bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biological and steroid use in relationship to quality measures in older patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a US Medicare cohort study
Authors: Johnson Sophia L , Bartels Christie M , Palta Mari , Thorpe Carolyn T , Weiss Jennifer M , Smith Maureen A 
Published: September 2015

ObjectivesTo examine the frequency and predictors of antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) use, and to describe steroid utilisation among US patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) aged 65 years and older prior to the publication of a new Medicare quality measure calling for the use of anti-TNFs and other steroid-sparing agents.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingThis study utilised 2006–2009 claims data for a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries.ParticipantsPatients with IBD (>1 claim for ICD codes 555.xx, 556.xx) without anti-TNF contraindications, enrolled in Medicare parts A and B ≥12 months and part D ≥6 months were included (n=8502).Outcome measuresWe estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% CIs predicting new anti-TNF therapy using multivariable Poisson regression.ResultsThis nationally representative study of older patients with IBD estimated that only 3.7% received anti-TNFs. New anti-TNF use (1.4%) was associated with younger age, absence of Medicaid coverage, hospitalisation, and higher preceding use of burst (IRR=2.35, CI 1.59 to 3.47) and maintenance steroids (IRR=2.40, CI 1.05 to 5.48). Among anti-TNF users, we observed high rates of concurrent maintenance steroid use (19%).ConclusionsAnti-TNF use was very low in this population of older patients with IBD and, importantly, was often combined with maintenance steroid use despite guidelines suggesting reduced needs. Expanding IBD-specific quality measures to include steroid taper plans may cue appropriate maintenance regimens that include anti-TNFs and other steroid sparing agents while reducing protracted concomitant steroid use as intended by current quality measures.
Precise navigation surgery of tumours in the lung in mouse models enabled by in situ fluorescence labelling with a killer-reporter adenovirus
Authors: Yano Shuya , Zhang Yong , Miwa Shinji , Kishimoto Hiroyuki , Urata Yasuo , Bouvet Michael , Kagawa Shunsuke , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi , Hoffman Robert M 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundCurrent methods of image-guided surgery of tumours of the lung mostly rely on CT. A sensitive procedure of selective tumour fluorescence labelling would allow simple and high-resolution visualisation of the tumour for precise surgical navigation.MethodsHuman lung cancer cell lines H460 and A549 were genetically transformed to express red fluorescent protein (RFP). Tumours were grown subcutaneously for each cell line and harvested and minced for surgical orthotopic implantation on the left lung of nude mice. Tumour growth was measured by fluorescence imaging. After the tumours reached 5 mm in diameter, they were injected under fluorescence guidance with the telomerase-dependent green fluorescent protein (GFP)-containing adenovirus, OBP-401. Viral labelling of the lung tumours with GFP precisely colocalised with tumour RFP expression. Three days after administration of OBP-401, fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) was performed.ResultsFGS of tumours in the lung was enabled by labelling with a telomerase-dependent adenovirus containing theGFPgene. Tumours in the lung were selectively and brightly labelled. FGS enabled complete lung tumour resection with no residual fluorescent tumour.ConclusionsFGS of tumours in the lung is feasible and more effective than bright-light surgery.
The pCONus device for the endovascular treatment of wide neck bifurcation aneurysms
Authors: Lubicz Boris , Morais Ricardo , Alghamdi Faisal , Mine Benjamin , Collignon Laurent , Eker Omer Faruk 
Published: September 2015

Background and purposeThe pCONus is a new stent featuring a distal end that opens like a blossoming flower with four petals. The device is implanted in the aneurysm sac at the level of the neck. We report our initial experience in a series of patients treated with this device.MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the authors’ ethics committees. 18 patients with 19 unruptured wide neck bifurcation intracranial aneurysms (IA) were treated by pCONus placement and coiling. Technical issues, immediate post treatment angiographic findings, and clinical and imaging follow-up were assessed.ResultsEmbolization was successful in all patients. There were 11 women and 7 men with a mean age of 60 years. Median aneurysm size was 9 mm (range 5.5–25 mm). The device was precisely placed and detached in all cases, allowing for subsequent coiling. Two patients experienced a symptomatic complication, one of which, a thromboembolism, was related to the use of the pCONus. This patient had a slight hand paresis. 16 patients had a normal neurological examination at discharge. Immediate anatomical results were 13 complete occlusions, 2 neck remnants, and 4 incomplete occlusions. Imaging follow-up was obtained in 12 patients (mean 9.5 months, range 2–24 months) and showed 9 stable occlusions and 3 recanalizations, of which 2 were retreated.ConclusionsIn this initial series of patients, endovascular treatment of wide neck bifurcation IAs with the pCONus was feasible, with acceptable clinical and anatomical outcomes. Further studies are needed to evaluate the indications, safety, and efficacy of this new device.
Mechanical thrombectomy versus systemic thrombolysis in MCA stroke: a distance to thrombus-based outcome analysis
Authors: Lobsien Donald , Gawlitza Matthias , Schaudinn Alexander , Schob Stefan , Hobohm Carsten , Fritzsch Dominik , Quäschling Ulf , Hoffmann Karl-Titus , Friedrich Benjamin 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundAcute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) has a poor outcome. The distance to thrombus (DT) from the carotid T can predict the outcome after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). With a DT <16 mm, fewer than 50% of patients treated with IVT have a favorable outcome.ObjectiveTo compare stent retriever-based endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (MT) plus additional IVT (IVT–MT) with IVT alone.Materials and methodsPatients with MCA occlusion proved by CT angiography with a DT <16 mm, treated with either IVT alone or with stent retriever-based endovascular IVT–MT, were included in this study. Changes in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the 7-day NIHSS, and the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were analyzed by treatment modality.ResultsOf 621 patients, 87 fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Fifty-nine patients were treated with IVT and 28 with IVT–MT. Although patients treated with IVT–MT had had significantly more severe strokes than those treated with IVT alone (initial NIHSS 16 (7–18) vs 14 (5–22); p=0.032), both the short- and long-term outcomes were significantly better in this patient group (NIHSS improvement on day 7: 10.9±6.3 vs 6.7±6.7; p=0.008/90-day mRS: 2 (0.75–2.5) vs 4 (2–6); p=0.003).ConclusionsIn patients with an acute MCA occlusion and a DT <16 mm, IVT–MT leads to a significantly better outcome than in patients treated with IVT alone.
Holocene sedimentary systems on a broad continental shelf with abundant river input: process–product relationships
Authors: Gao Shu , Wang Dandan , Yang Yang , Zhou Liang , Zhao Yangyang , Gao Wenhua , Han Zhuochen , Yu Qian , Li Gaocong 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The region consisting of the Bohai, Yellow and East China seas represents a typical wide continental shelf environment with abundant terrestrial sediment supply. Here, a variety of sedimentary systems have been formed during the Holocene period. These systems have unique characteristics in terms of spatial distribution, material composition, deposition rate, and the timing and duration for their formation, which are related to active sediment-transport processes induced by tides and waves, shelf circulations, and sediment gravity flows. The sedimentary records contained within the deposits have a high temporal resolution, but each with a limited temporal coverage. However, if these records are connected, then they may form a complete archive for environmental change studies. In the field of process–product relationship studies, the mid-Holocene coastal deposits on the Jiangsu coast, the early–middle Holocene sequences of the Hangzhou Bay, the Holocene mud deposits off the Zhejiang–Fujian coasts and the other mud areas over the region are of importance. These systems may be understood by identifying the material supply (from both seabed reworking during the sea-level rise events and river discharges), transport-accumulation processes, the formation of sediment sequences and the future evolution of the sediment systems, for which numerical modelling becomes increasingly important.
Game-Theoretic Mechanisms to Increase Data Availability in Decentralized Storage Systems
Authors: Rzadca Krzysztof , Datta Anwitaman , Kreitz Gunnar , Buchegger Sonja 
Published: September 2015

In a decentralized storage system, agents replicate each other’s data to increase availability. Compared to organizationally centralized solutions, such as cloud storage, a decentralized storage system requires less trust in the provider and may result in smaller monetary costs. Our system is based on reciprocal storage contracts that allow the agents to adopt to changes in their replication partners’ availability (by dropping inefficient contracts and forming new contracts with other partners). The data availability provided by the system is a function of the participating agents’ availability. However, a straightforward system in which agents’ matching is decentralized uses the given agent availability inefficiently. As agents are autonomous, the highly available agents form cliques replicating data between each other, which makes the system too hostile for the weakly available newcomers. In contrast, a centralized, equitable matching is not incentive compatible: it does not reward users for keeping their software running.
We solve this dilemma by a mixed solution: an “adoption” mechanism in which highly available agents donate some replication space, which in turn is used to help the worst-off agents. We show that the adoption motivates agents to increase their availability (is incentive-compatible), but also that it is sufficient for acceptable data availability for weakly-available agents.
Process Variability and Electrostatic Analysis of Molecular QCA
Authors: Graziano Mariagrazia , Pulimeno Azzurra , Wang Ruiyu , Wei Xiang , Roch Massimo Ruo , Piccinini Gianluca 
Published: September 2015

Molecular quantum-dot cellular automata
(mQCA) is an emerging paradigm for nanoscale computation. Its revolutionary features are the expected operating frequencies (THz), the high device densities, the noncryogenic working temperature, and, above all, the limited power densities.

The main drawback of this technology is a consequence of one of its very main advantages, that is, the extremely small size of a single molecule. Device prototyping and the fabrication of a simple circuit are limited by lack of control in the technological process [Pulimeno et al. 2013a]. Moreover, high defectivity might strongly impact the correct behavior of mQCA devices. Another challenging point is the lack of a solid method for analyzing and simulating mQCA behavior and performance, either in ideal or defective conditions.
Our contribution in this article is threefold: (i) We identify a methodology based on both ab-initio simulations and post-processing of data for analyzing an mQCA system adopting an electronic point of view (we baptized this method as “MoSQuiTo”); (ii) we assess the performance of an mQCA device (in this case, a bis- ferrocene molecule) working in nonideal conditions, using as a reference the information on fabrication-critical issues and on the possible defects that we are obtaining while conducting our own ongoing experiments on mQCA: (iii) we determine and assess the electrostatic energy stored in a bis-ferrocene molecule both in an oxidized and reduced form.

Results presented here consist of quantitative information for an mQCA device working in manifold driving conditions and subjected to defects. This information is given in terms of: (a) output voltage; (b)
safe operating area
(SOA); (c) electrostatic energy; and (d) relation between SOA and energy, that is, possible energy reduction subject to reliability and functionality constraints. The whole analysis is a first fundamental step toward the study of a complex mQCA circuit. It gives important suggestions on possible improvements of the technological processes. Moreover, it starts an interesting assessment on the energy of an mQCA, one of the most promising features of this technology.
Sex identification of juvenile sand lizards, Lacerta agilis using digital images
Authors: Eplanova Galina V. , Roitberg Evgeny S. 
Published: September 2015

Sexing neonate animals is necessary for many evolutionary and ecological studies. Yet non-invasive sex identification of neonate reptiles is often problematic because these do not exhibit salient differences in colouration and body proportions. We examined digital images of the ventral body surface in 214 adult or subadult individuals (95 males + 119 females), 59 juveniles (29 + 30), and 156 hatchlings of the Eurasian sand lizard, Lacerta agilis. Two quantitative traits, the number of transverse rows of ventral scales and the width/length ratio of the anal plate, which are easily recordable from digital images and show no substantial correlation with body size, exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. A discriminant function derived from these two characters allows correct identification of the sex in 90% of juvenile individuals when males and females of older stages are used as reference samples. Also, we introduce a new qualitative trait, namely the presence/absence of the skin hyperaemia behind cloaca in hatchlings, and provide indirect evidence that this trait is likely to be strongly associated with sex.
Lizards along an agricultural land abandonment gradient in Pindos Mountains, Greece
Authors: Zakkak Sylvia , Halley John Maxwell , Akriotis Triantafyllos , Kati Vasiliki 
Published: September 2015

Agricultural land abandonment is recognized as one of the main environmental drivers in Southern Europe, affecting ecological communities. Lizards, as ectothermic species with low dispersal capacity, are particularly prone to the threats associated with land use changes. We investigated the effect of land abandonment on lizards in a remote mountainous area in Greece, using line transect sampling, in 20 randomly selected sites [1 km × 1 km], along a four grade abandonment gradient in terms of forest encroachment. We recorded four species: Algyroides nigropunctatus, Lacerta viridis/trilineata, Podarcis tauricus and Podarcis muralis, the latter being the most abundant. Our results did not provide evidence for a significant effect of forest encroachment or grazing on lizard diversity, given the dominance of P. muralis, the availability of all microhabitat types along the gradient and the low grazing intensity in the study area. Environmental parameters at the macrohabitat scale did not prove determinant for habitat variance, but microhabitat analysis showed a clear preference of P. muralis to bare ground. Despite the non-significant effects of land abandonment on lizard diversity, the dominance of P. muralis tends to indicate a lizard community shift towards species inhabiting forested habitats. The preservation of open microhabitats, such as bare land, is considered of great importance for promoting high levels of lizard diversity, as their loss would affect even species currently widespread in forested ecosystems. Low intensity grazing, as well as the enhancement of wild ungulate populations in abandoned areas, can contribute to halting forest encroachment and maintaining the required habitat heterogeneity.
<strong>New Combinations For the Moss Flora of China</strong>
Authors: Redfearn, Jr. P. L. , Tan B. C. 
Published: September 2015

The following twenty three new combinations and new names are proposed for Chinese moss taxa: Barbula chenia, B. dixoniana, Barbula propaguliferum, Bryum ochianum, Chrysocladium retrorsum var. pinfaense, Dicladiella trichophora, Didymodon rigidulus var. perobustus, Entodon caliginosus var. subtilis, Microdus brotheri, Platydictya sinensis-subtilis, P. yuennanensis, Pohlia cavalieri, P. ciliifera, C. graciliformis, P. laticuspes, P. propagulifera, P. pygmaea, P. tapintzense, P. timmioides, Sinskea flammea ssp. ochracea, S. flammea ssp. rufiflolioides, Trichostomum sinochenii and T. zanderi.
Las Lejeuneaceae (Hepaticae) de Misiones, Argentina III. Drepanolejeunea y <em>Leptolejeunea</em>
Authors: Reiner-Drehwald M. Elena 
Published: September 2015

The species of Drepanolejeunea (D. mosenii (Steph.) Bischl.) and Leptolejeunea (L. exocellata (Spruce) Evans) found in the province of Misiones, Argentina, are described and illustrated. The two genera, members of the subfam. Lejeuneoideae, are new records for Misiones. Drepanolejeunea sabaliana Schust is proposed as new synonym of D. mosenii.
Contribution to the study of Chinese Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)
Authors: KHALAIM ANDREY I. , SHENG MAO-LING 
Published: September 2015

New data on Chinese Tersilochinae are provided: one species, Tersilochus scutatus sp. n., is described from Liaoning province of China and the Russian Far East, and two species, Barycnemis bellator (Müller) and Tersilochus curvator Horstmann, are new records from China. Thus, this work raises the total number of known Chinese species to 31. Two close species, Diaparsis pulchra Khalaim and D. rara (Horstmann), are compared; specimens previously treated as D. rara, var. from the Russian Far East are found to belong to D. pulchra. Tersilochine faunas of China, South Korea and Primorskiy region of Russia are discussed. The fauna of Palaearctic China is still poorly known, being represented by an equal number of genera and somewhat fewer species than the fauna of South Korea, and it is half the size of the fauna of Primorskiy Region of Russia; the Oriental fauna of China, with only four described species, is virtually unknown.
HErZ: The German Hans-Ertel Centre for Weather Research
Authors: Simmer Clemens , Adrian Gerhard , Jones Sarah , Wirth Volkmar , Göber Martin , Hohenegger Cathy , Janjic´ Tijana , Keller Jan , Ohlwein Christian , Seifert Axel , Trömel Silke , Ulbrich Thorsten , Wapler Kathrin , Weissmann Martin , Keller Julia , Masbou Matthieu , Meilinger Stefanie , Riß Nicole , Schomburg Annika , Vormann Arnd , Weingärtner Christa 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn 2011, the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development laid the foundation of the Hans-Ertel Centre for Weather Research [Hans-Ertel-Zentrum für Wetterforschung (HErZ)] in order to better connect fundamental meteorological research and teaching at German universities and atmospheric research centers with the needs of the German national weather service Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD). The concept for HErZ was developed by DWD and its scientific advisory board with input from the entire German meteorological community. It foresees core research funding of about €2,000,000 yr−1 over a 12-yr period, during which time permanent research groups must be established and DWD subjects strengthened in the university curriculum. Five priority research areas were identified: atmospheric dynamics and predictability, data assimilation, model development, climate monitoring and diagnostics, and the optimal use of information from weather forecasting and climate monitoring for the benefit of society. Following an open call, five groups were selected for funding for the first 4-yr phase by an international review panel. A dual project leadership with one leader employed by the academic institute and the other by DWD ensures that research and teaching in HErZ is attuned to DWD needs and priorities, fosters a close collaboration with DWD, and facilitates the transfer of fundamental research into operations. In this article, we describe the rationale behind HErZ and the road to its establishment, present some scientific highlights from the initial five research groups, and discuss the merits and future development of this new concept to better link academic research with the needs and challenges of a national weather service.
Linear Trends and Closures of 10-yr Observations of AIRS Stratospheric Channels
Authors: Pan Fang , Huang Xianglei , Strow L. Larabbe , Guo Huan 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) level-1b radiances have been shown to be well calibrated (~0.3 K or higher) and have little secular drift (~4 mK yr−1) since operation started in September 2002. This paper investigates the linear trends of 10 years (2003–12) of AIRS global-mean radiances in the CO2 v2 band that are sensitive to emissions from the stratosphere (stratospheric channels). AIRS lower-stratospheric channels have a cooling trend of no more than 0.23 K decade−1 whereas the midstratospheric channels consistently show a statistically significant cooling trend as large as 0.58 K decade−1. The 95% confidence interval for the trend is ~±0.20 K decade−1. Two sets of synthetic AIRS radiances are computed using the principal component–based radiative transfer model (PCRTM), one based on a free-running GFDL Atmospheric Model, version 3 (AM3), over the same period and one based on ERA-Interim. The GFDL AM3 simulations overestimate the cooling trends in the mid- to upper-stratospheric channels but slightly underestimate them in the lower-stratospheric channels. The synthetic radiances based on ERA-Interim, however, have statistically significant positive trends at virtually all stratospheric channels. This confirms the challenge to the GCM modeling and reanalysis community to create a better simulation or assimilation of the stratospheric climate. It is shown that the linear trends in AIRS radiances can be reproduced to a large extent by the spectral radiative kernel technique and the trends from the AIRS L2 temperature retrievals and from the change of CO2. This suggests a closure between AIRS L1 radiances and L2 retrievals and the potential merit of AIRS data in studies of stratosphere changes.
Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Feline Larynx With a Flexible Ribbon Electrode Array
Authors: Bliss Morgan R. , Wark Heather , McDonnall Daniel , Smith Marshall E. 
Published: September 2015

Objectives: Success of laryngeal reanimation through neurorrhaphy has been limited by synkinesis and preoperative muscle atrophy. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of epimysial electrode arrays as a means of delivering electrical stimulation to the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles in order to control laryngeal abduction. Methods: Ribbon electrode arrays with 4 or 8 electrode contacts were used. Four cats underwent implantation of electrode arrays along the surface of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. The glottis was visualized with a 0° telescope while electrodes were stimulated at different amplitudes and pulse-width durations. Recordings of stimulated vocal folds were analyzed, and the degree of vocal fold abduction was measured in order to create recruitment curves for the left and right posterior cricoarytenoid. Recruitment curves from electrode channels within the array were compared. Results: Electrodes oriented along the medial aspect of the posterior cricoarytenoid stimulated graded physiologic degrees of abduction depending on the amplitude of stimulation. Electrodes oriented laterally along the posterior cricoarytenoid stimulated greater degrees of simultaneous adduction with abduction. Conclusion: Acute studies of ribbon surface electrode arrays placed onto the posterior cricoarytenoid reproduce graded degrees of abduction necessary for the precise function of respiration and speech.