bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thiol/disulphide homeostasis as a novel indicator of oxidative stress in sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Dinc M E , Ulusoy S , Is A , Ayan N N , Avincsal M O , Bicer C , Erel O 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectives:To investigate a novel oxidative stress marker, thiol/disulphide literature homeostasis, in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and to compare the results with healthy controls for the first time.Methods:Thirty-two patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. Serum native thiol, total thiol and disulphide levels were measured, and disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol ratios were determined in all subjects.Results:Serum native thiol and total thiol levels were significantly lower in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss compared with controls (p < 0.05). Of the 32 patients, 25 had lower native thiol levels than controls (333.2 ± 73.9 vs 381.8 ± 35.6 μmol/l, p = 0.002) and 24 had lower total thiol levels (375.1 ± 74.3 vs 426.1 ± 39.3 μmol/l, p = 0.002).Conclusion:The changes in oxidative markers evident in a significant number of patients may be associated with oxidative stress, which may, in turn, have caused sudden sensorineural hearing loss in those patients.
Memantine augmentation in clozapine-refractory schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study
Authors: Veerman S. R. T. , Schulte P. F. J. , Smith J. D. , de Haan L. 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundDysfunction of neuroplasticity due to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction may be a causal factor for memory and executive dysfunctioning in schizophrenia. Deregulation of NMDA transmission in the prefrontal cortex may also explain negative and positive symptoms. Clozapine augmentation with memantine targets altered NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission in schizophrenia and showed substantial beneficial effects on several symptom domains in a small proof-of-concept study. We evaluate effects of memantine add-on treatment to clozapine for memory and executive function, and negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia.MethodClozapine-treated patients with refractory schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of double-blind adjunctive treatment with memantine (n = 26) or placebo (n = 26). Crossover occurred after a 2-week placebo wash-out period. Primary endpoints were change from baseline to 12 weeks treatment and 14 weeks to 26 weeks treatment on memory and executive function using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S). Side effects were assessed using the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side-Effect Rating Scale.ResultsWhen compared with placebo, memantine improved a composite memory score comprising verbal recognition memory and paired associates learning task scores on the CANTAB (effect size = 0.30) and PANSS negative subscale score (effect size = 0.29). Side effects were mild and transient.ConclusionsIn patients with clozapine-treated refractory schizophrenia, memantine addition significantly improved verbal and visual memory and negative symptoms without serious adverse effects. These results justify further investigations on long-term memantine augmentation to clozapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
“Under Two Jurisdictions”: Immigration, Citizenship, and Self-Governance in Cross-Border Community Relocations
Authors: McAdam Jane 
Published: April 2016

The governments of Kiribati and Fiji “should make every effort to minimise the difficulties of and inconveniences to this community which finds itself under two jurisdictions.”Our younger generation have been taught that they also have another home. There are still two homes. That's their roots. That's where they belong.
Zero-inflated negative binomial mixed model: an application to two microbial organisms important in oesophagitis
Authors: FANG R. , WAGNER B. D. , HARRIS J. K. , FILLON S. A. 
Published: April 2016

SUMMARYAltered microbial communities are thought to play an important role in eosinophilic oesophagitis, an allergic inflammatory condition of the oesophagus. Identification of the majority of organisms present in human-associated microbial communities is feasible with the advent of high throughput sequencing technology. However, these data consist of non-negative, highly skewed sequence counts with a large proportion of zeros. In addition, hierarchical study designs are often performed with repeated measurements or multiple samples collected from the same subject, thus requiring approaches to account for within-subject variation, yet only a small number of microbiota studies have applied hierarchical regression models. In this paper, we describe and illustrate the use of a hierarchical regression-based approach to evaluate multiple factors for a small number of organisms individually. More specifically, the zero-inflated negative binomial mixed model with random effects in both the count and zero-inflated parts is applied to evaluate associations with disease state while adjusting for potential confounders for two organisms of interest from a study of human microbiota sequence data in oesophagitis.
Longitudinal prediction of language emergence in infants at high and low risk for autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Edmunds Sarah R. , Ibañez Lisa V. , Warren Zachary , Messinger Daniel S. , Stone Wendy L. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis study used a prospective longitudinal design to examine the early developmental pathways that underlie language growth in infants at high risk (n= 50) and low risk (n= 34) for autism spectrum disorder in the first 18 months of life. While motor imitation and responding to joint attention (RJA) have both been found to predict expressive language in children with autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development, the longitudinal relation between these capacities has not yet been identified. As hypothesized, results revealed that 15-month RJA mediated the association between 12-month motor imitation and 18-month expressive vocabulary, even after controlling for earlier levels of RJA and vocabulary. These results provide new information about the developmental sequencing of skills relevant to language growth that may inform future intervention efforts for children at risk for language delay or other developmental challenges.
Neuropsychological performance measures as intermediate phenotypes for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A multiple mediation analysis
Authors: Kamradt Jaclyn M. , Nigg Joel T. , Friderici Karen H. , Nikolas Molly A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractGenetic influences on dopaminergic neurotransmission have been implicated in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and are theorized to impact cognitive functioning via alterations in frontal–striatal circuitry. Neuropsychological functioning has been proposed to account for the potential associations between dopamine candidate genes and ADHD. However, to date, this mediation hypothesis has not been directly tested. Participants were 498 youth ages 6–17 years (meanM= 10.8 years,SD= 2.4 years, 55.0% male). All youth completed a multistage, multiple-informant assessment procedure to identify ADHD and non-ADHD cases, as well as a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Youth provided a saliva sample for DNA analyses; the 480 base pair variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism of the dopamine active transporter 1 gene (DAT1) and the 120 base pair promoter polymorphism of the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) were genotyped. Multiple mediation analysis revealed significant indirect associations betweenDAT1genotype and inattention, hyperactivity–impulsivity, and oppositionality, with specific indirect effects through response inhibition. The results highlight the role of neurocognitive task performance, particularly response inhibition, as a potential intermediate phenotype for ADHD, further elucidating the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and externalizing psychopathology.
Dietary patterns extracted from the current Japanese diet and their associations with sodium and potassium intakes estimated by repeated 24 h urine collection
Authors: Fujiwara Aya , Asakura Keiko , Uechi Ken , Masayasu Shizuko , Sasaki Satoshi 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo identify dietary patterns in the current Japanese diet and evaluate the associations between these patterns and Na and K intakes.DesignDietary patterns were extracted by factor analysis from the intakes of food groups assessed with a validated self-administrated diet history questionnaire. Na and K intakes and urinary Na:K were assessed by repeated 24 h urine collection.SubjectsHealthy Japanese adults aged 20–69 years (353 men and 349 women).SettingTwenty study areas in twenty-three prefectures in Japan.ResultFour dietary patterns were identified in each sex. After adjustment for several confounding factors, the ‘Fish and vegetable’ pattern was associated with higher urinary Na excretion, but the association was not significant (P=0·37 in men and P=0·06 in women). This pattern was also associated with higher K excretion in both sexes. The ‘Noodle’ pattern tended to be associated with higher urinary Na excretion (P=0·17 in men and P=0·04 in women) and higher Na:K (P=0·02 in men). The ‘Meat, vegetable and oil’ (in men)/‘Meat and oil’ (in women) and ‘Bread and confectioneries’ patterns were not associated with urinary Na excretion (in men) or were negatively associated (in women).ConclusionsContrary to the case in Western countries, the ‘Fish and vegetable’ and ‘Noodle’ patterns contributed to higher Na intake in Japan. Target foods for salt reduction should be set based on careful consideration of the relationships between dietary patterns and Na and K intakes in the target population.
How low can dietary greenhouse gas emissions be reduced without impairing nutritional adequacy, affordability and acceptability of the diet? A modelling study to guide sustainable food choices
Authors: Perignon Marlène , Masset Gabriel , Ferrari Gaël , Barré Tangui , Vieux Florent , Maillot Matthieu , Amiot Marie-Josèphe , Darmon Nicole 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the compatibility between reduction of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and nutritional adequacy, acceptability and affordability dimensions of diet sustainability.DesignDietary intake, nutritional composition, GHGE and prices were combined for 402 foods selected among those most consumed by participants of the Individual National Study on Food Consumption. Linear programming was used to model diets with stepwise GHGE reductions, minimized departure from observed diet and three scenarios of nutritional constraints: none (FREE), on macronutrients (MACRO) and for all nutrient recommendations (ADEQ). Nutritional quality was assessed using the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) and solid energy density (SED).SettingFrance.SubjectsAdults (n 1899).ResultsIn FREE and MACRO scenarios, imposing up to 30 % GHGE reduction did not affect the MAR, SED and food group pattern of the observed diet, but required substitutions within food groups; higher GHGE reductions decreased diet cost, but also nutritional quality, even with constraints on macronutrients. Imposing all nutritional recommendations (ADEQ) increased the fruits and vegetables quantity, reduced SED and slightly increased diet cost without additional modifications induced by the GHGE constraint up to 30 % reduction; higher GHGE reductions decreased diet cost but required non-trivial dietary shifts from the observed diet. Not all the nutritional recommendations could be met for GHGE reductions ≥70 %.ConclusionsModerate GHGE reductions (≤30 %) were compatible with nutritional adequacy and affordability without adding major food group shifts to those induced by nutritional recommendations. Higher GHGE reductions either impaired nutritional quality, even when macronutrient recommendations were imposed, or required non-trivial dietary shifts compromising acceptability to reach nutritional adequacy.
Mid-upper arm circumference v. weight-for-height Z-score for predicting mortality in hospitalized children under 5 years of age
Authors: Sachdeva Sakshi , Dewan Pooja , Shah Dheeraj , Malhotra Rajeev Kumar , Gupta Piyush 
Published: April 2016

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the performance of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) against weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) for predicting inpatient deaths in children under 5 years of age.DesignDiagnostic test accuracy study.SettingPaediatric emergency department of a tertiary care hospital catering to semi-urban and rural population in Delhi, India.SubjectsHospitalized children (n 1663) aged 6 months to 5 years, for whom discharge outcome was available, were consecutively recruited over 14 months. MUAC (cm), weight (kg) height (cm), clinical details and the outcome were recorded. MUAC (index test) was compared with WHZ based on the WHO growth standards (reference test) for predicting the outcome.ResultsOne hundred and twenty-four (7 %) children died during hospital stay. Both MUAC < 11·5 cm (adjusted OR (95 % CI): 3·7 (2·43, 5·60), P<0·001) and WHZ<−3 (2·0 (1·37, 2·99), P<0·001) served as independent predictors of inpatient mortality. However, MUAC was a significantly better predictor of mortality compared with WHZ in terms of area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (MUAC=0·698, WHZ=0·541, P<0·001). MUAC<11·5 cm had the best trade-off of sensitivity and specificity for predicting inpatient mortality. A combination of WHZ<−3 and/or MUAC<11·5 cm did not significantly improve the predictive value over that of MUAC/WHZ, assessed individually.ConclusionMUAC<11·5 cm is a better predictor of mortality in hospitalized under-5 children, as compared with WHZ<−3. It should be measured in all emergency settings to identify the children at higher risk of death.
Developing and implementing a Radiotherapy Research Activity Assessment Tool (RAAT): a prospective feasibility study
Authors: Goldsworthy Simon , Roe Benjamin , McGrail Stuart , McCormack Stephen , Walther Julie 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAimCancer research in the National Health Service has increased by 10·5% in 3 years since the formation of the National Cancer Research networks in 2000. The initial enthusiasm from clinical staffs to embark on a project has to be balanced against the implications of resources, costs and other developments. There is no standardised method to assess the impact of research projects on clinical practice. The aim of this project was to develop and implement a Radiotherapy Research Activity Assessment Tool (RAAT) to assess the feasibility of newly proposed projects within clinical settings.Methods and materialsA multi-step development method was used. The steps involved the principles of quality function deployment. The consecutive steps involved developing a user-friendly and replicable tool and would fit on one A4 page. The process involved multi-professionals and patients throughout the design process. The tool was preliminary tested on usability among eight stakeholders on a ten-point scale (1=poor; 10=very good). Percentage agreement was evaluated at 6 month post initial RAAT assessment scoring by the seven multi-disciplinary team (MDT) members.FindingsThe RAAT was developed in an e-form available in Microsoft Excel. The tool scored a mode of 6 for usability. Interrater reliability testing between the radiotherapy MDT resulted in 88% agreement. The RAAT seems to be feasible in clinical practice, and provide a framework to guide the decision-making process. The study calls for further testing of usability and review of long-term implications on all stakeholders.
The Construction of Crime: The Presumption of Blue-Collar Guilt and White-Collar Innocence
Authors: Marriott Lisa 
Published: April 2016

This study examines a recent legislative change in New Zealand social policy that provides for the partners of people engaging in welfare fraud to be prosecuted for the crime and to be jointly liable for the debt generated from the crime. This situation applies where the partner knew, or ought to have known, of the fraud. This approach may be contrasted with the treatment of the partners of those who engage in tax evasion, or other forms of financial crime, who are not liable for prosecution or any debt resulting from the offence.Discrimination of those on welfare is well-established. The article highlights the extent to which welfare beneficiaries are now targeted for greater punitive measures in New Zealand and the increasing criminalisation of welfare in the country. The practices outlined appear to contravene the New Zealand Human Rights Act. Moreover, these practices are not aligned with the basic provisions of criminal law: that a guilty mind and a positive act are present for a crime to be committed. The study draws attention to issues of equity, knowledge of crime, and the construction of crime and criminals in the New Zealand justice system.
Migration in the UNFCCC Workstream on Loss and Damage: An Assessment of Alternative Framings and Conceivable Responses
Authors: Mayer Benoit 
Published: April 2016

AbstractDiscourses on ‘climate migration’ have played an instrumental role in initiating negotiations on loss and damage under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Yet, to date, the framing of climate migration has not been clear: it has been considered as a tool for reducing loss and damage (hence essentially a form of adaptation) or, alternatively, as a source of loss and damage for the migrants or for other concerned communities. Moreover, proposed approaches to address climate migration as a form of loss and damage have extended beyond compensation, and remain controversial among developed nations. In the highly politicized field of migration governance, however, this article submits that policy support and guidance in addressing loss and damage could prompt dangerous forms of political interference, such as the imposition of a Western objective of containing migrants to the Global South. It is thus suggested that top-down migration policies may not help vulnerable nations who face loss and damage in the context of climate migration.
Mercury anomalies and the timing of biotic recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction
Authors: Thibodeau Alyson M. , Ritterbush Kathleen , Yager Joyce A. , West A. Joshua , Ibarra Yadira , Bottjer David J. , Berelson William M. , Bergquist Bridget A. , Corsetti Frank A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe end-Triassic mass extinction overlapped with the eruption of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), and release of CO2 and other volcanic volatiles has been implicated in the extinction. However, the timing of marine biotic recovery versus CAMP eruptions remains uncertain. Here we use Hg concentrations and isotopes as indicators of CAMP volcanism in continental shelf sediments, the primary archive of faunal data. In Triassic–Jurassic strata, Muller Canyon, Nevada, Hg levels rise in the extinction interval, peak before the appearance of the first Jurassic ammonite, remain above background in association with a depauperate fauna, and fall to pre-extinction levels during significant pelagic and benthic faunal recovery. Hg isotopes display no significant mass independent fractionation within the extinction and depauperate intervals, consistent with a volcanic origin for the Hg. The Hg and palaeontological evidence from the same archive indicate that significant biotic recovery did not begin until CAMP eruptions ceased.
Catalytic N-radical cascade reaction of hydrazones by oxidative deprotonation electron transfer and TEMPO mediation
Authors: Hu Xiao-Qiang , Qi Xiaotian , Chen Jia-Rong , Zhao Quan-Qing , Wei Qiang , Lan Yu , Xiao Wen-Jing 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCompared with the popularity of various C-centred radicals, the N-centred radicals remain largely unexplored in catalytic radical cascade reactions because of a lack of convenient methods for their generation. Known methods for their generation typically require the use of N-functionalized precursors or various toxic, potentially explosive or unstable radical initiators. Recently, visible-light photocatalysis has emerged as an attractive tool for the catalytic formation of N-centred radicals, but the pre-incorporation of a photolabile groups at the nitrogen atom largely limited the reaction scope. Here, we present a visible-light photocatalytic oxidative deprotonation electron transfer/2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediation strategy for catalytic N-radical cascade reaction of unsaturated hydrazones. This mild protocol provides a broadly applicable synthesis of 1,6-dihydropyradazines with complete regioselectivity and good yields. The 1,6-dihydropyradazines can be easily transformed into diazinium salts that showed promisingin vitroantifungal activities against fungal pathogens. DFT calculations are conducted to explain the mechanism.
Circular RNA profiling reveals an abundant circHIPK3 that regulates cell growth by sponging multiple miRNAs
Authors: Zheng Qiupeng , Bao Chunyang , Guo Weijie , Li Shuyi , Chen Jie , Chen Bing , Luo Yanting , Lyu Dongbin , Li Yan , Shi Guohai , Liang Linhui , Gu Jianren , He Xianghuo , Huang Shenglin 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a class of widespread and diverse endogenous RNAs that may regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. However, the regulation and function of human circRNAs remain largely unknown. Here we generate ribosomal-depleted RNA sequencing data from six normal tissues and seven cancers, and detect at least 27,000 circRNA candidates. Many of these circRNAs are differently expressed between the normal and cancerous tissues. We further characterize one abundant circRNA derived from Exon2 of the HIPK3 gene, termed circHIPK3. The silencing of circHIPK3 but not HIPK3 mRNA significantly inhibits human cell growth. Via a luciferase screening assay, circHIPK3 is observed to sponge to 9 miRNAs with 18 potential binding sites. Specifically, we show that circHIPK3 directly binds to miR-124 and inhibits miR-124 activity. Our results provide evidence that circular RNA produced from precursor mRNA may have a regulatory role in human cells.
Structural basis for ligand-dependent dimerization of phenylalanine hydroxylase regulatory domain
Authors: Patel Dipali , Kopec Jolanta , Fitzpatrick Fiona , McCorvie Thomas J. , Yue Wyatt W. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe multi-domain enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) catalyzes the hydroxylation of dietary I-phenylalanine (Phe) to I-tyrosine. Inherited mutations that result in PAH enzyme deficiency are the genetic cause of the autosomal recessive disorder phenylketonuria. Phe is the substrate for the PAH active site, but also an allosteric ligand that increases enzyme activity. Phe has been proposed to bind, in addition to the catalytic domain, a site at the PAH N-terminal regulatory domain (PAH-RD), to activate the enzyme via an unclear mechanism. Here we report the crystal structure of human PAH-RD bound with Phe at 1.8 Å resolution, revealing a homodimer of ACT folds with Phe bound at the dimer interface. This work delivers the structural evidence to support previous solution studies that a binding site exists in the RD for Phe, and that Phe binding results in dimerization of PAH-RD. Consistent with our structural observation, a disease-associated PAH mutant impaired in Phe binding disrupts the monomer:dimer equilibrium of PAH-RD. Our data therefore support an emerging model of PAH allosteric regulation, whereby Phe binds to PAH-RD and mediates the dimerization of regulatory modules that would bring about conformational changes to activate the enzyme.