bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Simplified Quantitative Method to Measure Brain Shifts in Patients with Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke
Authors: Paletta Nina , Maali Laith , Zahran Abdurrehman , Sethuraman Sankara , Figueroa Ramon , Nichols Fenwick T. , Bruno Askiel 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEA standardized and validated method to measure brain shifts in malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke with decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) could facilitate clinical decision making, prognostication, and comparison of results between studies.METHODSWe tested for reliability simplified methods to measure transcalvarial herniation, midline brain shift, and the contralateral cerebral ventricular atrium in malignant MCA stroke after DHC. Multiple raters measured brain shifts on post‐DHC computed tomography (CT) scans with aligned and unaligned slice orientations in 25 patients. We compared the simplified measurements to previously reported more meticulous measurements.RESULTSThe simplified measurements correlate well with the more meticulous measurements on both aligned and unaligned CTs (intraclass correlation coefficients .72‐.89).CONCLUSIONSThese simplified and expedient methods of measuring brain shifts in malignant MCA stroke after DHC correlate well with the more meticulous methods.
Additive Manufacturing: A Comparative Analysis of Dimensional Accuracy and Skin Texture Reproduction of Auricular Prostheses Replicas
Authors: Unkovskiy Alexey , Spintzyk Sebastian , Axmann Detlef , Engel Eva‐Maria , Weber Heiner , Huettig Fabian 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPurposeThe use of computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and additive manufacturing in maxillofacial prosthetics has been widely acknowledged. Rapid prototyping can be considered for manufacturing of auricular prostheses. Therefore, so‐called prostheses replicas can be fabricated by digital means. The objective of this study was to identify a superior additive manufacturing method to fabricate auricular prosthesis replicas (APRs) within a digital workflow.Materials and MethodsAuricles of 23 healthy subjects (mean age of 37.8 years) were measured in vivo with respect to an anthropometrical protocol. Landmarks were volumized with fiducial balls for 3D scanning using a handheld structured light scanner. The 3D CAD dataset was postprocessed, and the same anthropometrical measurements were made in the CAD software with the digital lineal. Each CAD dataset was materialized using fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), and stereolithography (SL), constituting 53 APR samples. All distances between the landmarks were measured on the APRs. After the determination of the measurement error within the five data groups (in vivo, CAD, FDM, SLS, and SL), the mean values were compared using matched pairs method. To this, the in vivo and CAD dataset were set as references. Finally, the surface structure of the APRs was qualitatively evaluated with stereomicroscopy and profilometry to ascertain the level of skin detail reproduction.ResultsThe anthropometrical approach showed drawbacks in measuring the protrusion of the ear's helix. The measurement error within all groups of measurements was calculated between 0.20 and 0.28 mm, implying a high reproducibility. The lowest mean differences of 53 produced APRs were found in FDM (0.43%) followed by SLS (0.54%) and SL (0.59%)––compared to in vivo, and again in FDM (0.20%) followed by SL (0.36%) and SLS (0.39%)––compared to CAD. None of these values exceed the threshold of clinical relevance (1.5%); however, the qualitative evaluation revealed slight shortcomings in skin reproduction for all methods: reproduction of skin details exceeding 0.192 mm in depth was feasible.ConclusionFDM showed the superior dimensional accuracy and best skin surface reproduction. Moreover, digital acquisition and CAD postprocessing seem to play a more important role in the outcome than the additive manufacturing method used.
Routine follow‐up of preterm infants in New Zealand
Authors: Gledhill Nicole , Scott Gabrielle , de Vries Nathalie KS 
Published: November 2017

AimTo describe the routine follow‐up of preterm infants by different District Health Boards (DHBs) in New Zealand (NZ), and to compare current practice with international guidelines.MethodsA descriptive survey of the existing routine follow‐up management of preterm infants in NZ. From November 2015 until January 2016, a questionnaire was sent out across NZ to one paediatrician (n = 24) and one Child Development Service (CDS) (n = 20) from each DHB. All paediatricians responded and 85% of the CDSs responded. Responses were collated and compared to recommendations from paediatric literature.ResultsThere is tremendous variation across NZ of the eligibility criteria for routine preterm follow‐up. Overall, a gestational age of <32 weeks and/or birthweight <1500 g was the most commonly used indication for routine preterm follow‐up. The timing of visits and the assessments that were performed varied enormously. Respondents commonly reported that limited funding and resources prevented optimal follow‐up management.ConclusionThere is regional disparity in the routine follow‐up that preterm infants receive in NZ. A standardised approach to follow‐up of preterm infants across NZ, as recommended in the literature, is difficult due to the lack of funding and resources.
Equal treatment and socially optimal R&D in duopoly with one‐way spillovers
Authors: Cosandier Charlène , Feo Giuseppe De , Knauff Małgorzata 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis paper examines the standard symmetric two‐period R&D model with a deterministic one‐way spillover structure: know‐how flows only from the high R&D firm to the low R&D firm (but not vice versa). Though firms are ex ante identical, one obtains a unique asymmetric equilibrium (pair) in R&D investments, leading to interfirm heterogeneity in the industry. R&D cooperation by means of a joint lab is considered and compared to the non cooperative solution. The main part of the paper provides a second‐best welfare analysis in which we show that the joint lab yields a socially optimal R&D level subject to an equal treatment (of firms) constraint, which also coincides with the noncooperative solution in the absence of spillovers. We also investigate the welfare costs of this equal treatment constraint and find that they can be quite significant.
HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis of fruits from Firmiana simplex (L.) and evaluation of their antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties
Authors: Ghareeb Mosad Ahmed , Mohamed Tamer , Saad Amal Mohamed , Refahy Laila Abdel-Ghany , Sobeh Mansour , Wink Michael 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Objectives
The secondary metabolites of the fruits of Firmiana simplex (L.) were analysed by LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS; furthermore, we evaluated their antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties.

Methods
The antioxidant activity was investigated using the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The antigenotoxic potential was determined via the comet assay.

Key findings
The ethyl acetate fraction (EtOAc) was analysed by LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS: phenolic acids and flavonoids were the main polyphenols of the fruits. The EtOAc fraction yielded the highest content of polyphenols with 314.61 mg GAE/g extract, followed by 297.51, 153.75, 101.47, 97.19 for dichloromethane, butanol, methanol and water extracts, respectively. As expected, a strong correlation exists between the antioxidant activity of the investigated extracts and their total phenolic content. In the DPPH assay, the IC50 value of the most active EtOAc fraction was 6.79 μg/ml, relative to 2.92 μg/ml of the standard ascorbic acid. ABTS and FRAP assays supported the results of DPPH assay. Moreover, using the comet assay, we could show that the phenol-rich EtOAc extract exhibits an antigenotoxic potential in human liver cancer cells (Hep-G2) treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a genotoxic agent.

Conclusions
The fruits of Firmiana simplex may be a good natural source of antioxidant and antigenotoxic agents.
Surgical management of impalement injuries to the trunk of dogs: a multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Matiasovic M. , Halfacree Z. J. , Moores A. , Nelissen P. , Woods S. , Dean B. , Chanoit G. , Barnes D. C. 
Published: November 2017

ObjectivesTo review a large series of dogs referred for treatment of traumatic impalement injuries to the thorax and/or abdomen and to report aetiologies, injury characteristics, management and long‐term outcomes.Materials and MethodsPreviously collected data on dogs that were surgically treated for impalement injuries to the trunk at six veterinary specialist referral institutions in the UK over an 11‐year period were reviewed. Data included patient signalment, physiological variables, injury‐specific variables, diagnostic imaging reports, surgical procedures undertaken, duration of hospitalisation, antibiotic use, complications and outcomes. Data were reported with summary statistics.ResultsFifty‐four dogs were included. Impalement occurred most frequently on wooden objects (n=34), and the thoracic cavity was most commonly penetrated (n=37). Computed tomography was sensitive and specific to identifying wooden material in 64% and 88% of cases (n=11), respectively. Thoracotomy was performed in 56%, coeliotomy in 20% and a foreign body or its fragments were retrieved during surgery in 37% of the cases. Complications occurred in 19 dogs (35%), and of these, 68% were minor and 32% major. The survival rate for thoracotomy cases was 93% (n=30). Overall long‐term survival was 90%.Clinical SignificanceDespite the often dramatic presentation of impalement injuries, the majority of patients treated in the specialist referral setting can achieve excellent outcomes. These injuries require thorough diagnostic imaging and interpretation before adequate surgical exploration and management, augmented by anaesthesia and critical care during the peri‐ and postoperative periods; therefore stable patients should be referred to centres able to provide this type of care.
Structural Damage Detection with Automatic Feature‐Extraction through Deep Learning
Authors: Lin Yi‐zhou , Nie Zhen‐hua , Ma Hong‐wei 
Published: November 2017

AbstractStructural damage detection is still a challenging problem owing to the difficulty of extracting damage‐sensitive and noise‐robust features from structure response. This article presents a novel damage detection approach to automatically extract features from low‐level sensor data through deep learning. A deep convolutional neural network is designed to learn features and identify damage locations, leading to an excellent localization accuracy on both noise‐free and noisy data set, in contrast to another detector using wavelet packet component energy as the input feature. Visualization of the features learned by hidden layers in the network is implemented to get a physical insight into how the network works. It is found the learned features evolve with the depth from rough filters to the concept of vibration mode, implying the good performance results from its ability to learn essential characteristics behind the data.
Vitamin D2 vs. vitamin D3: They are not one and the same
Authors: Tripkovic L. , Wilson L. R. , Lanham‐New S. A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractConflicting evidence has led to uncertainty as to whether vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 are equally efficacious in improving vitamin D status, despite historically being considered equipotent. A systematic review and meta‐analysis completed in 2012 indicated that D3 was more effective at raising vitamin D levels {using total 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] as a marker of status} but the meta‐analysis identified high levels of heterogeneity between studies and a lack of statistically powered sample sizes to provide a conclusive answer. Thus, to meet the need for robust data, our research team conducted the largest (to date) randomised, controlled trial comparing the two forms of vitamin D. The D2–D3 Study was conducted in 335 healthy South Asian (n = 90) and White European women (n = 245). The study was designed to compare the respective efficacy of vitamin D2 with vitamin D3 at raising total 25(OH)D when added to a juice or a biscuit, at a relatively low dose of 15 μg/day for 12 weeks. Overall, the results showed that those who consumed vitamin D3 showed an average increase in vitamin D status of 74%–75%, whereas an average increase of 33%–34% in vitamin D status was found in those who consumed vitamin D2. Therefore, this study emphatically shows that vitamin D3 is more than twice as effective as vitamin D2 at raising total 25(OH)D concentrations, when given in a low dose that is both physiologically relevant and in line with public health guidance.
Introgression fromPopulus balsamiferaunderlies adaptively significant variation and range boundaries inP. trichocarpa
Authors: Suarez‐Gonzalez Adriana , Hefer Charles A. , Lexer Christian , Douglas Carl J. , Cronk Quentin C. B. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryIntrogression can be an important source of adaptive phenotypes, although conversely it can have deleterious effects. Evidence for adaptive introgression is accumulating but information on the genetic architecture of introgressed traits lags behind.Here we determine trait architecture inPopulus trichocarpaunder introgression fromP. balsamiferausing admixture mapping and phenotypic analyses.Our results reveal that admixture is a key driver of clinal adaptation and suggest that the northern range extension ofP. trichocarpadepends, at least in part, on introgression fromP. balsamifera. However, admixture withP. balsamiferacan lead to potentially maladaptive early phenology, and a reduction in growth and disease resistance inP. trichocarpa. Strikingly, an introgressed chromosome 9 haplotype block fromP. balsamiferarestores the late phenology and high growth parental phenotype in admixedP. trichocarpa. This epistatic restorer block may be strongly advantageous in maximizing carbon assimilation and disease resistance in the southernmost populations where admixture has been detected. We also confirm a previously demonstrated case of adaptive introgression in chromosome 15 and show that introgression generates a transgressive chlorophyll‐content phenotype.We provide strong support that introgression provides a reservoir of genetic variation associated with adaptive characters that allows improved survival in new environments.
The mouse passive‐transfer model of MuSK myasthenia gravis: disrupted MuSK signaling causes synapse failure
Authors: Ghazanfari Nazanin , Trajanovska Sofie , Morsch Marco , Liang Simon X. , Reddel Stephen W. , Phillips William D. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWhile the majority of myasthenia gravis patients express antibodies targeting the acetylcholine receptor, the second most common cohort instead displays autoantibodies against muscle‐specific kinase (MuSK). MuSK is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase found in the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. During development, MuSK serves as a signaling hub, coordinating the alignment of the pre‐ and postsynaptic components of the synapse. Adult mice that received repeated daily injections of IgG from anti‐MuSK+ myasthenia gravis patients developed muscle weakness, associated with neuromuscular transmission failure. MuSK autoantibodies are predominantly of the IgG4 type. They suppress the kinase activity of MuSK and the phosphorylation of target proteins in the postsynaptic membrane. Loss of postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors is the primary cause of neuromuscular transmission failure. MuSK autoantibodies also disrupt the capacity of the motor nerve terminal to adaptively increase acetylcholine release in response to the reduced postsynaptic responsiveness to acetylcholine. The passive IgG transfer model of MuSK myasthenia gravis has been used to test candidate treatments. Pyridostigmine, a first‐line cholinesterase inhibitor drug, exacerbated the disease process, while 3,4‐diaminopyridine and albuterol were found to be beneficial in this mouse model.
Thymus involvement in early‐onset myasthenia gravis
Authors: Cron Mélanie A. , Maillard Solène , Villegas José , Truffault Frédérique , Sudres Muriel , Dragin Nadine , Berrih‐Aknin Sonia , Le Panse Rozen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIt has long been established that the thymus plays a central role in autoimmune myasthenia gravis (MG) because of either thymoma or thymic hyperplasia of lymphoproliferative origin. In this review, we discuss thymic changes associated with thymic hyperplasia and their implications in the development of an autoimmune response against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR).The hyperplastic MG thymus displays all the characteristics of tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs): neoangiogenic processes with high endothelial venule and lymphatic vessel development, chemokine overexpression favoring peripheral cell recruitment, and ectopic germinal center development. As thymic epithelial cells or myoid cells express AChR, a specific antigen presentation can easily occur within the thymus in the presence of recruited peripheral cells, such as B cells and T follicular helper cells. How the thymus turns into a TLO is not known, but local inflammation seems mandatory. Interferon (IFN)‐β is overexpressed in MG thymus and could orchestrate thymic changes associated with MG. Knowledge about how IFN‐β is induced in MG thymus and why its expression is sustained even long after disease onset would be of interest in the future to better understand the etiological and physiopathological mechanisms involved in autoimmune MG.
The diverse dietary profiles of MIS 3 cave bears from the Romanian Carpathians: insights from stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) analysis
Authors: Robu Marius , Wynn Jonathan G. , Mirea Ionuţ C. , Petculescu Alexandru , Kenesz Marius , Puşcaş Cristina M. , Vlaicu Marius , Trinkaus Erik , Constantin Silviu 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLate Pleistocene European cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) have been considered to be largely vegetarian, although stable isotope data (δ13C and δ15N values) from the Romanian Carpathians has suggested considerable dietary variation. Here we evaluate previous and additional adult cave bear isotopic data from four Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) sites in the Carpathians. Peştera Urşilor (N = 35), Peştera Cioclovina (N = 32), Peştera Muierilor (N = 8), and Peştera cu Oase (N = 72) provide both a dichotomy between samples suggesting vegetarian diets (from Cioclovina and Muierilor) and more omnivorous diets (from Urşilor and Oase), and considerable isotopic variation within samples from each site. While an inference of a strictly vegetarian diet may apply to groups that lived in ecosystems which restricted the available animal protein for these large ursids, the within and between sample isotopic variation among the Carpathian cave bears indicates considerable flexibility in their sources of protein and hence in their dietary regimes. In addition, developmental assessment of Cioclovina isotopic profiles (neonates, juveniles, sub‐adults and adults) provides patterns of transfer of stable isotope signatures throughout immature life for both δ13C and δ15N (increase and decrease, respectively), whereas those from Urşilor show little developmental shift.
Forecasting the spread of aerially transmitted crop diseases with a binary classifier for inoculum survival
Authors: Skelsey P. , Dancey S. R. , Preedy K. , Lees A. K. , Cooke D. E. L. 
Published: November 2017

The risk of between‐field spread of disease is typically omitted from crop disease warning systems, as it is difficult to know the number and location of inoculum sources and thus predict the abundance of inoculum arriving at healthy crops. This study explores the utility of a simple approach to predicting risk of between‐field spread, based on the estimated probability that inoculum will survive the transportation process. Using potato late blight as a case study, the effect of solar radiation on the viability of detached Phytophthora infestans sporangia was assessed. A model to estimate the probability of spore survival was derived using a binomial generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and cross‐validation were used to evaluate the global performance of the model as a binary classifier for discriminating between viable and nonviable sporangia. The model yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.92 (95% CI = 0.90–0.93), signifying an excellent classification algorithm. Inspection of the curve provided a number of suitable decision threshold (or cut‐off) probabilities for discriminating between viable and nonviable sporangia. The classifier was tested as a forecasting system for potato late blight outbreaks using 10 years of outbreak data from across Great Britain. There was a marked differentiation among the cut‐offs, but the best prediction outcome was an accuracy of 89% with an alert frequency of 1 in 7 days. This model can be easily modified or the methodology replicated for other pathosystems characterized by airborne inoculum.
‘25‐Hydroxyvitamin D, Autoantigenic and Total Antibody Concentrations: Results from a Danish Case–control Study of Newly Diagnosed Patients with Childhood Type 1 Diabetes and their Healthy Siblings’
Authors: Thorsen S. U. , Pipper C. B. , Johannesen J. , Mortensen H. B. , Pociot F. , Svensson J. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractB cells have recently entered the stage as an important accessory player in type 1 diabetes (T1D) etiopathogenesis. Experimental studies suggest regulatory functions of vitamin D on B cells. However, only a few human studies, with considerable methodological limitations, have been conducted within this field. Our objective was to investigate whether higher 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations were inversely associated with β‐cell autoantigens glutamic acid decarboxylase (isoform 65) (GADA) and insulinoma‐associated antigen‐2A (IA‐2A). Further, we also wanted to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D and total antibody concentrations. We randomly selected 500 patients with newly diagnosed T1D and 500 siblings for 25(OH)D, antibody and genetic analysis from the population‐based Danish Registry of Childhood and Adolescent Diabetes. The relative change (RC) in the mean concentration of GADA, IA‐2A and antibody isotypes by a 10 nmol/l increase in 25(OH)D concentration was modelled by a robust log‐normal regression model. We found no association between 25(OH)D and GADA [adjusted RC per 10 nmol/l increase: 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.98–1.02] and IA‐2A [adjusted RC per 10 nmol/l increase: 0.92; CI: 0.76–1.12]. Further, 25(OH)D was not associated with the total concentration of antibody isotypes [immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgE, IgG and IgM]. All null findings were unaltered after adjustment for genetic variation in the vitamin D pathway. Physiological concentrations of 25(OH)D are unlikely to have a clinically important effect on antibody concentrations in a paediatric population of newly diagnosed patients with T1D and their healthy siblings.