bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss-based risk measures
Authors: Cont Rama , Deguest Romain , He Xue Dong 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Starting from the requirement that risk of financial portfolios should be measured in terms of their losses, not their gains, we define the notion of loss-based risk measure and study the properties of this class of risk measures. We characterize convex loss-based risk measures by a representation theorem and give examples of such risk measures. We then discuss the statistical robustness of the risk estimators associated with the family of loss-based risk measures: we provide a general criterion for the qualitative robustness of the risk estimators and compare this criterion with a sensitivity analysis of estimators based on influence functions. We find that the risk estimators associated with convex loss-based risk measures are not robust.
Increased hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal drive is associated with decreased appetite and hypoactivation of food-motivation neurocircuitry in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Lawson Elizabeth A , Holsen Laura M , DeSanti Rebecca , Santin McKale , Meenaghan Erinne , Herzog David B , Goldstein Jill M , Klibanski Anne 
Published: August 2013

ObjectiveCorticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH)-mediated hypercortisolemia has been demonstrated in anorexia nervosa (AN), a psychiatric disorder characterized by food restriction despite low body weight. While CRH is anorexigenic, downstream cortisol stimulates hunger. Using a food-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm, we have demonstrated hypoactivation of brain regions involved in food motivation in women with AN, even after weight recovery. The relationship between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation and appetite and the association with food-motivation neurocircuitry hypoactivation are unknown in AN. We investigated the relationship between HPA activity, appetite, and food-motivation neurocircuitry hypoactivation in AN.DesignCross-sectional study of 36 women (13 AN, ten weight-recovered AN (ANWR), and 13 healthy controls (HC)).MethodsPeripheral cortisol and ACTH levels were measured in a fasting state and 30, 60, and 120 min after a standardized mixed meal. The visual analog scale was used to assess homeostatic and hedonic appetite. fMRI was performed during visual processing of food and non-food stimuli to measure the brain activation pre- and post-meal.ResultsIn each group, serum cortisol levels decreased following the meal. Mean fasting, 120 min post-meal, and nadir cortisol levels were high in AN vs HC. Mean postprandial ACTH levels were high in ANWR compared with HC and AN subjects. Cortisol levels were associated with lower fasting homeostatic and hedonic appetite, independent of BMI and depressive symptoms. Cortisol levels were also associated with between-group variance in activation in the food-motivation brain regions (e.g. hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex, and insula).ConclusionsHPA activation may contribute to the maintenance of AN by the suppression of appetitive drive.
Lack of influence of somatic mutations on steroid gradients during adrenal vein sampling in aldosterone-producing adenoma patients
Authors: Oßwald Andrea , Fischer Evelyn , Degenhart Christoph , Quinkler Marcus , Bidlingmaier Martin , Pallauf Anna , Lang Katharina , Mussack Thomas , Hallfeldt Klaus , Beuschlein Felix , Reincke Martin 
Published: August 2013

ObjectiveAdrenal vein sampling (AVS) is a technically demanding procedure required for the identification of suitable candidates for unilateral adrenalectomy in primary aldosteronism. Recently, somaticKCNJ5K+-channel mutations in aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) patients have been shown to influence steroid gradients during AVS. These and other recently identified genetic modifiers (ATP1A1andATP2B3) might affect the final diagnosis and treatment of the affected patients.DesignFifty-nine patients with APAs who had undergone successful AVS (adrenal vein cortisol:peripheral cortisol ratio ≥2) and had undergone a mutation analysis of their tumor tissue were studied. The mutation status of the APAs was as follows: 19KCNJ5mutations, eight ATPase mutations (fiveATP1A1and threeATP2B3), and 32 patients with none of these mutations.MethodsThe lateralization index (ratio of aldosterone:cortisol on the side of the adenoma to aldosterone to cortisol on the contralateral side) and the contralateral suppression index (ratio of aldosterone:cortisol on the contralateral side to aldosterone to cortisol in the periphery) were calculated for theKCNJ5-mutated, ATPase-mutated, and theKCNJ5/ATPase mutation-negative APA patients.ResultsThe lateralization indices of the ATPase mutation carriers had a median of 19.9 compared with a median of 16.0 in theKCNJ5mutation carriers and that of 20.5 in theKCNJ5/ATPase mutation-negative patients. The contralateral suppression indices of the ATPase-mutated patients had a median of 0.1 compared with a median of 0.4 in theKCNJ5mutation carriers and that of 0.2 in theKCNJ5/ATPase mutation-negative patients. The differences between the genetic groups were not statistically significant.ConclusionsWe did not find evidence for a clinically important impact of mutation status on steroid gradients during AVS.
Current-Voltage Measurements as a Function of Applied Tip Force on Pentacene by Conducting Probe Microscopy
Authors: Zorba Serkan , Watkins Neil J. , Yan Li , Gao Yongli 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACTCurrent-voltage characteristics of organic semiconductor pentacene were studied as a function of applied tip force using conducting probe atomic force microscope. I-V measurements were performed on 150Å and 300Å pentacene films. No electrical contact was observed until 20 nN of tip force for the 150Å film coverage, whereas electrical contact was established easily with a few nN of tip force values for the 300Å film coverage. On both films, once an electrical contact was obtained, the conductance was observed to increase with increasing load. At about 50 nN and higher loads we lost electrical contact in both cases in a reproducible manner. While I-V on 150Å pentacene film showed a rectifying behavior, I-V on 300Å pentacene looked like typical I-V curves of tunneling phenomenon. From these measurements, we have estimated a hole injection barrier of about 0.76 eV and a band gap of about 2.00 eV for pentacene. These results are in agreement with those in the literature.
Etching Silicon Through an Effective Nanomask: An Electrochemical Way to Nanomachining
Authors: Borini Stefano , Rossi Andrea M. , Boarino Luca , Amato Giampiero 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWe present a novel approach to silicon nanomachining, based on the electrochemical etching of the material through a nanopatterned mask.Combining a porous silicon (PS) buffer layer with cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) we have obtained masks which show high resistance to the electrochemical etching. PMMA is normally dissolved in a HF/EtOH mixture, but it becomes resistant to such a solution after cross-linking of the polymer. This can be achieved by high-dose electron irradiation in a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), obtaining a mask for the subsequent etching. Anyway, due to the strong electric field across the masking layer during the electrochemical process, time duration of such a mask is limited. We demonstrate that the presence of a highly porous silicon thin film lying under the resist leads to an evident improvement of the masking power. A final PS removal leads to the formation of silicon micro- and nanostructures in relief, such as microtips and nanomolds. Thus, we have at hand a simple silicon nanomachining process, where the nanofeatures written by the electron beam in the SEM are transferred to the bulk material through a short anodization step in acid solution. This may be a useful alternative method for fabricating nanodevice elements, such as nanofluidic channels or field emitter arrays.
Suppression of Coronary Atherosclerosis by Helix B Surface Peptide, a Nonerythropoietic, Tissue-Protective Compound Derived from Erythropoietin
Authors: Ueba Hiroto , Shiomi Masashi , Brines Michael , Yamin Michael , Kobayashi Tsutomu , Ako Junya , Momomura Shin-ichi , Cerami Anthony , Kawakami Masanobu 
Published: August 2013

AbstractErythropoietin (EPO), a type I cytokine originally identified for its critical role in hematopoiesis, has been shown to have non-hematopoietic, tissue-protective effects, including suppression of atherosclerosis. However, prothrombotic effects of EPO hinder its potential clinical use in nonanemic patients. In the present study, we investigated the antiatherosclerotic effects of helix B surface peptide (HBSP), a nonerythropoietic, tissue-protective compound derived from EPO, by using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human monocytic THP-1 cells in vitro and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic spontaneous myocardial infarction (WHHLMI) rabbits in vivo. In HUVECs, HBSP inhibited apoptosis (≈70%) induced by C-reactive protein (CRP), a direct mediator of atherosclerosis. By using a small interfering RNA approach, Akt was shown to be a key molecule in HBSP-mediated prevention of apoptosis. HBSP also attenuated CRP-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in THP-1 cells. In the WHHLMI rabbit, HBSP significantly suppressed progression of coronary atherosclerotic lesions as assessed by mean cross-sectional stenosis (HBSP 21.3 ± 2.2% versus control peptide 38.0 ± 2.7%) and inhibited coronary artery endothelial cell apoptosis with increased activation of Akt. Furthermore, TNF-α expression and the number of M1 macrophages and M1/M2 macrophage ratio in coronary atherosclerotic lesions were markedly reduced in HBSP-treated animals. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that HBSP suppresses coronary atherosclerosis, in part by inhibiting endothelial cell apoptosis through activation of Akt and in association with decreased TNF-α production and modified macrophage polarization in coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Because HBSP does not have the prothrombotic effects of EPO, our study may provide a novel therapeutic strategy that prevents progression of coronary artery disease.
Expression of Immunoglobulin Receptors with Distinctive Features Indicating Antigen Selection by Marginal Zone B Cells from Human Spleen
Authors: Colombo Monica , Cutrona Giovanna , Reverberi Daniele , Bruno Silvia , Ghiotto Fabio , Tenca Claudya , Stamatopoulos Kostas , Hadzidimitriou Anastasia , Ceccarelli Jenny , Salvi Sandra , Boccardo Simona , Calevo Maria Grazia , De Santanna Amleto , Truini Mauro , Fais Franco , Ferrarini Manlio 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMarginal zone (MZ) B cells, identified as surface (s)IgMhighsIgDlowCD23low/−CD21+CD38− B cells, were purified from human spleens, and the features of their V(D)J gene rearrangements were investigated and compared with those of germinal center (GC), follicular mantle (FM) and switched memory (SM) B cells. Most MZ B cells were CD27+ and exhibited somatic hypermutations (SHM), although to a lower extent than SM B cells. Moreover, among MZ B-cell rearrangements, recurrent sequences were observed, some of which displayed intraclonal diversification. The same diversifying sequences were detected in very low numbers in GC and FM B cells and only when a highly sensitive, gene-specific polymerase chain reaction was used. This result indicates that MZ B cells could expand and diversify in situ and also suggested the presence of a number of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID)-expressing B cells in the MZ. The notion of antigen-driven expansion/selection in situ is further supported by the VH CDR3 features of MZ B cells with highly conserved amino acids at specific positions and by the finding of shared (“stereotyped”) sequences in two different spleens. Collectively, the data are consistent with the notion that MZ B cells are a special subset selected by in situ antigenic stimuli.
Immunomodulatory and Antibacterial Effects of Cystatin 9 against Francisella tularensis
Authors: Eaves-Pyles Tonyia , Patel Jignesh , Arigi Emma , Cong Yingzi , Cao Anthony , Garg Nisha , Dhiman Monisha , Pyles Richard B. , Arulanandam Bernard , Miller Aaron L. , Popov Vsevolod L. , Soong Lynn , Carlsen Eric D. , Coletta Ciro , Szabo Csaba , Almeida Igor C. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractCystatin 9 (CST9) is a member of the type 2 cysteine protease inhibitor family, which has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects that restrain inflammation, but its functions against bacterial infections are unknown. Here, we report that purified human recombinant (r)CST9 protects against the deadly bacterium Francisella tularensis (Ft) in vitro and in vivo. Macrophages infected with the Ft human pathogen Schu 4 (S4), then given 50 pg of rCST9 exhibited significantly decreased intracellular bacterial replication and increased killing via preventing the escape of S4 from the phagosome. Further, rCST9 induced autophagy in macrophages via the regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. rCST9 promoted the upregulation of macrophage proteins involved in antiinflammation and antiapoptosis, while restraining proinflammatory-associated proteins. Interestingly, the viability and virulence of S4 also was decreased directly by rCST9. In a mouse model of Ft inhalation, rCST9 significantly decreased organ bacterial burden and improved survival, which was not accompanied by excessive cytokine secretion or subsequent immune cell migration. The current report is the first to show the immunomodulatory and antimicrobial functions of rCST9 against Ft. We hypothesize that the attenuation of inflammation by rCST9 may be exploited for therapeutic purposes during infection.
Treatment as prevention in resource-limited settings: is it feasible to maintain HIV viral load suppression over time?
Authors: Socías María Eugenia , Rotryng Flavio , Lapadula Pablo , Medrano Maira , Paz Daniela , Stern Liliana , Lambierto Alberto , Pryluka Daniel 
Published: August 2013

Introduction: Recently, there has been increasing interest in the role of “treatment as prevention” (TasP). Some of the questions regarding TasP strategies arise from the perceived difficulties in achieving and maintaining viral load (VL) suppression over time and the risk of emergence of viral resistance that could compromise future treatment options. This study was conducted to assess these questions in a resource-limited setting. Methodology: We performed a retrospective observational study of HIV-infected patients diagnosed in the pre-HAART era on follow-up at a private center from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Socio-demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were extracted from clinical charts. Analyses were performed to test for potential associations of selected variables with current virologic failure or use of third-line drugs. Results: Of 619 patients on follow-up, 82 (13.2%) were diagnosed in the pre-HAART era. At the time of our study, 79 (96.3%) patients were on HAART, with a median duration of 14 years (IQR 12–15) of therapy, and exposure to mono or dual nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors regimens in 47.8% of cases. Sixty-nine patients (87.3%) had undetectable VL, 37 (46.8%) never presented virologic failure, and 19 (24.1%) experienced only one failure. Thirteen patients (16.5%) were receiving third-line ART regimens, with an average of 2.7-fold more virologic failures than those on first- or second-line regimens (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Maintaining viral load suppression over time in resource-limited-settings is feasible.
Comparison of the Disease Activity Score Using Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-reactive Protein in African Americans with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Tamhane Ashutosh , Redden David T. , McGwin Gerald , Brown Elizabeth E. , Westfall Andrew O. , Reynolds Richard J. , Hughes Laura B. , Conn Doyt L. , Callahan Leigh F. , Jonas Beth L. , Smith Edwin A. , Brasington Richard D. , Moreland Larry W. , Bridges S. Louis 
Published: August 2013

Objective.The Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints (DAS28) has been increasingly used in clinical practice and research studies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies have reported discordance between DAS28 based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) versus C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with RA. However, such comparison is lacking in African Americans with RA.Methods.This analysis included participants from the Consortium for the Longitudinal Evaluation of African Americans with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (CLEAR) registry, which enrolls self-declared African Americans with RA. Using tender and swollen joint counts, separate ESR-based and CRP-based DAS28 scores (DAS28-ESR3 and DAS28-CRP3) were calculated, as were DAS28-ESR4 and DAS28-CRP4, which included the patient’s assessment of disease activity. The scores were compared using paired t-test, simple agreement and κ, correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman plots.Results.Of the 233 included participants, 85% were women, mean age at enrollment was 52.6 years, and median disease duration at enrollment was 21 months. Mean DAS28-ESR3 was significantly higher than DAS28-CRP3 (4.8 vs 3.9; p < 0.001). Similarly, mean DAS28-ESR4 was significantly higher than DAS28-CRP4 (4.7 vs 3.9; p < 0.001). ESR-based DAS28 remained higher than CRP-based DAS28 even when stratified by age, sex, and disease duration. Overall agreement was not high between DAS28-ESR3 and DAS28-CRP3 (50%) or between DAS28-ESR4 and DAS28-CRP4 (59%). DAS28-CRP3 underestimated disease activity in 47% of the participants relative to DAS28-ESR3 and DAS28-CRP4 in 40% of the participants relative to DAS28-ESR4.Conclusion.There was significant discordance between the ESR-based and CRP-based DAS28, a situation that could affect clinical treatment decisions for African Americans with RA.
Increase in Bone Density in Patients with Spondyloarthritis During Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy: 6-year Followup Study
Authors: Durnez Anne , Paternotte Simon , Fechtenbaum Jacques , Landewé Robert B.M. , Dougados Maxime , Roux Christian , Briot Karine 
Published: August 2013

Objective.To assess the effects on bone mineral density (BMD) of prolonged anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA); to compare the BMD changes to those observed in SpA patients not treated with anti-TNF; and to identify the predictors of these changes.Methods.Fifty-nine patients with SpA according to the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group criteria who were treated with anti-TNF therapy for at least 4 years were included. Thirty-four patients with SpA from an international longitudinal observational study (OASIS cohort) were used as a control group. Lumbar spine and hip BMD were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline, after 1 year, and after at least 4 years.Results.Over an average 6.5 years’ followup, the increase in BMD was 11.8% (± 12.8%) at the lumbar spine (p < 0.0001) and 3.6% (± 9.3%) at the great trochanter (p = 0.0001) in patients treated with anti-TNF. At the lumbar spine, the increase was similar in patients with and those without syndesmophytes. BMD changes were significantly higher in the anti-TNF group than in the control group at lumbar spine (p < 0.0001), at femoral neck (p = 0.002), and at trochanter (p = 0.011), but not at total hip (p = 0.062). Multivariate analysis showed that the predictors of lumbar spine BMD changes in the total population were the use of anti-TNF (p < 0.0001) and, in the anti-TNF therapy group, the 1-year lumbar spine BMD change (p = 0.007).Conclusion.This study shows that prolonged anti-TNF therapy increases lumbar spine and trochanter BMD. This effect should be taken into account before introducing antiosteoporotic treatment in these patients.
Toll IL-1R8/Single Ig IL-1–Related Receptor Regulates Psoriasiform Inflammation through Direct Inhibition of Innate IL-17A Expression by γδ T Cells
Authors: Russell Shane E. , Stefanska Anna M. , Kubica Malgorzata , Horan Rachel M. , Mantovani Alberto , Garlanda Cecilia , Fallon Padraic G. , Walsh Patrick T. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Expression of the orphan receptor Toll IL-1R8/single Ig IL-1–related receptor has been reported to be reduced in the peripheral blood of psoriatic arthritis patients. However whether TIR8/SIGIRR activity plays a specific role in regulating psoriatic inflammation is unknown. We report that Tir8/Sigirr-deficient mice develop more severe psoriatic inflammation in both the chemical (Aldara)- and cytokine (rIL-23)-induced models of psoriasis. Increased disease severity was associated with enhanced infiltration of Vγ4+ γδ T cells that express significantly elevated levels of IL-17A. Critically, we also demonstrate that TIR8/SIGIRR activity directly suppressed innate IL-17A expression by γδ T cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, treatment of Tir8/Sigirr−/− mice with an IL-17A neutralization Ab reversed the enhanced disease severity observed in these mice. This study identifies TIR8/SIGIRR as a novel intrinsic negative regulator of innate IL-17A expression and characterizes a novel mechanism involved in the regulation of psoriatic inflammation.
Description Is a Drag, and Vice Versa: Issues with Vocabulary Control
Authors: Roberto K. R. 
Published: August 2013

How do controlled vocabularies address transgender topics?This talk explores the use of hierarchical taxonomic structures to describe people’s often-fluid gender identities and sexuality, particularly the lack of accurate and appropriate language in most commonly used subject thesauri, and how the lack of this accurate and appropriate language can affect potential users. More specifically, this refers to individuals who identify as gender nonconforming.This term, as defined by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, refers to “people who do not follow other people's ideas or stereotypes about how they should look or act based on the female or male sex they were assigned at birth.” The phrase is frequently used as an umbrella term that encompasses a wide variety of gender identities,including transsexual, drag queen, gender queer, and butch. Many standard vocabularies have a long and complicated history with regards to prescriptive access points for marginalized groups and sexualities. This talk offers a historical overview of the ways in which authorizedvocabularies have differed from vernacular language commonly used by community members and LGBTQ scholars to describe their own lives, and explores well- and lesser-known subject vocabularies such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings, Medical Subject Headings, terminology used by community archives and libraries, and tags assigned by LGBTQ people when describing their personal collections. The proposal builds on research by Melissa Adler, Sanford Berman, Ellen Greenblatt, Matt Johnson, Patrick Keilty, and Hope Olson.
Dendritic cells steering antigen and leukocyte traffic in lymph nodes
Authors: Dotta Enrico , Maciola Agnieszka Katarzyna , Baccega Tania , Pasqual Giulia 
Published: July 2024

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in initiating and shaping the adaptive immune response, thanks to their ability to uptake antigens and present them to T cells. Once in the lymph node (LN), DCs can spread the antigen to other DCs, expanding the pool of cells capable of activating specific T‐cell clones. Additionally, DCs can modulate the dynamics of other immune cells, by increasing naïve T‐cell dwell time, thereby facilitating the scanning for cognate antigens, and by selectively recruiting other leukocytes. Here we discuss the role of DCs in orchestrating antigen and leukocyte trafficking within the LN, together with the implications of this trafficking on T‐cell activation and commitment to effector function.