bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuroimaging and connectomics of drug‐resistant epilepsy at multiple scales: From focal lesions to macroscale networks
Authors: Tavakol Shahin , Royer Jessica , Lowe Alexander J. , Bonilha Leonardo , Tracy Joseph I. , Jackson Graeme D. , Duncan John S. , Bernasconi Andrea , Bernasconi Neda , Bernhardt Boris C. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryEpilepsy is among the most common chronic neurologic disorders, with 30%‐40% of patients having seizures despite antiepileptic drug treatment. The advent of brain imaging and network analyses has greatly improved the understanding of this condition. In particular, developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have provided measures for the noninvasive characterization and detection of lesions causing epilepsy. MRI techniques can probe structural and functional connectivity, and network analyses have shaped our understanding of whole‐brain anomalies associated with focal epilepsies. This review considers the progress made by neuroimaging and connectomics in the study of drug‐resistant epilepsies due to focal substrates, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy related to mesiotemporal sclerosis and extratemporal lobe epilepsies associated with malformations of cortical development. In these disorders, there is evidence of widespread disturbances of structural and functional connectivity that may contribute to the clinical and cognitive prognosis of individual patients. It is hoped that studying the interplay between macroscale network anomalies and lesional profiles will improve our understanding of focal epilepsies and assist treatment choices.
Daylight saving time transitions are not associated with increased seizure incidence
Authors: Schneider Logan D. , Moss Robert E. , Goldenholz Daniel M. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryObjectiveGiven the known association of daylight saving time (DST) transitions with increased risk of accidents, heart attack, and stroke, we aimed to determine whether seizures, which are reportedly influenced by sleep and circadian disruption, also increased in frequency following the transition intoDST.MethodsUsing Seizure Tracker's self‐reported data from 12 401 individuals from 2008‐2016, 932 717 seizures were assessed for changes in incidence in relation toDSTtransitions. Two methods of standardization—zscores and unit‐scaled rate ratios (RRs)—were used to compare seizure propensities followingDSTtransitions to other time periods.ResultsAs a percentile relative to all other weeks in a given year, absolute seizure counts in the week ofDSTfell below the median (DST seizure percentiles mean ± SD: 19.68 ± 16.25,P = 0.01), which was concordant with weekday‐specific comparisons. Comparatively, RRs for whole‐week (1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02‐1.10,P = 0.0054) and weekday‐to‐weekday (RRrange 1.04‐1.16, allP < 0.001) comparisons suggested a slightly higher incidence of seizures in theDSTweek compared to all other weeks of the year. However, examining the similar risk of the week preceding and following theDST‐transition week revealed no significant weekday‐to‐weekday differences in seizure incidence, although there was an unexpected, modestly decreased seizure propensity in theDSTweek relative to the whole week prior (RR0.94, 95%CI0.91‐0.96,P < 0.001).SignificanceDespite expectations that circadian and sleep disruption related toDSTtransitions would increase the incidence of seizures, we found little substantive evidence for such an association in this large, longitudinal cohort. Although large‐scale observational/epidemiologic cohorts can be effective at answering such questions, additional covariates (eg, sleep duration, seizure type, and so on) that may underpin the association were not able available, so the association has not definitively been ruled out.
A transcriptional and functional analysis of heat hardening in two invasive fruit fly species, Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera correcta
Authors: Gu Xinyue , Zhao Yan , Su Yun , Wu Jiajiao , Wang Ziya , Hu Juntao , Liu Lijun , Zhao Zihua , Hoffmann Ary A. , Chen Bing , Li Zhihong 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMany insects have the capacity to increase their resistance to high temperatures by undergoing heat hardening at nonlethal temperatures. Although this response is well established, its molecular underpinnings have only been investigated in a few species where it seems to relate at least partly to the expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) genes. Here, we studied the mechanism of hardening and associated transcription responses in larvae of two invasive fruit fly species in China, Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera correcta. Both species showed hardening which increased resistance to 45°C, although the more widespread B. dorsalis hardened better at higher temperatures compared to B. correcta which hardened better at lower temperatures. Transcriptional analyses highlighted expression changes in a number of genes representing different biochemical pathways, but these changes and pathways were inconsistent between the two species. Overall B. dorsalis showed expression changes in more genes than B. correcta. Hsp genes tended to be upregulated at a hardening temperature of 38°C in both species, while at 35°C many Hsp genes tended to be upregulated in B. correcta but not B. dorsalis. One candidate gene (the small heat shock protein gene, Hsp23) with a particularly high level of upregulation was investigated functionally using RNA interference (RNAi). We found that RNAi may be more efficient in B. dorsalis, in which suppression of the expression of this gene removed the hardening response, whereas in B. correcta RNAi did not decrease the hardening response. The different patterns of gene expression in these two species at the two hardening temperatures highlight the diverse mechanisms underlying hardening even in closely related species. These results may provide target genes for future control efforts against such pest species.
A hybrid knowledge and ensemble classification approach for prediction of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Sabra Susan , Malik Khalid Mahmood , Afzal Muhammad , Sabeeh Vian , Charaf Eddine Ahmad 
Published: March 2019

AbstractClinical narratives such as progress summaries, lab reports, surgical reports, and other narrative texts contain key biomarkers about a patient's health. Evidence‐based preventive medicine needs accurate semantic and sentiment analysis to extract and classify medical features as the input to appropriate machine learning classifiers. However, the traditional approach of using single classifiers is limited by the need for dimensionality reduction techniques, statistical feature correlation, a faster learning rate, and the lack of consideration of the semantic relations among features. Hence, extracting semantic and sentiment‐based features from clinical text and combining multiple classifiers to create an ensemble intelligent system overcomes many limitations and provides a more robust prediction outcome. The selection of an appropriate approach and its interparameter dependency becomes key for the success of the ensemble method. This paper proposes a hybrid knowledge and ensemble learning framework for prediction of venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis consisting of the following components: a VTE ontology, semantic extraction and sentiment assessment of risk factor framework, and an ensemble classifier. Therefore, a component‐based analysis approach was adopted for evaluation using a data set of 250 clinical narratives where knowledge and ensemble achieved the following results with and without semantic extraction and sentiment assessment of risk factor, respectively: a precision of 81.8% and 62.9%, a recall of 81.8% and 57.6%, an F measure of 81.8% and 53.8%, and a receiving operating characteristic of 80.1% and 58.5% in identifying cases of VTE.
Concurrent ratcheting and stress relaxation at the notch root of steel samples undergoing asymmetric tensile loading cycles
Authors: Shekarian Atefeh , Varvani‐Farahani Ahmad 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe current study intends to develop a framework model to assess ratcheting and stress relaxation at the notch root of 1045 steel samples over asymmetric loading cycles. The framework involves the Ahmadzadeh‐Varvani (A‐V) kinematic hardening rule to control ratcheting progress and Neuber rule to accommodate for local stress and strain components at the vicinity of notch root. Plastic strain at notch root was first coupled with its counterpart in the A‐V model to establish a relation between local stress and backstress components. Calculated local stress and strain values at turning points enabled the A‐V model to assess ratcheting strain over each loading cycle. The stepwise drop in stresses at peak‐valley tips of hysteresis loops at the notch root was associated to coupled framework of the A‐V model and Neuber rule through constancy in local strain while ratcheting progressed over each cycle. This relaxed out the local stresses at tips of hysteresis loops to position on Neuber hyperbolic curve. Predicted ratcheting values at notch root of various diameters closely agreed with those of measured in steel samples over stress cycles.
Cross‐scale effects of structural and functional connectivity in pond networks on amphibian distribution in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Jeliazkov Alienor , Lorrillière Romain , Besnard Aurélien , Garnier Josette , Silvestre Marie , Chiron François 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Connectivity in pond ecosystems is essential for amphibian population persistence. To test the role of connectivity, a diversity of scales accounting for the different processes underlying species distribution needs to be considered. Several approaches exist for accounting for the potential connectivity, mainly based on structural versus functional methods. Based on occupancy data, our aim was to assess the relative power of connectivity metrics in explaining amphibian distribution when accounting for cross‐scale effects from pond to network scales, and to identify network features relevant to amphibian conservation in agricultural landscapes in the Seine‐et‐Marne department (east of Paris, France).

We propose an original analytical framework that allows examining different spatial scales of influence, with a focus on connectivity. We analyse the distribution of three amphibian species (Bufo bufo, Rana dalmatina, and Lissotriton vulgaris) in relation to various pond conditions (fish presence, water quality, and nearby woodland habitat) as well as connectivity using three connectivity approaches: (1) structural, (2) area‐functional based on potential migration areas, and (3) path‐functional based on the least accumulated cost paths. Values of landscape resistance were assigned according to a biological risk‐based approach that is proposed as an enhanced, transparent expert‐based approach. We further investigated cross‐scale effects in amphibian responses to the environment by assessing the relative importance of pond and network characteristics as well as their interactions.

Despite some species‐specific characteristics, the area‐functional approach of connectivity was generally the most effective in explaining species distribution by emphasising the relevance of potential migration areas as conservation units. Although pond conditions usually had a greater influence than network connectivity, we highlighted important cross‐scale and threshold effects in species’ response to local conditions, to pond connectivity, and to the availability of potentially suitable terrestrial habitats in the networks.

Our cross‐scale approach accounts for scale‐dependent processes that potentially underlie amphibian distribution such as habitat selection and metapopulation dynamics. Both structural and functional connectivity should be considered as complementary features of pond connectivity when dispersal traits are likely to be less limiting. From a management perspective, our results encourage conservation plans to combine functional network‐centred strategies with the preservation of local conditions. We give guidelines as to the features of such networks to help maintain amphibian populations in agricultural landscapes.
Advective Transport Phenomena to Better Understand Dispersion in Field and Modeling Practice
Authors: de Lange Willem J. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThe absence of recent research on dispersion in engineering applications indicates the need for a description that is more focused on field and modeling practice. Engineers may benefit from simple calculation tools allowing them to understand the processes encountered in the field. Based on a conceptual model for advective transport through an elongated conductivity zone, for example, in fluvial sediments, explicit expressions are presented for macro‐scale phenomena: (1) the different travel distances of water particles traveling in laminar flow through and adjacent to a single zone with conductivity higher or lower than that of the aquifer; (2) the affected thickness of the bundle of flowlines; (3) the distinction of inflow, outflow, and through‐flow sections; (4) the development of a plume front vs. that of a tail; (5) conservation of mass causing water particles to travel both slower and faster than the aquifer average velocity while passing a single zone. The spread derived from a spatial distribution in a field experiment relates to the geometric mean of the spreads of the plume front and tail. The results obtained for a single conductivity zone are expanded for a general aquifer that is characterized by stochastic parameters. A fundamental new expression describes the dispersive mass flux as the product of the advective volume shift and the related local concentration difference. Contrary to Fickian theory, the dispersive mass flux in both the front and tail of a plume in highly heterogeneous aquifers is limited. In modeling, the advective volume shift is proportional to the cell size.
Framing the failure of medical implants: Media representations of the ASR hip replacements in the UK
Authors: Maniatopoulos Gregory , Hopkins Clare , Joyce Thomas J , Brittain Katie 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundDuring the twentieth century, hip replacement became one of the most popular and successful operations. In the 1990s, a new type of hip replacement namely the metal‐on‐metal hip resurfacing was developed. This paper draws on one of the available implants, namely the DePuy Orthopaedics’ Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) hip system which was withdrawn from the market because of higher than expected rates of failure. It examines media representations on the failure of the ASR metal‐on‐metal hip replacement device and its subsequent withdrawal from the market.MethodsDrawing on content analysis this paper explores how systemic failure of the medical implant was framed and performed by press media in the UK.ResultsTwo narratives were particularly important in framing press media coverage of the ASR case: the role of patients as passive recipients of care and a distinction between health and disability identities as related to how individuals’ narratives about the past shaped their sense of present and future. In all cases, the voice of the orthopaedic surgeons responsible for the selection and implantation of the ASR devices remains silent.ConclusionsPress media coverage of medically induced harm in the UK is significantly less common than coverage of any other patient safety issues and public health debates. This study aims to contribute to the evidence base on how public discourse on medically induced harm becomes framed through the reported experiences of individuals in press media and also how this process influences the legitimacy of various solutions to medical errors or unanticipated outcomes.
Types of hairline recession in androgenetic alopecia and perceptions of aging in Asian males
Authors: Qu Qian , Miao Yong , Guo Zhen‐He , Feng Chuan‐Bo , Chen Qian , Liu Yang , Liu Fang , Shi Pan‐Li , Cao Dan‐Xia , Hu Zhi‐Qi 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundCranial hair loss is one of the characteristics of age. Hairline recession has been confirmed adversely to affect the perceptions of age in Western males. However, comparatively little is known about the effect of frontal recession on the perceived facial age (PFA) of East Asian males. Moreover, specific roles of different types of hairline recession in PFA of different age groups still remain a mystery.ObjectiveTo investigate and quantify the effect of different types of hairline recession on PFA in East Asian young males of different age groups.MethodsThirty non‐bald males were selected and divided equally into three groups (20s, 30s, and 40s). With the aid of modern software, the frontoparietal area of facial images from 30 experimenters was modified into three basic types of hair loss (M2, C2, and U2) according to the basic and specific classification of androgenic alopecia. In a web‐based survey, approximately 900 naive participants were asked to estimate the PFA of males from their original and modified facial images.ResultsPerceived facial age increased to 1.58 ± 0.79, 4.19 ± 1.27, and 5.90 ± 1.00 years when the original facial images were modified to have hair loss types M2, C2, or U2, respectively. In addition, the PFA of males with hair loss type C2 or U2 appeared significantly older than the original facial images in the 30s group.ConclusionDifferent types of hairline recession can increase the PFA to different degrees in East Asian males of different age groups.
Do Migrant Remittances Cause Dutch Disease in Nigeria?
Authors: Urama Nathaniel E. , Edeh Henry C. , Urama Edith C. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractStatistics show that remittances inflow to Nigeria grew from US$3,000,000 in 1978 to over US$22 billion in 2017. Theoretically, such a large inflow of foreign currency into an economy may lead to Dutch diseases. This study, therefore, investigated whether the massive inflow of remittances into the economy causes Dutch disease. Given that the model had both I(0) and I(1) variables, ARDL/Bound testing methodology was used with annual data from 1981 to 2016. The ARDL result showed that migrant remittances have a significant positive effect on the real effective exchange rate in Nigeria in the long run. Specifically, a one per cent increase in the inflows of remittances increases the real effective exchange rate of Naira by 0.44 per cent in the long run. This appreciation of the Nigerian Naira relative to other competing nations encourages import and discourages export, leading to the Dutch disease effect.
Age‐specific incidence rates and risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus‐associated lower respiratory tract illness in cohort children under 5 years old in the Philippines
Authors: Ueno Fumihiko , Tamaki Raita , Saito Mayuko , Okamoto Michiko , Saito‐Obata Mariko , Kamigaki Taro , Suzuki Akira , Segubre‐Mercado Edelwisa , Aloyon Hananiah D. , Tallo Veronica , Lupisan Socorro P. , Oshitani Hitoshi ,   RSV Working Group in the Philippines
Published: March 2019

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the main viral causes of lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI), especially in young children. RSV vaccines, including maternal and infant vaccines, are under development; however, more epidemiological studies are needed to develop effective vaccination strategies.ObjectivesTo estimate detailed age‐specific incidence rates and severity of RSV‐associated LRTI (RSV‐LRTI) using data from a community‐based prospective cohort study in the Philippines.Patients/MethodsCohort children who visited health facilities due to acute respiratory symptoms were identified, and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected to detect RSV. The severity of RSV‐LRTI was assessed using the severity definition proposed by the World Health Organization. Risk factors for developing RSV‐LRTI and contribution of SpO2 measurement were also evaluated.ResultsA total of 395 RSV episodes which occurred in children aged 2‐59 months were categorised as 183 RSV‐LRTI, 72 as severe RSV‐LRTI and 29 as very severe RSV‐LRTI. Children aged 3‐5 months had the highest incidence rate of RSV‐LRTI, at 207.4 per 1000 child‐years (95% CI: 149.0‐279.5). Younger age group, place of living and low educational level of caregivers were associated with developing RSV‐LRTI. Clinical manifestations had low levels of agreement with hypoxaemia as measured by pulse oximeter.ConclusionThe highest burden of RSV was observed in young infants aged 3‐5 months, whereas the burden was also high in those aged 12‐20 months. Future vaccination strategies should consider the protection of older children, especially those aged one year, as well as young infants.
Sleep duration and blood pressure in children: Analysis of the pan‐European IDEFICS cohort
Authors: Sparano Sonia , Lauria Fabio , Ahrens Wolfgang , Fraterman Arno , Thumann Barbara , Iacoviello Licia , Marild Staffan , Michels Nathalie , Molnar Denes , Moreno Luis Alberto , Tornaritis Michael , Veidebaum Toomas , Siani Alfonso 
Published: March 2019

The present study aims to examine the cross‐sectional and longitudinal association between self‐reported nocturnal sleep duration, blood pressure, and hypertension in European children, aged 2‐9.9 years, participating in the IDEFICS project. Blood pressure (BP) and the main anthropometric indices were measured according to standardized procedures. Childhood elevated BP and hypertension were defined according to the European Society of Hypertension Guidelines for children and adolescents. Parents reported lifestyle and socio‐demographic data. Nocturnal sleep duration was assessed as part of a parental 24‐h recall and categorized as follows: (a) ≤9 hours/night; (b) >9 hours to ≤10 hours/night; (c) >10 hours to ≤11 hours/night; and (d) >11 hours/night. A complete set of variables included in the present analysis was provided by 7974 participants (boys/girls = 4049/3925) at the baseline survey (T0). Of them, 5656 were re‐examined 2 years later at follow‐up (T1). Children reporting shorter sleep duration at T0 had significantly higher BP values (P for trend < 0.001) compared to those who slept more. Prospective analyses showed that shorter sleep duration at baseline predicted, over the 2‐year follow‐up, higher increases in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, after adjustment for age, sex, country of origin, BMI z‐score, parental education, physical activity, screen time, and T0 value of the examined outcome variables (P for trend < 0.001). Our findings reveal that shorter sleep duration is associated with higher BP in childhood, suggesting that sleep may be a potential risk factor for hypertension later in life.
circEPSTI1 regulates ovarian cancer progression via decoying miR‐942
Authors: Xie Jing , Wang Shufen , Li Genlin , Zhao Xia , Jiang Feng , Liu Jie , Tan Weige 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIncreasing studies show that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in tumour progression. But, how circRNAs function in ovarian cancer is mostly unclear. Here, we detected the expression of circEPSTI1 in ovarian cancer and explored the function of circEPSTI1 in ovarian cancer via a series of experiments. Then, we performed luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay to explore the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) function of circEPSTI1 in ovarian cancer. qRT‐PCR verified that circEPSTI1 was overexpressed in ovarian cancer. Inhibition of circEPSTI1 suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion but promoted cell apoptosis. Luciferase assays and RIP assay showed that circEPSTI1 and EPSTI1 (epithelial stromal interaction 1) could directly bind to miR‐942. And circEPSTI1 could regulate EPSTI1 expression via sponging miR‐942. In summary, circEPSTI1 regulated EPSTI1 expression and ovarian cancer progression by sponging miR‐942. circEPSTI1 could be used as a biomarker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.