bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in brain morphology in patients in the preclinical stage of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Suehiro Takashi , Kazui Hiroaki , Kanemoto Hideki , Yoshiyama Kenji , Sato Shunsuke , Suzuki Yukiko , Azuma Shingo , Matsumoto Takuya , Kishima Haruhiko , Ishii Kazunari , Ikeda Manabu 
Published: April 2019

BackgroundSpecific ventriculomegaly features, including tight high‐convexity and medial subarachnoid spaces, are found on magnetic resonance images in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). However, some healthy elderly individuals with no typical triad symptoms of iNPH also exhibit specific magnetic resonance image features of iNPH. Therefore, this study quantitatively clarified the brain morphology of suspected iNPH patients with no objective triad symptoms (iNPH‐NOS).MethodsWe recruited patients with suspected iNPH and divided them into two groups based on their iNPH grading scale scores: the iNPH‐NOS group and the iNPH with apparent objective triad symptoms (iNPH‐AOS) group. Data for normal controls (NC) were taken from the database used in our previous study. We compared the relative volumes of ventricle systems (VS), Sylvian fissures (SF), and sulci at high convexity and the midline (SHM), adjusted by the intracranial volume, of the iNPH‐NOS, iNPH‐AOS, and NC groups. Additionally, we compared the relative volumes of VS, SF, and SHM in iNPH‐NOS patients between their first visit and follow‐up 1 year later.ResultsFifteen iNPH‐NOS patients and 45 iNPH‐AOS patients were recruited, and 24 NCs were found in the database. The relative volumes of VS and SF were significantly smaller than in NCs than in the iNPH‐NOS and iNPH‐AOS groups, and the relative volume of SHM was significantly larger in NCs. The relative volume of SHM was significantly larger in the iNPH‐NOS group than in the iNPH‐AOS group, but there were no significant differences in the relative volumes of VS and SF between these groups. In the iNPH‐NOS group, the relative volumes of VS and SF were significantly smaller at the first visit than 1 year later, whereas the relative volume of SHM was significantly larger. In 6 of 15 iNPH‐NOS patients, objective symptoms appeared during the observation period.ConclusionsOur results indicate that iNPH‐NOS patients were in the transitional stage between normal and iNPH‐AOS, both morphologically and clinically.
Relationship between normal weight obesity and mild cognitive impairment is reflected in cognitive‐related genes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Zhang Shishuang , Zhao Minghui , Wang Feng , Liu Juan , Zheng Hui , Lei Ping 
Published: April 2019

AimObesity contributes to the development of mild cognitive impairment, but the potential role of normal weight obesity in this disease has not been explored in humans. The aim of the study was to reveal the relationship between normal weight obesity and mild cognitive impairment in elderly individuals.MethodsThis study consisted of 360 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and 360 cognitively normal controls. Normal weight obesity was defined as having metabolic syndrome but a normal weight. Metabolic health meant having no metabolic syndrome. Reverse transcription quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction was adopted to measure the messenger RNA expression of four cognitive‐related genes (amyloid precursor protein, cyclic adenosine monophosphate‐responsive element‐binding protein 1, sortilin‐related receptor 1, and synapsin I) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.ResultsNormal weight obesity was related to a higher risk of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (odds ratio = 3.14, 95% confidence interval: 2.13–4.60). In the patients, the expression of each gene in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells was linearly related to Mini‐Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores (P < 0.05). The expression of these genes in the patients with metabolic health deviated from the normal levels found in the controls (P < 0.05), and the deviations were more significant in the patients with normal weight obesity (P < 0.05).ConclusionNormal weight obesity may be a potential risk factor for amnestic mild cognitive impairment in elderly. This relationship was reflected in the abnormal expression of several cognitive‐related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Toward a neurobehavioral trait conceptualization of depression proneness
Authors: Bowyer Colin B. , Joyner Keanan J. , Yancey James R. , Venables Noah C. , Hajcak Greg , Patrick Christopher J. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe etiology of major depressive disorder is heterogeneous, and differing pathways leading to the development of depression are proposed to account for alternative variants of depressive illness and their distinct comorbidity patterns. The present study was undertaken as a step toward developing a model for conceptualizing and quantifying dispositional proneness to depression, marked by reduced neural sensitivity to rewarding events and more persistent occurrence of depressive symptomatology. Using data for college and community adult participants (N = 201), we sought to quantify variations in depression proneness by combining symptom indicators of persistent depressive conditions (dysthymic disorder, depressive personality) with a brain potential response that has been shown to index sensitivity to pleasurable events—the reward positivity (RewP; Proudfit, 2015). We first extended prior work on the RewP and depression by showing that the magnitude of RewP covaried negatively with symptoms of persistent depressive conditions (dysthymia, depressive personality) but not with current levels of depression. Persistent depressive symptoms and the RewP were then combined to form a composite neuroclinical index of depression proneness. Compared to persistent depressive symptoms alone, this composite dimensional index showed improved specificity of relations with diagnostic criterion measures, that is, similar‐level associations with other indicators of depression proneness but significantly lower associations with fear disorder symptomatology. These findings provide evidence that a dimension of depression proneness can be quantified effectively by combining psychological indicators of persistent depression with a neurophysiological index of a core depression‐related process (i.e., reward sensitivity).
Obimon: An open‐source device enabling group measurement of electrodermal activity
Authors: Kasos Krisztian , Zimonyi Szabolcs , Gonye Bianka , Köteles Ferenc , Kasos Eniko , Kotyuk Eszter , Varga Katalin , Veres Andras , Szekely Anna 
Published: April 2019

AbstractElectrodermal activity (EDA) provides the means to gauge the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Assessment of EDA for research purposes requires measurement systems that are sensitive to small changes in arousal in the full measurement range, collecting, storing, and monitoring data. The objective behind designing a new open‐source device was to be able to measure EDA simultaneously on many subjects, monitoring their activity in real time remotely and collecting high precision data suitable for analyses. To assure feasibility of simultaneous measurements on multiple subjects, the devices must be compact and wearable, without compromising data quality. Experiments were carried out using synchronized devices in group and single subject environments. Validity of EDA measurements of Obimon was demonstrated compared to a reference system (Nexus) during a breathing exercise, a short movie, and while exposed to loud computer‐generated tones, using Pearson correlation, Passing‐Bablok regression, and Bland‐Altman analysis. Seamless management of several Obimons and real‐time visualization of EDA via Android phone/tablet application from a large number of participants was demonstrated. Based on analyses of the data collected, we conclude that the Obimon device presented here is a valid and feasible tool for collecting EDA in single or multisubject environments.
Decoupling trends: Drivers of agency independence in telecommunications: An analysis of high and middle‐income countries
Authors: Özel Işık D. , Unan Aslı 
Published: April 2019

AbstractGlobal diffusion of regulatory reforms in telecommunications has prevailed in many countries, engendering major institutional changes and entailing the establishment and/or reform of regulatory agencies. Although the triggers and timing of such agentification processes have been more or less similar, agency independence displays significant cross‐country variation. Seeking to explain such variation based on a sample incorporating middle‐income countries (MICs), this paper examines the impact of political‐institutional settings in which the agencies operate, in addition to the impact of economic parameters. Regression analysis reveals that political rights appear as the central parameter, while their impact is more robust in MICs than in advanced countries. The results underscore considerable cross‐national variation in regulatory governance, along with a noteworthy decoupling between MICs and advanced countries. Concurring with the regulatory regionalism perspective, the paper delineates distinct regional clusters, albeit remaining agnostic about the determinants of such clusters.
Diagenetic controls on the isotopic composition of carbonate‐associated sulphate in the Permian Capitan Reef Complex, West Texas
Authors: Present Theodore M. , Gutierrez Melissa , Paris Guillaume , Kerans Charles , Grotzinger John P. , Adkins Jess F. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractLate Palaeozoic‐age strata from the Capitan Reef in west Texas show facies‐dependent heterogeneity in the sulphur isotopic composition of carbonate‐associated sulphate, which is trace sulphate incorporated into carbonate minerals that is often used to reconstruct the sulphur isotopic composition of ancient seawater. However, diagenetic pore fluid processes may influence the sulphur isotopic composition of carbonate‐associated sulphate. These processes variously modify the sulphur isotopic composition of incorporated sulphate from syndepositional seawater in shelf crest, outer shelf, shelf margin and slope depositional settings. This study used a new multicollector inductively‐coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique to determine the sulphur isotopic composition of samples of individual depositional and diagenetic textures. Carbonate rocks representing peritidal facies in the Yates and Tansill formations preserve the sulphur isotopic composition of Guadalupian seawater sulphate despite alteration of the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions by meteoric and dolomitizing diagenetic processes. However, sulphur isotopic data indicate that limestones deposited in reef and slope facies in the Capitan and Bell Canyon formations largely incorporate sulphate from anoxic marine‐phreatic pore fluids isotopically modified from seawater by microbial sulphate reduction, despite generally preserving the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of Permian seawater. Some early and all late meteoric calcite cements have carbonate‐associated sulphate with a sulphur isotopic composition distinct from that of Permian seawater. Detailed petrographic and sedimentary context for carbonate‐associated sulphate analyses will allow for improved reconstructions of ancient seawater composition and diagenetic conditions in ancient carbonate platforms. The results of this study indicate that carbonate rocks that diagenetically stabilize in high‐energy environments without pore fluid sulphate gradients can provide a robust archive of ancient seawater's sulphur isotopic composition.
From Tupperware to Scentsy: The gendered culture of women and direct sales
Authors: D'Antonio Virginia 
Published: April 2019

AbstractConsumer culture has transformed the lives of working women and family life for well over a century. Perhaps one of the most gender distinct forms of consumer culture introduced in the 20th century was the direct sales industry. The business model of direct sales depends on women's social circles as a means to market products directly to consumers, antithetical to retail spaces of malls and shopping outlets. In this literature review, I explore how women construct meaning behind products in this sales culture, while examining the emotional investment that women make as direct sales consultants and the personal outcomes of this investment. To begin, I include a brief history of the direct sales industry with a focus on three pioneering companies: Avon, Tupperware, and Mary Kay as foundational to women's contributions and involvement in the industry today. Next, I explore the pathways that motivate women's draw to direct selling as a form of emotional labor that allows them to balance professional work and family life while yielding minimal financial gain. I analyze the messaging of direct sales companies that cleverly speak directly to women's needs for recognition and assist in constructing personal identity and self‐worth. Finally, I examine trends for the future of direct sales companies as they look to maintain relevance through global markets and brand recognition that will expand beyond women's social circles and parties.
Ecologically unequal exchange: A theory of global environmental injustice
Authors: Givens Jennifer E. , Huang Xiaorui , Jorgenson Andrew K. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn this article, we review the theory of ecologically unequal exchange and its relevance for global environmental injustice. According to this theory, global political–economic factors, especially the structure of international trade, shape the unequal distribution of environmental harms and human development; wealthier and more powerful Global North nations have disproportionate access to both natural resources and sink capacity for waste in Global South nations. We discuss how the theory has roots in multiple perspectives on development, world‐systems analysis, environmental sociology, and ecological economics. We detail research that tests hypotheses derived from ecological unequal exchange theory on several environmental harms, including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and water pollution as well as related human well‐being outcomes. We also discuss research on social forces that counter the harmful impacts of ecologically unequal exchange, including institutions, organizations, and environmental justice movements. We suggest that ecologically unequal exchange theory provides an important global political–economic approach for research in environmental sociology and other environmental social sciences as well as for sustainability studies more broadly.
Elided Clausal Conjunction Is Not the Only Source of Closest‐Conjunct Agreement: A Picture‐Matching Study
Authors: Arsenijević Boban , Willer‐Gold Jana , Aljović Nadira , Čordalija Nermina , Kresić Vukosav Marijana , Leko Nedžad , Malenica Frane , Marušič Franc Lanko , Milićev Tanja , Milićević Nataša , Mišmaš Petra , Mitić Ivana , Peti‐Stantić Anita , Stanković Branimir , Tušek Jelena , Nevins Andrew 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA recurring hypothesis about the agreement phenomena generalized as closest‐conjunct agreement takes this pattern to result from reduced clausal conjunction, simply displaying the agreement of the verb with the nonconjoined subject of the clause whose content survives ellipsis (Aoun, Benmamoun & Sportiche 1994, 1999; see also Wilder 1997). Closest‐conjunct agreement is the dominant agreement pattern in the South Slavic languages Slovenian and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian. A natural question is whether closest‐conjunct agreement in these varieties may indeed be analyzed as entirely derived from conjunction reduction. In this article, we report on two experiments conducted to test this. The results reject the hypothesis as far as these languages are concerned, thereby upholding the relevance of models developed to account for closest‐conjunct agreement within theories of agreement.
Influence of surgical margin completeness on risk of local tumour recurrence in canine cutaneous and subcutaneous soft tissue sarcoma: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Milovancev Milan , Tuohy Joanne L. , Townsend Katy L. , Irvin Veronica L. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe present peer‐reviewed veterinary literature contains conflicting information regarding the impact of surgical margin completeness on risk of local tumour recurrence in canine soft tissue sarcoma (STS). This systematic review and meta‐analysis was designed to answer the clinical question: “Does obtaining microscopically tumour‐free surgical margins reduce risk for local tumour recurrence in canine cutaneous and subcutaneous STS?” A total of 486 citations were screened, 66 of which underwent full‐text evaluation, with 10 studies representing 278 STS excisions ultimately included. Cumulatively, 16/164 (9.8%) of completely excised and 38/114 (33.3%) of incompletely excised STS recurred. Overall relative risk of 0.396 (95% confidence interval = 0.248‐0.632) was calculated for local recurrence in STS excised with complete margins as compared to STS excised with incomplete margins. Risk of bias was judged to be low for all studies in terms of selection bias and detection bias but high for all studies in terms of performance bias and exclusion bias. The results of the present meta‐analysis, coupled with the results of individual previous studies, strongly suggest that microscopically complete surgical margins confer a significantly reduced risk for local tumour recurrence in canine STS. Future studies ideally should adhere to standardized conducting and reporting guidelines to reduce systematic bias.
Footpad peripheral ganglioneuroblastoma in a dog
Authors: Salvadori Claudia , Cantile Carlo , Massari Federico , Chiti Lavinia , Colombo Silvia , Abramo Francesca 
Published: April 2019

BackgroundPeripheral neuroblastic tumours arising from primitive cells of the cranial and spinal ganglia and from sympathetic ganglion cells of the autonomic nervous system include, from most to least differentiated, ganglioneuroma, ganglioneuroblastoma and neuroblastoma. Canine ganglioneuroblastoma has been described in the mediastinum, nasal and oral cavities, as well as in the brain.ObjectiveTo describe the clinical and histopathological findings, treatment and follow‐up of a primary cutaneous ganglioneuroblastoma affecting the footpad of a dog.AnimalAn 8‐year‐old male German shepherd dog, referred for left forelimb lameness and licking of the footpad, showed thickening of the footpad of digit V with a central nodular lesion.Methods and resultsHistopathological and immunohistochemical examination on a surgical skin biopsy specimen showed an infiltrative and highly cellular neoplasm in the deep dermis. The neoplasm was composed of large polyhedral cells with abundant cytoplasm containing Nissl substance that reacted strongly with neuron‐specific enolase and neuronal nuclei antigen, spindle cells with indistinct cell borders suggestive of Schwann cells, with a mild S‐100 and GFAP immunoreactivity, and rare nests of neuroblasts. The owner agreed to digit amputation. Histologically, a neoplastic multinodular proliferation with morphological findings like those detected in the biopsy was observed, not extended to the surgical margins and without involvement of skeletal bone. No recurrence or metastasis was observed over a period of one year.Conclusions and clinical importanceTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a primary cutaneous ganglioneuroblastoma in a dog. Ganglioneuroblastoma should be included in the differential diagnoses of canine footpad neoplastic diseases.
Influence of plate type and placement on the immobilization of bilateral equine mandibular osteotomies: Ex vivo study
Authors: Durket Elyse , Kersh Kevin , Dembek Katarzyna , Riedesel Elizabeth , Silverstone Auri , Kraus Karl H. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the influence of plate fixation (locking or dynamic compression) and the site of application (ventral [V] or ventrolateral [VL]) on the resistance to bending of transverse mandibular fractures.Study designEx vivo, simple randomized study.Sample populationMandibles harvested from adult equine cadavers (n = 18).MethodsBilateral osteotomies were created 1 cm caudal to the mental foramen and perpendicular to the long axis of each mandible. Mandibles were fixed with 1 of 3 methods: (1) VL dynamic compression plate (DCP), (2) V‐DCP, or (3) VL locking compression plating (LCP). Constructs were mounted on a custom testing jig and tested for resistance in bending by applying force to the rostral aspect of the mandible. Stiffness and change of distance of the dorsal osteotomy at 200 N were compared among constructs.ResultsVL‐LCP constructs were 5.25 and 2.42 times stiffer than V and VL constructs, respectively (P<.001). Change in the width of the osteotomy gap at 200 N of load was reduced 6.04 times when osteotomies were stabilized with VL compared to V (P<.001); no difference was detected between the VL and VL‐LCP constructs (P=.836).ConclusionVentrolateral LCP fixation of equine transverse mandibular osteotomies provided greater resistance to bending compared with V and VL constructs.Clinical significanceThese results provide evidence to recommend fixation of transverse interdental mandibular fractures with VL‐LCP rather than with DCP in horses.
Molecular basis of allosteric Orai1 channel activation by STIM1
Authors: Yeung Priscilla See‐Wai , Yamashita Megumi , Prakriya Murali 
Published: April 2019

AbstractStore‐operated Ca2+ entry through Orai1 channels is a primary mechanism for Ca2+ entry in many cells and mediates numerous cellular effector functions ranging from gene transcription to exocytosis. Orai1 channels are amongst the most Ca2+‐selective channels known and are activated by direct physical interactions with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) in response to store depletion triggered by stimulation of a variety of cell surface G‐protein coupled and tyrosine kinase receptors. Work in the last decade has revealed that the Orai1 gating process is highly cooperative and strongly allosteric, likely driven by a wave of interdependent conformational changes throughout the protein originating in the peripheral C‐terminal ligand binding site and culminating in pore opening. In this review, we survey the structural and molecular features in Orai1 that contribute to channel gating and consider how they give rise to the unique biophysical fingerprint of Orai1 currents.
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Fructose and metabolic health: governed by hepatic glycogen status?
Authors: Hengist Aaron , Koumanov Francoise , Gonzalez Javier T. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractFructose is a commonly ingested dietary sugar which has been implicated in playing a particularly harmful role in the development of metabolic disease. Fructose is primarily metabolised by the liver in humans, and increases rates of hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Fructose increases hepatic de novo lipogenesis via numerous mechanisms: by altering transcriptional and allosteric regulation, interfering with cellular energy sensing, and disrupting the balance between lipid synthesis and lipid oxidation. Hepatic de novo lipogenesis is also upregulated by the inability to synthesise glycogen, either when storage is inhibited in knock‐down animal models or storage is saturated in glycogen storage disease. Considering that fructose has the capacity to upregulate hepatic glycogen storage, and replenish these stores more readily following glycogen depleting exercise, the idea that hepatic glycogen storage and hepatic de novo lipogenesis are linked is an attractive prospect. We propose that hepatic glycogen stores may be a key factor in determining the metabolic responses to fructose ingestion, and saturation of hepatic glycogen stores could exacerbate the negative metabolic effects of excessive fructose intake. Since physical activity potently modulates glycogen metabolism, this provides a rationale for considering nutrient–physical activity interactions in metabolic health.
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