bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Disablement in the Physically Active Scale, Part II: The Psychometric Properties of an Outcomes Scale for Musculoskeletal Injuries
Authors: Vela Luzita I. , Denegar Craig R. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractContext:Outcomes assessment is an integral part of ensuring quality in athletic training, but few generic instruments have been specifically designed to measure disablement in the physically active.Objective:To assess the psychometric properties of the Disablement in the Physically Active Scale (DPA), a patient-report, generic outcomes instrument.Design:Observational study.Setting:We collected data in 5 settings with competitive and recreational athletes. Participants entered into the study at 3 distinct points: (1) when healthy and (2) after an acute injury, or (3) after a persistent injury.Patients or Other Participants:Measures were obtained from 368 baseline participants (202 females, 166 males; age  =  20.1 ± 3.8 years), 54 persistent participants (32 females, 22 males; age  =  22.0 ± 8.3 years), and 28 acutely injured participants (8 females, 20 males; age  =  19.8 ± 1.90 years).Main Outcome Measure(s):We assessed internal consistency with a Cronbach α and test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation (2,1) values. The scale's factor structure was assessed with a hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was assessed with a Pearson correlation. Responsiveness was calculated using a receiver operating characteristic curve and a minimal clinically important difference value.Results:The Cronbach α scores for the DPA were 0.908 and 0.890 in acute and persistent groups, respectively. The intraclass correlation (2,1) value of the DPA was 0.943 (95% confidence interval  =  0.885, 0.972). The fit indices values were 1.89, 0.852, 0.924, 0.937, and 0.085 (90% confidence interval  =  0.066, 0.103) for the minimum sample discrepancy divided by degrees of freedom, goodness-of-fit index, Tucker-Lewis Index, comparative fit index, and root mean square error of approximation, respectively. The DPA scores accounted for 51% to 56.4% of the variation in global functioning scores. The area under the curve was statistically significant, and the minimally clinically important difference values were established.Conclusions:The DPA is a reliable, valid, and responsive instrument.
Identifying the Combinatorial Effects of Histone Modifications by Association Rule Mining in Yeast
Authors: Wang Jiang , Dai Xianhua , Xiang Qian , Deng Yangyang , Feng Jihua , Dai Zhiming , He Caisheng 
Published: November 2010

Eukaryotic genomes are packaged into chromatin by histone proteins whose chemical modification can profoundly influence gene expression. The histone modifications often act in combinations, which exert different effects on gene expression. Although a number of experimental techniques and data analysis methods have been developed to study histone modifications, it is still very difficult to identify the relationships among histone modifications on a genome-wide scale. We proposed a method to identify the combinatorial effects of histone modifications by association rule mining. The method first identified Functional Modification Transactions (FMTs) and then employed association rule mining algorithm and statistics methods to identify histone modification patterns. We applied the proposed methodology to Pokholok et al's data with eight sets of histone modifications and Kurdistani et al's data with eleven histone acetylation sites. Our method succeeds in revealing two different global views of histone modification landscapes on two datasets and identifying a number of modification patterns some of which are supported by previous studies. We concentrate on combinatorial effects of histone modifications which significantly affect gene expression. Our method succeeds in identifying known interactions among histone modifications and uncovering many previously unknown patterns. After in-depth analysis of possible mechanism by which histone modification patterns can alter transcriptional states, we infer three possible modification pattern reading mechanism (‘redundant’, ‘trivial’, ‘dominative’). Our results demonstrate several histone modification patterns which show significant correspondence between yeast and human cells.
Coevolutionary relationship between striatum size and social play in nonhuman primates
Authors: Graham Kerrie Lewis 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe striatum is a region of the brain specifically tied to the experience and anticipation of pleasure, reward, appropriate behavioral sequencing, cognition, learning, and social modulation. Furthermore, the striatum is connected neurologically and functionally to other brain regions associated with the exhibition of social play, such as the neocortex, cerebellum, and limbic system. For these reasons, the striatum is especially interesting to researchers of play behavior. Moreover, the caudate–putamen area of the striatum has been specifically implicated in laboratory studies of social play behavior. This study uses the phylogenetic comparative method of independent contrasts to test for an evolutionary relationship between striatum volume and a measure of social play in nonhuman primates. Relative volume of the primate striatum correlates with rate of social, but not nonsocial, play behavior across species, suggesting a coevolution of traits. The pleasurable and procedural aspects of social play behavior may be mediated in part by the striatum and further to its connection to dopaminergic pathways in the primate brain. Am. J. Primatol. 73:314–322, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy pathology and cognitive domains in older persons
Authors: Arvanitakis Zoe , Leurgans Sue E. , Wang Zhenxin , Wilson Robert S. , Bennett David A. , Schneider Julie A. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the relation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) to cognitive domains in older community‐dwelling persons with and without dementia.MethodsSubjects were 404 persons in the Religious Orders Study, a cohort study of aging, who underwent annual clinical evaluations, including 19 neuropsychological tests from which 5 cognitive domain and global summary scores were derived, and brain autopsy at time‐of‐death (mean age‐at‐death 86). Using amyloid‐β immunostaining, CAA severity was graded in 5 regions (midfrontal, inferior temporal, angular, calcarine, and hippocampal cortices), as 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe, and 4 = very severe. Because severity was related across regions (all rs > 0.63), and almost all persons had some CAA, we averaged regional CAA scores and created class variable predictors for no‐to‐minimal (<0.5), mild‐to‐moderate (0.5‐2.5) and moderate‐to‐very severe CAA (>2.5).ResultsCAA was very common (84.9%; 94 had no‐to‐minimal, 233 mild‐to‐moderate, and 76 moderate‐to‐very severe disease) and was related to AD pathology (rs = 0.68). In linear regression analyses controlling for age, sex, education, AD pathology, infarcts, and Lewy bodies, moderate‐to‐very severe CAA was associated with lower perceptual speed (p = 0.012) and episodic memory (p = 0.047), but not semantic memory, working memory, visuospatial skills, or a composite of all cognitive measures. No associations of mild‐to‐moderate CAA with cognition were found. Dementia did not modify these findings.InterpretationCAA pathology is very common in older community‐dwelling persons and is associated with AD pathology. Moderate‐to‐very severe CAA, but not mild‐to‐moderate CAA, is associated with lower performance in specific cognitive domains, most notably perceptual speed, separately from the effect of AD pathology. ANN NEUROL 2011
Interferon‐β inhibits toll‐like receptor 9 processing in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Balashov Konstantin E. , Aung Latt Latt , Vaknin‐Dembinsky Adi , Dhib‐Jalbut Suhayl , Weiner Howard L. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectiveViral infections have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are present in peripheral blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain lesions of MS patients. pDCs sense viral DNA via Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR9), which has to be cleaved from the N‐terminal to become functional (TLR9 processing). pDCs activated with TLR9 agonists promote T‐helper type 1 (Th1)/T‐helper type 17 (Th17) responses. In the animal model of MS, TLR9 agonists can induce disease. We hypothesized that pDCs are inhibited by disease‐modifying therapy such as interferon (IFN)‐β, consequently decreasing the frequency of MS attacks.MethodsWe separated pDCs from healthy subjects and patients diagnosed with relapsing‐remitting MS and clinically isolated syndrome. Cytokine secretion by pDCs activated with TLR9 agonists was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and multianalyte profiling. TLR9 gene and protein expression was studied by DNA microarrays and western blot.ResultsIn untreated patients, pDCs activated with TLR9 agonists produced increased levels of IFN‐α, a Th1‐promoting cytokine, as compared to healthy subjects. In IFN‐β‐treated patients, activated pDCs had decreased ability to produce both IFN‐α and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐6 and tumor necrosis factor α as compared to untreated patients. pDCs separated from IFN‐β‐treated patients had significantly reduced levels of the processed TLR9 protein but normal levels of the full‐length TLR9 protein and TLR9 gene expression as compared to untreated patients.InterpretationThis finding represents a novel immunomodulatory mechanism of IFN‐β: inhibition of TLR9 processing. This results in decreased activation of pDCs by viral pathogens and, thus, may affect the frequency of MS exacerbations. ANN NEUROL 2010
Comparative analysis of therapeutic options used for myasthenia gravis
Authors: Mandawat Aditya , Kaminski Henry J. , Cutter Gary , Katirji Bashar , Alshekhlee Amer 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo compare clinical and economic outcomes following plasma exchange (PLEX) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in U.S. patients with primary diagnoses of myasthenia gravis (MG).MethodsOur cohort was identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for years 2000–2005 using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition. Multivariate regression analyses were used to identify predictors of mortality, complications, length of stay, and total inpatient cost.ResultsAmong 1,606 hospitalized patients, the unadjusted mortality rate of MG crisis remained higher than those without crisis (0.44% vs 4.44%, p < 0.001), as well as the unadjusted complication rate (26.36% vs 11.23%, p < 0.001). MG crisis patients receiving PLEX had significantly more complications than those receiving IVIG (30.06% vs 14.79%, p < 0.001). Among the whole cohort, adjusted mortality and complication rates were not significantly different between the treatment groups (p > 0.05). Acute respiratory failure, major cardiac complications, and acute renal failure were associated with an increased mortality rate (p < 0.001). Age and respiratory failure were associated with an increased complication rate (p < 0.001). Length of stay was significantly longer for MG (6 vs 4 days, p < 0.001) and MG crisis (10 vs 5 days, p < 0.001) patients receiving PLEX. Inpatient costs were higher for MG ($26,662 vs $21,124, p < 0.01) and MG crisis ($53,801 vs $33,924, p < 0.001) patients receiving PLEX.InterpretationCompared to PLEX, IVIG appears of similar clinical (mortality and complications) and perhaps of superior economic (length of stay and total inpatient charges) outcomes in the treatment of MG. Elderly and those with complex comorbid diseases including acute respiratory failure may be better treated with IVIG. ANN NEUROL 2010
Identification of active loci of a human endogenous retrovirus in neurons of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Douville Renée , Liu Jiankai , Rothstein Jeffrey , Nath Avindra 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectiveAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, of unknown etiology. Previous studies showed reverse transcriptase in serum of ALS patients at levels comparable to human immunodeficiency virus‐infected patients; however, the source and significance of the retroviral elements is uncertain.MethodsExpression of a human endogenous retrovirus (HERV‐K) was determined in autopsy brain tissue of patients with ALS and compared to control populations by real‐time polymerase chain reaction followed by sequencing of the amplified genes and confirmed by immunostaining.ResultsHERV‐K pol transcripts were increased in patients with ALS compared to those with chronic systemic illness, but could not be detected in Parkinson disease or in the accidental death controls. Sequencing revealed several actively transcribed loci in the HML‐2 and 3 subfamilies of HERV‐K, with a specific pattern of expression including intact open reading frames and the transcription of a unique locus in ALS. The frequency of intact pol transcripts was highest in the motor cortex, and the reverse transcriptase protein was localized to cortical neurons of ALS patients. HERV‐K expression strongly correlated with TDP‐43, a multifunctional protein known to be dysregulated in ALS.InterpretationWe have identified a specific pattern of HERV‐K expression in ALS, which may potentially define the pathophysiology of ALS. Targeting of activated genome‐encoded retroviral elements may open new prospects for the treatment of ALS. Ann Neurol 2011;69:141–151.
Mitochondrial dysfunction in distal axons contributes to human immunodeficiency virus sensory neuropathy
Authors: Lehmann Helmar C. , Chen Weiran , Borzan Jasenka , Mankowski Joseph L. , Höke Ahmet 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectiveAccumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage has been associated with aging and abnormal oxidative metabolism. We hypothesized that in human immunodeficiency virus‐associated sensory neuropathy (HIV‐SN), damaged mtDNA accumulates in distal nerve segments, and that a spatial pattern of mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the distal degeneration of sensory nerve fibers.MethodsWe measured levels of common deletion mutations in mtDNA and expression levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes of matched proximal and distal nerve specimens from patients with and without HIV‐SN. In mitochondria isolated from peripheral nerves of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)‐infected macaques, a model of HIV‐SN, we measured mitochondrial function and generation of reactive oxygen species.ResultsWe identified increased levels of mtDNA common deletion mutation in postmortem sural nerves of patients with HIV‐SN as compared to uninfected patients or HIV patients without sensory neuropathy. Furthermore, we found that common deletion mutation in mtDNA was more prevalent in distal sural nerves compared to dorsal root ganglia. In a primate model of HIV‐SN, freshly isolated mitochondria from sural nerves of macaques infected with a neurovirulent strain of SIV showed impaired mitochondrial function compared to mitochondria from proximal nerve segments.InterpretationOur findings suggest that mtDNA damage accumulates in distal mitochondria of long axons, especially in patients with HIV‐SN, and that this may lead to reduced mitochondrial function in distal nerves relative to proximal segments. Although our findings are based on HIV‐SN, if confirmed in other neuropathies, these observations could explain the length‐dependent nature of most axonal peripheral neuropathies. ANN NEUROL 2010
Hypothalamic gray matter volume loss in hypnic headache
Authors: Holle Dagny , Naegel Steffen , Krebs Sarah , Gaul Charly , Gizewski Elke , Diener Hans‐Christoph , Katsarava Zaza , Obermann Mark 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjectiveHypnic headache (HH) is a rare primary headache disorder characterized by strictly nocturnal headache attacks that mostly occur at the same time at night. The pathophysiology of this disease is poorly understood, but hypothalamic involvement was suspected as the hypothalamus represents the cerebral management center of sleep regulation and pain control.MethodsFourteen patients with HH and 14 age‐matched and gender‐matched healthy controls were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging–based voxel‐based morphometry.ResultsWe detected gray matter volume decrease in the posterior hypothalamus of HH patients. Additional gray matter decrease was observed in brain areas known to be associated with cerebral pain processing, including the cingulate cortex, operculum, and frontal lobe, as well as in the temporal lobe.InterpretationOur data confirm the hypothesized involvement of the posterior hypothalamus in the pathophysiology of HH and emphasize the importance of this structure for sleep regulation and pain control. ANN NEUROL 2010
Dynamically vulcanized polypropylene/styrene–butadiene rubber blends: The effect of a peroxide/bismaleimide curing system and composition
Authors: Leite Paulo R. S. , Soares Bluma G. , Sirqueira Alex S. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractPolypropylene (PP)/styrene–butadiene rubber blends were studied with special attention given to the effects of the blend ratio and dynamic vulcanization. Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) was used as the curing agent in combination with N,N′‐m‐phenylene bismaleimide (BMI) as the coagent for the curing process. Outstanding mechanical performance, especially with regard to the elongation at break, and better resistance to compression set were achieved with the dynamic vulcanization; this indicated that the DCP/BMI system also acted as a compatibilizing agent. This phenomenon was also confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the insoluble material, the crystallinity degree of the PP phase (as investigated by X‐ray diffractometry), and scanning electron microscopy. The dynamic mechanical properties of the nonvulcanized and vulcanized blends were also investigated. The aging resistance of the blends was also evaluated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Development and evaluation of a novel pH indicator biodegradable film based on cassava starch
Authors: Veiga‐Santos P. , Ditchfield C. , Tadini C. C. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA pH indicator film based on cassava starch plasticized with sucrose and inverted sugar and incorporated with grape and spinach extracts as pH indicator sources (anthocyanin and chlorophyll) has been developed, and its packaging properties have been assessed. A second‐order central composite design (22) with three central points and four star points was used to evaluate the mechanical properties (tensile strength, tensile strength at break, and elongation at break percentage), moisture barrier, and microstructure of the films, and its potential as a pH indicator packaging. The films were prepared by the casting technique and conditioned under controlled conditions (75% relative humidity and 23°C), at least 4 days before the analyses. The materials were exposed to different pH solutions (0, 2, 7, 10, and 14) and their color parameters (L*, a*, b*, and haze) were measured by transmittance. Grape and spinach extracts have affected the material characterization. Film properties (mechanical properties and moisture barrier) were strongly influenced by extract concentration presenting lower results than for the control. Films containing a higher concentration of grape extract presented a greater color change at different pH's suggesting that anthocyanins are more effective as pH indicators than chlorophyll or the mixture of both extracts. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Lipase‐catalyzed synthesis and characterization of biodegradable polyester containing l‐malic acid unit in solvent system
Authors: Yao Dahu , Li Guangji , Kuila Tapas , Li Peng , Kim Nam Hoon , Kim Seong‐Il , Lee Joong Hee 
Published: November 2010

AbstractLipase‐catalyzed direct polycondensation of L‐malic acid (L‐MA), adipic acid, and 1,8‐octanediol in organic media was achieved using Novozym 435 as the biocatalyst. 1H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that the selectivity of Novozym 435 was unaffected by changes in the organic media. The molecular weight (Mw) of the copolymers was affected by the L‐MA feed ratio in the diacids, hydrophobicity of the solvent, and solubility of the substrates in the solvents. The Mw reached a maximum of 17.4 kDa at 80°C in isooctane at a L‐MA feed ratio in the diacids of 40 mol %. The Mw increased from 3.2 to 16.6 kDa when the reaction time was extended from 6 to 48 hr at 70°C, and remained relatively constant with further increases in reaction time from 48 to 72 hr. The hydrophilicity, thermal stability, and crystallizability of the copolymer were also investigated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Cell‐free synthesis and multifold screening of Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) variants after combinatorial mutagenesis of hot spots
Authors: Park Chang‐Gil , Kwon Min‐A. , Song Jae‐Kwang , Kim Dong‐Myung 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe have developed a strategy for rapid and combinatorial optimization of the hot spot residues of enzymes. After combinatorial randomization of target locations in the Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) gene, the individual variant genes isolated in the E.coli cells were expressed in the cell‐free protein synthesis system to analyze different parameters of the resulting CalB variants. The enzymatic assays for the hydrolysis of para‐nitrophenyl‐ester (pNP‐ester) and triglyceride, synthesis of wax ester, and thermal stability of the variant enzymes were carried out simultaneously in 96‐well microtiter plates. From the 1,000 variant genes tested in each assay, we were able to identify a series of the variant enzymes having markedly improved hydrolytic, synthetic activity, or thermal stability. The improved traits of the cell‐free selected CalB variants were well reproduced when the corresponding genes were expressed in Pichia pastoris. Therefore, we expect that the proposed strategy of cell‐free expression screening can serve as a viable option for rapid and precise tuning of enzyme molecules, not only for analytical purposes but also for industrial applications through large scale production using microbial cells transformed with variant genes selected from the cell‐free expression screening. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011
GPU rigid skinning based on a refined skeletonization method
Authors: Vasilakis Andreas A. , Fudos Ioannis 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIn this paper, we present a skeletal rigid skinning approach. First, we describe a skeleton extraction technique that produces refined skeletons appropriate for animation from decomposed character models. Then, to avoid the artifacts generated in previous skinning approaches and the associated high training costs, we develop an efficient and robust rigid skinning technique that applies blending patches around joints. To achieve real time animation, we have adapted all steps of our rigid skinning algorithm so that they are performed efficiently on the GPU. Finally, we present an evaluation of our methods against four criteria: efficiency, quality, scope, and robustness. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.