bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What makes the Sino‐Himalayan mountains the major diversity hotspots for pheasants?
Authors: Cai Tianlong , Fjeldså Jon , Wu Yongjie , Shao Shimiao , Chen Youhua , Quan Qing , Li Xinhai , Song Gang , Qu Yanhua , Qiao Gexia , Lei Fumin 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimThe Sino‐Himalayas have higher species richness than adjacent regions, making them a global biodiversity hotspot. Various mechanisms, including ecological constraints, energetic constraints, diversification rate (DivRate) variation, time‐for‐speciation effect and multiple colonizations, have been posited to explain this pattern. We used pheasants (Aves: Phasianidae) as a model group to test these hypotheses and to understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that have generated the extraordinary diversity in these mountains.LocationSino‐Himalayas and adjacent regions.TaxonPheasants.MethodsUsing distribution maps predicted by species distribution models (SDMs) and a time‐calibrated phylogeny for pheasants, we examined the relationships between species richness and predictors including net primary productivity (NPP), niche diversity (NicheDiv), DivRate, evolutionary time (EvolTime) and colonization frequency using Pearson's correlations and structural equation modelling (SEM). We reconstructed ancestral ranges at nodes and examined basal/derived species patterns to reveal the mechanisms underlying species richness gradients in the Sino‐Himalayas.ResultsWe found that ancestral pheasants originated in Africa in the early Oligocene (~33 Ma), and then colonized the Sino‐Himalayan mountains and other regions. In the Sino‐Himalayas, species richness was strongly related to DivRate, NPP, NicheDiv and colonization frequency, but weakly correlated with EvolTime. The direct effects of NicheDiv and DivRate on richness were stronger than NPP and EvolTime. NPP indirectly influenced species richness via DivRate, but its effect on richness via NicheDiv was relatively weak.Main conclusionsHigher species diversity in the Sino‐Himalayas was generated by both ecological and evolutionary mechanisms. An increase in available niches, rapid diversifications and multiple colonizations was found to be key direct processes for the build‐up of the diversity hotspots of pheasants in the Sino‐Himalayan mountains. Productivity had an important but indirect effect on species richness, which worked through increased DivRate. Our study offers new insights on species accumulation in the Sino‐Himalayas and provides a useful model for understanding other biodiversity hotspots.
Ultrasound‐based scoring system for differential diagnosis of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder
Authors: Liu Xue‐Song , Chen Tao , Gu Li‐Hong , Guo Yi‐Fen , Li Chun‐Yang , Li Feng‐Hua , Wang Jian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackground and AimPolypoid lesions of the gallbladder may be neoplastic or non‐neoplastic. Correct diagnosis would help reduce unnecessary cholecystectomies. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of individual ultrasound characteristics for diagnosis of neoplastic polyps and to build a scoring system based on these characteristics.MethodsA total of 109 patients with gallbladder polyps ≥ 6 mm underwent conventional ultrasound examination and received finally diagnosis by pathological examination. All images were analyzed to determine characteristics of the lesions. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the predictors of neoplastic polyps, and a scoring system was built based on multivariate analysis.ResultsMaximum diameter, height/width ratio, base width, presence of hyper‐echoic spots, and intralesional blood flow were statistically significant (P = 0.011, P = 0.016, P = 0.003, P = 0.031, and P = 0.022, respectively) predictors of neoplastic lesions. The total score = (Maximum diameter, ≥ 13.9 mm = 1, < 13.9 = 0) + (Base width, ≥ 3.5 mm = 1, < 3.4 = 0) + (Height/width ratio, ≤ 1.05 = 1, > 1.05 = 0) + (Hyper‐echoic spots, presence = 0, absence = 1) + (Blood flow, presence = 1, absence = 0). Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the risk of neoplastic polyps with scores of 3 or higher were 81.6%, 86.7%, and 84.4%, respectively.ConclusionThis ultrasound‐based scoring system could be a useful means for differentiating between neoplastic and non‐neoplastic gallbladder polyps in the clinic.
Corporate Governance in China: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Mutlu Canan C. , Van Essen Marc , Peng Mike W. , Saleh Sabrina F. , Duran Patricio 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHow has the impact of ‘good corporate governance’ principles on firm performance changed over time in China? Amassing a database of 84 studies, 684 effect sizes, and 547,622 firm observations, we explore this important question by conducting a meta‐analysis on the corporate governance literature on China. The weight of evidence demonstrates that two major ‘good corporate governance’ principles advocating board independence and managerial incentives are indeed associated with better firm performance. However, we cannot find strong support for the criticisms against CEO duality. In addition, we go beyond a static perspective (such as certain governance mechanisms are effective or ineffective) by investigating the temporal hypotheses. We reveal that over time, with the improvement in the quality of market institutions and development of financial markets, the monitoring mechanisms of the board and state ownership become more strongly related to firm performance, whereas the incentive mechanisms lose their significance. Overall, our findings advance a dynamic institution‐based view by substantiating the case that institutional transitions matter for the relationship between governance mechanisms and firm performance in the second largest economy in the world.
Feasibility of the salivary transcriptome as a novel biomarker in determining disease susceptibility
Authors: Hidayat M. F. H. , Milne T. , Cullinan M. P. , Seymour G. J. 
Published: December 2017

Background and ObjectiveThe salivary transcriptome may present as a readily available and non‐invasive source of potential biomarkers. The development of chronic periodontitis is determined by individual patient susceptibility; hence, the aim of this study was to determine the potential of the salivary transcriptome as a biomarker of disease susceptibility using chronic periodontitis as an example.Material and MethodsUsing an Oragene® RNA kit, the total RNA was purified from the saliva of 10 patients with chronic periodontitis and 10 patients without chronic periodontitis. The quantity and quality of the total RNA was determined, and a measure of gene expression via cDNA was undertaken using the Affymetrix microarray system. The microarray profiling result was further validated by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsSpectrophotometric analysis showed the total RNA purified from each participant ranged from 0.92 μg/500 μL to 62.85 μg/500 μL. There was great variability in the quantity of total RNA obtained from the 2 groups in the study with a mean of 10.21 ± 12.71 μg/500 μL for the periodontitis group and 15.97 ± 23.47 μg/500 μL for the control group. Further the RNA purity (based on the A260/A280 ratio) for the majority of participants (9 periodontitis and 6 controls) were within the acceptable limits for downstream analysis (2.0 ± 0.1). The study samples, showed 2 distinct bands at 23S (3800 bp) and 16S (1500 bp) characteristic of bacterial rRNA. Preliminary microarray analysis was performed for 4 samples (P2, P6, H5 and H9). The percentage of genes present in each of the 4 samples was not consistent with about 1.8%‐18.7% of genes being detected. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction confirmed that the total RNA purified from each sample was mainly bacterial RNA (Uni 16S) with minimal human mRNA.ConclusionThis study showed that minimal amounts of human RNA were able to be isolated from the saliva of patients with periodontitis as well as controls. Further work is required to enhance the extraction process of human mRNA from saliva if the salivary transcriptome is to be used in determining individual patient susceptibility.
Subjective sleep‐related variables in those who have and have not experienced sleep paralysis
Authors: Denis Dan , French Christopher C. , Schneider Melanie N. , Gregory Alice M. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryResearch suggests that poor sleep quality is related to the occurrence of sleep paralysis, although the precise relationship between these two variables is unknown. This association has generated interest due to the related possibility that improving sleep quality could help to combat episodes of sleep paralysis. To date, studies examining the association between sleep quality and sleep paralysis have typically measured sleep quality using general measures such as the global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The aim of this study was to increase the precision of our understanding of the relationship between sleep paralysis and other aspects of sleep by investigating associations between different sleep‐related variables and sleep paralysis. Using data from the G1219 twin/sibling study, analyses were performed on 860 individuals aged 22–32 years (66% female). Results showed that two components of the PSQI, sleep latency and daytime dysfunction, were predictors of sleep paralysis. In addition, a number of other sleep‐related variables were related significantly to sleep paralysis. These were: insomnia symptoms, sleep problems commonly related to traumatic experiences, presleep arousal, cognitions about sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. There was no relationship with sleep‐disordered breathing, diurnal preference or sleeping arrangements. Potential mechanisms underlying these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Screening of genes involved in epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and differential expression of complement‐related genes induced by PAX2 in renal tubules
Authors: Wang Xiu‐Li , Hou Ling , Zhao Cheng‐Guang , Tang Ying , Zhang Bo , Zhao Jing‐Ying , Wu Yu‐Bin 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTAimThe aim of the present study was to screen and verify downstream genes involved in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by paired box 2 (PAX2) in NRK‐52E cells.MethodsNRK‐52E cells were transfected with lentivirus carrying PAX2 gene or no‐load virus respectively. Total RNA was isolated 72 h after transfection from PAX2‐overexpressing cells and control cells. Isolated RNA was then hybridized with the Rat OneArray Plus expression profile chip. The chips were examined by Agilent 0.1 XDR to screen for differentially expressed genes, which were further analyzed to investigate complement‐related genes as genes of interest.ResultsIn NRK‐52E cells, PAX2 overexpression promoted EMT followed by upregulation of 298 genes and downregulation of 293 genes. KEGG analysis indicated the differential expression of genes related to cytokines and their receptors, extracellular matrix (ECM), MAPKs, local adhesion, cancer, the complement cascade, and coagulation. Gene oncology analysis screened out genes related to molecular functions (e.g., hydrolase activity, phospholipase activity, components of the ECM) and biological processes (e.g., cell development, signal transduction, phylogeny), and cell components (e.g., cytoplasm, cell membrane, and ECM). Analysis of the complement system revealed upregulation of C3 and downregulation of CD55 and complement regulator factor H (CFH).ConclusionPAX2 overexpression upregulates EMT in vitro and may regulate C3, CD55, and CFH.
Nursing as concrete philosophy, Part I: Risjord on nursing knowledge
Authors: Theodoridis Kyriakos 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis essay addresses the problem of the essentiality of nursing knowledge and what kind of theory, if any, is essential to nursing practice. The overarching aim of the essay was to argue for the thesis that nursing may be described as a kind of philosophical activity, and, consequently, that philosophy is the kind of “theory” that is essential to nursing practice and to the nursing discipline at large. The essay consists of two papers. The present paper, Part I, is a critical examination of Mark Risjord's discussion of the problem of the theory‐practice gap in his Nursing Knowledge: Practice, Science, Philosophy, from 2010. According to Risjord, the cause of the theory‐practice gap originates in an erroneous conception of science (logical positivism) which had a decisive influence upon the way nursing scholars appropriated theoretical frameworks for the nursing discipline. This philosophical influence is considered in effect to have generated the theory–practice gap. In order to bridge the gap, Risjord suggests, the nursing discipline needs to adopt a standpoint epistemology conjoined with a postpositivist conception of scientific theory. In this way, a legitimate brand of nursing science may be developed and the theory–practice gap overcome. I will argue that neither Risjord's diagnosis of the problem, nor his recommended cure, may succeed in rescuing the nursing discipline from the theory–practice gap. Rather, the real cause of the theory–practice gap, I will claim, derives from an erroneous conception of nursing (not of science), namely the conception of nursing as a kind of science (roughly speaking). On my view, to overcome the gap, the nursing discipline needs to make salient the inherently philosophical character of nursing. In the second paper (Part II), I will continue the discussion of nursing knowledge and delineate the thesis of nursing as a kind of concrete philosophy.
Characterization of the functional near‐infrared spectroscopy response to nociception in a pediatric population
Authors: Olbrecht Vanessa A. , Jiang Yifei , Viola Luigi , Walter Charlotte M. , Liu Hanli , Kurth Charles D. 
Published: December 2017

SummaryBackgroundNear‐infrared spectroscopy can interrogate functional optical signal changes in regional brain oxygenation and blood volume to nociception analogous to functional magnetic resonance imaging.AimsThis exploratory study aimed to characterize the near‐infrared spectroscopy signals for oxy‐, deoxy‐, and total hemoglobin from the brain in response to nociceptive stimulation of varying intensity and duration, and after analgesic and neuromuscular paralytic in a pediatric population.MethodsWe enrolled children 6 months‐21 years during propofol sedation before surgery. The near‐infrared spectroscopy sensor was placed on the forehead and nociception was produced from an electrical current applied to the wrist. We determined the near‐infrared spectroscopy signal response to increasing current intensity and duration, and after fentanyl, sevoflurane, and neuromuscular paralytic. Heart rate and arm movement during electrical stimulation was also recorded. The near‐infrared spectroscopy signals for oxy‐, deoxy‐, and total hemoglobin were calculated as optical density*time (area under curve).ResultsDuring electrical stimulation, nociception was evident: tachycardia and arm withdrawal was observed that disappeared after fentanyl and sevoflurane, whereas after paralytic, tachycardia persisted while arm withdrawal disappeared. The near‐infrared spectroscopy signals for oxy‐, deoxy‐, and total hemoglobin increased during stimulation and decreased after stimulation; the areas under the curves were greater for stimulations 30 mA vs 15 mA (13.9 [5.6‐22.2], P = .0021; 5.6 [0.8‐10.5], P = .0254, and 19.8 [10.5‐29.1], P = .0002 for HbO2, Hb, and HbT, respectively), 50 Hz vs 1 Hz (17.2 [5.8‐28.6], P = .0046; 7.5 [0.7‐14.3], P = .0314, and 21.9 [4.2‐39.6], P = .0177 for HbO2, Hb, and HbT, respectively) and 45 seconds vs 15 seconds (16.3 [3.4‐29.2], P = .0188 and 22.0 [7.5‐36.5], P = .0075 for HbO2 and HbT, respectively); the areas under the curves were attenuated by analgesics but not by paralytic.ConclusionNear‐infrared spectroscopy detected functional activation to nociception in a broad pediatric population. The near‐infrared spectroscopy response appears to represent nociceptive processing because the signals increased with noxious stimulus intensity and duration, and were blocked by analgesics but not paralytics.
On‐line preparatory information for children and their families undergoing dental extractions under general anesthesia: A phase III randomized controlled trial
Authors: Huntington Corinne , Liossi Christina , Donaldson Ana Nora , Newton Jonathan Timothy , Reynolds Patricia A. , Alharatani Reham , Hosey Marie Therese 
Published: December 2017

SummaryBackgroundFamily‐centered interactive on‐line games are increasingly popular in healthcare, but their effectiveness for preoperative preparation needs further research. www.scottga.org is the new on‐line version of a proven nonweb‐based game for children and parents/caregivers.AimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate if www.scottga.org improved children's anxiety and families' satisfaction compared with controls.MethodsIn this phase III double‐blind randomized controlled trial, children/parents/caregivers received (i) www.scottga.org, (ii) standard care, or (iii) a placebo hand‐washing game. The intervention and placebo games were available online for home usage and provided again on the ward before surgery. All children were accompanied by parent/caregivers at induction and observed and scored using validated measures. Stratified randomization and generalized linear models were used. An intention‐to‐treat approach was adopted.ResultsOverall, 52/176 children had baseline “psychological disturbance.” Children's anxiety increased preinduction, but there were no differences between groups (Facial Image Scale: video‐standard OR = 1.08, P = .82, 95% CI [0.56, 2.1]; video‐placebo OR = 0.9, P = .77 95% CI [0.46, 1.8]). There were no differences in induction behavior (visual analog scale: video mean = 3.5; standard care mean = 3.5; placebo mean = 3.7: video‐standard OR = 2.0, P = .42, 95% CI [−0.6, 1.3]; video‐placebo OR = 1.53, P = .65, 95% CI [−0.8, 1.1]) or induction anxiety (modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale: video‐standard OR 1.02, P = .97, 95% CI [0.61, 2.6]; video‐placebo OR 1.38, P = .49, 95% CI [0.87, 3.81]). Families favored the intervention regarding the “child handling the visit better” (Treatment Evaluation Inventory: video‐standard OR = 12; 95% CI 4.7‐32; P < .001; video‐placebo OR = 8.2; 95% CI 3‐22; P < .001) and “improving the child's ability to cope” (Treatment Evaluation Inventory: video‐standard OR = 21; 95% CI 8‐56; P < .001 and video‐placebo OR = 13; 95% CI 5‐34; P < .001).ConclusionFamilies believed that a video‐game preparation helped their child's perioperative anxiety, but there were no objective measures of behavioral improvement associated with this intervention.
Geographic variation in cone volatiles and pollinators in the thermogenic African cycadEncephalartos ghellinckiiLem
Authors: Suinyuy T. N. , Johnson S. D. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHeat and odour production can have profound effects on pollination in cycads. It is therefore expected that these traits would co‐vary geographically with pollinator assemblages. Such intraspecific variation, may lead to the evolution of pollination ecotypes, which can be an early stage of pollinator‐mediated speciation.We measured cone temperatures using miniature temperature data loggers and examined the composition of cone volatile odours using headspace sampling and analysis with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry in four populations spanning the range of the African cycadEncephalartos ghellinckii. Pollinator assemblages were also investigated in three populations.Male and female cones were thermogenic at pollen shed and receptive stages, respectively, but patterns of thermogenesis did not vary among populations. Scent emissions from cones in populations in the Drakensberg Mountains were characterised bycis‐β‐ocimene, β‐myrcene and (3E)‐1,3‐octadiene, while camphene and α‐pinene were characteristic of scent emissions from cones in populations closer to the coast. These differences in volatile blends corresponded with differences in insect assemblages.These results confirm intraspecific variation in volatile emissions ofE. ghellinckiiand support the predictions that intraspecific variation in volatile emissions will be associated with shifts in pollinator assemblages. While further work needs to be done to test for local adaptation in this system, this preliminary evidence is consistent with the formation of pollination ecotypes in theE. ghellinckiispecies complex.
A review of grouper (Family Serranidae: Subfamily Epinephelinae) aquaculture from a sustainability science perspective
Authors: Rimmer Michael A. , Glamuzina Branko 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAquaculture of groupers is carried out in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world, but most production is from Asia, with three countries responsible for an estimated 92% of global production: China (65% of total production), Taiwan Province of China (17%) and Indonesia (11%). We calculate that there are at least 47 grouper species plus 15 grouper hybrids that have been trialled or are currently aquacultured. While grouper aquaculture has undoubtedly provided positive social and economic benefits to coastal communities in Asia, practices associated with grouper aquaculture have also led to widespread concerns regarding its environmental impacts. This paper reviews environmental, economic and social impacts of grouper aquaculture within a sustainability science framework. An update, building on early technical reviews of grouper aquaculture, was used to identify the main environmental, economic and social impacts. The main environmental impacts identified were as follows: seedstock sources, particularly the use of wild‐caught postlarval or juvenile fish as seedstock; the use of ‘trash’ fish as the major feed source; and water quality and substrate impacts of sea cage aquaculture. Significant economic and social impacts arising from grouper aquaculture include employment and income generation, but the economic impacts of disease outbreaks are significant, reducing fish survival to harvest size to around 50–70%. Current approaches to ameliorate negative impacts include the following: development and implementation of better management practices (BMPs) at national level, and the development of a global ecolabel certification scheme by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Both these approaches have significant constraints, particularly when applied to small‐scale farmers who produce the bulk of farmed grouper. We conclude that there is a need for improved higher level coordination between the major producer countries to address identified sustainability constraints to grouper aquaculture.
Can we reconstruct the textual history of the Hebrew Bible?
Authors: Pakkala Juha 
Published: December 2017

AbstractVariant readings in manuscripts and other documented evidence show that the Hebrew Bible was the focus of intensive scribal activity in its early transmission. Text criticism, which evaluates variant readings, is recognized as an important method, but biblical scholarship uses its results only haphazardly. Historical criticism, which can be divided into literary and redaction criticism, reconstructs the history based on inconsistencies in the text itself. Although dominant especially in continental Europe until the 1980s, historical criticism never received universal recognition, and its influence has diminished in recent decades. This paper presents the rationale of historical criticism and discusses recent challenges to it.