bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary drivers of mast‐seeding in a long‐lived desert shrub
Authors: Meyer Susan E. , Pendleton Burton K. 
Published: October 2015

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:The evolutionary drivers and proximal regulators of mast‐seeding are well understood for species of mesic environments, but how these regulators interact with high spatial and interannual variability in growing‐season precipitation for a masting species in a desert environment has never been examined.METHOD:We followed flowering and seed production in 16 populations of the North American desert shrub blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) from contrasting environments across its range over an 11‐year period to determine patterns of interannual reproductive output variation.KEY RESULT:Patterns of reproductive output in blackbrush did not track current growing season precipitation, but instead were regulated by prior‐year weather cues. The strength of the response to the masting cue depended on habitat quality, with higher mean reproductive output, shorter intervals between years of high seed production, and lower CVp at more favorable sites. Wind pollination efficiency was demonstrated to be an important evolutionary driver of masting in blackbrush, and satiation of heteromyid seed predator‐dispersers was supported as an evolutionary driver based on earlier studies.CONCLUSIONS:Both the evolutionary drivers and proximal regulators of masting in blackbrush are similar to those demonstrated for masting species of mesic environments. Relatively low synchrony across populations in response to regional masting cues occurs at least partly because prior‐year environmental cues can trigger masting efforts in years with resource limitation due to suboptimal precipitation, especially in more xeric low‐elevation habitats.
Constructional Paradigm in Constraint-based Morphosyntax: A Case of Japanese Verb Inflection
Authors: Otoguro Ryo 
Published: October 2015

<p>This paper aims to give an account of controversial behaviours of complex interaction of verb inection, auxiliary/copula constructions in Japanese in a constraint-based lexicalist formalism, Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG; Kaplan and Bresnan 1982, Bresnan 2001, Dalrymple 2001, Falk 2001). Building on the insight from a construction-based approach to morphosyntax, the present study proposes that multiple lexical items interact with each other to realise a set of TAM features, while maintaining their phrase-structural autonomy. Crucially, the proposal enables us to capture `constructional' exponents realising a certain combination of morphosyntactic features in the inectional paradigm as well as the internal structure of the construction, so that we can observe the emergent properties of the construction in the grammar.</p>
Réflexions pour une sociologie de la quantification statistique et comptable
Authors: Eyraud Corine 
Published: October 2015

La sociologie utilise, depuis ses débuts, les données chiffrées pour analyser et comprendre la société ou un phénomène social particulier. Jusqu’à récemment très peu de ses travaux interrogeaient les chiffres utilisés, considérant que ces chiffres mesuraient effectivement une réalité préexistante. Ce n’est qu’à partir des années 1980 que des sociologues ont engagé une analyse socio-historique des catégories sociales à la base de ces chiffrages. Alain desrosières a beaucoup œuvré au développement de ce qu’il proposait d’appeler « une sociologie de la quantification », la quantification étant considérée comme une construction historique et sociale. Les dispositifs de quantification, qu’ils soient statistiques ou comptables, sont des objets pertinents pour les sciences sociales, et en particulier pour la sociologie. En conséquence l’entrée par ces dispositifs est une voie intéressante et productive pour le chercheur qui souhaite analyser le fonctionnement et les transformations d’un champ ou d’une organisation particuliers. Notre propos s’appuie sur deux recherches, la première porte sur un dispositif de quantification comptable : la réforme comptable des entreprises d’État chinoises durant les années 1990. La seconde étudie un dispositif de quantification statistique : la mise en place au début des années 2000 d’indicateurs de performance pour l’enseignement supérieur et la recherche français. Un cadre à la fois analytique et méthodologique pour l’étude de tels dispositifs est proposé en conclusion.
A correlative study of solitary thyroid nodules using the bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology
Authors: Arul P. , Masilamani Suresh 
Published: October 2015

Background:
Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a useful diagnostic modality in the evaluation of solitary thyroid nodules (STN). It can differentiate between benign and malignant lesions in most cases.

Aim:
This study was undertaken to determine the utility and diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in the evaluation of STN.

Materials and Methods:
In this retrospective study, a total number of 483 thyroid FNACs were retrieved, out of which 209 cases of STN were chosen for this study. The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) was used for analysis. Their FNACs diagnoses were compared with histopathological diagnoses.

Results:
Among 209 FNACs, 88 (42.1%) had non-neoplastic lesions, 6 (2.9%) had atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesions of undetermined significance (AUS/FLUS), 52 (24.9%) had follicular neoplasm/suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (FN/SFN), 33 (15.8%) were suspicious for malignancy and 18 (8.6%) had malignant cytology. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FNAC in STN cases were 94.4%, 97.6%, 95.8%, 98.1% and 93.2% respectively.

Conclusion:
Our study concluded that FNAC reporting using TBSRTC highly correlated with the histopathological diagnosis and our results were comparable with published data. The FNAC diagnosis helps in triaging patients with STN and identifies those who require surgical intervention. It is a simple, convenient, cost effective, sensitive, specific, safe and accurate initial diagnostic method for the preoperative evaluation of STN.
Discrete Curvature and Abelian Groups
Authors: Klartag Bo'az , Kozma Gady , Ralli Peter , Tetali Prasad 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe study a natural discrete Bochner-type inequality on graphs, and explore its merit as a notion of “curvature” in discrete spaces. An appealing feature of this discrete version of the so-called Γ2-calculus (of Bakry-Émery) seems to be that it is fairly straightforward to compute this notion of curvature parameter for several specific graphs of interest, particularly, abelian groups, slices of the hypercube, and the symmetric group under various sets of generators. We further develop this notion by deriving Buser-type inequalities (à la Ledoux), relating functional and isoperimetric constants associated with a graph. Our derivations provide a tight bound on the Cheeger constant (i.e., the edge-isoperimetric constant) in terms of the spectral gap, for graphs with nonnegative curvature, particularly, the class of abelian Cayley graphs, a result of independent interest.
Climat local, changements climatiques et impact économique : trente six ans d’observations météorologiques à Aire-sur-l’Adour
Authors: Avila Fernand 
Published: October 2015

La région d’Aire-sur-l’Adour dite aussi région aturine (« atura » est le nom antique d’Aire-sur-l’Adour) est une région rurale située au cœur de la Gascogne, dans le Sud-Ouest de la France, à 100 km de l’Atlantique et des Pyrénées. C’est une région de collines, bas plateaux et vallées alluviales aux sols limoneux, souvent hydromorphes. Le climat océanique méridional (même latitude que la Côte d’Azur), doux en hiver, chaud en été, pluvieux en toute saison, est un des attraits essentiels d’une région réputée pour sa douceur de vivre. Mais les moyennes masquent les situations extrêmes et la grande variabilité des types de temps (sécheresse, pluies excessives, orages violents, canicules, coups de froid). L’installation du centre de lâcher de ballons stratosphériques du CNES à Aire-sur-l’Adour et l’existence d’une importante Cité Scolaire (Collège, Lycée et étudiants « Techniciens supérieurs») est à l’origine de l’étude de la climatologie dans cette petite agglomération rurale. Le climat local « aturin » est maintenant bien connu grâce à trente six années de relevés et d’observations par les quatre postes climatologiques à Aire/Adour. À partir des archives de stations climatiques et des observations quotidiennes du temps, nous avons calculé des normales (moyennes sur trente ans), décrit un climat « moyen », analysé les phénomènes remarquables éloignés de la norme et qui font souvent la « une » des médias. Il est possible de voir si le climat change et de quelle manière il se transforme. Climat et sol de la région conviennent bien au maïs (grain et semence) devenu une « quasi monoculture » à laquelle s’ajoutent l’élevage bovin et des palmipèdes, ainsi que des vignobles réputés (Saint-Mont, Madiran, Tursan et Armagnac). La période fraîche et pluvieuse des années 1970 a laissé place à un climat plus chaud et plus sec depuis 1982; or, le maïs (grain ou semence) consomme beaucoup d’eau, ce qui pose le problème de la gestion de l’eau dans une région rurale dominée par la maïsiculture irriguée intensive.
Analyse critique sur les tendances pluviométriques au 20èmesiècle en Basse-Normandie : réflexions sur la fiabilité des données et le changement climatique
Authors: Cantat O. 
Published: October 2015

Les archives climatologiques permettent d’analyser l’évolution des précipitations sur quelques sites de Basse-Normandie depuis la fin du 19èmesiècle. Mais l’historique des différents postes révèle de nombreux facteurs directs et indirects de « dérive » pluviométrique qui entraînent une certaine hétérogénéité dans ces séries. La fragmentation spatiale et temporelle des séries nuit alors à la mise en évidence de l’évolution pluviométrique à long terme, et a fortiori sa modélisation. Lorsque les séries comportent trop de lacunes, la reconstitution devient délicate et les valeurs nécessairement plus incertaines … Ainsi, en appliquant le « principe de précaution » à la qualité des données, l’examen des cumuls pluviométriques annuels dans la région de Caen s’est limité aux années postérieures à 1926. Pour la période « sûre » 1927-2000, on ne discerne pas de tendances particulières (- 0,012 mm/an). Si nous avions considéré l’ensemble du 20èmesiècle, nos conclusions auraient été toute autres en raison de la sous-évaluation chronique des précipitations avant 1927 qui crée artificiellement une nette tendance croissante (+ 0,478 mm/an). Au pas de temps mensuel, en revanche, l’analyse révèle pour la décennie 1991-2000 une nette augmentation de la fréquence des mois pluvieux et des mois secs, avec respectivement 31,7 % et 29,2 % au lieu des 25 % théoriques (quartiles supérieur et inférieur) pour l’ensemble des 74 années de référence.
Recurrence and Complications of Pterygium Extended Removal Followed by Extended Conjunctival Transplant for Primary Pterygia
Authors: Allam Waleed A. 
Published: October 2015

Purpose To study the recurrence rate and complications after primary pterygium removal using pterygium extended removal followed by extended conjunctival transplant. Methods Sixty-eight eyes of 57 consecutive patients with primary pterygia underwent pterygium removal using pterygium extended removal followed by extended conjunctival transplant between April 2010 and October 2014. The follow-up period lasted for at least 36 months after the procedure. Results No recurrences were reported after a mean follow-up period of 40.0 ± 5.7 months (minimum of 36 months). One case (1.4%) developed Tenon granuloma at the donor site 2 weeks after surgery, and it was surgically removed. Transient graft swelling was observed in 22% of the cases, and transient diplopia was observed in 17.6%. Both graft swelling and diplopia resolved gradually in all cases during the early postoperative period. Loss of corrected distance visual acuity was not reported. Conclusions Pterygium extended removal followed by extended conjunctival transplant is an effective technique for primary pterygia and resulted in a 0% recurrence rate with minimal intraoperative and postoperative complications.
Prospective Study Comparing Mitomycin C or Bevacizumab as Adjuvant in Trabeculectomy Revision by Needling
Authors: Franco Leiser , Rassi Bruna , Avila Marcos P. , Magacho Leopoldo 
Published: October 2015

Purpose To compare the use of mitomycin C (MMC) or bevacizumab (BEV) as adjunctive in the needling revision of failed trabeculectomy blebs. Methods Glaucoma patients with failed trabeculectomy were included. Cystic blebs were excluded. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon at the operating room under peribulbar blockade. Rate of success, intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of antiglaucoma drugs in use were compared before and after the procedures. The IOP was measured postoperatively at days 1, 30, 90, and 180. Absolute success was defined as IOP ≤18 mm Hg, without any complication or use of any antiglaucomatous drugs. Qualified success was the same criteria, but with the use of any antiglaucomatous drugs. Results Twenty-nine eyes of 29 patients were included: 15 eyes with MMC and 14 eyes with BEV. There was no statistical difference in the IOP reduction between the groups (MMC 32.6 ± 16.1% vs BEV 30.1 ± 12.0%, p = 0.6). The BEV group showed similar reduction in the number of antiglaucoma drugs compared to the MMC group (p = 0.6). Absolute success was found in 28.5% of the BEV group and in 6.6% of patients with MMC. Qualified success was found in 64.3% and 73.4%, respectively, both limited to 180 days. Conclusions In this selected and limited group of patients, bevacizumab can be considered as an alternative to MMC in the needling revision of failed trabeculectomy. Studies with a larger number of patients and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the hypothesis suggested here.
Cemented and Uncemented Total Hip Arthroplasty Using the Same Femoral Component
Authors: Meding John B. , Ritter Merrill A. , Davis Kenneth E. , Hillery Maggie 
Published: October 2015

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the same femoral component after cemented and uncemented total hip arthroplasty. The results were compared in terms of hip scores, subsidence, and survivorship. Methods Between 1986 and 1996, 1017 primary THAs were implanted in 882 patients using the same porous-coated, titanium-alloy, femoral component. 507 cemented stems (441 patients) and 510 uncemented stems (441 patients) were compared. The primary diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 866 hips (85%). 541 patients were female (61%). The clinical results were evaluated based on the Harris hip score. Radiographs were evaluated at each follow-up for stem subsidence and loosening. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine stem survivorship. The average follow-up of the entire cohort was 13.2 years (range, 2-26 y). Results The average Harris Hip Scores at 20 years follow-up was 87 points in the cemented group and 85 points in the uncemented group. Pain scores averaged 42 and 38 in the cemented and uncemented group, respectively, at 20 years. There were 6 loose stems identified in the cemented group (1.2%) and 2 loose stems in the uncemented group (0.4%). Cemented and uncemented stem survivorship at 20 years was 98.1% and 99.6%, respectively. There was no difference in cemented or uncemented stem survivorship at any time period. Conclusions Although there were more cases of aseptic cemented femoral component loosening, there was no significant difference in stem survivorship out to 20 years whether this stem was implanted with or without cement.
Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Children with Acute Autoimmune Central Nervous System Disorders
Authors: Prytuła Agnieszka , Walle Johan Vande , Verhelst Helene , Eloot Sunny , Claus Stefaan , De Jaeger Annick , Dehoorne Jo , Raes Ann 
Published: October 2015

Background There is a growing evidence for autoimmunity in acute central nervous system (CNS) disorders and treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) may be considered. The aim was to share our experience on the clinical application of TPE in these disorders and to present a reproducible protocol which can be used even in small children. Methods We present a series of 8 children aged 2-12 years with transverse myelitis, Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis, neuromyelitis optica, and acute paraneoplastic or unspecified encephalitis in whom TPE was used as a second-line or rescue treatment. Results A total of 104 TPE sessions were performed where 80–110 ml/kg of plasma was exchanged using 4% albumin solution and fresh frozen plasma. Six episodes of TPE-related adverse events were documented. Fibrinogen concentrations decreased after the first TPE, whereas platelets decreased gradually. One patient died in the course of the acute illness. Three children achieved a complete resolution of symptoms, 2 children have mild sequelae; whereas 2 children remain paraplegic after a follow-up of 3 to 17 months. Conclusions We report 8 children with presumably autoimmune-mediated, acute CNS disorders treated with TPE as a rescue therapy. Although the effect of TPE can only be inferred, 5 children had a good clinical outcome. TPE is feasible even in small children with acute autoimmune CNS disorders.
Estimated Molecular Structure of a Carbon Nanotubec Molecular Heater Based on Binding Properties to a Target Protein
Authors: Kawaguchi Minoru , Yamazaki Jun 
Published: October 2015

Background Carbon nanotubes exhibit strong absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region and are considered as potent candidates for hyperthermic therapy because they generate significant amounts of heat upon excitation with NIR light. We prepared a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)/IgG complex to use as a “smart molecular heater” for hyperthermic therapy. Purpose The aim of the present study was to assess the binding efficiency of DNA-functionalized SWNT/IgG complexes to a target protein. Methods 3 types of complexes with different lengths of spacer arm chain (13.5, 29, and 56 Å) linked to biotinylated IgG were prepared, and we evaluated the effect of the spacer arm length on the specificity, affinity, and capacity of binding to a target protein. Results Complexes with longer spacer lengths showed increased binding affinity to a target protein. This could be due to a reduction in steric hindrance by increasing the segmental flexibility of the spacer arm. Conclusions The results of this study suggested that DNA-functionalized SWNT/IgG complexes could act as a heating nano-device for hyperthermic cancer therapy, and the complexes can bind various types of tumor by modifiying the specific antibody.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy of Bone Metastases in Oligometastatic Disease: Prognostic Factors of Oncologic Outcomes
Authors: Ursino Stefano , Montrone Sabrina , Cantarella Martina , Menghini Valentina , Matteucci Fabrizio , Mazzotti Valentina , Fiorica Francesco , Fedele David , Erba Paola , Morganti Riccardo , Fabrini Maria Grazia , Caramella Davide 
Published: October 2015

Background To evaluate the safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of bone metastases in oligometastatic disease and to investigate prognostic factors of local control (LC), progression/disease-free survival (PDFS), and overall survival (OS). Methods Eligibility criteria were number of metastates ≤5, controlled primary tumor without evidence of progression under systemic therapy, exclusion of surgery, and no previous radiotherapy of the lesion of interest. Oligometastatic status was classified into only bone (BOD) and outside bone disease (OBOD), whereas SBRT was delivered to bone lesions using 2 different schedules: 24 Gy/1 fraction or 27 Gy/3 fractions. A positron emission tomography study of the lesion of interest was performed at baseline and at 3 months after SBRT to evaluate metabolic response according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) criteria. A Cox regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Between January 2010 and December 2013, 40 patients were enrolled. Only 1 patient experienced severe late toxicity (radiation-related fracture). Local control was longer among responders’ than nonresponders’ lesions (94.2% and 91.2% versus 63% and 35% at 1 and 2 years, respectively) (p = 0.004; hazard ratio = 9.958). The multivariate analysis of PDFS showed a significant correlation with planning target volume (PTV) size (p = 0.003) and oligometastatic status (p = 0.002). The multivariate analysis of OS confirmed a statistically significant value of the oligometastatic status (p = 0.002) and a significant trend for PTV size (p = 0.065). Conclusions Stereotactic body radiotherapy is safe with a low incidence of severe toxicity. Positron emission tomography response was a strong prognostic factor of LC whereas BOD status and small PTV size could identify a subset of oligometastatic patients at better prognosis.
Independent Supervisory Directors in Family-Controlled Publicly Listed Corporations
Authors: Imach Fabian 
Published: October 2015

Independent Supervisory Directors in Family-Controlled Publicly Listed Corporations: Is There a Need to Revisit the EU Independence Standards?
This contribution analyzes whether the current focus of the EU regulator on empowering independent directors is effective in corporations with a concentrated (family) ownership structure. The basic hypothesis of this contribution is that, contrary to the excessively optimistic expectations of the EU regulator, there are serious inefficiencies in the concept of independent directors when it comes to concentrated (family) ownership structures. The contribution relies on a series of empirical studies indicating a positive correlation between operating performance and family influence in European stock corporations.
Status of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Natural Resources Human Resource in Cebu and Bohol, Central Philippines
Authors: Rica Rachel Luz V. , Delan Gloria G. , Tan Ester V. , Monte Irene A. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
This paper aimed to present the current status of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and natural resources (AFNR) human resource in the two (2) provinces of Cebu and Bohol, Central Philippines in order to understand the reasons in the persistent downtrend of enrollment and graduation in these sectors. Cross-sectoral investigation of the three (3) groups of respondents was conducted to in-school students, graduates and employers of AFNR. Primary and secondary data were gathered and analyzed descriptively. Findings revealed a persistent downtrend in enrollment and graduation trends for the past ten years. Intervening economic, socio cultural, issues and policies impacted negatively the enrollment in AFNR. Fisheries registered the highest rate of decline in terms of enrollment and graduates. Currently enrolled students indicate that number one reason in choosing a degree in AFNR is the provision of scholarship, while graduates indicated that they took up the course because of its popularity in their community. Future plans of respondents contradict since majority of in-school students plan to apply for job overseas, while the graduates are not currently applying for a job overseas. Majority of the employed graduates landed in local-private companies with temporary or contractual status. Employers of these graduates are distributed in the urban areas within the region.