bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cure rate quantile regression accommodating both finite and infinite survival times
Authors: Wu Yuanshan , Yin Guosheng 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn survival analysis a proportion of patients may be cured by the treatment, and thus they become risk‐free of the event of interest and their survival times change to infinity. The existence of such a survival fraction often makes the underlying population more heterogeneous and heavily right‐skewed. Compared with the traditional mean‐ or hazard‐based regression methods, quantile regression is more suitable for such survival data as it is more robust against outliers or infinite survival times. Moreover, it offers a comprehensive assessment of the covariate effects on the survival times at different quantile levels. We propose a new cure rate quantile regression model for the entire population including both finite and infinite survival times. By invoking non‐parametric functional estimation an iterative algorithm is developed to estimate the cure rate parameters. The scheme of redistribution‐of‐mass to the right for censored data is adopted to estimate the quantile regression parameters. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the proposed estimators are established. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the finite‐sample performance of the proposed method, which is further illustrated with a phase III melanoma clinical trial study.The Canadian Journal of Statistics45: 29–43; 2017 © 2016 Statistical Society of Canada
In vivo transgenic expression of collybistin in neurons of the rat cerebral cortex
Authors: Fekete Christopher D. , Goz Roman U. , Dinallo Sean , Miralles Celia P. , Chiou Tzu‐Ting , Bear John , Fiondella Christopher G. , LoTurco Joseph J. , De Blas Angel L. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTCollybistin (CB) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor selectively localized to γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic and glycinergic postsynapses. Active CB interacts with gephyrin, inducing the submembranous clustering and the postsynaptic accumulation of gephyrin, which is a scaffold protein that recruits GABAA receptors (GABAARs) at the postsynapse. CB is expressed with or without a src homology 3 (SH3) domain. We have previously reported the effects on GABAergic synapses of the acute overexpression of CBSH3− or CBSH3+ in cultured hippocampal (HP) neurons. In the present communication, we are studying the effects on GABAergic synapses after chronic in vivo transgenic expression of CB2SH3− or CB2SH3+ in neurons of the adult rat cerebral cortex. The embryonic precursors of these cortical neurons were in utero electroporated with CBSH3− or CBSH3+ DNAs, migrated to the appropriate cortical layer, and became integrated in cortical circuits. The results show that: 1) the strength of inhibitory synapses in vivo can be enhanced by increasing the expression of CB in neurons; and 2) there are significant differences in the results between in vivo and in culture studies. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1291–1311, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cellular localization of relaxin‐like gonad‐stimulating peptide expression in Asterias rubens: New insights into neurohormonal control of spawning in starfish
Authors: Lin Ming , Mita Masatoshi , Egertová Michaela , Zampronio Cleidiane G. , Jones Alexandra M. , Elphick Maurice R. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGamete maturation and spawning in starfish is triggered by a gonad‐stimulating substance (GSS), which is present in extracts of the radial nerve cords. Purification of GSS from the starfish Patiria pectinifera identified GSS as a relaxin‐like polypeptide, which is now known as relaxin‐like gonad‐stimulating peptide (RGP). Cells expressing RGP in the radial nerve cord of P. pectinifera have been visualized, but the presence of RGP‐expressing cells in other parts of the starfish body has not been investigated. Here we addressed this issue in the starfish Asterias rubens. An A. rubens RGP (AruRGP) precursor cDNA was sequenced and the A chain and B chain that form AruRGP were detected in A. rubens radial nerve cord extracts using mass spectrometry. Comparison of the bioactivity of AruRGP and P. pectinifera RGP (PpeRGP) revealed that both polypeptides induce oocyte maturation and ovulation in A. rubens ovarian fragments, but AruRGP is more potent than PpeRGP. Analysis of the expression of AruRGP in A. rubens using mRNA in situ hybridization revealed cells expressing RGP in the radial nerve cords, circumoral nerve ring, and tube feet. Furthermore, a band of RGP‐expressing cells was identified in the body wall epithelium lining the cavity that surrounds the sensory terminal tentacle and optic cushion at the tips of the arms. Discovery of these RGP‐expressing cells closely associated with sensory organs in the arm tips is an important finding because these cells are candidate physiological mediators for hormonal control of starfish spawning in response to environmental cues. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1599–1617, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Remarkable Solvatofluorochromism of a [2.2]Paracyclophane‐Containing Organoboron Complex: A Large Stokes Shift Promoted by Excited State Intramolecular Charge Transfer
Authors: Tanaka Mirai , Muraoka Shunsuke , Matsui Yasunori , Ohta Eisuke , Sakai Atsushi , Ogaki Takuya , Yoshimoto Yuichi , Mizuno Kazuhiko , Ikeda Hiroshi 
Published: November 2016

AbstractAn organoboron complex containing a [2.2]paracyclophanyl group (2 BF2) exhibits remarkable solvatofluorochromism associated with a large Stokes shift. With increased solvent polarity, the fluorescence (FL) color of 2 BF2 changes from sky blue (λFL=485 nm in cyclohexane (c‐C6H12)) to orange (λFL=576 nm in CH3CN). This behavior derives from the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character of the excited state 2 BF2* in which the [2.2]paracyclophanyl group serves as the electron donor while the remaining 2 BF2 structure (apart from the sub‐benzene ring) functions as the electron acceptor. Wave deconvolution of FL spectra in a solvent mixture of CH2Cl2/c‐C6H12, and a plot of the FL emission energy versus the CH2Cl2/c‐C6H12 ratio, suggest that FL of 2 BF2 occurs from two types of 2 BF2* excited states. The results of DFT calculations support this explanation and further emphasize that the ICT character of 2 BF2* is derived from a large conformational change associated with the electron‐donating character of the [2.2]paracyclophanyl group. Moreover, the fact that 2 BF2 is more sensitive than Reichardt's dye to polarity changes in a low polarity CH2Cl2/c‐C6H12 solvent mixture is also of importance.
Surface Electrochemical Modification of a Nickel Substrate to Prepare a NiFe‐based Electrode for Water Oxidation
Authors: Guo Dingyi , Qi Jing , Zhang Wei , Cao Rui 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe slow kinetics of water oxidation greatly jeopardizes the efficiency of water electrolysis for H2 production. Developing highly active water oxidation electrodes with affordable fabrication costs is thus of great importance. Herein, a NiIIFeIII surface species on Ni metal substrate was generated by electrochemical modification of Ni in a ferrous solution by a fast, simple, and cost‐effective procedure. In the prepared NiIIFeIII catalyst film, FeIII was incorporated uniformly through controlled oxidation of FeII cations on the electrode surface. The catalytically active NiII originated from the Ni foam substrate, which ensured the close contact between the catalyst and the support toward improved charge‐transfer efficiency. The as‐prepared electrode exhibited high activity and long‐term stability for electrocatalytic water oxidation. The overpotentials required to reach water oxidation current densities of 50, 100, and 500 mA cm−2 are 276, 290, and 329 mV, respectively.
Current and future ozone risks to global terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes
Authors: Fuhrer Jürg , Val Martin Maria , Mills Gina , Heald Colette L. , Harmens Harry , Hayes Felicity , Sharps Katrina , Bender Jürgen , Ashmore Mike R. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractRisks associated with exposure of individual plant species to ozone (O3) are well documented, but implications for terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem processes have received insufficient attention. This is an important gap because feedbacks to the atmosphere may change as future O3 levels increase or decrease, depending on air quality and climate policies. Global simulation of O3 using the Community Earth System Model (CESM) revealed that in 2000, about 40% of the Global 200 terrestrial ecoregions (ER) were exposed to O3 above thresholds for ecological risks, with highest exposures in North America and Southern Europe, where there is field evidence of adverse effects of O3, and in central Asia. Experimental studies show that O3 can adversely affect the growth and flowering of plants and alter species composition and richness, although some communities can be resilient. Additional effects include changes in water flux regulation, pollination efficiency, and plant pathogen development. Recent research is unraveling a range of effects belowground, including changes in soil invertebrates, plant litter quantity and quality, decomposition, and nutrient cycling and carbon pools. Changes are likely slow and may take decades to become detectable. CESM simulations for 2050 show that O3 exposure under emission scenario RCP8.5 increases in all major biomes and that policies represented in scenario RCP4.5 do not lead to a general reduction in O3 risks; rather, 50% of ERs still show an increase in exposure. Although a conceptual model is lacking to extrapolate documented effects to ERs with limited or no local information, and there is uncertainty about interactions with nitrogen input and climate change, the analysis suggests that in many ERs, O3 risks will persist for biodiversity at different trophic levels, and for a range of ecosystem processes and feedbacks, which deserves more attention when assessing ecological implications of future atmospheric pollution and climate change.
Ecological monitoring and evidence‐based decision‐making in America's National Parks: highlights of the Special Feature
Authors: Rodhouse Thomas J. , Sergeant Christopher J. , Schweiger E. William 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn this Special Feature, we celebrate 100 years of National Park Service science by highlighting contributions from the agency's Inventory and Monitoring Division. This broad body of work coalesces into several themes, including the role of protected areas in understanding rapid global change and the growing interest in place‐based ecological insights that contextualize scientific information from protected areas across broader scales. Finally, we illustrate progress on the long‐sought integration of science into the resource management strategies implemented within “America's Best Idea,” now more important than ever given the many challenges our nation's parks face.
Phenotypic plasticity of nest timing in a post‐glacial landscape: how do reptiles adapt to seasonal time constraints?
Authors: Edge Christopher B. , Rollinson Njal , Brooks Ronald J. , Congdon Justin D. , Iverson John B. , Janzen Fredric J. , Litzgus Jacqueline D. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractLife histories evolve in response to constraints on the time available for growth and development. Nesting date and its plasticity in response to spring temperature may therefore be important components of fitness in oviparous ectotherms near their northern range limit, as reproducing early provides more time for embryos to complete development before winter. We used data collected over several decades to compare air temperature and nest date plasticity in populations of painted turtles and snapping turtles from a relatively warm environment (southeastern Michigan) near the southern extent of the last glacial maximum to a relatively cool environment (central Ontario) near the northern extent of post‐glacial recolonization. For painted turtles, population‐level differences in reaction norm elevation for two phenological traits were consistent with adaptation to time constraints, but no differences in reaction norm slopes were observed. For snapping turtle populations, the difference in reaction norm elevation for a single phenological trait was in the opposite direction of what was expected under adaptation to time constraints, and no difference in reaction norm slope was observed. Finally, among‐individual variation in individual plasticity for nesting date was detected only in the northern population of snapping turtles, suggesting that reaction norms are less canalized in this northern population. Overall, we observed evidence of phenological adaptation, and possibly maladaptation, to time constraints in long‐lived reptiles. Where present, (mal)adaptation occurred by virtue of differences in reaction norm elevation, not reaction norm slope. Glacial history, generation time, and genetic constraint may all play an important role in the evolution of phenological timing and its plasticity in long‐lived reptiles.
Above‐ and belowground insect herbivory modifies the response of a grassland plant community to nitrogen eutrophication
Authors: Borgström Pernilla , Strengbom Joachim , Marini Lorenzo , Viketoft Maria , Bommarco Riccardo 
Published: November 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the role that species interactions play in determining the rate and direction of ecosystem change due to nitrogen (N) eutrophication is important for predicting the consequences of global change. Insects might play a major role in this context. They consume substantial amounts of plant biomass and can alter competitive interactions among plants, indirectly shaping plant community composition. Nitrogen eutrophication affects plant communities globally, but there is limited experimental evidence of how insect herbivory modifies plant community response to raised N levels. Even less is known about the roles of above‐ and belowground herbivory in shaping plant communities, and how the interaction between the two might modify a plant community's response to N eutrophication. We conducted a 3‐yr field experiment where grassland plant communities were subjected to above‐ and belowground insect herbivory with and without N addition, in a full‐factorial design. We found that herbivory modified plant community responses to N addition. Aboveground herbivory decreased aboveground plant community biomass by 21%, but only at elevated N. When combined, above‐ and belowground herbivory had a stronger negative effect on plant community biomass at ambient N (11% decrease) than at elevated N (4% decrease). In addition, herbivory shifted the functional composition of the plant community, and the magnitude of the shifts depended on the N level. The N and herbivory treatments synergistically conferred a competitive advantage to forbs, which benefited when both herbivory types were present at elevated N. Evenness among the plant species groups increased when aboveground herbivory was present, but N addition attenuated this increase. Our results demonstrate that a deeper understanding of how plant–herbivore interactions above and below ground shape the composition of a plant community is crucial for making reliable predictions about the ecological consequences of global change.
The role of competition, ecotones, and temperature in the elevational distribution of Himalayan birds
Authors: Elsen Paul R. , Tingley Morgan W. , Kalyanaraman Ramnarayan , Ramesh Krishnamurthy , Wilcove David S. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThere is clear evidence that species’ ranges along environmental gradients are constrained by both biotic and abiotic factors, yet their relative importance in structuring realized distributions remains uncertain. We surveyed breeding bird communities while collecting in situ temperature and vegetation data along five elevational transects in the Himalayas differing in temperature variability, habitat zonation, and bird richness in order to disentangle temperature, habitat, and congeneric competition as mechanisms structuring elevational ranges. Our results from species’ abundance models representing these three mechanisms differed markedly from previous, foundational research in the tropics. Contrary to general expectations, we found little evidence for competition as a major determinant of range boundaries, with congeneric species limiting only 12% of ranges. Instead, temperature and habitat were found to structure the majority of species’ distributions, limiting 48 and 40% of ranges, respectively. Our results suggest that different mechanisms may structure species ranges in the temperate Himalayas compared to tropical systems. Despite recent evidence suggesting temperate species have broader thermal tolerances than tropical species, our findings reinforce the notion that the abiotic environment has significant control over the distributions of temperate species.
Health Care for NFL Players: Upholding Physician Standards and Enhancing the Doctor‐Patient Relationship
Authors: Duvernay‐Tardif Laurent 
Published: November 2016

Beginning my third year with the Kansas City Chiefs and being also a medical student at McGill University, I was at first a little reluctant to comment on Glenn Cohen et al.’s critique of the National Football League's structure involving player health and team doctors, but the opportunity to provide a perspective as both a football player and a medical student was too much to forgo. Because of my athletic and academic background, I am often asked what I think about injuries in professional sports and about the role of sports medicine physicians, and Cohen et al.’s article demands a thoughtful reaction. I want to suggest that the fundamental principles concerning the medical profession and the doctor‐patient relationship provide additional arguments for some of the solutions that Cohen et al. discuss. The professional self‐regulation that the proposed medical committee could provide and the reliance on a doctor who was not hired by the player's employer—the club—for a second opinion are both good ways to minimize conflicts of interest.
Preventing Conflicts of Interest of NFL Team Physicians
Authors: Rothstein Mark A. 
Published: November 2016

At least since the time of Hippocrates, the physician‐patient relationship has been the paradigmatic ethical arrangement for the provision of medical care. Yet, a physician‐patient relationship does not exist in every professional interaction involving physicians and individuals they examine or treat. There are several “third‐party” relationships, mostly arising where the individual is not a patient and is merely being examined rather than treated, the individual does not select or pay the physician, and the physician's services are provided for the benefit of another party. Physicians who treat NFL players have a physician‐patient relationship, but physicians who merely examine players to determine their health status have a third‐party relationship. As described by Glenn Cohen et al., the problem is that typical NFL team doctors perform both functions, which leads to entrenched conflicts of interest. Although there are often disputes about treatment, the main point of contention between players and team physicians is the evaluation of injuries and the reporting of players’ health status to coaches and other team personnel. Cohen et al. present several thoughtful recommendations that deserve serious consideration. Rather than focusing on their specific recommendations, however, I would like to explain the rationale for two essential reform principles: the need to sever the responsibilities of treatment and evaluation by team physicians and the need to limit the amount of player medical information disclosed to teams.
The Dual Role of NFL Team Doctors
Authors: Washington Marvin 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGlenn Cohen, Holly Fernandez Lynch, and Christopher Deubert are right in their article “A Proposal to Address NFL Club Doctors’ Conflicts of Interest and to Promote Player Trust” that the problem with the medical care rendered to National Football League players is not that the doctors are bad, but that the system in which they provide care is structured badly. We saw some of the problems this system causes last season in what happened to Case Kenum, a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams who, despite having a possible concussion from a game injury, was allowed to continue to play, with a concussion spotter in the booth and coaches, teammates, seven game officials, and two full training staffs present. From my experience playing in the league from 1989 to 1999, I do not believe that you can eliminate the conflict of interest completely, but I think it can be limited to the point that it does not harm the player. As the structure is now, with the team paying the club doctor, it is impossible to put the players’ health and well‐being before the team's on‐field priorities.
Assessing the reliability of ecotoxicological studies: An overview of current needs and approaches
Authors: Moermond Caroline , Beasley Amy , Breton Roger , Junghans Marion , Laskowski Ryszard , Solomon Keith , Zahner Holly 
Published: November 2016

Abstract

In general, reliable studies are well designed and well performed, and enough details on study design and performance are reported to assess the study. For hazard and risk assessment in various legal frameworks, many different types of ecotoxicity studies need to be evaluated for reliability. These studies vary in study design, methodology, quality, and level of detail reported (e.g., reviews, peer-reviewed research papers, or industry-sponsored studies documented under Good Laboratory Practice [GLP] guidelines). Regulators have the responsibility to make sound and verifiable decisions and should evaluate each study for reliability in accordance with scientific principles regardless of whether they were conducted in accordance with GLP and/or standardized methods. Thus, a systematic and transparent approach is needed to evaluate studies for reliability. In this paper, 8 different methods for reliability assessment were compared using a number of attributes: categorical versus numerical scoring methods, use of exclusion and critical criteria, weighting of criteria, whether methods are tested with case studies, domain of applicability, bias toward GLP studies, incorporation of standard guidelines in the evaluation method, number of criteria used, type of criteria considered, and availability of guidance material. Finally, some considerations are given on how to choose a suitable method for assessing reliability of ecotoxicity studies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2017;13:640–651. © 2016 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

Key Points
When evaluating the reliability of an ecotoxicity study or individual effect values from this study, a systematic and transparent assessment method is critical to ensure an unbiased and consistent categorization of reliability. Eight different methods for reliability assessment were compared using a number of attributes. Some additional considerations are given on how to choose a suitable method for assessing reliability of ecotoxicity studies.
SYSTEMS OF SYSTEMS: WHY THEY MATTER TO ALL SYSTEMS ENGINEERS
Authors: Cook Stephen 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTSystems of systems (SoS) abound around us. This paper opens by introducing SoS and systems of systems engineering (SoSE) in a descriptive way and addresses why they are important to all systems engineers. This special issue was coordinated by the INCOSE Systems of Systems Working Group (SoSWG) and we explain how we set out to convey the key ideas in SoSE to all systems engineering practitioners regardless of their previous exposure to SoS. An introduction to the companion papers follows and in an effort to reinforce that SoSE is a class of engineering, the article concludes with a salient reminder of what can happen when engineering becomes relegated over time.