bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Group Prenatal Visits: Maternal and Neonatal Health Outcomes
Authors: Groskaufmanis Lauren , Brunner Huber Larissa R. , Vick Tara 
Published: August 2018

IntroductionMost studies evaluating the effect of group prenatal care on maternal and neonatal health outcomes assess the CenteringPregnancy model, which follows a set structure and educational curriculum. Group prenatal visits (GPVs) bring together pregnant patients for visits that include education and a health evaluation. GPVs represent a more flexible method of delivering group prenatal care, compared with CenteringPregnancy. Our study sought to determine whether GPV participation affects maternal and neonatal health outcomes.MethodsThe Myers Park Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and serves a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse population. GPVs were offered at the clinic between July 2014 and July 2015. Retrospective data were collected for women who obtained prenatal care, either GPV or individual care, during that period. Demographic, birth, and postpartum data were extracted from the electronic health record. GPV participants were categorized by the percent of prenatal visits that were GPVs (limited GPV: <30% of visits as GPV; moderate GPV: ≥30% of visits as GPV). Logistic regression models were created to assess the effect of GPV participation on low birth weight, preterm birth, cesarean birth, and postpartum visit attendance.ResultsThere were 355 study participants (GPV n = 78, individual care n = 277). Among GPV participants, 52.6% were classified as limited GPV, and 47.4% were classified as moderate GPV. The adjusted analysis showed limited‐GPV patients had lower odds of postpartum visit attendance, compared with individual‐care patients (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.24‐0.94). Neither the unadjusted nor adjusted models demonstrated a statistically significant association between GPV participation and low birth weight, preterm birth, or cesarean birth.DiscussionGPVs for prenatal care can be implemented without negative effects on maternal or neonatal health. However, fidelity to a more comprehensive model of group prenatal care may be necessary to achieve health outcome improvements.
Development and validation of microsatellite markers for Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) and loose smut (Ustilago segetum tritici) of wheat from related fungal species
Authors: Sharma Pradeep , Shefali  , Pandey Bharati , Muthusamy Senthilkumar K. , Kumar Satish , Saharan Mahender Singh , Kumar Sudheer , Singroha Garima , Sharma Indu , Singh Gyanendra Pratap 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSimple sequence repeats (SSRs) are preferred molecular markers because of their abundance, robustness, high reproducibility, high efficiency in detecting variation and suitability for high‐throughput analysis. In this study, an attempt was made to mine and analyse the SSRs from the genomes of two seed‐borne fungal pathogens, viz Ustilago maydis, which causes common smut of maize, and Tilletia horrida, the cause of rice kernel smut. After elimination of redundant sequences, 2,703 SSR loci of U. maydis were identified. Of the remaining SSRS, 44.5% accounted for di‐nucleotide repeats followed by 29.8% and 2.7% tri‐ and tetranucleotide repeats, respectively. Similarly, 2,638 SSR loci were identified in T. horrida, of which 20.2% were di‐nucleotide, 50.4% tri‐ and 20.5% tetra‐nucleotide repeats. A set of 65 SSRs designed from each fungus were validated, which yielded 23 polymorphic SSRs from Ustilago and 21 from Tilletia. These polymorphic SSR loci were also successfully cross‐amplified with the Ustilago segetum tritici and Tilletia indica. Principal coordinate analysis of SSR data clustered isolates according to their respective species. These newly developed and validated microsatellite markers may have immediate applications for detection of genetic variability and in population studies of bunt and smut of wheat and other related host plants. Moreover, this is first comprehensive report on molecular markers suitable for variability studies in wheat seed‐borne pathogens.
Noncolloquial Arabic in Tunisian Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Possible Instance of Language Acquisition in a Noninteractive Context
Authors: Kissine Mikhail , Luffin Xavier , Aiad Fethia , Bourourou Rym , Deliens Gaétane , Gaddour Naoufel 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe have documented the significant presence of spontaneous and productive use of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in the speech of five Tunisian boys with autism, an unusual phenomenon. In typical development, MSA is not fully acquired before the late school years. The Arabic language in Tunisia is in a state of diglossia, and (unlike the colloquial Tunisian Arabic variety) MSA is virtually never used in everyday conversation. Television programs broadcast across the Arabic‐speaking world constitute the most important source of MSA for preschool children. Typically developing children require active social interaction to develop language, but some children with autism may use television and cartoons as noninteractional input to acquire language. This study highlighted the existence of a noninteractional language‐learning strategy that may partly compensate for the sociopragmatic deficits that characterize autism.
Esophageal tissue engineering: from bench to bedside
Authors: Arakelian Lousineh , Kanai Nobuo , Dua Kulwinder , Durand Marlène , Cattan Pierre , Ohki Takeshi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFor various esophageal diseases, the search for alternative techniques for tissue repair has led to significant developments in basic and translational research in the field of tissue engineering. Applied to the esophagus, this concept is based on the in vitro combination of elements judged necessary for in vivo implantation to promote esophageal tissue remodeling. Different methods are currently being explored to develop substitutes using cells, scaffolds, or a combination of both, according to the severity of lesions to be treated. In this review, we discuss recent advances in (1) cell sheet technology for preventing stricture after extended esophageal mucosectomy and (2) full‐thickness circumferential esophageal replacement using tissue‐engineered substitutes.
High ambient temperature antagonizes ethylene‐induced exaggerated apical hook formation in etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings
Authors: Jin Huanhuan , Pang Lei , Fang Shuang , Chu Jinfang , Li Ruixi , Zhu Ziqiang 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEthylene stimulates the exaggerated hook formation in etiolated seedlings. It has been reported that other phytohormones, such as jasmonate or gibberellins, could inhibit or coordinate hook formation, respectively. However, whether any environmental factors participate in this process is unknown. Here, we show that in darkness, high ambient temperature suppresses the ethylene‐triggered exaggerated hook formation in wild‐type plants and reduces the hook curvatures in constitutively ethylene responsive mutants. Interestingly, high temperature does not abrogate the activity of the central transcription factor EIN3, suggesting that high temperature acts downstream of ethylene signaling. Next, we show that the natural auxin levels in the hook regions are reduced and their asymmetric distributions are disturbed upon high temperature treatment. To explore the mechanisms for reducing auxin accumulation, we monitor the transcription of several genes encoding auxin biosynthesis related enzymes and find that most YUCCA genes are transcriptionally down‐regulated. Finally, we show that the currently reported plant thermo‐sensory components in light‐grown plants (phytochrome or PIF4) are not sufficient for thermo‐sensing in etiolated seedlings. We speculate that in darkness, plants sense high ambient temperature through a distinct mechanism. Taken together, we demonstrate that high temperature suppresses ethylene‐induced exaggerated hook formation via the inhibition of local auxin activities.
Estimating nonlinear additive models with nonstationarities and correlated errors
Authors: Vogt Michael , Walsh Christopher 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we study a nonparametric additive regression model suitable for a wide range of time series applications. Our model includes a periodic component, a deterministic time trend, various component functions of stochastic explanatory variables, and an AR(p) error process that accounts for serial correlation in the regression error. We propose an estimation procedure for the nonparametric component functions and the parameters of the error process based on smooth backfitting and quasimaximum likelihood methods. Our theory establishes convergence rates and the asymptotic normality of our estimators. Moreover, we are able to derive an oracle‐type result for the estimators of the AR parameters: Under fairly mild conditions, the limiting distribution of our parameter estimators is the same as when the nonparametric component functions are known. Finally, we illustrate our estimation procedure by applying it to a sample of climate and ozone data collected on the Antarctic Peninsula.
Analysis of the otic mycobiota in dogs with otitis externa compared to healthy individuals
Authors: Korbelik Juraj , Singh Ameet , Rousseau Joyce , Weese J. Scott 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundOtitis externa is a common multifactorial disease with a prevalence in dogs as high as 10–20%. In humans, the diversity of the cutaneous mycobiota appears to increase in diseased states, whereas one canine study identified a decrease in diversity of the cutaneous mycobiota in atopic dogs compared to healthy individuals.Hypothesis/objectivesTo describe the otic mycobiota in dogs with otitis externa compared to healthy dogs.AnimalsSamples were collected from six dogs with clinical and cytological evidence of otitis externa and five clinically normal dogs.Methods and materialsSwabs were collected from the ears of six dogs with fungal otitis externa. DNA from each sample was isolated and Illumina sequencing was performed targeting the internal transcribed spacer region. Sequences were processed using the bioinformatics software MOTHUR.ResultsFungi from ten different phyla were identified. The mycobiota of all affected ears was dominated by the generaMalassezia,which accounted for 55.7–98.4% of sequences (median 96.8%). Affected ears had significantly decreased observed richness, estimated richness and inverse Simpson's diversity index compared to controls (P= 0.008). Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified 42 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that were differentially abundant (P< 0.05). Three OTUs were over‐represented in the affected ears, includingM. pachydermatis,whereas 39 OTUs were over‐represented in healthy ears.ConclusionsReduced fungal richness and diversity was present in affected ears, with markedly higher relative abundances ofMalassezia. The otic fungal mycobiota is much more complex than has been identified with culture‐based studies.
A locomotor learning paradigm using distorted visual feedback elicits strategic learning
Authors: French Margaret A. , Morton Susanne M. , Charalambous Charalambos C. , Reisman Darcy S. 
Published: August 2018

Distorted visual feedback (DVF) during locomotion has been suggested to result in the development of a new walking pattern in healthy individuals through implicit learning processes. Recent work in upper extremity visuomotor rotation paradigms suggest that these paradigms involve implicit and explicit learning. Additionally, in upper extremity visuomotor paradigms, the verbal cues provided appear to impact how a behavior is learned and when this learned behavior is used. Here, in two experiments in neurologically intact individuals, we tested how verbal instruction impacts learning a new locomotor pattern on a treadmill through DVF, the transfer of that pattern to overground walking, and what types of learning occur (i.e., implicit vs. explicit learning). In experiment 1, we found that the instructions provided impacted the amount learned through DVF, but not the size of the aftereffects or the amount of the pattern transferred to overground walking. Additionally, the aftereffects observed were significantly different from the baseline walking pattern, but smaller than the behavior changes observed during learning, which is uncharacteristic of implicit sensorimotor adaptation. Thus, experiment 2 aimed to determine the cause of these discrepancies. In this experiment, when VF was not provided, individuals continued using the learned walking pattern when instructed to do so and returned toward their baseline pattern when instructed to do so. Based on these results, we conclude that DVF during locomotion results in a large portion of explicit learning and a small portion of implicit learning. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The results of this study suggest that distorted visual feedback during locomotor learning involves the development of an explicit strategy with only a small component of implicit learning. This is important because previous studies using distorted visual feedback have suggested that locomotor learning relies primarily on implicit learning. This paradigm, therefore, provides a new way to examine a different form of learning in locomotion.
Bistratified starburst amacrine cells in Sox2 conditional knockout mouse retina display ON and OFF responses
Authors: Stincic Todd L. , Keeley Patrick W. , Reese Benjamin E. , Taylor W. Rowland 
Published: August 2018

Cell-intrinsic factors, in conjunction with environmental signals, guide migration, differentiation, and connectivity during early development of neuronal circuits. Within the retina, inhibitory starburst amacrine cells (SBACs) comprise ON types with somas in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and dendrites stratifying narrowly in the inner half of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and OFF types with somas in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and dendrites stratifying narrowly in the outer half of the IPL. The transcription factor Sox2 is crucial to this subtype specification. Without Sox2, many ON-type SBACs destined for the GCL settle in the INL while many that reach the GCL develop bistratified dendritic arbors. This study asked whether ON-type SBACs in Sox2-conditional knockout retinas exhibit selective connectivity only with ON-type bipolar cells or their bistratified morphology allows them to connect to both ON and OFF bipolar cells. Physiological data demonstrate that these cells receive ON and OFF excitatory inputs, indicating that the ectopically stratified dendrites make functional synapses with bipolar cells. The excitatory inputs were smaller and more transient in Sox2-conditional knockout compared with wild type; however, inhibitory inputs appeared largely unchanged. Thus dendritic stratification, rather than cellular identification, may be the major factor that determines ON vs. OFF connectivity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Conditional knockout of the transcription factor Sox2 during early embryogenesis converts a monostratifying starburst amacrine cell into a bistratifying starburst cell. Here we show that these bistratifying starburst amacrine cells form functional synaptic connections with both ON and OFF bipolar cells. This suggests that normal ON vs. OFF starburst connectivity may not require distinct molecular specification. Proximity alone may be sufficient to allow formation of functional synapses.
EMG characteristics of the external anal sphincter guarding reflex and effects of a unilateral ventral root avulsion injury in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Chang Huiyi H. , Lee Una , Vu Timothy , Pikov Victor , Nieto Jaime H. , Christe Kari L. , Havton Leif A. 
Published: August 2018

The external anal sphincter (EAS) is important for the maintenance of bowel continence and may be compromised by a variety of neuropathic conditions. However, large animal models for the study of EAS functions have been sparse. The EAS guarding reflex was examined by electromyography (EMG) in neurologically intact rhesus macaques ( n = 6) and at 4–6 wk after a unilateral EAS denervation from an L6–S3 ventral root avulsion (VRA) injury ( n = 6). Baseline EAS EMG recordings were quiescent in all subjects, and evoked responses showed an initial large-amplitude EMG activity, which gradually returned to baseline within 1–2 min. At 4–6 wk postoperatively, the EAS guarding reflex showed a significantly reduced EMG response duration of 47 ± 15 s and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.198 ± 0.097 mV·s compared with the corresponding evoked EAS EMG duration of 102 ± 19 s and AUC of 0.803 ± 0.225 mV·s ( P < 0.05) in the control group. Detailed time- and frequency-domain analysis of the evoked EAS EMG responses for the first 40 s showed no difference between groups for the maximum amplitude but a significant decrease for the mean amplitude across the study period and an early AUC reduction for the first 10 s in the VRA injury group. Time-frequency analysis and power spectrum plots indicated decreased intensity and a narrower midrange of frequencies in the VRA injury group. We conclude that the EAS guarding reflex in rhesus macaques shows characteristic EMG features in control subjects and signs of partial target denervation after a unilateral L6–S3 VRA injury.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The external anal sphincter guarding reflex showed initial large-amplitude peaks and a gradual return to a quiescent baseline after a rectal probe stimulus in rhesus macaques. At 4–6 wk after a unilateral ventral root avulsion (VRA) injury, the electromyography duration, mean amplitude, and area under the curve measurements were decreased. Time-frequency analysis and power spectrum plots indicated decreased intensity and a narrowed midrange of frequencies in the VRA injury cohort.
Real-time slacking as a default mode of grip force control: implications for force minimization and personal grip force variation
Authors: Smith Brendan W. , Rowe Justin B. , Reinkensmeyer David J. 
Published: August 2018

During trial-to-trial movement adaptation, the motor system systematically reduces extraneous muscle forces when kinematic errors experienced on previous movements are small, a phenomenon termed “slacking.” There is also growing evidence that the motor system slacks continuously (i.e., in real-time) during arm movement or grip force control, but the initiation of this slacking is not well-characterized, obfuscating its physiological cause. Here, we addressed this issue by asking participants ( n = 32) to track discrete force targets presented visually using isometric grip force, then applying a brief, subtle error-clamp to that visual feedback on random trials. Participants reduced their force in an exponential fashion, on these error-clamp trials, except when the target force was <10% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). This force drift began <250 ms after the onset of the error-clamp, consistent with slacking being an ongoing process unmasked immediately after the motor system finished reacting to the last veridical feedback. Above 10% MVC, the slacking rate increased linearly with grip force magnitude. Grip force variation was approximately 50–100% higher with veridical feedback, largely due to heightened signal power at ~1 Hz, the band of visuomotor feedback control. Finally, the slacking rate measured for each participant during error-clamp trials correlated with their force variation during control trials. That is, participants who slacked more had greater force variation. These results suggest that real-time slacking continuously reduces grip force until visual error prompts correction. Whereas such slacking is suited for force minimization, it may also account for ~30% of the variability in personal grip force variation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We provide evidence that a form of slacking continuously conditions real-time grip force production. This slacking is well-suited to promote efficiency but is expected to increase force variation by triggering additional feedback corrections. Moreover, we show that the rate at which a person slacks is substantially correlated with the variation of their grip force. In combination, at the neurophysiological level, our results suggest slacking is caused by one or more relatively smooth neural adaptations.
Electronic Medical Alerts Increase Screening for Chronic Hepatitis B: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial
Authors: Chak Eric , Taefi Amir , Li Chin-Shang , Chen Moon S. , Harris Aaron M. , MacDonald Scott , Bowlus Christopher 
Published: August 2018

Abstract
Background: Implementation of screening recommendations for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) among foreign-born persons at risk has been sub-optimal. The use of alerts and reminders in the electronic health record (EHR) has led to increased screening for other common conditions. The aim of our study was to measure the effectiveness of an EHR alert on the implementation of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening of foreign-born Asian and Pacific Islander (API) patients.
Methods: We used a novel technique to identify API patients by self-identified ethnicity, surname, country of origin, and language preference, and who had no record of CHB screening with HBsAg within the EHR. Patients with Medicare and/or Medicaid insurance were excluded due to lack of coverage for routine HBsAg screening at the time of this study. At-risk API patients were randomized to alert activation in their EHR or not (control).
Results: A total of 2,987 patients met inclusion criteria and were randomized to the alert (n = 1,484) or control group (n = 1,503). In the alert group, 119 patients were tested for HBsAg, compared with 48 in the control group (odds ratio, 2.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.88–3.73; P &lt; 0.001). In the alert group, 4 of 119 (3.4%) tested HBsAg-positive compared with 5 of 48 (10.4%) in the control group (P = 0.12).
Conclusions: An EHR alert significantly increased HBsAg testing among foreign-born APIs.
Impact: Utilization of EHR alerts has the potential to improve implementation of hepatitis B–screening guidelines. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(11); 1352–7. ©2018 AACR.
Comparison of Radical Nephrectomy and Partial Nephrectomy for T1 Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yang Chao , Liao Zhaolin 
Published: August 2018

Objective: To contrast the clinical effects and complications for the treatment of T1 renal carcinoma in partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN). Methods: Multiple databases were adopted to search relevant studies, and articles that eventually satisfied the inclusion criteria were included. All meta-analyses were conducted with the Review Manager 5.0, and to estimate the quality of each article, risk of bias table was performed. Results: In the end, 13 studies including 13,269 patients were involved, which eventually satisfied the eligibility criteria. The number of samples in the PN group and the RN group were 6,145 and 7,124 respectively. The results of heterogeneity test suggested that the operating time (mean difference [MD] = –13.02, 95% CI [–14.15 to –11.89], p < 0.00001; p for heterogeneity < 0.00001, I2 = 100%), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 24 h after surgery (MD = 11.28, 95% CI [10.71–11.85], p < 0.00001; p for heterogeneity < 0.000001, I2 = 98%), and recurrence (OR 0.99, 95% CI [0.51–1.93], p = 0.97; p for Heterogeneity = 0.73, I2 = 0%) were significantly different, while differences in GFR at 24 h before surgery (MD = 0.59, 95% CI [0.06–1.12], p = 0.03; p for heterogeneity < 0.000001, I2 = 76%) between PN and RN were insignificant. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that clinical efficacy of RN was better than that of PN to some extent, but PN was a quicker recovery and less harmful therapy.