bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elevated Levels of Hemoglobin A1c Are Associated With Cerebral White Matter Disease in Patients With Stroke
Authors: Rozanski Michal , Richter Tobias B. , Grittner Ulrike , Endres Matthias , Fiebach Jochen B. , Jungehulsing Gerhard J. 
Published: February 2014

Background and Purpose—
This study was conducted to investigate the association of cerebral white matter disease (WMD) on MRI with vascular risk factors and laboratory findings in consecutive first acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods—
Acute ischemic stroke patients underwent MRI ≤24 hours after stroke onset and follow-up on day 2. WMD was scored on fluid attenuated inversion recovery MRI according to the Wahlund score. Vascular risk factors and laboratory parameters were assessed during hospital stay. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results—

We included 512 patients with first acute ischemic stroke (mean age, 68.5 [SD, 13.2] years; 192 women (37.5%); median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission, 3 [interquartile range, 1–6]; and median Wahlund score, 4 [interquartile range, 2–9]). WMD was present in 460 (89.8%) patients. In univariate analysis, age, arterial hypertension, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, diabetes mellitus, and female sex were associated with the presence of WMD (
P
<0.05). In multiple regression analysis, age, arterial hypertension, and elevated levels of HbA1c (
P
<0.05) remained independently associated with the extent of WMD.

Conclusions—
Among known risk factors, higher levels of HbA1c were associated with cerebral WMD in stroke patients. This may suggest that chronic disturbance of glycemia measured by HbA1c plays a role in the pathophysiology of WMD.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00715533.
The Modern World-System IV: Centrist Liberalism Triumphant, 1789–1914, Immanuel Wallerstein, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011
Authors: Khachaturian Rafael 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe book continues Immanuel Wallerstein’s historical narrative of the modern world-system. It focuses primarily on the social and political developments in the European core during the nineteenth century, tracing the rise of liberal hegemony, the growth of the administrative state, and the emergence of modern social science. It also examines the rise of anti-systemic socialist, feminist, and nationalist movements that challenged the liberal project. The book successfully illustrates how the world-systems framework can be used to analyse the intersection between the national and the international spheres. Through its historical critique of the human sciences, it also makes an effective case for the viability of world-systems analysis as an alternative mode of critical social-scientific inquiry.
The Effect of Coach Education on Reporting of Concussions Among High School Athletes After Passage of a Concussion Law
Authors: Rivara Frederick P. , Schiff Melissa A. , Chrisman Sara P. , Chung Shana K. , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Herring Stanley A. 
Published: February 2014

Background: Increasing attention has been paid to concussions and especially sports-related concussions in youth. To prevent an inappropriate return to play while symptomatic, nearly all states have now passed legislation on youth sports-related concussions. Purpose: To determine (1) the incidence of sports-related concussions in high school athletes using a unique system to collect reports on concussions, (2) the proportion of athletes with concussions who play with concussive symptoms, and (3) the effect of the type and modality of coach education on the likelihood of athletes reporting symptoms to the coach or playing with concussive symptoms. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: This study was conducted with high school football and girls’ soccer athletes playing in fall 2012 and their coaches and parents in 20 urban or rural high schools in Washington State. The main outcome was the incidence of concussions per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), the proportion of concussed athletes who played with concussive symptoms, and the association of coach concussion education with coach awareness of athletes with concussive symptoms. Results: Among the 778 athletes, the rate of concussions was 3.6 per 1000 AEs and was identical for the 2 sports studied. The cumulative concussion incidence over the course of the season was similar in girls’ soccer (11.1%) and football (10.4%). Sixty-nine percent of concussed athletes reported playing with symptoms, and 40% reported that their coach was not aware of their concussion. Most measures of coach concussion education were not associated with coach awareness of concussions in their athletes, although the modalities of a video and quiz were associated with a lower likelihood of coach awareness. Conclusion: More objective and accurate methods are needed to identify concussions. Changes in athlete attitudes on reporting concussive symptoms will likely not be accomplished through legislation alone.
Lack of seasonal variation in the incidence of eosinophilic oesophagitis in adolescent and adult non‐PPI‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia midwestern US populations
Authors: Frederickson Nicholas W , Bayman Levent , Valestin Jessica , Redd Matthew , Lee Ye-Jin , Soubra Mahmoud , Schey Ron 
Published: February 2014

BackgroundEosinophilic oesophagitis (EoO) has been associated with allergic disorders as well as aeroallergens. The current literature has shown a possible association between seasonal variation, mainly in the spring, and the incidence of EoO. However, this data was based on small population studies that did not exclude proton‐pump inhibitor (PPI)‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI‐ROE) in their cohort.AimThe aim of this study was to determine if there is a seasonal variation associated with the diagnosis of EoO in patients that had been treated with high‐dose PPI prior to diagnosis.MethodsOesophageal biopsies were obtained from a cohort of patients who presented with symptoms of dysphagia, odynophagia, and heartburn during a 10‐year period. Symptomatic patients who had biopsies from the mid and distal oesophagus with ≥20 eosinophils per high‐power field (hpf) while on high‐dose PPI treatment for at least 5 weeks were diagnosed as having EoO. The monthly and seasonal incidences were determined (winter, January–March; spring, April–June; summer, July–September; Autumn, October–December).ResultsA total of 20,718 patients were identified and their records evaluated. From this cohort, 193 (0.93%) symptomatic patients had biopsy‐proven oesophageal eosinophilia (≥20 eosinophils/hpf) and no seasonal variation was seen in this group. However, only 57 (0.28%) had been adequately treated with PPI prior to diagnosis (i.e. non‐PPI‐ROE biopsy‐proven EoO; ≥20 eosinophils/hpf: 39 males, 18 females; age 29.5 years). The most common medical history components included asthma (12.3%) and food allergies (3.5%), and the most common presenting symptoms included dysphagia (50.9%) and heartburn (26.3%). The monthly and seasonal incidences in our cohort were with no apparent trend (p  = 0.713 and 0.703, respectively).ConclusionsThe incidence of EoO was consistent across all 12 months as well as during the four seasons. Our data does not support a seasonal variation in relation to the incidence of EoO in the US midwestern non‐PPI‐ROE population.
High-throughput screening and whole genome sequencing identifies an antimicrobially active inhibitor of Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Sergeev Galina , Roy Sambit , Jarek Michael , Zapolskii Viktor , Kaufmann Dieter E , Nandy Ranjan K , Tegge Werner 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Background
Pathogenic serotypes of Vibrio cholerae cause the life-threatening diarrheal disease cholera. The increasing development of bacterial resistances against the known antibiotics necessitates the search for new antimicrobial compounds and targets for this pathogen.

Results
A high-throughput screening assay with a Vibrio cholerae reporter strain constitutively expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) was developed and applied in the investigation of the growth inhibitory effect of approximately 28,300 structurally diverse natural compounds and synthetic small molecules. Several compounds with activities in the low micromolar concentration range were identified. The most active structure, designated vz0825, displayed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.6 μM and a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 3.2 μM against several strains of V. cholerae and was specific for this pathogen. Mutants with reduced sensitivity against vz0825 were generated and whole genome sequencing of 15 pooled mutants was carried out. Comparison with the genome of the wild type strain identified the gene VC_A0531 (GenBank: AE003853.1) as the major site of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the resistant mutants. VC_A0531 is located on the small chromosome of V. cholerae and encodes the osmosensitive K+-channel sensor histidine kinase (KdpD). Nucleotide exchange of the major mutation site in the wild type strain confirmed the sensitive phenotype.

Conclusion
The reporter strain MO10 pG13 was successfully used for the identification of new antibacterial compounds against V. cholerae. Generation of resistant mutants and whole genome sequencing was carried out to identify the histidine kinase KdpD as a novel antimicrobial target.
Cytotoxic and HIV-1 enzyme inhibitory activities of Red Sea marine organisms
Authors: Ellithey Mona S , Lall Namrita , Hussein Ahmed A , Meyer Debra 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundCancer and HIV/AIDS are two of the greatest public health and humanitarian challenges facing the world today. Infection with HIV not only weakens the immune system leading to AIDS and increasing the risk of opportunistic infections, but also increases the risk of several types of cancer. The enormous biodiversity of marine habitats is mirrored by the molecular diversity of secondary metabolites found in marine animals, plants and microbes which is why this work was designed to assess the anti-HIV and cytotoxic activities of some marine organisms of the Red Sea.MethodsThe lipophilic fractions of methanolic extracts of thirteen marine organisms collected from the Red Sea (Egypt) were screened for cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines; leukaemia (U937) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. African green monkey kidney cells (Vero) were used as normal non-malignant control cells. The extracts were also tested for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 enzymes, reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR).ResultsCytotoxicity results showed strong activity of the CnidarianLitophyton arboreumagainst U-937 (IC50;6.5 μg/ml ±2.3) with a selectivity index (SI) of 6.45, while the CnidarianSarcophyton trochliophorumshowed strong activity against HeLa cells (IC50;5.2 μg/ml ±1.2) with an SI of 2.09. Other species showed moderate to weak cytotoxicity against both cell lines. Two extracts showed potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease; these were the Cnidarian jelly fishCassiopia andromeda(IC50;0.84 μg/ml ±0.05) and the red algaeGalaxura filamentosa(2.6 μg/ml ±1.29). It is interesting to note that the most active extracts against HIV-1 PR,C. andromedaandG. filamentosashowed no cytotoxicity in the three cell lines at the highest concentration tested (100 μg/ml).ConclusionThe strong cytotoxicity of the soft coralsL. arboreumandS. trochliophorumas well as the anti-PR activity of the jelly fishC. andromedaand the red algaeG. filamentosasuggests the medicinal potential of crude extracts of these marine organisms.
Placement, support, and retention of health professionals: national, cross-sectional findings from medical and dental community service officers in South Africa
Authors: Hatcher Abigail M , Onah Michael , Kornik Saul , Peacocke Julia , Reid Stephen 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Background
In South Africa, community service following medical training serves as a mechanism for equitable distribution of health professionals and their professional development. Community service officers are required to contribute a year towards serving in a public health facility while receiving supervision and remuneration. Although the South African community service programme has been in effect since 1998, little is known about how placement and practical support occur, or how community service may impact future retention of health professionals.

Methods
National, cross-sectional data were collected from community service officers who served during 2009 using a structured self-report questionnaire. A Supervision Satisfaction Scale (SSS) was created by summing scores of five questions rated on a three-point Likert scale (orientation, clinical advising, ongoing mentorship, accessibility of clinic leadership, and handling of community service officers’ concerns). Research endpoints were guided by community service programmatic goals and analysed as dichotomous outcomes. Bivariate and multivariate logistical regressions were conducted using Stata 12.

Results
The sample population comprised 685 doctors and dentists (response rate 44%). Rural placement was more likely among unmarried, male, and black practitioners. Rates of self-reported professional development were high (470 out of 539 responses; 87%). Participants with higher scores on the SSS were more likely to report professional development. Although few participants planned to continue work in rural, underserved communities (n = 171 out of 657 responses, 25%), those serving in a rural facility during the community service year had higher intentions of continuing rural work. Those reporting professional development during the community service year were twice as likely to report intentions to remain in rural, underserved communities.

Conclusions
Despite challenges in equitable distribution of practitioners, participant satisfaction with the compulsory community service programme appears to be high among those who responded to a 2009 questionnaire. These data offer a starting point for designing programmes and policies that better meet the health needs of the South African population through more appropriate human resource management. An emphasis on professional development and supervision is crucial if South Africa is to build practitioner skills, equitably distribute health professionals, and retain the medical workforce in rural, underserved areas.
Deposition of F-doped ZnO transparent thin films using ZnF2-doped ZnO target under different sputtering substrate temperatures
Authors: Wang Fang-Hsing , Yang Cheng-Fu , Lee Yen-Hsien 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Highly transparent and conducting fluorine-doped ZnO (FZO) thin films were deposited onto glass substrates by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering, using 1.5 wt% zinc fluoride (ZnF2)-doped ZnO as sputtering target. Structural, electrical, and optical properties of the FZO thin films were investigated as a function of substrate temperature ranging from room temperature (RT) to 300°C. The cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation and X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the FZO thin films were of polycrystalline nature with a preferential growth along (002) plane perpendicular to the surface of the glass substrate. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analyses of the FZO thin films showed that there was incorporation of F atoms in the FZO thin films, even if the substrate temperature was 300°C. Finally, the effect of substrate temperature on the transmittance ratio, optical energy gap, Hall mobility, carrier concentration, and resistivity of the FZO thin films was also investigated.
Oscillation for higher order differential equations with a middle term
Authors: Bartušek Miroslav , Došlá Zuzana , Marini Mauro 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
We study the existence of bounded oscillatory solutions for a higher order differential equation, considered as a perturbation of an associated linear equation. Jointly with this, we study the nonexistence of solutions vanishing at infinity and, as an application, we obtain in the linear case an asymptotic equivalency criterion.
Comparison of the neuropoietic activity of gene-modified versus parental mesenchymal stromal cells and the identification of soluble and extracellular matrix-related neuropoietic mediators
Authors: Aizman Irina , Tirumalashetty Brenna J , McGrogan Michael , Case Casey C 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Transplanting mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) or their derivatives into a neurodegenerative environment is believed to be beneficial because of the trophic support, migratory guidance, immunosuppression, and neurogenic stimuli they provide. SB623, a cell therapy for the treatment of chronic stroke, currently in a clinical trial, is derived from bone marrow MSCs by using transient transfection with a vector encoding the human Notch1 intracellular domain. This creates a new phenotype, which is effective in experimental stroke, exhibits immunosuppressive and angiogenic activity equal or superior to parental MSCs in vitro, and produces extracellular matrix (ECM) that is exceptionally supportive for neural cell growth. The neuropoietic activity of SB623 and parental MSCs has not been compared, and the SB623-derived neuropoietic mediators have not been identified.

Methods
SB623 or parental MSCs were cocultured with rat embryonic brain cortex cells on cell-derived ECM in a previously characterized quantitative neuropoiesis assay. Changes in expression of rat neural differentiation markers were quantified by using rat-specific qRT-PCR. Human mediators were identified by using expression profiling, an enzymatic crosslinking activity, and functional interference studies by means of blocking antibodies, biologic inhibitors, and siRNA. Cocultures were immunolabeled for presynaptic vesicular transporters to assess neuronal specialization.

Results
Among six MSC/SB623 pairs, SB623 induced expression of rat neural precursor, oligodendrocyte, and astrocyte markers on average 2.6 to 3 times stronger than did their parental MSCs. SB623 expressed significantly higher FGF2, FGF1, and BMP4, and lower FGFR1 and FGFR2 levels; and human FGF1, FGF2, BMPs, and HGF were implicated as neuropoietic mediators. Neural precursors grew faster on SB623- than on MSC-derived ECM. SB623 exhibited higher expression levels and crosslinking activity of tissue transglutaminase (TGM2). TGM2 silencing reduced neural precursor growth on SB623-ECM. SB623 also promoted the induction of GABA-ergic, but not glutamatergic, neurons more effectively than did MSCs.

Conclusions
These data demonstrate that SB623 cells tend to support neural cell growth more effectively than their parental MSCs and identify both soluble and insoluble mediators responsible, at least in part, for enhanced neuropoietic potency of SB623. The neuropoiesis assay is a useful tool for identifying beneficial factors produced by MSCs and their derivatives.
Microwave-assisted Synthesis of Near-infrared-luminescent Ovalbumin-protected Gold Nanoparticles as a Luminescent Glucose Sensor
Authors: Yoshimoto Junya , Tanaka Naoki , Inada Mitsuru , Arakawa Ryuichi , Kawasaki Hideya 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
In this work, highly luminescent ovalbumin-protected Au nanoparticles (OVA–Au NPs) with a quantum yield of 9.3% for emission at 645 nm were demonstrated as a fluorescence probe for sensitive detection of glucose. The fluorescence of the Au NPs originated from the Au(I)–thiol (S) complex on their surfaces, and it was found to be quenched effectively by enzymatically generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The OVA–Au NPs allowed the determination of glucose concentrations in the range varying from 1.0 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−2 M with a detection limit of 1 × 10−5 M.
Optimal policy and Taylor rule cross-checking under parameter uncertainty
Authors: Bursian Dirk , Roth Markus 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe examine whether the robustifying nature of Taylor rule cross-checking under model uncertainty carries over to the case of parameter uncertainty. Adjusting monetary policy based on this kind of cross-checking can improve the outcome for the monetary authority. This, however, crucially depends on the relative welfare weight that is attached to the output gap and also the degree of monetary policy commitment. We find that Taylor rule cross-checking is on average able to improve losses when the monetary authority only moderately cares about output stabilization and when policy is set in a discretionary way.
Global gradient estimates for elliptic equations of p(x)-Laplacian type with BMO nonlinearity
Authors: Byun Sun-Sig , Ok Jihoon , Ryu Seungjin 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

We consider a nonlinear elliptic problem in divergence form, with nonstandard growth conditions, on a bounded domain. We obtain the global Calderón–Zygmund type gradient estimates for the weak solution of such a problem in the setting of Lebesgue and Sobolev spaces with variable p(x) exponents, in the case that the nonlinearity of the coefficients is allowed to be discontinuous and the domain goes beyond the Lipschitz category. We assume that the nonlinearity has small BMO semi-norms and the boundary of the domain satisfies the so-called δ-Reifenberg flatness condition. These conditions on the nonlinearity and the boundary are weaker than those reported in other studies in the literature.
Iridoids from the stems of Viburnum erosum
Authors: In Seo-Ji , Seo Kyeong-Hwa , Song Na-Young , Song Myoung-Chong , An Eun-Mi , Baek Nam-In 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Two new iridoids were isolated and identified to three known ones, namely, loganic acid (2), sweroside (3), and 7-O-tigloylsecologanol (4), from the stems of Viburnum erosum. Dried stems of V. erosum were extracted with 80% methanol (MeOH), and the concentrated extract was partitioned successively with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butyl alcohol (n-BuOH), and H2O. Five compounds were isolated after repeated silica gel (SiO2), octadecyl SiO2 (ODS), and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography of the EtOAc fraction. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined based on spectroscopic data from 1H- and 13C-NMR, DEPT, and 2D-NMR (gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC) data. The new iridoids were identified as 3,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-cyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid (1) and rel-(1S,5R,9S)-9-ethenyl-1-(β-D-glucopyrinosyloxy)-5,9-dihydro-5-{2-[(2-methylbut-2-enoyl)oxy]ethyl}-1H-pyran-4-carboxylic acid (5) and named viburnin and epi-7-O-tigloylsecologanolic acid, respectively. This is the first report of the isolation of these five iridoids from V. erosum.
A Least Cost Transmission Planning Model Considering Operation Cost
Authors: Alayo Jorge Hans 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Existing transmission planning models consider basic aspects of the problem. In practice, a transmission utility needs to model other important details such as operation cost of the power system. In this article, a least cost transmission expansion model is proposed considering the operation cost in order to model the trade-off between building new transmission capacity and increasing the power system’s operation cost. The proposed model is transformed into a mixed integer linear programming problem using linearization techniques and solved with CPLEX. Finally, results of the model for the Garver test system and IEEE 24-bus test system are shown.