bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longevity record of arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
Authors: Mäntylä Elina , Mäntylä Kari , Nuotio Jukka , Nuotio Kimmo , Sillanpää Matti 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) is one of the most long‐lived bird species. In 2010, we captured in Finland an adult, female arctic skua which had been ringed as a nestling in 1987. We tagged it also with a color ring. The bird has last been seen in July 2020 at the age of 33 years, making it most likely the oldest known arctic skua of the world. In 2010–2011 the bird carried a light‐level measuring geolocator, the data of which revealed that the bird had spent the nonbreeding season in the Canary Current area on the west coast of Africa. Breeding populations of arctic skuas have declined recently especially in British Isles, thus it is useful to get longevity data of this species with a high breeding site fidelity.
Mitochondrial haplogroup G is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, while haplogroup A mitigates the effects of PNPLA3
Authors: Gusdon Aaron M. , Hui You , Chen Jing , Mathews Clayton E. , Qu Shen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesMitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups affect the risk of NAFLD in Han Chinese patients and interact with PNPLA3 genotypes.DesignNAFLD and control patients were recruited from a tertiary care centre. The mitochondrial genome was amplified in overlapping segments and sequenced. Mitochondrial haplogroups were determined using Mitomaster. PNPLA3 rs738409 genotyping was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.PatientsWe enrolled 655 NAFLD patients and 504 controls.ResultsMore NAFLD patients encoded haplogroup G; odds ratio (OR) 1.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16, 2.80). Subhaplogroup G3 was present more frequently in NAFLD patients (25.8% vs 6.5%). The PNPLA3 CG genotype resulted in an OR of 1.66 (95% CI 1.25, 2.21), and the GG genotype resulted in an OR of 2.33 (95% CI 1.72, 3.17) for NAFLD. Patients with mitochondrial haplogroup A had a significantly higher frequency of genotype GG. Among patients with haplogroup A, no PNPLA3 genotype was associated with increased NAFLD risk (CG: OR 1.17, 95% CI 0.55, 2.34; GG: OR 1.04 95% CI 0.66, 2.65). Excluding haplogroup A, the OR for CG was 1.58 (95% CI 1.18, 2.12), and the OR for GG was 1.81 (95% CI 1.30, 2.51).ConclusionHaplogroup G was associated with an increased risk of NAFLD PNPLA3 GG genotype was overrepresented among patients encoding haplogroup A and was not associated with NAFLD risk among haplogroup A patients. Mitochondrial genetics influence NAFLD risk and interact with PNPLA3 genotypes.
Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Determination of 2,4‐Dichlorophenol by Laponite Modified Carbon Paste Electrode
Authors: Stoytcheva Margarita , Zlatev Roumen , Velkova Zdravka , Gochev Velizar , Ayala Alan , Montero Gisela , Valdez Benjamín 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA laponite modified carbon paste electrode was prepared, characterized and applied for the 2,4‐dichlorophenol (2,4‐DCP) voltammetric determination. It takes advantage of the ability of laponite to adsorb phenols, as well as of its availability and very low cost. Kinetic and equilibrium data for 2,4‐DCP adsorption by laponite in aqueous dispersions demonstrated that the adsorption process obeyed a pseudo first order kinetic model and was consistent with the formation of adsorbed multilayers on a surface with heterogeneous pore distribution. The composite paste electrode exhibited a heterogeneous surface with 65 % increased surface area and 27 % enhanced catalytic activity compared to the unmodified one. The adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of 2,4‐DCP at an electrode with an optimized graphite:laponite ratio of 55 : 15 w% using a 3 min accumulation time at pH 5.5 was found to be suitable for its quantification in the linear concentration range extended up to 50 μmol L−1 with a sensitivity of 0.56 μA L μmol−1 and a LOD of 0.2 μmol L−1 (S/N=3).The 2,4‐DCP electrochemical response was not affected by the presence of some structurally similar phenols, like catechol and p‐nitrophenol, while resorcinol, 2‐chlorophenol, and 4‐chlorophenol presented interferences. The results were validated by 2,4‐DCP determination in spiked tap water.
An online learning based path selection for multipath real‐time video transmission in overlay network
Authors: Zhang Songyang , Lei Weimin , Zhang Wei , Zhan Yuzhuo , Li Hao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEven video telephony services have been pervasively applied, it is still a challenge to provide satisfactory quality of experience to users. Multipath transmission is a promising solution to improve video transmission quality by providing aggregated bandwidth. Due to varied traffic load, the default paths may fall into long lasting congestion. Sender has no choice but to reduce video bitrate to adapt such change, even in multipath transmission scenario. Insisting previous rate may lead the congestion in bottleneck deteriorate further. Deploying relay servers in current Internet infrastructure provides users with alternatives to bypass path failure and congestion. For such transmission scenario for video telephony service, an arising question is how to select paths dynamically to gain maximum profit. The path selection is mapped to the multi‐armed bandit problem. Tradeoff is made between exploration and exploitation to make decision under uncertain environment. The estimated bandwidth provided by congestion controller is used for decision‐making. Further, to make multiple flows share resource fairly and avoid congestion, an algorithm adapted from BBR is implemented for video telephony service. To maintain throughput stability and fairness, a smaller probe up gain value is used and the cycle length in bandwidth probe phase is randomized. To reduce delay, the inflight packets will be drained to match with bandwidth delay product in the probe down phase. The effectiveness of the proposed solution is verify on simulation platform.
Letting Evidence Speak for Itself: Measuring Confidence in Mechanisms
Authors: Befani Barbara , D'Errico Stefano 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis chapter argues that the credibility of causal mechanisms can be greatly increased by formulating them as statements that are both empirically falsifiable and empirically confirmable. Whether statements can be so depends on the potential availability of the relevant evidence (e.g., no evidence exists that can prove or disprove the existence of God, but good quality evidence is potentially available in many other cases). The Bayes formula can be used to measure the extent to which a given set of empirical observations supports or weakens the belief that a causal mechanism exists. With this approach, confidence in the existence of a mechanism is increased or decreased through a process that can be open, transparent, and shared with the public or groups of stakeholders, reducing cognitive biases, and improving internal validity and consensus around the existence of given mechanisms. The approach is showcased in the evaluation of a learning partnership whereby a knowledge product released by a research organization influenced policy at the municipal level.
The Causal Mechanism Claim in Evaluation: Does the Prophecy Fulfill?
Authors: Schmitt Johannes 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDespite increased discussions in the community and a common understanding about the virtue of mechanism‐based explanation, little is known about the true benefits and challenges of applying causal mechanism analysis in practice. This chapter aims to introduce the reader to the topic of causal mechanisms and synthesize significant findings on this special issue. It begins by laying out definitions and concepts of causal mechanisms in evaluation literature and proposes a two‐way classification of causal mechanisms along which the chapters to this issue are structured. The chapter continues by introducing the Causal Mechanism Claim and elaborates on how analyzing causal mechanisms is expected to increase policy relevance and causal capacity in evaluations. Drawing on this issue's rich corpus of firsthand practical experience, this introduction synthesizes key lessons that support or contradict the Causal Mechanism Claim. We find that both parts of the claim—increased policy relevance and strengthened causal capacity—are supported by the authors' experiences as bundled in this issue. However, we also identify challenges related to cross‐cutting issues such as communication and practical applicability and point to the importance of method integration.
No Mechanism Without Context: Strengthening the Analysis of Context in Realist Evaluations Using Causal Loop Diagramming
Authors: Renmans Dimitri , Holvoet Nathalie , Criel Bart 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRealist evaluation is an approach with a strong emphasis on causal mechanisms and the context in which they are triggered. However, recent reviews of published realist evaluations show that context is often understudied. This is problematic, as a thorough understanding of the relationship between context and causal mechanisms is crucial in assisting policymakers to make appropriate and targeted decisions that improve the intervention. Therefore, we set out to test whether combining realist evaluation with the “systems thinking” approach and, more specifically, causal loop diagramming, could help strengthen the analysis of context. We did this through a study of a performance‐based financing (PBF) intervention in the Ugandan health care sector by the Belgian development agency, Enabel. PBF allocates funds to health workers and/or health facilities based on their performance, and introduces additional management support tools, provides extra monitoring and supervision, and promotes community participation in management issues, among other activities. In this case, we found that the proposed combined methodological approach indeed adds value to the analysis, as it leads to insights into the role played by the underlying system that otherwise may have been overlooked. Moreover, such information may provide clear directions to policymakers on how to improve the intervention in a sustainable way. Finally, causal loop diagrams help to visualize complex causal interactions and to communicate them to policymakers.
Keeping it Real: Using Mechanisms to Promote Use in the Realist Evaluation of the Building Capacity to Use Research Evidence Program
Authors: Punton Melanie , Vogel Isabel 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis chapter explores the use of mechanisms within the realist evaluation of the Building Capacity to Use Research Evidence (BCURE) program, a £15.7 million initiative aiming to improve the use of evidence in decision‐making in low and middle‐income countries. The evaluation was commissioned to establish not just whether BCURE worked but also how and why capacity building can contribute to increased use of evidence in policymaking in the very different contexts in which the program operated. This chapter argues that using mechanisms helped provide nuanced and robust insights into these questions, while also strengthening the usefulness and policy relevance of the evaluation. Drawing primarily on qualitative data, including interviews with more than 500 stakeholders over 3 years, the evaluation explored the mechanisms that promote capacities to use evidence in decision‐making, through developing and testing realist context‐intervention‐mechanism‐outcome configurations (CIMOs). Uncovering the value of mechanisms for policy and program learning was not easy, and the chapter sets out some of the thorny challenges faced and how the BCURE evaluation navigated these. Ultimately, the use of mechanisms in the BCURE evaluation helped to generate practical and nuanced insights that fed directly into the design of a £17 million follow‐up program. The seven mechanisms uncovered are continuing to inform our own and others’ work on institutional capacity change in a wide range of fields.
Getting Practical With Causal Mechanisms: The application of Process‐Tracing Under Real‐World Evaluation Constraints
Authors: Raimondo Estelle 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOver the past decade, the field of development evaluation has seen a renewed interest in methodological approaches that can answer compelling causal questions about what works, for whom, and why. Development evaluators have notably started to experiment with Bayesian Process Tracing to unpack, test, and enhance their comprehension of causal mechanisms triggered by development interventions. This chapter conveys one such experience of applying Bayesian Process Tracing to the study of citizen engagement interventions within a conditional cash transfer program under real‐world evaluation conditions. The chapter builds on this experience to discuss the benefits, challenges, and potential for the applicability of this approach under real‐world evaluation conditions of time, money, and political constraints.
Regulation of the product stoichiometry of denitrification in intensively managed soils
Authors: Wei Zhijun , Shan Jun , Chai Yanchao , Well Reinhard , Yan Xiaoyuan , Senbayram Mehmet 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCrop residue amendment in conjunction with synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilization is a common agricultural practice that increases soil fertility and crop yield. However, such a practice may also change soil denitrification process. Here, we conducted an incubation experiment with a robotized continuous flow N2 free incubation system [using helium (He) and oxygen (O2)] and measured fluxes of N2O and N2 at a high resolution in an intensively managed soil to examine the interaction effect of straw amendment and N fertilization on soil denitrification. Four treatments were set consisting of (a) a nonamended treatment (Control); (b) a Straw treatment (2 g straw kg−1 dry soil); (c) a KNO3 treatment (KNO3, 15 mM KNO3); and (d) a Straw + KNO3 treatment (2 g straw kg−1 dry soil and 15 mM KNO3). During the oxic phase (80% He plus 20% O2) of the experiment (initial 2 days), flux rates of N2O were 0.54 and 0.38 kg N/ha day−1 in the Control and KNO3 treatments, respectively. Meanwhile, straw amendment triggered N2O fluxes immediately after the onset of treatments, which was more evident in the Straw + KNO3 treatment. During the anoxic phase (100% He), both N2O and N2 emissions increased in all treatments, with the effect being more pronounced in the Straw and Straw + KNO3 treatments. In line with the observed differences in gas fluxes, the abundances of nirK, nirS, and nosZ genes increased clearly in these treatments. Overall, the mean N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio (0.69 ± 0.03) in the Control treatment was significantly lower compared to the KNO3 treatment (18.8%) and higher than the straw‐amended soils (31.9% and 17.4% compared to the Straw and Straw + KNO3 treatments, respectively). Taken together, our results suggest straw amendment significantly altered N2O and N2 fluxes by decreasing the N2O/(N2O + N2) ratio; however, the effects of straw amendment depended on soil nitrate content.
Detecting rare copy number variants from Illumina genotyping arrays with the CamCNV pipeline: Segmentation of z‐scores improves detection and reliability
Authors: Dennis Joe , Walker Logan , Tyrer Jonathan , Michailidou Kyriaki , Easton Douglas F. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe intensities from genotyping array data can be used to detect copy number variants (CNVs) but a high level of noise in the data and overlap between different copy‐number intensity distributions produces unreliable calls, particularly when only a few probes are covered by the CNV. We present a novel pipeline (CamCNV) with a series of steps to reduce noise and detect more reliably CNVs covering as few as three probes. The pipeline aims to detect rare CNVs (below 1% frequency) for association tests in large cohorts. The method uses the information from all samples to convert intensities to z‐scores, thus adjusting for variance between probes. We tested the sensitivity of our pipeline by looking for known CNVs from the 1000 Genomes Project in our genotyping of 1000 Genomes samples. We also compared the CNV calls for 1661 pairs of genotyped replicate samples. At the chosen mean z‐score cut‐off, sensitivity to detect the 1000 Genomes CNVs was approximately 85% for deletions and 65% for duplications. From the replicates, we estimate the false discovery rate is controlled at ∼10% for deletions (falling to below 3% with more than five probes) and ∼28% for duplications. The pipeline demonstrates improved sensitivity when compared to calling with PennCNV, particularly for short deletions covering only a few probes. For each called CNV, the mean z‐score is a useful metric for controlling the false discovery rate.
Psychotropic drug prescription rates in primary care for people with dementia from recorded diagnosis onwards
Authors: Joling Karlijn J. , Koppel Maud ten , van Hout Hein P.J. , Onwuteaka‐Philipsen Bregje D. , Francke Anneke L. , Verheij Robert A. , Twisk Jos W.R. , van Marum Rob J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundPsychotropic drugs are frequently prescribed to people with dementia in nursing homes although severe adverse events and side effects are common. Less is known about the prevalence and types of psychotropic drug prescription in primary care for people with dementia.ObjectiveThis study examined the prevalence of psychotropic drug prescriptions in primary care among persons with dementia from the year of diagnosis onwards.MethodsA longitudinal observational study using electronic health record (EHR) data was conducted. People with dementia were selected from EHR data of 451 general practices in the Netherlands. Age and gender‐adjusted psychotropic drug prescription rates were calculated per 1000 person‐years from the year the dementia diagnosis was first recorded in general practice up to 8 years after diagnosis.ResultsData of 15,687 patients were analyzed. The prescription rate of psychotropic drugs (not including antidementia drugs) was 420 per 1000 person‐years (95% CI 409; 431) in the first year after the recorded dementia diagnosis, which increased to 801 per 1000 person‐years (95% CI 649; 989) in the eighth year. The most frequently prescribed drugs were antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antidementia drugs, followed by anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antiepileptics.ConclusionsAfter a dementia diagnosis is recorded in general practice, the prevalence of psychotropic drug prescriptions is substantial and increases steadily during the disease trajectory of persons with dementia. Although the (in)appropriateness of prescribing was not assessed, these insights may stimulate primary care clinicians to (re)consider their prescription policy of psychotropics for people with dementia more carefully.
Lymph node characteristics and their prognostic significance in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Arun Indu , Maity Namrata , Hameed Shahin , Jain Prateek Vijay , Manikantan Kapila , Sharan Rajeev , Arun Pattatheyil 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe prognostic significance of various histopathologic lymph node‐based biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) needs further evaluation.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 212 OSCC patients with regional metastasis to determine the association of extranodal extension (ENE), extent of ENE, size of metastatic deposit, lymph node yield (LNY), lymph node ratio (LNR), and topography of involvement with survival outcomes.ResultsThe presence of ENE, larger nodal deposit, higher pN stage, lymph nodes in the lower levels, and patients who did not receive adjuvant treatment had poor disease‐free survival (DFS). In addition, more positive nodes and high LNR showed worse overall survival (OS). ENE beyond 5 mm resulted in poorer outcomes.Larger sizes of metastatic deposit predisposed to ENE. Multivariate analyses showed only lower level of neck involvement to affect both DFS and OS.ConclusionsLymph node metastasis to lower levels and other lymph node characteristics affect prognosis and must be considered in the evolution of staging systems for OSCC.
A Model Based on Noninvasive Markers Predicts Very Low Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk After Viral Response in Hepatitis C Virus–Advanced Fibrosis
Authors: Alonso López Sonia , Manzano María Luisa , Gea Francisco , Gutiérrez María Luisa , Ahumada Adriana Maria , Devesa María José , Olveira Antonio , Polo Benjamin Arturo , Márquez Laura , Fernández Inmaculada , Cobo Juan Carlos Ruiz , Rayón Laura , Riado Daniel , Izquierdo Sonia , Usón Clara , Real Yolanda , Rincón Diego , Fernández‐Rodríguez Conrado M. , Bañares Rafael 
Published: October 2020

Background and Aims
Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and advanced fibrosis remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after sustained viral response (SVR) and need lifelong surveillance. Because HCC risk is not homogenous and may decrease with fibrosis regression, we aimed to identify patients with low HCC risk based on the prediction of noninvasive markers and its changes after SVR.

Approach and Results
This is a multicenter cohort study, including patients with HCV and compensated advanced fibrosis that achieved SVR after direct antivirals. Clinical and transient elastography (TE) data were registered at baseline, 1 year, and 3 years after the end of treatment (EOT). All patients underwent liver ultrasound scan every 6 months. Patients with clinical evaluation 1 year after EOT were eligible. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed, and predictive models were constructed. HCC occurrence rates were evaluated by Kaplan‐Meier. Nine hundred and ninety‐three patients were eligible (56% male; 44% female; median age 62 years), 35 developed HCC (3.9%), and the median follow‐up was 45 months (range 13‐53). Baseline liver stiffness measurement (LSM) (HR 1.040; 95% CI 1.017‐1.064), serum albumin (HR 0.400; 95% CI 0.174‐0.923), 1‐year DeltaLSM (HR 0.993; 95% CI 0.987‐0.998), and 1‐year FIB‐4 score (HR 1.095; 95% CI 1.046‐1.146) were independent factors associated with HCC. The TE‐based HCC risk model predicted 0% of HCC occurrence at 3 years in patients with score 0 (baseline LSM ≤ 17.3 kPa, albumin >4.2 g/dL, and 1‐year DeltaLSM > 25.5%) versus 5.2% in patients with score 1‐3 (Harrell’s C 0.779; log‐rank 0.002). An alternative model with FIB‐4 similarly predicted HCC risk.

Conclusions
A combination of baseline and dynamic changes in noninvasive markers may help to identify patients with a very low risk of HCC development after SVR.
Methodological issues in systems Human Factors and Ergonomics: Perspectives on the research–practice gap, reliability and validity, and prediction
Authors: Salmon Paul M. , Read Gemma J. M. , Walker Guy H. , Stevens Nicholas J. , Hulme Adam , McLean Scott , Stanton Neville A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe changing nature of work and society, and a proliferation of complex global challenges, is increasing the need for systems Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE). The discipline is well equipped to respond, but there remain a number of longstanding issues preventing systems HFE from realizing its full impact. There is a research–practice gap, a lack of reliability and validity evidence associated with systems HFE methods, and a shortage of methods that can predict behavior. In this article we revisit each issue, with each co‐author providing their own perspective on the extent and causes of each issue, and their resolution. The perspectives reveal a consensus that the issues exist and are problematic but are challenging, multi‐factorial, and require various solutions. The findings are subsequently synthesized to form an agenda for the wider discipline.