bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Area and power efficient decimal carry‐free adder
Authors: Han Liu , Zhang Hao , Ko Seok‐Bum 
Published: October 2015

As decimal floating‐point (DFP) is better than binary floating‐point in commercial and financial computing including billing systems, currency conversion, tax calculation and banking, many research activities have been focused on improving the performance of the DFP arithmetic unit recently. To achieve the high performance of the DFP arithmetic unit, a fast decimal fixed‐point adder is the most important building block. The conventional three steps carry‐free signed digit (SD) addition algorithm is first investigated. A new method for the decimal SD addition and subtraction based on the digit set [−9, 9] is proposed. Additionally, a digit‐set converter which can directly generate the absolute value of the result is proposed. A model of the proposed decimal SD adder is implemented in VHDL. After exhaustive tests to ensure the correctness, the proposed design was synthesised in STM 90 nm technology. The results show that the proposed adder has a lower power and area consumption compared with previous designs.
Edge illuminated SiGe heterojunction phototransistor for RoF applications
Authors: Tegegne Z.G. , Viana C. , Polleux J.L. , Grzeskowiak M. , Richalot E. 
Published: October 2015

The first edge illuminated SiGe phototransistor based on the available commercial SiGe/Si BiCMOS technology for a low‐cost detector or mixer in radio‐over‐fibre applications. Its technology and structure are described. Edge mapping of the phototransistor performances, so as to observe the fastest and the highest sensitive areas of the structure, is performed. The phototransistor exhibits a cutoff frequency of 890 MHz and low frequency responsivity of 0.45 A/W at 850 nm. This new SiGe/Si phototransistor structure provides a cutoff frequency double that of a top illuminated SiGe/Si phototransistor obtained using the same BiCMOS technology.
Role Played by Paxillin and Paxillin Tyrosine Phosphorylation in Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Sphingosine‐1‐Phosphate‐Mediated Reactive Oxygen Species Generation, Lamellipodia Formation, and Endothelial Barrier Function
Authors: Fu Panfeng , Usatyuk Peter V. , Jacobson Jeffrey , Cress Anne E. , Garcia Joe G. N. , Salgia Ravi , Natarajan Viswanathan 
Published: October 2015

Paxillin is a multifunctional and multidomain focal adhesion adaptor protein. It serves as an important scaffolding protein at focal adhesions by recruiting and binding to structural and signaling molecules. Paxillin tyrosine phosphorylation at Y31 and Y118 is important for paxillin redistribution to focal adhesions and angiogenesis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) are potent stimulators of lamellipodia formation, a prerequisite for endothelial cell migration. The role played by paxillin and its tyrosine phosphorylated forms in HGF‐ or S1P‐induced lamellipodia formation and barrier function is unclear. HGF or S1P stimulated lamellipodia formation, tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin at Y31 and Y118, and c‐Abl in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs). Knockdown of paxillin with small interfering RNA (siRNA) or transfection with paxillin mutants (Y31F or Y118F) mitigated HGF‐ or S1P‐induced lamellipodia formation, translocation of p47phox to lamellipodia, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in HLMVECs. Furthermore, exposure of HLMVECs to HGF or S1P stimulated c‐Abl‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin at Y31 and Y118 in a time‐dependent fashion, and down‐regulation of c‐Abl with siRNA attenuated HGF‐ or S1P‐mediated lamellipodia formation, translocation of p47phox to lamellipodia, and endothelial barrier enhancement. In vivo, knockdown of paxillin with siRNA in mouse lungs attenuated ventilator‐induced lung injury. Together, these results suggest that c‐Abl‐mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin at Y31 and Y118 regulates HGF‐ or S1P‐mediated lamellipodia formation, ROS generation in lamellipodia, and endothelial permeability.
Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor Inhibits Vascular Intimal Proliferation With
Activation of PPARγ
Authors: Kukida Masayoshi , Mogi Masaki , Ohshima Kousei , Nakaoka Hirotomo , Iwanami Jun , Kanno Harumi , Tsukuda Kana , Chisaka Toshiyuki , Min Li-Juan , Wang Xiao-Li , Bai Hui-Yu , Shan Bao-Shuai , Higaki Akinori , Yamauchi Toshifumi , Okura Takafumi , Higaki Jitsuo , Horiuchi Masatsugu 
Published: October 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Angiotensin II type 2 (AT 2 ) receptor stimulation could exert beneficial effects on vascular remodeling. Previously, we reported that AT 2 receptor stimulation ameliorated insulin resistance in diabetic mice accompanied by PPARγ activation which also plays a variety of crucial roles in the vasculature. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the vascular protective effect of the AT 2 receptor with activation of PPARγ involving AT 2 receptor-interacting protein (ATIP).

METHODS AND RESULTS
Vascular injury was induced by polyethylene-cuff placement around the femoral artery in C57BL/6J mice. Treatment with compound 21 (C21), an AT 2 receptor agonist, decreased neointimal formation, cell proliferation, and the mRNA levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin-1β, and phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B, and increased PPARγ DNA-binding activity in the injured artery, whereas these inhibitory effects of C21 were attenuated by co-treatment with a PPARγ antagonist, GW9662. Treatment of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) with C21 prepared from smAT 2 transgenic mice, which highly express the AT 2 receptor in VSMC, increased both PPARγ activity and its DNA-binding activity determined by dual-luciferase assay and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. We observed that ATIP was involved in PPARγ complex formation, and that transfection of siRNA of ATIP1 attenuated the AT 2 receptor-mediated increase in PPARγ activity in VSMC. In response to AT 2 receptor stimulation, ATIP was translocated from the plasma membrane to the nucleus.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest a new mechanism by which AT 2 receptor stimulation activates PPARγ, thereby resulting in amelioration of vascular intimal proliferation, and that ATIP plays an important role in AT 2 receptor-mediated PPARγ activation.
BioSynther: a customized biosynthetic potential explorer
Authors: Tu Weizhong , Zhang Haoran , Liu Juan , Hu Qian-Nan 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Motivation: One of the most promising applications of biosynthetic methods is to produce chemical products of high value from the ready-made chemicals. To explore the biosynthetic potentials of a chemical as a synthesis precursor, biosynthetic databases and related chemoinformatics tools are urgently needed. In the present work, a web-based tool, BioSynther, is developed to explore the biosynthetic potentials of precursor chemicals using BKM-react, Rhea, and more than 50 000 in-house RxnFinder reactions manually curated. BioSynther allows researchers to explore biosynthetic potentials, through so far known biochemical reactions, step by step interactively, which could be used as a useful tool in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
Availability and implementation: BioSynther is available at: http://www.lifemodules.org/BioSynther/.
Contact: hu_qn@tib.cas.cn.
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Short-term Effects of Corticosteroid Therapy on Cardiac and Skeletal Muscles in Muscular Dystrophies
Authors: Hussein Gehan , Mansour Lobna , Ghafar Hadeer Abdel , Mostafa Fatma Alzahraa , Fawaz Lubna 
Published: October 2015

Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy of childhood. It leads to progressive deterioration in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Corticosteroids are considered an effective therapy. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the role of short-term prednisone therapy in improving left ventricular (LV) systolic function, LV mass (LVM), and motor power in cases of muscular dystrophies. Patients and Methods Twenty-five cases of muscular dystrophy including 17 cases of DMD, 3 cases of Becker muscular dystrophies, and 5 cases of female patients with DMD-like phenotype were included in the study. The diagnosis of 12 patients was confirmed by muscle biopsy with immunohistochemistry; the patients were subjected to motor assessment, measurement of creatine kinase level, and echocardiographic examination before and after prednisone therapy. Transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of the LV systolic function (fractional shortening) was done. Myocardial performance index and LVM were calculated. Intermittent dosage of prednisone was administered 5 mg/kg per day on 2 consecutive days weekly for 3 months. Results Fractional shortening improved on prednisone therapy ( P = 0.009) and LVM increased ( P = 0.012); improvement in walking was detected in 77% of the patients, climbing stairs improved in 88.9%, Gower sign improved in 70%, and rising from chair improved in 60%. Prednisone had no effect on the patients with marked motor impairment (on wheelchair). The creatine kinase level was significantly lower after steroid therapy ( P = 0.04). Conclusions Three months of intermittent prednisone therapy could improve cardiac and skeletal muscle function in congenital muscular dystrophy.
Destruction of White Matter Integrity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Sun Xiaoyan , Salat David , Upchurch Kristen , Deason Rebecca , Kowall Neil , Budson Andrew 
Published: October 2015

Background Accumulating evidence shows that gradual loss of white matter integrity plays an important role in the development of Alzheimer disease (AD). Objective The aim of this research was to study the microstructural integrity of white matter in AD in vivo. Methods Global fractional anisotropy, global axial diffusivity (AxD), and global radial diffusivity (RD) were analyzed in subjects with normal controls (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD using Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative data (total N = 210). We further compared specific white matter tracts among the 3 groups. Results Compared with the NC group, the MCI group had significantly increased global AxD and global RD. Compared with the NC and MCI groups, the AD group had significantly decreased global fractional anisotropy, increased global AxD, and increased global RD. With regard to specific white matter tracts, in the MCI group, we found increased AxD and increased RD in the external capsule, part of the lateral cholinergic pathway, in addition to the tracts connecting the limbic regions, predominantly in the left hemisphere. In the AD group, white matter abnormalities were widespread, including in the external capsule (cholinergic pathway) and limbic region tracts as well as tracts connecting anterior to posterior regions bilaterally. Conclusions The radiographic manifestation of damaged white matter microstructural integrity in the cholinergic pathway in MCI patients may provide a rational basis for the use of cholinesterase inhibitor drugs in the MCI stage of AD.
Evaluation of Arterial Blood Flow Changes by Orbital Doppler in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma
Authors: Yakut Zeynep Ilerisoy , Karadağ Remzi , Ozol Duygu , Senturk Aysegul 
Published: October 2015

Purpose Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. They primarily affect the lungs, but they have various extrapulmonary manifestations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the hemodynamic changes in orbital vessels of the patients with COPD and asthma using color Doppler ultrasonography and compare the results with healthy control subjects. Methods Thirty-seven patients with COPD, 37 patients with asthma, and 41 healthy control subjects were included in this study. All patients with COPD were in moderate to severe group according to GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease), and similarly, all patients with asthma were in moderate to severe persistent group according to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) 2006 guidelines. End-tidal carbon dioxide, peripheral oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate were measured by using pulse oximeter in all patients. Measurements were performed in only 1 randomly selected eye of each participant. The peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistance index were measured in the central retinal artery, temporal posterior ciliary artery, and nasal posterior ciliary artery using the color Doppler ultrasonography technique. Results The peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, and resistance index values of temporal posterior ciliary artery and nasal posterior ciliary artery were significantly higher in COPD and asthma than in the control subjects. There was no difference between asthma and COPD. Conclusions We concluded that retrobulbar hemodynamics change in COPD and asthma is showing 1 of the systemic effects in these diseases.
Characteristics of Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Image Enhancement in Prolactinomas Resistant to Dopamine Agonist Therapy
Authors: Guo Qinghua , Erickson Bradley J. , Chang Alice Y. , Erickson Dana 
Published: October 2015

Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) enhancement parameters could predict dopamine agonist (DA) resistance in prolactinomas. Methods We retrospectively identified patients with prolactinomas who were treated with DA and underwent dMRI from 2001 through 2012 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN). Intensities of the adenoma and pituitary gland were measured by drawing regions of interest on the images. Enhancement ratio, enhancement peak, prepeak slope (PPS), and enhancement time were compared between DA-resistant and DA-responsive groups, between DA-treated and DA-naive groups, and between the first and follow-up dMRIs. Results We identified 49 patients with prolactinomas, with 6 (12.2%) showing DA resistance. Thirty-seven patients (75.5%) underwent dMRI while receiving treatment, 12 (25.5%) underwent dMRI before starting therapy, and 10 (20.4%) had follow-up dMRI after DA therapy. The PPS of the tumor was higher in the treatment-resistant group versus the responsive group (mean [SD], 4.42 [3.19] vs 2.65 [1.59]; P = 0.03), whereas no difference was noted in the pituitary gland (5.79 [2.21] vs 4.06 [2.48]; P = 0.11). Logistic regression analysis indicated that tumor PPS was associated with DA resistance (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–3.27; P = 0.02). Conclusions Dynamic MRI with PPS analysis potentially can be used early in the treatment course to evaluate DA resistance in pituitary prolactinomas.
Nasal Nitric Oxide in Patients with Inherited Retinal Dystrophies
Authors: Heffler Enrico , Marchese Cristiana , Boita Monica , Rolla Giovanni 
Published: October 2015

Background Ciliopathies refer to a wide variety of diseases in which mutations in the genes encoding proteins involved in ciliogenesis or protein transport to the primary cilia play pathogenetic roles, and in such diseases, retinal involvement may be present. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in airway physiology, including regulation of ciliary motility and host defense. In primary ciliary dyskinesia, a syndromic ciliopathy, nasal NO (nNO) levels were reported to be extremely low compared with controls, possibly reflecting molecular defects leading to structural and functional ciliary abnormalities. We investigated whether decreased nitric levels were also present in patients with retinal inherited dystrophies. Methods Nasal NO was measured in a group of patients with syndromic and nonsyndromic inherited retinal dystrophies. Results Patients with inherited retinal dystrophies, both syndromic and nonsyndromic, had mean nNO levels that were lower than healthy controls. Seven patients had particularly low levels of nNO: 3 patients with retinitis pigmentosa and 4 individual patients with Mainzer-Saldino syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Usher syndrome, and cone-rod disease. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that there is an underlying abnormal ciliary function involving the nasal epithelium in some patients with inherited retinal dystrophies.
Serum β-Crosslaps as Predictor of Long-term Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Coppolino Giuseppe , Lucisano Gaetano , Rivoli Laura , Simeoni Mariadelina , De Paola Luciano , Timpano Raffaele , Palmieri Camillo , Fuiano Giorgio 
Published: October 2015

Background and Aims Parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurements in hemodialysis (HD) patients are routinely performed every 3 to 6 months of therapy, which are adjusted in accordance with PTH. However, recent evidences show very high PTH biological variability. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of serum β-crosslap (CTX), a validated marker of bone resorption, as indicator of PTH maintenance at different time intervals. Methods Forty-six HD patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (HD age of more than 21 months and 7 PTH measurements for the last 21 months) for this retrospective cohort study and were enrolled. Data of the backward quarter PTH values for the last 21 months were collected from clinical records, and a single CTX was measured. To evaluate the relationship between CTX value and the maintenance of PTH in the short-term and long-term, 7 time intervals (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 months) were stated and the mean value of PTH was measured within each interval and calculated for every patient. Results We found the following: (1) positive correlation between mean PTH in each time interval and β-crosslaps with a progressive increase of the correlation coefficient (highest value for the 12- and 21-month intervals); (2) significant differences between tertiles of β-crosslaps at 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-, 18-, and 21-month intervals, with a progressively growing value of the test coefficient; and (3) after the computation of receiver operating characteristic curves, β-crosslaps showed to significantly estimate threshold PTH values with the highest areas under the curves (AUCs; AUC, 0.763; 95% confidence interval, 0.625–0.901 for <150 pg/mL of PTH; AUC, 0.774; 95% confidence interval, 0.614–0.934 for >300 pg/mL of PTH) and best value of both sensitivity and specificity at the 12-month time interval (82% and 72% for <150 pg/mL of PTH; 78% and 79% for >300 pg/mL of PTH). Conclusions In HD patients, β-crosslaps have a potential ability to best estimate backward PTH into 12 months of interval.
Diagnosis of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Myeloproliferative Disorders
Authors: Cinemre Hakan , Serinkan Cinemre Behice F. , Çekdemir Demet , Aydemir Birsen , Tamer Ali , Yazar Hayrullah 
Published: October 2015

Background Myeloproliferative disorders are characterized by proliferation of 1 or more lineage of hematologic cells. Rapid proliferation of cells may lead to depletion of vitamin B12, which may be falsely elevated by conventional assays in these disorders. We evaluated vitamin B12 status with conventional vitamin B12 assay and levels of serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), serum holotranscobalamin (holoTC), and plasma homocysteine in myeloproliferative disorders. Methods In 58 patients who had myeloproliferative disorders and normal serum creatinine levels, we measured levels of vitamin B12, MMA, holoTC, and homocysteine. Correlations were evaluated between these tests, with MMA as the reference standard for vitamin B12 deficiency. Results Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 69%, despite high serum vitamin B12 levels. Levels of holoTC of 40.6 pmol/L or less and homocysteine of greater than 14 mol/L were the best cutoff levels with sensitivity values of 75% and 70%, specificity values of 80% and 68%, and positive predictive values of 88% and 80%. Logistic regression showed that cutoff values of holoTC of 40.6 pmol/L or less and homocysteine of greater than 14 mol/L resulted in odds ratio 15.5 for low versus high holoTC, and odds ratio 5.4 for high versus low homocysteine, to confirm vitamin B12 deficiency. Conclusions Patients who had myeloproliferative disorders had a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency, despite high serum vitamin B12 levels. Therefore, vitamin B12 status should be evaluated in patients with myeloproliferative disorders. Holotranscobalamin level may be the best initial test and may replace vitamin B12 assay to accompany MMA and homocysteine levels.
Factors Predicting Recurrence of Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Hospitalized Patients: Retrospective Study of More than 2000 Patients
Authors: Abdelfatah Mohamed , Nayfe Rabih , Nijim Ala , Enriquez Kathleen , Ali Eslam , Watkins Richard R. , Kandil Hossam 
Published: October 2015

Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity worldwide, causing direct costs estimated to range from US $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify factors that predict recurrence of CDI. Methods This was a retrospective case-control study between 2007 and 2013 on patients admitted with CDI. Recurrent CDI is defined as a new episode of diarrhea within 90 days confirmed by a positive stool C. difficile toxin assay or polymerase chain reaction, after resolution of the initial CDI episode for at least 10 days and after discontinuation of the CDI therapy. Results Three thousand twenty patients were diagnosed with CDI between January 2007 and December 2013. Two hundred nine of 2019 patients in the study had a recurrence of CDI within 90 days of the end of the initial CDI episode (10.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that most of the recurrences occurred in patients with comorbidities, particularly chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0–2.4; P = 0.039). In addition, a higher percentage of patients in the recurrence group were prescribed proton-pump inhibitors (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.0–1.7; P = 0.002) and steroids (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.0–1.5; P = 0.047). Conclusions Our data suggest that the use of glucocorticoids, use of proton-pump inhibitors, and having end-stage renal disease are significant risk factors associated with recurrent CDI.