bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ski areas affect Pacific marten movement, habitat use, and density
Authors: Slauson Keith M. , Zielinski William J. , Schwartz Michael K. 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACTAlpine ski recreation is one of the most popular outdoor winter sports globally but often involves habitat modification and dense human activity, both of which can harm wildlife. We investigated the effects of ski area development and winter recreation activities on movement, occupancy, and density of Pacific martens (Martes caurina) in the Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada, USA by comparing 3 ski and 3 control study areas. We systematically surveyed martens using live traps and hair snares during spring–summer and winter seasons from 2009 through 2011 to identify how martens responded to the year‐round effects of habitat fragmentation from ski area development and the seasonal effects of winter recreation activities. Martens selectively moved between remnant forest patches with the shortest crossing distances across open, non‐forested ski runs in both seasons, with the effect more pronounced in females. Overall, habitat connectivity was reduced by 41% in ski areas compared to habitat not fragmented by ski runs. During spring–summer, occupancy rates were not different between habitat within or outside of ski operations areas. During winter, however, occupancy was significantly lower inside (52%) ski area boundaries than outside (88%) them. Reduced detection probability in ski areas indicated martens also reduced the frequency of use of operations areas in winter. Using spatially explicit capture‐recapture models, we found that marten density did not differ between ski areas and controls during spring, but during winter female density declined at ski areas by 63% compared to spring–summer and was <50% of female density compared to controls. This suggests that females seasonally avoid habitat in ski areas by shifting their habitat use to areas outside ski operations boundaries during winter. Although male marten density did not differ, the lack of resident males >3 years old coupled with higher annual turnover rates suggests male densities at ski areas may be reliant on annual male immigration. In winter, martens avoided using habitat in ski operations areas when recreation activity was greatest. Winter ski recreation may not be incompatible with marten use of habitat in ski areas, but habitat fragmentation from ski areas affects marten movement and recreation activities affect seasonal habitat occupancy and female density. Maintaining functional habitat connectivity, via networks of short ski run crossings that link habitat in and out of ski areas, will be important for maintaining or improving marten use of remnant habitat in developed ski areas. © 2017 The Wildlife Society
A comment on “temporal variation in survival and recovery rates of lesser scaup”
Authors: Lindberg Mark S. , Boomer G. Scott , Schmutz Joel A. , Walker Johann A. 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACTConcerns about declines in the abundance of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) have promoted a number of analyses to understand reasons for this decline. Unfortunately, most of these analyses, including that of Arnold et al. (2016 Journal of Wildlife Management 80: 850–861), are based on observational studies leading to weak inference. Although we commend the efforts of Arnold et al. (2016 Journal of Wildlife Management 80: 850–861), we think their conclusions are over‐stated given their retrospective analysis. Further, we note a number of inconsistencies in their reasoning and offer alternative conclusions that can be drawn from their analysis. Given the uncertainty still surrounding management of lesser scaup, we do not believe it is prudent to abandon or greatly modify adaptive management approaches designed specifically to make optimal decisions in the face of uncertainty. The current learning‐based and recursive approach to management appears to be providing adequate guidance for harvest without punctuated changes to harvest levels, as Arnold et al. (2016 Journal of Wildlife Management 80: 850–861) recommend. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Myringoplasty Outcomes From the Swedish National Quality Registry
Authors: Berglund Malin , Florentzson Rut , Fransson Mattias , Hultcrantz Malou , Eriksson Per O. , Englund Erling , Westman Eva 
Published: April 2017

Objectives/HypothesisData from patients registered for myringoplasty during 2002 to 2012 in the Swedish National Quality Registry for Myringoplasty.Study DesignBoth conventional myringoplasty and fat‐graft techniques were used aimed at healing the tympanic membrane in noninfected ears.MethodsAnalysis was performed on data in a national database collected from 32 ear, nose, and throat clinics. Surgical procedures and outcomes, and patient satisfaction from a questionnaire were studied.ResultsThe database was comprised of 3,775 surgical procedures, with follow‐up available for analysis. One‐third were children under the age of 15 years. The most common indication for surgery was infection prophylaxis. The overall healing rate of the tympanic membrane after surgery was 88.5%, with a high mean patient satisfaction. Complications registered were postoperative infection, tinnitus, or taste disturbance that occurred in 5.8% of patients.ConclusionsSwedish results for a large number of patients who completed myringoplasty are presented. The success rate in this study is comparable to other studies, and good patient‐reported outcome measures of myringoplasty are presented. Databases for surgical procedures and clinical audits are systematic processes for continuous learning in healthcare. This study shows that clinical databases can be utilized to analyze national results of surgical procedures.Level of Evidence2b Laryngoscope, 127:2389–2395, 2017
Differences in interregional brain connectivity in children with unilateral hearing loss
Authors: Jung Matthew E. , Colletta Miranda , Coalson Rebecca , Schlaggar Bradley L. , Lieu Judith E. C. 
Published: April 2017

ObjectivesTo identify functional network architecture differences in the brains of children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) using resting‐state functional‐connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fcMRI).Study DesignProspective observational study.MethodsChildren (7 to 17 years of age) with severe to profound hearing loss in one ear, along with their normal hearing (NH) siblings, were recruited and imaged using rs‐fcMRI. Eleven children had right UHL; nine had left UHL; and 13 had normal hearing. Forty‐one brain regions of interest culled from established brain networks such as the default mode (DMN); cingulo‐opercular (CON); and frontoparietal networks (FPN); as well as regions for language, phonological, and visual processing, were analyzed using regionwise correlations and conjunction analysis to determine differences in functional connectivity between the UHL and normal hearing children.ResultsWhen compared to the NH group, children with UHL showed increased connectivity patterns between multiple networks, such as between the CON and visual processing centers. However, there were decreased, as well as aberrant connectivity patterns with the coactivation of the DMN and FPN, a relationship that usually is negatively correlated.ConclusionChildren with UHL demonstrate multiple functional connectivity differences between brain networks involved with executive function, cognition, and language comprehension that may represent adaptive as well as maladaptive changes. These findings suggest that possible interventions or habilitation, beyond amplification, might be able to affect some children's requirement for additional help at school.Level of Evidence3b. Laryngoscope, 127:2636–2645, 2017
Molecular dynamics simulations of early steps in RNA‐mediated conversion of prions
Authors: Alred Erik J. , Nguyen Michael , Martin Maggie , Hansmann Ulrich H. E. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe rate‐limiting step in prion diseases is the initial transition of a prion protein from its native form into a mis‐folded state in which the protein not only forms cell‐toxic aggregates but also becomes infectious. Recent experiments implicate polyadenosine RNA as a possible agent for generating the initial seed. In order to understand the mechanism of RNA‐mediated mis‐folding and aggregation of prions, we dock polyadenosine RNA to mouse and human prion models. Changes in stability and secondary structure of the prions upon binding to polyadenosine RNA are evaluated by comparing molecular dynamics simulations of these complexes with that of the unbound prions.
Nanocarrier mediated retinal drug delivery: overcoming ocular barriers to treat posterior eye diseases
Authors: Bisht Rohit , Mandal Abhirup , Jaiswal Jagdish K. , Rupenthal Ilva D. 
Published: April 2017

Effective drug delivery to the retina still remains a challenge due to ocular elimination mechanisms and complex barriers that selectively limit the entry of drugs into the eye. To overcome these barriers, frequent intravitreal injections are currently used to achieve high drug concentrations in vitreous and retina. However, these repetitive injections may result in several side effects. Recent advancements in the field of nanoparticle‐based drug delivery could overcome some of these unmet needs and various preclinical studies conducted to date have demonstrated promising results of nanotherapies in the treatment of retinal diseases. Compared to the majority of commercially available ocular implants, the biodegradable nature of most nanoparticles (NPs) avoids the need for surgical implantation and removal after the release of the payload. In addition, the sustained drug release from NPs over an extended period of time reduces the need for frequent intravitreal injections and the risk of associated side effects. The nanometer size and highly modifiable surface properties make NPs excellent candidates for targeted ocular drug delivery. Studies have shown that nanocarriers enhance the intravitreal half‐life and thus bioavailability of a number of drugs including proteins and peptides. In addition, they have shown promising results in delivering genetic material to the retinal tissues by protecting it from possible intravitreal degradation. This review covers the various challenges associated with drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye, particularly the retina, and highlights the application of nanocarriers to overcome these challenges in context with recent advances in preclinical studies. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2018, 10:e1473. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1473This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
Spasticity Management: The Current State of Transcranial Neuromodulation
Authors: Leo Antonino , Naro Antonino , Molonia Francesco , Tomasello Provvidenza , Saccà Ileana , Bramanti Alessia , Russo Margherita , Bramanti Placido , Quartarone Angelo , Calabrò Rocco Salvatore 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThis narrative review aims to provide an objective view of the noninvasive neuromodulation (NINM) protocols available for treating spasticity, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). On the basis of the relevant randomized controlled trials, we infer that NINM is more effective in reducing spasticity when combined with the conventional therapies than used as a stand‐alone treatment. However, the magnitude of NINM after‐effects depends significantly on the applied hemisphere and the underlying pathology. Being in line with these arguments, low‐frequency rTMS and cathodal‐tDCS over the unaffected hemisphere are more effective in reducing spasticity than high‐frequency rTMS and anodal‐tDCS over the affected hemisphere in chronic poststroke. However, most of the studies are heterogeneous in the stimulation setup, patient selection, follow‐up duration, and the availability of the sham operation. Therefore, the available data on the usefulness of NINM in reducing spasticity need to be confirmed by larger and multicentric randomized controlled trials to gather evidence on the efficiency of NINM regimens in reducing spasticity in various neurologic conditions.Level of EvidenceV
Early maturation and substance use across adolescence and young adulthood: A longitudinal study of Finnish twins
Authors: Savage Jeanne E. , Rose Richard J. , Pulkkinen Lea , Silventoinen Karri , Korhonen Tellervo , Kaprio Jaakko , Gillespie Nathan , Dick Danielle M. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractEarly maturation, indexed by pubertal development (PD), has been associated with earlier initiation and greater frequency of adolescent substance use, but this relationship may be biased by confounding factors and effects that change across development. Using a population-based Finnish twin sample (N = 3,632 individuals), we conducted twin modeling and multilevel structural equation modeling of the relationship between PD and substance use at ages 12–22. Shared environmental factors contributed to early PD and heavier substance use for females. Biological father absence was associated with early PD for boys but not girls, and did not account for the relationship between PD and substance use. The association between early PD and heavier substance use was partially due to between-family confounds, although early PD appeared to qualitatively alter long-term trajectories for some substances (nicotine), but not others (alcohol). Mediation by peer and parental factors did not explain this relationship within families. However, higher peer substance use and lower parental monitoring were themselves associated with heavier substance use, strengthening the existing evidence for these factors as targets for prevention/intervention efforts. Early maturation was not supported as a robust determinant of alcohol use trajectories in adolescence and young adulthood, but may require longer term follow-up. Subtle effects of early PD on nicotine and illicit drug use trajectories throughout adolescence and adulthood merit further investigation.
Household fuel choice in urban China: evidence from panel data
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Bing , Hassen Sied 
Published: April 2017

AbstractUsing eight rounds of household survey data that span two decades, this paper analyzes the determinants of household fuel choice in urban China. Using the correlated random effects generalized ordered probit model, the authors find that household fuel choice in urban China is related to fuel prices, households’ economic status and size and household head's gender and education. The results suggest that policies and interventions that increase households’ income, reduce the price advantage of dirty fuels (e.g., taxing coal) and empower women in the household are of great significance in encouraging the use of clean energy sources.
Identification of key proteins and pathways in cadmium tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum strains by proteomic analysis
Authors: Zhai Qixiao , Xiao Yue , Zhao Jianxin , Tian Fengwei , Zhang Hao , Narbad Arjan , Chen Wei 
Published: April 2017

AbstractOur previous study confirmed the protective potential of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) strains in alleviation of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in vivo and demonstrated that the observed protection largely depended on the tolerance of the strains to Cd-induced stress. It was also observed that there were significant intra-species differences in Cd tolerance of L. plantarum strains. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of Cd induced stress response of L. plantarum strains using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) based comparative proteomics. L. plantarum CCFM8610 (strongly resistant to Cd) and L. plantarum CCFM191 (sensitive to Cd) were selected as target strains, and their proteomic profiles in the presence and absence of Cd exposure were compared. We propose that the underlying mechanism of the exceptional Cd tolerance of CCFM8610 may be attributed to the following: (a) a specific energy-conservation survival mode; (b) mild induction of its cellular defense and repair system; (c) an enhanced biosynthesis of hydrophobic amino acids in response to Cd; (d) inherent superior Cd binding ability and effective cell wall biosynthesis ability; (e) a tight regulation on ion transport; (f) several key proteins, including prophage P2b protein 18, CadA, mntA and lp_3327.
Changes in the Prevalence of HBsAg and HBeAg: a Study of 8696 Parturients in a Well Vaccinated Area
Authors: Wu Chen-Hsuan , Hsu Te-Yao , Kung Fu-Tsai , ChangChien Chan-Chao , Tsai Ching-Chang , Lu Sheng-Nan 
Published: April 2017

AbstractTo elucidate the impact of a hepatitis B (HB) vaccination program on the prevalence of HB surface antigen (HBsAg) and HB envelope antigen (HBeAg) as well as the success rate of HBeAg clearance among parturients, we collected data on parturients who gave birth between 2000 and 2010, and recorded the HB status postpartum of those with positive HBeAg before birth. A total of 8696 parturients were enrolled, of whom 113 with prenatal positive HBeAg were invited back. The prevalence of HBsAg decreased over the study period, particularly in the vaccinated cohort, while there was no change in the prevalence of HBeAg. Foreign parturients had a higher HBeAg-positive rate and delayed HBeAg clearance, and those with a higher body mass index (>24 kg/m2) had earlier HBeAg clearance (51.9% vs. 23.9%, p = 0.005). Only 30% of the subjects who were positive for HBeAg before birth became negative 5 years after delivery. In conclusion, the downward trend in HB infection with more significance among vaccinated parturients reflects effective prevention and the impact of universal HB immunization. Nonetheless, aggressive follow-up is necessary for parturients who are persistently positive for HBeAg postpartum, as well as developing different public health policies for foreign parturients from endemic areas.
Up Scalable Full Colour Plasmonic Pixels with Controllable Hue, Brightness and Saturation
Authors: Mudachathi Renilkumar , Tanaka Takuo 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIt has long been the interests of scientists to develop ink free colour printing technique using nano structured materials inspired by brilliant colours found in many creatures like butterflies and peacocks. Recently isolated metal nano structures exhibiting preferential light absorption and scattering have been explored as a promising candidate for this emerging field. Applying such structures in practical use, however, demands the production of individual colours with distinct reflective peaks, tunable across the visible wavelength region combined with controllable colour attributes and economically feasible fabrication. Herein, we present a simple yet efficient colour printing approach employing sub-micrometer scale plasmonic pixels of single constituent metal structure which supports near unity broadband light absorption at two distinct wavelengths, facilitating the creation of saturated colours. The dependence of these resonances on two different parameters of the same pixel enables controllable colour attributes such as hue, brightness and saturation across the visible spectrum. The linear dependence of colour attributes on the pixel parameters eases the automation; which combined with the use of inexpensive and stable aluminum as functional material will make this colour design strategy relevant for use in various commercial applications like printing micro images for security purposes, consumer product colouration and functionalized decoration to name a few.
Dual-cavity feedback assisted DFB narrow linewidth laser
Authors: Huang Shihong , Zhu Tao , Yin Guolu , Lan Tianyi , Li Fuhui , Huang Ligang , Liu Min 
Published: April 2017

AbstractSingle longitudinal mode (SLM) distributed feedback (DFB) lasers with a linewidth lower than a few kHz find applications in many coherent detection systems. In this paper, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a novel method to compress the linewidth of a SLM DFB laser by utilizing a dual-cavity feedback structure (DCFS). The DCFS first provides optical self-injection feedback to compress the laser linewidth, and then the two feedback lengths are carefully optimized to achieve SLM output via the Vernier principle and the suppression of modes overlapping between two cavities. The linewidthes of 1 MHz and 200 kHz were successfully compressed to ~2.7 and 1.5 kHz with a side mode suppression ratio of 38 and 45 dB, respectively. The stability of the DCFS output power can be controlled within ~0.21%. Our method provides a simple, effective, low cost way to achieve DFB linewidth compression, which will greatly improve the performance of coherent detection systems using DFB laser as sources.
Irradiation-induced β to α SiC transformation at low temperature
Authors: Parish Chad M. , Koyanagi Takaaki , Kondo Sosuke , Katoh Yutai 
Published: April 2017

AbstractWe observed that β-SiC, neutron irradiated to 9 dpa (displacements per atom) at ≈1440 °C, began transforming to α-SiC, with radiation-induced Frank dislocation loops serving as the apparent nucleation sites. 1440 °C is a far lower temperature than usual β → α phase transformations in SiC. SiC is considered for applications in advanced nuclear systems, as well as for electronic or spintronic applications requiring ion irradiation processing. β-SiC, preferred for nuclear applications, is metastable and undergoes a phase transformation at high temperatures (typically 2000 °C and above). Nuclear reactor concepts are not expected to reach the very high temperatures for thermal transformation. However, our results indicate incipient β → α phase transformation, in the form of small (~5–10 nm) pockets of α-SiC forming in the β matrix. In service transformation could degrade structural stability and fuel integrity for SiC-based materials operated in this regime. However, engineering this transformation deliberately using ion irradiation could enable new electronic applications.
The Man and His Work
Authors: Barnes Jonathan 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
‘The man and his work’ describes Aristotle as a scholar whose scientific explorations were as wide-ranging as his philosophical speculations were profound; a teacher who enchanted and inspired. While the facts of his life are lost in the mists of time, his whole career and his every known activity testify to the fact that Aristotle was concerned before all else to promote the discovery of truth and to increase the sum of human knowledge. His output was vast; yet it is more remarkable for its scope and variety than for its quantity. Aristotle’s writings for the most part are terse and his arguments concise — occasionally both tough and vexing.
Ideal and Achievement
Authors: Barnes Jonathan 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Some scholars have disputed that Aristotle was a system-builder. For them, Aristotle’s philosophy is ‘aporetic’: it consists in posing, and developing solutions to, particular puzzles. This anti-systematic interpretation of Aristotle’s thought is widely accepted. However, although systematization is not achieved in the treatises, it is an ideal, ever present. ‘Ideal and achievement’ points out that Aristotle’s system is a design for completed sciences, not the activities of the scientific researcher. Since the treatises are not definitive presentations of an achieved science, we should not expect to find an orderly succession of axioms and deductions. Aristotle was a systematic thinker; his surviving treatises present a partial, unfinished sketch of his system.