bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
De novo DQ donor‐specific antibodies are associated with worse outcomes compared to non‐DQ de novo donor‐specific antibodies following heart transplantation
Authors: Cole Robert Townsend , Gandhi Jonathan , Bray Robert A. , Gebel Howard M. , Morris Alanna , McCue Andrew , Yin Michael , Laskar S. Raja , Book Wendy , Jokhadar Maan , Smith Andrew , Nguyen Duc , Vega J. David , Gupta Divya 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundAntibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) resulting from de novo donor‐specific antibodies (dnDSA) leads to adverse outcomes following heart transplantation (HTx). It remains unclear what role dnDSA to specific HLA antigens play in adverse outcomes. This study compares outcomes in patients developing dnDSA to DQ antigens with those developing non‐DQ dnDSA and those free from dnDSA.MethodsThe present study was a single‐center, retrospective analysis of 122 consecutive HTx recipients. The primary outcome was a composite of death or graft dysfunction.ResultsAfter 3.3 years of follow‐up, 31 (28%) patients developed dnDSA. Mean time to dnDSA was 539 days. Of 31 patients, 19 developed DQ antibodies and 12 developed non‐DQ antibodies. Compared to non‐DQ dnDSA, DQ antibodies presented with higher MFI values (P=.001) were more likely persistent (P=.001) and appeared later post‐HTx (654 vs 359 days, P=.035). In a multivariable analysis, DQ dnDSA was associated with increased risk of the primary endpoint (HR 6.15, 95% CI 2.57‐14.75, P=.001), whereas no increased risk was seen with non‐DQ dnDSA (P=.749).ConclusionsdnDSA to DQ antigens following HTx are associated with increased risk of death and graft dysfunction.
Bank Competition and Leverage Adjustments
Authors: Jiang Fuxiu , Jiang Zhan , Huang Jicheng , Kim Kenneth A. , Nofsinger John R. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe test whether bank competition affects firms’ leverage adjustment speeds. Using Chinese data where bank concentration varies across both years and provinces, we find that underlevered firms move to their target leverage faster when bank competition is high. Tests surrounding an exogenous shock to bank competition lead to the same conclusion. We also find that small firms and nonstate‐owned firms exhibit faster leverage adjustments when bank competition is high, which is consistent with the conjecture that bank risk taking increases with competition.
Remediation of upstream passage for migrating Galaxias (Family: Galaxiidae) through a pipe culvert
Authors: Amtstaetter F. , O'Connor J. , Borg D. , Stuart I. , Moloney P. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractMovement through streams is critical for the maintenance of diadromous fish populations. Numerous fish passage improvement techniques exist, and knowledge of their effectiveness is required to conserve target species. An existing 70‐m pipe culvert was considered a barrier to the passage success of young‐of‐year (YOY) Galaxias spp. as a result of high water velocity (0.9 m/s). Water velocity in the pipe culvert was reduced by installing a concrete weir downstream of the culvert. A lateral ridge rock‐ramp fishway was installed to provide for the passage of fish over the weir, and baffles were installed in the upstream portion of the culvert to provide refuge from higher water velocity at this location. A BACI design was used to determine whether passage success, measured using a mark–recapture technique, improved as a result of the remediation works. The probability of successful passage of YOY Galaxias spp. through the culvert increased from 0.03 to 0.41 following remediation works and was similar to levels observed at a control site (0.33). The success of the fishway and baffles at this culvert provides an important case study for managers to adopt this technique to improve fish passage on a broader scale and range of other sites.
High fluid shear strain causes injury in silver shark: Preliminary implications for Mekong hydropower turbine design
Authors: Baumgartner L. J. , Thorncraft G. , Phonekhampheng O. , Boys C. , Navarro A. , Robinson W. , Brown R. , Deng Z. D. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe Lower Mekong Basin is facing unprecedented threats to fish diversity from hydropower development. There is increasing pressure on developers and construction authorities to design solutions to improve fish survival through turbines, thus protecting the resources in regions being developed for hydropower. A hydraulic characteristic of hydropower turbines with known fisheries impacts is fluid shear stress. Elevated shear stress occurs where rapidly flowing water passes near spillways, screens and within turbine draft tubes. Shear stress can have adverse impacts on fish, but no work has assessed whether this holds true for Mekong River species. A flume was used to determine critical tolerances of silver shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus (Bleeker), to shear stress rates at a high‐velocity jet which simulated a hydropower turbine. Fish were assessed for injury or mortality following exposure. Results were compared against a no‐shear control. Injury and mortality were greater at higher shear stress exposures. Injuries occurred at all shear exposure levels with mortality at shear levels higher than 600/s. This approach should help design future hydropower turbines if data on other species demonstrate similar results. If the likelihood of adverse impact is high, then shear stress will need to be considered in the design of future hydropower facilities.
Can fish sampling protocol (CEN, 2005) be amended for Mediterranean lakes?
Authors: Petriki O. , Stergiou K. I. , Bobori D. C. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe CEN (2005) methodology for fish monitoring of mesotrophic to eutrophic Mediterranean lakes was evaluated. The contribution of gillnet (benthic and pelagic) and electrofishing catches on species richness was examined. Additionally, the contribution of benthic gillnet sampling effort on species richness and precision of catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) estimates, considering both number of specimens (ΝPUE) and biomass (BPUE), was assessed. Subsequently, the impact of reduction in sampling effort on the parameters mentioned above was estimated and the effort needed to acquire the desired precision level considering different NPUE values was modelled. The use of different sampling gears was found to contribute to species richness assessment, while sampling effort could be reduced in the deepest zones of the lakes. The resultant model can reliably guide assessment of the sampling effort required in the Mediterranean and central European lakes with high fish densities.
Contrasting responses of leaf stomatal characteristics to climate change: a considerable challenge to predict carbon and water cycles
Authors: Yan Weiming , Zhong Yangquanwei , Shangguan Zhouping 
Published: February 2017

AbstractStomata control the cycling of water and carbon between plants and the atmosphere; however, no consistent conclusions have been drawn regarding the response of stomatal frequency to climate change. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 1854 globally obtained data series to determine the response of stomatal frequency to climate change, which including four plant life forms (over 900 species), at altitudes ranging from 0 to 4500 m and over a time span of more than one hundred thousand years. Stomatal frequency decreased with increasing CO2 concentration and increased with elevated temperature and drought stress; it was also dependent on the species and experimental conditions. The response of stomatal frequency to climate change showed a trade‐off between stomatal control strategies and environmental factors, such as the CO2 concentration, temperature, and soil water availability. Moreover, threshold effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on stomatal frequency were detected, indicating that the response of stomatal density to increasing CO2 concentration will decrease over the next few years. The results also suggested that the stomatal index may be more reliable than stomatal density for determination of the historic CO2 concentration. Our findings indicate that the contrasting responses of stomata to climate change bring a considerable challenge in predicting future water and carbon cycles.
Freshwater ecosystems could become the biggest losers of the Paris Agreement
Authors: Hermoso Virgilio 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSecuring access to energy for a growing population under the international commitment of reduction of greenhouse emissions requires increasing the contribution of renewable sources to the global share. Hydropower energy, which accounts for >80% of green energy, is experiencing a boom fostered by international investment mainly in developing countries. This boom could be further accelerated by the recent climate agreement reached in Paris. Despite its flexibility, hydropower production entails social, economic and ecological risks that need to be carefully considered before investing in the development of potentially thousands of planned hydropower projects worldwide. This is especially relevant given the weak or nonexistent legislation that regulates hydropower project approval and construction in many countries. I highlight the need for adequate policy to provide the Paris Agreement with new financial and planning mechanisms to avoid further and irreversible damage to freshwater ecosystem services and biodiversity.
Predicting microcystin concentrations in lakes and reservoirs at a continental scale: A new framework for modelling an important health risk factor
Authors: Taranu Zofia E. , Gregory‐Eaves Irene , Steele Russell J. , Beaulieu Marieke , Legendre Pierre 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimScientists, governments and non‐governmental organizations are increasingly moving towards the collection of large, open‐access data. In aquatic sciences, this effort is expanding the scope of questions and analyses that can be performed to further our knowledge of the global drivers of water quality. Cyanotoxin concentration is one variable that has received considerable attention, and although strong local‐scale models have been described in the literature, modelling cyanotoxin concentrations across broader spatial scales has been more difficult. Commonly used statistical frameworks have not fully captured the complex response of toxic algal blooms to global change, limiting our ability to predict and mitigate the impairment of freshwaters by toxic algae. Here, we advance our understanding of emergent drivers of cyanotoxins across a structured landscape by applying a hierarchical “hurdle” model.LocationLakes and reservoirs in the conterminous United States [n = 1127].MethodsWe studied cyanobacteria and their toxins [microcystins] during the 2007 summer period. We applied a hierarchical zero‐altered model to test the importance of multi‐scale interactions among environmental features in driving microcystin concentrations above the limit of detection. We then used boosted regression trees [BRTs] to identify environmental thresholds associated with severe impairment by microcystins.ResultsAccounting for numerous non‐detections, spatial heterogeneity and cross‐scale interactions substantially improved continental‐scale predictions of bloom toxicity. Our model accounted for 55% of the variance in the probability of detecting microcystins across the United States, and 26% of the variability in microcystin concentrations once detected. BRTs further showed that although both local and regional drivers were associated with microcystin concentrations at low to intermediate provisional guidelines, only local drivers came into play when predicting higher limits.Main conclusionsIdentifying the interaction between local and regional processes is key to understanding the heterogeneous responses of microcystins to environmental change. Our framework could increase the effectiveness of continental‐scale analyses for many different water variables.
Comparative economic evaluation of home‐based and hospital‐based palliative care for terminal cancer patients
Authors: Kato Koki , Fukuda Haruhisa 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimTo quantify the difference between adjusted costs for home‐based palliative care and hospital‐based palliative care in terminally ill cancer patients.MethodsWe carried out a case–control study of home‐care patients (cases) who had died at home between January 2009 and December 2013, and hospital‐care patients (controls) who had died at a hospital between April 2008 and December 2013. Data on patient characteristics were obtained from insurance claims data and medical records. We identified the determinants of home care using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to examine treatment duration in both types of care, and a generalized linear model was used to estimate the reduction in treatment costs associated with home care.ResultsThe case and control groups comprised 48 and 99 patients, respectively. Home care was associated with one or more person(s) living with the patient (adjusted OR 6.54, 95% CI 1.18–36.05), required assistance for activities of daily living (adjusted OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.12–10.51), non‐use of oxygen inhalation therapy (adjusted OR 12.75, 95% CI 3.53–46.02), oral or suppository opioid use (adjusted OR 5.74, 95% CI 1.11–29.54) and transdermal patch opioid use (adjusted OR 8.30, 95% CI 1.97–34.93). The adjusted hazard ratio of home care for treatment duration was not significant (adjusted OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.59–1.53). However, home care was significantly associated with a reduction of $7523 (95% CI $7093–7991, P = 0.015) in treatment costs.ConclusionsDespite similar treatment durations between the groups, treatment costs were substantially lower in the home‐care group. These findings might inform the policymaking process for improving the home‐care support system. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2247–2254.
Sebaceous carcinoma in solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Hoss Elika , Nelson Steven A. , Sharma Amit 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundThough a rare tumor, sebaceous carcinoma is relatively well‐described in immunocompetent patients, in whom it often occurs in a periorbital distribution where it has an overall poor prognosis with a high metastasis rate. The effect of transplant‐related immunosuppression on the development of sebaceous carcinoma and its outcomes has not been characterized.MethodsWe collected 9 cases from a single institution of patients developing sebaceous carcinoma after solid organ transplantation. We analyzed clinicopathologic features.ResultsWe estimate the prevalence of sebaceous carcinoma post‐solid organ transplantation to be 0.09%. The mean age at diagnosis was 66.1 years (std 7.0 years). The mean time between transplantation and sebaceous carcinoma diagnosis was 7.1 years (std 5.1 years). All tumors occurred in extra‐ocular distribution. Two patients likely had Muir‐Torre syndrome, of whom 1 died from metastatic sebaceous carcinoma. No other patients developed metastatic disease or had disease‐related death. Mohs micrographic surgery and wide local excision were equally effective and there were no recurrences with either procedure.ConclusionsOur study found that sebaceous carcinoma in solid organ transplant recipients occurs in in an extraorbital distribution with only 1 patient developing metastatic disease. Both Mohs micrographic surgery and wide local excision are acceptable treatment modalities for sebaceous carcinoma in transplant recipients.
Wholesale price contract versus consignment contract in a supply chain considering dynamic advertising
Authors: Lu Fuxiao , Zhang Jianxiong , Tang Wansheng 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSupply chain contracts are widely considered as useful and necessary tools to guide and restrict channel members' behaviors. Considering the effect of dynamic advertising, we investigate two distinct types of contracts between a dominant retailer and her manufacturer. One contract is a traditional wholesale price contract and the other is a consignment contract. The results show that, compared to the wholesale price contract, the consignment contract is always more desirable from the perspectives of the retailer and the entire channel and brings more consumer surplus. When the dominant retailer's advertising effort is very effective or channel members have enough patience, the dominant retailer and the manufacturer can achieve a Pareto improvement under the consignment contract; otherwise the manufacturer prefers the wholesale price contract.
Modulation of Brassica napus source–sink physiology through film antitranspirant induced drought tolerance amelioration that is dependent on the stress magnitude
Authors: Faralli M. , Grove I. G. , Hare M. C. , Alcalde‐Barrios A. , Williams K. S. , Corke F. M. K. , Kettlewell P. S. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIncrease in drought conditions during the oilseed rape (OSR) reproductive phase is predicted to occur more often in the temperate zone, leading to significant yield losses. Crop management solutions such as film antitranspirant (AT) applied at key drought‐sensitive growth stages on both wheat and oilseed rape have recently been shown to alleviate drought‐induced yield losses. However, there is a lack of information regarding potential AT effectiveness to reduce drought damage on OSR plants at different soil moisture regimes. Therefore, two similar experiments were performed in a computer‐controlled glasshouse/phenotyping centre to investigate the physiological responses of OSR to well‐watered (WW), moderate water stress (MWS), water stress (WS) and severe water stress (SWS) conditions. Stress treatments were imposed at the initiation of flowering and treated with an AT or water onto the leaf canopy. Stress limited the gas‐exchange and increased leaf temperature, leaf‐to‐air temperature, bud‐to‐air temperature and ABA concentrations which increased with stress intensity in all tissues analysed. Yield components were significantly reduced by WS and SWS treatments when compared to the WW plants. Application of AT counteracted the detrimental effect of WS and SWS by decreasing water use over the first few days of stress application thus improving relative water content and leaf water‐use efficiency, decreasing ABA accumulation in leaf and all the reproductive organs analysed (buds, flowers and pods) and avoiding bud‐to‐air temperature increases. AT application sustained pod formation and seed production under WS but only seed production under SWS conditions. These data suggest that leaf‐canopy application of AT at key phenological stages under particular magnitudes of soil moisture deficit may sustain OSR reproduction and reduce yield losses.
Developing an instrument to measure emotional behaviour abilities of meaningful learning through the Delphi technique
Authors: Cadorin Lucia , Bagnasco Annamaria , Tolotti Angela , Pagnucci Nicola , Sasso Loredana 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimTo identify items for a new instrument that measures emotional behaviour abilities of meaningful learning, according to Fink's Taxonomy.BackgroundMeaningful learning is an active process that promotes a wider and deeper understanding of concepts. It is the result of an interaction between new and previous knowledge and produces a long‐term change of knowledge and skills. To measure meaningful learning capability, it is very important in the education of health professionals to identify problems or special learning needs. For this reason, it is necessary to create valid instruments.DesignA Delphi Study technique was implemented in four phases by means of e‐mail.MethodsThe study was conducted from April–September 2015. An expert panel consisting of ten researchers with experience in Fink's Taxonomy was established to identify the items of the instrument. Data were analysed for conceptual description and item characteristics and attributes were rated. Expert consensus was sought in each of these phases. An 87·5% consensus cut‐off was established.ResultsAfter four rounds, consensus was obtained for validation of the content of the instrument ‘Assessment of Meaningful learning Behavioural and Emotional Abilities’. This instrument consists of 56 items evaluated on a 6‐point Likert‐type scale. Foundational Knowledge, Application, Integration, Human Dimension, Caring and Learning How to Learn were the six major categories explored.ConclusionsThis content validated tool can help educators (teachers, trainers and tutors) to identify and improve the strategies to support students’ learning capability, which could increase their awareness of and/or responsibility in the learning process.
The development of professional practice standards for Australian general practice nurses
Authors: Halcomb Elizabeth , Stephens Moira , Bryce Julianne , Foley Elizabeth , Ashley Christine 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to explore the current role of general practice nurses and the scope of nursing practice to inform the development of national professional practice standards for Australian general practice nurses.BackgroundIncreasing numbers of nurses have been employed in Australian general practice to meet the growing demand for primary care services. This has brought significant changes to the nursing role. Competency standards for nurses working in general practice were first developed in Australia in 2005, but limited attention has been placed on articulating the contemporary scope of practice for nurses in this setting.DesignConcurrent mixed methods design.MethodsData collection was conducted during 2013–2014 and involved two online surveys of Registered and Enrolled Nurses currently working in general practice, a series of 14 focus groups across Australia and a series of consultations with key experts.FindingsData collection enabled the development of 22 Practice Standards separated into four domains: (i) Professional Practice; (ii) Nursing Care; (iii) General Practice Environment and (iv) Collaborative Practice. To differentiate the variations in enacting these Standards, performance indicators for the Enrolled Nurse, Registered Nurse and Registered Nurse Advanced Practice are provided under each Standard.ConclusionThe development of national professional practice standards for nurses working in Australian general practice will support ongoing workforce development. These Standards are also an important means of articulating the role and scope of the nurses’ practice for both consumers and other health professionals, as well as being a guide for curriculum development and measurement of performance.