bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-invasive algorithms for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Wexberg Paul , Heinzl Harald , Lang Irene , Bonderman Diana 
Published: October 2012

SummaryPrecapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) is diagnosed when mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) equals or exceeds 25 mmHg and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) is equal or lower than 15 mmHg. Because both parameters can only be derived from invasive hemodynamic assessment, right heart catheter (RHC) is still a gold standard for the diagnosis of PH. Severe precapillary PH corresponds to pulmonary vascular disease and carries a poor prognosis. Unfortunately, due to a generally low specificity of non-invasive estimates of systolic pulmonary pressure, at least 50% of patients with suspicion of PH need to undergo invasive RHC for exclusion of precapillary PH. Therefore, and also in order to manage the growing number of postcapillary PH due to heart and lung disease in the general population, pulmonary and cardiologic diagnostic algorithms combining multiple parameters have been developed. Recent disease scores are reviewed, and an outlook is given on emerging evidence from the DETECT clinical study holding the promise to non-invasively predict precapillary PH in vulnerable patients. These diagnostic trees help limit unnecessary procedures and help differentiate the current categories of PH. However, one has to keep in mind that the diagnosis of PH is still made by hemodynamic assessment.
Plasma proteomics of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation on chronic anti-coagulation with warfarin or a direct factor Xa inhibitor
Authors: Chan Mark , Lin Min , Lucas Joseph , Moseley Arthur , Will Thompson J , Cyr Derek , Ueda Hitoshi , Kajikawa Mariko , Ortel Thomas , Becker Richard 
Published: October 2012

SummaryPlasma proteins mediate thrombogenesis, inflammation, endocardial injury and structural remodelling in atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesised that anti-coagulation with rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, would differentially modulate biologically-relevant plasma proteins, compared with warfarin, a multi-coagulation protein antagonist. We performed unbiased liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectroscopy and candidate multiplexed protein immunoassays among Japanese subjects with non-valvular chronic AF who were randomly assigned to treatment with 24 weeks of rivaroxaban (n=93) or warfarin (n=94). Nine metaproteins, including fibulin-1 (p=0.0033), vitronectin (p=0.0010), haemoglobin α(p=0.0012), apolipoproteins C-II (p=0.0017) and H (p=0.0023), complement C5 precursor (p=0.0026), coagulation factor XIIIA (p=0.0026) and XIIIB (p=0.0032) subunits, and 10 candidate proteins, including thrombomodulin (p=0.0004), intercellular adhesion molecule-3 (p=0.0064), interleukin-8 (p=0.0007) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (p=0.0003), were differentially expressed among patients with and without known clinical risk factors for stroke and bleeding in AF. Compared with warfarin, rivaroxaban treatment was associated with a greater increase in thrombomodulin (Δ0.1 vs. 0.3 pg/ml, p=0.0026) and a trend towards a reduction in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (Δ2.2 vs. –4.9 pg/ml, p=0.0757) over 24 weeks. Only modest correlations were observed between protein levels and prothrombin time, factor Xa activity and prothrombinase-induced clotting time. Plasma proteomics can identify distinct functional patterns of protein expression that report on known stroke and bleeding risk phenotypes in an ethnically-homogeneous AF population. The greater upregulation of thrombomodulin among patients randomised to rivaroxaban represents a proof-of-principle that pharmacoproteomics can be employed to discern novel effects of factor Xa inhibition beyond standard pharmacodynamic measures.
The Roles of Asymmetric Inflow Forcing Induced by Outer Rainbands in Tropical Cyclone Secondary Eyewall Formation
Authors: Qiu Xin , Tan Zhe-Min 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
This study analyzes the secondary eyewall formation (SEF) process in an idealized cloud-resolving simulation of a tropical cyclone. In particular, the unbalanced boundary layer response to asymmetric inflow forcing induced by outer rainbands (ORBs) is examined in order to understand the mechanisms driving the sustained convection outside the primary eyewall during the early phase of SEF.
The enhancement of convection in the SEF region follows the formation and inward contraction of an ORB. The azimuthal distribution of the enhanced convection is highly asymmetric but regular, generally along a half circle starting from the downwind portion of the ORB. It turns out that the descending radial inflow in the middle and downwind portions of the ORB initiates/maintains a strong inflow in the boundary layer. The latter is able to penetrate into the inner-core region, sharpens the gradient of radial velocity, and reinforces convergence. Consequently, warm and moist air is continuously lifted up at the leading edge of the strong inflow to support deep convection. Moreover, the inflow from the ORB creates strong supergradient winds that are ejected outward downwind, thereby enhancing convergence and convection on the other side of the storm. The results provide new insight into the key processes responsible for convection enhancement during the early phase of SEF in three dimensions and suggest the limitations of axisymmetric studies. There are also implications regarding the impact of the asymmetric boundary layer flow under a translating storm on SEF.
Low Tuberculosis Knowledge among HIV-Infected Patients in a High HIV Prevalence Region within Southeast India
Authors: Arora Nick , Vadrevu Ravi , Chandrasekhar Aditya , Gupta Amita 
Published: October 2012

Setting: A private multispecialty hospital in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: A survey of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions adapted from a pretested questionnaire was administered to 128 HIV-infected adults, from July to August 2008. Results: A total of 31% had not heard of tuberculosis (TB), with 15 (38%) currently receiving anti-TB therapy or had received it in the past. Of those familiar with TB, 70% could not list a method by which it was spread. Low education attainment, female sex, and less frequent television exposure were associated with low TB literacy. Conclusions: HIV-infected patients in southeast India have poor knowledge of TB and the methods by which it is spread. Scale-up of patient-directed educational programs is necessary to help control TB in India.
Improving the thermostability of alpha-amylase by combinatorial coevolving-site saturation mutagenesis
Authors: Wang Chenghua , Huang Ribo , He Bingfang , Du Qishi 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
The generation of focused mutant libraries at hotspot residues is an important strategy in directed protein evolution. Existing methods, such as combinatorial active site testing and residual coupling analysis, depend primarily on the evolutionary conserved information to find the hotspot residues. Hardly any attention has been paid to another important functional and structural determinants, the functionally correlated variation information--coevolution.

Results
In this paper, we suggest a new method, named combinatorial coevolving-site saturation mutagenesis (CCSM), in which the functionally correlated variation sites of proteins are chosen as the hotspot sites to construct focused mutant libraries. The CCSM approach was used to improve the thermal stability of α-amylase from Bacillus subtilis CN7 (Amy7C). The results indicate that the CCSM can identify novel beneficial mutation sites, and enhance the thermal stability of wild-type Amy7C by 8°C (

T
50
30

), which could not be achieved with the ordinarily rational introduction of single or a double point mutation.

Conclusions
Our method is able to produce more thermostable mutant α-amylases with novel beneficial mutations at new sites. It is also verified that the coevolving sites can be used as the hotspots to construct focused mutant libraries in protein engineering. This study throws new light on the active researches of the molecular coevolution.
Rapid, simple, and sensitive detection of the ompB gene of spotted fever group rickettsiae by loop-mediated isothermal amplification
Authors: Pan Lei , Zhang Lijuan , Wang Guiqiang , Liu Qinghui 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Spotted fever caused spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) is prevalent throughout China. In this study, we describe a rapid, simple, and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the ompB gene of spotted fever group rickettsiae ideal for application in China. The LAMP assay has the potential to detect spotted fever group rickettsiae early in infection and could therefore serve as an alternative to existing methods.

Methods
A set of universal primers which are specific 7 common species of spotted fever group rickettsiae in China were designed using PrimerExplorer V4 software based on conserved sequences of ompB gene. The sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility of the LAMP were evaluated. The LAMP assay for detecting SFGR was compared with conventional PCR assays for sensitivity and specificity in early phase blood samples obtained from 11 infected human subjects.

Results
The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was five copies per reaction (25 μL total volume), and the assay did not detect false-positive amplification across 42 strains of 27 members of the order Rickettsiales and 17 common clinical pathogens. The LAMP assay was negative to typhus group rickettsiae including R. prowazekii and R. typhi for no available conserved sequences of ompB was obtained for designing primers.
To evaluate the clinical applicability of the LAMP assay, a total of 11 clinical samples, 10 samples confirmed serologically (3 cases), ecologically (1 case), by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR; 2 cases), ecologically and by real-time PCR (1 case), and serologically and by real-time PCR (3 cases) were analyzed by the ompB LAMP assay. Data were validated using a previously established nested PCR protocol and real-time PCR. A positive LAMP result was obtained for 8 of the 10 confirmed cases (sensitivity, 73%; specificity, 100%), while none of these samples were positive by nested PCR (sensitivity, 0%; specificity, 100%).

Conclusions
The LAMP assay described here is the most reliable among the three methods tested and would be an ideal choice for development as a rapid and cost-effective means of detecting SFGR in China.
Modified protocol for in vivo imaging of wild-type mouse retina with customized miniature spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) device
Authors: Ferguson Lee R , Balaiya Sankarathi , Grover Sandeep , Chalam Kakarla V 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
This protocol outlines and evaluates a modified scanning procedure for a customized spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging apparatus within the wild-type C57Bl/6 mouse posterior segment. This modified protocol allows for the capture of a 50 degree field of view spanning 3 mm by 3 mm perimeter with the optic disc as the central point. By utilizing this scanning protocol a more reliable measurement of retinal thickness can be achieved outside the fluctuating region of the optic disc. This protocol, when applied to this high resolution device, enables non-invasive in vivo histological imaging and biometric assessment of the various layers of the rodent posterior segment within a 20 – 30 min procedural time-frame. This protocol could establish a standardized method for evaluating morphological changes, with this commercial SDOCT device, when assessing longitudinal disease pathophysiology and treatment response in mouse models for future vision science research.
Coexistence of protease sensitive and resistant prion protein in 129VV homozygous sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease: a case report
Authors: Rodríguez-Martínez Ana B. , de Munain Adolfo López , Ferrer Isidro , Zarranz Juan J. , Atarés Begoña , Villagra Nuria T. , Arteagoitia Jose M. , Garrido Joseba M. , Juste Ramón A. 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Introduction
The coexistence of different molecular types of classical protease-resistant prion protein in the same individual have been described, however, the simultaneous finding of these with the recently described protease-sensitive variant or variably protease-sensitive prionopathy has, to the best of our knowledge, not yet been reported.

Case presentation
A 74-year-old Caucasian woman showed a sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease clinical phenotype with reactive depression, followed by cognitive impairment, akinetic-rigid Parkinsonism with pseudobulbar syndrome and gait impairment with motor apraxia, visuospatial disorientation, and evident frontal dysfunction features such as grasping, palmomental reflex and brisk perioral reflexes. She died at age 77.
Neuropathological findings showed: spongiform change in the patient’s cerebral cortex, striatum, thalamus and molecular layer of the cerebellum with proteinase K-sensitive synaptic-like, dot-like or target-like prion protein deposition in the cortex, thalamus and striatum; proteinase K-resistant prion protein in the same regions; and elongated plaque-like proteinase K-resistant prion protein in the molecular layer of the cerebellum. Molecular analysis of prion protein after proteinase K digestion revealed decreased signal intensity in immunoblot, a ladder-like protein pattern, and a 71% reduction of PrPSc signal relative to non-digested material. Her cerebellum showed a 2A prion protein type largely resistant to proteinase K. Genotype of polymorphism at codon 129 was valine homozygous.

Conclusion
Molecular typing of prion protein along with clinical and neuropathological data revealed, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of the coexistence of different protease-sensitive prion proteins in the same patient in a rare case that did not fulfill the current clinical diagnostic criteria for either probable or possible sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. This highlights the importance of molecular analyses of several brain regions in order to correctly diagnose rare and atypical prionopathies.
Sleep disturbances are associated with increased pain, disease activity, depression, and anxiety in ankylosing spondylitis: a case-control study
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Shengli , Zhu Jian , Du Xuna , Huang Feng 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Literature data suggest that sleep disturbances are prevalent among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and have a close correlation with pain. Other studies indicate that sleep disturbances are constantly accompanied by depression and anxiety in AS, but their interrelations are poorly understood. This study was designed to evaluate sleep disturbances and their association with demographic variables, pain, disease-specific variables, functional status, covering depression and anxiety in AS patients.

Methods
The 314 patients with AS and age- and sex-matched controls took part in the study, completed a battery of questionnaires, and participated in long-term follow-up. Blood samples were taken to measure C-reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The association among sleep, pain, disease activity, functional status, depression, and anxiety were assessed by using Pearson/Spearman correlations and multiple regression analysis.

Results
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of the Chinese version was significantly higher in the AS group than in the control group (P = 0.020). Of the 314 patients with AS, 184 (58.6%) had a high risk for sleep disturbances. The PSQI score was associated with age, years of education, ESR, CRP, overall assessment of health, pain, morning stiffness, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), depression, and anxiety (all P < 0.001), but were not associated with disease duration, fingertip-to-floor distance, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) (P > 0.05). In hierarchic multiple regression analysis, the medical and psychological variables contributed significantly to the variance in sleep-disturbances scores, adding an additional 23.9% to the overall R
2
beyond that accounted for by demographic variables (R-square, 8.5%), resulting in a final R
2
of 42.6%. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that anxiety was the maximal statistical contribution in predicting sleep disturbances (standardized coefficients, 0.287).

Conclusions
The prevalence of sleep disturbances in AS patients is higher than it is generally thought to be. Depression, anxiety, nocturnal pain, and total back pain are the major contributors of sleep disturbances in AS.
Keeping momentum with a mouthful of water: behavior and kinematics of humpback whale lunge feeding
Authors: Simon Malene , Johnson Mark , Madsen Peter T. 
Published: October 2012

SUMMARY
Rorqual baleen whales lunge feed by engulfment of tons of prey-laden water in a large and expandable buccal pouch. According to prior interpretations, feeding rorquals are brought to a near-halt at the end of each lunge by drag forces primarily generated by the open mouth. Accelerating the body from a standstill is energetically costly and is purported to be the key factor determining oxygen consumption in lunge-feeding rorquals, explaining the shorter dive times than expected given their sizes. Here, we use multi-sensor archival tags (DTAGs) sampling at high rates in a fine-scale kinematic study of lunge feeding to examine the sequence of events within lunges and how energy may be expended and conserved in the process of prey capture. Analysis of 479 lunges from five humpback whales reveals that the whales accelerate as they acquire prey, opening their gape in synchrony with strong fluke strokes. The high forward speed (mean depth rate: 2.0±0.32 m s−1) during engulfment serves both to corral active prey and to expand the ventral margin of the buccal pouch and so maximize the engulfed water volume. Deceleration begins after mouth opening when the pouch nears full expansion and momentum starts to be transferred to the engulfed water. Lunge-feeding humpback whales time fluke strokes throughout the lunge to impart momentum to the engulfed water mass and so avoid a near or complete stop, but instead continue to glide at ~1–1.5 m s−1 after the lunge has ended. Subsequent filtration and prey handling appear to take an average of 46 s and are performed in parallel with re-positioning for the next lunge.
How does the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) flash its blue rings?
Authors: Mäthger Lydia M. , Bell George R. R. , Kuzirian Alan M. , Allen Justine J. , Hanlon Roger T. 
Published: October 2012

SUMMARYThe blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata), one of the world's most venomous animals, has long captivated and endangered a large audience: children playing at the beach, divers turning over rocks, and biologists researching neurotoxins. These small animals spend much of their time in hiding, showing effective camouflage patterns. When disturbed, the octopus will flash around 60 iridescent blue rings and, when strongly harassed, bite and deliver a neurotoxin that can kill a human. Here, we describe the flashing mechanism and optical properties of these rings. The rings contain physiologically inert multilayer reflectors, arranged to reflect blue–green light in a broad viewing direction. Dark pigmented chromatophores are found beneath and around each ring to enhance contrast. No chromatophores are above the ring; this is unusual for cephalopods, which typically use chromatophores to cover or spectrally modify iridescence. The fast flashes are achieved using muscles under direct neural control. The ring is hidden by contraction of muscles above the iridophores; relaxation of these muscles and contraction of muscles outside the ring expose the iridescence. This mechanism of producing iridescent signals has not previously been reported in cephalopods and we suggest that it is an exceptionally effective way to create a fast and conspicuous warning display.
Far infrared radiation (FIR): Its biological effects and medical applications
Authors: Vatansever Fatma , Hamblin Michael R. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractFar infrared (FIR) radiation (λ=3–100 μm) is a subdivision of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been investigated for biological effects. The goal of this review is to cover the use of a further sub-division (3–12 μm) of this waveband, that has been observed in both
Datenbasierte Optimalsteuerung mit neuronalen Netzen und dateneffizientem Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Runkler Thomas , Udluft Steffen , Düll Siegmund 
Published: October 2012

Zusammenfassung
Methoden der Computational Intelligence werden im Automatisierungsumfeld zur Datenanalyse, Klassifikation, Regression, dynamischen Systemidentifikation, Zustandsschätzung, Steuerung oder Regelung eingesetzt. Dieser Beitrag zeigt, wie neuronale Netze, Regressionsbäume, Kernel-Methoden und Reinforcement Learning von der Datenanalyse bis zur fertigen Lösung eingesetzt werden können. Als Anwendungsbeispiel dient eine Gasturbine, für die optimale Regelgesetze aus Daten erlernt und bei Inbetriebnahme und Arbeitspunktoptimierung eingesetzt werden.
Functional Characterization of Drosophila microRNAs by a Novel in Vivo Library
Authors: Schertel Claus , Rutishauser Tobias , Förstemann Klaus , Basler Konrad 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Animal microRNAs (miRNA) are implicated in the control of nearly all cellular functions. Due to high sequence redundancy within the miRNA gene pool, loss of most of these 21- to 24-bp long RNAs individually does not cause a phenotype. Thus, only very few miRNAs have been associated with clear functional roles. We constructed a transgenic UAS-miRNA library in Drosophila melanogaster that contains 180 fly miRNAs. This library circumvents the redundancy issues by facilitating the controlled misexpression of individual miRNAs and is a useful tool to complement loss-of-function approaches. Demonstrating the effectiveness of our library, 78 miRNAs induced clear phenotypes. Most of these miRNAs were previously unstudied. Furthermore, we present a simple system to create GFP sensors to monitor miRNA expression and test direct functional interactions in vivo. Finally, we focus on the miR-92 family and identify a direct target gene that is responsible for the specific wing phenotype induced by the misexpression of miR-92 family members.