bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduction of abdominal skin laxity in women postvaginal delivery using the synergistic emission of radiofrequency and targeted pressure energies
Authors: Fritz Klaus , Salavastru Carmen , Gyurova Magdalina 
Published: August 2018

SummaryObjectiveThis study evaluates clinical efficacy of a novel device which uses combined emission of radiofrequency and targeted pressure energy, for reduction of abdominal skin laxity.MethodsThis was a multicentric, randomized, parallel group‐controlled prospective study. Forty‐six women 6‐36 months after delivery with abdominal skin laxity were randomly assigned to Group A or Group B. Group A received four treatments with BTL UNISON device (BTL Industries Inc, Boston, MA, USA); and, Group B didn't receive any treatments. Skin viscoelasticity was measured using a skin analyzer at baseline and 3 months posttreatments. Standardized digital photographs were evaluated for the severity of skin laxity. Patient comfort and satisfaction were evaluated by standardized questionnaires.ResultsSubjects’ weight remained stable. In 95% of treated patients the umbilical circumference decreased (average − 1.43 cm, P < 0.0001). The average of skin viscoelasticity changes in individual patients totaled + 37.6%/3.29 Mpa (retraction time − 62.6 ms/−22.5%; suction pressure + 1.21 Mpa/+13.9%) (all P < 0.0001). The overall elasticity improved in 90.9% of patients. The control group changes were insignificant. Based on independent photo assessment there was an improvement in the degree of skin laxity in 86% of treated patients. The average laxity score across all treated patients decreased from 1.79 (moderate laxity) at baseline to 1.1 (mild laxity) 3 months posttreatments. Ninety percent of treated patients expressed satisfaction with achieved results. Therapy didn't cause any pain.ConclusionsWe conclude the investigated device can significantly reduce signs of early postpartum laxity in abdominal area. As such, it is a promising alternative to surgical procedures.
Comparative study of fractional Erbium: YAG laser vs combined therapy with topical steroid as an adjuvant treatment in melasma
Authors: Abdel‐Raouf Mohamed Hamza , Ali Nasif Ghada , Saad Abdel‐Azim Eman , Abd El‐Fatah Ahmed Mira 
Published: August 2018

SummaryBackgroundMelasma is an acquired disorder of symmetrical hyperpigmentation. Several treatment methods are available for patients with melasma, including topical compounds, broad‐spectrum photoprotection, camouflage, chemical peels, and laser and light therapies which represent potentially promising options for patients who are refractory to other modalities.ObjectiveTo evaluate and compare the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical changes in melasma after fractional Er:YAG laser versus fractional Er:YAG laser and topical steroids.MethodsTwenty‐two patients were treated with fractional Er:YAG laser on both sides of the face with the use of topical steroid only on the left side to make left‐to‐right‐side comparison. Clinical evaluation, histopathological, and immunohistochemical assessment for skin specimens were performed before treatment and 3 months after the end of sessions.ResultsTreatment by fractional Er:YAG laser on the right side showed significant decrease in MASI score with clinical outcome which considered as excellent in three patients (13.6%), very good in six (27.2%), good in eight (36.3%), and fair in five (22.7%) with significant decrease in basal pigmentation and reorganization of dermal collagen and decreased number of MART1‐positive cells. After combined therapy, the decrease in MASI score was highly significant with the clinical outcome which considered as excellent in six patients (27.2%), very good in 10 (45.4%), good in three (13.6%), and fair in three (13.6%). The histological changes were highly evident and more significant.ConclusionClinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical improvement was evident on both sides, with more significant better outcome with the use of combined therapy on the left side. However, combined therapy was more beneficial for Fitzpatrick skin type III rather than type IV.
Impact of mash and crumble diets on intestinal amino acids transporters, intestinal morphology and pancreatic enzyme activity of broilers
Authors: Mahdavi Reza , Osmanyan Artyom Karlovich , Fisinin Vladimir Ivanovich , Ghazi Harsini Shahab , Arkhipova Anna Leonidovna , Shevyakov Alexander Nikolayevich , Kovalchuk Svetlana Nikolaevna , Kosovsky Gleb Yurievich 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate effects of mash and crumble pre‐starter diets on pancreatic enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, gene expression of intestinal peptide and amino acid (AA) transporters of broilers. Broilers in battery cages were assigned to different feed forms of pre‐starter diet from 1 to 10 days of age. Significantly increased body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and lowered FCR were observed in birds fed crumble pre‐starter diet (CPD, p < 0.05). Feed forms had no effect on whole and small intestine length, but relative intestinal length and relative small intestinal length significantly increased in the broilers fed a mash pre‐starter diet (MPD, p < 0.05). Feeding CPD increased the weight of pancreas (p < 0.05), but relative weight of the pancreas was not influenced by treatments. Pancreatic protease and amylase activities significantly increased in the broilers fed CPD (p < 0.05) but the activity of lipase was not influenced. Crypt depth (CD) and villus height (VH) were higher in broilers fed CPD (p < 0.05) but villus width (VW), villus surface area (VSA) and villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio (VCR) were not influenced by treatments. mRNA levels for peptide transporter 1 (PepT1), Na+‐independent cationic AA transporter1 (CAT1), Na+‐independent cationic and Na+‐dependent neutral AA transporter 1 (y+LAT1) and Na+‐dependent neutral AA transporter (B0AT) were lower in birds fed CPD (p < 0.05). There were no differences in mRNA abundance of Na+‐independent cationic and zwitterionic AA transporter (b0,+AT) among treatments. Overall, the present data showed that feeding crumble diet during first 10 days of age, through higher FI, enhanced intestinal histomorphology, increased digestive enzyme activity is beneficial to growth performance of broilers. Indeed, dietary form can be an important factor in the expression of jejunal transporters.
Protein kinase‐mediated signalling in priming: Immune signal initiation, propagation, and establishment of long‐term pathogen resistance in plants
Authors: Hake Katharina , Romeis Tina 
Published: August 2018

Abstract“Priming” in plant phytopathology describes a phenomenon where the “experience” of primary infection by microbial pathogens leads to enhanced and beneficial protection of the plant against secondary infection. The plant is able to establish an immune memory, a state of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), in which the information of “having been attacked” is integrated with the action of “being prepared to defend when it happens again.” Accordingly, primed plants are often characterized by faster and stronger activation of immune reactions that ultimately result in a reduction of pathogen spread and growth.Prerequisites for SAR are (a) the initiation of immune signalling subsequent to pathogen recognition, (b) a rapid defence signal propagation from a primary infected local site to uninfected distal parts of the plant, and (c) a switch into an immune signal‐dependent establishment and subsequent long‐lasting maintenance of phytohormone salicylic acid‐based systemic immunity.Here, we provide a summary on protein kinases that contribute to these three conceptual aspects of “priming” in plant phytopathology, complemented by data addressing the role of protein kinases crucial for immune signal initiation also for signal propagation and SAR.
Random-Walk Models of Network Formation and Sequential Monte Carlo Methods for Graphs
Authors: Bloem-Reddy Benjamin , Orbanz Peter 
Published: August 2018

SummaryWe introduce a class of generative network models that insert edges by connecting the starting and terminal vertices of a random walk on the network graph. Within the taxonomy of statistical network models, this class is distinguished by permitting the location of a new edge to depend explicitly on the structure of the graph, but being nonetheless statistically and computationally tractable. In the limit of infinite walk length, the model converges to an extension of the preferential attachment model—in this sense, it can be motivated alternatively by asking what preferential attachment is an approximation to. Theoretical properties, including the limiting degree sequence, are studied analytically. If the entire history of the graph is observed, parameters can be estimated by maximum likelihood. If only the final graph is available, its history can be imputed by using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. We develop a class of sequential Monte Carlo algorithms that are more generally applicable to sequential network models and may be of interest in their own right. The model parameters can be recovered from a single graph generated by the model. Applications to data clarify the role of the random-walk length as a length scale of interactions within the graph.
Current state of transfusion practices for ABO‐incompatible pediatric heart transplant patients in the United States and Canada
Authors: Dean Christina L. , Sullivan Harold C. , Stowell Sean R. , Fasano Ross M. , West Lori J. , Robitaille Nancy , Josephson Cassandra D. 
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUNDABO compatibility restriction on solid organ transplantation limits organ availability. In an effort to increase organ availability, pediatric ABO‐incompatible heart transplants (ABOiHT) are now performed with similar outcomes to ABO‐compatible transplants. Transfusion support can be challenging and currently there are no standard guidelines for blood product support, ABO isohemagglutinin (IH) titer cutoffs for transplant eligibility, or therapeutic intervention for these patients. The study aim was to survey current blood bank and antibody reduction practices for pediatric ABOiHT in the United States and Canada.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSA Web‐based survey was sent to 50 US and Canadian pediatric blood bank directors. Participants were queried regarding pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative blood product support; ABO IH titer testing; and antibody reduction practices in ABOiHT recipients.RESULTSWe analyzed 21 responses from US and Canadian centers that perform pediatric ABOiHT. There is wide variation in the type of blood products transfused and the modification of these products among respondents in the pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative settings. The frequency of testing ABO IH titers, implementing therapeutic intervention, and the type of therapeutic intervention also vary greatly among the institutions.CONCLUSIONTransfusion support of children with ABOiHT varies widely among blood banks in the United States and Canada. The choice of blood products and modifications utilized, titer thresholds for organ selection and medical decision points, and antibody reduction strategies are not standardized from center to center. As pediatric ABOiHTs become more common, a better understanding of optimal transfusion support and therapeutic intervention is needed.
Analysis of a large data set to identify predictors of blood transfusion in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Huang ZeYu , Huang Cheng , Xie JinWei , Ma Jun , Cao GuoRui , Huang Qiang , Shen Bin , Byers Kraus Virginia , Pei FuXing 
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to identify the predictors of need for allogenic blood transfusion (ALBT) in primary lower limb total joint arthroplasty (TJA).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThis study utilized a large dataset of 15,187 patients undergoing primary unilateral TJA. Risk factors and demographic information were extracted from the electronic health record. A predictive model was developed by both a random forest (RF) algorithm and logistic regression (LR). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐ROC) was used to compare the accuracy of the two methods.RESULTSThe rate of ALBT was 18.9% in total. Patient‐related factors associated with higher risk of an ALBT included female sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) II, ASA III, and ASA IV. Surgery‐related risk factors for ALBT were operative time, drain use, and amount of intraoperative blood loss. Higher preoperative hemoglobin and tranexamic acid use were associated with decreased risk for ALBT. The RF model had a better predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] 0.84) than the LR model (AUC, 0.77; p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONThe risk factors identified in the current study can provide specific, personalized perioperative ALBT risk assessment for a patient considering lower limb TJA. Furthermore, the predictive accuracy of the RF algorithm was significantly higher than that of LR, making it a potential tool for future personalized preoperative prediction of risk for perioperative ALBT.
Are large randomised controlled trials in severe sepsis and septic shock statistically disadvantaged by repeated inadvertent underestimates of required sample size?
Authors: Wong Joshua L C , Mason Alexina J , Gordon Anthony C , Brett Stephen J 
Published: August 2018

ObjectivesWe sought to understand why randomised controlled trials in septic shock have failed to demonstrate effectiveness in the face of improving overall outcomes for patients and seemingly promising results of early phase trials of interventions.DesignWe performed a retrospective analysis of large critical care trials of severe sepsis and septic shock. Data were collected from the primary trial manuscripts, prepublished statistical plans or by direct communication with corresponding authors.SettingCritical care randomised control trials in severe sepsis and septic shock.Participants14 619 patients randomised in 13 trials published between 2005 and 2015, enrolling greater than 500 patients and powered to a primary outcome of mortality.InterventionMultiple interventions including the evaluation of treatment strategies and novel therapeutics.Primary and secondary outcome measuresOur primary outcome measure was the difference between the anticipated and actual control arm mortality. Secondary analysis examined the actual effect size and the anticipated effect size employed in sample size calculation.ResultsIn this post hoc analysis of 13 trials with 14 619 patients randomised, we highlight a global tendency to overestimate control arm mortality in estimating sample size (absolute difference 9.8%, 95% CI −14.7% to −5.0%, p<0.001). When we compared anticipated and actual effect size of a treatment, there was also a substantial overestimation in proposed values (absolute difference 7.4%, 95% CI −9.0% to −5.8%, p<0.0001).ConclusionsAn interpretation of our results is that trials are consistently underpowered in the planning phase by employing erroneous variables to calculate a satisfactory sample size. Our analysis cannot establish if, given a larger sample size, a trial would have had a positive result. It is disappointing so many promising phase II results have not translated into durable phase III outcomes. It is possible that our current framework has biased us towards discounting potentially life-saving treatments.
High-level language processing regions are not engaged in action observation or imitation
Authors: Pritchett Brianna L. , Hoeflin Caitlyn , Koldewyn Kami , Dechter Eyal , Fedorenko Evelina 
Published: August 2018

A set of left frontal, temporal, and parietal brain regions respond robustly during language comprehension and production (e.g., Fedorenko E, Hsieh PJ, Nieto-Castañón A, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Kanwisher N. J Neurophysiol 104: 1177–1194, 2010; Menenti L, Gierhan SM, Segaert K, Hagoort P. Psychol Sci 22: 1173–1182, 2011). These regions have been further shown to be selective for language relative to other cognitive processes, including arithmetic, aspects of executive function, and music perception (e.g., Fedorenko E, Behr MK, Kanwisher N. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108: 16428–16433, 2011; Monti MM, Osherson DN. Brain Res 1428: 33–42, 2012). However, one claim about overlap between language and nonlinguistic cognition remains prominent. In particular, some have argued that language processing shares computational demands with action observation and/or execution (e.g., Rizzolatti G, Arbib MA. Trends Neurosci 21: 188–194, 1998; Koechlin E, Jubault T. Neuron 50: 963–974, 2006; Tettamanti M, Weniger D. Cortex 42: 491–494, 2006). However, the evidence for these claims is indirect, based on observing activation for language and action tasks within the same broad anatomical areas (e.g., on the lateral surface of the left frontal lobe). To test whether language indeed shares machinery with action observation/execution, we examined the responses of language brain regions, defined functionally in each individual participant (Fedorenko E, Hsieh PJ, Nieto-Castañón A, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Kanwisher N. J Neurophysiol 104: 1177–1194, 2010) to action observation ( experiments 1, 2, and 3a) and action imitation ( experiment 3b). With the exception of the language region in the angular gyrus, all language regions, including those in the inferior frontal gyrus (within “Broca’s area”), showed little or no response during action observation/imitation. These results add to the growing body of literature suggesting that high-level language regions are highly selective for language processing (see Fedorenko E, Varley R. Ann NY Acad Sci 1369: 132–153, 2016 for a review). NEW & NOTEWORTHY Many have argued for overlap in the machinery used to interpret language and others’ actions, either because action observation was a precursor to linguistic communication or because both require interpreting hierarchically-structured stimuli. However, existing evidence is indirect, relying on group analyses or reverse inference. We examined responses to action observation in language regions defined functionally in individual participants and found no response. Thus language comprehension and action observation recruit distinct circuits in the modern brain.
<b>Diversity and distribution of freshwater turtles (Reptilia: Testudines) in Goa, India</b>
Authors: Jadhav Trupti D. , Sawant Nitin S. , Shyama Soorambail K. 
Published: August 2018

Freshwater turtles symbolize a key component of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. Of the 356 living species of turtles and tortoises in the world, 34 species are recorded from India. The number of freshwater turtle and tortoise species found in the state of Goa, however, is debatable. No study specific to the Goa region has been carried out on freshwater turtles. Therefore, baseline data on diversity and distribution of freshwater turtles is scanty. The present study was conducted to address this lacuna in knowledge, which will further aid in identifying threats to the population of freshwater turtles and in devising appropriate methods for their conservation. The diversity and distribution of freshwater turtles was investigated in 186 sites in Goa from June 2012 to May 2015. A total of 337 specimens of two native and one introduced species of freshwater turtles belonging to three families—Trionychidae (Indian Flap-shell Turtle Lissemys puncata), Geomydidae (Indian Black Turtle Melanochelys trijuga) and Emydidae (Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans)— were identified. Melanochelys trijuga (52.23%) was the most widely and abundantly distributed species, and was recorded from 132 sites. L. punctata (46.88%) was recorded from 113 sites, while T. scripta elegans (0.89%) was rare and was recorded from only two sites. While Melanochelys trijuga is generalized in habitat selection, making it the widely distributed species in the State of Goa, L. punctata is more specific in habitat selection thus restricting its range to coastal, middle-level plateau and the foothills of Western Ghats.
<b>Angiosperm diversity of Sonbhadra District, Uttar Pradesh: a checklist</b>
Authors: Kushwaha Arun Kumar , Tewari Lalit Mohan , Chaudhary Lal Babu 
Published: August 2018

The present study provides a taxonomic account of the angiosperms of Sonbhadra District in Uttar Pradesh. The district, which comes under the Vindhyan region of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the richest areas in the state as far as plant diversity is concerned. It is spread over about 6788km² of geographical area, which constitutes about 36% forest cover on highly undulated land. The extensive survey of the area conducted during 2011-–2016, critical examination of previous collections housed at various herbaria, and review of published literature have resulted in a total of 705 species belonging to 459 genera under 110 families. Out of these, 541 species (76.73%) under 354 genera (77.12%) and 89 families (80.90%) belong to dicots, and 164 species (23.26%) under 105 genera (23.26%) and 21 families (19.09%) to monocots. The present enumeration of the species also includes about 78 species cultivated in the area for various purposes. Fabaceae (110 spp.) comprises of the maximum number of species, followed by Poaceae (89 spp.), Asteraceae (38 spp.), Cyperaceae (33 spp.), and Malvaceae (33 spp.). Some of the largest genera in the area are Cyperus (14 spp.), Ipomoea (9 spp.), Solanum (9 spp.), Ficus (9 spp.), Crotalaria (7 spp.), Desmodium (7 spp.), Bauhinia (6 spp.), Hibiscus (6 spp.), Fimbristylis (6 spp.), Acacia (5 spp. ), etc. The entire forest is chiefly dominated by trees such as Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd., Boswellia serrata Roxb. ex Colebr., Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub., Hardwickia binata Roxb., and Shorea robusta Gaertn.
<b>New reports of thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia: Thripidae) from India</b>
Authors: Rachana R. R. , Varatharajan R. 
Published: August 2018

The presence of three species of thrips, namely Asprothrips bimaculatus Michel & Ryckewaert, Plesiothrips perplexus (Beach), and Pseudodendrothrips darci (Girault), has been reported here for the first time from India, collected during a thrips survey carried out at Agartala in Tripura and Valparai in Tamil Nadu. Among them, A. bimaculatus and P. darci belong to the subfamily Dendrothripinae, and P. perplexus comes under Thripinae. Diagnosis and illustration for the above three terebrantians are given along with the images for the respective species.