bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nature of collective decision-making by simple yes/no decision units
Authors: Hasegawa Eisuke , Mizumoto Nobuaki , Kobayashi Kazuya , Dobata Shigeto , Yoshimura Jin , Watanabe Saori , Murakami Yuuka , Matsuura Kenji 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe study of collective decision-making spans various fields such as brain and behavioural sciences, economics, management sciences, and artificial intelligence. Despite these interdisciplinary applications, little is known regarding how a group of simple ‘yes/no’ units, such as neurons in the brain, can select the best option among multiple options. One prerequisite for achieving such correct choices by the brain is correct evaluation of relative option quality, which enables a collective decision maker to efficiently choose the best option. Here, we applied a sensory discrimination mechanism using yes/no units with differential thresholds to a model for making a collective choice among multiple options. The performance corresponding to the correct choice was shown to be affected by various parameters. High performance can be achieved by tuning the threshold distribution with the options’ quality distribution. The number of yes/no units allocated to each option and its variability profoundly affects performance. When this variability is large, a quorum decision becomes superior to a majority decision under some conditions. The general features of this collective decision-making by a group of simple yes/no units revealed in this study suggest that this mechanism may be useful in applications across various fields.
Cross platform analysis of transcriptomic data identifies ageing has distinct and opposite effects on tendon in males and females
Authors: Pease Louise I. , Clegg Peter D. , Proctor Carole J. , Shanley Daryl J. , Cockell Simon J. , Peffers Mandy J. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe development of tendinopathy is influenced by a variety of factors including age, gender, sex hormones and diabetes status. Cross platform comparative analysis of transcriptomic data elucidated the connections between these entities in the context of ageing. Tissue-engineered tendons differentiated from bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells from young (20–24 years) and old (54–70 years) donors were assayed using ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-seq). Extension of the experiment to microarray and RNA-seq data from tendon identified gender specific gene expression changes highlighting disparity with existing literature and published pathways. Separation of RNA-seq data by sex revealed underlying negative binomial distributions which increased statistical power. Sex specificde novotranscriptome assemblies generated fewer larger transcripts that contained miRNAs, lincRNAs and snoRNAs. The results identify that in old males decreased expression of CRABP2 leads to cell proliferation, whereas in old females it leads to cellular senescence. In conjunction with existing literature the results explain gender disparity in the development and types of degenerative diseases as well as highlighting a wide range of considerations for the analysis of transcriptomic data. Wider implications are that degenerative diseases may need to be treated differently in males and females because alternative mechanisms may be involved.
Calpain Inhibition Attenuates Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Fibrosis in Diet-induced Obese Mice
Authors: Muniappan Latha , Javidan Aida , Jiang Weihua , Mohammadmoradi Shayan , Moorleghen Jessica J. , Katz Wendy S. , Balakrishnan Anju , Howatt Deborah A. , Subramanian Venkateswaran 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAdipose tissue macrophages have been proposed as a link between obesity and insulin resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying these processes are not completely defined. Calpains are calcium-dependent neutral cysteine proteases that modulate cellular function and have been implicated in various inflammatory diseases. To define whether activated calpains influence diet-induced obesity and adipose tissue macrophage accumulation, mice that were either wild type (WT) or overexpressing calpastatin (CAST Tg), the endogenous inhibitor of calpains were fed with high (60% kcal) fat diet for 16 weeks. CAST overexpression did not influence high fat diet-induced body weight and fat mass gain throughout the study. Calpain inhibition showed a transient improvement in glucose tolerance at 5 weeks of HFD whereas it lost this effect on glucose and insulin tolerance at 16 weeks HFD in obese mice. However, CAST overexpression significantly reduced adipocyte apoptosis, adipose tissue collagen and macrophage accumulation as detected by TUNEL, Picro Sirius and F4/80 immunostaining, respectively. CAST overexpression significantly attenuated obesity-induced inflammatory responses in adipose tissue. Furthermore, calpain inhibition suppressed macrophage migration to adipose tissue in vitro. The present study demonstrates a pivotal role for calpains in mediating HFD-induced adipose tissue remodeling by influencing multiple functions including apoptosis, fibrosis and inflammation.
Activation of Fas/FasL pathway and the role of c-FLIP in primary culture of human cholangiocarcinoma cells
Authors: Carnevale Gianluca , Carpino Guido , Cardinale Vincenzo , Pisciotta Alessandra , Riccio Massimo , Bertoni Laura , Gibellini Lara , De Biasi Sara , Nevi Lorenzo , Costantini Daniele , Overi Diletta , Cossarizza Andrea , de Pol Anto , Gaudio Eugenio , Alvaro Domenico 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) represents a heterogeneous group of malignancies emerging from the biliary tree, often in the context of chronic bile ducts inflammation. The immunological features of iCCA cells and their capability to control the lymphocytes response have not yet been investigated. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the interaction between iCCA cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the role of Fas/FasL in modulating T-cells and NK-cells response after direct co-culture. iCCA cells express high levels of Fas and FasL that increase after co-culture with PBMCs inducing apoptosis in CD4+, CD8+T-cells and in CD56+NK-cells.In vitro, c-FLIP is expressed in iCCA cells and the co-culture with PBMCs induces an increase of c-FLIP in both iCCA cells and biliary tree stem cells. This c-FLIP increase does not trigger the caspase cascade, thus hindering apoptotis of iCCA cells which, instead, underwent proliferation. The increased expression of Fas, FasL and c-FLIP is confirmedin situ, in human CCA and in primary sclerosing cholangitis. In conclusion our data indicated that iCCA cells have immune-modulatory properties by which they induce apoptosis of T and NK cells, via Fas/FasL pathway, and escape inflammatory response by up-regulating c-FLIP system.
Effects of Sad and Happy Music on Mind-Wandering and the Default Mode Network
Authors: Taruffi Liila , Pehrs Corinna , Skouras Stavros , Koelsch Stefan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMusic is a ubiquitous phenomenon in human cultures, mostly due to its power to evoke and regulate emotions. However, effects of music evoking different emotional experiences such as sadness and happiness on cognition, and in particular on self-generated thought, are unknown. Here we use probe-caught thought sampling and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the influence of sad and happy music on mind-wandering and its underlying neuronal mechanisms. In three experiments we found that sad music, compared with happy music, is associated with stronger mind-wandering (Experiments 1A and 1B) and greater centrality of the nodes of the Default Mode Network (DMN) (Experiment 2). Thus, our results demonstrate that, when listening to sad vs. happy music, people withdraw their attention inwards and engage in spontaneous, self-referential cognitive processes. Importantly, our results also underscore that DMN activity can be modulated as a function of sad and happy music. These findings call for a systematic investigation of the relation between music and thought, having broad implications for the use of music in education and clinical settings.
Different Effects of Thiazolidinediones on In-Stent Restenosis and Target Lesion Revascularization after PCI: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhou Xinbin , Chen Shenjie , Zhu Min , Hua Junyi , Dai Jin , Xu Xiaoming , Qiu Yuangang , Mao Wei 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn-stent restenosis (ISR) remains the leading problem encountered after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) has been shown to be associated with reduced ISR and target lesion revascularization (TLR); however, the results are inconsistent, especially between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. In this study, fourteen RCTs with a total of 1350 patients were finally included through a systematical literature search of Embase, Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to January 31, 2017. The follow-up duration of the included trials ranged from 6 months to 18 months. The results demonstrated that TZDs treatment is associated with significantly reduced risk of TLR (RR:0.45, 95%CI 0.30 to 0.67 for pioglitazone, RR:0.68, 95%CI 0.46 to 1.00 for rosiglitazone). Pioglitazone is associated with significantly reduced risks of ISR (RR:0.47, 95%CI 0.27 to 0.81), major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (RR:0.44, 95%CI 0.30 to 0.64) and neointimal area (SMD: −0.585, 95%CI −0.910 to −0.261). No significant relationship was observed between rosiglitazone and ISR (RR:0.91, 95%CI 0.39 to 2.12), MACE (RR:0.73, 95%CI 0.53 to 1.00) and neointimal area (SMD: −0.164, 95%CI −1.146 to 0.818). This meta-analysis demonstrated that TZDs treatment is associated with significant reduction in ISR, TLR and MACE for patients after PCI. Pioglitazone treatment seems to have more beneficial effects than rosiglitazone and no significantly increased cardiovascular risk was detected for both agents.
High-throughput assessment of mechanical properties of stem cell derived red blood cells, toward cellular downstream processing
Authors: Guzniczak Ewa , Mohammad Zadeh Maryam , Dempsey Fiona , Jimenez Melanie , Bock Henry , Whyte Graeme , Willoughby Nicholas , Bridle Helen 
Published: October 2017

AbstractStem cell products, including manufactured red blood cells, require efficient sorting and purification methods to remove components potentially harmful for clinical application. However, standard approaches for cellular downstream processing rely on the use of specific and expensive labels (e.g. FACS or MACS). Techniques relying on inherent mechanical and physical properties of cells offer high-throughput scalable alternatives but knowledge of the mechanical phenotype is required. Here, we characterized for the first time deformability and size changes in CD34+ cells, and expelled nuclei, during their differentiation process into red blood cells at days 11, 14, 18 and 21, using Real-Time Deformability Cytometry (RT-DC) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). We found significant differences (p < 0.0001; standardised mixed model) between the deformability of nucleated and enucleated cells, while they remain within the same size range. Expelled nuclei are smaller thus could be removed by size-based separation. An average Young’s elastic modulus was measured for nucleated cells, enucleated cells and nuclei (day 14) of 1.04 ± 0.47 kPa, 0.53 ± 0.12 kPa and 7.06 ± 4.07 kPa respectively. Our identification and quantification of significant differences (p < 0.0001; ANOVA) in CD34+ cells mechanical properties throughout the differentiation process could enable development of new routes for purification of manufactured red blood cells.
Recent advances in magnetic targeting based on high magnetic field and magnetic particles
Authors: Zhang Zili , He Ping , Zhang Jinyan , Li Yikui , Wang Qiuliang 
Published: October 2017

In the past few decades, the multifunctional magnetic drug carrier based on the magnetic nanoparticles and high magnetic field has been intensively researched. The magnetic drug carrier can be targeted to the tumour area not only by the chemical protocol but also by the physical one (external field). In this review, the authors first briefly discuss the fabrication process of magnetic drug carriers, which includes the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles, fabrication of magnetic drug carriers and conjugation of anti‐tumour agents. Then different targeted protocols have been summarised, including passive targeting, biochemical active targeting and biophysical active targeting namely magnetic targeting (MT). Multiple MT results both in vitro and in vivo are introduced, in which two unconventional cases are emphasised and described. The first MT clinical research with 14 peoples was performed in the last century. A 0.5–0.8 T permanent magnet was attached to the tumour area when magnetic particles conjugated with epirubicin were injected. The side effect of epirubicin had been decreased, and the four patients showed the decreasing of a tumour which proved the feasibility of MT. Different from other targeting protocols, MT needs an extra external magnetic field. So various types of MT instruments have been shown in the final part of this review, including a single strong magnetic field, homemade electronic solenoid coil assay and commercial magnetic resonance imaging.
Experimental demonstration of high spectral efficiency SC‐FDMA with soft clipping for optical wireless communication systems
Authors: Puntsri Kidsanapong 
Published: October 2017

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to combine two single‐carrier frequency‐division multiple accesses (SC‐FDMAs) with soft clipping for optical wireless communication systems. By combining two SC‐FDMAs, the spectral efficiency is increased. A simple, low‐cost implementation is considered. A 50 mW blue laser with a wavelength of 405 nm is used in this experiment. The optimum driving voltage is 5.25 V. In situations in which only real components can be employed, intensity modulation/direct detection is adopted. From the experimental results, 128‐QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) is perfectly employed, and because of the avalanche photodiode, a bandwidth of only 100 MHz is used. As a result, a total speed of 261.1 Mbps can be achieved. By mixing the SC‐FDMA with soft clipping of 3 dB, a peak‐to‐average power ratio reduction of 6 dB can be achieved with no bit‐error rate performance degradation.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma within Thyroglossal Duct Cyst: Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Iftikhar Haissan , Ikram Mubasher , Rizwan Nathani Karim , Yar Muhammad Adnan 
Published: October 2017

Introduction Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital anomaly of the neck, and approximately 7% of all the adult population presents it. Ectopic thyroid tissue is found in the thyroglossal duct cyst wall in up to 65% of cases. This thyroid tissue has the potential to develop some type of malignancy, the most common of which is the papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. There are just over 270 cases of thyroglossal duct cyst malignancy reported in the literature.
Objectives We aimed to study our population of patients in order to identify cases with thyroglossal duct cyst malignancy.
Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted in the section of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, from January of 2004 to December of 2014 on patients with the diagnosis of thyroglossal duct cyst.
Results Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed with TGDC, two of whom also presented with thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma. Both patients revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma on histopathology. Case 1 had an open biopsy before undergoing definitive surgery. Both patients underwent subsequent total thyroidectomy after Sistrunk procedure, and case 2 had selective neck dissection revealing lymph node metastasis.
Conclusion Thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma is a rare finding that comes as a surprise to both the patient and the surgeon. We report 2 out of 58 cases diagnosed with thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma.
Locoregional and Microvascular Free Tissue Reconstruction of the Lateral Skull Base
Authors: Arnaoutakis Demetri , Kadakia Sameep , Abraham Manoj , Lee Thomas , Ducic Yadranko 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe goals of reconstruction following any oncologic extirpation are preservation of function, restoration of cosmesis, and avoidance of morbidity. Anatomically, the lateral skull base is complex and conceptually intricate due to its three-dimensional morphology. The temporal bone articulates with five other cranial bones and forms many sutures and foramina through which pass critical neural and vascular structures. Remnant defects following resection of lateral skull base tumors are often not amenable to primary closure. As such, numerous techniques have been described for reconstruction including local rotational muscle flaps, pedicled flaps with skin paddle, or free tissue transfer. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of each reconstructive method will be discussed as well as their potential complications.
Surgical Experience and Learning Points in the Management of Foregut Duplication Cysts
Authors: Scarpa Alberto , Ram Ashok , Soccorso Giampiero , Singh Michael , Parikh Dakshesh 
Published: October 2017

Background Foregut duplication cysts (FDC) have unpredictable natural course and rarely remain asymptomatic. We present our large cohort of FDC to highlight surgical learning points and outcome.
Materials and Methods Review of 41 children with FDC (April 1997–April 2015) included demographics, clinical presentation, preoperative investigations, surgical management, post-operative complications, and overall outcome.
Results Forty-one children (26 girls/15 boys; male/female [M/F] ratio 1:1.7) had 43 FDC (two cases >1 cyst) consisting of antenatally diagnosed 16 (39%), late with symptoms 21 (51.2%), and incidental 4(9.8%) cases. FDC locations were cervical (3), mediastinal (35), and subdiaphragmatic (5). During all cervical FDC resection, recurrent laryngeal nerve was required to be dissected off the cyst wall. Thoracoscopic resection was feasible in 27 cases, with 4 conversions related to infections and adhesions or accidental injury to trachea/esophagus. Complete resection was achieved in all cases with no recurrence. There was no mortality and morbidity included, chylothorax (1) esophageal injury (1), phrenic nerve injury (1), and tracheal injury (2). The minimally invasive surgery and surgery on asymptomatic lesions significantly affect the outcome by reducing need for chest drain (p = 0.01) and length of hospital stay (p = 0.04).
Conclusion This retrospective study confirms the efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic surgery; important learning points were association of common wall with trachea in some superior mediastinal cysts and association of recurrent laryngeal nerve in cervical FDC.
Ultrasound of the Major Salivary Glands is a Reliable Imaging Technique in Patients with Clinically Suspected Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Delli Konstantina , Arends Suzanne , van Nimwegen Jolien , Dijkstra Pieter , Stel Alja , Spijkervet Frederik , Bootsma Hendrika , Vissink Arjan 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
Objective To assess the inter- and intraobserver reliability of ultrasound of major salivary glands in patients clinically suspected of having primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) as well as to assess sources of variation in outcomes of ultrasonographic evaluation.
Methods 80 consecutive outpatients with clinically suspected pSS underwent ultrasound evaluation. The following ultrasound variables of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands were assessed: echogenicity, parenchymal homogeneity, presence of hypoechogenic areas, hyperechogenic reflections and clearness of posterior glandular border, according to the scoring system of Hocevar et al. (total score range: 0 – 48). Images were scored independently by three blinded observers in two sessions.
Results The intraobserver reliability of the total ultrasound score was excellent, with an intraclass correlation (ICC) ranging from 0.89 to 0.96. The interobserver reliability was good to excellent, with ICCs of 0.84 and 0.76 for the total ultrasound score in the two sessions. The kappa value ranged from 0.60 to 0.83 depending on the applied cut-offs (cut-off score ≥ 15 and ≥ 17). Hypoechogenic areas and homogeneity of parotid glands showed the highest interobserver reliability. The median kappa for echogenicity was low. The total ultrasound scores varied more between observers in patients with higher ultrasonographic scores (approximately scores ≥ 20).
Conclusion Ultrasound of major salivary glands is a reliable imaging technique for patients with clinically suspected pSS. Discrepancies between observers in assessing the severity of ultrasound findings may interfere with detecting ‘true’ changes over time. When monitoring the progression of pSS or treatment efficacy, it is advised that a particular patient be scored by the same ultrasonographer at every time point.
Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Gandor Florin , Ebersbach Georg 
Published: October 2017

AbstractDue to the changing legal status of medical cannabis and derivatives in numerous countries, this therapeutic option has moved into the field of public debate. Neurologists treating patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease are increasingly confronted with questions regarding cannabis as a treatment alternative, especially for levodopa-resistant Parkinson’s symptoms. A number of single case reports and case series suggested improvement of Parkinsonian symptoms after cannabinoid intake, but the small number of available randomized clinical trials failed to reproduce the extent of these findings. Only one trial found a reduction of levodopa-induced dyskinesia with cannabinoid treatment, the remaining three trials showed no effect on Parkinsonian symptoms. This article gives an overview on the effects of cannabis, and reviews experimental and clinical trials studying the effects of cannabinoids in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
Neuropsychologische Diagnostik in der Praxis. Was ist leitliniengerecht, was ist sinnvoll, was ist machbar?
Authors: Johnen Andreas , Duning Thomas 
Published: October 2017

ZusammenfassungRichtig angewendet erreicht die neuropsychologische Diagnostik in der neurologischen Praxis eine hohe Sensitivität und Spezifität bei der differentialdiagnostischen Zuordnung alltagsrelevanter kognitiver Defizite. Insbesondere bei primär neurodegenerativen Erkrankungen mit dementiellen Symptomen erlaubt die neuropsychologische Diagnostik bereits in frühen Krankheitsstadien eine korrekte Zuordnung verschiedener Demenzerkrankungen und gehört bei diesen Erkrankungen zu einer leitliniengerechten Diagnostik. Inzwischen wird der neuropsychologischen Diagnostik jedoch auch bei anderen Erkrankungen, z. B. entzündlichen ZNS-Erkrankungen, ein großer Stellenwert eingeräumt, insbesondere mit Blick auf neue therapeutische Optionen. Neben einer ausführlichen neuropsychologischen Untersuchung können auch Kurztests – wenn sie richtig und zielgerichtet eingesetzt werden – entscheidende diagnostische Hinweise geben. Trotz dieser Vorteile hat die neuropsychologische Diagnostik Grenzen und Einschränkungen. Einige dieser Einschränkungen sind vermeidbar, wenn die neuropsychologische Untersuchung zielgerichtet und hypothesengeleitet angewendet und entsprechend richtig interpretiert wird. In dem folgenden Übersichtsartikel geben wir einen Überblick über grundsätzliche Möglichkeiten und vermeidbare Einschränkungen der neuropsychologischen Diagnostik sowie konkrete Hinweise auf anwendbare Tests bei verschiedenen Fragestellungen.