bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retrospective analysis of patients submitted to surgical treatment of perianal fistula in Santa Marcelina Hospital, São Paulo
Authors: Neto Isaac José Felippe Corrêa , Wercka Janaína , Rangel Diego Palmeira , Lopes Eduardo Augusto , Watté Hugo Henriques , Souza Rogério Freitas Lino , Rolim Alexander Sá , Robles Laercio 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Introduction Perianal fistula is a condition commonly found in surgical practice, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 10,000 individuals, with a predisposition for the male gender, occurring mainly in patients between 30 and 50 years and in 80% of the cases originating from infection in the glandular crypts (cryptoglandular).
Objective To perform a retrospective analysis using electronic medical record data of patients submitted to surgical treatment for perianal fistula in Santa Marcelina Hospital in São Paulo, as well as to verify the incidence of relapse and anal continence disorders, in addition to the complexity and types of fistulas and patient characterization.
Results Two hundred patients were submitted to surgical treatment of perianal fistula were analyzed. Among men, there was a higher incidence of patients with lower educational level (p = 0.02), hypertension (0.03), diabetes (0.05), older age (p = 0.001), whereas among women previous perianal abscess predominated (0.001). There was no statistical difference in anal continence between patients submitted to fistulotomy with or without seton.
Conclusion We observed a predominance of male patients and a low incidence of recurrence and symptoms of anal continence disorders, in addition to a predominance of complex fistulas.
Technology for home dementia care: A prototype locating system put to the test
Authors: Megges Herlind , Freiesleben Silka Dawn , Jankowski Natalie , Haas Brigitte , Peters Oliver 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe user experience of persons with dementia and their primary caregivers with locating systems is not firmly established.MethodsEighteen dyads used a prototype locating system during 4 weeks. Primary outcome measures were ratings of usability, and product functions and features. Secondary outcome measures were caregiver burden, perceived self‐efficacy, frequency of use, and willingness to purchase the prototype. Changes in scores between baseline (T1) and end of testing period (T2) were compared by performing independent and dependent samples correlations and descriptive statistics.ResultsSeventeen dyads made up the final sample. Ratings of usability and product functions and features were fair, but usability ratings were significantly reduced after 4 weeks. Although the prototype was used infrequently by majority of the participants, most caregivers would be willing to purchase the prototype, with men more willing than women. No significant change in technological willingness, caregiver burden, or perceived self‐efficacy was found between T1 and T2. Perceived self‐efficacy significantly negatively correlated with willingness to purchase the prototype after 4 weeks.DiscussionResults highlight the importance of including end users in the research and development phase of locating systems to improve the user experience in home dementia care. Necessary indications for further research are carrying out randomized controlled trials with larger, more representative samples and developing innovative software and hardware solutions.
TERRITORIAL RISK CLASSIFICATION USING SPATIALLY DEPENDENT FREQUENCY-SEVERITY MODELS
Authors: Shi Peng , Shi Kun 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn non-life insurance, territory-based risk classification is useful for various insurance operations including marketing, underwriting, ratemaking, etc. This paper proposes a spatially dependent frequency-severity modeling framework to produce territorial risk scores. The framework applies to the aggregated insurance claims where the frequency and severity components examine the occurrence rate and average size of insurance claims in each geographic unit, respectively. We employ the bivariate conditional autoregressive models to accommodate the spatial dependency in the frequency and severity components, as well as the cross-sectional association between the two components. Using a town-level claims data of automobile insurance in Massachusetts, we demonstrate applications of the model output–territorial risk scores–in ratemaking and market segmentation.
Prevalence of Convergence Insufficiency-Type Symptomatology in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Law Caroline , Chriqui Estefania , Kergoat Marie-Jeanne , Leclerc Bernard-Simon , Panisset Michel , Irving Elizabeth L. , Postuma Ronald B. , Chouinard Sylvain , Kergoat Hélène 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackground:Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often present with visual symptoms (e.g., difficulty in reading, double vision) that can also be found in convergence insufficiency (CI). Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of CI-type visual symptomatology in individuals with PD, in comparison with controls.Methods:Participants ≥50 years with (n=300) and without (n=300) PD were recruited. They were administered the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS–15) over the phone. A score of ≥21 on the CISS–15, considered positive for CI-type symptomatology, served as the cutoff. Data from individuals (n=87 with,n=94 without PD) who were approached but who reported having a known oculovisual condition were analysed separately. Student’sttest and chi-square at the 0.05 level were employed for statistical significance.Results:A total of 29.3% of participants with versus 7.3% without PD presented with a score of ≥21 on the CISS–15 (p=0.001). Of the participants having a known oculovisual condition, 39.1% with versus 19.1% without PD presented with a score of ≥21 on the CISS–15 (p=0.01).Conclusions:The prevalence of CI-type visual symptoms is higher in individuals with versus without PD whether or not they have a coexisting oculovisual condition. These results suggest that PD per se places individuals with the disease at greater risk of visual symptomatology. These results further underline the importance of providing regular eye exams for individuals with PD.
A juvenile Koskinonodon perfectus (Temnospondyli, Metoposauridae) from the Upper Triassic of Arizona and its implications for the taxonomy of North American metoposaurids
Authors: Gee Bryan M. , Parker William G. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractMetoposaurids are temnospondyl amphibians that are well known from Upper Triassic deposits in North America, Europe, India, and Africa. Two species of metoposaurids, Koskinonodon perfectus and Apachesaurus gregorii, are among the most common fossils found in the Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) of the southwestern United States. The two are distinguished on the basis of several cranial traits and the morphology of their intercentra, and are more informally distinguished by their overall size and biostratigraphic range. While material of adult metoposaurids is extremely common in Upper Triassic deposits, described material of juveniles is very rare, which limits the study of ontogenetic trajectories that would assist in assessing whether diagnostic traits of the smaller A. gregorii are also ontogenetically influenced traits in juveniles of K. perfectus. Here we report on material from a juvenile specimen of K. perfectus from the Petrified Forest Member (Norian) of the Chinle Formation in the PEFO. This specimen is significant because it represents the highest known occurrence of the species within the PEFO, documents a rare occurrence of a juvenile specimen of a North American metoposaurid, and records a rare North American metoposaurid specimen that includes associated cranial and postcranial material. Additionally, the combination of cranial features diagnostic of K. perfectus and intercentra of proportions intermediate between K. perfectus and A. gregorii in this specimen raises questions about the utility of several characters for species discrimination in North American metoposaurids.
THE STANDARD THEORY OF ADMINISTRATIVE UNLAWFULNESS
Authors: Adams Thomas 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAccording to the standard theory of administrative unlawfulness an act that is public law unlawful is, for that reason, invalid and of no effect in law. In this article I suggest that the theory ought to be rejected. I begin by outlining the standard theory as well as noting its endorsement by the Supreme Court in the case ofAhmed (no. 2). Having in the main part of the paper criticised the theory, I move to lay out an alternative: that unlawfulness signals not the invalidity of an administrative act but a duty on the part of the court to invalidate it. Noting that the alternative rests upon what appears to be a paradox – that unlawful administrative action may nonetheless have legal effect – I try to show why it is more apparent than real. Finally, I return to the decision inAhmed (no. 2).
Revisiting the role of dissimilarity of host communities in driving dissimilarity of ectoparasite assemblages: non-linearvslinear approach
Authors: VAN DER MESCHT LUTHER , KHOKHLOVA IRINA S. , WARBURTON ELIZABETH M. , KRASNOV BORIS R. 
Published: May 2017

SUMMARYWe revisited the role of dissimilarity of host assemblages in shaping dissimilarity of flea assemblages using a non-linear approach. Generalized dissimilarity models (GDMs) were applied using data from regional surveys of fleas parasitic on small mammals in four biogeographical realms. We compared (1) model fit, (2) the relative effects of host compositional and phylogenetic turnover and geographic distance on flea compositional and phylogenetic turnover, and (3) the rate of flea turnover along gradients of host turnover and geographic distance with those from earlier application of a linear approach. GDMs outperformed linear models in explaining variation in flea species turnover and host dissimilarity was the best predictor of flea dissimilarity, irrespective of scale. The shape of the relationships between flea compositional turnovers along host compositional turnover was similar in all realms, whereas turnover along geographic distance differed among realms. In contrast, the rate of flea phylogenetic turnover along gradients of host phylogenetic turnover differed among realms, whereas flea phylogenetic turnover did not depend on geographic distance in any realm. We demonstrated that a non-linear approach (a) explained spatial variation in parasite community composition better than and (b) revealed patterns that were obscured by earlier linear analyses.
Socioeconomic Impacts on Agricultural Land use in the Northeast
Authors: Morris Douglas E. , Luloff Albert E. 
Published: May 2017

Joad said, “You're bound to get idears if you go thinkin’ about stuff.”John Steinbeck, The Grapes of WrathPast agricultural programs encouraged the withdrawal of cropland from agricultural production. With the removal of crop acreage restrictions and despite the favorable relationships of the 1972–1974 period, all of this land has not been immediately activated into crop production. Some programs encouraged shifts of cropland to pasture, timber production, or to soil improvement uses. Land converted to these alternatives is potentially available for crop production, but whether or at what rate it will be reemployed remains problematic.
Interlocal Cooperation: Its Use and Importance in Small Town Service Delivery
Authors: Honadle Beth Walter 
Published: May 2017

Summary:This symposium focused on the history, development, and characteristics of voluntary interlocal cooperation among small governments in the Northeast. Recent survey research results of a study on patterns and types of interlocal cooperation in Rhode Island and Massachusetts were presented. Interlocal cooperation in the area of solid wastes disposal in Massachusetts was also discussed. Factors contributing to voluntary cooperation in Rhode Island were also analyzed. Both the benefits and the disadvantages associated with interlocal cooperation were treated in the symposium.
Intertemporal Basis Behaviour on the Chicago Wheat Futures Market
Authors: Sheales Terrence C. 
Published: May 2017

The study consists of an economic analysis of the behaviour of the Chicago wheat basis during the two decades from 1960 to 1980. First, there is a descriptive analysis of changes to the basis between the 1960's and 1970's. Second, an econometric model which can be used to explain observed and possible future movements in the basis is estimated.The econometric model provides for the direct estimation of both intra- and inter-seasonal movements of the basis. In developing this model a single-equation “quasi reduced-form” model incorporating the theoretically important factors determining the supply and demand for storage and the resulting price from month to month is specified.Model estimation involves the incorporation of a lagged dependent variable and a set of seasonal dummy variables to account for the cyclical behaviour of the basis. The Generalized Least Squares regression results reveal that the basis lagged one period and the level of Chicago wheat stocks are the main factors explaining the current basis. A negative coefficient on national commercial stocks may be an indication that the variable is a proxy for hard wheat stocks. Changes in these stocks result in opposite movements in the demand for soft wheat (Chicago) stocks and hence the Chicago (soft wheat) basis.While the estimated model “explains” a relatively high proportion of overall basis variation, it is not entirely satisfactory in predicting the direction of change in the basis. It also exhibits some downward bias when used to make forward predictions of the magnitude of the basis.Mary of the modelling problems encountered during the analysis probably stem from incorporating intra- and inter-seasonal basis movements into the one model. A more productive approach to an analysis of this type would be to concentrate on estimating and predicting only one type of basis movement rather than both.
A Note on the Measurement of Spillovers of Agricultural Research Results
Authors: Havlicek Joseph , White Fred C. 
Published: May 2017

Three measures of agricultural research spillovers considered entail estimates based on (1) level of agricultural research expenditures, (2) marginal products of agricultural research and extension expenditures, and (3) marginal products of agricultural research and extension expenditures weighted by the level of agricultural research expenditures.The methods produce diverse spillovers but results indicate that spillovers generally exceed regional benefits attributable to a region's investment in agricultural research and extension. Also, ratios of spillovers to regional benefits exceed ratios of federal to state expenditures on agricultural research suggesting potential social benefits from additional financial support of agricultural research by the federal government.
Modeling the Use of Sewage Sludge on Pennsylvania Dairy Farms: An Economic Analysis
Authors: Zimmerman Dona C. , Epp Donald J. 
Published: May 2017

A five-year linear programming farm planning model, permitting the inclusion of nitrogen decay rates, was constructed to include the use of sewage sludge as a primary crop nutrient source. Twenty-two scenarios depicting various operating conditions were examined and maximized net farm incomes compared.Although only a small percentage difference resulted between the highest and the lowest net revenues over the five-year period, given a variety of operating circumstances, those scenarios including the use of sludge yielded the highest net incomes. Nitrogen application restrictions were at their upper limits when sludge use was included in the optimal solution. The calculation of net present values, for the two sludge contents considered, provided value estimates compatible with the linear programming solutions.
Range compression of migratory passerines in wintering grounds of the Western Mediterranean: conservation prospects
Authors: FANDOS GUILLERMO , TELLERÍA JOSÉ LUIS 
Published: May 2017

SummaryBecause migrant birds occur in different parts of the world in different seasons, their numbers may be limited by the size of the smallest area they inhabit during the year. In addition, restricted ranges make populations more susceptible to local perturbations such that range size is frequently considered a correlate of species vulnerability. Despite this, little is known about the balance between seasonal ranges in the migrant populations of partially migratory species. These migrants are difficult to segregate from sedentary conspecifics in winter grounds and thus the extent of their ranges is difficult to assess. Here, we studied the extent of potential breeding and wintering ranges of 10 partial migratory passerines moving to winter in the Iberian Peninsula and the Maghreb. After testing migratory connectivity of the individual species, we used niche modelling to calculate the extent of potential breeding and wintering ranges in 1,113 pairs of ring recoveries linking individuals between breeding and wintering localities. The results indicate that most species show migratory connectivity and that all of them show range compression in winter relative to the breeding range, with scores ranging between 19% and 58% (mean 37%) of breeding ranges. We discuss the importance of non-breeding grounds for conserving migratory passerines in the Western Mediterranean Basin, an area under pressure from climate change and agricultural intensification.
Characteristics of influential peers in the eyes of secondary school students: a mixed method study
Authors: Loke Alice Y. , Mak Yim-wah , Wu Cynthia S.T. 
Published: May 2017

AimIt is the aim of this study to explore the characteristics of influential peers identified by schoolmates, and the mechanism by which they exert their influence on their peers.BackgroundAdolescent crowds are a salient influence on the health-risk behaviors of peers, contributing to adolescent substance use such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and taking drugs.MethodsA mixed method study. Three schools granted us access to students and those who had been nominated as influential by their peers. The students were asked to nominate and indicated the characteristics of peers whom they considered influential in a quantitative study. Those peers whom they considered influential were invited to take part in focus group interviews. A total of six focus group interviews were conducted, comprised of two groups from each school, with an average of seven participants in each group.FindingsStudents considered caring and friendliness (91.0%), being a buddy (88.5%), and entertaining/humor (86.8%) as the top three characteristics of influential peers. The interviews revealed that the students believed that they are influential because of their cheerfulness and humor, considerateness, ability to communicate, popularity and sociability, sincerity and trustworthiness, and because they possess the characteristics of a leader. They also believed that their power to influence came about through their helpfulness, accommodation, and the closeness of their relationships. Their influence was manifested in both positive and negative ways on the academic pursuits and health-risk behaviors of their peers. In order to engage at-risk students in health promotion programs, it is important to identify their influential peers, and to understand how adolescent friends may help one another to resist behaviors that pose a risk to their health.
Evaluation of wild barley species as possible sources of drought tolerance for arid environments
Authors: Barati Mohammad , Majidi Mohammad Mahdi , Mostafavi Fateme , Mirlohi Aghafakhr , Safari Maryam , Karami Zohre 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn this study, agro-morphological and yield-related traits associated with drought tolerance in 80 barley genotypes belonging to 15 wild species together with the cultivated one, and their potential to improve adaptation to different levels of drought stress conditions (moisture environments) were studied. There was significant genetic variation among the genotypes and species for all of the measured traits, as well as differential responses of genotypes across environments. The results indicated high variation for grain yield (GY) under drought stress among the genotypes, and that some of the wild genotypes had consistently superior specific adaptation to the water stress conditions. The genotypes belong to wild barley species, especiallyHordeum murinumandHordeum marinumhad lower GY but relatively higher yield stability under different environments. Traits such as number of seed per plant and hundred kernel weight were positively correlated with GY in all of the environments. High negative correlation between GY and days to ripening was observed only under intense drought environment, showing drought escape as a strategy of wild plants under highly stressed conditions. Grouping of the genotypes by principal component analysis completely separated cultivated barley and its progenitor (Hordeum vulgaressp.spontaneum) from other wild genotypes; however, the other wild species were slightly separated from each other. In addition, the Iranian and foreign genotypes did not completely separate from each other. The identified wild barley genotypes with favourable characters and high drought tolerance could be used in genetic studies and barley improvement programmes especially for drought stress.
RR Lyrae stars: New discoveries in the OGLE data
Authors: Smolec Radoslaw , Netzel Henryka , Soszyński Igor 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe report our recent analyses of the RR Lyrae Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) photometry, which resulted in several new discoveries and important results. We present the in-depth analysis of the Blazhko effect discovered in several double-mode RR Lyr (RRd) stars for the first time. Typically, these stars show multiple modulation periods and somewhat atypical first overtone to fundamental mode period ratio. Our analysis of the Galactic bulge stars allowed a significant (~factor of 10) increase of the members of the recently detected group of double-mode radial-non-radial RR Lyr stars, pulsating in the first overtone and in an yet unidentified shorter period mode, with characteristic period ratio of the two modes around 0.61. With more than 200 new members of the group first statistical analysis of the group properties is possible. Finally, we report the discovery of an even more intriguing group of double-periodic RR Lyr stars. The dominant pulsation mode in these stars corresponds to the radial first overtone. The additional period is longer, the period ratios (first overtone to a period of an yet unidentified origin) tightly cluster around 0.686. Hence the additional period is longer than the unseen fundamental mode and cannot correspond to a purely acoustic pulsation mode.