bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diversity, biogeography and the global flows of alien amphibians and reptiles
Authors: Capinha César , Seebens Hanno , Cassey Phillip , García‐Díaz Pablo , Lenzner Bernd , Mang Thomas , Moser Dietmar , Pyšek Petr , Rödder Dennis , Scalera Riccardo , Winter Marten , Dullinger Stefan , Essl Franz 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimWe introduce a high‐quality global database of established alien amphibians and reptiles. We use this data set to analyse: (1) the global distribution; (2) the temporal dynamics; (3) the flows between native and alien ranges; and (4) the key drivers of established alien amphibians and reptiles.LocationWorldwide.MethodsWe collected geographical records of established amphibians and reptiles from a thorough search across a wide number of sources. We supplemented these data with year of first record, when available. We used descriptive statistics and data visualization techniques to analyse taxonomic, spatial and temporal patterns in establishment records and the global flows of alien species. We used generalized linear mixed models to relate spatial variation in the number of established species richness with variables describing geographical, environmental and human factors.ResultsOur database covers 86% of the terrestrial area of the world. We identified 78 alien amphibian and 198 alien reptile species established in at least one of our 359 study regions. These figures represent about 1.0% of the extant global amphibian and 1.9% of the extant global reptile species richness. The flows of amphibians were dominated by exchanges between and within North and South America, and within Europe (59% of all links). For reptiles, the network of global flows of established alien species was much more diverse, with every continental region being both a donor and a recipient of similar importance. The number of established alien amphibians and reptiles has grown slowly until 1950 and strongly increased thereafter. Our generalized linear mixed models revealed that insularity, climatic conditions, and socio‐economic development significantly influenced the distributional patterns for both groups.Main conclusionsWe conclude that biological invasions by alien amphibians and reptiles are a rapidly accelerating phenomenon, particularly on islands with heterogeneous climates of economically highly developed countries.
Geographical generality of bird‐habitat relationships depends on species traits
Authors: Bonthoux Sébastien , Balent Gérard , Augiron Steve , Baudry Jacques , Bretagnolle Vincent 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimThe environmental filtering process is often considered as static in ecological studies. However, growing evidence shows that species‐environment relationships vary in space and time. In this study, we assessed to what extent bird responses to landscape components can be geographically generalised and whether differences in response generality can be explained by traits.LocationFrance.MethodsWe collected a large bird data set (1968 point counts over two years) with a standardised protocol in three agricultural regions with different levels of intensification in France. We modelled the relationships between the distribution of 26 bird species and three landscape components (percentage of woodland, hedgerow density and landscape heterogeneity) and assessed whether differences between regions in bird responses to landscape components (i.e., landscape‐region interactions) can be explained by three species traits (habitat specialisation, diet and migration strategy). We also examined the response of total species richness.ResultsWe found that 16 species showed regional differences in their response at least for one of the three landscape variables. Importance of landscape‐region interactions was significantly correlated with two species traits. Responses of specialist species to landscape components were geographically more constant than those of generalists. The geographical variability of responses was higher for migrants than for sedentary species. There were no significant relationships for the diet trait. Species richness responded positively to the three landscape metrics in a similar way in the three regions.Main conclusionsThe results underline the need to take into account the spatial differences between species responses to habitats according to their traits when modelling species‐habitat relationships at large scales. From a conservation point of view, we suggest that conservation measures could be generalised at a large scale for specialist species which are declining in agricultural landscapes.
Factors shaping avian alien species richness in Australia vs Europe
Authors: McKinney Matthew , Kark Salit 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimWe aim to examine the relative importance of human activity‐related and natural variables in shaping spatial patterns of alien bird species richness at the continental scale for Australia. We examine the drivers shaping establishment of alien birds in Australia in the framework of the human activity hypothesis and the biotic acceptance hypothesis (the “rich get richer” model of biotic invasion), and directly compare our results to Europe.LocationContinental Australia, Tasmania, Continental Europe, United Kingdom.MethodsWe use compiled atlas data on alien bird richness in continental Australia and Tasmania together and separately, records of known alien bird introduction events compiled from various sources and a suite of biogeographic variables to evaluate drivers of alien bird richness at a 50‐km resolution in Australia. We use hierarchical portioning and spatial generalized linear models to quantify the relative contribution of each environmental variable to alien bird richness. We then compare our results directly to those from a previous continental‐scale study in Europe and in the UK.ResultsWe identify 24 established alien bird species across Australia (including nearshore islands and Tasmania) and present a detailed map of alien bird richness in Australia. We discover that in Australia, native bird species richness and land cover heterogeneity are the strongest predictors of alien bird richness at a 50‐km resolution, supporting the “rich get richer” model of species invasion.Main conclusionsOur results are contrary to Europe, where the human activity hypothesis was best supported. By performing a cross‐continental comparison of drivers of alien bird richness, we show that processes shaping alien establishment and spread can vary across continents with variable human impact history and should be examined on a case‐by‐case basis before endorsing general hypotheses.
Radiofrequency ablation in patients with large cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa and globus sensation: Closing the treatment gap
Authors: Kristo Ivan , Rieder Erwin , Paireder Matthias , Schwameis Katrin , Jomrich Gerd , Dolak Werner , Parzefall Thomas , Riegler Martin , Asari Reza , Schoppmann Sebastian F. 
Published: September 2017

Background and AimSymptomatic cervical heterotopic gastric mucosa, also known as cervical inlet patch (CIP), may present in various shapes and causes laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Unfortunately, argon plasma coagulation, standard treatment of small symptomatic CIP, is limited in large CIP mainly because of concerns of stricture formation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a novel minimally invasive ablation method, in the treatment of CIP focusing on large symptomatic patches.MethodsConsecutive patients with macroscopic and histological evidence of large (≥20 mm diameter) heterotopic gastric mucosa were included in this prospective trial. Primary outcome was complete macroscopic and histological eradication rate of CIP. Secondary outcome measures were symptom improvement, quality of life, severity of LPR and adverse events.ResultsTen patients (females, n = 5) underwent RFA of symptomatic CIP. Complete histological and macroscopic eradication of CIP was observed in 80% (females, n = 4) of individuals after two ablations. Globus sensations significantly improved from median visual analog scale score 8 (5–9) at baseline to 1.5 (1–7) after first ablation and 1 (1–2) after final evaluation (P < 0.001). Mental health scores significantly increased from 41.4 (± 8.5) to 54.4 (± 4.4) after RFA (P = 0.007). LPR improved significantly (P = 0.005) with absence of strictures after a mean follow up of 1.9 (± 0.5) years.ConclusionsThis is the first study on RFA focusing on therapy of large symptomatic heterotopic gastric mucosa. Hereby, we demonstrate that this new technique can be successfully implemented in patients where treatment was limited so far (NCT03023280).
Conifer species influence Heterobasidion irregulare sporulation on stem discs exposed to natural inoculum and root wood decay in soil‐block tests
Authors: Ohno K. , Myers L. J. , Smith D. R. , Clausen C. A. , Mausel D. , Stanosz G. R. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThe fungal pathogen Heterobasidion irregulare has caused substantial damage to pine species in much of the south‐eastern United States, but the potential for damage from Heterobasidion root disease to forest tree species of the Great Lakes Region has not been thoroughly investigated. In each of three trials in two infested stands, fresh stem discs of six native conifer species were exposed to natural inoculum and examined for the asexual Spiniger stage of H. irregulare after incubation in the laboratory. In the first trial, the fungus was infrequently observed on discs, and differences among species were not found. But in the other two trials, detection of the pathogen was much more frequent on discs of tamarack (Larix laricina), red pine (Pinus resinosa) and white spruce (Picea glauca) than those of northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea). In a second study, the ability of an isolate of H. irregulare to decay root sapwood of these same species was compared using a soil‐block decay test. After 16 weeks of incubation, weight loss due to decay was greatest for red pine (23.2%) and larch (19.1%) and least for balsam fir (1.3%). Differences in the ability of H. irregulare to infect and saprophytically utilize substrate of these important tree species should prompt additional investigation of the relative risk posed to forests of the Great Lakes Region.
Structural insight into a partially unfolded state preceding aggregation in an intracellular lipid‐binding protein
Authors: Horváth Gergő , Biczók László , Majer Zsuzsa , Kovács Mihály , Micsonai András , Kardos József , Toke Orsolya 
Published: September 2017

Human ileal bile acid‐binding protein (I‐BABP) has a key role in the intracellular transport and metabolic targeting of bile salts. Similar to other members of the family of intracellular lipid‐binding proteins (iLBPs), disorder–order transitions and local unfolding processes are thought to mediate ligand entry and release in human I‐BABP. To gain insight into the stability of various protein regions, the temperature response of human I‐BABP was investigated using NMR, CD and fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A joint analysis of NMR thermal melting and relaxation dispersion data indicates a complex pattern of internal dynamics with a dominating single barrier and a likely presence of rapidly exchanging conformational substates on both sides of the barrier. Moreover, our residue‐specific analysis uncovers a partially unfolded U* state in which part of the helical region with three proximate β‐strands contains a substantial amount of residual structure, whereas several segments of the C‐terminal half exhibit a high susceptibility to temperature elevation. Cluster analysis of atomic temperature responses indicates a thermodynamic coupling between distant protein sites including the bottom of the β‐barrel, the E–F region and part of the helical cap. MD simulations up to 1 μs show correlated motions in the same protein regions and together with the NMR data suggest a role for the highly dynamic D–E turn and E–F region in the initiation of unfolding. The response of human I‐BABP to temperature elevation is discussed in the context of the folding/unfolding behaviour of different members of the iLBP family.
Retreatment with sofosbuvir/ledipasvir with or without lead‐in interferon‐β injections in patients infected with genotype 1b hepatitis C virus after unsuccessful daclatasvir/asunaprevir therapy
Authors: Uemura Hayato , Uchida Yoshihito , Kouyama Jun‐ichi , Naiki Kayoko , Yamaba Shinpei , Fuchigami Akira , Saito Yoichi , Shiokawa Keisuke , Fujii Yohei , Uchiya Hiroshi , Nakazawa Manabu , Ando Satsuki , Nakao Masamitsu , Motoya Daisuke , Sugawara Kayoko , Inao Mie , Imai Yukinori , Nakayama Nobuaki , Tomiya Tomoaki , Mochida Satoshi 
Published: September 2017

AimTo improve the therapeutic efficacy of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) for the retreatment of patients after daclatasvir/asunaprevir (DCV/ASV), a customized therapy with or without lead‐in interferon (IFN)‐β injections was formulated according to the types of resistance‐associated substitutions (RAS) in the non‐structural protein (NS)5A region of genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCV).MethodsThirty‐three patients failing prior DCV/ASV received SOF/LDV for 12 weeks. Patients with HCV carrying unfavorable NS5A‐RAS and/or those previously treated with simeprevir were given lead‐in IFN‐β injections twice a day for 2 weeks; sequential changes in the NS5A‐RAS during the injection period were evaluated using deep sequencing.ResultsLead‐in injections were not undertaken in 27 patients; a sustained viral response (SVR) was achieved in 26 patients, while viral relapse occurred in 1 patient with HCV carrying NS5A‐L28M/R30H/Y93H mutations. Among the 6 patients receiving lead‐in injections, viral relapse occurred in 2 patients who had an unfavorable IFN‐λ3‐related gene single nucleotide polymorphism allele; both patients had been previously treated with simeprevir, and HCV carrying NS5A‐L31V/Y93H mutations had emerged after DCV/ASV. Deep sequencing revealed no changes in the NS5A‐RAS profiles during the lead‐in injection period in either patient. In contrast, in a patient with a favorable allele who was infected with similar unfavorable HCV strains, NS5A‐L31/Y93 wild‐type strains appeared during the injection period, enabling an SVR.ConclusionUsing customized therapies based on the NS5A‐RAS profiles, a high SVR rate was obtained after SOF/LDV in patients failing prior DCV/ASV. Lead‐in IFN‐β injections did not improve the efficacy in patients with HCV carrying unfavorable NS5A‐RAS except in those with a favorable IFN‐λ3‐related gene allele.
In vitro evaluation of a novel pH neutral calcium phosphosilicate bioactive glass that does not require preconditioning prior to use
Authors: Li Ailing , Lv Yang , Ren Huihui , Cui Yang , Wang Chao , Martin Richard A. , Qiu Dong 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIt is well known that bioactive glasses can cause a significant increase in pH due to the rapid release of calcium and/or sodium ions. Consequently, preconditioning of the glass is usually required prior to surgery to negate the effect of this sudden release of ions. However, preconditioning for several days is far from ideal and also preconditioning is not practical for novel organic/inorganic sol‐gel hybrids currently being developed since the organic phase will start to hydrolyze and dissolve. This study describes a bioactive glass that dissolves without causing a significant change in pH from physiologically optimal values and requires no preconditioning prior to use. The bioactivity of the pH neutral glass, hydroxyapatite formation, and cellular responses, are measured and compared directly with results from archetypal 45S5 and S70C30 bioactive glasses. A hydroxyapatite layer was found to rapidly form (within 1 day) on the surface of the pH neutral glass upon reacting with simulated body fluid. In addition, improved cell compatibility was observed compared with 45S5 and S70C30 glasses. Therefore, this pH neutral glass has significant potential for bone repair applications.
SAPHO syndrome associated with hidradenitis suppurativa and pyoderma gangrenosum successfully treated with adalimumab and methotrexate: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Vekic Dunja A. , Woods Jane , Lin Peter , Cains Geoffrey D. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractSAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis) syndrome is a rare inflammatory condition describing the combination of skin, bone, and joint manifestations that has a heterogeneous presentation. We report a case of severe SAPHO syndrome in association with hidradenitis suppurativa and pyoderma gangrenosum in a 27‐year‐old male. The patient had an initial migratory arthritis affecting the knees, ankles, metacarpophalangeal joints, proximal interphalangeal joints, wrists, shoulder, and lower back, which progressed to a persistent arthritis and swelling at the sternum, shoulders, wrists, hands, feet, and lower back. Radiographic changes were consistent with the diagnosis of SAPHO syndrome. Serum proinflammatory cytokine levels were significantly elevated and improved substantially after 3 months of therapy. Rationale for therapy in this patient was the observation that tumor necrosis alpha antagonists have been successfully used in SAPHO syndrome, and since arthropathy was so prominent in our patient, we elected to use adalimumab combined with methotrexate.
How Home Health Agencies’ Ownership Affects Practice Patterns
Authors: Kim Hyunjee , Norton Edward C. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis study explores whether for‐profit home health agencies responded differently from non‐profit agencies to financial incentives embedded in the Medicare prospective payment system. Agencies were able to receive higher reimbursement per patient under the prospective payment system if they adjusted the number of therapy visits or the type of visits for a two‐month‐long episode. Agencies could also increase reimbursement by treating a patient for multiple episodes of care, because prospective payments were made on a per‐episode basis. Using the Medicare Claims and Provider of Services Files from 2001 to 2009, we examine differences between for‐profit and non‐profit agencies in these practice patterns during the first nine years of the prospective payment system. We find that for‐profit agencies were more likely to adopt most of these practice patterns than were non‐profit agencies. This finding suggests that for‐profit agencies were more responsive to financial incentives, and therefore disproportionately contributed to the increase in Medicare home health spending under the prospective payment system. Policymakers could consider revising the current prospective payment system that gives agencies incentives to distort practice patterns regardless of a patient's health care needs.
LEED v4: Where Are We Now? Critical Assessment through the LCA of an Office Building Using a Low Impact Energy Consumption Mix
Authors: Lessard Yannick , Anand Chirjiv , Blanchet Pierre , Frenette Caroline , Amor Ben 
Published: September 2017

SummaryVarious green building rating systems (GBRSs) have been proposed to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. However, these GBRSs, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4, are primarily oriented toward a building's use stage energy consumption. Their application in contexts involving a high share of renewable energy, and hence a low‐impact electricity mix, can result in undesirable side effects. This paper aims to investigate such effects, based on an existing office building in Quebec (Canada), where more than 95% of the electricity consumption mix is renewable. This paper compares the material impacts from a low‐energy context building to material considerations in LEED v4. In addition to their contributions to the building impacts, material impacts are also defined by their potential to change impacts with different material configurations. Life cycle assessment (LCA) impacts were evaluated using Simapro 8.2, the ecoinvent 3.1 database, and the IMPACT 2002+ method. The building LCA results indicated higher environmental impact contributions from materials (>50%) compared to those from energy consumption. This is in contrast with the LEED v4 rating system, as it did not seem to be as effective in capturing such effects. The conclusions drawn from this work will help stakeholders from the buildings sector to have a better understanding of building environmental profiles, and the limitations of LEED v4 in contexts involving a low‐impact energy mix. In addition, this critical assessment can be used to further improve the LEED certification system.
A Note on the Magnitude of the Feedback Effect in Environmentally Extended Multi‐Region Input‐Output Tables
Authors: Moran Daniel , Wood Richard , Rodrigues João F. D. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryGlobal multiregion input‐output (MRIO) tables have been developed to capture international spillover effects due to demand in one country and production in other countries. International spillovers have been growing and have become so dominant, especially in environmental analysis, that their inclusion is essential when analyzing impacts of consumption. MRIO tables give full coverage of the world economy, but do not always respect the official data of a given country. When international spillovers also cause increased production in the country of demand, we see what are known as “feedback effects.” As coupled models are being developed that make use of an official foreground national input‐output table (IOT) alongside an existing global MRIO, we are left in the situation where a coupled model does not use the official foreground information when modeling international feedback loops. The question thus arises: How large are these feedback loops for different environmental impacts? We look specifically at the amount of domestic production that is embodied in imports back into that region. We find that for emissions, the feedbacks are small, usually <2% of the total import footprint, though up to 6%+ for some countries in some years for some stressors. Our findings suggest that using Leontief multipliers from available MRIOs may be an acceptable method for modeling imports into national IOTs for environmentally extended MRIO analysis.