bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurocognitive predictors of performance‐based functional capacity in bipolar disorder
Authors: Allen Daniel N. , Bello Danielle T. , Thaler Nicholas S. 
Published: March 2014

Neurocognitive impairment can predict functional capacity in individuals with bipolar disorder, though little research has examined whether different neurocognitive domains impact specific types of tasks. This study examined the relationship between several neurocognitive variables and the UCSD Performance‐Based Skills Assessment (UPSA; Patterson et al., 2011) to identify the domains and tests that best predict the performance across the subscales. Forty‐seven euthymic participants who were diagnosed with either Bipolar I or Bipolar II were recruited and assessed on a battery of neuropsychological measures and the UPSA. Correlational and regression analyses were run to identify neurocognitive predictors of UPSA subscales. Per the literature, verbal learning and memory and executive function composites were first examined. Verbal learning and memory predicted the Communication subscale and Total score variables above and beyond the estimated FSIQ and symptom rating scales. In a secondary exploratory analysis, the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation subtest predicted the Finance subscale while the California Verbal Learning Test predicted the UPSA total score. Verbal learning and memory emerged as the strongest predictor of functional capacity, suggesting that this domain should be investigated in future mediational and longitudinal studies with the UPSA.
Recent advances towards tuberculosis control: vaccines and biomarkers
Authors: Weiner J. , Kaufmann S. H. E. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractOf all infectious diseases, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in understanding the biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and the immune response of the infected host have led to the development of several new vaccines, a number of which are already undergoing clinical trials. These include pre‐exposure prime vaccines, which could replace bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG), and pre‐exposure booster vaccines given in addition to BCG. Infants are the target population of these two types of vaccines. In addition, several postexposure vaccines given during adolescence or adult life, in addition to BCG as a priming vaccine during infancy, are undergoing clinical testing. Therapeutic vaccines are currently being assessed for their potential to cure active TB as an adjunct to chemotherapy. BCG replacement vaccines are viable recombinant BCG or double‐deletion mutants of Mtb. All booster vaccines are composed of one or several antigens, either expressed by viral vectors or formulated with adjuvants. Therapeutic vaccines are killed mycobacterial preparations. Finally, multivariate biomarkers and biosignatures are being generated from high‐throughput data with the aim of providing better diagnostic tools to specifically determine TB progression. Here, we provide a technical overview of these recent developments as well of the relevant computational approaches and highlight the obstacles that still need to be overcome.
Clinical complications of urinary catheters caused by crystalline biofilms: something needs to be done
Authors: Stickler D. J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis review is largely based on a previous paper published in the journal Spinal Cord. The care of many patients undergoing long‐term bladder catheterization is complicated by encrustation and blockage of their Foley catheters. This problem stems from infection by urease‐producing bacteria, particularly Proteus mirabilis. These organisms colonize the catheter forming an extensive biofilm; they also generate ammonia from urea, thus elevating the pH of urine. As the pH rises, crystals of calcium and magnesium phosphates precipitate in the urine and in the catheter biofilm. The continued development of this crystalline biofilm blocks the flow of urine through the catheter. Urine then either leaks along the outside of the catheter and the patient becomes incontinent or is retained causing painful distension of the bladder and reflux of urine to the kidneys. The process of crystal deposition can also initiate stone formation. Most patients suffering from recurrent catheter encrustation develop bladder stones. P. mirabilis establishes stable residence in these stones and is extremely difficult to eliminate from the catheterized urinary tract by antibiotic therapy. If blocked catheters are not identified and changed, serious symptomatic episodes of pyelonephritis, septicaemia and endotoxic shock can result. All types of Foley catheters including silver‐ or nitrofurazone‐coated devices are vulnerable to this problem. In this review, the ways in which biofilm formation on Foley catheters is initiated by P. mirabilis will be described. The implications of understanding these mechanisms for the development of an encrustation‐resistant catheter will be discussed. Finally, the way forward for the prevention and control of this problem will be considered.
The path of malaria vaccine development: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Arama C. , Troye‐Blomberg M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMalaria is a life‐threatening disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of antimalarial agents. Key interventions to control malaria include prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin‐based combination therapies, use of insecticidal nets by individuals at risk and active research into malaria vaccines. Protection against malaria through vaccination was demonstrated more than 30 years ago when individuals were vaccinated via repeated bites by Plasmodium falciparum‐infected and irradiated but still metabolically active mosquitoes. However, vaccination with high doses of irradiated sporozoites injected into humans has long been considered impractical. Yet, following recent success using whole‐organism vaccines, the approach has received renewed interest; it was recently reported that repeated injections of irradiated sporozoites increased protection in 80 vaccinated individuals. Other approaches include subunit malaria vaccines, such as the current leading candidate RTS,S (consisting of fusion between a portion of the P. falciparum‐derived circumsporozoite protein and the hepatitis B surface antigen), which has been demonstrated to induce reasonably good protection. Although results have been encouraging, the level of protection is generally considered to be too low to achieve eradication of malaria. There is great interest in developing new and better formulations and stable delivery systems to improve immunogenicity. In this review, we will discuss recent strategies to develop efficient malaria vaccines.
A review of bacterial cellulose-based drug delivery systems: their biochemistry, current approaches and future prospects
Authors: Abeer Muhammad Mustafa , Mohd Amin Mohd Cairul Iqbal , Martin Claire 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Objectives
The field of pharmaceutical technology is expanding rapidly because of the increasing number of drug delivery options. Successful drug delivery is influenced by multiple factors, one of which is the appropriate identification of materials for research and engineering of new drug delivery systems. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is one such biopolymer that fulfils the criteria for consideration as a drug delivery material.

Key findings
BC showed versatility in terms of its potential for in-situ modulation, chemical modification after synthesis and application in the biomedical field, thus expanding the current, more limited view of BC and facilitating the investigation of its potential for application in drug delivery.

Summary
Cellulose, which is widely available in nature, has numerous applications. One of the applications is that of BC in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, where it has been primarily applied for transdermal formulations to improve clinical outcomes. This review takes a multidisciplinary approach to consideration of the feasibility and potential benefits of BC in the development of other drug delivery systems for various routes of administration.
Treating canine atopic dermatitis with unsaturated fatty acids: the role of mast cells and potential mechanisms of action
Authors: Schumann J. , Basiouni S. , Gück T. , Fuhrmann H. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryCanine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is an inflammatory skin disorder that is characterized by pruritus and associated cutaneous changes. Treatment interventions include allergen avoidance, allergen‐specific immunotherapy as well as a symptomatic therapy using glucocorticoids and antihistamines. In addition, a dietary intervention using polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has been shown to alleviate symptoms in some dogs. Although the beneficial effects of PUFA in the treatment of CAD have been known for several years, their mode of action remains unclear. This review discusses the evidential basis of the therapeutic use of dietary PUFA in the treatment of CAD. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of cutaneous mast cells. In addition, recent evidence from in vitro studies on the regulation of mast cell exocytosis will be used to build a mechanistic model of the active principle of PUFA. It is proposed that dietary PUFA are integrated into mast cell membranes resulting in a reorganization of membrane microdomains. This may then be accompanied by functional changes of membrane‐associated proteins such as the phospholipases D (PLD), enzymes having an important impact on mast cell exocytosis processes.
Overdeterminacy and Endogenous Cycles: Trygve Haavelmo's Business Cycle Model
Authors: Anundsen André K. , Krogh Tord S. , Nymoen Ragnar , Vislie Jon 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe econometrician Trygve Haavelmo pursued a research programme in macroeconomic theory that was highly original for its time. We present his macro model for an economy with deregulated financial markets and a policy determined interest rate path. Disequilibria arise in the interface between asset markets and the real economy. A mismatch between the marginal return to capital and investors' required rate generates endogenous switching between recession and full employment regimes. Haavelmo regarded the ‘switching mechanism’ as a substitute for liquidity constraints, and together with his ideas of price dynamics, there is a clear Keynesian and Wicksellian influence on his macroeconomic theorizing.
Hfq reduces envelope stress by controlling expression of envelope‐localized proteins and protein complexes in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Vogt Stefanie L. , Raivio Tracy L. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryGram‐negative bacteria possess several envelope stress responses that detect and respond to damage to this critical cellular compartment. The σE envelope stress response senses the misfolding of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), while the Cpx two‐component system is believed to detect the misfolding of periplasmic and inner membrane proteins. Recent studies in several Gram‐negative organisms found that deletion of hfq, encoding a small RNA chaperone protein, activates the σE envelope stress response. In this study, we assessed the effects of deleting hfq upon activity of the σE and Cpx responses in non‐pathogenic and enteropathogenic (EPEC) strains of Escherichia coli. We found that the σE response was activated in Δhfq mutants of all E. coli strains tested, resulting from the misregulation of OMPs. The Cpx response was activated by loss of hfq in EPEC, but not in E. coli K‐12. Cpx pathway activation resulted in part from overexpression of the bundle‐forming pilus (BFP) in EPEC Δhfq. We found that Hfq repressed expression of the BFP via PerA, a master regulator of virulence in EPEC. This study shows that Hfq has a more extensive role in regulating the expression of envelope proteins and horizontally acquired virulence genes in E. coli than previously recognized.
Disaster preparedness among vulnerable older adults with chronic diseases: Results from a cross‐sectional study in Incheon, Korea
Authors: Kang Kyunghee 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAbout 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition that makes them more vulnerable than healthy people during a disaster. This study examined the association of general health status and chronic disease status, respectively, with disaster preparedness among vulnerable older adults with chronic diseases. The 165 participants (100 females, 65 male) comprising the study population were taking a health course for chronic disease management at a public health center in Incheon, Korea from March to April 2012. A relatively small percentage of households had a complete set of disaster preparedness supplies, an emergency evacuation plan, and a three‐day supply of medications. Respondents with multiple chronic diseases were generally more likely to have a three‐day supply of medications in comparison with their healthier counterparts. To improve preparedness among vulnerable older adults, a “bottom up” assessment of directly canvassing the views of older people is necessary and should be transferred into practical conditions of disaster preparedness.
Disaster preparedness and response: Challenges for Australian public health nurses – A literature review
Authors: Rokkas Philippa , Cornell Victoria , Steenkamp Malinda 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTo date,Australia has not had to respond to a nationwide catastrophic event. However, over the past decade, heat waves, bushfires, cyclones, and floods have significantly challengedAustralia's disaster preparedness and the surge capacity of local and regional health systems. Given that disaster events are predicted to increase in impact and frequency, the health workforce needs to be prepared for and able to respond effectively to a disaster. To be effective, nurses must be clear regarding their role in a disaster and be able to articulate the value and relevance of this role to communities and the professionals they work with. Since almost all disasters will exert some impact on public health, it is expedient to prepare the public health nursing workforce withinAustralia. This paper highlights issues currently facing disaster nursing and focuses on the challenges forAustralian public health nurses responding to and preparing for disasters withinAustralia. The paper specifically addresses public health nurses' awareness regarding their roles in disaster preparation and response, given their unique skills and central position in public health.
Lysosomal cholesterol accumulation: driver on the road to inflammation during atherosclerosis and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Hendrikx T. , Walenbergh S. M. A. , Hofker M. H. , Shiri‐Sverdlov R. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryMany studies show an association between the accumulation of cholesterol inside lysosomes and the progression towards inflammatory disease states that are closely related to obesity. While in the past, the knowledge regarding lysosomal cholesterol accumulation was limited to its association with plaque severity during atherosclerosis, recently, a growing body of evidence indicates a causal link between lysosomal cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. These findings make lysosomal cholesterol accumulation an important target for intervention in metabolic diseases that are characterized by the presence of an inflammatory response. In this review, we aim to show the importance of cholesterol trapping inside lysosomes to the development of inflammation by focusing upon cardiovascular disease and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in particular. We summarize current data supporting the hypothesis that lysosomal cholesterol accumulation plays a key role in the development of inflammation during atherosclerosis and NASH. In addition, potential mechanisms by which disturbed lysosomal function can trigger the inflammatory response, the challenges in improving cholesterol trafficking in macrophages and recent successful research directions will be discussed.
Life cycles, plasticity and palaeoecology in temnospondyl amphibians
Authors: Schoch Rainer R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn the largest early tetrapod clade, the temnospondyls, ontogenies were diverse and quite distinct from the life cycles of extant amphibians. Three well‐studied clades exemplify the diversity of these long‐extinct ontogenies, here analysed with respect to their bearing on developmental plasticity, reaction norms and evolution. Sclerocephalus readily adjusted by means of developmental evolution to different lake environments. In addition, plasticity (reaction norm) played a significant role, apparent both morphologically and by altered developmental traits. Size increase and extension of the ontogenetic trajectory gave larger predators, a phenomenon also found in the dissorophoid Micromelerpeton. Whereas Sclerocephalus was throughout preying on the same fishes, Micromelerpeton was able to fit into different trophic levels. In the branchiosaurid Apateon, a biphasic life cycle was established, with metamorphosis producing a terrestrial morph in some species; truncation of the ontogenetic trajectory gave a sexually mature larva as an alternative morph (neoteny). Plasticity was high in the larval morphs, permitting neotenes to live as filter feeders or small carnivores. Fine‐tuning of development permitted Apateon populations to adjust to specific lake properties and readily change from a filter‐feeding to carnivorous mode of life. In the nonmetamorphosing Triassic Gerrothorax, morphology was extremely conserved, but histology reveals much plasticity at the microscopical level, correlating with fluctuating salinity and water energy. In responding to environmental fluctuations by enhanced plasticity, the studied temnospondyls managed to populate lakes inhabitable to other tetrapods and fishes.
Marginally Specified Priors for Non-Parametric Bayesian Estimation
Authors: Kessler David C. , Hoff Peter D. , Dunson David B. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryPrior specification for non-parametric Bayesian inference involves the difficult task of quantifying prior knowledge about a parameter of high, often infinite, dimension. A statistician is unlikely to have informed opinions about all aspects of such a parameter but will have real information about functionals of the parameter, such as the population mean or variance. The paper proposes a new framework for non-parametric Bayes inference in which the prior distribution for a possibly infinite dimensional parameter is decomposed into two parts: an informative prior on a finite set of functionals, and a non-parametric conditional prior for the parameter given the functionals. Such priors can be easily constructed from standard non-parametric prior distributions in common use and inherit the large support of the standard priors on which they are based. Additionally, posterior approximations under these informative priors can generally be made via minor adjustments to existing Markov chain approximation algorithms for standard non-parametric prior distributions. We illustrate the use of such priors in the context of multivariate density estimation using Dirichlet process mixture models, and in the modelling of high dimensional sparse contingency tables.
Optical coherence tomography using images of hair structure and dyes penetrating into the hair
Authors: Tsugita Tetsuya , Iwai Toshiaki 
Published: March 2014

Background/purposeHair dyes are commonly evaluated by the appearance of the hair after dyeing. However, this approach cannot simultaneously assess how deep the dye has penetrated into hair.MethodsFor simultaneous assessment of the appearance and the interior of hair, we developed a visible‐range red, green, and blue (RGB) (three primary colors)‐optical coherence tomography (OCT) using an RGB LED light source. We then evaluated a phantom model based on the assumption that the sample's absorbability in the vertical direction affects the tomographic imaging.ResultsConsistent with theory, our device showed higher resolution than conventional OCT with far‐red light. In the experiment on the phantom model, we confirmed that the tomographic imaging is affected by absorbability unique to the sample. Furthermore, we verified that permeability can be estimated from this tomographic image. We also identified for the first time the relationship between penetration of the dye into hair and characteristics of wavelength by tomographic imaging of dyed hair.ConclusionWe successfully simultaneously assessed the appearance of dyed hair and inward penetration of the dye without preparing hair sections.
Housing Liberalisation and Gentrification: The Social Effects of Tenure Conversions in Amsterdam
Authors: Boterman Willem R. , van Gent Wouter P.C. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPrivatisation and liberalisation of the housing market are often used as governmental strategies for engineering the social composition of urban neighbourhoods. Drawing on longitudinal register data, this study reports findings from the highly‐regulated housing context of Amsterdam. Through regression modelling and GIS analyses, we demonstrate that tenure conversions from rent to owner‐occupancy are not just bringing about changes in social‐class composition, but also affect the ethnic and demographic compositions. Moreover, conversions from rent to ownership have highly spatially‐specific effects. Our evidence suggests that tenure conversions may contribute to gentrification in the inner‐city of Amsterdam, while conversions in post‐war neighbourhoods do not lead to a social upgrading and may even facilitate downgrading. Furthermore, trends in the converted section of the housing market are not just mirroring income developments but also seem to reflect trends in ethnic segregation and demographic trends such as a renewed interest among families to live in the inner‐city.
Wither the ‘Undivided City'? An Assessment of State‐Sponsored Gentrification in Amsterdam
Authors: Uitermark Justus , Bosker Tjerk 
Published: March 2014

AbstractLike many other governments, the Dutch government has simultaneously pursued the contradictory goals of liberalising the housing market and countering the concentration of low‐income groups. This paper discusses how the tension between promoting market forces and countering segregation has played out, using Amsterdam as a case study. The findings suggest that the policy may have mitigated but did not prevent a deepening division between the city's increasingly privileged core and its periphery. This is at least in part because social mixing was pursued also in neighbourhoods already prone to gentrification.
A Microsoft VBA Application for Generating Heat Maps
Authors: Polczynski Mark , Polczynski Michael 
Published: March 2014

AbstractA choropleth map is a form of thematic map used to portray the structural characteristics of some particular geographical distribution not apparent in data presented in tabular form. Preparation of a choropleth map starts with the assignment of map features to classes based on the value of a specific feature attribute followed by the association of classes of features with appropriate map colors or symbols. Map features are often geographical regions with naturally or artificially defined boundaries, but choropleth maps can also be prepared by segmenting the area to be mapped into a regular grid of regions. Maps prepared with each grid shaded in an intuitive manner such as blue for grids with the lowest attribute values to red for the highest values can be termed “heat maps”. This technical note describes the HeatMap Microsoft Excel application which converts information contained in a worksheet into a heat map, and then converts the heat map into a file suitable for display using mapping systems such as Google Earth. An example illustrates how the application can be used to visualize the seventeenth century frontier between the Polish/Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire.