bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Explaining global variation in the latitudinal diversity gradient: Meta‐analysis confirms known patterns and uncovers new ones
Authors: Kinlock Nicole L. , Prowant Lisa , Herstoff Emily M. , Foley Catherine M. , Akin‐Fajiye Morodoluwa , Bender Nicole , Umarani Mihir , Ryu Hae Yeong , Şen Bilgecan , Gurevitch Jessica 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAimThe pattern of increasing biological diversity from high latitudes to the equator [latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG)] has been recognized for > 200 years. Empirical studies have documented this pattern across many different organisms and locations. Our goal was to quantify the evidence for the global LDG and the associated spatial, taxonomic and environmental factors. We performed a meta‐analysis on a large number of individual LDGs that have been published in the 14 years since Hillebrand's ground‐breaking meta‐analysis of the LDG, using meta‐analysis and meta‐regression approaches largely new to the fields of ecology and biogeography.LocationGlobal.Time periodJanuary 2003–September 2015.Major taxa studiedBacteria, protists, plants, fungi and animals.MethodsWe synthesized the outcomes of 389 individual cases of LDGs from 199 papers published since 2003, using hierarchical mixed‐effects meta‐analysis and multiple meta‐regression. Additionally, we re‐analysed Hillebrand's original dataset using modern methods.ResultsWe confirmed the generality of the LDG, but found the pattern to be weaker than was found in Hillebrand's study. We identified previously unreported variation in LDG strength and slope across longitude, with evidence that the LDG is strongest in the Western Hemisphere. Locational characteristics, such as habitat and latitude range, contributed significantly to LDG strength, whereas organismal characteristics, including taxonomic group and trophic level, did not. Modern meta‐analytical models that incorporate hierarchical structure led to more conservative and sometimes contrasting effect size estimates relative to Hillebrand's initial analysis, whereas meta‐regression revealed underlying patterns in Hillebrand's dataset that were not apparent with a traditional analysis.Main conclusionsWe present evidence of global latitudinal, longitudinal and habitat‐based patterns in the LDG, which are apparent across both marine and terrestrial realms and over a broad taxonomic range of organisms, from bacteria to plants and vertebrates.
Detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool samples of young children using real‐time polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Beer‐Davidson Gany , Hindiyeh Musa , Muhsen Khitam 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe aims of this study were to develop and validate a multiplex real‐time polymerase chain reaction (q‐PCR) assay of Helicobacter pylori in stool samples of healthy children. Additionally, we determined the prevalence of clarithromycin resistance and cagA gene in H. pylori‐positive samples.Materials and methodsArchived stool samples from 188 children aged 6‐9 years and 272 samples of 92 infants aged 2‐18 months were tested for H. pylori antigens using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A multiplex q‐PCR assay was designed to detect H. pylori 16S rRNA and urease and the human RNase P gene as an internal control. Kappa coefficient was calculated to assess the agreement between q‐PCR and EIA.ResultsLaboratory validation of the q‐PCR assay using quantitated H. pylori ATCC 43504 extracted DNA showed S‐shaped amplification curves for all genes; the limit of detection was 1 CFU/reaction. No cross‐reactivity with other bacterial pathogens was noted. Applying the multiplex q‐PCR to DNA extracted from fecal samples showed clear amplification curves for urease gene, but not for 16S rRNA. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 50% (95% CI 43%‐57%) by q‐PCR (urease cycle threshold <44) vs 59% (95% CI 52%‐66%) by EIA. Kappa coefficient was .80 (P < .001) and .44 (P < .001) for children aged 6‐9 years and 2‐18 months, respectively. Sixteen samples were positive for cagA and three were positive for clarithromycin resistance mutation (A2143G) as confirmed by sequencing.ConclusionsThe developed q‐PCR can be used as a cotechnique to enhance the accuracy of H. pylori detection in epidemiological studies and in clinical settings.
Reduced mental load in learning a motor visual task with virtual 3D method
Authors: Dan A. , Reiner M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractDistance learning is expanding rapidly, fueled by the novel technologies for shared recorded teaching sessions on the Web. Here, we ask whether 3D stereoscopic (3DS) virtual learning environment teaching sessions are more compelling than typical two‐dimensional (2D) video sessions and whether this type of teaching results in superior learning. The research goal was to compare learning in 2 virtual learning scenarios—on 2D displays and with an identical 3DS scenario. Participants watched a 2D or 3DS video of an instructor demonstrating a box origami paper‐folding task. We compared participants' folding test scores and self‐assessment questionnaires of the teaching scenarios and calculated their cognitive load index (CLI) based on electroencephalogram measurements during the observation periods. Results showed a highly significant difference between participants' folding test scores, CLI, and self‐assessment questionnaire results in 2D compared to 3DS sessions. Our findings indicate that employing stereoscopic 3D technology over 2D displays in the design of emerging virtual and augmented reality applications in distance learning has advantages.
Coumarin enhances nitrate uptake in maize roots through modulation of plasma membrane H+‐ATPase activity
Authors: Lupini A. , Araniti F. , Mauceri A. , Princi M. P. , Sorgonà A , Sunseri F. , Varanini Z. , Abenavoli M. R. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Coumarin is one of the simplest plant secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the plant kingdom, affecting root form and function, including anatomy, morphology and nutrient uptake. Although, some plant responses to coumarin have been described, comprehensive knowledge of the physiological and molecular mechanisms is lacking.

Maize seedlings exposed to different coumarin concentrations, alone or in combination with 200 μm nitrate (NO3−), were analysed, through a physiological and molecular approach, to elucidate action of coumarin on net NO3− uptake rate (NNUR). In detail, the time course of NNUR, plasma membrane (PM) H+‐ATPase activity, proton pumping and related gene expression (ZmNPF6.3, ZmNRT2.1, ZmNAR2.1, ZmHA3 and ZmHA4) were evaluated.

Coumarin alone did not affect nitrate uptake, PM H+‐ATPase activity or transcript levels of ZmNRT2.1 and ZmHA3. In contrast, coumarin alone increased ZmNPF6.3, ZmNAR2.1 and ZmHA4 expression in response to abiotic stress. When coumarin and NO3− were concurrently added to the nutrient solution, a significant increase in the NNUR, PM H+‐ATPase activity, together with ZmNAR2.1:ZmNRT2.1 and ZmHA4 expression was observed, suggesting that coumarin affected the inducible component of the high affinity transport system (iHATS), and this effect appeared to be mediated by nitrate. Moreover, results with vanadate, an inhibitor of the PM H+‐ATPase, suggested that this enzyme could be the main target of coumarin.

Surprisingly, coumarin did not affect PM H+‐ATPase activity by direct contact with plasma membrane vesicles isolated from maize roots, indicating its possible elicitor role in gene transcription.
Investigation of the quality of stored red blood cells after simulated air drop in the maritime environment
Authors: Meli Athinoula , Hancock Vicky , Doughty Heidi , Smedley Steve , Cardigan Rebecca , Wiltshire Michael 
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUNDMaritime medical capability may be compromised by blood resupply. Air‐dropped red blood cells (RBCs) is a possible mitigation factor. This study set out to evaluate RBC storage variables after a simulated parachute air drop into the sea, as limited data exist.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe air load construction for the air drop of blood was subject to static drop assessment to simulate a worst‐case parachute drop scenario. One control and two test Golden Hour shipping containers were each packaged with 10 RBC units. The control box was not dropped; Test Boxes 1 and 2 were further reinforced with waterproof boxes and underwent a simulated air drop on Day 7 or Day 8 postdonation, respectively. One day after the drop and once a week thereafter until Day 43 of storage, RBCs from each box were sampled and tested for full blood counts, hemolysis, adenosine triphosphate, 2,3‐diphosphoglycerate, pH, extracellular potassium, glucose, lactate, deformability, and RBC microvesicles.RESULTSThe packaging configuration completed the air drop with no water ingress or physical damage. All units met UK specifications for volume, hemoglobin, and hemolysis. There were no significant differences for any of the variables studied between RBCs in the control box compared to RBCs in Test Boxes 1 and 2 combined over storage.CONCLUSIONThe test proved that the packaging solution and the impact of a maritime air drop as performed in this study, on Day 7 or Day 8 postdonation, did not affect the in vitro quality of RBCs in SAGM over storage for 35 days.
A Comparison of the Isometric Midthigh Pull and Isometric Squat: Intraday Reliability, Usefulness, and the Magnitude of Difference Between Tests
Authors: Brady Claire J. , Harrison Andrew J. , Flanagan Eamonn P. , Haff G. Gregory , Comyns Thomas M. 
Published: November 2017

Purpose: To examine the reliability and usefulness of the isometric midthigh pull (IMTP) and isometric squat (ISqT) performed at the same knee and hip angles. The scores produced in each test were compared to determine the magnitude of differences between tests. Methods: Twenty-six male and female athletes (age, 23.6 [4.3] y; height, 1.75 [0.07] m; and body mass, 68.8 [9.7] kg) performed 2 maximal repetitions of the IMTP and ISqT following a specific warm-up. Results: Maximum force, absolute peak force (PF), relative PF, allometrically scaled PF, rate of force development (0–200 and 0–250 ms), and impulse (0–300 ms) were deemed reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] ≥.86 and coefficient of variation [CV] ≤9.4%) in the IMTP and ISqT based on predetermined criteria (ICC ≥.8 and CV ≤10%). Impulse (0–200 and 0–250 ms) was reliable in the ISqT (ICC ≥.92 and CV ≤9.9%). Participants produced significantly (P < .05) greater PF and impulse (0–300 ms) during the ISqT compared with the IMTP. When split by sex, female participants produced significantly greater PF (P = .042) during the ISqT, with no significant differences among male participants (P = .245). Both tests are capable of detecting changes in performance in maximum force and absolute PF. Conclusions: Both tests are reliable for non-time-dependent maximal strength measures when measured at the same knee and hip angles. The ISqT may be preferred when coaches want to test an athlete’s true maximum lower-limb strength, especially female athletes.
Incidence of diabetes mellitus and factors associated with its development in HIV-positive patients over the age of 50
Authors: Samad Faizal , Harris Marianne , Puskas Cathy M , Ye Monica , Chia Jason , Chacko Sarah , Bondy Gregory P , Lima Viviane D , Montaner Julio SG , Guillemi Silvia A 
Published: November 2017

ObjectiveWe sought to determine the incidence and factors associated with development of diabetes mellitus (DM) in older HIV-infected individuals.Research design and methodsWe analyzed data from people living with HIV (PLWH) ≥50 years of age enrolled in a large urban HIV outpatient clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia. Patients were categorized as having DM if they had random blood sugar ≥11.1 mmol/L, fasting blood sugar ≥7 mmol/L, HbA1C ≥6.5%, antidiabetic medication use during the follow-up period, or medical chart review confirming diagnosis of DM. We estimated the probability of developing DM, adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, using a logistic regression model.ResultsAmong 1065 PLWH followed for a median of 13 years (25th and 75th percentile (Q1–Q3): 9-18), the incidence of DM was 1.61/100 person-years follow-up. In the analysis of factors associated with new-onset DM (n=703), 88% were male, 38% had a history of injection drug use, 43% were hepatitis C coinfected, and median body mass index was 24 kg/m2(Q1–Q3: 21–27). Median age at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation was 48 years (Q1–Q3: 43–53) and at DM diagnosis was 55 years (Q1–Q3: 50–61). Patients who started ART in 1997–1999 and had a longer exposure to older ART were at the highest risk of developing DM.ConclusionsAmong PLWH aged ≥50 years, the incidence of DM was 1.39 times higher than men in the general Canadian population of similar age. ART initiated in the early years of the epidemic and exposure to older ART appeared to be the main drivers of the development of DM.
Generalisability of an online randomised controlled trial: an empirical analysis
Authors: Wang Cheng , Mollan Katie R , Hudgens Michael G , Tucker Joseph D , Zheng Heping , Tang Weiming , Ling Li 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundInvestigators increasingly use online methods to recruit participants for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). However, the extent to which participants recruited online represent populations of interest is unknown. We evaluated how generalisable an online RCT sample is to men who have sex with men in China.MethodsInverse probability of sampling weights (IPSW) and the G-formula were used to examine the generalisability of an online RCT using model-based approaches. Online RCT data and national cross-sectional study data from China were analysed to illustrate the process of quantitatively assessing generalisability. The RCT (identifierNCT02248558) randomly assigned participants to a crowdsourced or health marketing video for promotion of HIV testing. The primary outcome was self-reported HIV testing within 4 weeks, with a non-inferiority margin of −3%.ResultsIn the original online RCT analysis, the estimated difference in proportions of HIV tested between the two arms (crowdsourcing and health marketing) was 2.1% (95% CI, −5.4% to 9.7%). The hypothesis that the crowdsourced video was not inferior to the health marketing video to promote HIV testing was not demonstrated. The IPSW and G-formula estimated differences were −2.6% (95% CI, −14.2 to 8.9) and 2.7% (95% CI, −10.7 to 16.2), with both approaches also not establishing non-inferiority.ConclusionsConducting generalisability analysis of an online RCT is feasible. Examining the generalisability of online RCTs is an important step before an intervention is scaled up.Trial registration numberNCT02248558.
Effects of size and concentration of silt particles on flow and performance of a centrifugal pump under cavitating conditions
Authors: Zhao Weiguo , Han Xiangdong , Li Rennian , Zheng Yingjie , Wang Yanyan 
Published: November 2017

To research effects of silt particles on the performance and cavitation flow fields, silt-laden cavitation flow was simulated in the centrifugal pump. Silt mean diameters are 0.005 mm and 0.010 mm and silt concentrations are 0.5% and 1.0%. Results show that silt particles with silt mean diameter 0.005 mm and silt concentration 1.0% and silt particles with silt mean diameter 0.010 mm and silt concentration 0.5% promote the development of cavitation and distribution range of vapor is larger than pure water. Effects of silt particles and cavitation make distribution range of turbulent kinetic energy larger than pure water and streamlines are more disorderedly. Silt particles with silt mean diameter 0.010 mm and silt concentration 1.0% have little effect on cavitation and distribution range of vapor is similar with pure water. Effects of silt particles make distribution range of turbulent kinetic energy larger than pure water and streamlines are more disorderedly than pure water. With the increase of silt mean diameter and silt concentration, head and efficiency decrease gradually. For silt particles promoting the evolution of cavitation, distribution range of turbulent kinetic energy is larger and streamlines are more disorderly than silt-laden cavitation flow with silt particles inhibiting the development of cavitation.
Efficient Visibility Determination in Urban Scenes Considering Terrain Information
Authors: Robles-Ortega M. D. , Ortega L. , Feito F. R. 
Published: November 2017

In this article, we introduce a novel occlusion culling method working on the server side to provide real-time navigation on web-based systems. Nowadays, virtual navigation in urban environments is a rising trend in several contexts such as tourism, GPS navigation systems, and video games. A city environment is usually associated with a complex data model that is better stored, maintained, and updated on a server system. Mobile devices are regular clients in these cases, demanding this information in a fast, reliable, and engaging way. Even though these gadgets have been increasing their capabilities in computation and visualization, the bottleneck is still the transmission of information over the network. The advantage of urban environments is that, from a user viewpoint, only a small portion of the scene is visible. This feature makes crucial the use of occlusion culling techniques working on the server side in order to transmit to the client side only the small set of visible elements compared to the whole scene.
The input data are the city geometry from the 2D cadastral information system, the building textures, and DEM (Digital Elevation Model) files with the urban terrain features. In a first stage, the process creates a 2.5D urban model with all these data in preprocessing time. Then the client provides the user location point, and the server sends back the exact portion of visible city. This approach is implemented using polar diagrams for visibility determination and LOD (Level of Detail) techniques for further geometry reduction.
Determinants of Informal Care, Burden, and Risk of Burnout in Caregivers of Stroke Survivors
Authors: Oliva-Moreno Juan , Peña-Longobardo Luz María , Mar Javier , Masjuan Jaime , Soulard Stéphane , Gonzalez-Rojas Nuria , Becerra Virginia , Casado Miguel Ángel , Torres Covadonga , Yebenes María , Quintana Manuel , Alvarez-Sabín Jose 
Published: November 2017

Background and Purpose—
The aim of this article was to analyze the likelihood of receiving informal care after a stroke and to study the burden and risk of burnout of primary caregivers in Spain.

Methods—
The CONOCES study is an epidemiological, observational, prospective, multicenter study of patients diagnosed with stroke and admitted to a Stroke Unit in the Spanish healthcare system. At 3 and 12 months post-event, we estimated the time spent caring for the patient and the burden borne by primary caregivers. Several multivariate models were applied to estimate the likelihood of receiving informal caregiving, the burden, and the likelihood of caregivers being at a high risk of burnout.

Results—
Eighty percent of those still alive at 3 and 12 months poststroke were receiving informal care. More than 40% of those receiving care needed a secondary caregiver at 3 months poststroke. The likelihood of receiving informal care was associated with stroke severity and the individual’s health-related quality of life. When informal care was provided, both the burden borne by caregivers and the likelihood of caregivers being at a high risk of burnout was associated with (1) caregiving hours; (2) the patient’s health-related quality of life; (3) the severity of the stroke measured at discharge; (4) the patient having atrial fibrillation; and (5) the degree of dependence.

Conclusions—
This study reveals the heavy burden borne by the caregivers of stroke survivors. Our analysis also identifies explanatory and predictive variables for the likelihood of receiving informal care, caregiver burden, and high risk of burnout.
Two new species of Xestia Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) from Bhutan and China
Authors: GYULAI PÉTER 
Published: November 2017

Xestia Hübner, 1818 is a diverse and widespread Noctuinae genus, most of the known species occur in the Holarctic and the rest in Africa. Due to the expeditions to the hardly explored area of Asia, new species of Xestia have been recognized and described during the last years (Gyulai et al. 2011, 2013; Gyulai & Ronkay 2016). A German expedition (Ratzel, Hauenstein, M. Falkenberg & Trusch) led to the high altitude region of western Bhutan, collected a series of a rather small Perissandria Warren, 1909—like species, of which the genitalia show, surprisingly, the typical features of Xestia, displaying conspicuous external and genitalia differences, comparing with the Tibetan Xestia lithoplana Hreblay, Ronkay & Plante, 1998. The second new species described here below, has already been under discussion for a long time. The genitalia slide was provided by the late Márton Hreblay, from the author‘s material and suspected by him as Paramathes Boursin, 1954. After the revision of the genus Paramathes (Varga et al 2015), the detailed study led to the recognition that it cannot be a Paramathes, but a hitherto unknown Xestia. Thus, the description of the two new species appears to be reliable and is presented below.
The Role of Oscillating Southern Hemisphere Westerly Winds: Southern Ocean Coastal and Open-Ocean Polynyas
Authors: Cheon Woo Geun , Cho Chang-Bong , Gordon Arnold L. , Kim Young Ho , Park Young-Gyu 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
An oscillation in intensity of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds is a major characteristic of the southern annular mode. Its impact upon the sea ice–ocean interactions in the Weddell and Ross Seas is investigated by a sea ice–ocean general circulation model coupled to an energy balance model for three temporal scales and two amplitudes of intensity. It is found that the oscillating wind forcing over the Southern Ocean plays a significant role both in regulating coastal polynyas along the Antarctic margins and in triggering open-ocean polynyas. The formation of coastal polynya in the western Weddell and Ross Seas is enhanced with the intensifying winds, resulting in an increase in the salt flux into the ocean via sea ice formation. Under intensifying winds, an instantaneous spinup within the Weddell and Ross Sea cyclonic gyres causes the warm deep water to upwell, triggering open-ocean polynyas with accompanying deep ocean convection. In contrast to coastal polynyas, open-ocean polynyas in the Weddell and Ross Seas respond differently to the wind forcing and are dependent on its period. That is, the Weddell Sea open-ocean polynya occurs earlier and more frequently than the Ross Sea open-ocean polynya and, more importantly, does not occur when the period of oscillation is sufficiently short. The strong stratification of the Ross Sea and the contraction of the Ross gyre due to the southward shift of Antarctic Circumpolar Current fronts provide unfavorable conditions for the Ross Sea open-ocean polynya. The recovery time of deep ocean heat controls the occurrence frequency of the Weddell Sea open-ocean polynya.