bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body mass index and long‐term risk of death from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Chinese population
Authors: Wang Shao‐Ming , Fan Jin‐Hu , Jia Meng‐Meng , Yang Zhao , Zhang Yu‐Qing , Qiao You‐Lin , Taylor Philip R. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundStudies based on Western populations have found that body mass index (BMI) is positively related to the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma but inversely associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Little reliable evidence exists of an association between BMI and ESCCin China, where ESCC incidence is high but BMI is low.MethodsWe evaluated the BMI‐ESCC association in a population‐based prospective study of 29 446 Chinese aged 40–69 with 27 years of follow‐up. China‐specific BMI cut‐offs (underweight < 18.5, healthy ≥ 18.5 to <24, overweight ≥ 24 to <28, and obese ≥ 28) and quartile categories were used to define BMI subgroups. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for death from ESCC by BMI subgroups were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsDuring a median follow‐up duration of 21.2 years (555 439 person‐years), 2436 ESCC deaths were identified. BMI was protective for death from ESCC with an HR of 0.97 (95% CI 0.95–0.99) for each unit increase in BMI. Relative to healthy weight, HRs for BMI were 1.21 (95% CI 1.02–1.43) for the underweight group and 0.87 (95% CI 0.78–0.98) for the overweight. Categorical quartile analyses found people with BMIs in the Q3 and Q4 groups had 16% and 13% reductions in the risk of ESCC, respectively. Gender‐specific analyses found that clear effects were evident in women only.ConclusionsHigher BMI was associated with a reduced risk of ESCC in aChinese population.
The minimum founding population in dispersing organisms subject to strong Allee effects
Authors: Goodsman Devin W. , Lewis Mark A. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryDispersal can push population density below strong Allee thresholds ensuring the demise of small founding populations. As a result, for isolated populations of dispersing organisms, the minimum founding population size that enables establishment can be quite different from the Allee threshold.We derive an expression for the minimum founding population size for a general integrodifference equation model of a dispersing population with a strong Allee effect. We demonstrate the utility of the general model by using it to approximate minimum founding populations for the mountain pine beetle.The minimum founding population of the general model increases linearly with the mean squared displacement of the dispersing organism. Transient dynamics of the general model suggest that population density at the point of introduction will often decrease before increasing, even when the minimum founding population size is exceeded.Calculation of minimum founding population sizes may prove useful for predicting invasion success based on propagule size and for maximizing the success of species reintroductions when strong Allee effects exist.
Tree‐centric mapping of forest carbon density from airborne laser scanning and hyperspectral data
Authors: Dalponte Michele , Coomes David A. 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Forests are a major component of the global carbon cycle, and accurate estimation of forest carbon stocks and fluxes is important in the context of anthropogenic global change. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) data sets are increasingly recognized as outstanding data sources for high‐fidelity mapping of carbon stocks at regional scales.

We develop a tree‐centric approach to carbon mapping, based on identifying individual tree crowns (ITCs) and species from airborne remote sensing data, from which individual tree carbon stocks are calculated. We identify ITCs from the laser scanning point cloud using a region‐growing algorithm and identifying species from airborne hyperspectral data by machine learning. For each detected tree, we predict stem diameter from its height and crown‐width estimate. From that point on, we use well‐established approaches developed for field‐based inventories: above‐ground biomasses of trees are estimated using published allometries and summed within plots to estimate carbon density.

We show this approach is highly reliable: tests in the Italian Alps demonstrated a close relationship between field‐ and ALS‐based estimates of carbon stocks (r2 = 0·98). Small trees are invisible from the air, and a correction factor is required to accommodate this effect.

An advantage of the tree‐centric approach over existing area‐based methods is that it can produce maps at any scale and is fundamentally based on field‐based inventory methods, making it intuitive and transparent. Airborne laser scanning, hyperspectral sensing and computational power are all advancing rapidly, making it increasingly feasible to use ITC approaches for effective mapping of forest carbon density also inside wider carbon mapping programs like REDD++.
Tuning Geometric Morphometrics: anrtool to reduce information loss caused by surface smoothing
Authors: Profico Antonio , Veneziano Alessio , Lanteri Alessandro , Piras Paolo , Sansalone Gabriele , Manzi Giorgio 
Published: April 2016

SummaryThe application of Geometric Morphometrics has remarkably increased since 3D imaging techniques have become widespread, such as high‐resolution computerised tomography, laser scanning and photogrammetry. Acquisition, 3D rendering and simplification of virtual objects produce faceting and topological artefacts, which can be counteracted by applying decimation and smoothing algorithms. Nevertheless, smoothing algorithms can have detrimental effects. This work aims at developing a method to assess the amount of information loss or recovery after the application of 3D surface smoothing.The method presented here is conceived to optimise the smoothing procedure for 3D surfaces used in Geometric Morphometrics. We implemented the method in a tool running in therstatistical environment.The tool requires one surface, one landmark set and one surface semilandmark set to estimate the best smoothing settings, including algorithm type, iteration and scale factor value. Additional parameters can be tuned by the user. We describe the method in detail, reporting the tool usage, including its main settable parameters. One example is provided as a further explanation of the method.Our method reduces the chances of losing information in Geometric Morphometrics applications and is a unique attempt of standardising a widespread, potentially damaging procedure. The tool represents an advance in the application of Geometric Morphometrics.
Oviposition and feeding on red pine by jack pine budworm at a previously unrecorded scale
Authors: Fahrner Samuel J. , Albers Jana S. , Albers Michael A. , Lanigan Todd , Murphy Robert , Raffa Kenneth F. , Aukema Brian H. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe jack pine budwormChoristoneura pinus pinusis a defoliator distributed throughout the range of jack pinePinus banksianainNorthAmerica. Jack pine budworm feeds primarily on jack pine. More than 2400 hectares of defoliation of red pinePinus resinosawere noted during an outbreak ofC. pinus pinusfrom 2004–2008 inMinnesota andWisconsin,U.S.A.Defoliation of red pine across thousands of hectares, detectable during aerial surveys, is a significant deviation from historical records.Fifty‐six study plots were established across 15 counties ofMinnesota andWisconsin to quantify densities and impacts of jack pine budworm in locations showing defoliation of both red pine and jack pine.Populations of jack pine budworm on red pine behaved similarly to those on jack pine, consuming pollen cones and vegetative shoots. The mean number of egg masses per branch and per site was greater on red pine than on jack pine at study sites inMinnesota andWisconsin, respectively.It is not known what led to the outbreak of jack pine budworm on red pine, nor is it clear whether landscape‐scale defoliation of this magnitude represents an isolated incident or a shift in relative host use. Hypotheses regarding the mechanisms behind this alternative host use by jack pine budworm are discussed.
Ant attendance of the cotton aphid is beneficial for okra plants: deciphering multitrophic interactions
Authors: Singh Akanksha , Zytynska Sharon E. , Hanna Rachid , Weisser Wolfgang W. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAphids are pest species of many crops and biocontrol methods are often ineffective. Ant–aphid associations can be mutualistic or antagonistic, with ants increasing or reducing aphid numbers. Within‐species plant variation or other herbivores may further influence these ant–aphid interactions.Okra is an economically important crop inCameroon. Several okra varieties are grown here and attacked by the facultatively ant‐tended cotton aphidAphis gossypii. We conducted field and screenhouse experiments where plant variety, ant presence and predator access were manipulated to investigate the multitrophic interactions on okra and their effects on okra yield.In the field, ants did not protect aphids from their natural enemies and syrphid larvae reduced aphids by 42%. Additionally, aphid recruitment of ants reduced chewing herbivore damage by 11% and indirectly increased okra fruit set. We also found aphid numbers, aphid predation by syrphids and chewing herbivory to vary across okra varieties. Finally, in the screenhouse, we recorded a 24% reduction in aphid numbers on plants with ant presence.The present study highlights the importance of direct and indirect biotic interactions for pest biocontrol. Tropical agricultural systems are complex and understanding such interactions can help in designing pest control measures in sustainable agriculture.
The capitalization of coupled and decoupled CAP payments into land rental rates
Authors: O'Neill Stephen , Hanrahan Kevin 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThis article explores the extent to which payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are capitalized into land rents in Ireland with implications for the transfer efficiency of such payments, since subsidies may not benefit targeted recipients if they are capitalized into input prices. Capitalization in the years preceding and following the "decoupling" of agricultural support payments from agricultural production is explored. In the period prior to decoupling, direct support (Pillar 1) payments were highly capitalized into Irish agricultural rents (67–90 cents per euro of subsidies), while in the post‐decoupling period capitalization appears to have declined somewhat.
The Effect of Nicotine on HPA Axis Activity in Females is Modulated by the FKBP5 Genotype
Authors: Koopmann Anne , Bez Jennifer , Lemenager Tagrid , Hermann Derik , Dinter Christina , Reinhard Iris , Schuster Rilana , Wiedemann Klaus , Winterer Georg , Kiefer Falk 
Published: April 2016

SummaryTobacco smoking modulates activity in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis and is used to cope with stress, especially by females. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1360780, linked to FK506‐binding protein 51 (FKBP5), has been shown to affect HPA axis functioning, and has thus been suggested as a promising candidate for indicating vulnerability to stress‐related disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between nicotine consumption and rs1360780 on cortisol plasma levels in females. A total of 296 female smokers (assessed by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence; FTND) were genotyped for the SNP rs1360780. We measured participants’ cortisol plasma concentration in blood plasma collected 3 h after standardized tobacco smoking exposure. In the 36 TT‐homozygotes, we found a significant negative correlation between the FTND sum score and cortisol plasma concentrations. Using linear regression analysis, we found that the FTND sum score accounted for 12.4% of the variance of cortisol plasma levels. This association was not detected in C‐allele carriers. Our results suggest that nicotine is an important confounder in the modulation of HPA axis activity by FKBP5. In light of these findings, future studies on FKBP5 should seek to include data on nicotine consumption as a covariate.
Intuitive Ethics and Political Orientations: Testing Moral Foundations as a Theory of Political Ideology
Authors: Smith Kevin B. , Alford John R. , Hibbing John R. , Martin Nicholas G. , Hatemi Peter K. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractOriginally developed to explain cultural variation in moral judgments, moral foundations theory (MFT) has become widely adopted as a theory of political ideology. MFT posits that political attitudes are rooted in instinctual evaluations generated by innate psychological modules evolved to solve social dilemmas. If this is correct, moral foundations must be relatively stable dispositional traits, changes in moral foundations should systematically predict consequent changes in political orientations, and, at least in part, moral foundations must be heritable. We test these hypotheses and find substantial variability in individual‐level moral foundations across time, and little evidence that these changes account for changes in political attitudes. We also find little evidence that moral foundations are heritable. These findings raise questions about the future of MFT as a theory of ideology.
Serum IL‐5 and IL‐13 consistently serve as the best predictors for the blood eosinophilia phenotype in adult asthmatics
Authors: Agache I. , Strasser D. S. , Klenk A. , Agache C. , Farine H. , Ciobanu C. , Groenen P. M. A. , Akdis C. A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundMolecular biomarkers that identify the phenotype of blood eosinophilia were evaluated in adult asthmatics, and their relationship with clinically significant asthma outcomes was assessed. Patients were clustered based on their molecular fingerprint.MethodsAt inclusion, 64 patients were evaluated for phenotypic traits, sputum and blood eosinophilia, exhaled NO, serum cytokines and chemokines, total serum IgE, lung function (LF), and airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR). Within‐patient changes were evaluated in 44 patients 6 weeks later.ResultsLung function, asthma control, and monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1) were identified as the most important distinguisher and blood eosinophilia as second most important identifier in principal component analysis. A robust relationship was observed between blood eosinophilia and IL‐5, IL‐13, and eosinophil‐derived neurotoxin (EDN), which stayed consistent after 6 weeks. Serum IL‐5 and IL‐13 were the two best, followed by EDN as separators of high vs low blood eosinophilia. Periostin did not identify blood or sputum eosinophilia, even after stratification for total IgE, and did not correlate with IL‐5, IL‐13, eotaxin, or EDN. IL‐5 and IL‐13 showed strong correlations with AHR and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1 with asthma severity and fast LF decline. The presence of high or low expression of MCP‐1, eotaxin, and IL‐8 identified two separate blood eosinophilia patient clusters linked to asthma severity.ConclusionSerum IL‐5 and IL‐13 are reliable biomarkers for the blood eosinophilia asthma phenotype. High or low expression of MCP‐1, eotaxin, and IL‐8 discriminates between eosinophilic asthma severity clusters.
Self‐medication of anaphylactic reactions due to Hymenoptera stings—an EAACI Task Force Consensus Statement
Authors: Bilò M. B. , Cichocka‐Jarosz E. , Pumphrey R. , Oude‐Elberink J. N. , Lange J. , Jakob T. , Bonadonna P. , Fernandez J. , Kosnik M. , Helbling A. , Mosbech H. , Gawlik R. , Niedoszytko M. , Patella V. , Pravettoni V. , Rodrigues‐Alves R. , Sturm G. J. , Rueff F. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAn anaphylactic reaction due to a Hymenoptera sting is a clinical emergency, and patients, their caregivers as well as all healthcare professionals should be familiar with its recognition and acute management. This consensus report has been prepared by a European expert panel of the EAACI Interest Group of Insect Venom Hypersensitivity. It is targeted at allergists, clinical immunologists, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, general practitioners, emergency department doctors, and any other healthcare professional involved. The aim was to report the scientific evidence on self‐medication of anaphylactic reactions due to Hymenoptera stings, to inform healthcare staff about appropriate patient self‐management of sting reactions, to propose indications for the prescription of an adrenaline auto‐injector (AAI), and to discuss other forms of medication. First‐line treatment for Hymenoptera sting anaphylaxis is intramuscular adrenaline. Prescription of AAIs is mandatory in the case of venom‐allergic patients who suffer from mast cell diseases or with an elevated baseline serum tryptase level and in untreated patients with a history of a systemic reaction involving at least two different organ systems. AAI prescription should also be considered in other specific situations before, during, and after stopping venom immunotherapy.
Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy reduces aeroallergen sensitization: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Grant C. C. , Crane J. , Mitchell E. A. , Sinclair J. , Stewart A. , Milne T. , Knight J. , Gilchrist C. , Camargo C. A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundVitamin D has immune‐modulating effects. We determined whether vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy prevents aeroallergen sensitization and primary care respiratory illness presentations.MethodsA randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled parallel‐group trial. We assigned pregnant women, from 27‐week gestation to birth, and then their infants, from birth to 6 months, to placebo or one of two dosages of daily oral vitamin D. Woman/infant pairs were randomized to: placebo/placebo, 1000 IU/400 IU or 2000 IU/800 IU. When the children were 18 months old, we measured serum‐specific IgE antibodies and identified acute primary care visits described by the doctor to be due to a cold, otitis media, an upper respiratory infection, croup, asthma, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, a wheezy lower respiratory infection or fever and cough.ResultsSpecific IgE was measured on 185 of 260 (71%) enrolled children. The proportion of children sensitized differed by study group for four mite antigens: Dermatophagoides farinae (Der‐f1, Der‐f2) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der‐p1, Der‐p2). With results presented for placebo, lower dose, and higher dose vitamin D, respectively (all P < 0.05): Der‐f1 (18%, 10%, 2%), Der‐f2 (14%, 3%, 2%), Der‐p1 (19%, 14%, 3%) and Der‐p2 (12%, 2%, 3%). There were study group differences in the proportion of children with primary care visits described by the doctor as being for asthma (11%, 0%, 4%, P = 0.002), but not for the other respiratory diagnoses.ConclusionsVitamin D supplementation during pregnancy and infancy reduces the proportion of children sensitized to mites at age 18 months. Preliminary data indicate a possible effect on primary care visits where asthma is diagnosed.
Predictive values of egg‐specific IgE by two commonly used assay systems for the diagnosis of egg allergy in young children: a prospective multicenter study
Authors: Furuya K. , Nagao M. , Sato Y. , Ito S. , Fujisawa T. ,   IPAD3g investigators
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackgroundSpecific IgE (sIgE) is often used to predict oral food challenge (OFC) outcomes in food allergy, but interpretation of the results may vary depending on the assay method employed and the patient population tested. The aim of this study was to use two commercial assay systems to determine egg‐sIgE values predictive of allergy within the most common populations treated at pediatric clinics.MethodsIn a multicenter prospective study, 433 children with suspected or confirmed egg allergy underwent oral challenge (OFC) using cooked egg (CE) and raw egg (RE) powders to diagnose either true allergy in 1‐year‐old (group A, n = 220) or tolerance in 2‐ to 6‐year‐old (group B, n = 213). Egg white (EW)‐ and ovomucoid (OM)‐sIgE values were measured using the ImmunoCAP® sIgE (ImmunoCAP) and the IMMULITE® 2000 3 gAllergy™ (3gAllergy) systems. Children were recruited from six primary care clinics and 18 hospitals in Japan.ResultsReceiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis yielded similar areas under the curve (AUC) for the two assays (0.7–0.8). The optimal cutoff values and the probability curves (PCs) of the sIgE by the two assays to predict CE and RE OFC outcomes were determined for both groups. Values for 3gAllergy were higher than for ImmunoCAP; however, correlation of sIgE and predicted probability calculated by PCs were strong between the two methods.ConclusionsCutoff values and PCs for egg‐sIgE established using both ImmunoCAP and 3gAllergy may be useful for predicting egg allergy in early childhood patient populations.
Timing of prenatal phthalate exposure in relation to genital endpoints in male newborns
Authors: Martino‐Andrade A. J. , Liu F. , Sathyanarayana S. , Barrett E. S. , Redmon J. B. , Nguyen R. H. N. , Levine H. , Swan S. H. ,   the TIDES Study Team
Published: April 2016

SummaryPrior studies report that penile size and male anogenital distance (AGD), sensitive markers of androgen action in utero, may be shortened by prenatal exposure to certain phthalates, including diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), but no human study has investigated the importance of exposure timing in these associations. The aim of this study was to examine the significance of exposure timing on the action of prenatal phthalates in particular DEHP, on male infant penile size and AGD. In The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES) we measured penile width (PW) as well as anoscrotal distance (AGDAS) and anopenile distance (AGPAP) in newborn males. We modeled these endpoints in relation to phthalate metabolite concentrations in maternal urine samples collected in each trimester (T1, T2, and T3) in a subset of TIDES mothers (N = 168). PW was inversely associated with T2 oxidized DEHP metabolites, mono‐2‐ethyl‐5‐oxohexyl (MEOHP, β=−0.48; 95% confidence interval, −0.93, −0.02), MEHHP (−0.48; −0.92, −0.05), mono‐2‐ethyl‐5‐carboxypentyl (MECPP, −0.51; −1.01, −0.004), although no appreciable associations were seen between PW and T1 and T3 DEHP metabolite concentrations in this subset. Concentrations of DEHP metabolites in T1 urine samples were inversely related to male AGD. For example, in T1 samples in this subset of women mono‐2‐ethyl‐5‐hydroxyhexyl (MEHHP) was inversely associated with male AGDAP (β = −1.73; 95% confidence interval, −3.45, 0.0004). However, no appreciable associations were seen between AGD measures and any DEHP metabolite in T2 and T3 samples. These data suggest that DEHP exposure is inversely associated with AGD and PW, with PW primarily associated with T2 exposure and AGD associations seen only for T1 exposure, but no associations were found between T3 DEHP metabolites and any of these genital endpoints. These findings are consistent with data on critical windows in rodent studies, supporting the biological plausibility of these associations in humans.