bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management of obstetric anal sphincter injury: Colorectal surgeons’ perspectives in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Oh Daniel , Wright Caroline , Young Christopher J. 
Published: October 2020

BackgroundObstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs) are a significant complication of vaginal delivery, and a leading cause of anal incontinence in women.AimsThe aims were to explore the management of OASIs in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) by colorectal surgeons and how this compares with current recommendations and international experience, and to identify the deterrents to the provision of best‐practice care among colorectal surgeons.Materials and MethodsThree hundred colorectal surgeons of the Colorectal Surgical Society of ANZ were mailed questionnaires. Areas of interest included: surgeon demographics; exposure to OASIs; understanding of current recommendations; and opinions regarding the importance of symptoms and assessment tools in OASIs.ResultsThere were 94 completed questionnaires (response rate 31.3%). Fifty‐seven surgeons (60.6%) reported low exposure to OASIs during their fellowship training. Greater than 90% believed patients with grade three tears and above should have anal sphincter assessment. Sixty‐six (70.2%) reported that they routinely review women who have had OASIs. However, 56.4% were unaware if their obstetrics department followed a standard protocol for OASIs. Surgeons practising in metropolitan centres reported higher rates of their obstetrics department following a protocol (P = 0.013), and greater access to investigative tools (P < 0.001), when compared to rural‐based surgeons.ConclusionsMost ANZ colorectal surgeons have had minimal training in OASI management. Colorectal surgeons are more commonly involved with OASI patients in the non‐acute setting. Management protocols involving a multidisciplinary team of both colorectal surgeons and obstetricians should be clearly defined, and the gap between metropolitan and rural centres needs to be reviewed.
Earned Income and Women's Segmented Empowerment: Experimental Evidence from Jordan
Authors: Barnett Carolyn , A. Jamal Amaney , Monroe Steve L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDoes earning income empower women in patriarchal societies? We conducted two original experiments in Jordan investigating how patriarchal norms constrain the effects of relative earned income on women's bargaining power and women's preferences for paid employment opportunities. In the first experiment, we randomized women's relative earned income in a bargaining lab game involving male and female partners. Women with higher incomes than their partners behave more efficaciously than women with lower incomes. They are only more influential over bargaining outcomes, however, when paired with women, not men. We then employed a conjoint survey experiment using hypothetical job opportunities to assess how the prospect of higher incomes and working alongside men affect women's job preferences. Though higher wages make jobs more desirable, mixed‐sex work spaces are a strong deterrent. Together, these findings demonstrate that patriarchal norms constrain women's desire to engage in paid labor and segment the empowering effects of earning income.
A nonparametric Bayesian model for estimating spectral densities of resting‐state EEG twin data
Authors: Hart Brian , Guindani Michele , Malone Stephen , Fiecas Mark 
Published: October 2020

AbstractElectroencephalography (EEG) is a noninvasive neuroimaging modality that captures electrical brain activity many times per second. We seek to estimate power spectra from EEG data that ware gathered for 557 adolescent twin pairs through the Minnesota Twin Family Study (MTFS). Typically, spectral analysis methods treat time series from each subject separately, and independent spectral densities are fit to each time series. Since the EEG data were collected on twins, it is reasonable to assume that the time series have similar underlying characteristics, so borrowing information across subjects can significantly improve estimation. We propose a Nested Bernstein Dirichlet prior model to estimate the power spectrum of the EEG signal for each subject by smoothing periodograms within and across subjects while requiring minimal user input to tuning parameters. Furthermore, we leverage the MTFS twin study design to estimate the heritability of EEG power spectra with the hopes of establishing new endophenotypes. Through simulation studies designed to mimic the MTFS, we show our method out‐performs a set of other popular methods.
Interaction of microglia with infiltrating immune cells in the different phases of stroke
Authors: Berchtold Daniel , Priller Josef , Meisel Christian , Meisel Andreas 
Published: October 2020

AbstractStroke, in association with its complications, is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Cerebral ischemia triggers an inflammatory response in the brain that is controlled by the activation of resident microglia as well as the infiltration of peripheral myeloid and lymphoid cells into the brain parenchyma. This inflammation has been shown to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on stroke outcome. The focus of this review lies on the functions of myeloid cells and their interaction with infiltrating lymphocytes in different phases of stroke. A detailed and time‐specific understanding of the contribution of different immune cell subsets during the course of cerebral ischemia is crucial to specifically promote beneficial and inhibit detrimental effects of inflammation on stroke outcome.
Distinct roles of programmed death ligand 1 alternative splicing isoforms in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Chaoyan , Weng Menghan , Xia Shuli , Zhang Min , Chen Chaoyi , Tang Jinlong , Huang Dan , Yu Hongfei , Sun Wenjie , Zhang Honghe , Lai Maode 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAlthough anti–programmed death‐1 (PD‐1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) immunotherapy has achieved great success in some cancers, most colorectal cancer (CRC) patients remain unresponsive. Therefore, further clarification of the underlying mechanisms is needed to improve the therapy. In this study, we explored the distinct functions of different PD‐L1 alternative splicing isoforms in CRC. We investigated the biological functions in PD‐L1 knocked down/knockout cells, which were verified through overexpression of PD‐L1 isoforms a, b, and c. The roles of PD‐L1 isoforms in immune surveillance resistance was also analyzed. Meanwhile, we performed RNA‐seq to screen the downstream molecules regulated by PD‐L1 isoforms. Finally, we detected PD‐L1 and PD‐L1 isoforms levels in a cohort of serum samples, two cohorts of CRC tissue samples, and analyzed the correlation of PD‐L1 isoforms with PD‐1 blockade therapy response in two clinical CRC cases. The results indicated that PD‐L1 knockout inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and isoform b exerted a more significant inhibitory effect on T cells than the other two isoforms. Moreover, isoform c could promote CRC progression through regulating epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. Clinical data showed that CRC patients with positive PD‐L1 expression were associated with poorer overall survival. High serum PD‐L1 level was associated with poor prognosis. The level of isoform b or c was negatively associated with prognosis, and a higher level of isoform b was associated with a good response to anti–PD‐1 therapy. In conclusion, isoform b should be considered as a biomarker for clinical responsiveness to anti–PD‐1/PD‐L1 immunotherapy; isoform c had a prometastatic role and is a new potential target for CRC therapy.
Multitask deep networks with grid featurization achieve improved scoring performance for protein–ligand binding
Authors: Xie Liangxu , Xu Lei , Chang Shan , Xu Xiaojun , Meng Li 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDeep learning‐based methods have been extensively developed to improve scoring performance in structure‐based drug discovery. Extending multitask deep networks in addressing pharmaceutical problems shows remarkable improvements over single task network. Recently, grid featurization has been introduced to convert protein–ligand complex co‐ordinates into fingerprints with the advantage of incorporating inter‐ and intra‐molecular information. The combination of grid featurization with multitask deep networks would hold great potential to boost the scoring performance. We examined the performance of three novel multitask deep networks (standard multitask, bypass, and progressive network) in reproducing the binding affinities of protein–ligand complexes in comparison with AutoDock Vina docking and MM/GBSA method. Among five evaluated methods, progressive network combined with grid featurization provided the best Pearson correlation coefficient (0.74) and least mean absolute average error (0.98) for the overall scoring performance. Moreover, all networks increased screening ability for the re‐docking pose and progressive network even achieved AUC of 0.87 over 0.52 of AutoDock Vina. Our results demonstrated that progressive network combined with grid featurization would be one powerful rescoring approach to strengthen screening results after obtaining protein–ligand complex in the conventional docking software.
Assessing Mathematics Misunderstandings via Bayesian Inverse Planning
Authors: Rafferty Anna N. , Jansen Rachel A. , Griffiths Thomas L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOnline educational technologies offer opportunities for providing individualized feedback and detailed profiles of students' skills. Yet many technologies for mathematics education assess students based only on the correctness of either their final answers or responses to individual steps. In contrast, examining the choices students make for how to solve the equation and the ways in which they might answer incorrectly offers the opportunity to obtain a more nuanced perspective of their algebra skills. To automatically make sense of step‐by‐step solutions, we propose a Bayesian inverse planning model for equation solving that computes an assessment of a learner's skills based on her pattern of errors in individual steps and her choices about what sequence of problem‐solving steps to take. Bayesian inverse planning builds on existing machine learning tools to create a generative model relating (mis)‐understandings to equation solving choices. Two behavioral experiments demonstrate that the model can interpret people's equation solving and that its assessments are consistent with those of experienced teachers. A third experiment uses this model to tailor guidance for learners based on individual differences in misunderstandings, closing the loop between assessing understanding, and using that assessment within an educational technology. Finally, because the bottleneck in applying inverse planning to a new domain is in creating the model of possible student misunderstandings, we show how to combine inverse planning with an existing production rule model to make inferences about student misunderstandings of fraction arithmetic.
Effect of chitosan solutions with or without fluoride on the protection against dentin erosion in vitro
Authors: Souza Beatriz M , Machado Paula F , Vecchia Luiz RP , Magalhães Ana C 
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of experimental solutions containing chitosan at different viscosities with or without fluoride (TiF4/NaF) on dentin loss in vitro. Bovine dentin samples (n = 15) were prepared and allocated to one of the following treatments: (i) 0.5% chitosan (500 mPas); (ii) 0.5% chitosan (2,000 mPas); (iii) 0.042% NaF and 0.049% TiF4; (iv) as (iii) with addition of 0.5% chitosan (500 mPas); (v) as (iii) with addition of 0.5% chitosan (2,000 mPas); (vi) commercial solution with SnCl2/AmF/NaF (positive control); or (vii) deionized water (negative control). The samples were submitted to pH cycling for 7 d (0.1% citric acid, 4 × 90 s d−1). The treatment was applied once a day for 30 s. The dentin loss was quantified using a contact profilometer. Three samples per group were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. The dentin loss (μm) was submitted to anova and Tukey's test for differences between treatments. Among the treatments tested, only chitosan 500 mPas was able to statistically significantly reduce the dentin loss compared to the negative control, being similar to the positive control. TiF4/NaF, whether with or without chitosan, had no protective effect. Chitosan 500 mPas and SnCl2/AmF/NaF solutions have comparable protective effect against dentin erosion in vitro.
Neocortical injury–induced status epilepticus
Authors: Singh Tanveer , Joshi Suchitra , Williamson John M. , Kapur Jaideep 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo characterize neocortical onset status epilepticus (SE) in the C57BL/6J mouse.MethodsWe induced SE by administering homocysteine 16‐18 hours after cobalt (Co) implantation. SE was monitored by video and electroencephalography (EEG). We evaluated brain structure with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Neurodegeneration was evaluated 72 hours after SE using Fluoro‐Jade C staining.ResultsCobalt triggered seizures in a dose‐dependent manner (median effective dose, ED50 = 0.78 mg) and the latency to peak seizure frequency shortened with increased dose. Animals developed SE after homocysteine administration. SE began with early intermittent focal seizures, consisting of frontal onset rhythmic spike‐wave discharges manifested as focal dystonia with clonus. These focal seizures then evolved into generalized continuous convulsive activity. Behavioral manifestations of SE included tonic stiffening, bilateral limb clonus, and bilateral tonic‐clonic movements, which were accompanied by generalized rhythmic spike‐wave discharges on EEG. After prolonged seizures, animals became comatose with intermittent bilateral myoclonic seizures or jerks. During this period, EEG showed seizures interspersed with generalized periodic discharges on a suppressed background. MRI obtained when animals were in a coma revealed edema, midline shift in frontal lobe around the Co implantation site, and ventricular effacement. Fluoro‐Jade C staining revealed neurodegeneration in the cortex, amygdala, and thalamus.SignificanceWe have developed a mouse model of severe, refractory cortical‐onset SE, consisting of convulsions merging into a coma, EEG patterns of cortical seizures, and injury, with evidence of widespread neocortical edema and damage. This model replicates many features of acute seizures and SE resulting from traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid, and lobar hemorrhage.
Genome‐wide association analysis of psoriasis patients treated with anti‐TNF drugs
Authors: Ovejero‐Benito María C. , Muñoz‐Aceituno Ester , Sabador David , Almoguera Berta , Prieto‐Pérez Rocío , Hakonarson Hakon , Coto‐Segura Pablo , Carretero Gregorio , Reolid Alejandra , Llamas‐Velasco Mar , Abad‐Santos Francisco , Daudén Esteban 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWhile anti‐TNF therapies are effective against psoriasis, 30%–50% of patients do not show an adequate response to these drugs. Different candidate‐gene pharmacogenetics studies have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms that may predict anti‐TNF drugs response in psoriasis. Nevertheless, only one paper has undertaken a pharmacogenomic approach failing to find significant biomarkers of biological drug response along the whole genome. Furthermore, most of the pharmacogenetic candidate biomarkers identified previously have not been confirmed in a different cohort of patients. The objective of this study was to find biomarkers that could predict anti‐TNF drugs response along the whole genome and validate biomarkers identified previously. A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was performed using the Human Omni Express‐8 v1.2 Beadchips in 243 psoriasis patients treated with anti‐TNF drugs. This study was multicentric and did not interfere with clinical practice. Associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and PASI75 (a 75% reduction with respect to baseline PASI) at 3 months were evaluated. Imputation was performed using SNPs with R2 > 0.7. There were two SNPs located in NPFFR2 that were close to the significant threshold of 5 × 10−8. These data suggest that NPFFR2 might be associated with anti‐TNF drug response. However, further studies involving a larger cohort of patients are needed in order to confirm these results.
Clarifying the effects of environmental factors and fishing on abundance variability of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) in the western North Pacific Ocean during 1982–2018
Authors: Yatsu Akihiko , Okamura Hiroshi , Ichii Taro , Watanabe Kazuyoshi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPacific saury (Cololabis saira) has a 2‐year life span and age‐1 fish migrates from the central and western North Pacific to Japanese waters from summer to winter. To understand interannual abundance variability of Pacific saury in the North Pacific, we examined the extended Japanese standardized catch per unit effort (esCPUE) with generalized linear models (GLMs) during 1982–2018. Explanatory variables included proxies of total and non‐traditional fishing effort (Ettl and Ent) and environmental factors. Each environmental variable was averaged for years t ‐1 and t, corresponding to esCPUE in year t, as esCPUE represented two‐year classes. Ettl and Ent were averaged for years t ‐ 2 and t‐1, assuming fishing of year t affects biomass in year t + 1. We compared four GLMs with different explanatory variables: (a) environmental factors only, (b) fishing effort (without interactions) only, (c) environmental factors and fishing effort (without interactions) and (d) environmental factors and fishing effort (with interactions, i.e., time‐varying effects). Explanatory variables of the best GLM in terms of AICc included the following: Ent with different effects between 1982–2015 and 2016–2018, sea surface water temperature (SST) of the Kuroshio Recirculation Area (KRA) in winter, North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO) in winter, Southern Oscillation Index in winter, and the biomass of Japanese sardine. The NPGO, a proxy of zooplankton abundance, and KRA‐SST may affect the early growth and survival rates of Pacific saury. We hypothesized the abundance variability of Pacific saury was driven by environmental factors and fishing, the latter of which more adversely affected since 2016.
Low temporal dynamics of mycosporine‐like amino acids in benthic cyanobacteria from an alpine lake
Authors: Werner Nadine , Orfanoudaki Maria , Hartmann Anja , Ganzera Markus , Sommaruga Ruben 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are one of the oldest organisms on Earth and they originated at a time when damaging ultraviolet (UV) C radiation still reached the surface. Their long evolution led to several adaptations to avoid deleterious effects caused by exposure to solar UV radiation. Synthesis of sunscreen substances, such as mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs), allows them to photosynthesise with reduced risk of cell damage. The interplay of solar UV radiation and MAAs is well documented for cyanobacteria in the plankton realm, but little is known for those in the benthic realm, particularly of clear alpine lakes.

Here, we assessed the temporal dynamics of MAAs in the benthic algal community of one clear alpine lake dominated by cyanobacteria during the ice‐free season and along a depth gradient using state‐of‐the‐art analytical methods (high‐performance liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry). We differentiated between the epilithic cyanobacterial community and the overlying loosely attached filamentous cyanobacteria, as we expected they will have an important shielding/shading effect on the former. We hypothesised that in contrast to the case of phytoplankton, benthic cyanobacteria will show less pronounced temporal changes in MAAs concentration in response to changes in solar UV exposure.

Three UV‐absorbing substances were present in both types of communities, whereby all were unknown. The chemical structure of the dominant unknown substance (maximum absorption at 334 nm) resulted in the identification of a novel MAA that we named aplysiapalythine‐D for its similarity to the previously described aplysiapalythine‐C.

Chlorophyll‐a‐specific MAA concentrations for epilithic and filamentous cyanobacteria showed a significant decrease with depth, although only traces were found in the former community. The temporal dynamics in MAA concentrations of filamentous cyanobacteria showed no significant variations during the ice‐free season.

Our result on the low temporal MAA dynamics agrees with the reduced growth rates of benthic cyanobacteria reported for cold ecosystems. The permanent presence of this community, which is adapted to the high UV levels characteristic of clear alpine lakes, probably represents the most important primary producers of these ecosystems.
How does plant population density affect the biomass of Ravenna grass?
Authors: Springer Tim L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRavenna grass, Tripidium ravennae (L.) H. Scholz, is known to produce an abundance of biomass, but how plant density affects its biomass potential remains unknown. The objectives were to determine the effects of plant density on biomass yield; plant growth traits; biomass‒carbon, nitrogen, and ash concentrations; heating value; nitrogen removal; and sucrose concentration in leaves and culms. The treatments consisted of five plant densities (1,250; 2,500; 5,000; 10,000; and 20,000 plants per hectare) in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. Plots were nonirrigated, unfertilized, and harvested once during the dormant season each year. Data were collected from 2015‒2019. Dependent variables that varied with plant population density (p < .05) were biomass yield, number of reproductive culms per plant, reproductive culm diameter, reproductive culm sucrose concentration, and nitrogen removal with biomass. Biomass yield ranged from 5.6 to 16.3 Mg/ha for plant densities of 1,250–20,000 plants per hectare, respectively. Combined over years, nonlinear regression of the data showed the equation for biomass yield to plateau at 16.2 Mg/ha at a plant density of 10,640 plants per hectare. As plant density increased, the number of reproductive culms per plant, culm diameter, and culm sucrose concentration significantly decreased. At 1,250 plants per hectare, the number of reproductive culms per plant, culm diameter, and culm sucrose averaged 70, 10.2 mm, and 63.2 g/kg, respectively. Nitrogen removed with biomass significantly increased as biomass yield increased with plant density. At a density of 10,000 and 20,000 plants per hectare, the amount of nitrogen removed annually in the harvested biomass averaged 88 kg/ha. The data suggest that 10,000 plants per hectare would produce the greatest annual biomass yields; however, research is needed to determine the nutrient requirement for Ravenna grass to sustain biomass production at that density.
An easy way to remove a stuck hemodialysis catheter
Authors: Katrancioglu Nurkay , Serhatlioglu Faruk , Katrancioglu Ozgur 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe replacement of tunneled hemodialysis catheters (CVCs) is a common procedure. In some cases, the CVC cannot be removed from the central vein because of tight adhesions to the surrounding fibrin sheath. A tight fibrin sheath leads to firm adherence between the catheter and the central veins or right atrial wall. Such stuck catheters cannot be removed from the central vein using standard methods. We present here a case demonstrating the successful removal of such a stuck CVC using the reverse Seldinger method.