bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Function in Early Pregnancy, Child IQ, and Autistic Traits: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Participant Data
Authors: Levie Deborah , Korevaar Tim I M , Bath Sarah C , Dalmau-Bueno Albert , Murcia Mario , Espada Mercedes , Dineva Mariana , Ibarluzea Jesús M , Sunyer Jordi , Tiemeier Henning , Rebagliato Marisa , Rayman Margaret P , Peeters Robin P , Guxens Mònica 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Context
Low maternal free T4 (FT4) has been associated with poor child neurodevelopment in some single-center studies. Evidence remains scarce for the potential adverse effects of high FT4 and whether associations differ in countries with different iodine status.

Objective
To assess the association of maternal thyroid function in early pregnancy with child neurodevelopment in countries with a different iodine status.

Design, Setting, and Participants
Meta-analysis of individual participant data from 9036 mother–child pairs from three prospective population-based birth cohorts: INMA [Infancia y Medio Ambiente (Environment and Childhood project) (Spain)], Generation R (Netherlands), and ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, United Kingdom). The exclusion criteria were multiple pregnancies, fertility treatments, thyroid-interfering medication usage, and known thyroid disease.

Main Outcomes
Child nonverbal IQ at 5 to 8 years of age, verbal IQ at 1.5 to 8 years of age, and autistic traits within the clinical range at 5 to 8 years of age.

Results
FT4 &lt;2.5th percentile was associated with a 3.9-point (95% CI, −5.7 to −2.2) lower nonverbal IQ and a 2.1-point (95% CI, −4.0 to −0.1) lower verbal IQ. A suggestive association of hypothyroxinemia with a greater risk of autistic traits was observed. FT4 &gt;97.5th percentile was associated with a 1.9-fold (95% CI, 1.0 to 3.4) greater risk of autistic traits. No independent associations were found with TSH.

Conclusions
Low maternal FT4 was consistently associated with a lower IQ across the cohorts. Further studies are needed to replicate the findings of autistic traits and investigate the potential modifying role of maternal iodine status. FT4 seems a reliable marker of fetal thyroid state in early pregnancy, regardless of the type of immunoassay.
Impact of 2 Distinct Levels of Mean Arterial Pressure on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy During Cardiac Surgery: Secondary Outcome From a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Holmgaard Frederik , Vedel Anne G. , Lange Theis , Nilsson Jens C. , Ravn Hanne B. 
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is used worldwide to monitor regional cerebral oxygenation (rScO2) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Intervention protocols meant to mitigate cerebral desaturation advocate to increase mean arterial pressure (MAP) when cerebral desaturation occurs. However, the isolated effect of MAP on rScO2 is uncertain. The aim of the present study was in a randomized, blinded design to elucidate the effect of 2 distinct levels of MAP on rScO2 values during CPB.
We hypothesized that a higher MAP would be reflected in higher rScO2 values, lower frequency of patients with desaturation, and a less pronounced cerebral desaturation load.

METHODS:
This is a substudy of the Perfusion Pressure Cerebral Infarct trial, in which we investigated the impact of MAP levels during CPB on ischemic brain injury after cardiac surgery. Deviation in rScO2 was a predefined outcome in the Perfusion Pressure Cerebral Infarct trial. Patients were randomized to low MAP (LMAP; 40–50 mm Hg) or high MAP (HMAP; 70–80 mm Hg) during CPB. CPB pump flow was fixed at 2.4 L/min/m2, and MAP levels were targeted using norepinephrine. Intraoperatively, NIRS monitoring was performed in a blinded fashion, with sensors placed on the left and right side of the patient’s forehead. NIRS recordings were extracted for offline analysis as the mean value of left and right signal during prespecified periods. Mean rScO2 during CPB was defined as the primary outcome in the present study.

RESULTS:
The average MAP level during CPB was 67 mm Hg ± SD 5.0 in the HMAP group (n = 88) and 45 mm Hg ± SD 4.4 in the LMAP group (n = 88). Mean rScO2 was significantly lower in the HMAP group during CPB (mean difference, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.9–6.1; P = .010). There was no difference in rScO2 values at specified time points during the intraoperative period between the 2 groups. Significantly more patients experienced desaturation below 10% and 20% relative to rScO2 baseline in the HMAP group (P = .013 and P = .009, respectively), and the cerebral desaturation load below 10% relative to rScO2 baseline was more pronounced in the HMAP group (P = .042).

CONCLUSIONS:
In a randomized blinded study, we observed that a higher MAP induced by vasopressors, with a fixed CPB pump flow, leads to lower mean rScO2 and more frequent and pronounced cerebral desaturation during CPB. The mechanism behind these observations is not clear. We cannot exclude extracranial contamination of the NIRS signal as a possible explanation. However, we cannot recommend increasing MAP by vasoconstrictors during cerebral desaturation because this is not supported by the findings of the present study.
Rates of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events Among Caucasian and African American Children Undergoing General Anesthesia
Authors: Tariq Sarah , Syed Madiha , Martin Timothy , Zhang Xu , Schmitz Michael 
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:
Perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) account for the major cause of morbidity and mortality in children undergoing general anesthesia. In our institutional clinical practice, we suspected that African American children experienced untoward respiratory events more frequently than other racial groups. Identification of high-risk groups can guide decision making in the perioperative period, and aggressive optimization of specific care can enhance safety and improve outcomes.

METHODS:
Data came from a retrospective chart review for records from August 2013 to December 2013. The primary aim was to compare the incidence of PRAEs among racial groups of young children at a single institution. We also analyzed factors that are potentially associated with a higher risk of PRAEs. There were 1148 records that met the inclusion criteria. Racial identities, PRAEs, and risk factors were identified. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate differences in PRAEs among racial groups controlling for confounding variables.

RESULTS:
Of all 1148 patients, 62 (5.4%) had a PRAE. African American children had significantly higher incidences of PRAE (26/231, 11.4%) compared to Caucasian (27/777, 3.5%; P < .001). Although the most common PRAE was laryngospasm, bronchospasm was the most common PRAE for African American children. Otolaryngology procedures were most commonly associated with PRAEs, followed by orthodontic procedures.

CONCLUSIONS:
In a multivariable logistic analysis, African American pediatric patients were shown to have significantly higher odds of PRAEs when compared with the Caucasian group.
Drosophila Insulin receptor regulates the persistence of injury-induced nociceptive sensitization
Authors: Im Seol Hee , Patel Atit A. , Cox Daniel N. , Galko Michael J. 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT
Diabetes-associated nociceptive hypersensitivity affects diabetic patients with hard-to-treat chronic pain. Because multiple tissues are affected by systemic alterations in insulin signaling, the functional locus of insulin signaling in diabetes-associated hypersensitivity remains obscure. Here, we used Drosophila nociception/nociceptive sensitization assays to investigate the role of Insulin receptor (Insulin-like receptor, InR) in nociceptive hypersensitivity. InR mutant larvae exhibited mostly normal baseline thermal nociception (absence of injury) and normal acute thermal hypersensitivity following UV-induced injury. However, their acute thermal hypersensitivity persists and fails to return to baseline, unlike in controls. Remarkably, injury-induced persistent hypersensitivity is also observed in larvae that exhibit either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Cell type-specific genetic analysis indicates that InR function is required in multidendritic sensory neurons including nociceptive class IV neurons. In these same nociceptive sensory neurons, only modest changes in dendritic morphology were observed in the InRRNAi-expressing and diabetic larvae. At the cellular level, InR-deficient nociceptive sensory neurons show elevated calcium responses after injury. Sensory neuron-specific expression of InR rescues the persistent thermal hypersensitivity of InR mutants and constitutive activation of InR in sensory neurons ameliorates the hypersensitivity observed with a type 2-like diabetic state. Our results suggest that a sensory neuron-specific function of InR regulates the persistence of injury-associated hypersensitivity. It is likely that this new system will be an informative genetically tractable model of diabetes-associated hypersensitivity.
SOD1A4V aggregation alters ubiquitin homeostasis in a cell model of ALS
Authors: Farrawell Natalie E. , Lambert-Smith Isabella , Mitchell Kristen , McKenna Jessie , McAlary Luke , Ciryam Prajwal , Vine Kara L. , Saunders Darren N. , Yerbury Justin J. 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACT
A hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathology is the accumulation of ubiquitylated protein inclusions within motor neurons. Recent studies suggest the sequestration of ubiquitin (Ub) into inclusions reduces the availability of free Ub, which is essential for cellular function and survival. However, the dynamics of the Ub landscape in ALS have not yet been described. Here, we show that Ub homeostasis is altered in a cell model of ALS induced by expressing mutant SOD1 (SOD1A4V). By monitoring the distribution of Ub in cells expressing SOD1A4V, we show that Ub is present at the earliest stages of SOD1A4V aggregation, and that cells containing SOD1A4V aggregates have greater ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) dysfunction. Furthermore, SOD1A4V aggregation is associated with the redistribution of Ub and depletion of the free Ub pool. Ubiquitomics analysis indicates that expression of SOD1A4V is associated with a shift of Ub to a pool of supersaturated proteins, including those associated with oxidative phosphorylation and metabolism, corresponding with altered mitochondrial morphology and function. Taken together, these results suggest that misfolded SOD1 contributes to UPS dysfunction and that Ub homeostasis is an important target for monitoring pathological changes in ALS.
This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
The RANI Project: A socio-normative intervention to reduce anemia in Odisha, India: A formative research protocol
Authors: Sedlander Erica , Rimal Rajiv N , Talegawkar Sameera A. , Yilma Hagere , Munar Wolfgang 
Published: May 2018

Background: More than half of women of reproductive age in India are anemic. Anemia is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery, higher maternal mortality and contributes to fatigue, which affects women’s work productivity. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends daily oral iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements during pregnancy and weekly supplements for women of reproductive age. Government programs and global donors have distributed and promoted IFA supplements in India for over four decades. However, initial intake and compliance remain inadequate. Objectives: This protocol describes the formative research phase of a larger study, called the Reduction in Anemia through Normative Innovations (RANI) Project, which will test, through a randomized controlled trial, the hypothesis that a social norms-based behavioral intervention in Odisha, India will improve uptake of IFA supplements and reduce anemia among reproductive age women as compared to usual care. The focus of this paper is on the formative research required to develop a sound intervention. We will examine socio-normative barriers to and facilitators of IFA supplement uptake. Methods and analysis: Based on the Theory of Normative Social Behavior, we will adopt a mixed-method, multilevel approach. We will collect data using focus groups, in-depth interviews, observations, Rapid Participatory Ethnographic Evaluation and Research (PEER) techniques, and perceptual mapping methods. Our sample includes reproductive age women (pregnant and not pregnant), their husbands, their mothers/in law and key stakeholders. Before collecting the data, and after analyzing the results, we will hold convenings in India to engage key stakeholders in collaborative design. Following the intervention design, we will test components of the intervention, gather user feedback and fine-tune as necessary. Impact: This study will contribute to the social norms and behavioral intervention research and inform policymakers about the value of adopting a socio-normative approach.
Climate Applications in a Virtual Research Environment Platform
Authors: Gadzhev Georgi , Georgieva Ivelina , Ganev Kostadin , Ivanov Vladimir , Miloshev Nikolay , Chervenkov Hristo , Syrakov Dimiter 
Published: May 2018

Previous atmospheric composition studies were based on extensive computer simulations carried out with good resolution using up-to-date modelling tools and detailed and reliable input data.
The oncoming climate changes will exert influence on the ecosystems, on the all branches of the international economy, and on the quality of life. Regional climate models (RCMs) are important instruments used for downscaling climate simulations from Global circulation models (GCMs).
The air quality (AQ) impact on human health and quality of life is an issue of great social significance. Evaluating this impact will give scientifically robust basis for elaborating efficient short term measures and long term strategies for mitigation of the harmful effects of air pollution. The AQ impact is evaluated in the terms of Air Quality Indices (AQI). Some extensive numerical simulations of the atmospheric composition fields in Bulgaria and Sofia have been recently performed. A quite extensive data base was created from simulations which were used for different studies of the atmospheric composition, including the AQ climate.
Main aims of the numerical experiment presented in this paper are: (1) Adaptation and tuning of the RegCM model for the Balkan Peninsula and Bulgaria and thus development of a methodology able to predict possible changes of the regional climate for different global climate change scenarios and their impact on spatial/temporal distribution of precipitation, hence the global water budgets, to changes of the characteristics and spatial/temporal distribution of extreme, unfavorable and catastrophic events (drought, storms, hail, floods, fires, sea waves, soil erosion, etc.); (2) Development of a methodology and performing reliable, comprehensive and detailed studies of the impact of lower atmosphere parameters and characteristics on the quality of life (QL) and health risks (HR) for the population.
Dynamic Balancing of Exploration and Exploitation: The Contingent Benefits of Ambidexterity
Authors: Luger Johannes , Raisch Sebastian , Schimmer Markus 
Published: May 2018

We study the evolution of firms’ exploration–exploitation allocations and their long-term performance outcomes. Extending current ambidexterity theory, we suggest that not only firms pursuing one-sided exploration or exploitation orientations show self-reinforcing tendencies but also ambidextrous firms adopting balanced exploration–exploitation orientations. Integrating formal modeling arguments, we further propose that reinforcing ambidexterity can be good or bad for firms’ long-term performance, depending on the environment they face: In contexts characterized by incremental change, firms benefit more from the learning effects of maintaining ambidexterity, which lead to superior performance. Firms in discontinuous change contexts, however, suffer more from the misalignment that reinforcement creates, which affects their performance negatively. A longitudinal data set of global insurance firms (1999–2014) supports our arguments. Building on these findings, we reconceptualize ambidexterity as the ability to dynamically balance exploration and exploitation, which emerges from combining capability-building processes (to balance exploration and exploitation) with capability-shifting processes (to adapt the exploration–exploitation balance). We contribute to the organizational literature by developing a dynamic perspective on balancing exploration and exploitation, by clarifying the contingent nature of the ambidexterity–firm performance relationship, and by integrating and extending the ambidexterity and formal modeling perspectives on exploration and exploitation. The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2017.1189 .
There is an after-life (for jokes, anyway): The potential for, and appeal of, ‘immortality’ in humor
Authors: Hale Adrian 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWhile the appeal of humor lies, typically, in its very spontaneity and original contextual incongruity, there is also the chance of an ‘afterlife’ for the humorous text. In most cases, the humorist seeks an immediate response for what is an ephemeral, fleeting, linguistic transaction. A permanent place in humor culture is probably the least of the humorist’s goals- after all, the immediate, positive response is prioritized as an evidence of skill. Thus, most humor studies focus on the first instantiation of humor, as being generative of the act of humor. This prioritization of the immediate surprise, over the ‘echoes’ of an instance of humor, does not address the fact that many people enjoy revisiting a familiar joke, or comic film, or an entire TV comedy series, and that these revisited texts become incorporated into group and cultural artefacts. These recontextualizations in themselves are potentially funny, but they are also important in sustaining the original instance of humor as a type of ongoing conversation: a very distinctive feature of humor’s social importance. This paper will present a theorization of an interdependency between author, text, and interlocutors for the ‘afterlife’ of texts, and will furnish high-profile examples to support this concept.
Big Data Analytics in Medicine and Healthcare
Authors: Ristevski Blagoj , Chen Ming 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
This paper surveys big data with highlighting the big data analytics in medicine and healthcare. Big data characteristics: value, volume, velocity, variety, veracity and variability are described. Big data analytics in medicine and healthcare covers integration and analysis of large amount of complex heterogeneous data such as various – omics data (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, interactomics, pharmacogenomics, diseasomics), biomedical data and electronic health records data. We underline the challenging issues about big data privacy and security. Regarding big data characteristics, some directions of using suitable and promising open-source distributed data processing software platform are given.
Performance Evaluation of Optical Amplifiers for High-Speed Optical Networks
Authors: Malik Deepak , Kaushik Geeta , Wason Amit 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Optical networks were invented by the developing and developed nations in order to extend the capacity required for communication systems in a worthwhile way. In this paper, the attempt is done to improve the capacity and performance of semiconductor optical amplifier, Raman and erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) amplifiers used in optical networks. The potential of different optical amplifiers operating at 8×10 Gbps has been examined and their performance was compared on behalf of different parameters, viz. eye opening, eye closure, jitter, quality factor and transmission distances. It was observed that EDFA provided the consistent good quality of communication for long-distance transmission up to 150 km along with better eye opening and eye closure with acceptable jitter performance. Further, it is observed on the basis of quality factor and bit error rate that EDFA gives comparably better performance than Raman amplifier. Moreover, it is seen that as the data rate of the system increases, the quality of communication signals starts decreasing.
Angle-Specific Isokinetic Metrics Highlight Strength Training Needs of Elite Youth Soccer Players
Authors: Eustace Steven J. , Page Richard M. , Greig Matt 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Eustace, SJ, Page, RM, and Greig, M. angle specific isokinetic metrics highlight strength training needs of elite youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3258–3265, 2020—The purpose of this study was to assess traditional and angle-specific isokinetic strength of eccentric knee flexors (eccKFs) and concentric knee extensors (conKEs) between senior professional and youth soccer players. Thirty-four male soccer players (17 senior and 17 youth) were recruited for bilateral assessments at 180, 270, and 60°·s−1. Peak torque (PT), dynamic control ratio (DCR), angle of peak torque (APT), functional range (FR), angle-specific torque (AST), and angle-specific DCR (DCRAST) were compared. The eccentric knee flexor (eccKF) and conKE PT (p = 0.782) and DCR (p = 0.508) were not different between groups across all angular velocities. Significant differences were identified for eccKF APT (p = 0.018) and FR (p = 0.006), DCRAST at 270°·s−1 (p = 0.031), and in AST data recorded across angular velocities for eccKF and conKE (p = 0.003). Traditional strength measures were not sensitive to playing age, with implications for misinterpretation in training prescription. By contrast, AST data did differentiate between ages. Strength deficits that highlight the muscle contraction type, angular velocity, and joint angle can be manipulated within an individualized training intervention. Given the relevance to injury etiology, this study highlights potential implications for improved assessment strategies to inform training prescription for performance and injury prevention. Given the high number of injuries in adolescent soccer players, and in line with previous recommendations, practitioners should consider using more informed and specific strength and conditioning practices at younger ages.
Effect of a Poly-olefin Based Additive on Bitumen and Asphalt Mix Performance
Authors: Benešová Lucie , Valentin Jan , Valentová Tereza , Hamzah Meor Othman 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Based on the comparison of the selected characteristics of laboratory prepared modified binders, different blends of bituminous binders with added poly-olefin based additive (PAO) were evaluated alone or in combination with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymers. The basic type of bitumen used for the modification was a paving grade 50/70. The second reference binder was an industrially produced polymer-modified bitumen PMB 40/80-85. The properties of bituminous binders were evaluated using selected empirical tests and functional tests on Dynamic Shear Rheometer and viscosity test. Additionally, assessed binder variants were used in a stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixture, and bitumen properties were compared with performance behavior of the mixture, mainly, stiffness, water susceptibility, resistance to permanent deformations, and behavior in the low temperature range. The results show that the effect of the PAO additive depends mainly on the base binder used. It is a more affordable variant than conventional PMBs from an economic point of view, although the resulting properties with PAO additive are not comparable to those of traditional PMBs. The PAO may be used as a certain intermediate performance product between paving grades and PMB binders.