bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐distance flights and high‐risk breeding by nomadic waterbirds on desert salt lakes
Authors: Pedler Reece D. , Ribot Raoul F.H. , Bennett Andrew T.D. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractUnderstanding and conserving mobile species presents complex challenges, especially for animals in stochastic or changing environments. Nomadic waterbirds must locate temporary water in arid biomes where rainfall is highly unpredictable in space and time. To achieve this they need to travel over vast spatial scales and time arrival to exploit pulses in food resources. How they achieve this is an enduring mystery. We investigated these challenges in the colonial‐nesting Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus), a nomadic shorebird of conservation concern. Hitherto, Banded Stilts were hypothesized to have only 1–2 chances to breed during their long lifetime, when flooding rain fills desert salt lakes, triggering mass‐hatching of brine shrimp. Over 6 years, we satellite tagged 57 individuals, conducted 21 aerial surveys to detect nesting colonies on 14 Australian desert salt lakes, and analyzed 3 decades of Landsat and MODIS satellite imagery to quantify salt‐lake flood frequency and extent. Within days of distant inland rainfall, Banded Stilts flew 1,000–2,000 km to reach flooded salt lakes. On arrival, females laid over half their body weight in eggs. We detected nesting episodes across the species’ range at 7 times the frequency reported during the previous 80 years. Nesting colonies of thousands formed following minor floods, yet most were subsequently abandoned when the water rapidly evaporated prior to egg hatching. Satellite imagery revealed twice as many flood events sufficient for breeding‐colony initiation as recorded colonies, suggesting that nesting at remote sites has been underdetected. Individuals took risk on uncertain breeding opportunities by responding to frequent minor flood events between infrequent extensive flooding, exemplifying the extreme adaptability and trade‐offs of species exploiting unstable environments. The conservation challenges of nest predation by overabundant native gulls and anthropogenic modifications to salt lakes filling frequencies require investigation, as do the physiological and navigational mechanisms that enable such extreme strategies.
The application of lung ultrasound in acute decompensated heart failure in heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction
Authors: Yang Feifei , Wang Qiushuang , Zhi Guang , Zhang Liwei , Huang Dangsheng , Shen Dong , Zhang Meiqing 
Published: October 2017

ObjectivesLung ultrasound detection of B‐lines has become a simple, semiquantitative, noninvasive tool for evaluating pulmonary congestion in heart failure (HF) patients. This study compared the correlation of B‐lines with E/eʹ, NT‐proBNP, and ejection fraction (EF) in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).MethodsEighty‐two consecutive patients who were diagnosed with acute decompensated HF were divided into two groups: preserved ejection fraction heart failure (HFpEF, EF≥50%, n=32) and reduced ejection fraction heart failure (HFrEF, EF<50%, n=50). Spearman's correlation was used to evaluate associations of B‐lines with E/eʹ, NT‐proBNP, and EF in the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare B‐lines with the E/eʹ ratio.ResultsResults revealed no significant differences were observed in the B‐lines between the HFpEF and HFrEF groups. However, compared with the control group, B‐lines were significantly increased in the HFpEF and HFrEF groups (P<.05). The B‐lines were positively correlated with E/eʹ (r=0.742, r=0.52) and NT‐proBNP (r=0.678, r=0.417) but were negatively correlated with EF (r=−0.365, r=−0.337), and the correlation coefficients were higher in the HFpEF group than in the HFrEF group. In ROC analyses, considering E/eʹ ≥14 as a reference, B‐lines yielded a C‐statistic value of 0.94 (sensitivity 92%, specificity 83%) in the HFpEF group and 0.84 (sensitivity 86%, specificity 78%) in the HFrEF group.ConclusionsB‐lines were significantly correlated with the more established parameters of ADHF. The correlation between B‐lines and E/eʹ was better, especially in the HFpEF group.
Distance‐dependent seedling mortality and long‐term spacing dynamics in a neotropical forest community
Authors: Murphy Stephen J. , Wiegand Thorsten , Comita Liza S. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractNegative distance dependence (NDisD), or reduced recruitment near adult conspecifics, is thought to explain the astounding diversity of tropical forests. While many studies show greater mortality at near vs. far distances from adults, these studies do not seek to track changes in the peak seedling curve over time, thus limiting our ability to link NDisD to coexistence. Using census data collected over 12 years from central Panama in conjunction with spatial mark‐connection functions, we show evidence for NDisD for many species, and find that the peak seedling curve shifts away from conspecific adults over time. We find wide variation in the strength of NDisD, which was correlated with seed size and canopy position, but other life‐history traits showed no relationship with variation in NDisD mortality. Our results document shifts in peak seedling densities over time, thus providing evidence for the hypothesized spacing mechanism necessary for diversity maintenance in tropical forests.
Detection of generalized tonic–clonic seizures using surface electromyographic monitoring
Authors: Halford Jonathan J. , Sperling Michael R. , Nair Dileep R. , Dlugos Dennis J. , Tatum William O. , Harvey Jay , French Jacqueline A. , Pollard John R. , Faught Edward , Noe Katherine H. , Henry Thomas R. , Jetter Gina M. , Lie Octavian V. , Morgan Lola C. , Girouard Michael R. , Cardenas Damon P. , Whitmire Luke E. , Cavazos Jose E. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryObjectiveA prospective multicenter phase III trial was undertaken to evaluate the performance and tolerability in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) of an investigational wearable surface electromyographic (sEMG) monitoring system for the detection of generalized tonic–clonic seizures (GTCSs).MethodsOne hundred ninety‐nine patients with a history of GTCSs who were admitted to the EMU in 11 level IV epilepsy centers for clinically indicated video‐electroencephalographic monitoring also received sEMG monitoring with a wearable device that was worn on the arm over the biceps muscle. All recorded sEMG data were processed at a central site using a previously developed detection algorithm. Detected GTCSs were compared to events verified by a majority of three expert reviewers.ResultsFor all subjects, the detection algorithm detected 35 of 46 (76%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61–0.87) of the GTCSs, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.03 and a mean false alarm rate (FAR) of 2.52 per 24 h. For data recorded while the device was placed over the midline of the biceps muscle, the system detected 29 of 29 GTCSs (100%, 95% CI = 0.88–1.00), with a detection delay averaging 7.70 s, a PPV of 6.2%, and a mean FAR of 1.44 per 24 h. Mild to moderate adverse events were reported in 28% (55 of 199) of subjects and led to study withdrawal in 9% (17 of 199). These adverse events consisted mostly of skin irritation caused by the electrode patch that resolved without treatment. No serious adverse events were reported.SignificanceDetection of GTCSs using an sEMG monitoring device on the biceps is feasible. Proper positioning of this device is important for accuracy, and for some patients, minimizing the number of false positives may be challenging.
Quantifying the influence of urban land use on mangrove biology and ecology: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Branoff Benjamin L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAimThe aim was to quantify the influence of urban land use and urban populations on mangrove systems around the world over the past four decades.LocationGlobal.Time period1997–2015.Major taxa studiedAvicennia, Laguncularia, Rhizophora, Aves, Actinopterygii, Crustacea and Mollusca.MethodsThis review extracts results of mangrove studies on forest cover and structure, nutrient dynamics, sediment contamination and faunal community assemblages conducted around the world between 1997 and 2015. These observations are then correlated with surrounding social–ecological spatial characteristics pertaining to urbanization.ResultsMangrove coverage in large cities is mostly decreasing, and at a greater rate than means for corresponding countries. Both expanding urbanization and existing agriculture are most strongly correlated with mangrove losses, which are primarily occurring 5–10 km from urban areas. Along a gradient of surrounding urban land use, mangrove leaf δ15N content increases, and leaf carbon to nitrogen ratios decrease. Sediment concentrations of almost all examined heavy metals are strongly and positively correlated with both surrounding urban and mangrove extent. The diversity of subsistence fisheries increases significantly with surrounding mangrove extent. Worm diversity decreases with increasing surrounding urbanness (urban index), and mangrove specialist bird diversity increases with increasing surrounding urban coverage as well as with mangrove coverage.Main conclusionsMangroves increasingly coexist within highly anthropogenic landscapes along urbanized coasts. Most ecological reports of these systems, however, lack quantified representations of the urban landscape, such as population density or impervious surface coverage. The results of this analysis suggest that some of the reported patterns of forest coverage, nitrogen dynamics, heavy metal contamination and faunal community assemblages in isolated urban mangroves are systemic across the world. These findings are particularly pertinent to 21st century tropical coastlines, which will see some of the greatest urbanization rates over the next century and will guide urban mangrove ecology towards the development of more synergistic social–ecological systems.
Are optic nerve heads of patients with helicobacter pylori infection more susceptible to glaucomatous damage?
Authors: Atilgan Cemile Ucgul , Kosekahya Pinar , Yozgat Ahmet , Sen Emine , Berker Nilufer , Caglayan Mehtap , Sendul Selam Yekta , Altiparmak Emin , Yilmazbas Pelin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundTo compare retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses (RNFLT) of patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection and to reveal the possible RNFLT changes after H. pylori eradication.Materials and methodsSixty‐five eyes of 65 patients that tested positive for H. pylori (Group 1) and 48 eyes of 48 patients that tested negative for H. pylori (Group 2) were included. RNFLT analyses were performed with spectral‐domain (SD) optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a total of five regions: the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants and the average. Then, a comparison was made between groups. After H. pylori eradication in 38 patients, RNFLTs were compared with both pre‐eradication values and Group 2.ResultsThe groups were similar in terms of age and gender. Temporal quadrant RNFLT was thinner in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P=.02). After H. pylori eradication, RNFLTs did not differ from pre‐eradication values in Group 1 (P>.05 for all), whereas temporal quadrant RNFLT after H. pylori eradication was thinner compared to Group 2 (P=.03).ConclusionsH. pylori may cause the localized defects on RNFL that are the early signs of glaucoma.
Life experiences of elderly people with suicide ideation at the long‐term care hospitals in South Korea
Authors: Kim Ok Sun , Sok Sohyune R. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo understand the life experiences of elderly people who are living in long‐term care hospitals and are afflicted with suicide ideation.MethodsA phenomenological qualitative methodology based on Colaizzi's method was used for the study. Participants included 9 elderly people who are 65 years old or older with suicidal ideas and were admitted in any of the 3 long‐term care hospitals in D City, Gyeonggi‐do, South Korea. Data were collected from July to December 2014.ResultsSeven categories, 15 theme categories, 30 themes, and 88 significant items were identified as parts of their life experiences. The 7 categories were identified as “being a slave to one's disease”, “sadness as a result of being far away from one's family”, “vain care and consolation for me”, “continued life in a hospital, which feels like living abroad”, “plunging life”, “moving toward the end of life”, and “sad relief from death”.ConclusionThe findings from this study provide a deep understanding of the lives of elderly people who were staying in long‐term care hospitals, and these will help improve their quality of life. Additionally, they can be used as references in implementing high‐quality nursing practices for such elderly people.
Knowledge gaps in prostate cancer treatment between physicians and clinical nurse specialists
Authors: Gledhill Richard , Allchorne Paula , Green James , Cornford Philip 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTDelphi consultations, a method of gaining consensus by gathering expert opinion, were conducted in order to understand the role of degarelix as a treatment option for advanced hormone‐dependent prostate cancer. During the Delphi consultations, differences were identified between physicians and clinical nurse specialists in terms of their knowledge of therapeutic developments. We argue that disparities in knowledge between physicians and nurse specialists could limit the effectiveness of multi‐disciplinary teams in providing optimal patient care. When such situations arise, communication between patients and nurse specialists, often the patient's primary point of contact, may conflict with information they have received from the physician. This could lead to confusion and uncertainty among patients about whether they are receiving the best possible care. Time and resources should be provided to address the continuing educational needs of nurses, which will ultimately result in the improved care and experience of patients.
Do medical oncology patients and their support persons agree about end‐of‐life issues?
Authors: Waller Amy , Hall Alix , Sanson‐Fisher Rob , Zdenkowski Nicholas , Douglas Charles , Walsh Justin 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe perceptions of those called on to make decisions on behalf of patients who lack capacity at the end of life must accurately reflect patient preferences.AimsTo establish the extent to which the views of medical oncology outpatients are understood by their support persons, specifically with regards to (i) preferred type and location of end‐of‐life care, (ii) preferred level of involvement in end‐of‐life decision‐making and (iii) whether the patient has completed an advance care plan or appointed an enduring guardian.MethodsAdults with a confirmed cancer diagnosis and their nominated support persons were approached between September 2015 and January 2016 in the waiting room of an Australian tertiary referral clinic. Consenting participants completed a pen‐and‐paper survey. Nominated support persons answered the same questions from the patient’s perspective.ResultsIn total, 208 participants (39% of eligible dyads) participated. Observed agreement across the five outcomes ranged from 54% to 84%. Kappa values for concordance between patient–support person responses were fair to moderate (0.24–0.47) for enduring guardian, decision‐making, advance care plan and care location outcomes. A slight level of concordance (k = 0.15; 95% confidence interval: −0.02, 0.32) was found for the type of care outcome.ConclusionRelying on support persons’ views does not guarantee that patients’ actual preferences will be followed. Strategies that make patient preferences known to healthcare providers and support persons while they still have the capacity to do so is a critical next step in improving quality cancer care.
Delayed dispersal and prolonged brood care in a family‐living beetle
Authors: Dillard J. R. , Maigret T. A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractDelayed juvenile dispersal is an important prerequisite for the evolution of family‐based social systems, such as cooperative breeding and eusociality. In general, young adults forego dispersal if there are substantial benefits to remaining in the natal nest and/or the likelihood of dispersing and breeding successfully is low. We investigate some general factors thought to drive delayed juvenile dispersal in the horned passalus beetle, a family‐living beetle in which young adults remain with their families in their natal nest for several months before dispersing. Fine‐scale population genetic structure indicated high gene flow between nest sites, suggesting that constraints on mobility are unlikely to explain philopatry. Young adults do not breed in their natal log and likely disperse before reaching breeding age, suggesting that they do not gain direct reproductive benefits from delayed dispersal. We also examined several ways in which parents might incentivize delayed dispersal by providing prolonged care to adult offspring. Although adult beetles inhibit fungal growth in the colony by manipulating both the nest site and deceased conspecifics, this is unlikely to be a major explanation for family living as both parents and adult offspring seem capable of controlling fungal growth. Adult offspring that stayed with their family groups also neither gained more mass nor experienced faster exoskeleton development than those experimentally removed from their families. The results of these experiments suggest that our current understanding of the factors underlying prolonged family living may be insufficient to explain delayed dispersal in at least some taxa, particularly insects.
Concurrence of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire and developmental behaviour checklist among children with an intellectual disability
Authors: Rice L. J. , Emerson E. , Gray K. M. , Howlin P. , Tonge B. J. , Warner G. L. , Einfeld S. L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is widely used to measure emotional and behavioural problems in typically developing young people, although there is some evidence that it may also be suitable for children with intellectual disability (ID). The Developmental Behaviour Checklist – Parent version (DBC‐P) is a measure of emotional and behavioural problems that was specifically designed for children and adolescents with an ID. The DBC‐P cut‐off has high agreement with clinical diagnosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between DBC‐P and SDQ scores in a sample of children with ID.MethodParents of 83 young people with ID aged 4–17 years completed the parent versions of the SDQ and the DBC‐P. We evaluated the concurrent validity of the SDQ and DBC‐P total scores, and the agreement between the DBC‐P cut‐off and the SDQ cut‐offs for ‘borderline’ and ‘abnormal’ behaviour.ResultsThe SDQ total difficulties score correlated well with the DBC‐P total behaviour problem score. Agreement between the SDQ borderline cut‐off and the DBC‐P cut‐off for abnormality was high (83%), but was lower for the SDQ abnormal cut‐off (75%). Positive agreement between the DBC‐P and the SDQ borderline cut‐off was also high, with the SDQ borderline cut‐off identifying 86% of those who met the DBC‐P criterion. Negative agreement was weaker, with the SDQ borderline cut‐off identifying only 79% of the participants who did not meet the DBC‐P cut‐off.ConclusionThe SDQ borderline cut‐off has some validity as a measure of overall levels of behavioural and emotional problems in young people with ID, and may be useful in epidemiological studies that include participants with and without ID. However, where it is important to focus on behavioural profiles in children with ID, a specialised ID instrument with established psychometric properties, such as the DBC‐P, may provide more reliable and valid information.
Effects of kneeling posture on chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in males
Authors: Ho Michael SH , Chow Daniel HK 
Published: October 2017

Aims and objectivesTo study the effects of kneeling posture on chest compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in males.BackgroundEfficiency of chest compression during CPR affected millions of victims over the world. There are still no clear guidelines on kneeling posture that a rescuer should adopt in performing CPR.DesignA self‐controlled repeated‐measures design was applied in this study. The efficiency of chest compression on a mannequin when three kneeling postures were adopted (farthest, self‐adjusted and nearest) was analysed.MethodsEighteen participants with qualified first‐aid certificate were recruited. Each participant had to perform three sessions of CPR, using one of the three different kneeling postures (i.e., farthest, self‐adjusted and nearest) in each. They were performed in a random order chosen by drawing lots. Each session consisted of five cycles of CPR in each kneeling posture. Each cycle consisted of 30 strokes of chest compression performed within 18 s with a 4‐s pause between consecutive cycles. Each session lasted for 2 min. The participants were allowed to rest for 10 min on a chair between sessions. Efficiency of chest compression was quantified by compression force, joint angle, heart rate and energy expenditure. After each session of CPR, the participants were surveyed about their rate of perceived exertion.ResultsEfficiency of chest compression in self‐adjusted and nearest kneeling postures was significantly better than that of the farthest one. While the self‐adjusted and nearest postures had the similar effect, most of the participants preferred self‐adjusted kneeling posture because of lower rate of perceived exertion.ConclusionThe use of the self‐adjusted and nearest kneeling postures during CPR in males resulted in more effective chest compression with lower perceived exertion, compared with the farthest kneeling posture. Both these positions can be objectively recommended to enhance the efficiency of chest compression and thereby increase the cardiac arrest survival rate.Relevance to clinical practiceMore consistent force and higher endurance could be achieved by performing CPR at self‐adjusted kneeling posture.
Development and psychometric testing the Health of Body, Mind and Spirit Scale for assessing individuals who have drug abuse histories
Authors: Sun Fan‐Ko , Chiang Chun‐Ying , Lu Chu‐Yun , Yu Pei‐Jane , Liao Tzu‐Chiao , Lan Chu‐Mei 
Published: October 2017

Aims and objectivesTo develop the Health of Body, Mind and Spirit Scale (HBMSS), which was designed to assess drug abusers' health condition.BackgroundHelping drug abusers to become healthy is important to healthcare professionals. However, no instrument exists to assess drug abusers' state of health.DesignA cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was implemented to examine the validity of the HBMSS.MethodsData were collected from 2015–2016 at one drug abuse prevention centre in Taiwan. Participants (N = 320) who had abused drugs were invited to complete a preliminary 64‐item version of the HBMSS. An item analysis, criterion‐related validity analysis (using the Relapse Prediction Scale [RPS] score), split‐half reliability testing and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the HBMSS.ResultsThe final version of the HBMSS contained 15 items that were divided into three subscales: the health of the body, mind and spirit. Cronbach's α and split‐half reliability coefficients were all above .85. The factor loading of each item was between .74–.95. The HBMSS had satisfactory criterion‐related validity with the RPS score (r = −.50, p < .001). A second‐order CFA was conducted on the HBMSS. The fit indexes were good, χ2 = 184.060, df = 94, χ2/df = 1.958 (p = .000).ConclusionsThe entire HBMSS and the subscales had satisfactory reliability and validity.Relevance to clinical practiceHealthcare professionals could use the HBMSS to evaluate the condition of the health of individuals with a drug abuse history.