bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gross total resection and adjuvant radiotherapy most significant predictors of improved survival in patients with atypical meningioma
Authors: Rydzewski Nicholas R. , Lesniak Maciej S. , Chandler James P. , Kalapurakal John A. , Pollom Erqi , Tate Matthew C. , Bloch Orin , Kruser Timothy , Dalal Prarthana , Sachdev Sean 
Published: November 2017

BACKGROUNDAtypical and malignant meningiomas are far less common than benign meningiomas. As aggressive lesions, they are prone to local recurrence and may lead to decreased survival. Although malignant meningiomas typically are treated with maximal surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), to the authors’ knowledge the optimal treatment for atypical lesions remains to be defined. There are limited prospective data in this setting.METHODSThe National Cancer Data Base was queried to investigate cases of histologically confirmed meningiomas diagnosed from 2004 to 2014. This included 7811 patients with atypical meningiomas (World Health Organization grade 2) and 1936 patients with malignant meningiomas (World Health Organization grade 3); during the same period, a total of 60,345 patients were diagnosed with benign meningiomas (World Health Organization grade 1). Data collected included patient and tumor characteristics, extent of surgical resection, and use of RT. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan‐Meier estimates with the log‐rank test of significance and Cox univariate and multivariate regression. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with use of RT.RESULTSThe 5‐year overall survival rate was 85.5% in patients with benign meningiomas, 75.9% in patients with atypical meningiomas, and 55.4% in patients with malignant meningiomas (P<.0001). In patients with atypical meningiomas, gross (macroscopic) total resection (GTR) and adjuvant RT were found to be associated with significantly improved survival, independently and especially in unison (GTR plus RT: hazard ratio, 0.47; P = .002). On multivariate analysis, the combination of GTR plus RT was found to be the most important factor for improved survival. However, GTR was associated with significantly lower rates of RT use.CONCLUSIONSGTR and adjuvant RT appear to be highly associated with improved survival, independent of other factors, in patients with atypical meningiomas. Cancer 2018;124:734‐42. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Salinity tolerance of three competing rangeland plant species: Studies in hydroponic culture
Authors: Sagers Joseph K. , Waldron Blair L. , Creech Joseph Earl , Mott Ivan W. , Bugbee Bruce 
Published: November 2017

AbstractHalogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is an invasive species that displaces Gardner's saltbush (Atriplex gardneri) on saline rangelands, whereas, forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) potentially can rehabilitate these ecosystems. Salinity tolerance has been hypothesized as the predominant factor affecting frequency of these species. This study compared relative salinity tolerance of these species, and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Plants were evaluated in hydroponics, eliminating the confounding effects of drought, for 28 days at 0, 150, 200, 300, 400, 600, and 800 mmol/L NaCl. Survival, growth, and ion accumulation were determined. Alfalfa and tall wheatgrass shoot mass were reduced to 32% of the control at 150 mmol/L. Forage kochia survived to 600 mmol/L, but mass was reduced at all salinity levels. Halogeton and Gardner's saltbush increased or maintained shoot mass up to 400 mmol/L. Furthermore, both actively accumulated sodium in shoots, indicating that Na+ was the principle ion in osmotic adjustment, whereas, forage kochia exhibited passive (linear) Na+ accumulation as salinity increased. This study confirmed the halophytic nature of these three species, but, moreover, discovered that Gardner's saltbush was as saline tolerant as halogeton, whereas, forage kochia was less tolerant. Therefore, factors other than salinity tolerance drive these species’ differential persistence in saline‐desert ecosystems.
The roles of environment, space, and phylogeny in determining functional dispersion of rodents (Rodentia) in the Hengduan Mountains, China
Authors: Du Yuanbao , Wen Zhixin , Zhang Jinlong , Lv Xue , Cheng Jilong , Ge Deyan , Xia Lin , Yang Qisen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe recently described trait‐based approach is becoming widely popular for a mechanistic understanding of species coexistence. However, the greatest challenge in functional analyses is decomposing the contributions of different ecological and evolutionary processes (e.g., niche‐based process, neutral process, and evolutionary process) in determining trait structure. Taking rodents (Rodentia) in the Hengduan Mountains as our study model, we aim to (1) quantify the vertical patterns of functional structure for head–body length (HL), tail/body ratio (TR), animal component in diet (ACD), and all traits; (2) disentangle the relative importance of different assembly processes (environment, space, and phylogeny) in structuring trait dispersion; and (3) assess the feasibility of Bergmann's rule and Allen's rule along elevational gradient. Our results have suggested that the vertical functional structure pattern varied across these three traits, indicating distinct functional roles in the community assembly process. These nonrandom vertical patterns of HL, TR, and terminal ACD have demonstrated these traits were dominated by different ecological process along environmental gradient. In variance partitioning, high proportion of the spatial variations in trait dispersion was explained by environmental and spatial models, which have provided supporting strong evidence for niche‐based and neutral processes in leading species coexistence. Although the three traits all exhibited apparent phylogenetic signals, phylogenetic relationship within community failed to predict the spatial variations of functional dispersion, confirming the enormous inference of phylogenetic signals in predicting trait structure. By assessing the vertical patterns of HL and TR at order and family levels, we argued that functional adaptation along an environmental gradient is a surrogate of series of complex processes (e.g., environmental filtering, interspecific interaction, and neutral dispersal) acting on multiple functional axes, which results in inconsistence with the empirical rules along elevational gradient.
Design‐ and model‐based recommendations for detecting and quantifying an amphibian pathogen in environmental samples
Authors: Mosher Brittany A. , Huyvaert Kathryn P. , Chestnut Tara , Kerby Jacob L. , Madison Joseph D. , Bailey Larissa L. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAccurate pathogen detection is essential for developing management strategies to address emerging infectious diseases, an increasingly prominent threat to wildlife. Sampling for free‐living pathogens outside of their hosts has benefits for inference and study efficiency, but is still uncommon. We used a laboratory experiment to evaluate the influences of pathogen concentration, water type, and qPCR inhibitors on the detection and quantification of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) using water filtration. We compared results pre‐ and post‐inhibitor removal, and assessed inferential differences when single versus multiple samples were collected across space or time. We found that qPCR inhibition influenced both Bd detection and quantification in natural water samples, resulting in biased inferences about Bd occurrence and abundance. Biases in occurrence could be mitigated by collecting multiple samples in space or time, but biases in Bd quantification were persistent. Differences in Bd concentration resulted in variation in detection probability, indicating that occupancy modeling could be used to explore factors influencing heterogeneity in Bd abundance among samples, sites, or over time. Our work will influence the design of studies involving amphibian disease dynamics and studies utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) to understand species distributions.
Does forest extent affect salamander survival? Evidence from a long‐term demographic study of a tropical newt
Authors: Lau Anthony , Karraker Nancy E. , Dudgeon David 
Published: November 2017

AbstractForest loss has been associated with reduced survival in many vertebrates, and previous research on amphibians has mostly focused on effects at early life stages. Paramesotriton hongkongensis is a tropical newt that breeds in streams but spends up to 10 months per year in terrestrial habitats. Populations are threatened by habitat degradation and collection for the pet trade, but the cryptic terrestrial lifestyle of this newt has limited our understanding of its population ecology, which inhibits development of a species‐specific conservation plan. We conducted an eight‐year (2007–2014) mark–recapture study on four P. hongkongensis populations in Hong Kong and used these data to evaluate relationships between forest cover, body size, and rainfall on survival and to estimate population sizes. Hong Kong has been subjected to repeated historic territory‐wide deforestation, and thus, we wanted to determine whether there was a link between forest extent as a proxy of habitat quality and newt demography. Annual survival was positively associated with forest cover within core habitat of all populations and negatively related to body size. Mean annual survival (~60%) was similar to that of other stream‐dwelling amphibians, but varied among years and declined substantially in 2012–2013, perhaps due to illegal collection. Despite the link between forest extent and survival, population sizes declined at the most forested site by 40% and increased by 104% and 134% at two others. Forest protection and consequential secondary succession during recent decades in Hong Kong may have been responsible for persistence of P. hongkongensis populations.
Drought effect on plant biomass allocation: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Eziz Anwar , Yan Zhengbing , Tian Di , Han Wenxuan , Tang Zhiyao , Fang Jingyun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractDrought is one of the abiotic stresses controlling plant function and ecological stability. In the context of climate change, drought is predicted to occur more frequently in the future. Despite numerous attempts to clarify the overall effects of drought stress on the growth and physiological processes of plants, a comprehensive evaluation on the impacts of drought stress on biomass allocation, especially on reproductive tissues, remains elusive. We conducted a meta‐analysis by synthesizing 164 published studies to elucidate patterns of plant biomass allocation in relation to drought stress. Results showed that drought significantly increased the fraction of root mass but decreased that of stem, leaf, and reproductive mass. Roots of herbaceous plants were more sensitive to drought than woody plants that reduced reproductive allocation more sharply than the former. Relative to herbaceous plants, drought had a more negative impact on leaf mass fraction of woody plants. Among the herbaceous plants, roots of annuals responded to drought stress more strongly than perennial herbs, but their reproductive allocation was less sensitive to drought than the perennial herbs. In addition, cultivated and wild plants seemed to respond to drought stress in a similar way. Drought stress did not change the scaling exponents of the allometric relationship between different plant tissues. These findings suggest that the allometric partitioning theory, rather than the optimal partitioning theory, better explains the drought‐induced changes in biomass allocation strategies.
A Simplificative Approach‐based Modeling of SOFC Power Systems Fed by Natural Gas
Authors: Beigzadeh M. , Pourfayaz F. , Ahmadi M. H. , Pourkiaei S. M. , Beigzadeh M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe fuel cell system is modeled to investigate output factors including voltage, power, and system efficiency for various input elements including different fuel composition, the air and fuel temperature and their utilization ratios. The purpose of this study is to examine the proficiency of a tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) by simplification in modeling calculation which results in the minimum required data. An electrochemical model is defined at first, and different current losses types were calculated in the next step. In further papers the amount of air and fuel is known and in some of them operating temperature must be known. But in this study it is enough to know the current density and required generated power of the SOFC. Since the amount of reacted methane is almost equal to input value, after performing this calculation for several fuel cells and validating it, the most optimal value for methane output is evaluated and output parameters of SOFC are calculated, then results are validated. The effect of main factors, including system temperature, pressure, current density, air and fuel flow rates and air to fuel ratio on the SOFC efficiency, were studied. Modeling method of current study provides optimum air and fuel flow rate.
An Analysis of the Optimal Mix of Global Energy Resources and the Potential Need for Geoengineering Using the CEAGOM Model
Authors: Anasis John G. , Khalil Mohammad Aslam Khan , Lendaris George G. , Butenhoff Christopher L. , Bluffstone Randall 
Published: November 2017

AbstractHumanity faces tremendous challenges as a result of anthropogenic climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The mix of resources deployed in order to meet the energy needs of a growing global population is key to addressing the climate change issue. The goal of this research is to examine the optimal mix of energy resources that should be deployed to meet a forecast global energy demand while still meeting desired climate targets. The research includes the unique feature of examining the role that geoengineering can play in this optimization. The results show that some form of geoengineering is likely to be needed by the middle of the 21st century as part of the optimal energy strategy in order to meet a specified climate goal of 580 ppm CO2‐eq greenhouse gas concentration (or ≈2 °C average global temperature rise). The optimal energy mix would need to rely on energy efficiency, nuclear, geothermal, hydro, and wind energy for over 50% of global energy needs. In addition, the overall cost of the optimal energy mix is sensitive to the assumed amount of achievable energy efficiency, carbon taxes, deployment of electric vehicles, and the assumed discount rate.
Upregulation of PRMT6 by LPS suppresses Klotho expression through interaction with NF‐κB in glomerular mesangial cells
Authors: Tsai Kuen‐Daw , Lee Wen‐Xi , Chen Wei , Chen Bo‐Yu , Chen Kuan‐Lin , Hsiao Tzu‐Chia , Wang Sue‐Hong , Lee Yi‐Ju , Liang Shan‐Yuan , Shieh Jia‐Ching , Lin Ting‐Hui 
Published: November 2017

AbstractLipopolysaccharide (LPS) released from gram‐negative bacteria stimulates immune responses in infected cells. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and protein methylation modulate LPS‐induced innate immune gene expressions. Expression of the Klotho protein decreased with LPS treatment in rats. In a cellular model, information regarding the effect of LPS on Klotho expression was meager. In the present study, we demonstrated that LPS triggered global DNA and protein methylation in glomerular mesangial MES‐13 cells. LPS upregulated protein expressions of enzymes central to cellular methylation reactions, especially protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) in MES‐13 cells. Expression of the Klotho protein was diminished by LPS and was restored by 5‐Aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (5‐Aza‐2′‐dc), AMI‐1, and ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC), but not adenosine aldehyde (AdOx). NF‐κB was identified as a substrate for arginine methylation and interacted with PRMT6 in MES‐13 cells. Inhibition of PRMT activity by AMI‐1 blocked LPS‐induced NF‐κB nuclear translocation in MES‐13 cells. Our data indicate that NF‐κB negatively regulated Klotho expression with an interaction with PRMT6, which was upregulated by LPS in MES‐13 cells.
Serum ferritin as a non‐invasive marker in the prediction of hepatic fibrosis among Egyptian patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: El Nakeeb Noha , Saleh Shereen A , Massoud Yasmine M , Hussein Ahmed , Hamed Rana 
Published: November 2017

Background and AimMany studies have found a relationship between hepatic iron, serum ferritin, and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or its progress. The aim of this study is to assess the value of serum ferritin as a non‐invasive marker in the prediction of hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD.MethodsThis study included 113 subjects who were classified into three groups. Group I included 30 healthy subjects as control with no clinical, radiological, and histological features of NAFLD. Group II included 31 NAFLD patients without hepatic fibrosis. Group III included 52 patients with hepatic fibrosis on top of NAFLD.ResultsSerum ferritin was determined using ferritin ELISA kit. Fibrosis 4 score was calculated. Liver biopsy was conducted for included patients. Significantly higher levels of serum ferritin were found in patients with hepatic fibrosis on top of NAFLD than controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that an optimum cutoff level of 51.95 ng/mL was the best to predict fibrosis on top of NAFLD with diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 60%, respectively, and area under the curve = 0.658.ConclusionHigher serum ferritin was found in patients with hepatic fibrosis on top of NAFLD. Serum ferritin was found to be a predictor of fibrosis on top of NAFLD with moderate sensitivity and specificity.
Root development of winter wheat in erosion‐affected soils depending on the position in a hummocky ground moraine soil landscape
Authors: Herbrich Marcus , Gerke Horst H. , Sommer Michael 
Published: November 2017

AbstractAgricultural soil landscapes of hummocky ground moraines are characterized by 3D spatial patterns of soil types that result from profile modifications due to the combined effect of water and tillage erosion. We hypothesize that crops reflect such soil landscape patterns by increased or reduced plant and root growth. Root development may depend on the thickness and vertical sequence of soil horizons as well as on the structural development state of these horizons at different landscape positions. The hypotheses were tested using field data of the root density (RD) and the root lengths (RL) of winter wheat using the minirhizotron technique. We compared data from plots at the CarboZALF‐D site (NE Germany) that are representing a non‐eroded reference soil profile (Albic Luvisol) at a plateau position, a strongly eroded profile at steep slope (Calcaric Regosol), and a depositional profile at the footslope (Anocolluvic Regosol). At each of these plots, three Plexiglas access tubes were installed down to approx. 1.5 m soil depth. Root measurements were carried out during the growing season of winter wheat (September 2014–August 2015) on six dates. The root length density (RLD) and the root biomass density were derived from RD values assuming a mean specific root length of 100 m g−1. Values of RD and RLD were highest for the Anocolluvic Regosol and lowest for the Calcaric Regosol. The maximum root penetration depth was lower in the Anocolluvic Regosol because of a relatively high and fluctuating water table at this landscape position. Results revealed positive relations between below‐ground (root) and above‐ground crop parameters (i.e., leaf area index, plant height, biomass, and yield) for the three soil types. Observed root densities and root lengths in soils at the three landscape positions corroborated the hypothesis that the root system was reflecting erosion‐induced soil profile modifications. Soil landscape position dependent root growth should be considered when attempting to quantify landscape scale water and element balances as well as agricultural productivity.
Free amino acids, biogenic amines, and ammonium profiling in tobacco from different geographical origins using microwave‐assisted extraction followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Cai Kai , Xiang Zhangmin , Li Hongqin , Zhao Huina , Lin Yechun , Pan Wenjie , Lei Bo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis work describes a rapid, stable, and accurate method for determining the free amino acids, biogenic amines, and ammonium in tobacco. The target analytes were extracted with microwave‐assisted extraction and then derivatized with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate, followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography analysis. The experimental design used to optimize the microwave‐assisted extraction conditions showed that the optimal extraction time was 10 min with a temperature of 60°C. The stability of aminoenone derivatives was improved by keeping the pH near 9.0, and there was no obvious degradation during the 80°C heating and room temperature storage. Under optimal conditions, this method showed good linearity (R2 > 0.999) and sensitivity (limits of detection 0.010–0.081 μg/mL). The extraction recoveries were between 88.4 and 106.5%, while the repeatability and reproducibility ranged from 0.48 to 5.12% and from 1.56 to 6.52%, respectively. The newly developed method was employed to analyze the tobacco from different geographical origins. Principal component analysis showed that four geographical origins of tobacco could be clearly distinguished and that each had their characteristic components. The proposed method also showed great potential for further investigations on nitrogen metabolism in plants.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Gender, and Risk Factors: World Trade Center Tower Survivors 10 to 11 Years After the September 11, 2001 Attacks
Authors: Bowler Rosemarie M. , Adams Shane W. , Gocheva Vihra V. , Li Jiehui , Mergler Donna , Brackbill Robert , Cone James E. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTen to eleven years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was evaluated in 1,755 World Trade Center (WTC) evacuees based on data from the WTC Health Registry. Characteristics of men and women were compared and factors associated with PTSD symptom severity were examined using the PTSD Checklist (PCL). Compared with men (n = 1,015, 57.8%), women (n = 740, 42.2%) were younger and of lower socioeconomic status. Ten to eleven years after September 11, 2001, 13.7% of men and 24.1% of women met criteria for PTSD. Results indicated that when considered with all other variables (i.e., demographic, socioeconomic and social resources, exposure to the attacks, life events), gender was not a significant predictor of PTSD symptom severity. Being younger on September 11, 2001, unemployed, less educated, and/or having higher exposure to the attacks, unmet mental health care needs, and less social support predicted higher PCL scores for both genders (βs = .077 to .239). Demographic characteristics and socioeconomic resources (ΔR2 = .113) accounted for the largest amount of variance in PCL scores over and above exposure/evacuation, mental healthcare needs, and social support variables (ΔR2 = .093 to .102). When trends of unmet mental healthcare needs were analyzed, the most prevalent response for men was that they preferred to manage their own symptoms (15.1%), whereas the most prevalent response for women was that they could not afford to pay for mental health care (14.7%). Although the prevalence of probable PTSD in women tower survivors was approximately twice as high as it was for men, this is attributable largely to demographic and socioeconomic resource factors and not gender alone. Implications for treatment and interventions are discussed.