bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acellular Porcine Corneal Stroma May Not Be Optimal for Peripheral Keratoplasty: Reports of 2 Cases
Authors: Li Saiqun , Xiao Peng , Deng Yuqing , Li Meng , Wang Qian , Yuan Jin 
Published: November 2020

Purpose:
Although acellular porcine corneal stroma (APCS) is a promising alternative to the human donor cornea for lamellar keratoplasty, here, we report 2 patients who exhibited persistent epithelial defects and sterile keratolysis after APCS transplantation to treat peripheral corneal diseases.

Methods:
Two patients with different peripheral corneal diseases underwent lamellar keratoplasty by using D-shaped lamellar APCS as graft materials. Standard keratoplasty postoperative treatments, including topical antibiotic-corticosteroid, tacrolimus, and artificial tears, were applied.

Results:
Patient 1 was a 7-year-old boy with limbal dermoid, and patient 2 was a 50-year-old man suffered from simultaneous Mooren ulcer with pterygium. Both patients developed persistent graft epithelial defects postoperatively, which were refractory to conventional nonsurgical therapies. The APCS grafts were noted to start sterile keratolysis at approximately 1 month after implantation and were completely dissolved within 3 months, leaving vascularized scars in the previously grafted area.

Conclusions:
These 2 cases demonstrated that given the high risk of postoperative persistent epithelial defect and sterile keratolysis, the application of APCS in peripheral keratoplasty may need further evaluation.
Solitary Conjunctivocorneal Plasmacytoma Arising After Cataract Surgery
Authors: Davidson Max , Shah Vallari , Shah Chirag , Shahnazaryan David , Jones Sophie 
Published: November 2020

Purpose:
To report a case of solitary plasmacytoma of the conjunctiva with corneal encroachment and to review the literature of all published cases.

Methods:
A 70-year-old man presented with 1-month history of pain and watering in the right eye, 7 months after undergoing cataract surgery in the same eye.

Results:
The mass was surgically excised. Pathology and immunohistochemistry were consistent with plasmacytoma. Staging studies found no evidence of systemic disease.

Conclusions:
To our knowledge, this is the first case of plasmacytoma in the literature to involve the cornea. This case was not associated with systemic disease. Surgical excision and brachytherapy remain options for cases without corneal involvement.
Indications for Wear, Visual Outcomes, and Complications of Custom Imprint 3D Scanned Scleral Contact Lens Use
Authors: Silverman Joanna I. M. , Huffman James M. , Zimmerman M. Bridget , Ling Jennifer J. , Greiner Mark A. 
Published: November 2020

Purpose:
To report indications for wear, visual outcomes, and complications of EyePrintPRO (EPP) scleral contact lens (SCL) use.

Methods:
A retrospective review identified all patients fitted with this device between December 2013 and March 2018. Baseline demographics, wear indication, and contact lens history were determined. Habitual-corrected visual acuity was measured at baseline and follow-up. Adverse wear symptoms and signs, reprinting, and device cessation were tracked.

Results:
Ninety-five eyes from 69 patients were followed for a median of 12.1 months (interquartile range 4.4–19.6). Indications for wear included vision improvement and/or ocular surface stabilization in the setting of irregular corneal shape (n = 68 eyes, 72%), ocular surface disease (n = 17, 18%), exposure keratopathy (n = 7, 7%), neurotrophic keratitis (n = 5, 5%), and extracorneal topographical abnormalities preventing noncustom lens fitting such as glaucoma drainage devices (n = 8, 8%). Median habitual-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.67 to 0.08 (P = 0.0003). One-third of eyes (33.1%) developed adverse wear symptoms. Fifteen of 95 eyes (16%) developed adverse wear signs. Device cessation occurred in 10 eyes (10.5%) and reprinting occurred in 14 eyes (14.7%) unrelated to prior lens wear or indication (P = 0.67 and 0.15, respectively). In eyes that previously failed SCLs (n = 56), 12 eyes required reprinting and 49 eyes continued use.

Conclusions:
Indications for EPP wear include irregular corneal shape, ocular surface disease, and extracorneal topographic abnormalities. Visual acuity improves with the use of EPP. Clinicians and patients should be aware of potential adverse wear symptoms/signs and device cessation that may occur with EPP use. EPP is a viable salvage therapy in eyes that previously failed SCLs.
Technical Report: The Mechanism of Contour Interaction Differs in the Fovea and Periphery
Authors: Pluháček František , Bedell Harold E. , Siderov John , Kratkoczká Daniela 
Published: November 2020

SIGNIFICANCE
Both foveal and peripheral contour interactions are based on, as yet, unexplained neural mechanisms. Our results show that, unlike foveal contour interaction, peripheral contour interaction cannot be explained on the basis of the antagonistic structure of neural receptive fields.

PURPOSE
Foveal contour interaction is markedly reduced for mesopic compared with photopic targets. This finding is consistent with an explanation based on the antagonistic structure of neural receptive fields. However, no reduction was found for low-luminance targets in the periphery, possibly because the luminances used previously remained substantially above peripheral scotopic detection thresholds. In this study, we compared foveal and peripheral contour interactions for long-wavelength photopic and mesopic targets, which would be expected to significantly elevate the peripheral retinal detection threshold.

METHODS
Five normal observers viewed a randomly selected Sloan letter surrounded by four flanking bars at several edge-to-edge separations (min arc). Photopic and mesopic stimuli were viewed foveally and at 6° peripherally through a selective red filter that ensured that mesopic targets were within 1 log unit of detection threshold at both retinal locations.

RESULTS
Whereas the magnitude of foveal contour interaction was substantially less at mesopic compared with photopic luminance (20 vs. 46% reduction of percent correct, on average), no significant difference was observed in peripheral contour interaction, which had average mesopic and photopic magnitudes of 38 and 40%. Moreover, confusion matrices representing photopic and mesopic contour interaction differed in the fovea but not in the periphery. The extent of contour interaction did not change with luminance at either retinal location.

CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that, although the characteristics of foveal contour interaction can be accounted for by the antagonistic structure of neural receptive fields, the same mechanism is not compatible with the characteristics of peripheral contour interaction.
Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin A Injection in Managing Mobility-Related Outcomes in Adult Patients With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Andraweera Nalinda D. , Andraweera Prabha H. , Lassi Zohra S. , Kochiyil Venugopal 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
Intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) is used in the management of focal spasticity in cerebral palsy (CP). The aim was to conduct a systematic review to assess current literature on the use of BTX-A in the management of mobility-related outcomes among adult persons with spastic CP.

Methods
All studies reporting on the use of BTX-A in the management of spastic CP among adult persons were identified by searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE.

Results
Six studies were included in the review. Most studies were conducted in mixed patient groups comprising patients with movement disorders, traumatic brain injury, CP, and other disorders requiring therapy for spasticity. BTX-A was shown to be effective in improving spasticity-related outcomes among persons with CP, but mixed results were shown for functional outcomes.

Conclusions
More studies are required on exclusive CP cohorts using recommended and currently used scales, incorporating quality of life and patient satisfaction scales. Results from long-term follow-up studies will be valuable for better evaluation of the effectiveness of BTX-A in the management of spasticity-related outcomes among adult persons with CP.
Differences in Plastic Surgery Training Programs in China and the United States: Similarities, Pitfalls, and Opportunities
Authors: An Yang , Liu Jinju , Zhao Jianfang , Li Dong 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
As fueled by the booming of China's plastic surgery industry, the demand for prominent plastic surgeons has been growing. Accordingly, a better and more standard training system of plastic surgery specialists should be urgently implemented in China. To delve into and optimize the training system of this study, Peking University Health Science Center and Harvard Medical School are selected as the representatives of China and the United States, and the plastic surgery specialist training system between these 2 countries are compared based on literature research. As revealed from the results, the United States has gained sufficient experience in training of plastic surgery specialists. Moreover, the management agency of such training is more professional, as characterized by its longer development history, higher access requirement, more standard training program, higher training demands, as well as more quantitative training assessment. Thus, there is rich experience of the United States that can be referenced by China.
Why are population growth rate estimates of past and present hunter–gatherers so different?
Authors: Tallavaara Miikka , Jørgensen Erlend Kirkeng 
Published: November 2020

Hunter–gatherer population growth rate estimates extracted from archaeological proxies and ethnographic data show remarkable differences, as archaeological estimates are orders of magnitude smaller than ethnographic and historical estimates. This could imply that prehistoric hunter–gatherers were demographically different from recent hunter–gatherers. However, we show that the resolution of archaeological human population proxies is not sufficiently high to detect actual population dynamics and growth rates that can be observed in the historical and ethnographic data. We argue that archaeological and ethnographic population growth rates measure different things; therefore, they are not directly comparable. While ethnographic growth rate estimates of hunter–gatherer populations are directly linked to underlying demographic parameters, archaeological estimates track changes in the long-term mean population size, which reflects changes in the environmental productivity that provide the ultimate constraint for forager population growth. We further argue that because of this constraining effect, hunter–gatherer populations cannot exhibit long-term growth independently of increasing environmental productivity.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography’.
The past, present and future of skeletal analysis in palaeodemography
Authors: McFadden Clare 
Published: November 2020

The study of past population dynamics is imperative to our understanding of demographic processes in the context of biology, evolution, environment and sociocultural factors. Retrospective consideration of a population's capacity to resist and adapt to change aims to contribute insights into our past, a point of comparison to the present and predictions for the future. If these aims are to be achieved, the accuracy and precision of palaeodemographic methods are of paramount importance. This article considers the emergence of skeletally based palaeodemographic methods, specifically life tables and demographic proxies, and early controversies and issues. It details the process of methodological development and refinement, and success in addressing many of the historical limitations. The contribution and potential of skeletally based methods are discussed and comparisons and contrasts made with alternative palaeodemographic approaches, and avenues for future research are proposed. Ultimately, it is concluded that skeletal analysis provides unique opportunities to investigate population dynamics with spatial specificity, examine individuals and groups within a population, and integrate demographic and pathological information to evaluate population health in the past.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography'.
Archaeology, demography and life history theory together can help us explain past and present population patterns
Authors: Shennan Stephen , Sear Rebecca 
Published: November 2020

Population matters. Demographic patterns are both a cause and a consequence of human behaviour in other important domains, such as subsistence, cooperation, politics and culture. Demographers interested in contemporary and recent historical populations have rich data at their fingertips; the importance of demography means many interested parties have gathered demographic data, much of which is now readily available for all to explore. Those interested in the demography of the distant past are not so fortunate, given the lack of written records. Nevertheless, the emergence in recent years of a new interest in the demography of ancient populations has seen the development of a range of new methods for piecing together archaeological, skeletal and DNA evidence to reconstruct past population patterns. These efforts have found evidence in support of the view that the relatively low long-term population growth rates of prehistoric human populations, albeit ultimately conditioned by carrying capacities, may have been owing to ‘boom–bust’ cycles at the regional level; rapid population growth, followed by population decline. In fact, this archaeological research may have come to the same conclusion as some contemporary demographers: that demography can be remarkably hard to predict, at least in the short term. It also fits with evidence from biology that primates, and particularly humans, may be adapted to environmental variability, leading to associated demographic stochasticity. This evidence of the fluctuating nature of human demographic patterns may be of considerable significance in understanding our species' evolution, and of understanding what our species future demographic trajectories might be.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography’.
The Neolithic Demographic Transition in the Central Balkans: population dynamics reconstruction based on new radiocarbon evidence
Authors: Porčić Marko , Blagojević Tamara , Pendić Jugoslav , Stefanović Sofija 
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we test the hypothesis of the Neolithic Demographic Transition in the Central Balkan Early Neolithic (6250–5300 BC) by applying the method of summed calibrated probability distributions to the set of more than 200 new radiocarbon dates from Serbia. The results suggest that there was an increase in population size after the first farmers arrived to the study area around 6250 BC. This increase lasted for approximately 250 years and was followed by a decrease in the population size proxy after 6000 BC, reaching its minimum around 5800 BC. This was followed by another episode of growth until 5600 BC when population size proxy rapidly declined, reaching the minimum again around 5500 BC. The reconstructed intrinsic growth rate value indicates that the first episode of growth might have been fuelled both by high fertility and migrations, potentially related to the effects of the 8.2 ky event. The second episode of population growth after 5800 BC was probably owing to the high fertility alone. It remains unclear what caused the episodes of population decrease.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography'.
Approaching prehistoric demography: proxies, scales and scope of the Cologne Protocol in European contexts
Authors: Schmidt Isabell , Hilpert Johanna , Kretschmer Inga , Peters Robin , Broich Manuel , Schiesberg Sara , Vogels Oliver , Wendt Karl Peter , Zimmermann Andreas , Maier Andreas 
Published: November 2020

In many theories on the social and cultural evolution of human societies, the number and density of people living together in a given time and region is a crucial factor. Because direct data on past demographic developments are lacking, and reliability and validity of demographic proxies require careful evaluation, the topic has been approached from several different directions. This paper provides an introduction to a geostatistical approach for estimating prehistoric population size and density, the so-called Cologne Protocol and discusses underlying theoretical assumptions and upscaling transfer-functions between different spatial scale levels. We describe and compare the specifics for farming and for foraging societies and, using examples, discuss a diachronic series of estimates, covering the population dynamics of roughly 40 kyr of European prehistory. Ethnohistoric accounts, results from other approaches—including absolute (ethno-environmental models) and relative estimates (site-numbers, dates as data, etc.) allow a first positioning of the estimates within this field of research. Future enhancements, applications and testing of the Cologne Protocol are outlined and positioned within the general theoretical and methodological avenues of palaeodemographic research. In addition, we provide manuals for modelling Core Areas in MapInfo, ArcGIS, QGIS/Sagaand R.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography’.
Carrying capacity, population density and the later Pleistocene expression of backed artefact manufacturing traditions in Africa
Authors: Archer W. 
Published: November 2020

As is the case today, both climate variability and population density influenced human behavioural change in the past. The mechanisms underpinning later Pleistocene human behavioural evolution, however, remain contested. Many complex behaviours evolved in Africa, but early evidence for these behaviours varies both spatially and temporally. Scientists have not been able to explain this flickering pattern, which is present even in sites and regions clearly occupied byHomo sapiens. To explore this pattern, here the presence and frequency of evidence for backed stone artefact production are modelled against climate-driven, time-series population density estimates (Timmermann and Friedrich. 2016Nature538, 92. (doi:10.1038/nature19365)), in all known African Late Pleistocene archaeological sites (n= 116 sites,n= 409 assemblages,n= 893 dates). In addition, a moving-window, site density population estimate is included at the scale of southern Africa. Backed stone artefacts are argued in many archaeological contexts to have functioned in elaborate technologies like composite weapons and, in the African Pleistocene, are accepted proxies for cultural complexity. They show a broad but sporadic distribution in Africa, prior to their association withHomo sapiensdispersing into Europe 45–40 ka. Two independent population estimates explain this pattern and potentially implicate the interaction of climate change and demography in the expression of cultural complexity in African PleistoceneHomo sapiens.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography’.
Late Glacial and Early Holocene human demographic responses to climatic and environmental change in Atlantic Iberia
Authors: McLaughlin T. Rowan , Gómez-Puche Magdalena , Cascalheira João , Bicho Nuno , Fernández-López de Pablo Javier 
Published: November 2020

Successive generations of hunter–gatherers of the Late Glacial and Early Holocene in Iberia had to contend with rapidly changing environments and climatic conditions. This constrained their economic resources and capacity for demographic growth. The Atlantic façade of Iberia was occupied throughout these times and witnessed very significant environmental transformations. Archaeology offers a perspective on how past human population ecologies changed in response to this scenario. Archaeological radiocarbon data are used here to reconstruct demographics of the region over the long term. We introduce various quantitative methods that allow us to develop palaeodemographic and spatio-temporal models of population growth and density, and compare our results to independent records of palaeoenvironmental and palaeodietary change, and growth rates derived from skeletal data. Our results demonstrate that late glacial population growth was stifled by the Younger Dryas stadial, but populations grew in size and density during the Early to Middle Holocene transition. This growth was fuelled in part by an increased dependence on marine and estuarine food sources, demonstrating how the environment was linked to demographic change via the resource base, and ultimately the carrying capacity of the environment.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Cross-disciplinary approaches to prehistoric demography’.
Altered anterior default mode network dynamics in progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bommarito Giulia , Tarun Anjali , Farouj Younes , Preti Maria Giulia , Petracca Maria , Droby Amgad , El Mendili Mohamed Mounir , Inglese Matilde , Van De Ville Dimitri 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundModifications in brain function remain relatively unexplored in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS), despite their potential to provide new insights into the pathophysiology of this disease stage.ObjectivesTo characterize the dynamics of functional networks at rest in patients with PMS, and the relation with clinical disability.MethodsThirty-two patients with PMS underwent clinical and cognitive assessment. The dynamic properties of functional networks, retrieved from transient brain activity, were obtained from patients and 25 healthy controls (HC). Sixteen HC and 19 patients underwent a one-year follow-up clinical and imaging assessment. Differences in the dynamic metrics between groups, their longitudinal changes, and the correlation with clinical disability were explored.ResultsPMS patients, compared to HC, showed a reduced dynamic functional activation of the anterior default mode network (aDMN) and its opposite-signed coactivation with the executive-control network, at baseline and follow-up. Processing speed and visuo-spatial memory negatively correlated to aDMN dynamic activity. The anti-coupling between aDMN and auditory/sensory-motor network, temporal-pole/amygdala or salience networks were differently associated to separate cognitive domains.ConclusionPatients with PMS presented an altered aDMN functional recruitment and anti-correlation with ECN. The aDMN dynamic functional activity and interaction with other networks explained cognitive disability.