bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased anti-KIR4.1 antibodies in multiple sclerosis: Could it be a marker of disease relapse?
Authors: Brill Livnat , Goldberg Lotem , Karni Arnon , Petrou Panayiota , Abramsky Oded , Ovadia Haim , Ben-Hur Tamir , Karussis Dimitrios , Vaknin-Dembinsky Adi 
Published: November 2014

Background: Screening of putative autoimmune targets in multiple sclerosis (MS) revealed a proportion of patients carrying antibodies (Abs) against KIR4.1, a potassium channel that shares functional properties with AQP4. Both are localized at the perivascular astrocytic processes. Aims: To measure anti-KIR4.1 Abs in the serum of MS and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients, and to identify the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients harboring anti-KIR4.1 Abs. Methods: We measured anti-KIR4.1 Abs in serum, using the peptide KIR4.1 (83–120) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum levels of anti-KIR4.1 Abs were significantly higher in MS and NMO patients than in healthy controls (HCs); with Abs detected in 21 of 80, 10 of 45, and 2 of 32 individuals, respectively (MS versus HC, p < 0.05). The level of anti-KIR4.1 Abs was significantly higher during MS relapse, versus remission ( p = 0.04). The clinical characteristics of our study patients did not vary based on KIR4.1 positivity. Conclusions: Anti-KIR4.1 Abs were found in similar proportions of patients with MS and NMO, at a significantly higher level than observed in HCs; consequently, the presence of Abs does not discriminate between these demyelinating diseases. However, anti-KIR4.1 Ab levels differed in MS patients during relapse and remission; as such, they may represent a marker of disease exacerbation.
A phase IIa randomised clinical study of GNbAC1, a humanised monoclonal antibody against the envelope protein of multiple sclerosis-associated endogenous retrovirus in multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Derfuss Tobias , Curtin François , Guebelin Claudia , Bridel Claire , Rasenack Maria , Matthey Alain , Du Pasquier Renaud , Schluep Myriam , Desmeules Jules , Lang Alois B , Perron Hervé , Faucard Raphael , Porchet Hervé , Hartung Hans-Peter , Kappos Ludwig , Lalive Patrice H 
Published: November 2014

Background: GNbAC1 is an immunoglobulin (IgG4) humanised monoclonal antibody against multiple sclerosis-associated retrovirus (MSRV)-Env, a protein of endogenous retroviral origin, expressed in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions, which is pro-inflammatory and inhibits oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation. Objective: This is a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled dose-escalation study followed by a six-month open-label phase to test GNbAC1 in MS patients. The primary objective was to assess GNbAC1 safety in MS patients, and the other objectives were pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments. Methods: Ten MS patients were randomised into two cohorts to receive a single intravenous infusion of GNbAC1/placebo at doses of 2 or 6 mg/kg. Then all patients received five infusions of GNbAC1 at 2 or 6 mg/kg at four-week intervals in an open-label setting. Safety, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, cytokines and MSRV RNA expression were studied. Results: All patients completed the study. GNbAC1 was well tolerated in all patients. GNbAC1 pharmacokinetics is dose-linear with mean elimination half-life of 27–37 d. Anti-GNbAC1 antibodies were not detected. Cytokine analysis did not indicate an adverse effect. MSRV-transcripts showed a decline after the start of treatment. Nine patients had stable brain lesions at MRI. Conclusion: The safety, pharmacokinetic profile, and pharmacodynamic responses to GNbAC1 are favourable in MS patients over a six-month treatment period.
Human interferon regulatory factor 5 homologous epitopes of Epstein-Barr virus and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis induce a specific humoral and cellular immune response in multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Cossu Davide , Mameli Giuseppe , Galleri Grazia , Cocco Eleonora , Masala Speranza , Frau Jessica , Marrosu Maria Giovanna , Manetti Roberto , Sechi Leonardo Antonio 
Published: November 2014

Background: A large number of reports indicate the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) with multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To gain a better understanding of the role of these two pathogens, we investigated the host response induced by selected antigenic peptides. Methods: We examined both humoral and cell-mediated responses against peptides deriving from EBV tegument protein BOLF1, the MAP_4027 and the human interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5424–434) homolog in several MS patients and healthy controls (HCs). Results: Antibodies against these peptides were highly prevalent in MS patients compared to HCs. Concerning MS patients, BOLF1305–320, MAP_402718–32 and IRF5424–434 peptides were able to induce mainly Th1-related cytokines secretion, whereas Th2-related cytokines were down-regulated. Flow cytometry analyses performed on a subset of MS patients highlighted that these peptides were capable of inducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines: IFN-γ and TNF-α by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and IL-6 and TNF-α by CD14+ monocyte cells. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that both EBV and MAP epitopes elicit a consistent humoral response in MS patients compared to HCs, and that the aforementioned peptides are able to induce a T-cell-mediated response that is MS correlated.
High inbreeding in the Faroe Islands does not appear to constitute a risk factor for multiple sclerosis
Authors: Binzer S , Imrell K , Binzer M , Kyvik K. O , Hillert J , Stenager E 
Published: November 2014

Background: Large population-based genome-wide association studies have identified several multiple sclerosis (MS) genetic risk variants, but the existing missing heritability warrants different strategies. Isolated populations offer an alternative way of searching for rare genetic variants and evaluating the possible role of consanguinity in the development of MS. Studies of consanguinity and MS risk have yielded conflicting results. Objectives: In this study we investigated the role of consanguinity on MS risk in the relatively isolated Faroe Islands, which have a presumed high level of inbreeding. Methods: A total of 29 cases and 28 matched controls were genotyped and assessed for inbreeding coefficients, number of runs of homozygosity (ROH) at different lengths and observed number of homozygotes as measures of relatedness. Parametric and non-parametric statistical models were applied. Results: Both cases and controls exhibited considerable relatedness demonstrated by very high inbreeding coefficients, large number of observed homozygotes and many long ROH. However, apart from the number of ROH ≥ 2.5 mega base pairs, no significant differences between the two groups were observed. Conclusions: Overall, no significant difference between cases and controls were found, indicating that consanguinity in itself does not appear to be an important risk factor for MS in the population of the Faroe Islands.
Photoluminescence response of colloidal quantum dots on VO2 film across metal to insulator transition
Authors: Kuznetsov Sergey N , Cheremisin Alexander B , Stefanovich Genrikh B 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
We have proposed a method to probe metal to insulator transition in VO2 measuring photoluminescence response of colloidal quantum dots deposited on the VO2 film. In addition to linear luminescence intensity decrease with temperature that is well known for quantum dots, temperature ranges with enhanced photoluminescence changes have been found during phase transition in the oxide. Corresponding temperature derived from luminescence dependence on temperature closely correlates with that from resistance measurement during heating. The supporting reflectance data point out that photoluminescence response mimics a reflectance change in VO2 across metal to insulator transition. Time-resolved photoluminescence study did not reveal any significant change of luminescence lifetime of deposited quantum dots under metal to insulator transition. It is a strong argument in favor of the proposed explanation based on the reflectance data.

PACS

71.30. + h; 73.21.La; 78.47.jd
A brief overview of speech enhancement with linear filtering
Authors: Benesty Jacob , Christensen Mads Græsbøll , Jensen Jesper Rindom , Chen Jingdong 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
In this paper, we provide an overview of some recently introduced principles and ideas for speech enhancement with linear filtering and explore how these are related and how they can be used in various applications. This is done in a general framework where the speech enhancement problem is stated as a signal vector estimation problem, i.e., with a filter matrix, where the estimate is obtained by means of a matrix-vector product of the filter matrix and the noisy signal vector. In this framework, minimum distortion, minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR), tradeoff, maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and Wiener filters are derived from the conventional speech enhancement approach and the recently introduced orthogonal decomposition approach. For each of the filters, we derive their properties in terms of output SNR and speech distortion. We then demonstrate how the ideas can be applied to single- and multichannel noise reduction in both the time and frequency domains as well as binaural noise reduction.
Proportion of patients without mental disorders being treated in
mental health services worldwide
Authors: Bruffaerts Ronny , Posada-Villa Jose , Al-Hamzawi Ali Obaid , Gureje Oye , Huang Yueqin , Hu Chiyi , Bromet Evelyn J. , Viana Maria Carmen , Hinkov Hristo Ruskov , Karam Elie G. , Borges Guilherme , Florescu Silvia E. , Williams David R. , Demyttenaere Koen , Kovess-Masfety Viviane , Matschinger Herbert , Levinson Daphna , de Girolamo Giovanni , Ono Yutaka , de Graaf Ron , Browne Mark Oakley , Bunting Brendan , Xavier Miguel , Haro Josep Maria , Kessler Ronald C. 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundPrevious research suggests that many people receiving mental health
treatment do not meet criteria for a mental disorder but are rather ‘the
worried well’.AimsTo examine the association of past-year mental health treatment with
DSM-IV disorders.MethodThe World Health Organization's World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys
interviewed community samples of adults in 23 countries
(n = 62 305) about DSM-IV disorders and treatment in
the past 12 months for problems with emotions, alcohol or drugs.ResultsRoughly half (52%) of people who received treatment met criteria for a
past-year DSM-IV disorder, an additional 18% for a lifetime disorder and
an additional 13% for other indicators of need (multiple subthreshold
disorders, recent stressors or suicidal behaviours). Dose–response
associations were found between number of indicators of need and
treatment.ConclusionsThe vast majority of treatment in the WMH countries goes to patients with
mental disorders or other problems expected to benefit from
treatment.
Pre-participation screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in young athletes
Authors: Sheffle Nicholas , Bowden Tracey 
Published: November 2014

Aims: This literature review seeks to explore the efficacy of pre-participation screening (PPS) in identifying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes within the UK. Background: SCD accounts for half of all cardiovascular mortality in persons under 30 years and HCM is the leading cause of exercise-related cardiovascular death in young athletes. Substantial interest persists regarding the effectiveness of PPS and the necessity for universal legislation and implementation. Findings: PPS of young athletes identified HCM (and other cardiovascular disease) that could have prevented SCD. Electrocardiography (ECG) had virtuous impact when included within PPS. However, echocardiography—noted as gold standard assessment of HCM—was largely insignificant. SCD had greater prevalence in males than females, yet there was significant ethnic underrepresentation. PPS lacked consistency. Conclusion: PPS is universally divisive and present legislative application in the UK remains unfounded. There is evidence highlighting the efficacy of PPS identifying HCM (and other cardiovascular disease), and thus preventing SCD in young athletes. ECG inclusion could have benefits in PPS. However, further studies targeting age, sex, ethnicity, cost analysis and consistency are imperative before PPS is mandated. Relevance to clinical practice: Essential practical, psychological and ethical implications govern PPS implementation, illustrating expert clinical nursing support and prospective intervention in SCD aftermath.
Modeling water quality index to assess shallow groundwater quality for sustainable utilization in Southern India
Authors: Anbazhagan Siddan , Jothibasu Arumugam 
Published: November 2014

In sustainable groundwater study, it is necessary to assess the quality of groundwater in terms of drinking and irrigation purposes. The present study attempt to assess the groundwater quality through Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) and Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) in hard rock aquifer system and sustainable water use in Uppar Odai sub-basin, Southern India. The quality of ground water in major part of the study area is generally poor. In order to understand the shallow groundwater quality, the water samples were collected from 24 dug wells. The primary physical and chemical parameters like potential Hydrogen (pH), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Hardness (TH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), bicarbonate (HCO3), carbonate (CO3), cloride (Cl), sulphate (SO4), nitrate (NO3) and fluoride (F) were analyzed for DWQI. The secondary parameters of irrigation groundwater quality indices such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium Soluble Percentage (SSP), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), Corrosively Ratio (CR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR) and Kellies Ratio (KR) were also derived from the primary parameter for IWQI. The DWQI and IWQI were classified into excellent to unfit condition of groundwater quality based on their Water Quality Index (WQI). The spatial distribution of DWQI (25%) and IWQI (58+26%) indicate that slightly unsustainable to sustainable state of groundwater quality. Due to this quality deterioration of shallow aquifer, an immediate attention required for sustainable development. Keywords: Groundwater Quality, GIS, Water Quality Indices, Shallow Aquifer, Sustainable Development.
Parameter estimation for multiple weibull populations under joint type-II censoring
Authors: Ashour Samir , Eraki Osama 
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we introduce the maximum likelihood estimation for k Weibull populations under joint type II censored scheme and different special cases have been obtained. The asymptotic variance covariance matrix and approximate confidence region based on the asymptotic normality of the maximum likelihood estimators have been obtained. A numerical example is considered to illustrate the proposed estimators. Keywords: Approximate Inference; Coverage Probabilities; Joint Type II Censored Scheme; Maximum Likelihood Estimation; Weibull Distribution.
“Following one's desire” (kāmacāra): On a Characterisation of Freedom in Vedic Literature and the Mahābhārata
Authors: Malinar Angelika 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The compound kāmacāra is in Vedic literature connected to ideas of freedom which are different from the well-known ones often associated with immovability and changelessness as the characteristic features of the “self” (ātman) or the “absolute” (brahman), and of “liberation” (mokṣa, mukti) as a state beyond pleasure and desire. It rather refers to a semantic register of freedom which is used in order to describe states of independence and liberty obtained in the after-life in which immortality is defined not as freedom “from”, but as freedom “to”. Correspondingly, kāmacāra is used in connection with notions of autonomy expressed by the words svatantra or svatantratā (independence) and svarāj (self-rule), and not with the semantics of mukti and mokṣa, the terms frequently used for the freedom that accrues through “liberation” or “release” from worldly existence. New ascetic teachings on the extinction of all desire as well as new interpretations of ritual action and individual agency (karman) did not result in completely removing the idea of a state of “following one's desire” from the spectrum of salvific ideas, but rather in its being reinterpreted vis-à-vis “higher” goals. While the speculations about the freedom to be obtained in future existences are in some Vedic texts intrinsically connected with notions of the “self” (ātman) and the realm of brahman, they become in the Mahābhārata features of particular regions and agents. Furthermore, kāmacāra becomes a topic in negotiating gender, and more specifically, marital relations and is made a characteristic feature of times and places in which laws of possession do not rule social relationships. The analysis of the occurrences of the compound in Vedic literature and the epic aims at tracing semantic shifts and changing referential frameworks of meaning.
A First Approach to the Cost of a Basic Social Benefit
Authors: Peña-Miguel Noemi , De La Peña Esteban J Iñaki , Fernandez-Sainz Ana 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe Social Security System in Spain is significantly broader and more complex than in other EU countries. One of its problems is that it was not created as a single whole. Instead of this, there are different kinds of social assistance service depending on the region, so there is a real need to reduce the complexity of these schemes and homogenise the benefits paid out in a general basic social benefit. In this paper we propose a new approach to universal basic protection benefit (called Basic Social Benefit) as a way of unifying and rationalising the different grants and economic aids currently available in Spain in order to cover the basic needs of all citizens. This is the first study made in Spain in calculating the lump sum of a basic social benefit for the whole population. For this, we use Quantile Regression (QR) to calculate the principal variables that explain the minimum vital expenditures of Spanish citizens. We also show the total financial cost of this measure for Spain in 2010 and a projection of the cost for the next 12 years.
Moores Paradox, Behaupten, Urteilen
Authors: Pfisterer Christoph C. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryMoore was first to notice that it is absurd to assert sentences of the form “p, but I don’t believe it.” As it looks even more absurd to believe what such a sentence states, explanations of Moore’s paradox have primarily focused on the beliefs thus asserted. Shoemaker, for example, analyzes these beliefs in terms of conflicting higher order beliefs. Kriegel, in return, provides an explanation in terms of logical contradictions. I shall argue that both accounts rest on the mistaken assumption that assertions are merely uttered judgements. What I show instead is that the episodic aspect of judgements renders it impossible even to have such beliefs.
Mereologisch, homunkulogisch oder pseudo-objektivierend? Über einige neurophilosophische Fehlschlüsse und Kategorienfehler
Authors: Lenk Hans 
Published: November 2014

SummaryThe paper discusses Bennett’s and Hacker’s critical work on the philosophical foundations of neuroscience and their so-called ” mereological fallacy“. It argues that Wittgensteinian arguments of mere ordinary language analysis are not enough to cover activations of patterns in the brain and especially of sense perception and meaningful human action. The approach offered by the author’s methodological scheme-interpretationism may solve these problems by using and differentiating higher-order concepts and metatheoretical and methodological as well as schema-theoretical perspectives.
Notwendigkeit und Grenzen der Unternehmensethik
Authors: Peucker Henning 
Published: November 2014

SummaryAgainst the background of the growing social and ecological problems, business ethics and economics ethics were developed in order to reflect on the ethical dimension of modern economic activities. This article contrasts two different approaches from within this field of applied ethics: one that regards the implementation of a responsible and institutionally-based framework of regulations for all of our economic activities as the aim of business ethics; another that stresses the influence of individual business leaders and regards all efforts of business ethics as pointless if they are not directed to the individual decisions and actions of managers. The article shows that the first approach remains insufficient if it is not complemented with elements from the individual ethics provided by the second approach.
“Given the Subject Term – What is the Rest?” – On the Unity of a Sentence
Authors: Mras Gabriele M. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBy examining the views of Frege, Russell, and Davidson it is shown that what a sentence is about cannot be determined without taking into account the interconnections among the other parts of a sentence. This is illustrated by considering in particular the effects of negating the predicate of a sentence.
There is no such Thing as Predication
Authors: Peregrin Jaroslav 
Published: November 2014

SummaryIt is often taken for granted that predication is something that happens on a mental, nonlinguistic level, that the grammatical operation of predication is merely a shadowy epiphenomenon of our mental gluing together of the entities stood for by the grammatical subject and the grammatical predicate. I argue that there is nothing - or at least nothing clearly graspable - that could be reasonably called predication save the grammatical operation. Predication, I argue, is what happens when we use a linguistic ‘tool’ having built it of two specific parts, where the parts, already furnished with certain inferential roles, conspire to produce a sentence with a specific inferential potential, which then can be used within a plentitude of our language games.
The degree of union resulting from reaction points expressed in a diatopic table. An application to a Catalan verb morphology database
Authors: Ueda Hiroto , Perea Maria-Pilar 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
For describing a particular area from a geolinguistic perspective, the basic procedure is to create a two-dimensional table with an axis showing forms or phenomena and another axis showing localities. In this table, observing the specific reaction in every cell will allow us to develop both co-occurrence and coefficient matrixes, as well as clustering and multivariate interpretation graphs. In this table, which is the starting point for multivariate analyses of geolinguistic data, certain convergences and divergences of the reaction points are revealed. Our interest is in a quantitative evaluation of the degree of convergence and divergence that takes the form of a rectangular linkage of the reacted points; that is to say, an analysis of the state of their continuity set out in rectangular plots. In order to evaluate properly the absolute values in numbers of unions (U) it is necessary to develop a mathematical function that will return the maximum number of unions (Umax) in a parameter with the number of reactions (n): Umax (n). Once the Umax function has been established, the desirable “Degree of Binding” will be formulated through the division of U by Umax(n). The aim of this paper is to put into practice this method with the data from La flexió verbal en els dialectes catalans (‘Verbal Flexion’) (1929-1932), by Antoni M. Alcover, previously analysed in Perea & Ueda (2010). The calculation of the Degree of Binding is applied to the data in both its forms: the original data and the patternized distribution of data (see Perea & Ueda 2010: 103-111). The result of our calculations gives rise to a new multivariate perspective of “isoglosses” for overcoming the problems of mismatched lines on the linguistic maps.