bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Survival and Local Recurrence After Video‐Assisted Thoracoscopic Lung Metastasectomy
Authors: Abdelnour‐Berchtold Etienne , Perentes Jean Yannis , Ris Hans‐Beat , Beigelman Catherine , Lovis Alban , Peters Solange , Krueger Thorsten , Gonzalez Michel 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundPulmonary metastasectomy is increasingly performed in selected patients by video‐assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) on the base of thin‐slice high‐resolution CT‐Scan (HRCT). This study determines the overall survival and ipsilateral recurrence rate and of patients undergoing after VATS lung metastasectomy.Patients and methodRetrospective single institution study of all patients who underwent VATS pulmonary metastasectomy on the base of HRCT with curative intent between 2005 and 2014.ResultsSeventy‐seven patients (41 males, 36 females) underwent VATS pulmonary metastasectomy for solitary (n = 63) or multiple (n = 14) lung metastases in the context of colorectal carcinoma (n = 26), sarcoma (n = 17), melanoma (n = 16), or other primaries (n = 18). Nine patients had bilateral lung metastases and underwent synchronous (n = 4) or sequential (n = 5) VATS resections. Preoperative CT‐guided hook wire localization of the lesions was performed in 65 patients (84 %). The postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 0 and 5.2 %, respectively. During a mean follow‐up time of 24 months (range 1–120 months), tumor progression occurred in 46 patients. Twenty‐three patients (30 %) had pulmonary recurrence only, of them, eight patients (10 %) in the operated lungs. Seven of eight patients with recurrence in the operated lungs underwent a second metastasectomy by VATS (n = 5) or thoracotomy (n = 2). The overall 5‐year survival rate was 54 % and without difference between patients without tumor recurrence and those with pulmonary recurrence treated by re‐metastasectomy.ConclusionIpsilateral recurrence remains low after VATS pulmonary metastasectomy guided by preoperative HRCT and can be efficiently treated by re‐metastasectomy.
Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis After Esophagectomy for Thoracic Esophageal Carcinoma
Authors: Sato Yu , Kosugi Shin‐ichi , Aizawa Naotaka , Ishikawa Takashi , Kano Yosuke , Ichikawa Hiroshi , Hanyu Takaaki , Hirashima Kotaro , Bamba Takeo , Wakai Toshifumi 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe objectives of this study were to assess the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) using laryngoscopy after esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal carcinoma and to clarify the risk factors influencing postoperative RLNP.
MethodsA total of 299 patients who underwent laryngoscopic examination after esophagectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who were found to have postoperative RLNP were followed up every 1–3 months, with a median follow‐up period of 3 months. Recovery from paralysis was also evaluated on the basis of each affected nerve. Multivariate analyses using logistic regression were used to identify independent risk factors for RLNP. Cumulative recovery rate was calculated using Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsA total of 178 (59.5 %) patients were diagnosed with RLNP by first laryngoscopy [bilateral in 59 (33.1 %) patients, right in 15 (8.4 %), and left in 104 (58.4 %)]. In 206 patients who underwent transthoracic and thoracoscopic esophagectomy, independent risk factors for RLNP were lymph node dissection along the right RLN (odds ratio [OR] 3.01, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.06–8.54, P = 0.04) and cervical anastomosis (OR 5.94, 95 % CI 1.78–19.80, P < 0.01). Cumulative recovery rate from RLNP was 61.7 % at 12 months after esophagectomy with 91 nerves eventually recovering from paralysis. Median recovery time was 6 months.ConclusionsRLNP developed in 60 % of patients after esophagectomy and may be associated with lymphadenectomy around the right RLN and cervical esophageal mobilization. Although 62 % of affected nerves recovered within 12 months, great attention should be given when performing these procedures.
Long‐Term Voice Outcomes After Robotic Thyroidectomy
Authors: Song Chang Myeon , Yun Bo Ram , Ji Yong Bae , Sung Eui Suk , Kim Kyung Rae , Tae Kyung 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the long‐term voice function after robotic thyroidectomy in comparison with conventional transcervical thyroidectomy.MethodsWe prospectively evaluated the voice functions of 54 patients with thyroid nodules who underwent robotic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillary or axillo‐breast approach and of 70 patients who underwent conventional thyroidectomy. Subjective voice symptom score (VSS) was evaluated in questionnaires before thyroidectomy and then at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Objective acoustic parameters analyzed during the same period included fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise‐to‐harmonic ratio, highest frequency, frequency and intensity range, and maximal phonation time.ResultsAt 3 months after surgery, VSS was better in the robotic group than in the conventional group. At 2 years after surgery, VSS had recovered to the pre‐operative level in the robotic group, whereas it remained significantly worse at 2 years in the conventional group. The phonatory frequency range and highest frequency were significantly wider and higher, respectively, in the robotic group than the conventional group at 6, 12, and 24 months post‐operatively. Within the robotic group, the frequency range and highest frequency recovered to pre‐operative levels by 6 months, whereas in the conventional group they remained below the pre‐operative levels at 2 years post‐operatively. There were no differences in other acoustic parameters between the two groups of patients at any period.ConclusionUp to 2 years post‐operatively, robotic thyroidectomy has advantages in terms of recovery of voice symptoms and acoustic parameters over conventional thyroidectomy.
Uncovering the environmental factors that influence diversity patterns of Mediterranean terrestrial Gastropod communities: a useful tool for conservation
Authors: Bros Vicenç , Torre Ignasi , Santos Xavier 
Published: October 2015

AbstractLand snails are an important component of biodiversity but the information regarding the factors that influence their distribution is very incomplete or anecdotal in most geographic areas. In this article our aim was to uncover environmental factors that influence the distribution and diversity of a Gastropoda community in a Mediterranean Reserve (Collserola Natural Park, Barcelona). Fieldwork was conducted from 2001 to 2003, and we systematically sampled all 1 km2 UTM squares throughout the park by randomly selecting at least one 200 m2 plot within each square. We used a community‐based approach to analyse the relationships between 61 Gastropod species distributions and environmental predictors by means of Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Our results highlighted that the land snail community was affected by the environmental predictors (even for short gradients), but their influence was low according to the explained variance (30 %). Climate and habitat predictors were more important than the spatial variables in determining the community composition and diversity. 48 out of 61 (78.7 %) land snail species showed significant responses to the environmental gradients with an association of specialist species with particular habitat types. Collserola is a reserve surrounded by urbanised areas and affected by multiple anthropogenic threats mostly related to habitat transformation. The high degree of specialisation within the Gastropoda community suggests that the restoration of heterogeneous landscapes would be useful to conserve and restore terrestrial mollusc diversity in Collserola. This study can help stakeholders to make decisions related to landscape planning and habitat transformation.
Alzheimer's disease assessment scale‐cognitive 11‐item progression model in mild‐to‐moderate Alzheimer's disease trials of bapineuzumab
Authors: Samtani Mahesh N. , Xu Steven X. , Russu Alberto , Adedokun Omoniyi J. , Lu Ming , Ito Kaori , Corrigan Brian , Raje Sangeeta , Brashear H. Robert , Styren Scot , Hu Chuanpu 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to estimate longitudinal changes in disease progression (measured by Alzheimer's disease assessment scale‐cognitive 11‐item [ADAS‐cog/11] scale) after bapineuzumab treatment and to identify covariates (demographics or baseline characteristics) contributing to the variability in disease progression rate and baseline disease status.MethodsA population‐based disease progression model was developed using pooled placebo and bapineuzumab data from two phase‐3 studies in APOE ε4 noncarrier and carrier Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.ResultsA beta regression model with the Richard's function as the structural component best described ADAS‐cog/11 disease progression for mild‐to‐moderate AD population. This analysis confirmed no effect of bapineuzumab exposure on ADAS‐cog/11 progression rate, consistent with the lack of clinical efficacy observed in the statistical analysis of ADAS‐cog/11 data in both studies. Assessment of covariates affecting baseline severity revealed that men had a 6% lower baseline ADAS‐cog/11 score than women; patients who took two AD concomitant medications had a 19% higher (worse) baseline score; APOE ε4 noncarriers had a 5% lower baseline score; and patients who had AD for a longer duration had a higher baseline score. Furthermore, shorter AD duration, younger age, APOE ε4 carrier status, and use of two AD concomitant medications were associated with faster disease progression rates. Patients who had an ADAS‐cog/11 score progression rate that was not statistically significantly different from 0 typically took no AD concomitant medications.DiscussionThe beta regression model is a sensible modeling approach to characterize cognitive decline in AD patients. The influence of bapineuzumab exposure on disease progression measured by ADAS‐cog/11 was not significant.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00575055 and NCT00574132.
The Role of the Constitutional Tribunal in Myanmar’s Reform Process
Authors: MARTI Gabriela 
Published: October 2015

AbstractNot long after the establishment of its Constitutional Tribunal in February 2011, Myanmar faced a constitutional crisis, when on 6 September 2012, all nine judges of the Tribunal resigned, after the Burmese parliament (Hluttaw) had initiated impeachment proceedings against the Tribunal members. The incident was seen by several commentators as a sign of the growing strength and independence of theHluttaw, while others argued that the impeachment of the Tribunal could threaten future stability. In February 2013, nine new members of the Constitutional Tribunal were appointed. However, several questions surrounding the role of the Constitutional Tribunal in Myanmar’s reform process remain. In particular, it is not entirely clear how the independence and authority of the Tribunal should be further strengthened. This paper examines the role of Myanmar’s Constitutional Tribunal, against the background of the country’s history and current political situation. By drawing on the experiences of the Indonesian Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi), the paper addresses the question of how the post-impeachment Tribunal may be able to fortify its position vis-à-vis the various political actors in the country.
Increasing Incidence of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-ProducingEscherichia coliin Community Hospitals throughout the Southeastern United States
Authors: Thaden Joshua T. , Fowler Vance G. , Sexton Daniel J. , Anderson Deverick J. 
Published: October 2015

OBJECTIVETo describe the epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producingEscherichia coli(ESBL-EC) andKlebsiella pneumoniae(ESBL-KP) infectionsDESIGNRetrospective cohortSETTINGInpatient care at community hospitalsPATIENTSAll patients with ESBL-EC or ESBL-KP infectionsMETHODSESBL-EC and ESBL-KP infections from 26 community hospitals were prospectively entered into a centralized database from January 2009 to December 2014.RESULTSA total of 925 infections caused by ESBL-EC (10.5 infections per 100,000 patient days) and 463 infections caused by ESBL-KP (5.3 infections per 100,000 patient days) were identified during 8,791,243 patient days of surveillance. The incidence of ESBL-EC infections increased from 5.28 to 10.5 patients per 100,000 patient days during the study period (P=.006). The number of community hospitals with ESBL-EC infections increased from 17 (65%) in 2009 to 20 (77%) in 2014. The median ESBL-EC infection rates among individual hospitals with ≥1 ESBL-EC infection increased from 11.1 infections/100,000 patient days (range, 2.2–33.9 days) in 2009 to 22.1 infections per 100,000 patient days (range, 0.66–134 days) in 2014 (P=.05). The incidence of ESBL-KP infections remained constant over the study period (P=.14). Community-associated and healthcare-associated ESBL-EC infections trended upward (P=.006 andP=.02, respectively), while hospital-onset infections remained stable (P=.07). ESBL-EC infections were more common in females (54% vs 44%,P<.001) and Caucasians (50% vs 40%,P<.0001), and were more likely to be isolated from the urinary tract (61% vs 52%,P<.0001) than ESBL-KP infections.CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of ESBL-EC infection has increased in community hospitals throughout the southeastern United States, while the incidence of ESBL-KP infection has remained stable. Community- and healthcare-associated ESBL-EC infections are driving the upward trend.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.2015;37(1):49–54
Epidemiological Characteristics of Twinning Rates in Taiwan
Authors: Chen C.-J. , Lin T.-M. , Chang C. , Cheng Y.-J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractDelivery records of public hospitals and birth certificates of household registration offices were examined to study the epidemiological characteristics of twinning rate from 1955 to 1984 in Taiwan. The MZ twinning rate was consistently higer than the DZ rate during the study period. The DZ rate declined steadily from 2.7 per 1000 in 1955 to 1.3 per 1000 in 1975, and then gradually increased to 3.6 per 1000 in 1984. The MZ rate peaked periodically in 1956, 1966 and 1976, and gradually increased from 3.3 per 1000 in 1978 to 5.9 per 1000 in 1986. Both MZ and DZ rates were higher in urban than in rural areas and they were also higher in northern Taiwan than elsewhere in the island. While both MZ and DZ rates increased with maternal age and parity, the maternal age difference and the parity difference were more striking in DZ than in MZ rates. The international comparison also showed a greater racial difference in maternal age-specific DZ than MZ twinning rates; and the older the maternal age, the greater the international discrepancy in DZ rates.
Mediterranean and Nordic diet scores and long-term changes in body weight and waist circumference: results from a large cohort study
Authors: Li Yingjun , Roswall Nina , Ström Peter , Sandin Sven , Adami Hans-Olov , Weiderpass Elisabete 
Published: October 2015

AbstractDietary patterns, which represent a broader picture of food and nutrient consumption, have gained increasing interest over the last decades. In a cohort design, we followed 27 544 women aged 29–49 years from baseline in 1991–1992. We collected data from an FFQ at baseline and body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC) data both at baseline and at follow-up in 2003. We calculated the Mediterranean diet score (MDS, ranging from 0 to 9) and the Nordic diet score (NDS, ranging from 0 to 6). We used linear regression to examine the association between MDS and NDS (exposures) with subsequent BW change (ΔBW) and WC change (ΔWC) (outcomes) both continuously and categorically. Higher adherence to the MDS or NDS was not associated with ΔBW. The multivariable population average increment in BW was 0·03 kg (95 % CI −0·03, 0·09) per 1-point increase in MDS and 0·04 kg (95 % CI −0·02, 0·10) per 1-point increase in NDS. In addition, higher adherence to the MDS was not associated with ΔWC, with the multivariable population average increment per 1-point increase in MDS being 0·05 cm (95 % CI −0·03, 0·13). Higher adherence to the NDS was not significantly associated with gain in WC when adjusted for concurrent ΔBW. In conclusion, a higher adherence to the MDS or NDS was not associated with changes in average BW or WC in the present cohort followed for 12 years.
Dietary isoflavone intake is associated with a reduced risk of myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Liu Ping , Holman C. D’Arcy J. , Jin Jie , Zhang Min 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIsoflavones have been suggested to have protective effects on certain cancers. However, the association of soya foods or dietary isoflavones with the risk of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has not been examined. Thus, the aim of this hospital-based case–control study undertaken in China in 2012–2013 was to investigate the association between dietary isoflavone intake and MDS risk. The analysis included 208 cases aged 19–85 years with MDS and 208 controls individually matched to the cases by sex, birth quinquennium and residential locality. Information on habitual food intakes, including nine items of soya foods, was sought from in-person interviews using a validated 107-item FFQ. Dietary intakes of daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones were estimated using the 2008 US Department of Agriculture Isoflavone Database. OR were calculated from conditional logistic regression after adjustment for potential confounding by demographics, lifestyle and dietary factors. The mean daily intake of total isoflavones was 19·0 mg in cases and 23·0 mg in controls. Dietary intake of isoflavones was inversely associated with the risk of MDS. The adjusted OR in the highest tertile compared with the lowest tertile of intake were 0·43 (95 % CI 0·21, 0·85) for daidzein, 0·36 (95 % CI 0·18, 0·74) for genistein, 0·49 (95 % CI 0·25, 0·97) for glycitein and 0·40 (95 % CI 0·20, 0·81) for total isoflavones. The findings suggest that higher dietary intake of isoflavones is associated with a reduced risk of MDS in a Chinese population.
YIELD GAPS AND RESOURCE USE ACROSS FARMING ZONES IN THE CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
Authors: GETNET MEZEGEBU , VAN ITTERSUM MARTIN , HENGSDIJK HUIB , DESCHEEMAEKER KATRIEN 
Published: October 2015

SUMMARYIn the Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia, low productive cereal systems and a declining resource base call for options to increase crop productivity and improve resource use efficiency to meet the growing demand of food. We compiled and analysed a large amount of data from farmers’ fields (>10,000) and experimental data across the CRV from 2004–2009 to quantify yield gaps (Yg) between actual (average and best performing farmers) and experimental (water-limited potential (Yw)) yields of maize and wheat in homogenous farming zones (HFZs). Resource use efficiencies (nutrients and water) of maize and wheat were also analysed to assess spatial variation and scope for improvements. The average (2004–2009) yield gap of maize and wheat in the CRV ranged between 4.2 t ha−1 and 9.2 t ha−1, and 2.5 t ha−1 and 4.7 t ha−1, respectively, across farming zones. The yield gap was lowest in the Central lowlands, where Yw was also lowest, i.e. 6.5 t ha−1 for maize and 4.4 t ha−1 for wheat, compared with Yw in the Eastern highlands (11 t ha−1 for maize and 6.7 t ha−1 for wheat) and Western highlands (10.8 t ha−1 for maize and 5.7 t ha−1 for wheat). The actual nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) application in farmers’ fields was low, as about 46% of maize and 27% of wheat fields did not receive fertilizers, while the average applied mineral fertilizer rates across all farmers (2.6–16.5 kg N ha−1 and 2.2–17.3 kg P ha−1 across HFZs and crops) were far below the recommended rate. On average, the best performing farmers applied 8–20 kg N ha−1 and 5–21 kg P ha−1 ranging across HFZs and crops. Increasing N application to recommended rates had only a small effect on narrowing the yield gap under current farmers’ management. Therefore, the yield gap closure strongly depends on improving other aspects of crop management while paying attention to the interaction with nutrient management. Since rain water use efficiency (seasonal rainfall) of water-limited yields was 12–17.3 kg mm−1 for maize and 7.4–10.6 kg mm−1 for wheat and much higher than that of actual yields (2.7–4.3 kg mm−1 for maize and 2.3–3.5 kg mm−1 for wheat), improving the input use and crop management can increase water use efficiency. A large set of experimental and survey data enabled us to gain insight in the spatial and temporal variation in yield gaps and input rates and in differences between average and the best performing farmers.
EU LOYALTY AS GOOD FAITH
Authors: De Baere Geert , Roes Timothy 
Published: October 2015

AbstractComparing the EU law principle of loyalty with international law good faith and the duty of federal good faith in German constitutional law (Bundestreue), this article contributes to the discussion on the nature of the EU legal order and its relationship to international law more generally by finding that EU loyalty is in essence a specific incarnation of the international law principle that treaties are to be interpreted in good faith. At the same time, it challenges the assumption that international law good faith differs fundamentally from federal good faith. To this end, the article points at historical links between both, and posits that good faith is in essence a principle of constructive interpretation, the strictures of which increase with the level of integration of the legal order in which it is applied.
Effects of anthropogenic mortality on Critically Endangered red wolf Canis rufus breeding pairs: implications for red wolf recovery
Authors: Hinton Joseph W. , Brzeski Kristin E. , Rabon David R. , Chamberlain Michael J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractFollowing precipitous population declines as a result of intensive hunting and 20th century predator-control programmes, hybridization of the Critically Endangered red wolf Canis rufus with coyotes Canis latrans posed a significant challenge for red wolf recovery efforts. Anthropogenic mortality and hybridization continue to pose challenges; the increasing number of wolf deaths caused by humans has limited wolf population growth, facilitated the encroachment of coyotes into eastern North Carolina, and affected the formation and disbandment of breeding pairs. We assessed the effects of anthropogenic mortality on Canis breeding units during a 22-year period (1991–2013). Our results show that deaths caused by people accounted for 40.6% of breeding pair disbandment, and gunshots were the primary cause of mortality. Red wolves replaced congeneric breeding pairs > 75% of the time when pairs disbanded under natural conditions or as a result of management actions. Since the mid 2000s anthropogenic mortality has caused annual preservation rates of red wolf breeding pairs to decline by 34%, and replacement of Canis breeders by red wolves to decline by 30%. Our results demonstrate that human-caused mortality, specifically by gunshots, had a strong negative effect on the longevity of red wolf pairs, which may benefit coyotes indirectly by removing their primary competitor. Coyotes are exacerbating the decline of red wolves by pair-bonding with resident wolves whose mates have been killed.
V.—The Periodic Lamé Functions
Authors: Ince E. L. 
Published: October 2015

Any solution of the Lamé equationin which sn u has the modulus k, may be termed a Lamé function, but this paper is devoted mainly to functions of real periods 2K or 4K. We suppose that k2 ≤ 1; the number n is real, but not necessarily an integer, and it is sufficient to take n ≥ − ½. These periodic solutions exist for certain characteristic values of h; a table of such values is included in this paper.