bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen deposition and climate change have increased vascular plant species richness and altered the composition of grazed subalpine grasslands
Authors: Boutin Marion , Corcket Emmanuel , Alard Didier , Villar Luis , Jiménez Juan‐José , Blaix Cian , Lemaire Cédric , Corriol Gilles , Lamaze Thierry , Pornon André 
Published: January 2017

Summary

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and climate warming are two major components of global change that drive species richness and composition in plant communities. However, their combined effects have been insufficiently investigated across large spatial and temporal scales particularly in high‐elevation, nutrient‐limited ecosystems.

We examine whether and how N deposition and climate warming have altered the plant richness and the composition of subalpine semi‐natural, extensively grazed grasslands of the Pyrenees, using two complementary approaches: (i) analysis of 553 relevés to explore vegetation changes across large ecological gradients including temperature and N deposition (spatial approach) and (ii) a re‐sampling of a subset of 40 sites among the 553 sites to assess temporal changes over the past decades (temporal approach).

Both approaches showed that the vascular plant species richness increased when temperature and cumulative N deposition increase, shifting the species composition towards more thermophilic and eutrophic communities.

Synthesis. We hypothesize that the release from abiotic constraints (milder temperature and higher nitrogen availability) due to global changes and long‐standing extensive grazing counteracting the negative effects of nitrogen deposition have been responsible for the diversity and compositional changes of plant communities over the last decades in the Pyrenees. Thus, in contrast with other grasslands, high‐elevation grazed grasslands may increase in species diversity with nitrogen deposition under climate warming.
A tumour‐promoting role of Th9 cells in hepatocellular carcinoma through CCL20 and STAT3 pathways
Authors: Tan Hongwu , Wang Shuyun , Zhao Ludong 
Published: January 2017

SummaryHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and aggressive human malignancy. An imperative demand is present for a better understanding of the functions and regulations of the immune system and how they affect HCC pathogenesis. Recently, a group of interleukin 9 (IL‐9)‐producing CD4+ T cells, termed Th9 cells, has been described in mice and humans with both tumour‐inhibiting as well as tumour‐promoting effects. The specific roles of Th9 cells in human HCC are not entirely understood. Here, we examined the frequencies and functions of IL‐9‐producing Th9 cells in HCC patients. We found that the frequencies of circulating IL‐9‐producing Th9 cells were significantly higher in HCC patients compared to in healthy individuals. In HCC patients, the frequencies of IL‐9‐producing Th9 cells were significantly higher in peritumour and tumour tissues than in unaffected liver tissues. Interestingly, HCC patients with higher tumour‐infiltrating Th9 frequency had significantly shorter disease‐free survival period after resection. Previously, high expression of CCL20 was associated with poor prognosis in HCC. CCL20 also induced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition‐like changes in HCC cells. We found that incubation of primary HCC cells with autologous Th9 significantly elevated the CCL20 production from tumour cells, which could be partially inhibited by suppressing STAT3. Together, this study suggested a tumour‐promoting role of Th9 cells in HCC.
A 3‐year interval is too short for re‐screening women testing negative for human papillomavirus: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Zorzi M , Frayle H , Rizzi M , Fedato C , Rugge M , Penon MG , Bertazzo A , Callegaro S , Campagnolo M , Ortu F , Del Mistro A ,   and the Veneto HPV‐screening Working Group
Published: January 2017

ObjectiveTo compare the results from an initial negative human papillomavirus (HPV) test with re‐screening after 3 years in women attending two HPV‐based screening programmes.DesignPopulation‐based cohort study.SettingTwo cervical service screening programmes in Italy.PopulationWomen aged 25–64 years invited to screening from April 2009 to October 2015.MethodsEligible women were invited to undergo an HPV test. Those with a negative HPV test went on to the next screening round 3 years later. Cytology triage was performed for HPV+ (HPV by Hybrid Capture 2) samples, with immediate colposcopy (if abnormal) and HPV re‐testing 1 year later (if negative).Main outcome measuresParticipation rate, positivity at HPV and at triage, referral rate to colposcopy, positive predictive value for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ (CIN2+) at colposcopy, and detection rate for CIN2+.ResultsWe present the results from 48 751 women at the first screening and 22 000 women at re‐screening 3 years later. The response rate was slightly higher at the second screening (74.5 versus 72.1% at the first screening; referral rate, RR 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 1.07–1.14). Compared with the first screening, we observed a significant reduction at the second screening in terms of HPV positivity (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.51–0.60), referral rate to colposcopy (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.41–0.53), CIN2+ detection rate (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.13–0.39), and positive predictive value (PPV) for CIN2+ at colposcopy (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29–0.87).ConclusionsThe very low frequency of disease and inadequate PPV at colposcopy indicate that a 3‐year interval after a negative HPV test is too short.Tweetable abstractThree years after a negative HPV the frequency of cervical disease is so low that re‐screening is inefficient.
Costs of Food Safety Investments in the Meat and Poultry Slaughter Industries
Authors: Viator Catherine L. , Muth Mary K. , Brophy Jenna E. , Noyes Gary 
Published: January 2017

AbstractTo develop regulations efficiently, federal agencies need to know the costs of implementing various regulatory alternatives. As the regulatory agency responsible for the safety of meat and poultry products, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is interested in the costs borne by meat and poultry establishments. This study estimated the costs of developing, validating, and reassessing hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), sanitary standard operating procedures (SSOP), and sampling plans; food safety training for new employees; antimicrobial equipment and solutions; sanitizing equipment; third‐party audits; and microbial tests. Using results from an in‐person expert consultation, web searches, and contacts with vendors, we estimated capital equipment, labor, materials, and other costs associated with these investments. Results are presented by establishment size (small and large) and species (beef, pork, chicken, and turkey), when applicable. For example, the cost of developing food safety plans, such as HACCP, SSOP, and sampling plans, can range from approximately $6000 to $87000, depending on the type of plan and establishment size. Food safety training costs from approximately $120 to $2500 per employee, depending on the course and type of employee. The costs of third‐party audits range from approximately $13000 to $24000 per audit, and establishments are often subject to multiple audits per year. Knowing the cost of these investments will allow researchers and regulators to better assess the effects of food safety regulations and evaluate cost‐effective alternatives.
Efficacy of flattening‐filter‐free beam in stereotactic body radiation therapy planning and treatment: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Dang Thu M , Peters Mitchell J , Hickey Brigid , Semciw Adam 
Published: January 2017

SummaryA linear accelerator with the flattening‐filter removed generates a non‐uniform dose profile beam. We aimed to analyse and compare plan quality and treatment time between flattened beam (FB) and flattening‐filter‐free (FFF) beam to assess the efficacy of FFF beam for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The search strategy was based around 3 concepts; radiation therapy, flattening‐filter‐free and treatment delivery. The years searched were restricted from 2010 to date of review (October 2015). All plan quality comparisons were between FFF and FB plans from the same data sets. We identified 210 potential studies based on the three searched concepts. All articles were screened by two authors for title and abstract and by three authors for full text. Ten studies met the eligibility criteria. Plan quality was evaluated using conformity index (CI), heterogeneity index (HI) and gradient index (GI). Dose to organs‐at‐risk (OAR) and healthy tissues were compared. Differences between beam‐on‐time (BOT) and treatment time (T × T) were also analysed. Normalized percentage ratios of CI and HI demonstrated no clinical differences among the studied articles. GI displayed small variations between the articles favouring FFF beam. The BOT with FFF is substantially reduced, and appears to impact the frequency of intra‐fraction imaging which, in turn, affects total treatment time. Based on planning tumour volume (PTV) coverage, dose to OAR and healthy tissue sparing, FFF beam is clinically effective for the treatment of cancer patients using SBRT. We recommend the use of FFF beam for SBRT based on these factors and the reported overall treatment time reduction.
paco: implementing Procrustean Approach to Cophylogeny in R
Authors: Hutchinson Matthew C. , Cagua E. Fernando , Balbuena Juan A. , Stouffer Daniel B. , Poisot Timothée 
Published: January 2017

Summary

The concordance of evolutionary histories and extant species interactions provides a useful metric for addressing questions of how the structure of ecological communities is influenced by macro‐evolutionary processes.

We introduce paco (v0.3.1), an R package to perform Procrustean Approach to Cophylogeny. This method assesses the phylogenetic congruence, or evolutionary dependence, of two groups of interacting species using both ecological interaction networks and their phylogenetic history.

We demonstrate the functionality of paco through its application to empirical host‐parasite and plant‐pollinator communities.

Although the package is intended to assess the phylogenetic congruence between groups of interacting species, the method is also directly applicable to other scenarios that may show phylogenetic congruence including historical biogeography, molecular systematics, and cultural evolution.
Negative Affect‐Associated USV Acoustic Characteristics Predict Future Excessive Alcohol Drinking and Alcohol Avoidance in Male P and NP Rats
Authors: Reno James M. , Thakore Neha , Cormack Lawrence K. , Schallert Timothy , Bell Richard L. , Maddox W. Todd , Duvauchelle Christine L. 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundNegative emotional status and adverse emotional events increase vulnerability to alcohol abuse. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats are a well‐established model of emotional status that can reflect positive or negative affective responses in real time. Most USV studies assess counts, yet each USV is a multidimensional data point characterized by several acoustic characteristics that may provide insight into the neurocircuitry underlying emotional response.MethodsUSVs emitted from selectively bred alcohol‐naïve and alcohol‐experienced alcohol‐preferring and nonpreferring rats (P and NP rats) were recorded during 4‐hour sessions on alternating days over 4 weeks. Linear mixed modeling (LMM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to USV acoustic characteristics (e.g., frequency, duration, power, and bandwidth) of negative affect (22 to 28 kilohertz [kHz])‐ and positive (50 to 55 kHz) affect‐related USVs.ResultsHundred percent separation between alcohol‐naïve P and NP rats was achieved through a linear combination (produced by LDA) of USV acoustic characteristics of 22‐ to 28‐kHz USVs, whereas poor separation (36.5%) was observed for 50‐ to 55‐kHz USVs. 22‐ to 28‐kHz LDA separation was high (87%) between alcohol‐experienced P and NP rats, but was poor for 50‐ to 55‐kHz USVs (57.3%). USV mean frequency and duration were the highest weighted characteristics in both the naïve and experienced 22‐ to 28‐kHz LDA representations suggesting that alcohol experience does not alter the representations. LMM analyses of 22‐ to 28‐kHz USV acoustic characteristics matched the LDA results. Poor LDA separation was observed between alcohol‐naïve and alcohol‐experienced P rats for both 22‐ to 28‐kHz and 50‐ to 55‐kHz USVs.ConclusionsAdvanced statistical analysis of negative affect‐associated USV data predicts future behaviors of excessive alcohol drinking and alcohol avoidance in selectively bred rats. USV characteristics across rat lines reveal affect‐related motivation to consume alcohol and may predict neural pathways mediating emotional response. Further characterization of these differences could delineate particular neurocircuitry and methods to ameliorate dysregulated emotional states often observed in human alcohol abusers.
Surgical wisdom and Genghis Khan'sPax Mongolica
Authors: Köstenbauer Jakob 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundThe unrivalled conquests of Genghis Khan (CE c.1162–1227) led to the establishment of the Greater Mongolian Empire. By 1279, the Mongol dynasty controlled a vast Empire which, for the first time in history, unified Europe and China via the famous Silk Road. The ensuing century of peace and stability is referred to by historians as thePax Mongolica, which facilitated Europe's renaissance and remarkably contributed to the rise of modern medicine and surgery.MethodsSecondary sources from published literature, primary sources from manuscripts and illustrations courtesy of universities, museum libraries and archives.ResultsThere is ample evidence detailing the Mongol Empire's power during the thirteenth century and the Silk Road's role as a vehicle of commercial, cultural and scientific exchange. Advances in medical knowledge and surgical skills were made in all parts of the Empire and exchanged from China to Constantinople and back. Prominent medical figures traversed these centres, and no doubt contributed to the spread of surgical science, including Rashid al‐Din and Mansur Ibn Ilyas. Their works, it is argued, enriched the practice of surgery and may have indirectly ushered‐in the rise of modern surgery in the early medical schools at Salerno, Bologna, Pavia, Oxford, Montpellier and Constantinople to name but a few.ConclusionThe blossoming and diversification of medical and surgical knowledge was an integral part of the great cultural exchange facilitated by thePax Mongolica. This enhanced surgical practice in China, Persia and Arabia, while coinciding with the renaissance of surgical teaching in Europe.
Predicting malignancy in adrenal incidentaloma and evaluation of a novel risk stratification algorithm
Authors: Foo Elizabeth , Turner Robin , Wang Kuan‐Chi , Aniss Adam , Gill Anthony J. , Sidhu Stanley , Clifton‐Bligh Roderick , Sywak Mark 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundIncidentally discovered adrenal lesions known as adrenal incidentalomas (AI) are being encountered with increasing frequency due to the widespread use of abdominal computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to identify the clinical predictors of malignancy in AI and to evaluate the accuracy of a recently proposed risk stratification algorithm.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 96 patients presenting with AI between 2004 and 2014 was undertaken; 66 patients underwent adrenalectomy, and 30 were managed non‐operatively. Univariate analysis including patient demographics, CT features of tumour size, density and heterogeneity was performed. Hormonal parameters including 24‐h urinary‐free cortisol and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were also included. A Cleveland Clinic risk stratification model utilizing adrenal size and density was evaluated.ResultsThe overall rate of malignancy was 8%. On univariate analysis, the following preoperative variables were predictive of malignancy – tumour size on pathology (P = 0.0031) and CT (P = 0.0016), heterogeneity on CT imaging (P = 0.0036), a relative percentage washout of less than 40% (P = 0.0178), elevated 24‐h urinary‐free cortisol levels (P = 0.0176), elevated DHEAs (P = 0.0061) and younger age at presentation (P < 0.0001). Evaluation of the Cleveland Clinic algorithm found an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.52–1.00).Conclusion
CT characteristics of tumour size, density and heterogeneity are significantly associated with malignancy in AI and applied together reliably exclude malignancy. The risk stratification algorithm utilizing size and density alone may fail to identify some smaller adrenal cancers.
Intrapartum predictors of maternal levator ani injury
Authors: Caudwell‐Hall Jessica , Kamisan Atan Ixora , Martin Andrew , Guzman Rojas Rodrigo , Langer Susanne , Shek Kalai , Dietz Hans P. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIntroductionDamage to the pelvic floor during vaginal childbirth is common, and may take the form of levator avulsion or irreversible overdistension of the levator hiatus (microtrauma). Such trauma is a major risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse later in life. In this study we aimed to identify intrapartum risk factors for levator trauma.Material and methodsThis is a retrospective analysis of data obtained in two perinatal studies on primiparous women. Between 2005 and 2014, 1148 women carrying an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy in the late third trimester were seen for 4D pelvic floor ultrasound and an interview. They were invited for a repeat assessment at three months postpartum.ResultsOf 1148 women, 871 (76%) returned for assessment at a mean of five months postpartum. The datasets of 844 women were analyzed due to missing data or concurrent pregnancy in 27. In all, 452 (54%) had a normal vaginal delivery, 102 (12%) a vacuum, 55 (6%) a forceps, and 235 (28%) a cesarean section. On multivariate analysis forceps, length of second stage and obstetric anal sphincter tears were significantly associated with levator avulsion. There were no significant predictors identified for irreversible overdistension.ConclusionsThe use of forceps, a prolonged second stage, and obstetric anal sphincter tears were associated with levator avulsion. There were no associated intrapartum predictors for hiatal overdistension.
Special diets are common among preschool children aged one to five years in south‐east Sweden according to a population‐based cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Servin Caroline , Hellerfelt Sofia , Botvid Christina , Ekström Magnus 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAimInformation about the prevalence of special diets in preschool children is limited. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of all special diets among preschool children in a Swedish municipality.MethodsThis was a population‐based cross‐sectional survey of all 3276 preschool children aged one to five years in the municipality of Karlskrona, Sweden. The questionnaire assessed the number of children at each preschool, how many were on special diets, their dietary requirements, age, sex, whether they had a medical certificate and whether the special diet had a perceived medical cause.ResultsWe obtained data for 3221 (98%) of the children, and 19% had special diets, including 12% on nonmedical diets and 6.3% on medical diets. The five most common diets were avoiding pork (7.8%), a vegetarian diet (4.8%), and avoiding cows' milk (3.5%), hens' eggs (1.2%) and lactose (1.1%). Gluten avoidance was more common in girls than boys (0.8% versus 0.2%, p = 0.032). Half (47%) of the children on special medical diets lacked a medical certificate.ConclusionSpecial diets were common in preschool children in south‐east Sweden, and the causes were mainly nonmedical. Mandatory medical certificates for medically based special diets might reduce unnecessary dietary restrictions.
Guano core evidence of palaeoenvironmental change and Woodland Indian inhabitance in Fern Cave, Alabama, USA, from the mid‐Holocene to present
Authors: Campbell Joshua W. , Waters Matthew N. , Rich Fred 
Published: January 2017

Bat guano cores have been used as a source of palaeoenvironmental information to aid in the reconstruction of past climates and vegetation. We collected a 104‐cm‐long (43 cm compacted) guano core from Fern Cave, Alabama, USA, that provided a c. 6000‐year record of guano accumulation. Pollen, nutrients (C, N, P) and stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) were measured on the guano core with the objective of reconstructing the environmental history of the area from the mid‐Holocene to present. Our data indicate that bats have utilized Fern Cave for at least 6000 years and that Woodland Indians also utilized the cave for a short period. A 3‐cm charcoal layer was dated to 2720±30 cal. a BP and inferred to be Woodland Indian in origin from microscopic inspection and thickness. Pollen and geochemical data showed that bat diets changed in the late Holocene possibly linked to food supply and climate changes. These results demonstrate that guano cores are a useful tool of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction when other forms of palaeorecords do not exist and can add to local archaeological information.
Compromising Adjustment Strategy Based on TKI Conflict Mode for Multi‐Times Bilateral Closed Negotiations
Authors: Fujita Katsuhide 
Published: January 2017

Bilateral multi‐issue closed negotiation is an important class for real‐life negotiations. Usually, negotiation problems have constraints such as a complex and unknown opponent's utility in real time, or time discounting. In the class of negotiation with some constraints, the effective automated negotiation agents can adjust their behavior depending on the characteristics of their opponents and negotiation scenarios. Recently, the attention of this study has focused on the interleaving learning with negotiation strategies from the past negotiation sessions. By analyzing the past negotiation sessions, agents can estimate the opponent's utility function based on exchanging bids.In this article, we propose a negotiation strategy that estimates the opponent's strategies based on the past negotiation sessions. Our agent tries to compromise to the estimated maximum utility of the opponent by the end of the negotiation. In addition, our agent can adjust the speed of compromise by judging the opponent's Thomas–Kilmann conflict mode and search for the Pareto frontier using past negotiation sessions. In the experiments, we demonstrate that the proposed agent has better outcomes and greater search technique for the Pareto frontier than existing agents in the linear and nonlinear utility functions.
Response to O'Leary et al.: Misuse of Models Leads to Misguided Conservation Recommendations
Authors: White J. Wilson , Nickols Kerry J. , Botsford Louis W. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractO'Leary et al. sought to evaluate the scientific basis for global targets for marine protected area (MPA) coverage (e.g., 10% of marine habitats) using a meta‐analysis of published MPA modeling studies. Unfortunately, their approach was flawed in both methodology and philosophy, as we explain in this letter.