bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exceptionally preserved conodont apparatuses with giant elements from the Middle Ordovician Winneshiek Konservat-Lagerstätte, Iowa, USA
Authors: Liu Huaibao P. , Bergström Stig M. , Witzke Brian J. , Briggs Derek E. G. , McKay Robert M. , Ferretti Annalisa 
Published: March 2017

AbstractConsiderable numbers of exceptionally preserved conodont apparatuses with hyaline elements are present in the middle-upper Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician, Whiterockian) Winneshiek Konservat-Lagerstätte in northeastern Iowa. These fossils, which are associated with a restricted biota including other conodonts, occur in fine-grained clastic sediments deposited in a meteorite impact crater. Among these conodont apparatuses, the common ones are identified asArcheognathus primusCullison, 1938 andIowagnathus grandisnew genus new species. The 6-element apparatus ofA.primuscomprises two pairs of archeognathiform (P) and one pair of coleodiform (S) elements. The 15-element apparatus ofI.grandisn. gen. n. sp. is somewhat reminiscent of the prioniodinid type and contains ramiform elements of alate (one element) and digyrate, bipennate, or tertiopedate types (7 pairs). Both conodont taxa are characterized by giant elements and the preservation of both crowns and basal bodies, the latter not previously reported in Ordovician conodont apparatuses. Comparison of the apparatus size in the Winneshiek specimens with that of the Scottish Carboniferous soft-part-preserved conodont animals suggests that the Iowa animals were significantly larger than the latter. The apparatus ofA.primusdiffers conspicuously from the apparatuses of the prioniodontidPromissumfrom the Upper Ordovician Soom Shale of South Africa although the apparatus architecture ofI.grandisn. gen. n. sp. shows some similarity to it. Based on the Winneshiek collections, a new family Iowagnathidae in Conodonta is proposed.
THOMAS ADÈS'STHE EXTERMINATING ANGEL
Authors: Venn Edward 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThomas Adès's third opera,The Exterminating Angel, is based closely upon Luis Buñuel's 1962 filmEl ángel exterminador, in which the hosts and guests at a high-society dinner party find themselves inexplicably unable to leave the dining room. Initial critical response to the opera too often focused on superficial similarities and discrepancies between the two works at the expense of attending to the specifically musical ways in which Adès presented the drama. This article explores the role that repetition plays in the opera, and in particular how repetitions serve both as a means of critiquing bourgeois sensibilities and as a representation of (loss of) will. I conclude by drawing on the work of Deleuze in order to situate the climax of the opera against the notion of the eternal return, highlighting how the music articulates the dramatic failure of the characters to escape.
Progress in Clinical Neurosciences A Systematic Review of the Use of Triptans in Acute Migraine
Authors: Gawel Marek J. , Worthington Irene , Maggisano Anne 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT:Objective:A systematic review of the literature was undertaken, to consolidate evidence concerning the efficacy and safety of triptans currently available in Canada (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan), and to provide guidelines for selection of a triptan.Methods:Data from published, randomized, placebo-controlled trials were pooled and a combined number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) was generated for each triptan. Direct comparative trials of triptans were also examined.Results:The lowest NNTfor headache response/pain-free at one/two hours is observed with subcutaneous sumatriptan. Among the oral formulations, the lowest NNT is observed with rizatriptan and the highest NENT with naratriptan. The lowest NNH is observed with subcutaneous sumatriptan.Conclusions:Triptans are relatively safe and effective medications for acute migraine attacks. However, differences among them are relatively small. Considerations in selecting a triptan include individual patient response/tolerance, characteristics of the attacks, relief of associated symptoms, consistency of response, headache recurrence, delivery systems and patient preference.
Intraoperative Fiber-Optic Endoscopy for Ventricular Catheter Insertion
Authors: Theodosopoulos Philip V. , Abosch Aviva , McDermott Michael W. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT:Objective:Ventricular catheter placement is a common neurosurgical procedure often resulting in inaccurate intraventricular positioning. We conducted a comparison of the accuracy of endoscopic and conventional ventricular catheter placement in adults.Methods:A retrospective analysis of data was performed on 37 consecutive patients undergoing ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) insertion with endoscopy and 40 randomly selected, unmatched patients undergoing VPS insertion without endoscopy, for the treatment of hydrocephalus of varied etiology. A grading system for catheter tip position was developed consisting of five intraventricular zones, V1-V5, and three intraparenchymal zones, A, B, C. Zones V1 for the frontal approaches and V1 or V2 for the occipital approaches were the optimal catheter tip locations. Postoperative scans of each patient were used to grade the accuracy of ventricular catheter placement.Results:Seventy-six percent of all endoscopic ventricular catheters were in zone V1 and 100% were within zones V1-V3. No endoscopically inserted catheters were observed in zones V4, V5 or intraparenchymally. Thirty-eight percent of the conventionally placed catheters were in zone V1, 53% in zones V1-3 and 15% intraparenchymally. There was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of catheters in optimal location versus in any other location, favoring endoscopic guidance (p<0.001).Conclusion:We conclude that endoscopic ventricular catheter placement provides improved positioning accuracy than conventional techniques.
Spinal Angiolipoma
Authors: Fourney Daryl R. , Tong Karen A. , Macaulay Robert J.B. , Griebel Robert W. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT:Background:Spinal epidural angiolipoma is a rare cause of spinal cord compression. We present a case and review the clinical presentation, radiological appearance, pathological aspects and treatment of this distinct clinico-pathological entity.Methods:A case of a 46-year-old woman with a five-month history of progressive myelopathy affecting her lower extremities is presented. CT and MRI revealed a large epidural fat-containing mass compressing the spinal cord dorsally at the T7-T8 level. A laminectomy was performed with gross total resection of the lesion.Results:The patient's neurologic symptoms improved postoperatively. A two-year follow-up period has revealed no signs of tumor recurrence and no neurological deficit.Conclusion:The diagnosis of spinal angiolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression. Magnetic resonance imaging is the investigation of choice. The surgical objective is complete excision but, for anterior lesions involving bone, an overly aggressive approach should be tempered by an awareness of the overall indolent natural history of so-called "infiltrating" spinal angiolipomas that are only partially excised.
Improved Outcomes in Stroke Thrombolysis with Pre-specified Imaging Criteria
Authors: Silver Brian , Demaerschalk Bart , Merino José G. , Wong Edward , Tamayo Arturo , Devasenapathy Ashok , O'Callaghan Christina , Kertesz Andrew , Young G. Bryan , Fox Allan J. , Spence J. David , Hachinski Vladimir 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACT:Background:A 1995 National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS) study found benefit for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) rate in the NINDS study was 6.4%, which may be deterring some physicians from using this medication.Methods:Starting December 1, 1998, patients with AIS in London, Ontario were treated according to NINDS criteria with one major exception; those with approximately greater than one-third involvement of the idealized middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory on neuroimaging were excluded from treatment. The method used to estimate involvement of one-third MCA territory involvement bears the acronym ICE and had a median kappa value of 0.80 among five physicians. Outcomes were compared to the NINDS study.Results:Between December 1, 1998 and February 1, 2000, 30 patients were treated. Compared to the NINDS study, more London patients were treated after 90 minutes (p<0.00001) and tended to be older. No SICH was observed. Compared to the treated arm of the NINDS trial, fewer London patients were dead or severely disabled at three months (p=0.04). Compared to the placebo arm of the trial, more patients made a partial recovery at 24 hours (p=0.02), more had normal outcomes (p=0.03) and fewer were dead or severely disabled at three months (p=0.004).Conclusions:The results of the NINDS study were closely replicated and, in some instances, improved upon in this small series of Canadian patients, despite older age and later treatment. These findings suggest that imaging exclusion criteria may optimize the benefits of tPA.
Estimating gonorrhoea prevalence in young heterosexual men and women attending community-based sexual health services to inform decisions on gonorrhoea testing
Authors: TOWN K. , FUREGATO M. , FIELD N. , HUGHES G. 
Published: March 2017

SUMMARYIn England, dual tests detecting chlamydia and gonorrhoea are used in specialist and community-based sexual health services (SHSs). Test performance is poor when prevalence is low, therefore UK national guidelines recommend against opportunistic gonorrhoea screening unless there is a clear local public health need. While surveillance data on gonorrhoea prevalence is comprehensive in specialist SHSs, it is sparse in community SHSs. We aimed to estimate gonorrhoea prevalence in heterosexual men and women aged 15–24 attending community SHSs to inform testing care pathways. We used linear and quadratic regression to model the relationship between prevalence in community and specialist SHSs in local authorities (LAs) with available surveillance data. We applied best-fitting models to predict prevalence in community SHSs in remaining LAs. Data from community SHSs were available for 102/326 LAs. There was a weak positive association between gonorrhoea prevalence in community and specialist SHSs in corresponding LAs within (R2 = 0·13, P = 0·058) and outside (R2 = 0·07, P = 0·02) London. Applying best-fitting models, we estimated a median gonorrhoea prevalence of 0·5% (mean 0·6%; range 0·2%–2·7%) in heterosexuals attending community SHSs. Despite some unexplained variation, our analyses suggest gonorrhoea prevalence in young heterosexuals attending community SHSs is below 1% in most English LAs. Our findings re-inforce the current national guidelines that recommend care pathways for gonorrhoea testing in community SHSs include confirmatory testing to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate management.
Oral health and oral health-related habits of Finnish prisoners
Authors: Vainionpää Raija , Peltokangas Arto , Leinonen Jukka , Pesonen Paula , Laitala Marja-Liisa , Anttonen Vuokko 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Objectives/Aims:
This cross-sectional study aimed to examine oral health and oral health-related habits among prisoners at the Pelso Prison in Finland.

Materials and Methods:
Participants in this cross-sectional study comprises 100 inmates. A calibrated dentist recorded the decayed, filled and missed teeth as well as periodontal status (bleeding-on-probing, pocket probing and Community Periodontal Index) among the participants (n=100). Fifty inmates were also interviewed for marital status, education and oral health-related habits. The Ethical Committee of the Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District and the Criminal Sanctions Agency approved the study protocol.

Results:
The participants were on average 35 years old and had 5 (s.d. 5.1) decayed teeth in need of restorative treatment, whereas DMFT was 17 (s.d. 8.9). Half of the study population had periodontal disease in need of professional treatment. Almost all reported brushing their teeth daily. Two-third ate sweets, one-third drank fizzy drinks and majority smoked every day. Almost two-third had used illicit drugs at some point of their lives. Almost all drunk alcohol once a week or more often. No statistically significant associations were discovered between dental treatment need and explanatory factors.

Discussion
Prisoners appear to be a homogenous group with poor oral health and harmful health behaviours.
Motor planning flexibly optimizes performance under uncertainty about task goals
Authors: Wong Aaron L. , Haith Adrian M. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIn an environment full of potential goals, how does the brain determine which movement to execute? Existing theories posit that the motor system prepares for all potential goals by generating several motor plans in parallel. One major line of evidence for such theories is that presenting two competing goals often results in a movement intermediate between them. These intermediate movements are thought to reflect an unintentional averaging of the competing plans. However, normative theories suggest instead that intermediate movements might actually be deliberate, generated because they improve task performance over a random guessing strategy. To test this hypothesis, we vary the benefit of making an intermediate movement by changing movement speed. We find that participants generate intermediate movements only at (slower) speeds where they measurably improve performance. Our findings support the normative view that the motor system selects only a single, flexible motor plan, optimized for uncertain goals.
Pupil-linked arousal is driven by decision uncertainty and alters serial choice bias
Authors: Urai Anne E. , Braun Anke , Donner Tobias H. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWhile judging their sensory environments, decision-makers seem to use the uncertainty about their choices to guide adjustments of their subsequent behaviour. One possible source of these behavioural adjustments is arousal: decision uncertainty might drive the brain’s arousal systems, which control global brain state and might thereby shape subsequent decision-making. Here, we measure pupil diameter, a proxy for central arousal state, in human observers performing a perceptual choice task of varying difficulty. Pupil dilation, after choice but before external feedback, reflects three hallmark signatures of decision uncertainty derived from a computational model. This increase in pupil-linked arousal boosts observers’ tendency to alternate their choice on the subsequent trial. We conclude that decision uncertainty drives rapid changes in pupil-linked arousal state, which shape the serial correlation structure of ongoing choice behaviour.
Zyxin regulates endothelial von Willebrand factor secretion by reorganizing actin filaments around exocytic granules
Authors: Han Xiaofan , Li Pin , Yang Zhenghao , Huang Xiaoshuai , Wei Guoqin , Sun Yujie , Kang Xuya , Hu Xueting , Deng Qiuping , Chen Liangyi , He Aibin , Huo Yingqing , Li Dong , Betzig Eric , Luo Jincai 
Published: March 2017

AbstractEndothelial exocytosis of Weibel–Palade body (WPB) is one of the first lines of defence against vascular injury. However, the mechanisms that control WPB exocytosis in the final stages (including the docking, priming and fusion of granules) are poorly understood. Here we show that the focal adhesion protein zyxin is crucial in this process. Zyxin downregulation inhibits the secretion of von Willebrand factor (VWF), the most abundant cargo in WPBs, from human primary endothelial cells (ECs) induced by cAMP agonists. Zyxin-deficient mice exhibit impaired epinephrine-stimulated VWF release, prolonged bleeding time and thrombosis, largely due to defective endothelial secretion of VWF. Using live-cell super-resolution microscopy, we visualize previously unappreciated reorganization of pre-existing actin filaments around WPBs before fusion, dependent on zyxin and an interaction with the actin crosslinker α-actinin. Our findings identify zyxin as a physiological regulator of endothelial exocytosis through reorganizing local actin network in the final stage of exocytosis.
Activation of E-prostanoid 3 receptor in macrophages facilitates cardiac healing after myocardial infarction
Authors: Tang Juan , Shen Yujun , Chen Guilin , Wan Qiangyou , Wang Kai , Zhang Jian , Qin Jing , Liu Guizhu , Zuo Shengkai , Tao Bo , Yu Yu , Wang Junwen , Lazarus Michael , Yu Ying 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTwo distinct monocyte (Mo)/macrophage (Mp) subsets (Ly6Clow and Ly6Chigh) orchestrate cardiac recovery process following myocardial infarction (MI). Prostaglandin (PG) E2 is involved in the Mo/Mp-mediated inflammatory response, however, the role of its receptors in Mos/Mps in cardiac healing remains to be determined. Here we show that pharmacological inhibition or gene ablation of the Ep3 receptor in mice suppresses accumulation of Ly6Clow Mos/Mps in infarcted hearts. Ep3 deletion in Mos/Mps markedly attenuates healing after MI by reducing neovascularization in peri-infarct zones. Ep3 deficiency diminishes CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion in Mos/Mps by suppressing TGFβ1 signalling and subsequently inhibits Ly6Clow Mos/Mps migration and angiogenesis. Targeted overexpression of Ep3 receptors in Mos/Mps improves wound healing by enhancing angiogenesis. Thus, the PGE2/Ep3 axis promotes cardiac healing after MI by activating reparative Ly6Clow Mos/Mps, indicating that Ep3 receptor activation may be a promising therapeutic target for acute MI.
Dietary Flavonoids, CYP1A1 Genetic Variants, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in a Korean population
Authors: Cho Young Ae , Lee Jeonghee , Oh Jae Hwan , Chang Hee Jin , Sohn Dae Kyung , Shin Aesun , Kim Jeongseon 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe role of dietary flavonoid intake in colorectal carcinogenesis might differ according to flavonoid subclasses and individual genetic variants related to carcinogen metabolism. Therefore, we examined whether greater dietary intake of flavonoid subclasses was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer and whether CYP1A1 genetic variants altered this association. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary intake of six flavonoid subclasses (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones) in 923 patients with colorectal cancer and 1,846 controls; furthermore, CYP1A1 genetic variants (rs4646903 and rs1048943) were genotyped. Among the subclasses of flavonoids, higher intake of flavonols and flavan-3-ols showed a stronger association with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Carriers of the CYP1A1 rs4646903 CC homozygous variant showed a reduced risk of rectal cancer compared with that in TT carriers. The inverse association between dietary flavonol intake and colorectal cancer risk was stronger among carriers of the CC homozygous variant than among T allele carriers (P for interaction = 0.02), particularly for rectal cancer (P for interaction = 0.005). In conclusion, the effect of dietary flavonoid intake on colorectal cancer risk differs according to flavonoid subclasses and CYP1A1 genetic variants.
Infection with koala retrovirus subgroup B (KoRV-B), but not KoRV-A, is associated with chlamydial disease in free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: Waugh Courtney A. , Hanger Jonathan , Loader Joanne , King Andrew , Hobbs Matthew , Johnson Rebecca , Timms Peter 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe virulence of chlamydial infection in wild koalas is highly variable between individuals. Some koalas can be infected (PCR positive) with Chlamydia for long periods but remain asymptomatic, whereas others develop clinical disease. Chlamydia in the koala has traditionally been studied without regard to coinfection with other pathogens, although koalas are usually subject to infection with koala retrovirus (KoRV). Retroviruses can be immunosuppressive, and there is evidence of an immunosuppressive effect of KoRV in vitro. Originally thought to be a single endogenous strain, a new, potentially more virulent exogenous variant (KoRV-B) was recently reported. We hypothesized that KoRV-B might significantly alter chlamydial disease outcomes in koalas, presumably via immunosuppression. By studying sub-groups of Chlamydia and KoRV infected koalas in the wild, we found that neither total KoRV load (either viraemia or proviral copies per genome), nor chlamydial infection level or strain type, was significantly associated with chlamydial disease risk. However, PCR positivity with KoRV-B was significantly associated with chlamydial disease in koalas (p = 0.02961). This represents an example of a recently evolved virus variant that may be predisposing its host (the koala) to overt clinical disease when co-infected with an otherwise asymptomatic bacterial pathogen (Chlamydia).
A systematic review and meta-analysis of T2, T3 or T4, to evaluate the best denervation level for palmar hyperhidrosis
Authors: Zhang Wenxiong , Yu Dongliang , Wei Yiping , Xu Jianjun , Zhang Xiaoqiang 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe systematically reviewed and compared the clinical outcomes of thoracoscopic sympathectomy (TS) at different denervation levels for palmar hyperhidrosis. We searched PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, Scopus and Google Scholar for relevant studies published during 1990–2016. Symptom resolution, patient satisfaction, compensatory sweating (CS), recurrence, dry hands and gustatory sweating were assessed. We selected 13 studies from 2228 for the final analysis. A comparison of T2 vs. T3 TS revealed that T3 TS reduced the risk of CS (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36–3.19, p = 0.0007) and moderate-to-severe CS (95% CI: 2.14–7.87, p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found in patient satisfaction, symptom resolution, and incidence of dry hands and gustatory sweating. A comparison of T3 vs. T4 TS revealed that T4 TS reduced the risk of CS (95% CI: 2.87–9.53, p < 0.00001), moderate-to-severe CS (95% CI: 2.54–5.83, p < 0.00001), dry hands (95% CI: 4.07–18.13, p < 0.00001) and gustatory sweating (95% CI: 1.53–7.32, p < 0.003), and improved patient satisfaction. No significant differences were found in symptom resolution and recurrence. T4 TS appears to be more useful than T3 or T2 TS for PH.
Temperature Effect on the Stability of the Polarized State Created by Local Electric Fields in Strontium Barium Niobate Single Crystals
Authors: Shur V. Ya. , Shikhova V. A. , Alikin D. O. , Lebedev V. A. , Ivleva L. I. , Dec J. , Lupascu D. C. , Shvartsman V. V. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe stability of ferroelectric domain patterns at the nanoscale has been a topic of much interest for many years. We investigated the relaxation of the polarized state created by application of a local electric field using a conductive tip of a scanning probe microscope for the model uniaxial relaxor system SrxBa1−xNb2O6 (SBN) in its pure and Ce-doped form. The temporal relaxation of the induced PFM contrast was measured at various temperatures. The average value of the induced contrast decreases during heating for all investigated crystals. Below the freezing temperature the induced state remains stable after an initial relaxation. Above the freezing temperature the induced state is unstable and gradually decays with time. The stability of the induced state is strongly affected by the measuring conditions, so continuous scanning results in a faster decay of the poled domain. The obtained effects are attributed to a decrease of the induced polarization and backswitching of the polarized area under the action of the depolarization field.