bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and risk factors for problematic Internet use among rural adolescents in Korea
Authors: Lee Ju‐Yeon , Kim Seon‐Young , Bae Kyung‐Yeol , Kim Jae‐Min , Shin Il‐Seon , Yoon Jin‐Sang , Kim Sung‐Wan 
Published: January 2018

AbstractIntroductionThe number of Internet users is increasing dramatically due to high‐speed Internet connections and the use of cellular Internet service among rural adolescents in Korea. This study examined the prevalence of problematic Internet use (PIU) and factors associated with PIU among rural adolescents in Korea.MethodsIn total, 1168 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from a rural area in Korea participated in this cross‐sectional school survey. Problematic Internet use was categorized with Young's Internet Addiction Test using a validated cutoff. In addition, adolescents completed a self‐report questionnaire, including questions on sociodemographic factors, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the State Anxiety Inventory for Children. Parents completed the Korean version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ‐P).ResultsProblematic Internet use was identified in 252 of 1168 (21.6%) students. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that male gender, academic stress, early exposure to the Internet, depression, and total difficulties on the SDQ‐P were significantly associated with PIU.ConclusionsThe findings indicate a need to develop preventive interventions for PIU among rural adolescents in Korea.
‘I know I'm not invincible’: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of thyroid cancer in young people
Authors: Smith Stephanie , Eatough Virginia , Smith James , Mihai Radu , Weaver Andrew , Sadler Gregory P. 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveThyroid cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting young people and carries an excellent prognosis. Little is known about the psychosocial issues that face young people diagnosed with a treatable cancer. This study explored how young people experienced diagnosis, treatment, and how they made sense of an experience which challenged their views on what it means to have cancer.MethodSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight young people diagnosed with either papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, and analysed with interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).ResultsTwo inter‐related aspects of their experience are discussed: (1) the range of feelings and emotions experienced including feeling disregarded, vulnerability, shock and isolation; (2) how they made sense of and ascribed meaning to their experience in the light of the unique nature of their cancer. A thread running throughout the findings highlights that this was a disruptive biographical experience.ConclusionsYoung people experienced a loss of youthful immunity which contrasted with a sense of growth and shift in life perspective. Having a highly treatable cancer was helpful in aiding them to reframe their situation positively but at the same time left them feeling dismissed over a lack of recognition that they had cancer. The young peoples’ experiences point to a need for increased understanding of this rare cancer, more effective communication from health care professionals and a greater understanding of the experiential impact of this disease on young people. Suggestions to improve the service provision to this patient group are provided.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Differentiated thyroid cancer has an excellent prognosis.

Quality of life of thyroid cancer has marginally been explored in the literature.

Little is known on the support needs of young people diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

What does this study add?

Increased understanding of how young people make sense and cope with thyroid cancer despite the lack of support resources.

Addressing illness perceptions through improved information support may aid coping and adjustment.

Insight into the needs of young people diagnosed with thyroid cancer and recommendations on service improvements.
BAUS consensus document for the management of male genital emergencies: priapism
Authors:   BAUS Section of Andrology Genitourethral Surgery, Muneer Asif , Brown Gareth , Dorkin Trevor , Lucky Marc , Pearcy Richard , Shabbir Majid , Shukla Chitranjan J. , Rees Rowland W. , Summerton Duncan J. 
Published: January 2018

Male genital emergencies relating to the penis and scrotum are rare and require prompt investigation and surgical intervention. Clinicians are often unfamiliar with the management of these conditions and may not work in a specialist centre with on‐site expertise in genitourethral surgery. A series of consensus statements have been developed by an expert consensus committee comprising members of the BAUS Section of Andrology and Genitourethral Surgery together with experts from urology units throughout the UK. Priapism requires prompt assessment and treatment and these consensus statements provide guidance for UK practice.
Phytoplankton defence mechanisms: traits and trade‐offs
Authors: Pančić Marina , Kiørboe Thomas 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACTIn aquatic ecosystems, unicellular algae form the basis of the food webs. Theoretical and experimental studies have demonstrated that one of the mechanisms that maintain high diversity of phytoplankton is through predation and the consequent evolution of defence mechanisms. Proposed defence mechanisms in phytoplankton are diverse and include physiological (e.g. toxicity, bioluminescence), morphological (e.g. silica shell, colony formation), and behavioural (e.g. escape response) traits. However, the function of many of the proposed defence mechanisms remains elusive, and the costs and benefits (trade‐offs) are often unquantified or undocumented. Here, we provide an overview of suggested phytoplankton defensive traits and review their experimental support. Wherever possible we quantify the trade‐offs from experimental evidence and theoretical considerations. In many instances, experimental evidence suggests that defences are costless. However, we argue that (i) some costs materialize only under natural conditions, for example, sinking losses, or dependency on the availability of specific nutrients, and (ii) other costs become evident only under resource‐deficient conditions where a rivalry for limiting resources between growth and defence occurs. Based on these findings, we suggest two strategies for quantifying the costs of defence mechanisms in phytoplankton: (i) for the evaluation of defence costs that are realized under natural conditions, a mechanistic understanding of the hypothesized component processes is required; and (ii) the magnitude of the costs (i.e. growth reduction) must be assessed under conditions of resource limitation.
The Blomia tropicalis allergen Blo t 7 stimulates innate immune signalling pathways through TLR2
Authors: Soongrung T. , Mongkorntanyatip K. , Peepim T. , Buaklin A. , Le Mignon M. , Malainual N. , Nony E. , Jacquet A. 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundAlthough the house dust mite species Blomia tropicalis is a leading cause of allergic diseases in tropical and subtropical regions, the identification and characterization of the allergenic proteins remain incomplete.ObjectiveWe aimed to characterize a recombinant form of Blo t 7 (rBlo t 7) in terms of IgE reactivity, lipid‐binding activity and ability to stimulate innate immunity.MethodsThe mature Blo t 7 cDNA was cloned by PCR methods for the expression of a secreted form of the allergen in P. pastoris. The IgE reactivity to purified rBlo t 7 as well as the potential cross‐reactivity with Der p 7 was determined by ELISA. The lipid‐binding capacity of rBlo t 7 was assayed using fluorescent lipid probes. The stimulation of TLR2 signalling pathway by rBlo t 7 was examined in cell activation and reporter assays.ResultsThe amplified mature Blo t 7 cDNA revealed the presence of a 60 base pair insertion compared with the reference sequence registered in the GenBank database. Multiple protein sequence alignments of group 7 mite allergens confirmed that this longer deduced amino acid sequence was the authentic Blo t 7 polypeptide chain. Analysis of IgE reactivity can classify rBlo t 7 as an intermediate B. tropicalis allergen which displayed weak cross‐reactivity with Der p 7. Purified rBlo t 7 was shown to bind selectively the naturally fluorescent lipid probe cis‐parinaric (cPNA) with a dissociation constant of 2 μmol/L. The group 7 Blomia allergen stimulated the TLR2‐, NF‐kB‐ and MAPK‐dependent production of IL‐8 and GM‐CSF in respiratory epithelial cells.Conclusions & Clinical RelevanceThrough its propensity to transport fatty acids/lipids and to stimulate TLR2 signalling pathways in airway epithelial cells, Blo t 7 can represent a key allergen for the initiation of the B. tropicalis‐induced airway inflammation.
Generalized reactions during skin testing with clindamycin in drug hypersensitivity: a report of 3 cases and review of the literature
Authors: Papakonstantinou Eleni , Müller Sabine , Röhrbein Jan H. , Wieczorek Dorothea , Kapp Alexander , Jakob Thilo , Wedi Bettina 
Published: January 2018

SummaryBackgroundThe diagnostic approach to drug hypersensitivity includes a detailed medical history, clinical examination, and skin testing and/or oral challenge with a culprit or alternative drug, depending on the type of reaction and the suspected drugs. Although skin testing is considered to be rather safe, cutaneous and systemic, including fatal, reactions have been described.ObjectivesTo report 3 cases with generalized delayed reactions after skin testing with clindamycin, and to review the existing literature.MethodsThorough clinical examination, blood tests and prick, intradermal and patch tests were performed in 3 patients.ResultsAll patients experienced generalized maculopapular exanthema after intradermal and patch testing with clindamycin and amoxicillin in the first patient, and clindamycin alone in the second and third patient. None of the patients showed immediate reactions to skin tests, while positive intradermal reactions after 24 h to amoxicillin and clindamycin were observed in the first patient, and positive intradermal reactions after 24 h to clindamycin were observed in the second and third patients.ConclusionsSkin testing with clindamycin in the diagnosis of drug hypersensitivity carries some risk of adverse reactions. A stepwise and individual diagnostic work‐up, considering potential risk factors, and testing in a specialized centre with emergency equipment available is highly recommended.
Significance of tumor‐associated autoantibodies in the early diagnosis of lung cancer
Authors: Du Qiang , Yu Ruofei , Wang Han , Yan Dong , Yuan Qi , Ma Yixin , Slamon Dennis , Hou Dongmei , Wang Huiling , Wang Qi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectivesAutoantibodies tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs) could be a valuable tool for the diagnosis or early detection of cancer due to their relatively high specificity and stability. The purpose of this study is to detect the level of tumor‐associated autoantibodies in lung cancer and assess the diagnostic potential of autoantibodies in screening strategy for early stage lung cancer.Materials and MethodsLevels of tumor‐associated autoantibodies (AAbs) were measured against a panel of seven TAAs (p53, PGP9.5, SOX2, GAGE7, GBU4‐5, CAGE and MAGEA1) in 397 patients with pulmonary lesions (305 with newly diagnosis of NSCLC, 47 with SCLC and 45 with benign nodule) and 74 control persons without any nodules in the lung after chest MDCT scan. The sensitivity, specificity for patients and control persons, positive rate of the panel in different pathology, stage, size of lesion, age and gender were compared and analyzed.ResultsThe AAbs panel could distinguish malignant lesions from benign lesions and control people, with sensitivity of 56.53% and specificity of 91.60%. The specificity could be further increased to 95.80%, when combined with CT. The AAbs also showed high diagnostic value of malignant nodule, and it would be a new method for judgment of malignant nodules that are less than 8 mm in diameter. No significant differences were seen based on pathology, NSCLC stages, tumor size, age or gender.ConclusionThis assay confirms the value of AAbs panel as a diagnostic tool combined with CT scan.
Phonological processing during silent reading in teenagers who are deaf/hard of hearing: an eye movement investigation
Authors: Blythe Hazel I. , Dickins Jonathan H. , Kennedy Colin R. , Liversedge Simon P. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThere has been considerable variability within the literature concerning the extent to which deaf/hard of hearing individuals are able to process phonological codes during reading. Two experiments are reported in which participants’ eye movements were recorded as they read sentences containing correctly spelled words (e.g., church), pseudohomophones (e.g., cherch), and spelling controls (e.g., charch). We examined both foveal processing and parafoveal pre‐processing of phonology for three participant groups—teenagers with permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL), chronological age‐matched controls, and reading age‐matched controls. The teenagers with PCHL showed a pseudohomophone advantage from both directly fixated words and parafoveal preview, similar to their hearing peers. These data provide strong evidence for phonological recoding during silent reading in teenagers with PCHL.
To share or not to share: Incentivizing data sharing in life science communities
Authors: Bezuidenhout Louise 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMost scientists recognize the importance of sharing data online in an open fashion. Nonetheless, many studies have documented the concerns that accompany data sharing activities, including loss of credit or IP, misuse and the time needed to curate interoperable data. To this end, discussions around data sharing often identify incentives that could potentially ameliorate these disincentivising concerns.Nonetheless, current Open Data discussions often rely on evidence‐based studies to identify the disincentives to overcome. This results in highly specific and directed interventions. In contrast, this paper offers a different interpretation of these concerns. To do so, it makes use of the Thomas Theorem which suggests that: “If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”.Using empirical evidence from sub‐Saharan African (bio)chemistry laboratories, this paper illustrates how individual perceptions of research environments – whether associated with evidence or not – are highly influential in shaping data sharing practices. It concludes with the suggestion that discussion on incentivising data sharing amongst scientific communities need to take a broader set of concerns into account and offer a more creative approach to ameliorating environmental disincentives.
Impact of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use on treatment outcomes among patients experiencing first episode psychosis: Data from the national RAISE‐ETP study
Authors: Oluwoye Oladunni , Monroe‐DeVita Maria , Burduli Ekaterina , Chwastiak Lydia , McPherson Sterling , McClellan Jon M. , McDonell Michael G. 
Published: January 2018

AimThe primary aim of this study was to examine the effect of recent tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use on treatment outcomes among participants experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP).MethodsSecondary data analyses were conducted on 404 participants enrolled in the Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode—Early Treatment Program (RAISE‐ETP) study. RAISE‐ETP investigated the effectiveness of a coordinated specialty care (CSC) intervention for FEP in community mental health agencies in the United States. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine whether recent tobacco smoking, alcohol, and cannabis use at baseline were associated with illness severity, number of antipsychotic pills missed, psychiatric symptoms and quality of life during the 24‐month treatment period, after controlling for duration of untreated psychosis and treatment group.ResultsAt baseline, roughly 50% (n = 209) of participants reported recent tobacco, 28% (n = 113) alcohol and 24% (n = 95) cannabis use. Tobacco smokers had higher levels of illness severity (β = .24; P < .005), a higher number of missed pills (β = 2.89; P < .05), higher psychiatric symptoms and lower quality of life during treatment relative to non‐smokers. Alcohol users had a higher number of missed pills (β = 3.16; P < .05) during treatment and cannabis users had higher levels of illness severity (β = .18; P < .05) and positive symptoms (β = 1.56; P < .05) relative to non‐users.ConclusionsTobacco, alcohol and cannabis use are common in youth seeking treatment for FEP. Tobacco smoking was associated with more negative clinical outcomes. These findings have implications for including interventions targeting these areas of substance use within current CSC models.
Altered transcription of glutamatergic and glycinergic receptors in spinal cord dorsal horn following spinal cord transection is minimally affected by passive exercise of the hindlimbs
Authors: Chopek Jeremy W. , MacDonell Christopher W. , Shepard Patricia C. , Gardiner Kalan R. , Gardiner Phillip F. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractGene expression is altered following a spinal transection (STx) in both motor and sensory systems. Exercise has been shown to influence gene expression in both systems post‐STx. Gene expression alterations have also been shown in the dorsal root ganglia and nociceptive laminae of the spinal cord following either an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) or a contusive SCI. However, the effect of STx and exercise on gene expression in spinal cord laminae I‐III has not fully been examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether gene expression in laminae I‐III is altered following STx and determine whether superimposed passive exercise of the hindlimbs would influence gene expression post‐STx in laminae I‐III. Laser capture microdissection was used to selectively harvest laminae I‐III of lumbar spinal cord sections, and quantitative RT‐PCR was used to examine relative expression of 23 selected genes in samples collected from control, STx and STx plus exercise rats. We demonstrate that post‐STx, gene expression for metabotropic glutamate receptors 1, 5 and 8 were up‐regulated, whereas ionotropic glutamatergic receptor (Glur2) and glycinergic subunit GLRA1 expression was down‐regulated. Daily exercise attenuated the down‐regulation of Glur2 gene expression in laminae I‐III. Our results demonstrate that in a STx model, gene expression is altered in laminae I‐III and that although passive exercise influences gene expression in both the motor and sensory systems, it had a minimal effect on gene expression in laminae I‐III post‐STx.
Different responses of the right superior temporal sulcus to visual movement feedback during self‐generated vs. externally generated hand movements
Authors: Limanowski Jakub , Sarasso Pietro , Blankenburg Felix 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAn important implication of several recent accounts of motor control is that sensory feedback from self‐generated movements is relatively attenuated based on predictions issued by the agent's motor system. Such a relative attenuation of sensory information during actions has already been demonstrated in the somatosensory domain. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a virtual reality‐based setup to investigate a potential attenuation of brain responses to realistic visual movement feedback during active vs. passive right‐hand movements. The participants’ right unseen hand was rotated either by the participants themselves or by the experimenter, while the participants received visual movement feedback via a photorealistic virtual 3D hand driven by their real hand movements, or received no visual feedback. We observed a significant interaction between movement type (active vs. passive) and movement feedback (vision vs. no vision) in the right superior temporal sulcus (STS), which showed relatively attenuated blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent (BOLD) signal differences in movements with vs. without visual feedback when those movements were actively vs. passively executed. This finding suggests that STS activity caused by visual feedback from the moving body may be attenuated based on the agent's motor predictions.
Neural bases of rhythmic entrainment in humans: critical transformation between cortical and lower‐level representations of auditory rhythm
Authors: Nozaradan Sylvie , Schönwiesner Marc , Keller Peter E. , Lenc Tomas , Lehmann Alexandre 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe spontaneous ability to entrain to meter periodicities is central to music perception and production across cultures. There is increasing evidence that this ability involves selective neural responses to meter‐related frequencies. This phenomenon has been observed in the human auditory cortex, yet it could be the product of evolutionarily older lower‐level properties of brainstem auditory neurons, as suggested by recent recordings from rodent midbrain. We addressed this question by taking advantage of a new method to simultaneously record human EEG activity originating from cortical and lower‐level sources, in the form of slow (< 20 Hz) and fast (> 150 Hz) responses to auditory rhythms. Cortical responses showed increased amplitudes at meter‐related frequencies compared to meter‐unrelated frequencies, regardless of the prominence of the meter‐related frequencies in the modulation spectrum of the rhythmic inputs. In contrast, frequency‐following responses showed increased amplitudes at meter‐related frequencies only in rhythms with prominent meter‐related frequencies in the input but not for a more complex rhythm requiring more endogenous generation of the meter. This interaction with rhythm complexity suggests that the selective enhancement of meter‐related frequencies does not fully rely on subcortical auditory properties, but is critically shaped at the cortical level, possibly through functional connections between the auditory cortex and other, movement‐related, brain structures. This process of temporal selection would thus enable endogenous and motor entrainment to emerge with substantial flexibility and invariance with respect to the rhythmic input in humans in contrast with non‐human animals.
Sub‐threshold transcranial magnetic stimulation applied after the go‐signal facilitates reaction time under control but not startle conditions
Authors: Smith Victoria , Carlsen Anthony N. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe presentation of a startling acoustic stimulus (SAS) in a simple reaction time (RT) task significantly reduces RT due to the involuntary early initiation of a prepared movement; however, the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. It has been proposed that a SAS triggers a cortically stored motor program by involuntarily increasing initiation‐related activation. Sub‐threshold transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be used to investigate cortical processes, as it increases cortical excitability for 6–30 ms and significantly reduces RT. The purpose of the present experiments was to determine whether the application of sub‐threshold TMS over motor cortex in close temporal proximity to a SAS would facilitate startle RT in the same manner as control RT, providing evidence for cortical involvement in startle‐related RTs. Participants completed a simple RT task requiring targeted wrist extension in response to an auditory go‐signal, which was randomly replaced by a SAS on 25% of trials. On a subset of trials, sub‐threshold TMS was applied 30 ms following the go‐signal in control trials or at −15, 0, +15 or +30 ms with respect to the SAS in startle trials. In all three experiments, sham and real TMS significantly reduced RT in control trials, with real TMS having a larger effect, but there was no effect of either real or sham TMS on startle‐related RT. These results suggest that there may be limited cortical involvement in the initiation of movements in response to a SAS. As an alternative, startle may produce the fastest possible RTs, with little room for additional facilitation.