bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abnormal maturation of the resting‐state peak alpha frequency in children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Edgar J. Christopher , Dipiero Marissa , McBride Emma , Green Heather L. , Berman Jeffrey , Ku Matthew , Liu Song , Blaskey Lisa , Kuschner Emily , Airey Megan , Ross Judith L. , Bloy Luke , Kim Mina , Koppers Simon , Gaetz William , Schultz Robert T. , Roberts Timothy P. L. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAge‐related changes in resting‐state (RS) neural rhythms in typically developing children (TDC) but not children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest that RS measures may be of clinical use in ASD only for certain ages. The study examined this issue via assessing RS peak alpha frequency (PAF), a measure previous studies, have indicated as abnormal in ASD. RS magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data were obtained from 141 TDC (6.13–17.70 years) and 204 ASD (6.07–17.93 years). A source model with 15 regional sources projected the raw MEG surface data into brain source space. PAF was identified in each participant from the source showing the largest amplitude alpha activity (7‐13 Hz). Given sex differences in PAF in TDC (females > males) and relatively few females in both groups, group comparisons were conducted examining only male TDC (N = 121) and ASD (N = 183). Regressions showed significant group slope differences, with an age‐related increase in PAF in TDC (R2 = 0.32) but not ASD (R2 = 0.01). Analyses examining male children below or above 10‐years‐old (median split) indicated group effects only in the younger TDC (8.90 Hz) and ASD (9.84 Hz; Cohen's d = 1.05). In the older ASD, a higher nonverbal IQ was associated with a higher PAF. In the younger TDC, a faster speed of processing was associated with a higher PAF. PAF as a marker for ASD depends on age, with a RS alpha marker of more interest in younger versus older children with ASD. Associations between PAF and cognitive ability were also found to be age and group specific.
Association of GSTP1 and ERCC1 polymorphisms with toxicity in locally advanced head and neck cancer platinum‐based chemoradiotherapy treatment
Authors: Duran Goretti , Aguín Santiago , Cruz Raquel , Barros Francisco , Giráldez José María , Bernárdez Beatriz , López‐López Rafael , Carracedo Ángel , Lamas María Jesús 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundPlatinum‐based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous‐cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and most patients experience serious toxicities. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between candidate genes involved in radiation/platinum pathways and acute toxicity of CRT to determine the predictive value of these polymorphisms for toxicity.MethodsThirty‐six selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 29 genes were genotyped in 110 patients treated with cisplatin‐based CRT. DNA was obtained from blood samples, and SNP analysis was performed using a MassARRAY iPLEX Gold (Sequenom) method.ResultsPatients with ERCC1 rs11615‐C allele (P = .0066), ERCC1 rs735482‐C allele (P = .0204), and ERCC4 rs1799801‐C allele (P = .0286) had lower risk of grade 2‐3 hematologic toxicity. In addition, the presence of G allele of GSTP1 was associated with a significantly lower risk of severe dysphagia (P = .0004).ConclusionPolymorphisms in ERCC1 and GSTP1 may act as prognostic factors of acute toxicity during treatment with CRT in HNSCC patients.
Characterization of metals and salts‐based thermal energy storage materials using energy balance method
Authors: Agarwala Swati , Prabhu Narayan K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThermal energy storage technologies minimize the imbalance between energy production and demand. In this context, latent heat storage materials are of great importance as they have a higher density of energy storage as compared with the sensible heat storage materials. The present study involves the characterization of energy storage materials using an energy balance cooling curve analysis method. The method estimates the convective heat transfer coefficient in the solidification range to characterize the phase change materials for applications in energy storage. The method is more beneficial than the Computer Aided Cooling Curve analysis methods as it eliminates baseline calculations and the associated fitting errors. Metals (Sn) and salts (KNO3 and NaNO
3) were used in the present work. Phase change characteristics like the rate of cooling, liquidus and solidus temperatures, time for solidification, and enthalpy of phase change were estimated for both metals and salts. It was observed that the energy balance cooling curve analysis method worked very well for metals but not well suited for low conductivity salts. Salts could not be characterized since the thermal gradient existing within the salt sample was not considered in this method.
Comparison of event‐specific rainfall–runoff responses and their controls in contrasting geographic areas
Authors: Ross Cody A. , Ali Genevieve , Spence Chris , Oswald Claire , Casson Nora 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNumerous studies have examined the event‐specific hydrologic response of hillslopes and catchments to rainfall. Knowledge gaps, however, remain regarding the relative influence of different meteorological factors on hydrologic response, the predictability of hydrologic response from site characteristics, or even the best metrics to use to effectively capture the temporal variability of hydrologic response. This study aimed to address those knowledge gaps by focusing on 21 sites with contrasting climate, topography, geology, soil properties, and land cover. High‐frequency rainfall and discharge records were analysed, resulting in the delineation of over 1,600 rainfall–runoff events, which were described using a suite of hydrologic response metrics and meteorological factors. Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques were then applied to synthesize the information conveyed by the computed metrics and factors, notably measures of central tendency and variability, variation partitioning, partial correlations, and principal component analysis. Results showed that some response magnitude metrics generally reported in the literature (e.g., runoff ratio and area‐normalized peak discharge) did not vary significantly among sites. The temporal variability in site‐specific hydrologic response was often attributable to the joint influence of storage‐driven (e.g., total event rainfall and antecedent precipitation) and intensity‐driven (e.g., rainfall intensity and antecedent potential evapotranspiration) meteorological factors. Mean annual temperature and potential evapotranspiration at a given site appeared to be good predictors of hydrologic response timing (e.g., response lag and lag to peak). Response timing metrics, particularly those associated with response initiation, were also identified as the metrics most critical for capturing intrasite response variability. This study therefore contributes to the growing knowledge on event‐specific hydrologic response by highlighting the importance of response timing metrics and intensity‐driven meteorological factors, which are infrequently discussed in the literature. As few correlations were found between physiographic variables and response metrics, more data‐driven studies are recommended to further our understanding of landscape–hydrology interactions.
The individual contributions of three executive function components to preschool social competence
Authors: Caporaso Jessica S. , Boseovski Janet J. , Marcovitch Stuart 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe present study explored the role of three components of executive function (EF)—response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility—in preschool children's social competence. Each component was expected to contribute uniquely to children's abilities to resolve peer conflict in a competent manner, namely, the inhibition of incompetent social responses (response inhibition), maintenance of social goals (working memory), and attentional shift between complex social rules and potential response options (cognitive flexibility). Seventy‐two 4‐to 5‐year‐old children were administered measures for each of the EF components and for peer conflict social competence. Positive associations were found between all three EF components and the social competence task, but working memory was the most highly associated with choosing competent responses to peer conflict. In addition, EF accounted for age‐related increases in competent responding. The results highlight the importance of representational abilities in the development of social competence during the preschool period.Highlights

This study examined the normative developmental associations between three components of executive function and social competence in preschool.
Executive function, particularly working memory, predicted age‐related changes on a peer conflict task between 4 and 5 years of age.
The results suggest that the representational abilities associated with working memory may be important in the development of social competence.
Decomposition and detoxification of the insecticide thiacloprid by TiO2‐mediated photocatalysis: kinetics, intermediate products and transformation pathways
Authors: Berberidou Chrysanthi , Kitsiou Vasiliki , Lambropoulou Dimitra A , Michailidou Dafni , Kouras Athanasios , Poulios Ioannis 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundPesticides are listed among the main environmental stressors directly correlated with severe impacts on ecosystems and human health. Here, the potential of TiO2‐mediated photocatalytic oxidation of the insecticide thiacloprid, in aqueous media, is investigated thoroughly.ResultsDegradation was investigated under various operational conditions, including the initial concentration of the pesticide, the type and amount of catalyst, pH and the presence of electron acceptors. The prevalence of TiO2 P25 in comparison to the other titania employed, is obvious both in the case of decomposition and carbon mineralization. Twenty‐seven transformation products generated during the photocatalytic decomposition of thiacloprid under UV‐A irradiation were elucidated by high‐resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis, enabling the proposition of potential fragmentation pathways. The initial ecotoxicity of the insecticide determined by measurements of the bioluminescence of marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri was eliminated within 240 min of UV‐A irradiation in the presence of TiO2 P25. A phytotoxicity evaluation based on three eukaryotic plant species led to similar conclusions, resulting in the complete removal of phytotoxicity within 240 min of UV‐A illumination in the presence of TiO2 P25.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that TiO2‐mediated photocatalytic oxidation has the potential to efficiently detoxify water containing neonicotinoid pesticides. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Testing new strategies to improve the recovery of phosphorus from anaerobically digested organic fraction of municipal solid waste
Authors: Oliveira Verónica , Dias‐Ferreira Celia , Labrincha João , Rocha Joana L , Kirkelund Gunvor M 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis work is focused on phosphorus (P) recovery from the anaerobically digested organic fraction of municipal solid waste (referred to as ‘digestate’) as a fertilizer. The main purpose was to propose and test modifications to the electrodialytic process that increase P extraction, improve the quality of the fertilizer by removing contaminants, and reduce hydraulic retention time to allow for smaller system footprints. Strategies tested were: (i) lowering the pH of the digestate suspension to <4.5 using the electrochemical reactions and enhance P solubilization from the waste; (ii) changing the configuration of the electrodialytic cell from three to two chambers; and (iii) stirring the sample to shorten the duration of the extraction.RESULTSResults show that the acidification of digestate by the electrochemical reactions was effective to enhance P extraction yield. Three‐chamber electrodialytic experiments enabled the removal of heavy metals from the digestate, producing P‐rich solutions with low metal concentrations. This resulted in the production of high‐quality fertilizer which can be used for agricultural applications. The modification of the electrodialytic cell set‐up from three‐ to two‐chamber neither resulted in an increase of the P extraction yields, nor contributed to the removal of metals from the liquid phase of digestate. Reduction of the hydraulic retention time of electrodialytic extraction of P from 16 days to 9 days was attained by the use of stirring and by electrodialytic acidification.CONCLUSIONSAn increase of P recovery was accomplished by modification of electrodialytic extraction, resulting in 90% of P being successfully extracted from the digestate and transformed into struvite. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Identification of atrial fibrillation‐associated lncRNAs in atria from patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease
Authors: Wu Jine , Han Dan , Shi Rui , Chen Mingxia , Sun Jingwen , Tian Hongyan , Yan Yang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjectiveWe analysed lncRNA expression profiles in atrial samples from patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD) to identify the potential differences in atrial fibrillation (AF)‐associated lncRNAs between RMVD patients with AF and sinus rhythm (SR).MethodsMasson's trichrome staining and scanning electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the tissue morphology. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of fibrosis‐related proteins. Difference analysis, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and gene co‐expression networks were also adopted to perform IncRNA expression profile analysis in atrial samples.ResultsMasson's trichrome staining indicated higher contents of fat deposition and fibrous tissue in atrial samples from patients with AF than from patients with SR. Western blotting showed that fibrosis‐related proteins, including smad2, TGFβ1, MMP9, and TIMP1, were upregulated in atrial samples from patients with AF compared to those from patients with SR. lncRNA expression profiles showed different lncRNA expression levels between RMVD patients with AF and SR. Moreover, GO, KEGG and gene co‐expression networks showed consistent results and indicated that differentially expressed genes might contribute to the pathogenesis of AF.ConclusionOur results revealed the potential roles of IncRNAs in the development of AF in patients with RMVD, and lncRNAs may be responsible for morphological and physiological differences in atria between RMVD patients with AF and SR.
Pigtail catheter drainage and surgery in severe acute pancreatitis
Authors: Kumar Manish , Kandhasamy Sakthivel Chinnakkulam , Sahoo Ashok Kumar , Amaranathan Anandhi , Goneppanavar Mangala , Nelamangala Ramakrishnaiah Vishnu Prasad 
Published: April 2019

Background and AimSevere acute pancreatitis is initially managed with conservative treatment. Patients who failed conservative management were effectively treated with pigtail drainage. Factors predicting surgery remain uncertain.MethodsA total of 58 patients with severe acute pancreatitis presenting to JIPMER Hospital were studied and managed with a step‐up approach. In this prospective observational study, patients were divided into three groups based on the final mode of treatment received: conservative, pigtail alone, and surgery groups.ResultsOf 58 patients, 30 patients were managed with conservative treatment, 20 patients with pigtail alone, and 8 patients underwent surgical treatment after pigtail failure. Overall sepsis reversal was achieved in 22 of 28 (78.5%) patients: 18 were in the pigtail alone group, and 4 were in surgery group, which was statistically significant (P = 0.03). Respiratory failure was the most common organ failure, 68.9%, and overall mortality was 8.62 in this study. On univariate analysis, absence of sepsis reversal within 2 weeks of pigtail insertion is a predictor of need of surgery. Other significant findings were higher catheter‐related complications in the surgery group (P = 0.01) and a 100% unimicrobial infection in the surgery group (P = 0.02). Overall mortality was 8.6%, which did not differ significantly between the groups.ConclusionThe step‐up approach avoided unnecessary intervention, and 52% patients recovered by conservative treatment alone. Sepsis reversal within 2 weeks of pigtail insertion can be used as a predictor of surgery in the early course of severe acute pancreatitis managed by the step‐up approach.
Catalytic Synthesis of 5‐Substituted Tetrazoles: Unexpected Reactions and Products
Authors: Wani Mohmmad Y. , Silva Manuela R. , Krishnakumar Balu , Kumar Santosh , Al‐Bogami Abdullah S. , Aqlan Faisal M. , Sobral Abilio J. F. N. 
Published: April 2019

Tetrazoles are incredibly useful organic molecules with a wide range of applications from medicinal chemistry as carboxylic acid isosteres to high energy density materials in space research. In an effort to develop an easy protocol for the synthesis of tetrazoles from nitriles, we used nano‐Ag‐TiO2 as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the reaction of various nitriles and sodium azide to afford 5‐substituted tetrazoles in excellent yields. By this method, a wide variety of aryl nitriles underwent [3 + 2] cycloaddition to afford tetrazoles in excellent yields. Further reaction of tetrazoles with ethylchloroacetate resulted in the formation of expected products, except for a bis‐tetrazole, which underwent ring opening and subsequent reaction to afford an unusual product. The bis‐tetrazole also formed an unusual polymeric sodium complex in aq. NaOH solution. X‐ray crystallography revealed a distorted octahedral geometry for the complex, which forms a three‐dimensional network of chains interlinked by bis‐tetrazole moieties through a network of H‐bonds.
Improving safety through speaking up: An ethical and financial imperative
Authors: Novak Adam 
Published: April 2019

BackgroundFostering a culture that empowers staff to speak up when concerned about the quality or safety of patient care is both an ethically1 and economically2 responsible endeavor. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Keystone Center has implemented the Speak‐Up! Award program that acknowledges frontline health care staff for voicing their concerns and making care safer. The objective of this effort was to advance patient safety in Keystone Center member organizations through widespread, measurable culture improvement. After extensive data collection and analysis, there was a discernable improvement in culture survey results across a 2‐year period coinciding with the launch and sustainment of the award program. Furthermore, in an effort to demonstrate the power of speaking up among staff, the Keystone Center applied a cost‐savings framework to the types of harm avoided. Results from the cost‐savings analysis suggest that each instance of speaking up by staff saves patients, families, and health care organizations an average of more than $13,000.MethodsKeystone Center Speak‐Up! Award nominations were submitted through an electronic form that collects open, closed, and Likert‐type question responses, producing a data array on type and severity of harm prevented, as well as the difficulty and magnitude of the decision to speak up. All data were then coded by harm type and subsequently applied to a tailored version of the cost‐savings estimation framework used in the Great Lakes Partnership for Patients Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network. Safety culture was measured through the use of a survey instrument called the Safety, Communication, Operational Reliability, and Engagement (SCORE) instrument.ResultsThe Keystone Center Speak‐Up! Award program received 416 nominations across the 2‐year study period, of which 62% (n = 258) were coded as a specific harm type. Adverse drug events (n = 153), imaging errors (n = 42), and specimen errors (n = 27) were the most common harm types prevented by speaking up. After applying the cost‐savings framework to these data, it is estimated that for every instance of speaking up, approximately $13,000 in total expenses were avoided, which is in line with the findings from a report on the economic impact of medical errors sponsored by the Society of Actuaries.3 Furthermore, culture survey results improved by 6% between 2015 and 2017, coinciding with the Keystone Center Speak‐Up! Award program.ConclusionsThe Keystone Center Speak‐Up! Award has proven to be a valuable tool in recognizing staff awareness and willingness to raise concerns about quality and safety in health care. Data analysis from this program presents evidence that fostering a psychologically safe culture of speaking up yields fiscal and humanistic returns, both of which are crucial to sustainable, meaningful progress in safety and quality. However, further research is required to adequately gauge the degree to which safety culture improvement is proportional to cost savings.
Measurement of melatonin, indole‐dioxygenase, IL‐6, IL‐18, ferritin, CRP, and total homocysteine levels during herpes zoster
Authors: Khazan Marjan , Nasiri Soheila , Riahi Seyed M. , Robati Reza M. , Hedayati Mehdi 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe risk of herpes zoster (HZ) increases with age and declining immune function. Increased oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions may cause a negative impact on the immune responses. The present study aimed to assess the levels of oxidative/inflammatory stress biomarkers in HZ patients compared with the controls. This case‐control study included 43 HZ patients and 47 age‐matched controls. Melatonin (MLT), Indole‐dioxygenase (IDO), Interleukin‐18 (IL‐18), Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), ferritin, C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), and total homocysteine (tHcy) levels were measured and compared in both groups. The significant high levels of IDO, IL‐18, IL‐6, ferritin, hsCRP, and tHcy, as well as low levels of MLT were found in HZ patients compared with the controls (P < 0.001); these significant differences were also associated with rash and pain severity (P < 0.001). The final logistic regression model with the area under the curve (0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98‐1.00) showed the association of HZ with decreased level of MLT (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92‐0.98; P = 0.007) and increased levels of tHcy (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.06‐2.19; P = 0.02). The findings showed increased inflammation‐associated oxidative stress in HZ patients. Elevated tHcy levels and reduced MLT levels may be associated with the manifestation of HZ. More investigations are required to confirm the results.
Interval timing is disrupted in female 5xFAD mice: An indication of altered memory processes
Authors: Gür Ezgi , Fertan Emre , Alkins Kindree , Wong Aimée A. , Brown Richard E. , Balcı Fuat 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTemporal information processing in the seconds‐to‐minutes range is disrupted in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we investigated the timing behavior of the 5xFAD mouse model of AD in the peak interval (PI) procedure. Nine‐month‐old female mice were trained with sucrose solution reinforcement for their first response after a fixed‐interval (FI) and tested in the inter‐mixed non‐reinforced PI trials that lasted longer than FI. Timing performance indices were estimated from steady‐state timed anticipatory nose‐poking responses in the PI trials. We found that the time of maximal reward expectancy (peak time) of the 5xFAD mice was significantly earlier than that of the wild‐type (WT) controls with no differences in other indices of timing performance. These behavioral differences corroborate the findings of previous studies on the disruption of temporal associative memory abilities of 5xFAD mice and can be accounted for by the scalar timing theory based on altered long‐term memory consolidation of temporal information in the 5xFAD mice. This is the first study to directly show an interval timing phenotype in a genetic mouse model of AD.