bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective roles of ecological factors on nonmarine Ostracoda (Crustacea) in shallow waters of Malatya (Turkey)
Authors: Batmaz Filiz , Külköylüoğlu Okan , Akdemir Derya , Yavuzatmaca Mehmet 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis study is aimed to understand effective roles of ecological factors on nonmarine ostracods in Malatya province where 125 different aquatic bodies were randomly sampled during 3–10 August 2015. Totally, 24 of 25 species identified were new reports for the province while Cypridopsis lusatica was a new record for Turkey. The most common species Ilyocypris bradyi was collected from 12 different habitat types. Fifteen species based on their percent similarities among habitat types were clustered into five groups. The first two axes of Canonical Correspondence Analyses explained 66.1% relationship between species and environmental variables. Salinity, water temperature and chloride were found to be the most effective variables on species occurrence. Except chloride and oxidation–reduction potential, there was no significant difference in the mean numbers of environmental variables among the sampling sites with and without species (p < .05). Five most abundant species portrayed the highest ecological tolerance ranges for water temperature. Heterocypris incongruens revealed the highest optimum and tolerance range for dissolved oxygen while Heterocypris salina showed maximum ranges for salinity. Increasing numbers of sampling sites did not increase the percent species numbers per site. Species distribution varied among the habitats. Accordingly, species with swimming ability tend to inhabit more stagnant water bodies while species without such ability were found in flowing waters. This implies that species with good dispersion modes may avoid negative effects of changes in ecological conditions. Thus, our results reveal that biotic factors can also be effective on species as much as abiotic ones.
A 24‐Year Follow‐up Study on Recidivism in Male Mentally Disordered Sexual Offenders With and Without Psychotic Disorders
Authors: Baudin Christian , Nilsson Thomas , Wallinius Märta , Sturup Joakim , Andiné Peter 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThere is a lack of knowledge on mentally disordered sex offenders (MDSOs) targeting adult victims, especially regarding recidivism patterns and the specific subgroup with psychiatric disorders. This paper presents index offense data, clinical data, and recidivism patterns over up to 24 years in a cohort of 146 MDSOs, with and without psychotic disorders, sentenced in Sweden between 1993 and 1997. At the time of the offense, all offenders were affected by clinical, developmental, and criminal history factors. MDSOs with psychotic disorders only marginally differed from those without, the former being less likely to have been institutionalized during childhood, intoxicated during the index offense, or diagnosed with a personality disorder, substance use disorder, or paraphilic disorder. In the cohort, 3.4% of the MDSOs were reconvicted for a new sex offense over 2 years, 9.6% over 5 years, 13.0% over 10 years, and 17.1% over the entire follow‐up period of 24 years. In MDSOs with psychotic disorders, no subjects were reconvicted during the first 2 years, while 2.6% were reconvicted over 5 years, 5.3% over 10 years, and 7.9% over 24 years. Recidivism rates for violent and general reoffenses were 39.0% and 37.7%, respectively, for the cohort of MDSOs, and subjects with psychotic disorders reoffended significantly later in general offenses. In conclusion, MDSOs with psychotic disorders showed the same recidivism pattern as MDSOs without psychotic disorders. Furthermore, recidivism research may preferably focus on follow‐up periods of 5–10 years since most offenders appear to recidivate within this timeframe.
High levels of cathepsin S and cystatin C in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Authors: Kocak Ibrahim , Hizmetli Sami , Tas Ayça , Karadag Ahmet , Zontul Cemile , Silig Yavuz 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectivesAlthough the etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is not yet clear, central sensitization is thought to be responsible for the pathogenesis of FM. The aim of this study was to compare the serum cathepsin S (CatS) and cystatin C (CysC) levels between patients with FM and healthy control subjects.MethodsThis study was conducted in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic between January 2019 and October 2019. The study included 145 FM patients newly diagnosed with primary FM according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria and 129 healthy volunteers. The age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) of the participants were recorded. Venous blood samples were collected from both groups for the measurement of the levels of serum CatS and CysC. The functional status of FM patients was evaluated using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).ResultsNo statistically significant difference was determined between the patient and control groups in terms of age, gender, and BMI (P > .05). A comparison of the serum CatS and CysC levels of the FM and control groups revealed a statistically significant difference (P = .001). No correlation was determined between FIQ and serum CatS and CysC levels (P > .05).ConclusionSerum CatS and CysC levels were found to be higher in FM patients. However, there was no correlation between the functional status of FM patients and serum CatS and CysC levels. These results can be of guidance for further clinical studies of the etiopathogenesis and treatment of FM.
Comparing Rapid Scoring Systems in Mortality Prediction of Critically Ill Patients With Novel Coronavirus Disease
Authors: Hu Hai , Yao Ni , Qiu Yanru 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectivesRapid and early severity‐of‐illness assessment appears to be important for critically ill patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the rapid scoring system on admission of these patients.MethodsA total of 138 medical records of critically ill patients with COVID‐19 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics on admission used for calculating Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) and Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS) and outcomes (survival or death) were collected for each case and extracted for analysis. All patients were divided into two age subgroups (<65 years and ≥65 years). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed for overall patients and both subgroups.ResultsThe median [25th quartile, 75th quartile] of MEWS of survivors versus nonsurvivors were 1 [1, 2] and 2 [1, 3] and those of REMS were 5 [2, 6] and 7 [6, 10], respectively. In overall analysis, the area under the ROC curve for the REMS in predicting mortality was 0.833 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.737 to 0.928), higher than that of MEWS (0.677, 95% CI = 0.541 to 0.813). An optimal cutoff of REMS (≥6) had a sensitivity of 89.5%, a specificity of 69.8%, a positive predictive value of 39.5%, and a negative predictive value of 96.8%. In the analysis of subgroup of patients aged <65 years, the area under the ROC curve for the REMS in predicting mortality was 0.863 (95% CI = 0.743 to 0.941), higher than that of MEWS (0.603, 95% CI = 0.462 to 0.732).ConclusionTo our knowledge, this study was the first exploration on rapid scoring systems for critically ill patients with COVID‐19. The REMS could provide emergency clinicians with an effective adjunct risk stratification tool for critically ill patients with COVID‐19, especially for the patients aged <65 years. The effectiveness of REMS for screening these patients is attributed to its high negative predictive value.
Persuasive Lobbying with Allied Legislators
Authors: Awad Emiel 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWhy do interest groups lobby allied legislators if they already agree? One possibility is that allies are intermediaries who help persuade unconvinced legislators. To study the role and value of intermediaries, I develop a formal model of persuasive lobbying where interest groups use public cheap talk and provide verifiable information to a strategically selected coalition of legislators. Interest groups face a trade‐off: Lobbying aligned legislators is advantageous as they are more willing to endorse the group's preferred policy, but those who are too aligned cannot persuade a majority of their peers. The model illustrates how intermediaries are especially valuable if interest groups cannot persuade a majority themselves. Counter to previous work, the results demonstrate how a legislature's ideological composition determines the use of intermediaries. Groups may lobby intermediaries even if access to legislators is free and unrestricted.
Airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 to healthcare workers: a narrative review
Authors: Wilson N. M. , Norton A. , Young F. P. , Collins D. W. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryHealthcare workers are at risk of infection during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 pandemic. International guidance suggests direct droplet transmission is likely and airborne transmission occurs only with aerosol‐generating procedures. Recommendations determining infection control measures to ensure healthcare worker safety follow these presumptions. Three mechanisms have been described for the production of smaller sized respiratory particles (‘aerosols’) that, if inhaled, can deposit in the distal airways. These include: laryngeal activity such as talking and coughing; high velocity gas flow; and cyclical opening and closure of terminal airways. Sneezing and coughing are effective aerosol generators, but all forms of expiration produce particles across a range of sizes. The 5‐μm diameter threshold used to differentiate droplet from airborne is an over‐simplification of multiple complex, poorly understood biological and physical variables. The evidence defining aerosol‐generating procedures comes largely from low‐quality case and cohort studies where the exact mode of transmission is unknown as aerosol production was never quantified. We propose that transmission is associated with time in proximity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐1 patients with respiratory symptoms, rather than the procedures per se. There is no proven relation between any aerosol‐generating procedure with airborne viral content with the exception of bronchoscopy and suctioning. The mechanism for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 transmission is unknown but the evidence suggestive of airborne spread is growing. We speculate that infected patients who cough, have high work of breathing, increased closing capacity and altered respiratory tract lining fluid will be significant producers of pathogenic aerosols. We suggest several aerosol‐generating procedures may in fact result in less pathogen aerosolisation than a dyspnoeic and coughing patient. Healthcare workers should appraise the current evidence regarding transmission and apply this to the local infection prevalence. Measures to mitigate airborne transmission should be employed at times of risk. However, the mechanisms and risk factors for transmission are largely unconfirmed. Whilst awaiting robust evidence, a precautionary approach should be considered to assure healthcare worker safety.
Sperm miR‐26a‐5p and its target PTEN transcripts content in men with unexplained infertility
Authors: Dorostghoal Mehran , Galehdari Hamid , Moramezi Farideh , Danyari Reza 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundRecent evidence suggests that routine semen analysis has limited power to predict male fertility. Several efforts have been made to best discriminate between fertile and subfertile men using several sperm features. So, there is a need to more reliable assays for providing molecular data to evaluate sperm quality and predict male fertility.ObjectivesPresent study aimed to investigate relationship between sperm miR‐26a‐5p and its target PTEN transcript content and sperm parameters in unexplained infertile and healthy fertile men.Materials and methodsSperm parameters and transcript content of miR‐26a‐5p and PTEN in ejaculated spermatozoa were assessed in fertile (n = 15) and normozoospermic infertile (n = 15) men.ResultsSperm transcript levels of miR‐26a‐5p were lower in unexplained infertile men than in fertile controls (P = .021). High sperm PTEN expression is correlated with low miR‐26a‐5p transcript levels in ejaculated spermatozoa. High levels of sperm miR‐26a‐5p transcript were associated with high sperm motility and normal morphology. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis indicated miR‐26a‐5p has a fairly good diagnostic value to distinguish fertile and unexplained infertile men with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.747 (95% confidence interval: 0.560‐0.933; P = .021).DiscussionThis study suggests that sperm miR‐26a‐5p and its target PTEN transcript content may contribute to infertility etiology in unexplained infertile patients.ConclusionmiR‐26a‐5p has a potential to use as a diagnostic biomarker and provide new therapeutic approaches for male infertility.
Early childhood social determinants and family relationships predict parental separation and living arrangements thereafter
Authors: Hjern Anders , Bergström Malin , Kjaer Urhoj Stine , Nybo Andersen Anne‐Marie 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimParental separation has been associated with poor mental health in children with better outcomes in children living in joint physical custody compared with those living with one parent after the separation. In this study, we investigated socioeconomic and relational predictors in early childhood of later parental separation and family arrangements thereafter.MethodsThis study included 34 768 children from the Danish National Birth Cohort, who were living with both parents at the 6 months’ data collection and followed up in 2010‐2014 at age 11 years. Questionnaire data from the two data collections were linked with population registers in Statistics Denmark about parental income, education and psychiatric care and analysed in logistic regression models.ResultsSocioeconomic indicators of the family and parental psychiatric disorders before birth of the child and family relationships in infancy predicted parental separation at age 11 year. For children with separated parents, a high family income and a high parental educational level were the main predictors of living in joint physical custody at the 11‐year follow‐up.ConclusionSocioeconomic living conditions predict parental separation as well as living arrangements thereafter. Studies of consequences of living arrangements after parental separation should account for family factors preceding the separation.
Biomarkers and predicting acute kidney injury
Authors: Luft Friedrich C. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimHow can we convert biomarkers into reliable, validated laboratory tests? Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimators exist for more than a century. The first utilitarian biomarkers were endogenously produced urea and creatinine. Clinicians then developed simple tests to determine whether or not renal tubular function was maintained. Are there faster and better tests that reflect decreased renal function and increased acute kidney injury (AKI) risk?MethodsWe inspect earlier, and recently propagated biomarkers. Cystatin C reflects GFR and is not confounded by muscle mass. Direct GFR and plasma volume can now be measured acutely within 3 hours. Better yet would be tests that give information before GFR decreases and prior to urea, creatinine, and cystatin C increases. Prospective tests identifying those persons likely to develop AKI would be helpful. Even more utilitarian would be a test that also suggests a therapeutic avenue.ResultsA number of highly provocative biomarkers have recently been proposed. Moreover the application of big data from huge electronic medical records promise new directions in identifying and dealing with AKI.ConclusionsPipedreams are in the pipeline; the novel findings require immediate testing, verification, and perhaps application. Future research promises to make such dreams come true.
Comment on “Wang et al. (2005), Robust estimating functions and bias correction for longitudinal data analysis”
Authors: Lunardon Nicola , Menardi Giovanna 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis note provides a discussion on the manuscript by Wang et al. (2005) who aim to robustify inference for longitudinal data analysis by replacing the ordinary generalized estimating function with an influence‐bounded, possibly biased, version. To adjust for the bias of the ensuing robust estimator, the authors provide its analytic approximation by means of asymptotic expansions, and estimate it by plugging‐in a nonrobust estimate of the parameter of interest. In this letter, we argue that the proposed bias‐corrected estimator is, in fact, nonrobust.
Movement‐mediated community assembly and coexistence
Authors: Schlägel Ulrike E. , Grimm Volker , Blaum Niels , Colangeli Pierluigi , Dammhahn Melanie , Eccard Jana A. , Hausmann Sebastian L. , Herde Antje , Hofer Heribert , Joshi Jasmin , Kramer‐Schadt Stephanie , Litwin Magdalena , Lozada‐Gobilard Sissi D. , Müller Marina E. H. , Müller Thomas , Nathan Ran , Petermann Jana S. , Pirhofer‐Walzl Karin , Radchuk Viktoriia , Rillig Matthias C. , Roeleke Manuel , Schäfer Merlin , Scherer Cédric , Schiro Gabriele , Scholz Carolin , Teckentrup Lisa , Tiedemann Ralph , Ullmann Wiebke , Voigt Christian C. , Weithoff Guntram , Jeltsch Florian 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTOrganismal movement is ubiquitous and facilitates important ecological mechanisms that drive community and metacommunity composition and hence biodiversity. In most existing ecological theories and models in biodiversity research, movement is represented simplistically, ignoring the behavioural basis of movement and consequently the variation in behaviour at species and individual levels. However, as human endeavours modify climate and land use, the behavioural processes of organisms in response to these changes, including movement, become critical to understanding the resulting biodiversity loss. Here, we draw together research from different subdisciplines in ecology to understand the impact of individual‐level movement processes on community‐level patterns in species composition and coexistence. We join the movement ecology framework with the key concepts from metacommunity theory, community assembly and modern coexistence theory using the idea of micro–macro links, where various aspects of emergent movement behaviour scale up to local and regional patterns in species mobility and mobile‐link‐generated patterns in abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. These in turn influence both individual movement and, at ecological timescales, mechanisms such as dispersal limitation, environmental filtering, and niche partitioning. We conclude by highlighting challenges to and promising future avenues for data generation, data analysis and complementary modelling approaches and provide a brief outlook on how a new behaviour‐based view on movement becomes important in understanding the responses of communities under ongoing environmental change.
Applying hierarchical resource selection concepts to solving crop damage caused by birds
Authors: Barzen Jeb A. , Gossens Andrew P. , Lacy Anne E. , Yandell Brian S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRecovery of Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) is a conservation success but will increase the potential for crop damage if problems caused by high crane density remain unresolved. In spring, cranes consume planted corn kernels (Zea mays), causing significant damage. From 1999 to 2001 and 2007 to 2009 we experimented with resolving crane damage. Seeds treated with either insecticides or anthraquinone (AQ) were not consumed in planted fields while untreated seeds were, causing a 19.6% reduction in seedling density where cranes foraged. Insecticides tested were inappropriate for future use while performance of AQ mimicked that of insecticides but was environmentally acceptable and economical to use. Though cranes selected germinating corn fields, regardless of treatment, they used fields containing treated corn without causing damage. Cranes were generalists when selecting food items within a field and likely switched food items when exposed to treated corn but were specialists when selecting field types within a home range. Deterrence at geographic scales where species are generalists may reduce the chance for habituation. Subsequent deployment of AQ has been replicated with other bird species and crops at landscape scales. Successful solutions enable landowners to value wildlife and promote biological diversity found on those lands.
Guarding against Disruption Risk by Contracting under Information Asymmetry
Authors: Li Guo , Liu Mengqi , Bian Yiwen , Sethi Suresh P. 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTThis study considers a decentralized supply chain in which a downstream manufacturer purchases a component from an upstream supplier privileged with private information on supply disruption risk. The supplier's initial reliability, asymmetric to the manufacturer, is either low or high. To guard against disruption risk by enhancing supply reliability, the manufacturer employs two representative contracts, namely, the wholesale price contract and the screening menu contract. We first examine the push and pull regimes under the wholesale price contract, and find that the manufacturer prefers the pull regime. Under the screening menu contract, we also consider two regimes: contracting the high‐type and low‐type supplier, and contracting only the high‐type supplier. From the perspective of the manufacturer, the regime that allows contracting both types of the supplier dominates the regime of contracting only the high‐type supplier under certain conditions. Comparing the wholesale price and screening menu contracts, we derive several interesting results. First, under specific conditions, the wholesale price contract is dominant for the manufacturer when the reliability enhancement cost or initial supply reliability heterogeneity is relatively high; otherwise, the screening menu contract is more favorable to the manufacturer. Second, in the pull regime, more information transparency may be detrimental to the manufacturer when the supplier's initial reliability is low, whereas the high‐type supplier can surprisingly yield a high profit under information asymmetry. Third, the low‐type supplier's preference on information transparency hinges on the reliability enhancement cost in the push regime.