bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age at death and the effect of lead‐time bias in patients with colorectal cancer: a 10‐year follow‐up
Authors: Nair H. S. , Knight S. R. , McKenzie C. , MacDonald A. J. , Macdonald A. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAimStudies addressing the benefit of early intervention are prone to lead‐time bias, which results in an artificial improvement in cancer‐specific mortality. We have previously compared the age at death for patients with colorectal cancer presenting on an emergency or elective basis. In this study, we aimed to repeat the analysis with a minimum follow‐up of 10 years.MethodA nonscreen‐detected cohort of patients presenting with colorectal cancer to three Lanarkshire Hospitals between 2000 and 2006 were entered into a prospective database, with analysis performed on 28 November 2016. The following data were collected: age at death, presentation type (emergency/elective), operative intent (palliative/curative) and Dukes stage. Results are presented as [mean (95% confidence intervals)]. Statistical analysis was undertaken using Student's t‐test and multivariate analysis performed using Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsOne thousand six hundred and thirty‐six patients were identified. Elective patients presented younger than emergency patients [67.9 (67.3–68.5) vs 70.9 (69.6–72.2) years; P < 0.0001]. Overall mortality was 71.1% at time of analysis; no difference was seen in the mean age at death between emergency and elective presentation [73.5 (72.4–74.8) vs 73.6 (72.3–74.9) years; P = 0.841].ConclusionCurrent early detection strategies to diagnose colorectal cancer may improve cancer‐specific survival by increasing lead‐time bias. However, in our cohort of symptomatic patients, treatment on an elective or emergency basis does not influence overall survival. These data suggest that in selected patients, particularly where there is comorbidity, it may be reasonable to adopt a more expectant approach to investigate and treat colorectal symptoms.
Fine needle aspiration cytology of paediatric soft tissue tumours highlighting challenges in diagnosis of benign lesions and unusual malignant tumours
Authors: Agrawal Parimal , Srinivasan Radhika , Rajwanshi Arvind , Gupta Nalini , Dey Pranab , Kakkar Nandita , Samujh Ram 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntroductionThe type of soft tissue lesions seen in children differs from that seen in adults. The role of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in their diagnosis is not well documented.AimTo study the cytopathological spectrum of paediatric soft tissue tumours to highlight uncommon benign and malignant lesions and the challenges in their diagnosis.MethodsA 3‐year retrospective audit of all paediatric soft tissue FNA cytology cases from 2015 to 2017 was performed. Smears were reviewed along with cell block immunocytochemistry and follow‐up histopathology of resected specimens wherever available.ResultsA total of 127 cases were reviewed, which included 72 benign and 55 malignant soft tissue tumours. Uncommon lesions described herein are myxoid fibrohistiocytic tumour, myxoma, lipoblastoma, Bednar tumour, malignant extra‐renal rhabdoid tumour and desmoplastic small round cell tumour. Histopathology confirmation was available in 25 cases, out of which 16 cases were completely concordant. In eight cases, all benign diagnoses, histopathology provided more accurate subtyping than FNA. These included cases of lipoblastoma, myxoma and spindle cell haemangioma.ConclusionFNA cytology of paediatric soft tissue tumours is accurate in classifying lesions as benign or malignant which helps in treatment planning. Immunocytochemistry performed on cell blocks is useful for subtyping malignant lesions.
First report of Lecanosticta acicola on non‐native Pinus mugo in southern Sweden
Authors: Cleary Michelle , Laas Marili , Oskay Funda , Drenkhan Rein 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn 2017, severe symptoms of brown spot needle blight, similar to those caused by Lecanosticta acicola, were observed on needles of non‐native Pinus mugo var. Hesse planted in an arboretum in southern Sweden. Microscopic characterization and molecular diagnostics of isolates obtained from diseased needles confirmed the identity of L. acicola. This is the first report of the quarantine pathogen L. acicola in Sweden. Subsequent surveys are urgently needed to assess the presence and extent of the L. acicola invasion in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.
Smart is the new sexy: female mountain chickadees increase reproductive investment when mated to males with better spatial cognition
Authors: Branch Carrie L. , Pitera Angela M. , Kozlovsky Dovid Y. , Bridge Eli S. , Pravosudov Vladimir V. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the evolution of inter and intraspecific variation in cognitive abilities is one of the main goals in cognitive ecology. In scatter‐caching species, spatial memory is critical for the recovery of food caches and overwinter survival, but its effects on reproduction are less clear. Better spatial cognition may improve pre‐breeding condition allowing for earlier reproduction. Alternatively, when mated to males with better spatial memory, females may be able to invest more in reproduction which may allow increased offspring survival and hence higher fitness. Using wild food‐caching mountain chickadees, we found that when environmental conditions were favourable for breeding, females mated to males with better spatial cognition laid larger clutches and fledged larger broods than females mated to males with worse cognitive performance. Our results support the hypothesis that females may increase their reproductive investment to gain indirect, genetic benefits when mated to high‐quality males with better spatial cognitive abilities.
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug prescriptions from the 6th month of pregnancy: impact of advice from health authorities
Authors: Araujo Mélanie , Hurault‐Delarue Caroline , Bouilhac Claire , Petiot Dominique , Benevent Justine , Vayssière Christophe , Vidal Sabine , Montastruc Jean‐Louis , Damase‐Michel Christine , Lacroix Isabelle 
Published: March 2019

AbstractNon‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used drugs. On June 2008 and February 2009, Dear Doctor Letters (DDLs) were sent by the French Health Authorities (AFSSAPS) to remind practitioners of risks with NSAIDs after the fifth month of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of these letters on NSAID prescriptions during late pregnancy. EFEMERIS is a French database that registers drugs prescribed and reimbursed during pregnancy and outcomes between 2004 and 2015. We performed a descriptive study and a ‘before‐and‐after’ comparison of NSAID prescriptions between 3 June 2006 and 3 June 2008 (‘before group’), and between 1 March 2010 and 1 March 2012 (‘after group’). We carried out a Cochran Armitage trend test to check whether the rate of women exposed to NSAIDs varies linearly over time. We identified 948 (4.38%) pregnant women in the ‘before group’ and 678 (2.73%) in the ‘after group’ receiving at least one NSAID prescription in late pregnancy (P < 0.0001). Between 2006 and 2012, mainly prescriptions for morniflumate/niflumic acid (1.7% vs. 0.9%; P < 0.0001), ibuprofen (0.8% vs. 0.6%; P = 0.01) and ketoprofen (0.7% vs. 0.3%; P < 0.0001) fell significantly after DDLs. The Cochran Armitage trend test shows that the percentage of women exposed to NSAIDs in late pregnancy decreased significantly during the study period (P < 0.0001). This study highlighted a significant decrease in the percentage of women receiving NSAID prescriptions during late pregnancy after DDLs. This decrease is not linked to a specific women's profile or prescriber's medical discipline.
New insights in the male anatomy, spermatophore formation, and sperm structure in Atyidae: The red cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi
Authors: Tomas Ana Laura , Garcia Bento Maria Alice , Mutti Leonardo Damian , Zara Fernando José , López Greco Laura Susana 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study aims to analyze the functional anatomy of the male reproductive system in Neocaridina davidi, a very popular ornamental species of caridean shrimp. Mature males were cold‐anaesthetized and their reproductive systems were dissected for histological and histochemical analysis, while the spermatozoa and spermatophore wall ultrastructure were analyzed under transmission electron microscopy. The male reproductive system consisted of two coiled testes, which were continuous with the vasa deferentia. Testes were positioned on the dorsal side of the cephalothorax above the hepatopancreas, and comprised seminiferous tubules where spermatogenesis occurred. Each vas deferens (VD) was a long tube dorsolaterally positioned with respect to the hepatopancreas, and increased in diameter at the distal end. Three regions could be recognized in the VD: proximal, middle, and distal. The proximal region had a cylindrical epithelium with secretory cells. The middle region (or typhlosole) had a dorsal fold (or typhlosole) with a thick columnar epithelium and high secretory activity. The spermatophore was a continuous cord with three acellular layers, which were mainly characterized by the presence of neutral glycoconjugates and proteins. The sperm morphology was distinct from the inverted cup‐shaped spermatozoa observed in the majority of caridean shrimps. The spermatozoa in specimens of N. davidi were spherical in shape, with a cross‐striated, single, short spike, and arranged in clusters of three or four sperm cells. The composition of the spermatophore, and the arrangement and form of the spermatozoa, seem to be unique in comparison to other species of Caridea.
Influence of food, body size, and fragmentation on metabolic rate in a sessile marine invertebrate
Authors: Schuster Lukas , White Craig R. , Marshall Dustin J. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractMetabolic rates vary among individuals according to food availability and phenotype, most notably body size. Disentangling size from other factors (e.g., age, reproductive status) can be difficult in some groups, but modular organisms may provide an opportunity for manipulating size experimentally. While modular organisms are increasingly used to understand metabolic scaling, the potential of feeding to alter metabolic scaling has not been explored in this group. Here, we perform a series of experiments to examine the drivers of metabolic rate in a modular marine invertebrate, the bryozoan Bugula neritina. We manipulated size and examined metabolic rate in either fed or starved individuals to test for interactions between size manipulation and food availability. Field collected colonies of unknown age showed isometric metabolic scaling, but those colonies in which size was manipulated showed allometric scaling. To further disentangle age effects from size effects, we measured metabolic rate of individuals of known age and again found allometric scaling. Metabolic rate strongly depended on access to food: starvation decreased metabolic rate by 20% and feeding increased metabolic rate by 43%. In comparison to other marine invertebrates, however, the increase in metabolic rate, as well as the duration of the increase (known as specific dynamic action, SDA), were both low. Importantly, neither starvation nor feeding altered the metabolic scaling of our colonies. Overall, we found that field‐collected individuals showed isometric metabolic scaling, whereas metabolic rate of size‐manipulated colonies scaled allometrically with body size. Thus, metabolic scaling is affected by size manipulation but not feeding in this colonial marine invertebrate.
Gaining ‘Raw Insider Knowledge’: The Benefits and Challenges of International Study Tours for Creative Industries Students
Authors: Pennings Mark , Cushing Debra Flanders , Gomez Rafael , Dyson Clare , Coombs Courtney 
Published: March 2019

AbstractInternational short‐term study tours are a fast‐growing format for outbound education and provide exciting experiential learning opportunities for students in the creative industries disciplines. This success has encouraged researchers to seek a comprehensive view of the various concrete experiences that contribute to student learning during study tours. To that end, this article presents evidence from a qualitative online post‐tour questionnaire administered with students studying various art and design disciplines who participated in short‐term international study tours at a large Australian university in 2015. Using Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory as a framework, data collected explored student perceptions of which concrete experiences on a study tour are most impactful and which may actually hinder learning. Findings revealed: experiencing key industry venues are the most significant aspects of a study tour, rather than networking or personal growth; poor itinerary planning and travel issues are the least liked aspects of a tour, yet are often the most easily addressed with better tour management and planning; and students were positively impacted by unexpected gains in knowledge about their creative industries discipline. This study, therefore, provides unique insights into which concrete experiences may be most impactful as part of the experiential learning cycle within an international study tour for creative industries students.
Empowering Students in Leading their Education and Practice: The Design Workbook
Authors: Sleiman Tina , Chung‐Shin Yunsun , Haddad Rabab Al 
Published: March 2019

AbstractHow does education prepare future designers for current and future requirements of the field? An attempt to respond to this question is presented through the Design Workbook: a curricular project that has been proposed and developed over the course of three phases. In Phase One, the objectives, structure and format were defined: an online interface containing activities organised under five chapters that aim at building students’ creative confidence and sensitivity to surrounding contexts, and prepare them to lead their career path. In Phase Two, the website was developed to its first usable version, and content applied into live classes. Phase Three was marked with content refinement for the activities, navigation and feature redesign in the interface, and new ways of conducting the course. The article summarises learning points from the first two phases, and provides new findings and analyses from the final phase. It also includes a sample of the activities content, student works and feedback as well as the interface development stages. The methodology utilised throughout consisted of active research, as well as learning outcomes assessment using direct and indirect measures. Assessment results and classroom observations confirmed that students benefit greatly from visualising ideas, hands on activities, design thinking workshops, as well as from collaborative experiences, to avoid facing designer's block and to practise empowerment of self and others. Finally, challenges, opportunities and future implications are discussed, alongside implementation possibilities: The Design Workbook can run as a sole course, spread across the curriculum, and expand into the community.
Silent cerebral lesions and cognitive function after pulmonary vein isolation with an irrigated gold‐tip catheter: REDUCE‐TE Pilot study
Authors: Schmidt Boris , Széplaki Gábor , Merkely Bela , Kautzner Josef , van Driel Vincent , Bourier Felix , Kuniss Malte , Bulava Alan , Nölker Georg , Khan Muchtiar , Lewalter Thorsten , Klein Norbert , Wenzel Beate , Chun Julian KR , Shah Dipen 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIntroductionStroke is one of the most feared complications during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). While symptomatic thromboembolic events are rare, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may identify asymptomatic (ie, silent) cerebral lesions (SCLs) following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) procedures.Methods and ResultsThe REDUCE‐TE Pilot was a prospective multicenter, single‐arm observational study investigating the incidence of SCL in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF undergoing PVI with a novel gold‐tip, externally irrigated ablation catheter. After ablation, cerebral diffusion‐weighted MRI and a postablation follow‐up were performed at 1 to 3 days after the ablation procedure. A neurocognitive test was done before and after ablation. The primary study endpoint was the occurrence of one or more new SCLs. Secondary study endpoints included neurocognitive status, procedural success rate, and periprocedural complications including symptomatic thromboembolic events. A total of 104 patients were enrolled (69% male, mean age: 61.5 ± 9.7 years, mean CHA2DS
2‐VASc score: 1.7 ± 1.2). Postprocedural MRI examination was performed in 97 patients, and in nine of them (9.3%; 95% CI: 4.3‐16.9%) a total of 11 SCLs were detected. Univariate analyses did not reveal any significant predictor for new SCLs. Nonsignificant trends were observed for low activated clotting time during ablation and for international normalized ratio value outside the range of 2 to 3 at ablation. There was no evidence of significant deterioration of neurocognitive function after PVI. In four patients, a pericardial tamponade was noted but all patients fully recovered during follow‐up.ConclusionsAblation of AF using a novel gold‐tip, externally irrigated ablation catheter, resulted in SCLs in approximately one out of 10 patients without a measurable effect on neurocognitive function.
A regular wide QRS complex tachycardia: What is the mechanism?
Authors: Arias Miguel A. , Puchol Alberto , Pachón Marta , Martín‐Sierra Cristina 
Published: March 2019

AbstractA 14‐year‐old girl with a history of recurrent palpitations and documented wide QRS complex tachycardia was referred for electrophysiologic study and catheter ablation.
Women's Representation across Different Generations: A Longitudinal Analysis of the European Parliament
Authors: Stockemer Daniel , Sundström Aksel 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn this article, we focus on generational differences in women's representation and hypothesize that younger generations of women should be more highly represented than older generations, both in general and within the same parliament. We tested this hypothesis with data on all members who have ever served in the European Parliament since 1979. Of the four generations who have ever served in Brussels and Strasbourg – the World War II generation, the 1968 generation, the post‐1968 generation and the post‐materialist generation – we found both that women's representation increased with every generation and that their representation differs between generations within the same parliament. Finally, our results indicate that while these processes occurred roughly one generation later in eastern and southern Europe, yet, they happened faster in these parts of the European Union.
Comparison of initial treatment with and without corticosteroids for suspected acute pancreatitis in dogs
Authors: Okanishi H. , Nagata T. , Nakane S. , Watari T. 
Published: March 2019

ObjectivesTo compare initial treatment with and without corticosteroids for acute pancreatitis in dogs and investigate the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis.Materials and MethodsSixty‐five dogs were included in this non‐blinded, non‐randomised clinical study. Dogs with acute pancreatitis received treatment either with dose of 1 mg/kg/day prednisolone (n=45) or without prednisolone (n=20). Response to treatment was based on changes in the C‐reactive protein concentration, improvement in clinical signs, duration of hospitalisation, mortality and recurrence rate.ResultsFrom the third day of hospitalisation, C‐reactive protein concentration was significantly lower in the prednisolone group than that in the non‐prednisolone group. The number of days required to reach a C‐reactive protein concentration of <2 mg/dL and clinical score of ≤2 was significantly lower in the prednisolone group. The mortality rate 1 month after discharge was significantly lower in the prednisolone group (11.3%versus46.1%).Clinical SignificanceIn dogs with acute pancreatitis, initial treatment with prednisolone resulted in earlier reductions in C‐reactive protein concentration and earlier improvement of clinical signs.
Demand‐led growth with endogenous innovation
Authors: Caminati Mauro , Sordi Serena 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis paper contributes to the recent macro‐dynamics literature on demand‐led growth, drawing upon the seminal idea that the implications of Harrodian instability may be tamed by a source of autonomous expenditure in the economy. Contrary to the other contributions in this literature, real autonomous expenditure is not growing at an exogenously given rate, and partly consists of a flow of profit‐seeking R&D and innovation expenditures raising labour productivity through time. If the state of distribution, hence the wage share, is exogenously fixed and constant, the model gives rise to dynamics in a two dimensional state space, that may converge to, or give rise to a limit cycle around, an endogenous growth path. An exogenous rise of the profit share exerts negative effects on long‐run growth and employment, showing that growth is wage led.
Complex interactions between day length and diurnal patterns of gene expression drive photoperiodic responses in a perennial C4 grass
Authors: Weng Xiaoyu , Lovell John T. , Schwartz Scott L. , Cheng Changde , Haque Taslima , Zhang Li , Razzaque Samsad , Juenger Thomas E. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPhotoperiod is a key environmental cue affecting flowering and biomass traits in plants. Key components of the photoperiodic flowering pathway have been identified in many species, but surprisingly few studies have globally examined the diurnal rhythm of gene expression with changes in day length. Using a cost‐effective 3′‐Tag RNA sequencing strategy, we characterize 9,010 photoperiod responsive genes with strict statistical testing across a diurnal time series in the C4 perennial grass, Panicum hallii. We show that the vast majority of photoperiod responses are driven by complex interactions between day length and sampling periods. A fine‐scale contrast analysis at each sampling time revealed a detailed picture of the temporal reprogramming of cis‐regulatory elements and biological processes under short‐ and long‐day conditions. Phase shift analysis reveals quantitative variation among genes with photoperiod‐dependent diurnal patterns. In addition, we identify three photoperiod enriched transcription factor families with key genes involved in photoperiod flowering regulatory networks. Finally, coexpression networks analysis of GIGANTEA homolog predicted 1,668 potential coincidence partners, including five well‐known GI‐interacting proteins. Our results not only provide a resource for understanding the mechanisms of photoperiod regulation in perennial grasses but also lay a foundation to increase biomass yield in biofuel crops.
Anton Wilhelm Amo's Philosophy of Mind
Authors: Meyns Chris 
Published: March 2019

AbstractOne of Anton Wilhelm Amo's core contributions to philosophy is his study of the human mind. Amo argues that the human mind is a purely active, immaterial substance that always acts spontaneously and cannot itself be acted upon. Amo's account of the mind has far‐reaching consequences for how he views the relation between mind and body, and our cognitive relation to the sensible world around us. This article introduces Amo's strongly representationalist position, and discusses the extent to which he circumvents the problem of epistemic isolation to which his views seem to give rise.