bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel method for determining peroxisomal fatty acid β‐oxidation
Authors: Morita Masashi , Matsumoto Shun , Okazaki Airi , Tomita Kaito , Watanabe Shiro , Kawaguchi Kosuke , Minato Daishiro , Matsuya Yuji , Shimozawa Nobuyuki , Imanaka Tsuneo 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to establish an assay method to screen for chemical compounds that stimulate peroxisomal fatty acid β‐oxidation activity in X‐linked adrenoleukodystropy (X‐ALD) fibroblasts. In this investigation, we used 12‐(1‐pyrene)dodecanoic acid (pyrene‐C12:0), a fluorescent fatty acid analog, as a substrate for fatty acid β‐oxidation. When human skin fibroblasts were incubated with pyrene‐C12:0, β‐oxidation products such as pyrene‐C10:0 and pyrene‐C8:0 were generated time‐dependently. These β‐oxidation products were scarcely detected in the fibroblasts from patients with Zellweger syndrome, a peroxisomal biogenesis disorder. In contrast, in fibroblasts with mitochondrial carnitine‐acylcarnitine translocase deficiency, the β‐oxidation products were detected at a level similar to control fibroblasts. These results indicate that the β‐oxidation of pyrene‐C12:0 takes place in peroxisomes, but not mitochondria, so pyrene‐C12:0 is useful for measuring peroxisomal fatty acid β‐oxidation activity. In X‐ALD fibroblasts, the β‐oxidation activity for pyrene‐C12:0 was approximately 40 % of control fibroblasts, which is consistent with previous results using [1‐14C]lignoceric acid as the substrate. The present study provides a convenient procedure for screening chemical compounds that stimulate the peroxisomal fatty acid β‐oxidation in X‐ALD fibroblasts.
Minimizing Energy Cost in Multi-Legged Walking Machines
Authors: Zielinska Teresa 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDue to their ability to avoid obstacles and to move over difficult terrain, moreover having the ability to adjust their posture, walking machines for many years have been considered as very promising devices for inspection, exploration and surveyance tasks, however still they have not been widely applied. One of the main limitations is the power supply. Six legged walking machines are robust from the point of view of their walking stability in difficult terrain, but their actuators (18 if each leg has active 3 DOF’s) adds to their weight what increases the energy consumption. The higher energy consumption requires more efficient batteries, but usually those are heavier, what again increases the energy demand. Therefore at the design stage a detailed analysis is required of how to decrease the energy consumption. This paper studies energy consumption considering the tripod gait of hexapods. The method used for energy evaluation is presented and the results are discussed. The discussion of energy saving both for the leg transfer phase and during the support phase, which is the most demanding phase, is presented. The energy consumption is expressed in the normalized form, depending on the normalized leg proportions, body height and step length. The straight line forward/backward and side walking are analyzed. The aim of the studies is to provide to the designers the information about favorable leg proportions taking into account the reduction of required energy and to provide the information which leg posture should be selected.
Analysis of a plasmonic based optical fiber optrode with phase interrogation
Authors: Moayyed H. , Leite I. T. , Coelho L. , Santos J. L. , Viegas D. 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Optical fiber optrodes are attractive sensing devices due to their ability to perform point measurement in remote locations. Mostly, they are oriented to biochemical sensing, quite often supported by fluorescent and spectroscopic techniques, but with the refractometric approach considered as well when the objective is of high measurement performance, particularly when the focus is on enhancing the measurand resolution. In this work, we address this subject, proposing and analyzing the characteristics of a fiber optic optrode relying on plasmonic interaction. A linearly tapered optical fiber tip is covered by a double overlay: the inner one–a silver thin film and over it–a dielectric layer, with this combination allowing to achieve, at a specific wavelength range, surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) interaction sensitive to the refractive index of the surrounding medium. Typically, the interrogation of the SPR sensing structures is performed, considering spectroscopic techniques, but in principle, a far better performance can be obtained, considering the reading of the phase of the light at a specific wavelength located within the spectral plasmonic resonance. This is the approach which is studied here in the context of the proposed optical fiber optrode configuration. The analysis performed shows the combination of a silver inner layer with a dielectric titanium oxide layer with tuned thicknesses enables sensitive phase reading and allows the operation of the fiber optic optrode sensor in the third telecommunication wavelength window.
Predictive value of self‐rated health in pregnancy for childbirth complications, adverse birth outcomes, and maternal health
Authors: Stepanikova Irena , Kukla Lubomir , Svancara Jan 
Published: June 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether self‐rated health (SRH) in pregnancy can predict childbirth complications, adverse birth outcomes, and maternal health problems up to 3 years after delivery.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed of data obtained in a prospective longitudinal population‐based birth cohort study. Pregnant women resident in the Brno or Znojmo regions in the Czech Republic were included if they were expected to deliver between March 1991 and June 1992. SRH data were collected between 1991 and 1995 via pen‐and‐paper questionnaires administered in mid‐pregnancy, and at 6 months, 18 months, and 3 years after delivery. Medical records were reviewed for pregnancy complications, childbirth complications, and birth outcomes. Multivariate regression analysis was performed.ResultsOverall, 4811 women were included. Better SRH in pregnancy predicted fewer childbirth complications (b =–0.03; P = 0.036); lower odds of cesarean delivery (odds ratio 0.81; P = 0.003); and fewer maternal health problems at 6 months (b =–0.32; P < 0.001), 18 months (b =–0.28; P < 0.001), and 3 years after delivery (b =–0.30; P < 0.001). The effects of SRH were independent of diagnosed complications and self‐reported health problems in pregnancy.ConclusionSRH in pregnancy has predictive value for subsequent health outcomes, and might be an additional tool for assessment of pregnant women's health.
Kallikrein‐8 inhibition attenuates Alzheimer's disease pathology in mice
Authors: Herring Arne , Münster Yvonne , Akkaya Tamer , Moghaddam Sahar , Deinsberger Katharina , Meyer Jakob , Zahel Julia , Sanchez‐Mendoza Eduardo , Wang Yachao , Hermann Dirk M. , Arzberger Thomas , Teuber‐Hanselmann Sarah , Keyvani Kathy 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIntroductionMemory loss and increased anxiety are clinical hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Kallikrein‐8 is a protease implicated in memory acquisition and anxiety, and its mRNA is known to be up‐regulated in AD‐affected human hippocampus. Therefore, an involvement of Kallikrein‐8 in Alzheimer's pathogenesis is conceivable but remains to be proved.MethodsWe determined the cerebral expression of Kallikrein‐8 mRNA and protein during the course of AD in patients and in transgenic mice and tested the impact of Kallikrein‐8 inhibition on AD‐related pathology in mice and in primary glial cells.ResultsKallikrein‐8 mRNA and protein were up‐regulated in both species at incipient stages of AD. Kallikrein‐8 inhibition impeded amyloidogenic amyloid‐precursor‐protein processing, facilitated amyloid β (Aβ) clearance across the blood‐brain‐barrier, boosted autophagy, reduced Aβ load and tau pathology, enhanced neuroplasticity, reversed molecular signatures of anxiety, and ultimately improved memory and reduced fear.DiscussionKallikrein‐8 is a promising new therapeutic target against AD.
Delayed‐onset dementia after stroke or transient ischemic attack
Authors: Mok Vincent C.T. , Lam Bonnie Y.K. , Wang Zhaolu , Liu Wenyan , Au Lisa , Leung Eric Y.L. , Chen Sirong , Yang Jie , Chu Winnie C.W. , Lau Alexander Y.L. , Chan Anne Y.Y. , Shi Lin , Fan Florence , Ma Sze H. , Ip Vincent , Soo Yannie O.Y. , Leung Thomas W.H. , Kwok Timothy C.Y. , Ho Chi L. , Wong Lawrence K.S. , Wong Adrian 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIntroductionPatients surviving stroke without immediate dementia are at high risk of delayed‐onset dementia. Mechanisms underlying delayed‐onset dementia are complex and may involve vascular and/or neurodegenerative diseases.MethodsDementia‐free patients with stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (TIA; n = 919) were studied for 3 years prospectively, excluding those who developed dementia 3 to 6 months after stroke and/or TIA.ResultsForty subjects (4.4%) developed dementia during the study period. Imaging markers of severe small vessel disease (SVD), namely presence of ≥3 lacunes and confluent white matter changes; history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus independently predicted delayed‐onset dementia after adjustment for age, gender, and education. Only 6 of 31 (19.4%) subjects with delayed cognitive decline harbored Alzheimer's disease–like Pittsburg compound B (PiB) retention. Most PiB cases (16/25, 64%) had evidence of severe SVD.DiscussionSevere SVD contributes importantly to delayed‐onset dementia after stroke and/or TIA. Future clinical trials aiming to prevent delayed‐onset dementia after stroke and/or TIA should target this high‐risk group.
The composite risk‐sharing finance index: Implications for Islamic finance
Authors: Akin Tarik , Iqbal Zamir , Mirakhor Abbas 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn policy‐making, assessment of where a country stands relative to other countries is important to achieve desired goals, to understand how much the current policy implementation diverts from the target, and to understand main obstacles on reaching at the ends in the light of the comparators and the benchmark. This study evaluates relative standing of countries with respect to their financial system's friendliness for risk‐sharing finance, the concept which forms the core foundation of Islamic finance. A composite risk‐sharing finance friendliness index is developed to compare and rank the countries with regard to their level of their support and adoption of risk‐sharing finance. Although, there have been attempts to develop such index, this study is novel in the Islamic finance literature in the sense that it brings the factor analysis and non‐linear weights into the picture to come up with an objective and convincing composite index with objective weights. The composite index also allows us to look into the relative contribution of components, namely, Institutional Scaffolding, Governance and Legal Environment, Financial Sector Development and Inclusion. The results and ranking of the countries reveal important information about the potential of developing risk‐sharing finance and financial products in different countries. The results also reveal that the OIC countries are far away from meeting the basic requirements of setting‐up risk‐sharing finance and thus a framework for comprehensive development of Islamic finance.
Ansiedad de los estudiantes de una facultad de medicina mexicana, antes de iniciar el internado
Authors: Reyes Carmona Carlos , Monterrosas Rojas Ana María , Navarrete Martínez Andrea , Acosta Martínez Estephanie Paulina , Torruco García Uri 
Published: June 2016

Introducción: En el internado médico los alumnos demuestran sus competencias en una institución hospitalaria, lo que puede provocar ansiedad. El objetivo del estudio es cuantificar la ansiedad (de rasgo y estado) antes de iniciar el internado médico en los alumnos de una escuela pública de medicina en México, además determinar si el promedio de calificaciones (GPA: Grade points Average) tiene relación con la ansiedad.
Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal. Se utilizó el instrumento IDARE, que evalúa ansiedad de rasgo (IDARE R) y estado (IDARE E). Se aplicó a alumnos de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM, de la generación 2009 que ingresaron al internado rotatorio en 2014, antes de iniciar el internado. El análisis estadístico se realizó con prueba t de Student para muestras independientes e índice de correlación de Pearson.
Resultados: El total de estudiantes en el 2014 fue de 1,023, la población muestreada fue de 479 (46.82%), 332 eran mujeres (32.45%), 147 hombres (14.36%). De la muestra, los estudiantes con ansiedad de rasgo fueron 105 (21.82%), con un promedio de calificaciones de 84.1, con ansiedad de estado 132 (27.55%), promedio de calificaciones 84.0, sin ansiedad de rasgo 374 (78.07%) sin ansiedad de estado 347 (72.44%). La comparación de ansiedad de rasgo, la prueba t de Student reportó p= 0.3 (IC 95% -1,474 a 0.494); el índice de correlación de Pearson fue -0.009, con p= 0.043. La comparación de ansiedad de estado, de la prueba t de Student reportó p= 0.236 (IC 95% -1.46 a 0.360); el índice de correlación de Pearson fue -0.08, con p= 0.047. En cuanto al promedio de calificaciones no hubo diferencias entre los diferentes niveles de ansiedad de rasgo y estado.
Conclusiones: El nivel de ansiedad de rasgo y estado es mayor que el que suele reportarse en la población general, no hubo correlación entre la presencia de ansiedad y el promedio de calificaciones.
A randomized controlled study to evaluate the effect of bexarotene on amyloid‐β and apolipoprotein E metabolism in healthy subjects
Authors: Ghosal Kaushik , Haag Michael , Verghese Philip B. , West Tim , Veenstra Tim , Braunstein Joel B. , Bateman Randall J. , Holtzman David M. , Landreth Gary E. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIntroductionWe conducted a phase Ib proof of mechanism trial to determine whether bexarotene (Targretin) increases central nervous system (CNS) apolipoprotein E (apoE) levels and alters Aβ metabolism in normal healthy individuals with the APOE ε3/ε3 genotype.MethodsWe used stable isotope labeling kinetics (SILK‐ApoE and SILK‐Aβ) to measure the effect of bexarotene on the turnover rate of apoE and Aβ peptides and stable isotope spike absolute quantitation (SISAQ) to quantitate their concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Normal subjects were treated for 3 days with bexarotene (n = 3 women, 3 men, average 32 years old) or placebo (n = 6 women, average 30.2 years old) before administration of C13‐leucine and collection of plasma and CSF over the next 48 hours. Bexarotene concentrations in plasma and CSF were also measured.ResultsOral administration of bexarotene resulted in plasma levels of 1 to 2 μM; however, only low nM levels were found in CSF. Bexarotene increased CSF apoE by 25% but had no effect on metabolism of Aβ peptides.DiscussionBexarotene has poor CNS penetration in normal human subjects. Drug treatment resulted in a modest increase in CSF apoE levels. The absence of an effect on Aβ metabolism is likely reflective of the low CNS levels of bexarotene achieved. This study documents the utility of SILK‐ApoE technology in measuring apoE kinetics in humans.Trial RegistrationThis trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02061878).
Self-Centric and Altruistic Unmet Needs for Ebola: Barriers to International Preparedness
Authors: Van de Burgwal Linda H.M. , Reperant Leslie A. , Osterhaus Albert D.M.E. , Iancu Sorana C. , Pronker Esther S. , Claassen Eric 
Published: June 2016

AbstractObjectiveBarriers to international Ebola preparedness may be elucidated by identifying heterogeneities in arguments to invest in countermeasures during “peace time.”MethodsFor each patent family (related patent documents that differed only by limited alterations to the same invention) concerning Ebola and published until the end of 2014 the oldest patent document was analyzed. Grounded theory coding identified 5 unmet needs for (1) vaccines and therapies, (2) control of outbreaks in endemic areas, (3) detection and control of outbreaks in nonendemic areas, (4) better understanding of filoviruses, and (5) protection against bioterrorism. Odds ratios for unmet needs by geographic regions and institution types were compared by using Pearson’s chi-square test.ResultsStatistically significant heterogeneities in unmet need profiles were found. US applicants combined self-centric and altruistic arguments, focusing on medical unmet needs and bioterrorism protection. Russian and Asian applicants emphasized self-centric motives, specifically, detection and control of nonendemic outbreaks. A clear, statistically significant mismatch between industry and academia was found: whereas industrial applicants focused on bioterrorism and neglected detection and control of nonendemic outbreaks, academic applicants did the opposite.ConclusionsThis research identified heterogeneities in articulated needs between geographic regions and stakeholder types. Structural articulation of unmet needs may form the basis for attuning stakeholder engagement strategies while progression across the demand-driven value chain might necessitate international concordance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:644–648)
Validity and diagnostic accuracy of the Luganda version of the 9-item and 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire for detecting major depressive disorder in rural Uganda
Authors: Nakku J. E. M. , Rathod S. D. , Kizza D. , Breuer E. , Mutyaba K. , Baron E. C. , Ssebunnya J. , Kigozi F. 
Published: June 2016

Background.The prevalence of depression in rural Ugandan communities is high and yet detection and treatment of depression in the primary care setting is suboptimal. Short valid depression screening measures may improve detection of depression. We describe the validation of the Luganda translated nine- and two-item Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9 and PHQ-2) as screening tools for depression in two rural primary care facilities in Eastern Uganda.Methods.A total of 1407 adult respondents were screened consecutively using the nine-item Luganda PHQ. Of these 212 were randomly selected to respond to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnostic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics for respondents’ demographic characteristics and PHQ scores were generated. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values (PPVs), and area under the ROC curve were determined for both the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2.Results.The optimum trade-off between sensitivity and PPV was at a cut-off of ≧5. The weighted area under the receiver Operating Characteristic curve was 0.74 (95% CI 0.60–0.89) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.54–0.82) for PHQ-9 and PHQ-2, respectively.Conclusion.The Luganda translation of the PHQ-9 was found to be modestly useful in detecting depression. The PHQ-9 performed only slightly better than the PHQ-2 in this rural Ugandan Primary care setting. Future research could improve on diagnostic accuracy by considering the idioms of distress among Luganda speakers, and revising the PHQ-9 accordingly. The usefulness of the PHQ-2 in this rural population should be viewed with caution.
Incidence and Risk Factors for Infection Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Shi Yuhao , Wijeysundera Harindra C. , Fremes Stephen E. , Simor Andrew E. 
Published: June 2016

We identified risk factors for infection following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI); infection occurred in 35 (13.8%) of 253 patients. Variables associated with infection included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.4), postprocedural hemorrhage (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0–1.3), and procedure-related stroke (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3–2.1).Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:1094–1097
Evaluating the Accuracy of Sampling Strategies for Estimation of Compliance Rate for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Process Measures
Authors: Diehl Adam , Yang Ting , Speck Kathleen , Battles James , Cosgrove Sara E. , Berenholtz Sean , Klompas Michael 
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUNDMeasuring processes of care performance rates is an invaluable tool for quality improvement; however, collecting daily process measure data is time-consuming and burdensome.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of sampling strategies to estimate monthly compliance rates with ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention measures.SETTING AND PARTICIPANTSA total of 37 intensive care units affiliated with 29 hospitals participating in a 2-state 35-month ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention collaborative. Analysis was limited to 325 unit-months with complete data entry rates.METHODSWe calculated unit-month level actual and sample monthly compliance rates for 6 ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention measures, using 4 sampling strategies: sample 1 day per month, sample 1 day per week, sample 7 consecutive days per month, and sample 7 consecutive days per month plus additional consecutive days as necessary to obtain at least 30 ventilator-days for that month whenever possible. We compared sample versus actual rates using paired t test and χ2 test.RESULTSMean sampling accuracy ranged 84%–97% for 1 day per month, 91%–98% for 1 day per week, 92%–98% for 7 consecutive days per month, and 96%–99% for 7 consecutive days with at least 30 days per month if possible. The most accurate sampling strategy was to sample 7 consecutive days with at least 30 ventilator-days per month if possible. With this strategy, sample rates were within 10% of actual rates in 88%–99% of unit-months and within 5% of actual rates in 74%–97% of unit-months.CONCLUSIONSampling process measures intermittently rather than continually can yield accurate estimates of process measure performance rates.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:1037–1043
IS THERE A DUTY TO RESPECT “HISTORICAL” FAITH? CHRISTIAN PROSELYTISM OF AN OLDER JEWISH WOMAN WITH DEMENTIA
Authors: Doron Israel (Issi) , Foster Charles 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIn this article, we present a short case study based on an incident that occurred in Israel several years ago. The incident did not reach the courts but was made public by the family members of the older woman at the center of it. The family argued that the actions taken by one of the parties involved should have been defined as elder abuse, but no criminal charges were ever brought. Yet the issues concern key legal and ethical questions about law, religion, and older persons. More specifically, the incident raises the issue of the moral commitment to one's past religious beliefs in reference to one's current choices and preferences once living with dementia. We contend in this article that an Aristotelean account of human dignity would have provided the most satisfactory way to resolve the tensions created by this incident.