bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Barriers to the recognition of medullary thyroid carcinoma on FNA: Implications relevant to the new American Thyroid Association guidelines
Authors: Dyhdalo Kathryn S. , Chute Deborah J. 
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUNDThe 2016 American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend multiple endocrine neoplasia testing and evaluation for pheochromocytoma before thyroidectomy after a thyroid fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is positive for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). In the current study, the authors examined the reasons why FNA was unable to definitively diagnose MTC preoperatively, with attention to morphologic patterns that can be misleading.METHODSCases of MTC diagnosed on thyroid surgical resection for which there was a prior FNA and slides available for review were included (28 cases). Clinicopathologic data were collected. Slides were reviewed for numerous features blinded to the original FNA interpretation. Morphologic features were compared between concordant cases (20 cases) (“positive for MTC” or “suspicious for MTC”) and discordant cases (4 cases) (any other interpretation). Three cases of microscopic MTC (measuring <1 cm) were excluded from statistical analysis, as was 1 case of sampling error (benign thyroid tissue).RESULTSNine men and 19 women were diagnosed with MTC. Four patients ultimately were diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia, and 1 had bilateral pheochromocytomas. At the time of surgical excision, the mean tumor size was 2.3 cm (range, 0.1‐7.5 cm). Review of morphologic features demonstrated that the discrepant cases were significantly more likely to have limiting factors (air‐drying artifact/excess blood), a cohesive pattern, or to lack plasmacytoid morphology. None of the discordant cases had pseudoinclusions or amyloid (finding was not statistically significant).CONCLUSIONSThe majority (86%) of thyroid FNAs from patients with MTC are concordant (positive/suspicious for MTC). Patterns of failure include sampling error and limited typical morphologic features, particularly a lack of plasmacytoid morphology and cellular dyshesion. A high level of suspicion for MTC is critical to ensure patients receive appropriate preoperative testing. Cancer Cytopathol 2018;126:397‐405. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Utility of the BRAF p.V600E immunoperoxidase stain in FNA direct smears and cell block preparations from patients with thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Smith Amber L. , Williams Michelle D. , Stewart John , Wang Wei‐Lien , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Cabanillas Maria E. , Roy‐Chowdhuri Sinchita 
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUNDThe identification of BRAF mutations in thyroid cancer has prognostic and therapeutic implications. Although the gold standard for identifying BRAF mutations is molecular testing, the ability to perform BRAF p.V600E immunostaining on fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples can facilitate the rapid triaging of patients to treatment options.METHODSA total of 50 thyroid carcinoma FNA samples, including papillary (29 samples), poorly differentiated (10 samples), anaplastic (9 samples), and Hurthle cell (2 samples) carcinomas, with a known BRAF p.V600E mutation status were selected for the current study. Immunostaining was performed on smears and cell block sections using an anti‐BRAF p.V600E antibody (clone VE1). The results were compared with the known mutation status obtained by molecular testing and/or immunostaining of surgical pathology material from the same patient.RESULTSOf the total of 50 cases, 26 cases had smears available for the evaluation of BRAF p.V600E immunostaining; positive immunostaining was noted in 16 samples and negative immunostaining was noted in 4 samples, whereas 6 cases were equivocal. Of the 34 cases for which cell blocks were available for evaluation, BRAF p.V600E immunostaining was positive in 17 cases, negative in 16 cases, and equivocal in 1 case. The overall sensitivity and specificity of BRAF p.V600E immunostaining on the cell block preparation was 94.4% and 100%, respectively, whereas for the smears it was 80% and 63.6%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSBRAF p.V600E immunostaining can be performed reliably on thyroid FNA cell block preparations. However, false‐positive results on direct smears limit their utility and therefore need to be interpreted with caution. Cancer Cytopathol 2018;126:406‐13. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Morphological characterization of HVC projection neurons in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
Authors: Benezra Sam E. , Narayanan Rajeevan T. , Egger Robert , Oberlaender Marcel , Long Michael A. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSinging behavior in the adult male zebra finch is dependent upon the activity of a cortical region known as HVC (proper name). The vast majority of HVC projection neurons send primary axons to either the downstream premotor nucleus RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium, or primary motor cortex) or Area X (basal ganglia), which play important roles in song production or song learning, respectively. In addition to these long‐range outputs, HVC neurons also send local axon collaterals throughout that nucleus. Despite their implications for a range of circuit models, these local processes have never been completely reconstructed. Here, we use in vivo single‐neuron Neurobiotin fills to examine 40 projection neurons across 31 birds with somatic positions distributed across HVC. We show that HVC(RA) and HVC(X) neurons have categorically distinct dendritic fields. Additionally, these cell classes send axon collaterals that are either restricted to a small portion of HVC (“local neurons”) or broadly distributed throughout the entire nucleus (“broadcast neurons”). Overall, these processes within HVC offer a structural basis for significant local processing underlying behaviorally relevant population activity.
Fast uncertainty quantification of activation sequences in patient‐specific cardiac electrophysiology meeting clinical time constraints
Authors: Quaglino A. , Pezzuto S. , Koutsourelakis P. S. , Auricchio A. , Krause R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe present a fast, patient‐specific methodology for uncertainty quantification in electrophysiology, aimed at meeting the time constraints of clinical practitioners. We focus on computing the statistics of the activation map, given the uncertainties associated with the conductivity tensor modeling the fiber orientation in the heart. We use a fast parallel solution method implemented on a graphics processing unit for the eikonal approximation, in order to compute the activation map and to sample the random fiber field with correlation on the basis of geodesic distances. While this enables to perform uncertainty quantification studies with a manageable computational effort, the required time frame still exceeds clinically suitable time expectations. In order to reduce it further by 2 orders of magnitude, we rely on Bayesian multifidelity methods. In particular, we propose a low‐fidelity model that is patient‐specific and free from the additional training cost associated with reduced models. This is achieved by a sound physics–based simplification of the full eikonal model. The low‐fidelity output is then corrected by the standard multifidelity framework. In practice, the complete procedure only requires approximately 100 new runs of our eikonal graphics processing unit solver for producing the sought estimates and their associated credible intervals, enabling a full online analysis in less than 5 minutes.
Intelligent Optimization of Na−Mn−W/SiO2 Catalysts for the Oxidative Coupling of Methane
Authors: Li Zhinian , Wang Shenliang , Hong Wei , Zou Shihui , Xiao Liping , Fan Jie 
Published: March 2018

AbstractOptimizing the performance and understanding the mechanism of metal oxide catalysts in the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is one of the most important projects in industrial catalysis. Here, we report an intelligent approach to screen Na−Mn−W/SiO2 catalysts for the OCM reaction via ink‐jet printing and multidimensional group testing. The ink‐jet‐printing‐assisted (IJP‐A) synthetic methodology ensured a fast synthesis of 1536 catalysts that were evaluated in 24 tests via a multidimensional group testing strategy (m‐GT). After two‐round synthesis‐and‐screening processes, several excellent groups with different composition space were screened out. Among the excellent catalysts, the OCM performance of Na−Mn−W/SiO2 catalyst with higher Na, Mn and W content (G3 and G7) was less sensitive to its constituent than that of Na−Mn−W/SiO2 catalyst with lower Na, Mn and W content (G1). These results indicated the sensitivity of performance to its Na, Mn and W content decreased in larger Na, Mn and W spaces, consistent with the complex homogeneous/heterogeneous reaction mechanism and multi‐active sites. A series of Na−Mn−W/SiO2 formulas with good performance also provide a reasonable explanation to its excellent stability for the OCM reaction. In addition, this intelligent optimization in total space offers a pathway to study the multicomponent metal oxide catalyst in the OCM reaction.
Bioequivalence of Two Formulations of Gliclazide in a Randomized Crossover Study in Healthy Caucasian Subjects Under Fasting Conditions
Authors: Pop Diana Ioana , Oroian Monica , Bhardwaj Sandeep , Marcovici Adriana , Khuroo Arshad , Kochhar Ravi , Vlase Laurian 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the bioequivalence of 2 formulations of gliclazide modified‐release tablets 60 mg in 48 healthy Caucasian volunteers under fasting conditions. A test product, Gliclazide MR (Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, now Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, India), was compared with a reference product, Diamicron MR (Servier, France). The study was performed under a single‐dose, 2‐treatment, 2‐period, 2‐sequence crossover design in a fasted condition with a washout period of 21 days. Blood samples were collected for 96 hours after drug administration. Drug plasma concentrations were determined by a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. Analysis of pharmacokinetic characteristics was based on a noncompartmental model. The logarithmically transformed data of Cmax and AUC were analyzed for 90% confidence intervals using analysis of variance. There was no significant difference in pharmacokinetic characteristics between the products, and the 90% confidence intervals were within the acceptance range of 80.00%–125.00%. The investigated products were bioequivalent under fasted conditions.
A regression data mining approach in Lean Production
Authors: Bragança Ricardo , Portela Filipe , Santos Manuel 
Published: March 2018

SummaryNowadays, companies want technologies that are able to help them to make the best decision. Data Mining is an excellent tool to estimate the sales. It allows the company to optimize its production and reduce costs, eg, in storage. When these models are combined with Lean Production, it becomes easier to remove waste and optimize industrial production. This case study followed the CRISP‐DM methodology in order to create a model able to reduce and, if possible, eliminate wastage. Several statistics measures were applied to the dataset. Regression algorithms were induced with the goal to find which one of the models are less likely to make mistakes, in other words, what model correctly predict the target result. After executing the tests, the model M1 from the scenario C1 with RandomTree algorithm, average data grouping and average method class creation is the less likely one to give errors regarding regression, having produced an RAE of 6.75%.
Cobalt Complex with Redox‐Active Imino Bipyridyl Ligand for Electrocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formate
Authors: Liu Fang‐Wei , Bi Jiaojiao , Sun Yuanyuan , Luo Shuping , Kang Peng 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAn imino bipyridine cobalt(II) complex was developed for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formate in acetonitrile with a faradaic efficiency of approximately 80 %. For comparison, a symmetric bis‐imino pyridine complex showed lower catalytic activity because of less conjugation in the system. Cyclic voltammetry, electron paramagnetic resonance and IR spectroscopy studies provided mechanistic details and the structures of the key intermediates. DFT calculations confirmed the role of large π‐conjugated groups for stabilizing key intermediates through electronic conjugation.
Myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase‐3, cardiometabolic risk factors, and distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy: The KORA F4/FF4 study
Authors: Herder Christian , Kannenberg Julia M. , Huth Cornelia , Carstensen‐Kirberg Maren , Rathmann Wolfgang , Koenig Wolfgang , Strom Alexander , Bönhof Gidon J. , Heier Margit , Thorand Barbara , Peters Annette , Roden Michael , Meisinger Christa , Ziegler Dan 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundOxidative stress has been proposed as important pathomechanism of cardiometabolic diseases and distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). However, the relevance of biomarkers of oxidative stress has not been investigated in this context. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association of the prooxidant myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the antioxidant extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) with cardiometabolic risk factors and with prevalence and incidence of DSPN.MethodsCross‐sectional analyses comprised 1069 participants (40.3% with prediabetes and 20.5% with type 2 diabetes) of the population‐based Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) F4 study (2006‐2008), 181 of whom had DSPN at baseline. Prospective analyses included 524 individuals without DSPN at baseline who also participated in the KORA FF4 study (2013‐2014), 132 of whom developed DSPN during the 6.5‐year follow‐up. Serum MPO and SOD3 were measured by ELISA, and their association with cardiometabolic risk factors and DSPN were estimated by using linear and logistic regression analyses.ResultsHigher MPO and SOD levels showed multiple positive associations with cardiometabolic risk factors including age, indices of obesity, insulin resistance, serum lipids, renal dysfunction, and biomarkers of inflammation. Higher MPO levels were associated with prevalent DSPN (fully adjusted OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.10; 1.72] per doubling of MPO). Higher baseline SOD3 levels were related to incident DSPN (age and sex‐adjusted OR 2.14 [1.02; 4.48] per doubling of SOD3), which was partially explained by cardiometabolic risk factors.ConclusionsSystemic levels of both pro‐ and antioxidant enzymes appear involved in cardiometabolic risk and development of DSPN.
Fear of pain and cortisol reactivity predict the strength of stress‐induced hypoalgesia
Authors: Timmers I. , Kaas A.L. , Quaedflieg C.W.E.M. , Biggs E.E. , Smeets T. , de Jong J.R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundAcute stress can have an effect on pain sensitivity, yet the direction of the effect – whether it is hypoalgesic or hyperalgesic – is mixed across studies. Moreover, which part of the stress response influences pain sensitivity is still unclear. In the current experimental study, we aim to examine the effect of acute stress on heat pain thresholds and pain tolerance levels in healthy participants, while taking into account individual differences in stress responses.MethodsForty‐two healthy participants were randomly assigned to either a well‐validated stress paradigm: the Maastricht Acute Stress Task (MAST; combining physical and psychological stressors) or to a nonstressful version of the task. Heat pain thresholds and tolerance levels were assessed at three times: prior to the MAST, immediately after the MAST during the presumed sympatho‐adrenal medullary (SAM) response, and 15 min after MAST to cover the presumed hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis response. Stress responses were assessed both subjectively and physiologically.ResultsWe observed that the acute stress induction led to increased heat pain thresholds, an effect that was present only in participants showing a cortisol response following stress induction and only in the presumed HPA axis time window. The strength of this hypoalgesic effect was further predicted by the change in cortisol and by fear of pain levels.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the HPA axis – and not the autonomic – stress response specifically underlies this stress‐induced hypoalgesic effect, having important implications for clinical states with HPA axis dysfunctions.SignificanceThis experimental study shows that an acute stress induction – that combines physical and psychological stressors – increases heat pain thresholds, but not tolerance in healthy participants. Furthermore, the magnitude of this stress‐induced hypoalgesic effect is predicted by cortisol reactivity and fear of pain, revealing specific involvement of the HPA axis stress system and interactions with pain‐related psychosocial aspects.
Determination of topiramate by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively‐coupled contactless conductivity detection: A powerful tool for therapeutic monitoring in epileptic patients
Authors: Ishikawa Aline Akemi , da Silva Rodrigo Moreira , Santos Mauro Sérgio Ferreira , da Costa Eric Tavares , Sakamoto Americo Ceiki , Carrilho Emanuel , de Gaitani Cristiane Masetto , Garcia Carlos D. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTopiramate (TPM) is the main antiepileptic drug used for the control of partial and generalized seizures in both adults and children. In association with clinical observations, the analysis of plasmatic concentration of TPM is of utmost importance for the individual adjustment of the administered dose to the patient. In the present work, a bioanalytical method was developed and validated for TPM analysis in plasma samples by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively‐coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE‐C4D). A simple background electrolyte composed of 15 mmol/L triethylamine, hydrodynamic injections (0.8 psi for 5 s) and a moderate separation voltage (20 kV) were used, rendering relatively short analysis times (<3 min). The sample pre‐treatment was carried out by liquid‐liquid extraction using methyl terc‐butyl ether as solvent and 200 μL of plasma. The method was validated according to the official guidelines from the European Medicine Agency and showed linearity in plasmatic concentration range from 1 to 30 μg/mL, which covers the clinically‐relevant interval. The lower limit of quantification of 1 μg/mL obtained also allows following patients with low dosage of the drug. The method was successfully applied to analysis of plasma samples and allowed the identification of 80% under‐medicated patients in the analyzed patient pool.
Profiling of small molecule metabolites and neurotransmitters in crustacean hemolymph and neuronal tissues using reversed‐phase LC‐MS/MS
Authors: Cao Qinjingwen , Ouyang Chuanzi , Zhong Xuefei , Li Lingjun 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCrustaceans have been long used as model animals for neuromodulation studies because of their well‐defined neural circuitry. The identification of small molecule metabolites and signaling molecules in circulating fluids and neuronal tissues presents unique challenges due to their diverse structures, biological functions, and wide range of concentrations. LC combined with high resolution MS/MS is one of the most powerful tools to uncover endogenous small molecules. Here we explored several sample preparation techniques (solid‐phase extraction and denaturing) and MS data acquisition strategies (data‐dependent acquisition and targeted MS2‐based acquisition) that provided complementary coverage and improved overall identification rate in C18 LC‐MS/MS experiment. By MS/MS spectral matching with mzCloud database and those generated from standard compounds, a total of 129 small molecule metabolites and neurotransmitters were identified from crustacean hemolymph and neuronal tissues. These confidently identified small molecules covered predominant biosynthetic pathways for major neurotransmitters, validating the effectiveness of the high‐throughput RPLC‐MS/MS approach in studying the metabolism of neurotransmitters.
Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) in a specialist inpatient eating disorder service for children and adolescents: CAN‐CRT study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Giombini Lucia , Nesbitt Sophie , Cox Hannah , Foxall Anna , Sharia Teo , Easter Abigail , Tchanturia Kate 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntroductionResearch on treatments for young people (YP) with anorexia nervosa (AN) is scarce. Evidence supports the use of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) to improve central coherence and set‐shifting, inefficiencies that can negatively impact on prognosis.ObjectiveThe study aims to evaluate the feasibility of individual CRT in an inpatient setting for YP aged 10–18 years with AN and to qualitatively examine YP's and their parents experiences.MethodIn a single‐centre, pilot, randomised controlled trial, 80 patients aged 10–18 years with AN will be randomly allocated to the immediate or delayed CRT group, in addition to standard treatment. A repeated measures design will be conducted across 3 time points.DiscussionThe data will provide evidence regarding the feasibility of individual CRT in YP with AN, informing directions of further development of CRT. The study is in preparation for a definitive randomised controlled trial. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the study protocol.
Enhancing momentum investment strategy using leverage
Authors: Forner Carlos , Muradoglu Yaz Gülnur , Sivaprasad Sheeja 
Published: March 2018

AbstractPrevious studies examine investment strategies based on leverage and momentum; none investigates both variables jointly as an investment strategy. This paper is the first incorporating leverage and momentum together. We show that low past returns (losers) forecast future negative abnormal returns only among stocks with high leverage levels, but not among stocks with low leverage levels. However, high past returns (winners) forecast future positive abnormal returns independently of leverage level. As a result, the negative relation between leverage and future abnormal returns is only observed among loser stocks, and the positive relation between past returns and future abnormal returns is only shown among non‐low leverage stocks. Our results are important in achieving better investment strategies: buying winners' stocks (independently of their level of leverage) and short‐selling losers' stocks with high leverage yield higher abnormal returns than strategies based on only one of these variables. Our two‐dimensional strategy yields risk‐adjusted abnormal returns of 15.66% per annum, whereas the single leverage or momentum strategies yield 7.70% and 7.96% per annum, respectively. The difference is nearly 8% and economically significant. If leverage is considered as proxy for default risk, our results, contrary to previous evidence, show that momentum profits are not exclusive of default stocks, and that momentum returns are not only driven by negative returns yielded by distress stocks.