bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring lifetime occupational exposure and SLE flare: a patient-focussed pilot study
Authors: Squance Marline L , Guest Maya , Reeves Glenn , Attia John , Bridgman Howard 
Published: June 2014

IntroductionEnvironmental effectors, such as ultraviolet radiation exposure, infection and stress, have been established as having a role in exacerbating lupus symptoms. However, unpredictable patterns of flare events still remain a mystery. Occupational effectors have also been suggested as having a contributing role; however, they are not widely researched. In this paper we report a pilot study designed to generate focus areas for future research regarding occupational exposures and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsThe study explored potential links between exposures and the occurrence of patient-reported flare events in 80 Australian women with SLE (American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria classified). Specifically, the study assessed the hypothesis that occupational exposure is associated with significant changes in the likelihood of lupus flares. Lifetime employment history was analysed with the Finnish Job Exposure Matrix (FINJEM), 40 different semiquantified exposure class estimates for a wide number of occupations based on probability of exposure (p≥5%=exposed) were analysed with the construction of negative binomial regression models to test relationships between occupational agents and flare days. A backward stepwise elimination was used to generate a parsimonious model.ResultsSignificant associations were noted for exposure classes of manual handling burden, (p=0.02, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.01), Iron (p=0.00, IRR 1.37), wood dust (p=0.00, IRR 3.34) and asbestos (p=0.03, IRR 2.48).ConclusionExposure assessment results indicated that occupations, such as nursing, with a high manual handling burden, posed increased risk to patients with SLE, however, the greatest risk was associated with wood dust and iron exposure with teachers and specialist labourers.
Survey of quantitative antimicrobial consumption per production stage in farrow‐to‐finish pig farms in Spain
Authors: Moreno Miguel A. 
Published: June 2014

ObjectivesTo characterise antimicrobial use (AMU) per production stage in terms of drugs, routes of application, indications, duration and exposed animals in farrow‐to‐finish pig farms in Spain.DesignSurvey using a questionnaire on AMU during the six months prior to the interview, administered in face‐to‐face interviews completed from April to October 2010.Participants108 potentially eligible farms covering all the country were selected using a multistage sampling methodology; of these, 33 were excluded because they did not fulfil the participation criteria and 49 were surveyed.ResultsThe rank of the most used antimicrobials per farm and production stage and administration route started with polymyxins (colistin) by feed during the growing and the preweaning phases, followed by β‐lactams by feed during the growing and the preweaning phases and by injection during the preweaning phase.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates that the growing stage (from weaning to the start of finishing) has the highest AMU according to different quantitative indicators (number of records, number of antimicrobials used, percentage of farms reporting use, relative number of exposed animals per farm and duration of exposure); feed is the administration route that produces the highest antimicrobial exposure based on the higher number of exposed animals and the longer duration of treatment; and there are large differences in AMU among individual pig farms.
Dilemmas experienced by government veterinarians when responding professionally to farm animal welfare incidents in Ireland
Authors: Devitt C. , Kelly P. , Blake M. , Hanlon A. , More S. J. 
Published: June 2014

ObjectivesThis paper identifies the dilemmas experienced by government veterinarians during their investigations of farm animal welfare incidents that involve herd owner social, health, and/or psychological difficulties. The paper builds on exploratory qualitative research into the impact of these difficulties on farm animal welfare.DesignThe study used a qualitative research approach. Focus groups were conducted.SettingIn Ireland, an Early Warning System (EWS), which brings together relevant agencies, is in place to identify and prevent farm animal welfare problems before they become critical. This study is concerned with the experiences of government veterinarians who respond to farm animal welfare incidents. Specific focus is on incidents that involve herd owner social/psychological/health‐related difficulties.ParticipantsIn total, n=18 government veterinarians (representing 15 per cent of the population sample), all with a keen interest in farm animal welfare, participated. These were selected on the basis of their interest, experience, and involvement in farm animal welfare. One government veterinarian declined to participate. Four focus groups were conducted with government veterinarians. These took place in the south (S), south‐west (SW), midlands (M), and north‐west region of Ireland (NW). All 16 District Veterinary Offices (DVOs) were represented in the focus groups.ResultsThe results reveal three professional dilemmas that exist for government veterinarians: (1) defining professional parameters; (2) determining the appropriate response; (3) involvement versus detachment. Participants reported not wanting any additional training. Instead, it was agreed that a formal bridge to social service providers who have the professional capability to respond appropriately and with confidence, was required.ConclusionsClearly defined guidelines are required for government veterinarians in their encounters with farm animal welfare incidents where there is a complex human component. A coordinated multiagency approach that is flexible enough to meet the needs of individual farm animal welfare cases is required.
Historical Controls for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Benchmarks for Planning and Analyzing Single-Arm Phase II Trials
Authors: Philip Philip A. , Chansky Kari , LeBlanc Michael , Rubinstein Lawrence , Seymour Lesley , Ivy S. Percy , Alberts Steven R. , Catalano Paul J. , Crowley John 
Published: June 2014

AbstractWe compiled and analyzed a database of cooperative group trials in advanced pancreatic cancer to develop historical benchmarks for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Such benchmarks are essential for evaluating new therapies in a single-arm setting. The analysis included patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer receiving regimens that included gemcitabine, between 1995 and 2005. Prognostic baseline factors were selected by their significance in Cox regression analysis. Outlier trial arms were identified by comparing individual 6-month OS and PFS rates against the entire group. The dataset selected for the generation of OS and PFS benchmarks was then tested for intertrial arm variability using a logistic-normal model with the selected baseline prognostic factors as fixed effects and the individual trial arm as a random effect. A total of 1,132 cases from eight trials qualified. Performance status and sex were independently significant for OS, and performance status was prognostic for PFS. Outcomes for one trial (NCCTG-034A) were significantly different from the other trial arms. When this trial was excluded, the remaining trial arms were homogeneous for OS and PFS outcomes after adjusting for performance status and sex. Benchmark values for 6-month OS and PFS are reported along with a method for using these values in future study design and analysis. The benchmark survival values were generated from a dataset that was homogeneous between trials. The benchmarks can be used to enable single-arm phase II trials using a gemcitabine platform, especially under certain circumstances. Such circumstances might be when a randomized control arm is not practically feasible, an early signal of activity of an experimental agent is being explored such as in expansion cohorts of phase I studies, and in patients who are not candidates for combination cytotoxic therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 20(16); 4176–85. ©2014 AACR.
STING Ligand c-di-GMP Improves Cancer Vaccination against Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Chandra Dinesh , Quispe-Tintaya Wilber , Jahangir Arthee , Asafu-Adjei Denise , Ramos Ilyssa , Sintim Herman O. , Zhou Jie , Hayakawa Yoshihiro , Karaolis David K.R. , Gravekamp Claudia 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Cancer vaccination may be our best and most benign option for preventing or treating metastatic cancer. However, breakthroughs are hampered by immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we analyzed whether cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP), a ligand for stimulator of interferon genes (STING), could overcome immune suppression and improve vaccination against metastatic breast cancer. Mice with metastatic breast cancer (4T1 model) were therapeutically immunized with an attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (LM)–based vaccine, expressing tumor-associated antigen Mage-b (LM-Mb), followed by multiple low doses of c-di-GMP (0.2 μmol/L). This treatment resulted in a striking and near elimination of all metastases. Experiments revealed that c-di-GMP targets myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and tumor cells. Low doses of c-di-GMP significantly increased the production of IL12 by MDSCs, in correlation with improved T-cell responses to Mage-b, whereas a high dose of c-di-GMP (range, 0.3–3 mmol/L) activated caspase-3 in the 4T1 tumor cells and killed the tumor cells directly. On the basis of these results, we tested one administration of high-dose c-di-GMP (3 mmol/L) followed by repeated administrations of low-dose c-di-GMP (0.2 μmol/L) in the 4T1 model, and found equal efficacy compared with the combination of LM-Mb and c-di-GMP. This finding correlated with a mechanism of improved CD8 T-cell responses to tumor-associated antigens (TAA) Mage-b and Survivin, most likely through cross-presentation of these TAAs from c-di-GMP–killed 4T1 tumor cells, and through c-di-GMP–activated TAA-specific T cells. Our results demonstrate that activation of STING-dependent pathways by c-di-GMP is highly attractive for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(9); 901–10. ©2014 AACR.
The divergence of small mammals in Xinjiang, China, as revealed by phylogentic analyses of COI and Cytb
Authors: Yin Yanqiang , Jiang Wei , Zhang Zhe , Li Yan , Twenke Bayaerta , Turghan Mardan , Yang Weikang , Liu Bin 
Published: June 2014

Changes in the palaeoenvironment and paleoclimate expedite the process of evolutionary divergence in animals. The evolutionary events of some small mammals distributed in Xinjiang Arid Region remain ambiguous. Thus, it is necessary to predict their evolutionary histories based on divergence estimates. Some museum specimens were involved in this analysis because of sampling limitation for threatened species in the arid region. A related problem is that some mutilated specimens without complete taxonomic data made it difficult to directly analyze species divergence. Here, sequences of cytochrome c oxydase I were used to identify museum specimens and combined with cytochrome b to estimate the recent divergence of extant small mammals constrained with eight fossil calibrations. The results showed that the massive species differentiation emerged during the Middle and Late Miocene periods. We inferred that differentiation of these small mammals might be associated with the retreat of the Tethys Sea from the Tarim Basin around the Eocene-Oligocene boundary and the global climate fluctuations during the Miocene period. Furthermore, the aridification and changes in the Taklimakan and Gurbantunggut Deserts might have driven the diversification of intraspecies and the emergence of cryptic species since the Late Pleistocene.
Home range and activity patterns of Conepatus semistriatus (Carnivora, Mephitidae) in Emas National Park, Brazil
Authors: Cavalcanti Gitana Nunes , Alfaro-Alvarado Luis Diego , Rodrigues Flávio Henrique Guimarães 
Published: June 2014

Skunks (Mephitidae) have not been well studied throughout the Neotropics. In Brazil there is a general lack of data on the ecology, behavior, distribution, systematics, morphology and biogeographic patterns of the two species occurring in the country (Conepatus semistriatus and C. chinga). The focus of this study was on understanding the home range and activity patterns of C. semistriatus. Field research was conducted in the Emas National Park, where three skunks with radio-collars were located on 157 separate occasions. The observed patterns of activity indicate that the species is predominantly nocturnal, with a great expenditure of time on foraging. Temperature had a direct influence on the animal’s behavior, but there was no apparent influence of light on activity patterns. Average home range areas were 1.39 ± 0.87 km2 (Minimum Convex Polygon method) and 0.69 ± 0.25 km2 (Local Convex Hull method). There was high home range overlap between individuals, 0.27 km2 based on the Minimum Convex Polygon method, at sites with easy access to resources.
The Potential Predictability of Precipitation Occurrence, Intensity, and Seasonal Totals over the Continental United States
Authors: Short Gianotti Daniel J. , Anderson Bruce T. , Salvucci Guido D. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractUsing weather station data, the parameters of a stationary stochastic weather model (SSWM) for daily precipitation over the contiguous United States are estimated. By construct, the model exactly captures the variance component of seasonal precipitation characteristics (intensity, occurrence, and total amount) arising from high-frequency variance. By comparing the variance of the lower-frequency accumulations (on the order of months) between the SSWM and the original measurements, potential predictability (PP) is estimated. Decomposing the variability into contributions from occurrence and intensity allows one to establish two contributing sources of total PP. Aggregated occurrence is found to have higher PP than either intensity or the seasonal total precipitation, and occurrence and intensity are found to interfere destructively when convolved into seasonal totals. It is recommended that efforts aimed at forecasting seasonal precipitation or attributing climate variability to particular processes should analyze occurrence and intensity separately to maximize signal-to-noise ratios. Significant geographical and seasonal variations exist in all PP components.
A Weibull Approach for Improving Climate Model Projections of Tropical Cyclone Wind-Speed Distributions
Authors: Tye Mari R. , Stephenson David B. , Holland Greg J. , Katz Richard W. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractReliable estimates of future changes in extreme weather phenomena, such as tropical cyclone maximum wind speeds, are critical for climate change impact assessments and the development of appropriate adaptation strategies. However, global and regional climate model outputs are often too coarse for direct use in these applications, with variables such as wind speed having truncated probability distributions compared to those of observations. This poses two problems: How can model-simulated variables best be adjusted to make them more realistic? And how can such adjustments be used to make more reliable predictions of future changes in their distribution?This study investigates North Atlantic tropical cyclone maximum wind speeds from observations (1950–2010) and regional climate model simulations (1995–2005 and 2045–55 at 12- and 36-km spatial resolutions). The wind speed distributions in these datasets are well represented by the Weibull distribution, albeit with different scale and shape parameters.A power-law transfer function is used to recalibrate the Weibull variables and obtain future projections of wind speeds. Two different strategies, bias correction and change factor, are tested by using 36-km model data to predict future 12-km model data (pseudo-observations). The strategies are also applied to the observations to obtain likely predictions of the future distributions of wind speeds. The strategies yield similar predictions of likely changes in the fraction of events within Saffir–Simpson categories—for example, an increase from 21% (1995–2005) to 27%–37% (2045–55) for category 3 or above events and an increase from 1.6% (1995–2005) to 2.8%–9.8% (2045–55) for category 5 events.
The Impact of the Tracer Size and the Temporal Gap between Images in the Extraction of Atmospheric Motion Vectors
Authors: García-Pereda Javier , Borde Régis 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The goal of this paper is to show the impact of the tracer size and the temporal gap between images in atmospheric motion vector (AMV) extraction schemes. A test has been performed using NWC SAF/High Resolutions Winds AMV software for different configurations with a tracer size varying between 8 × 8 and 40 × 40 pixels and a temporal gap between images varying between 5 and 90 min. AMVs have been extracted for four different MSG/SEVIRI channels (HRVIS, VIS0.8, WV6.2, and IR10.8) over the European and Mediterranean area for a 6-month period (January–June 2010). The AMV performances have been tested against radiosonde winds and ECMWF model analysis winds.
The results show a small impact of the tracer size on the number of valid AMVs, which is, however, more significant for clear air AMVs, and a significant impact of the temporal gap between images. The largest number of valid AMVs has been found in general for a temporal gap of 5 min for the 1-km pixel scale and for a temporal gap of 10 min for the 3-km pixel scale. Results also show a decrease of the mean AMV speed and the normalized BIAS (NBIAS) with larger tracer sizes, and a relatively small impact of the temporal gap on these parameters. Finally, the results show minimum values of the normalized root-mean-square vector difference (NRMSVD) for intermediate temporal gaps between 15 and 30 min with a relatively small impact of the tracer size on this parameter.
The Three-Dimensional Morphology of Simulated and Observed Convective Storms over Southern England
Authors: Stein Thorwald H. M. , Hogan Robin J. , Hanley Kirsty E. , Nicol John C. , Lean Humphrey W. , Plant Robert S. , Clark Peter A. , Halliwell Carol E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractA set of high-resolution radar observations of convective storms has been collected to evaluate such storms in the Met Office Unified Model during the Dynamical and Microphysical Evolution of Convective Storms (DYMECS) project. The 3-GHz Chilbolton Advanced Meteorological Radar was set up with a scan-scheduling algorithm to automatically track convective storms identified in real time from the operational rainfall radar network. More than 1000 storm observations gathered over 15 days in 2011 and 2012 are used to evaluate the model under various synoptic conditions supporting convection. In terms of the detailed three-dimensional morphology, storms in the 1500-m grid length simulations are shown to produce horizontal structures a factor of 1.5–2 wider compared to radar observations. A set of nested model runs at grid lengths down to 100 m show that the models converge in terms of storm width, but the storm structures in the simulations with the smallest grid lengths are too narrow and too intense compared to the radar observations. The modeled storms were surrounded by a region of drizzle without ice reflectivities above 0 dBZ aloft, which was related to the dominance of ice crystals and was improved by allowing only aggregates as an ice particle habit. Simulations with graupel outperformed the standard configuration for heavy-rain profiles, but the storm structures were a factor of 2 too wide and the convective cores 2 km too deep.
Precipitation Calibration Based on the Frequency-Matching Method
Authors: Zhu Yuejian , Luo Yan 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
A postprocessing technique is employed to correct model bias for precipitation fields in real time based on a comparison of the frequency distributions of observed and forecast precipitation amounts. Essentially, a calibration is made by defining an adjustment to the forecast value in such a way that the adjusted cumulative forecast distribution over a moving time window dynamically matches the corresponding observed distribution accumulated over a domain of interest, for example, the entire conterminous United States (CONUS), or different River Forecast Center (RFC) regions in the cases examined herein. In particular, the Kalman filter method is used to catch the flow dependence and bias information. Calibration is done on a pointwise basis for a specified domain. Using this unique technique, the calibration of precipitation forecasts for the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) was implemented in May 2004. To further satisfy various users, a recent upgrade to the May 2004 implementation has been made for higher resolution with better analyses. From this study, it was found that this method has a positive impact on the intensity-dominated errors but has some common limitations with extreme events and dry bias elimination like other precipitation calibration methods. Overall, the frequency-matching algorithm substantially improves NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) and GEFS systematic precipitation forecast errors (or biases) over a wide range of forecast amounts and produces more realistic precipitation patterns. Moreover, this approach improves the deterministic forecast skills measured by most verification scores through applying this method to GFS and GEFS ensemble means.
Telephonic Analysis of the Snoring Sound Spectrum
Authors: Seren Erdal , İlhanlı İlker , Bayar Muluk Nuray , Cingi Cemal , Hanci Deniz 
Published: June 2014

Objective: Snoring is a sound caused by vibration of collapsed and/or unsteady airway walls of the pharynx and soft palate. We compared stored spectra of snoring sounds recorded via cell phone (CP) and a microphone placed over the head (head phone [HP]). Methods: Thirty-four snoring patients were included in this prospective study. Groups were identified by reference to body mass index (BMI) values: group 1, BMI < 25 kg/m2 (n = 8); group 2, BMI 25 to 29 kg/m2 (n = 10); and group 3, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (n = 16). Snoring sounds were recorded using CPs and HPs and digitally analyzed. We identified the frequencies with the highest snoring powers (Fmax values) and snoring sound intensity levels (SSILs). Results: Fmax ranged from 520 to 985 Hz in HP recordings and from 845 to 1645 Hz in CP recordings. Snoring sound intensity level values increased in proportion to BMI and were 6 to 24 dB in HP recordings and 19 to 52 dB in CP recordings. Thus, the CP values of Fmax and SSIL were higher than the HP values. In obese patients of group 3, almost all Fmax and SSIL values were higher than those of groups 1 and 2. In particular, the CP Fmax values were elevated in such patients. The advanced technologies used in modern CPs may allow some snoring sounds in susceptible individuals to be defined as oronasal. Conclusion: Cell phone technology allows snoring to be evaluated in patients located in areas remote from a hospital. To explore the intensity of snoring and to postoperatively monitor the efficacy of surgery used to treat snoring, telephonic sound analysis is both new and effective and reduces the need for patient attendance at a hospital. Those experiencing severe snoring and/or who are obese should be told of what can be done to solve such problems.