bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of a fully automated immunoassay for celiac disease screening in a pediatric population
Authors: Ress Krista , Harro Jaanus , Uibo Oivi , Uibo Raivo 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder of the small bowel in which gluten and related cereal ingestion leads to chronic inflammation and damage to the small bowel mucosa in genetically susceptible individuals. The presence of IgA type tissue-transglutaminase antibodies (IgA-anti-tTG) in individuals without IgA deficiency is a highly-specific indicator of CD. We compared the accuracy of IgA-anti-tTG detection using a fully automated fluoroenzyme immunoassay (FEIA) with that of the standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a clinical setting.

Methods: We tested 1227 serum samples obtained from three groups of subjects: 1160 randomly selected schoolchildren, 36 pediatric patients with biopsy confirmed CD and 31 control children with biopsy confirmed normal small bowel mucosa. IgA-anti-tTG detection was compared using the FEIA method and the ELISA method, both of which use baculovirus-expressed recombinant human tissue-transglutaminase (tTG) as the antigen.

Results: Both tests identified pediatric patients with CD equally well in the random population (0.34% with CI: 0.09%–0.88%). Furthermore, both tests gave similar results for the CD group and the control group with normal small bowel mucosa (sensitivity: 90% and specificity: 100% for both assays).

Conclusions: The FEIA method is an equivalent substitute for the traditional ELISA for IgA-anti-tTG detection associated with CD in a random pediatric population.
Charakterisierung und Anwendung eines Doppler-Global-Velozimeters mit Laserfrequenzmodulation für die Untersuchung turbulenter Strömungen
Authors: Fischer Andreas 
Published: March 2011

Zusammenfassung
Zur Untersuchung komplexer turbulenter Strömungen sind berührungslose Geschwindigkeitsmessverfahren wünschenswert, die eine geringe Messunsicherheit (<1%), eine hohe Messrate (>10kHz) und eine Mehrpunktmessung gestatten. Um die Eignung und das Potential der Doppler-Global-Velozimetrie (DGV) hierfür aufzuzeigen, wurde eine Abschätzung der minimal erreichbaren Messunsicherheit auf Basis der Cramér-Rao-Ungleichung durchgeführt. Die abgeschätzte und mit einem optimierten Messsystem experimentell bestätigte Messunsicherheit beträgt minimal 0,03m/s und ist um eine Größenordnung kleiner als bei bisherigen DGV-Systemen. Zudem konnte durch den Einsatz eines schnellen Detektorarrays anstelle von üblicherweise genutzten CCD-Kameras die Messrate deutlich gesteigert werden. Im Ergebnis sind mit dem aufgebauten Messsystem erstmals berührungslose Messungen von Geschwindigkeitsspektren bis ca. 10kHz simultan an 25 Punkten möglich. Als Anwendungsbeispiele werden Messungen der Wirbel im Nachlauf eines quer angeströmten Zylinders und des Spaltwirbels bei einem ebenen Schaufelgitter vorgestellt. Das Messsystem kann zukünftig z. B. für die Erforschung von turbulenten Strömungen in Turbomaschinen genutzt werden, um deren Effizienz und Leistungsfähigkeit weiter zu steigern.
Primary, Nonsyndromic Vesicoureteric Reflux and Nephropathy in Sibling Pairs
Authors: Lambert Heather J. , Stewart Aisling , Gullett Ambrose M. , Cordell Heather J. , Malcolm Sue , Feather Sally A. , Goodship Judith A. , Goodship Timothy H. J. , Woolf Adrian S. 
Published: March 2011

Summary

Background and objectives
Primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) can coexist with reflux nephropathy (RN) and impaired renal function. VUR appears to be an inherited condition and is reported in approximately one third of siblings of index cases. The objective was to establish a DNA collection and clinical database from U.K. families containing affected sibling pairs for future VUR genetics studies. The cohort's clinical characteristics have been described.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Most patients were identified from tertiary pediatric nephrology centers; each family had an index case with cystography-proven primary, nonsyndromic VUR. Affected siblings had radiologically proven VUR and/or radiographically proven RN.

Results
One hundred eighty-nine index cases identified families with an additional 218 affected siblings. More than 90% were <20 years at the study's end. Blood was collected and leukocyte DNA extracted from all 407 patients and from 189 mothers and 183 fathers. Clinical presentation was established in 122; 92 had urinary tract infections and 16 had abnormal antenatal renal scans. RN was radiologically proven in 223 patients. Four patients had been transplanted; none were on dialysis. In 174 others aged >1 year, estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated. Five had eGFR 15 to 59 and 48 had eGFR 60 to 89 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Values were lower in bilateral RN patients than in those with either unilateral or absent RN.

Conclusions
The large DNA collection from families with VUR and associated RN constitutes a resource for researchers exploring the most likely complex, genetic components predisposing to VUR and RN.
Outcomes of Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation in Type 2 Diabetic Recipients
Authors: Sampaio Marcelo Santos , Kuo Hung-Tien , Bunnapradist Suphamai 
Published: March 2011

Summary

Background and objectives
Type 2 diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease may receive a simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplant. However, outcomes are not well described. Risks for death and graft failure were examined in SPK type 2 diabetic recipients.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, outcomes of SPK transplants were compared between type 2 and type 1 diabetic recipients. All primary SPK adult recipients transplanted between 2000 and 2007 (n = 6756) were stratified according to end-stage pancreas disease diagnosis (type 1: n=6141, type 2: n=582). Posttransplant complications and risks for death and kidney/pancreas graft failure were compared.

Results
Of the 6756 SPK transplants, 8.6% were performed in recipients with a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Rates of delayed kidney graft function and primary kidney nonfunction were higher in the type 2 diabetics. Five-year overall and death-censored kidney graft survival were inferior in type 2 diabetics. After adjustment for other risk factors, including recipient (age, race, body weight, dialysis time, and cardiovascular comorbidities), donor, and transplant immune characteristics, type 2 diabetes was not associated with increased risk for death or kidney or pancreas failure when compared with type 1 diabetic recipients.

Conclusions
After adjustment for other risk factors, SPK recipients with type 2 diabetes diagnosis were not at increased risk for death, kidney failure, or pancreas failure when compared with recipients with type 1 diabetes.
A Comparison of Novel and Commonly-Used Indices of Insulin Sensitivity in African American Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Hung Adriana M. , Sundell Mary B. , Egbert Phyllis , Siew Edward D. , Shintani Ayumi , Ellis Charles D. , Bian Aihua , Ikizler T. Alp 
Published: March 2011

Summary

Background
Insulin resistance (IR) is highly prevalent in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients and is associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic glucose clamp (HEGC) is the gold standard for measuring IR. The comparison of commonly-used indirect indices of IR to HEGC has not been adequately performed in this population. Furthermore, the validity of newly proposed adipokine-based IR indices has not been explored.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
This is an observational study performed in a single center, involving 12 prevalent CHD patients (50 ± 9 years old, 100% African American, 33% women, body mass index of 34.4 ± 7.6 kg/m2) who were studied three consecutive times. IR was assessed by HEGC (glucose-disposal rate [GDR]), homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), HOMA-IR corrected by adiponectin (HOMA-AD), leptin adiponectin ratio (LAR), QUICKI, and the McAuley's index at each time point.

Results
Eighty-three percent of the subjects displayed either glucose intolerance or overt insulin resistance by HEGC (GDR median, 5.71; interquartile range [IQR], 4.16, 6.81). LAR and HOMA-AD were the best correlates of IR measured by HEGC (r = −0.72, P < 0.001, and −0.67, P < 0.001), respectively. Fat percentage, interleukin-6, and adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, and resistin) were strongly associated with GDR. HEGC, LAR, and HOMA-AD had the best intraclass correlation coefficients.

Conclusion
IR is common in CHD patients. Adipokine-based indices are the best correlates of IR measurements by HEGC. HOMA-IR and QUICKI are reasonable alternatives. Use of these indices may allow better detection of alterations in insulin sensitivity in CHD patients.
Are the Creatinine-Based Equations Accurate to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate in African American Populations?
Authors: Delanaye Pierre , Mariat Christophe , Maillard Nicolas , Krzesinski Jean-Marie , Cavalier Etienne 
Published: March 2011

Summary
Regarding the high prevalence of African American patients with ESRD, it is important to estimate the prevalence of early stages of chronic kidney disease in this specific population. Because serum creatinine concentration is dependent on muscular mass, an ethnic factor has to be applied to creatinine-based equations. Such ethnic factors have been proposed in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation and in the more recent Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations. This review analyzes how these correction factors have been developed and how they have, or have not, been validated in external populations. It will be demonstrated that the African American factor in the MDRD study equation is accurate in African American chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, it will be shown that this factor is probably too high for subjects with a GFR of ≥60 ml/min per 1.73 m2, leading to an underestimation of the prevalence of CKD in the global African American population. It will also be confirmed that this ethnic factor is not accurate in African (non-American) subjects. Lastly, the lack of true external validation of the new CKD-EPI equations will be discussed. Additional trials seem necessary in American African and African populations to better estimate GFR and apprehend the true prevalence of CKD in this population with a high renal risk.
Effect of Reduced Exposure Times on the Microhardness of Nanocomposites Polymerized by QTH and Second-generation LED Curing Lights
Authors: Marchan S. M. , White D. , Smith W. A. , Raman V. , Coldero L. , Dhuru V. 
Published: March 2011

Clinical Relevance
Reduced polymerization times suggested with newer generation LED-curing lights may not be suitable to ensure sufficient conversion of all types of nanocomposites at depths of 2 mm.
Marginal, Internal Fit and Microleakage of Zirconia Infrastructures: An In-Vitro Study
Authors: Korkut L. , Cotert H. S. , Kurtulmus H. 
Published: March 2011

Clinical Relevance
Fitting accuracy and microleakage dominate prognostic covariates for the long-term durability of crown restorations. The fitting accuracy and microleakage potential of zirconia infrastructures might be influenced by manufacturing technology.
Assessment of Tooth Sensitivity Using a Desensitizer Before Light-activated Bleaching
Authors: Reis A. , Dalanhol A. P. , Cunha T. S. , Kossatz S. , Loguercio A. D. 
Published: March 2011

Clinical Relevance
The use of a desensitizing gel before light-activated in-office bleaching does not eliminate, but may reduce, the duration of this side effect.
Prevalence at birth of congenital abnormalities of external ears in Hungary
Authors: Paput László , Bánhidy Ferenc , Czeizel Andrew 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence at birth and epidemiologic characteristics of patients/cases with both isolated and multiple “syndromic” external ear congenital abnormalities (CAs) in Hungary. The Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry, 1980–1996, included 649 cases with isolated external ear CAs, while the number of cases with unclassified multiple CA, including ear CAs, was 331. Thus the prevalence at birth of cases with isolated external ear CAs and unclassified multiple CAs was 0.30 and 0.15, respectively, for a total 0.46 per 1000 births. After reevaluation of reported 354 cases with isolated external ears CAs in the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 74 (20.9%) and 236 (66.7%) were affected with mild and severe microtia, while 24 (6.8%) had anotia. The fourth group included 20 cases with the combination of anotia/microtia and external/middle ear CAs. Isolated ear CAs showed a slight male excess (54.0%) and strong predominance of unilateral manifestation (93.4%). Multiple ear CAs showed a stronger male excess (65.4%) and less frequent unilateral affection (62.2%). In conclusion, ear CAs had a low diagnostic validity; thus it was necessary to reassess the data and to reclassify several cases.
PPI_SVM: Prediction of protein-protein interactions using machine learning, domain-domain affinities and frequency tables
Authors: Chatterjee Piyali , Basu Subhadip , Kundu Mahantapas , Nasipuri Mita , Plewczynski Dariusz 
Published: March 2011

AbstractProtein-protein interactions (PPI) control most of the biological processes in a living cell. In order to fully understand protein functions, a knowledge of protein-protein interactions is necessary. Prediction of PPI is challenging, especially when the three-dimensional structure of interacting partners is not known. Recently, a novel prediction method was proposed by exploiting physical interactions of constituent domains. We propose here a novel knowledge-based prediction method, namely PPI_SVM, which predicts interactions between two protein sequences by exploiting their domain information. We trained a two-class support vector machine on the benchmarking set of pairs of interacting proteins extracted from the Database of Interacting Proteins (DIP). The method considers all possible combinations of constituent domains between two protein sequences, unlike most of the existing approaches. Moreover, it deals with both single-domain proteins and multi domain proteins; therefore it can be applied to the whole proteome in high-throughput studies. Our machine learning classifier, following a brainstorming approach, achieves accuracy of 86%, with specificity of 95%, and sensitivity of 75%, which are better results than most previous methods that sacrifice recall values in order to boost the overall precision. Our method has on average better sensitivity combined with good selectivity on the benchmarking dataset. The PPI_SVM source code, train/test datasets and supplementary files are available freely in the public domain at: http://code.google.com/p/cmater-bioinfo/.
Interaction of Moringa oleifera seed lectin with humic acid
Authors: Santos Andréa , Carneiro-da-Cunha Maria , Teixeira José , Paiva Patrícia , Coelho Luana , Nogueira Regina 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe aim of this work was to characterise the affinity of protein preparations from Moringa oleifera seeds, specifically extract (seeds homogenised with 0.15 M NaCl), fraction (extract precipitated with 390 mg mL−1 of ammonium sulphate) and cMoL (coagulant M. oleifera lectin) to bind humic acids using a haemagglutinating activity assay with rabbit erythrocytes and a radial diffusion assay in agarose gel. Specific haemagglutinating activity (SHA) decreased by 94 % for the extract and cMoL and by 50 % for the fraction in the presence of humic acid. Precipitation bands were observed in the diffusion gel. Both results suggested humic acid-cMoL binding. Carbohydrates, potassium, and calcium ions and pH affected the SHA of cMoL. As an example of application, cMoL was immobilised on a column packed with sepharose receiving 20 mg mL−1 of carbon humic acid solution, 30 mg of humic acid per gram of support was removed. This result suggested that protein preparations might be used in water treatment to remove humic acids.
A review of recent evolutionary computation-based techniques in wind turbines layout optimization problems
Authors: Salcedo-Sanz S. , Saavedra-Moreno B. , Paniagua-Tineo A. , Prieto L. , Portilla-Figueras A. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper presents a mini-review of the main works recently published about optimal wind turbines layout in wind farms. Specifically, we focus on discussing articles where evolutionary computation techniques have been applied, since this computational framework has obtained very good results in different formulations of the problem. A summary of the main concepts needed to face the problem are also included in the article, such as a basic wake model and several cost models and objective functions previously used in the literature. This review includes works published in the most significant journals and international conferences, and it gives a brief remark of the optimization models proposed and the implemented algorithms, so it can be useful for readers who want to be quickly introduced in this research area.
Development and renewal-conditions of dune pine forests second growth in the lichen and cowberry site type in Southwest Estonia
Authors: Kõresaar Kadri , Kõresaar Priit , Mandre Malle 
Published: March 2011

Edela-Eesti luitemetsade järelkasvu arengust ning uuenemistingimustest sambliku ja pohla kasvukohatüübis
On the southwestern coast of Estonia dune pine forest covers approximately 3000 hectares. This area includes coastal pine forests. The dune pine forest natural renewal in Southwest Estonia is the object of research. The natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at the cowberry site type and at the lichen site type are observed. The necessary observations were made and primary data were collected in 1999-2006 from 28 sample plots, wherefrom 16 were situated at the lichen and 12 at the cowberry site type. The aim of the present study was to find out how old stand and forest site type influences the growth of second growth (height, height increment, age and number of trees per unit area) and its morphological parameters (length of needles and shoots and their dry mass).
On sand knobs vegetation in Verhulitsa-Lutepää region, South-Eastern Estonia
Authors: Paal Jaanus , Kurg Kaie , Paal Taimi 
Published: March 2011

Verhulitsa-Lutepää piirkonna liivikute taimkattest
Vegetation of inland sand knobs in South-Eastern Estonia was studied. 39 plant communities were described and thereafter classified into 7 syntaxonomic units: 1. Calluna vulgaris-Cladina spp. type, 2. Koeleria glauca-Cladina spp. type, 3. Juniperus communis-Arctostaphylos uva-ursi-Cladina spp. type, 4. Festuca ovina-Cladina spp. type, 4.1. Pinus sylvestris-Festuca ovina-Cladina spp. type, Deschampsia flexuosa variant, 4.2. Pinus sylvestris-Festuca ovina-Cladina spp. type, Thymus serpyllum variant, 4.3. Pinus sylvestris-Festuca ovina-Cladina spp. type, Pleurozium schreberi variant. Environmental variables determining the variation structure of samples are the amount (cover) of litter and the total cover of field and moss layers. The species richness of communities depends mostly on the amount of litter and marginally insignificantly (p = 0,051) also on humus horizon thickness. Interpreting the vegetation on 1×1 m sample quadrats as microcoenoses, 415 quadrats were clustered into 23 microcoenose types. The most frequent are the microcoenoses of Cladina arbuscula+Pycnothelia papillaria, Cladina arbuscula+Festuca ovina, Festuca ovina+Cladina arbuscula and Festuca ovina+Pilosella officinarum type, seldom occur microcoenoses of Cetraria islandica+Cladina stellaris and Polytrichum piliferum+Festuca ovina type. In all community types are presented Cladina arbuscula+Festuca ovina and Dicranum polysetum+Cladina arbuscula type microcoenoses but microcoenoses of any type are confined to only one type of communities. To maintain the peculiar features of Estonian inland sand knobs plant communities they must be kept open and in some places also the dense bottom layer vegetation must be removed.
Recent invasion of foliage fungi of pines (Pinus spp.) to the Northern Baltics
Authors: Drenkhan Rein , Hanso Märt 
Published: March 2011

Recent invasion of foliage fungi of pines (Pinus spp.) to the Northern Baltics
In the wake of severe climatic extremes during recent years, several new invasive foliage fungi of pines have been reported in Estonia. In this paper the peculiarities of the fast dissemination process, particularly from south to north of two quarantined species, Mycosphaerella pini and M. dearnessii, but also of Diplodia pinea and Cyclaneusma minus on different host species are described. These species were known as destructive pathogens in several countries and continents. By today, the range of M. pini has already reached northern Finland. In its dissemination process we could follow, with the half-year steps, colonization of Estonia from south to north. Some micromorphological features of these alien species were investigated. Hypothetical risk for pine forests was shortly introduced.
Dependence of volume (oven dry weight) of harvesting residues on forest site type
Authors: Padari Allar , Mitt Risto , Pärn Linnar , Muiste Peeter 
Published: March 2011

Kasvukohatingimuste mõju raiejäätmete kuivmassile
To limit the emissions of greenhouse gases the wider utilization of renewable energy is mandatory for all EU countries. The aim of the present study was to estimate the potential quantities of harvesting residues as a source of renewable fuel. The sample plots were selected to cover the majority of site types. Based on the characteristics of the stand and the weight of the harvesting residues from different site types 2 formulas of linear regression were composed. As a result it was determined that depending on the forest site type the oven dry weight of harvesting residues per m3 of the stem varies from 22 m3/ha (bog whortleberry site type) to 144 m3/ha (alder fen site type). If to consider the average bulk density to be 500 kg/m3, the share of harvesting residues from the volume of the stand varies from 4.4 to 28.8%.