bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review and meta‐analysis of liver transplantation using grafts from deceased donors aged over 70 years
Authors: Dasari Bobby V. , Mergental Hynek , Isaac John R. , Muiesan Paolo , Mirza Darius F. , Perera Thamara 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntroductionDue to the current organ shortage, nearly 20% of patients die waiting for a liver transplant (LT). The average donor age is on the rise, and grafts from elderly donors are offered as extended criteria grafts.MethodsThis is a meta‐analysis comparing the outcome differences of adult patients undergoing LT using grafts from <70‐year‐old donors vs >70‐year‐old donors. The primary end‐points were graft and patient survival. Secondary outcomes were biliary and vascular complications as well as graft function. The odds ratio (OR) is a summary statistic with the corresponding 95% confidence interval; P < .05 was considered to be statistically significant.ResultsEight nonrandomized comparative studies with 4376 LT recipients were included. About 79.9% and 20.1% of the grafts were from <70‐year‐old and >70‐year‐old donors, respectively. Graft survival at 1 year was similar between the two groups (P = .11), but there was better 3‐year and 5‐year graft survival in the >70‐year‐old group (P = .006 and P < .0001, respectively). Patient survival was also similar between the groups at 1 year (P = .54), but with better survival at 3‐year and 5‐year follow‐ups (P = .007 and P < .0001, respectively) in the >70‐year‐old group. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of biliary, vascular, and graft functional‐related complications.ConclusionLiver grafts from selected >70‐year‐old donors do not pose added organ‐specific risks and thus have comparable transplantation outcomes.
Liver transplant length of stay (LOS) index: A novel predictive score for hospital length of stay following liver transplantation
Authors: Rana Abbas , Witte Ellen D. , Halazun Karim J. , Sood Gagan K. , Mindikoglu Ayse L. , Sussman Norman L. , Vierling John M. , Kueht Michael L. , Galvan Nhu Thao N. , Cotton Ronald T. , O'Mahony Christine A. , Goss John A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAn index to predict hospital length of stay after liver transplantation could address unmet clinical needs. Length of stay is an important surrogate for hospital costs and efforts to limit stays can preserve our healthcare resources. Here, we devised a scoring system that predicts hospital length of stay following liver transplantation. We used univariate and multivariate analyses on 73 635 adult liver transplant recipient data and identified independent recipient and donor risk factors for prolonged hospital stay (>30 days). Multiple imputation was used to account for missing variables. We identified 22 factors as significant predictors of prolonged hospital stay, including the most significant risk factors: intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR 1.75, CI 1.58‐1.95) and previous transplant (OR 1.60, CI 1.47‐1.75). The length of stay (LOS) index assigns weighted risk points to each significant factor in a scoring system to predict prolonged hospital stay after liver transplantation with a c‐statistic of 0.75. The LOS index demonstrated good discrimination across the entire population, dividing the cohort into tertiles, which had odds ratios of 2.25 (CI 2.06‐2.46) and 7.90 (7.29‐8.56) for prolonged hospital stay (>30 days). The LOS index utilizes 22 significant donor and recipient factors to accurately predict hospital length of stay following liver transplantation. The index further demonstrates the basis for a clear clinical recommendation to mitigate risk of long hospitalization by minimizing cold ischemia time.
Assessment of current genetic structure from local to geographic scales indicates brake down of historically extensive gene flow in the dry grassland species Scabiosa canescens Waldst. & Kit. (Dipsacaceae)
Authors: Ismail Sascha A. , Duwe Virginia K. , Zippel Elke , Borsch Thomas 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAimSpecies‐rich dry grasslands have declined drastically in recent decades leading to spatial isolation of associated species. This can disrupt gene flow leading to genetic erosion, inbreeding and increased differentiation. Using Scabiosa canescens as a case for a threatened central European species confined to dry grasslands, we investigate the genetic consequences of spatial and functional isolation. In particular, inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity are expected to be more pronounced in populations at the northern margin of the sampling area due to more intense agriculture, less suitable habitat and potential post‐glacial colonization from the south.LocationGermany.MethodsWe genotyped 563 individuals at 10 microsatellite loci from 22 populations across the species’ range in Germany. We analyse spatial genetic structure and patterns of isolation by distance (IBD) at multiple scales. Further, we identify latitudinal and altitudinal patterns of genetic diversity and inbreeding.ResultsWe found strong population differentiation but no IBD up to at least 200 km. Levels of inbreeding were positively correlated with latitude and tended to decline with altitude. An integration of altitude and latitude into temperature‐corrected altitude (CA) was positively correlated with genetic diversity. Populations in the Upper Rhine Valley appear to have a distinct ancestry.Main conclusionsWe interpret the strong population differentiation combined with no IBD up to at least 200 km as a sign for disrupted extensive gene flow. A trend for reduced genetic diversity towards the northern populations occurring at lower altitudes is probably driven by more intense land use but cannot be conclusively distinguished from other potential factors such as a more recent colonization history. Apart from the distinct Upper Rhine Valley populations, our findings suggest that assisted gene flow up to 100 km would mitigate genetic differentiation, inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity caused by disrupted long‐distance dispersal.
Effect of host instar on host discrimination of heterospecific‐parasitised hosts by sympatric parasitoids
Authors: CEBOLLA RUTH , BRU PABLO , URBANEJA ALBERTO , TENA ALEJANDRO 
Published: October 2017

1. Interspecific competition among hymenopteran parasitoids may shape their behavioural strategies for host resource exploitation. In order to reduce or prevent competition, many parasitoid species have evolved the ability to discriminate between unparasitised hosts and hosts parasitised by another parasitoid species (i.e. heterospecific host discrimination). However, discriminatory ability might be affected by host instar.2. This study reports the first results on whether host instar can influence the use of heterospecific‐parasitised hosts by sympatric parasitoids of the genus Aphytis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae).3. Aphytis melinus and Aphytis chrysomphali discriminated between unparasitised and heterospecific‐parasitised hosts when they found a third‐instar host (high quality), with a tendency to multi‐parasitise. However, this discrimination was not observed in the second instar (lower size).4. The behavioural strategies adopted towards multi‐parasitise third‐instar hosts varied between both species. Aphytis chrysomphali reduced its clutch size in heterospecific‐parasitised hosts, whereas A. melinus tended to probe them for longer than healthy hosts.5. Overall, our results highlight the importance of host instar in the study of intrinsic competition between parasitoids.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation of right inferior parietal cortex causally influences prefrontal activation for visual detection
Authors: Leitão Joana , Thielscher Axel , Lee Hweeling , Tuennerhoff Johannes , Noppeney Uta 
Published: October 2017

AbstractFor effective interactions with the environment, the brain needs to form perceptual decisions based on noisy sensory evidence. Accumulating evidence suggests that perceptual decisions are formed by widespread interactions amongst sensory areas representing the noisy sensory evidence and fronto‐parietal areas integrating the evidence into a decision variable that is compared to a decisional threshold. This concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)‐fMRI study applied 10 Hz bursts of four TMS (or Sham) pulses to the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) to investigate the causal influence of IPS on the neural systems involved in perceptual decision‐making. Participants had to detect visual signals at threshold intensity that were presented in their left lower visual field on 50% of the trials. Critically, we adjusted the signal strength such that participants failed to detect the visual stimulus on approximately 30% of the trials allowing us to categorise trials into hits, misses and correct rejections (CR). Our results show that IPS‐relative to Sham‐TMS attenuated activation increases for misses relative to CR in the left middle and superior frontal gyri. Critically, while IPS‐TMS did not significantly affect participants’ performance accuracy, it affected how observers adjusted their response times after making an error. We therefore suggest that activation increases in superior frontal gyri for misses relative to correct responses may not be critical for signal detection performance, but rather reflect post‐decisional processing such as metacognitive monitoring of choice accuracy or decisional confidence.
Chronic BMY7378 treatment alters behavioral circadian rhythms
Authors: Vijaya Shankara Jhenkruthi , Orr Angélique , Mychasiuk Richelle , Antle Michael C. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe mammalian circadian clock is synchronized to the day : night cycle by light. Serotonin modulates the circadian effects of light, with agonists inhibiting response to light and antagonists enhancing responses to light. A special class of serotonergic compounds, the mixed 5‐HT1A agonist/antagonists, potentiates light‐induced phase advances by up to 400% when administered acutely. In this study, we examine the effects of one of these mixed 5‐HT1A agonist/antagonists, BMY7378, when administered chronically. Thirty adult male hamsters were administered either vehicle or BMY7378 via surgically implanted osmotic mini pumps over a period of 28 days. In a light : dark cycle, chronic BMY7378 advanced the phase angle of entrainment, prolonged the duration of the active phase and attenuated the amplitude of the wheel‐running rhythm during the early night. In constant darkness, chronic treatment with BMY7378 significantly attenuated light‐induced phase advances, but had no significant effect on light‐induced phase delays. Non‐photic phase shifts to daytime administration of a 5‐HT1A/7 agonist were also attenuated by chronic BMY7378 treatment. qRT‐PCR analysis revealed that chronic BMY7378 treatment upregulated mRNA for 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT1B receptors in the hypothalamus and downregulated mRNA for 5‐HT1A and monoamine oxidase‐A in the brainstem. These results highlight adaptive changes of serotonin receptors in the brain to chronic treatment with BMY7378 and link such up‐ and downregulation to changes in important circadian parameters. Such long‐term changes to the circadian system should be considered when patients are treated chronically with drugs that alter serotonergic function.
A comparison of individual distinctiveness in three vocalizations of the dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula)
Authors: Rubow Janneke , Cherry Michael I. , Sharpe Lynda L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIndividual specificity can be found in the vocalizations of many avian and mammalian species. However, it is often difficult to determine whether these vocal cues to identity rise from “unselected” individual differences in vocal morphology or whether they have been accentuated by selection for the purposes of advertising caller identity. By comparing the level of acoustic individuality of different vocalizations within the repertoire of a single species, it is possible to ascertain whether selection for individual recognition has modified the vocal cues to identity in particular contexts. We used discriminant function analyses to determine the level of accuracy with which calls could be classified to the correct individual caller, for three dwarf mongoose (Helogale parvula) vocalizations: contact, snake, and isolation calls. These calls were similar in acoustic structure but divergent in context and function. We found that all three call types showed individual specificity but levels varied with call type (increasing from snake to contact to isolation call). The individual distinctiveness of each call type appeared to be directly related to the degree of benefit that signalers were likely to accrue from advertising their identity within that call context. We conclude that dwarf mongoose signalers have undergone selection to facilitate vocal individual recognition, particularly in relation to the species’ isolation call.
Evaluating transferability of flow–ecology relationships across space, time and taxonomy
Authors: Chen William , Olden Julian D. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

Environmental flow assessments are becoming increasingly central to ecologically‐sustainable river management. Rigorous evaluations of flow–ecology relationships serve a vital role in guiding these assessments to meet targeted ecosystem objectives. However, limited resources and widespread environmental change are outpacing the ability to gain knowledge of species’ flow responses and assess environmental needs for rivers individually. Successfully transferring flow–ecology relationships across space and time would facilitate regional‐scale environmental flow assessments, yet the necessary contexts for such success remains a knowledge gap.

Here, we leverage long‐term, multi‐species datasets across multiple river basins in southwestern United States as a case study to explore whether relationships between species abundances and hydrological conditions are transferable across space and time. Additionally, we evaluate the potential for ecological guilds based on fluvial dependence and life‐history strategies to facilitate the transfer of flow–ecology knowledge across taxonomic boundaries.

Species varied in the spatial transferability of their flow–ecology relationships. Spatial transferability was similar when comparing a species’ flow–ecology relationships within a river basin versus across different river basins, although transferability was considerably greater across free‐flowing rivers compared to regulated rivers. Species’ flow–ecology relationships transferred through time just as well as across space. Ecological guilds defined according to fluvial dependence and life‐history strategies offered just as much potential for transferring flow–ecology knowledge among species as transferring within species across space or time.

Our study provides insights into transferring flow–ecology knowledge to support effective, regional‐scale environmental flows. Further research into developing transferable flow–ecology relationships for a wide range of environmental predictors and biological responses across different spatial scales and flow regimes will enable us to keep pace with the increasing demand for science to inform sustainable river management.
Thermal refugia against coral bleaching throughout the northern Red Sea
Authors: Osman Eslam O. , Smith David J. , Ziegler Maren , Kürten Benjamin , Conrad Constanze , El‐Haddad Khaled M. , Voolstra Christian R. , Suggett David J. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractTropical reefs have been impacted by thermal anomalies caused by global warming that induced coral bleaching and mortality events globally. However, there have only been very few recordings of bleaching within the Red Sea despite covering a latitudinal range of 15° and consequently it has been considered a region that is less sensitive to thermal anomalies. We therefore examined historical patterns of sea surface temperature (SST) and associated anomalies (1982–2012) and compared warming trends with a unique compilation of corresponding coral bleaching records from throughout the region. These data indicated that the northern Red Sea has not experienced mass bleaching despite intensive Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) of >15°C‐weeks. Severe bleaching was restricted to the central and southern Red Sea where DHWs have been more frequent, but far less intense (DHWs <4°C‐weeks). A similar pattern was observed during the 2015–2016 El Niño event during which time corals in the northern Red Sea did not bleach despite high thermal stress (i.e. DHWs >8°C‐weeks), and bleaching was restricted to the central and southern Red Sea despite the lower thermal stress (DHWs < 8°C‐weeks). Heat stress assays carried out in the northern (Hurghada) and central (Thuwal) Red Sea on four key reef‐building species confirmed different regional thermal susceptibility, and that central Red Sea corals are more sensitive to thermal anomalies as compared to those from the north. Together, our data demonstrate that corals in the northern Red Sea have a much higher heat tolerance than their prevailing temperature regime would suggest. In contrast, corals from the central Red Sea are close to their thermal limits, which closely match the maximum annual water temperatures. The northern Red Sea harbours reef‐building corals that live well below their bleaching thresholds and thus we propose that the region represents a thermal refuge of global importance.
Influence of Seasonal Pumping on Groundwater Sources and Flow System, Nagaoka Plain, Japan
Authors: Abe Hiroaki , Tang Changyuan , Takeuchi Nozomu , Kondoh Akihiko 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIntensive groundwater development in the urban area of the Nagaoka Plain, Japan, has induced changes in the pH and saturation index of calcite in groundwater. To account for these chemical changes, it is important to determine seasonal variations of recharge and the groundwater flow system in the aquifer. This study identified the sources and flow system of groundwater in this urban area by a comprehensive method using stable isotope data and a numerical groundwater model of the Nagaoka Plain. Stable isotope evidence shows that the groundwater is recharged by meteoric water originating from low‐elevation areas rather than the mountains surrounding the plain. The water table in the study area is drawn down during the winter and recovers in the other seasons. Numerical modeling shows that discharge occurs primarily along the Shinano River during the recovery period, whereas discharge is centered in urbanized areas during the drawdown period, when a conical depression of the water table stimulates recharge from the immediate area. These results are indications of a local groundwater flow system, with its recharge area between the Shinano River and the urban areas, which is governed by intensive seasonal groundwater extraction.
Pattern of bleeding in a large prospective cohort of haemophilia A patients: A three‐year follow‐up of the AHEAD (Advate in HaEmophilia A outcome Database) study
Authors: Khair K. , Mazzucconi M. G. , Parra R. , Santagostino E. , Tsakiris D. A. , Hermans C. , Oldenburg J. , Spotts G. , Steinitz‐Trost K. , Gringeri A. 
Published: October 2017

IntroductionOutcome data on treatment of patients with haemophilia A spanning several years of real‐world evidence collection are currently very limited.Aim and methodsThe global prospective long‐term Advate® Haemophilia A Outcome Database (AHEAD) cohort study collects real‐world data from patients with severe and moderate haemophilia. We report an interim data read‐out after three years of observation.ResultsA total of 522 patients were enrolled from 21 countries: 334 completed year 1 follow‐up, 238 completed year 2 and 136 completed year 3, with an overall follow‐up of 811 patient‐years. Median annual bleeding rates (ABR) were 1.7 in the prophylaxis group and 8.9 in the on‐demand group at year 1 visit, 1.6 and 13.0, respectively, at year 2 visit and 2.2 and 10.3, respectively, at year 3 visit. Moreover, about 42% of patients on prophylaxis vs 12% of patients on on‐demand had zero annual joint bleeding rates (AJBR). Effectiveness of prophylaxis and on‐demand treatment was deemed excellent/good in the majority of cases. Octocog alfa (Advate®) was well tolerated. The inhibitors that developed in nine patients all disappeared spontaneously. Three patients had been previously exposed to FVIII for ≤50 exposure days (EDs), 3 for >50 EDs and 3 showed a borderline positive inhibitory activity (≤0.6 BU/mL).ConclusionsThese data confirm that the goal of zero bleeds is achievable, although not yet achieved in all patients. Understanding reasons behind the lower response to standard prophylaxis regimens in some patients and personalizing prophylactic treatment may further improve outcome in patients with haemophilia A.
Intelligent sleeping car berth inventory control system in the case of variable capacity of railcars
Authors: Macura Dragana , Šelmić Milica , Teodorović Dušan 
Published: October 2017

AbstractManaging ticket reservations in passenger rail transport is a complex task. A hybrid algorithm is developed as a decision support tool. The aim of the proposed algorithm is to provide real‐time decisions on seat inventory allocation taking into account relevant information from the past. This paper considers the revenue management application in passenger rail transport with variable capacity of sleeping cars. Uncertainty of capacity availability is embedded in the developed algorithm through a payoff table, while an Artificial Neural Network is used as a tool for making real‐time decisions. The algorithm is tested on hypothetical data.
Wound care evidence, knowledge and education amongst nurses: a semi‐systematic literature review
Authors: Welsh Lynn 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe aims of this study were to determine the knowledge and skills of nurses involved in wound care, to provide a critical overview of the current evidence base underpinning wound care and to determine the extent of utilisation of existing evidence by nurses involved in the management of wounds in practice.A semi‐systematic review of the literature was undertaken on Cinahl, Medline Science Direct and Cochrane using the search terms: wound, tissue viability, education, nurse, with limitations set for dates between 2009 and 2017 and English language.Shortfalls were found in the evidence base underpinning wound care and in links between evidence and practice, prevalence of ritualistic practice and in structured education at pre‐ and post‐registration levels.The evidence underpinning wound care practice should be further developed, including the conduction of independent studies and research of qualitative design to obtain rich data on both patient and clinician experiences of all aspects of wound management. More structured wound care education programmes, both at pre‐registration/undergraduate and professional development levels, should be established.