bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prioritizing ecological restoration among sites in multi‐stressor landscapes
Authors: Neeson Thomas M. , Smith Sigrid D. P. , Allan J. David , McIntyre Peter B.
Published: May 2016

Most ecosystems are impacted by multiple local and long‐distance stressors, many of which interact in complex ways. We present a framework for prioritizing ecological restoration efforts among sites in multi‐stressor landscapes. Using a simple model, we show that both the economic and sociopolitical costs of restoration will typically be lower at sites with a relatively small number of severe problems than at sites with numerous lesser problems. Based on these results, we propose using cumulative stress and evenness of stressor impact as complementary indices that together reflect key challenges of restoring a site to improved condition. To illustrate this approach, we analyze stressor evenness across the world's rivers and the Laurentian Great Lakes. This exploration reveals that evenness and cumulative stress are decoupled, enabling selection of sites where remediating a modest number of high‐intensity stressors could substantially reduce cumulative stress. Just as species richness and species evenness are fundamental axes of biological diversity, we argue that cumulative stress and stressor evenness constitute fundamental axes for identifying restoration opportunities in multi‐stressor landscapes. Our results highlight opportunities to boost restoration efficiency through strategic use of multi‐stressor datasets to identify sites that maximize ecological response per stressor remediated. This prioritization framework can also be expanded to account for the feasibility of remediation and the expected societal benefits of restoration projects.
The cost and feasibility of marine coastal restoration
Authors: Bayraktarov Elisa , Saunders Megan I. , Abdullah Sabah , Mills Morena , Beher Jutta , Possingham Hugh P. , Mumby Peter J. , Lovelock Catherine E.
Published: May 2016

Land‐use change in the coastal zone has led to worldwide degradation of marine coastal ecosystems and a loss of the goods and services they provide. Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed and is critical for habitats where natural recovery is hindered. Uncertainties about restoration cost and feasibility can impede decisions on whether, what, how, where, and how much to restore. Here, we perform a synthesis of 235 studies with 954 observations from restoration or rehabilitation projects of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves, saltmarshes, and oyster reefs worldwide, and evaluate cost, survival of restored organisms, project duration, area, and techniques applied. Findings showed that while the median and average reported costs for restoration of one hectare of marine coastal habitat were around US$80 000 (2010) and US$1 600 000 (2010), respectively, the real total costs (median) are likely to be two to four times higher. Coral reefs and seagrass were among the most expensive ecosystems to restore. Mangrove restoration projects were typically the largest and the least expensive per hectare. Most marine coastal restoration projects were conducted in Australia, Europe, andUSA, while total restoration costs were significantly (up to 30 times) cheaper in countries with developing economies. Community‐ or volunteer‐based marine restoration projects usually have lower costs. Median survival of restored marine and coastal organisms, often assessed only within the first one to two years after restoration, was highest for saltmarshes (64.8%) and coral reefs (64.5%) and lowest for seagrass (38.0%). However, success rates reported in the scientific literature could be biased towards publishing successes rather than failures. The majority of restoration projects were short‐lived and seldom reported monitoring costs. Restoration success depended primarily on the ecosystem, site selection, and techniques applied rather than on money spent. We need enhanced investment in both improving restoration practices and large‐scale restoration.
Dynamic optimal foraging theory explains vertical migrations of Bigeye tuna
Authors: Thygesen Uffe H. , Sommer Lene , Evans Karen , Patterson Toby A.
Published: May 2016

Bigeye tuna are known for remarkable daytime vertical migrations between deep water, where food is abundant but the water is cold, and the surface, where water is warm but food is relatively scarce. Here we investigate if these dive patterns can be explained by dynamic optimal foraging theory, where the tuna maximizes its energy harvest rate. We assume that foraging efficiency increases with body temperature, so that the vertical migrations are thermoregulatory. The tuna's state is characterized by its mean body temperature and depth, and we solve the optimization problem numerically using dynamic programming. With little calibration of model parameters, our results are consistent with observed data on vertical movement: we find that small tuna should display constant‐depth strategies while large tuna should display vertical migrations. The analysis supports the hypothesis that the tuna behaves such as to maximize its energy gains. The model therefore provides insight into the processes underlying observed behavioral patterns and allows generating predictions of foraging behavior in unobserved environments.
Increased stem density and competition may diminish the positive effects of warming at alpine treeline
Authors: Wang Yafeng , Pederson Neil , Ellison Aaron M. , Buckley Hannah L. , Case Bradley S. , Liang Eryuan , Julio Camarero J.
Published: May 2016

The most widespread response to global warming among alpine treeline ecotones is not an upward shift, but an increase in tree density. However, the impact of increasing density on interactions among trees at treeline is not well understood. Here, we test if treeline densification induced by climatic warming leads to increasing intraspecific competition. We mapped and measured the size and age of Smith fir trees growing in two treelines located in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. We used spatial point‐pattern and codispersion analyses to describe the spatial association and covariation among seedlings, juveniles, and adults grouped in 30‐yr age classes from the 1860s to the present. Effects of competition on tree height and regeneration were inferred from bivariate mark‐correlations. Since the 1950s, a rapid densification occurred at both sites in response to climatic warming. Competition between adults and juveniles or seedlings at small scales intensified as density increased. Encroachment negatively affected height growth and further reduced recruitment around mature trees. We infer that tree recruitment at the studied treelines was more cold‐limited prior to 1950 and shifted to a less temperature‐constrained regime in response to climatic warming. Therefore, the ongoing densification and encroachment of alpine treelines could alter the way climate drives their transitions toward subalpine forests.
Competitive release and outbreaks of non‐target pests associated with transgenic Bt cotton
Authors: Zeilinger Adam R. , Olson Dawn M. , Andow David A.
Published: May 2016

The adoption of transgenic Bt cotton has, in some cases, led to environmental and economic benefits through reduced insecticide use. However, the distribution of these benefits and associated risks among cotton growers and cotton‐growing regions has been uneven due in part to outbreaks of non‐target or secondary pests, thereby requiring the continued use of synthetic insecticides. In the southeastern USA, Bt cotton adoption has resulted in increased abundance of and damage from stink bug pests, Euschistus servus and Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). While the impact of increased stink bug abundance has been well‐documented, the causes have remained unclear. We hypothesize that release from competition with Bt‐susceptible target pests may drive stink bug outbreaks in Bt cotton. We first examined the evidence for competitive release of stink bugs through meta‐analysis of previous studies. We then experimentally tested if herbivory by Bt‐susceptible Helicoverpa zea increases stink bug leaving rates and deters oviposition on non‐Bt cotton. Consistent with previous studies, we found differences in leaving rates only for E. servus, but we found that both species strongly avoided ovipositing on H. zea‐damaged plants. Considering all available evidence, competitive release of stink bug populations in Bt cotton likely contributes to outbreaks, though the relative importance of competitive release remains an open question. Ecological risk assessments of Bt crops and other transgenic insecticidal crops would benefit from greater understanding of the ecological mechanisms underlying non‐target pest outbreaks and greater attention to indirect ecological effects more broadly.
Spatial processes structuring riparian plant communities in agroecosystems: implications for restoration
Authors: Bourgeois Bérenger , González Eduardo , Vanasse Anne , Aubin Isabelle , Poulin Monique
Published: May 2016

The disruption of hydrological connectivity by human activities such as flood regulation or land‐use changes strongly impacts riparian plant communities. However, landscape‐scale processes have generally been neglected in riparian restoration projects as opposed to local conditions, even though such processes might largely influence community recovery. We surveyed plant composition of field edges and riverbanks in 51 riparian zones restored by tree planting (565 1‐m2 plots) within two agricultural watersheds in southeastern Québec, Canada. Once the effects of environmental variables (hydrology, soil, agriculture, landscape, restoration) were partialled out, three models of spatial autocorrelation based on Moran's eigenvector maps and asymmetric eigenvector maps were compared to quantify the pathways and direction of the spatial processes structuring riparian communities. The ecological mechanisms underlying predominant spatial processes were then assessed by regression trees linking species response to spatial gradients to seed and morphological traits. The structure of riparian communities was predominantly related to unidirectional spatial gradients from upstream to downstream along watercourses, which contributed more to species composition than bidirectional gradients along watercourses or overland. Plant traits selected by regression trees explained 22% of species response to unidirectional upstream–downstream gradients in field edges and 24% in riverbanks, and predominantly corresponded to seed traits rather than morphological traits of the adult plants. Our study showed that even in agriculturally open landscapes, water flow remains a major force structuring spatially riparian plant communities by filtering species according to their seed traits, thereby suggesting long‐distance dispersal as a predominant process. Preserving hydrological connectivity at the watershed‐scale and restoring riparian plant communities from upstream to downstream should be encouraged to improve the ecological integrity of rivers running through agricultural landscapes.
Combining statistical inference and decisions in ecology
Authors: Williams Perry J. , Hooten Mevin B.
Published: May 2016

Statistical decision theory (SDT) is a sub‐field of decision theory that formally incorporates statistical investigation into a decision‐theoretic framework to account for uncertainties in a decision problem. SDT provides a unifying analysis of three types of information: statistical results from a data set, knowledge of the consequences of potential choices (i.e., loss), and prior beliefs about a system. SDT links the theoretical development of a large body of statistical methods, including point estimation, hypothesis testing, and confidence interval estimation. The theory and application of SDT have mainly been developed and published in the fields of mathematics, statistics, operations research, and other decision sciences, but have had limited exposure in ecology. Thus, we provide an introduction to SDT for ecologists and describe its utility for linking the conventionally separate tasks of statistical investigation and decision making in a single framework. We describe the basic framework of both Bayesian and frequentist SDT, its traditional use in statistics, and discuss its application to decision problems that occur in ecology. We demonstrate SDT with two types of decisions: Bayesian point estimation and an applied management problem of selecting a prescribed fire rotation for managing a grassland bird species. Central to SDT, and decision theory in general, are loss functions. Thus, we also provide basic guidance and references for constructing loss functions for an SDT problem.
Carbon‐equivalent metrics for albedo changes in land management contexts: relevance of the time dimension
Authors: Bright Ryan M. , Bogren Wiley , Bernier Pierre , Astrup Rasmus
Published: May 2016

Surface albedo is an important physical property by which the land surface regulates climate. A wide and growing body of literature suggests that failing to account for surface albedo can result in suboptimal or even counterproductive climate‐motivated policies of the land‐based sectors. As such, albedo changes are increasingly included in climate impact assessments of forestry and other land sector projects through conversion of radiative forcings into carbon or carbon dioxide equivalents. However, the prevailing methodology does not sufficiently accommodate dynamic albedo changes on land or CO2 in the atmosphere. We present two new metrics designed to address these deficiencies, referring to them as the time‐dependent emissions equivalent and the time‐independent emissions equivalent of albedo changes. We demonstrate their application in various land management contexts and discuss their merits and uncertainties.
Within‐ and among‐population variation in vital rates and population dynamics in a variable environment
Authors: Vincenzi Simone , Mangel Marc , Jesensˇek Dusˇan , Garza John C. , Crivelli Alain J.
Published: May 2016

Understanding the causes of within‐ and among‐population differences in vital rates, life histories, and population dynamics is a central topic in ecology. To understand how within‐ and among‐population variation emerges, we need long‐term studies that include episodic events and contrasting environmental conditions, data to characterize individual and shared variation, and statistical models that can tease apart shared and individual contribution to the observed variation. We used long‐term tag–recapture data to investigate and estimate within‐ and among‐population differences in vital rates, life histories, and population dynamics of marble troutSalmo marmoratus, an endemic freshwater salmonid with a narrow range. Only ten populations of pure marble trout persist in headwaters of Alpine rivers in western Slovenia. Marble trout populations are also threatened by floods and landslides, which have already caused the extinction of two populations in recent years. We estimated and determined causes of variation in growth, survival, and recruitment both within and among populations, and evaluated trade‐offs between them. Specifically, we estimated the responses of these traits to variation in water temperature, density, sex, early life conditions, and extreme events. We found that the effects of population density on traits were mostly limited to the early stages of life and that growth trajectories were established early in life. We found no clear effects of water temperature on vital rates. Population density varied over time, with flash floods and debris flows causing massive mortalities (>55% decrease in survival with respect to years with no floods) and threatening population persistence. Apart from flood events, variation in population density within streams was largely determined by variation in recruitment, with survival of older fish being relatively constant over time within populations, but substantially different among populations. Marble trout show a fast to slow continuum of life histories, with slow growth associated with higher survival at the population level, possibly determined by food conditions and age at maturity. Our work provides unprecedented insight into the causes of variation in vital rates, life histories, and population dynamics in an endemic species that is teetering on the edge of extinction.
Co‐occurring nonnative woody shrubs have additive and non‐additive soil legacies
Authors: Kuebbing Sara E. , Patterson Courtney M. , Classen Aimée T. , Simberloff Daniel
Published: May 2016

To maximize limited conservation funds and prioritize management projects that are likely to succeed, accurate assessment of invasive nonnative species impacts is essential. A common challenge to prioritization is a limited knowledge of the difference between the impacts of a single nonnative species compared to the impacts of nonnative species when they co‐occur, and in particular predicting when impacts of co‐occurring nonnative species will be non‐additive. Understanding non‐additivity is important for management decisions because the management of only one co‐occurring invader will not necessarily lead to a predictable reduction in the impact or growth of the other nonnative plant. Nonnative plants are frequently associated with changes in soil biotic and abiotic characteristics, which lead to plant–soil interactions that influence the performance of other species grown in those soils. Whether co‐occurring nonnative plants alter soil properties additively or non‐additively relative to their effects on soils when they grow in monoculture is rarely addressed. We use a greenhouse plant–soil feedback experiment to test for non‐additive soil impacts of two common invasive nonnative woody shrubs, Lonicera maackii and Ligustrum sinense, in deciduous forests of the southeastern United States. We measured the performance of each nonnative shrub, a native herbaceous community, and a nonnative woody vine in soils conditioned by each shrub singly or together in polyculture. Soils conditioned by both nonnative shrubs had non‐additive impacts on native and nonnative performance. Root mass of the native herbaceous community was 1.5 times lower and the root mass of the nonnative L. sinense was 1.8 times higher in soils conditioned by both L. maackii and L. sinense than expected based upon growth in soils conditioned by either shrub singly. This result indicates that when these two nonnative shrubs co‐occur, their influence on soils disproportionally favors persistence of the nonnative L. sinense relative to this native herbaceous community, and could provide an explanation of why native species abundance is frequently depressed in these communities. Additionally, the difference between native and nonnative performance demonstrates that invasive impact studies focusing on the impact only of single species can be insufficient for determining the impact of co‐occurring invasive plant species.
Adecuación en el consumo de alimentos en ancianos y ancianos longevos de una ciudad en el sur de Brasil
Authors: Petter da Silva Fhaira , Beatriz Dallepiane Loiva , Ramos Kirsten Vanessa , Maria Kirchner Rosane
Published: May 2016

Introducción: la esperanza de vida está aumentando y convirtiéndose en un fenómeno característico de los países desarrollados y, cada vez más, de los países en desarrollo, como Brasil. El proceso de envejecimiento produce cambios en algunas funciones fisiológicas, como la pérdida del olfato o gusto o pérdida de apetito, entre otros, que terminan alterando la ingesta de alimentos de estos individuos.Objetivos: este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el consumo de alimentos de los ancianos y de los ancianos más longevos en una ciudad del sur de Brasil.Métodos: un estudio transversal realizado mediante visitas a domicilio en Palmeira das Missões - RS, Brasil. Los datos sociodemográficos, antropométricos y dietéticos fueron recogidos a través de cuestionarios y recordatorio de 24 horas. La adecuación de nutrientes se evaluó de acuerdo con las ingestas de referencia en la dieta. Los datos fueron analizados utilizando el software SPSS 18.0.Resultados: el estudio incluyó a 424 adultos mayores, el 84.4% (n = 358) de ellos menores de 80 años y el 15.6% (n = 66) con más de 80 años. La ingesta de energía y proteínas fue insuficiente tanto para jóvenes adultos como para los más ancianos. El consumo de vitaminas y minerales ha sido insuficiente en todos los adultos mayores a excepción del hierro, que presentaba una ingesta excesiva. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las personas de edad y mayores sólo en cuanto al consumo de lípidos y vitamina B12. Conclusión: la mayoría de los estudios con personas mayores corrobora los resultados obtenidos en este artículo. Una ingesta inadecuada de nutrientes puede dar lugar a deficiencias nutricionales y, por lo tanto, a cambios fisiológicos y patológicos que pondrían en peligro la capacidad funcional de los ancianos. El consumo de energía y de macronutrientes resultó insuficiente tanto para los ancianos como para los ancianos más longevos. Además, el consumo de vitaminas y minerales
Vitamina D y componentes del síndrome metabólico en candidatos a cirugía bariátrica
Authors: Obispo Entrenas Ana , Martín Carvajal Francisco , Legupín Tubío David , Lucena Navarro Fabiola , García Caballero Manuel , Gándara Adán Norberto , Abilés Osinaga Jimena
Published: May 2016

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de hipovitaminosis D en los candidatos a cirugía bariátrica (CB) y su relación con factores de riesgo y los componentes del síndrome metabólico.Material y métodos: los parámetros clínicos, antropométricos y bioquímicos se midieron en 56 pacientes caucásicos incluidos en un protocolo de cirugía bariátrica entre enero y junio de 2014. Los pacientes fueron estratificados en tres grupos de acuerdo al status de vitamina D: suficiencia (≥ 40 ng/ml), insuficiencia (40-20 ng/ml) y deficiencia (< 20 ng/ml).Resultados: se observó deficiencia de vitamina D en el 75% de los pacientes. Estos pacientes tenían mayor índice de masa corporal (p = 0,006) y concentraciones plasmáticas mas bajas de PTH (p = 0,045). Además, hubo más pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) y dislipemia (DLPM) en el grupo con niveles de 25 (OH) D < 20 ng/ml. Asimismo la 25 (OH) D se correlacionó negativamente con la masa grasa (r = -0,504; p = 0,009), el IMC (r = -0,394; p = 0,046) y la hipertensión arterial (r = -0,637; p = 0,001).Conclusión: De nuestros hallazgos concluimos que la deficiencia de vitamina D es muy común entre los candidatos a CB y que la misma está asociada con DM2 y DLPM.Aunque hay pocos datos sobre el mejor tratamiento para el bajo nivel de vitamina D en los pacientes candidatos CB, la detección de la deficiencia de vitamina D debe realizarse de forma rutinaria en estos casos
Influencia del programa SWEP (Study Water Exercise Pregnant) en los resultados perinatales: protocolo de estudio
Authors: Aguilar Cordero María José , Rodríguez Blanquet Raquel , Sánchez García Juan Carlos , Sánchez López Antonio Manuel , Baena García Laura , López Contreras Gracia
Published: May 2016

Introducción: el entrenamiento mediante ejercicio físico moderado durante el periodo de gestación aporta beneficios tanto a la mujer embarazada como al feto. Los trabajos de investigación consultados vinculan la actividad física con una reducción del número de cesáreas, de partos instrumentados y con un parto más fisiológico. Previene igualmente la ganancia excesiva de peso de la mujer, disminuye el riesgo de diabetes gestacional y de hipertensión arterial.Objetivo: el objetivo de esta investigación es conocer si un programa de ejercicio físico de carácter moderado con el método Study Water Exercise Pregnant (SWEP), realizado en un medio acuático, contribuye a obtener unos resultados más favorables en la etapa perinatal, tanto para la mujer como para el bebé.Material y métodos: el diseño que se llevará a cabo es un ensayo clínico aleatorizado. La muestra estará constituida por 364 gestantes, obtenida de un universo total de 6.579 partos acontecidos en Granada (España) durante el año 2014. Dicha muestra se ha dividido en dos grupos, uno de intervención y otro de control. La actividad se realizará en las instalaciones deportivas acuáticas de la Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte de la Universidad de Granada, que cuentan con dos vasos adecuados a nuestros objetivos, uno polivalente de 25 metros y otro de enseñanza de 12,5 metros.  Resultados: el programa de ejercicios diseñado específicamente para el proyecto denominado SWEP, abarca desde la 20 hasta la 37 semana de gestación (SG) y consta de tres sesiones semanales, con una duración de 60 minutos cada una. Las sesiones incluirán tres fases: fase de calentamiento, fase principal en la que el ejercicio se divide en una parte aeróbica y otra de ejercicios de fuerza y resistencia y una final con estiramientos y relajación. Las variables que se van a estudiar son las siguientes: a) maternas: peso, IMC, tensión arterial, test de O´Sullivan, aparición de depresión postparto, nivel de autopercepción de salud, calidad del sueño y esfuerzo percibido durante la actividad física; b) fetales: peso, test de Apgar, perímetro cefálico y SG (semana de gestación al nacimiento); c) periparto: tiempos de dilatación, expulsivo y alumbramiento, tipo de parto, presencia de episiotomía, tipo de alimentación que recibe el RN y tiempo de lactancia materna exclusiva; y d) descriptivas: edad, profesión, nivel de estudios, tipo de ejercicio físico realizado previamente y FO (fórmula obstétrica).Conclusión: con la actividad física acuática moderada, por parte de la embarazada (método SWEP), se pretenden mejorar las variables arriba indicadas.
Estimating the ratio of pond size to irrigated soybean land in Mississippi: a case study
Authors: Ouyang Ying , Feng Gary , Read John J. , Leininger Theodor D. , Jenkins Johnie N.
Published: May 2016

Although more on-farm storage ponds have been constructed in recent years to mitigate groundwater resources depletion in Mississippi, little effort has been devoted to estimating the ratio of on-farm water storage pond size to irrigated crop land based on pond metrics and its hydrogeological conditions. In this study, two simulation scenarios were chosen to determine such a ratio as well as to investigate pond hydrological processes using a Structural Thinking, Experimental Learning Laboratory with Animation (STELLA) model, one scenario with and the other without using pond water for irrigation for a typical pond that represented the average conditions in East Mississippi. Simulation results showed that pond water level changed moderately for conditions without using its water for irrigation, whereas pond water level changed dramatically for conditions with using its water for irrigation. A reasonable ratio of pond size to irrigated soybeans land was 1:18 if the irrigation rate was 2.54 cm/d (or 1 inch/d) and the low limit of the pond water level was drawn to near zero (0.08 m). For the ratio of 1:18, our simulations further revealed that a 1-ha soybeans land could save about 542 m3 groundwater each year. This study suggests that the STELLA model is a useful tool for estimating the ratio of pond size to irrigated crop land.
Design and Synthesis of a Multi Cu(II)-porphyrin Array
Authors: Gómez-Vidales Virginia , Borja-Miranda Andres , Cortez-Maya Sandra , Amelines-Sarria Oscar , Rivera Margarita , Martínez-García Marcos
Published: May 2016

A new class of porphyrin array was synthesized. The Cu(II) porphyrin-PAMAM-Cu(II) porphyrin was obtained in good yields. The EPR studies showed that all porphyrins obtained have signals of a copper complex with planar geometry, and no variation in the tetrahedral distortion of the porphyrin ring was observed. The UV-vis and emission studies showed that the intensity of the signal increased due to the presence of 5 porphyrin moieties in the structure. In order to further characterize this molecule, thin films were prepared by using the thermal evaporation method. The morphology of the film showed a homogeneous structure while conductivity measurements exhibit a good conductive response.
Design and Synthesis of Some Imidazolyl Derivatives: Photophysical Studies and Application in the Detection of Anions
Authors: Shahid Mohammad , Ali Rashid , Razi Syed S. , Srivastava Priyanka , Gupta Ramesh C. , Dwivedi Sushil K. , Misra Arvind
Published: May 2016

A fluorescent probe based on dicyanovinylphenanthroimidazole (DCPPI) has been designed and synthesized and its potential application to recognize F- and CN- ions via different channels have been tested in different mediums. DCPPI shows intramolecular charge transfer process and exhibit ratiometric response toward F- and CN- ions. The change in physicochemical properties of DCPPI in the presence of cyanide can be attributed to the formation of Michael type adduct, DCPPIA whereas both F- and CN- ions have shown affinities to interact with NH fragment of imidazolyl unit under the condition. The possible mode of interaction has been confirmed by absorption, emission, NMR and ESI-MS spectral data analysis.
Biosorption of Ni(II) by Fig Male: Optimization and Modeling Using a Full Factorial Design
Authors: Madjene F. , Chergui A. , Trari M.
Published: May 2016

The fig male (FM) is successfully used as biosorbent for Ni2+ removal. The maximum removal efficiency (96.6%) is obtained at pH ~ 5 for a concentration of 1.70 mmol L−1 and catalyst dose of 5 g L−1 in less than 10 minutes. The Ni2+ uptake follows a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic, the rate constants increase with increasing temperature, and an activation energy of 55.48 kJ mol−1 is found. The thermodynamic parameters indicate a spontaneous endothermic bisorption. The isotherm data are fitted by the Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. The former indicates a maximum Ni2+ uptake of 0.459 mmol g−1, which is higher than that of most biosorbents investigated to date. The FTIR spectra reveal the biosorption mechanism between Ni2+ and FM functional groups. An empirical modeling is performed by using a 23 full factorial design, and a regression equation for Ni2+ biosorption is determined. The biosorbent mass and pH are the most significant parameters affecting the Ni2+ biosorption.
Fahr’s syndrome and idiopathic hypoparathyroidism: A case report
Authors: Marinkovic Dejan , Dragovic Tamara , Kikovic Sasa , Kuzmic-Jankovic Snezana , Djuran Zorana , Hajdukovic Zoran
Published: May 2016

Introduction. Fahr?s syndrome is a rare, slowly progressive,
neurodegenerative disorder, characterised by extensive, bilateral, and
symmetrical basal ganglia calcification. It is associated with
neuropsychiatric manifestations and gradually progressive cognitive
impairment. Fahr's syndrome is the secondary form of brain calcification that
is caused by various metabolic, infectious, or degenerative diseases. Case
report. We presented a middle-aged male with Fahr's syndrome due to primary
idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Clinical diagnosis was based on signs and
symptoms of hypocalcemia, progressive neuropsychiatric illnesses, laboratory
evidence of hypoparathyroidism, and radiological signs of calcifications in
the basal ganglia. The patient improved after only a few days of intravenous
rehydration and calcium substitution, followed by oral supplemental
calcitriol. Conclusion. Timely recognition of idiopathic and iatrogenic
hypoparathyroidism allows appropriate treatment that can prevent the
development and clinical manifestations of Fahr?s syndrome and potentially
slow its progression.
Bariatric Surgery in Obese Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Kirwan John P. , Aminian Ali , Kashyap Sangeeta R. , Burguera Bartolome , Brethauer Stacy A. , Schauer Philip R.
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVE

There is a paucity of data on the impact of bariatric surgery in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this review was to quantify the overall effects of bariatric surgery in obese patients with T1D.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar from their inception to December 2015 to identify all relevant studies of bariatric surgery in adult obese patients with T1D.

RESULTS

The review included 17 studies with 107 individuals, including 10 case series and 7 case reports. Overall, the dominant procedure was gastric bypass (n = 70; 65%). All studies reported a significant reduction in excess weight. A significant reduction in weight-adjusted daily insulin requirements was shown in all case series except one. Pooled mean ± SD of pre- and postoperative glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for the entire cohort with available data (n = 96) was 8.4 ± 1.3% and 7.9 ± 1.1%, respectively (P = 0.01). In addition to common postoperative complications, profound glycemic changes (diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia) and gastrointestinal dysmotility symptoms (prolonged ileus and acute gastric remnant dilation) have been reported. No surgical mortality was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery leads to significant weight loss in severely obese patients with T1D and results in a significant improvement in insulin requirements and glycemic status. The favorable metabolic effects of bariatric surgery may facilitate medical management of and cardiovascular risk reduction in T1D in the setting of severe obesity. Diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia are potentially serious complications. Short-term results of bariatric surgery in patients with T1D are encouraging, but larger and longer-term studies are needed.
Glucose Variability in a 26-Week Randomized Comparison of Mealtime Treatment With Rapid-Acting Insulin Versus GLP-1 Agonist in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes at High Cardiovascular Risk
Authors:   The FLAT-SUGAR Trial Investigators
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVE

A1C is associated with diabetes complications but does not reflect glycemic variability (GV), which may worsen outcomes by inducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiac arrhythmias. We tested whether a glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist-based regimen can reduce GV and cardiometabolic risk markers while maintaining similar A1C levels in people with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

After run-in on metformin and basal-bolus insulin (BBI), 102 participants continued metformin and basal insulin and were randomized to exenatide dosing before the two largest meals (glucacon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and insulin [GLIPULIN group]) or continuation of rapid-acting insulin analogs (BBI group). Indices of GV by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), hypoglycemia, weight, risk markers, and cardiac arrhythmias were assessed. The primary end point was change in glucose coefficients of variation (CV) by CGM from baseline to 26 weeks.

RESULTS

At randomization, the median A1C was 7.3% (57 mmol/mol) for GLIPULIN and 7.4% (56.3 mmol/mol) for BBI, and glucose CVs were 30.3 for BBI and 31.9 for GLIPULIN. At 26 weeks, A1C levels were similar (7.1% [54 mmol/mol] vs. 7.2% [55 mmol/mol]), whereas mean CV improved with GLIPULIN (−2.4 vs. 0.4, P = 0.047). Other GV indices followed similar nonsignificant patterns of improvement with GLIPULIN. There were no differences in hypoglycemic events during CGM or arrhythmias during electrocardiographic monitoring. On-trial changes in body weight (−4.8 kg vs. +0.7 kg, P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.0002), and serum amyloid A (P = 0.023) favored GLIPULIN.

CONCLUSIONS

GLIPULIN reduced GV, weight, and some cardiometabolic risk markers while maintaining equivalent A1C levels versus BBI and might improve clinical outcomes in a larger trial.
HDL Cholesterol as a Residual Risk Factor for Vascular Events and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Sharif Shahnam , van der Graaf Yolanda , Nathoe Hendrik M. , de Valk Harold W. , Visseren Frank L.J. , Westerink Jan ,   on behalf of the SMART Study Group
Published: May 2016

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether low HDL cholesterol (HDL-c) levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and whether it remains a residual risk factor when attaining low LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) treatment goals or when LDL-c is treated with intensive lipid-lowering therapy.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a prospective cohort study of 1,829 patients with type 2 diabetes included in the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the risk of HDL-c on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Analyses were performed in strata of LDL-c levels (<2.0, 2.0–2.5, and >2.5 mmol/L) and lipid-lowering therapy intensity and were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol, LDL-c, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, glucose, and HbA1c.

RESULTS

A total of 335 new cardiovascular events and 385 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 7.0 years (interquartile range 3.9–10.4). No relation was found between plasma HDL-c and cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–1.01) or all-cause mortality (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96–1.03). Subgroup analysis supported effect modification by plasma LDL-c levels. In patients with LDL-c levels <2.0 mmol/L, higher HDL-c was related to higher risk for all-cause mortality (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07–1.21). Higher HDL-c was also related to higher risk for cardiovascular events in patients with LDL-c levels <2.0 mmol/L (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07–1.21) in contrast to patients with LDL-c levels between 2.0 and 2.5 mmol/L (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.95) and >2.5 mmol/L (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.91–1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

In high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes with LDL-c levels <2.0 mmol/L, higher HDL-c at baseline is unexpectedly related to a higher risk for cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in contrast to high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes with LDL-c levels between 2.0 and 2.5 mmol/L.
Comparison of endothelial cell loss and complications between phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in uveitic cataract
Authors: Bhargava Rahul , Sharma Shiv Kumar , Chandra Mini , Kumar Prachi , Arora Yogesh
Published: May 2016

Introduction: Endothelial cell loss and complications after cataract surgery may be higher when cataract is complicated by uveitis.Objective: To compare endothelial cell damage and complication rates after phacoemulsification and manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS) in patients with uveitis.Materials and methods: Patients with uveitic cataract were randomly allocated for phacoemulsification (n=75) or manual SICS (n=80) in a double blind prospective study. In the bag implantation of a hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens was aimed in all cases. Patients with follow up of less than six months were excluded. Main outcome measures were alteration in endothelial cell counts (ECC) and morphology, improvement in vision and complication rates. ECC was measured preoperatively and at 1 week, 3 months and six months, postoperatively.Results: Six patients were lost to follow up and another three due inability to implant IOL. There were no significant difference in endothelial cell counts (P= 0.032), the variance of endothelial cell size (CV) and percentage of hexagonal cells between both the groups at six months (Mann-Whitney test, P=0.283). Endothelial cell density was significantly less in the group in which vitrectomy and/or pupil dilatation procedures were performed (2290±31.5 cells/mm2) versus (2385±50.3 cells/mm2), respectively (t test, P<0.001). Incidence of postoperative complications that were observed like persistent uveitis (P=0.591), macular edema (P=0.671) and PCO (P=0.678) and visual outcome (P=0.974) were comparable between the two groups.Conclusions: Manual SICS and phacoemulsification do not differ significantly in endothelial cell loss and complication rates in uveitic eyes. However, increased anterior chamber manoeuvring due to additional procedures may lead to significantly higher endothelial cell loss.
Isolated rectus muscle rupture following trauma
Authors: Çağatay Halil Hüseyin , Ekinci Metin , Ulusal Şendoğan , Oba Mehmet Ersin , Yazar Zeliha
Published: May 2016

Background: Isolated rectus muscle ruptures are rare ophthalmic emergencies which may result in permanent diplopia. Objective: To highlight updates on clinical features, surgical treatment options and potential complications for isolated inferior rectus ruptures. Case: A 39-year-old man came to our emergency department complaining of diplopia and upward deviation of the right eye after experiencing an animal injury. Extraocular movements were limited in the right eye in the downgaze position. The alternate prism and cover test, both at distance and near testing, showed hypertropia of 40 prism diopters (PD) of the right eye. The right eye had periorbital swelling and conjunctival haematoma. An inferior rectus rupture repair was performed under local anesthesia and monitored sedation. Follow-up examination revealed a 20 PD hypertropia, causing diplopia in all gazes. A second surgical intervention was planned six months after the initial surgery, an inferior rectus 6 mm resection was performed, after which orthophoria was achieved in the primary position both at distance and near testing.
Reading in the Dark: Lost Books, Literacy, and Fifteenth-Century German Literature
Authors: Green Jonathan
Published: May 2016

While the invention of print has often been treated as a media revolution, a reconsideration of the type and page formats of early printed books suggests considerable continuity in physical makeup, and in book markets as well, between manuscript and print. This continuity in turn suggests that recent research on lost books and missing editions, which points towards a much higher number of lost fifteenth-century editions than previously believed, is also relevant for the study of late medieval manuscripts, especially for smaller vernacular works. Shifting the perspective from the books and manuscripts that survive today to those that likely once existed compels a reconsideration of late medieval literacy and the literary context for smaller works, such as the Stricker’s Pfaffe Amis, that were printed in the fifteenth century.
The Function of Fish Cytokines
Authors: Zou Jun , Secombes Christopher
Published: May 2016

What is known about the biological activity of fish cytokines is reviewed. Most of the functional studies performed to date have been in teleost fish, and have focused on the induced effects of cytokine recombinant proteins, or have used loss- and gain-of-function experiments in zebrafish. Such studies begin to tell us about the role of these molecules in the regulation of fish immune responses and whether they are similar or divergent to the well-characterised functions of mammalian cytokines. This knowledge will aid our ability to determine and modulate the pathways leading to protective immunity, to improve fish health in aquaculture.
Synthesis and Characterization of Ag-Ag2O/TiO2@polypyrrole Heterojunction for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Kumar Rajeev , El-Shishtawy Reda , Barakat Mohamed
Published: May 2016

Hybrid multi-functional nanomaterials comprising two or more disparate materials have become a powerful approach to obtain advanced materials for environmental remediation applications. In this work, an Ag-Ag2O/TiO2@polypyrrole (Ag/TiO2@PPy) heterojunction has been synthesized by assembling a self-stabilized Ag-Ag2O (p type) semiconductor (denoted as Ag) and polypyrrole (π-conjugated polymer) on the surface of rutile TiO2 (n type). Ag/TiO2@PPy was synthesized through simultaneous oxidation of pyrrole monomers and reduction of AgNO3 in an aqueous solution containing well-dispersed TiO2 particles. Thus synthesized Ag/TiO2@PPy was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DSR). The photocatalytic activity of synthesized heterojunction was investigated for the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV and visible light irradiation. The results revealed that π-conjugated p-n heterojunction formed in the case of Ag/TiO2@PPy significantly enhanced the photodecomposition of MB compared to the p-n type Ag/TiO2 and TiO2@PPy (n-π) heterojunctions. A synergistic effect between Ag-Ag2O and PPy leads to higher photostability and a better electron/hole separation leads to an enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ag/TiO2@PPy under both UV and visible light irradiations.
Numerical Simulation of Entropy Generation with Thermal Radiation on MHD Carreau Nanofluid towards a Shrinking Sheet
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad , Abbas Tehseen , Rashidi Mohammad , Ali Mohamed
Published: May 2016

In this article, entropy generation with radiation on non-Newtonian Carreau nanofluid towards a shrinking sheet is investigated numerically. The effects of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are also taken into account. Firstly, the governing flow problem is simplified into ordinary differential equations from partial differential equations with the help of similarity variables. The solution of the resulting nonlinear differential equations is solved numerically with the help of the successive linearization method and Chebyshev spectral collocation method. The influence of all the emerging parameters is discussed with the help of graphs and tables. It is observed that the influence of magnetic field and fluid parameters oppose the flow. It is also analyzed that thermal radiation effects and the Prandtl number show opposite behavior on temperature profile. Furthermore, it is also observed that entropy profile increases for all the physical parameters.
Distant Supervision for Relation Extraction with Ranking-Based Methods
Authors: Xiang Yang , Chen Qingcai , Wang Xiaolong , Qin Yang
Published: May 2016

Relation extraction has benefited from distant supervision in recent years with the development of natural language processing techniques and data explosion. However, distant supervision is still greatly limited by the quality of training data, due to its natural motivation for greatly reducing the heavy cost of data annotation. In this paper, we construct an architecture called MIML-sort (Multi-instance Multi-label Learning with Sorting Strategies), which is built on the famous MIML framework. Based on MIML-sort, we propose three ranking-based methods for sample selection with which we identify relation extractors from a subset of the training data. Experiments are set up on the KBP (Knowledge Base Propagation) corpus, one of the benchmark datasets for distant supervision, which is large and noisy. Compared with previous work, the proposed methods produce considerably better results. Furthermore, the three methods together achieve the best F1 on the official testing set, with an optimal enhancement of F1 from 27.3% to 29.98%.