bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Response to First AED
Authors: French Jacqueline A. 
Published: December 2022

Effectiveness of First Antiepileptic Drug Kwan P, Brodie MJ Epilepsia 2001;42:1255–1260 Purpose To investigate the interaction among efficacy, tolerability, and overall effectiveness of the first antiepileptic drug (AED) in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Methods The 470 patients were diagnosed, treated and followed up from January 1984 at a single center. Outcome was classified as seizure freedom for at least the last year or failure of initial treatment because of inadequate seizure control, adverse events, or for other reasons. Results Overall, 47% of patients became seizure free with the first prescribed AED. A higher proportion (p = 0.025) of patients with symptomatic or cryptogenic epilepsy changed treatment because of intolerable side effects (17%), and a lower proportion (p = 0.007) became seizure free (43.5%) compared with those with idiopathic epilepsy (8.5 and 58%, respectively). Most patients (83%) received carbamazepine (CBZ; n = 212), sodium valproate (VPA; n = 101), or lamotrigine (LTG; n = 78). The majority of seizure-free patients required only a moderate daily AED dose (93.1% with ≤800 mg CBZ, 91.3% with ≤1,500 mg VPA, 93.8% with ≤300 mg LTG), with commonest dose ranges being 400–600 mg for CBZ, 600–1,000 mg for VPA, and 125–200 mg for LTG. Most discontinuations due to poor tolerability also occurred at or below these dose levels (CBZ, 98%; VPA, 100%; LTG, 75%). Patients taking CBZ (27%) had a higher incidence of adverse events necessitating a change of treatment than did those treated with VPA (13%) or LTG (10%), resulting in fewer becoming seizure free (CBZ vs. VPA, p = 0.02; CBZ vs. LTG, p = 0.002). Conclusions Nearly 50% of newly diagnosed patients became seizure free with the first-ever AED, with >90% doing so at moderate or even modest dosing. Tolerability was as important as efficacy in determining overall effectiveness.
Predictors of Early Seizures after Stroke
Authors: Waterhouse Elizabeth 
Published: December 2022

Prevalence and Predictors of Early Seizure and Status Epilepticus after First Stroke Labovitz DL, Allen Hauser W, Sacco RL Neurology 2001;57:200–206 Background Early seizure (ES) has been reported in 2 to 6% of strokes and is a predictor of recurrent seizures. Acute stroke has been reported to cause 22% of all cases of status epilepticus (SE) in adults. The determinants of ES and SE after stroke, however, are not well understood. Methods An incidence study was conducted to identify all cases of first stroke in adult residents of northern Manhattan. Cases of ES and SE within 7 days of stroke were identified through medical record review. Statistical analyses were performed by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results The cohort consisted of 904 patients; ES occurred in 37 (4.1%). The frequency of ES by stroke subtype and location was deep infarct in two (0.6%) of 356, lobar infarct in 20 (5.9%) of 341, deep intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in four (4.0%) of 101, lobar ICH in seven (14.3%) of 49, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in four (8.0%) of 50. SE occurred in 10 (1.1%) patients, representing 27.0% of patients with ES. Diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, alcohol use, age, gender, and race/ethnicity were not significant determinants of ES. In a subgroup of patients who had a National Institutes of Health (NIH) stroke scale (NIHSS) score recorded, NIHSS score was not an independent predictor of ES in multivariate analysis. After accounting for stroke severity, ES was not a predictor of 30-day case fatality. Conclusions Lesion location and stroke subtype are strong determinants of ES risk, even after adjusting for stroke severity. ES does not predict 30-day mortality. SE occurs in more than one fourth of patients with ES.
Prognostic Value of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Epilepsy Surgery Outcome
Authors: Theodore William 
Published: December 2022

H-1 MRSI Predicts Surgical Outcome in MRI-negative Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Suhy J, Laxer KD, Capizzano AA, Vermathen P, Matson GB, Barbaro NM, Weiner MW Neurology 2002;58:821–823 H-1 MRS imaging (MRSI) was performed on 15 patients with MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) who underwent seizure surgery. The nonseizure-free patients (NSF) ipsilateral hippocampal N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/(Cr+Cho) z scores were lower than the contralateral scores (p=0.04), and the NSF ipsilateral z scores were lower than the seizure-free patients’ (SF) ipsilateral z scores (p=0.0049). Similarly, NSF contralateral scores were lower than contralateral SF (p=0.02). These findings suggest NAA predicts the surgical outcome in patients with TLE without evidence of mesial temporal sclerosis on MRI.
A Novel Animal Model of Epilepsy Caused by Inhibiting Neuronal Activity during Development
Authors: Scharfman Helen 
Published: December 2022

Blockade of Neuronal Activity during Hippocampal Development Produces a Chronic Focal Epilepsy in the Rat Galvan CD, Hrachovy RA, Smith KL, Swann JW J Neurosci 2000;20:2904–2916 During brain development, neuronal activity can transform neurons characterized by widely ranging axonal projections to ones with more restricted patterns of synaptic connectivity. Previous studies have shown that an exuberant outgrowth of local recurrent excitatory axons occurs in hippocampal area CA3 during postnatal weeks 2 and 3. Axons are remodeled with maturation, and nearly half of the branches are eliminated. Postnatal weeks 2 and 3 also coincide with a “critical” period of development, when CA3 networks have a marked propensity to generate electrographic seizures. In an attempt to prevent axonal remodeling, local circuit activity was blocked unilaterally in dorsal hippocampus by continuous infusion of tetrodotoxin (TTX). Field potential recordings from behaving animals were dramatically altered when TTX infusion was initiated at the beginning of the critical period, week 2, but not later in life. Spontaneous, synchronized spikes and electrographic seizures with behavioral accompaniments were observed after 4 weeks of TTX infusion and persisted into adulthood. When recordings were made during TTX infusion, synchronized spiking was recorded in ventral hippocampus as early as 2 weeks after infusate introduction. At this same time, extracellular field recordings from in vitro slices demonstrated spontaneous network-driven “mini-bursts” arising from ventral hippocampal slices. These were abolished by glutamate receptor antagonists. Whole-cell recordings from CA3 neurons revealed bursts of excitatory synaptic potentials coincident with the network bursts recorded extracellularly. Thus, local assemblies of mutually excitatory CA3 pyramidal cells are hyperexcitable in these rats. Whether alterations in developmental axonal remodeling mediate these effects awaits further studies.
Fast Cortical Oscillations Are Not Dependent on the Activity of Gabaergic Neurons
Authors: Benardo Larry S. 
Published: December 2022

Effects of Bicuculline Methiodide on Fast (>200 Hz) Electrical Oscillations in Rat Somatosensory Cortex Jones MS, Barth DS J Neurophysiol 2002;88(2):1016–1025 Fast oscillatory activity (more than ∼200 Hz) has been attracting increasing attention regarding its possible role in both normal brain function and epileptogenesis, yet its underlying cellular mechanism remains poorly understood. Our prior investigation of the phenomenon in rat somatosensory cortex indicated that fast oscillations result from repetitive synaptic activation of cortical pyramidal cells originating from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons (Jones et al., 2000). To test this hypothesis, the effects of topical application of the GABAA antagonist bicuculline methiodide (BMI) on fast oscillations were examined. At subconvulsive concentrations (∼10 μM), BMI application resulted in a pronounced enhancement of fast activity, in some trials, doubling the number of oscillatory cycles evoked by whisker stimulation. The amplitude and frequency of fast activity were not affected by BMI in a statistically significant fashion. At higher concentrations, BMI application resulted in the emergence of recurring spontaneous slow-wave discharges resembling interictal spikes (IISs) and the eventual onset of seizure. High-pass filtering of the IISs revealed that a burst of fast oscillations accompanied the spontaneous discharge. This activity was present in both the pre- and the postictal regimens, in which its morphology and spatial distribution were largely indistinguishable. These data indicate that fast cortical oscillations do not reflect GABAergic postsynaptic currents. An alternate account consistent with results observed to date is that this activity may instead arise from population spiking in pyramidal cells, possibly mediated by electrotonic coupling in a manner analogous to that underlying 200-Hz ripple in the hippocampus. Additionally, fast oscillations occur within spontaneous epileptiform discharges. However, at least under the present experimental conditions, they do not appear to be a reliable predictor of seizure onset or an indicator of the seizure focus.
Functional MRI and Memory in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Meador Kimford J. 
Published: December 2022

Memory Lateralization in Medial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Assessed by Functional MRI Golby AJ, Poldrack RA, Illes J, Chen D, Desmond JE, Gabrieli JD Epilepsia 2002;43(8):855–863 Purpose To determine the utility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in preoperative lateralization of memory function in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). Methods Nine patients with MTLE underwent standard preoperative assessment including video-EEG and intracarotid amytal testing (IAT). fMRI was performed while subjects encoded four types of stimuli (patterns, faces, scenes, and words). Activation maps were created for each subject representing areas more active for novel than for repeated stimuli. Regions of interest were drawn around the MTL in individual subjects, supra-threshold voxels were counted, and an asymmetry index was calculated. Results In eight of nine subjects, lateralization of memory encoding by fMRI was concordant with that obtained from the IAT. Group-level analysis demonstrated greater activation in the MTL contralateral to the seizure focus, such that in the left MTLE group, verbal encoding engaged the right MTL, whereas in the right MTLE group, nonverbal encoding engaged the left MTL. Conclusions fMRI is a valid tool for assessing of memory lateralization in patients with MTLE and may therefore allow noninvasive preoperative evaluation of memory lateralization. fMRI revealed that memory encoding may be reorganized to the contralateral MTL in patients with MTLE.
Temporal Evolution of Rasmussen's Encephalitis
Authors: Kanner Andres M. 
Published: December 2022

The Natural History of Rasmussen's Encephalitis Bien CG, Widman G, Urbach H, Sassen R, Kuczaty S, Wiestler OD, Schramm S, Elger CE Brain 2002;125:1751–1759 Rasmussen's encephalitis (RE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown origin, usually affecting one brain hemisphere. In the present study, a comprehensive assessment of the natural history of the disorder is presented. Seizure frequency, degree of hemiparesis, and degree of cerebral hemiatrophy in 13 patients with histopathologically proven RE were analyzed over the time course before resective epilepsy surgery or introduction of long-term immunosuppressive pharmacotherapy. For the assessment of the degree of cerebral hemiatrophy, on defined slices comprising the sylvian fissure of hard copies of serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigations, the hemispheric ratio (HR) was determined. The data show an initial prodromal phase with an intermediate frequency of focal onset seizures and mostly no hemiparesis. The occurrence of this stage was observed mainly in adolescent and adult patients. All patients went through an acute phase with a median duration of 8 months. During this stage, there were frequent simple partial motor seizures, development of hemiparesis, and volume loss of the affected hemisphere. After this, the patients passed into a residual stage with a marked decrease in seizure frequency. Twelve months after the onset of the acute stage, the average HR was 0.72. These data allow an estimation of the prognosis of newly affected patients and demonstrate that most of the brain damage in RE occurs during the first 8 to 12 months. These findings should be taken into consideration when future therapeutic approaches to RE are evaluated.
A preliminary study on flipping an English as a foreign language collaborative writing course with video clips: Its impact on writing skills and writing motivation
Authors: Fathi Jalil , Rahimi Masoud , Liu Gi‐Zen 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundAlthough conventional writing procedures are still the dominant instructional procedures in English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts, instructors are still struggling with time limitations to improve EFL students writing skills properly. Additionally, EFL students are not engaged in the writing process since they lack the required information about the writing tasks.ObjectivesThe present study, therefore, applied a sequential explanatory mixed‐methods approach to explore the impact of a flipped writing classroom on EFL students' writing skills (i.e. writing content, writing organization, and language use) and writing motivation on the one hand and possibly recommend a better instructional procedure for students' writing skills and writing motivation in EFL context on the other hand.MethodsTo this aim, two intact classes were selected as the participants of the study. The two classes were randomly assigned to a flipped classroom with 27 EFL students and a non‐flipped classroom with 24 EFL students. The non‐flipped classroom was instructed through conventional writing instruction over 16 sessions whereas the flipped classroom was taught with the same content in a flipped writing mode in 10 sessions. Two timed writing tasks, a writing motivation scale, and an individual semi‐structured interview were used to gather the required data.Results and ConclusionsThe findings indicated that the flipped writing classroom outperformed the non‐flipped writing classroom in improving the EFL students' writing performance, writing organization, language use, and writing motivation; however, no significant differences were found between the two groups' writing content. Moreover, the data analysis from the individual semi‐structured interview indicated that the flipped students had positive attitudes and perceptions towards the flipped writing classroom which further supported the quantitative findings.ImplicationsPractical implications for collaborative writing instruction using video clips and other electronic materials are suggested.
Browsing to learn: How computer and software engineering students use online platforms in learning activities
Authors: Araos Andrés , Damşa Crina , Gašević Dragan 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe surge of online platforms has generated interest in how specialized platforms support formal and informal learning in various disciplinary domains. Knowledge is still limited regarding how undergraduate students navigate and use platforms to learn.ObjectivesThis study explores computer and software engineering students' learning practices, wherein online platforms are used as resources for both curricular learning activities and students' interest‐driven learning.MethodsThe learning practices of 73 students were examined using a mixed‐methods design and a conceptualization of practices accounting for the context and purpose of their enactment. The dataset includes students' self‐reports on domain‐specific learning activities, three‐month‐long web‐browsing history of multiple platforms and stimulated‐recall interviews. The data were analysed through latent class and thematic analyses.Results and ConclusionFive distinct patterns were found in the use of online platforms. These patterns show that different types of platforms were used purposely and in combination during curricular and interest‐driven activities aimed at learning software development. Moreover, students' purposes were driven by both the need to progress in their learning activities and the development of their interest in software development. The findings highlight the complexity of students' learning with online platforms, which develop quite extensively beyond curricular boundaries.ImplicationsThe findings stress the need to recognize that undergraduate students' learning practices involve multiple online platforms and activities beyond the formal curriculum and that these play a key role in developing students' interests in learning software development. Moreover, our findings indicate the importance of taking into account the way students' learning practices unfold within platforms and how these relate to domain‐specific practices.
The redlegged earth mite draft genome provides new insights into pesticide resistance evolution and demography in its invasive Australian range
Authors: Thia Joshua A. , Korhonen Pasi K. , Young Neil D. , Gasser Robin B. , Umina Paul A. , Yang Qiong , Edwards Owain , Walsh Tom , Hoffmann Ary A. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractGenomic data provide valuable insights into pest management issues such as resistance evolution, historical patterns of pest invasions and ongoing population dynamics. We assembled the first reference genome for the redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor (Tucker, 1925), to investigate adaptation to pesticide pressures and demography in its invasive Australian range using whole‐genome pool‐seq data from regionally distributed populations. Our reference genome comprises 132 autosomal contigs, with a total length of 48.90 Mb. We observed a large complex of ace genes, which has presumably evolved from a long history of organophosphate selection in H. destructor and may contribute towards organophosphate resistance through copy number variation, target‐site mutations and structural variants. In the putative ancestral H. destructor ace gene, we identified three target‐site mutations (G119S, A201S and F331Y) segregating in organophosphate‐resistant populations. Additionally, we identified two new para sodium channel gene mutations (L925I and F1020Y) that may contribute to pyrethroid resistance. Regional structuring observed in population genomic analyses indicates that gene flow in H. destructor does not homogenize populations across large geographic distances. However, our demographic analyses were equivocal on the magnitude of gene flow; the short invasion history of H. destructor makes it difficult to distinguish scenarios of complete isolation vs. ongoing migration. Nonetheless, we identified clear signatures of reduced genetic diversity and smaller inferred effective population sizes in eastern vs. western populations, which is consistent with the stepping‐stone invasion pathway of this pest in Australia. These new insights will inform development of diagnostic genetic markers of resistance, further investigation into the multifaceted organophosphate resistance mechanism and predictive modelling of resistance evolution and spread.
Effect of smile esthetics on the quality of life in a Han Chinese population
Authors: Su En‐dian , Chen Ying‐hui , Zhang Chang‐yuan , Yu Hao 
Published: December 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the influence of smile esthetics on the quality of life in a Han Chinese population.MethodsA total of 110 Han Chinese volunteers (52 males and 58 females, mean age 26.7 years) were recruited, and frontal images of their smiles were collected. A photoediting program was used to evaluate the following components of smile esthetics: the buccal corridor ratios, the angle between the interpupillary and commissural lines, the number of visible teeth, and width‐to‐length ratios of the maxillary central incisors. Oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in these volunteers was evaluated using the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) and Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 (OHIP‐14). Statistical analyses were performed by using Pearson's correlations and multiple linear regression (α = 0.05).ResultsCompared to males, females scored higher on psychological impact (p = 0.017). Moreover, the number of visible teeth had a significant effect on social impact, psychological impact and esthetic concern (all p < 0.05). However, the buccal corridor ratios, the angle between the interpupillary and commissural lines, and the width‐to‐length ratios of the maxillary central incisor did not correlate with the OHRQoL (all p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe number of visible teeth significantly influenced the quality of life in a Han Chinese population. Smile esthetics had a significantly greater psychological impact on females than males.Clinical SignificanceThis study highlights the effects of smile esthetics on the quality of life in a Han Chinese population. Female patients may raise more esthetic concerns in clinical practice.
Five‐year randomized clinical trial to evaluate the clinical performance of high‐viscosity glass ionomer restorative systems in small class II restorations
Authors: Wafaie Ramy Ahmed , Ibrahim Ali Ashraf , El‐Negoly Salwa Abd El‐Raof , Mahmoud Salah Hasab 
Published: December 2022

AbstractObjectiveEvaluate and compare the 5‐year clinical performance of three high‐viscosity glass ionomer restorative materials in small class II restorations.Materials and MethodsForty patients, each with four class II restorations, were enrolled in this trial. A total of 160 restorations were placed, 25% for each material, as follows: three high‐viscosity conventional glass ionomer restorative systems (Ketac Universal Aplicap, EQUIA Forte and Riva Self Cure HV) and a microhybrid resin composite system (Filtek Z250). Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline and after 1, 3, and 5 years by two independent examiners using FDI criteria. Epoxy resin replicas were observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) to examine surface characteristics. Data were analyzed with Kruskal‐Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, Friedman, and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests (p < 0.05).ResultsThe success rates were 100% for resin composite, 97.4% for Ketac Universal, and 94.9% for both EQUIA Forte and Riva HV restorations. Statistically significant differences were observed between all groups in terms of surface luster and color match criteria (p < 0.05). Statistically significant changes were found over time for all criteria except for fracture of material, postoperative hypersensitivity, recurrence of caries, tooth integrity, periodontal response, adjacent mucosa, and oral health criteria (p > 0.05). SEM evaluations were in accordance with the clinical findings.ConclusionsAlthough drawbacks in surface luster and color match appeared over the 5‐year evaluation period, the three high‐viscosity glass ionomer restorative materials provided successful clinical performance in small to medium sized class II cavities compared to microhybrid resin composite.Clinical SignificanceGlass ionomer restorations exhibited clinical performance similar to that of microhybrid resin composite restorations in small class II cavities subsequent to 5‐year evaluation.