bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bifunctional Hierarchical Zeolite‐Supported Silver Catalysts for the Conversion of Glycerol to Allyl Alcohol
Authors: Lari Giacomo M. , Chen Zupeng , Mondelli Cecilia , Pérez‐Ramírez Javier
Published: January 2017

The establishment of suitable processes for the conversion of glycerol into allyl alcohol is hindered by the fast deactivation of solid acids in the dehydration of the substrate to acrolein and by the requirement of hydrogen donors to enhance the selectivity of the subsequent reduction step. In this work, silver nanoparticles deposited onto a hierarchical ZSM‐5 zeolite are proved to be an effective bifunctional catalyst to conduct the two reactions in the gas phase and in the presence of hydrogen by using a continuous fixed‐bed reactor. The acidic function was accomplished by using a ZSM‐5 zeolite modified by facile alkaline and acid treatments, which decreased the amount of Lewis acid centers while preserving the amount of Brønsted acid centers, and introduced an auxiliary network of intracrystalline mesopores, thus boosting the selectivity to acrolein (62 %) and the resistance to coking. Upon screening of various metals supported on the aluminosilicate, silver was identified as a superior hydrogenation catalyst, enabling a relatively high activity with >50 % allyl alcohol selectivity. Tuning of the metal loading, temperature, pressure, and contact time led to 15 % yield of allyl alcohol, thus approaching the state‐of‐the‐art transfer hydrogenation systems, and stable behavior for 100 h on stream. Our results highlight the advantage of conducting the two transformations over a bifunctional material rather than over two separate single‐function solids.
Comparison of an AC‐taxane versus AC‐free regimen and paclitaxel versus docetaxel in patients with lymph node‐positive breast cancer: Final results of the National Surgical Adjuvant Study of Breast Cancer 02 trial, a randomized comparative phase 3 study
Authors: Watanabe Toru , Kuranami Masaru , Inoue Kenichi , Masuda Norikazu , Aogi Kenjiro , Ohno Shinji , Iwata Hiroji , Mukai Hirofumi , Uemura Yukari , Ohashi Yasuo
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

In postoperative patients with breast cancer, the combination of an anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by a taxane is a standard regimen. In the current study, the authors examined whether AC could be safely omitted, and compared the effectiveness of paclitaxel versus docetaxel.

METHODS

Female postoperative patients with axillary lymph node‐positive breast cancer were eligible for enrollment in this phase 3, open‐label, randomized controlled trial at 84 centers in Japan. Patients were randomized to 4 cycles of doxorubicin at a dose of 60 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide at a dose of 600 mg/m2 (AC) followed by 4 cycles of paclitaxel at a dose of 175 mg/m2 (ACpT) or AC followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel at a dose of 75 mg/m2 (ACdT), or 8 cycles of paclitaxel (PTx) or docetaxel (DTx) every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was disease‐free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival adverse events. The authors adopted a 2 × 2 factorial design to examine the AC containing‐regimens (ACpT and ACdT) versus the AC free‐regimens (PTx and DTx), and the paclitaxel‐containing regimens (ACpT and PTx) versus the docetaxel‐containing regimens (ACdT and DTx).

RESULTS

Of 1060 patients, 1049 were treated and included in the intention‐to‐treat population. The DFS results did not demonstrate noninferiority between the AC‐containing and the AC‐free regimens (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.982‐1.448 [Pnoninferiority = .30]). Better outcomes were noted in patients treated with the docetaxel‐containing regimens compared with the paclitaxel‐containing regimens with respect to DFS (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.589‐0.875 [P = .0008]) and overall survival (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.574‐0.980 [P = .035]). Neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting were found to occur more often in the AC‐containing arms, whereas the incidence of edema was greater in the docetaxel‐containing treatment arms.

CONCLUSIONS

Noninferiority in DFS was not demonstrated between the AC‐containing and AC‐free regimens. Compared with a similar regimen of paclitaxel, docetaxel appeared to increase the DFS. Cancer 2017;123:759–68. © 2016 American Cancer Society.
A study of over 35,000 women with breast cancer tested with a 25‐gene panel of hereditary cancer genes
Authors: Buys Saundra S. , Sandbach John F. , Gammon Amanda , Patel Gayle , Kidd John , Brown Krystal L. , Sharma Lavania , Saam Jennifer , Lancaster Johnathan , Daly Mary B.
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

As panel testing becomes more common in clinical practice, it is important to understand the prevalence and trends associated with the pathogenic variants (PVs) identified. This is especially true for genetically heterogeneous cancers, such as breast cancer (BC), in which PVs in different genes may be associated with various risks and cancer subtypes. The authors evaluated the outcomes of genetic testing among women who had a personal history of BC.

METHODS

A total of 35,409 women with a single diagnosis of BC who underwent clinical genetic testing with a 25‐gene panel were included in the current analysis. Women with multiple BCs and men with BC were excluded. The frequency and distribution of PVs were assessed for the overall cohort, among women with triple‐negative BC (TNBC) (n = 4797), and by age at diagnosis.

RESULTS

PVs were identified in 9.3% of women tested; 51.5% of PVs were identified in genes other than breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and BRCA2, including checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) (11.7%), ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM; ATM serine/threonine kinase) (9.7%), and partner and localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) (9.3%). The prevalence of PVs in BRCA1, PALB2, BRCA1‐associated RING domain 1 (BARD1), BRCA1‐interacting protein C‐terminal helicase 1 (BRIP1), and RAD51 paralog C (RAD51C) was statistically higher among women with TNBC. The PV rate was higher among women aged <40 years, lower among women aged >59 years, and relatively constant (8.5%‐9.0%) among women who were diagnosed between ages 40 and 59 years.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that panel testing increased the number of women identified as carrying a PV in this cohort compared with BRCA testing alone. Furthermore, the proportion of women identified who carried a PV in this cohort did not decrease between ages 40 and 59 years. Cancer 2017;123:1721–1730. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
The utility of abbreviated patient‐reported outcomes for predicting survival in early stage colorectal cancer
Authors: Hsu Tina , Speers Caroline H. , Kennecke Hagen F. , Cheung Winson Y.
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

Patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) are increasingly used in clinical settings. Prior research suggests that PROs collected at baseline may be associated with cancer survival, but most of those studies were conducted in patients with breast or lung cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between prospectively collected PROs and cancer‐specific outcomes in patients with early stage colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Patients who had newly diagnosed stage II or III colorectal cancer from 2009 to 2010 and had a consultation at the British Columbia Cancer Agency completed the brief Psychosocial Screen for Cancer (PSSCAN) questionnaire, which collects data on patients' perceived social supports, quality of life (QOL), anxiety and depression, and general health. PROs from the PSSCAN were linked with the Gastrointestinal Cancers Outcomes Database, which contains information on patient and tumor characteristics, treatment details, and cancer outcomes. Cox regression models were constructed for overall survival (OS), and Fine and Gray regression models were developed for disease‐specific survival (DSS).

RESULTS

In total, 692 patients were included. The median patient age was 67 years (range, 26‐95 years), and the majority had colon cancer (61%), were diagnosed with stage III disease (54%), and received chemotherapy (58%). In general, patients felt well supported and reported good overall health and QOL. On multivariate analysis, increased fatigue was associated with worse OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.99; P = .00007) and DSS (HR, 1.63; P = .03), as was lack of emotional support (OS: HR, 4.36; P = .0003; DSS: HR, 1.92; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Although most patients described good overall health and QOL and indicated that they were generally well supported, patients who experienced more pronounced fatigue or lacked emotional support had a higher likelihood of worse OS and DSS. These findings suggest that abbreviated PROs can inform and assist clinicians to identify patients who have a worse prognosis and may need more vigilant follow‐up. Cancer 2017;123:1839–1847. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
What do these scores mean? Presenting patient‐reported outcomes data to patients and clinicians to improve interpretability
Authors: Snyder Claire F. , Smith Katherine C. , Bantug Elissa T. , Tolbert Elliott E. , Blackford Amanda L. , Brundage Michael D. ,   the PRO Data Presentation Stakeholder Advisory Board
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

Patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) (eg, symptoms, functioning) can inform patient management. However, patients and clinicians often have difficulty interpreting score meaning. The authors tested approaches for presenting PRO data to improve interpretability.

METHODS

This mixed‐methods study included an Internet survey of cancer patients/survivors, oncology clinicians, and PRO researchers circulated via snowball sampling, plus individual in‐person interviews. Clinical importance was conveyed using 3 approaches (presented in random order): normal score range shaded green, concerning scores circled in red, and red threshold lines indicating normal versus concerning scores. Versions also tested 2 approaches to score directionality: higher = more (better for function, worse for symptoms) and higher = better for both function and symptoms. Qualitative data from online comments and in‐person interviews supplemented quantitative results on interpretation accuracy, clarity, and the “most useful” format.

RESULTS

The survey included 1113 respondents: 627 survivors, 236 clinicians, and 250 researchers, plus 10 patients and 10 clinicians who were purposively sampled interviewees. Interpretation accuracy ranged from 53% to 100%. The formats in which higher = better were interpreted more accurately versus those in which higher = more (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07‐1.58) and were more likely to be rated “very”/“somewhat” clear (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.13‐1.70) and “very” clear (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.18‐1.58). Red circle formats were interpreted more accurately than green‐shaded formats when the first format presented (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.00‐1.65). Threshold‐line formats were more likely to be rated “very” clear than green‐shaded (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.19‐1.71) and red‐circled (OR, 1.22, 95% CI, 1.02‐1.46) formats. Threshold lines were most often selected as “most useful.”

CONCLUSIONS

The current results support presenting PRO data with higher = better directionality and threshold lines indicating normal versus concerning scores. Cancer 2017;123:1848–1859. © 2017 The Authors. Cancer published byWiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non‐commercial and no modifications or adaptations aremade.
Comparative effectiveness of first‐line radiofrequency ablation versus surgical resection and transplantation for patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kutlu Onur C. , Chan Jennifer A. , Aloia Thomas A. , Chun Yun S. , Kaseb Ahmed O. , Passot Guillaume , Yamashita Suguru , Vauthey Jean‐Nicolas , Conrad Claudius
Published: January 2017

BACKGROUND

Significant controversy exists as to which treatment modality is most effective for small, solitary hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs): radiofrequency ablation (RFA), surgical resection (RXN), or transplantation (TXP). Size cutoff values ranging from 20 to 50 mm have been proposed to achieve complete ablation. The current study compares outcomes between RFA, RXN, and TXP as first‐line therapy for patients with HCC tumors measuring as large as 50 mm.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for patients with HCC tumors measuring up to 50 mm who were treated with RFA, RXN, or TXP between 2004 and 2013. Overall survival (OS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) were examined in patients with tumors measuring ≤20 mm, 21 to 30 mm, or 31 to 50 mm. The impact of an increase in tumor size of only 5 mm beyond 30 mm was evaluated by also examining outcomes in patients with tumors measuring 31 to 35 mm.

RESULTS

Of 1894 cases, patients with HCC tumors measuring ≤20 mm and 21 to 30 mm demonstrated no difference in OS or DSS regardless of whether RFA and RXN was used. RFA was associated with a worse OS and DSS than TXP, whereas there was no difference in OS observed between RXN and TXP. In patients with tumors measuring 31 to 50 mm, OS and DSS were worse with RFA compared with RXN or TXP. Most important, the inferior DSS and OS noted with RFA were observed with only a 5‐mm increase in tumors measuring >30 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Although RFA frequently is used as first‐line treatment of HCC tumors measuring as large as 50 mm, it is associated with worse results than RXN or TXP for tumors measuring >30 mm. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the results of the current study are the first to demonstrate that although RFA is an appropriate option for patients with HCC tumors measuring ≤30 mm, its use for tumors even slightly larger than 30 mm is associated with inferior outcomes. Cancer 2017;123:1817–1827. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Senescence in Culture and In Vivo
Authors: Zhao Jing , Fuhrmann‐Stroissnigg Heike , Gurkar Aditi U. , Flores Rafael R. , Dorronsoro Akaitz , Stolz Donna B. , St. Croix Claudette M. , Niedernhofer Laura J. , Robbins Paul D.
Published: January 2017

Cellular senescence refers to the irreversible growth arrest of normally dividing cells in response to various types of stress. Cellular senescence is induced by telomere shortening due to repeated cell division, which causes a DNA damage response, as well as genotoxic, oxidative, and inflammatory stress. Strong mitogenic signaling, such as oncogene activation, also drives cells into a senescent state. Senescent cells express a specific subset of genes, termed the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP), including pro‐inflammatory factors, growth factors, and matrix metalloproteinases, which together promote non‐cell autonomous, secondary senescence. Clearance of senescent cells that accumulate with age improves health span, implicating cellular senescence as a contributing factor to the aging process. Thus, there is a need for methods to identify and quantify cellular senescence, both in cultured cells and in vivo. Here, methods for the most well‐characterized and widely used senescent assays are described, from cell morphology and senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐βgal) staining to nuclear biomarkers, SASP, and altered levels of tumor suppressors. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Beliefs about Victim‐Offender Conferences: Factors Influencing Victim‐Offender Engagement
Authors: Paul Gregory D. , Schenck‐Hamlin William J.
Published: January 2017

Victim‐offender conferences provide victims an opportunity to pursue their justice goals while talking directly with their offender. Although research on victims’ conference participation willingness is growing, it has tended to neglect the influence of context factors. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, the study reported in this article elicited beliefs about justice goals, emotions, perceived support, and external control beliefs related to intent to participate in a victim‐offender conference. Analysis indicated that beliefs about justice goals, anticipated emotions, social support, and behavior control influence conference participation willingness. The article identifies implications for research and practice regarding restorative justice and conference participation.
Big biology meets microclimatology: defining thermal niches of ectotherms at landscape scales for conservation planning
Authors: Isaak Daniel J. , Wenger Seth J. , Young Michael K.
Published: January 2017

Temperature profoundly affects ecology, a fact ever more evident as the ability to measure thermal environments increases and global changes alter these environments. The spatial structure of thermalscapes is especially relevant to the distribution and abundance of ectothermic organisms, but the ability to describe biothermal relationships at extents and grains relevant to conservation planning has been limited by small or sparse data sets. Here, we combine a large occurrence database of >23 000 aquatic species surveys with stream microclimate scenarios supported by an equally large temperature database for a 149 000‐km mountain stream network to describe thermal relationships for 14 fish and amphibian species. Species occurrence probabilities peaked across a wide range of temperatures (7.0–18.8°C) but distinct warm‐ or cold‐edge distribution boundaries were apparent for all species and represented environments where populations may be most sensitive to thermal changes. Warm‐edge boundary temperatures for a native species of conservation concern were used with geospatial data sets and a habitat occupancy model to highlight subsets of the network where conservation measures could benefit local populations by maintaining cool temperatures. Linking that strategic approach to local estimates of habitat impairment remains a key challenge but is also an opportunity to build relationships and develop synergies between the research, management, and regulatory communities. As with any data mining or species distribution modeling exercise, care is required in analysis and interpretation of results, but the use of large biological data sets with accurate microclimate scenarios can provide valuable information about the thermal ecology of many ectotherms and a spatially explicit way of guiding conservation investments.
The interplay between natural and sexual selection in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism inSceloporuslizards (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)
Authors: Jiménez‐Arcos Víctor H. , Sanabria‐Urbán Salomón , Cueva del Castillo Raúl
Published: January 2017

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) evolves because body size is usually related to reproductive success through different pathways in females and males. Female body size is strongly correlated with fecundity, while in males, body size is correlated with mating success. In many lizard species, males are larger than females, whereas in others, females are the larger sex, suggesting that selection on fecundity has been stronger than sexual selection on males. As placental development or egg retention requires more space within the abdominal cavity, it has been suggested that females of viviparous lizards have larger abdomens or body size than their oviparous relatives. Thus, it would be expected that females of viviparous species attain larger sizes than their oviparous relatives, generating more biased patterns ofSSD. We test these predictions using lizards of the genusSceloporus. After controlling for phylogenetic effects, our results confirm a strong relationship between female body size and fecundity, suggesting that selection for higher fecundity has had a main role in the evolution of female body size. However, oviparous and viviparous females exhibit similar sizes and allometric relationships. Even though there is a strong effect of body size on female fecundity, once phylogenetic effects are considered, we find that the slope of male on female body size is significantly larger than one, providing evidence of greater evolutionary divergence of male body size. These results suggest that the relative impact of sexual selection acting on males has been stronger than fecundity selection acting on females withinSceloporuslizards.
Temporal complexity of southernBeaufortSea polar bear diets during a period of increasing land use
Authors: McKinney Melissa A. , Atwood Todd C. , Iverson Sara J. , Peacock Elizabeth
Published: January 2017

From 2000 to 2013, use of land as a seasonal habitat by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) of the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) subpopulation substantially increased. This onshore use has been linked to reduced spatial and temporal availability of sea ice, as well as to the availability of subsistence‐harvested bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) bone piles. Here, we evaluated the role of climate conditions on consumption of traditional ice‐associated prey relative to onshore bowhead whale bone piles. We determined seasonal and interannual trends in the diets ofSBpolar bears using fatty acid‐based analysis during this period of increasing land use. Diet estimates of 569SBpolar bears from 2004 to 2012 showed high seasonal fluctuations in the proportions of prey consumed. Higher proportions of bowhead whale, as well as ringed seal (Pusa hispida) and beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), were estimated to occur in the winter–spring diet, while higher proportions of bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) were estimated for summer–fall diets. Trends in the annual mean proportions of individual prey items were not found in either period, except for significant declines in the proportion of beluga in spring‐sampled bears. Nonetheless, in years following a high winter Arctic oscillation index, proportions of ice‐associated ringed seal were lower in the winter–spring diets of adult females and juveniles. Proportions of bowhead increased in the winter–spring diets of adult males with the number of ice‐free days over the continental shelf. In one or both seasons, polar bears that were in better condition were estimated to have consumed less ringed seal and/or more bowhead whale than those in worse condition. Therefore, climate variation over this recent period appeared to influence the extent of onshore vs. on‐ice food use, which in turn, appeared to be linked to fluctuating condition ofSBpolar bears.
Seed dispersal at alpine treeline: an assessment of seed movement within the alpine treeline ecotone
Authors: Johnson Jeremy S. , Gaddis Keith D. , Cairns David M. , Krutovsky Konstantin V.
Published: January 2017

Alpine treelines are expected to advance to higher elevations in conjunction with global warming. Nevertheless, the importance of treeline reproductive patterns and seed dispersal within the alpine treeline ecotone remains unresolved. In this study, we address two research questions at mountain hemlock treelines on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska: (1) What is the primary mode of reproduction and (2) are seeds leading to recruitment derived from within the local treeline populations or are they arriving from more distant seed sources? To answer these questions, we exhaustively sampled mountain hemlock individuals along a single mountain slope, and genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms using double‐digest restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing. First, we assessed mode of reproduction by determining the proportion of sampled individuals with identical multilocus genotypes that are the product of clonal reproduction. Second, we used a categorical parentage analysis to identify parent–offspring pairs, so that the proportion of treeline reproduction events could be spatially quantified and dispersal distance measured. We identified sexual reproduction as the primary mode of reproduction at our study site. Seedling establishment was characterized by extensive seed immigration and gene flow into the ecotone. The average dispersal distance was 73 m with long‐distance dispersal identified as dispersal occurring at distances greater than 450 m. We found that production of seeds within the alpine treeline ecotone is not necessarily a requirement for treelines to advance to higher elevations in response to climate change. The extensive seed dispersal and gene flow into the alpine treeline ecotone is likely sufficient to propel the ecotone higher under more favorable climate.
Effects of climate change and anthropogenic modification on a disturbance‐dependent species in a large riverine system
Authors: Zeigler Sara L. , Catlin Daniel H. , Bomberger Brown Mary , Fraser James D. , Dinan Lauren R. , Hunt Kelsi L. , Jorgensen Joel G. , Karpanty Sarah M.
Published: January 2017

Humans have altered nearly every natural disturbance regime on the planet through climate and land‐use change, and in many instances, these processes may have interacting effects. For example, projected shifts in temperature and precipitation will likely influence disturbance regimes already affected by anthropogenic fire suppression or river impoundments. Understanding how disturbance‐dependent species respond to complex and interacting environmental changes is important for conservation efforts. Using field‐based demographic and movement rates, we conducted a metapopulation viability analysis for piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), a threatened disturbance‐dependent species, along the Missouri and Platte rivers in the Great Plains of North America. Our aim was to better understand current and projected future metapopulation dynamics given that natural disturbances (flooding or high‐flow events) have been greatly reduced by river impoundments and that climate change could further alter the disturbance regime. Although metapopulation abundance has been substantially reduced under the current suppressed disturbance regime (high‐flow return interval ~ 20 yr), it could grow if the frequency of high‐flow events increases as predicted under likely climate change scenarios. We found that a four‐year return interval would maximize metapopulation abundance, and all subpopulations in the metapopulation would act as sources at a return interval of 15 yr or less. Regardless of disturbance frequency, the presence of even a small, stable source subpopulation buffered the metapopulation and sustained a low metapopulation extinction risk. Therefore, climate change could have positive effects in ecosystems where disturbances have been anthropogenically suppressed when climatic shifts move disturbance regimes toward more historical patterns. Furthermore, stable source populations, even if unintentionally maintained through anthropogenic activities, may be critical for the persistence of metapopulations of early‐successional species under both suppressed disturbance regimes and disturbance regimes where climate change has further altered disturbance frequency or scope.
Variable vital rates and the risk of population declines in Adélie penguins from the Antarctic Peninsula region
Authors: Hinke Jefferson T. , Trivelpiece Susan G. , Trivelpiece Wayne Z.
Published: January 2017

Predicting population responses in changing environments is an important task for ecologists. In polar regions, climate warming, loss of sea ice, and more frequent anomalous events suggest that further reductions in ice‐dependent animal populations are likely. We assess the risk of near‐term (30‐year) depletion of an Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) population with a stochastic matrix model parameterized with 30 yr (1982–2011) of data from the Copacabana colony on King George Island, Antarctica. The model was fitted to nest census data by estimating correction factors for survival rates estimated from a multi‐state mark–recapture model. We modeled future survival and fecundity scenarios during the projection period (2012–2041) based on a two‐state Markov chain that randomly assigned survival rates and reproductive success from their respective historical distributions to represent “good” and “poor” years. Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate population trajectories across a range of progressively worse survival conditions. The results suggest that, given historical distributions of survival and reproductive success, a limited scope for recovery of the population is present, commensurate with recent stabilization in population size at the study site. However, our projections mainly suggest that the Adélie penguin population will decline if the frequency of years with poor survival remains at, or increases above, its 30‐year mean. The risk of local depletion within 30 yr, defined according to International Union for Conservation of Nature categories for endangered and critically endangered species, was 33% for >90% declines, but near 100% for 50% declines given status‐quo conditions. As survival conditions worsen, the risk of substantive depletions rose rapidly. Given expectations of further environmental and ecosystem changes in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region, continued declines in Adélie penguin population size at the northern extent of their range should be expected.
Caterpillar seed predators mediate shifts in selection on flowering phenology in their host plant
Authors: Valdés Alicia , Ehrlén Johan
Published: January 2017

Variation in selection among populations and years has important implications for evolutionary trajectories of populations. Yet, the agents of selection causing this variation have rarely been identified. Selection on the time of reproduction within a season in plants might differ both among populations and among years, and selection can be mediated by both mutualists and antagonists. We investigated if differences in the direction of phenotypic selection on flowering phenology among 20 populations of Gentiana pneumonanthe during 2 yr were related to the presence of the butterfly seed predator Phengaris alcon, and if butterfly incidence was associated with the abundance of the butterfly's second host, Myrmica ants. In plant populations without the butterfly, phenotypic selection favored earlier flowering. In populations where the butterfly was present, caterpillars preferentially attacked early‐flowering individuals, shifting the direction of selection to favoring later flowering. Butterfly incidence in plant populations increased with ant abundance. Our results demonstrate that antagonistic interactions can shift the direction of selection on flowering phenology, and suggest that such shifts might be associated with differences in the community context.
Fungi exposed to chronic nitrogen enrichment are less able to decay leaf litter
Authors: van Diepen Linda T. A. , Frey Serita D. , Landis Elizabeth A. , Morrison Eric W. , Pringle Anne
Published: January 2017

Saprotrophic fungi are the primary decomposers of plant litter in temperate forests, and their activity is critical for carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. Simulated atmospheric N deposition is associated with reduced fungal biomass, shifts in fungal community structure, slowed litter decay, and soil C accumulation. Although rarely studied, N deposition may also result in novel selective pressures on fungi, affecting evolutionary trajectories. To directly test if long‐term N enrichment reshapes fungal responses to N, we isolated decomposer fungi from a long‐term (28 yr) N‐addition experiment and used a common garden approach to compare growth rates and decay abilities of isolates from control and N‐amended plots. Both growth and decay were significantly altered by long‐term exposure to N enrichment. Changes in growth rates were idiosyncratic, as different species grew either more quickly or more slowly after exposure to N, but litter decay by N isolates was consistent and generally lower compared to control isolates of the same species, a response not readily reversed when N isolates were grown in control (low N) environments. Changes in fungal responses accompany and perhaps drive previously observed N‐induced shifts in fungal diversity, community composition, and litter decay dynamics.
Operation Planning for High Unit Utilization in Distributed Energy Management System with Storage Devices
Authors: SHIBATA KODAI , MIYAMOTO TOSHIYUKI , KITAMURA SHOICHI , MORI KAZUYUKI , IZUI YOSHIO
Published: January 2017

Suppose a special district (group) that is composed of multiple companies (agents) imposed energy demand. We have proposed a distributed energy management system (DEMS) that optimizes energy consumption of a group through energy trading in the group. In this paper, we propose an efficient operation planning method for DEMS with storage device. At first, we formulate the optimization problem for agents. Second, we propose a method to search a unit commitment state that depends on group composition. We confirmed that the proposed method enables efficient use of generators in groups.
Nutrient composition, functional, and pasting properties of unripe cooking banana, pigeon pea, and sweetpotato flour blends
Authors: Ohizua Ehimen R. , Adeola Abiodun A. , Idowu Micheal A. , Sobukola Olajide P. , Afolabi T. Adeniyi , Ishola Raphael O. , Ayansina Simeon O. , Oyekale Tolulope O. , Falomo Ayorinde
Published: January 2017

This study investigated some quality attributes of unripe cooking banana (UBF), pigeon pea (PPF), and sweetpotato (SPF) flour blends. Simplex centroid mixture design was used to obtain 17 blends from the flours. The nutrient composition, color, and functional properties of the blends were evaluated using standard methods. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were compared using Duncan's multiple range test at 5% probability level. There were significant (p < .05) differences in the nutrient composition, and functional and pasting properties of the blends. The crude protein, crude fiber, ash, foaming capacity, emulsion capacity, and least gelation capacity of the blends increased as the PPF level increased. The blends had Na/K ratio of <1.0. The dispersibility, bulk density, water, and oil absorption capacities of the blends increased as SPF and UBF increased. The peak, setback, and final viscosities increased as UBF and SPF inclusion increased,whereas pasting temperature and time increased as the PPF level increased. The L*, a*, and b* values of the flour blends which were significantly (p < .05) different ranged from 79.58 to 102.71, −0.15 to 2.79, and 13.82 to 23.69, respectively. Cooking banana‐pigeon pea‐sweetpotato flour blends are desirable for alleviating malnutrition in Nigeria and developing new food formulations.
Abortion choices among women in Cambodia after introduction of a socially marketed medicated abortion product
Authors: Sotheary Khim , Long Dianna , Mundy Gary , Madan Yasmin , Blumenthal Paul D.
Published: January 2017

Objective

To assess whether a social marketing initiative focusing on medicated abortion via a mifepristone/misoprostol “combipack” has contributed to reducing unsafe abortion in Cambodia.

Methods

In a questionnaire‐based cross‐sectional study, annual household surveys were conducted across 13 Cambodian provinces in 2010, 2011, and 2012. One married woman of reproductive age who was not pregnant and did not wish to be within the next 2 years in each randomly selected household was approached for inclusion. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 1843 women in 2010, 2068 in 2011, and 2059 in 2012. Manual vacuum aspiration was reported by 61 (72.6%) of 84 women surveyed in 2010 who reported an abortion in the previous 12 months, compared with only 28 (52.8%) of 53 in 2012 (P=0.001). The numbers of women undergoing medicated abortion increased from 22 (26.2%) of 84 in 2010 to 27 (49.1%) of 53 in 2012 (P=0.003), whereas the numbers undergoing unsafe abortion decreased from 4 (4.8%) in 2010 to 0 in 2012 (P=0.051).

Conclusion

Social marketing of medication abortion coupled with provider training in clinical and behavioral change could have contributed to a reduction in the prevalence of unsafe abortion and shifted the types of abortion performed in Cambodia, while not increasing the overall number of abortions.
Provision of harm‐reduction services to limit unsafe abortion in Tanzania
Authors: Kahabuka Catherine , Pembe Andrea , Meglioli Alejandra
Published: January 2017

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of providing harm‐reduction services to reduce unsafe abortion in Tanzania.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 110 women who received harm‐reduction counseling at a public health center in Dar es Salaam between February 10 and October 10, 2014. Background and clinical information was collected for all women; a subgroup (n=50) undertook a semi‐structured survey that measured the type of services women received, women's perception of the services, and pregnancy outcome. The main study outcomes were attendance at the follow‐up visit, type and quality of information women received on both visits, and misoprostol use for pregnancy termination.

Results

Overall, 55 (50.0%) women attended follow‐up services. Misoprostol was used for induced abortion among 54 (98.2%); 38 (70.4%) of these women had obtained contraception at the follow‐up visit. Likelihood of attendance for follow‐up was increased among women who were older than 34 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.1–35.8), were married (OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.8–5.7), and had a post‐primary education level (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.8–5.3). On average, 44 (87.0%) women received all required information at the initial counseling session and none reported major complications that required hospitalization.

Conclusion

Harm‐reduction services for unsafe abortion are feasible and acceptable, and could provide an excellent opportunity to fight abortion‐related morbidity and mortality in Tanzania.
Association of previous severe low birth weight with adverse perinatal outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy among HIV‐prevalent urban African women
Authors: Smid Marcela C. , Ahmed Yusuf , Stoner Marie C.D. , Vwalika Bellington , Stringer Elizabeth M. , Stringer Jeffrey S.A.
Published: January 2017

Objective

To evaluate the association between severity of prior low birth weight (LBW) delivery and adverse perinatal outcomes in the subsequent delivery among an HIV‐prevalent urban African population.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 41 109 women who had undergone two deliveries in Lusaka, Zambia, between February 1, 2006, and May 31, 2013. The relationship between prior LBW delivery (<2500 g) and a composite measure of adverse perinatal outcome in the second pregnancy was assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Women with prior LBW delivery (n=4259) had an increased risk of LBW in the second delivery versus those without prior LBW delivery (n=37 642). Such risk correlated with the severity of first delivery LBW. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 2.89 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.05–4.09) for a birth weight of 1000–1499 g, 3.05 (95% CI 2.42–3.86) for a birth weight of 1500–1999 g, and 2.02 (95% CI 1.81–2.27) for a birth weight of 2000–2499 g. Previous LBW delivery also increased the risk of adverse perinatal outcome, with an AOR of 1.4 (95% CI 1.2–1.7).

Conclusion

Severe prior LBW delivery conferred substantial risk for adverse perinatal outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy.
Case report of fatal post‐coital bleeding with systemic bleeding diathesis
Authors: Sikary Asit K. , Kumar Rajesh
Published: January 2017

A patient presented with post‐coital bleeding that resulted in the patient's death within 24 hours owing to systemic bleeding diathesis.
Assessing factors associated with infertility using a couple‐based approach
Authors: Karabulut Aysun , Demirtaş Ömer , Sönmez Seyhan , Karaca Nilay , Gök Soner
Published: January 2017

Emotional and mind‐body FertiQoL scores were higher among male partners in couples experiencing infertility, and among male partners who were employment compared with those not.
MODELING'S GRAND CHALLENGE — LONG TERM NATIONWIDE HIGH IMPACT THREATS
Authors: Manto Charles (Chuck)
Published: January 2017

The United States (US) White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) promulgated the National Weather Strategy (White House Office of Science and Technology 2015) and Action Plan (Whitehouse.gov 2016 and 2016a) in April 2014 (final strategy released in Oct 2015) calling for a “whole of community” engagement for continental wide power loss for a year or more due to extreme space weather. The likelihood of such was calculated at 6‐12% likelihood in any decade. In May 2014, the US Department of Defense's Defense Threat Reduction Agency similarly called on the small business innovation community to develop electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protected micro grids (US Small Business Innovation Research Program 2015) for critical applications both on and off military bases due to the increased likelihood of long term or permanent loss of civilian power grids. Lloyds of London (2013) warned of an 18 month long black out to the corridor between Washington, US‐DC and New York City, US‐NY due to extreme space weather and alerted the business community of the possible withdrawal of insurance support for those events. In 2016, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Regional Resiliency Assessment Program for Ashburn, VA (Argonne National Laboratory 2016), and the Internet industry based there. Its key findings included the potential impact of EMP on the Internet and cyber infrastructure and encouraged industry members to hold their own seminars and exercises to examine these threats. This provides an interesting backdrop to the problem of a simultaneous loss of both power and communication grids from EMP.

On the other hand, either or both power and communications grids can be assaulted by cyber attacks which, can include physical or electromagnetic attacks. For example, the recent cyber attack on the Ukrainian power grid included physical attacks. The Metcalfe substation was a physical attack on both the transformers and the communications lines of the substation.

For reasons such as these, it is prudent for government and industry to revisit their continuity plans, and best practices that take a broad cross sector analysis of possible catastrophic failure modes into account. Some of the most urgent needs may be relatively straightforward. Others will require systems of systems modeling efforts to align corporate values with the business processes and technical development under their control.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION AND RECOVERY
Authors: Shull Casey , Dietz J. Eric , Kenley C. Robert
Published: January 2017

Twenty five years' experience observing and developing disaster and crisis recovery plans within the electric utility industry provided the impetus and knowledge to develop a software‐based single system strategic recovery algorithm for electric utilities utilizing systems engineering techniques. The threat of system failure resulting from solar flares (security management), electromagnetic pulse (EMP) (Savage, Gilbert, and Radasky 2010) or industrial control system (ICS) cyber interruption (Weiss) on the electrical utility system can cascade up from the distribution system and/or cascade down from the high voltage transmission system (Watson et al. 2015). Systemic electrical system failure, regardless of the type of catastrophic event, causes the same socio‐ economic disasters within the region of electrical failure. This paper will address the concept of single system recovery techniques utilizing existing recovery methodologies, titled the Common Recovery Model, as an approach to hedge against, and or recover from, the potential of cascading failure of the electrical transmission and distribution system. The premise for the need of a Common Recovery Model is that one or all three of the threats are imminent, thus the necessity of electric utilities to develop a Common Recovery Model prior to the actual outage event.
CYBERSECURITY & CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE – ARE WE MISSING THE OBVIOUS?
Authors: Kepchar Kenneth J
Published: January 2017

As our economy and society enjoy the benefits of living in a digital age and finds new applications every day, so must we be aware of its limitations and vulnerabilities. Because of these limitations, the issue of cybersecurity is preoccupying governments, businesses, and individuals around the globe. In particular, the US government is paying tremendous attention to critical infrastructure and the impact to various sectors of that infrastructure if they undergo disruption for any length of time. What is overlooked is the extent that critical infrastructure is dependent on the Global Positioning System (GPS), especially for precise position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services. GPS plays a central role in our lives and it is vulnerable to various sources of disruption; yet, our forward planning for critical infrastructure protection does not always appreciate or consider this dependency.
Advancing a New Critical Framework for Transfer Student Research: Implications for Institutional Research
Authors: Laanan Frankie Santos , Jain Dimpal
Published: January 2017

This chapter explores how critical lenses can be used to conduct transfer research and proposes a new methodological approach to understand the complex experiences and success of diverse transfer students.
International Students in Transition: International Community College Transfer Students in a Texas Research University
Authors: Zhang Yi Leaf
Published: January 2017

This chapter focuses on a unique transfer population, international transfer students, and depicts their demographic backgrounds, academic interests and performance, as well as enrollment trends in the past decade.
A Large Inversion Involving GNAS Exon A/B and All Exons Encoding Gsα Is Associated With Autosomal Dominant Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib (PHP1B)
Authors: Grigelioniene Giedre , Nevalainen Pasi I , Reyes Monica , Thiele Susanne , Tafaj Olta , Molinaro Angelo , Takatani Rieko , Ala-Houhala Marja , Nilsson Daniel , Eisfeldt Jesper , Lindstrand Anna , Kottler Marie-Laure , Mäkitie Outi , Jüppner Harald
Published: January 2017

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP1B) is characterized primarily by resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and thus hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, in most cases without evidence for Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). PHP1B is associated with epigenetic changes at one or several differentially-methylated regions (DMRs) within GNAS, which encodes the α-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) and splice variants thereof. Heterozygous, maternally inherited STX16 or GNAS deletions leading to isolated loss-of-methylation (LOM) at exon A/B alone or at all maternal DMRs are the cause of autosomal dominant PHP1B (AD-PHP1B). In this study, we analyzed three affected individuals, the female proband and her two sons. All three revealed isolated LOM at GNAS exon A/B, whereas the proband's healthy maternal grandmother and uncle showed normal methylation at this locus. Haplotype analysis was consistent with linkage to the STX16/GNAS region, yet no deletion could be identified. Whole-genome sequencing of one of the patients revealed a large heterozygous inversion (1,882,433 bp). The centromeric breakpoint of the inversion is located 7,225 bp downstream of GNAS exon XL, but its DMR showed no methylation abnormality, raising the possibility that the inversion disrupts a regulatory element required only for establishing or maintaining exon A/B methylation. Because our three patients presented phenotypes consistent with PHP1B, and not with PHP1A, the Gsα promoter is probably unaffected by the inversion. Our findings expand the spectrum of genetic mutations that lead to LOM at exon A/B alone and thus biallelic expression of the transcript derived from this alternative first GNAS exon. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A Mixed‐Methods Evaluation of Intensive Trauma‐Focused Programming
Authors: Lenz A. Stephen , Lancaster Chloe
Published: January 2017

This study investigated the magnitude of treatment effect and clients' perceptions of change during a 10‐week intensive outpatient program (IOP) for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder. Participants were 48 adults (30 women, 18 men) with a mean age of 43.48 years (SD = 12.16) who were predominantly European American (72.9%, n = 35). Results of a mixed‐methods sequential explanatory design indicated that the IOP was strongly associated with decreased psychological symptom severity and increased relational health among participants over time.