bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A peptide mimic blocks the cross-reaction of anti-DNA antibodies with glomerular antigens
Authors: Xia Y , Eryilmaz E , Der E , Pawar R D , Guo X , Cowburn D , Putterman C 
Published: October 2015

Summary
Anti-DNA antibodies play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis by cross-reacting with renal antigens. Previously, we demonstrated that the binding affinity of anti-DNA antibodies to self-antigens is isotype-dependent. Furthermore, significant variability in renal pathogenicity was seen among a panel of anti-DNA isotypes [derived from a single murine immunoglobulin (Ig)G3 monoclonal antibody, PL9-11] that share identical variable regions. In this study, we sought to select peptide mimics that effectively inhibit the binding of all murine and human anti-DNA IgG isotypes to glomerular antigens. The PL9-11 panel of IgG anti-DNA antibodies (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3) was used for screening a 12-mer phage display library. Binding affinity was determined by surface plasmon resonance. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry and glomerular binding assays were used for the assessment of peptide inhibition of antibody binding to nuclear and kidney antigens. We identified a 12 amino acid peptide (ALWPPNLHAWVP, or ‘ALW’) which binds to all PL9-11 IgG isotypes. Preincubation with the ALW peptide reduced the binding of the PL9-11 anti-DNA antibodies to DNA, laminin, mesangial cells and isolated glomeruli significantly. Furthermore, we confirmed the specificity of the amino acid sequence in the binding of ALW to anti-DNA antibodies by alanine scanning. Finally, ALW inhibited the binding of murine and human lupus sera to dsDNA and glomeruli significantly. In conclusion, by inhibiting the binding of polyclonal anti-DNA antibodies to autoantigens in vivo, the ALW peptide (or its derivatives) may potentially be a useful approach to block anti-DNA antibody binding to renal tissue.
Language Experience Affects Grouping of Musical Instrument Sounds
Authors: Bhatara Anjali , Boll‐Avetisyan Natalie , Agus Trevor , Höhle Barbara , Nazzi Thierry 
Published: October 2015

AbstractLanguage experience clearly affects the perception of speech, but little is known about whether these differences in perception extend to non‐speech sounds. In this study, we investigated rhythmic perception of non‐linguistic sounds in speakers of French and German using a grouping task, in which complexity (variability in sounds, presence of pauses) was manipulated. In this task, participants grouped sequences of auditory chimeras formed from musical instruments. These chimeras mimic the complexity of speech without being speech. We found that, while showing the same overall grouping preferences, the German speakers showed stronger biases than the French speakers in grouping complex sequences. Sound variability reduced all participants’ biases, resulting in the French group showing no grouping preference for the most variable sequences, though this reduction was attenuated by musical experience. In sum, this study demonstrates that linguistic experience, musical experience, and complexity affect rhythmic grouping of non‐linguistic sounds and suggests that experience with acoustic cues in a meaningful context (language or music) is necessary for developing a robust grouping preference that survives acoustic variability.
Glucose homeostasis after simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation: a comparison of subjects with C‐peptide‐positive non‐type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Chakkera Harini A. , Kudva Yogish C. , Chang Yu‐Hui H. , Heilman Raymond L. , Singer Andrew L. , Mathur Amit K. , Hewitt Winston R. , Khamash Hasan A. , Huskey Janna L. , Katariya Nitin N. , Moss Adyr A. , Behmen Senaida , Reddy Kunam S. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundWhile simultaneous pancreas kidney transplant (SPKTx) is a therapeutic option for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and renal failure, few centers offer SPKTx to “select” non‐T1DM patients. To address concerns that existing insulin resistance may limit the benefits of the pancreas allograft among non‐T1DM, we compared several indices of glucose homeostasis, in “select” non‐T1DM and T1DM patients who received SPKTx.MethodsCriteria for “select” non‐T1DM included the following: positive C‐peptide, BMI <30 kg/m2, treatment with oral agents before insulin initiation, and insulin at <1 unit/kg/d. We compared several indices of glucose homeostasis within 1 yr post‐SPKTx among seven “select” patients with non‐T1DM and nine patients with T1DM with similar age, BMI, and immunosuppression. Measurements of insulin resistance included the following: homeostatic model, insulin sensitivity index, and insulin–glucose ratio; insulin secretion measures included the following: corrected insulin response.ResultsNon‐T1DM had similar pre‐transplant metabolic (fasting glucose, HbA1c, blood pressure, and lipid) parameters to the T1DM cohort. There were no significant differences in the various measures of insulin resistance and secretion between T1DM and “select” non‐T1DM patients.ConclusionOur results suggest SPKTx should be considered in the therapeutic armamentarium among carefully select non‐T1DM with features of minimal insulin resistance; however, a larger cohort with longer follow‐up is needed to confirm our results.
Traumatic dental injuries among 12‐ and 15‐year‐old adolescents in Georgia: results of the pathfinder study
Authors: Bilder Leon , Margvelashvili Vladimer , Sgan‐Cohen Harold , Kalandadze Manana , Levin Liran , Ivanishvili Rusudan , Machtei Eli E. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundTraumatic dental injuries (TDI) are a widespread pathology with serious dental public health concerns.ObjectivesThe aim of this pathfinder study was to collect initial epidemiological data on oral health in Republic of Georgia. As part of this study, the prevalence and severity of TDI in permanent teeth among seventh‐ and tenth‐grade schoolchildren were evaluated.MethodsSchoolchildren were examined in four schools in the capital city of Tbilisi, two schools in two other major cities, and one school in four additional villages. In addition to demographical data, the following parameters were collected and recorded: Overjet (OJ), lip competence, number and type/location of the teeth with TDI and Type of TDI. The study population comprised of children aged 12 (seventh grade) and 15 years old (10th grade).ResultsA total of 823 7th‐ and 10th‐grade schoolchildren were examined. The overall prevalence of TDI among Georgian population was found to be 10.4% (86 children). The prevalence of TDI was greater in the older age cohort (P < 0.05). Lip posture did not seem to have a marked effect on TDI. Children with an OJ greater than 5 mm were more likely to present with dental injuries compared to children with an OJ equal to or smaller than 5 mm (P < 0.05). Children from rural areas presented with greater prevalence of TDI compared to their urban counterparts (P < 0.05). The maxillary central incisors were the most common teeth to be affected by trauma accounting for 85.2% of the TDI cases. Enamel fracture was the main type of TDI (91.3%).ConclusionsThe prevalence of TDI in Georgian schoolchildren, as presented in this survey, population was found to be rather moderate and involved mainly minor superficial injuries. Rural communities have shown in this report substantial higher rates; thus, educational program might be directed mostly to these regions to children, teachers, and healthcare providers.
Regulating Hedge Funds for Systemic Stability: The EU's Approach
Authors: Johnston Andrew 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis article offers a critical appraisal of the way in which the EU regulates hedge funds (HFs) in the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFM Directive) and its proposal to regulate the repo markets from which they obtain much of their leverage. It argues that the EU's scheme is not a radical departure from the pre‐crisis market liberalist approach and that its reliance on discretionary intervention is misplaced because it does not take account of the fundamental uncertainty that characterises financial markets. The article outlines the operations of HFs and explores the extent to which they pose a threat to systemic stability, paying particular attention to the use of leverage by HFs. It explores the background to the AIFM Directive and the post‐crisis international consensus on financial regulation and then evaluates the complex division of responsibility for regulating HFs between the national and supranational authorities. Finally, it discusses how HFs should be regulated. Drawing on the work of Minsky, it argues that a leverage cap would have been more likely to prevent HFs contributing to systemic instability than the scheme adopted. Nor are the proposed rules on mandatory ‘haircuts’ in repo markets or the AIFM Directive's rules on remuneration likely to prevent HFs contributing to systemic instability.
Colombian Paramilitaries Since Demobilization: Between State Crackdown and Increased Violence
Authors: Krakowski Krzysztof 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis article addresses the puzzle of heterogeneous trends in paramilitary violence on the Colombian Pacific Coast since the beginning of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process in 2003. The usual explanations derived from political conflict theories are improved with insights from organized crime research. The article argues that the occasional escalation of post-DDR paramilitary violence at the subregional level cannot be explained by the weakness of the state argument. Instead, the article demonstrates the counterintuitive evidence that paramilitary violence correlates positively with the incidence of state repressive intervention against paramilitary groups. More specifically, paramilitaries challenged by the state use more violence, either to replace their nonviolent resources most affected by law enforcement activities or to respond to crackdown-related intensification of predatory tendencies within their respective organizations.
An External Addition of Soy Protein Isolate Hydrolysate to Sourdough as a New Strategy to Improve the Quality of Chinese Steamed Bread
Authors: Liu Xiao , Li Teng , Liu Boyan , Zhao Hongfei , Zhou Fang , Zhang Bolin 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSoy protein isolate (SPI) was hydrolyzed and then its hydrolysate (Hyd‐SPI) was supplemented to dough. The dough fermented by a starter consisting of Lactobacillus paralimentarius 412 and Anqi's yeast was applied to manufacture Chinese steamed bread. Addition of 1% Hyd‐SPI to dough is found to significantly improve the farinograph and extensograph values. Moreover, 1% Hyd‐SPI stimulates the growth and metabolism of the starter culture better compared with the control and thus improves the sourdough fermentation. The sourdough supplemented with 1% Hyd‐SPI observed by scanning electron microscopy contains starch granules that are largely hydrolyzed. Additionally, the sourdough has more free amino acids than the control. A total of 45 volatile compounds are recognized in the Chinese steamed breads containing 1% Hyd‐SPI. This is the first report that SPI hydrolysate is used to improve the quality of Chinese steamed bread products.Practical ApplicationsChinese steamed bread, as a traditional grain product that is made with sourdough, has been widely consumed in Northern China and many Southeastern Asian countries for its taste and rich nutrition. The better the performance of the sourdough, the better the quality of the Chinese steamed bread. This study uses a hydrolyzed soy protein isolate (Hyd‐SPI) as an external supplement to enhance the fermentation performance and rheological properties of sourdough. Currently, this technique has been extended to local producers for the manufacture of the sourdough‐based steamed bread.
Intervention to Reduce Ventilator‐Associated Pneumonia in Individuals on Long‐Term Ventilation by Introducing a Customized Bundle
Authors: Shitrit Pnina , Meirson Michal , Mendelson Gad , Chowers Michal 
Published: October 2015

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of a modified bundle of preventative measures to decrease ventilator‐associated pneumonia (VAP) in chronically ventilated long‐term care facility (LTCF) residents.DesignCohort before‐and‐after study.SettingGeriatric hospital ward.ParticipantsLTCF residents on long‐term ventilation.InterventionThe modified bundle included hand hygiene before patient care, elevation of the head of the bed to more than 30° for individuals who are supine, chlorhexidine oral care at the beginning of each nursing shift, keeping tracheostomy cannula balloon pressure at 20 to 30 cm H2O, and measuring nasogastric food remnants before every meal for individuals fed through a nasogastric tube.MeasurementsNumber of VAP episodes was determined prospectively, and rates were calculated as episodes per 1,000 ventilation days.ResultsVAP rate decreased from 5.97 before the intervention to 2.34 after the intervention (P < .001). The use of broad‐spectrum antibiotics decreased from 1,788 defined daily doses before the intervention to 1,093 after (P = .04).ConclusionA modified bundle successfully decreased VAP rates in chronically ventilated elderly LTCF residents.
Concordance Between Anticholinergic Burden Scales
Authors: Naples Jennifer G. , Marcum Zachary A. , Perera Subashan , Gray Shelly L. , Newman Anne B. , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Yaffe Kristine , Shorr Ronald I. , Hanlon Joseph T. ,   the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Published: October 2015

ObjectivesTo evaluate concordance of five commonly used anticholinergic scales.DesignCross‐sectional secondary analysis.SettingPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee.ParticipantsCommunity‐dwelling adults aged 70 to 79 with baseline medication data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (N = 3,055).MeasurementsAny anticholinergic use, weighted scores, and total standardized daily dosage were calculated using five anticholinergic measures (Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) Scale, Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS), Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS), Drug Burden Index anticholinergic component (DBI‐ACh), and Summated Anticholinergic Medications Scale (SAMS)). Concordance was evaluated using kappa statistics and Spearman rank correlations.ResultsAny anticholinergic use in rank order was 51% for the ACB, 43% for the ADS, 29% for the DBI‐ACh, 23% for the ARS, and 16% for the SAMS. Kappa statistics for all pairwise use comparisons ranged from 0.33 to 0.68. Similarly, concordance as measured using weighted kappa statistics ranged from 0.54 to 0.70 for the three scales not incorporating dosage (ADS, ARS, ACB). Spearman rank correlation between the DBI‐ACh and SAMS was 0.50.ConclusionOnly low to moderate concordance was found between the five anticholinergic scales. Future research is needed to examine how these differences in measurement affect their predictive validity with respect to clinically relevant outcomes, such as cognitive impairment.
Recognition and Management of Hypertension in Older Persons: Focus on African Americans
Authors: Still Carolyn H. , Ferdinand Keith C. , Ogedegbe Gbenga , Wright Jackson T. 
Published: October 2015

Hypertension is the most commonly diagnosed condition in persons aged 60 and older and is the single most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and stroke), kidney disease, and dementia. More than half of individuals with hypertension in the United States are aged 60 and older. Hypertension disproportionately affects African Americans, with all age groups, including elderly adults, having a higher burden of hypertension‐related complications than other U.S. populations. Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the beneficial effects of blood pressure (BP) reduction on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with most of the evidence in individuals aged 60 and older. Several guidelines have recently been published on the specific management of hypertension in individuals aged 60 and older, including in high‐risk groups such as African Americans. Most recommend careful evaluation, thiazide diuretics and calcium‐channel blockers for initial drug therapy in most African Americans, and angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in those with chronic kidney disease or heart failure. Among the areas of controversy is the recommended target BP in African Americans aged 60 and older. A recent U.S. guideline recommended raising the systolic BP target from less than 140 mmHg to less than 150 mmHg in this population. This article will review the evidence and current guideline recommendations for hypertension treatment in older African Americans, including the rationale for continuing to recommend a SBP target of less than 140 mmHg in this population.
A General Nonlinear Least Squares Data Reconciliation and Estimation Method for Material Flow Analysis
Authors: Kopec Grant M. , Allwood Julian M. , Cullen Jonathan M. , Ralph Daniel 
Published: October 2015

SummaryThe extraction, transformation, use, and disposal of materials can be represented by directed, weighted networks, known in the material flow analysis (MFA) community as Sankey or flow diagrams. However, the construction of such networks is dependent on data that are often scarce, conflicting, or do not directly map onto a Sankey diagram. By formalizing the forms of data entry, a nonlinear constrained optimization program for data estimation and reconciliation can be formulated for reconciling data sets for MFA problems where data are scarce, in conflict, do not directly map onto a Sankey diagram, and are of variable quality. This method is demonstrated by reanalyzing an existing MFA of global steel flows, and the resulting analytical solution measurably improves upon their manual solution.
Loss‐of‐function mutation of serine racemase attenuates excitotoxicity by intravitreal injection of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate
Authors: Jiang Haiyan , Wang Xianwei , Zhang He , Chang Yuhua , Feng Meiling , Wu Shengzhou 
Published: October 2015

AbstractConvincing data demonstrate that D‐serine, a racemized product of serine racemase (SR), contributes to neurotoxicity. Furthermore, a line of evidence suggests that SR/D‐serine contributes to retinal neurodegeneration in a diabetic retinopathy rat model and diabetic retinopathy patients. However, the connection between SR/D‐serine and retinal neurodegeneration remains unclear. Herein, we report that intravitreal injection of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) induces excitotoxicity in rodent retina; this retinal neurodegeneration was attenuated in retina carrying a loss‐of‐function of mutation in Srr, the gene for SR, termed Srrochre269. Under the condition of NMDA injection, either posterior pole or middle – but not peripheral – retina from Srrochre269 mice was found to retain more retinal ganglion cells (RGC) than the counterpart from w/t (RGCs were identified with retrograde labeling). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining further demonstrated reduced RGC apoptosis from Srrochre269 compared to w/t mice under the condition of NMDA injection. Collectively, our studies demonstrate a pivotal role of SR/D‐serine in retinal neurotoxicity.
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We demonstrated that loss‐of‐function mutation of the gene encoding serine racemase significantly attenuates excitotoxicity in retina; excitotoxicity accounts for retinal ganglion cell (RGC) demise in diabetic retinopathy (DR). We think that our findings deepen the current knowledge of the mechanisms of RGC degeneration.
Cloning and functional characterization of the Arabidopsis N‐acetylserotonin O‐methyltransferase responsible for melatonin synthesis
Authors: Byeon Yeong , Lee Hye‐Jung , Lee Hyoung Yool , Back Kyoungwhan 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe N‐acetylserotonin O‐methyltransferase (ASMT) gene encodes the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of N‐acetylserotonin to melatonin as the last step in melatonin biosynthesis. The first plant ASMT gene to be cloned was from rice. An orthologous gene encoding a protein with ASMT activity and only 39.7% amino acid sequence identity to the rice ASMT protein was recently isolated from apple (Malus zumi). The low homology of the apple ASMT sequence prompted us to screen the Arabidopsis genome for a homologous ASMT gene. The At4g35160 gene exhibited the highest sequence identity (31%) to the rice ASMT gene, followed by the At1g76790 gene with 29% sequence identity. We purified recombinant proteins expressed from the two Arabidopsis genes. The At4g35160 recombinant protein exhibited ASMT enzyme activity, but the At1g76790 recombinant protein did not; thus, we designated At4g35160 as an Arabidopsis thaliana ASMT (AtASMT) gene. The AtASMT protein catalyzed the conversion of N‐acetylserotonin to melatonin and serotonin to 5‐methoxytryptamine with Vmax values of 0.11 and 0.29 pkat/mg protein, respectively. However, AtASMT exhibited no caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase activity, suggesting that its function was highly specific to melatonin synthesis. AtASMT transcripts were induced by cadmium treatment in Arabidopsis followed by increased melatonin synthesis. Similar to other ASMT proteins, AtASMT was localized in the cytoplasm and its ectopic overexpression in rice resulted in increased ASMT enzyme activity and melatonin production, indicating the involvement of AtASMT in melatonin synthesis.
Impact of eradicating hepatitis C virus on the work productivity of chronic hepatitis C (CH‐C) patients: an economic model from five European countries
Authors: Younossi Z. , Brown A. , Buti M. , Fagiuoli S. , Mauss S. , Rosenberg W. , Serfaty L. , Srivastava A. , Smith N. , Stepanova M. , Beckerman R. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryCH‐C negatively affects work productivity (WP), creating a large economic burden. The aim of this study was to model the impact of sustained virologic response (SVR) on WP in CHC genotype 1 (GT1) patients in five European countries (EU5). Work Productivity and Activity Index‐Specific Health Problem questionnaire was administered to patients across the ION clinical trials (n = 629 European patients). The analysis modelled a population of GT1 CHC patients over one year, who had been either not treated or treated with LDV/SOF. Sensitivity analyses assessed the possibility that CHC patients’ labour costs were lower than the general population's and presented results by fibrosis stage. Before initiation of treatment, EU patients with CHC GT1 exhibited absenteeism and presenteeism impairments of 3.54% and 9.12%, respectively. About 91.8% of EU patients in the ION trials achieved SVR and improved absenteeism and presenteeism impairments by 16.3% and 19.5%, respectively. Monetizing these data, treatment with LDV/SOF resulted in an annual productivity gain of €435 million and a weighted average per‐employed patient (PEP) gain of €900 in the EU5. PEP gains from treatment are projected to be higher in cirrhotic than in noncirrhotic patients. If CHC patients are assumed to earn 20% less than the general population, gains of €348 million (€720 PEP) annually are projected. CHC results in a significant economic burden to European society. Due to improvements in WP, SVR with treatment could provide substantial economic gains, partly offsetting the direct costs related to its widespread use.