bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of inflammatory signals in Japanese children with Crohn's disease
Authors: Fujitake Yoshito , Ohtsuka Yoshikazu , Ikuse Tamaki , Ohtani Kiyotaka , Aoyagi Yo , Fujii Tohru , Kudo Takahiro , Ishii Masahiro , Shimizu Toshiaki 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundAlthough it is recognized that the Th1 and Th17 cytokines are directly involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD), the precise cause of pediatric CD in the Japanese population has not been well established. In the present study, we examined the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and their signaling molecules in the intestinal mucosa of Japanese children with acute‐ and remission‐phase CD.MethodsA total of 11 children with acute‐phase CD (mean age 10.32 ± 6.02 years) and 20 children with remission‐phase CD (mean age 11.87 ± 4.29 years) provided samples for a serum cytokine assay. Among these children, seven with acute‐phase CD (mean age 13.63 ± 1.94 years), six with remission‐phase CD (mean age 9.93 ± 4.33 years), and six healthy controls (mean age 9.90 ± 4.88 years) provided samples for a signaling assay. Among this group, the expression of Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T‐cell signaling molecules were examined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction.ResultsA significant elevation in the serum level of interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α was confirmed in pediatric patients with acute‐phase CD compared to patients with remission‐phase CD (P < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). The mucosal expression of interferon‐γ, signal transducer and activator of transcription 4, and transforming growth factor‐β1 were significantly enhanced in pediatric patients with acute‐phase CD compared to patients with remission‐phase CD or those with normal mucosa.ConclusionsThese results suggest the possible involvement of Th1 and Th17 signaling in the pathogenesis of CD in Japanese children.
Cohort Profile: The Maternal‐Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Research Platform
Authors: Arbuckle Tye E. , Fraser William D. , Fisher Mandy , Davis Karelyn , Liang Chun Lei , Lupien Nicole , Bastien Stéphanie , Velez Maria P. , von Dadelszen Peter , Hemmings Denise G. , Wang Jingwei , Helewa Michael , Taback Shayne , Sermer Mathew , Foster Warren , Ross Greg , Fredette Paul , Smith Graeme , Walker Mark , Shear Roberta , Dodds Linda , Ettinger Adrienne S. , Weber Jean‐Philippe , D'Amour Monique , Legrand Melissa , Kumarathasan Premkumari , Vincent Renaud , Luo Zhong‐Cheng , Platt Robert W. , Mitchell Grant , Hidiroglou Nick , Cockell Kevin , Villeneuve Maya , Rawn Dorothea F. K , Dabeka Robert , Cao Xu‐Liang , Becalski Adam , Ratnayake Nimal , Bondy Genevieve , Jin Xiaolei , Wang Zhongwen , Tittlemier Sheryl , Julien Pierre , Avard Denise , Weiler Hope , LeBlanc Alain , Muckle Gina , Boivin Michel , Dionne Ginette , Ayotte Pierre , Lanphear Bruce , Séguin Jean R. , Saint‐Amour Dave , Dewailly Éric , Monnier Patricia , Koren Gideon , Ouellet Emmanuel 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe Maternal‐Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study was established to obtain Canadian biomonitoring data for pregnant women and their infants, and to examine potential adverse health effects of prenatal exposure to priority environmental chemicals on pregnancy and infant health.MethodsWomen were recruited during the first trimester from 10 sites across Canada and were followed through delivery. Questionnaires were administered during pregnancy and post‐delivery to collect information on demographics, occupation, life style, medical history, environmental exposures and diet. Information on the pregnancy and the infant was abstracted from medical charts. Maternal blood, urine, hair and breast milk, as well as cord blood and infant meconium, were collected and analysed for an extensive list of environmental biomarkers and nutrients. Additional biospecimens were stored in the study's Biobank. The MIREC Research Platform encompasses the main cohort study, the Biobank and follow‐up studies.ResultsOf the 8716 women approached at early prenatal clinics, 5108 were eligible and 2001 agreed to participate (39%). MIREC participants tended to smoke less (5.9% vs. 10.5%), be older (mean 32.2 vs. 29.4 years) and have a higher education (62.3% vs. 35.1% with a university degree) than women giving birth in Canada.ConclusionsThe MIREC Study, while smaller in number of participants than several of the international cohort studies, has one of the most comprehensive datasets on prenatal exposure to multiple environmental chemicals. The biomonitoring data and biological specimen bank will make this research platform a significant resource for examining potential adverse health effects of prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals.
Evaluation of a new flow cytometry crossmatch procedure for simultaneous detection of cytotoxicity and antibody binding
Authors: Alheim M. , Paul P. K. , Hauzenberger D.‐M. , Wikström A.‐C. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn this study we have evaluated an alternative 96‐well format flow cytometry based (FCtox) method which enable simultaneous detection of cytotoxicity and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody binding. Comparable results were obtained in side‐by‐side comparisons with conventional complement‐dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXM) in terms of sensitivity and specificity. There was 91 and 93% agreement between results obtained by FCtox and CDC for T and B cells, respectively. In addition, comparable results were obtained with FCtox IgG and FCXM IgG for both T and B cells. Furthermore, compared with a recently developed and highly sensitive Luminex based C1q assay we obtained close to 90% method agreement with the FCtox assay. Our alternative cytotoxicity and IgG binding assay which exhibit low intra‐and inter‐assay variation will improve the workflow and speed up the pre‐transplant testing and also allow continuous monitoring of assay performance and proper quality assurance.
Fading EUphoria at the Dutch‐German Border? The Case of Avantis
Authors: Jacobs Joren , Kooij Henk‐Jan 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe paper deals with the failure of the Avantis cross‐border business estate. The inception of this hitherto largely undeveloped site took place in the early 1990s, a period which we suggest characterising with the notion of EUphoria, that is, a widely held belief in the future of a borderless Europe. EUphoria is seen as the key to bringing together otherwise separate discourses under one shared ambition of constructing a cross‐border business estate. With the fading of EUphoria, however, Avantis resurfaces as a shared problem and appears to have been built on expectations and promises held within a discourse of European integration rather than among private investors. In retrospect, Avantis as a product of EUphoria remains a EUtopia, albeit with very few believers.
Renal transplantation from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive donors to HBsAg‐negative recipients: a case of post‐transplant fulminant hepatitis associated with an extensively mutated hepatitis B virus strain and review of the current literature
Authors: Magiorkinis E. , Paraskevis D. , Pavlopoulou I.D. , Kantzanou M. , Haida C. , Hatzakis A. , Boletis I.N. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to present a fatal case of fulminant hepatitis B (FHB) that developed in a renal transplant recipient, immunized against hepatitis B, 1 year post transplantation.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction amplification and full genome sequencing were performed to investigate whether specific mutations were associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and FHB.ResultsMolecular analysis revealed multiple mutations in various open reading frames of HBV, the most important being the G145R escape mutation and a frameshift mutation–insertion (1838insA) within the pre‐C/C reading frame.ConclusionsOur results highlight the possibility of developing FHB, despite previous immunization against HBV or administration of hyperimmune gammaglobulin, because of the selection of escape virus mutants. The current literature and guidelines regarding renal transplantation from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive to HBsAg‐negative patients were also reviewed.
Subconvexity and equidistribution of Heegner points in the level aspect
Authors: Liu Sheng-Chi , Masri Riad , Young Matthew P. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractLet $q$ be a prime and $- D\lt - 4$ be an odd fundamental discriminant such that $q$ splits in $ \mathbb{Q} ( \sqrt{- D} )$. For $f$ a weight-zero Hecke–Maass newform of level $q$ and ${\Theta }_{\chi } $ the weight-one theta series of level $D$ corresponding to an ideal class group character $\chi $ of $ \mathbb{Q} ( \sqrt{- D} )$, we establish a hybrid subconvexity bound for $L(f\times {\Theta }_{\chi } , s)$ at $s= 1/ 2$ when $q\asymp {D}^{\eta } $ for $0\lt \eta \lt 1$. With this circle of ideas, we show that the Heegner points of level $q$ and discriminant $D$ become equidistributed, in a natural sense, as $q, D\rightarrow \infty $ for $q\leq {D}^{1/ 20- \varepsilon } $. Our approach to these problems is connected to estimating the ${L}^{2} $-restriction norm of a Maass form of large level $q$ when restricted to the collection of Heegner points. We furthermore establish bounds for quadratic twists of Hecke–Maass $L$-functions with simultaneously large level and large quadratic twist, and hybrid bounds for quadratic Dirichlet $L$-functions in certain ranges.
Computational systems for sound fields, as tools in design and diagnosis
Authors: Sakurai Masatsugu 
Published: June 2013

Computational systems for design and diagnosis of sound field were developed. The concept of these systems are based on the model of human auditory-brain system [Y. Ando, Architectural Acoustics -Blending Sound Sources, Sound Fields, and Listeners (AIP/Springer-Verlag, New York, 1998)], including the autocorrelation mechanisms, interaural cross-correlation mechanism, and the specialization of the human cerebral hemispheres. Thesis consists of following four parts: (1) Computer simulation system for calculating the four orthogonal factors (LL, t1, Tsub and IACC) at each seat using architectural drawings were developed. The accuracy of this system were examined by comparing the calculated factors with the measured ones at Kirishima International Concert Hall. (2) The diagnostic system to measure the four orthogonal factors and additional factors (,IACCWIACC and A-value) was developed. This system can be used for the measurement in the scale model. The effect of the reflectors' array above stage which can not calculate at the design stage was evaluated at the scale model measurement of Tsuyama music cultural hall. (3) As an application of the subjective preference theory, seat selection system to maximize the preference of each individual was developed. This system, which is installed in Kirishima International Concert Hall, can find the seat where the preference is maximized by the paired comparison test with respect to the four orthogonal factors. (4) Noise measurement system to measure and identify the environment noise using the factors extracted from the autocorrelation function ( (0),e, 1 and 1) and the factors extracted from the interaural crosscorrelation function (IACC, ,IACC and WIACC) was developed. As an example, noises from different car engines were characterized by these factors measured by this system.
Thesis advisor: Yoichi Ando
Copies of this thesis written in English can be obtained from Masatsugu Sakurai, Yoshimasa Electronic Inc., Daiichi-Nishiwaki Bldg., 1-58-10 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, 151-0053 Japan. E-mail address: saku@ymec.co.jp.
Reverberance and its control in relation to the physical factors of sound fields in halls
Authors: Hase Shigeo 
Published: June 2013

Based on the theory of subjective preference, the author investigated the effects of the set of four orthogonal physical factors (listening level, initial time delay gap between the direct sound and the first reflection, subsequent reverberation time, and IACC) on the reverberance of sound fields. The study clarifies how much both temporal and spatial factors contribute to reverberance. Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the physical factors on reverberance in simulated sound fields and in actual halls. Scale values of reverberance for both music and speech signals were obtained by the paired-comparison method. The results of these experiments show that these four factors affect the scale values of reverberance independently, and that the scale values of a sound field at any seat in a room can be calculated by the linear combinations of these factors. On the basis of the results from this and previous studies, some methods for controlling the reverberance of sound fields in an actual hall are proposed. The results of this study will allow the design of various reverberances for sound fields that are optimal for various source signals with its effective duration of autocorrelation function, (e)min.
Thesis advisor: Yoichi Ando
Copies of this thesis written in English can be obtained from Shigeo Hase, Theater Design Laboratory Co., 2-13-26 Makinohonmachi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1144 Japan. E-mail address: shigeo.hase@nifty.ne.jp
Blending architectural and acoustic factors in designing an event hall
Authors: Takatsu Akio 
Published: June 2013

In order to synthesize both architectural design and acoustic design consisting of temporal and spatial design, a design process in which these elements are all considered is proposed in this study. Using this design process, a multi-purpose event hall, which is part of a larger architectural complex, was designed. This hall was measured for both temporal and spatial orthogonal factors after construction, with favorable results. One goal of this study was to solve the acoustic problems caused by the rounded shape of the event hall, where the architectural design had already been determined by the theme and concept of the complex. In a worst-case scenario, had the acoustic problems been solved without unduly affecting the architecture of the hall, the process would have been considered to be successful. Remarkably, some knowledge about methods to solve acoustic problems caused by the round shaped architecture was obtained through the design process blending architectural and acoustic factors.
Thesis advisor: Yoichi Ando
Copies of this thesis written in English can be obtained Akio Takatsu, Showa Sekkei Co., 1-2-1-800 Benten, Minato-ku, Osaka 552-0007, Japan.
Diabetic nephropathy in a sibling and albuminuria predict early GFR decline: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Gunzler Douglas , Bleyer Anthony J , Thomas Robert L , O’Brien Alicia , Russell Gregory B , Sattar Abdus , Iyengar Sudha K , Thomas Charles , Sedor John R , Schelling Jeffrey R 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Diabetic nephropathy is a growing clinical problem, and the cause for >40% of incident ESRD cases. Unfortunately, few modifiable risk factors are known. The objective is to examine if albuminuria and history of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in a sibling are associated with early DN progression or mortality.

Methods
In this longitudinal study of adults >18 yrs with diabetes monitored for up to 9 yrs (mean 4.6 ± 1.7 yrs), 435 subjects at high risk (DN family history) and 400 at low risk (diabetes >10 yrs, normoalbuminuria, no DN family history) for DN progression were evaluated for rate of eGFR change using the linear mixed effects model and progression to ESRD. All-cause mortality was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses while controlling for baseline covariates in a Cox proportional hazards model. Covariates included baseline eGFR, age, gender, race, diabetes duration, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c and urine albumin:creatinine ratio. Propensity score matching was used to identify high and low risk group pairs with balanced covariates. Sensitivity analyses were employed to test for residual confounding.

Results
Mean baseline eGFR was 74 ml/min/1.73 m2 (86% of cohort >60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Thirty high risk and no low risk subjects developed ESRD. eGFR decline was significantly greater in high compared to low risk subjects. After controlling for confounders, change in eGFR remained significantly different between groups, suggesting that DN family history independently regulates GFR progression. Mortality was also significantly greater in high versus low risk subjects, but after controlling for baseline covariates, no significant difference was observed between groups, indicating that factors other than DN family history more strongly affect mortality. Analyses of the matched pairs confirmed change in eGFR and mortality findings. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the eGFR results were not due to residual confounding by unmeasured covariates of a moderate effect size in the propensity matching.

Conclusions
Diabetic subjects with albuminuria and family history of DN are vulnerable for early GFR decline, whereas subjects with diabetes for longer than 10 years, normoalbuminuria and negative family history, experience slower eGFR decline, and are extremely unlikely to require dialysis. Although we would not recommend that patients with low risk characteristics be neglected, scarce resources would be more sensibly devoted to vulnerable patients, such as the high risk cases in our study, and preferably prior to the onset of albuminuria or GFR decline.
Nip the HPV encoded evil in the cancer bud: HPV reshapes TRAILs and signaling landscapes
Authors: Halim Talha Abdul , Farooqi Ammad Ahmad , Zaman Farrukh 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
HPV encoded proteins can elicit ectopic protein–protein interactions that re-wire signaling pathways, in a mode that promotes malignancy. Moreover, accumulating data related to HPV is now providing compelling substantiation of a central role played by HPV in escaping immunosurveillance and impairment of apoptotic response. What emerges is an intricate network of Wnt, TGF, Notch signaling cascades that forms higher-order ligand–receptor complexes routing downstream signaling in HPV infected cells. These HPV infected cells are regulated both extracellularly by ligand receptor axis and intracellularly by HPV encoded proteins and impair TRAIL mediated apoptosis. We divide this review into different sections addressing how linear signaling pathways integrate to facilitate carcinogenesis and compounds that directly or indirectly reverse these aberrant interactions offer new possibilities for therapy in cancer. Although HPV encoded proteins mediated misrepresentation of pathways is difficult to target, improved drug-discovery platforms and new technologies have facilitated the discovery of agents that can target dysregulated pathways in HPV infected cervical cancer cells, thus setting the stage for preclinical models and clinical trials.
Living on the edge: a longitudinal study of Anopheles funestus in an isolated area of Mozambique
Authors: Charlwood J Derek , Cuamba Nelson , Tomás Elsa VE , Briët Olivier JT 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Understanding the survival strategies of malaria vectors at the edges of their distribution, where they are under stress from environmental conditions, may lead to the development of novel control techniques and may help predict the effects of climate change on these mosquitoes.

Methods
The population dynamics of an isolated population of Anopheles funestus from the peninsula of Linga Linga in southern Mozambique was studied over a period of 104 weeks from March 2009 to May 2011 by 917 light-trap and 390 exit collections, mostly in an area close to a seasonal pond.

Results
Over the sampling period, 3,684 An. funestus females were caught. Densities decreased with increasing distance from the pond. In 2009 and 2010, a single annual peak in An. funestus density coincident with the single annual peak in rainfall was observed, but a clear population peak was absent during the first 21 weeks of 2011. In between population peaks, An. funestus remained present at low densities. In light trap collections, the proportion of gravid mosquitoes was significantly higher during the ‘low season’ (the period between peaks) than during the peak season (RR = 4.3, p<0.001). In contrast, in exit collections, the proportion of gravid mosquitoes was significantly lower during low season than during the peak season (RR = 0.64, p<0.01). Also, in light traps, the proportion of part-fed females was higher during the low season than during the peak season (RR = 4.5, p<0.001), whereas this was inversed for engorged females (RR = 0.46, p<0.05).
Thirteen out of 289 (4.5%) An. funestus tested positive in the sporozoite ELISA. The proportion of sporozoite positive females was higher during the low season (6.25%, six out of 96) than during the peaks (3.63%, seven out of 193), but this difference was not significant.

Conclusions
It is suggested that a proportion of the mosquito population may become gonotrophically discordant during the long dry season resulting in enhanced mosquito survival and sustained malaria transmission.
Does geography influence the treatment and outcomes of colorectal cancer? A population-based analysis
Authors: Helewa Ramzi M , Turner Donna , Wirtzfeld Debrah , Park Jason , Hochman David , Czaykowski Piotr , Singh Harminder , Shu Emma , Xue Lin , McKay Andrew 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe Canadian province of Manitoba covers a large geographical area but only has one major urban center, Winnipeg. We sought to determine if regional differences existed in the quality of colorectal cancer care in a publicly funded health care system.MethodsThis was a population-based historical cohort analysis of the treatment and outcomes of Manitobans diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 2004 and 2006. Administrative databases were utilized to assess quality of care using published quality indicators.ResultsA total of 2,086 patients were diagnosed with stage I to IV colorectal cancer and 42.2% lived outside of Winnipeg. Patients from North Manitoba had a lower odds of undergoing major surgery after controlling for other confounders (odds ratio (OR): 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.26 to 0.90). No geographic differences existed in the quality measures of 30-day operative mortality, consultations with oncologists, surveillance colonoscopy, and 5-year survival. However, there was a trend towards lower survival in North Manitoba.ConclusionWe found minimal differences by geography. However, overall compliance with quality measures is low and there are concerning trends in North Manitoba. This study is one of the few to evaluate population-based benchmarks for colorectal cancer therapy in Canada.