bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Experimental Pilot Study of Global Postural Reeducation Concerning the Cognitive Approach of Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Todri Jasemin , Lena Orges , Martínez Gil José Luis 
Published: August 2019

Background: Several recent studies have examined the positive effects of physical exercise and equilibrium on individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. Objectives: In this sense, this study based on an experimental design, tested whether global postural reeducation (GPR) can affect equilibrium and cognition, life quality, and psychological symptoms of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: One hundred thirty-five participants with mild and moderate AD diagnosis were assigned to 2 groups: experimental group (EG, n = 90) and control group (CG, n = 45). The GPR therapy was implemented in the EG for 6 months, while both groups underwent neuropsychological assessments prior and after the 6-month period. Results: According to the repeated measures of analysis of variance, significant differences between groups were found at the 6-month follow-up period, in benefit of the EG such as Mini-Mental State Examination ( P = .000), Geriatric Depression Scale ( P = .000), Neuropsychiatric Inventory ( P = .000), quality of life in AD/patient ( P = .000), quality of life in AD/caregivers ( P = .000), Barthel index ( P = .000), and Tinetti Scale ( P = .000), while the CG showed a low performance in the neuropsychological tests. Conclusions: We suggest that GPR is a therapeutic option, which can improve the psychological, physical, and cognitive aspects of patients with AD.
Robotic sacrocolpopexy for the management of pelvic organ prolapse: quality of life outcomes
Authors: Vollstedt Annah , Meeks William , Triaca Veronica 
Published: August 2019

Background: Our aim was to investigate longer-term surgical and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in a cohort of women undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (RALS) for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study at a single institution of female patients undergoing RALS with and without concomitant robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, urethral sling, and rectocele repair. Scores from the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ) surveys were used to evaluate QOL outcomes. Clinical improvement was defined by a decrease in a patient’s PFDI and PFIQ postoperative score by ⩾70%. Results: Clinical improvement was seen in 62.6% by the PFIQ and in 64% by the PFDI survey. Younger patient age (OR 0.92, p = 0.011) and worse preoperative American Urological Association (AUA) Quality of Life score (OR 1.42, p = 0.046) were associated with clinical improvement. Within the PFIQ, 35.6% of patients saw clinical improvement with their bowel symptoms, compared with bladder (54.1%, p < 0.001) and prolapse (45.6%, p = 0.053) symptoms. Within the PFDI, 45.5% of patients reached clinical improvement with their bowel symptoms, compared with bladder (56.7%, p = 0.035) and prolapse (62.6%, p < 0.001) symptoms. Of the patients who had a rectocele repair, 46.3% reached clinical improvement in their CRADI-8 score, and 51% saw clinical improvement in the bowel portion of the PDFI. Conclusions: Significantly fewer patients reached clinical improvement within the portions of the surveys that focus on bowel symptoms, compared with symptoms related to urination and POP. Of those that had a concomitant rectocele repair, approximately half reached clinical improvement with their bowel symptoms.
Effectiveness of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization versus conventional transarterial chemoembolization for small hepatocellular carcinoma in Child-Pugh class A patients
Authors: Lee In Joon , Lee Jeong-Hoon , Lee Yun Bin , Kim Yoon Jun , Yoon Jung-Hwan , Yin Yong Hu , Lee Myungsu , Hur Saebeom , Kim Hyo-Cheol , Jae Hwan Jun , Chung Jin Wook 
Published: August 2019

Background: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effectiveness including progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety of conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) and drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in a superselective fashion for the patients with nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ( n ⩽ 5) and Child–Pugh class A. Methods: A total of 198 consecutive patients with nodular HCCs ( n ⩽ 5) and Child–Pugh class A liver function who were initially treated with cTACE ( n = 125) or DEB-TACE ( n = 57) were included retrospectively. The primary endpoint was PFS. Secondary endpoints included time-to-target lesion progression (TTTLP), OS, and safety. Results: The median follow up was 62 months (range, 1–87 months). The PFS was significantly longer in the cTACE group than in the DEB-TACE group (median, 18 months versus 7 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.658, log-rank p = 0.031), whereas OS was comparable (log-rank p = 0.299). TTTLP was significantly longer in the cTACE group than in the DEB-TACE group (median, 34 months versus 11 months; log-rank p < 0.001). In the stratification analysis based on tumor size, the cTACE group showed significantly longer TTTLP than the DEB-TACE group in the 1.0–2.0 cm and 2.1–3.0 cm subgroups (HR = 0.188, log-rank p < 0.001 and HR = 0.410, p = 0.015, respectively) but not in the 3.1–5.0 cm and 5.1–10.0 cm subgroups (all p > 0.05). Postembolization syndrome occurred more frequently in the cTACE group than in the DEB-TACE group ( p = 0.006). Conclusions: DEB-TACE is followed by significantly shorter PFS than cTACE in patients with nodular HCCs ( n ⩽ 5) and Child–Pugh class A, although OS is comparable. Postembolization syndrome occurs more frequently in cTACE than in DEB-TACE.
Reducing Surgical Site Infection in Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Improvement Program and Prospective 4-Year Audit
Authors: Tipper Geoffrey A. , Chiwera Lillian , Lucas Jonathan 
Published: August 2019

Study Design: Single-center prospective cohort. Objectives: To evaluate a multidisciplinary led, structured protocol for reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) in pediatric scoliosis surgery. Methods: Following a spike to 8.6% in local annual infection rate, a multidisciplinary team was convened to identify interventions. The team consisted of spinal surgeons, infectious diseases consultants, physiotherapists, specialist nurses, and theatre managers. A protocol was initiated, including preoperative skin decontamination; standardized operative site prepreparation; betadine-soaked swabs sutured to wound edges; blood loss minimization; 3 L0.9% saline pulsed-lavage; defined protocol of glove changes; antibiotic regime of preoperative gentamicin, intraoperative subfascial vancomycin powder, 48-hour cefuroxime; and intraoperative normothermia. A 4-year audit was initiated of all patients aged ≤18 years undergoing corrective spinal deformity surgery. Institutional board review was not required. Results: Between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2018, 414 operations were performed on 355 patients: male:female = 1:2.2, mean age 13.7 years (range 2.5-17.9), 233 idiopathic (mean operated vertebral levels 12), 122 neuromuscular (mean operated vertebral levels 14), 66 growing rod procedures, 41 multistage procedures. The mean number of operated vertebral levels both overall and in infected cases was 13 (range 2-17). Nine SSIs occurred in 8 patients at 3 months (4 neuromuscular), resulting in an overall SSI per operation of 2.2%. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach with standardized measures significantly reduced SSIs in the unit’s pediatric scoliosis surgery.
Combined deficiency of RAB32 and RAB38 in the mouse mimics Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome and critically impairs thrombosis
Authors: Aguilar Alicia , Weber Josiane , Boscher Julie , Freund Monique , Ziessel Catherine , Eckly Anita , Magnenat Stéphanie , Bourdon Catherine , Hechler Béatrice , Mangin Pierre H. , Gachet Christian , Lanza François , Léon Catherine 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
The biogenesis of lysosome related organelles is defective in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), a disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and platelet dense granule (DG) defects. The first animal model of HPS was the fawn-hooded rat, harboring a spontaneous mutation inactivating the small guanosine triphosphatase Rab38. This leads to coat color dilution associated with the absence of DGs and lung morphological defects. Another RAB38 mutant, the cht mouse, has normal DGs, which has raised controversy about the role of RAB38 in DG biogenesis. We show here that murine and human, but not rat, platelets also express the closely related RAB32. To elucidate the parts played by RAB32 and RAB38 in the biogenesis of DGs in vivo and their effects on platelet functions, we generated mice inactivated for Rab32, Rab38, and both genes. Single Rab38 inactivation mimicked cht mice, whereas single Rab32 inactivation had no effect in DGs, coat color, or lung morphology. By contrast, Rab32/38 double inactivation mimicked severe HPS, with strong coat and eye pigment dilution, some enlarged lung multilamellar bodies associated with a decrease in the number of DGs. These organelles were morphologically abnormal, decreased in number, and devoid of 5-hydroxytryptamine content. In line with the storage pool defect, platelet activation was affected, resulting in severely impaired thrombus growth and prolongation of the bleeding time. Overall, our study demonstrates the absence of impact of RAB38 or RAB32 single deficiency in platelet biogenesis and function resulting from full redundancy, and characterized a new mouse model mimicking HPS devoid of DG content.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Disorders in Childhood Cancer Survivors: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Long-Term Health Outcomes
Authors: van Iersel Laura , Li Zhenghong , Srivastava Deo Kumar , Brinkman Tara M , Bjornard Kari L , Wilson Carmen L , Green Daniel M , Merchant Thomas E , Pui Ching-Hon , Howell Rebecca M , Smith Susan A , Armstrong Gregory T , Hudson Melissa M , Robison Leslie L , Ness Kirsten K , Gajjar Amar , Krull Kevin R , Sklar Charles A , van Santen Hanneke M , Chemaitilly Wassim 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Context
Data on hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) disorders in systematically evaluated childhood cancer survivors are limited.

Objective
To describe prevalence, risk factors, and associated adverse health outcomes of deficiencies in GH deficiency (GHD), TSH deficiency (TSHD), LH/FSH deficiency (LH/FSHD), and ACTH deficiency (ACTHD), and central precocious puberty (CPP).

Design
Retrospective with cross-sectional health outcomes analysis.

Setting
Established cohort; tertiary care center.

Patients
Participants (N = 3141; median age, 31.7 years) were followed for a median 24.1 years.

Main Outcome Measure
Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate ORs and 95% CIs for associations among HP disorders, tumor- and treatment-related risk factors, and health outcomes.

Results
The estimated prevalence was 40.2% for GHD, 11.1% for TSHD, 10.6% for LH/FSHD, 3.2% for ACTHD, and 0.9% for CPP among participants treated with HP radiotherapy (n = 1089), and 6.2% for GHD, and &lt;1% for other HP disorders without HP radiotherapy. Clinical factors independently associated with HP disorders included HP radiotherapy (at any dose for GHD, TSHD, LH/FSHD, &gt;30 Gy for ACTHD), alkylating agents (GHD, LH/FSHD), intrathecal chemotherapy (GHD), hydrocephalus with shunt placement (GHD, LH/FSHD), seizures (TSHD, ACTHD), and stroke (GHD, TSHD, LH/FSHD, ACTHD). Adverse health outcomes independently associated with HP disorders included short stature (GHD, TSHD), severe bone mineral density deficit (GHD, LH/FSHD), obesity (LH/FSHD), frailty (GHD), impaired physical health-related quality of life (TSHD), sexual dysfunction (LH/FSHD), impaired memory, and processing speed (GHD, TSHD).

Conclusion
HP radiotherapy, central nervous system injury, and, to a lesser extent, chemotherapy are associated with HP disorders, which are associated with adverse health outcomes.
Robust Wnt signaling is maintained by a Wg protein gradient and Fz2 receptor activity in the developing Drosophila wing
Authors: Chaudhary Varun , Hingole Swapnil , Frei Jana , Port Fillip , Strutt David , Boutros Michael 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACT
Wnts are secreted proteins that regulate cell fate during development of all metazoans. Wnt proteins were proposed to spread over several cells to activate signaling directly at a distance. In the Drosophila wing epithelium, an extracellular gradient of the Wnt1 homolog Wingless (Wg) was observed extending over several cells away from producing cells. Surprisingly, however, it was also shown that a membrane-tethered Neurotactin-Wg fusion protein (NRT-Wg) can largely replace endogenous Wg, leading to proper patterning of the wing. Therefore, the functional range of Wg and whether Wg spreading is required for correct tissue patterning remains controversial. Here, by capturing secreted Wg on cells away from the source, we show that Wg acts over a distance of up to 11 cell diameters to induce signaling. Furthermore, cells located outside the reach of extracellular Wg depend on the Frizzled2 receptor to maintain signaling. Frizzled2 expression is increased in the absence of Wg secretion and is required to maintain signaling and cell survival in NRT-wg wing discs. Together, these results provide insight into the mechanisms by which robust Wnt signaling is achieved in proliferating tissues.
Beyond power amplification: latch-mediated spring actuation is an emerging framework for the study of diverse elastic systems
Authors: Longo S. J. , Cox S. M. , Azizi E. , Ilton M. , Olberding J. P. , St Pierre R. , Patek S. N. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACT
Rapid biological movements, such as the extraordinary strikes of mantis shrimp and accelerations of jumping insects, have captivated generations of scientists and engineers. These organisms store energy in elastic structures (e.g. springs) and then rapidly release it using latches, such that movement is driven by the rapid conversion of stored elastic to kinetic energy using springs, with the dynamics of this conversion mediated by latches. Initially drawn to these systems by an interest in the muscle power limits of small jumping insects, biologists established the idea of power amplification, which refers both to a measurement technique and to a conceptual framework defined by the mechanical power output of a system exceeding muscle limits. However, the field of fast elastically driven movements has expanded to encompass diverse biological and synthetic systems that do not have muscles – such as the surface tension catapults of fungal spores and launches of plant seeds. Furthermore, while latches have been recognized as an essential part of many elastic systems, their role in mediating the storage and release of elastic energy from the spring is only now being elucidated. Here, we critically examine the metrics and concepts of power amplification and encourage a framework centered on latch-mediated spring actuation (LaMSA). We emphasize approaches and metrics of LaMSA systems that will forge a pathway toward a principled, interdisciplinary field.
Adhesive latching and legless leaping in small, worm-like insect larvae
Authors: Farley G. M. , Wise M. J. , Harrison J. S. , Sutton G. P. , Kuo C. , Patek S. N. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACT
Jumping is often achieved using propulsive legs, yet legless leaping has evolved multiple times. We examined the kinematics, energetics and morphology of long-distance jumps produced by the legless larvae of gall midges (Asphondylia sp.). They store elastic energy by forming their body into a loop and pressurizing part of their body to form a transient ‘leg’. They prevent movement during elastic loading by placing two regions covered with microstructures against each other, which likely serve as a newly described adhesive latch. Once the latch releases, the transient ‘leg’ launches the body into the air. Their average takeoff speeds (mean: 0.85 m s−1; range: 0.39–1.27 m s−1) and horizontal travel distances (up to 36 times body length or 121 mm) rival those of legged insect jumpers and their mass-specific power density (mean: 910 W kg−1; range: 150–2420 W kg−1) indicates the use of elastic energy storage to launch the jump. Based on the forces reported for other microscale adhesive structures, the adhesive latching surfaces are sufficient to oppose the loading forces prior to jumping. Energetic comparisons of insect larval crawling versus jumping indicate that these jumps are orders of magnitude more efficient than would be possible if the animals had crawled an equivalent distance. These discoveries integrate three vibrant areas in engineering and biology – soft robotics, small, high-acceleration systems, and adhesive systems – and point toward a rich, and as-yet untapped area of biological diversity of worm-like, small, legless jumpers.
A corrected version of the article PDF is available in the supplementary material.
Genome-wide CRISPR screening identifies new regulators of glycoprotein secretion
Authors: Popa Stephanie , Villeneuve Julien , Stewart Sarah , Perez Garcia Esther , Petrunkina Harrison Anna , Moreau Kevin 
Published: August 2019

Background: The fundamental process of protein secretion from eukaryotic cells has been well described for many years, yet gaps in our understanding of how this process is regulated remain. Methods: With the aim of identifying novel genes involved in the secretion of glycoproteins, we used a screening pipeline consisting of a pooled genome-wide CRISPR screen, followed by secondary siRNA screening of the hits to identify and validate several novel regulators of protein secretion. Results: We present approximately 50 novel genes not previously associated with protein secretion, many of which also had an effect on the structure of the Golgi apparatus. We further studied a small selection of hits to investigate their subcellular localisation. One of these, GPR161, is a novel Golgi-resident protein that we propose maintains Golgi structure via an interaction with golgin A5. Conclusions: This study has identified new factors for protein secretion involved in Golgi homeostasis.
A Scientific Approach to Entrepreneurial Decision Making: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Camuffo Arnaldo , Cordova Alessandro , Gambardella Alfonso , Spina Chiara 
Published: August 2019

A classical approach to collecting and elaborating information to make entrepreneurial decisions combines search heuristics, such as trial and error, effectuation, and confirmatory search. This paper develops a framework for exploring the implications of a more scientific approach to entrepreneurial decision making. The panel sample of our randomized control trial includes 116 Italian startups and 16 data points over a period of about one year. Both the treatment and control groups receive 10 sessions of general training on how to obtain feedback from the market and gauge the feasibility of their idea. We teach the treated startups to develop frameworks for predicting the performance of their idea and conduct rigorous tests of their hypotheses, very much as scientists do in their research. We let the firms in the control group instead follow their intuitions about how to assess their idea, which has typically produced fairly standard search heuristics. We find that entrepreneurs who behave like scientists perform better, are more likely to pivot to a different idea, and are not more likely to drop out than the control group in the early stages of the startup. These results are consistent with the main prediction of our theory: a scientific approach improves precision—it reduces the odds of pursuing projects with false positive returns and increases the odds of pursuing projects with false negative returns. This paper was accepted by Marie Thursby, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Randomized Dimension Reduction for Monte Carlo Simulations
Authors: Kahalé Nabil 
Published: August 2019

We present a new unbiased algorithm that estimates the expected value of f(U) via Monte Carlo simulation, where U is a vector of d independent random variables, and f is a function of d variables. We assume that f does not equally depend on all its arguments. Under certain conditions, we prove that, for the same computational cost, the variance of our estimator is lower than the variance of the standard Monte Carlo estimator by a factor of order d. Our method can be used to obtain a low-variance unbiased estimator for the expectation of a function of the state of a Markov chain at a given time step. We study applications to volatility forecasting and time-varying queues. Numerical experiments show that our algorithm dramatically improves on the standard Monte Carlo method for large values of d and is highly resilient to discontinuities. This paper was accepted by Baris Ata, stochastic models and simulation.
Sixty years of advanced imaging at the French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis: from the Cranz-Schardin camera to computational optics
Authors: Christnacher Frank , Laurenzis Martin , Lutz Yves , Matwyschuk Alexis 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
In 2019, the French-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL) is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Since the beginning, advanced imaging technologies were one of the institute’s flagship areas of research and, from the Cranz-Schardin camera to computational optics, ISL never stopped innovating. Each technological innovation is a testimony to its time, and the research works in visionics make no exception to this rule. Each decade was marked by innovations that made it possible to develop means of vision or visualization, which ensure that our institute remains at the forefront of the research in this field. High-speed cameras, holography, lasers, or active imaging systems developed at ISL are examples of this. The science of photon, photonics, still has a bright future ahead, and there is no doubt that the latest discoveries and technological advances in this field will be applied to systems that will allow our armed forces to maintain their technological superiority and our soldiers to carry out their missions with greater security.
L1 transfer, proficiency, and the recognition of L2 verb-noun collocations: A perspective from three languages
Authors: Lee Senyung 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis study investigated the effect of first language (L1) transfer in the recognition of second language (L2) collocations and unacceptable word combinations across low-intermediate to advanced learners of English, and the relationship between proficiency and the recognition of L2 collocations. The study targeted learners from two different L1 backgrounds and native speakers of English in order to disentangle the effect of L1 transfer from the effect of intralingual factors. Four types of English verb-noun combinations were included: English-Korean-Mandarin, English-only, Korean-only, and Mandarin-only phrases. A phrase acceptability judgment task and a phrase recognition report were used. The performances of 92 participants were analyzed using mixed effects modeling. The results from both Korean and Mandarin groups revealed no L1 influence in the recognition of unacceptable L2 word combinations, even at low levels of proficiency. The results also showed that L2 proficiency predicts learners’ ability to rule out grammatical-but-unacceptable L2 word combinations, but not the ability to recognize L2 collocations