Kwestionariusz Agresji Buss i Perry (BPAQ), Arkusz Samopoznania Cattella oraz Inwentarz Wczesnej Traumy (ETI).WynikiWyodrębniono dwie grupy osób uzależnionych od alkoholu: grupę 1 z wysokimi indeksami nadużyć fizycznych, emocjonalnych i seksualnych w dzieciństwie oraz grupę 2 z niskimi. Badani z grupy 1 osiągali istotnie statystycznie wyższe wyniki niż badani z grupy 2 w zakresie następujących skal temperamentu kwestionariusza TCI: NS, HA oraz niższe w skalach charakteru: SD, C2, C4. Badani z grupy 1 istotnie częściej niż badani z grupy 2 posługiwali się unikowym stylem radzenia sobie ze stresem, rzadziej wykorzystywali styl zadaniowy, oraz osiągali istotnie statystycznie wyższe wyniki w zakresie niepokoju ogólnego, jawnego, ukrytego, poziomu agresji, agresji fizycznej, wrogości i gniewu.WnioskiWiększe nasilenie przemocy fizycznej, emocjonalnej i seksualnej w dzieciństwie u osób uzależnionych od alkoholu wiąże się tymi cechy osobowości, które wydają się być kluczowe dla podtrzymania abstynencji oraz jakości współpracy w terapii.
Mental states in early and late old age patients and their expectations of their physicians
Authors: Andruszkiewicz Anna , Basińska Małgorzata 
Published: November 2016

Cel pracyZrozumienie i spełnienie oczekiwań jest nieodłącznym zadaniem praktyki medycznej, aby ocenić oczekiwania pacjentów zgłaszających się do lekarza , ważny wydaje się być kontekst kliniczny, w którym one powstają. Celem badania była ocena oczekiwań pacjentów wobec lekarza w zależności od ich stanu psychicznego.MetodaBadani to pacjenci zgłaszający się do lekarza rodzinnego. Razem przebadano 219 osób, 129 (59%) kobiet i 90 (41%) mężczyzn, w średnim wieku 61 lat (SD=9,80). W badaniu zastosowano do oceny: stanu psychicznego Kwestionariusz GHQ-28 oraz Kwestionariusz 4DSQ (The Four Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire), oczekiwań od lekarza Listę Oczekiwań Pacjenta – PRF (Patient Request Form) Salmona i Quinn w adaptacji polskiej Juczyńskiego.WynikiNajwyższy poziom lęku i bezsenności deklarowały osoby najmłodsze i one istotnie różniły się od osób najstarszych. W pozostałych wymiarach stanu psychicznego badane osoby nie różniły się między sobą. Im badani byli młodsi tym mieli większe oczekiwania wobec lekarza, potrzebowali więcej wyjaśnienia problemów związanych z chorobą oraz oczekiwali więcej wsparcia emocjonalnego. Szczególna rolę w kształtowaniu oczekiwań wobec lekarza pełni nasilenie objawów somatycznych odczuwanych przez pacjenta i czas trwania choroby.WnioskiUzyskane wyniki wskazują na potrzebę systematycznej oceny stanu psychicznego osób zgłaszających się do lekarza. Stan psychiczny i nasilenie objawów somatycznych jest istotnym wyznacznikiem oczekiwań wobec lekarza.
Promoting continence following head injury
Authors: Williams Rachel 
Published: November 2016

Care study Jim, a 61-year-old sea captain, was knocked down by a car while away from home. He sustained a severe head injury and a skull fracture, extending from the temporal region down to the base. He also suffered multiple injuries: a fractured jaw bone, fractured ribs, bilateral fractures of tibia and fibula and collapsed lungs. He was critically ill for a few months, after which he made a satisfactory recovery and was transferred to a hospital nearer his home under the care of the orthopaedic team. Jim has a supportive partner who was at his bedside the whole time. She is extremely dedicated to him. This care study will cover the 3-week period during which Jim was on my ward following the hospital transfer.
Population structure of palms in rainforests frequently impacted by cyclones
Authors: LATIFAH DIAN , CONGDON ROBERT A. , HOLTUM JOSEPH A. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract. Latifah D, Congdon RA, Holtum JA. 2017. Population structure of palms in cyclone-dependent rainforests. Biodiversitas 18: 41-50.Tropical cyclones may act as important ecological drivers in northern Australia including north Queensland, as several cyclones impact this region each year between November and May. Extensive research has been conducted to investigate how the population structure of rainforest species respond to cyclonic disturbances. However, there have been few such studies on palms although they are important components of rainforests. Therefore, these study aimed to investigate how the population structure of Arenga australasica (H. Wendl. & Drude) S. T. Blake ex H. E. Moore, Calamus australis Mart., C. moti F. M. Bailey, Hydriastele wendlandiana (F. Muell.) H. Wendl. & Drude and Licuala ramsayi var. ramsayi (F. Muell.) H. Wendl. & Drude responded to a cyclone, as shown by size class reflecting mass recruitment after a periodic major disturbance (case study: Cyclone Larry). The field research was carried out in three study sites: Tam OShanter/Djiru National Park, Clump Mountain National Park and Kurrimine Beach Conservation Park located near Mission Beach and Kurrimine Beach, in north Queensland. Observations were made of life stage distribution, height and dbh distribution and wind resistance. We found that responses of the population structures of these rainforest palms varied following cyclonic disturbance by demonstrating higher densities of seedlings and juveniles, suggesting populations would be retained. More seedlings of C. australis and C. moti were found in gaps with higher canopy openness; oppositely, less seedlings of L. ramsayi were encountered under sites with lower sunlight.
Keywords: disturbance, palms, population structure, northern Australia
Border praxis: Negotiating and performing ‘Hong Kongeseness’ and ‘Taiwaneseness’ in contemporary, political ‘Chinese’ art practices
Authors: Kennedy Beccy 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
This article draws from an AHRC-funded research project on the topic of Chinese borders in contemporary art practices, entitled Culture, Capital and Communication: Visualizing Borders in the 21st Century (CCC:VCB). The research is contextualized in the article in relation to the concept of ‘Chinese-ness’ in Contemporary Art Discourse and Practice, as addressed in the corresponding conference at the University of Lisbon – http://chineseness.fba.ul.pt. The physical and political borders that demarcate the straits of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are signifiers of the identity struggles that they contain. Art practices that address issues of Hong Kong-ese-ness and Taiwanese-ness in relation to the limitations of Chinese borders for defining their sovereign political and socio-historical identities, can, therefore, be considered as border art. Often, such explorations of identity are counter-posed with the presence of China and Chinese-ness as a cultural, economic and political hegemonic force, and ideological barrier. Artists who examine Chinese borders within their work tend to interrogate, represent and, often, contest or counter, the perceived political and cultural restrictions imposed by the Mainland. This article considers socially engaged artistic practices – including art spaces and events – encountered during the research laboratories, summative conference and site visits, which work on micro levels to both interrogate and counter the influence of Mainland China through instigating social undercurrents. I suggest that the combination of politicized theorizing and physically demonstrative or precarious art activities create a form of artistic praxis that works to expose and, in turn, traverse the limitations of border presence or absence across the Chinese straits.
‘Chineseness’: The work of Lo Yuen-yi in memory of the women of nüshu
Authors: Foster Nicola 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
One of the difficulties facing art historians and curators when approaching recently produced artworks is how to interpret such works within the dominant narrative of art history and its traditional axis of historical time and geographical place. Often such works are interpreted as ‘global’ and effectively reduced to a western interpretation of the artworks. While this is a helpful approach for many artists and artworks, it can be less helpful to the interpretation of works that seek to address local issues that the ‘global’ approach might miss. Moreover, the criteria of the ‘global’ might exclude such works from being perceived as ‘contemporary art’. The problem today is acute when dealing with artworks in East Asia, especially China, because so many works have been accepted as ‘global’ only occasionally mentioning that they are ‘Chinese’. Hence the uneasy term ‘Contemporary Chinese art’ and the debate between its interpretation as ‘global’ and/or ‘Chinese’. If the latter perspective is applied, some form of ‘Chineseness’ will explicitly or implicitly be applied. This article takes the ‘local’ perspective in order to interpret a group of works by the Hong Kong/Macau artist Lo Yuen-yi in memory of the rural women who practised nüshu (women’s writing) through chants, embroidery and writing in Hunan province, China. In so doing, Lo can position herself within an alternative narrative of female literate and artistic ancestral narrative from which she is not excluded as a Chinese female artist. The article argues that the work cannot be fully understood from the ‘global’ perspective and thus requires a perspective that would necessarily adopt a strategic concept of ‘Chineseness’.