bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adhesion properties of soy protein crosslinked with organic calcium silicate hydrate hybrids
Authors: Kim Min Jung , Sun Xiuzhi Susan 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe objective of this work was to investigate if inorganic calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) hybrids would improve soy protein wet adhesion properties. 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was used as a crosslinking agent to make covalent linkage between organic soy protein and inorganic CSH phases. Soy protein–calcium silicate hydrate (MSP‐CSH) composites with different mole ratio of APTES were prepared and the effect of crosslinking reaction on physicochemical properties such as thermal, rheological, FTIR spectroscopic, and morphological and adhesion properties were studied with physical aging effect. Covalent linkage was observed between CSH and soy protein using the FTIR technique. With aging effect, the denaturation temperature (Td) and enthalpies (ΔHd) of each fraction of soy protein increased in DSC thermograms, representing higher thermal stability, and the viscoelasticity of the composites also increased. The roughly coated surface of the MSP‐CSH composite was observed in SEM images. All these changes further confirmed the interaction between CSH and soy protein molecules. Dry and wet adhesion strength of the MSP‐CSH composites was higher than the control MSP alone. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40693.
Peace, Prosperity and Safety Nets in Timor‐Leste: Competing Priorities or Complementary Investments?
Authors: Dale Pamela , Lepuschuetz Lena , Umapathi Nithin 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSocial protection cash transfers are a vital policy instrument in tackling poverty, and provide an affordable, broad‐based foundation for inclusive growth and social stability. Yet, international experience has shown that many countries have too many programs, but with coverage gaps and fragmented benefits which leave significant proportions of the population without adequate poverty relief or improved economic security. Here, we examine the design and poverty impact of the primary cash transfer programs in the Democratic Republic of Timor‐Leste using nationally representative survey data. We find that though Timor‐Leste's level of social protection expenditure is high by international standards, the overall poverty impact is incommensurate with spending levels. This is explained by the proportion of expenditure devoted to transfers to veterans, the large proportion of the poor population which is not reached by the current targeting mechanisms, and the small coverage and benefit level of the only program that explicitly targets poor households.
The Rentier State at Work: Comparative Experiences of the Resource Curse in East Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Barma Naazneen H. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCountries rich in natural resources do not all experience the resource curse in the same way. The rentier state logic holds that the main political–economic impacts of resource dependence rest on how the state handles windfall resource rents. I differentiate how countries experience the resource curse by disaggregating the rentier effect into how governments generate and distribute resource rents. A simple typology of variation in rentier state experiences explains how the overall credibility of intertemporal commitment and degree of political inclusiveness in a country determine its distinct experience of the resource curse. Four brief country cases—comparing the micro political economy of natural resource governance in Laos, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, and Timor‐Leste—illustrate how intertemporal credibility and political inclusiveness affect patterns of resource rent generation and rent distribution. Different countries experience the resource curse in different ways, with implications for policy attempts at mitigation.
A31: Vitamin D Status is a Determinant of the Effect of Atorvastatin on Carotid Intima Medial Thickening Progression Rate in Children with Lupus: An Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus Substudy
Authors: Robinson Angela , Tangpricha Vin , Yow Eric , Gurion Reut , Schanberg Laura E. , McComsey Grace ,   for The APPLE Investigators
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:Epidemiologic associations suggest that vitamin D status may play a role in inflammation and progression of atherosclerosis. Using frozen serum, carotid intima medial thickness (CIMT) measurements, and other existing data from the Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus (APPLE) trial, we assessed interactions between serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], atorvastatin randomization, and CIMT progression rate.Methods:Participants in the 3‐year APPLE trial were randomized to placebo or atorvastatin and CIMT progression rate was measured. Frozen serum collected at baseline was used to measure 25(OH)D levels by chemiluminescent assay (IDS, LTD). Mixed effect longitudinal models for the outcome CIMT progression at 3 years were used to evaluate interaction between vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D levels <20 ng/mL] at baseline and atorvastatin or placebo treatment, and adjusted for lupus duration, gender, systolic blood pressure, pubertal level, LDL‐cholesterol, and the log of baseline high sensitivity C‐reactive protein.Results:201/221 APPLE participants had available samples and were included in this analysis; 61/201 (30%) had vitamin D deficiency at baseline. In univariable linear regression modeling, baseline vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased baseline mean‐max IMT (p = 0.01). In multivariable longitudinal modeling, there was a significant interaction effect between baseline vitamin D deficiency and atorvastatin treatment in 3‐year progression of mean‐max CIMT (see Figure). In 4 out of 6 carotid segments, there was a greater decrease in mean‐max CIMT progression rate in subjects who were treated with atorvastatin compared to placebo if they had baseline 25(OH)D levels ≥20ng/mL.
imageConclusion:Subjects with higher serum 25(OH)D (≥ 20ng/mL) had lower mean‐max CIMT progression following 3 years of atorvastatin treatment. Results from secondary analyses must be interpreted cautiously, but these findings suggest that treating underlying vitamin D deficiency may optimize benefits from statin therapy.
A54: Insulin Sensitivity Is Improved in sJIA Children With Insulin Resistance After Tocilizumab Treatment: Results From the TENDER Study
Authors: Mirjafari Hoda , Ruperto Nicolino , Brunner Hermine I. , Zuber Zbigniew , Zulian Francesco , Maldonado‐Velázquez Maria del Rocio , Mantzourani Evangelia , Murray Kevin , Roth Johannes , Rovensky Jozef , Vougiouka Olga , Wang Jianmei , Harari Olivier , Lovell Daniel J. , Martini Alberto , De Benedetti Fabrizio 
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:In adults with inflammatory arthritis, insulin resistance (IR) is associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is postulated to play a mechanistic role in IR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of IR among children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and to determine whether treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ) results in attenuation of IR in sJIA.Methods:Patients from TENDER were included if baseline and week 6 fasting insulin were measured. Glucocorticoid tapering was not permitted until week 6. Insulin sensitivity was quantified using the homeostatic model of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR). Patients were classified as having IR if their HOMA‐IR was ≥2.2 U. Change in HOMA‐IR after 6 weeks was assessed using paired t‐test. Baseline associations with HOMA‐IR and factors predicting change of HOMA‐IR from baseline were assessed using regression analyses. Factors changing in association with HOMA‐IR change were assessed.Results:Ninety‐two patients with sJIA were analyzed. 62 were randomly assigned to TCZ and 30 to placebo, 12 of whom required escape therapy with TCZ by week 6. At baseline, 40 patients (43%) had IR. Baseline HOMA‐IR was associated with higher standardized body mass index and higher IL‐6 levels (β‐coefficients [95% CI]: 0.20 [0.05, 0.35] and 0.019 [0.001, 0.038], respectively) but not with JADAS, CRP, active joint count, or presence of fever. Of the 74 patients who received TCZ, 34 (46%) had IR at baseline, including 4 patients who escaped from the placebo arm, compared with 6/18 (33%) who received only placebo. IR patients treated with TCZ but not placebo had significant reductions in HOMA‐IR at week 6 (). Across all IR patients, improvement in JADAS and active joint count was not associated with improvement in HOMA‐IR (β‐coefficients [95% CI]: 0.04 [−0.07, 0.14] and 0.08 [−0.06, 0.22], respectively).
Change in HOMA‐IR After 6 Weeks of TCZ Treatment in Children With sJIA in the TENDER Study

Change in HOMA‐IR Mean (95% CI)
p

TCZ (n = 34)
−0.2 (−3.8, −0.2)
0.03

PBO (n = 6)
0 (−1.7, 1.6)
NS

NS, not significant; PBO, placebo. aPaired t‐test.Conclusion:After only 6 weeks of TCZ treatment, HOMA‐IR was improved in IR patients with sJIA in the presence of unchanged glucocorticoid dose. These data support a mechanistic contribution of IL‐6 to IR in vivo in humans.
A108: Linking Exercise, Activity and Pathophysiology in Childhood Arthritis: An Innovative Canadian Knowledge Translation Strategy
Authors: Gibbon Michele , Tucker Lori B. , Feldman Debbie Ehrmann , McKay Heather A. , Sims‐Gould Joanie , Stinson Jennifer N. , Stringer Elizabeth , Tse Shirley M. L. ,   LEAP Study Investigators, Duffy Ciarán M. 
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:We implemented a novel knowledge translation (KT) initiative called the LEAP Ambassador Program to disseminate findings from the “Linking Exercise, Activity and Pathophysiology (LEAP) in Children with JIA study.” The main hypothesis of the study is that increased levels of physical activity will improve the outcomes (such as quality of life) of youth with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this initiative is to inspire youth with JIA to be physically active through the creation of a community of athletes and youth with JIA, who model different levels of physical activity.Methods:The LEAP Ambassador program was developed by the LEAP study program manager and approved by the LEAP Steering Committee. Various levels of athletes, ranging from international, national, college/university level, and local LEAP study participants (youth with JIA, aged 8–16 years), were sought. Individuals agreeing to participate signed consent for use of their personal photo(s) and interview on the LEAP website (www.leapjia.com). Participants were asked to provide a photo of themselves involved in a sport or physical activity, and to answer 6 brief questions about their motivation to engage in sport/physical activities, in the face of disease flares and/or injuries. Each of the participating LEAP sites was encouraged to seek local LEAP ambassadors through their clinics and community connections, to ensure representation across the country.Results:To date, 15 LEAP ambassadors have been engaged in the program, including 3 international/national level athletes, 2 college/provincial level athletes and 10 youth with JIA. Different levels of physical activity and sports, including freestyle skiing, soccer, walking, horseback riding, speed skating, hockey, cycling and rowing, have been represented. The 10 youth with JIA who have agreed to be LEAP ambassadors come from across the country. Both English and Frenchspeaking ambassadors have been included.Conclusion:The LEAP ambassador program is a unique KT initiative aimed at developing a robust community across the country to support the research messages of the LEAP study, relating to the promotion of physical activity in youth with arthritis. A supportive network is being developed, in which athletes act as role models, inspiring youth with JIA to engage in physical activity, and the youth themselves encourage and motivate each other through shared experiences. Future plans include expansion of the program to include more athletes and youth with JIA, and increased use of social media to connect patients and athletes. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the program is also planned.
A110: The Impact of Shoe Wear on the 6 Minute Walk Test in Adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Blitz Jill R. , Stern Sara , Marzan Katherine AB 
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:Health care professionals recommend appropriate athletic shoe wear to patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, particularly during exercise and activities to prevent pain or foot injury. Adolescents, however, tend to choose their shoe wear based on fashion rather than practical factors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the type of shoe wear utilized had any impact on walking endurance in adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.Methods:27 patients who participated in a walking program were included and assessed for exercise endurance using the 6‐Minute Walk Test (6MWT). 14 subjects were tested once and 13 subjects were tested 4 times with an interval of 6–8 weeks, for a total of 56 6MWTs. Patients were allowed to wear whatever type of shoes they wanted for each test. The type of shoe wear utilized by each patient was recorded for each 6 MWT. Type of shoe‐wear used by subjects varied, and was grouped into 3 categories for analysis purposes: athletic sneakers (n = 9); flat unsupportive sneakers, boots/ballet flats (n = 38); and flip‐flops/sandals (n = 10). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance.Results:27 patients (23 F, 4M, aged 11–19 years) enrolled in the study. The majority of 56 6MWT were done in flat shoes (38/56, 68 %) with athletic shoes utilized the least (9/56, 16%). Patients wearing athletic shoes walked the longest distance (503.94 + 64.03 m) followed by flats (494.56 + 58.45m) and sandals (480.29 + 72.39 m). These differences in 6MWT distance were not statistically significant (p = 0.61) likely due to small sample size.Conclusion:Though no statistically significant impact of shoe wear on walking endurance was found, subjects walked longer distances in 6 minutes when wearing athletic shoes. The difference seen may be clinically meaningful to this patient population. Based on the results of this small pilot study, further research on a larger population appears warranted.
A158: CpG‐Induced Macrophage Activation Syndrome Develops Through an Organism Level Resistance to Toll‐like Receptor 9 Tolerance
Authors: Weaver Lehn K. , Behrens Edward M. 
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a cytokine storm syndrome known to complicate severe inflammatory diseases, and can be seen in patients with systemic rheumatologic conditions. Recent data implicates repeated adjuvant stimulation using the CpG Toll‐like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist as a model of the feed forward inflammatory cycle seen in cytokine storm syndromes. These results contradict the well known phenomenon of TLR tolerance, whereby repeated doses of TLR agonists result in diminishing inflammatory responses to additional stimuli. In contrast, CpG‐induced MAS results in a dose‐dependent increase in systemic inflammation in a process dependent on TLR9, Interferon‐γ (IFNγ), and Interleukin (IL)‐12.Methods:C57BL/6 and Yet40 IL‐12 reporter mice were treated with 0–4 doses of CpG before harvesting tissues to measure parameters of MAS. Analysis of ex vivo and in vitro cellular TLR9 tolerance was performed on whole splenocytes, bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDC) and bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMMP). IL‐12 production was measured from supernatants by ELISA and intracellular IL‐12 was assessed by flow cytometry.Results:Our data recapitulate the well described phenomenon of TLR9 tolerance whereby repeated stimulation with CpG leads to reduced cytokine production using in vitro cultures of whole splenocytes, BMDC and BMMP. Interestingly, IFNγ does not alter the responsiveness of cells to a TLR9 tolerizing stimulus, as the addition of exogenous IFNγ does not rescue TLR9 tolerance in vitro. In contrast, repeated injections of CpG in whole animals results in a dose‐dependent increase in cytokine production, cellular tissue infiltration, cellular responsiveness to CpG, and immunopathology. This dose responsive systemic inflammation correlates with the continued responsiveness of splenic, liver, and bone marrow leukocytes to CpG after in vivo systemic CpG stimuli.Conclusion:Despite demonstrating TLR9 tolerance in multiple cell types in vitro, we show that cells remain responsive to CpG stimulation ex vivo even in mice previously treated with systemic CpG. Without the negative regulatory mechanisms of TLR tolerance, repeated injections of CpG lead to a feed forward systemic inflammatory response resulting in systemic immunopathology. These observations elucidate a novel mechanism whereby persistent adjuvant is sufficient to drive the uncontrolled inflammatory responses seen in MAS because of in vivo failure of TLR9 tolerance.
A178: Development of Tools to Facilitate Shared Decision Making about Medications for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis—A Project of the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network
Authors: DeWitt Esi Morgan , Lipstein Ellen A. , Staun Katie , Scherer Linda , Taylor Janalee , Lannon Carole M. , Brinkman William B. 
Published: March 2014

Background/Purpose:Medication options for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are increasing. Medications differ on a variety of attributes, including mechanisms of action, dosing intervals, modes of administration, safety profiles, and cost. Some parents of children with JIA are left with questions and concerns about medications suggesting a need for improved clinician‐parent communication. Decisions like this, with multiple reasonable options that differ in ways that matter to families, are conducive to “Shared Decision Making” (SDM). SDM is a process whereby clinicians share information about the options and patients/parents share information about their goals and preferences. Together, a treatment plan is developed that is the best fit for the individual patient and their family. We conducted a project to develop tools to facilitate SDM within the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR‐COIN). PR‐COIN is a learning network designed to improve outcomes of JIA care using quality improvement (QI) approaches.Methods:Development of issue cards to facilitate SDM involved multiple steps including qualitative interviews with clinicians and care providers, direct observation of clinical encounters, and an iterative design process involving a graphic designer and a stakeholder panel of clinicians, allied health professionals and parents. We introduced the prototype issue cards for use in clinics using Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act (PDSA) cycles. We elicited feedback to guide card revisions from PR‐COIN members via weekly electronic surveys and discussions during monthly webinars and following direct observation of encounters using the cards.Results:We identified the medication attributes deemed most important to discuss by our stakeholders, including “How Soon” will therapies take effect, “How Often” are they given, “Side Effects”, “Cost”, “How Long” will need to stay on the medication, and “Other Considerations.” We used these attributes to organize the issue cards and symbols to convey key concepts (see Figure). Intended use of the cards involves clinicians showing the cards to patient and parent and asking which card they would like to discuss first. By selecting a card, the family reveals what is important to them. After 18 revisions, PR‐COIN stakeholders at 6 sites found the issue cards to be acceptable for regular use. imageConclusion:PR‐COIN issue cards are well accepted by clinicians and families within network sites. PDSA cycles continue as we seek to implement the issue cards in routine clinical care to facilitate SDM across the network. Our ultimate goal is to drive improvement in child JIA outcomes by reliably engaging patients/parents in SDM to select a medication that is a good fit.
Robust, microfabricated culture devices with improved control over the soluble microenvironment for the culture of embryonic stem cells
Authors: Macown Rhys J. , Veraitch Farlan S. , Szita Nicolas 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe commercial use of stem cells continues to be constrained by the difficulty and high cost of developing efficient and reliable production protocols. The use of microfabricated systems combines good control over the cellular microenvironment with reduced use of resources in process optimization. Our previously reported microfabricated culture device was shown to be suitable for the culture of embryonic stem cells but required improvements to robustness, ease of use, and dissolved gas control. In this report, we describe a number of improvements to the design of the microfabricated system to significantly improve the control over shear stress and soluble factors, particularly dissolved oxygen. These control improvements are investigated by finite element modeling. Design improvements also make the system easier to use and improve the robustness. The culture device could be applied to the optimization of pluripotent stem cell growth and differentiation, as well as the development of monitoring and control strategies and improved culture systems at various scales.
A fast polygon inflation algorithm to compute the area of feasible solutions for three‐component systems. II: Theoretical foundation, inverse polygon inflation, and FAC‐PACK implementation
Authors: Sawall Mathias , Neymeyr Klaus 
Published: March 2014

The area of feasible solutions (AFS) of a multivariate curve resolution method is the continuum of feasible solutions under the given constraints. In the current paper, the AFS is computed only on the condition of nonnegative solutions. This work is a continuation of a paper (J. Chemometrics 28:106–116, 2013) on the polygon inflation algorithm for AFS computations. In this second part, various properties of the AFS are analyzed. First, its boundedness is proved, which is a necessary condition for its numerical computation. Second, it is shown that the origin is never contained in the area of feasible solutions. This fact is the basis for the inverse polygon inflation algorithm, which allows to compute specific types of an AFS containing a hole.The numerical computation of the AFS is a complicated and computationally expensive process. The construction of proper objective functions for the AFS optimization problem appears to be decisive. The paper contains a comparative analysis of two objective functions and describes the ideas of the new FAC‐PACK toolbox for MATLAB. This freely available toolbox contains a numerical implementation of the polygon inflation and of the inverse polygon inflation algorithm. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.