bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prophylactic Anticonvulsants in Patients with Brain Tumour
Authors: Forsyth Peter A. , Weaver Susan , Fulton Dorcas , Brasher Penelope M.A. , Sutherland Garnette , Stewart Doug , Hagen Neil A. , Barnes Penny , Cairncross J. Greg , DeAngelis Lisa M. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT:Objective:We conducted a clinical trial to determine if prophylactic anticonvulsants in brain tumour patients (without prior seizures) reduced seizure frequency. We stopped accrual at 100 patients on the basis of the interim analysis.Methods:One hundred newly diagnosed brain tumour patients received anticonvulsants (AC Group) or not (No AC Group) in this prospective randomized unblinded study. Sixty patients had metastatic, and 40 had primary brain tumours. Forty-six (46%) patients were randomized to the AC Group and 54 (54%) to the No AC Group. Median follow-up was 5.44 months (range 0.13 -30.1 months).Results:Seizures occurred in 26 (26%) patients, eleven in the AC Group and 15 in the No AC Group. Seizure-free survivals were not different; at three months 87% of the AC Group and 90% of the No AC Group were seizure-free (log rank test, p=0.98). Seventy patients died (unrelated to seizures) and survival rates were equivalent in both groups (median survival = 6.8 months versus 5.6 months, respectively; log rank test, p=0.50). We then terminated accrual at 100 patients because seizure and survival rates were much lower than expected; we would need ≥ 900 patients to have a suitably powered study.Conclusions:These data should be used by individuals contemplating a clinical trial to determine if prophylactic anticonvulsants are effective in subsets of brain tumour patients (e.g. only anaplastic astrocytomas). When taken together with the results of a similar randomized trial, prophylactic anticonvulsants are unlikely to be effective or useful in brain tumour patients who have not had a seizure.
Basilar Artery Stenosis Mimicking the Lacunar Syndrome of Pure Motor Hemiparesis
Authors: Chan David K. , Silver Frank L. 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT:Background:Stereotyped, repeated transient ischemic attacks manifesting as pure motor hemiparesis are most often attributed to ischemia of the internal capsule or ventral pons resulting from in situ disease of the small penetrating arteries.Case description:We report a 61-year-old man presenting with recurrent episodes of left-sided weakness consistent with the lacunar syndrome of pure motor hemiparesis. Subsequent neuroimaging revealed infarction of the right ventral pons and a critical basilar artery stenosis as the inciting lesion. Despite maximal antithrombotic therapy, he continued to have repeated symptoms. Angioplasty and stenting were attempted but both failed due to plaque recoil and technical difficulties. After the procedure, the patient had no further ischemic episodes and remained symptom-free at two months.Conclusions:This case illustrates the imprecise and discordant relationship between the mode of presentation of a stroke syndrome and its presumed pathophysiology. The lacunar syndrome of pure motor hemiparesis should be recognized by clinicians as a mode of stroke presentation due not only to small vessel disease, but also to large artery atherosclerotic disease such as basilar artery stenosis. Prompt institution of treatment can lead to a good clinical outcome.
Insulinotropic effects of GPR120 agonists are altered in obese diabetic and obese non-diabetic states
Authors: Zhang Dan , So Wing Yan , Wang Yi , Wu Shang Ying , Cheng Qianni , Leung Po Sing 
Published: December 2016

G-protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) is a putative target for obesity and diabetes therapies. However, it remains controversial whether resident GPR120 plays a direct regulatory role in islet β-cell insulin secretion. The present study examined this issue in isolated rodent islets and rat β-cell line INS-1E, and assessed the role of GPR120 in islet insulin secretion in obese non-diabetic (OND) and diabetic states. GPR120 expression was detected in rodent islet β-cells. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and synthetic GPR120 agonist GSK137647 (GSK) augmented insulin release from rat/mouse islets and INS-1E; DHA effects were partially mediated by GPR40. GPR120 knockdown and overexpression attenuated and enhanced DHA effects in INS-1E respectively. DHA and GSK improved postprandial hyperglycaemia of diabetic mice. Inhibition of calcium signalling in INS-1E reduced GPR120 activation-induced insulinotropic effects. The insulinotropic effects of DHA/GSK were amplified in OND rat islets, but diminished in diabetic rat islets. GPR120 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression were elevated in OND islets and palmitic acid (PA)-treated INS-1E, but reduced in diabetic islets and high glucose-treated INS-1E. PPARγ activation increased GPR120 expression in rat islets and INS-1E. DHA and GSK induced protein kinase B (Akt)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation in rodent islets and INS-1E, and these effects were altered in OND and diabetic states. Taken together, the present study indicates that (i) GPR120 activation has an insulinotropic influence on β-cells with the involvement of calcium signalling; (ii) GPR120 expression in β-cells and GPR120-mediated insulinotropic effects are altered in OND and diabetic states in distinct ways, and these alterations may be mediated by PPARγ.
Nitric Oxide: Link between Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Garg Nidhi , Syngle Ashit , Krishan Pawan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in inflammatory joint disease and endothelial function. Endothelial dysfunction has been attributed to a reduction in NO bioactivity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the relationship of NO with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in RA has not yet been investigated.To investigate the relationship of nitrite with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in RA.Total 28 patients satisfying 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria were recruited for the study. Serum nitrite estimation was performed by Griess reaction. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) assessed using AngioDefender. Inflammatory disease activity measures included disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1) measured using standard ELISA kits. Twenty-five healthy controls matched for age and sex were included for comparison.The serum nitrite level in patients with RA was markedly elevated as compared with controls (p < 0.05). FMD was significantly impaired in RA patients than controls (p < 0.05). DAS28 was significantly higher in RA patients (p < 0.05). Levels of ESR, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 were significantly higher in RA patients than controls (p < 0.05). Significant positive correlation was observed between nitrite and CRP (r = 0.46, p < 0.05), TNF-α (r = 0.53, p < 0.05), and inverse correlation with FMD (r =0.62, p < 0.05).Inflammatory disease activity and endothelial dysfunction in RA are associated with increased concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and NO. Inflammatory triggered release of cytokines induced NO production that mediates endothelial dysfunction. These findings suggest a role for NO in inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction in RA.
Eine neue deutschsprachige Skala zur Erfassung von elterlichem Stress nach Frühgeburtlichkeit (PSS:NICU_German/2-scales)
Authors: Urlesberger P. , Schienle A. , Pichler G. , Baik N. , Schwaberger B. , Urlesberger B. , Pichler-Stachl E. 
Published: December 2016

Zusammenfassung
Theoretischer Hintergrund Die Frühgeburt eines Kindes führt bei Eltern zu erhöhtem Stress, Angst und Sorge. Dies kann langfristige Auswirkungen auf die psychische Gesundheit der Mutter haben und potentiell auch die Entwicklung des Kindes beeinflussen.
Fragestellung Der englischsprachige Fragebogen Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [1] erhebt elterlichen Stress nach Frühgeburtlichkeit in 3 Subskalen. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, eine ins Deutsche übersetzte Fassung des PSS:NICU Fragebogens hinsichtlich ihrer psychometrischen Gütekriterien und Dimensionalität zu überprüfen, um eine reliable deutsche Version zu entwickeln.
Methode Zur Entwicklung (exploratorische Faktorenanalyse) diente eine Stichprobe von 50 Elternpaaren von Frühgeborenen.
Ergebnisse Die Subskala Bilder und Geräusche wurde aufgrund der niedrigen Itemanzahl aus der deutschen Version des PSS:NICU entfernt. Ein PSS:NICU_German/2-scales Fragebogen wurde entwickelt. Dieser besteht nun aus den Subskalen Aussehen und Verhalten des Kindes (7 Items, Cronbachs α=0,82) und Elterliche Rolle (6 Items, Cronbachs α=0,87).
Schlussfolgerung Der PSS:NICU_German/2-scales Fragebogen stellt ein ökonomisches und reliables Instrument zur Erfassung von elterlichem Stress nach Frühgeburtlichkeit dar.
Present-day African analogue of a pre-European Amazonian floodplain fishery shows convergence in cultural niche construction
Authors: McKey Doyle B. , Durécu Mélisse , Pouilly Marc , Béarez Philippe , Ovando Alex , Kalebe Mashuta , Huchzermeyer Carl F. 
Published: December 2016

Significance
Erickson convincingly inferred a pre-European floodplain fishery unlike any present-day system he knew, illustrating the principle that archaeological inference should not be constrained by the range of cultural variation observed today. Our comparison of these inferences with observations from a present-day fishery in a similar environment suggests strong convergence in both the ecology of fish communities and the cultural means people have devised to exploit them, providing support for a predictive model of cultural niche construction. This conceptual framework emphasizes the synergistic action of human agency and environmental constraint in shaping patterns in the human use and management of ecosystems.
Archaeointensity results spanning the past 6 kiloyears from eastern China and implications for extreme behaviors of the geomagnetic field
Authors: Cai Shuhui , Jin Guiyun , Tauxe Lisa , Deng Chenglong , Qin Huafeng , Pan Yongxin , Zhu Rixiang 
Published: December 2016

SignificanceThe geomagnetic field is an intriguing fundamental physical property of the Earth. Its evolution has significant implications for issues such as geodynamics, evolution of the life on the Earth, and archaeomagnetic dating. Here, we present 21 archaeointensity data points from China and establish the first archaeointensity reference curve for eastern Asia. Our results record rarely captured extreme behaviors of the geomagnetic field, with an exceptionally low intensity around ∼2200 BCE (hitherto the lowest value observed for the Holocene) and a “spike” intensity value dated at ∼1300 ± 300 BCE (either a precursor to or the same event as the Levantine spikes). These anomalous features of the geomagnetic field revealed by our data will shed light on understanding geomagnetic field during the Holocene.
Internet of Things in agriculture.
Authors: Verdouw C. , Wolfert S. , Tekinerdogan B. 
Published: December 2016

Abstract
This literature review on Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture and food, provides an overview of existing applications, enabling technologies and main challenges ahead. The results of the review show that this subject received attention by the scientific community from 2010 on and the number of papers has increased since then. The literature on IoT in agriculture and food is very much dominated by Asian scientists, especially from China. In other continents, the concept of IoT was up to recently mainly adopted by non-agricultural scientists. The application area of food supply chains is addressed most frequently, followed by arable farming. Most papers report the results of explorative studies or they present IoT systems that are designed or implemented in prototypes and pilots. The literature reviewed focuses on sensing and monitoring, while actuation and remote control is much less addressed. The findings indicate that IoT is still in its infancy in the agriculture and food domain. Applications are often fragmentary, lack seamless integration and especially more advanced solutions are in an experimental stage of development. Important challenges to overcome this situation include (i) integration of existing IoT solutions by open IoT architectures, platforms and standards, (ii) upscaling the usage of interoperable IoT technologies beyond early adopters especially by the simplification of existing solutions and make it more affordable for end users, and (iii) further improvement of IoT technologies to ensure a broad usability in the diversity of the agri-food domain.
Impact of calf nutrition on overall production and productive life of cattle and buffaloes.
Authors: Garg M. R. , Bhanderi B. M. , Sachin Shankhpal Sachin Shankhpal , Ajay Goswami Ajay Goswami , Sherasia P. L. 
Published: December 2016

Abstract

Poor feeding during pre-natal, neonatal and post-natal stages of calves leads to higher age at first calving and overall loss of productive life. Supplying calves an optimal nutrition right from the prenatal stage is vital for their growth and development, and it also allows calves to express their full genetic potential for milk production and reproductive efficiency during the entire lifespan. Maternal nutrition during the last trimester is considered important to genetic programming
in utero
. The influence of maternal nutrition also reaches the neonatal calf through hormones, growth factors and immune-stimulants incorporated into colostrum, milk and milk replacers. The key is to accelerate the rate of maturation of the calf's ruminal papillae (rumen wall) through the provision of calf starter and grower feeds and good-quality roughages, which favour the digestion of larger proportions of fodder at an early age. Feeding and management practices to promote these processes in crossbred calves are well established; however, in most of the developing nations little is known about these processes in buffalo calves and indigenous (
Bos indicus
) cow calves. Feeding buffalo calves and indigenous cow calves on scientific lines, and rearing them using improved management practices to assist the animals reach puberty sooner, are central factors for improving their productivity and productive life in tropical and sub-tropical regions. By 2050, people living in these regions are estimated to consume about 70% of the additional milk produced.
2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis*
Authors: Tunkel Allan R. , Hasbun Rodrigo , Bhimraj Adarsh , Byers Karin , Kaplan Sheldon L. , Scheld W. Michael , van de Beek Diederik , Bleck Thomas P. , Garton Hugh J.L. , Zunt Joseph R. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Standards and Practice Guidelines Committee collaborated with partner organizations to convene a panel of 10 experts on healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis. The panel represented pediatric and adult specialists in the field of infectious diseases and represented other organizations whose members care for patients with healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis (American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and Neurocritical Care Society). The panel reviewed articles based on literature reviews, review articles and book chapters, evaluated the evidence and drafted recommendations. Questions were reviewed and approved by panel members. Subcategories were included for some questions based on specific populations of patients who may develop healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis after the following procedures or situations: cerebrospinal fluid shunts, cerebrospinal fluid drains, implantation of intrathecal infusion pumps, implantation of deep brain stimulation hardware, and general neurosurgery and head trauma. Recommendations were followed by the strength of the recommendation and the quality of the evidence supporting the recommendation. Many recommendations, however, were based on expert opinion because rigorous clinical data are not available. These guidelines represent a practical and useful approach to assist practicing clinicians in the management of these challenging infections.
The young open cluster NGC 7067 using Strömgren photometry
Authors: Monguió M , Negueruela I , Marco A , González-Fernández C , Alonso-Santiago J , Costado M T , Casamiquela L , López-Corredoira M , Molgó J , Vilardell F , Alfaro E J , Antoja T , Figueras F , Garcia M , Jordi C , Romero-Gómez M 
Published: December 2016

Abstract
NGC 7067 is a young open cluster located in the direction between the first and the second Galactic quadrants and close to the Perseus spiral arm. This makes it useful for studies of the nature of the Milky Way spiral arms. Strömgren photometry taken with the Wide Field Camera at the Isaac Newton Telescope allowed us to compute individual physical parameters for the observed stars and hence to derive the cluster's physical parameters. Spectra from the 1.93-m telescope at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence helped to check and improve the results. We obtained photometry for 1233 stars, individual physical parameters for 515 and spectra for 9 of them. The 139 selected cluster members lead to a cluster distance of 4.4 ± 0.4 kpc, with an age below log10(t(yr)) = 7.3 and a present mass of 1260 ± 160 M⊙. The morphology of the data reveals that the centre of the cluster is at (α, δ) = (21: 24: 13.69, +48: 00: 39.2) J2000, with a radius of 6.1 arcmin. Strömgren and spectroscopic data allowed us to improve the previous parameters available for the cluster in the literature.
Cross-species functional diversity within the PIN auxin efflux protein family
Authors: O’Connor Devin Lee , Elton Samuel , Ticchiarelli Fabrizio , Hsia Mon Mandy , Vogel John , Leyser Ottoline 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn Arabidopsis, development during flowering is coordinated by transport of the hormone auxin mediated by polar-localized PIN-FORMED1 (AtPIN1). However Arabidopsis has lost a PIN clade sister to AtPIN1, Sister-of-PIN1 (SoPIN1), which is conserved in flowering plants. We previously proposed that the AtPIN1 organ initiation and vein patterning functions are split between the SoPIN1 and PIN1 clades in grasses. Here we show that in the grass Brachypodiumsopin1mutants have organ initiation defects similar to Arabidopsisatpin1, while loss ofPIN1function in Brachypodium has little effect on organ initiation but alters stem growth. Heterologous expression of Brachypodium SoPIN1 and PIN1b in Arabidopsis provides further evidence of functional specificity. SoPIN1 but not PIN1b can mediate flower formation in nullatpin1mutants, although both can complement a missense allele. The behavior of SoPIN1 and PIN1b in Arabidopsis illustrates how membrane and tissue-level accumulation, transport activity, and interaction contribute to PIN functional specificity.
The Stone Age Plague: 1000 years of Persistence in Eurasia
Authors: Valtueña Aida Andrades , Mittnik Alissa , Key Felix M. , Haak Wolfgang , Allmäe Raili , Belinskij Andrej , Daubaras Mantas , Feldman Michal , Jankauskas Rimantas , Janković Ivor , Massy Ken , Novak Mario , Pfrengle Saskia , Reinhold Sabine , Šlaus Mario , Spyrou Maria A. , Szecsenyi-Nagy Anna , Tõrv Mari , Hansen Svend , Bos Kirsten I. , Stockhammer Philipp W. , Herbig Alexander , Krause Johannes 
Published: December 2016

AbstractMolecular signatures ofYersinia pestiswere recently identified in prehistoric Eurasian individuals, thus suggestingY. pestiscaused some form of disease in humans prior to the first historically documented pandemic. Here, we present six newY. pestisgenomes spanning from the European Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age (LNBA) dating from 4,800 to 3,700 BP. We show that all currently investigated LNBA strains form a single genetic clade in theY. pestisphylogeny that appears to be extinct. Interpreting our data within the context of recent ancient human genomic evidence, which suggests an increase in human mobility during the LNBA, we propose a possible scenario for the spread ofY. pestisduring the LNBA:Y. pestismay have entered Europe from Central Eurasia during an expansion of steppe people, persisted within Europe until the mid Bronze Age, and moved back towards Central Eurasia in parallel with subsequent human population movements.
Strong and Fluctuating Sequence Constraints DriveAlu_Evolution
Authors: Wacholder Aaron C. , Pollock David D. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThoughAluelements are the most common and well-studied transposable elements in the primate genome,Aluevolutionary dynamics remain poorly understood. To better understand these dynamics, we improved our recently introduced Bayesian transposable element ancestral reconstruction method to incorporate automated alignment and be more computationally efficient. We then used it to reconstruct the relationships among almost 800,000Aluelements in the human genome. We identified the phylogenetic network relating 154 ancestral replicativeAlusequences, and found that the aligned ancestors vary at only 56 out of ~300 sites. We show that the limited number of variable sites among replicativeAluancestors is best explained by strong sequence constraints onAlureplicative capacity. Moreover, the pattern of variation suggests that sequence constraints fluctuated over the course ofAluevolution, driving the extinction of olderAlusubfamilies and the birth of newer ones. Previous analyses have taken the tight clustering ofAlusequences with age as evidence that allAlusequences are descended from a small number of "master elements." Our results imply instead that the clustering ofAlusequences with age results from fluctuating sequence constraints, and that there were over 4,000 replicative loci during the course ofAluevolution, most of which were disabled by mutation before mutating to new replicative sequences. We also predict which sites have been functionally important for replication, and how these sites have changed over time. The newly clarified dynamics ofAluevolution invalidate assumptions used in common method of transposable element classification and phylogenetics.Significance StatementTransposable elements are genomic sequences that can insert copies of themselves elsewhere in the genome.Aluis the most abundant transposable element in primates, making up 10% of the human genome. Due to its ubiquity and tendency to cause genomic instability,Aluhas played a major role in shaping primate genomes. Characterizing the trajectory ofAluevolution is important for understanding how the human genome evolved.Previous analyses ofAluconcluded that a tiny number of elements generated all copies, and existing classifications ofAlureflect that conclusion. In a whole-genome analysis, we determine that many more elements were replicative than previously understood, indicating that current classifications ofAluare flawed. We develop an alternative reconstruction ofAluevolutionary history.