bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection and analysis of circulating large intergenic non‐coding RNA regulator of reprogramming in plasma for breast cancer
Authors: Zhang Kaijiong , Luo Zhenglian , Zhang Yi , Wang Yuzhi , Cui Meng , Liu Lian , Zhang Li , Liu Jinbo 
Published: November 2017

BackgroundPrevious studies have indicated that large intergenic non‐coding RNA regulator of reprogramming (lincRNA‐ROR) plays an important role in regulating tumor carcinogenesis and metastasis; however, whether circulating lincRNA‐ROR could function as a potential biomarker for breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and monitoring is unknown. This study was conducted to investigate circulating lincRNA‐ROR in plasma as a potential biomarker for BC diagnosis and monitoring.MethodsWe performed reverse transcription‐quantitative‐PCR to examine lincRNA‐ROR expression levels in cell lines, 24 pairs of BC tissue samples, and 94 plasma samples from BC patients. Potential correlations between plasma lincRNA‐ROR levels and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. A receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic values for BC. Pearson correlation analysis of lincRNA‐ROR in plasma samples and the corresponding tissues of the same patients was performed to explore tumor monitoring values.ResultsLincRNA‐ROR expression was significantly increased in BC cell lines, tissues, and plasma (all P < 0.01). Plasma lincRNA‐ROR levels were associated with estrogen receptors (P = 0.042) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.046). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of plasma lincRNA‐ROR was 0.844 (sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 56.7%), which was higher than carcinoembryonic and carbohydrate antigen 15‐3 values. Moreover, plasma lincRNA‐ROR levels were decreased in postoperative compared to preoperative samples (P < 0.0001). Plasma lincRNA‐ROR levels moderately correlated with the corresponding tissue level in the same patients (r2 = 0.638, P < 0.0001).ConclusionPlasma lincRNA‐ROR may be a potential biomarker for BC diagnosis and a dynamic monitor.
Definition and estimation of vital rates from repeated censuses: Choices, comparisons and bias corrections focusing on trees
Authors: Kohyama Takashi S. , Kohyama Tetsuo I. , Sheil Douglas 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Mortality and recruitment rates are fundamental measures of population dynamics. Ecologists and others have defined and estimated these vital rates in various ways. We review these alternatives focusing on tree population census data in fixed area plots, though many aspects have wider application when similar data characteristics and assumptions apply: our goal is to guide choices and facilitate comparisons.

We divide our estimates into “instantaneous” and “annual” rates, corresponding to continuous or discrete time dynamics, respectively. In each case, vital rate estimates can be further divided into those based on population density (“per‐capita” rates) and those based on census area (“per‐area” rates). We also examine how all such rate estimates relate to each other and can thus be interconverted and compared.

In a heterogeneous population (e.g. trees in a forest stand) comprising subpopulations (e.g. species, locations, exposure classes), estimates of vital rates that assume homogeneity (equal likelihood of mortality and equal likelihood of recruitment for all individuals) are biased towards lower vital rates in stable mixed populations (due to survivorship bias) and towards lower absolute values of population change rate (due to changing‐frequency bias).

We describe and illustrate an individual‐based Bayesian procedure for estimating vital rates that reduces biases by accounting for demographic heterogeneity and sampling errors among and within subpopulations.
How to incorporate information on propagule pressure in the analysis of alien establishment success
Authors: Pigot Alex L. , Cassey Phillip , Blackburn Tim M. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Identifying the factors that determine the success of biological invasions has major consequences for both ecological theory and conservation decision‐making. Reliably inferring these factors depends on adequately accounting for the known effects of propagule pressure on establishment success, but detailed information on the size and number of introduced populations is often lacking.

Here, we conduct simulations to explore the effects of incomplete knowledge of propagule pressure on inferences regarding the correlates of establishment success. We compare situations where we have complete information on propagule number and propagule size across species, allowing success to be modelled at the population scale (population‐level analysis), with those where data for propagule size (species‐level analysis) and both propagule size and number (location‐level analysis) are unavailable. We assess the ability to correctly infer the effects of a covariate on establishment success when this covariate exhibits varying degrees of correlation with propagule pressure.

We show that when establishment success is modelled at the level of species, rather than populations, this leads to an elevated tendency to incorrectly infer the effects of species‐level traits on establishment success (higher type 1 error and lower power), particularly when traits in question are strongly associated with propagule pressure. These biases are magnified when using proxies for propagule pressure, such as the number of locations where species have been introduced, and are magnified further when these proxies are converted to binary variables.

Our results validate the current best practice for the analysis of establishment success in alien species at the population level, when the effects of propagule size and a covariate predicting establishment probability can both be reliably inferred. However, given the growing interest in understanding correlates of biological invasions, they strongly urge caution in interpreting results based on incomplete knowledge of propagule pressure.
Environmentally‐ and human‐induced body‐size responses in Macropus robustus and Macropus rufus, two widespread kangaroo species with largely overlapping distributions
Authors: Correll Rachel A. , Prowse Thomas A. A. , Prideaux Gavin J. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractProgressive body‐size dwarfing of animal populations is predicted under chronic mortality stress, such as that inflicted by human harvesting. However, empirical support for such declines in body size due to elevated mortality is lacking. In fact, the size of three macropodid species ─ the two grey kangaroo species, Macropus fuliginosus and M. giganteus, and the Red‐necked Wallaby, M. rufogriseus ─ appears to have increased since European settlement in Australia, despite these species being subjected to size‐selective harvesting over this period. To test whether this unexpected trend also characterises other species, we sought evidence of human‐induced body‐size changes in the two most widely distributed kangaroo species, the Euro Macropus robustus and Red Kangaroo M. rufus, from the late 19th Century onwards. Spatial autoregressive models controlling for age, sex and island effects were first used to identify environmental predictors of body size and to evaluate multi‐causal explanations for spatial body‐size patterns. Primary productivity emerged as the key driver of body size in both species, while heat conservation was supported as a further mechanism explaining the large body size of M. robustus in cold climatic regions. After controlling for these environmental factors, we find that the size of M. rufus has been stable over time and limited support for a small increase in the size of M. robustus. Hence, there is no empirical evidence that contemporary size‐selective harvesting has reduced body size in these species. Rather, the latter result supports the possibility that pasture improvement and/or dingo control (and associated reduction in predation pressure) facilitated body‐size increases following European settlement in Australia.
Reproductive cycle of the oviparous lizard Sceloporus jalapae, from Zapotitlán Salinas, Puebla, Mexico
Authors: González‐Espinoza Jorge E. , Lemos‐Espinal Julio A. , Manríquez‐Morán Norma L. , Woolrich‐Piña Guillermo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractReproductive patterns vary widely among species and populations of squamates. In general, patterns can be divided into cyclic and acyclic. Cyclic patterns are common in tropical and temperate species of seasonal environments, while acyclic ones are characteristic of tropical species that inhabit less variable environments. We studied the reproductive cycle of Sceloporus jalapae, one of the smallest species of Sceloporus, in an arid environment at Zapotitlán Salinas, Puebla, Mexico. Both sexes mature in the first year following hatching and exhibit a seasonal reproductive pattern with maximum activity in spring and summer that appears to be influenced by temperature. Unlike small species of Sceloporus that inhabit pine–oak and tropical forests, S. jalapae exhibits an extended period of reproductive activity that allows females to produce at least two clutches of 3–7 eggs each, and contrary to other species of Sceloporus, in this species there is no correlation between female length and clutch size. The reproductive pattern of S. jalapae is like that shown by other oviparous species of the genus; nevertheless, some life history traits of this species are shared with oviparous and viviparous species of small size.
Improved Dynamic Predictions from Joint Models of Longitudinal and Survival Data with Time-varying Effects Using P-splines
Authors: Andrinopoulou Eleni-Rosalina , Eilers Paul H. C. , Takkenberg Johanna J. M. , Rizopoulos Dimitris 
Published: November 2017

Summary
In the field of cardio-thoracic surgery, valve function is monitored over time after surgery. The motivation for our research comes from a study which includes patients who received a human tissue valve in the aortic position. These patients are followed prospectively over time by standardized echocardiographic assessment of valve function. Loss of follow-up could be caused by valve intervention or the death of the patient. One of the main characteristics of the human valve is that its durability is limited. Therefore, it is of interest to obtain a prognostic model in order for the physicians to scan trends in valve function over time and plan their next intervention, accounting for the characteristics of the data. Several authors have focused on deriving predictions under the standard joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data framework that assumes a constant effect for the coefficient that links the longitudinal and survival outcomes. However, in our case, this may be a restrictive assumption. Since the valve degenerates, the association between the biomarker with survival may change over time. To improve dynamic predictions, we propose a Bayesian joint model that allows a time-varying coefficient to link the longitudinal and the survival processes, using P-splines. We evaluate the performance of the model in terms of discrimination and calibration, while accounting for censoring.
The effect of technology choice on specialization and welfare in a two‐country model
Authors: Sawada Yukiko 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis study presents a simple two‐country model in which firms in the manufacturing sector can choose a technology level (high or low). We show how trade costs and productivity levels affect technology choices by the firms in each country, where the fixed cost of adopting high technology differs between the two countries. This depends on the productivity level of the high technology. In particular, if the productivity of high technology is medium and trade costs are not too low, then a technology gap between countries arises. In this case, improving the productivity of the high technology country reduces the welfare level of consumers in the country in which low technology is adopted. To compensate for the welfare loss of the country from the technological improvement, trade costs should be reduced.
Torymidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) revised: molecular phylogeny, circumscription and reclassification of the family with discussion of its biogeography and evolution of life‐history traits
Authors: Janšta Petr , Cruaud Astrid , Delvare Gérard , Genson Guénaëlle , Heraty John , Křížková Barbora , Rasplus Jean‐Yves 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA phylogeny of the Torymidae (Chalcidoidea) is estimated using 4734 nucleotides from five genes. Twelve outgroups and 235 ingroup taxa are used, representing about 70% of the recognized genera. Our analyses do not recover Torymidae as monophyletic and we recognize instead two families: Megastigmidae (stat. rev.) and Torymidaes.s. (stat. rev.). Within Torymidaes.s., we recognize six subfamilies and six tribes, including Chalcimerinae, Glyphomerinae and Microdontomerinae (subf. nov.), and two new tribes: Boucekinini and Propalachiini (trib. nov.). Seven unclassified genera (i.e.Cryptopristus,Echthrodape,Exopristoides,Exopristus, part ofGlyphomerus,Thaumatorymus,Zaglyptonotus) are assigned to tribes within our new classification. Five genera are restored from synonymy—AmeromicrusandDidactyliocerusfrom underTorymoides(stat. rev.),IridophagaandIridophagoidesfrom underPodagrionella(stat. rev.) andNannocerusfrom underTorymus(stat. rev.)—and three genera are synonymized—AllotorymusunderTorymussyn. nov.,DitropinotusunderEridontomerussyn. nov.andPseuderimerusunderErimerussyn. nov.A Palaearctic or Eurasian origin for Torymidae is proposed. The ancestral area of Megastigmidae is indicated as the Australian region. The most probable ancestral life strategy for Torymidaes.s. is ectoparasitism on gall‐forming Cynipidae. The life strategy and putative hosts of the common ancestor of Megastigmidae remain uncertain.
Fracture behavior, marginal gap width, and marginal quality of vented or pre‐cemented CAD/CAM all‐ceramic crowns luted on Y‐TZP implants
Authors: Zaugg Lucia K. , Meyer Simon , Rohr Nadja , Zehnder Isabella , Zitzmann Nicola U. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the fracture behavior and marginal gap region of CAD/CAM fabricated lithium disilicate (L) and zirconium dioxide (Z) crowns using palatal venting (PV), pre‐cementation with custom analogs (CA), or conventional cementation technique (SP) with adhesive cement (A) or resin‐modified glass ionomer cement (B).Material and methodsTwelve groups (n = 6) were set according to material (L, Z), cement (A, B), and technique (PV, CA, SP). Specimens were thermo‐mechanical aged (TML), loaded until fracture (LF) and fracture patterns recorded. Marginal gap width and quality were assessed and compared to replicas obtained before and after TML.ResultsCrown material significantly influenced LF with a mean of 1037.6 ± 282.4 N in L and 5356.3 ± 1207.0 N in Z groups (p < .001). Neither cement material nor cementation method affected the outcome. Fractures occurred along the mesial‐distal central fissure in both materials. Gap width before TML was 22.04 ± 13.42 μm for L and 19.98 ± 12.72 μm for Z specimens, with overall no influence of crown material, cement type, or method. Marginal cleanliness just below the polished implant shoulder reached 66.7%–88.9% with A, and 91.7%–100% with B, and tended to increase in all groups during TML indicating a decrease in excess cement. Implant‐crown junctions were cleaner with B compared to A (p ≤ .001) and along Z crown surfaces compared to L (p ≤ .007).ConclusionsCrown venting of lithium disilicate and zirconium dioxide crowns did not affect the fracture load and patterns. Complete cement removal was rare, and the observed particle ablation requires further clinical attention, particularly with submucosal margins.
Multicentre observational study of gastrointestinal recovery after elective colorectal surgery
Authors:   Yorkshire Surgical Research Collaborative
Published: November 2017

AbstractAimPostoperative ileus (POI) is characterised by delayed gastrointestinal recovery and is common after colorectal surgery. Numerous strategies to optimise POI have been proposed but its management remains an unmet clinical need. This study aimed to characterise the duration and management of gastrointestinal recovery in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.MethodA snapshot, prospective, observational study was undertaken between November 2016 and January 2017 at 10 regional hospitals in the United Kingdom. Adult patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery with resection of bowel or reversal of stoma were included. Outcomes included time until return of gastrointestinal function, timing of nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion, uptake of targeted interventions and clinical outcomes. Data were validated for accuracy by independent investigators.Results204 patients met the eligibility criteria. The median time for gastrointestinal recovery was 3 days (IQR 2–4); right‐sided resections were associated with longer gastrointestinal recovery than left sided (4 days (2.75–5.25) vs 3 days (2–4); P = 0.002). The rate of NGT insertion was 22.5% at a median time of 4 (4–4.75) days. NGT insertion after vomiting was associated with a higher incidence of bronchopneumonia compared to early placement (13.3% vs 29.0%). Targeted interventions, such as chewing gum (4.4%), selective mu‐receptor antagonists (1.0%) and pro‐kinetic agents (13.7%) were infrequently used.ConclusionThe average time to gastrointestinal recovery after elective colorectal surgery was three days. Late NGT insertion was associated with an increased incidence of bronchopneumonia. The clinical uptake of targeted interventions to improve gastrointestinal recovery was poor.
Utility of flexible bronchoscopy with polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary infiltrates in allogeneic HSCT patients
Authors: Tang Fei‐Fei , Zhao Xiao‐Su , Xu Lan‐Ping , Zhang Xiao‐Hui , Chen Yu‐Hong , Mo Xiao‐Dong , Liu Kai‐Yan , Huang Xiao‐Jun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectivesPulmonary infiltrates in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo‐HSCT) patients are potentially life‐threatening and require early diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to retrospectively explore the clinical efficacy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in conjunction with flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in allo‐HSCT patients with pulmonary infiltrates.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing FB after allo‐HSCT at the Peking University Institute of Hematology from January 2013 to December 2016. We used PCR to detect various viruses in FB specimens, particularly for 27 viruses.ResultsOne hundred forty‐nine diagnostic FBs were performed in 130 patients. The overall diagnostic yield was 58%. Eighty‐nine percent of the patients with a positive FB result were diagnosed with a pulmonary infection. Viruses were the most common infectious diagnosis (70%), followed by fungi (48%), bacteria (38%), and Pneumocystis jirovecii (12%). Multivariate analyses showed that a chest computed tomography (CT) finding of diffuse pulmonary infiltrates (P = .012) and positive results in assisted microbiological and serological analyses (P = .000) predicted a positive FB result. FB results prompted a treatment modification in 61% of cases.ConclusionsFB in conjunction with PCR is efficient in the rapid diagnosis and management of pulmonary infiltrates in allo‐HSCT patients.
Educational effects using a robot patient simulation system for development of clinical attitude
Authors: Abe S. , Noguchi N. , Matsuka Y. , Shinohara C. , Kimura T. , Oka K. , Okura K. , Rodis O. M. M. , Kawano F. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of improving the attitude of dental students towards the use of a full‐body patient simulation system (SIMROID) compared to the traditional mannequin (CLINSIM) for dental clinical education.Materials and methodsThe participants were 10 male undergraduate dental students who had finished clinical training in the university hospital 1 year before this study started. They performed a crown preparation on an upper pre‐molar tooth using SIMROID and CLINSIM as the practical clinical trials. The elapsed time for preparation was recorded. The taper of the abutment teeth was measured using a 3‐dimensional shape‐measuring device after this trial. In addition, a self‐reported questionnaire was collected that included physical pain, treatment safety and maintaining a clean area for each simulator. Qualitative data analysis of a free format report about SIMROID was performed using text mining analysis. This trial was performed twice at 1‐month intervals.ResultsThe students considered physical pain, treatment safety and a clean area for SIMROID significantly better than that for CLINSIM (P < .01). The elapsed time of preparation in the second practical clinical trial was significantly lower than in the first for SIMROID and CLINSIM (P < .01). However, there were no significant differences between the abutment tapers for both systems. For the text mining analysis, most of the students wrote that SIMROID was similar to real patients.ConclusionThe use of SIMROID was proven to be effective in improving the attitude of students towards patients, thereby giving importance to considerations for actual patients during dental treatment.
Undergraduate dental students’ perceptions of head and neck anatomy teaching in Australia
Authors: Hassan N. M. , Akhter R. , Al‐Aubaidy H. , Flatau A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIntroductionMost Australian universities have abbreviated the anatomy curriculum and modified its mode of delivery. This study examines dental student perceptions of different methods of head and neck anatomy teaching with respect to the adequacy of allocated time and the relative meaningfulness of the teaching methods.MethodsAll second‐year students in the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences at Charles Sturt University (CSU) were invited to complete a matrix‐grid questionnaire. Participants were asked to score four methods of teaching (lectures, study of prosected materials, tutorials and quizzes) using a 5‐point Likert scale. The questionnaire included questions about the time adequacy for anatomy lectures, tutorials and laboratory study, and the potential value of learning anatomy through the study of prosected materials. SPSS (Version 21.0) was used to analyse the data, and statistical significance was set at 0.05.ResultsSeventy‐two students (79.5%) responded to the survey. Overall, learning anatomy through the study of prosected materials was the single highest scored method, followed by lectures, tutorials and quizzes. Graduate entrants felt that not enough time was devoted to learning anatomy through the study of prosected materials, compared with school leavers (89.4% and 10.6%, respectively), having one extra session of learning in the anatomy laboratory (71.4% and 28.6%, respectively) and adding dissection (75.0% and 25.0%, respectively) would be helpful.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that dental students perceive the study of prosected materials in the wet laboratory as the most valuable method of learning anatomy, but an extended anatomy curriculum would be even more effective and appreciated.