bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geostrategic Supply Risk and Economic Importance as Drivers for Implementation of Industrial Ecology Measures in a Nitrogen Fertilizer Production Company
Authors: Malinauskienė Milda , Kliopova Irina , Hugi Christoph , Staniškis Jurgis Kazimieras 
Published: March 2017

SummaryAmong other concerns, safeguarding the supply chains of raw materials is an important task for industrial companies. Therefore, not surprisingly, the number of scientific publications concerning the evaluation of resource criticality has increased in recent years. However, it was noticed that currently published methodologies are too complex to be applied by industrial companies on a daily basis. For this reason, the need to develop a methodology that would allow not only assessing resource criticality, but could also be integrated into widely applied methodological frameworks as an additional driver to improve resource efficiency was identified. Geostrategic supply risk and economic importance were chosen as key indicators to analyze and assess relative resource criticality. The developed methodology was field tested by applying it to a resource‐intensive nitrogen fertilizer production company. Five scenarios for resource efficiency improvements, consisting of cleaner production and industrial symbiosis measures, were investigated. If all the proposed measures were implemented, consumption of natural gas would decrease by 3.552 million cubic meters per year (0.3% of the total consumption). However, not all identified measures contribute to a reduction of the overall criticality of resources for the production company. Nevertheless, the integration of criticality assessments into the widely applied methodologies for development and implementation of resource efficiency innovations is a valuable addition and should be included in the analysis for sustainable innovations and development.
Solid Waste and the Circular Economy: A Global Analysis of Waste Treatment and Waste Footprints
Authors: Tisserant Alexandre , Pauliuk Stefan , Merciai Stefano , Schmidt Jannick , Fry Jacob , Wood Richard , Tukker Arnold 
Published: March 2017

SummaryDetailed and comprehensive accounts of waste generation and treatment form the quantitative basis of designing and assessing policy instruments for a circular economy (CE). We present a harmonized multiregional solid waste account, covering 48 world regions, 11 types of solid waste, and 12 waste treatment processes for the year 2007. The account is part of the physical layer of EXIOBASE v2, a multiregional supply and use table. EXIOBASE v2 was used to build a waste‐input‐output model of the world economy to quantify the solid waste footprint of national consumption. The global amount of recorded solid waste generated in 2007 was approximately 3.2 Gt (gigatonnes1), of which 1 Gt was recycled or reused, 0.7 Gt was incinerated, gasified, composted, or used as aggregates, and 1.5 Gt was landfilled. Patterns of waste generation differ across countries, but a significant potential for closing material cycles exists in both high‐ and low‐income countries. The European Union (EU), for example, needs to increase recycling by approximately 100 megatonnes per year (Mt/yr) and reduce landfilling by approximately 35 Mt/yr by 2030 to meet the targets set by the Action Plan for the Circular Economy. Solid waste footprints are strongly coupled with affluence, with income elasticities of around 1.3 for recycled waste, 2.2 for recovery waste, and 1.5 for landfilled waste, respectively. The EXIOBASE v2 solid waste account is based on statistics of recorded waste flows and therefore likely to underestimate actual waste flows.
Early Cardiac Catheterization Leads to Shortened Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Run Duration
Authors: Burke Christopher R. , Chan Titus , Rubio Agustin E. , McMullan David M. 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveCardiac catheterization in patients receiving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) has previously been shown to be safe and, in many cases, therapeutic. However, the influence of cardiac catheterization on clinical outcomes in this patient population has not been clearly defined.MethodsA single institution, retrospective review of all pediatric cardiac ECLS patients who underwent cardiac catheterization between January 2006 and September 2015 was performed.ResultsEighty‐two interventional cardiac catheterization procedures were performed on 74 patients. Catheterization findings directly led to catheterization‐based or surgical intervention in 54 (73%) patients. One (1.2%) catheterization‐related complication occurred (pulmonary artery rupture), which ultimately resulted in death. Patients who underwent early catheterization (≤72 hours of ECLS initiation) required shorter total duration of ECLS than patients who underwent catheterization >72 hours after ECLS initiation (136 hours vs. 227 hours, P < 0.01). The groups experienced similar rates of interventions based on catheterization findings (72% early cath vs. 74% late cath, P = 0.81). Survival to hospital discharge was higher in the early catheterization group (74% vs. 51%, P = 0.04). In multivariate models adjusting for covariates, early catheterization was associated with a reduction in ECLS duration by approximately 150 hours (P < 0.01).ConclusionsCardiac catheterization is safe in pediatric ECLS patients and an earlier catheterization is associated with shorter duration of ECLS and improved hospital survival. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization should be considered in patients who remain dependent on ECLS after several days of support.
Statins anticancer targeted delivery systems: re-purposing an old molecule
Authors: Safwat Sally , Ishak Rania A , Hathout Rania M , Mortada Nahed D 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Objectives
Exploring the use of statins as anticancer agents and exploiting different drug delivery systems in targeting these molecules to cancerous sites. Literature review was performed to investigate the use of statins in cancer treatment in one hand, and the different pharmaceutical approaches to deliver and target these drugs to their site of action.

Key findings
Statins were used for decades as antihypercholestrolemic drugs but recently have been proven potential for broad anticancer activities. The incorporation of statins in nanoparticulate drug delivery systems not only augmented the cytotoxicity of statins but also overcame the resistance of cancerous cells against the traditional chemotherapeutic agents. Statins-loaded nanoparticles could be easily tampered to target the cancerous cells and consequently minimal drug amount could be utilized.

Summary
This review reconnoitered the different endeavors to incorporate statins in various nanoparticles and summarized the successful effects in targeting cancerous cells and reducing their proliferation without the side effects of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents.
A preliminary species‐level phylogeny of the alpine ginger Roscoea: Implications for speciation
Authors: Zhao Jian‐Li , Zhong Jinshun , Fan Yong‐Li , Xia Yong‐Mei , Li Qing‐Jun 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSpeciation, the evolutionary process forming new species, is a key mode generating biodiversity on the Earth. In this study, we produced a species‐level phylogeny of Roscoea using one nuclear ribosomal and two chloroplast DNA fragments based on Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood. We then explored the possible speciation processes using the species‐level phylogeny and the heterozygous sites in the nuclear DNA. The incongruence between nuclear and chloroplast phylogenies, and several heterozygous sites in the nuclear DNA, suggested that R. auriculata might have a hybrid origin with R. purpurea and R. alpina being two possible parental progenitors; however, one alternative possibility through incomplete lineage sorting cannot be ruled out. In addition, R. kunmingensis likely originated from R. tibetica Batalin through the process of “budding speciation”. These results provided a valuable framework to draw testable hypotheses for future in‐depth comparative studies to further our understanding of the underpinning speciation and adaptation mechanisms that contribute to ultrahigh biodiversity in the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains.
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Treatment of patients with absence or mild fibrosis compared to patients with advanced fibrosis
Authors: Buti M. , Domínguez‐Hernández R. , Oyagüez I. , Casado M. A. , Esteban R. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryTo evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in treatment‐naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 1 (GT1) in the absence or mild fibrosis (F0‐F1) versus advanced fibrosis (F2‐F4), from the perspective of the Spanish Health System. A Markov model was developed to simulate disease progression, estimating costs and outcomes [life years gained (LYG) and quality‐adjusted life years (QALY)] derived from starting withLDV/SOFin patients with F0‐F1 compared with F2‐F4. Therapy duration was 8 weeks in noncirrhotic patients with viral load <6 millionIU/mLand 12 weeks in the remaining patients. Sustained virologic response rates were obtained from real‐world cohort studies. Transition probabilities, utilities and direct costs were obtained from the literature. A 3% annual discount rate was applied to costs and outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed.LDV/SOFin F0‐F1 patients was a dominant strategy, being more effective (19.85LYGand 19.80QALY) than beginning treatment in F2‐F4 patients (18.63LYGand 16.25QALY), generating savings of €9228 per patient (€3661 due to disease management and monitoring). In a cohort of 1000 patients,LDV/SOFin F0‐F1 patients decreased the number of cases of decompensated cirrhosis (93%), hepatocellular carcinoma (97%) and liver‐related deaths (95%) and prevented 6 liver transplants compared to initiatingLDV/SOFin F2‐F4 patients. InCHCtreatment‐naïveGT1 patients, starting treatment withLDV/SOFin patients with F0‐F1 compared to those with F2‐F4 increases effectiveness by 1.22LYGand 3.55QALYgained and reduces disease burden and it is associated with cost savings.
Performance of the Pooled Cohort atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score in hepatitis C virus‐infected persons
Authors: Chew K. W. , Bhattacharya D. , Horwich T. B. , Yan P. , McGinnis K. A. , Tseng C. , Freiberg M. S. , Currier J. S. , Butt A. A. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryChronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The recommended Pooled Cohort atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk equation for estimation of 10‐year CVD risk has not been validated in HCV‐infected populations. We examined the performance of the ASCVD risk score in HCV‐infected persons, using the national Electronically Retrieved Cohort of HCV Infected Veterans to derive a cohort of HCV‐infected and uninfected subjects without baseline ASCVD, hepatitis B, or HIV infection, and with low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level<190 mg/dL. Performance of the ASCVD risk equation was assessed by Cox proportional hazard regression, C‐statistics and Hosmer‐Lemeshow statistic. The cohort included 70 490 HCV‐infected and 97 766 HCV‐uninfected men with mean age of 55 years, 56% White and 29% Black. Incident CVD event rates were similar between the two groups (13.2 and 13.4 events/1000 person‐years), with a higher incidence of coronary heart disease events in the HCV‐uninfected group and of stroke events in the HCV‐infected group. Adjusting for ASCVD risk score, HCV infection was associated with higher risk for an ASCVD event in the subgroup with baseline ASCVD risk ≥7.5% (HR: 1.19, P<.0001). C‐statistics were poor in both the HCV‐infected and uninfected groups (0.60 and 0.61, respectively). By Hosmer‐Lemeshow test, the ASCVD risk equation overestimated risk amongst lower risk patients and underestimated risk amongst higher risk patients in both the HCV‐infected and uninfected groups. Further investigation is needed to determine whether a modified equation to accurately predict ASCVD risk in HCV‐infected persons is warranted.
Rodent granivory strengthens relationships between seed size and plant abundance in a desert annual community
Authors: Chen Ting C. , Valone Thomas J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAimThe seed size/number trade‐off model explains the co‐existence of plants that produce different‐sized seeds by assuming an establishment fitness advantage for larger seeds via enhanced competition or environmental tolerance, and a colonization fitness advantage for smaller seeds. The model predicts a negative relationship between seed mass and plant abundance among co‐existing species in a community. Here, we evaluate the hypothesis that rodent granivory affects the slope of this relationship, causing it to become less negative when granivore pressure is reduced because rodents selectively harvest large seeds.LocationChihuahuan Desert, USA.MethodsWe analysed long‐term data from an annual plant community in southeast Arizona to characterize the relationship between seed mass and mean plant abundance in three types of plots that manipulated the rodent community. Some plots excluded all rodents, other selectively excluded only large‐bodied kangaroo rats (Dipodomys), while control plots allowed access by all rodents.ResultsWe observed negative relationships between seed mass and plant abundance on 23 of the 24 experimental plots. The slopes of these relationships were significantly affected by the experimental treatments. Slopes were most negative for control plots and least negative for plots that excluded all rodents.ConclusionRodent granivore exclusion caused the slope of the relationship between seed mass and plant abundance to become less negative. These results illustrate how granivory can affect seed mass–plant abundance relationships, and may provide further insight into the co‐existence of plants that vary in seed size.
Social determinants of inequalities in child undernutrition in Bangladesh: A decomposition analysis
Authors: Huda Tanvir M. , Hayes Alison , El Arifeen Shams , Dibley Michael J. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSocioeconomic inequalities in child undernutrition remain one of the main challenges in Bangladesh. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for such inequalities across different population groups. However, no study has examined the relative contribution of different social determinants to the socioeconomic inequality in child undernutrition in Bangladesh. Our objective is to measure the extent of socioeconomic‐related inequalities in childhood stunting and identify the key social determinants that potentially explain these inequalities in Bangladesh. We used data for children younger than 5 years of age for this analysis from 2 rounds of Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 2004 and 2014. We examined the socioeconomic inequality in stunting using the concentration curve and concentration index. We then decomposed the concentration index into the contributions of individual social determinants. We found significant inequality in stunting prevalence. The negative concentration index of stunting indicated that stunting was more concentrated among the poor than among the well‐off. Our results suggest that inequalities in stunting increased between 2004 and 2014. Household economic status, maternal and paternal education, health‐seeking behavior of the mothers, sanitation, fertility, and maternal stature were the major contributors to the disparity in stunting prevalence in Bangladesh. Equity is a critical component of sustainable development goals. Health policymakers should work together across sectors and develop strategies for effective intersectoral actions to adequately address the social determinants of equity and reduce inequalities in stunting and other health outcomes.
Association of cortical microinfarcts and cerebral small vessel pathology in the ageing brain
Authors: Kövari E. , Herrmann F. R. , Gold G. , Hof P. R. , Charidimou A. 
Published: March 2017

AimsCortical microinfarcts (CMI) are frequently observed in the ageing brain independent of cognitive decline, but their aetiology is not fully elucidated. To examine the potential role of different vessel pathologies, including cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), arteriolosclerosis‐hyalinosis and thromboembolism in the development of CMI, we examined 80 autopsy cases with more than one CMI on routine neuropathological examination.MethodsPial and intracortical vessels around CMI were assessed for their integrity with haematoxylin–eosin staining and antibodies against amyloid‐β protein and fibrinogen using a semiquantitative four‐level rating scale (absent to severe) in the hippocampus, and the frontal, temporal and occipital cortex. Four histological categories of changes were defined: CAA, vessel pathology other than CAA, thromboembolism and absence of vessel pathology near CMI.ResultsA differential distribution of microvascular pathology was observed depending on brain regions. In the occipital cortex, CAA was commonly associated with CMI. In contrast, in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex, cases without any vascular pathology in pial and intracortical vessels were significantly more frequent.ConclusionsThe aetiology of CMI differs depending on brain location. CAA may play a role principally in the occipital cortex. The large number of intact vessels around the CMI (mainly in the frontal cortex and hippocampus) raises the possibility that pathologies other than structural microangiopathy, including hypoperfusion/arterial hypotension or large vessel atherosclerosis, play a role in the development of microvascular lesions. These results are relevant in the context of aetiopathogenesis of vascular changes associated with conditions like vascular dementia.
Patient preferences for endpoints in fecal incontinence treatment studies
Authors: Heymen S. , Palsson O. , Simren M. , Whitehead W. E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBackgroundRandomized controlled trials of treatments for fecal incontinence (FI) are difficult to compare because case definitions and study endpoints vary. Our aims were to assess patient perspectives on the case definition for FI and how treatment success should be measured.MethodsIn Phase 1, 28 FI patients participated in anonymous on‐line focus groups, and in Phase 2, 186 people with FI, stratified by gender, race, and age completed an online survey.Key ResultsFocus group participants described frequency and urgency as the most important characteristics for defining FI. Most (80%) thought staining of underwear constitutes FI, but only 33% thought gas leakage was FI. When asked how the success of treatment should be defined, 77% said by a reduction in frequency or complete cure, but less than half thought a 50% reduction in frequency was enough. When asked how much reduction would be needed, responses averaged 80%. The Phase 2 survey confirmed that frequency, urgency, and intestinal discomfort are the most important characteristics for case definition, and that success should be defined by at least a 75% decrease in frequency. A 50% reduction was an acceptable endpoint for 58% overall but only 26% for those aged ≥65. “Adequate relief” was acceptable to 78%.Conclusions and InferencesInclusion criteria for trials should specify a minimum frequency of FI. Most patients would require a ≥75% reduction in FI frequency to call a treatment successful but young adults and those with more severe FI would accept a ≥50% reduction as meaningful.
The (lack of) relation between straylight and visual acuity. Two domains of the point‐spread‐function
Authors: van den Berg Thomas J. T. P. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractPurposeThe effect of cataract and other media opacities on functional vision is typically assessed clinically using visual acuity. In both clinical and basic research, straylight (the functional result of light scattering in the eye) is commonly measured. The purpose of the present study was to determine the link between these two measures: is visual acuity in cataract and other media opacities related to straylight?MethodsInterdependence between acuity and straylight is addressed from three different points of view: (1) Methodological: can acuity differences affect the measurement value of straylight, and vice versa? (2) Basic optics: does the optical process of light scattering in the human eye affect both straylight and visual acuity? (3) Statistical: how strongly are acuity and straylight correlated in the practice of important clinical conditions? Experimental and theoretical aspects will be considered, with a focus on normal ageing and cataract formation.Results(1) Methodological: testing potential effects of acuity, artificially manipulated with positive trial lenses, showed no effect on measured straylight values. Since light scattering in the eye involves a low percentage of the light and has large angular spreading, contrast reduction due to straylight is limited, resulting in virtually absent acuity effects. (2) Basic optics: light scattering from the human donor eye lens is found to have virtually no effect in the centre of the point‐spread‐function, also for cataractous lenses, resulting in virtually absent acuity effects. (3) Statistical: literature data on straylight and visual acuity show a weak correlation for the important groups of normal ageing and cataract populations.ConclusionsThe point‐spread‐function of the normal ageing and cataractous human eye is built upon two rather independent basic parts. Aberrations control the central peak. Light scattering controls the periphery from about 1° onwards. The way acuity and straylight are measured ensures no confounding between them. Statistically within the normal ageing and cataract populations, visual acuity and straylight vary quite independently from each other. Visual acuity losses with cataract and other media opacities are not due to straylight, but caused by aberrations and micro‐aberrations. Straylight defines disability glare, and causes symptoms of glare, haloes, hazy vision etc. Overall, visual acuity and straylight are rather independent aspects of quality of vision.
Fitness of Bt‐resistant cabbage loopers on Bt cotton plants
Authors: Tetreau Guillaume , Wang Ran , Wang Ping 
Published: March 2017

SummaryDevelopment of resistance to the insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) in insects is the major threat to the continued success of transgenic Bt crops in agriculture. The fitness of Bt‐resistant insects on Bt and non‐Bt plants is a key parameter that determines the development of Bt resistance in insect populations. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the fitness of Bt‐resistant Trichoplusia ni strains on Bt cotton leaves was conducted. The Bt‐resistant T. ni strains carried two genetically independent mechanisms of resistance to Bt toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab. The effects of the two resistance mechanisms, individually and in combination, on the fitness of the T. ni strains on conventional non‐Bt cotton and on transgenic Bt cotton leaves expressing a single‐toxin Cry1Ac (Bollgard I) or two Bt toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab (Bollgard II) were examined. The presence of Bt toxins in plants reduced the fitness of resistant insects, indicated by decreased net reproductive rate (R0) and intrinsic rate of increase (r). The reduction in fitness in resistant T. ni on Bollgard II leaves was greater than that on Bollgard I leaves. A 12.4‐day asynchrony of adult emergence between the susceptible T. ni grown on non‐Bt cotton leaves and the dual‐toxin‐resistant T. ni on Bollgard II leaves was observed. Therefore, multitoxin Bt plants not only reduce the probability for T. ni to develop resistance but also strongly reduce the fitness of resistant insects feeding on the plants.