bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eastern massasauga demography and extinction risk under prescribed‐fire scenarios
Authors: Hileman Eric T. , King Richard B. , Faust Lisa J. 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTThe use of poorly estimated or surrogate population parameter estimates to assess population viability may result in misleading predictions. Consequently, a critical first step to understanding population health and the effects of land management practices on threatened species is estimation of site‐specific demographic parameters. A major threat to the eastern massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is habitat loss due to encroachment of woody vegetation and invasive species. Current land management practices require periodic burning or mowing to maintain habitat suitability. Although these methods improve habitat quality, they may also increase the risk of depredation due to reduced ground cover if burns are too extensive or cause mortality if conducted when snakes are active. We fitted contemporary capture–recapture and matrix models to an 8‐year dataset to estimate population parameters for an eastern massasauga population near the range center of the species, where the largest number of eastern massasauga populations may still persist. From 2009 to 2016, we captured 826 eastern massasaugas 1,776 times. In general, annual survival increased with increasing age (age 0 = 0.38, age 1 = 0.65, age 2 = 0.67, age ≥3 females = 0.71, age ≥3 males = 0.66). Abundance estimates ranged from 84 to 140 adults and annual reproductive frequency was 0.44 (95% CI = 0.29–0.59). We simulated increased mortality due to prescribed burns during spring, fall, and late fall for 50 and 100 years. The baseline model, which incorporated current prescribed‐fire practices, indicated a stable population with only a 0.2–0.6% probability of extinction over 100 years, suggesting that management practices at this site are sustainable if they remain unchanged. Simulations of conservative increases in mortality due to fire changed the probability of extinction little over 50 years (≤0.7%) but increased probability of extinction up to 24.5% over 100 years in the most pessimistic prescribed‐burn scenario. These prescribed‐burn simulations may be comparable to burn regimes used at other eastern massasauga sites. The population parameters estimated here provide information needed for assessing range‐wide population viability and investigating geographic variation in eastern massasauga demography. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
High peak and high average radiofrequency power transmit/receive switch for thermal magnetic resonance
Authors: Ji Yiyi , Hoffmann Werner , Pham Michal , Dunn Alexander E. , Han Haopeng , Özerdem Celal , Waiczies Helmar , Rohloff Michael , Endemann Beate , Boyer Cyrille , Lim May , Niendorf Thoralf , Winter Lukas 
Published: April 2018

PurposeTo study the role of temperature in biological systems, diagnostic contrasts and thermal therapies, RF pulses for MR spin excitation can be deliberately used to apply a thermal stimulus. This application requires dedicated transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) switches that support high peak powers for MRI and high average powers for RF heating. To meet this goal, we propose a high‐performance Tx/Rx switch based on positive‐intrinsic‐negative diodes and quarter‐wavelength (λ/4) stubs.MethodsThe λ/4 stubs in the proposed Tx/Rx switch design route the transmitted RF signal directly to the RF coil/antenna without passing through any electronic components (e.g., positive‐intrinsic‐negative diodes). Bench measurements, MRI, MR thermometry, and RF heating experiments were performed at f = 297 MHz (B0 = 7 T) to examine the characteristics and applicability of the switch.ResultsThe proposed design provided an isolation of −35.7dB/−41.5dB during transmission/reception. The insertion loss was −0.41dB/−0.27dB during transmission/reception. The switch supports high peak (3.9 kW) and high average (120 W) RF powers for MRI and RF heating at f = 297 MHz. High‐resolution MRI of the wrist yielded image quality competitive with that obtained with a conventional Tx/Rx switch. Radiofrequency heating in phantom monitored by MR thermometry demonstrated the switch applicability for thermal modulation. Upon these findings, thermally activated release of a model drug attached to thermoresponsive polymers was demonstrated.ConclusionThe high‐power Tx/Rx switch enables thermal MR applications at 7 T, contributing to the study of the role of temperature in biological systems and diseases. All design files of the switch will be made available open source at www.opensourceimaging.org.
Free‐breathing cine DENSE MRI using phase cycling with matchmaking and stimulated‐echo image‐based navigators
Authors: Cai Xiaoying , Epstein Frederick H. 
Published: April 2018

PurposeThis study aimed to develop a self‐navigated method for free‐breathing spiral cine displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE), a myocardial strain imaging technique that uses phase‐cycling for artifact suppression. The method needed to address 2 consequences of motion for DENSE: striping artifacts from incomplete suppression of the T1‐relaxation echo and blurring.MethodsThe method identifies phase‐cycled spiral interleaves at matched respiratory phases by minimizing the residual signal due to T1 relaxation after phase‐cycling subtraction. Next, the method reconstructs image‐based navigators from matched phase‐cycled interleaves that are comprised of the stimulated echo (ste‐iNAVs). Ste‐iNAVs are used for motion estimation and compensation of k‐space data. The method was demonstrated in phantoms and compared to diaphragm‐based navigator (dNAV) and conventional iNAV (c‐iNAV) methods for the reconstruction of free‐breathing volunteer data sets (N = 10).ResultsPhantom experiments demonstrated that the proposed method removes striping artifacts and blurring due to motion. Volunteer results showed that respiratory motion measured by ste‐iNAVs was better correlated than c‐iNAVs to dNAV data (R2 = 0.82 ± 0.03 vs. 0.70 ± 0.05, P < 0.05). Match‐making reconstructions of free‐breathing data sets achieved lower residual T1‐relaxation echo energy (1.04 ± 0.01 vs. 1.18 ± 0.04 for dNAV and 1.18 ± 0.03 for c‐iNAV, P < 0.05), higher apparent SNR (11.93 ± 1.05 vs. 10.68 ± 1.06 for dNAV and 10.66 ± 0.99 for c‐iNAV, P < 0.05), and better phase quality (0.147 ± 0.012 vs. 0.166 ± 0.017 for dNAV, P = 0.06, and 0.168 ± 0.015 for c‐iNAV, P < 0.05) than dNAV and c‐iNAV methods.ConclusionFor free‐breathing cine DENSE, the proposed method addresses both types of breathing‐induced artifacts and provides better quality images than conventional dNAV and iNAV methods.
Vinyl/Vinylene functionalized highly branched polyethylene waxes obtained using electronically controlled cyclohexyl‐fused pyridinylimine‐nickel precatalysts
Authors: Guo Jingjing , Zhang Wenjuan , Mahmood Qaiser , Zhang Randi , Sun Yang , Sun Wen‐Hua 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTA series of 8‐(2,6‐dibenzhydryl‐4‐R‐phenylimino)‐5,6,7‐trihydroquinoline ligands have been prepared in which the nature of 4‐R substitutions vary from electron withdrawing to electron donating. The treatment with NiCl2.6H2O or (DME)NiBr2 afforded the corresponding complexes of nickel chloride (4‐R = Me Ni1, Et Ni2, tBu Ni3, CHPh2 Ni4, Cl Ni5, and F Ni6) and nickel bromide (4‐R = Me Ni7, Et Ni8, tBu Ni9, CHPh2 Ni10, Cl Ni11, and F Ni12). X‐ray diffraction study of complexes Ni3, Ni6, and Ni10, revealed that Ni3.1/2H2O and Ni6.H2O adopted unsymmetrical and symmetrical chloride‐bridged dinuclear structures respectively, while Ni10.H2O is found as mononuclear specie forming distorted‐square planer geometry. In the presence of either diethylaluminum chloride (Et2AlCl) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all the nickel complexes (Ni1–Ni12) displayed high activities (up to 1.91 × 106 g(PE) mol (Ni)−1h−1. Highly branched polyethylene waxes with low molecular weights (Mw ≤ 2.6 kg/mol) and narrow molecular weights distributions (Mw/Mn ≤ 1.96) incorporated with vinylene and vinyl groups were obtained. The effects of 4‐R substitutions to the nickel chloride and bromide pre‐catalysts and reaction conditions on the catalytic performance and the properties of the resulting polyethylene were the subject of a detail investigation. The positive influences of using electron‐withdrawing 4‐R substitutions and bromides were observed. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 1269–1281
John Kendrew and myoglobin: Protein structure determination in the 1950s
Authors: de Chadarevian Soraya 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe essay reviews John Kendrew's pioneering work on the structure of myoglobin for which he shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1962. It reconstructs the status of protein X‐ray crystallography at the time Kendrew entered the field in 1945, after distinctive service in operational research during the war. It reflects on the choice of sperm whale myoglobin as research material. In particular, it highlights Kendrew's early use of digital electronic computers for crystallographic computations and the marshaling of other tools and approaches that made it possible to solve the structure at increasing resolution. The essay further discusses the role of models in structure resolution and their broader reception. It ends by briefly reviewing Kendrew's other contributions in the formation and institutionalization of molecular biology.
Role of serum response factor expression in prostate cancer biochemical recurrence
Authors: Prencipe Maria , Fabre Aurelie , Murphy Thomas Brendan , Vargyas Eszter , O'Neill Amanda , Bjartell Anders , Tasken Kristin Austlid , Grytli Helene H. , Svindland Aud , Berge Viktor , Eri Lars M. , Gallagher William , Watson R. William 
Published: April 2018

BackgroundUp to a third of prostate cancer patients fail curative treatment strategies such as surgery and radiation therapy in the form of biochemical recurrence (BCR) which can be predictive of poor outcome. Recent clinical trials have shown that men experiencing BCR might benefit from earlier intervention post‐radical prostatectomy (RP). Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify earlier prognostic biomarkers which will guide clinicians in making accurate diagnosis and timely decisions on the next appropriate treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate Serum Response Factor (SRF) protein expression following RP and to investigate its association with BCR.Materials and MethodsSRF nuclear expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in TMAs across three international radical prostatectomy cohorts for a total of 615 patients. Log‐rank test and Kaplan‐Meier analyses were used for BCR comparisons. Stepwise backwards elimination proportional hazard regression analysis was used to explore the significance of SRF in predicting BCR in the context of other clinical pathological variables. Area under the curve (AUC) values were generated by simulating repeated random sub‐samples.ResultsAnalysis of the immunohistochemical staining of benign versus cancer cores showed higher expression of nuclear SRF protein expression in cancer cores compared with benign for all the three TMAs analysed (P < 0.001,n = 615). Kaplan‐Meier curves of the three TMAs combined showed that patients with higher SRF nuclear expression had a shorter time to BCR compared with patients with lower SRF expression (P < 0.001,n = 215). Together with pathological T stage T3, SRF was identified as a predictor of BCR using stepwise backwards elimination proportional hazard regression analysis (P = 0.0521). Moreover ROC curves and AUC values showed that SRF was better than T stage in predicting BCR at year 3 and 5 following radical prostatectomy, the combination of SRF and T stage had a higher AUC value than the two taken separately.ConclusionsSRF assessment by IHC following RP could be useful in guiding clinicians to better identify patients for appropriate follow‐up and timely treatment.
A new combinatorial representation of the additive coalescent
Authors: Marckert Jean‐François , Wang Minmin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe standard additive coalescent starting with n particles is a Markov process which owns several combinatorial representations, one by Pitman as a process of coalescent forests, and one by Chassaing and Louchard as the block sizes in a parking scheme. In the coalescent forest representation, edges are added successively between a random node and a random root. In this paper, we investigate an alternative construction by, instead, adding edges between roots. This construction induces exactly the same process in terms of cluster sizes, meanwhile, it allows us to make numerous new connections with other combinatorial and probabilistic models: size biased percolation, parking scheme in a tree, increasing trees, random cuts of trees. The variety of the combinatorial objects involved justifies our interest in this construction.
A quad‐band bandpass filter using stepped impedance resonators with interdigital capacitors
Authors: Chomtong Pongsathorn , Akkaraekthalin Prayoot 
Published: April 2018

In this paper, we propose a quad‐band bandpass filter (BPF) based on the characteristics of stepped impedance resonators with interdigital capacitor to control the harmonic frequencies. The design includes two pairs of resonators that have resonant frequencies of 1.8 and 3.7 GHz applied for 4G LTE and Wi‐MAX and 2.45 and 5.5 GHz applied for WLAN systems, respectively. These resonators are connected together using the cross‐coupling technique. Also, multisection ports and stubs are employed for matching at all frequency bands, resulting in an insertion loss of <3 dB and a return loss better than 15 dB. Experimental results of the fabricated filter agree very well with those expected from the simulation. The proposed filter has good performance, while the size of resonator is reduced from λ/2 to λ/8. The proposed filter is very compact and useful for four wireless application bands. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Are We Preparing Teachers for Literacy Leadership?
Authors: Sharp Laurie A. , Piper Rebekah , Raymond Roberta D. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAll teachers must be literacy leaders in their classrooms and schools. Recent concerns surrounding teacher quality and literacy teacher preparation prompted the current inquiry, which examined the diverse ways in which literacy teacher educators cultivate literacy leadership among preservice teachers. The authors used a one‐shot qualitative research design and applied understandings related to distributed leadership and teacher leadership as theoretical lenses. Sixty‐five respondents participated in the current inquiry, and data were analyzed using a three‐level classification diversity analysis. Three themes emerged during data analysis: Two addressed specific preparation techniques for literacy leadership that occurred in university contexts and community and professional contexts, and the third drew attention to the inadequacy of preparation efforts with literacy leadership. A discussion of findings for each theme is provided, as well as implications and recommendations for literacy teacher educators and teacher preparation program administrators.
Morphological Analysis Instruction in the Elementary Grades: Which Morphemes to Teach and How to Teach Them
Authors: Manyak Patrick C. , Baumann James F. , Manyak Ann‐Margaret 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe authors address instruction in morphological analysis, a vocabulary‐learning approach that involves teaching students the meanings of affixes (prefixes and suffixes) and word roots and a strategy for using knowledge of these morphemic elements to infer the meanings of unfamiliar words. The authors discuss their development of a list of affixes and word roots for instruction in grades 3–5, share this list, and provide guidelines for using it in elementary classrooms. The authors then describe four instructional activities that constitute the multidimensional approach to affix instruction that they designed through researcher–teacher collaboration and that produced robust student learning.
Optimal Surgery for Mid‐Transverse Colon Cancer: Laparoscopic Extended Right Hemicolectomy Versus Laparoscopic Transverse Colectomy
Authors: Matsuda Takeru , Sumi Yasuo , Yamashita Kimihiro , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Yamamoto Masashi , Matsuda Yoshiko , Kanaji Shingo , Oshikiri Taro , Nakamura Tetsu , Suzuki Satoshi , Kakeji Yoshihiro 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundAlthough the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic surgery for transverse colon cancer have been shown by the recent studies, the optimal laparoscopic approach for mid‐transverse colon cancer is controversial.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with the mid‐transverse colon cancer at our institutions between January 2007 and April 2017. Thirty‐eight and 34 patients who received extended right hemicolectomy and transverse colectomy, respectively, were enrolled.ResultsThere were no significant differences in operating time, blood loss, and hospital stay between the two groups. Postoperative complications developed in 10 of 34 patients (29.4%; wound infection: 2 cases, anastomotic leakage: 2 cases, bowel obstruction: 1 case, incisional hernia: 2 cases, others: 3 cases) for the transverse colectomy group and in 4 of 38 patients (10.5%; wound infection: 1 case, anastomotic leakage: 0 case, bowel obstruction: 2 cases, incisional hernia: 0 case, others: 1 case) for the extended right hemicolectomy group (P = 0.014). Although the median number of harvested #221 and #222 LNs was similar between the two groups (6 vs. 8, P = 0.710, and 3 vs. 2, P = 0.256, respectively), that of #223 was significantly larger in extended right hemicolectomy than in transverse colectomy (3 vs. 1, P = 0.038). The 5‐year disease‐free and overall survival rates were 92.4 and 90.3% for the extended right hemicolectomy group, and 95.7 and 79.6% for the transverse colectomy group (P = 0.593 and P = 0.638, respectively).ConclusionsLaparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy and laparoscopic transverse colectomy offer similar oncological outcomes for mid‐transverse colon cancer. Laparoscopic extended right hemicolectomy might be associated with fewer postoperative complications.
Analysis of Early and Long‐Term Oncologic Outcomes After Converted Laparoscopic Resection Compared to Primary Open Surgery for Rectal Cancer
Authors: Allaix Marco Ettore , Furnée Edgar , Esposito Laura , Mistrangelo Massimiliano , Rebecchi Fabrizio , Arezzo Alberto , Morino Mario 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundLaparoscopic rectal resection (LRR) for cancer is a challenging procedure, with conversion to open surgery being reported in up to 30% of cases. Since only a few studies with short follow‐up have compared converted LRR and open RR (ORR), it is unclear if conversion to open surgery should be prevented by preferring an open approach in those patients with preoperatively known risk factors for conversion. The aim of this study was to compare early postoperative outcomes and long‐term survival after completed LRR, converted LRR or ORR for non‐metastatic rectal cancer.MethodsA prospective database of consecutive curative LRRs and ORRs for rectal cancer was reviewed. Patients undergoing LRR who required conversion (CONV group) were compared with those who had primary open rectal surgery (OPEN group) and completed LRR (LAP group). A multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of poor survival.ResultsA total of 537 patients were included in the study: 272 in the LAP group, 49 in the CONV group and 216 in the OPEN group. There were no significant differences in perioperative morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay between the three groups. Five‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival rates did not significantly differ between LAP, CONV and OPEN patients: 83.9 versus 77.8 versus 81% (P = 0.398) and 74.5 versus 62.9 versus 72.7% (P = 0.145), respectively. Similar 5‐year OS and DFS rates were observed between patients who had converted LRR for locally advanced tumor or for non‐tumor‐related reasons: 81.2 versus 80.8% (P = 0.839) and 62.5 versus 63.7% (P = 0.970), respectively. Poor grade of tumor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion and a lymph node ratio of 0.25 or greater, but not conversion, were independently associated with poorer survival.ConclusionConversion to open surgery does not impair short‐term outcomes and does not jeopardize 5‐year survival in patients with rectal cancer when compared to primary open surgery.
Bilateral ureterolithiasis: A true positive and false negative PoCUS exam in a patient with renal colic
Authors: Lowe Matthew P. , Cox Christopher 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAcute flank pain from suspected urolithiasis is a common presenting complaint in the Emergency Department. Multiple computed tomography (CT) has traditionally been the standard imaging modality used to diagnose obstructive kidney stones, however point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) can play an important role in the diagnostic algorithm and risk stratification of acute flank pain. Here, we present the case of a 29-year-old female with suspected urolithiasis, who underwent PoCUS that revealed right-sided hydronephrosis and normal left kidney, bladder, and aorta. A subsequent KUB was negative. As the clinical course failed to improve with therapy, an abdominal and pelvic CT was ordered revealing a 5 mm distal obstructing ureteric calculus at the right vesico-ureteric junction and another 5 mm left mid ureteric calculus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in which a patient presenting with acute right-sided flank pain demonstrated unilateral hydronephrosis on PoCUS, but had clinically significant bilateral ureteric stones on CT. Emergency physicians who employ PoCUS for evaluation of flank pain must be aware of its benefits and drawbacks and how they apply to each patient. As such, we have developed a script emergency physicians can use for shared decision-making with renal colic patients when deciding on the appropriate imaging modality.
JUDGING RELIGION AND JUDGES' RELIGIONS
Authors: Kislowicz Howard 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn liberal democracies with religiously diverse populations, it would be surprising and troubling if a judge relied on a religious text or precept to resolve a legal dispute. It would deeply offend principles of religious freedom if individuals were bound by judicial pronouncement to obey the dictates of a faith they do not share. However, some commentators have long claimed that a person's cultural worldview has an impact on the way they interpret laws and facts, and there is some empirical support for this claim. There is thus reason to expect that judges’ worldviews have some effect on their decision-making. I argue that when judges deliberately avoid engaging with their own moral perspectives, they may mask to themselves the impact that such perspectives have on their decisions. The alternative of explicit reference to religious sources in judicial decisions, however, is too problematic for the religious freedom of legal subjects. I argue that judges should instead endeavor to be conscious of the influence their backgrounds have on their decision-making, but suggest that judicial institutions may be resistant to adopting practices that would support such an approach. The article draws on Canadian and American case law to demonstrate its argument but has wider applicability to liberal states.