bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinicopathologic Characteristics and the Surgical Outcome of Conjunctival Granulomas After Pterygium Surgery
Authors: Zhang Zongduan , Yang Zhengwei , Pan Qintuo , Chen Pinyi , Guo Linning 
Published: June 2018

Purpose:
To measure the incidence and evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcome, and prognosis of conjunctival granulomas (CGs) after pterygium surgery.

Methods:
This was a retrospective review of 3851 pterygium eyes (3330 patients) that underwent pterygium surgery from March 2004 to May 2017. The outcomes were evaluated in 52 eyes (50 patients) that developed CGs after pterygium surgery.

Results:
CGs developed in 52 of 3851 operated pterygium eyes (1.4%) over a 13-year period. Mean patient age was 54.4 ± 9.9 years (range, 28–72 years). The mean onset time of the CG after pterygium surgery was 42.8 ± 18.3 days (range, 12–90 days). The location of the granulation was around the free conjunctival flap. Histopathologic examination showed inflammatory granulation tissue with large amounts of inflammatory cell infiltration. All CGs were successfully cured by surgical excision combined with corticosteroid eye drops. No patient had recurrence at a mean follow-up time of 6 months. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the difference of the cumulative survival rate of pterygium surgery methods was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Using the multivariate Cox regression model, 2 factors were found to be not correlated with the survival rate of patients with CGs: sex (P = 0.17) and the category of pterygium (primary or recurrent) (P = 0.96).

Conclusions:
CGs are an uncommon potential complication of pterygium surgery. The histologic characteristics, including the proliferation of inflammatory granulation tissue with large amounts of inflammatory cell infiltration, could be helpful to diagnose this disease. Surgical excision combined with corticosteroid drops proved to be a simple and effective treatment of CGs.
Validity and Reliability of a Novel Handheld Osmolarity System for Measurement of a National Institute of Standards Traceable Solution
Authors: Chan Clara C. , Borovik Armand , Hofmann Ilan , Gulliver Eric , Rocha Guillermo 
Published: June 2018

Purpose:
To evaluate the validity and reliability of a novel handheld osmolarity system (I-PEN Osmolarity System; I-MED Pharma Inc, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada) for measurement of the osmolarity of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable solution at a variety of ambient temperatures.

Methods:
A total of 65 measurements of an NIST solution with a verified osmolarity of 290 ± 2 mOsmol/L were taken using 3 separate handheld osmolarity systems, 65 unique single-use sensors (SUSs) from 3 different lots, and 2 adaptors. Mean values were calculated using the device, SUS, and adaptor. Measurements were taken using a handheld osmolarity system, an adaptor, and 56 individual SUSs at 6 different ambient temperatures ranging from 17.7 to 26.5°C.

Results:
Overall, the mean osmolarity measured was 294.06 mOsmol/L (SD ±2.29; percent coefficient of variation 0.78), ranging from 286.60 to 298.18 mOsmol/L. This fell within a prespecified acceptable variability of ±4 mOsmol/L (SD ±7). Mean values did not vary across devices, adaptors, or single-use sensors used. Mean osmolarity measurements increased with rising ambient temperatures, with an R
2 = 0.88. The temperature correction factor was calculated to be 2.01 mOsmol/L per °C.

Conclusions:
The osmolarity system reliably and accurately measured the osmolarity of an NIST solution in a laboratory setting, using an adaptor to correct for differences in resistance between a laboratory NIST solution measurement and direct measurements on the palpebral conjunctiva of the eyelid. The handheld osmolarity system represents a rapid and accurate instrument for measurement of tear osmolarity in a simulated testing setting.
Nursing Staff Characteristics on Resident Outcomes in Nursing Homes
Authors: SHIN Juh Hyun 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT

Background:
The outlook of administrative staff and registered nurses (RNs) plays a critical role in the management of nursing homes. No previous study has compared the outcomes of nursing homes with RNs on staff with those of nursing homes without RNs on staff in Korea.

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nurse-led nursing homes, staff turnover, and resident outcomes in nursing homes in Korea.

Methods:
Using a cross-sectional design, 36 nursing homes with 30 or more beds participated. Primary data included 15 quality indicators.

Results:
Nursing homes with RNs had statistically significant better resident outcomes. RN turnover related positively to the prevalence of falls ( β = 1.68, p < .05) and tube feeding (β = 1.71, p < .01) and negatively to incontinence (β = −1.53, p < .01). Nursing homes with RNs with tenures greater than 1 year had statistically significant lower prevalence of falls (β = −0.47, p < .05), incontinence (β = −0.45, p < .05), weight loss (β = −0.53 p < .05), and bed rest (β = −0.54, p < .01) and increased range of motion (β = 0.51, p < .05). Interestingly, having a nurse as a director for more than 1 year related negatively to the incidence of urinary tract infection (β = −0.56, p < .05) in residents. The rate of RN turnover was found to impact fall prevalence (β = 1.68, p < .05) and tube feeding (β = 1.71, p < .01) positively and to impact incontinence (β = −1.53, p < .01) negatively.

Conclusions:
Turnover of nursing home staff and length of tenure may contribute to the more effective management of nursing homes, higher-quality long-term care insurance, and RN-staffing-related laws. Assessing staff characteristics and the tenure of employees promotes the effective management of nursing homes.
Visual Acuity Is Not the Best at the Preferred Retinal Locus in People with Macular Disease
Authors: Bernard Jean-Baptiste , Chung Susana T. L. 
Published: June 2018

SIGNIFICANCE
Little is known about how the preferred retinal locus (PRL) develops in patients with macular disease. We found that acuity is worse at the PRL than at other retinal locations around the scotoma, suggesting that the selection of the PRL location is unlikely to be based on optimizing acuity.

PURPOSE
Following the onset of bilateral macular disease, most patients adopt a retinal location outside the central scotoma, the PRL, as their new retinal location for visual tasks. Very little information is known about how the location of a PRL is chosen. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the selection of the location for a PRL is based on optimizing visual acuity, which predicts that acuity is the best at the PRL, compared with other retinal locations.

METHODS
Using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope that allowed us to position visual targets at precise retinal locations, we measured acuity psychophysically using a four-orientation Tumbling-E presented at the PRL and at multiple (ranged between 23 and 36 across observers) locations around the scotoma for five observers with bilateral macular disease.

RESULTS
For all five observers, the acuity at the PRL was never the best among all testing locations. Instead, acuities were better at 15 to 86% of the testing locations other than the PRL, with the best acuity being 17 to 58% better than that at the PRL. The locations with better acuities did not cluster around the PRL and did not necessarily lie at the same distance from the fovea or the PRL.

CONCLUSIONS
Our finding that acuity is worse at the PRL than at other locations around the scotoma implies that the selection of the PRL location is unlikely to be based on optimizing acuity.
Supporting Clinicians After Adverse Events: Development of a Clinician Peer Support Program
Authors: Lane Michael A. , Newman Brianne M. , Taylor Mary Z. , O'Neill Meg , Ghetti Chiara , Woltman Robin M. , Waterman Amy D. 
Published: June 2018

Background
Many healthcare organizations have developed processes for supporting the emotional needs of patients and their families after medical errors or adverse events. However, the clinicians involved in such events may become “second victims” and frequently experience emotional harm that impacts their personal and professional lives. Many “second victims,” particularly physicians, do not receive adequate support by their organizations.

Methods
A multidisciplinary team was assembled to create a clinician peer support program (PSP) at a large academic medical center including both adult and pediatric hospitals. A curriculum was developed to train clinicians to provide support to their peers based on research of clinician response to adverse events, utilization of various support resources, and clinician resiliency and ways to enhance natural resilience. Between April 2014 and January 2017, 165 individuals were referred to the program including 68 (41.2%) residents, 17 (10.3%) fellows, 70 (42.4%) faculty members, 6 (3.6%) nurse practitioners/physician assistants, and 4 (2.4%) certified registered nurse anesthetists. An average of 4.8 individuals were referred per month (range = 0–12). Of the 165 clinicians referred, 17 (10.3%) declined follow-up from the program. Individuals receiving support had a median of two interactions (range = 1–10). Among those receiving support from the clinician PSP, 16 (10.8%) required referral to a higher level of support.

Conclusions
We describe the multiple steps necessary to create a successful PSP focused on physicians and midlevel providers. There is an unmet need to provide support to this group of healthcare providers after medical errors and adverse events.
Carbon nanotube-based flexible electrothermal film heaters with a high heating rate
Authors: Jia Song-Lin , Geng Hong-Zhang , Wang Luda , Tian Ying , Xu Chun-Xia , Shi Pei-Pei , Gu Ze-Zeng , Yuan Xue-Shuang , Jing Li-Chao , Guo Zhi-Ying , Kong Jing 
Published: June 2018

High-performance, flexible film heaters with carbon nanotube transparent conducting films are easily fabricated by both a rod-coating method and a spraying method. The main conclusion we have reached is that the film demonstrates a heating rate of 6.1°C s
−1
at 35 V and sheet resistance as low as 94.7

Ω

sq
−1
with 72.04% optical transmittance at a wavelength of 550 nm by the spraying method after a series of post-treatment processes with acid and distilled water. Then, we adopt a mathematical method of nonlinear fitting to simulate the collected experimental data and the functions effectively. Furthermore, through analysis of the formula, the correlation between temperature and time is well explained. Therefore, carbon nanotube-based, flexible, transparent heaters exhibit high electrothermal performance and are expected to find different applications, e.g. various functional devices such as heating materials, heatable smart windows or dining tables.
Tristetraprolin/ZFP36 regulates the turnover of autoimmune-associated HLA-DQ mRNAs
Authors: Pisapia Laura , Hamilton Russell S. , Farina Federica , D’Agostino Vito , Barba Pasquale , Strazzullo Maria , Provenzano Alessandro , Gianfrani Carmen , Del Pozzo Giovanna 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated that the expression of HLA class II genes is regulated by the binding of a ribonucleoprotein complex that affects the mRNA processing. We identified protein components of a complex binding transcripts encoding the HLA-DR molecule. Here we investigate whether the same RNA binding proteins interact with 3’UTR of mRNAs encoding the HLA-DQ isotype. Specifically, we focused on the HLA-DQ2.5 molecule, expressed on the surface of antigen presenting cells, and representing the main susceptibility factor for celiac disease (CD). This molecule, encoded by HLA-DQA1*05 and HLA-DQB1*02 alleles, presents the antigenic gluten peptides to CD4+ T lymphocytes, activating the autoimmune response.Here, we identified an additional component of the RNP complex, Tristetraprolin (TTP) or ZFP36, a zinc-finger protein, widely described as a factor modulating mRNA stability. TTP shows high affinity binding to 3’UTR of CD-associated HLA-DQA1*05 and HLA-DQB1*02 alleles, in contrast to lower affinity binding to HLA-DQA1*01 and HLA-DQB1*05 non-CD associated alleles. Our in silico analysis, confirmed by molecular experiments, demonstrates that TTP specifically modulates the stability of the transcripts associated with celiac disease.
Movement Improves the Quality of Temporal Perception and Decision Making
Authors: Wiener Martin , Zhou Wei Wei , Joiner Wilsaan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractRecent evidence suggest that our experience of time is directly and intrinsically computed within the motor system. Accordingly, a variety of studies have demonstrated that concurrent movement impacts the estimate of temporal duration, such that perceived time is shifted towards the duration of movement. In order to investigate the role of the motor system, we tested human subjects (n=40) on a novel task combining reaching and time perception. In this task, subjects were required to move a robotic manipulandum to one of two physical locations to categorize a concurrently timed suprasecond auditory stimulus as “long” or “short”, relative to a running average criterion. Critically, subjects were divided into two groups: one in which movement during the interval was unrestricted and subjects could move freely to their choice, and one in which they were restrained from moving until the stimulus interval had elapsed. Our results revealed a higher degree of precision for subjects in the free-moving group. By further decomposing choice and response time data with a drift diffusion model of decision making, we identified the source of this change to a shift in the response threshold for free-moving subjects. Analysis of movement parameters revealed that eventual choice could be determined by movement parameters (e.g. trajectory, force) before the response was made, and even before the interval had elapsed, and that the variability of these movements was lower in the unrestrained group. A further experiment (n=14) verified that these findings were not due to proximity to the target, counting strategies, bias, or movement length. Our findings suggest that perceptual timing may be instantiated within the motor system as an ongoing readout of timing judgment and confidence.
Whole genome sequencing in multiplex families reveals novel inherited and de novo genetic risk in autism
Authors: Ruzzo Elizabeth K. , Pérez-Cano Laura , Jung Jae-Yoon , Wang Lee-kai , Kashef-Haghighi Dorna , Hartl Chris , Hoekstra Jackson , Leventhal Olivia , Gandal Michael J. , Paskov Kelley , Stockham Nate , Polioudakis Damon , Lowe Jennifer K. , Geschwind Daniel H. , Wall Dennis P. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractGenetic studies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have revealed a complex, heterogeneous architecture, in which the contribution of rare inherited variation remains relatively un-explored. We performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in 2,308 individuals from families containing multiple affected children, including analysis of single nucleotide variants (SNV) and structural variants (SV). We identified 16 new ASD-risk genes, including many supported by inherited variation, and provide statistical support for 69 genes in total, including previously implicated genes. These risk genes are enriched in pathways involving negative regulation of synaptic transmission and organelle organization. We identify a significant protein-protein interaction (PPI) network seeded by inherited, predicted damaging variants disrupting highly constrained genes, including members of the BAF complex and established ASD risk genes. Analysis of WGS also identified SVs effecting non-coding regulatory regions in developing human brain, implicating NR3C2 and a recurrent 2.5Kb deletion within the promoter of DLG2. These data lend support to studying multiplex families for identifying inherited risk for ASD. We provide these data through the Hartwell Autism Research and Technology Initiative (iHART), an open access cloud-computing repository for ASD genetics research.
Roles for tubulin recruitment and self-organization by TOG domain arrays in Microtubule plus-end tracking and polymerase
Authors: Cook Brian , Chang Fred , Flor-Parra Ignacio , Al-Bassam Jawdat 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe XMAP215/Stu2/Alp14 microtubule polymerases utilize Tumor Overexpressed Gene (TOG) domain arrays to accelerate microtubule plus-end polymerization. Structural studies suggest a microtubule polymerase model in which TOG arrays recruit four αβ-tubulins, forming large square assemblies; an array of TOG1 and TOG2 domains may then unfurl from the square state to polymerize two αβ-tubulins into protofilaments at microtubule ends. Here, we test this model using two biochemically characterized classes of fission yeast Alp14 mutants. Using in vitro reconstitution and in vivo live cell imaging, we show that αβ-tubulins recruited by TOG1 and TOG2 domains serve non-additive roles in microtubule plus-end tracking and polymerase activities. Alp14 mutants with inactivated square assembly interfaces have defects in processive plus-end tracking and poor microtubule polymerase, indicating a functional role for square assemblies in processive tracking. These studies provide functional insights into how TOG1 and TOG2 domain arrays recruit tubulins and promote polymerase at microtubule plus ends.
Understanding the Hidden Complexity of Latin American Population Isolates
Authors: Mooney Jazlyn A. , Huber Christian D. , Service Susan , Sul Jae Hoon , Marsden Clare D. , Zhang Zhongyang , Sabatti Chiara , Ruiz-Linares Andrés , Bedoya Gabriel , Freimer Nelson ,   Costa Rica/Colombia Consortium for Genetic Investigation of Bipolar Endophenotypes, Lohmueller Kirk E. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMost population isolates examined to date were founded from a single ancestral population. Consequently, there is limited knowledge about the demographic history of admixed population isolates. Here we investigate genomic diversity of recently admixed population isolates from Costa Rica and Colombia and compare their diversity to a benchmark population isolate, the Finnish. These Latin American isolates originated during the 16thcentury from admixture between a few hundred European males and Amerindian females, with a limited contribution from African founders. We examine whole genome sequence data from 449 individuals, ascertained as families to build mutigenerational pedigrees, with a mean sequencing depth of coverage of approximately 24X. We find that Latin American isolates have increased genetic diversity relative to the Finnish. However, there is an increase in the amount of identity by descent (IBD) segments in the Latin American isolates relative to the Finnish. The increase in IBD segments is likely a consequence of a very recent and severe population bottleneck during the founding of the admixed population isolates. Furthermore, the proportion of the genome that falls within a long run of homozygosity (ROH) in Costa Rican and Colombian individuals was significantly greater than that in the Finnish, suggesting more recent consanguinity in the Latin American isolates relative to that seen in the Finnish. Lastly, we found that recent consanguinity increased the number of deleterious variants found in the homozygous state, which is relevant if deleterious variants are recessive. Our study suggests there is no single genetic signature of a population isolate.
Electric Field Dynamics in the Brain During Multi-Electrode Transcranial Electric Stimulation
Authors: Alekseichuk Ivan , Falchier Arnaud Y. , Linn Gary , Xu Ting , Milham Michael P. , Schroeder Charles E. , Opitz Alexander 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTNeural oscillations play a crucial role in communication between remote brain areas. Transcranial electric stimulation with alternating currents (TACS) can manipulate these brain oscillations in a non-invasive manner. Of particular interest, TACS protocols using multiple electrodes with phase shifted stimulation currents were developed to alter the connectivity between two or more brain regions. Typically, an increase in coordination between two sites is assumed when they experience an in-phase stimulation and a disorganization through an anti-phase stimulation. However, the underlying biophysics of multi-electrode TACS has not been studied in detail, thus limiting our ability to develop a mechanistic understanding. Here, we leverage direct invasive recordings from two non-human primates during multi-electrode TACS to show that the electric field magnitude and phase depend on the phase of the stimulation currents in a non-linear manner. Further, we report a novel phenomenon of a “traveling wave” stimulation where the location of the electric field maximum changes over the stimulation cycle. Our results provide a basis for a mechanistic understanding of multi-electrode TACS, necessitating the reevaluation of previously published studies, and enable future developments of novel stimulation protocols.
Semi-Analytic Nonparametric Bayesian Inference for Spike-Spike Neuronal Connectivity
Authors: Ambrogioni Luca , Ebel Patrick W. J. , Hinne Max , Güçlü Umut , van Gerven Marcel A. J. , Maris Eric 
Published: June 2018

AbstractEstimating causal connectivity between spiking neurons from measured spike sequences is one of the main challenges of systems neuroscience. In this paper we introduce two nonparametric Bayesian methods for spike-membrane and spikespike causal connectivity based on Gaussian process regression. For spike-spike connectivity, we derive a new semi-analytic variational approximation of the response functions of a non-linear dynamical model of interconnected neurons. This semi-analytic method exploits the tractability of GP regression when the membrane potential is observed. The resulting posterior is then marginalized analytically in order to obtain the posterior of the response functions given the spike sequences alone. We validate our methods on both simulated data and real neuronal recordings.
Electromagnetic Field and Temozolomide Increase Differentiation of Human Glioblastoma Cell Line; concise view of mechanism
Authors: Ahmadi-Zeidabadi Meysam , Akbarnejad Zeinab , Esmaeeli Marzie , Masoumi-Ardakani Yaser , Eskandary Hossein 
Published: June 2018

AbstractGlioblastoma is a highly malignant brain tumor with an extremely dismal prognosis, with a median survival of 12 months. Promoting glioma stem cell (GSC) differentiation is a crucial therapeutic strategy in treating glioblastoma to improve survival. We combine standard chemotherapy drug Temozolomide (TMZ) with Electromagnetic Field to evaluate their differentiation effects on glioma U87 cell line.Human glioma U87 cells exposed to electromagnetic field (EMF), Temozolomide (TMZ) alone and a combination of both were compared to control group. Nestin and CD133 were detected to identify stem-like cells (SLCs) changes during the experiment. The differentiation was found through detecting the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Notch4. We evaluated Ca+, SOD, and Notch as important chemical mediators in signal transduction to elucidate the mechanism of actions in the processes of differentiation.The expression of cancer SLC markers CD133, and neural stem/progenitor Nestin decreased in EMF/ Drug combined group compared to control which shows depletion of stem-like cell pool. In contrast, the differentiation of SLCs was increased by detecting the expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), but, Notch4 decreased in Electromagnetic field/Drug combined group compared to control which shows a benign process of treatment. The differentiation was also confirmed by light microscopy. Morphological changes such as an elongated shape with elongated neurites, intercellular connection, and neurite branching were observed. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Ca+ and Notch were also increased as important chemical mediators in signal transduction.Here, we found the combination of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) and TMZ significantly resulted in differentiation and glioma stem cells (GSCs) pool reduction that could have a profound therapeutic implication.