bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of C‐reactive protein/albumin ratio on prognosis in advanced non–small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Ni Xue‐Feng , Wu Jun , Ji Mei , Shao Ying‐Jie , Xu Bin , Jiang Jing‐Ting , Wu Chang‐Ping 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAimSystemic inflammatory response is closely related to tumor progression. We retrospectively investigated relationships between systemic inflammatory scores, C‐reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio (CAR) and clinical characteristics in advanced non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 436 patients to find better clinical predictors of NSCLC prognosis.MethodsBlood specimens were collected 1 week before treatment to test for systemic inflammatory scores and albumin. Patients’ overall survival (OS) was calculated via Kaplan–Meier method. Single‐factor log‐rank and multivariate Cox regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of CAR and other systemic inflammatory indexes in predicting OS.ResultsKaplan–Meier method showed that Glasgow prognosis score (GPS), modified GPS (mGPS), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were reliable prognostic factors for advanced NSCLC. CAR was positively correlated with GPS, mGPS, NLR, PLR and MLR in these patients. CAR was an independent risk factor for OS in advanced NSCLC, and was more closely associated with prognosis than were GPS, mGPS, NLR, PLR or MLR.ConclusionIn advanced NSCLC patients, CAR may be a better predictor of prognosis compared with other inflammatory markers. A prospective multicenter study is needed to verify these findings.
Overdiagnosis of open‐angle glaucoma in the general population: the Thessaloniki Eye Study
Authors: Founti Panayiota , Coleman Anne L , Wilson M Roy , Yu Fei , Anastasopoulos Eleftherios , Harris Alon , Pappas Theofanis , Koskosas Archimidis , Kilintzis Vassilis , Salonikiou Angeliki , Raptou Anastasia , Topouzis Fotis 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeTo assess the overdiagnosis of open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) and to investigate associated factors.MethodsThis was a cross‐sectional, population‐based study of an urban Caucasian population in northern Greece. Randomly selected subjects ≥60 years (n = 2554) participated in the Thessaloniki Eye Study. The definition of OAG required the presence of structural and functional damage, irrespective of intraocular pressure (IOP). Non‐OAG subjects were classified as overdiagnosed with OAG if they had reported at least one of the following (self‐reported glaucoma): (i) prior diagnosis of glaucoma, (ii) prior laser for glaucoma, (iii) prior glaucoma surgery. Factors associated with the overdiagnosis of OAG were investigated using a logistic regression model.ResultsOf 57 (2.2%) subjects with self‐reported glaucoma, 34 (60%) were overdiagnosed with OAG, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.3% (34/2554). In a logistic regression model among non‐OAG subjects, worse visual acuity (VA) (20/200 or worse versus 20/25 or better; odds ratio (OR) = 4.30, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI), 1.13–16.35), family history of glaucoma (OR = 8.69, 95% CI, 2.83–26.67) and history of cataract surgery (OR = 11.50, 95% CI, 3.85–34.36) were statistically significantly associated with the overdiagnosis of OAG. Age, sex, higher IOP, higher vertical cup‐to‐disc ratio and pseudoexfoliation were not statistically significant.ConclusionThe overdiagnosis of OAG was substantial in this elderly, Caucasian population. The overdiagnosis of glaucoma has not been previously addressed in population‐based studies and needs to be further explored.
Distribution of scleral thickness and associated factors in 810 Chinese children and adolescents: a swept‐source optical coherence tomography study
Authors: Deng Junjie , Jin Jiali , Lv Minzhi , Jiang Wenhan , Sun Sifei , Yao Chunxia , Zhu Jianfeng , Zou Haidong , Wang Ling , He Xiangui , Xu Xun 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeTo explore the subfoveal thickness of sclera (SST), choroid (SCT) and retina (SRT) as well as their relationship in healthy Chinese children with varying levels of refractive error.MethodsA total of 810 healthy Chinese schoolchildren and adolescents underwent a series of comprehensive ocular examinations, as well as swept‐source optical coherence tomography (OCT) after induced cycloplegia. The thicknesses of the sclera, choroid and retina below the central fovea were measured manually, and each measurement was compared across different refractive statuses. Independent factors associated with the thickness of each layer were analysed.ResultsThe meanSST,SCTandSRTwere 524 ± 57 μm, 195 ± 49 μm and 224 ± 19 μm, respectively. TheSSTs andSCTs of myopes were significantly thinner than those of emmetropes and hyperopes (all p < 0.001). Although the choroid seemed to be thicker in hyperopes (225 ± 46 μm) than in emmetropes (211 ± 45 μm), no statistically significant difference was observed between emmetropes and hyperopes in the sclera and choroid. ThinnerSSTs andSCTs were associated with greater levels of myopia, whereas theSRTwas similar in children with different myopic levels.SST(p < 0.001) andSCT(p = 0.003) as well as age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001) and axial length (p < 0.001) were independently associated with spherical equivalent refraction (SER). Older age (p = 0.013), myopic‐shiftedSER(p < 0.001), thickerSCT(p < 0.001) and thinnerSRT(p = 0.012) were independently associated with a thinnerSST.ConclusionThe subfoveal sclera and choroid were thinner in myopes than in emmetropes and hyperopes, while the retina remains constant. Age, refractive error and choroidal and retinal thicknesses are related to subfoveal scleral thickness.
Optical coherence tomography angiography analysis of macular flow density in glaucoma
Authors: Kromer Robert , Glusa Philipp , Framme Carsten , Pielen Amelie , Junker Bernd 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPurposeModifications in ocular blood flow may play a significant role in glaucoma development. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT‐A) is based on the detection and analysis of the reflection behaviour of motion in a static environment and therefore is able to quantify the retinal flow density. We used this new technology to examine the density of the active flow vasculature in the macular area in glaucoma patients compared to healthy patients.MethodsThirty patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma (mean age: 72.6 ± 7.1 years) and 21 healthy patients (mean age: 70.3 ± 8.6 years) were recruited. Patients received perimetry and OCT measurements of the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) and macular retinal thickness and OCT‐A of the macular area in the superficial and deep retinal (DR) plexus. Flow density of the OCT‐A scan was calculated by binarisation and quantification of the pixel density.ResultsMacular flow density was globally and nasally reduced in glaucoma patients in the superficial (globally: p = 0.0203; nasally: p = 0.0003) and DR plexus (globally: p = 0.0113, nasally: p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between the superficial retina and the DR concerning the flow density. Flow density showed no significant correlation with perimetry results, RNFLT or retinal segment thickness.ConclusionPatients with glaucoma exhibit a reduced macular flow density measured by OCT‐A compared to controls. The independence of the macular flow density of the retinal segment thickness changes could indicate an altered vascular element in patients with glaucoma.
Regularized Latent Class Model for Joint Analysis of High-Dimensional Longitudinal Biomarkers and a Time-to-Event Outcome
Authors: Sun Jiehuan , Herazo-Maya Jose D. , Molyneaux Philip L. , Maher Toby M. , Kaminski Naftali , Zhao Hongyu 
Published: September 2018

Summary
Although many modeling approaches have been developed to jointly analyze longitudinal biomarkers and a time-to-event outcome, most of these methods can only handle one or a few biomarkers. In this article, we propose a novel joint latent class model to deal with high dimensional longitudinal biomarkers. Our model has three components: a class membership model, a survival submodel, and a longitudinal submodel. In our model, we assume that covariates can potentially affect biomarkers and class membership. We adopt a penalized likelihood approach to infer which covariates have random effects and/or fixed effects on biomarkers, and which covariates are informative for the latent classes. Through extensive simulation studies, we show that our proposed method has improved performance in prediction and assigning subjects to the correct classes over other joint modeling methods and that bootstrap can be used to do inference for our model. We then apply our method to a dataset of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, for whom gene expression profiles were measured longitudinally. We are able to identify four interesting latent classes with one class being at much higher risk of death compared to the other classes. We also find that each of the latent classes has unique trajectories in some genes, yielding novel biological insights.
Evaluating (and Improving) the Correspondence Between Deep Neural Networks and Human Representations
Authors: Peterson Joshua C. , Abbott Joshua T. , Griffiths Thomas L. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDecades of psychological research have been aimed at modeling how people learn features and categories. The empirical validation of these theories is often based on artificial stimuli with simple representations. Recently, deep neural networks have reached or surpassed human accuracy on tasks such as identifying objects in natural images. These networks learn representations of real‐world stimuli that can potentially be leveraged to capture psychological representations. We find that state‐of‐the‐art object classification networks provide surprisingly accurate predictions of human similarity judgments for natural images, but they fail to capture some of the structure represented by people. We show that a simple transformation that corrects these discrepancies can be obtained through convex optimization. We use the resulting representations to predict the difficulty of learning novel categories of natural images. Our results extend the scope of psychological experiments and computational modeling by enabling tractable use of large natural stimulus sets.
Predicting impact to assess the efficacy of community‐based marine reserve design
Authors: Smallhorn‐West Patrick F. , Bridge Tom C.L. , Malimali Siola'a , Pressey Robert L. , Jones Geoffrey P. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractDuring the planning phase the efficacy of different strategies to manage marine resources should ultimately be assessed by their potential impact, or ability to make a difference to ecological and social outcomes. While community‐based and systematic approaches to establishing marine protected areas have their strengths and weaknesses, comparisons of their effectiveness often fail to explicitly address potential impact. Here, we predict conservation impact to compare recently implemented community‐based marine reserves in Tonga to a systematic configuration specifically aimed at maximizing impact. Boosted regression tree outputs indicated that fishing pressure accounted for ∼24% of variation in target species biomass. We estimate that the community‐based approach provides 84% of the recovery potential of the configuration with the greatest potential impact. This high potential impact results from community‐based reserves being located close to villages, where fishing pressure is greatest. These results provide strong support for community‐based marine management, with short‐term benefits likely to accrue even where there is little scope for systematic reserve design.
Immunohistochemistry of p16 in nevi of pregnancy and nevoid melanomas
Authors: Koh Stephen S. , Roehmholdt Brian F. , Cassarino David S. 
Published: September 2018

BackgroundHormonal changes in pregnancy are known to alter melanocytic lesions, with some nevi noted to have increased mitotic figures and increased Ki‐67 proliferation index. Additionally, cytomorphologic changes have also been noted, referred to as superficial micronodules of pregnancy. These changes may alarm the pathologist for malignancy, particularly nevoid melanoma. Immunohistochemistry for p16 has been recently utilized to distinguish benign nevi from melanoma. We assessed the use of p16 immunohistochemistry for distinguishing melanocytic nevi of pregnant patients from nevoid melanomas.MethodsFourteen nevomelanocytic lesions were obtained from pregnant or postpartum patients along with 20 nevoid melanomas for comparison. Immunohistochemistry with p16 was performed on each melanocytic lesion. The percentage of nuclear p16 staining of dermal melanocytes was grouped on a scale of <5%, 5% to 25%, >25% to 50%, and >50%.ResultsThe majority of nevi from pregnant patients (81%) showed staining of >5% for p16. In contrast, the majority of nevoid melanomas (65%) had staining of <5% for p16.ConclusionThe application of p16 as a potential immunohistochemistry diagnostic marker to distinguish nevi from pregnant patients vs nevoid melanomas may be useful.
Adjuvant treatment of severe/refractory bullous pemphigoid with protein A immunoadsorption
Authors: Hübner Franziska , Kasperkiewicz Michael , Knuth‐Rehr Diana , Shimanovich Iakov , Hübner Joachim , Süfke Sven , Muck Philip , Zillikens Detlef , Schmidt Enno 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackgroundWhile depletion of circulating autoantibodies using immunoadsorption (IA) is an established therapeutic approach in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, IA has only sporadically been used in other autoimmune bullous disorders. Although bullous pemphigoid (BP) usually responds well to topical and systemic corticosteroids, rapid depletion of serum autoantibodies may be an effective adjuvant treatment option in patients with severe and/or refractory disease.Patients and methodsCase series of 20 patients (13 women, 7 men; mean age 78.6 years; range 56–94 years) with severe or refractory BP. In addition to oral prednisolone (0.25–0.5 mg/kg/day), dapsone (1.0–1.5 mg/kg/day), and clobetasol propionate 0.05 % ointment (lesional application, twice daily), treatment consisted of protein A IA (three sessions on consecutive days). The mean follow‐up period was 33.6 months (1–84 months).ResultsThe majority of patients showed a rapid and sustained response. One month after treatment, eight patients (42 %; 19 patients were included in the follow‐up) were in complete remission; at the last follow‐up visit (after 1 to 84 months), that number was 13 (68 %). Not only was there an initial drop in anti‐BP180 autoantibodies (by 92 %), the effect also continued after one and three months, with mean autoantibody levels at 26 % and 13 % of baseline, respectively (p < 0.001). Both previously treated and treatment‐naive patients showed a significant reduction in anti‐BP180NC16A antibody levels throughout the observation period. Adverse events occurred in 13 of the 20 patients (65 %). Three were severe of which two were likely or probably related to IA.ConclusionImmunoadsorption is an effective adjuvant treatment option for (the usually elderly) patients with severe and/or refractory BP.
Fatigue assessment of steel load‐carrying cruciform welded joints by means of local approaches
Authors: Song Wei , Liu Xuesong , Razavi Nima 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn this paper, local approaches are employed to analyse stress distributions, local fatigue indicators of weld toe, and weld root in load‐carrying cruciform welded joints (LCWJs). An extension of previous available equations is applied herein to calculate the approximate notch strain energy density (SED) based on the notch stress intensity factors (NSIFs) of LCWJ. The extending range of applicability is useful to explain various geometry effects comprehensively of LCWJ under cyclic tension and bending. By employing these extended equations, SED values can be rapidly evaluated without any finite element calculations. The NSIF and SED values obtained according to proposed analytical solutions are first validated by comparing finite element data from several stimulations in LCWJ models, resulting in a good agreement. Moreover, the failure transition relationship between weld toe and weld root is assured by SED values considering variations of notch angles. As a preliminary validation, the accuracy and reliability of proposed analytical model in this paper are checked by several experimental data generated from testing under fatigue loading. The good agreements between the experimental results and existing scatter bonds based on local NSIF, SED, and peak stress method fatigue design standards establish reliable basis for validation of the present analytical equations.
SCHOPENHAUER'S PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
Authors: JENSEN ANTHONY K. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTContained mostly within one brief chapter of his The World as Will and Representation, Schopenhauer's philosophy of history has long been considered either hostile or irrelevant to nineteenth‐century philosophy of history. This article argues that, on the contrary, Schopenhauer maintained what would become a widely accepted criticism of the methodological identity of historiography and the natural sciences. His criticism of Hegel's teleological historiography was more philosophically rigorous than is commonly acknowledged. And his proposal of a “genuine” historiography along the model of art became a major influence on the historiography of Burckhardt, Emerson, and Nietzsche. This article accordingly aims to restore Schopenhauer to the conversation of nineteenth‐century philosophy of history.
4. REASON, AGENCY, AND HISTORY: REMARKS ON KANT AND BENJAMIN
Authors: HAMMER ESPEN 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTThis essay begins by determining the nature of Richard Eldridge's project. Referring mainly to writings by Immanuel Kant and Walter Benjamin, I view his attempt as considering what it involves to be an agent in a historical setting. According to Eldridge, the correct answer will have to involve the right combination of Kant's emphasis on rational self‐determination and Benjamin's account of spontaneous (yet nonrational) self‐transformation. In response to this answer, I suggest that Benjamin's view may not easily lend itself to being made compatible with Kantian thinking. In particular, Benjamin's effort to think experience in terms that do not make any reference to rational self‐determination must be viewed as deeply foreign to Kant's project. I also argue that Kant's third Critique, in particular its conception of reflective judgment, could have provided Eldridge with a view of agency and experience that does not deviate substantially from Kant's project elsewhere. At the end of the essay, I argue that the duality we find in Eldridge's exposition should be viewed as not only related to individuals but to society in general. An attempt to resolve it must involve reflection on how historically constituted social forms create such stark oppositions between reason and its other.
Self‐fulfilling regression and statistical discrimination
Authors: Hayashi Takashi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis paper provides a simple model which explains that statistical discrimination can arise in a purely self‐fulfilling manner. The story is as follows. (i) At the point of hiring, employers cannot observe workers’ productivities but can observe only their signals, such as test scores, and under perfect competition they pay for expected labor productivity conditional on signal observation, based on their belief about return to signal. (ii) Given the employers’ belief, workers choose an effort level, which affects the joint probability distribution over productivity–signal pairs. (iii) In equilibrium, the employers’ belief proves to be statistically consistent. We show that there may be multiple equilibria, and that equilibrium selection has nothing to do with economic fundamentals.
Consumers’ expectations and willingness‐to‐pay for local animal products produced with local feed
Authors: Profeta Adriano , Hamm Ulrich 
Published: September 2018

SummaryWhat is local food? To answer this question, past consumer research focused on a definition based on distances between the point of production and the point of purchase or political and landscape boundaries. Nonetheless, there are few findings about what consumers expect or know about the origin of input factors for locally labelled products. Most consumers do not know that animal food production in Europe is dependent on protein feed imports from third countries that come with negative environmental effects. Local supply chains with domestic protein feedstuffs are only economically feasible when consumers pay higher prices. This study analyses whether consumers are willing to pay higher prices for the use of local feed in local products. For this purpose, a German wide survey of 1602 consumers in food retail shops was carried out. The findings reveal a high potential demand for local animal products produced with local feed.
Oestrogen promotes tumorigenesis of bladder cancer by inducing the enhancer RNA—eGREB1
Authors: Ding Mengting , Liu Yuhan , Li Jianfa , Yao Lin , Liao Xinhui , Xie Haibiao , Yang Kang , Zhou Qun , Liu Yuchen , Huang Weiren , Cai Zhiming 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIn recent years, studies have shown that enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) can be transcribed from enhancers. Increasing evidence has revealed that eRNAs play critical roles in the development of various cancers. Oestrogen‐associated eRNAs are closely related to breast cancer. In view of the gender differences in bladder cancer (BCa), we suppose that oestrogen‐associated eRNAs are also involved in tumorigenesis of BCa. In our study, we first demonstrated that eGREB1 derived from the enhancer of an oestrogen‐responsive gene—GREB1 was up‐regulated in BCa tissues, and the expression level of eGREB1 is positively associated with the histological grade and TNM stage of BCa. Knockdown of eGREB1 by CRISPR‐Cas13a could inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induce apoptosis in BCa cells T24 and 5637. Besides, we exhibited the promoting effect of oestrogen on BCa cells. What's more, down‐regulation of eGREB1 could improve the malignant biological characteristics of BCa cells induced by oestrogen. In conclusion, our data indicated that eGREB1 plays oncogenic role and oestrogen may promote the occurrence and progression of BCa by inducing eGREB1 production. Our findings provide new insights into the prevention of BCa and develop a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of BCa.