bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The potential relationship between neurobehavioral toxicity and visual dysfunction of BDE-209 on zebrafish larvae: a pilot study
Authors: Zhang Bin , Xu Ting , Yin Daqiang , Wei Sheng 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Although listed in the Stockholm Convention, commercial Decabromodiphenyl ether (c-DecaBDE) is still being produced in many factories and used as a kind of flame retardants primarily in plastic polymers and textiles. Widespread use offered many exposure ways of its major ingredient, BDE-209, to humans and the environment. Most current studies of BDE-209 focused on the health effects and toxicity of thyroid disruption, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and reproductive function, but seldom spread light on the relationship between neurobehavioral toxicity and visual dysfunction. Using zebrafish larvae model, we hope to uncover the potential relationship between the neurobehavioral and visual effects after exposure to BDE-209.

Results
BDE-209 exposure could not induce the changes of locomotion and path angle in 5 days post fertilization (dpf) larvae; however, 5 μg/L BDE-209 exposure caused locomotor hyperactivity and more responsive turns at 7 dpf. The social activity of 50 μg/L exposure group was significantly higher than the control group at 6 dpf. Besides, 5 and 50 μg/L exposure caused the upregulation and downregulation of four cone opsin genes, respectively. The expression of rhodopsin gene was not influenced by both concentration exposures.

Conclusion
The neurobehavioral effects induced by 5 μg/L BDE-209 exposure were consistent with the upregulation of four cone opsins in 7 dpf larvae. The low concentration of BDE-209 exposure caused the hyperactivity and more responsive turns of larvae possibly contributing to the disruption on the cone opsin expressions of larvae. Our results would provide the mechanism cue of neurobehavioral toxicity after BDE-209 exposure and call for more attention on the ecotoxicology studies of BDE-209.
Skewed distribution of leaf color RGB model and application of skewed parameters in leaf color description model
Authors: Chen Zhengmeng , Wang Fuzheng , Zhang Pei , Ke Chendan , Zhu Yan , Cao Weixing , Jiang Haidong 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Image processing techniques have been widely used in the analysis of leaf characteristics. Earlier techniques for processing digital RGB color images of plant leaves had several drawbacks, such as inadequate de-noising, and adopting normal-probability statistical estimation models which have few parameters and limited applicability.

Results
We confirmed the skewness distribution characteristics of the red, green, blue and grayscale channels of the images of tobacco leaves. Twenty skewed-distribution parameters were computed including the mean, median, mode, skewness, and kurtosis. We used the mean parameter to establish a stepwise regression model that is similar to earlier models. Other models based on the median and the skewness parameters led to accurate RGB-based description and prediction, as well as better fitting of the SPAD value. More parameters improved the accuracy of RGB model description and prediction, and extended its application range. Indeed, the skewed-distribution parameters can describe changes of the leaf color depth and homogeneity.

Conclusions
The color histogram of the blade images follows a skewed distribution, whose parameters greatly enrich the RGB model and can describe changes in leaf color depth and homogeneity.
Neuropsychological and neuroanatomical phenotype in 17 patients with cystinosis
Authors: Curie Aurore , Touil Nathalie , Gaillard Ségolène , Galanaud Damien , Leboucq Nicolas , Deschênes Georges , Morin Denis , Abad Fanny , Luauté Jacques , Bodenan Eurielle , Roche Laurent , Acquaviva Cécile , Vianey-Saban Christine , Cochat Pierre , Cotton François , Bertholet-Thomas Aurélia 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundCystinosis is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by intracellular cystine accumulation. Proximal tubulopathy (Fanconi syndrome) is one of the first signs, leading to end-stage renal disease between the age of 12 and 16. Other symptoms occur later and encompass endocrinopathies, distal myopathy and deterioration of the central nervous system. Treatment with cysteamine if started early can delay the progression of the disease. Little is known about the neurological impairment which occurs later. The goal of the present study was to find a possible neuroanatomical dysmorphic pattern that could help to explain the cognitive profile of cystinosis patients. We also performed a detailed review of the literature on neurocognitive complications associated with cystinosis.Methods17 patients (mean age = 17.6 years, [5.4–33.3]) with cystinosis were included in the study. Neuropsychological assessment was performed including intelligence (Intelligence Quotient (IQ) with Wechsler’s scale), memory (Children Memory Scale and Wechsler Memory Scale), visuo-spatial (Rey’s figure test) and visuo-perceptual skills assessments. Structural brain MRI (3 T) was also performed in 16 out of 17 patients, with high resolution 3D T1-weighted, 3D FLAIR and spectroscopy sequences.ResultsIntellectual efficiency was normal in patients with cystinosis (mean Total IQ = 93). However the Perceptual Reasoning Index (mean = 87, [63–109]) was significantly lower than the Verbal Comprehension Index (mean = 100, [59–138],p = 0.003). Memory assessment showed no difference between visual and verbal memory. But the working memory was significantly impaired in comparison with the general memory skills (p = 0.003). Visuospatial skills assessment revealed copy and reproduction scores below the 50th percentile rank in more than 70% of the patients. Brain MRI showed cortical and sub-cortical cerebral atrophy, especially in the parieto-occipital region and FLAIR hypersignals in parietal, occipital and brain stem/cerebellum. Patients with atrophic brain had lower Total IQ scores compared to non-atrophic cystinosis patients.ConclusionsPatients with cystinosis have a specific neuropsychological and neuroanatomical profile. We suggest performing a systematic neuropsychological assessment in such children aiming at considering adequate management.
The Current Status of Radiological Clinical Audit and Feedback on the ESR Guide to Clinical Audit in Radiology and the ESR Clinical Audit Tool (Esperanto) – an ESR Survey of European Radiology Departments
Authors:   European Society of Radiology (ESR)
Published: February 2020

AbstractClinical audit “according to national procedures” is a legal requirement as defined within the recently implemented European Council Basic Safety Standards Directive (BSSD), 2013/59/Euratom. A survey was undertaken in 2019 to assess the current status of clinical audit in European radiology departments and for feedback on the recently published “ESR Guide to Clinical Audit in Radiology” and the “ESR Clinical Audit Tool (Esperanto)”. The survey was distributed within the European Society of Radiology (ESR) EuroSafe Imaging Star network and also to European national radiological societies which are institutional members of the ESR.A total of 47/116 (41%) EuroSafe Imaging Star departments responded, and responses were received from 43 radiology departments from 16/48 national radiological societies.Survey findings demonstrated a low awareness of recent key ESR audit-related publications (Esperanto), a lack of clinical audit infrastructure for BSSD compliance and by inference a poorly developed local/national communication and audit infrastructure in many cases.Key stakeholders, including the ESR and the European national radiological societies, will need to continue to work with other bodies to further promote, integrate and to encourage resourcing of clinical audit at all levels, facilitating BSSD compliance and improving patient care.
Haematological changes in transhumant Baruwal sheep (Ovis aries) grazing in the western Himalayan mountains in Nepal
Authors: Barsila Shanker Raj , Bhatt Keshav , Devkota Badrika , Devkota Naba Raj 
Published: February 2020

AbstractTranshumance pastoralism is a traditional sheep management strategy adopted by the herders in the Himalayas to address environmental stress. The changes in haematological parameters in the transhumant sheep may well give insights of changes in physiological changes at pasture sites of various elevations in the transhumance cycle. For that purpose, 32 healthy Baruwal sheep were selected and divided into four groups: male (8) below 1 year, male (8) greater than 1 year, female (8) below 1 year, and female (8) greater than 1 year; the animals were selected based on similarity on body weight within the groups. The herd was clinically inspected for the presence of any infection. Adaptation period was set for 3 weeks at each pasture site. The blood samples were taken from designated groups at both grazing sites, i.e. from low (2431 m.a.s.l) to high stopover (3885 m.a.s.l) at the seventh day of the experimental period. Climatic data were recorded at both altitudes over the period of measurements from manually installed weather stations. Later, the herbage species were collected based on the visual sign of grazing at both sites and subjected to chemical composition analysis. The research results revealed that RBC (red blood cell), Hb (Haemoglobin), and PCV (packed cell volume) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) at high altitude, while MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin) and MCHC (Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) were higher at low altitude. Sex and age had a similar effect (p > 0.05) on haematologic parameters, except for PCV and MCH. The altitude had a big impact on leucocyte (p < 0.05), being greater at low altitude than high, which could be an indicator of the increased immunologic response at low altitude irrespective of age and sex. The research result revealed the changing haematological responses of Baruwal sheep to changing pasture sites at different altitudes in the transhumance movement. The results further gave a hint of the nutritional stress at low altitude when the herd arrives in the winter season. It is rather difficult to draw an immediate conclusion that pasture quality might be the contributory issue for a decline in the nutritional status of grazing sheep when the herbage species vary by altitude. The measurement of blood metabolic stressors could further facilitate description of the nutritional stress alongside the transhumance when the grazing species and quality are different. Strategic feed supplementation for a much better performance of Baruwal sheep is needed at low altitude to deal with the declined herbaceous quality during winter.
Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in differentiating benign from malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Bao Quanlei , Xu Yaping , Ding Ming , Chen Ping 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Tuberculosis pleural effusion (TPE) and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) are very common clinical complications. Considering the totally different prognosis and clinical treatment of TPE and MPE, the accurate and non-invasive diagnosis are very critical for patients with pleural effusion to initiate efficient management and treatment. However, effective clinical biomarkers were rarely explored to distinguish benign from MPE. The purpose of this study is to identify potential miRNAs which can probably be used to differentiate malignant pleural effusion from TPE.

Results
A total of 23 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in MPE, with 18 up-expressed and 5 down-expressed. And the target genes of the miRNAs mainly involved in the biology process of nervous system, cancer, immune system and metabolic process etc. Three high confident target genes, AGO4, FGF9 and LEF1 can be regulated by miR-195-5p, miR-182-5p and miR-34a-5p respectively. And these genes participate in the canonical pathway of regulation of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal and the biological functions of apoptosis, growth of tumor and cell proliferation of tumor cell lines. Further, RT-PCR validation results based on 64 collected individuals showed that the expression levels of the three miRNAs were 2–5 times higher in MPE samples, which were consistent with the microarray results. In addition, ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of the three miRNAs can achieve higher AUC of 0.93 (p-value< 0.0001) to differentiate MPE from TPE.

Conclusions
The identified miR-195-5p, miR-182-5p and miR-34a-5p can become potential diagnostic biomarkers for MPE with further evidences.
Aligning implementation and user-centered design strategies to enhance the impact of health services: results from a concept mapping study
Authors: Dopp Alex R. , Parisi Kathryn E. , Munson Sean A. , Lyon Aaron R. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background
Innovative approaches are needed to maximize fit between the characteristics of evidence-based practices (EBPs), implementation strategies that support EBP use, and contexts in which EBPs are implemented. Standard approaches to implementation offer few ways to address such issues of fit. We characterized the potential for collaboration with experts from a relevant complementary approach, user-centered design (UCD), to increase successful implementation.

Method
Using purposive and snowball sampling, we recruited 56 experts in implementation (n = 34) or UCD (n = 22). Participants had 5+ years of professional experience (M = 10.31), worked across many settings (e.g., healthcare, education, human services), and were mostly female (59%) and white (73%). Each participant completed a web-based concept mapping structured conceptualization task. They sorted strategies from established compilations for implementation (36 strategies) and UCD (30 strategies) into distinct clusters, then rated the importance and feasibility of each strategy.

Results
We used multidimensional scaling techniques to examine patterns in the sorting of strategies. Based on conceptual clarity and fit with established implementation frameworks, we selected a final set of 10 clusters (i.e., groups of strategies), with five implementation-only clusters, two UCD-only clusters, and three trans-discipline clusters. The highest-priority activities (i.e., above-average importance and feasibility) were the trans-discipline clusters plus facilitate change and monitor change. Implementation and UCD experts sorted strategies into similar clusters, but each gave higher importance and feasibility ratings to strategies/clusters from their own discipline.

Conclusions
In this concept mapping study, experts in implementation and UCD had perspectives that both converged (e.g., trans-discipline clusters, which were all rated as high-priority) and diverged (e.g., in importance/feasibility ratings). The results provide a shared understanding of the alignment between implementation science and UCD, which can increase the impact and sustainability of EBP implementation efforts. Implications for improved collaboration among implementation and UCD experts are discussed.
Predictors of primary patency after percutaneous balloon angioplasty for stenosis of Brescia-Cimino hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Zhu Zheng-Rong , Zou Lan , Xing Yue , Tan Yu-Can , Xu Guo-Jian , He Zhi-Jian , Cao Jian-Qiang , Wu Jia-Yu , Liang Xiao-Xia , Zhang Hui-Ping , Tan Yan-Hong , Luo Can-Hua 
Published: February 2020

Objective:
Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) is recommended as the first choice to treat stenosis of Brescia-Cimino arteriovenous fistulas (B-C AVFs). The ability to predict which B-C AVFs are at risk for recurrent stenosis post-PTA would allow closer monitoring of patients, and possibly result in surgical intervention rather than repeat PTA. The purpose of this study was to identify predictive factors of primary patency after PTA in B-C AVFs.

Methods:
Patients diagnosed with B-C AVF primary stenosis and treated by PTA between November 2013 and March 2018 were included in the study. Patient and stenotic lesion characteristics and PTA procedure factors were included in the analysis. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to analyze the primary patency rate. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to identify factors predictive of decreased primary patency.

Results:
74 patients (35 males, 39 females) with a mean age of 61.68 ± 11.44 years (range, 36–84 years) were included in the study. The mean B-C AVF age was 16.34 ± 12.93 months (range, 2–84 months), and the median primary patency time was 7.79 ± 0.48 months. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed stenosis location at the inflow artery [hazard ratio (HR)=3.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46–10.09] or anastomosis (HR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.09–3.32), dilation &gt;2 times during PTA (HR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.22–4.34), and residual stenosis &gt;30% (HR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.26–4.63) were significantly associated with decreased patency.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the primary patency rate of PTA for B-C AVF dysfunction is reduced by dilation &gt;2 times, residual stenosis &gt;30%, and stenosis located at the inflow artery or anastomosis. These results may help in tailoring surveillance programs, multiple PTA, or a proximal re-anastomosis surgery in patients with AVF dysfunction.

Advances in knowledge:
A number of studies have been conducted to examine the predictors of primary patency after PTA, however, no definitive conclusions have been reached. Our study revealed that stenosis location at the inflow artery or anastomosis, dilation &gt;2 times during PTA, and residual stenosis &gt;30% were the predictors of primary patency after PTA, which may help in tailoring surveillance programs, multiple PTA, or a proximal re-anastomosis surgery in patients with arteriovenous fistulas dysfunction.
When Do Start-ups Patent Their Inventions? Evidence from a Broad Approach
Authors: Barrales-Molina Vanesa , Riquelme-Medina Marta , Llorens-Montes Francisco Javier 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Patents are no longer merely protective; other factors are becoming prominent in explaining when start-ups patent their inventions. This study uses data from 220 start-ups from different industries to evaluate the role of size, location, collaboration partners and financial means in patenting activity. Our results show a quadratic effect of size on patenting likelihood for start-ups, and patenting level reaches a tipping point for medium-sized start-ups. The findings also show that patenting likelihood is higher, regardless of the industry, when: (i) start-ups are located in international clusters or near other start-ups; (ii) start-ups collaborate with specialized research institutes; and (iii) start-ups are financed through crowdfunding campaigns. Location in co-working spaces seems, however, to be associated with lower patenting likelihood. These results help to illustrate the context in which start-ups value patents as protection instruments vs. as strategic resources to achieve other goals, such as reputation, or access to networks or financial capital. Analysing the reasons why start-ups patent is crucial due to the growing relevance these companies gain when they introduce innovations in the current economy.
Reading, seeing and understanding Latin
Authors: Hulstaert Kristien 
Published: February 2020

AbstractReading Latin. Easy as it sounds, Latin teachers know it is not. Students are able to analyze words or recognize constructions, yet this knowledge does not enable them toreadand let the Latin words form images in their minds. In order to develop a reading method focusing on the visualization of the story following the Latin word order, an applied research project was set up. The research approach was that of educational design research. Based upon knowledge of word order and colometry, a reading method was developed focusing on the way the story is directed by the Roman author.
Besteuern, wo Werte geschaffen werden – Aufstieg und Niedergang eines Prinzips
Authors: Becker Johannes 
Published: February 2020

ZusammenfassungWie aus dem Nichts taucht 2013 der Begriff der Wertschöpfung als steuerlicher Anknüpfungspunkt in der Debatte um die Reform der internationalen Unternehmensbesteuerung auf. Der Begriff irritiert die Vertreter der Wissenschaft, inspiriert Politiker und Aktivisten – und ebnet den Weg für eine Reform, die 2020 das internationale Steuersystem grundlegend verändern könnte. Johannes Becker zeichnet die eigentümliche Karriere dieses Begriffs nach, erörtert dessen konzeptionelle Fundierung sowie die steuerpolitischen Konsequenzen und skizziert den aktuellen Reformstand.
Non classic presentations of a genetic mutation typically associated with transient neonatal diabetes
Authors: Devaraja Janani , Elder Charlotte , Scott Adrian 
Published: February 2020

Summary
This case report describes a family pedigree of a mother and her children with an E227K mutation in the KCNJ11 gene. People with this particular gene mutation typically present with transient neonatal diabetes; with more than half the cohort relapsing into permanent diabetes in adolescence or early adulthood. However, the mother developed diabetes as an adolescent and thus was initially diagnosed as having Type 1 Diabetes. All her children have inherited the same genetic mutation but with differing presentations. Her second, third and fourth child presented with transient neonatal diabetes which remitted at varying times. Her first child is 16 years old but had not developed diabetes at the time of writing. The KCNJ11 gene codes for the KIR6.2 subunit of the KATP channels of the pancreatic beta cells. Mutations in this gene limit insulin release from beta cells despite high blood glucose concentrations. Most people with diabetes caused by this genetic mutation can be successfully managed with glibenclamide. Learning of the genetic mutation changed the therapeutic approach to the mother’s diabetes and enabled rapid diagnosis for her children. Through this family, we identified that an identical genetic mutation does not necessarily lead to the same diabetic phenotype. We recommend clinicians to consider screening for this gene in their patients whom MODY is suspected; especially in those presenting before the age of 25 who remain C-peptide positive.

Learning points:

KATP channel closure in pancreatic beta cells is a critical step in stimulating insulin release. Mutations in the KIR6.2 subunit can result in the KATP channels remaining open, limiting insulin release.

People with KCNJ11 mutations may not present with neonatal diabetes as the age of presentation of diabetes can be highly variable.

Most affected individuals can be treated successfully with glibenclamide, which closes the KATP channels via an independent mechanism.

All first degree relatives of the index case should be offered genetic testing, including asymptomatic individuals. Offspring of affected individuals should be monitored for neonatal diabetes from birth.

Affected individuals will require long-term follow-up as there is a high risk of recurrence in later life.