bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different responses of spontaneous and stimulus‐related alpha activity to ambient luminance changes
Authors: Benedetto Alessandro , Lozano‐Soldevilla Diego , VanRullen Rufin 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAlpha oscillations are particularly important in determining our percepts and have been implicated in fundamental brain functions. Oscillatory activity can be spontaneous or stimulus‐related. Furthermore, stimulus‐related responses can be phase‐ or non‐phase‐locked to the stimulus. Non‐phase‐locked (induced) activity can be identified as the average amplitude changes in response to a stimulation, while phase‐locked activity can be measured via reverse‐correlation techniques (echo function). However, the mechanisms and the functional roles of these oscillations are far from clear. Here, we investigated the effect of ambient luminance changes, known to dramatically modulate neural oscillations, on spontaneous and stimulus‐related alpha. We investigated the effect of ambient luminance on EEG alpha during spontaneous human brain activity at rest (experiment 1) and during visual stimulation (experiment 2). Results show that spontaneous alpha amplitude increased by decreasing ambient luminance, while alpha frequency remained unaffected. In the second experiment, we found that under low‐luminance viewing, the stimulus‐related alpha amplitude was lower, and its frequency was slightly faster. These effects were evident in the phase‐locked part of the alpha response (echo function), but weaker or absent in the induced (non‐phase‐locked) alpha responses. Finally, we explored the possible behavioural correlates of these modulations in a monocular critical flicker frequency task (experiment 3), finding that dark adaptation in the left eye decreased the temporal threshold of the right eye. Overall, we found that ambient luminance changes impact differently on spontaneous and stimulus‐related alpha expression. We suggest that stimulus‐related alpha activity is crucial in determining human temporal segmentation abilities.
The changing faces of soil organic matter research
Authors: Smith P. , Lutfalla S. , Riley W. J. , Torn M. S. , Schmidt M. W. I. , Soussana J.‐F. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryFor the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of the British Society of Soil Science, this short paper explores the idea that research on soil organic matter has remained a central theme within soil science over the past 70 years, albeit with changing emphasis and application. The number of publications on soil organic matter has increased greatly in recent decades; for example, there were almost 35 000 journal papers with this theme in the decade 2007–2016. Several topics in research on soil organic matter, such as soil fertility, have endured for a number of decades, with publications found on soil organic matter and fertility in the decade 1947–1956. A search with other keywords occurring with soil, such as climate change, biodiversity, fertility, quality, health and security, showed that several topics did not appear before the 1970s and 1980s, but since then the sub‐topics and applications have diversified. Carbon is a keyword that has become more associated with publications on soil organic matter; carbon is in over half of soil organic matter publications of the last decade. A closer examination of research on agricultural soil carbon sequestration since 1990 reveals that the focus of papers in the literature has changed over this period. A closer examination of papers on modelling shows that the next generation of soil organic matter models is developing from pseudo first‐order decay models using conceptual pools and prescribed controls of turnover time to vertically resolved, microbially explicit models representing mineral surface and plant interactions. Given its higher policy profile during the last 2 years, research on soil organic matter and soil carbon sequestration is predicted to have a bright future.Highlights
The number of publications on soil organic matter has increased greatly in recent decades.
Soil fertility research has endured for many decades, whereas other topics have diversified.
Soil organic matter has been increasingly associated with carbon, which has changed the focus of papers since 1990.
Expanding policy attention to soil organic matter research during the last 2 years suggests a bright future.
Mathematical modelling of water and solute movement in ridge plant systems with dynamic ponding
Authors: Duncan S. J. , Daly K. R. , Sweeney P. , Roose T. 
Published: December 2017

We present a mathematical model that describes the movement of water and solutes in a ridge and furrow geometry. We focus on the effects of two physical processes: root water uptake and pond formation in the furrows. Special attention is paid to the physical description of ponding as an effect of transient rain events. We focus on phenomena taking place in the furrow cross‐section, not on the drainage along the furrow. The resulting model comprises a coupled system of partial and ordinary differential equations that describe the mathematical interplay between solute transport, water movement and furrow pond depth. The system of equations is solved numerically using finite element techniques. We conducted numerical simulations to determine how mobile solutes with low buffer powers penetrate into the soil. We considered two cases: low rainfall, in which pond formation does not occur, and high rainfall, in which significant ponding is observed in the furrows. We found, in the presence of roots, that mobile solutes collected into a concentrated spot adjacent to the root system independent of rainfall intensity. In the absence of roots, however, we observed that water infiltration from ponding acted as the dominant transport mechanism for mobile solutes. This resulted in deep solute penetration into the soil when compared with non‐ponded furrows.Highlights
Effect of furrow ponding and plant water uptake on solute movement in ridged fields.
We developed a mathematical model that describes ponding in furrows from rainfall events.
Solute ‘hot spots’ formed in soil from surface ponding and root water uptake.
We estimate reduced risk to solute leaching under the effects of ponding when roots are present in soil.
Antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving immunomodulatory therapy
Authors: Olberg H. K. , Eide G. E. , Cox R. J. , Jul‐Larsen Å. , Lartey S. L. , Vedeler C. A. , Myhr K.‐M. 
Published: December 2017

Background and purposeWe have previously shown that patients with multiple sclerosis receiving immunomodulatory treatment have reduced seroprotection rates after influenza immunization. The aim of this study was to further investigate the influence of immunomodulatory therapies on the antibody response and seroprotection rates in patients immunized with seasonal influenza vaccine in 2012/2013 compared with healthy controls.MethodsNinety patients receiving fingolimod, glatiramer acetate, interferon beta‐1a/1b, natalizumab or no therapy were compared with 62 healthy controls. All subjects received the inactivated split virus vaccine in 2012 and serum samples were collected pre‐vaccination and 3, 6 and 12 months post‐vaccination. The vaccine responses were evaluated by the hemagglutination inhibition assay and adjusted for age and gender.ResultsNo significant differences in rates of protection against H1N1 for interferon beta‐1a/1b and glatiramer acetate were observed as compared with controls at 3, 6 and 12 months. Fingolimod provided reduced protection at all time points post‐vaccination, whereas natalizumab displayed reduced protection at 3 and 6 months. Patients without immunomodulation did not display protection rates that were significantly different from the controls at 3 and 12 months.ConclusionThese findings suggest that patients with multiple sclerosis receiving fingolimod or natalizumab should be considered for a second dose of the vaccine in cases of insufficient protection. Our results further indicate that new immunomodulatory treatment regimens should be systematically evaluated for their influence on influenza‐specific vaccine responses.
Interactive effects of seizure frequency and lateralization on intratemporal effective connectivity in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Park Chang‐hyun , Choi Yun Seo , Kim Hyeon Jin , Chung Hwa‐Kyung , Jung A‐Reum , Yoo Jeong Hyun , Lee Hyang Woon 
Published: December 2017

SummaryObjectivePatients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) show brain connectivity changes in association with cognitive impairment. Seizure frequency and lateralization are 2 important clinical factors that characterize epileptic seizures. In this study, we sought to examine an interactive effect of the 2 seizure factors on intratemporal effective connectivity based on resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) in patients with TLE.MethodsFor rsfMRI data acquired from 48 TLE patients and 45 healthy controls, we applied stochastic dynamical causal modeling to infer effective connectivity between 3 medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions, including the hippocampus (Hipp), parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), and amygdala (Amyg), ipsilateral to the seizure focus. We searched for the effect of the 2 seizure factors, seizure frequency (good vs poor seizure control) and lateralization (left vs right TLE), on connection strengths and their relationship with the level of verbal memory and language impairment.ResultsImpairment of verbal memory and language function was mainly affected by seizure lateralization, consistent with preferential involvement of the left MTL in verbal mnemonic processing. For the fully connected model, which was selected as the effective connectivity structure that best explained the observed rsfMRI time series, alterations in connection strengths were primarily influenced by seizure frequency; there was an increase in the strength of the Hipp to PHG connection in TLE patients with poor seizure control, whereas the strength of the Amyg to PHG connection increased in those with good seizure control. Furthermore, the association between connection strength alterations and cognitive impairment was interactively affected by both seizure frequency and lateralization.SignificanceThese findings suggest an interactive effect as well as an individual effect of seizure frequency and lateralization on neuroimaging features and cognitive function. This potential interaction needs to be evaluated in the consideration of multiple seizure factors.
Brain regions and epileptogenicity influence epileptic interictal spike production and propagation during NREM sleep in comparison with wakefulness
Authors: Lambert Isabelle , Roehri Nicolas , Giusiano Bernard , Carron Romain , Wendling Fabrice , Benar Christian , Bartolomei Fabrice 
Published: December 2017

SummaryObjectiveNon–rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep is known to be a brain state associated with an activation of interictal epileptic activity. The goal of this work was to quantify topographic changes occurring during NREM sleep in comparison with wakefulness.MethodWe studied intracerebral recordings of 20 patients who underwent stereo‐electroencephalography (SEEG) during presurgical evaluation for pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. We measured the number of interictal spikes (IS) and quantified the co‐occurrence of IS between brain regions during 1 hour of NREM sleep and 1 hour of wakefulness. Co‐occurrence is a method to estimate IS networks based on a temporal concordance between IS of different brain regions. Each studied region was labeled as “seizure‐onset zone” (SOZ), “propagation zone” (PZ), or “not involved region” (NIR).ResultsDuring NREM sleep, the number of interictal spikes significantly increased in all regions (mean of 68%). This increase was higher in medial temporal regions than in other regions, whether involved in the SOZ. Spike co‐occurrence increased significantly in all regions during NREM sleep in comparison with wakefulness but was greater in neocortical regions. Spike co‐occurrence in medial temporal regions was not higher than in other regions, suggesting that the increase of the number of spikes in this region was in great part a local effect.SignificanceThis study demonstrated that medial temporal regions show a greater propensity to spike production or propagation during NREM sleep compared to other brain regions, even when the medial temporal lobe is not involved in the SOZ.
Couple‐based Intervention for Depression: An Effectiveness Study in the National Health Service in England
Authors: Baucom Donald H. , Fischer Melanie S. , Worrell Michael , Corrie Sarah , Belus Jennifer M. , Molyva Efthymia , Boeding Sara E. 
Published: December 2017

This study represents an effectiveness study and service evaluation of a cognitive behavioral, couple‐based treatment for depression (BCT‐D) provided in London services that are part of the “Improving Access to Psychological Therapies” (IAPT) program in England. Twenty‐three therapists in community clinics were trained in BCT‐D during a 5‐day workshop, followed by monthly group supervision for 1 year. The BCT‐D treatment outcome findings are based on 63 couples in which at least one partner was depressed and elected to receive BCT‐D. Eighty‐five percent of couples also demonstrated relationship distress, and 49% of the nonclient partners also met caseness for depression or anxiety. Findings demonstrated a recovery rate of 57% with BCT‐D, compared to 41% for all IAPT treatments for depression in London. Nonclient partners who met caseness demonstrated a 48% recovery rate with BCT‐D, although they were not the focus of treatment. BCT‐D was equally effective for clients regardless of the clinical status of the nonclient partner, suggesting its effectiveness in assisting both members of the couple simultaneously. Likewise, treatment was equally effective whether or not both partners reported relationship distress. The findings are promising regarding the successful application of BCT‐D in routine clinical settings.
Creating individual accessible area hypotheses improves stacked species distribution model performance
Authors: Cooper Jacob C. , Soberón Jorge 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimStacked species distribution models (SDMs) are an important step towards estimating species richness, but frequently overpredict this metric and therefore erroneously predict which species comprise a given community. We test the idea that developing hypotheses about accessible area a priori can greatly improve model performance. By integrating dispersal ability via accessible area into SDM creation, we address an often‐overlooked facet of ecological niche modelling.InnovationBy limiting the training and transference areas to theoretically accessible areas, we are creating more accurate SDMs on the basis of a taxon's explorable environments. This limitation of space and environment is a more accurate reflection of a taxon's true dispersal properties and more accurately reflects the geographical and environmental space to which a taxon is exposed. Here, we compare the predictive performance of stacked SDMs derived from spatially constrained and unconstrained training areas.Main conclusionsRestricting a species’ training and transference areas to a theoretically accessible area greatly improves model performance. Stacked SDMs drawn from spatially restricted training areas predicted species richness and community composition more accurately than non‐restricted stacked SDMs. These accessible area‐based restrictions mimic true dispersal barriers to species and limit training areas to the suite of environments to those which a species is exposed to in nature. Furthermore, these restrictions serve to ‘clip’ predictions in geographical space, thus removing overpredictions in adjacent geographical regions where the species is known to be absent.
Mapping the role of ‘transnational family habitus’ in the lives of young people and children
Authors: ZONTINI ELISABETTA , REYNOLDS TRACEY 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn this article, we develop the concept of ‘transnational family habitus’ as a theoretical tool for making sense of the ways in which children and young people from a migrant background are ‘doing families’ transnationally. Drawing on over a decade of cumulative research on Caribbean and Italian families in the UK, as well as on a new joint research project, we first investigate the opportunities and consequences of a transnational family habitus on family arrangements, kinship relationships and identity within a transnational context. Second, we analyse the role of these young people's structural location in Britain in shaping the boundaries of their transnational family habitus. We argue that one should see a transnational family habitus as an asset that can potentially disrupt conventional understandings of belonging and processes of inclusion and exclusion. However, we also detail how social divisions of class, race, and increasingly migration status, shape such a habitus.
The impact of using peer interviewers in a study of patient empowerment amongst people in cancer follow‐up
Authors: Jørgensen Clara R. , Eskildsen Nanna B. , Thomsen Thora G. , Nielsen Inger D. , Johnsen Anna T. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundA range of benefits have been reported from engaging peer interviewers in qualitative interviews, but little systematic evaluation exists to assess their impact on both process and outcomes of qualitative interviews in health research.ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of involving patient representatives as peer interviewers in a research project on patient empowerment.Design18 interviews were carried out as part of the wider study, seven by the academic researcher alone and eleven jointly with a peer interviewer. The interviews were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to explore potential differences between interviews conducted by the researcher alone and interviews conducted jointly by the researcher and the peer interviewers. A phone evaluation of the peer interviews was carried out with the research participants, and notes were thematically analysed to understand their experiences.ResultsDifferences were identified between the academic researcher and the peer interviewers in the types of questions they asked and the degree to which personal narrative was used in the interview. Peer interviewers varied significantly in their approach. Research participants were positive about the experience of being interviewed by a peer interviewer. No firm conclusions could be made about impact on outcomes.Discussion and conclusionsThe uniqueness and complexity of qualitative interviews made it difficult to provide any firm conclusions about the impact of having peer interviewers on the research outcomes, and the benefits identified from the analysis mostly related to the process of the interviews. Benefits from using peer interviewers need to be considered alongside relevant ethical considerations, and available resources for training and support.
Primary effusion lymphoma in Taiwan shows two distinctive clinicopathological subtypes with rare human immunodeficiency virus association
Authors: Chen Bo‐Jung , Wang Ran‐Ching , Ho Chung‐Han , Yuan Chang‐Tsu , Huang Wan‐Ting , Yang Sheau‐Fang , Hsieh Pin‐Pen , Yung Yun‐Chih , Lin Shih‐Yao , Hsu Chen‐Fang , Su Ying‐Zhen , Kuo Chun‐Chi , Chuang Shih‐Sung 
Published: December 2017

AimsTo investigate the clinicopathological and molecular features of primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) in Taiwan and the association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV).Methods and resultsWe investigated retrospectively 26 cases with a median age of 76.5. Only one (4%) patient was infected with HIV. Cytologically, all lymphoma cells revealed typical immunoblastic to plasmablastic morphology. Immunohistochemically, HHV8 was positive in eight (32%) tumours and negative in 17 (68%) cases. All 23 tested cases examined were of the non‐germinal‐centre B cell phenotype. MYC proto‐oncogene (MYC) and Epstein–Barr encoding mRNA (EBER) were positive in 43% (nine of 21) and 17% (four of 23) cases, respectively. Immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH), B cell lymphoma (BCL)2, BCL6 and MYC were rearranged in 71%, 11%, 12% and 18% cases, respectively. By univariate analysis, the overall survival (OS) was associated statistically with MYC expression (P = 0.012) and BCL2 rearrangement (P = 0.035), but not with the others. By multivariate analysis, no factor was statistically significant. Compared to the HHV8‐negative cases, the HHV8‐positive cases were mainly of the plasmablastic immunophenotype expressing CD30 and CD138, and with a less frequent expression of pan‐B cell markers.ConclusionsApart from the phenotypical difference, our HHV8‐positive neoplasms were not distinct from the HHV8‐negative group. Literature review of 256 cases, including our cases, revealed that HHV8‐positive cases were associated more frequently with HIV and EBV infection, with rare MYC rearrangement, and a poorer prognosis than HHV8‐negative cases. We propose to name the HHV8‐positive cases as ‘classical’ or ‘type I PEL’ and the HHV8‐negative cases as ‘type II PEL’, stressing the similarities and the distinctive features between these two groups.
Effect of tamoxifen on fibrosis, collagen content and transforming growth factor‐β1, ‐β2 and ‐β3 expression in common bile duct anastomosis of pigs
Authors: Siqueira Orlando Hiroshi Kiono , Oliveira Karen Jesus , Carvalho Angela Cristina Gouvêa , da Nóbrega Antonio Claudio Lucas , Medeiros Renata Frauches , Felix‐Patrício Bruno , Áscoli Fábio Otero , Olej Beni 
Published: December 2017

SummaryEnd‐to‐end anastomosis in the treatment for bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been associated with stricture formation. The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate the effect of oral tamoxifen (tmx) treatment on fibrosis, collagen content and transforming growth factor‐β1, ‐β2 and ‐β3 expression in common bile duct anastomosis of pigs. Twenty‐six pigs were divided into three groups [sham (n = 8), control (n = 9) and tmx (n = 9)]. The common bile ducts were transected and anastomosed in the control and tmx groups. Tmx (40 mg/day) was administered orally to the tmx group, and the animals were euthanized after 60 days. Fibrosis was analysed by Masson's trichrome staining. Picrosirius red was used to quantify the total collagen content and collagen type I/III ratio. mRNA expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, ‐β2 and ‐β3 was quantified using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The control and study groups exhibited higher fibrosis than the sham group, and the study group showed lower fibrosis than the control group (P = 0.011). The control and tmx groups had higher total collagen content than the sham group (P = 0.003). The collagen type I/III ratio was higher in the control group than in the sham and tmx groups (P = 0.015). There were no significant differences in the mRNA expression of TGF‐β1, ‐β2 and ‐β3 among the groups (P > 0.05). Tmx decreased fibrosis and prevented the change in collagen type I/III ratio caused by the procedure.