bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forest cover, hunting pressure, and fruit availability influence seed dispersal in a forest‐savanna mosaic in the Congo Basin
Authors: Trolliet Franck , Forget Pierre‐Michel , Huynen Marie‐Claude , Hambuckers Alain 
Published: March 2017

AbstractForest fragmentation, reduced forest cover, and hunting pressure are the main threats affecting animal‐mediated seed dispersal. However, their combined effects on seed dispersal rates have been simultaneously investigated only rarely, and never in Africa. We aimed to disentangle the effects of forest cover, hunting pressure, frugivore abundance, and fruit availability at the local and landscape scales on the seed dispersal rates of Staudtia kamerunensis (Myristicaceae). To estimate the percentages of seed dispersal failure (undispersed seeds), we quantitated fruit remains below fruiting trees distributed across five contrasting sites in a semi‐natural forest‐savanna mosaic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We used statistical analyses accounting for spatial autocorrelation and found that forest cover in the surrounding landscape, hunting level, the associated abundance of dispersers, and fruit availability all had significant effects on the percentage of seed dispersal failure. The combination of high fruit availability and reduced abundance of seed dispersers could accelerate seed disperser satiation, causing the seed dispersal system to be saturated. Our study highlights how two major factors associated with anthropogenic activities, forest cover and hunting, affect seed dispersal by animals. These findings could have far‐reaching implications for our understanding of tree‐frugivore interactions and the conservation of tropical communities.
Resource availability and roosting ecology shape reproductive phenology of rain forest insectivorous bats
Authors: Nurul‐Ain Elias , Rosli Hashim , Kingston Tigga 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBats in temperate and subtropical regions typically synchronize birth of a single young with peaks in resource availability driven by local climate patterns. In tropical rain forest, insects are available throughout the year, potentially allowing departures from seasonal monoestry. However, reproductive energy budgets may be constrained by the cost of commuting to foraging grounds from distant roosts. To test these hypotheses, we simultaneously tracked female reproductive activity of 11 insectivorous bat species, insect biomass, and local weather variables for 20 months in a Malaysian rain forest. Five species roost in forest structures and hence have low commuting costs, whereas six species depend on caves, which are limited in the landscape, and are presumed to incur higher commuting costs to foraging sites. Monthly insect biomass was positively correlated with monthly rainfall, and there was a significant relationship between insect biomass and lactation in cave‐roosting but not forest‐roosting species. Cave‐roosting species were seasonally monoestrus, with parturition confined to a two‐month period, whereas in forest‐roosting species, pregnancy and lactation were recorded throughout the year. Our results suggest that the energetic costs of commuting from roosts to foraging grounds shape annual reproductive patterns in tropical rain forest insectivorous bats. Ongoing changes in forest landscapes are likely to increase these costs for cave‐roosting bats, further restricting reproductive opportunities. Climate change is projected to influence the timing of rainfall events in many tropical habitats, which may disrupt relationships between rainfall, insect biomass, and bat reproductive timing, further compromising reproductive success.
Species‐habitat relationships and ecological correlates of butterfly abundance in a transformed tropical landscape
Authors: Jain Anuj , Lim Felix K. S. , Webb Edward L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTropical butterfly conservation strategies often focus on total and/or common species richness to assess the conservation value of a patch or habitat. However, such a strategy overlooks the unique dynamics of rare species. We evaluated the species‐habitat relationships of 209 common, intermediate, and rare butterfly species (including morphospecies) across four habitat types (mature, degraded, or fragmented forest, and urban parks) and two patch sizes (<400 ha, ≥400 ha) in Singapore. Common species richness was consistent across habitat types. Intermediate species richness declined by more than 50 percent in urban parks (relative to all forest habitats), and rare species richness was reduced by 50 percent in degraded and fragmented forest and by 90 percent in urban parks (relative to mature forest). Large patches had comparable overall richness to small patches, but they supported more rare species and three times as many habitat‐restricted species over a similar area. Importantly, a number of rare species were confined to single small patches. Mixed‐effects regression models were constructed to identify habitat and ecological/life history variables associated with butterfly abundance. These models revealed that species with greater habitat specialization, rare larval host plants, few larval host plant genera, and narrow global geographic ranges were more likely to be rare species. Overall, these results demonstrate that the richness of habitat‐restricted and rare species do not follow the same spatial distribution patterns as common species. Therefore, while conserving mature forests is key, effective butterfly conservation in a transformed landscape should take into account rare and habitat‐restricted species.
A case‐control study of the association between ulcerative colitis and hyperthyroidism in an Asian population
Authors: Tsai Ming‐Chieh , Lin Herng‐Ching , Lee Cha‐Ze 
Published: March 2017

SummaryObjectiveUlcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease with significant clinical diversity. However, the aetiology, pathogenesis and optimal treatment of UC remain unclear. The purpose of this case‐control study was to investigate the association between previously diagnosed hyperthyroidism and UC using a large population‐based data set in Taiwan.MethodsThe data for this population‐based case‐control study were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. We included 2709 patients with UC as cases and 8127 sex‐ and age‐matched patients without UC as controls. A conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted to compute the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between UC and prior hyperthyroidism.ResultsWe found that, in total, 327 of the 10 836 sampled patients (3.02%) had previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. There was a higher proportion of prior hyperthyroidism among cases than controls (4.10% vs 2.66%, P<.001). A conditional logistic regression showed that the OR of prior hyperthyroidism was 1.57 (95% CI=1.24‐1.98) compared to controls. Similarly, after adjusting for monthly income, geographic location and urbanization level, cases were still more likely to have previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism than controls (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.27‐2.05). Furthermore, we analysed the ORs of prior hyperthyroidism between cases and controls according to age group. We found that of the youngest group of sampled patients (18‐39 years), cases had the greatest adjusted OR for having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism than controls (OR=1.98, 95% CI=1.04‐3.79).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated an association between UC and hyperthyroidism.
The effects of dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet on weight loss, anti‐Müllerian hormone and metabolic profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Foroozanfard Fatemeh , Rafiei Hamideh , Samimi Mansooreh , Gilasi Hamid Reza , Gorjizadeh Roohangiz , Heidar Zahra , Asemi Zatollah 
Published: March 2017

SummaryObjectiveThis study was designed to evaluate the effects of the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH diet) on weight loss, anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) and metabolic profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Design, Patients and Measurements:A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted among 60 overweight or obese patients with PCOS. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either low‐calorie DASH (N=30) or control diet (N=30) for 12 weeks. The DASH and control diets were consisted of 52%‐55% carbohydrates, 16%‐18% proteins and 30% total fats; however, the DASH diet was designed to be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low‐fat dairy products, cholesterol and refined grains. Both diets were equicaloric.ResultsAdherence to the DASH diet, compared to the control diet, resulted in a significant decrease in BMI (−1.6±0.5 vs −1.2±0.7 kg/m2, P=.02). Significant decreases in AMH (−1.1±3.1 vs +0.3±0.7 ng/mL, P=.01), insulin (−25.2±51.0 vs −1.2±28.8 pmol/L, P=.02), homoeostasis model of assessment‐estimated insulin resistance (−0.9±2.0 vs −0.1±1.0, P=.02), free androgen index (FAI; −0.03±0.09 vs +0.06±0.21, P=.02) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (−0.5±0.4 vs +0.2±0.3 μmol/L, P<.001), and significant increases in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.01±0.03 vs −0.004±0.01, P=.02), sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG; +3.7±8.5 vs −1.5±7.2 nmol/L, P=.01) and nitric oxide (NO; +9.0±4.9 vs +0.6±2.3 μmol/L, P<.001) were also seen in the DASH group compared with the control group.ConclusionsAdherence to the DASH diet for 12 weeks among PCOS women had beneficial effects on BMI, AMH, insulin metabolism, SHBG, FAI, NO and MDA levels.
The State of the Art in Integrating Machine Learning into Visual Analytics
Authors: Endert A. , Ribarsky W. , Turkay C. , Wong B.L. William , Nabney I. , Blanco I. Díaz , Rossi F. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractVisual analytics systems combine machine learning or other analytic techniques with interactive data visualization to promote sensemaking and analytical reasoning. It is through such techniques that people can make sense of large, complex data. While progress has been made, the tactful combination of machine learning and data visualization is still under‐explored. This state‐of‐the‐art report presents a summary of the progress that has been made by highlighting and synthesizing select research advances. Further, it presents opportunities and challenges to enhance the synergy between machine learning and visual analytics for impactful future research directions.
Functional Equivalence of Sleep Loss and Time on Task Effects in Sustained Attention
Authors: Veksler Bella Z. , Gunzelmann Glenn 
Published: March 2017

AbstractResearch on sleep loss and vigilance both focus on declines in cognitive performance, but theoretical accounts have developed largely in parallel in these two areas. In addition, computational instantiations of theoretical accounts are rare. The current work uses computational modeling to explore whether the same mechanisms can account for the effects of both sleep loss and time on task on performance. A classic task used in the sleep deprivation literature, the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), was extended from the typical 10‐min duration to 35 min, to make the task similar in duration to traditional vigilance tasks. A computational cognitive model demonstrated that the effects of time on task in the PVT were equivalent to those observed with sleep loss. Subsequently, the same mechanisms were applied to a more traditional vigilance task—the Mackworth Clock Task—providing a good fit to existing data. This supports the hypothesis that these different types of fatigue may produce functionally equivalent declines in performance.
Comparative study of HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose vs the oral glucose tolerance test for diagnosis of diabetes in people with tuberculosis
Authors: Aftab H. , Ambreen A. , Jamil M. , Garred P. , Petersen J. H. , Nielsen S. D. , Bygbjerg I. C. , Christensen D. L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAimTo compare HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose assessment, with the 2‐h oral glucose tolerance test as reference, in screening for diabetes in people with turberculosis.MethodsIndividuals (N=268) with newly diagnosed smear‐positive tuberculosis were screened for diabetes at a tertiary hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Diabetes diagnosis was based on WHO criteria: thresholds were ≥48 mmol/mol (≥6.5%) for HbA1c and ≥7.0mmol/l for fasting plasma glucose.ResultsThe proportion of participants diagnosed with diabetes was 4.9% (n =13) by oral glucose tolerance test, while 11.9% (n =32) and 14.6% (n =39) were diagnosed with diabetes using HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose criteria, respectively. The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve was 0.79 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.94) for HbA1c and 0.61 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.73) for fasting plasma glucose, with a borderline significant difference between the two tests (P=0.07).ConclusionsHbA1c and fasting plasma glucose performed equally in terms of diagnosing new diabetes cases in individuals with tuberculosis, but the proportion of participants falsely classified as positive was higher for fasting plasma glucose. This may be explained by acute blood glucose fluctuations when using fasting plasma glucose. HbA1c may be a more reliable test in individuals with transient hyperglycaemia.
Switchgrass nitrogen response and estimated production costs on diverse sites
Authors: Fike John H. , Pease James W. , Owens Vance N. , Farris Rodney L. , Hansen Julie L. , Heaton Emily A. , Hong Chang O. , Mayton Hilary S. , Mitchell Robert B. , Viands Donald R. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSwitchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been the principal perennial herbaceous crop investigated for bioenergy production in North America given its high production potential, relatively low input requirements, and potential suitability for use on marginal lands. Few large trials have determined switchgrass yields at field scale on marginal lands, including analysis of production costs. Thus, a field‐scale study was conducted to develop realistic yield and cost estimates for diverse regions of the USA. Objectives included measuring switchgrass response to fertility treatments (0, 56, and 112 kg N ha−1) and generating corresponding estimates of production costs for sites with diverse soil and climatic conditions. Trials occurred in Iowa, New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Virginia, USA. Cultivars and management practices were site specific, and field‐scale equipment was used for all management practices. Input costs were estimated using final harvest‐year (2015) prices, and equipment operation costs were estimated with the MachData model ($2015). Switchgrass yields generally were below those reported elsewhere, averaging 6.3 Mg ha−1 across sites and treatments. Establishment stand percent ranged from 28% to 76% and was linked to initial year production. No response to N was observed at any site in the first production year. In subsequent seasons, N generally increased yields on well‐drained soils; however, responses to N were nil or negative on less well‐drained soils. Greatest percent increases in response to 112 kg N ha−1 were 57% and 76% on well‐drained South Dakota and Virginia sites, where breakeven prices to justify N applications were over $70 and $63 Mg−1, respectively. For some sites, typically promoted N application rates may be economically unjustified; it remains unknown whether a bioenergy industry can support the breakeven prices estimated for sites where N inputs had positive effects on switchgrass yield.
A Potential (U‐Th)/He Zircon Reference Material from Penglai Zircon Megacrysts
Authors: Li Youjuan , Zheng Dewen , Wu Ying , Wang Ying , He Huaiyu , Pang Jianzhang , Wang Yizhou , Yu Jingxing 
Published: March 2017

In this study (U‐Th)/He dating of the Penglai zircons, which occur as abundant megacrysts in Neogene alkaline basalts in northern Hainan Province, south‐eastern China, was undertaken. A weighted mean age of 4.06 ± 0.35 Ma (2s) with a mean square weighted deviation (MSWD) of 1.79 was obtained from eighteen fragments of four zircon megacrysts using single‐crystal laser fusion He determinations and the U‐Th isotope dilution (ID) method. The (U‐Th)/He ages are consistent, homogeneous and systematically slightly younger than the preferred206Pb/238U age of 4.4 ± 0.1 Ma (95% confidence interval) determined byID‐TIMSand subsequently published U‐Pb results. The U‐Pb isotopic system in zircon has a high closure temperature of ~ 900 °C, and the preferred U‐Pb age may record both the time since eruption and the zircon residence time in the magma chamber. In contrast, the closure temperature of the zircon (U‐Th)/He system is ~ 190 °C and the zircon megacrysts were brought quickly to the surface by the host basaltic magma. Thus, the (U‐Th)/He age represents the timing of the eruption. Based on the unlimited quantity, large grain size, mostly weak broad zoning, rapid cooling and homogenous (U‐Th)/He ages, we consider the Penglai zircons suitable for use as a reference material in (U‐Th)/He isotope geochronology.
Electron Probe Microanalysis of Bromine in Minerals and Glasses with Correction for Spectral Interference from Aluminium, and Comparison with Microbeam Synchrotron X‐Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Chao , Lin Jinru , Pan Yuanming , Feng Renfei , Almeev Renat R. , Holtz Francois 
Published: March 2017

The strong spectral interference between Br‐ and Al‐induced X‐ray lines hampers the utilisation of electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) for measuring Br mass fractions in Al‐bearing minerals and glasses. Through measuring Br‐free Al‐bearing materials, we established an EPMA method to quantify the overlap from AlKα on BrLβ, which can be expressed as a linear function of the Al2O3 content. The count rate of the BrLβ peak signal was enhanced by high beam currents and long measurement times. Application of this EPMA method to Al‐ and Br‐bearing materials, such as sodalite and scapolite, and to five experimental glasses yielded Br mass fractions (in the range of 250–4000 μg g−1) that are consistent with those measured by microbeam synchrotron X‐ray fluorescence (μ‐SXRF) spectrometry. The EPMA method has an estimated detection limit of ~ 100–300 μg g−1. We propose that this method is useful for measuring Br mass fractions (hundreds to thousands of μg g−1) in Al‐bearing minerals and glasses, including those produced in Br‐doped experiments. In addition, the natural marialitic scapolite (ON70) from Mpwapwa (Tanzania) containing homogeneously distributed high mass fractions of Br (2058 ± 56 μg g−1) and Cl (1.98 ± 0.03% m/m) is an ideal reference material for future in situ analyses.
Markers of iron status in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Gaweda Adam E. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractAnemia is one of the main comorbidities related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Until the advent of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA), endogenous erythropoietin deficiency has been thought to be the main culprit of anemia in CKD patients. The use of ESAs has shed new light on the physiology of CKD anemia, where iron homeostasis plays an increasingly important role. Disorders of iron homeostasis occurring in CKD turn the anemia management in those patients into a complex multifactorial therapeutic task, where ESA and Iron dose must be properly balanced to achieve the desired outcome without exposing the patients to the risk of serious adverse events. This review covers diagnostic markers traditionally used for quantifying iron status in CKD patients, such as serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, new ones, such as reticulocyte hemoglobin content and percent hypochromic red cells (HRC), as well as experimental ones, such as hepcidin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR). Each marker is presented in terms of their diagnostic performance, followed by biological and analytical variability data. Advantages and disadvantages of each marker are briefly discussed. Although serum ferritin and transferrin saturation are easily available, they exhibit large biological variability and require caution when used for diagnosing iron status in CKD patients. Reticulocyte hemoglobin content and the percentage of HRC are more powerful, but their widespread use is hampered by the issue of sample stability in storage. sTfR and hepcidin show promise, but require further investigation as well as the development of standardized, low‐cost assay platforms.
A comparison of ALK gene rearrangement and ALK protein expression in primary lung carcinoma and matched metastasis
Authors: Trejo Bittar Humberto E , Luvison Alyssa , Miller Caitlyn , Dacic Sanja 
Published: March 2017

AimsThe 2013 College of American Pathologists, the Association for Molecular Pathology and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer guideline for EGFR and ALK testing in lung carcinoma indicates that either the primary tumour or the metastasis is suitable for testing. The heterogeneity of gene mutations has been studied extensively, while similar reports on gene rearrangements are limited. The aim of this study was to determine if ALK status between primary tumour and matched metastasis differs.Methods and resultsFifteen ALK fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH) rearranged and 19 non‐ALK FISH rearranged adenocarcinomas were collected retrospectively based on availability of tissue from a matched metastatic site. Sixty‐eight samples were tested by ALK FISH (Vysis ALK break‐apart FISH kit) and ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC) (Ventana ALK D5F3 CDx assay). Overall agreement of FISH and IHC was 88%, with IHC showing 100% specificity and 71% sensitivity. Concordance between primary site and metastasis by ALK FISH was seen in 30 cases (88%), and in 32 cases (94%) by ALK IHC. Five discordant cases were found (15%). Three ALK FISH discordant cases had low percentage of ALK FISH‐positive tumour cells (average 23%, range: 18–31%) and all were negative by ALK IHC. One IHC discordant case had a high percentage of ALK FISH‐positive tumour cells (67%), and was ALK IHC‐negative. One FISH discordant case showed ALK FISH‐ and ALK IHC‐positive primary tumour, but ALK FISH‐ and ALK IHC‐negative metastasis.ConclusionsALK FISH results show more frequent discordances between primary tumour and matched metastases than ALK IHC, due probably to technical challenges and sample quality. This observation indicates that the quality of sample and technical expertise of the laboratory should guide the decision about ALK testing in clinical practice.
An efficient detection method for the red‐listed beetle Acanthocinus griseus based on attractant‐baited traps
Authors: Cocoş Dragoş , Etxebeste Iñaki , Schroeder Martin 
Published: March 2017

Abstract

Many insect species that depend on dead wood (saproxylic) are difficult to detect because of their concealed life‐style, small size and camouflage. This limits available information and thus poses problems when assessing their conservation status. Thus, more efficient detection methods are required for more accurate red‐list classifications.

The aim of this study was to develop an efficient method for detecting the red‐listed saproxylic beetle Acanthocinus griseus, through experiments with multifunnel traps baited with different potential attractants and placed in various types of forest stands in Sweden.

Acanthocinus griseus was strongly attracted to the bark beetle pheromones ipsdienol and ipsenol. Catches were almost four times higher in fresh clear‐cuts than in pine stands, and about two times higher than in old clear‐cuts. Catches in old clear‐cuts increased when the monoterpene α‐pinene was added to bark beetle pheromones. The flight period of A. griseus extended from June to August.

Acanthocinus griseus has been previously considered a rare species. However, this study with attractant‐baited traps doubled the total number of records of the species on the Swedish mainland in just two seasons and tripled the number of observed or caught adults, demonstrating that it should not be considered rare in the studied region.