bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and Feasibility of Linear Stapling Device with Bioabsorbable Polyglycolic Acid Sheet for Duodenal Closure in Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Multi‐institutional Phase II Study
Authors: Misawa Kazunari , Yoshikawa Takaki , Ito Seiji , Cho Haruhiko , Ito Yuichi , Ogata Takashi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundDuodenal stump fistula (DSF) after gastrectomy is of low frequency but a critical complication in gastric cancer surgery. Manual oversewing for reinforcement of the duodenal stump is not applicable when free longitudinal margin is short and has technical difficulties in laparoscopic surgery. This trial evaluated the safety and feasibility of using a linear stapler with bioabsorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheet for duodenal stump closure and reinforcement in gastric cancer surgery.MethodsThis multi‐institutional, prospective phase II trial included gastric cancer patients who were scheduled to undergo distal or total gastrectomy with R‐Y reconstruction. In all cases, duodenum was transected using a linear stapler with PGA sheet. The primary endpoint was the incidence of postoperative DSF. Sample size was set at 100 patients considering an expected value of 3% and threshold value of 8% with one‐sided testing at a 10% significance level.ResultsBetween June 2014 and June 2015, a total of 100 patients were registered in this trial. Postoperative DSF was observed in two cases (2.0%, 90% CI 0.4–6.2%) which was developed on postoperative days 13 and 20. Intraoperative bleeding at the duodenal stump staple line was observed in one case but was easily controlled without additional suturing. Postoperative bleeding was not observed in any of the cases.ConclusionThis study suggested that the use of PGA sheet as a reinforcement material for closure of the duodenal stump during gastrectomy for gastric cancer is both safe and feasible.Trial registration number UMIN 000014398
Precision Medicine: Familiarity, Perceived Health Drivers, and Genetic Testing Considerations Across Health Literacy Levels in a Diverse Sample
Authors: Williams Jessica R. , Yeh Vivian M. , Bruce Marino A. , Szetela Carolyn , Ukoli Flora , Wilkins Consuelo H. , Kripalani Sunil 
Published: August 2018

AbstractA clear awareness of a patient's knowledge, values, and perspectives is an important component of effective genetic counseling. Advances in precision medicine, however, have outpaced our understanding of patient perceptions of this new approach. Patient views may differ across the three domains of precision medicine (genetics, behavioral, and environmental determinants of health), ethnic/racial groups, and health literacy levels. This study describes and compares group differences in familiarity, perceptions, and preferences for precision medicine in a diverse sample. Between 2016 and 2017, 252 participants completed a 10–15‐min survey in three primary care clinics in Florida and Tennessee. The final sample was 42.5% African American/Black, 25.8% Hispanic/Latino, 25.0% White, and 6.7% other ethnicity/race. Less than a quarter of participants reported being familiar with the term “precision medicine,” but were more familiar with basic genetic terms. Participants with higher health literacy reported greater familiarity with terms (p ≤ 003). African Americans/Black participants were more likely to identify ethnicity/race and discrimination as influencing their health (p ≤ .004). When deciding to get a genetic test, individuals across ethnic/racial groups shared similar considerations. Those with higher health literacy, however, gave significantly greater importance to provider trust (p ≤ .008). Given the recent emergence of precision medicine, at present there may be limited differences in patient perceptions across ethnic/racial groups. Culturally sensitive efforts, tailored to health literacy level, may aid equitable precision medicine uptake.
Abrupt increase in phosphorus and potassium fluxes during a masting event in a Bornean tropical forest
Authors: Aoyagi Ryota , Imai Nobuo , Hidaka Amane , Samejima Hiromitsu , Kitayama Kanehiro 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMechanisms by which the productivity of tropical ecosystems is limited by nutrients is a long‐standing question, but little information is available on the nutrient dynamics supporting the masting phenomenon in Southeast Asian evergreen rainforests. In this study we examined the nutrient sink and potential nutrient sources of masting in a Bornean tropical forest. We investigated if nutrient flux in fine litter, tree stems, and soils changed temporally in response to intense flower and fruit production. Fifty‐five litter traps were installed in a 2‐ha plot at the onset of flowering (April 2010), and litter and nutrient fluxes were monitored for more than 4 years (May 2010–December 2014). Wood cores of trunks and coarse roots of abundant species (Shorea spp.) and soil samples were collected in May 2010, September 2010, and September 2011 (coinciding with peak flowering, peak fruiting, and 1 year after fruiting, respectively). The P and K fluxes in the total litter were significantly greater in the mast year (2010) than non‐mast years, whereas the Mg, N, and Ca fluxes did not vary in relation to masting. In line with the nutrient fluxes, P and K concentrations in coarse roots of flowering individuals of S. multiflora decreased in September 2011. The present results suggest that tropical trees require extraordinary amounts of P and K for masting, and may retranslocate stored nutrients to meet the elevated nutrient demands for masting.
Ecosystem services provision today and in the past: a comparative study in two Baltic lagoons
Authors: Inácio Miguel , Schernewski Gerald , Nazemtseva Yaroslava , Baltranaitė Eglė , Friedland René , Benz Juliane 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe European Biodiversity Strategy asks EU Member States for an assessment, mapping and valuing of Ecosystem Services (ES). While terrestrial ES concept is advanced and different tools are available, they are largely lacking for coastal and marine systems. We develop a stepwise methodological process to assess ES in coastal and marine systems which we name Marine Ecosystem Services Assessment Tool. We applied it to two large Baltic lagoons, the Szczecin and the Curonian Lagoons demonstrating a quantitative and qualitative assessment approach. Firstly, an initial status is defined reflecting, according to the European Water Framework Directive, a past situation when the ecosystems where in a so called good ecological state. In both Baltic lagoons, this refers to a situation around 1960. Secondly, a present state is defined, assessed and compared to the initial status. Increasing anthropogenic impacts in Szczecin Lagoon caused an overall decrease ecological status which may influence the system's ability to provide services. Assessing ES changes semi‐quantitatively via 39 indicators and 22 services, we show a decrease in provisioning and regulating and maintenance and an increase of cultural services’ provision. According to 15 expert valuations, the Curonian Lagoon displays no changes in provisioning but an increase in regulating and maintenance and cultural service provision. We discuss how these results can serve different marine management approaches and support different polices. Through our application we show how the tool can be used to assess ES changes over time and thus provide key information on sustainable use and ES for future generations.
IRRIGATION REQUIREMENTS ARE LOWER THAN THOSE USUALLY PRESCRIBED FOR A MAIZE CROP IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL
Authors: SOBENKO LUIZ R. , SOUZA TAMIRES T. , GONÇALVES ALEXANDRE O. , BIANCHINI VITOR J. M. , SILVA EVANDRO H. F. M. , SOUZA LAÍS T. , MARIN FÁBIO R. 
Published: August 2018

SUMMARYDue to the lack of basic information on water required by maize (Zea mays L.) in Brazil, the large amount of water applied usually exceeds crop requirements, wasting water and energy. In this study, we measured crop evapotranspiration (ETc) as evaporative heat flux from a centre pivot-irrigated maize plantation in Southern Brazil during winter and summer seasons, using the Bowen ratio method to evaluate how the degree of canopy-atmosphere coupling affects crop water needs and irrigation management. Irrigation requirements were determined by comparing ETc with reference evapotranspiration (ETo), derived from the Penman–Monteith equation and expressed as the ETc/ETo (Kc) ratio. In this study, the average Kc values obtained were 1.31 and 0.90 for the winter and summer, respectively. Using aerodynamic and canopy resistance measurements, the decoupling factor (Ω) was computed. Ω values tending to zero (0.09 and 0.20 for winter and summer, respectively) showed that strong coupling of maize plants to the atmosphere and sensitivity to high air temperatures, vapour pressure deficits and wind speed caused variations in Kc in relation to ETo ranges. During the experimental period, the Kc value ranged from 0.92 when the ETo exceeded 4 mm d−1 to 1.64 when the ETo was less than 2 mm d−1.
The shift in seasonality of legionellosis in the USA
Authors: Alarcon Falconi T. M. , Cruz M. S. , Naumova E. N. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2000 to 2014, reported cases of legionellosis per 100 000 population increased by 300% in the USA, although reports on disease seasonality are inconsistent. Using two national databases, we assessed seasonal patterns of legionellosis in the USA. We created a monthly time series from 1993 to 2015 of reported cases of legionellosis from the CDC, and from 1997 to 2006 of medical claims of legionellosis-related hospitalisation in older adults from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). We split the study time interval into two segments (before and after 2003), and applied a Poisson harmonic regression model to each dataset and each segment. The time series of monthly counts exhibited a significant shift of seasonal peaks from mid-September (9.676 ± 0.164 months) before 2003 to mid-August (8.452 ± 0.042 months) after 2003, along with an alarming increase in the amplitude of seasonal peaks in both CDC and CMS data. The lowest monthly reported cases of legionellosis in 2015 (281) exceed the maximum value reported before 2003 (206). We also observed a discrepancy between CDC and CMS data, suggesting that not all cases of legionellosis diagnosed by hospital-based laboratories were reported to the CDC. Improved reporting of legionellosis is required to better inform the public and organise disease prevention.
Population DNA methylation studies in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework
Authors: Felix J. F. , Cecil C. A. M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEpigenetic changes represent a potential mechanism underlying associations of early-life exposures and later life health outcomes. Population-based cohort studies starting in early life are an attractive framework to study the role of such changes. DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic mechanism in population research. We discuss the application of DNA methylation in early-life population studies, some recent findings, key challenges and recommendations for future research. Studies into DNA methylation within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework generally either explore associations between prenatal exposures and offspring DNA methylation or associations between offspring DNA methylation in early life and later health outcomes. Only a few studies to date have integrated prospective exposure, epigenetic and phenotypic data in order to explicitly test the role of DNA methylation as a potential biological mediator of environmental effects on health outcomes. Population epigenetics is an emerging field which has challenges in terms of methodology and interpretation of the data. Key challenges include tissue specificity, cell type adjustment, issues of power and comparability of findings, genetic influences, and exploring causality and functional consequences. Ongoing studies are working on addressing these issues. Large collaborative efforts of prospective cohorts are emerging, with clear benefits in terms of optimizing power and use of resources, and in advancing methodology. In the future, multidisciplinary approaches, within and beyond longitudinal birth and preconception cohorts will advance this complex, but highly promising, the field of research.
Overcoming undesirable resilience in the global food system
Authors: Oliver Tom H. , Boyd Emily , Balcombe Kelvin , Benton Tim G. , Bullock James M. , Donovan Deanna , Feola Giuseppe , Heard Matthew , Mace Georgina M. , Mortimer Simon R. , Nunes Richard J. , Pywell Richard F. , Zaum Dominik 
Published: August 2018

Non-technical summaryOur current global food system – from food production to consumption, including manufacture, packaging, transport, retail and associated businesses – is responsible for extensive negative social and environmental impacts which threaten the long-term well-being of society. This has led to increasing calls from science–policy organizations for major reform and transformation of the global food system. However, our knowledge regarding food system transformations is fragmented and this is hindering the development of co-ordinated solutions. Here, we collate recent research across several academic disciplines and sectors in order to better understand the mechanisms that ‘lock-in’ food systems in unsustainable states.
Subtropical Westerly Jet Influence on Occurrence of Western Disturbances and Tibetan Plateau Vortices
Authors: Hunt K. M. R. , Curio J. , Turner A. G. , Schiemann R. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWestern disturbances (WDs) are midtropospheric to upper‐tropospheric mesoscale vortices, which typically propagate along the subtropical westerly jet stream and bring heavy rainfall to Pakistan and northern India during boreal winter. They are dynamically similar to Tibetan Plateau vortices (TPVs), which affect southwest China during spring and summer and emanate from the Tibetan Plateau. Here we propose that their similarity implies the existence of a more general group of upper‐tropospheric vortices featuring interactions with the orography of the Hindu Kush‐Himalaya‐Tibetan Plateau region. Using existing track databases for WDs and TPVs derived from ERA‐Interim reanalysis, we show that their respective occurrence frequencies are highly anticorrelated with each other through the seasonal cycle, yet both are strongly correlated with jet latitude. Our findings imply that the incidence of hazards due to WDs and TPVs is correlated on intra‐annual and interannual time scales, particularly through upper‐level baroclinicity.
Appropriate Boundary Condition for Dupuit‐Boussinesq Theory on the Steady Groundwater Flow in an Unconfined Sloping Aquifer With Uniform Recharge
Authors: Wu Ying‐Hsin , Sayama Takahiro , Nakakita Eiichi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe application of Dupuit‐Boussinesq theory on the two‐dimensional steady groundwater flow in an unconfined sloping aquifer with uniform recharge is theoretically investigated. The examination of conditions at the downstream and upstream is performed. The method of phase plane is used to geometrically interpret the characteristics of the nonlinear theory by various initial conditions. For phase portrait analysis, three configurations for aquifers are considered. In each type of aquifer three conditions of recharges as well as downstream groundwater tables are also considered for comprehensive analysis. Based on the phase portrait analysis, one explicit formula in terms of known parameters and downstream boundary condition is derived to easily and straightforwardly determine an appropriate upstream boundary condition. The derived explicit formula can facilitate correct modeling using Boussinesq theory.
The Impact of Pore‐Scale Flow Regimes on Upscaling of Immiscible Two‐Phase Flow in Porous Media
Authors: Picchi D. , Battiato I. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEmpirical or theoretical extensions of Darcy's law for immiscible two‐phase flow have shown significant limitations in properly modeling the flow at the continuum scale. We tackle this problem by proposing a set of upscaled equations based on pore‐scale flow regimes, that is, the topology of flowing phases. The incompressible Navier‐Stokes equation is upscaled by means of multiple‐scale expansions and its closures derived from the mechanical energy balance for different flow regimes at the pore scale. We also derive the applicability conditions of the upscaled equations based on the order of magnitude of relevant dimensionless numbers, that is, Eotvos, Reynolds, capillary, Froude numbers, and the viscosity and density ratio of the system, as well as a set of closures valid for the basic flow regimes of low Eotvos number systems, that is, core‐annular and plug and drop traffic flows. We provide analytical expressions for the relative permeability of the wetting and nonwetting phases in different flow regimes and demonstrate that the effect of the flowing‐phases topology on the relative permeabilities is significant. Finally, we show that the classical two‐phase Darcy law is recovered for a limited range of operative conditions, while specific terms accounting for interfacial and wall interactions should be incorporated to accurately model ganglia or drop traffic flow.
Effect of China’s maternal health policy on improving rural hospital delivery: Evidence from two cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Fan Xiaojing , Xu Yongjian , Stewart Martyn , Zhou Zhongliang , Dang Shaonong , Wang Duolao , Gao Jianmin 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis population-based cross-sectional study aims to explore the effect of China’s Rural Hospital Delivery Subsidy (RHDS) policy on the utilization of women’s hospital delivery between rural and urban areas. A total of 2398 women were drawn from the Fourth and Fifth National Health Service Surveys, from the Shaanxi province. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the influence of the RHDS policy on the hospital delivery rate. Concentration index and decomposition methods were used to explore the equity of hospital delivery utilization. Prior to introduction of the RHDS policy, the difference in hospital delivery rates was −0.09 (95% CL: −0.16, −0.01) between rural and urban women when adjusting the influence of socioeconomic factors on hospital delivery; after implementation of the policy, the difference was reduced to 0.02 (95% CL: −0.01, 0.06). The horizontal inequity index was reduced from 0.084 to 0.009 for rural women and from 0.070 to 0.011 for urban women. China’s Rural Hospital Delivery Subsidy policy had some positive effect on reducing the gap between rural and urban women’s hospital delivery rate and inequity. However, there is still a pro-rich inequity of hospital delivery utilization for both rural and urban women.
FN400 amplitudes reveal the differentiation of semantic inferences within natural vs. artificial domains
Authors: Long Changquan , Zhang Mingming , Cui Ruifang , Chen Jie 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCategory-based inferences allow inductions about novel properties based on categorical memberships (e.g., knowing all trout have genes [premise] allows us to infer that all fish have genes [conclusion]). Natural (N) and artificial (A) domains are the most obvious and traditional distinctions in categorization. The distinct event-related potential (ERP) responses for N and A domains have not yet been examined during category-based inferences. In this study, the differences between ERP inference parameters within N and A domains were measured during inductive decision processing, while controlling the premise−conclusion similarity and premise typicality between those two domains. Twenty-two adults were asked to make a decision on whether a conclusion was definitely weak, possibly weak, possibly strong, or definitely strong, based on a premise. The behavioral results showed that semantic inferences within the N domain shared similar inductive strength, similar “correct” response rates, and similar reaction times with that within the A domain. However, the ERP results showed that semantic inferences elicited smaller frontal-distributed N400 (FN400) amplitudes within the N domain than within the A domain, which suggested that knowledge of the ontological domain of a category affects category-based inferences, and underlaid the increased categorical coherence and homogeneity in the N as compared to the A categories. Therefore, we have distinguished the cognitive course of semantic inferences between N and A domains.
Fractura de cadera en el paciente mayor de 90 años: nuestro nuevo desafío
Authors: Azócar Sanhueza Camila , González Almonacid Javier , Quezada Morales José , Sabat Villazón Khader , Valiente Valenzuela Roberto , Hübner Hoffman Christian , Liendo Verdugo Rodrigo 
Published: August 2018

Introducción El envejecimiento mundial de la población ha resultado en un aumento de las fracturas de cadera y sobre todo en pacientes cada vez más añosos. El objetivo es buscar la mortalidad al año y factores asociados en nuestra realidad nacional.
Materiales y Métodos Estudio retrospectivo observacional de fichas clínicas e imagenología de pacientes mayores de 90 años operados por fractura de cadera en la capital de nuestro país. Se presentan dos grupos según su sistema previsional, pacientes pertenecientes al sistema de salud público (SSPu) y pertenecientes a un sistema de salud privado (SSPr). Se realiza análisis estadístico univariado y multivariado con test de Chi2, Mann-Whitney y regresión logística.
Resultados 129 pacientes mayores de 90 años operados por fractura de cadera (85 pertenecientes al SSPu y 44 en el SSPr), cumplieron con criterios de inclusión y exclusión en un período de 2 años. El promedio de edad general fue de 93,2 años (SD 2,9) sin diferencia entre grupos. El tiempo preoperatorio fue significativamente menor en el SSPr con mediana de 1 día (0–7) y de 6 días (1–40) para el SSPu (p < 0,001). La mortalidad general al año fue de 30,2% siendo de 38,8% para el SSPu y de 13,6% para el SSPr con diferencia significativa (p = 0,003). No se encontró asociación estadística en la mortalidad al año con las variables edad, género ni tipo de fractura. Se encontró asociación entre la mortalidad al año y menor tiempo preoperatorio (p < 0,001). En el análisis multivariado de mortalidad el único factor protector fue pertenecer al SSPr (p = 0,010).
Discusión La mortalidad general de nuestros pacientes es similar a lo encontrado en la literatura internacional, siendo el menor tiempo preoperatorio y pertenecer al sistema de salud privado factores asociados a menor mortalidad al año, donde ese último es el único factor asociado en el estudio multivariable. Este estudio aporta a la contingencia nacional en describir cómo se comporta nuestra población tanto en el sistema de salud privado como en el público. Es necesario estudiar el efecto en la mortalidad de otros factores asociados que no fueron evaluados en el presente trabajo.
Recurrent computations for visual pattern completion
Authors: Tang Hanlin , Schrimpf Martin , Lotter William , Moerman Charlotte , Paredes Ana , Ortega Caro Josue , Hardesty Walter , Cox David , Kreiman Gabriel 
Published: August 2018

Significance
The ability to complete patterns and interpret partial information is a central property of intelligence. Deep convolutional network architectures have proved successful in labeling whole objects in images and capturing the initial 150 ms of processing along the ventral visual cortex. This study shows that human object recognition abilities remain robust when only small amounts of information are available due to heavy occlusion, but the performance of bottom-up computational models is impaired under limited visibility. The results provide combined behavioral, neurophysiological, and modeling insights showing how recurrent computations may help the brain solve the fundamental challenge of pattern completion.