bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimation and Evaluation of Linear Individualized Treatment Rules to Guarantee Performance
Authors: Qiu Xin , Zeng Donglin , Wang Yuanjia 
Published: September 2017

Summary
In clinical practice, an informative and practically useful treatment rule should be simple and transparent. However, because simple rules are likely to be far from optimal, effective methods to construct such rules must guarantee performance, in terms of yielding the best clinical outcome (highest reward) among the class of simple rules under consideration. Furthermore, it is important to evaluate the benefit of the derived rules on the whole sample and in pre-specified subgroups (e.g., vulnerable patients). To achieve both goals, we propose a robust machine learning method to estimate a linear treatment rule that is guaranteed to achieve optimal reward among the class of all linear rules. We then develop a diagnostic measure and inference procedure to evaluate the benefit of the obtained rule and compare it with the rules estimated by other methods. We provide theoretical justification for the proposed method and its inference procedure, and we demonstrate via simulations its superior performance when compared to existing methods. Lastly, we apply the method to the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial on major depressive disorder and show that the estimated optimal linear rule provides a large benefit for mildly depressed and severely depressed patients but manifests a lack-of-fit for moderately depressed patients.
Case-only Approach to Identifying Markers Predicting Treatment Effects on the Relative Risk Scale
Authors: Dai James Y. , Liang C. Jason , LeBlanc Michael , Prentice Ross L. , Janes Holly 
Published: September 2017

Summary
Retrospectively measuring markers on stored baseline samples from participants in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) may provide high quality evidence as to the value of the markers for treatment selection. Originally developed for approximating gene-environment interactions in the odds ratio scale, the case-only method has recently been advocated for assessing gene-treatment interactions on rare disease endpoints in randomized clinical trials. In this article, the case-only approach is shown to provide a consistent and efficient estimator of marker by treatment interactions and marker-specific treatment effects on the relative risk scale. The prohibitive rare-disease assumption is no longer needed, broadening the utility of the case-only approach. The case-only method is resource-efficient as markers only need to be measured in cases only. It eliminates the need to model the marker's main effect, and can be used with any parametric or nonparametric learning method. The utility of this approach is illustrated by an application to genetic data in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone therapy trial.
The impact of immigration on the breastfeeding practices of Mainland Chinese immigrants in Hong Kong
Authors: Lok Kris Yuet Wan , Bai Dorothy Li , Chan Noel P. T. , Wong Janet Y. H. , Tarrant Marie 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBackgroundResearchers have found breastfeeding disparities between immigrant and native‐born women in many countries. However, most studies on immigration and breastfeeding practices have been in Western countries. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of length of time since immigration on the breastfeeding practices of Mainland Chinese immigrants living in Hong Kong.MethodsWe recruited 2704 mother‐infant pairs from the postnatal wards of four public hospitals in Hong Kong. We examined the effect of migration status on the duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding.ResultsBreastfeeding duration was progressively shorter as the time since immigration increased. When compared with mothers who had lived in Hong Kong for <5 years, Hong Kong‐born participants had a 30% higher risk of stopping any breastfeeding (hazard ratio [HR] 1.34 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.10‐1.63]) and exclusive breastfeeding (HR 1.33 [95% CI 1.11‐1.58]). In both Hong Kong‐born and immigrant participants, breastfeeding cessation was associated with return to work postpartum and the husband's preference for infant formula or mixed feeding. Intention to exclusively breastfeed and to breastfeed for >6 months, and previous breastfeeding experience substantially reduced the risk of breastfeeding cessation for both Hong Kong‐born and immigrant participants.ConclusionsHealth care professionals should consider immigration history in their assessment of pregnant women and provide culturally adapted breastfeeding support and encouragement to this population.
Mobile‐based collaborative learning in the fitness center: A case study on the development of English listening comprehension with a context‐aware application
Authors: Liu Gi‐Zen , Chen Jing‐Yao , Hwang Gwo‐Jen 
Published: September 2017

AbstractMobile applications on the go have been adopted in many fields and areas. However, there has been little research regarding the development and use of a context‐aware application for users to improve their English listening comprehension through collaboration. This research aimed at helping users improve their listening comprehension with a combination of context‐aware tools and video‐based materials and attempted to investigate the learning strategies used in groups. Therefore, the researchers designed a Ubiquitous Fitness English Listening Comprehension System (UFELCS) incorporating collaborative listening activities into a fitness center. The researchers conducted mixed methods research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The results indicate that the participants' learning performance was significantly improved. Moreover, the analysis of the interview data showed that the interviewees and their own groups held positive attitudes towards the creative ways of language learning, and their use of listening strategies was also revealed.
Perspective on architecture and assembly of membrane contact sites
Authors: Hoffmann Patrick C. , Kukulski Wanda 
Published: September 2017

AbstractMembrane contact sites (MCS) are platforms of physical contact between different organelles. They are formed through interactions involving lipids and proteins, and function in processes such as calcium and lipid exchange, metabolism and organelle biogenesis. In this article, we discuss emerging questions regarding the architecture, organisation and assembly of MCS, such as: What is the contribution of different components to the interaction between organelles? How is the specific composition of different types of membrane contacts sites established and maintained? How are proteins and lipids spatially organised at MCS and how does that influence their function? How dynamic are MCS on the molecular and ultrastructural level? We highlight current state of research and point out experimental approaches that promise to contribute to a spatiomechanistic understanding of MCS functions.
Spinal Lewy body pathology in older adults without an antemortem diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Buchman Aron S. , Nag Sukriti , Leurgans Sue E. , Miller Jared , VanderHorst Veronique G. J. M. , Bennett David A. , Schneider Julie A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractTo test the hypothesis that Lewy body pathology (LBs) is present in the spinal cord of older community‐dwelling adults without a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied 162 prospective autopsies from older adults with PD (N = 6) and without PD (N = 156). We documented the presence of LBs in cerebrum and brainstem structures from each of the six regions used for Braak PD staging and four spinal cord levels (C5/6, T7, L4/5 and S4/5). Parkinsonism proximate to death was based on a previously validated measure present if two or more of the four signs of parkinsonism were present based on a modified version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Fifty‐three of 156 individuals without PD (34%) had LBs in a least one site within the CNS. About half of cases with LBs in the cerebrum or brainstem, (25/53, 47%) also had spinal LBs. Almost 90% (22/25, 88%) of cases with spinal LBs had LBs in the cerebrum (Braak stages 4–6) and about 10% (3/25, 12%) had only brainstem LBs (Braak stages 1–3). Four of six cases with PD showed LBs in cerebrum, brainstem and spinal cord. Individuals with LBs in the spinal cord were more likely to have clinical parkinsonism proximate to death compared to individuals with LBs in brainstem and cerebrum alone (52% vs. 32%; Chi‐Square x2 = 5.368, d.f. = 1, P = 0.0.021) and more severe nigral neuronal loss (48% vs. 11%; Chi‐Square x2 = 9.049, d.f. = 1, P = 0.003). These findings were unchanged when we included cases with a history of PD. Older community‐dwelling adults without a clinical diagnosis of PD have evidence of LBs throughout the CNS including the spinal cord which is associated with parkinsonism and more severe nigral neuronal loss.
Multimodal molecular analysis of astroblastoma enables reclassification of most cases into more specific molecular entities
Authors: Wood Matthew D. , Tihan Tarik , Perry Arie , Chacko Geeta , Turner Clinton , Pu Cunfeng , Payne Christopher , Yu Alexander , Bannykh Serguei I. , Solomon David A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAstroblastoma is a rare and controversial glioma with variable clinical behavior. The diagnosis currently rests on histologic findings of a circumscribed glioma with astroblastomatous pseudorosettes and vascular hyalinization. Immunohistochemical studies have suggested different oncogenic drivers, such as BRAF p.V600E, but very few cases have been studied using genome‐wide methodologies. Recent genomic profiling identified a subset of CNS embryonal tumors with astroblastoma‐like morphology that harbored MN1 gene fusions, termed “CNS high‐grade neuroepithelial tumors with MN1 alteration” (CNS‐HGNET‐MN1). To further characterize the genetic alterations that drive astroblastomas, we performed targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of 500 cancer‐associated genes in a series of eight cases. We correlated these findings with break‐apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of the MN1 locus and genome‐wide DNA methylation profiling. Four cases showed MN1 alteration by FISH, including two pediatric cases that lacked other pathogenic alterations, and two adult cases that harbored other cancer‐associated gene mutations or copy number alterations (eg, CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion, TP53, ATM and TERT promoter mutations). Three of these cases grouped with the CNS‐HGNET‐MN1 entity by methylation profiling. Two of four MN1 intact cases by FISH showed genetic features of either anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (BRAF p.V600E mutation, CDKN2A/B homozygous deletion and TERT promoter mutation) or IDH‐wildtype glioblastoma (trisomy 7, monosomy 10, CDK4 amplification and TP53, NRAS and TERT promoter mutations) and these cases had an aggressive clinical course. Two clinically indolent cases remained unclassifiable despite multimodal molecular analysis. We conclude that astroblastoma histology is not specific for any entity including CNS‐HGNET‐MN1, and that additional genetic characterization should be considered for astroblastomas, as a number of these tumors likely contain a methylation profile or genetic alterations that suggest classification as other tumor entities. Our heterogeneous molecular findings help to explain the clinical unpredictability of astroblastoma.
Multicentre clinical evaluation of the new highly sensitive Elecsys® thyroglobulin II assay in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Trimboli P. , Imperiali M. , Piccardo A. , CampennÌ A. , Giordani I. , Ruggeri R. M. , Baldari S. , Orlandi F. , Giovanella L. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveA highly sensitive thyroglobulin assay (Elecsys® Tg II, Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany) has become available for monitoring patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Here, we evaluated the clinical performance of Elecsys® Tg II assay in a multicentre patients series and compare it with the established Access® Tg assay (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA).DesignRetrospective analysis on prospectively selected patients in four thyroid cancer referral centres with uniform DTC management.ParticipantsAll DTC cases diagnosed, treated and followed up in four tertiary referral centres for thyroid cancer since January 2005 (n = 1456) were retrieved, and predefined selection criteria were applied to prevent relevant enrolment biases. A series of 204 patients was finally selected for this study.MeasurementsSamples had been stored at −80°C. Tg was measured by fully automated immunometric Elecsys® Tg II and Access® Tg assays in a centralized laboratory.ResultsTwo hundred and four DTC were finally included. Of these, 10.8% had structural recurrence (sREC), and 81.4% showed no evidence of disease (NED) at the end of follow‐up. There was a significant analytical bias between methods that cannot be used interchangeably. Using ROC curve analysis, the best basal and rhTSH‐stimulated Tg cut‐offs to detect sREC were 0.41 μg/L and 1.82 μg/L for Elecsys® and 0.36 μg/L and 1.62 μg/L for Access® assay, respectively. Using Cox proportional hazard regression, Tg was the only independent predictor of cancer relapse.ConclusionsUsing appropriate assay‐specific cut‐offs, the clinical performance of the Elecsys® Tg II assay was comparable to that provided by the well‐established Access® Tg assay.
Reproducibility of peak oxygen consumption and the impact of test variability on classification of individual training responses in young recreationally active adults
Authors: Edgett Brittany A. , Bonafiglia Jacob T. , Raleigh James P. , Rotundo Mario P. , Giles Matthew D. , Whittall Jonathan P. , Gurd Brendon J. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThis study investigated whether VO2peak is reproducible across repeated tests before (PRE) and after (POST) training, and whether variability across tests impacts how individual responses are classified following 3 weeks of aerobic exercise training (cycle ergometry). Data from 45 young healthy adults (age: 20·1 ± 0·9 years; VO2peak, 42·0 ± 6·7 ml·min−1) from two previously published studies were utilized in the current analysis. Non‐responders were classified as individuals who failed to demonstrate an increase or decrease in VO2peak that was greater than 2·0 times the typical error of measurement (107 ml·min−1) away from zero, while responders and adverse responders were above and below this cut‐off, respectively. VO2peak tests at PRE (three total) and POST (three total) were highly reproducible (PRE and POST average and single measures ICCs: range 0·938–0·992), with low coefficients of variation (PRE:4·9 ± 3·1%, POST: 4·8 ± 2·7%). However, a potential learning effect was observed in the VO2peak tests prior to training, as the initial pretraining test was significantly lower than the third (p = 0·010, PRE 1: 2 946 ± 924 ml·min−1, PRE 3: 3 042 ± 919 ml·min−1). This resulted in fewer individuals classified as adverse responders for Test 3 compared to any combination of tests that included Test 1, suggesting that a single ramp test at baseline may not be sufficient to accurately classify the VO2peak response in young recreationally active individuals. Thus, it is our recommendation that the initial VO2peak test be used as a familiarization visit and not included for analysis.
Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) reduce secretion of extrafloral nectar in broad bean (Vicia faba)
Authors: YOSHIDA TATSUYA , KAKUTA HARUKA , CHOH YASUYUKI 
Published: September 2017

1. Herbivores sometimes suppress plant defences. This study tested whether the presence of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) on broad bean (Vicia faba) led to decreased secretion of extrafloral nectar (EFN) which functions as an indirect plant defence against herbivores.2. To determine effects of aphid infestation on EFN secretion, a comparison was done between EFN secretion in uninfested plants and that in plants infested by A. pisum and another aphid species (Aphis craccivora Koch).3. When broad bean plants were infested by A. pisum, they secreted significantly smaller amounts of EFN than did uninfested plants and A. craccivora‐infested plants. There was no significant difference in EFN secretion between uninfested plants and A. craccivora‐infested plants. The number of extrafloral nectaries did not differ among the three treatments.4. These results suggest that A. pisum reduced EFN production in broad bean plants.
Autism‐relevant traits interact with temporoparietal junction stimulation effects on social cognition: a high‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation and electroencephalography study
Authors: Donaldson Peter H. , Kirkovski Melissa , Rinehart Nicole J. , Enticott Peter G. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is implicated in mental and emotional state attribution, processes associated with autism‐relevant traits. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the TPJ can influence social‐cognitive performance. However, associations with electrophysiology and autism‐relevant traits remain relatively unexamined. This study had two aims: first, exploring links between Autism‐Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores and social‐cognitive performance; second, examining interactions between AQ scores and high‐definition‐tDCS (HD‐tDCS) applied to the right TPJ in terms of mental/emotional state attribution and neurophysiological outcomes. Fifty‐three participants completed mental/emotional state attribution tasks before and after HD‐tDCS. Pre‐stimulation mental state attribution accuracy was reduced in participants with higher AQ Switching scores. Cathodal stimulation was associated with reduced emotion attribution performance in participants with higher AQ Switching and AQ Social scores (the latter at trend‐level). Anodal stimulation more frequently interacted with AQ Social scores in terms of neurophysiology, in particular regarding reduced delta power in the left compared to right TPJ, and trend‐level positive interactions with P100 and P300 latencies during the emotion recognition task. Elements of attention/switching (AQ Switching) may subserve or underpin elements of social cognition (AQ Social), and cathodal and anodal stimulation may have differing effects depending on trait levels in these domains. This study makes an important and original contribution in terms of increasing understanding of how such trait‐level variation might interact with the effects of tDCS and also extending previous studies with regard to understanding potential roles of the rTPJ in both attention and social cognition and how autism‐relevant traits might influence TPJ function.
Interlanguage Pragmatic Development: Internal and External Modification in L2 Arabic Requests
Authors: Al Masaeed Khaled 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis study investigated the way in which American university students learning Arabic as a foreign language in the United States developed the ability to make and modify requests both internally, through an addition of mitigating or aggravating modality markers, and externally, via supportive moves before or after the main request in formal and informal situations. Data were gathered from spoken discourse completion tasks for 56 university students from four different proficiency levels. While previous studies showed that learners at lower proficiency levels relied heavily on politeness markers, lower‐proficiency students in this study most frequently used grounders. Also in contrast to previous studies, the ways in which advanced learners mitigated their requests diverged from those used by Arabic native speakers. Pedagogical implications are discussed.
Interactive effects of climate and nutrient enrichment on patterns of herbivory by different feeding guilds in mangrove forests
Authors: Feller Ilka C. , Ball Marilyn C. , Ellis Joanne I. , Lovelock Catherine E. , Reef Ruth 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimGlobal warming and eutrophication are major threats to coastal environments worldwide. As a result of differences between temperate and tropical ecosystems in nutrient availability, nitrogen (N):phosphorus (P) coupling and carbon retention, primary productivity and biotic interactions in the tropics are predicted to have stronger responses to increased nutrients than in temperate ecosystems. Habitats that occur across broad climatic ranges, such as mangrove forests, provide an opportunity to test this hypothesis by investigating the responses of herbivores to nutrient enrichment in temperate versus tropical latitudes on the same species.LocationAustralia and New Zealand.Time periodFertilization experiments were established at Port Douglas and Cape Cleveland in October 2000; Batemans Bay and Waikopua in August 2001; Whangapoua in January 2003; Tinchi Tamba in September 2005; and Garalia in October 2007. Herbivory was measured in 2009.Major taxa studiedInsect leaf miners; insect and fungal leaf gallers.MethodsWe used seven fertilization experiments in Australia and New Zealand across 20° of latitude to determine how increased nutrients affected herbivory and diversity of leaf miners and gallers of the mangrove Avicennia marina. Individual trees were fertilized annually with one of three treatments (Control, +N, +P); herbivory was measured in 2009.ResultsFertilization did not significantly affect herbivory or herbivore diversity. Leaf N:P, latitude and rainfall contributed significantly to herbivory, accounting for > 56% of the variation. Latitude, temperature, %P and salinity differentiated herbivory by feeding guild in the tropical versus subtropical and temperate latitudes. The effect of N fertilization on folivory differed across climatic regions; relative to Control trees, N‐fertilized trees in temperate areas had greater folivory than in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Species richness for leaf miners and gallers was correlated with latitude, with more species in subtropical and tropical latitudes than in temperate latitudes. The abundance of galls and mines differed by location, but differences were not correlated with latitude.Main conclusionsResults indicate that latitude and nutrients may have had an interactive effect on herbivory and herbivore diversity of A. marina. However, the strength of the interactions varied by climatic region and was not the same for all groups of herbivores.