bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temperature‐driven wear behavior of Si3N4‐based ceramic reinforced by in situ formed TiC0.3N0.7 particles
Authors: Liu Jiongjie , Yang Jun , Zhu Shengyu , Cheng Jun , Yu Yuan , Qiao Zhuhui , Liu Weimin 
Published: December 2018

AbstractSi3N4 as a structural ceramic is desirable for applications in spacecraft, transportation, and energy, but its poor high‐temperature properties still do not satisfy the actual requirements. Here, a TiC0.3N0.7 reinforced Si3N4 ceramic is successfully designed and fabricated via the high‐temperature nitridation of TiCx. It is found that TiC0.3N0.7 grains with the size of 1‐2 μm are uniformly dispersed in the Si3N4 matrix and show a firm bond with substrate. Compared with pure Si3N4, the doping of harder TiCN phase can effectively improve ceramic's hardness and fracture toughness at a certain temperature. Importantly, the ceramic material displays extraordinary wear resistance across a wide temperature range (eg, the wear rate of TiC0.3N0.7 containing Si3N4 over 63 times and 178 times better than pure Si3N4 at 600 and 900°C, respectively). More broadly, a correlation between wear mechanism and temperature is established, and the result shows that the mechanical strength and tribochemical oxidation as two key factors determine the wear behavior of the material. These results developed here can provide a springboard for preparation and optimization of multiphase ceramics that serve under high‐temperature conditions.
Single‐center experience of the FIRM technique to ablate paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Henley Patrick , Foreman Jason R. , Padanilam Benzy J. , Nair Girish V. , Olson Jeff A. , Joshi Sandeep , Aziz Zaid , Foster Todd , Prystowsky Eric N. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIntroductionFocal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM)‐guided ablation has had mixed results of published success, and most studies have had a follow‐up for a year or less. We aimed to study a consecutive group of patients followed for at least 1.5 years, subgrouped into those with an initial FIRM ablation and those with a previous, failed ablation who now received a FIRM guided one, to evaluate for success in each group and factors that might affect success.MethodsOf 181 patients, 167 were available for analysis. Group 1 (n = 122) had a first or primary ablation (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation [PAF] 51; persistent atrial fibrillation [PeAF] 71) and group 2 (n = 45) had a redo ablation (PAF 18; PeAF 27). All patients were done under general anesthesia. FIRM mapping was done in the right atrium first and then the left, and only rotors consistently seen on multiple epochs were ablated, using 15 to 30 W. Rotor ablation was discontinued when remapping showed elimination of rotational activity at the site. Wide area catheter ablation was done for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Routine follow‐up was at 3, 6, and 12 months of the first year, with a Holter monitor at 6 months, and then every 6 months thereafter. Event recorders were given to patients with potential arrhythmic symptoms.ResultsMean follow‐up was 16 months. Nearly 40% of patients had obstructive sleep apnea; mean body mass index was 32; and average left atrial size was 39.7 mm and 46.2 mm for PAF and PeAF patients, respectively. Freedom from atrial arrhythmia recurrence was: in group 1 patients, 82.4% for PAF and 67.6% for PeAF patients; in group 2 patients, 83.3% for PAF, but only 40.7% for PeAF patients. Comparing outcomes for the first 10 patients studied to the next 20 or more done by three operators showed no difference, suggesting no learning curve affecting the ablation results. Furthermore, the univariate analysis did not show any demographic factor to have an independent significance for ablation success or failure. Spontaneous termination during rotor ablation occurred in 76.8% of PAF and 27.6% of PeAF patients but did not affect the long‐term outcomes for maintenance of sinus rhythm.ConclusionsFIRM‐guided atrial ablation plus PVI in our patient population resulted in good success from a recurrence of atrial arrhythmias in patients undergoing an initial ablation procedure. For those with persistent AF undergoing a second procedure now using FIRM guidance plus PVI, the results are lower. Further research is needed to define better the appropriate population for FIRM‐guided ablation and the degree of ablation needed for success in these patients.
Analysis of reported cases of left main coronary artery injury during catheter ablation: In search of a pattern
Authors: Klaudel Jacek , Trenkner Wojciech , Glaza Michal , Miekus Pawel 
Published: December 2018

AbstractIntroductionLeft main coronary artery (LMCA) injury is a rare but potentially fatal complication of catheter ablation. Due to LMCA large perfusion area, its occlusion is usually a dramatic event.Methods and ResultsReports of LMCA injury complicating catheter ablations from 1987 to 2018 were searched in electronic databases. Twenty‐two cases of serious LMCA damage have been identified. Additionally, four reports of direct mechanical trauma involving major LMCA branches induced by inadvertent catheter insertion have been studied. Typically 86% LMCA injury presented as an acute/subacute complication of retrograde ablation in left ventricle/left ventricular outflow tract or aortic cusps. In at least 86% of patients with an in‐hospital presentation, the LMCA trauma manifested dramatically as a life‐threatening arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock, or severe hypotension requiring vasopressors. In‐hospital mortality rate was 32%. Direct stenting has been found to be the most successful strategy.ConclusionLMCA injury, even if initially asymptomatic with normal angiographic appearance, may cause delayed flow deterioration, requiring prolonged monitoring and extended follow‐up. Special caution should be given to the prevention whereas survival depends on prompt detection and treatment.
Microbiological, physico‐chemical, and shelf life characteristics of land snail (Achantina fulica) subjected to various preservative treatments
Authors: Onwubuche K. , Efiuvwevwere B. J. O. , Eruteya O. C. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractReared and wild land snail (Achantina fulica) samples were subjected to various preservative treatments including potassium aluminium sulfate (PAS, 1% wt/vol), sodium chloride (NaCl, 1% wt/vol) and lime juice filtrate (LJF, 10% vol/vol) and investigated for microbial, physico‐chemical, and shelf life characteristics during ambient temperature storage. Five bacterial genera occurred in wild while three in reared. Total viable counts of 4.15 and 4.60 log10 cfu/g were observed in reared and wild control samples on Day 0 respectively but decreased to 3.72 and 4.08 log10 cfu/g for samples treated with LJF and PAS respectively on Day 3. Changes in pH of samples were marginal. Significant (p < .05) decrease in sensory attributes occurred in all samples and became unacceptable after Day 3 except LJF preserved samples that remained acceptable till Day 9. Thus, LJF as a novel preservative is recommended for shelf life extension of both reared and wild land snails.Practical applicationsThe results of this study indicate the practical method of preserving reared and wild land snail (Achantina fulica) to extend its shelf life using lime juice filtrate which is readily available and storage at ambient temperature (30 ± 2 °C) due to erratic power supply. This approach is to encourage median‐capacity industries and small‐medium enterprises to have access to simple technology especially in developing countries to enhance food security and food safety.
What matters in disclosures of key audit matters: Evidence from Europe
Authors: Pinto Inês , Morais Ana Isabel 
Published: December 2018

AbstractNew regulation in the European Union has introduced the mandatory disclosure of key audit matters (KAMs) to audit reports. The EU has identified KAMs as significant risks, significant transactions or events, or significant judgments by auditors. This paper aims to determine the factors that influence the number of KAMs that auditors disclose in the main European countries under the new regulation. We predict that the litigation risk, reputation loss, auditor–client relationship, precision of accounting standards, and the effect of regulators and supervisors’ activities affect the number of KAMs that auditors disclose. The sample consists of firms on the FTSE 100, CAC 40, or AEX 25 that have disclosed KAMs at the 2016 fiscal year‐end. In line with our hypotheses, the findings show that a higher number of business segments (complexity) and more precise accounting standards lead to the disclosure of a higher number of KAMs. Contrary to our expectations, the results indicate that a positive association exists between the audit fee and the number of KAMs disclosed. As audit fees can be related to higher client risk, this finding could indicate that litigation risk dominates any auditor–client dependence. Further, although auditors often view their audits of banks as complex, the findings show a negative association between banks and the number of disclosed KAMs. This evidence may be related to the fact that financial institutions are in a highly regulated and supervised industry that reduces the need to disclose the KAMs.
What is the optimal site and biopsy technique for the diagnosis of oral mucosal autoimmune blistering disease?
Authors: Gilvetti Ciro , Collyer Jeremy , Gulati Aakshay , Barrett Andrew William 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine which biopsy method produces the best diagnostic yield in patients presenting with autoimmune blistering diseases (AIBDs) of the oral mucosa.MethodsThis was a retrospective audit of patients who were biopsied at least once for a suspected AIBD of the oral mucosa. The type (incisional or punch) and site of biopsies were recorded in conjunction with case notes, electronic records and histopathological reports in order to calculate sensitivity, specificity and the method of biopsy which produced the superior diagnostic yield.ResultsA total of 125 biopsy samples from 66 patients were identified and reviewed. A diagnosis of AIBD was established in 49 (74%) patients. The chi‐square test showed there was a statistically significantly higher (P = 0.0016) diagnostic yield using the punch biopsy technique compared to the scalpel method. The gingiva was the best biopsy site in terms of achieving a definitive diagnosis (P = 0.0001) regardless of the biopsy method used.ConclusionsA punch biopsy is more likely than scalpel biopsy to obtain a definitive diagnosis in patients presenting with a suspected oral AIBD. The gingiva is the optimal site to sample.
Focal epilepsy with fear‐related behavior as primary presentation in Boerboel dogs
Authors: Stassen Quirine E. M. , Grinwis Guy C. M. , van Rhijn Nieke C. , Beukers Martjin , Verhoeven‐Duif Nanda M. , Leegwater Peter A. J. 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundFocal seizures with fear as a primary ictal manifestation, their diagnostic challenges, and impact on quality of life are well described in human medicine. Reports focusing on ictal fear‐like behavior in animals are scarce.ObjectiveTo describe the clinical and histopathological characteristics of a novel focal epilepsy in Boerboel dogs.AnimalsFive client‐owned Boerboel littermates presented for evaluation of sudden episodes of severe fear‐related behavior.MethodsClinical examination, complete blood cell count, routine blood biochemistry, and urinalysis were performed in all dogs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain were performed in 3 affected Boerboels. In addition, in 2 affected Boerboels, metabolic screening, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, and necropsy were performed.ResultsOnset of signs was 3 months of age in all affected Boerboels. All Boerboels howled loudly, had an extremely fearful facial expression and trembled during seizures. All affected Boerboels also had autonomic or motor signs. Results of laboratory investigations, diagnostic imaging, and metabolic screening were generally unremarkable. Histopathology showed moderate numbers of single large vacuoles in the perikaryon of neurons throughout the brain, specifically in the deeper cerebral cortical regions. Family history, pedigree analysis, and the homogenous phenotype were suggestive of autosomal recessive inheritance.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe observed paroxysmal fear‐related behavior represents a newly recognized hereditary focal epilepsy in dogs with distinctive clinical and histopathologic features. Veterinarians should be aware that sudden episodes of unusual behavior can represent focal epilepsy.
Tick‐defense grooming patterns of two sympatric Tibetan ungulates
Authors: Yang Le , Luo Yunchao , Tan Ming , Jiang Zhigang , Li Zhongqiu , Mooring Michael 
Published: December 2018

AbstractGrooming is an important behavioral defense against tick infestation for ungulates. The ‘programmed grooming model' explains the endogenous regulation of tick‐defense grooming and predicts different inter‐ and intra‐specific grooming patterns owing to the body size principle. Here, we studied the summer grooming behaviors of two sympatric Tibetan ungulates, to explore whether or not body size principle works inter‐ and intra‐specifically. The ungulates were sexually and body‐size dimorphic Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsonii) with body weight of c. 33 kg and sexually dimorphic but body‐size monomorphic Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata) with body weight of c. 14 kg. Group size was also included in our negative binominal regression model to determine whether or not the ungulates groomed more or less with the increasing group size. Results showed that large Tibetan antelopes groomed much less than small Tibetan gazelles inter‐specifically. Intra‐specifically, sex–age significantly affects the grooming rate of Tibetan antelopes. The largest adult males groomed the least, whereas the smallest fawns groomed the most. However, this sex–age effect is not found in Tibetan gazelle: males and females groomed similarly. These findings indicate that body size principle is fully supported inter‐ and intra‐specifically. Positive group size effect on grooming is observed in Tibetan gazelle, suggesting that released vigilance time from group size effect is probably transferred to grooming. From a conservation point of view, we suggest further studies on the testosterone effect on grooming patterns during the rut as well as on tick biology on the plateau.
Does a trade‐off between fertility and predation risk explain social evolution in baboons?
Authors: Dunbar R. I. M. , Mac Carron P. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe distribution of group sizes in woodland baboons forms a pair of demographic oscillators that trade fertility off against predation risk. Fertility rates, however, set an upper limit on group size of around 90–95 animals. Despite this, two species of baboons (hamadryas and gelada) have groups that significantly exceed this limit, suggesting that these two species have been able to break through this fertility constraint. We suggest that they have done so by adopting a form of social substructuring that uses males as ‘hired guns’ to minimize the stresses of living in the unusually large groups required by high predation risk habitats.
Using camera traps to investigate spatial co‐occurrence between exotic predators and native prey species: a case study from northeastern Madagascar
Authors: Murphy A. , Kelly M. J. , Karpanty S. M. , Andrianjakarivelo V. , Farris Z. J. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractThe presence of exotic predators in ecosystems across the world is a leading driver of native species’ declines. Exotic predators largely influence native species through predation and harassment, which may cause native species to avoid them spatially. We used a camera trap dataset from seven sites in Madagascar's largest protected area complex to investigate spatial co‐occurrence patterns between three exotic predators (free‐ranging domestic dogs Canis familiaris and cats Felis silvestris, and small Indian civet Viverricula indica) and native ground‐dwelling forest birds (n = 5) and small mammals (n = 4). We created 216 two‐species occupancy models for 27 exotic predator‐native species pairings to examine how habitat, exotic predator presence or both, influenced each native species’ occupancy and/or detection. We found that native bird and small mammal occupancy and/or detection were strongly related to an exotic predator's presence 52% of the time (i.e. 14 of 27 exotic predator‐native species pairings). Six of the 14 species pairings (i.e. 43%) had non‐independent co‐occurrence patterns, four of which were habitat‐mediated. The effect of exotic predator presence on native species’ detection was largely negative, depressing native species’ detection in seven out of 12 instances (i.e. 58% of the time). The small Indian civet and free‐ranging cats each strongly influenced the occupancy and/or detection of six species for a combined impact on seven native species, while domestic dogs strongly influenced two species. By including habitat covariates in two‐species occupancy models, we gained deeper insight into the effect exotic predator presence has on native species’ distribution. We also note that the strong effect of exotic predator presence on our ability to detect native species can hinder the ability of researchers to provide accurate parameter estimates. We recommend future research into the synergistic effects that habitat degradation and exotic species presence has on native species.
Psychosocial dimensions of human milk sharing
Authors: Schafer Ellen J. , Ashida Sato , Palmquist Aunchalee E.L. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBreastfeeding is critical to maternal and infant health. Psychosocial factors are associated with lactation outcomes, and perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) are often linked with breastfeeding difficulties and early, unexpected weaning. Parents may utilize human milk sharing to ensure their infant receives human milk when breastfeeding requires supplementation or is not possible, but this practice carries health risks and is often stigmatized. Milk sharing recipient mothers may be particularly vulnerable to PMDs associated with breastfeeding difficulties. The study objective was to explore factors associated with emotional responses to a parent's decision to feed their infant with shared human milk. An online cross‐sectional survey of 205 milk sharing recipients was analysed with linear regression. Controlling for participants' education and breastfeeding difficulties, higher perceived social stigma was associated with more negative emotional responses (p < .01). Receiving strong spousal/partner support for milk sharing (p < .001) and screening donors regarding the health of their nursling(s) (p < .05) were associated with more positive emotional responses. Social stigmatization of milk sharing may negatively influence emotional responses among recipient mothers. Based on these results, it can be recommended that health professionals screen breastfeeding mothers with lactation difficulties for emotional distress that may lead to PMDs and provide evidence‐based information about milk sharing in a nonstigmatizing way. Health professionals may support informed decision‐making for infant feeding practices, including human milk sharing, by providing information on milk sharing risks and risk mitigation, developing evidence‐based practices and guidelines that facilitate safe milk sharing, and directing families to available resources for psychosocial support.
Historical demography of four gecko species specializing in boulder cave habitat: Implications in the evolutionary dead end hypothesis and conservation
Authors: Nguyen Hung N. , Lu Chia‐Wei , Chu Jui‐Hua , Grismer Larry Lee , Hung Chih‐Ming , Lin Si‐Min 
Published: December 2018

AbstractSpecialization in narrow ecological niches may not only help species to survive in competitive or unique environments but also contribute to their extermination over evolutionary time. Although the “evolutionary dead end” hypothesis has long been debated, empirical evidence from species with detailed information on niche specialization and evolutionary history remains rare. Here we use a group of four closely related Cnemaspis gecko species that depend highly on granite boulder caves in the Mekong Delta to investigate the potential impact of ecological specialization on their evolution and population dynamics. Isolated by unsuitable floodplain habitats, these boulder‐dwelling geckos are among the most narrowly distributed Squamata in the world. We applied several coalescence‐based approaches combined with the RAD‐seq technique to estimate their divergence times, gene flow and demographic fluctuations during the speciation and population differentiation processes. Our results reveal long‐term population shrinkage in the four geckos and limited gene flow during their divergence. The results suggest that the erosion and fragmentation of the granite boulder hills have greatly impacted population divergence and declines. The habitat specialization of these geckos has led to fine‐scaled speciation in these granite rocky hills; in contrast, specialization might also have pushed these species toward the edge of extinction. Our study also emphasizes the conservation urgency of these vulnerable, cave‐dependent geckos.
Antigenic variation in the Lyme spirochete: detailed functional assessment of recombinational switching at vlsE in the JD1 strain of Borrelia burgdorferi
Authors: Verhey Theodore B. , Castellanos Mildred , Chaconas George 
Published: December 2018

SummaryBorrelia burgdorferi is a causative agent of Lyme disease and establishes long‐term infection in mammalian hosts. Persistence is promoted by the VlsE antigenic variation system, which generates combinatorial diversity of VlsE through unidirectional, segmental gene conversion from an array of silent cassettes. Here we explore the variants generated by the vls system of strain JD1, which has divergent sequence and structural elements from the type strain B31, the only B. burgdorferi strain in which recombinational switching at vlsE has been studied in detail. We first completed the sequencing of the vls region in JD1, uncovering a previously unreported 114 bp inverted repeat sequence upstream of vlsE. A five‐week infection of WT and SCID mice was used for PacBio long read sequencing along with our recently developed VAST pipeline to analyze recombinational switching at vlsE from 40,000 sequences comprising 226,000 inferred recombination events. We show that antigenic variation in B31 and JD1 is highly similar, despite the lack of 17 bp direct repeats in JD1, a somewhat different arrangement of the silent cassettes, divergent inverted repeat sequences and general divergence in the vls sequences. We also present data that strongly suggest that dimerization is required for in vivo functionality of VlsE.