bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Limited influence of Si on the preservation of Fe mineral‐encrusted microbial cells during experimental diagenesis
Authors: Picard A. , Obst M. , Schmid G. , Zeitvogel F. , Kappler A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe reconstruction of the history of microbial life since its emergence on early Earth is impaired by the difficulty to prove the biogenicity of putative microfossils in the rock record. While most of the oldest rocks on Earth have been exposed to different grades of diagenetic alterations, little is known about how the remains of micro‐organisms evolve when exposed to pressure (P) and temperature (T) conditions typical of diagenesis. Using spectroscopy and microscopy, we compared morphological, mineralogical, and chemical biosignatures exhibited by Fe mineral‐encrusted cells of the bacterium Acidovorax sp. BoFeN1 after long‐term incubation under ambient conditions and after experimental diagenesis. We also evaluated the effects of Si on the preservation of microbial cells during the whole process. At ambient conditions, Si affected the morphology but not the identity (goethite) of Fe minerals that formed around cells. Fe‐encrusted cells were morphologically well preserved after 1 week at 250 °C‐140 MPa and after 16 weeks at 170 °C‐120 MPa in the presence or in the absence of Si. Some goethite transformed to hematite and magnetite at 250 °C‐140 MPa, but in the presence of Si more goethite was preserved. Proteins—the most abundant cellular components—were preserved over several months at ambient conditions but disappeared after incubations at high temperature and pressure conditions, both in the presence and in the absence of Si. Other organic compounds, such as lipids and extracellular polysaccharides seemed well preserved after exposure to diagenetic conditions. This study provides insights about the composition and potential preservation of microfossils that could have formed in Fe‐ and Si‐rich Precambrian oceans.
On the Availability of High‐Resolution Data for Near‐Surface Climate Analysis in the Continental U.S.
Authors: Oswald Evan M. , Dupigny‐Giroux Lesley‐Ann 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIncreased recognition of potential future climate changes has sparked an urgency in understanding the various linkages among weather, climate and sectors of society. Furthermore, the need for improving climate models is also paramount. Meteorological observations are critical for accomplishing both. A deeper knowledge of the origin, nuances and availability of observation‐based climate data can lead to better analyses and validations. In this article, we review the suite of current meteorological observing networks across the continental U.S. In addition, we discuss both the statistical procedures that are used to construct climate data products from observing records, and the climate data products themselves. The focus here is on datasets with daily to hourly time steps, with an emphasis on gridded climate data products of spatial resolutions under 15 km. Ultimately, this paper is geared towards climatologists as well as those outside of the climate field, who need data to empower near‐surface atmospheric science research at the local scale. Presently, new observing networks supported by massive volunteer communities are potential game changers, yet the public still lacks both daily precipitation data suitable for high‐resolution and/or long‐term analyses and rigorous validation of high‐resolution gridded climate data products.
Lung cancer screening: what do long‐term smokers know and believe?
Authors: Carter‐Harris Lisa , Ceppa DuyKhanh Pham , Hanna Nasser , Rawl Susan M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo explore knowledge and beliefs of long‐term smokers about lung cancer, associated risk factors and lung cancer screening.DesignQualitative study theoretically framed by the expanded Health Belief Model based on four focus group discussions. Content analysis was performed to identify themes of knowledge and beliefs about lung cancer, associated risk factors and lung cancer screening among long‐term smokers' who had and had not been screened for lung cancer.MethodsTwenty‐six long‐term smokers were recruited; two groups (n = 9; n = 3) had recently been screened and two groups (n = 7; n = 7) had never been screened.ResultsWhile most agreed lung cancer is deadly, confusion or inaccurate information exists regarding the causes and associated risk factors. Knowledge related to lung cancer screening and how it is performed was low; awareness of long‐term smoking's association with lung cancer risk remains suboptimal. Perceived benefits of screening identified include: (i) finding lung cancer early; (ii) giving peace of mind; and (iii) motivation to quit smoking. Perceived barriers to screening identified include: (i) inconvenience; (ii) distrust; and (iii) stigma.ConclusionsPerceived barriers to lung cancer screening, such as distrust and stigma, must be addressed as lung cancer screening becomes more widely implemented. Heightened levels of health‐care system distrust may impact successful implementation of screening programmes. Perceived smoking‐related stigma may lead to low levels of patient engagement with medical care and decreased cancer screening participation. It is also important to determine modifiable targets for intervention to enhance the shared decision‐making process between health‐care providers and their high‐risk patients.
Role of supportive maintenance therapy on implant survival: a university‐based 17 years retrospective analysis
Authors: Gay IC , Tran DT , Weltman R , Parthasarathy K , Diaz‐Rodriguez J , Walji M , Fu Y , Friedman L 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether professional maintenance appointments were related to a decrease on dental implant loss.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review (1995–2012) of 1020 patient dental charts to collect data including a cadre of different variables such as age, gender, race, diabetes, osteoporosis, jaw location, implant dimensions and professional maintenance therapy. As a patient may have multiple implants which are correlated, we selected one random implant per patient to assure independence of observations assumption of the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Data analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.ResultsOur results demonstrate that subjects with no maintenance had the lowest cumulative survival rate as compared to subjects with regular maintenance. In a multivariate Cox regression model, regular maintenance patients had the dental implant failure rate reduced by 90% as compared to no maintenance (P = 0.001). If patients had less than one maintenance visit per year, the failure rate was reduced by 60% as compared to no maintenance, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.08).ConclusionFrom this research, we conclude that a professional administered periodontal maintenance at least on an annual basis is a critical factor for implant survival.
Observer variation in the assessment of root canal curvature
Authors: Faraj S. , Boutsioukis C. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAimTo evaluate the inter‐ and intra‐observer agreement between training/trained endodontists regarding the ex vivo classification of root canal curvature into three categories and its measurement using three quantitative methods.MethodologyPeriapical radiographs of seven extracted human posterior teeth with varying degrees of curvature were exposed ex vivo. Twenty training/trained endodontists were asked to classify the root canal curvature into three categories (<10°, 10–30°, >30°), to measure the curvature using three quantitative methods (Schneider, Weine, Pruett) and to draw angles of 10° or 30°, as a control experiment. The procedure was repeated after six weeks. Inter‐ and intra‐observer agreement was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient and weighted kappa.ResultsThe inter‐observer agreement on the visual classification of root canal curvature was substantial (ICC = 0.65, P < 0.018), but a trend towards underestimation of the angle was evident. Participants modified their classifications both within and between the two sessions. Median angles drawn as a control experiment were not significantly different from the target values (P > 0.10), but the results of individual participants varied. When quantitative methods were used, the inter‐ and intra‐observer agreement on the angle measurements was considerably better (ICC = 0.76–0.82, P < 0.001) than on the radius measurements (ICC = 0.16–0.19, P > 0.895).ConclusionsVisual estimation of root canal curvature was not reliable. The use of computer‐based quantitative methods is recommended. The measurement of radius of curvature was more subjective than angle measurement. Endodontic Associations need to provide specific guidelines on how to estimate root canal curvature in case difficulty assessment forms.
Analysis of self‐citation and impact factor in dermatology journals
Authors: Reiter Ofer , Mimouni Michael , Mimouni Daniel 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundConcerns have been raised regarding the impact factor's (IF) accuracy and credibility, which may be affected by different factors, including self‐citations.ObjectiveTo investigate the self‐citation rate (SCR) of dermatology journals and its relationship to the IF.MethodsData on all dermatology journals listed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) were retrieved, and the following parameters were analyzed: IF, total publications used to calculate the IF, total citations used to calculate the IF, self‐citations used to calculate the IF, SCR, and IF without self‐citations (corrected IF).ResultsThe median SCR was 10.53% (0–50%), and the median IF and corrected IF, 1.54 (0.05–6.37) and 1.35 (0.03–5.84), respectively. There was an inverse correlation between the IF and the SCR. A statistically significant difference was noted in the SCR between general and subspecialty journals and between journals that offered a full English text and those that did not.ConclusionsIn general, the IF of dermatology journals is not influenced by the SCR. However, journals with a lower IF tend to have a higher SCR. Subspecialty journals and foreign language journals have a higher SCR than general dermatology and English language journals, respectively, probably owing to their limited distribution and the difficulty experienced by international authors in accessing references in specific languages.
Febrile ulceronecrotic Mucha–Habermann disease: proposed diagnostic criteria and therapeutic evaluation
Authors: Nofal Ahmad , Assaf Magda , Alakad Rania , Amer Hala , Nofal Eman , Yosef Ayman 
Published: December 2015

AbstractFebrile ulceronecrotic Mucha–Habermann disease (FUMHD) is a rare severe variant of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta characterized clinically by aggressive ulceronecrotic skin lesions associated with high fever and histologically by features typical of pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. Despite the continuous addition of new case reports, no definite diagnostic criteria have been established, and an optimum treatment is still waiting. Herein, we review the different aspects of this rare entity, including pathogenesis, clinical and histopathological features, differential diagnosis, course, prognosis, and outcome. Different diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with FUMHD are also evaluated and discussed. We propose two sets of diagnostic criteria to define the disease more precisely and to avoid missing cases. The first comprises constant clinical and histopathological features that are always present in every case, the combination of which is necessary for diagnosis. The second set includes variable features that may be present in some cases and to which any emerging finding could be added. Although different therapeutic options have been used, there is no optimum therapy for FUMHD, and the disease still represents a therapeutic challenge.
A peptide tetramer Tk‐tPN induces tolerance of cardiac allografting by conversion of type 1 to type 2 immune responses via the Toll‐like receptor 2 signal‐promoted activation of the MCP1 gene
Authors: Li Zuoqing , Yang Neng , Zhou Ling , Gu Peng , Wang Hui , Zhou Yun , Zhou Peijun , Lu Liming , Chou Kuang‐Yen 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe plant protein trichosanthin (Tk) and its derived peptide tetramer Tk‐tPN have been shown to stimulate the type 2 immune responses for treating autoimmune disease. This work explores the possibility of using Tk‐tPN as a non‐toxic immunosuppressant to induce transplantation tolerance using the mechanisms by which T‐cell‐mediated immune responses are transferred from type 1 to type 2 through innate immunity‐related pathways. Immunocytes and cytokine secretions involved in the mouse cardiac allografting model with Tk‐tPN treatment were characterized. Identification of critical genes and analysis of their functions through Toll‐like receptor (TLR) ‐initiated signalling and the possible epigenetic changes were performed. Mean survival times of the cardiac allografts were delayed from 7·7 ± 0·3 days (control) to 22·7 ± 3·9 days (P < 0·01) or 79·1 ± 19·2 days (P < 0·0001) when Tk‐tPN was introduced into the recipients alone or together with rapamycin, respectively. The grafting tolerance was donor‐specific. The secretion pattern of the type 1 cytokine/transcription factor (IL‐2+ IFN‐γ+ T‐bet+), which is responsible for the acute graft rejection, was shifted to the type 2 factor (IL‐4+ IL‐10+ Gata3+), together with a selective expansion of the IL‐4/IL‐10‐producing CD8+ CD28− regulatory T‐cell subset. A TLR2‐initiated high expression of chemokine gene MCP1 was detectable simultaneously. Epigenetically Tk/Tk‐tPN could also acetylate the histone H3K9 of MCP1 promoter to skew the immunity towards T helper type 2 responses. Tk/Tk‐tPN is therefore capable of down‐regulating the type 1 response‐dominant rejection of cardiac allografts by evoking type 2 immunity through the activation of a TLR2‐initiated signalling pathway and MCP1 gene to expand the IL‐4/IL‐10‐secreting CD8+ CD28− regulatory T cells. Tk‐tPN could be a promising novel immunosuppressant to induce tolerance in allotransplantation.
Capital Flight and Bitcoin Regulation
Authors: Ju Lan , Lu Timothy (Jun) , Tu Zhiyong 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis paper studies the risk of Bitcoin being used for the purpose of capital flight. We propose a new indicator, the bitcoin‐implied exchange rate discount, to identify empirically capital flight via Bitcoin. Using data from the two largest bitcoin exchanges in the world during our sample period, BTC China and Bitstamp, we find strong evidence of capital flight from the Chinese Renminbi to the US Dollar via Bitcoin before the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, announced its regulatory policy on December 5, 2013, while the evidence displays no trace of capital flight after the announcement. The People's Bank of China's Bitcoin restriction policy successfully halts the illicit capital outflow via Bitcoin, thereby providing valuable policy implications for government regulation on Bitcoin, as well as on other virtual currencies.
High inspired oxygen versus low inspired oxygen for reducing surgical site infection: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Hongye , Hong Shukun , Liu Yuanyuan , Duan Yan , Yin Hongmei 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTo perform a meta‐analysis of published literature to assess the role of high‐concentration inspired oxygen in reducing the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) following all types of surgery, a comprehensive search for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing high‐ with low‐concentration inspired oxygen for SSIs was performed. The related data were extracted by two independent authors. The fixed and random effects methods were used to combine data. Twelve RCTs involving 6750 patients were included. Our pooled result found that no significant difference in the incidence of SSIs was observed between the two groups, but there was high statistic heterogeneity across the studies [risk ratio (RR): 0·91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0·72–1·14; P = 0·40; I2 = 54%]. The sensitivity analysis revealed the superiority of high‐concentration oxygen in decreasing the SSI rate (RR: 0·86; 95% CI: 0·75–0·98; P = 0·02). Moreover, a subgroup analysis of studies with intestinal tract surgery showed that patients experienced less SSI when high‐concentration inspired oxygen was administrated (RR: 0·53; 95% CI: 0·37–0·74; P = 0·0003). Our study provided no direct support for high‐concentration inspired oxygen in reducing the incidence of SSIs in patients undergoing all types of surgery.
Treatment of chronic diabetic lower extremity ulcers with advanced therapies: a prospective, randomised, controlled, multi‐centre comparative study examining clinical efficacy and cost
Authors: Zelen Charles M , Serena Thomas E , Gould Lisa , Le Lam , Carter Marissa J , Keller Jennifer , Li William W 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAdvanced therapies such as bioengineered skin substitutes (BSS) and dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM) have been shown to promote healing of chronic diabetic ulcers. An interim analysis of data from 60 patients enrolled in a prospective, randomised, controlled, parallel group, multi‐centre clinical trial showed that dHACM (EpiFix®, MiMedx Group Inc., Marietta, GA) is superior to standard wound care (SWC) and BSS (Apligraf®, Organogenesis, Inc., Canton, MA) in achieving complete wound closure within 4–6 weeks. Rates and time to closure at a longer time interval and factors influencing outcomes remained unassessed; therefore, the study was continued in order to achieve at least 100 patients. With the larger cohort, we compare clinical outcomes at 12 weeks in 100 patients with chronic lower extremity diabetic ulcers treated with weekly applications of Apligraf (n = 33), EpiFix (n = 32) or SWC (n = 35) with collagen‐alginate dressing as controls. A Cox regression was performed to analyse the time to heal within 12 weeks, adjusting for all significant covariates. A Kaplan–Meier analysis was conducted to compare time‐to‐heal within 12 weeks for the three treatment groups. Clinical characteristics were well matched across study groups. The proportion of wounds achieving complete closure within the 12‐week study period were 73% (24/33), 97% (31/32), and 51% (18/35) for Apligraf, EpiFix and SWC, respectively (adjusted P = 0·00019). Subjects treated with EpiFix had a very significant higher probability of their wounds healing [hazard ratio (HR: 5·66; adjusted P: 1·3 x 10−7] compared to SWC alone. No difference in probability of healing was observed for the Apligraf and SWC groups. Patients treated with Apligraf were less likely to heal than those treated with EpiFix [HR: 0·30; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0·17–0·54; unadjusted P: 5·8 x 10−5]. Increased wound size and presence of hypertension were significant factors that influenced healing. Mean time‐to‐heal within 12 weeks was 47·9 days (95% CI: 38·2–57·7) with Apligraf, 23·6 days (95% CI: 17·0–30·2) with EpiFix group and 57·4 days (95%CI: 48·2–66·6) with the SWC alone group (adjusted P = 3·2 x 10−7). Median number of grafts used per healed wound were six (range 1–13) and 2·5 (range 1–12) for the Apligraf and EpiFix groups, respectively. Median graft cost was $8918 (range $1,486–19,323) per healed wound for the Apligraf group and $1,517 (range $434–25,710) per healed wound in the EpiFix group (P < 0·0001). These results provide further evidence of the clinical and resource utilisation superiority of EpiFix compared to Apligraf for the treatment of lower extremity diabetic wounds.
A One‐Off Wealth Levy? Assessing the Pros and Cons and the Importance of Credibility*
Authors: Kempkes Gerhard , Stähler Nikolai 
Published: December 2015

AbstractFrom an economic perspective, imposing a credibly one‐off net wealth levy in times of crisis as a tool to ward off a national emergency appears to be advantageous as, in an ideal world, this would not distort market players’ allocation decisions. However, in practice, charging such a levy may give rise to distortions and unwanted effects on the real economy. Credibility that the levy will be imposed as a once‐only measure is key to ensuring that harmful distortions in the allocation of resources are kept to a minimum. This paper confirms this using an analysis based on a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. In practice, while a government cannot guarantee that such a measure will be taken once only, it can contribute to the credibility of this in a number of ways. First, the country's future ‘business model’ must become apparent; second, there has to be a basic level of confidence in the government and a firm belief that the budgetary imbalances were not actively caused by the state – at least not by the government currently in power; third, a verifiable outlook of sustainable public finances must be in place; and fourth, the political costs of a repeat levy must be high. This paper also discusses the potential impact of alternative model set‐ups as well as some practical implementation problems.
Biotic interactions and habitat drive positive co‐occurrence between facilitating and beneficiary stream fishes
Authors: Peoples Brandon K. , Frimpong Emmanuel A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAimThe role of biotic interactions in determining species distributions is difficult to decouple from abiotic factors. Most research to date has focused on negative biotic interactions, but the importance of positive interactions such as mutualism and facilitation at large scales is less understood. We used a two‐species occupancy modelling approach to decouple the relative effects of abiotic factors and biotic interactions between a habitat‐modifying North American stream fish (Nocomis leptocephalus) and two of its nearly‐obligate beneficiary species (Chrosomus oreas and Clinostomus funduloides).LocationSixty‐one sites on tributaries to the New River basin in the Appalachian mountains of the eastern United States.MethodsWe sampled fishes using backpack electrofishing in the summers of 2012–2014. We gathered 10 habitat covariates from the National Hydrography Dataset and from instream measurements. We reduced dimensionality in habitat variables, corrected them for spatial autocorrelation and selected two eigenvectors as habitat covariates. We then used an information‐theoretic approach to compare two‐species occupancy models representing hypotheses specifying the importance of only habitat, only biotic interactions, or combinations of both.ResultsThe best model for each species combination specified the importance of biotic interactions. For both associate species, probabilities that associates would occur in the absence of their host were considerably lower than probabilities of co‐occurrence. Species interaction factors indicated positive patterns of co‐occurrence between hosts and associates. Models suggested that habitat variables mediated host‐associate interactions for C. oreas but not for C. funduloides.Main conclusionsThis study provides some of the first large‐scale quantitative evidence of positive co‐occurrence among vertebrates, and demonstrates the importance of abiotic context for mediating interspecific interactions. Two‐species occupancy modelling may be superior to traditional co‐occurrence analyses for parsing out the relative importance of biotic interactions and habitat variables for determining species distributions. However, experiments and small‐scale behavioural observations will also be necessary to confirm mechanisms.