bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Are patterns of violence and aggression at presentation in patients with first‐episode psychosis temporally stable? A comparison of 2 cohorts
Authors: Keane Sarah , Szigeti Attila , Fanning Felicity , Clarke Mary 
Published: June 2018

AimThe aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and clinical correlates of aggression and violence in individuals presenting with first‐episode psychosis (FEP) and to evaluate whether this prevalence has changed in recent years when compared to a similar previous study.MethodsRetrospective cross‐sectional study of clinical case notes and database records using a keyword search of a sample of patients with FEP (n = 132) aged between 18 and 65 years presenting from a geographically defined catchment area to a secondary referral psychiatric service over a 4‐year period (2010‐2013 inclusive). Use of the Modified Overt Aggression Scale to retrospectively assess aggression and violence in the week prior to, and post, presentation with FEP.ResultsThe overall proportion of individuals found to be aggressive and violent was 36% and 29%, respectively. These rates were similar to the 1995 to 1998 cohort (ie, 33% and 29%). A higher percentage of our sample (22%) was violent in the week prior to presentation compared to the 1995 to 1998 cohort (13%). Aggression was independently associated with involuntary (odds ratio [OR] = 4.085, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.310‐12.733) and inpatient treatment status (OR = 0.109, 95% CI 0.023‐0.532) in the week prior to presentation and with high activation (OR = 6.770, 95% CI 1.372‐33.394) and involuntary treatment status (OR = 10.163, 95% CI 2.257‐45.759) in the week following presentation. Violence was associated with involuntary (OR = 3.691, 95% CI 1.197‐11.382) and inpatient status (OR = 0.096, 95% CI 0.020‐0.465) in the week prior to and with high activation (OR = 29.513 95% CI 1.879‐463.676) the week following presentation.ConclusionsAggression and violence rates in FEP appear relatively stable over time.
Pediatric thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Joly Bérangère S. , Coppo Paul , Veyradier Agnès 
Published: June 2018

AbstractChild‐onset thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare entity of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The pathophysiology of the disease is based on a severe functional deficiency of ADAMTS13 (activity <10%), the specific von Willebrand factor (VWF)‐cleavage protease. This deficiency may be either acquired (associated anti‐ADAMTS13 autoantibodies) or congenital (resulting from biallelic mutations of ADAMTS13 gene). ADAMTS13 deficiency is responsible for the accumulation of high molecular weight multimers of VWF and the formation of platelet thrombi in the microcirculation. Consequently, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and consumption thrombocytopenia are associated with organ ischemia. The differential diagnosis with other TMAs, autoimmune cytopenias or hematological malignancies may be challenging. The exploration of ADAMTS13 (activity, antibodies, antigen, ADAMTS13 gene) supports the diagnosis of TTP. The first‐line treatment of the acute phase of TTP is based on plasmatherapy. In congenital TTP, patients with a chronic disease benefit from a prophylactic plasmatherapy. In autoimmune TTP, steroids and B‐cells depleting therapies increasingly are used together with plasma exchange. Long‐term follow‐up including the monitoring of ADAMTS13 activity is mandatory. A severe decrease in ADAMTS13 activity (<10%) may predict relapses and preemptive B‐cell depletion with rituximab can be used to prevent relapses.
The initiation of cannabis use in adolescence is predicted by sex‐specific psychosocial and neurobiological features
Authors: Spechler Philip A. , Allgaier Nicholas , Chaarani Bader , Whelan Robert , Watts Richard , Orr Catherine , Albaugh Matthew D. , D'Alberto Nicholas , Higgins Stephen T. , Hudson Kelsey E. , Mackey Scott , Potter Alexandra , Banaschewski Tobias , Bokde Arun L. W. , Bromberg Uli , Büchel Christian , Cattrell Anna , Conrod Patricia J. , Desrivières Sylvane , Flor Herta , Frouin Vincent , Gallinat Jürgen , Gowland Penny , Heinz Andreas , Ittermann Bernd , Martinot Jean‐Luc , Paillère Martinot Marie‐Laure , Nees Frauke , Papadopoulos Orfanos Dimitri , Paus Tomáš , Poustka Luise , Smolka Michael N. , Walter Henrik , Schumann Gunter , Althoff Robert R. , Garavan Hugh ,   and the IMAGEN Consortium
Published: June 2018

AbstractCannabis use initiated during adolescence might precipitate negative consequences in adulthood. Thus, predicting adolescent cannabis use prior to any exposure will inform the aetiology of substance abuse by disentangling predictors from consequences of use. In this prediction study, data were drawn from the IMAGEN sample, a longitudinal study of adolescence. All selected participants (n = 1,581) were cannabis‐naïve at age 14. Those reporting any cannabis use (out of six ordinal use levels) by age 16 were included in the outcome group (N = 365, males n = 207). Cannabis‐naïve participants at age 14 and 16 were included in the comparison group (N = 1,216, males n = 538). Psychosocial, brain and genetic features were measured at age 14 prior to any exposure. Cross‐validated regularized logistic regressions for each use level by sex were used to perform feature selection and obtain prediction error statistics on independent observations. Predictors were probed for sex‐ and drug‐specificity using post‐hoc logistic regressions. Models reliably predicted use as indicated by satisfactory prediction error statistics, and contained psychosocial features common to both sexes. However, males and females exhibited distinct brain predictors that failed to predict use in the opposite sex or predict binge drinking in independent samples of same‐sex participants. Collapsed across sex, genetic variation on catecholamine and opioid receptors marginally predicted use. Using machine learning techniques applied to a large multimodal dataset, we identified a risk profile containing psychosocial and sex‐specific brain prognostic markers, which were likely to precede and influence cannabis initiation.
Striatal alcohol cue‐reactivity is stronger in male than female problem drinkers
Authors: Kaag Anne Marije , Wiers Reinout W. , de Vries Taco J. , Pattij Tommy , Goudriaan Anna E. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDespite apparent sex differences in the development and treatment of alcohol use disorder, relatively little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms. In this study, we therefore investigated neural cue‐reactivity in a sample of male (n = 28) and female (n = 27) problem drinkers (matched on age and alcohol use severity) with an average alcohol use disorder identification test score of 12 which is indicative of a likely alcohol use disorder. Neural cue‐reactivity data were extracted from four regions of interest: the ventral and dorsal striatum and the ventral and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. While the cue‐reactivity paradigm induced similar levels of self‐reported craving in men and women, visual alcohol cues induced significantly stronger striatal activation in men compared to drinkers. While sex differences in ventral striatal cue‐reactivity were partly explained by sex differences in alcohol intake, cannabis use, negative affect and anxiety, this was not the case for sex differences in dorsal striatal cue‐reactivity. These results suggest that alcohol cues are differentially processed by men and women and that the neurobiological mechanisms behind cue‐reactivity differ between the sexes. Consequently, paradigms using alcohol‐related pictures may not be optimal to induce cue‐reactivity in female drinkers and may not be optimal to measure neurobiological markers of alcohol use severity and relapse. Future alcohol cue‐reactivity studies should, in addition to including both men and women, include different types of cues (e.g., stressors and imagery in addition to pictures) to assess sex differences in alcohol cue‐reactivity.
Mechanisms of increased hippocampal excitability in the Mashl+/− mouse model of Na+/K+‐ATPase dysfunction
Authors: Hunanyan Arsen S. , Helseth Ashley R. , Abdelnour Elie , Kherallah Bassil , Sachdev Monisha , Chung Leeyup , Masoud Melanie , Richardson Jordan , Li Qiang , Nadler J. Victor , Moore Scott D. , Mikati Mohamad A. 
Published: June 2018

SummaryObjectiveNa+/K+‐ATPase dysfunction, primary (mutation) or secondary (energy crisis, neurodegenerative disease) increases neuronal excitability in the brain. To evaluate the mechanisms underlying such increased excitability we studied mice carrying the D801N mutation, the most common mutation causing human disease, specifically alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) including epilepsy. Because the gene is expressed in all neurons, particularly γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons, we hypothesized that the pathophysiology would involve both pyramidal cells and interneurons and that fast‐spiking interneurons, which have increased firing rates, would be most vulnerable.MethodsWe performed extracellular recordings, as well as whole‐cell patch clamp recordings from pyramidal cells and interneurons, in the CA1 region on hippocampal slices. We also performed immunohistochemistry from hippocampal sections to count CA1 pyramidal cells as well as parvalbumin‐positive interneurons. In addition, we performed video—electroencephalography (EEG) recordings from the dorsal hippocampal CA1 region.ResultsWe observed that juvenile knock‐in mice carrying the above mutation reproduce the human phenotype of AHC. We then demonstrated in the CA1 region of these mice the following findings as compared to wild type: (1) Increased number of spikes evoked by electrical stimulation of Schaffer collaterals; (2) equalization by bicuculline of the number of spikes induced by Schaffer collateral stimulation; (3) reduced miniature, spontaneous, and evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents, but no change in excitatory postsynaptic currents; (4) robust action potential frequency adaptation in response to depolarizing current injection in CA1 fast‐spiking interneurons; and (5) no change in the number of pyramidal cells, but reduced number of parvalbumin positive interneurons.SignificanceOur data indicate that, in our genetic model of Atp1α3 mutation, there is increased excitability and marked dysfunction in GABAergic inhibition. This supports the performance of further investigations to determine if selective expression of the mutation in GABAergic and or glutamatergic neurons is necessary and sufficient to result in the behavioral phenotype.
The effects of oxcarbazepine, levetiracetam, and lamotrigine on semen quality, sexual function, and sex hormones in male adults with epilepsy
Authors: Wu Dongmei , Chen Lang , Ji Fayuan , Si Yang , Sun Hongbin 
Published: June 2018

SummaryObjectiveTo investigate the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs; oxcarbazepine [OXC], levetiracetam [LEV], and lamotrigine [LTG]) on semen quality, sexual function, and sex hormones in male adults with epilepsy.MethodsIndividual treatment with OXC, LEV, or LTG was randomly assigned to 38 newly diagnosed male adult patients with epilepsy. Semen quality and sex hormones were measured before treatment and 6 months after taking the medicine. A questionnaire was administered using the International Index of Erectile Function Scale‐5 and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool Self‐Assessment Scale to evaluate sexual function, followed by an analysis of the comparison between the treated patients and healthy volunteers (healthy controls) as well as the changes and differences between the patients themselves before and after treatment.ResultsThe total sperm count, fast forward movement rate (FFMR), survival rate, and normal sperm rate in the group with epilepsy were lower than those in healthy controls (P < .05). The FFMR and survival rate of sperm after OXC treatment were significantly higher than before treatment (P < .05). All semen parameters after LEV and LTG showed a possible trend for improvement, but no significant statistical difference. There was no significant difference in sexual function between patients and the control group, as well as before and after treatment with the 3 different AEDs. There was no significant difference in sex hormone levels in the epilepsy group before treatment compared with the healthy controls, or when compared after treatment with the 3 different AEDs. The marital rate and fertility rate of patients with epilepsy were significantly lower than those of healthy controls (P < .05).SignificanceThe semen quality of males with epilepsy is decreased even before treatment. The AEDs (OXC, LEV, and LTG) have no significant effect on sexual function and sex hormones, and OXC can improve the sperm FFMR and survival rate.
The global prevalence and correlates of skin bleaching: a meta‐analysis and meta‐regression analysis
Authors: Sagoe Dominic , Pallesen Ståle , Dlova Ncoza C. , Lartey Margaret , Ezzedine Khaled , Dadzie Ophelia 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPurposeTo estimate and investigate the global lifetime prevalence and correlates of skin bleaching.MethodsA meta‐analysis and meta‐regression analysis was performed based on a systematic and comprehensive literature search conducted in Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, PsycNET, PubMed, and other relevant websites and reference lists. A total of 68 studies (67,665 participants) providing original data on the lifetime prevalence of skin bleaching were included. Publication bias was corrected using the trim and fill procedure.ResultsThe pooled (imputed) lifetime prevalence of skin bleaching was 27.7% (95% CI: 19.6–37.5, I2 = 99.6, P < 0.01). The highest significant prevalences were associated with: males (28.0%), topical corticosteroid use (51.8%), Africa (27.1%), persons aged ≤30 years (55.9%), individuals with only primary school education (31.6%), urban or semiurban residents (74.9%), patients (21.3%), data from 2010–2017 (26.8%), dermatological evaluation and testing‐based assessment (24.9%), random sampling methods (29.2%), and moderate quality studies (32.3%). The proportion of females in study samples was significantly related to skin bleaching prevalence.ConclusionDespite some limitations, our results indicate that the practice of skin bleaching is a serious global public health issue that should be addressed through appropriate public health interventions.
20‐Hydroxyecdysone‐upregulated proteases involved in Bombyx larval fat body destruction
Authors: Guo S.‐Y. , Wu W.‐M. , Li S.‐Y. , Liu Y. , Ruan Z. F. , Ye M.‐Q. , Xiao Y. , Zhong Y.‐J. , Cao Y. , Li K. , Tian L. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDuring insect larval–pupal metamorphosis, the obsolete larval organs and tissues undergo histolysis and programmed cell death to recycle cellular materials. It has been demonstrated that some cathepsins are essential for histolysis in larval tissues, but the process of tissue destruction is not well documented. Fat body, the homologous organ to mammalian liver and adipose tissue, goes through a distinct destruction process during larval–pupal transition. Herein, we found that most of the Bombyx proteases – including Bombyx cathepsin B (BmCatB) (BmCatLL-2), Bombyx cathepsin D (BmCatD), Bombyx cathepsin L like‐1 (BmCatLL-1) and –2(BmCatLL-2), Bombyx fibroinase (BmBcp), Bombyx matrix metalloprotease (BmMmp), Bombyx A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 1 (BmAdamTS‐1), Bombyx A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs like (BmAdamTS L) and Bombyx cysteine protease inhibitor (Bmbcpi)– were expressed highly in fat body during feeding and metamorphosis, with a peak occurring during the nonfeeding moulting or prepupal stage, as well as being responsive to 20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E). The aforementioned protease genes expression was upregulated by injection of 20E into the feeding larvae, while blocking 20E signalling transduction led to downregulation. Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining of BmCatB and BmBcp confirmed the coincident variation of their messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein level during the development and after the treatments. Moreover, BmCatB, BmBcp, BmMmp and BmAdamTS‐1 RNA interference all led to blockage of larval fat body destruction. Taken together, we conclude that 20E regulates larval fat body destruction by upregulating related protease gene expression and protein levels during larval–pupal transition.
Targeting tryptophan availability to tumors: the answer to immune escape?
Authors: Badawy Abdulla A‐B 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTumoral immune escape is an obstacle to successful cancer therapy. Tryptophan (Trp) metabolites along the kynurenine pathway induce immunosuppression involving apoptosis of effector immune cells, which tumors use to escape an immune response. Production of these metabolites is initiated by indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO1). IDO1 inhibitors, however, do not always overcome the immune escape and another enzyme expressed in tumors, Trp 2,3‐dioxygenase (TDO2), has been suggested as the reason. However, without Trp, tumors cannot achieve an immune escape through either enzyme. Trp is therefore key to immune escape. In this perspective paper, Trp availability to tumors will be considered and strategies limiting it proposed. One major determinant of Trp availability is the large increase in plasma free (non‐albumin‐bound) Trp in cancer patients, caused by the low albumin and the high non‐esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations in plasma. Albumin infusions, antilipolytic therapy or both could be used, if indicated, as adjuncts to immunotherapy and other therapies. Inhibition of amino acid uptake by tumors is another strategy and α‐methyl‐DL‐tryptophan or other potential inhibitors could fulfill this role. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonists may have a role in preventing glucocorticoid induction of TDO in host liver and tumors expressing it and in undermining the permissive effect of glucocorticoids on IDO1 induction by cytokines. Nicotinamide may be a promising TDO2 inhibitor lacking disadvantages of current inhibitors. Establishing the Trp disposition status of cancer patients and in various tumor types may provide the information necessary to formulate tailored therapeutic approaches to cancer immunotherapy that can also undermine tumoral immune escape.
Stock Liquidity and Firm Value: Evidence from a Policy Experiment in India
Authors: Jawed Mohammad Shameem , Kotha Kiran Kumar 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe Indian securities market regulator intervened in June 2010 with a regulatory amendment in the listing requirement that mandated all the listed firms other than PSUs (government‐owned companies) to have a minimum public shareholding of 25%. The affected firms were given a 3‐year window to comply with the regulation. This study examines the impact of the new regulation on the affected firms’ value. We explore the relationship between improvement in firms’ value and stock liquidity. This regulatory intervention offers a natural experiment to examine direct causality between stock liquidity and firms’ value. The findings of the empirical analysis confirm the existence of a direct causal relationship between stock liquidity and firm value, stemming from an improved operating performance.
Full‐visible spectrum emitting Zn–In–S:Cu/ZnS nanocrystals based on varying Cu concentrations and its application in white LEDs
Authors: Cao Mengmeng , Yu Caiyan , Xia Jinfeng , Jiang Danyu , Wang Shiwei , Li Huili 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA series of high‐quality Cu‐doped Zn–In–S nanocrystals (d‐NCs) were prepared by a conventional hot injection process. The full‐visible spectrum emission from 480 to 648 nm can be easily achieved by adjusting the Cu doping concentration in the Zn–In–S system, but not by varying the ratio of In/Zn in the alloyed host material. After wrapping the ZnS shell around the Zn–In–S:Cu d‐NCs core, the resultant Zn–In–S:Cu/ZnS core/shell d‐NCs not only exhibited an enhanced prominent photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) up to 65% but also possessed the excellent thermal, photochemical stability, and longer PL lifetime. Furthermore, high color rendition white light was generated from a single color converter Zn–In–S:Cu/ZnS core/shell NCs‐assisted white light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Under operation of 38 mA forward bias current, the fabricated white LEDs emitted bright natural white light with a luminous efficiency of 62 lm/W, and the correlated color temperature of 5658 K. Simultaneously, the good color stability was accompanied by the CIE color coordinates of (0.3287, 0.3527) under different forward bias currents.
Prediction of continuous porosity gradients in ceramics using ZnO as a model material
Authors: Cramer Corson L. , Aguirre Trevor G. , Holland Troy B. , Ma Kaka 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMaterials with gradient microstructures have a wide range of applications such as cutting tools, armor, and electronic devices. However, it is difficult to predict and control the gradient microstructure during processing. In the present work, a continuous porosity gradient was successfully achieved in ZnO material via spark plasma sintering with a large induced thermal gradient. The porosity is overestimated if isothermal prediction is applied. The current work proposed a more accurate prediction of the porosity by considering the stress‐shielding effect caused by the thermal gradient. The shielding effect results from different stress states in the sample due to differential sintering: the hotter side of the specimen experiences a higher strain rate and more shrinkage while the colder side experiences a lower strain rate and less shrinkage simultaneously. Therefore, the axial strains are varied throughout the sample thickness. Using the constituent equations in advanced sintering analysis, the shield stress was calculated to be approximately 13 MPa for the viscoelastic assumption of sintering. To improve the accuracy of predicting porosity gradient, it is necessary to add a load to overcome the shield stress when the materials are sintered with a thermal gradient.
Using machine learning to evaluate treatment effects in multiple‐group interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Linden Ariel , Yarnold Paul R. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractRationale, aims, and objectivesInterrupted time series analysis (ITSA) is a popular evaluation methodology in which a single treatment unit's outcome is studied over time, and the intervention is expected to “interrupt” the level and/or trend of the outcome, subsequent to its introduction. The internal validity of this analysis is strengthened considerably if the treated unit is contrasted with a comparable control group. In this paper, we introduce a novel machine learning approach using optimal discriminant analysis (ODA) to evaluate treatment effects in multiple‐group ITSA.MethodWe evaluate the effect of California's Proposition 99 (passed in 1988) for reducing cigarette sales, by comparing California (CA) to Montana (MT)—the best matching control state not exposed to any smoking reduction initiatives. We contrast results from ODA to those of ITSA regression (ITSAREG)—a commonly used approach for evaluating treatment effects in ITSA studies.ResultsBoth approaches found CA and MT to be comparable on their preintervention time series, and both approaches equally found CA to have statistically lower cigarette sales in the post‐intervention period (P < 0.0001). The ODA model achieved very high effect strength of sensitivity (a measure of classification accuracy) of 91.67%, which remained high (75.00%) after conducting leave‐one‐out analysis to assess generalizability.ConclusionsThe ODA framework achieved results comparable to ITSAREG, bolstering confidence in the intervention effect. In addition, ODA confers several advantages over conventional approaches that may make it a better approach to use in multiple group ITSA studies: insensitivity to skewed data, model‐free permutation tests to derive P values, identification of the threshold value which best discriminates intervention and control groups, a chance‐ and maximum‐corrected index of classification accuracy, and cross‐validation to assess generalizability.