bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationships among Discoglossid Frogs : An Albumin Perspective
Authors: Maxson Linda R. , Szymura Jacek M. 
Published: September 2016

Relationships among frogs of the genera Alytes, Bombina, Discoglossus, and Baleaphryne were studied using the quantitative immunological micro-complement fixation technique. Albumins were compared among these genera as well as among several species of each genus. Our results indicate that the closest genetic relative of Baleaphryne muletensis is Alytes obstetricians. Moreover, the albumins of Baleaphryne and A. obstetricians are as similar or more similar to each other than the albumins of all four species of Bom bina, both species of Discoglossus, or the two species of Alytes available for study are to each other. We conclude that Baleaphryne is congeneric with Alytes. The distances measured among Alytes, Bombina, and Discoglossus suggest a Cretaceous (85-92 MYBP) divergence of Alytes from the lineage that later gave rise to Bombina and Discoglossus. These latter two genera appear to have diverged in the late Cretaceous, roughly 69-75 MYBP. Extant species of Bombina began diverging in the mid- to late-Miocene, as did Alytes obstetricans and A. cistemasii.
Discoglossus pictus and D. sardus in Europe last shared a common gene pool in the Pliocene. Albumins of individuals of D. pictus from Spain compared with northwestern African D. pictus suggest that these populations have been separated for some 9-10 million years, and are probably not conspecific. Our findings do not support Lanza et al.’s (1975, 1976) suggestions that Bombina and Alytes belong in the separate family Bombinidae.
Cycles Journaliers d’Activité chez deux Espèces Sympatriques de Sceloporus (Iguanidae), S. grammicus et S. scalaris
Authors: Ortega Alfredo , Rodriguez Ricardo , Hernandez Lucina , Barbault Robert 
Published: September 2016

The activity cycles of Sceloporus grammicus and Sceloporus scalaris were studied from transect census data during several months of the year in two sympatric mountain populations (2480 m) of Mexico. The two species exhibit very similar cycles, resulting from the harshness of the weather. Using at the best their thermic environment these lizards are able to maintain a mean cloacal temperature around 30°C, even in winter. The potential competition between these two species seems to be highly reduced by habitat segregation, S. grammicus being mainly a trunk-dwelling species while S. scalaris is a ground-dwelling one.
Les cycles journaliers d'activité de Sceloporus grammicus et de Sceloporus scalaris ont été étudiés a différentes saisons dans deux populations d'altitude (2480 m) du nord du Mexique. Les deux espèces présentent des cycles très similaires, qui résultent des fortes contraintes climatiques qu'elles subissent. Exploitant au mieux leur environnement thermique, ces lézards parviennent a conserver, pendant leurs phases d'activité, une température interne proche de 30°C, même en hiver. La coexi¬stence de ces deux espèces potentiellement compétitives est facilitée par une ségrégation spatiale, S. grammicus étant principalement inféodé aux troncs d'arbres tandis que S. scalaris est terricole.
Reprocessing of HIRS Satellite Measurements from 1980 to 2015: Development toward a Consistent Decadal Cloud Record
Authors: Menzel W. Paul , Frey Richard A. , Borbas Eva E. , Baum Bryan A. , Cureton Geoff , Bearson Nick 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper presents the cloud-parameter data records derived from High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) measurements from 1980 through 2015 on the NOAA and MetOp polar-orbiting platforms. Over this time period, the HIRS sensor has been flown on 16 satellites from TIROS-N through NOAA-19 and MetOp-A and MetOp-B, forming a 35-yr cloud data record. Intercalibration of the Infrared Advanced Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and HIRS on MetOp-A has created confidence in the onboard calibration of this HIRS as a reference for others. A recent effort to improve the understanding of IR-channel response functions of earlier HIRS sensor radiance measurements using simultaneous nadir overpasses has produced a more consistent sensor-to-sensor calibration record. Incorporation of a cloud mask from the higher-spatial-resolution Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) improves the subpixel cloud detection within the HIRS measurements. Cloud-top pressure and effective emissivity (εf, or cloud emissivity multiplied by cloud fraction) are derived using the 15-μm spectral bands in the carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption band and implementing the CO2-slicing technique; the approach is robust for high semitransparent clouds but weak for low clouds with little thermal contrast from clear-sky radiances. This paper documents the effort to incorporate the recalibration of the HIRS sensors, notes the improvements to the cloud algorithm, and presents the HIRS cloud data record from 1980 to 2015. The reprocessed HIRS cloud data record reports clouds in 76.5% of the observations, and 36.1% of the observations find high clouds.
Multidecadal Modulation of ENSO Teleconnection with Europe in Late Winter: Analysis of CMIP5 Models
Authors: Parages Jorge López , de Fonseca Belén Rodríguez , Mohino Elsa , Losada Teresa 
Published: September 2016

Abstract
Many studies point to a robust ENSO signature on the North Atlantic–European (NAE) sector associated with a downstream effect of Rossby wave trains. Some of these works also address a nonstationary behavior of the aforementioned link, but only few have explored the possible modulating factors. In this study the internal causes within the ocean–atmosphere coupled system influencing the tropospheric ENSO–Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection have been analyzed. To this aim, unforced long-term preindustrial control simulations from 18 different CMIP5 models have been used. A nonstationary impact of ENSO on Euro-Mediterranean rainfall, being spatially consistent with the observational one, is found. This variable feature is explained by a changing ENSO-related Rossby wave propagation from the tropical Pacific to the NAE sector, which, in turn, is modulated by multidecadal variability of the climatological jet streams associated with the underlying sea surface temperature (SST). The results, therefore, indicate a modulation of the ENSO–Euro-Mediterranean rainfall teleconnection by the internal (and multidecadal) variability of the ocean–atmosphere coupled system.
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Errors Associated with Lack of Two-Way Ocean Coupling in High-Resolution Global Simulations
Authors: Zarzycki Colin M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractTropical cyclones (TCs), particularly those that are intense and/or slow moving, induce sea surface temperature (SST) reductions along their tracks (commonly referred to as cold wakes) that provide a negative feedback on storm energetics by weakening surface enthalpy fluxes. While computing gains have allowed for simulated TC intensity to increase in global climate models as a result of increased horizontal resolution, many configurations utilize prescribed, noninteractive SSTs as a surface boundary condition to minimize computational cost and produce more accurate TC climatologies. Here, an idealized slab ocean is coupled to a 0.25° variable-resolution version of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) to improve closure of the surface energy balance and reproduce observed Northern Hemisphere cold wakes. This technique produces cold wakes that are realistic in structure and evolution and with magnitudes similar to published observations, without impacting large-scale SST climatology. Multimember ensembles show that the overall number of TCs generated by the model is reduced by 5%–9% when allowing for two-way air–sea interactions. TC intensity is greatly impacted; the strongest 1% of all TCs are 20–30 hPa (4–8 m s−1) weaker, and the number of simulated Saffir–Simpson category 4 and 5 TCs is reduced by 65% in slab ocean configurations. Reductions in intensity are in line with published thermodynamic theory. Additional offline experiments and sensitivity simulations demonstrate this response is both significant and robust. These results imply caution should be exercised when assessing high-resolution prescribed SST climate simulations capable of resolving intense TCs, particularly if discrete analysis of extreme events is desired.
Visual and auditory cortical evoked potentials in interictal episodic migraine: An audit on 624 patients from three centres
Authors: Ambrosini Anna , Kisialiou Aliaksei , Coppola Gianluca , Finos Livio , Magis Delphine , Pierelli Francesco , Schoenen Jean 
Published: September 2016

Background Many studies report a habituation deficit of visual evoked potentials (VEP) and/or increased intensity dependence of auditory evoked cortical potentials (IDAP) in episodic migraine patients between attacks. These findings have a pathophysiological interest, but their diagnostic utility is not known. Aims To perform an audit on a large database of interictal VEP and IDAP recordings in episodic migraine patients and evaluate their diagnostic accuracy. Methods We pooled data for VEP habituation and IDAP measured in 624 episodic migraineurs (EM) and 360 healthy volunteers (HV) from three centers. Thresholds were calculated by Receiver Operating Curve analysis and used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-) and the accuracy of each test, using ICHD diagnostic criteria as the gold standard. Results In EM, VEP habituation was significantly lower than in HV, and IDAP slopes were significantly steeper. VEP (five blocks of 50 responses), VEP (six blocks of 100 responses) and IDAP had respectively 61.0%, 61.4% and 45.7% sensitivity, and 77.9%, 77.9% and 87.2% specificity. Their positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) likelihood ratios were respectively 2.760, 2.778, 3.570 and 0.500, 0.495, 0.623, with diagnostic accuracies of 65.3%, 69.0% and 54.3%. In combined VEP + IDAP recordings, an abnormality of at least one test had 83.4% sensitivity, 66.7% specificity, 2.504 LR+, 0.249 LR− and 81.1% accuracy. Conclusions In this large database, VEP habituation is significantly reduced and IDAP increased in episodic migraine patients between attacks. Taken alone, neither VEP nor IDAP has sufficient diagnostic accuracy. However, when both tests are performed in the same patient, an abnormality of at least one of them is highly predictive of interictal episodic migraine.
No Relationship Between Hamstring Flexibility and Hamstring Injuries in Male Amateur Soccer Players: A Prospective Study
Authors: van Doormaal Mitchell C.M. , van der Horst Nick , Backx Frank J.G. , Smits Dirk-Wouter , Huisstede Bionka M.A. 
Published: September 2016

Background: In soccer, although hamstring flexibility is thought to play a major role in preventing hamstring injuries, the relationship between hamstring flexibility and hamstring injuries remains unclear. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between hamstring flexibility and hamstring injuries in male amateur soccer players. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study included 450 male first-class amateur soccer players (mean age, 24.5 years). Hamstring flexibility was measured by performing the sit-and-reach test (SRT). The relationship between hamstring flexibility and the occurrence of hamstring injuries in the following year, while adjusting for the possible confounding effects of age and previous hamstring injuries, was determined with a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 450 soccer players, 21.8% reported a hamstring injury in the previous year. The mean (±SD) baseline score for the SRT was 21.2 ± 9.2 cm. During the 1-year follow-up period, 23 participants (5.1%) suffered a hamstring injury. In the multivariate analysis, while adjusting for age and previous injuries, no significant relationship was found between hamstring flexibility and hamstring injuries ( P = .493). Conclusion: In this group of soccer players, hamstring flexibility (measured with the SRT) was not related to hamstring injuries. Age and previous hamstring injuries as possible confounders did not appear to influence this relationship. Other etiological factors need to be examined to further elucidate the mechanism of hamstring injuries.
Patient Awareness and Expectations of Pharmacist Services During Hospital Stay
Authors: King Philip K. , Martin Steven J. , Betka Eric M. 
Published: September 2016

Background: There are insufficient data in the United States regarding patient awareness and expectations of hospital pharmacist availability and services. Objective: The objective of this research is to assess patient awareness and expectations of hospital pharmacist services and to determine whether a marketing campaign for pharmacist services increases patient awareness and expectations. Methods: Eligible inpatients were surveyed before and after implementation of a hospital-wide pharmacist services marketing campaign (12 items; Likert scale of 1 [strongly disagree] to 4 [strongly agree]; maximum total score of 48) regarding awareness of pharmacist services. The primary outcome was the change in median total survey scores from baseline. Other outcomes included the frequency of patient requests for pharmacists. Results: Similar numbers of patients completed the survey before and after the campaign (intervention, n = 140, vs control, n = 147). Awareness of pharmacist availability and services was increased (41 [interquartile ranges, IQRs: 36-46] vs 37 [IQR 31-43]; P < .001). Patients were 7 times more likely to request a pharmacist following the marketing campaign implementation. Conclusion: Awareness among inpatients of pharmacist services is low. Marketing pharmacist availability and services to patients in the hospital improves awareness and expectations for pharmacist-provided care and increases the frequency of patient-initiated interaction between pharmacists and patients. This could improve patient outcomes as pharmacists become more integrally involved in direct patient care.
A Systematic Analysis of Errors in Target Localization and Treatment Delivery for Stereotactic Radiosurgery Using 2D/3D Image Registration
Authors: Xu Hao , Brown Stephen , Chetty Indrin J. , Wen Ning 
Published: September 2016

Purpose: To determine the localization uncertainties associated with 2-dimensional/3-dimensional image registration in comparison to 3-dimensional/3-dimensional image registration in 6 dimensions on a Varian Edge Linac under various imaging conditions. Methods: The systematic errors in 6 dimensions were assessed by comparing automatic 2-dimensional/3-dimensional (kV/MV vs computed tomography) with 3-dimensional/3-dimensional (cone beam computed tomography vs computed tomography) image registrations under various conditions encountered in clinical applications. The 2-dimensional/3-dimensional image registration uncertainties for 88 patients with different treatment sites including intracranial and extracranial were evaluated by statistically analyzing 2-dimensional/3-dimensional pretreatment verification shifts of 192 fractions in stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy. Results: The systematic errors of 2-dimensional/3-dimensional image registration using kV–kV, MV–kV, and MV–MV image pairs were within 0.3 mm and 0.3° for the translational and rotational directions within a 95% confidence interval. No significant difference ( P > .05) in target localization was observed with various computed tomography slice thicknesses (0.8, 1, 2, and 3 mm). Two-dimensional/3-dimensional registration had the best accuracy when pattern intensity and content filter were used. For intracranial sites, means ± standard deviations of translational errors were −0.20 ± 0.70 mm, 0.04 ± 0.50 mm, and 0.10 ± 0.40 mm for the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions, respectively. For extracranial sites, means ± standard deviations of translational errors were −0.04 ± 1.00 mm, 0.2 ± 1.0 mm, and 0.1 ± 1.0 mm for the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions, respectively. Two-dimensional/3-dimensional image registration for intracranial and extracranial sites had comparable systematic errors that were approximately 0.2 mm in the translational direction and 0.08° in the rotational direction. Conclusion: The standard 2-dimensional/3-dimensional image registration tool available on the Varian Edge radiosurgery device, a state-of-the-art system, is helpful for robust and accurate target positioning for image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery.
von Willebrand Factor and Prekallikrein in Plasma Are Associated With Thrombus Volume in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Ghulam Qasam M. , Bredahl Kim K. , Gram Jørgen B. , Lönn Lars , Goetze Jens P. , Sillesen Henrik H. , Eiberg Jonas P. 
Published: September 2016

Objectives: Disruption of the endothelial lining may be one of the events linking intraluminal thrombus and abdominal aortic aneurysm growth. In the present study, we examined whether von Willebrand factor activity in plasma, contact proteins of blood coagulation, and inflammatory biomarkers may be associated with intraluminal thrombus volume in search of a biochemical marker of endothelial damage and thrombus size. Design: Prospective study, correlating potential endothelial biomarkers and intraluminal thrombus volume acquired by computed tomography angiography. Materials and Methods: Plasma was consecutively obtained from 38 patients with asymptomatic infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. von Willebrand factor activity, thrombin generation time, factor XII, and prekallikrein concentration were measured in plasma on automated and in-house platforms. In total, 8 patients were excluded due to ongoing anticoagulant therapy, renal impairment, or nonappearance, thus leaving 30 patients for further analysis. All patients had computed tomography angiography, and intraluminal volume was quantified off-line by OsiriX 6.5. Results: Median intraluminal thrombus volume was 42.7 mL. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between thrombus volume, von Willebrand factor activity (ρ = 0.56, P = .0013), and prekallikrein concentration in plasma (ρ = 0.54, P = .002). Conclusion: von Willebrand factor activity and concentration of prekallikrein may both be of importance regarding the evolution of thrombus in abdominal aortic aneurysm and possible biomarkers for aneurysm growth.
Fertility preservation in males with cancer: 16-year monocentric experience of sperm banking and post-thaw reproductive outcomes
Authors: Depalo Raffaella , Falagario Doriana , Masciandaro Paola , Nardelli Claudia , Vacca Margherita Patrizia , Capuano Pasquale , Specchia Giorgina , Battaglia Michele 
Published: September 2016

Background: Anticancer treatments can impair male fertility. Cryopreservation of semen is an efficient procedure for fertility preservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate pre-freeze semen parameters among the various types of cancer, post-thaw sperm viability and reproductive outcome of samples used for assisted reproductive treatment (ART). Methods: This study included 721 men with cancer that had their semen cryopreserved in our bank in 1999–2015. Semen analysis and cryopreservation were performed before the start of antineoplastic treatment, according to the World Health Organization recommendations, European Commission and Italian law. Results: Among the 721 patient, 196 had seminoma of the testis, 173 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 108 mixed testicular tumors, 89 germ cell tumors, 67 other tumors, 46 hematological tumors, and 42 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The mean age of patients was significantly lower in Hodgkin’s lymphoma compared to other tumors. Statistically significant lower volume, sperm count and number of straws stored were observed respectively in Hodgkin’s lymphoma, mixed testicular tumor and hematological tumors. Nineteen patients used their frozen semen for 20 ART cycles. After thawing a significant reduction of motility and vitality was recorded. A lower fertilization rate was observed in patients affected by testicular tumor and lymphoma (35.42% and 50%) compared with other cancers (71.43%). No significant differences were observed in terms of cleavage and implantation rates. A total of five pregnancies and seven healthy newborns were achieved. Conclusions: Fertility preservation before gonadotoxic therapy is of great importance to patients with cancer and must be indicate before the start of treatment.
Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome
Authors: Algahtani Hussein , Algahtani Abdulhadi , Aldarmahi Ahmad , Hmoud Mohammed , Marzuk Yousef , Shirah Bader 
Published: September 2016

Objectives: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinicoradiological syndrome characterized by headache, altered mental status, seizures, or loss of vision. In this study, we report the largest series of PRES coming from Saudi Arabia and explore the etiology, clinical presentation, and outcome. We also report new imaging findings associated with this condition. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all cases of PRES admitted to King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between the years 2005 and 2015. A neurologist reviewed all charts and analyzed the clinical presentations, etiological factors, and outcomes, and a neuroradiologist reviewed the imaging studies. Only patients with clinical and imaging features consistent with PRES were included in the study. Results: We collected 31 patients who had clinical and radiological features consistent with PRES. Females were more affected than males (18 females and 13 males), and patients’ age ranged from 6 to 95 years, with a mean of 38.3 years. Patients were treated by removing the precipitating causes and treating the underlying conditions. Resolution of neurologic signs occurred within 2 to 3 weeks in all patients. Conclusion: In our opinion, PRES itself is usually a benign condition with complete recovery if the condition is recognized early and managed appropriately. Although clinical signs are nonspecific, the constellation of symptoms including headache, visual problems, seizures, and altered level of consciousness should suggest the possibility of PRES, especially in high-risk group. Abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging are often characteristic and may be the first clue to the diagnosis.