bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pneumonia in solid organ transplantation: Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Authors: Dulek Daniel E. , Mueller Nicolas J. ,   on behalf of the AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Published: March 2019

AbstractThese guidelines from the AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice review the diagnosis and management of pneumonia in the post‐transplant period. Clinical presentations and differential diagnosis for pneumonia in the solid organ transplant recipient are reviewed. A two‐tier approach is proposed based on the net state of immunosuppression and the severity of presentation. With a lower risk of opportunistic, hospital‐acquired, or exposure‐specific pathogens and a non‐severe presentation, empirical therapy may be initiated under close clinical observation. In all other patients, or those not responding to the initial therapy, a more aggressive diagnostic approach including sampling of tissue for microbiological and pathological testing is warranted. Given the broad range of potential pathogens, a microbiological diagnosis is often key for optimal care. Given the limited literature comparatively evaluating diagnostic approaches to pneumonia in the solid organ transplant recipient, much of the proposed diagnostic algorithm reflects clinical experience rather than evidence‐based data. It should serve as a template which may be modified according to local needs. The same holds true for the suggested empiric therapies, which need to be adapted to the local resistance patterns. Further study is needed to comparatively evaluate diagnostic and empiric treatment strategies in SOT recipients.
Plague and long‐term development: the lasting effects of the 1629–30 epidemic on the Italian cities
Authors: Alfani Guido , Percoco Marco 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis article aims to analyse the effects of plague on the long‐term development of Italian cities, with particular attention to the 1629–30 epidemic. By using a new dataset on plague mortality rates in 56 cities covering the period c. 1575–1700, an economic geography model verifying the existence of multiple equilibria is estimated. It is found that cities severely affected by the 1629–30 plague were displaced to a lower growth path. It is also found that plague caused long‐lasting damage to the size of Italian urban populations and to urbanization rates. These findings support the hypothesis that seventeenth‐century plagues played a fundamental role in triggering the process of relative decline of the Italian economies.
Identifying patients who will not reachieve remission after breakthrough seizures
Authors: Hughes David M. , Bonnett Laura J. , Marson Anthony G. , García‐Fiñana Marta 
Published: March 2019

SummaryObjectiveWe aim to identify people with epilepsy who are unlikely to reachieve a 12‐month remission within 2 years after experiencing a breakthrough seizure following an initial 12‐month remission.MethodsWe apply a novel longitudinal discriminant approach to data from the Standard and New Antiepileptic Drugs study to dynamically predict the risk of a patient not achieving a second remission after a breakthrough seizure by combining both baseline covariates (collected at the time of breakthrough seizure) and follow‐up data.ResultsThe model classifies 83% of patients. Of these, 73% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI] = 58%‐88%) who did not achieve a second remission were correctly identified (sensitivity), and 84% of patients (95% CI = 69%‐96%) who achieved a second remission were correctly identified (specificity). The area under the curve from our model was 87% (95% CI = 80%‐94%). Patients who did not achieve a second remission were correctly identified on average after 10 months of observation postbreakthrough. Occurrence of seizures after breakthrough and the number of seizures experienced were the most informative longitudinal variables. These longitudinal profiles were influenced by the following baseline covariates: age at breakthrough seizure, presence of neurological insult, and number of antiepileptic drugs required to achieve first remission.SignificanceUsing longitudinal data gathered during patient follow‐up allows more accurate predictions than using baseline covariates in a standard Cox model. The model developed in this paper is a useful first step in developing a tool for identifying patients who develop drug resistance after an initial remission.
Clinical findings in 10 horses diagnosed with monorchidism following exploratory laparotomy or standing laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Clements P. E. , Coomer R. P. C. , McKane S. A. , Gorvy D. , Bladon B. , Mair T. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryMonorchidism describes the complete absence of one testis and is rare in horses. This study reports the clinical findings in 10 horses diagnosed as monorchids by standing laparoscopy or exploratory laparotomy. Hospital records for all horses undergoing cryptorchidectomy (2000–2016) in four centres were reviewed from which horses diagnosed with monorchidism were identified. Surgery was by either standing flank laparoscopy or an inguinal exploration and subsequent exploratory laparotomy under general anaesthesia. Ten horses were diagnosed as monorchids, five by laparoscopy (one bilateral laparoscopy) and five by laparotomy. Nine horses had a normally descended scrotal testicle, which was also removed at surgery. The right testicle was absent in three horses, and the left testicle was absent in seven horses. Anatomical findings were recorded in each case; the vaginal process was present in all horses, ductus deferens and epididymis were present in 80% of horses and the ligament of the tail of the epididymis and testicular vessels were present in 50% of horses. Laparoscopy allowed easy identification of spermatic structures enabling a prompt diagnosis of monorchidism. In conclusion, when monorchidism occurs, most other associated spermatic structures are likely to be present. A diagnosis of true monorchidism is reliant on hormonal testing and absence of testicular tissue on histopathology and so some of these horses may strictly be somewhere on the spectrum of testicular degeneration. This information is particularly useful in the surgical situation when it is not clear whether the testicle is present or not.
Aquatic macroinvertebrate community responses to wetland mitigation in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Authors: Swartz Leah K. , Hossack Blake R. , Muths Erin , Newell Robert L. , Lowe Winsor H. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Wetlands are critical components of freshwater biodiversity and provide ecosystem services, but human activities have resulted in large‐scale loss of these habitats across the globe. To offset this loss, mitigation wetlands are frequently constructed, but their ability to replicate the functions of natural wetlands remains uncertain. Further, monitoring of mitigation wetlands is limited and often focuses exclusively on vegetation and physical characteristics.

Wetland fauna are assumed to be present if suitable habitat restoration is achieved, but this assumption is rarely tested. We used the macroinvertebrate community as a proxy for wetland function to compare recently created mitigation wetlands, natural wetlands impacted but not destroyed by road construction activity, and unimpacted reference wetlands along a highway corridor in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Unlike most other studies of invertebrate communities in created wetlands which have occurred in warm climates, our study area has a cold temperate climate with short growing seasons.

We estimated macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness and used linear models to test for effects of wetland design features (wetland age, isolation, depth, vegetation, size, and pH) on invertebrate richness. We also used non‐metric multidimensional scaling to visualise differences in community composition among wetland types and used indicator species analysis to determine which taxa were causing observed differences.

Taxonomic richness of macroinvertebrates was lower in created wetlands than impacted or reference wetlands, whereas richness was similar in impacted and reference wetlands. Wetland age was positively correlated with taxonomic richness. The amount of aquatic vegetation in wetlands had the greatest influence on taxonomic richness, so that recently created wetlands with little vegetation had the simplest invertebrate communities. Community composition of invertebrates in created wetlands also differed from community composition in reference and impacted wetlands. Most notably, created wetlands lacked some passive dispersers that were common in other wetland types, although we found no relationship between taxonomic richness and wetland isolation.

Overall, constructed wetlands had diminished and altered macroinvertebrate communities relative to reference and impacted wetlands, suggesting that periods in excess of 5 years may be required for wetland mitigation projects in cold temperate climates to attain full functionality.
Positive co‐occurrence between feeding‐associative savannah fishes depends on species and habitat
Authors: Arnhold Tatiane R. , Penha Jerry , Peoples Brandon K. , Mateus Lúcia A. F. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Understanding the relative importance of abiotic factors and biotic interactions in determining species co‐occurrence is a fundamental goal in ecology. Most studies of ecology of freshwater fishes have focused on negative biotic interactions (competition and predation), and much less is known about more positive interactions. The goal of this study was to quantify the relative importance of habitat features and biotic interactions (positive and negative) on co‐occurrence of three pairs of feeding‐associative Leporinus (L.) fishes in rivers of central Brazil (L. friderici–L. octomaculatus, L. striatus–L. octomaculatus, L. friderici–L. striatus).

We sampled 146 sites on two rivers of central Brazil and used two‐species occupancy models to examine the relative importance of habitat features and commensalistic feeding association for determining co‐occurrence of the three species pairs. Using an information–theoretic framework, we compared weight‐of‐evidence for models containing effects of habitat covariates only, biotic interactions only, and their combination.

Model evidence supported the hypothesis that feeding activity of L. friderici facilitates occurrence of L. octomaculatus and that the interaction is mediated by habitat covariates. In contrast, most evidence suggested that occurrence of L. striatus is independent of L. friderici, and is instead determined entirely by habitat features. Evidence for facilitation of L. octomaculatus by L. striatus was mixed—there is evidence supporting the habitat‐only hypothesis as well as habitat‐mediated facilitation.

Our results suggest that positive interactions can affect co‐occurrence among freshwater fishes, at least for species that interact strongly. More facultative interactions, such as those between L. friderici and L. striatus, may be less important, at least in certain abiotic contexts. This study indicates that biotic interactions between species of freshwater fish can be evident beyond the microhabitat scale to positively influence species co‐occurrence and adds to evidence from other groups of freshwater organisms indicating the importance of biotic interactions in facilitating species co‐occurrence.
Damming interacts with the flood pulse to alter zooplankton communities in an Amazonian river
Authors: Souza Carla Albuquerque de , Vieira Ludgero Cardoso Galli , Legendre Pierre , Carvalho Priscilla de , Velho Luiz Felipe Machado , Beisner Beatrix E. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Flow modification of lotic ecosystems is one of the main threats to global freshwater biodiversity. Commonly, and in the river studied here, modification results from hydroelectric dam installation.

We evaluated the impacts of damming on zooplankton communities in the Amazonian floodplain of the Madeira River (Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil) following construction in 2012 of the run‐of‐river dam of Jirau Hydroelectric Power Plant. Using data sampled between 2009 and 2015, we tested for discontinuities in zooplankton community composition attributable to damming and the naturally occurring flood pulse.

The flood pulse remained the main predictor explaining variation in zooplankton community structure even with the installation of the dam on the Madeira River. Despite this, discontinuities for the entire zooplankton community and for the main compositional groups (testate amoebae, rotifers, cladocerans, and copepods) were detected in relation to the dam (pre‐/post‐dam periods), mainly in ebb and low water, and with weaker evidence of dam effects during flood and highwater hydrological periods.

A multivariate regression tree explained 9.6% of the variation in zooplankton communities and identified four groups: (1) flood and high‐water periods; (2) low water post‐dam; (3) low water pre‐dam; and (4) ebb hydrological periods. The deviance in each multivariate regression tree node was attributable to variation in eight rotifer, three testate amoeba, and three copepod taxa.

Our study demonstrates that the flood pulse, dam construction, and interaction between both of these factors affect zooplankton community structure in the Madeira River. While for many zooplankton community variables, effects occurred mainly during ebb and low‐water periods, some effects were also observed during high water and flood periods. We thus recommend the establishment of a permanent environmental monitoring programme during all hydrological periods in tropical floodplain rivers and the addition of sampling sites downstream from dams.

Many rivers in the world are increasingly disrupted by multiple dams, yet little is known of their effects, especially for run‐of‐river dams. Our study identified short‐term impacts of only one run‐of‐river dam on zooplankton communities. More research is needed on the effects of multiple run‐of‐river dams on zooplankton and other biota, especially in tropical floodplain rivers, so that negative effects can be understood and ameliorated.
Macrophyte‐specific effects on epiphyton quality and quantity and resulting effects on grazing macroinvertebrates
Authors: Wolters Jan‐Willem , Reitsema Rosanne E. , Verdonschot Ralf C. M. , Schoelynck Jonas , Verdonschot Piet F. M. , Meire Patrick 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Aquatic macrophytes can have a significant impact on their associated community of epiphytic algae and bacteria through the provisioning of structural habitat complexity through different growth forms, the exudation of nutrients and the release of allelochemicals. In turn, this effect on epiphytic biofilm biomass and nutrient content has a potential effect on the macroinvertebrates that depend on epiphyton as a food source.

We studied the effect of living macrophytes and their growth form on biofilm development in a semi‐controlled replicated microcosm experiment. Conditions of a nutrient‐poor water layer and nutrient‐rich sediment were created to study the effects of nutrient exudation by living macrophytes. We compared biofilm quantity and quality on structurally simple (Vallisneria spiralis) versus complex (Egeria densa) living plants and artificial analogues. Subsequently, the biofilm that had developed on the plants was fed, in a laboratory growth experiment, to two species of macroinvertebrate grazers (the snail Haitia acuta and the mayfly nymph Cloeon dipterum). This enabled us to assess if and how the macrophyte‐induced effects on the epiphyton can influence macroinvertebrate grazers.

Living macrophytes were found to have a significant effect on epiphytic algal cover, which was mostly expressed by a lower cover on living macrophytes compared to their artificial analogues. Additionally, epiphyton cover on artificial macrophytes was found to be higher on complex structures compared to simple ones, yet this was not observed on living macrophytes. Plant specific traits, such as the release of allelopathic substances, competition for nutrients and DIC, and the amount of CaCO3 deposition on plant surfaces might explain these results.

The density of epiphytic bacteria was found to be negatively correlated with biofilm Ca content from macrophytes in every treatment except living E. densa, which differed in leaf anatomy from the other plants by possessing polar leaves. Furthermore, biofilm on living macrophytes had lower C:N:P molar ratios compared to that on artificial plants, which is likely to be explained by nutrient exudation by the living plants. Although it was expected that a more nutritious biofilm would lead to increased grazer growth, this was observed only for H. acuta on E. densa. Because biofilm quantity was not a limiting factor, this lack of effect may be caused by compensatory feeding.

It can be concluded that, depending on their traits, living macrophytes can have a positive effect on macroinvertebrate grazers by providing a large surface area for colonisation by epiphytic algae and bacteria, by improving biofilm stoichiometry and by stimulating bacterial growth.
The impacts of changing nutrient load and climate on a deep, eutrophic, monomictic lake
Authors: Radbourne Alan D. , Elliott J. Alex , Maberly Stephen C. , Ryves David B. , Anderson Nicholas John 
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Nutrient availability and climate have substantial effects on the structure and function of lakes. Predicted changes to climate (particularly temperature) over the 21st century are expected to adjust physical lake functions, changing thermal and nutrient use processes. Both increasing anthropogenic nutrient inputs and net reductions following remediation will also drive ecological change. Therefore, there is an increasing necessity to disentangle the effects of nutrient and temperature change on lakes to understand how they might act in additive and antagonistic ways.

This study quantified internal and external nutrient loads at Rostherne Mere, U.K., a deep (zmax = 30 m), monomictic eutrophic lake (average annual total phosphorus >100 μg/L) that has a long, stable period of stratification (c. 8.5 months). A lake biophysical model (PROTECH) was used to assess the effect of changes in these loads and climate change on lake productivity in a factorial modelling experiment.

During the summer, phosphorus released from the sediment is largely restricted to the hypolimnion and phytoplankton production is supported by the external load. On overturn, phosphorus at depth is distributed throughout the water column with the elevated concentration persisting to support algal productivity in the following spring.

Consequently, the model showed that internal nutrient loading was the main driver of current and future changes in the concentration of phosphorus (responsible for up to 86% P reduction), phytoplankton chlorophyll a and cyanobacterial blooms. However, although the external phosphorus load had a relatively small influence on annual mean phosphorus concentration, it had a statistically significant effect on chlorophyll a concentration, because it supported algal production during summer stratification.

Climate had minimal direct impact, but a substantial indirect impact by altering the timing, depth and length of lake stratification (c. 14 days longer by 2100), and therefore altered nutrient cycling and phosphorus availability.

In summary, the recovery trajectory at Rostherne Mere is limited by the annual internal soluble reactive phosphorus load replenishment that realistically is unlikely to change greatly on a shorter time‐scale. Therefore, the external soluble reactive phosphorus load has the potential to play an important role as it can be managed further, but is complicated by the indirect impact of climate changing stratification and flushing patterns.
Regional Impact of the German Rent Brake
Authors: Thomschke Lorenz 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
New rental contracts have risen dramatically in many German places in recent years due to strong influxes and sluggish construction activity. The rent brake should put a stop to this development so that housing in prospering cities remains affordable for people on normal and low incomes. Although initial successes were attested to the rent brake, empirical findings are increasing, according to which the rent brake is not having the desired effect. This also applies to the findings determined here: the results of a difference-in-difference estimation show that the rent brake has reduced rents on offer in Hamburg, Berlin and Munich by up to 5%, while no effects are observed in Cologne and Düsseldorf. Nevertheless, the effects are lagging behind the expected effects almost everywhere. The results illustrate once again an implementation deficit and show that no general statements on the effectiveness of the rent brake are currently permissible. However, the rent brake is certainly having a price effect in some regions, even if not to the intended extent.
The effects of consumer empowerment on risk perception and satisfaction with food consumption
Authors: Nam Su‐Jung 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study intends to measure consumer empowerment related to food consumption and determine its effect on food risk perception and satisfaction with food consumption. Data were derived from an analysis of the “2017 Research on Food Consumption Behaviour” by the Korea Rural Economic Institute. Consumer empowerment, risk perception and satisfaction with food consumption were measured using a 5‐point Likert scale. The differences in consumer empowerment according to gender, age, educational level and monthly income were statistically significant. The factors that affected risk perception were information use, healthy eating, consumer rights, consumer responsibility and monthly income. The higher the scores for information use, healthy eating and consumer responsibility, the higher the score for satisfaction with food consumption.
Clinical, pathologic, and immunologic features of pemphigus herpetiformis: a literature review and proposed diagnostic criteria
Authors: Costa Lorena M. C. , Cappel Mark A. , Keeling James H. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractPemphigus herpetiformis (PH), a rare type of pemphigus, is characterized by immunologic findings consistent with pemphigus but with a unique clinical and pathologic presentation. PH was first described as resembling dermatitis herpetiformis clinically, but because of its variable presentation, it can also resemble linear immunoglobulin A bullous dermatosis and bullous pemphigoid. We reviewed reported cases to analyze the most frequent clinical, pathologic, and immunologic characteristics and to propose corresponding diagnostic criteria. Through a comprehensive review of Medline and PubMed databases, 96 publications and 158 cases were identified. After reviewing the reported characteristics of PH, we suggest the following diagnostic criteria: Clinical: 1) pruritic herpetiform intact blisters with/without erosions; and/or 2) pruritic annular or urticarial erythematous plaques with/without erosions; Pathologic: 1) intraepidermal eosinophils or neutrophils, or both; and/or 2) intraepidermal split with/without acantholysis; Immunologic: 1) direct immunofluorescence showing immunoglobulin G with/without C3 intercellular deposits; and/or 2) indirect immunofluorescence showing immunoglobulin G to epithelial cell surface; and/or 3) detection of serum autoantibodies against desmogleins (1,3) or desmocollins (1,2,3), or both. Diagnosis requires one clinical, one pathologic, and one immunologic feature. We also report three new cases diagnosed at our institution to demonstrate the applicability of the suggested criteria.