bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Text reading speed in a language with a shallow orthography benefits less from comprehension as reading ability matures
Authors: Carretti Barbara , Toffalini Enrico , Saponaro Cosmiana , Viola Francesco , Cornoldi Cesare 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundReading can be assessed using different materials, including non‐words and texts. Unlike reading words or non‐words, reading a text may be supported by reading comprehension, and the extent of this support could change with the amount of schooling.AimThe present study aimed to examine how reading decoding in a shallow orthography like Italian changed with years of schooling, depending on the type of material and the contribution of non‐word reading and reading comprehension to text reading speed.MethodsSix hundred and forty two typically developing Italian students from 8 to 16 years old were involved. They were administered grade‐appropriate tasks assessing text reading speed, non‐word reading speed, and reading comprehension.ResultsThe results showed that, although the two reading speed measures correlated closely, non‐word reading speed improved only slightly with age, while the increase in text reading speed was steeper. Reading comprehension was a significant direct predictor of text reading speed after controlling for non‐word reading speed. Importantly, however, while the difference in reading speed between non‐words and text widened with schooling, the role of reading comprehension declined significantly, the ΔR2 dropping from .10 in primary school to just .01 in high school.ConclusionsThese findings and their implications are discussed in the light of the relationship between reading comprehension and reading speed in a language with a shallow orthography across school grades.
Impact of tumor microenvironment on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Matsumoto Yoshiya , Sawa Kenji , Fukui Mitsuru , Oyanagi Jun , Izumi Motohiro , Ogawa Koichi , Suzumura Tomohiro , Watanabe Tetsuya , Kaneda Hiroyasu , Mitsuoka Shigeki , Asai Kazuhisa , Kimura Tatsuo , Yamamoto Nobuyuki , Koh Yasuhiro , Kawaguchi Tomoya 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe retrospectively investigated the impact of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first‐line treatment in 70 patients with advanced EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer and who were seen at Osaka City University Hospital (Osaka, Japan) between August 2013 and December 2017. Using immunohistochemical staining with 28‐8 and D7U8C Abs, the tumor proportion score was assessed for programmed cell death‐1 ligand‐1 (PD‐L1), as high (50% or more) or low (less than 50%), and ligand‐2 (PD‐L2) expression, respectively. The extent of CD8+ tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes was evaluated on a scale of 0‐3, with 0‐1 as low and 2‐3 as high. The TME of the 52 evaluable pretreatment specimens was categorized into 4 subtypes, according to the respective PD‐L1 tumor proportion and CD8+ scores, as follows: (a) high/high (13.5%, n = 7); (b) low/low (42.3%, n = 22); (c) high/low (17.3%, n = 9); and (d) low/high (26.9%, n = 14). Expression of PD‐L2 was significantly the highest in type 1 (57.1% vs 4.5% vs 11.1% vs 7.1%, respectively; P = .0090). Response rate was significantly the lowest in type 1 (14.3% vs 81.8% vs 66.7% vs 78.6%, respectively; P = .0085). Progression‐free survival was the shortest in type 1 and the longest in type 4 (median, 2.4 vs 11.3 vs 8.4 vs 17.5 months, respectively; P = .00000077). The efficacy of EGFR‐TKIs differed according to the TME, and the phenotype with high PD‐L1 and CD8+ expression might be the subset that would poorly benefit from such treatment.
Thyroid nodules as a risk factor for thyroid cancer in patients with Graves’ disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies in surgically treated patients
Authors: Papanastasiou Anastasios , Sapalidis Konstantinos , Goulis Dimitrios G. , Michalopoulos Nikolaos , Mareti Evangelia , Mantalovas Stylianos , Kesisoglou Isaak 
Published: August 2019

AbstractObjectiveGraves’ disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder characterized by hyperthyroidism. The incidence of thyroid cancer in patients with GD varies from 0.15% to 15%. There is conflicting evidence on the role of thyroid nodules as a risk factor for thyroid cancer in patients with GD.DesignThree electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus) as well as grey literature sources were searched, from inception until 25 February 2019, for observational studies about the prevalence of thyroid cancer in patients with GD.PatientsClinical and ultrasonographic examination was necessary preoperatively for all patients to be classified depending on the presence/absence of thyroid nodules.MeasurementsPrimary outcome was the incidence of thyroid cancer. The latter was determined after total or near‐total thyroidectomy by the histopathologic report. Statistical analysis was performed with revman 5.3 software.ResultsThe systematic review and meta‐analysis included 7 studies with 2582 patients overall. The prevalence of any thyroid cancer was 11.5%. The presence of at least one thyroid nodule in patients with GD was associated with higher risk for thyroid cancer (odds ratio [OR] 5.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4‐11.6, I2 83%). A subgroup analysis showed no difference in thyroid cancer risk in patients with GD according to the number of nodules (solitary versus multiple) (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9‐2.3, I2 0%).ConclusionsThe presence of thyroid nodules is positively associated with the prevalence of thyroid cancer in surgically treated patients with GD. However, further prospective research is needed as the heterogeneity among the studies is high.
Ronald Brady and the cladists
Authors: Ebach Malte C. , Williams David M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractRonald Brady was the first philosopher to defend pattern cladistics as an independent scientific field. That independence was achieved through the decoupling of biological systematics from phylogenetics––that is, inferred evolutionary processes (e.g. character transformation). Brady saw parallels between biological systematics and Wolfgang von Goethe's Morphology, an empirical scientific field that incorporates human observation and perception to discover coherent morphological structures. Goethe's Morphology and pre‐Darwinian systematics were independent from evolutionary narratives, a tradition that continued into the 20th Century through the work of biologists such as Agnes Arber. Most importantly, Brady provided the philosophical and historical foundations to an independent systematics by demonstrating the links between phenomenology, Goethe's Morphology and comparative biology.
Clinical features and surgical outcomes in young children with focal cortical dysplasia type II
Authors: Wang Tian‐Shuang , Liu Qing‐Zhu , Liu Ming , Zhang Qian , Wang Ruo‐Fan , Wu Chong‐Wei , Zhang Jie , Wang Wen , Ji Tao‐Yun , Liu Xiao‐Yan , Wang Shuang , Cai Li‐Xin , Jiang Yu‐Wu , Wu Ye 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimsTo investigate clinical characteristics and surgery outcomes of young children with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II.MethodsYoung children (onset age ≤6 years) with FCDII who underwent epileptic surgery in Children Epilepsy Center of Peking University First Hospital in 2014‐2018 were followed up for at least 6 months after surgery.ResultsOne hundred and twelve children with FCDII were included, with median age of onset 0.9 years (0.01‐5.9), who underwent surgery at 4.1 years old (0.8‐16.2). Focal seizures were most frequent (90.2%) and epileptic spasms presented in 23 (20.5%) cases. Epileptic encephalopathy was not uncommon (12.5%), associated with earlier epilepsy onset and higher rate of bilateral onset on ictal EEG (OR = 0.213, 9.059; P = .041, .004). At the last follow‐up, 88.4% achieved seizure‐free. Before surgery, 49.1% showed moderate/severe developmental delay, associated with earlier seizure onset and higher rate of history of epileptic encephalopathy (OR = 0.740, 5.160, P = .023, .042). For 48 children with preoperatively moderate/severe developmental delay, DQ rank at 6 months postsurgery was improved in only four cases.ConclusionFor young children with FCDII, they tend to present with epileptic encephalopathies and show moderate/severe developmental delay before surgery. The seizure outcome was favorable after surgery. For children with preoperatively moderate/severe developmental delay, developmental outcome at 6 months after surgery was not satisfactory.
Anti‐IL‐2R blockers comparing with polyclonal antibodies: Higher risk of rejection without negative mid‐term outcomes after ABO‐incompatible kidney transplantation
Authors: Del Bello Arnaud , Divard Gillian , Belliere Julie , Congy‐Jolivet Nicolas , Lanfranco Luca , Ricard Régine , Delas Audrey , Colombat Magali , Esposito Laure , Hebral Anne‐Laure , Cointault Olivier , Lefaucheur Carmen , Loupy Alexandre , Kamar Nassim 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThere is no recommendation regarding the type of induction therapy to use in ABO‐incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome of ABOi living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) recipients who received either polyclonal antibodies or anti‐interleukin‐2 receptor (IL‐2R) blockers as an induction agent. All ABOi HLA‐compatible patients that received a LDKT between 03/11 and 03/18 in three French transplantation center (Paris Saint‐Louis, Paris Necker, and Toulouse) were included in the study. Fifty‐eight patients were given polyclonal antibodies and 39 patients received anti‐IL‐2R blockers. We identified by a Cox proportional hazard model the use of polyclonal antibodies as a protective factor against acute rejection (HR = 0.4, 95%CI [0‐0.9], P < .05). However, pathological findings on protocol biopsies at 1 year were similar in both groups, as were patient and graft survivals, renal function, and complications. We conclude that the acute rejection rate was significantly higher in patients given anti‐IL‐2R blockers compared to polyclonal antibodies. However, in our series, there was no negative impact on mid‐term outcome.
Impact of technology on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes: A meta‐analysis of randomized trials on continuous glucose monitoring and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion
Authors: Dicembrini Ilaria , Mannucci Edoardo , Monami Matteo , Pala Laura 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAimTo conduct a meta‐analysis to assess the effect of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and the combination of the two, on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes.Materials and methodsThe analysis included randomized clinical trials comparing CSII with multiple daily injections (MDI) in people with type 2 diabetes, as well as studies comparing CGM or flash glucose monitoring (FGM) with self‐monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), with a duration of at least 12 weeks, identified in Medline or clinicaltrials.gov. The principal endpoint was glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at the end of the trial. Mean and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HbA1c and Mantel–Haenzel odds ratios for severe hypoglycaemia were calculated, using random‐effect models.ResultsThe retrieved trials showed a significant heterogeneity (I2 = 90%). The difference in HbA1c between CSII and MDI was not statistically significant (−0.26% [95% CI –0.74;0.22]; P = .29). The difference in endpoint HbA1c between CGM and SMBG was marginally significant (−0.24 [95% CI –0.49;0.00]; P = .05), and CGM was possibly associated with a lower hypoglycaemic risk. Only one trial explored the effect of FGM, as compared with SMBG, on HbA1c in type 2 diabetes, finding no difference across groups (at study end: 8.4% ± 0.8% vs 8.3% ± 1.1% with FGM and SMBG, respectively). Conversely, FGM was associated with an improvement in quality of life and with a lower incidence of hypoglycaemic events. The small number of retrieved trials indicates that the results should be interpreted with caution.ConclusionsThe analysis showed that CSII, CGM and FGM provide only small benefits compared with MDI (on either HbA1c, hypoglycaemic risk or quality of life) in insulin‐treated people with type 2 diabetes.
Cholesterol and neurodegeneration: longitudinal changes in serum cholesterol biomarkers are associated with new lesions and gray matter atrophy in multiple sclerosis over 5 years of follow‐up
Authors: Murali N. , Browne R. W. , Fellows Maxwell K. , Bodziak M. L. , Jakimovski D. , Hagemeier J. , Bergsland N. , Weinstock‐Guttman B. , Zivadinov R. , Ramanathan M. 
Published: August 2019

Background and purposeCholesterol is an important structural component of myelin and essential for brain homeostasis. Our objective was to investigate whether longitudinal changes in cholesterol biomarkers are associated with neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS).MethodsThis prospective, longitudinal study (n = 154) included 41 healthy controls, 76 relapsing–remitting MS subjects and 37 progressive MS subjects. Neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging and blood samples were obtained at baseline and at 5‐year follow‐up visits. Cholesterol biomarkers measured included plasma total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and the apolipoproteins ApoA‐I, Apo‐II, ApoB, ApoC‐II and ApoE. Key cholesterol pathway single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped.ResultsGreater percentage increases in HDL‐C and ApoA‐I levels were associated with a lower rate of gray matter and cortical volume loss. Greater percentage increases in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with increases in new T2 lesions. The percentage increases in HDL‐C (P = 0.032) and ApoA‐I (P = 0.007) were smaller in patients with relapsing–remitting MS at baseline who converted to secondary progressive MS during the 5‐year follow‐up period. Changes in HDL‐C and ApoA‐I were associated with lipoprotein lipase rs328 genotype status.ConclusionsIncreases in HDL‐C and ApoA‐I have protective associations with magnetic resonance imaging measures of neurodegeneration in MS.
Conditional currency hedging
Authors: Bucher Melk C. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractI propose a simple and robust approach to hedge currency risk that can be directly applied by international investors in diverse asset classes. Compared to current mean‐variance approaches, it is robust to overfitting and thus better anticipates risk‐minimizing currency positions for global equity, bond, and commodity investors out of sample. Furthermore, correlations among currencies, equities, and commodities can be predicted by lagged implied foreign exchange volatility. This allows investors to dynamically adjust their hedges, resulting in significantly lower risk compared to other hedging alternatives while maintaining or even improving Sharpe ratio, particularly during crisis periods.
Changing patterns of growth in a changing planet: How a shift in phenology affects critical life‐history traits in annual fishes
Authors: García Daniel , Smith Carl , Machín Emanuel , Loureiro Marcelo , Reichard Martin 
Published: August 2019

Abstract

Changes to the timing of key life‐cycle events can alter selection on life‐history traits and have the potential to drive a cascade of effects at the community level. We investigated how the growth rate and sexual maturation of two annual killifish species (Austrolebias bellottii and Austrolebias nigripinnis) were altered by a change in the pattern of precipitation. These are annual species, endemic to ephemeral pools, persist in desiccated sediment as partly developed embryos.

We sampled 18 pools supporting populations of both species in a Pampa region adjacent to the Rio Negro in western Uruguay throughout the austral winter of 2015. Fish growth and maturation were monitored from pool inundation to habitat desiccation, along with environmental variables.

The region experienced an unprecedented mid‐winter desiccation of pools that usually contain water from autumn to late spring, typically only desiccating in summer. Many desiccated pools were re‐inundated from later rains, generating a second cohort of killifish in some pools (53%) in response to atypical conditions.

The second cohort developed more rapidly than the first, with 40% earlier attainment of asymptotic body size. Rapid development of second‐cohort fish was associated with earlier maturation and greater investment in reproductive tissue.

The study demonstrated the capacity of annual fish to express developmental plasticity that buffered the negative consequences of an atypical seasonal climatic cycle. The capacity of these annual fishes to cope with alternations to their life cycle will depend on the ability of egg banks in the sediment to tolerate an increased unpredictability of precipitation.

Overall, we demonstrate how phenotypic plasticity can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and associated altered phenology.
Frequency of school‐based intervention needed to improve weight outcomes of Mexican‐American adolescents with overweight or obesity: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Arlinghaus Katherine R. , O'Connor Daniel P. , Johnston Craig A. 
Published: August 2019

SummaryBackgroundEfficacious school‐based interventions among ethnic minority youth are often intensive and difficult to disseminate.ObjectiveThis parallel, open‐label‐randomized controlled trial aimed to compare changes in adolescent‐standardized body mass index (zBMI) from a school‐based obesity intervention given 0, 1, 3, or 5 days a week.MethodsMexican‐American youth (n = 243) with overweight or obesity were recruited from a Houston school district and randomized to receive an obesity intervention with established efficacy 0 (control), 1, 3, or 5 d/wk (respectively, equating to 0, 40, 120, or 200 min of contact each week). In each condition, 80% of intervention time was allocated to physical activity and 20% to nutrition, with behavioural modification overlaid throughout. zBMI was calculated from directly measured height and weight. A linear mixed model evaluated differences in zBMI over time between conditions.ResultsParticipants were 12.02 ± 0.57 years old with a zBMI of 1.80 ± 0.46 at baseline. Among those with complete data at 1 year (n = 203), a significant condition by time interaction was indicated (F = 9.42, P < .001). Those who received the intervention 3 or 5 d/wk had significantly greater decreases in zBMI than control (respectively, −0.19 zBMI units/y; 95% CI, −0.28 to −0.11; and −0.18 zBMI units/y; 95% CI, −0.27 to −0.10, both P < .001). No differences were found between 3 and 5 d/wk (95% CI, −0.09‐0.08, P = .87).ConclusionsThe intervention provided 3 d/wk resulted in similar zBMI improvements as the intervention provided 5 d/wk. This information can be used to develop scalable school‐based obesity interventions.
Does Hub‐and‐Spoke organization of healthcare system promote workers' satisfaction?
Authors: Albarello Flavia , Prati Francesca , Sangiorgi Luca , Tremosini Morena , Menegatti Michela , Depolo Marco , Rubini Monica 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe healthcare services network is a recent organizational structure of healthcare services that are interdependent and organized as a network on the basis of the Hub‐and‐Spoke model. This questionnaire‐based study analyzed socio‐psychological well‐being of health workers both in terms of team‐related experience and individual satisfaction and engagement with one's work in a Hub‐and‐Spoke healthcare service in comparison to non‐network healthcare service. Workers from two different public healthcare services involved in the treatment of the same skeletal rare diseases participated in the Study. We expected that working under a Hub‐and‐Spoke healthcare service—involving teamwork and cooperation among different healthcare services within the units, as well as among workers belonging to different units—would lead to greater psychological team‐related and individual benefits. In line with predictions, the findings showed that under a Hub‐and‐Spoke healthcare service, health workers felt highly interdependent by their team fellows and developed shared cognitions (i.e., team mental models) about their integration and their tasks to a higher extent than non‐network ones. They were also individually more satisfied of their job and displayed higher work engagement than non‐network workers. Beneficial team‐related dynamics, such as perceived interdependence, were responsible for the differences between the Hub‐and‐Spoke workers and non‐network ones. The implications of the present findings were discussed in terms of promotion of health workers' satisfaction and well‐being.
Initiation of droxidopa during hospital admission for management of refractory neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in severely ill patients
Authors: McDonell Katherine E. , Preheim Brock A. , Diedrich Andre’ , Muldowney James A. S. , Peltier Amanda C. , Robertson David , Biaggioni Italo , Shibao Cyndya A. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractOrthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common cause of hospitalization, particularly in the elderly. Hospitalized patients with OH are often severely ill, with complex medical comorbidities and high rates of disability. Droxidopa is a norepinephrine precursor approved for the treatment of neurogenic OH (nOH) associated with autonomic failure that is commonly used in the outpatient setting, but there are currently no data regarding the safety and efficacy of droxidopa initiation in medically complex patients. We performed a retrospective review of patients started on droxidopa for refractory nOH while hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center between October 2014 and May 2017. Primary outcome measures were safety, change in physician global impression of illness severity from admission to discharge, and persistence on medication after 180‐day follow‐up. A total of 20 patients were identified through chart review. Patients were medically complex with high rates of cardiovascular comorbidities and a diverse array of underlying autonomic diagnoses. Rapid titration of droxidopa was safe and well tolerated in this cohort, with no cardiovascular events or new onset arrhythmias. Supine hypertension requiring treatment occurred in four patients. One death occurred during hospital admission due to organ failure associated with end‐stage amyloidosis. Treating physicians noted improvements in presyncopal symptoms in 80% of patients. After 6 months, 13 patients (65%) continued on droxidopa therapy. In a retrospective cohort of hospitalized, severely ill patients with refractory nOH, supervised rapid titration of droxidopa was safe and effective. Treatment persistence was high, suggesting that symptomatic benefit extended beyond acute intervention.
Visceral fat, cardiometabolic risk factors, and nocturnal blood pressure fall in young adults with primary hypertension
Authors: Miazgowski Tomasz , Taszarek Aleksandra , Miazgowski Bartosz 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe aims of this study were to assess associations of body fat levels and distribution with metabolic profiles and 24‐hour blood pressure in young adults with primary hypertension. Visceral fat (VF) was estimated using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. VF was highly significantly associated with a high frequency of overweight/obesity, impaired fasting glucose, increased levels of triglycerides and LDL‐cholesterol, and lowered level of HDL‐cholesterol. The value of systolic blood pressure (SBP) nocturnal fall was similar between patients receiving RAAS inhibitors, beta‐blockers, and calcium channel blockers. In multiple regression, the VF/weight ratio after adjusting for age, gender, total fat, and chronotherapeutic drug delivery was associated with the percentage SBP nocturnal fall (β = −.3108; 95% CI: −0.5923; −0.0980; P = .013). In males, excess VF increased the odds by 2.3 times for non‐dipping blood pressure. Our results suggest that in young adult hypertensives, the VF/weight ratio might be associated with non‐dipping blood pressure.