bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A dose–response evaluation of freeze‐dried strawberries independent of fiber content on metabolic indices in abdominally obese individuals with insulin resistance in a randomized, single‐blinded, diet‐controlled crossover trial
Authors: Park Eunyoung , Edirisinghe Indika , Wei Hequn , Vijayakumar Lakshmi Prabha , Banaszewski Katarzyna , Cappozzo Jack C. , Burton‐Freeman Britt 
Published: February 2016

Scope: This study evaluated the dose–response relationship of strawberries, an anthocyanin‐rich fruit, on postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations in individuals with insulin resistance (IR), including changes in plasma anthocyanins, markers of oxidative stress, and inflammation.Methods and Results: In a randomized controlled, four‐arm, dose–response, crossover trial, 21 adults with IR consumed a high‐carbohydrate, high‐fat meal with one of four beverages containing 0 g freeze‐dried whole strawberry powder (0g FDS, control), 10, 20, or 40 g FDS, controlled for fiber. Blood was collected at 0 min and at 30 min intervals postmeal until 2 h, then hourly until 6 h. Postmeal insulin concentrations (6 h) were significantly reduced after the 40‐g FDS beverage compared to other beverages (p < 0.05). Postmeal 6 h glucose concentrations were not different, although mean insulin:glucose ratio was significantly different among beverages (p < 0.05). Pelargonidin‐glucuronide was inversely associated with mean insulin concentrations after the 20 and 40 g FDS (p < 0.05). Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein was reduced after 20 g FDS (p < 0.05) and IL‐6 was not different among treatments. Strawberry intake reduced the insulin demand to manage postmeal glucose in obese individuals with IR, which was related to plasma anthocyanin/pelargonidin concentrations.Conclusion: The data support a role of strawberries in improving insulin sensitivity in people with IR.
Isolation and structure elucidation of unexpected in‐process impurities during tetrazole ring formation of an investigational drug substance
Authors: Silva Elipe Maria Victoria , Yoo Chul , Xia Fang , Simiens Jason , Crossley Kevin , Huckins John R. , Guo Hong‐Xun , Tedrow Jason , Wong‐Moon Kirby 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDuring the formation of a tetrazole ring on an investigational drug, two in‐process impurities were detected and analyzed by LC–MS, which suggested that both impurities were drug‐related with the same mass‐to‐charge ratio. To understand and control their formation, both impurities were isolated from the mother liquor of the reaction using a multi‐step isolation procedure to obtain a sufficient amount for high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and NMR structural analysis. HRMS suggested a protonated mass of 577.32 Da for both impurities; however, MS fragmentation patterns provided limited information on their structures. NMR analysis indicated the presence on an additional NH functional group in both isolates with similar spatial and bond correlations to one of the dimethylcarbamoyl moieties and the corresponding aromatic ring. A phenyldimethylcarbamoylamino moiety was supported by the NMR and HRMS data and could be explained based on the ‘Schmidt‐like’ reaction mechanism, which was an unexpected reaction pathway. Because the reaction conditions were fixed because of safety concerns, the crystallization protocol was redesigned to reduce the levels of these impurities significantly. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boisterous Russia in emerging Europe
Authors: Aihonsu Matthew Olatubosun 
Published: February 2016

Russia is permanently at a crossroads in its history, or standing in exasperation at a fork in the road but failing to resolve a geographical, historical and metaphysical dilemma: is Russia part of Europe or not? Russia holds a key but vulnerable strategic position in the heartland of Eurasia. Its geographical existence within a larger zone of Eurasian civilization meant that Russian culture had been shaped to a not insignificant extent by influences coming from Asia, that Russia was Eurasian and not European not only by virtue of its cultural patterns but also in terms of anthropological–racial considerations as well. The Eurasian Customs Union is clearly seen by Russia as a vehicle for reintegrating the post‐Soviet space, including the countries that fall within the sphere of the European Union's (EU)'s eastern neighbourhood.The Eurasian Customs Union is the vehicle through which Russia increasingly engages in ‘normative rivalry’ with the EU in the so‐called ‘shared neighbourhood’. These geopolitical and economic contraptions underpin the strategic calculations that have influenced largely the crisis of Russian Lebensraum escapade in Ukraine and EU's reaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Boosting or Hindering Aid Effectiveness? An Assessment of Systems for Measuring Donor Agency Results
Authors: Holzapfel Sarah 
Published: February 2016

SummaryAmid rising criticism of aid effectiveness coupled with tight budgets in many donor countries at a time of economic crisis, donor agencies are under pressure to deliver value for money and to demonstrate development results. In response to these pressures, more and more donor agencies are adopting standard indicators, which allow for results to be aggregated across interventions and countries, in order to report agency‐wide results. This article analyses the reporting practices of eleven bilateral and multilateral donor agencies and assesses the implications of agency‐wide results measurement systems for aid effectiveness. The analysis shows that the data on aggregate results provided by donor agencies is only of limited informational value and does not provide an adequate basis for holding donor agencies to account. Moreover, reporting on agency‐wide results may have a number of adverse effects. Given the various limitations and risks identified in this article, I suggest that donor agencies should explore complementary options or alternatives to standard indicators in order to meet their reporting requirements. Donor agencies are advised to invest more in rigorous impact evaluations and to raise the transparency of individual interventions. © 2016 The Authors. Public Administration and Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Accelerated development of CuSbS2 thin film photovoltaic device prototypes
Authors: Welch Adam W. , Baranowski Lauryn L. , Zawadzki Pawel , DeHart Clay , Johnston Steve , Lany Stephan , Wolden Colin A. , Zakutayev Andriy 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDevelopment of alternative thin film photovoltaic technologies is an important research topic because of the potential of low‐cost, high‐efficiency solar cells to produce terawatt levels of clean power. However, this development of unexplored yet promising absorbers can be hindered by complications that arise during solar cell fabrication. Here, a high‐throughput combinatorial method is applied to accelerate development of photovoltaic devices, in this case, using the novel CuSbS2 absorber via a newly developed three‐stage self‐regulated growth process to control absorber purity and orientation. Photovoltaic performance of the absorber, using the typical substrate CuInxGa1 − xSe2 (CIGS) device architecture, is explored as a function of absorber quality and thickness using a variety of back contacts. This study yields CuSbS2 device prototypes with ~1% conversion efficiency, suggesting that the optimal CuSbS2 device fabrication parameters and contact selection criteria are quite different than for CIGS, despite the similarity of these two absorbers. The CuSbS2 device efficiency is at present limited by low short‐circuit current because of bulk recombination related to defects, and a small open‐circuit voltage because of a theoretically predicted cliff‐type conduction band offset between CuSbS2 and CdS. Overall, these results illustrate both the potential and limits of combinatorial methods to accelerate the development of thin film photovoltaic devices using novel absorbers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the application of the vibrating Kelvin probe method for quality control of Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 thin‐film solar modules
Authors: Lavrenko Tetiana , Marzinzig Kerstin , Walter Thomas , Plesz Balázs , Ress Sándor 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn this contribution, the application possibilities of Kelvin probe mapping on Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 thin‐film modules was explored and compared with dark lock‐in thermography and electroluminescence imaging techniques. It has been shown that unlike any imaging technique, Kelvin probe measurements are able to detect spatial potential variations in both reverse and forward biases applied to a module and therefore to localize electrical defects and material inhomogeneities of a module, which are not visible to other characterization techniques. Moreover, Kelvin probe measurements under reverse bias conditions demonstrated a high sensitivity to variations of the reverse currents of the single diodes connected in series even under conditions where open‐circuit voltage is not severely affected by inhomogeneities. Therefore, this mapping technique can be a valuable tool in a quality assessment process especially as an early warning tool in production. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrogeomorphology—Ecology Interactions in River Systems
Authors: Grabowski R. C. , Gurnell A. M. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe European Union‐funded REFORM (REstoring rivers FOR effective catchment Management) project has developed guidance and tools aimed at making river restoration and mitigation measures more effective. A major component of this work has been to investigate functional linkages between the hydrogeomorphology and ecology of rivers. This special collection presents some of the outputs from this work concerning interactions between hydrological, geomorphological and ecological processes in naturally functioning river systems. Together, this set of five papers reviews some of the existing knowledge on interactions and feedbacks between hydrogeomorphology and ecology in river systems and outlines how hydrogeomorphological processes, ecological processes and plant traits contribute to driving river corridor dynamics that create and sustain a diversity of aquatic and wetland habitats that support fish communities.
Office Hysteroscopy. An operative gold standard technique and an important contribution to Patient Safety
Authors: Mairos J. , Di Martino P. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractAccording to World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 out of 10 hospitalized patients suffers an adverse event, in developed countries, being an adverse event an injury related to medical management, in contrast to complications of disease. These events cause both unnecessary suffering and huge cost to health systems. This issue is so important that WHO has defined it as a global health problem and in 2004 launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety, with the aim to coordinate, disseminate and accelerate improvements in Patient Safety. Office Hysteroscopy (OH), as an independent technique of the hospital circuit, has the ideal conditions to be qualified as the gold standard technique for the surgical treatment of intracavitary uterine pathology. It does not require the use of an operating room, hospital admission and general or locoregional anaesthesia. The appropriate surgical techniques, allied to pain control, allow OH to resolve much more than 90 % of the surgical needs of the intracavitary uterine pathology, thus being an important contribution for Patient Safety.
Money, Peers and Parents: Social and Economic Aspects of Inequality in Youth Wellbeing
Authors: Plenty Stephanie , Mood Carina 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIndicators of social and economic status are important health determinants. However, evidence for the influence of family socioeconomic status in adolescent wellbeing is inconsistent and during this period of development youth may begin to develop their own status positions. This study examined social and economic health inequalities by applying a multidimensional and youth-orientated approach. Using a recent (2010–2011) and representative sample of Swedish 14-year olds (n = 4456, 51 % females), the impact of family socioeconomic status, youth economic resources and peer status on internalizing symptoms and self-rated health were examined. Data was based on population register, sociometric and self-report information. Aspects of family socioeconomic status, youth’s own economy and peer status each showed independent associations, with poorer wellbeing observed with lower status. However, there were equally strong or even stronger effects of peer status and youth’s own economy than family socioeconomic status. Lower household income and occupational status were more predictive of poor self-rated health than of internalizing symptoms. The findings suggest that youth’s own economy and peer status are as important as family socioeconomic status for understanding inequalities in wellbeing. Thus, a focus on youth-orientated conceptualizations of social and economic disadvantage during adolescence is warranted.
Reduced Mitochondrial Function in Human Huntington Disease Lymphoblasts is Not Due to Alterations in Cardiolipin Metabolism or Mitochondrial Supercomplex Assembly
Authors: Mejia Edgard M. , Chau Sarah , Sparagna Genevieve C. , Sipione Simonetta , Hatch Grant M. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractHuntington's Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disease that occurs as a result of expansion of the trinucleotide repeat CAG (glutamine) on the HTT gene. HD patients exhibit various forms of mitochondrial dysfunction within neurons and peripheral tissues. Cardiolipin (Ptd2Gro) is a polyglycerophospholipid found exclusively in mitochondria and is important for maintaining mitochondrial function. We examined if altered Ptd2Gro metabolism was involved in the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with HD. Mitochondrial basal respiration, spare respiratory capacity, ATP coupling efficiency and rate of glycolysis were markedly diminished in Epstein‐Barr virus transformed HD lymphoblasts compared to controls (CTRL). Mitochondrial supercomplex formation and Complex I activity within these supercomplexes did not vary between HD patients with different length of CAG repeats and appeared unaltered compared to CTRL. In contrast, in vitro Complex I enzyme activity in mitochondrial enriched samples was reduced in HD lymphoblasts compared to CTRL. The total cellular pool size of Ptd2Gro and its synthesis/remodeling from [3H]acetate/[14C]oleate were unaltered in HD lymphoblasts compared to CTRL. In addition, the molecular species of Ptd2Gro were essentially unaltered in HD lymphoblasts compared to CTRL. We conclude that compared to CTRL lymphoblasts, HD lymphoblasts display impaired mitochondrial basal respiration, spare respiratory capacity, ATP coupling efficiency and rate of glycolysis with any pathological CAG repeat length, but this is not due to alterations in Ptd2Gro metabolism. We suggest that HD patient lymphoblasts may be a useful model to study defective energy metabolism that does not involve alterations in Ptd2Gro metabolism.
Daily Enteral DHA Supplementation Alleviates Deficiency in Premature Infants
Authors: Baack Michelle L. , Puumala Susan E. , Messier Stephen E. , Pritchett Deborah K. , Harris William S. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid (FA) important for health and neurodevelopment. Premature infants are at risk of DHA deficiency and circulating levels directly correlate with health outcomes. Most supplementation strategies have focused on increasing DHA content in mother's milk or infant formula. However, extremely premature infants may not reach full feedings for weeks and commercially available parenteral lipid emulsions do not contain preformed DHA, so blood levels decline rapidly after birth. Our objective was to develop a DHA supplementation strategy to overcome these barriers. This double‐blind, randomized, controlled trial determined feasibility, tolerability and efficacy of daily enteral DHA supplementation (50 mg/day) in addition to standard nutrition for preterm infants (24–34 weeks gestational age) beginning in the first week of life. Blood FA levels were analyzed at baseline, full feedings and near discharge in DHA (n = 31) or placebo supplemented (n = 29) preterm infants. Term peers (n = 30) were analyzed for comparison. Preterm infants had lower baseline DHA levels (p < 0.0001). Those receiving DHA had a progressive increase in circulating DHA over time (from 3.33 to 4.09 wt% or 2.88 to 3.55 mol%, p < 0.0001) while placebo‐supplemented infants (receiving standard neonatal nutrition) had no increase over time (from 3.35 to 3.32 wt% or 2.91 to 2.87 mol%). Although levels increased with additional DHA supplementation, preterm infants still had lower blood DHA levels than term peers (4.97 wt% or 4.31 mol%) at discharge (p = 0.0002). No differences in adverse events were observed between the groups. Overall, daily enteral DHA supplementation is feasible and alleviates deficiency in premature infants.
Localized rotors and focal impulse sources within the left atrium in human atrial fibrillation: A phase analysis of contact basket catheter electrograms
Authors: Sasaki Naoko , Okumura Yasuo , Watanabe Ichiro , Madry Andrew , Hamano Yuki , Nikaido Mizuki , Kogawa Rikitake , Nagashima Koichi , Takahashi Keiko , Iso Kazuki , Ohkubo Kimie , Nakai Toshiko , Hirayama Atsushi 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackgroundConsistent detection of rotor(s) and/or focal impulse(s) of atrial fibrillation can using a 64‐pole basket catheter remain unclear.Methods and resultsIntracardiac left atrial electrograms were recorded, prior to ablation, in 20 patients with atrial fibrillation. Unipolar electrograms, filtered at 0.1–300 Hz, were recorded and exported for an offline phase analysis. From the cohort, 8 of the 20 patients had analyzable data. Localized rotors were identified in 3 of these patients, with focal impulses detected in 4 patients.ConclusionLocalized rotors and focal impulses can be identified on phase maps of atrial fibrillation in a small number of patients.
Design of a Bayesian adaptive phase 2 proof‐of‐concept trial for BAN2401, a putative disease‐modifying monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Satlin Andrew , Wang Jinping , Logovinsky Veronika , Berry Scott , Swanson Chad , Dhadda Shobha , Berry Donald A. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIntroductionRecent failures in phase 3 clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggest that novel approaches to drug development are urgently needed. Phase 3 risk can be mitigated by ensuring that clinical efficacy is established before initiating confirmatory trials, but traditional phase 2 trials in AD can be lengthy and costly.MethodsWe designed a Bayesian adaptive phase 2, proof‐of‐concept trial with a clinical endpoint to evaluate BAN2401, a monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid protofibrils. The study design used dose response and longitudinal modeling. Simulations were used to refine study design features to achieve optimal operating characteristics.ResultsThe study design includes five active treatment arms plus placebo, a clinical outcome, 12‐month primary endpoint, and a maximum sample size of 800. The average overall probability of success is ≥80% when at least one dose shows a treatment effect that would be considered clinically meaningful. Using frequent interim analyses, the randomization ratios are adapted based on the clinical endpoint, and the trial can be stopped for success or futility before full enrollment.DiscussionBayesian statistics can enhance the efficiency of analyzing the study data. The adaptive randomization generates more data on doses that appear to be more efficacious, which can improve dose selection for phase 3. The interim analyses permit stopping as soon as a predefined signal is detected, which can accelerate decision making. Both features can reduce the size and duration of the trial. This study design can mitigate some of the risks associated with advancing to phase 3 in the absence of data demonstrating clinical efficacy. Limitations to the approach are discussed.
We All Stand Together: The Role of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions in Promoting Constitutionalism
Authors: DE VISSER Maartje 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis article critically evaluates the interplay among courts with constitutional jurisdiction in Asia. This is done in the specific context of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC). The article finds that the AACC has to date made only a nominal contribution to cultivating inter-court relations in furtherance of common goals and advances the claim that its members ought to rectify this state of affairs. On the one hand, transnational judicial alliances have instrumental value for participating courts in the discharge of their mandate. On the other hand, the AACC can be a useful conduit in nurturing an Asian perspective to the global judicial discourse on constitutional issues. In that vein, the article identifies the most suitable means to enable the AACC to optimally discharge its role to help advance respect for democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the region.
Health & Economic Burden of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Emergency Department
Authors: Fu Terence S. , Jing Rowan , McFaull Steven R. , Cusimano Michael D. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractObjective:To evaluate epidemiological patterns and lifetime costs of traumatic brain injury (TBI) identified in the emergency department (ED) within a publicly insured population in Ontario, Canada, in 2009.Methods:A nationally representative, population-based database was used to identify TBI cases presenting to Ontario EDs between April 2009 and March 2010. We calculated unit costs for medical treatment and productivity loss, and multiplied these by corresponding incidence estimates to determine the lifetime costs of identified TBI cases across age group, sex, and mechanism of injury.Results:In 2009, there were more than 133,000 ED visits for TBI in Ontario, resulting in a conservative estimate of $945 million in lifetime costs. Lifetime cost estimates ranged from $279 million to $1.22 billion depending on the diagnostic criteria used to define TBI. Peak rates of TBI occurred among young children (ages 0-4 year) and the elderly (ages 85+ years). Males experienced a 53% greater rate of TBI and incurred two-fold higher costs compared with females. Falls, sports/bicyclist-related injuries, and motor vehicle crashes represented 47%, 12%, and 10% of TBI presenting to ED, respectively, and accounted for a significant proportion of costs.Conclusions:This study revealed an enormous health and economic burden associated with TBI identified in the ED setting. Our findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance and prevention efforts targeted to vulnerable populations. More research is needed to fully appreciate the burden of TBI across a variety of health care settings.