bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy of sulfasalazine for axial disease in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Khanna Sharma Shefali , Kadiyala Vikas , Naidu Gsrsnk , Dhir Varun 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimTo evaluate efficacy of sulfasalazine for axial ankylosing spondylosis.Methods67 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included and randomized into treatment and placebo group.ResultsMean age in treatment group was 31 years (range: 17–60); placebo group was 30 years (18–46). Mean disease duration treatment group 8.4 years (range: 3–25) and placebo group was 8.3 years (3–19). Clinically significant improvement in ASDAS (ΔASDAS > 1.1) seen in 15.1% of placebo and 67.7% in treatment group (P = 0.001). The mean ± SD of ΔASDAS in treatment group was 1.33 ± 0.38 (range: 0.9–2.3) where as in placebo group it was 0.748 ± 0.23 (0.4–1.3) with significant difference (P = 0.00). The mean ± SD of ΔBASDAI of treatment group was 3.29 ± 0.97 (range: 1.5–5.5) placebo group was 1.47 ± 0.99(0.5–4.5) with P = 0.00. The mean value of ΔBASMI of drug group 3.29 ± 0.97(range: 1.8–5) and of placebo group was 1.47 ± 0.99 (0.6–3.7) with (P = 0.00). Clinical improvenent in (ΔASDAS > 1.1) was observed in patients of both the groups with disease duration ≤ 4 years. However it was significantly higher in treatment group (P = 0.04). Highly significant improvement in (ΔASDAS > 2) was observed in two of five patients in treatment group with disease duration ≤ 4 years.ConclusionSulfasalazine is effective in axial AS esp. in younger patients (< 25 years), disease duration < 4 years at the time of initiation of treatment and high disease activity (BASDAI > 7, CRP > 50 mg/L). This signifies early diagnosis and treatment is very important in management and prevention of disease progression.
A simulation tool to scrutinise the behaviour of functional diversity metrics
Authors: McPherson Jana M. , Yeager Lauren A. , Baum Julia K. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

Many indices have been proposed to measure functional diversity and its four distinct dimensions: functional richness, evenness, divergence and redundancy. Identifying indices that reliably measure the functional diversity dimension(s) of interest requires careful testing of how each index responds to species' traits and abundance distributions. In the absence of a convenient simulation tool, tests with artificial data have to date explored only a limited number of scenarios or have altered trait and abundance distributions only indirectly based on principles of evolution and community assembly.

We provide simul.comms, an R function that allows users to test the efficacy of functional diversity indices by easily creating artificial species communities with user‐specified abundance and trait distributions for continuous, ordinal and categorical traits. To illustrate the function's utility, we examine the performance of R, a recently published abundance‐sensitive index for functional redundancy. We use two approaches to designing simulation tests for this example analysis. The first uses simul.comms to create six separate sets of artificial communities to qualitatively assess how R responds to predictable changes in functional redundancy. The second uses simul.comms to independently alter seven community composition parameters, whose influence on R is then examined quantitatively via effect sizes in linear regression.

Our analyses indicate that R broadly mirrors expected changes in functional redundancy and predictably responds to changes in community composition parameters. R appears, however, to primarily reflect trait distributions, responding minimally to variance in abundance and counter‐intuitively to abundance range. Further refinement of tools to measure functional redundancy may therefore be desirable.

The R tool we provide should assist with refining functional diversity measures, a critical step towards improving our ability to understand and mitigate the impacts of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning. Because simul.comms simply produces two linked matrices, a species‐by‐traits matrix and a site‐by‐species abundance matrix, it may be equally valuable in exploring questions and analytical approaches in other areas of community ecology.
An efficient extension of N‐mixture models for multi‐species abundance estimation
Authors: Gomez Juan P. , Robinson Scott K. , Blackburn Jason K. , Ponciano José M. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

In this study, we propose an extension of the N‐mixture family of models that targets an improvement of the statistical properties of rare species abundance estimators when sample sizes are low, yet typical for tropical studies. The proposed method harnesses information from other species in an ecological community to correct each species' estimator. We provide guidance to determine the sample size required to estimate accurately the abundance of rare tropical species when attempting to estimate the abundance of single species.

We evaluate the proposed methods using an assumption of 50 m radius plots and perform simulations comprising a broad range of sample sizes, true abundances and detectability values and a complex data‐generating process. The extension of the N‐mixture model is achieved by assuming that the detection probabilities are drawn at random from a beta distribution in a multi‐species fashion. This hierarchical model avoids having to specify a single detection probability parameter per species in the targeted community. Parameter estimation is done via maximum likelihood (ML).

We compared our multi‐species approach with previously proposed multi‐species N‐mixture models, which we show are biased when the true densities of species in the community are less than seven individuals per 100 ha. The beta N‐mixture model proposed here outperforms the traditional multi‐species N‐mixture model by allowing the estimation of organisms at lower densities and controlling the bias in the estimation.

We illustrate how our methodology can be used to suggest sample sizes required to estimate the abundance of organisms, when these are either rare, common or abundant. When the interest is full communities, we show how the multi‐species approaches, and in particular our beta model and estimation methodology, can be used as a practical solution to estimate organism densities from rapid inventory datasets. The statistical inferences done with our model via ML can also be used to group species in a community according to their detectabilities.
Supplementary techniques for pain control during root canal treatment of lower posterior teeth with irreversible pulpitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tupyota Pinpana , Chailertvanitkul Pattama , Laopaiboon Malinee , Ngamjarus Chetta , Abbott Paul V. , Krisanaprakornkit Suttichai 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe purpose of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to evaluate utilisation of supplementary techniques for pain control during root canal treatment of lower molars with irreversible pulpitis. The literature was searched using electronic databases up to year 2012. Seventeen studies with 1504 participants were included and each study compared experimental interventions with a standard treatment, i.e. the inferior alveolar nerve block. Changing the injection techniques or supplemental injection had no significant effect on pulp anaesthesia compared to the standard treatment (P = 1.00 or P = 0.14), whereas changing anaesthetic features and increasing anaesthetic volumes resulted in significantly higher rates of anaesthesia than those of the standard treatment (P = 0.03 and P = 0.007, respectively). Premedication with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also significantly increased the success rate of anaesthesia (P = 0.001). Taken together, increased anaesthetic volumes and premedication with NSAIDs provide predictable anaesthesia and more pain control during endodontic treatment of lower molars with irreversible pulpitis.
Determination of Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) sex pheromone attraction range using target male behavioural responses
Authors: Blackshaw Roderick P. , van Herk Willem G. , Vernon Robert S. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the attractive range of traps baited with Agriotes obscurus pheromone to male beetles in both still air and wind conditions. This information is crucial for evaluating the potential of mass trapping when aiming to reduce beetle populations.
Groups of 10 beetles were released at 14 points spaced 1 m apart along a linear track, at one end of which was a pheromone and wind source. Beetle response to the pheromone and/or wind was recorded 150 s after release and characterized as orienting either towards or away from the pheromone and/or wind source.
Data analysis indicated the attraction range of the sex pheromone is <5 m in still air, which is considerably lower than estimates from previous studies and emphasizes the challenge of mass trapping this species in the field. The attraction range increased when there was air flow.
Unexpectedly, not all male beetles respond to the pheromone, and beetles are inclined to move downwind even in the presence of pheromone. The latter finding suggests that wind direction may influence beetle dispersal and mate finding in the field.
The implications of these results for determining the efficacy of mass trapping as a management approach are discussed.
Linkage disequilibrium among commonly genotyped SNP variants detected from bull sequence,
Authors: Snelling W. M. , Kuehn L. A. , Keel B. N. , Thallman R. M. , Bennett G. L. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryGenomic prediction utilizing causal variants could increase selection accuracy above that achieved with SNPs genotyped by currently available arrays used for genomic selection. A number of variants detected from sequencing influential sires are likely to be causal, but noticeable improvements in prediction accuracy using imputed sequence variant genotypes have not been reported. Improvement in accuracy of predicted breeding values may be limited by the accuracy of imputed sequence variants. Using genotypes of SNPs on a high‐density array and non‐synonymous SNPs detected in sequence from influential sires of a multibreed population, results of this examination suggest that linkage disequilibrium between non‐synonymous and array SNPs may be insufficient for accurate imputation from the array to sequence. In contrast to 75% of array SNPs being strongly correlated to another SNP on the array, less than 25% of the non‐synonymous SNPs were strongly correlated to an array SNP. When correlations between non‐synonymous and array SNPs were strong, distances between the SNPs were greater than separation that might be expected based on linkage disequilibrium decay. Consistently near‐perfect whole‐genome linkage disequilibrium between the full array and each non‐synonymous SNP within the sequenced bulls suggests that whole‐genome approaches to infer sequence variants might be more accurate than imputation based on local haplotypes. Opportunity for strong linkage disequilibrium between sequence and array SNPs may be limited by discrepancies in allele frequency distributions, so investigating alternate genotyping approaches and panels providing greater chances of frequency‐matched SNPs strongly correlated to sequence variants is also warranted. Genotypes used for this study are available from https://www.animalgenome.org/repository/pub/;USDA2017.0519/.
Disease‐Causing Variants in the ATL1 Gene Are a Rare Cause of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia among Czech Patients
Authors: Mészárosová Anna Uhrová , Grečmalová Dagmar , Brázdilová Michaela , Dvořáčková Nina , Kalina Zdeněk , Čermáková Marie , Vávrová Dagmar , Smetanová Irena , Staněk David , Seeman Pavel 
Published: July 2017

SummaryVariants in the ATL1 gene have been repeatedly described as the second most frequent cause of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), a motor neuron disease manifested by progressive lower limb spasticity and weakness. Variants in ATL1 have been described mainly in patients with early onset HSP. We performed Sanger sequencing of all coding exons and adjacent intron regions of the ALT1 gene in 111 Czech patients with pure form of HSP and additional Multiplex‐Ligation Probe Analysis (MLPA) testing targeting the ATL1 gene in 56 of them. All patients except seven were previously tested by Sanger sequencing of the SPAST gene with negative results. ATL1 diagnostic testing revealed only five missense variants in the ATL1 gene. Four of them are novel, but we suppose only two of them to be pathogenic and causal. The remaining variants are assumed to be benign. MLPA testing in 56 of sequence variant negative patients revealed no gross deletion in the ATL1 gene. Variants in the ATL1 gene are more frequent in patients with early onset HSP, but in general the occurrence of pathogenic variants in the ATL1 gene is low in our cohort, less than 4.5% and less than 11.1% in patients with onset before the age of ten. Variants in the ATL1 gene are a less frequent cause of HSP among Czech patients than has been previously reported among other populations.
Hair transplantation for the treatment of lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia: A report of two cases
Authors: Liu You‐Chen Serena , Jee Shiou‐Hwa , Chan Jung‐Yi Lisa 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe efficacy of current medical treatments for lichen planopilaris (LPP) and its variant, frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA), both lymphocyte‐mediated primary cicatricial alopecias, is limited. Hair regrowth from scar tissue is usually not possible. Although hair transplantation restores the hairline and increases hair density in patients with cicatricial alopecia, the timing of the transplantation is crucial. Here, we report two Chinese patients with LPP or FFA who underwent the follicular unit extraction method of hair transplantation after the diseases were stabilised with therapy, with satisfactory results for 3–4 years of follow up.
Hospital‐ownership status and cesareans in the United States: The effect of for‐profit hospitals
Authors: Morris Theresa , McNamara Kelly , Morton Christine H. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundGiven the increasing proportion of United States hospitals that are for‐profit, we examined whether women who give birth in for‐profit hospitals are more likely to have cesareans than women who give birth in not‐for‐profit hospitals. We hypothesized that cesareans are more likely to occur in for‐profit hospitals because of the organizational emphasis on short‐term financial indicators, including payment of shareholder dividends.MethodsWe used logistic regression and difference of means tests to analyze data from the Listening to Mothers III survey of women who gave birth in the United States in 2011 and 2012.ResultsControlling for patient‐level characteristics, we found that the odds of a woman's having a cesarean were two times higher in for‐profit hospitals than in not‐for‐profit hospitals. We also found for‐profit hospitals were significantly more likely to be members of multihospital systems and to have fewer full‐time registered nurses and staff members per hospital bed.ConclusionThis research suggests that women who give birth in for‐profit hospitals are more likely to have cesareans than women who give birth in not‐for‐profit hospitals. This information is important to women when deciding where to give birth. Knowing which hospital characteristics are associated with a greater likelihood of cesarean is helpful since hospital cesarean rates may be difficult to find. These findings are also informative for obstetric professionals, who can implement improvement initiatives to decrease cesarean rates and improve the overall quality of care for childbearing women in the United States.
Targeting molecules involved in immune cell trafficking to the central nervous system for therapy in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Elfeky Mohamed , Kamimura Daisuke , Arima Yasunobu , Murakami Masaaki , Steinman Lawrence 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe entry of immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS) for immune surveillance occurs during normal physiological conditions, although it is difficult to detect. However, during CNS autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and its animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, immune cells extensively invade the CNS. Understanding the mechanisms of immune cell migration and entry into the CNS provides a plan for the development of novel therapeutics. A goal would be to target specific molecules and/or pathways, and thereby modulate inflammatory cell migration into the CNS, which ideally could suppress disease progression without compromising beneficial immune surveillance. In the present review, we highlight the key mechanisms that directly or indirectly traffic and pass immune cells, particularly T cells to the CNS. We illuminate and focus on the following matters: T‐cell licensing, regional neural stimulations, gut–CNS communications and integrin‐mediated cell adhesion. We discuss currently approved drugs that target T‐cell migration to the CNS.
Lidocaine inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer by regulating the expression of GOLT1A
Authors: Zhang Lei , Hu Rong , Cheng Yanyong , Wu Xiaoyang , Xi Siwei , Sun Yu , Jiang Hong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectivesLidocaine is the most commonly used local anaesthetic in clinical and can inhibit proliferation, suppress invasion and migration and induce apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) cells. However, its specific downstream molecular mechanism is unclear.Materials and methodsLAD cell lines, A549 and H1299 cells, were treated with lidocaine. The proliferation was evaluated by the methylthiazolyldiphenyl‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. The expression level of related proteins was detected by real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot assay.ResultsThe results indicated that lidocaine dose‐dependently suppressed the proliferation of A549 and H1299 cells. In the LAD patients’ samples, GOLT1A was upregulated and involved in the poor prognosis and higher grade malignancy. Additionally, GOLT1A mediates the function of lidocaine on repressing proliferation by regulating the cell cycle in A549 cells.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that lidocaine downregulates the GOLT1A expression to repress the proliferation of lung cancer cells.
Role of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided‐fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of lymphoma of the pancreas: A clinicopathological study of nine cases
Authors: Sadaf S. , Loya A. , Akhtar N. , Yusuf M. A. 
Published: July 2017

ObjectiveEndoscopic ultrasound‐guided‐fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) is an established first‐line procedure in the management of solid and cystic pancreatic masses. Lymphoma is an uncommon diagnosis in EUS‐FNA of the pancreas, and it is more common for such a diagnosis to be because of secondary involvement of the pancreas by a lymphoproliferative disorder than for this to represent isolated primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL). We present the clinical, EUS and cytological features of these lesions.Material and methodsAfter obtaining approval from our Institutional Review Board (IRB), nine cases of lymphoma diagnosed on EUS‐FNA at a tertiary care cancer centre over a period of 8 years from 2008 to 2016 were retrieved from our endoscopy and pathology archives. Rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) was carried out by a trained cytopathologist in all these cases. Cell blocks were available in seven cases, and immunophenotyping was performed on cell blocks using the immunoperoxidase method. Flow cytometry was performed in two cases.ResultsThe most frequent site of involvement was the head of the pancreas (n=5, 55.6%). Four out of nine cases were diagnosed as PPL (44.4%). Five cases were diagnosed as lymphoma secondarily involving the pancreas (55.6%). The most frequent diagnosis was diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (n=6, 66.7%), followed by Hodgkin's lymphoma (n=2, 22.2%) and peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (n=1, 11.1%).ConclusionEUS‐FNA in experienced hands is a valuable diagnostic modality, in conjunction with ROSE, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, in the diagnosis and sub‐typing of both primary and secondary pancreatic lymphoma.
Seven‐year‐olds’ aggressive choices in a computer game can be predicted in infancy
Authors: Hay Dale F. , Johansen Mark K. , Daly Peter , Hashmi Salim , Robinson Charlotte , Collishaw Stephan , van Goozen Stephanie 
Published: July 2017

AbstractConcerns about the relationship between computer games and children's aggression have been expressed for decades, but it is not yet clear whether the content of such games evokes aggression or a prior history of aggression promotes children's interest in aggressive games. Two hundred and sixty‐six 7‐year‐old children from a nationally representative longitudinal sample in the UK played a novel computer game (CAMGAME) in which the child's avatar encountered a series of social challenges that might evoke aggressive, prosocial or neutral behaviour. Aggressive choices during the game were predicted by well‐known risk factors for aggressive conduct problems and the children's own early angry aggressiveness as infants. These findings suggest that children who are predisposed to aggression bring those tendencies to virtual as well as real environments.
The Negative Effects of Insufficient Support Systems on Kuwaiti Mothers of Children with Disabilities
Authors: Alsabah Tahani , Vittrup Brigitte 
Published: July 2017

AbstractParents raising a child with a physical or cognitive disability are often faced with the negative stigma against disabilities that exist in several Arab countries. This puts extra pressure on the parents and can lead to negative outcomes for the children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of parenting stress and varying levels of support for mothers of children with disabilities and the effects of these pressures on their relationship with their disabled child. We surveyed 85 Kuwaiti mothers of children with disabilities. The participants filled out an online survey with questions regarding parenting related stress, perceived social support, feelings of social isolation, self‐efficacy, and attachment to their child. Results indicate that mothers who feel unsupported by their families, community, and government experience more parenting stress and greater social isolation. These in turn lead them to feel less competent in their parenting abilities, and ultimately they feel less emotionally connected to their child. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Prolonged copula duration in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata: an alternative male tactic to amplify sperm transfer, reproductive attributes, and paternity outcomes
Authors: Afaq Uzma , Omkar  
Published: July 2017

AbstractMale traits are expected to evolve on the basis that they help maximize reproductive success. Prolonged copula duration is a commonly observed trait and this may sometimes be an adaptive male tactic that results in increased paternity against rival males. This study evaluated direct and indirect influences of prolonged copula duration on reproduction and offspring development in the parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Prolonged copula duration was correlated with a reduction in the time until oviposition and with increased fecundity in female beetles. Furthermore, extended copula duration was correlated with increased offspring survival and reduced offspring development times. Thus, there appear to be both direct and indirect benefits associated with prolonged copula in the parthenium beetle (i.e., increased adult reproductive performance and improved offspring fitness). Possible explanations for these reproductive benefits may be that a longer copula increases the availability of sperm for females and seminal fluid may boost maternal protein reserves which can then be invested in higher quality of offspring.