bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered plasma cytokine levels in acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Karska‐Basta Izabella , Pociej‐Marciak Weronika , Chrząszcz Michał , Kubicka‐Trząska Agnieszka , Romanowska‐Dixon Bożena , Sanak Marek 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate plasma levels of selected cytokines and investigate their correlation with choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with acute and chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).MethodsWe enrolled 30 patients with acute CSC, 30 patients with chronic CSC and 20 controls. Plasma concentrations of 12 cytokines, interleukins IL‐8, IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10 and IL‐12 p70, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, interferon‐γ, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were measured using multiplex immunoassays. Differences in cytokine levels between groups were assessed. We also investigated correlations between cytokine levels and CT using swept‐source optical coherence tomography, as well as an association between plasma cytokine profile and systemic hypertension.ResultsWe noted differences in IL‐6 (p = 0.005), IL‐10 (p = 0.03), IL‐12 p70 (p = 0.028) and VEGF (p = 0.029) levels between groups. Pro‐inflammatory IL‐12 p70 and multidirectional IL‐10 cytokines were upregulated, while pro‐angiogenic VEGF was downregulated in chronic CSC as compared with controls (p = 0.005, p = 0.025 and p = 0.027, respectively). Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was upregulated in acute and chronic CSC (p = 0.030 and p = 0.005, respectively). Interleukin‐5 (IL‐5), IL‐6 and IL‐12 levels correlated with mean CT in acute CSC (p = 0.008, p = 0.003 and p = 0.044, respectively), while IL‐8, IL‐6 and TNF‐α plasma levels correlated with hypertension in chronic CSC (p = 0.005, p = 0.033 and p = 0.001, respectively).ConclusionWe provided new evidence for the possible role of plasma cytokines in the pathogenesis of CSC. Our results suggest that IL‐6 may be important in the pathophysiology of acute and chronic CSC. The association between inflammatory response and hypertension in patients with CSC was also confirmed.
Fostamatinib is an effective second‐line therapy in patients with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Boccia Ralph , Cooper Nichola , Ghanima Waleed , Boxer Michael A , Hill Quentin A. , Sholzberg Michelle , Tarantino Michael D. , Todd Leslie K. , Tong Sandra , Bussel James B. ,   FIT Clinical Trial Investigators
Published: July 2020

AbstractFostamatinib demonstrated efficacy in phase 3 trials of adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Post hoc analysis compared patients who received fostamatinib as second‐line therapy (after steroids ± immunoglobulins) versus third‐or‐later‐line therapy (after ≥2 prior lines of therapy including a second‐line agent). Platelet responses ≥50 000/µl were observed in 25/32 (78%) second‐line and 54/113 (48%) third‐or‐later‐line patients. Bleeding events were less frequent in second‐line (28%) versus third‐or‐later‐line (45%) patients. Responses once achieved tended to be durable in both groups. The safety profile was similar in both groups. In this post hoc analysis, fostamatinib was more effective as second‐line than third‐or‐later‐line therapy for ITP.
Holocene alluvial fan evolution, Schmidt‐hammer exposure‐age dating and paraglacial debris floods in theSEJostedalsbreen region, southern Norway
Authors: Matthews John A. , McEwen Lindsey J. , Owen Geraint , Los Sietse 
Published: July 2020

The evolution of several sub‐alpine alluvial fansSEof the Jostedalsbreen ice cap was investigated based on their geomorphology and Schmidt‐hammer exposure‐age dating (SHD) applied to 47 boulder deposits on the fan surfaces. A debris‐flood rather than debrisflow or water‐flow origin for the deposits was inferred from their morphology, consisting of low ridges with terminal splays up to 100 m wide without lateral levees. This was supported by fan, catchment, and boulder characteristics.SHDages ranged from 9480±765 to 1955±810 years. The greatest number of boulder deposits, peak debris‐flood activity and maximum fan aggradation occurred between ̃9.0 and 8.0 ka, following regional deglaciation at ̃9.7 ka. The high debris concentrations necessary for debris floods were attributed to paraglacial processes enhanced by unstable till deposits on steep slopes within the catchments. From ̃8.0 ka, fan aggradation became progressively less as the catchment sediment sources tended towards exhaustion, precipitation decreased during the Holocene Thermal Maximum, and tree cover increased. After ̃4.0 ka, some areas of fan surfaces stabilized, while Late‐Holocene climatic deterioration led to renewed fan aggradation in response to the neoglacial growth of glaciers, culminating in the Little Ice Age. These changes are generalized within a conceptual model of alluvial fan evolution in this recently‐deglaciated mountain region and in glacierized catchments. This study highlights the potential importance of debris floods, of which relatively little is known, especially in the context of alluvial fan evolution.
A post‐IR IRSL chronology and dust mass accumulation rates of the Nosak loess‐palaeosol sequence in northeastern Serbia
Authors: Perić Zoran M. , Marković Slobodan B. , Sipos György , Gavrilov Milivoj B. , Thiel Christine , Zeeden Christian , Murray Andrew S. 
Published: July 2020

In the Middle Danube Basin, Quaternary deposits are widely distributed in the Vojvodina region where they cover about 95% of the area. Major research during the last two decades has been focused on loess deposits in the Vojvodina region. During this period, loess in the Vojvodina region has become one of the most important Pleistocene European continental climatic and environmental records. Here we present the dating results of 15 samples taken from the Nosak loess‐palaeosol sequence in northeastern Serbia in order to establish a chronology over the last three glacial–interglacial cycles. We use the pIRIR290 signal of the 4–11 μm polymineral grains. The calculated ages are within the error limits partially consistent with the proposed multi‐millennial chronostratigraphy for Serbian loess. The average mass accumulation rate for the last three glacial–interglacial cycles is 265 g m−2 a−1, which is in agreement with the values of most sites in the Carpathian Basin. Our results indicate a highly variable deposition rate of loess, especially during the MIS 3 and MIS 6 stages, which is contrary to most studies conducted in Serbia where linear sedimentation rates were assumed.
Being a bright snake: Testing aposematism and mimicry in a neotropical forest
Authors: Banci Karina R. S. , Eterovic André , Marinho Patrícia S. , Marques Otavio A. V. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBased on color patterns and behavioral similarities, venomous coral snake Micrurus corallinus (Elapidae) may act as a model for two polymorphic species, Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Dipsadidae) and Micrurus decoratus (Elapidae). Plasticine replicas were used to investigate the aposematism of these coloration patterns and whether these species may be part of mimetic complexes in two Atlantic Forest localities in Southeast Brazil. Coral replicas were more avoided when set upon a white background, evincing that the pattern may act aposematically in contrast with light substrates. Birds attacked all four patterns equally during the mimicry experiments. Birds of prey, known to be effective in predating snakes, are quite abundant in the study areas, which may have led to this lack of avoidance. Accordingly, they predated more adult‐sized replicas, which could be more dangerous. Interestingly, opossum avoided the Micrurus corallinus and Erythrolamprus aesculapii replicas that resembled the model. This suggests that opportunistic predators, as the opossum may be important selective agents in mimicry complexes.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Evaluating community effects of a Keystone Ant,Azteca sericeasur,onInga michelianaleaf litter decomposition in a shaded coffee agro‐ecosystem
Authors: Schmitt Lauren , Aponte‐Rolón Bolívar , Perfecto Ivette 
Published: July 2020

AbstractOur research examined the effect ofAzteca sericeasur,a keystone arboreal ant, on the decomposition of leaf litter of the shade tree,Inga micheliana,in coffee agro‐ecosystems. This interaction is important in understanding spatial heterogeneity in decomposition. We hypothesized thatA. sericeasurcould affect leaf litter decomposition by excluding other ants, which could release decomposers, like collembolans, from predation pressure. Determining the relative strengths of these interactions can illuminate the importance ofA. sericeasurin decomposition and nutrient cycling processes. We assessed the ant and arthropod communities surrounding 10 pairs of trees, where each pair included one shade tree with an establishedA. sericeasurnest. Tuna baits were used in conjunction with pitfall traps to assess the ant and arthropod community, and litterbags withI. michelianaleaf litter were used to assess rates of decomposition. The species richness of ants did not change in proximity toA. sericeasurnests, though the ant communities were distinct. Abundance of Collembola and community composition of other invertebrates did not change in the presence ofA. sericeasurnests, and there were no differences in leaf litter decomposition rates. This contradicts past studies that suggestA. sericeasurreduces ant species richness in its territory. We suggest that other ants may avoidA. sericeasurby moving within and beneath the leaf litter. Our results indicate that there is no net effect ofA. sericeasuron leaf litter decomposition.
An Investigation of the Metabolism and Excretion of KD101 and Its Interindividual Differences: A Microtracing Mass Balance Study in Humans
Authors: Kim Anhye , Dueker Stephen R. , Hwang Jun Gi , Yoon Jangsoo , Lee Sang‐Won , Lee Hye Suk , Yu Byung‐Yong , Yu Kyung‐Sang , Lee Howard 
Published: July 2020

The absorption, metabolism, and excretion (AME) profiles of KD101, currently under clinical development to treat obesity, were assessed in humans using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) after a single oral administration of KD101 at 400 mg and a microdose of 14C‐KD101 at ~ 35.2 μg with a total radioactivity of 6.81 kBq. The mean total recovery of administered radioactivity was 85.2% with predominant excretion in the urine (78.0%). The radio‐chromatographic metabolite profiling showed that most of the total radioactivity in the plasma and the urine was ascribable to metabolites. The UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), including UGT1A1, UGT1A3, and UGT2B7, might have contributed to the interindividual variability in the metabolism and excretion of KD101. The microtracing approach using AMS is a useful tool to evaluate the AME of a drug under development without risk for high radiation exposure to humans.
Exploratory Analysis of the Factors Associated With Success Rates of Confirmatory Randomized Controlled Trials in Cancer Drug Development
Authors: Wu Can , Ono Shunsuke 
Published: July 2020

This study examined the outcomes of recent confirmatory randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in phase III that were initiated between 2005 and 2017 for oncologic drugs in the United States and identified several factors that were associated with the success of RCTs. Our regression analysis showed that studies with progression‐free survival or response rate as primary end point were more likely to succeed than studies with overall survival (odds ratio (OR) = 2.94 and 6.23, respectively). The status of development was also linked with success rates. Studies for non‐lead indication tended to have lower success rates than studies for lead indication (OR = 0.68). Studies for first‐line therapy were observed to have low success rates compared with studies for post second‐line therapies (OR = 0.37). Studies for which strong prior evidence was not listed in their publication tended to be more successful than studies that followed rigorous RCTs or single arm studies for the indication. These results suggest that historical success rates may reflect not only the important features of trials, which can be observed directly from study design and results, but also the background status of trials in clinical development pathways.
Educational Assessment of the Post‐Pandemic Age: Chinese Experiences and Trends Based on Large‐Scale Online Learning
Authors: Su Hong 
Published: July 2020

AbstractOwing to the break‐out of the COVID‐19 pandemic, students have to take more online learning than offline, and large‐scale education assessment programs have to be suspended or postponed. How could education assessment adapt to large‐scale online learning? How could the effect and safety of online assessment be improved? What role should formative assessment play in student admissions? How could different assessment results be linked? Reflections on and trends of the Chinese experiences are presented in this article. Based on cross‐cultural comparison research, measures to be recommended are as follows: reviewing previous theories, improving existing methods continuously, and developing assessment techniques innovatively according to new application scenarios.
Recent silent infarcts do not increase the risk of haemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Stösser S. , Ullrich L. , Kassubek J. , Ludolph A. C. , Schocke M. , Neugebauer H. 
Published: July 2020

Background and purposeHaemorrhagic transformation (HT) is one of the main risks of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for acute ischaemic stroke. Contraindications serve to exclude patients at high risk of HT after IVT. One of these contraindications is a stroke within the preceding 3 months. It is unclear if this contraindication should include recent clinically silent infarcts (RSIs). The aim of this study was to investigate whether RSIs are associated with a higher risk of HT and a worse clinical outcome after IVT for acute ischaemic stroke.MethodsIn a retrospective monocentric cohort study, all patients who received IVT for acute ischaemic stroke based on magnetic resonance imaging were assessed over 5 years. RSIs were defined as lesions with diffusion restriction and positive signal on fluid attenuated inversion recovery sequences. Patients with RSIs (RSI+) were compared to patients without RSIs (RSI−) regarding HT after IVT and clinical outcome.ResultsIn all, 981 patients who had received IVT for acute ischaemic stroke demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging were identified. RSIs were detected in 115 patients (11.5%). HT after IVT was observed in 32 (28.3%) RSI+ and 56 (25.8%) RSI− patients (P = 0.624). Symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage was noted in two (1.8%) RSI+ and five (2.3%) RSI− patients (P = 1.000). No differences in clinical outcome were observed.ConclusionsThe detection of RSIs in patients treated with IVT for acute ischaemic stroke was not associated with a higher risk of HT or a worse clinical outcome. The results of this study argue against considering RSIs as a contraindication for IVT.
Automating test oracles from restricted natural language agile requirements
Authors: Malik Maryam Imtiaz , Sindhu Muddassar Azam , Khattak Akmal Saeed , Abbasi Rabeeh Ayaz , Saleem Khalid 
Published: July 2020

AbstractManual testing of software requirements written in natural language for agile or any other methodology requires more time and human resources. This leaves the testing process error prone and time consuming. For satisfied end users with bug‐free software delivered on time, there is a need to automate the test oracle process for natural language or informal requirements. The automation of the test oracle is relatively easier with formal requirements, but this task is difficult to achieve with natural language requirements. This study proposes an approach called Restricted Natural Language Agile Requirements Testing (ReNaLART) to automate the test oracle from restricted natural language agile requirements. For this purpose, it uses an existing user story template with some modifications for writing user stories. This helps in identifying test input and expected output for a user story. For comparison of expected and observed outputs it makes use of a regex pattern and string distance functions. It is capable of assigning different types of verdicts automatically depending upon the similarity/dissimilarity between observed and expected outputs of user stories. ReNaLART is validated using several case studies of different domains, namely, OLX Pakistan, Mental Health Tests, McDelivery Pakistan, BlueStacks, Power Searching with Google, TensorFlow Playground, w3Schools 2018 offline and Touch'D. It revealed several faults in five of the above listed eight applications. Plus, the proposed test oracle on an average took 0.02 s for test data generation, expected output generation and verdict assignment. Both these facts show the fault revealing effectiveness and efficiency of ReNaLART.
Anomalies enhanced: A portfolio rebalancing approach
Authors: Han Yufeng , Huang Dayong , Zhou Guofu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractMany anomalies are based on firm characteristics and rebalanced yearly ignoring any information during the year. In this paper, we provide two dynamic trading strategies to rebalance anomaly portfolios monthly. For eight major anomalies, we find that dynamic trading strategies substantially enhance their economic value with improvements in the Fama and French five‐factor alpha ranging from 0.40% to 0.75% per month. Our findings indicate that many well‐known anomalies can be more profitable than previously thought if managed with our dynamic trading strategies. This much improved performance, which relies on both the anomalies and the trading strategies, raises a new challenge for theoretical explanations.
Severe haemophilia A children on low‐dose tertiary prophylaxis showed less joint deterioration and better maintenance of functional independence than children on on‐demand treatment: A 6‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Liu Ying , Chen Lixia , Li Kuixing , Shi Mingnan , Poon Man‐Chiu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundIn countries with limited resource, haemophilia patients have to choose low‐dose prophylaxis or on‐demand treatment (ODT) because of economic constraints. Whether low‐dose prophylaxis can achieve better joint function outcome than ODT over long‐term remains unclear.AimTo investigate the long‐term effect of low‐dose tertiary prophylaxis versus ODT on joint health in severe haemophilia A children.MethodsThis was a retrospective study. We enrolled and followed 34 severe haemophilia boys in China receiving on‐demand treatment (n = 18) or low‐dose prophylaxis (10‐15 IU/kg, 2‐3 times per week) for a medium‐term (6‐18 months, n = 9) or longer‐term (19‐30 months, n = 7). We evaluated their haemophilia joint health score (HJHS) 2.1 and functional independence score in haemophilia (FISH) at baseline and at their 6‐year follow‐up visits. Their annual bleeding rate (ABR) and annual joint bleeding rate (AJBR) were also recorded.ResultsDuring the 6‐year follow‐up period, ABR and AJBR were similar between the 2 prophylaxis groups, with each of the 2 prophylaxis group rates being significantly better (lower) than the ODT group (P < .05). Compared to baseline values, evaluation at 6‐year follow‐up showed HJHS improvement in both prophylaxis groups, although significantly (P < .05) only in the longer‐term prophylaxis group. The FISH score showed insignificant change in patients in each prophylaxis cohort, compared to significant worsening (P < .05) in the ODT group.ConclusionLow‐dose tertiary prophylaxis reduced ABR and AJBR of children with severe haemophilia and better maintained their functional independence by the FISH over the long term. Longer‐term prophylaxis also improved their joint health status by the HJHS.
A panel of stomach‐specific biomarkers (GastroPanel®) for the diagnosis of atrophic gastritis: A prospective, multicenter study in a low gastric cancer incidence area
Authors: Chapelle Nicolas , Petryszyn Pawel , Blin Justine , Leroy Maxime , Le Berre‐Scoul Catherine , Jirka Iva , Neunlist Michel , Moussata Driffa , Lamarque Dominique , Olivier Raphael , Tougeron David , Mosnier Jean‐François , Matysiak‐Budnik Tamara 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundAnalysis of serum biomarkers for the assessment of atrophic gastritis (AG), considered as gastric precancerous lesion, is of growing interest and recommended by current guidelines. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a panel of biomarkers (GastroPanel®) for the detection of AG in France, a country of a low gastric cancer (GC) incidence.Material and MethodsIn this prospective, multicenter, cross‐sectional study, consecutive patients considered at increased risk of GC and undergoing upper endoscopy with gastric biopsies were included. Blood samples were collected for the analysis of GastroPanel® (association of Pepsinogens I and II, Gastrin‐17, and Helicobacter pylori serology) using ELISA. The results of GastroPanel® were compared to the results of histology considered as the reference.ResultsBetween 2016 and 2019, 344 patients (148 cases with AG, 196 controls without AG) were included. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values for the detection of AG by GastroPanel® were of 39.9% (95% CI 31.9; 48.2), 93.4% (95% CI 88.9; 96.4), 81.9 (95% CI 71.1; 90.0), and 67.3 (95% CI 61.4; 72.8), respectively. The sensitivity was significantly higher for the detection of severe AG [60.8% (95% CI 46.1; 74.6) P = .015] and corpus AG [61.0% (95% CI 49.2; 72.0), P = .004]. Diagnostic performances of GastroPanel® tended to be better than those of Pepsinogen I alone, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .068).ConclusionSerum pepsinogen and GastroPanel® tests show promising results for the detection of AG, especially of corpus AG and severe AG, in patients at high risk of GC in France.
Bardet‐Biedlsyndrome: Weight patterns and genetics in a rare obesity syndrome
Authors: Pomeroy Jeremy , Krentz Anthony D. , Richardson Jesse G. , Berg Richard L. , VanWormer Jeffrey J. , Haws Robert M. 
Published: July 2020

SummaryBackgroundBardet‐Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare genetic disorder that severely inhibits primary cilia function. BBS is typified by obesity in adulthood, but pediatric weight patterns, and thus optimal periods of intervention, are poorly understood.ObjectivesTo examine body mass differences by age, gender, and genotype in children and adolescents with BBS.MethodsWe utilized the largest international registry of BBS phenotypes. Anthropometric and genetic data were obtained from medical records or participant/family interviews. Participants were stratified by age and sex categories. Genotype and obesity phenotype were investigated in a subset of participants with available data.ResultsHeight and weight measurements were available for 552 unique individuals with BBS. The majority of birth weights were in the normal range, but rates of overweight or obesity rapidly increased in early childhood, exceeding 90% after age 5. Weight z‐scores in groups >2 years were above 2.0, while height z‐scores approached 1.0, but were close to 0.0 in adolescents. Relative to those with the BBS10 genotype, the BBS1 cohort had a lower BMI z‐score in the 2‐5 and 6‐11 age groups, with similar BMI z‐scores thereafter. Children with biallelic loss of function (LOF) genetic variants had significantly higher BMI z‐scores compared to missense variants.ConclusionDespite normal birth weight, most individuals with BBS experience rapid weight gain in early childhood, with high rates of overweight/obesity sustained through adolescence. Children with LOF variants are disproportionally affected. Our findings support the need for earlier recognition and initiation of weight management therapies in BBS.