bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurements of auto‐antibodies to α‐synuclein in the serum and cerebral spinal fluids of patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Akhtar Rizwan S. , Licata Joseph P. , Luk Kelvin C. , Shaw Leslie M. , Trojanowski John Q. , Lee Virginia M.‐Y. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBiomarkers for α‐synuclein are needed for diagnosis and prognosis in Parkinson's disease (PD). Endogenous auto‐antibodies to α‐synuclein could serve as biomarkers for underlying synucleinopathy, but previous assessments of auto‐antibodies have shown variability and inconsistent clinical correlations. We hypothesized that auto‐antibodies to α‐synuclein could be diagnostic for PD and explain its clinical heterogeneity. To test this hypothesis, we developed an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for measuring α‐synuclein auto‐antibodies in human samples. We evaluated 69 serum samples (16 healthy controls (HC) and 53 PD patients) and 145 CSF samples (52 HC and 93 PD patients) from our Institution. Both serum and CSF were available for 24 participants. Males had higher auto‐antibody levels than females in both fluids. CSF auto‐antibody levels were significantly higher in PD patients as compared with HC, whereas serum levels were not significantly different. CSF auto‐antibody levels did not associate with amyloid‐β1–42, total tau, or phosphorylated tau. CSF auto‐antibody levels correlated with performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, even when controlled for CSF amyloidβ1–42. CSF hemoglobin levels, as a proxy for contamination of CSF by blood during lumbar puncture, did not influence these observations. Using recombinant α‐synuclein with N‐ and C‐terminal truncations, we found that CSF auto‐antibodies target amino acids 100 through 120 of α‐synuclein. We conclude that endogenous CSF auto‐antibodies are significantly higher in PD patients as compared with HC, suggesting that they could indicate the presence of underlying synucleinopathy. These auto‐antibodies associate with poor cognition, independently of CSF amyloidβ1–42, and target a select C‐terminal region of α‐synuclein.
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Cyclic AMP‐producing chemogenetic activation of indirect pathway striatal projection neurons and the downstream effects on the globus pallidus and subthalamic nucleus in freely moving mice
Authors: Bouabid Safa , Zhou Fu‐Ming 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe indirect pathway striatal medium spiny projection neurons (iMSNs) are critical to motor and cognitive brain functions. These neurons express a high level of cAMP‐increasing adenosine A2a receptors. However, the potential effects of cAMP production on iMSN spiking activity have not been established, and recording identified iMSNs in freely moving animals is challenging. Here, we show that in the transgenic mice expressing cAMP‐producing G protein Gs‐coupled designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drug (Gs‐DREADD) in iMSNs, the baseline spike firing in MSNs is normal, indicating DREADD expression does not affect the normal physiology of these neurons. Intraperitoneal injection of the DREADD agonist clozapine‐N‐oxide (CNO; 2.5 mg/kg) increased the spike firing in 50% of the recorded MSNs. However, CNO did not affect MSN firing in Gs‐DREADD‐negative mice. We also found that CNO injection inhibited the spike firing of globus pallidus external segment (GPe) neurons in Gs‐DREADD‐positive mice, further indicating CNO excitation of iMSNs. Temporally coincident with these effects on spiking firing in the indirect pathway, CNO injection selectively inhibited locomotion in D2 Gs‐DREADD mice. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that cAMP production in iMSNs can increase iMSN spiking activity and cause motor inhibition, thus addressing a long‐standing question about the cellular functions of the cAMP‐producing adenosine A2a receptors in iMSNs.
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Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.14181.
Decoy effect, anticipated regret, and preferences for work–family benefits
Authors: Reb Jochen , Li Andrew , Bagger Jessica 
Published: March 2018

Attracting talent is one of the key challenges for organizations, and offering attractive work–family benefits plays an increasingly important role in succeeding at this challenge. However, behavioural decision theory suggests that when choosing among job offers with different work–family benefits, individuals may fall prey to a decoy effect and this effect may be mediated through anticipated regret. This effect occurs when preferences are influenced by a normatively irrelevant decoy option that is clearly inferior to one of the other options in the choice set, but not the other (i.e., ‘asymmetrically dominated’). Across two studies, we investigated preferences for two important types of work–family benefits: flexible work arrangements (FWA) and dependent care support (DCS). We predicted and found a decoy effect: Preferences for jobs with these benefits were influenced by the presence of a normatively irrelevant decoy option. That is, preferences shifted towards either the FWA option or the DCS option depending on which option the decoy targeted (i.e., the option that asymmetrically dominated the decoy). The effects held over and above variables related to individuals’ work and family situations and values, including role centrality. Moreover, we found that anticipated regret mediated the effect of the decoy option on benefit preferences.Practitioner points

Organizations can use decoy options with relatively inferior (i.e., dominated) job benefits as an implicit influence tactic to influence applicants' job preferences.

Using this approach is only legitimate if it has a factual basis and recruiters need to take ethical aspects of such practices into consideration.

Individuals need to be aware that when normatively irrelevant cues such as decoy options affect their decision‐making process, their choices may be biased.

By noticing decoy options and influence attempts of recruiters, individuals can ensure that their choices reflect their values, not contextual factors.
Preparation, characterization, and pharmacokinetics in swine of a florfenicol enteric formulation prepared using hot‐melt extrusion technology
Authors: Xu Y. , Wen X. , Feng X. , Liang Z. , Ye X. , Nie H. , Liao X. , Li J. , Zeng Y. , Tang S. , He J. 
Published: March 2018

The objective of this work was to manufacture an enteric formulation of florfenicol (FF) using hot‐melt extrusion (HME) technology and to evaluate its in vitro dissolution and in vivo pharmacokinetics. For the HME process, hypromellose acetate succinate LG (HPMCAS‐LG) was the enteric polymer mixed with FF, and the two components were extruded with a standard screw configuration at a speed of 50 rpm. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) were performed to characterize the HME extrudate. The release percentage of the enteric formulation in the acidic stage was <10% of the loaded FF, whereas that in the phosphate buffer stage was >80%. Pharmacokinetic evaluations in swine revealed that the enteric formulation had a longer t1/2λ and MRT than commercially available FF powder (FULAIKA®), indicating that the novel formulation exhibited enteric and sustained release properties. Compared with the commercial product, the relative bioavailability of the enteric formulation reached up to 117.2%. This study suggests that this formulation may have potential for future commercialization.
Genetic differentiation of the edible dormouse (Glis glis) in the Polish Sudetens: the current status of an endangered species
Authors: Moska M. , Mucha A. , Wierzbicki H. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the influence of geographical barriers and forest fragmentation on the genetic structure and variability in an arboreal rodent, the edible dormouse, inhabiting the Polish Sudetens. A total of 56 free‐living edible dormice (Glis glis) sampled from four mountain ranges in the Sudetens were analysed. Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci and mtDNA (cytochrome b) were used in the study. Principal components analysis (PCA) and genetic structure analysis were carried out to detect the most probable number of genetically differentiated clusters. The correlations between the genetic/geographical distances and the barriers were studied using Mantel tests. The mtDNA cytochrome b analysis revealed only two haplotypes, both corresponding to the European haplogroup. Although the Mantel test results showed no significant impact of distance or habitat barrier on the observed interpopulation genetic variation, PCA and genetic structure analyses clearly indicated four genetic clusters as the most probable number of genetically distinct groups. They corresponded to the four populations inhabiting the mountain ranges studied. These results show that dormouse dispersal is closely linked to forests, and hence that gene flow within the edible dormouse population is influenced by the connectivity of landscape features. Furthermore, this may reflect adaptation to environmental conditions in the Sudetens as well as historical patterns of post‐glacial colonization. The results of our study should be used to develop conservation strategies of this species.
Introducing Registered Reports at Language Learning: Promoting Transparency, Replication, and a Synthetic Ethic in the Language Sciences
Authors: Marsden Emma , Morgan‐Short Kara , Trofimovich Pavel , Ellis Nick C. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe past few years have seen growing interest in open science practices, which include initiatives to increase transparency in research methods, data collection, and analysis; enhance accessibility to data and materials; and improve the dissemination of findings to broader audiences. Language Learning is enhancing its participation in the open science movement by launching Registered Reports as an article category as of January 1, 2018. Registered Reports allow authors to submit the conceptual justifications and the full method and analysis protocol of their study to peer review prior to data collection. High‐quality submissions then receive provisional, in‐principle acceptance. Provided that data collection, analyses, and reporting follow the proposed and accepted methodology and analysis protocols, the article is subsequently publishable whatever the findings. We outline key concerns leading to the development of Registered Reports, describe its core features, and discuss some of its benefits and weaknesses.
From known to unknown: moving to unvisited locations in a novel sensorimotor map
Authors: van Vugt Floris T. , Ostry David J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSensorimotor learning requires knowledge of the relationship between movements and sensory effects: a sensorimotor map. Generally, these mappings are not innate but have to be learned. During learning, the challenge is to build a continuous map from a set of discrete observations, that is, predict locations of novel targets. One hypothesis is that the learner linearly interpolates among discrete observations that are already in the map. Here, this hypothesis is tested by exposing human subjects to a novel mapping between arm movements and sounds. Participants were passively moved to the edges of the workspace receiving the corresponding sounds and then were presented intermediate sounds and asked to make movements to locations they thought corresponded to those sounds. It is observed that average movements roughly match linear interpolation of the space. However, the actual distribution of participants' movements is best described by a bimodal reaching strategy in which they move to one of two locations near the workspace edge where they had prior exposure to the sound–movement pairing. These results suggest that interpolation happens to a limited extent only and that the acquisition of sensorimotor maps may not be driven by interpolation but instead relies on a flexible recombination of instance‐based learning.
A mechanistic linkage between oral lichen planus and autoimmune thyroid disease
Authors: Robledo‐Sierra J , Landin‐Wilhelmsen K , Filipsson Nyström H , Eggertsen R , Larsson L , Dafar A , Warfvinge G , Mattsson U , Jontell M 
Published: March 2018

ObjectiveTo determine the levels of antithyroid antibodies and thyroid hormones in the sera of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP), and to quantify the expression of thyroid proteins in OLP lesions.Subjects and MethodsVenous blood samples were drawn from 110 patients with OLP who had no history of thyroid disease or levothyroxine supplementation (OLP+/LT4−). A random population sample of 657 healthy subjects was used as the control group. Two additional groups were used as comparators. Immunohistochemical and qPCR analyses were performed on tissue specimens collected from the patients with OLP and thyroid disease and healthy subjects.ResultsNo association was found between the presence of antithyroid antibodies and OLP. More patients in the OLP+/LT4− group showed high levels of thyroid‐stimulating hormone and low levels of free thyroxine than were seen in the control group. Thyroid‐stimulating hormone receptor was more highly expressed in the OLP lesions of patients with thyroid disease than in the healthy oral mucosa.ConclusionsA significant number of patients with OLP who are not previously diagnosed with thyroid disease have thyroid parameters that are compatible with hypothyroidism. The expression of thyroid‐stimulating hormone receptor in OLP lesions suggests that mechanisms related to autoimmune thyroid disease are involved in the aetiology of OLP.
La tache de l'amour racinien dans Phèdre
Authors: Calle Delphine 
Published: March 2018

Cet article propose une relecture de l'amour illicite de Phèdre pour son beau‐fils Hippolyte, à travers la métaphore de la tache. Touchée par la vue de celui qu'elle aime, Phèdre ne peut celer les marques extérieures de sa passion : son rougissement mêle honte et amour. Or, la véritable souillure est intériorisée : l'amour de Phèdre est une conscience de péché, de prédestination. Après l'exposition de la tache amoureuse, l'article analyse, suivant la logique de Phèdre, le désir de purgation. La punition de Phèdre, rend‐elle la tragédie vertueuse, comme le prétend Racine ? Dans un troisième lieu, l’étude se tourne vers le public, qui, selon la doctrine de la catharsis, devrait être « purgé » lui‐aussi. Cet article argumente, au contraire, que plutôt qu'effacée, la tache de l'amour passion est répandue. Le sang de Phèdre, se suicidant sur scène, éclabousse le public.
Pediatric laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in Turkey: Short‐term results
Authors: Ates Ufuk , Ergun Ergun , Gollu Gulnur , Sozduyar Sumeyye , Can Ozlem Selvi , Yagmurlu Aydin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundObesity is one of the most rapidly increasing health problems in children. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is one of the best treatment options and is feasible and safe in children. The aim of this study was to present the short‐term results of a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy series in children.MethodsChildren who underwent LSG in 2014–2017 were included in the study. Charts were investigated retrospectively and short‐term weight loss was analyzed.ResultsPatients who had surgery in 2014–2017 were included in the study. There were six girls and two boys, and the median age was 15 years (range, 11–18 years). Mean weight was 159.25 ± 19.78 kg, and mean body mass index was 61.05 ± 8.5 kg/m2. Mean operation time was 70 min (range, 65–90 min), mean hospital stay was 5.1 days (range, 3–7 days), and mean follow up was 19.2 months (range, 1–43 months). Of these patients, five had hypertension and were under medication and two of these five also had hyperinsulinemia. One of the five children had Bardet–Biedl syndrome and one had bronchial asthma. After operation, medication was stopped in four of the eight children. At the time of writing, six patients were doing well without postoperative complications, or the need for reoperation.ConclusionEven though the follow‐up period was short and the number of patients was small, LSG was a feasible and promising surgical method for morbidly obese children. A multidisciplinary approach and lifelong behavior therapy are key steps for success.
Analyzing the Complexity of Performance Information Use: Experiments with Stakeholders to Disaggregate Dimensions of Performance, Data Sources, and Data Types
Authors: Walker Richard M. , Lee M. Jin , James Oliver , Ho Samuel M. Y. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis article addresses important questions about the complex construct of underlying performance information use: public service performance. A between‐subjects experimental vignette methodology was implemented to answer questions about the effects of emphasizing different dimensions of performance and the sources and types of performance information among internal and external stakeholders in two service arenas (secondary education and solid waste management) in Hong Kong. The findings indicate common attitudes and agreement across stakeholder groups and services on the merits of archival and external data types. Other results vary by service and between stakeholder groups. The effects of information about effectiveness can depend on its combination with information about efficiency or equity. This complexity needs to be considered when designing information communication to different stakeholder groups.
Impact of acute otitis media clinical practice guidelines on antibiotic and analgesic prescriptions: a systematic review
Authors: Deniz Yelin , van Uum Rick T , de Hoog Marieke L A , Schilder Anne G M , Damoiseaux Roger A M J , Venekamp Roderick P 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundClinical practice guidelines focusing on judicious use of antibiotics for childhood acute otitis media (AOM) have been introduced in many countries around the world.ObjectiveTo systematically review the effects of these guidelines on the prescription of antibiotics and analgesics for children with AOM.MethodsSystematic searches of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library from inception to 6 June 2017 using broad search terms. Studies specifically aimed at evaluating the effects of introduction of national AOM practice guidelines on type of antibiotic and/or analgesic prescriptions were included, irrespective of design, setting or language. The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool was used to assess risk of bias.ResultsOf 411 unique records retrieved, seven studies conducted in six different countries (France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA (twice)) compared data before and after guideline introduction. All studies had an observational design, using longitudinal data of children aged under 15 years (n=200–4.6 million) from either routine care, insurance databases or electronic surveys. Risk of bias of all studies was judged serious to critical.Of the five studies reporting on antibiotic prescription rates, three showed a decline of 5%–12% up to 3 years after guideline introduction and two found no or negligible effect. In one US study, the initial 9% decline decreased to 5% after 4–6 years. The recommended first choice antibiotic was prescribed more frequently (9%–58% increase) after guideline introduction in four out of five studies reporting on this outcome. Analgesic prescription rates for AOM were reported in one US study and increased from 14% to 24% after guideline introduction.ConclusionBased upon what is published, the effects of introduction of national clinical practice guidelines on antibiotic and analgesic prescribing for children with AOM seem modest at the most.RegistrationPROSPERO: CRD42016050976.
Association of genetic variations in PTPN2 and CD122 with ocular Behcet’s disease
Authors: Zhang Qi , Li Hua , Hou Shengping , Yu Hongsong , Su Guannan , Deng Bolin , Qi Jian , Zhou Chunjiang , Kijlstra Aize , Yang Peizeng 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundProtein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) play critical roles in human autoimmunity. Previous studies found that PTPN2 may be the key regulatory factor in the T-cell-mediated immune response. PTPN2 regulates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway by inhibiting signalling via the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (CD122). An association between genetic variations in PTPN2 and CD122 with ocular Behcet’s disease (BD) has not yet been addressed and was therefore the purpose of this study.MethodsA two-stage case–control study was performed in 906 patients with ocular BD and 2178 healthy controls. Genotyping analysis of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms was carried out. The expression of PTPN2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was quantified by real-time PCR and cytokine production was measured by ELISA.ResultsThe frequency of the GG genotype of PTPN2-rs7234029 was significantly lower in patients with ocular BD (p=1.94×10−5, pc=8.34×10−4, OR=0.466). Stratification according to gender showed that rs7234029 was significantly associated with BD in men. A stratified analysis according to the main clinical features showed that rs7234029 was significantly associated with genital ulcers, skin lesions and a positive pathergy test. No association could be detected between BD and CD122 gene polymorphisms. Functional studies showed that rs7234029 GG genotype carriers had a higher PNPT2 mRNA expression level than those which carrying the AA or AG genotype, and a decreased secretion of IL-17 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha was seen by PBMCs from GG carriers. No significant difference could be detected concerning IL-1β or IL-6 production by stimulated PBMCs between the different genotype groups.ConclusionsThis study shows that a PTPN2-rs7234029 polymorphism is associated with ocular BD and is strongly influenced by gender. In addition, our results suggest that the genetic association with PTPN2 may involve the regulation of PTPN2 mRNA expression and cytokine secretion.
Galectin-3: role in ocular allergy and potential as a predictive biomarker
Authors: Andrade Frans Eberth Costa , Corrêa Mab Pereira , Gimenes Alexandre Dantas , dos Santos Myrna Serapião , Campos Mauro , Chammas Roger , Gomes José Álvaro Pereira , Gil Cristiane Damas 
Published: March 2018

AimsTo evaluate galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactoside binding protein, as a possible biomarker in ocular allergy and further investigated the role of endogenous Gal-3 in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic conjunctivitis (AC).MethodsConjunctival impression cytology specimens from control and patients with severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis, treated or untreated, were used to evaluate Gal-3 expression by immunocytochemistry. To investigate the mechanism of action of Gal-3, OVA-immunised BALB/c male wild-type (WT) and Gal-3 null (Gal-3-/-) mice were challenged with eye drops containing OVA on days 14–16 with a subset of animals pretreated with 0.03% tacrolimus (TC) or dexamethasone (Dex).ResultsPatients with AC and OVA-sensitised WT mice exhibited increased levels of Gal-3 in the conjunctiva compared with control, an effect reverted by the action of Dex and TC therapy. Twenty-four hours after the final OVA challenge, total and anti-OVA IgE levels increased significantly in the blood of OVA-sensitised WT and Gal-3-/- mice compared with controls, supporting the efficacy of the AC model. The lack of endogenous Gal-3 exacerbated the local inflammatory response, increasing the influx of eosinophils and mast cell activation. Additionally, OVA-sensitised Gal-3-/- animals exhibited increased CD4+ expression in the eyes as well as eotaxin, IL-4, IL-13 and interferon-γ levels in the tear fluid compared with WT animals.ConclusionGal-3 contributes to the pathogenesis of ocular allergy and represents a relevant therapeutic target.