bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rurality and determinants of hearing healthcare in adult hearing aid recipients
Authors: Chan Stephen , Hixon Brian , Adkins Margaret , Shinn Jennifer B. , Bush Matthew L. 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare the timing of hearing aid (HA) acquisition between adults in rural and urban communities. We hypothesized that time of acquisition of HA after onset of hearing loss is greater in rural adults compared with urban adults. Secondary objectives included assessment of socioeconomic/educational status and impact of hearing loss and hearing rehabilitation of urban and rural HA recipients.Study DesignCross‐sectional questionnaire survey.MethodsWe assessed demographics, timing of HA fitting from onset of hearing loss, and impact of hearing impairment in 336 adult HA recipients (273 urban, 63 rural) from a tertiary referral center. Amplification benefit was assessed using the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI).ResultsThe time to HA acquisition was greater for rural participants compared to urban participants (19.1 vs. 25.7 years, P = 0.024) for those with untreated hearing loss for at least 8 years. Age at hearing loss onset was correlated with time to HA acquisition (P = −0.54, P < 0.001). Rural HA participants experienced longer commutes to hearing specialists (68 vs. 32 minutes, P < 0.001), were less likely to achieve a degree beyond high school (P < 0.001), and were more likely to possess Medicaid coverage (P = 0.012) compared to urban participants. Hearing impairment caused job performance difficulty in 60% of all participants.ConclusionRural adults are at risk for delayed HA acquisition, which may be related to distance to hearing specialists. Further research is indicated to investigate barriers to care and expand access for vulnerable populations.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:2362–2367, 2017
Robust preview control for uncertain discrete‐time systems based on LMI
Authors: Liao Fucheng , Li Li 
Published: February 2017

SummaryFor a class of uncertain discrete‐time systems, a preview controller based on linear matrix inequality is proposed. A new method is derived to construct an augmented error system instead of taking the difference of the error signal and the system equation. The new approach avoids applying the difference operator to the time‐varying matrix and can simplify the augmented error system. For the augmented error system of the uncertain system, state feedback is introduced. The sufficient condition of asymptotic stability of the closed‐loop system is derived for the performance index by using the relevant theorems of robust control theory. The condition can be realised by solving a linear matrix inequality optimization problem. By incorporating the controller obtained into the original system, we obtain the preview controller. Moreover, introducing an integrator allows the closed‐loop system to robustly track the desired tracking signal without steady‐state error.
Oncological Outcomes After Radical Prostatectomy for High‐Risk Prostate Cancer Based on New Gleason Grouping System: A Validation Study From University of Southern California With 3,755 Cases
Authors: Djaladat Hooman , Amini Erfan , Xu Weichen , Cai Jie , Daneshmand Siamak , Lieskovsky Gary 
Published: February 2017

BACKGROUNDSTo assess the prognostic value of new Gleason grade grouping system in high‐risk prostate cancer patients, we compared oncological outcomes after radical prostatectomy for patients with Gleason score 8 versus 9–10.METHODSBetween 1987 and 2008, 3,755 men underwent radical prostatectomy with curative intent at University of Southern California. Patients who had Gleason score 8–10 at final histopathological evaluation (pT2‐4N0) were included in this study. Eligible patients were divided into two groups; 226 with Gleason score 8 and 132 with Gleason score 9–10. Various patient and disease characteristics as well as oncological outcomes (biochemical recurrence, clinical recurrence, and overall survival) were compared between the groups. Impact of Gleason score on outcomes was controlled for preoperative prostate specific antigen, pathological stage, use of adjuvant radiotherapy, and neoadjuvant/adjuvant hormone therapy in multivariable analyses.RESULTSA total of 358 patients (mean age: 65 years) were included in the analysis. Mean age and median duration of follow‐up (9.6 years) were comparable between the study groups. Gleason 9–10 prostate cancer was associated with worse biochemical (HR 1.6; 95%CI [1.1–2.3]) and clinical recurrence free survival (HR = 1.9; 95%CI [1.1–3.3]); however, overall survival did not differ significantly between the groups. In addition, more patients with Gleason score 9–10 received adjuvant hormone therapy in the course of disease.CONCLUSIONSLong‐term follow‐up after radical prostatectomy revealed significant differences in disease‐specific outcomes between patients with Gleason score 8 versus 9–10. This sub‐classification of high‐risk patients might be helpful for patient counseling and determining therapeutic strategies. Prostate 77:743–748, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
First-in-human phase I study of SOR-C13, a TRPV6 calcium channel inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Fu S. , Hirte H. , Welch S. , Ilenchuk T. T. , Lutes T. , Rice C. , Fields N. , Nemet A. , Dugourd D. , Piha-Paul S. , Subbiah V. , Liu L. , Gong J. , Hong D. , Stewart J. M. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryIntroduction This was an open-label, dose escalation (3 + 3 design), Phase I study of SOR-C13 in patients with advanced tumors of epithelial origin. Primary objectives were to assess safety/tolerability and pharmacokinetics. Secondary goals were to assess pharmacodynamics and efficacy of SOR-C13. Methods SOR-C13 was administered IV QD on days 1–3 and 8–10 of a 21-day cycle. Doses were 2.75 and 5.5 mg/kg (20-min infusion) and 1.375, 2.75, 4.13 and 6.2 mg/kg (90-min infusion). Toxicity was assessed by National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was assessed within the first treatment cycle. Tumors were evaluated, using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, after two cycles. Results Twenty-three patients were treated. No drug-related serious adverse events occurred. DLTs occurred in six patients: asymptomatic, drug-related, transient Grade 2 hypocalcemia (4 patients), and unrelated Grade 3 anemia and Grade 3 atrial fibrillation, 1 patient each. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation eliminated further Grade 2 hypocalcemia. One Grade 3 treatment emergent adverse event, urticaria, was definitely related to SOR-C13. Four possibly drug-related, Grade 3 events (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase elevation, headache, and hypokalemia) were observed. Of 22 evaluable patients, 54.5% showed stable disease ranging from 2.8 to 12.5 months. The best response was a 27% reduction in a pancreatic tumor with a 55% reduction in CA19–9 levels at 6.2 mg/kg. Conclusion SOR-C13 was safe and tolerated up to 6.2 mg/kg. The Maximal Tolerated Dose (MTD) was not established. Stable disease suggested antitumor activity.
Analysis of Player Statistics in Major League Baseball Players Before and after Achilles Tendon Repair
Authors: Saltzman Bryan M. , Tetreault Matthew W. , Bohl Daniel D. , Tetreault Danielle , Lee Simon , Bach Bernard R. 
Published: February 2017

Background No currently available literature evaluates the effect of Achilles tendon repair on professional baseball players in the Major League Baseball (MLB). Questions/Purposes The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of Achilles tendon rupture and repair on MLB players in terms of return to play and batting/fielding performance metrics. Methods Achilles tendon rupture data were retrospectively collected using information from the MLB disabled list, injury reports, MLB game summaries, player profiles, and publicly available news articles. Four pair-matched control MLB position players were selected for each of the players who underwent advanced analysis. Baseline characteristics were compared between injured players and controls using Fisher's exact or Student's t test. Results Overall, the incidence of Achilles tendon rupture reported in MLB has increased substantially since 1996. Rate of return to play in MLB after Achilles tendon rupture and repair is 62% for position players (non-pitchers) who suffer the injury. There was no association of injury with any player metric. Compared with injury to the non-power side, injury to the power side was associated with fewer plate appearances, fewer triples, an increase in percentage of at-bats with strikeouts, and decreased speed score. Conclusion The incidence of Achilles tendon rupture in MLB has increased substantially since 1996. While comparison suggests that overall Achilles tendon injury does not have an effect on MLB player statistics in the years following surgical repair, subset analysis of injury to the rear (power-generating) leg may lead to a decline in those statistics which denote a player's speed and running ability.
Navigation, Circumvention and Brokerage: The Tricks of the Trade of Developing NGOs in China
Authors: Gåsemyr Hans Jørgen 
Published: February 2017

AbstractChinese NGOs face strong coercive pressures and limitations yet have still emerged as notable actors in several issue areas. This article studies why and explains how a group of NGOs working on AIDS-related issues have been able to progress into relatively large and vibrant operations. It documents how NGO leaders have learned to navigate opportunities and risks, circumvent formal restrictions and broker pragmatic and largely informal arrangements that have enabled their organizations to grow and advance within China's authoritarian settings. The article contributes to the literature on Chinese NGO development and new institutionalism theory, and introduces a framework for studying NGOs based on their organizational forms and activities.
Neurocognitive Functions in 3- to 15-Year-Old Children: An International Comparison
Authors: Rosenqvist Johanna , Lahti-Nuuttila Pekka , Urgesi Cosimo , Holdnack James , Kemp Sally L. , Laasonen Marja 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectives:Performance on neurocognitive tasks develops with age, but it is still unknown whether this performance differs between children from different cultures. We compared cross-sectionally the development of neurocognitive functions in 3- to 15-year-old children from three countries: Finland, Italy, and the United States (N=2745).Methods:Language, face memory, emotion recognition, theory of mind, and visuospatial processing subtests from the NEPSY-II standardizations in Finland, Italy, and the United States were used to evaluate if children and adolescents from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds differ in performance on these measures.Results:We found significant differences in performance on the tasks between the countries. Generally, the differences were more pronounced in the younger age groups. Some subtests showed greater country effects than others, performance on these subtests being higher, in general, in one country over the others, or showed different patterns of age associated changes in test performance.Conclusions:Significant differences in neurocognitive performance between children from Finland, Italy, and the United States were found. These findings may be due to cultural or educational differences that impact test performance, or due to factors associated with the adaptation of measures from one culture to another. The finding of performance differences across countries on similar tasks indicate that cross-cultural and background variables impact performance on neuropsychological measures. Therefore, clinicians need to consider a child’s cultural background when evaluating performance on neuropsychological assessments. The results also indicate that future cross-cultural studies are needed to further examine the underlying cultural factors that influence neurocognitive performance. (JINS, 2017,23, 367–380)
Ethological principles predict the neuropeptides co-opted to influence parenting
Authors: Cunningham Christopher B. , Badgett Majors J. , Meagher Richard B. , Orlando Ron , Moore Allen J. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractEthologists predicted that parental care evolves by modifying behavioural precursors in the asocial ancestor. As a corollary, we predict that the evolved mechanistic changes reside in genetic pathways underlying these traits. Here we test our hypothesis in female burying beetles, Nicrophorus vespilloides, an insect where caring adults regurgitate food to begging, dependent offspring. We quantify neuropeptide abundance in brains collected from three behavioural states: solitary virgins, individuals actively parenting or post-parenting solitary adults and quantify 133 peptides belonging to 18 neuropeptides. Eight neuropeptides differ in abundance in one or more states, with increased abundance during parenting in seven. None of these eight neuropeptides have been associated with parental care previously, but all have roles in predicted behavioural precursors for parenting. Our study supports the hypothesis that predictable traits and pathways are targets of selection during the evolution of parenting and suggests additional candidate neuropeptides to study in the context of parenting.
A Global Approach for Quantitative Super Resolution and Electron Microscopy on Cryo and Epoxy Sections Using Self-labeling Protein Tags
Authors: Müller Andreas , Neukam Martin , Ivanova Anna , Sönmez Anke , Münster Carla , Kretschmar Susanne , Kalaidzidis Yannis , Kurth Thomas , Verbavatz Jean-Marc , Solimena Michele 
Published: February 2017

AbstractCorrelative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) is a powerful approach to investigate the molecular ultrastructure of labeled cell compartments. However, quantitative CLEM studies are rare, mainly due to small sample sizes and the sensitivity of fluorescent proteins to strong fixatives and contrasting reagents for EM. Here, we show that fusion of a self-labeling protein to insulin allows for the quantification of age-distinct insulin granule pools in pancreatic beta cells by a combination of super resolution and transmission electron microscopy on Tokuyasu cryosections. In contrast to fluorescent proteins like GFP organic dyes covalently bound to self-labeling proteins retain their fluorescence also in epoxy resin following high pressure freezing and freeze substitution, or remarkably even after strong chemical fixation. This enables for the assessment of age-defined granule morphology and degradation. Finally, we demonstrate that this CLEM protocol is highly versatile, being suitable for single and dual fluorescent labeling and detection of different proteins with optimal ultrastructure preservation and contrast.
Synergistic effects of metformin with liraglutide against endothelial dysfunction through GLP-1 receptor and PKA signalling pathway
Authors: Ke Jing , Liu Ye , Yang Jin , Lu Ran , Tian Qing , Hou Wenfang , Wang Guang , Wei Rui , Hong Tianpei 
Published: February 2017

AbstractMetformin or glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue liraglutide has cardiovascular benefits. However, it is not clear whether their combined treatment have additive or synergistic effects on the vasculature. In this study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), exposed to palmitic acid (PA) to induce endothelial dysfunction, were incubated with metformin, liraglutide or their combination. High fat diet (HFD)-fed ApoE−/− mice were randomized into control, metformin, liraglutide, and combination treatment groups. Results showed that in PA-treated HUVECs and HFD-fed ApoE−/− mice, combination of metformin and liraglutide at lower dose significantly improved endothelial dysfunction compared with the single treatment. Metformin upregulated GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) level and protein kinase A (PKA) phosphorylation. However, PKA inhibition but not GLP-1R blockade eliminated the protective effects of metformin on endothelial function. Furthermore, AMPK inhibitor compound C abolished the metformin-mediated upregulation of GLP-1R level and PKA phosphorylation. In conclusion, combination of metformin and liraglutide has synergistic protective effects on endothelial function. Moreover, metformin stimulates GLP-1R and PKA signalling via AMPK-dependent pathway, which may account for its synergistic protective effects with liraglutide. Our findings provide new insights on the interaction between metformin and GLP-1, and provide important information for designing new GLP-1-based therapy strategies in treating type 2 diabetes.
Tuning the allosteric regulation of artificial muscarinic and dopaminergic ligand-gated potassium channels by protein engineering of G protein-coupled receptors
Authors: Moreau Christophe J. , Revilloud Jean , Caro Lydia N. , Dupuis Julien P. , Trouchet Amandine , Estrada-Mondragón Argel , Nieścierowicz Katarzyna , Sapay Nicolas , Crouzy Serge , Vivaudou Michel 
Published: February 2017

AbstractLigand-gated ion channels enable intercellular transmission of action potential through synapses by transducing biochemical messengers into electrical signal. We designed artificial ligand-gated ion channels by coupling G protein-coupled receptors to the Kir6.2 potassium channel. These artificial channels called ion channel-coupled receptors offer complementary properties to natural channels by extending the repertoire of ligands to those recognized by the fused receptors, by generating more sustained signals and by conferring potassium selectivity. The first artificial channels based on the muscarinic M2 and the dopaminergic D2L receptors were opened and closed by acetylcholine and dopamine, respectively. We find here that this opposite regulation of the gating is linked to the length of the receptor C-termini, and that C-terminus engineering can precisely control the extent and direction of ligand gating. These findings establish the design rules to produce customized ligand-gated channels for synthetic biology applications.
Programmability of Co-antidot lattices of optimized geometry
Authors: Schneider Tobias , Langer Manuel , Alekhina Julia , Kowalska Ewa , Oelschlägel Antje , Semisalova Anna , Neudert Andreas , Lenz Kilian , Potzger Kay , Kostylev Mikhail P. , Fassbender Jürgen , Adeyeye Adekunle O. , Lindner Jürgen , Bali Rantej 
Published: February 2017

AbstractProgrammability of stable magnetization configurations in a magnetic device is a highly desirable feature for a variety of applications, such as in magneto-transport and spin-wave logic. Periodic systems such as antidot lattices may exhibit programmability; however, to achieve multiple stable magnetization configurations the lattice geometry must be optimized. We consider the magnetization states in Co-antidot lattices of ≈50 nm thickness and ≈150 nm inter-antidot distance. Micromagnetic simulations were applied to investigate the magnetization states around individual antidots during the reversal process. The reversal processes predicted by micromagnetics were confirmed by experimental observations. Magnetization reversal in these antidots occurs via field driven transition between 3 elementary magnetization states – termed G, C and Q. These magnetization states can be described by vectors, and the reversal process proceeds via step-wise linear operations on these vector states. Rules governing the co-existence of the three magnetization states were empirically observed. It is shown that in an n × n antidot lattice, a variety of field switchable combinations of G, C and Q can occur, indicating programmability of the antidot lattices.
Photoacoustic Sounds from Meteors
Authors: Spalding Richard , Tencer John , Sweatt William , Conley Benjamin , Hogan Roy , Boslough Mark , Gonzales GiGi , Spurný Pavel 
Published: February 2017

AbstractConcurrent sound associated with very bright meteors manifests as popping, hissing, and faint rustling sounds occurring simultaneously with the arrival of light from meteors. Numerous instances have been documented with −11 to −13 brightness. These sounds cannot be attributed to direct acoustic propagation from the upper atmosphere for which travel time would be several minutes. Concurrent sounds must be associated with some form of electromagnetic energy generated by the meteor, propagated to the vicinity of the observer, and transduced into acoustic waves. Previously, energy propagated from meteors was assumed to be RF emissions. This has not been well validated experimentally. Herein we describe experimental results and numerical models in support of photoacoustic coupling as the mechanism. Recent photometric measurements of fireballs reveal strong millisecond flares and significant brightness oscillations at frequencies ≥40 Hz. Strongly modulated light at these frequencies with sufficient intensity can create concurrent sounds through radiative heating of common dielectric materials like hair, clothing, and leaves. This heating produces small pressure oscillations in the air contacting the absorbers. Calculations show that −12 brightness meteors can generate audible sound at ~25 dB SPL. The photoacoustic hypothesis provides an alternative explanation for this longstanding mystery about generation of concurrent sounds by fireballs.
Topological Characteristics of the Hong Kong Stock Market: A Test-based P-threshold Approach to Understanding Network Complexity
Authors: Xu Ronghua , Wong Wing-Keung , Chen Guanrong , Huang Shuo 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn this paper, we analyze the relationship among stock networks by focusing on the statistically reliable connectivity between financial time series, which accurately reflects the underlying pure stock structure. To do so, we firstly filter out the effect of market index on the correlations between paired stocks, and then take a t-test based P-threshold approach to lessening the complexity of the stock network based on the P values. We demonstrate the superiority of its performance in understanding network complexity by examining the Hong Kong stock market. By comparing with other filtering methods, we find that the P-threshold approach extracts purely and significantly correlated stock pairs, which reflect the well-defined hierarchical structure of the market. In analyzing the dynamic stock networks with fixed-size moving windows, our results show that three global financial crises, covered by the long-range time series, can be distinguishingly indicated from the network topological and evolutionary perspectives. In addition, we find that the assortativity coefficient can manifest the financial crises and therefore can serve as a good indicator of the financial market development.