bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A new Automated Behavioural Response system to integrate playback experiments into camera trap studies
Authors: Suraci Justin P. , Clinchy Michael , Mugerwa Badru , Delsey Michael , Macdonald David W. , Smith Justine A. , Wilmers Chris C. , Zanette Liana Y. 
Published: December 2016

Summary

How animals respond to anthropogenic disturbances is a core component of conservation biology and how they respond to predators and competitors is equally of central importance to wildlife ecology. Camera traps have rapidly become a critical tool in wildlife research by providing a fully automated means of observing animals without needing an observer present, permitting data to be collected on rare or elusive species and infrequent events. Snapshots from camera traps revealing a species’ presence have been the principal data used to date to gauge behaviour; but, lacking experimental controls, such data permit only correlational analyses potentially open to confounding effects. Playback experiments provide a powerful means to directly test the behavioural responses of animals, enabling strong inferences and rigorous conclusions not subject to the potential confounds affecting the interpretation of snapshot data; the principal factor to date limiting the use of playback experiments being the need to have an observer present.

We developed an Automated Behavioural Response system (ABR) comprising a custom‐built motion‐sensitive speaker system that can be paired with any commercially available camera trap, providing the means to conduct playback experiments directly testing the behavioural responses of any species that can be ‘caught’ on a camera trap.

We describe field tests in Uganda, Canada and the USA, experimentally testing the effects of anthropogenic disturbances and interactions among large carnivores, in species as diverse as elephants, black bears, chimpanzees and cougars; experiments that would be completely infeasible without the ABR. We evaluate factors affecting the rate of successful data collection in the experiments in Uganda and Canada, and detail how we maximized the system's performance in the USA experiment.

By integrating the power playback experiments provide to directly and rigorously test behavioural responses with the capacity camera trapping affords to study virtually any animal anywhere, the ABR can both greatly expand the range of research questions addressed by conservation biologists and wildlife ecologists and qualitatively improve the rigour of the resulting conclusions. We discuss various ways to optimize the ABR's performance in any circumstance, and the many novel research opportunities made available by this new methodology.
Mutational Analysis of Agxt in Tunisian Population with Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1
Authors: M'dimegh Saoussen , Omezzine Asma , M'barek Ibtihel , Moussa Amira , Mabrouk Sameh , Kaarout Hayet , Souche Geneviéve , Chemli Jalel , Aloui Sabra , Aquaviva‐Bourdain Cécile , Achour Abdellatif , Abroug Saoussen , Bouslama Ali 
Published: December 2016

SummaryBackgroundPrimary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by inherited mutations in the AGXT gene encoding liver peroxisomal alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT). PH1 is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. The aim of our study was to analyze and characterize the mutational spectrum of PH1 in Tunisian patients.Materials and MethodsMolecular studies of 146 Tunisian patients suspected with PH were performed by PCR/Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to detect seven mutations described as the most common. Direct sequencing for the 11 exons was performed in patients in whom any mutation was not identified.ResultsThe genetic diagnosis of PH1 was confirmed in 62.3% of patients. The first molecular approach based on PCR/restriction enzyme test was positive in 37.6% of patients, whereas the second molecular approach based on whole gene sequencing was successful in 24% of cases. Twelve pathogenic mutations were detected in our cohort. Two mutations were novel, and five were detected for the first time in Tunisians. The three most frequent mutations were p.Ile244Thr, p.Gly190Arg, and c.33dupC, with a frequency of 43.4%, 21.4%, and 13.1%, respectively.ConclusionThe two novel mutations detected in our study extend the spectrum of known AGXT gene mutations. The screen for the mutations identified in this study can provide a useful, cost‐effective, and first‐line investigation in Tunisian PH1 patients.
Using GIS and remote sensing to explore the influence of physical environmental factors and historical land use on bushland structure
Authors: Mutiti Christine M. , Medley Kimberly E. , Mutiti Samuel 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBushland is a vegetation type with a dense cover of woody plants of low stature and a grass understory. We explored the influence of environmental factors (precipitation, topography, geology, hydrology and waterhole density) and historical land use in the Tsavo ecosystem bushland. We mapped vegetation patterns in the region using remote sensing, GIS and field data and tested relationships with physical factors. We used regression analysis to explore the interaction of physical factors and human influence by including a protected and a nonprotected area, representing contrasting historical land use policies, as factors in the regression model. Bushland vegetation had the largest proportion in the region as a whole, but its proportion was notably greater in the nonprotected area. Precipitation, elevation, geology and historical land use were significant predictors of vegetation patterns in the regression models. Higher precipitation and elevation make woody plants superior competitors over grasses, resulting in predominance of bushland in such areas. Geologically, marine deposits result in shallow calcareous soils that favour grasses over trees, hence, absence of bushland. Wildlife management policies such as providing water for wildlife, protective boundaries and controlling wildfires influence distribution of wildlife and result in conditions that prevent regeneration and recruitment of trees.
A Physical Heart Failure Simulation System Utilizing the Total Artificial Heart and Modified Donovan Mock Circulation
Authors: Crosby Jessica R. , DeCook Katrina J. , Tran Phat L. , Betterton Edward , Smith Richard G. , Larson Douglas F. , Khalpey Zain I. , Burkhoff Daniel , Slepian Marvin J. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractWith the growth and diversity of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) systems entering clinical use, a need exists for a robust mock circulation system capable of reliably emulating and reproducing physiologic as well as pathophysiologic states for use in MCS training and inter‐device comparison. We report on the development of such a platform utilizing the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart and a modified Donovan Mock Circulation System, capable of being driven at normal and reduced output. With this platform, clinically relevant heart failure hemodynamics could be reliably reproduced as evidenced by elevated left atrial pressure (+112%), reduced aortic flow (−12.6%), blunted Starling‐like behavior, and increased afterload sensitivity when compared with normal function. Similarly, pressure‐volume relationships demonstrated enhanced sensitivity to afterload and decreased Starling‐like behavior in the heart failure model. Lastly, the platform was configured to allow the easy addition of a left ventricular assist device (HeartMate II at 9600 RPM), which upon insertion resulted in improvement of hemodynamics. The present configuration has the potential to serve as a viable system for training and research, aimed at fostering safe and effective MCS device use.
Bilateral tear film alterations in patients with unilateral quiescent herpes simplex keratitis
Authors: Ma Xiao , Lu Yan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate bilateral tear function and corneal sensitivity in patients with unilateral quiescent herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) and determine the correlation between corneal sensitivity and tear secretion in both eyes.MethodsThirty‐five patients diagnosed with unilateral quiescent HSK and 35 heathy controls were included in this study. Bilateral tear osmolarity, Schirmer's test, the tear break‐up time (TBUT) and corneal sensitivity were measured in all participants.ResultsIn the HSK group, both eyes demonstrated a significant increase in tear osmolarity, and a decrease in Schirmer's test and the TBUT compared with healthy controls (All p < 0.001). The bilateral tear osmolarity and Schirmer's test were similar, but the TBUT (4.9 ± 2.1 versus 7.4 ± 2.0 second; p < 0.001) and corneal sensitivity (35.1 ± 1.9 versus 54.3 ± 0.8 mm; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the affected eyes. The bilateral tear osmolarity, Schirmer's test and the TBUT were significantly correlated with corneal sensitivity of the affected eye (All p < 0.001). When corneal sensitivity of the unaffected eye was treated as a control variable, tear osmolarity (R = −0.626, p < 0.001), Schirmer's test (R = 0.739, p < 0.001) and the TBUT (R = 0.691, p < 0.001) of the unaffected eyes were still significantly correlated with the corneal sensitivity of the affected eyes.ConclusionsUnilateral quiescent HSK causes bilateral tear impairment, which depends on the loss of corneal sensitivity in the affected eye. In the affected eye with severe corneal sensitivity loss, bilateral dry eye occurred.
Effect of storage on quality traits of the semimembranosus muscle of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) bucks and does
Authors: Ludwiczak Agnieszka , Stanisz Marek , Bykowska Marta , Składanowska Joanna , Ślósarz Piotr 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA total of 12 farmed fallow deer bucks and 12 does aged 31–32 months were included in a study on the effect of storage in vacuum packaging on the functionality of venison of the Semimembranosus muscle. All the analyzed meat quality traits were not affected by sex. The storage of meat in vacuum led to: an increase of pH (by 0.13 units; P = 0.001), L* (by 1.85 units; P = 0.002), a* (by 1.15 units; P = 0.013) and chroma (by 1.16 units; P = 0.016), a decrease of free water (by 6.62 percentage points (p.p.); P = 0.001) and water‐holding capacity (cm2) (by 29.61%; P = 0.001), and the increase of dry matter content (by 0.67 p.p.; P = 0.001). The results indicate that the chilled storage of venison caused the stabilization of pH and color, improvement of water‐holding capacity, with no negative effect on the proximate chemical composition. The quality of deer meat obtained from does and bucks was similar.
Combining Item Response Theory with Multiple Imputation to Equate Health Assessment Questionnaires
Authors: Gu Chenyang , Gutman Roee 
Published: December 2016

SummaryThe assessment of patients’ functional status across the continuum of care requires a common patient assessment tool. However, assessment tools that are used in various health care settings differ and cannot be easily contrasted. For example, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) is used to evaluate the functional status of patients who stay in inpatient rehabilitation facilities, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is collected for all patients who stay in skilled nursing facilities, and the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) is collected if they choose home health care provided by home health agencies. All three instruments or questionnaires include functional status items, but the specific items, rating scales, and instructions for scoring different activities vary between the different settings. We consider equating different health assessment questionnaires as a missing data problem, and propose a variant of predictive mean matching method that relies on Item Response Theory (IRT) models to impute unmeasured item responses. Using real data sets, we simulated missing measurements and compared our proposed approach to existing methods for missing data imputation. We show that, for all of the estimands considered, and in most of the experimental conditions that were examined, the proposed approach provides valid inferences, and generally has better coverages, relatively smaller biases, and shorter interval estimates. The proposed method is further illustrated using a real data set.
Are academics ready for smart learning?
Authors: Raghunath Riyukta , Anker Connie , Nortcliffe Anne 
Published: December 2016

AbstractOwnership of smartphones and tablets among the student population is growing. Students are using their devices to support their learning. Employers and employees are increasingly bringing their own smart devices into private and public organisations to support their business. This is leading to employees driving the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) agenda in organisations. It is not clear the extent to which academics are embracing smart technology to manage their workload or to enhance the student experience of learning. This paper presents a qualitative study of how engineering academics are using their own BYOD or institutionally provided smart devices. A 6Cs (connect, communicate, collaborate, curate, create and coordinate) framework has been used to analyse the results. The findings indicate that academics are primarily using devices to create materials, second to coordinate their work and third to communicate with students about their learning. However, there are a number of inhibiting and enabling factors that need to be addressed by academic institutions to develop the effective adoption of smart technologies for academic practice. Infrastructure, including developing widespread access to WiFi, and the prioritisation of opportunities to support staff to learn how to apply the technology to enhance student learning and experience are key areas of necessary development.
Implementation Gap between the Theory and Practice of Biodiversity Offset Multipliers
Authors: Bull Joseph W. , Lloyd Samuel P. , Strange Niels 
Published: December 2016

AbstractEmerging policies worldwide require biodiversity gains as compensation for losses associated with economic development, seeking to achieve “no net loss” (NNL). Multipliers – factors by which gains are larger than associated losses – can be crucial for true NNL. Here, we review the theoretical literature on multipliers. Then, we collate data on multipliers implemented in practice, representing the most complete such assessment to date. Finally, we explore remaining design gaps relating to social, ethical, and governance considerations.Multiplier values should theoretically be tens or hundreds when considering, for example, ecological uncertainties. We propose even larger multipliers required to satisfy previously ignored considerations – including prospect theory, taboo trades, and power relationships. Conversely, our data analyses show that multipliers are smaller in practice, regularly <10.0, and have not changed significantly in magnitude over time.We recommend that NNL policymakers provide explicit multiplier guidelines, require larger multipliers where appropriate, and ensure transparent reporting of multipliers used. Further research is necessary to determine reasons for the implementation gap we have identified. At the same time, there is a need to explore when and where the social, ethical, and governance requirements for NNL reviewed here can be met through approaches other than multipliers.
Leishmaniasis in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients
Authors: Gajurel Kiran , Dhakal Reshika , Deresinski Stan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractLeishmaniasis occurs in <1% of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in endemic countries in which transplants are performed. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) makes up the bulk of reported cases. The onset generally occurs months after transplantation and the mode of acquisition is often impossible to determine, but de novo vector‐borne infection and reactivation of inapparent infection are thought to be the principal means. The potential role of clinically inapparent donor infection is uncertain and screening is not currently recommended, nor is it recommended for recipients from endemic areas, some of whom may have detectable circulating protozoan nucleic acid. While transplant recipients with VL often present with the non‐specific findings of fever and cytopenia, the additional presence of hepatosplenomegaly in patients from endemic areas should lead to a directed diagnostic evaluation with bone marrow examination and PCR testing of marrow and peripheral blood having a high yield. Management may often be complicated by the presence of concomitant infections. A lipid formulation of amphotericin B is the preferred treatment, especially for VL, but the relapse rate in transplant recipients is approximately 25%. PCR monitoring of blood for either secondary prophylaxis or preemptive therapy requires further study.
Long‐term health‐related quality of life in living liver donors: A south Asian experience
Authors: Cherian P. Thomas , Mishra Ashish Kumar , Mahmood S. M. Faisal , Sathyanarayanan Mohan , Raya Ravichandra , Kota Venugopal , Rela Mohamed S. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to evaluate long‐term health‐related quality of life (HRQOL), changes in lifestyle, and complications in living liver donors at a single transplant center from southern India.MethodsA total of 64 consecutive living liver donors from 2008 to 2011 were evaluated; 46 of 64 donors completed the short form 36 (SF‐36) via telephonic interviews or clinic consultations. Mean follow‐up was 48 months (range: 37‐84 months).ResultsThere was no mortality in the donors evaluated. Overall morbidity was 23%, which included wound infections (4.3%), incisional hernia (2.1%), biliary leak (4.3%), and nonspecific complaints regarding the incision site (15.2%). All 46 donors who completed the SF‐36 had no change in career path or predonation lifestyle. A total of 40 of 46 (87%) donors had no limitations, decrements, or disability in any domain, while six of 46 (13%) had these in some domains of which general health (GH) was most severely affected.ConclusionsLiving donor hepatectomy is safe with acceptable morbidity and excellent long‐term HRQOL with no change in career path or significant alteration of lifestyle for donors.
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation: Is it really ominous?
Authors: Lim Ju Yong , Jung Sung Ho , Kim Min Seok , Park Jeong‐Jun , Yun Tae‐Jin , Kim Jae Joong , Lee Jae Won 
Published: December 2016

AbstractObjectivesCardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains a major impediment to long‐term survival after heart transplantation (HT). We investigated the incidence, disease course, and risk factors for CAV.MethodsAmong 399 patients who underwent HT between November 1992 and July 2014, 297 survivors were reviewed. Endpoints were CAV development and the composite outcome of death or re‐HT.ResultsDuring 5.6±5.2 years, CAV was detected in 54 patients: 45 (83.3%), 8 (14.8%), and 1 (1.8%) patients for CAV 1, 2, and 3, respectively. At 1, 5, and 10 years, 99.0%, 82.4%, and 60.3% of patients were free of CAV, respectively. Only four patients (7.4%) showed progression over 4.8±2.1 years’ follow‐up. The presence of CAV did not affect the composite outcome (P=.89). Predictors of CAV included donor age (HR1.06, 95% CI: 1.03‐1.10: P<.001), recipient age (1.03 [1.003‐1.06]; P=.03), ischemic time >240 minutes (3.15 [1.36‐7.28], P=.007), postoperative renal replacement therapy (RRT) (7.1 [2.3‐21.8]; P=.001), and triglyceride level at 1 year post‐HT (1.005 [1.002‐1.008], P=.003).ConclusionsCAV incidence after HT appears acceptable, with most cases being stationary and inconsequential for survival. Development of CAV seems to be influenced by donor and recipient age, ischemic time, postoperative RRT, and high triglyceride level.
Small‐for‐size syndrome in live donor liver transplantation—Pathways of injury and therapeutic strategies
Authors: Goldaracena Nicolas , Echeverri Juan , Selzner Markus 
Published: December 2016

AbstractDue to the severe organ shortage and the increasing gap between the supply and demand for donor grafts, live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become an accepted and alternative technique for the expansion of the donor pool. However, donor safety and good recipient outcomes must be balanced regarding risk stratification and decision‐making within this patient population. Small‐for‐size syndrome (SFSS) is one of the complications encountered after LDLT, thus increasing the burden of optimizing donor graft selection and effective treatments during its occurrence. A graft‐to‐recipient weight ratio (GRWR) <0.8 predisposes the graft to SFSS. However, other factors may induce this complication even without a graft‐to‐patient size mismatch. Several strategies to prevent this complication include portal vein flow and liver outflow modulation, as well as pharmacological treatment. Also, as an entity with a multifactorial etiology, outcomes vary between right‐lobe, left‐lobe, and posterior‐lobe donation among series encountered in the literature. In this review, we analyze the pathophysiology and classification of this complication, the state‐of‐the‐art on management of SFSS, and the outcomes regarding the best treatment strategy on this patient population.
Most ‘global’ reviews of species’ responses to climate change are not truly global
Authors: Feeley Kenneth J. , Stroud James T. , Perez Timothy M. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIt is critical that we understand the effects of climate change on natural systems if we ever hope to predict or mitigate consequent changes in diversity and ecosystem function. In order to identify coherent ‘fingerprints’ of climate change across Earth's terrestrial and marine ecosystems, various reviews have been conducted to synthesize studies of climate change impacts on individual species, assemblages and systems. These reviews help to make information about climate change impacts accessible for researchers as well as for the general public and policymakers. As such, these reviews can be highly influential in setting the direction of policy and research. Unfortunately, due to limited data availability, the majority of reviews of climate change impacts suffer from severe taxonomic and geographic biases. In particular, tropical and marine systems are grossly underrepresented, as are plants and endothermic animals. These biases may preclude a comprehensive understanding of how climate change is affecting Earth's natural systems at a global scale. In order to advance our understanding of climate change impacts on species and ecosystems, we need to first assess the types of data that are and are not available and then correct these biases through directed studies and initiatives.