bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drivers of climate change impacts on bird communities
Authors: Pearce‐Higgins James W. , Eglington Sarah M. , Martay Blaise , Chamberlain Dan E. 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Climate change is reported to have caused widespread changes to species’ populations and ecological communities. Warming has been associated with population declines in long‐distance migrants and habitat specialists, and increases in southerly distributed species. However, the specific climatic drivers behind these changes remain undescribed.

We analysed annual fluctuations in the abundance of 59 breeding bird species in England over 45 years to test the effect of monthly temperature and precipitation means upon population trends.

Strong positive correlations between population growth and both winter and breeding season temperature were identified for resident and short‐distance migrants. Lagged correlations between population growth and summer temperature and precipitation identified for the first time a widespread negative impact of hot, dry summer weather. Resident populations appeared to increase following wet autumns. Populations of long‐distance migrants were negatively affected by May temperature, consistent with a potential negative effect of phenological mismatch upon breeding success. There was evidence for some nonlinear relationships between monthly weather variables and population growth.

Habitat specialists and cold‐associated species showed consistently more negative effects of higher temperatures than habitat generalists and southerly distributed species associated with warm temperatures. Results suggest that previously reported changes in community composition represent the accumulated effects of spring and summer warming.

Long‐term population trends were more significantly correlated with species’ sensitivity to temperature than precipitation, suggesting that warming has had a greater impact on population trends than changes in precipitation. Months where there had been the greatest warming were the most influential drivers of long‐term change. There was also evidence that species with the greatest sensitivity to extremes of precipitation have tended to decline.

Our results provide novel insights about the impact of climate change on bird communities. Significant lagged effects highlight the potential for altered species’ interactions to drive observed climate change impacts, although some community changes may have been driven by more immediate responses to warming. In England, resident and short‐distance migrant populations have increased in response to climate change, but potentially at the expense of long‐distance migrants, habitat specialists and cold‐associated species.
Wolves adapt territory size, not pack size to local habitat quality
Authors: Kittle Andrew M. , Anderson Morgan , Avgar Tal , Baker James A. , Brown Glen S. , Hagens Jevon , Iwachewski Ed , Moffatt Scott , Mosser Anna , Patterson Brent R. , Reid Douglas E.B. , Rodgers Arthur R. , Shuter Jen , Street Garrett M. , Thompson Ian D. , Vander Vennen Lucas M. , Fryxell John M. 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Although local variation in territorial predator density is often correlated with habitat quality, the causal mechanism underlying this frequently observed association is poorly understood and could stem from facultative adjustment in either group size or territory size.

To test between these alternative hypotheses, we used a novel statistical framework to construct a winter population‐level utilization distribution for wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Ontario, which we then linked to a suite of environmental variables to determine factors influencing wolf space use. Next, we compared habitat quality metrics emerging from this analysis as well as an independent measure of prey abundance, with pack size and territory size to investigate which hypothesis was most supported by the data.

We show that wolf space use patterns were concentrated near deciduous, mixed deciduous/coniferous and disturbed forest stands favoured by moose (Alces alces), the predominant prey species in the diet of wolves in northern Ontario, and in proximity to linear corridors, including shorelines and road networks remaining from commercial forestry activities.

We then demonstrate that landscape metrics of wolf habitat quality – projected wolf use, probability of moose occupancy and proportion of preferred land cover classes – were inversely related to territory size but unrelated to pack size.

These results suggest that wolves in boreal ecosystems alter territory size, but not pack size, in response to local variation in habitat quality. This could be an adaptive strategy to balance trade‐offs between territorial defence costs and energetic gains due to resource acquisition. That pack size was not responsive to habitat quality suggests that variation in group size is influenced by other factors such as intraspecific competition between wolf packs.
Delaying School Entry: Short‐ and Longer‐Term Effects on Mothers' Employment
Authors: Zhu Anna , Bradbury Bruce 
Published: March 2015

Mothers' short‐ and longer‐term employment patterns may be influenced by their child's entry to school. This paper assesses these relationships, adopting an identification strategy that draws upon school entry cut‐off rules, which imply that children whose birthdates are one day apart, but lie on either side of the cut‐off date, can begin school one year apart. We find that this variation has a significant initial impact on mothers' employment, but this effect quickly disappears, suggesting little evidence of longer‐term employment impacts of mothers' absence from the workforce when they have young children.
The Subjective Well‐Being Method of Valuation: An Application to General Health Status
Authors: Brown Timothy T. 
Published: March 2015

ObjectiveTo introduce the subjective well‐being (SWB) method of valuation and provide an example by valuing health status. The SWB method allows monetary valuations to be performed in the absence of market relationships.Data SourcesData are from the 1975–2010 General Social Survey.Study DesignThe value of health status is determined via the estimation of an implicit derivative based on a happiness equation. Two‐stage least‐squares was used to estimate happiness as a function of poor‐to‐fair health status, annual household income adjusted for household size, age, sex, race, marital status, education, year, and season. Poor‐to‐fair health status and annual household income are instrumented using a proxy for intelligence, a temporal version of the classic distance instrument, and the average health status of individuals who are demographically similar but geographically separated. Instrument validity is evaluated.Principal FindingsMoving from good/excellent health to poor/fair health (1 year of lower health status) is equivalent to the loss of $41,654 of equivalized household income (2010 constant dollars) per annum, which is larger than median equivalized household income.ConclusionThe SWB method may be useful in making monetary valuations where fundamental market relationships are not present.
MESOCLOSURES – increasing realism in mesocosm studies of ecosystem functioning
Authors: Lähteenmäki Saija , Slade Eleanor M. , Hardwick Bess , Schiffler Gustavo , Louzada Julio , Barlow Jos , Roslin Tomas 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Experimental studies linking community composition to functioning are typically confined to small and closed micro‐ or mesocosms. Such restricted conditions may affect both species’ biology and their environment. Yet, targeting simple features in the behaviour of species may circumvent these constraints. Focusing on ecological functions provided by dung beetles, we test whether large, open‐top cages – MESOCLOSURES – will intercept the flight trajectories of beetles, thereby allowing manipulation of local community composition.

MESOCLOSURES were built in both tropical forest (Brazil) and temperate grasslands (Finland), thus testing their general efficiency. Within the respective environments, we varied different aspects of MESOCLOSURE design: in the tropical forest, we examined the impact of MESOCLOSURE dimensions on exclusion efficiency, whereas in the temperate grassland, we assessed the potential for selectively excluding and including community members by different mesh sizes. In the temperate environment, we also went from method to application, using MESOCLOSURES to relate community composition to functioning under two simulated grazing regimes.

MESOCLOSURES allowed efficient manipulation of dung beetle communities, maintaining dung beetle densities at intended levels in both temperate and tropical systems. In the tropics, the smallest cages (1 × 1 m) offered the highest contrast in beetle densities inside vs. outside of the fence, whereas the largest cages (9 × 9 m) offered the lowest. Nonetheless, densities inside cages never exceed one‐fifth of those outside. At the temperate site, manipulations of community structure through mesh size yielded significant differences in functioning and suggested an interaction between small dung‐dwelling species and large tunnelling species. Within cages, higher grazing was reflected in augmented dung removal.

We conclude that MESOCLOSURES can be effectively used to study dung beetle functions across habitats and latitudes. As applied insights, the present study adds resolution to the significance of different functional groups of dung beetles and shows that grazing pressure may have an important impact on the ecosystem functions that they provide. Overall, this study suggests that targeted manipulation of dispersal may offer new solutions for linking fauna to ecosystem functions with minimal impact on the processes measured.
Management of squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas of the head and neck with perineural invasion
Authors: Gupta Aakriti , Veness Michael , De'Ambrosis Brian , Selva Dinesh , Huilgol Shyamala C 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPerineural invasion (PNI) occurring in non‐melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) is associated with an increased risk of locoregional recurrence and reduced disease‐free survival. This necessitates early and accurate diagnosis, appropriate risk‐stratification and a clear management strategy. The diagnosis of PNI is based on careful clinical assessment, imaging and histopathology. Surgery, preferably with margin control, and definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) are established treatment strategies for PNI. Clinical uncertainty remains over the role of ART in incidental PNI. This review synthesises current literature to ascertain which clinicopathological features impart a higher risk to individuals with PNI in NMSC, in order to provide treatment algorithms, including the identification of patient subsets that are most likely to benefit from ART. This includes those with extratumoural PNI, involvement of larger‐calibre nerves, tumour invasion beyond dermis, recurrent tumour or diffuse intratumoural spread. Patients with clinical PNI may be optimally managed by a multidisciplinary head and neck cancer service that is best placed to offer skull base surgery and intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The management options presented are stratified by histological subtype and a new classification of PNI into low‐risk, medium‐risk and high‐risk groups.
Modified big‐bubble technique compared to manual dissection deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in the treatment of keratoconus
Authors: Knutsson Karl Anders , Rama Paolo , Paganoni Giorgio 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the clinical findings and results of manual dissection deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) compared to a modified big‐bubble DALK technique in eyes affected by keratoconus.MethodsSixty eyes of 60 patients with keratoconus were treated with one of the two surgical techniques manual DALK (n = 30); big‐bubble DALK (n = 30). The main outcomes measured were visual acuity, corneal topographic parameters, thickness of residual stroma and endothelial cell density (ECD). Patients were examined postoperatively at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 1 month after suture removal.ResultsFinal best spectacle‐corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) measured 1 month after suture removal was 0.11 ± 0.08 LogMAR in the big‐bubble group compared to 0.13 ± 0.08 in the manual DALK group (p = 0.227). In patients treated with the big‐bubble technique without complications (Descemet's membrane completely bared), the stromal residue was not measureable. Mean stromal residual thickness in the manual DALK group was 30.50 ± 27.60 μm. Data analysis of the manual DALK group demonstrated a significant correlation between BSCVA and residual stromal thickness; lower residual stromal thickness correlated with better BSCVA values (Spearman ρ = 0.509, p = 0.018). Postoperative ECD was similar in both groups at all intervals, with no statistically significant differences. In both groups, ECD loss was only significant during the 1‐ to 6‐month interval (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001 in the big‐bubble DALK and manual DALK groups, respectively).ConclusionManual DALK provides comparable results to big‐bubble DALK. Big‐bubble DALK permits faster visual recovery and is a surgical technique, which can be easily converted to manual DALK in cases of unsuccessful ‘big‐bubble’ formation.
Myeloperoxidase evokes substantial vasomotor responses in isolated skeletal muscle arterioles of the rat
Authors: Csató V. , Pető A. , Fülöp G. Á. , Rutkai I. , Pásztor E. T. , Fagyas M. , Kalász J. , Édes I. , Tóth A. , Papp Z. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAimsMyeloperoxidase (MPO) catalyses the formation of a wide variety of oxidants, including hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and contributes to cardiovascular disease progression. We hypothesized that during its action MPO evokes substantial vasomotor responses.MethodsFollowing exposure to MPO (1.92 mU mL−1) in the presence of increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), changes in arteriolar diameter of isolated gracilis skeletal muscle arterioles (SMAs) and coronary arterioles (CAs) and in the isometric force in basilar arteries (BAs) of the rat were monitored.ResultsMyeloperoxidase increased vascular tone to different degrees in CAs, SMAs and BAs. The mechanism of increased vasoconstriction was studied in detail in SMAs. MPO‐evoked vasoconstrictions were prevented by the MPO inhibitor 4‐aminobenzhydrazide (50 μm), by endothelium removal in the SMAs. Surprisingly, the HOCl scavenger L‐methionine (100 μm), the thromboxane A2 (TXA2) antagonist SQ‐29548 (1 μm) or the non‐specific cyclooxygenase (COX) antagonist indomethacin (1 μm) converted the MPO‐evoked vasoconstrictions to pronounced vasodilations in SMAs, not seen in the presence of H2O2. In contrast to noradrenaline‐induced vasoconstrictions, the MPO‐evoked vasoconstrictions were not accompanied by significant increases in arteriolar [Ca2+] levels in SMAs.ConclusionThese data showed that H2O2‐derived HOCl to be a potent vasoconstrictor upon MPO application. HOCl activated the COX pathway, causing the synthesis and release of a TXA2‐like substance to increase the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus in vascular smooth muscle cells and thereby to augment H2O2‐evoked vasoconstrictions. Nevertheless, inhibition of the HOCl–COX–TXA2 pathway unmasked the effects of additional MPO‐derived radicals with a marked vasodilatory potential in SMAs.
Testing for independence in contingency tables with complex sample survey data
Authors: Lipsitz Stuart R. , Fitzmaurice Garrett M. , Sinha Debajyoti , Hevelone Nathanael , Giovannucci Edward , Hu Jim C. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryThe test of independence of row and column variables in a contingency table is a widely used statistical test in many areas of application. For complex survey samples, use of the standard Pearson chi‐squared test is inappropriate due to correlation among units within the same cluster. Rao and Scott (1981, Journal of the American Statistical Association 76, 221–230) proposed an approach in which the standard Pearson chi‐squared statistic is multiplied by a design effect to adjust for the complex survey design. Unfortunately, this test fails to exist when one of the observed cell counts equals zero. Even with the large samples typical of many complex surveys, zero cell counts can occur for rare events, small domains, or contingency tables with a large number of cells. Here, we propose Wald and score test statistics for independence based on weighted least squares estimating equations. In contrast to the Rao–Scott test statistic, the proposed Wald and score test statistics always exist. In simulations, the score test is found to perform best with respect to type I error. The proposed method is motivated by, and applied to, post surgical complications data from the United States’ Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) complex survey of hospitals in 2008.
Heat Shock Protein 47 Promotes Glioma Angiogenesis
Authors: Wu Zhe Bao , Cai Lin , Lin Shao Jian , Leng Zhi Gen , Guo Yu Hang , Yang Wen Lei , Chu Yi Wei , Yang Shao‐Hua , Zhao Wei Guo 
Published: March 2015

AbstractHeat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is a collagen‐binding protein, which has been recently found to express in glioma vessels. However, the expression profile of HSP47 in glioma patients and the underlying mechanisms of HSP47 on glioma angiogenesis are not fully explored. In the current study, we found that expression of HSP47 in glioma vessels was correlated with the grades of gliomas. HSP47 knockdown by siRNAs significantly decreased cell viability in vitro and tumor volume in vivo; moreover, it reduced the microvessel density (MVD) by CD31 immunohistochemistry in vivo. HSP47 knockdown significantly inhibited tube formation, invasion and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, conditional medium derived from HSP47 knockdown cells significantly inhibited HUVECs tube formation and migration, while it increased chemosensitivity of HUVECs cells to Avastin. Silencing of HSP47 decreased VEGF expression in glioma cells consistently, and reduced glioma vasculature. Furthermore, HSP47 promoted glioma angiogenesis through HIF1α‐VEGFR2 signaling. The present study demonstrates that HSP47 promotes glioma angiogenesis and highlights the importance of HSP47 as an attractive therapeutic target of GBM.
Measurement Issues: Is standardised diagnostic assessment feasible as an adjunct to clinical practice? A systematic review
Authors: Reeves Katie , Charter Ella , Ford Tamsin 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundA standardised diagnostic assessment (SDA) is a comprehensive assessment of psychiatric disorder that provides a label according to established diagnostic criteria. While standardised assessments are considered essential in child and adolescent mental health research, they are rarely applied systematically in routine clinical practice.MethodA systematic review of studies that assessed the utility, feasibility and acceptability of SDAs in the assessment of psychopathology among children and young people in routine clinical practice.ResultsEight papers were identified that applied mixed research methods. Overall, attitudes towards SDAs were positive, with lack of training in administration and interpretation of SDAs and a concern for the validity of diagnostic categories being key barriers. Two randomised control trials and a case series suggest that SDAs might aid the detection of emotional disorders in particular.ConclusionThe current evidence is not yet sufficient to recommend that SDAs should be universally adopted as an adjunct to clinical practice, but our findings suggest that can they be used if applied cautiously and mindfully pending further evaluation.
Attention and normalization circuits in macaque V1
Authors: Sanayei M. , Herrero J. L. , Distler C. , Thiele A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAttention affects neuronal processing and improves behavioural performance. In extrastriate visual cortex these effects have been explained by normalization models, which assume that attention influences the circuit that mediates surround suppression. While normalization models have been able to explain attentional effects, their validity has rarely been tested against alternative models. Here we investigate how attention and surround/mask stimuli affect neuronal firing rates and orientation tuning in macaque V1. Surround/mask stimuli provide an estimate to what extent V1 neurons are affected by normalization, which was compared against effects of spatial top down attention. For some attention/surround effect comparisons, the strength of attentional modulation was correlated with the strength of surround modulation, suggesting that attention and surround/mask stimulation (i.e. normalization) might use a common mechanism. To explore this in detail, we fitted multiplicative and additive models of attention to our data. In one class of models, attention contributed to normalization mechanisms, whereas in a different class of models it did not. Model selection based on Akaike's and on Bayesian information criteria demonstrated that in most cells the effects of attention were best described by models where attention did not contribute to normalization mechanisms. This demonstrates that attentional influences on neuronal responses in primary visual cortex often bypass normalization mechanisms.
Externalities or Experience? Localization Economies and Start‐up Business Survival
Authors: Renski Henry 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis study examines whether spatial variations in the human capital of business owners help explain why the failure rates of new businesses tend to be lower in areas where similar businesses are concentrated. More specifically,Itest whether the prior industry experience of the firm's owner/founder has a mediating influence on the relationship between industrial localization and new business failure for six industry sectors. Localization is found to have either a beneficial or a damaging relationship to new firm survival, depending on the industry in question. Localization reduces the likelihood of failure in two sectors, while competition effects prevail in two others. When industry experience is added to the models, the benefits of localization diminish, but only for entrants in the business, professional, and information services sector and only by a small amount. This suggests that at least some of the observed benefits of localization are due to regional differences in embodied human capital, but localization economies remain significant. Further study is needed to see if such mediating effects are common among a wider array of more narrowly defined industries and for other forms of entrepreneurial human capital.
How Effects of Local Labor Demand Shocks Vary with the Initial Local Unemployment Rate
Authors: Bartik Timothy J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis article estimates how effects of local labor demand shocks on labor market outcomes vary with the initial local unemployment rate, which has not been previously studied. The data are on 23 large U.S. metro areas from 1979 to 2011. The article finds that demand shocks to local job growth have greater effects in increasing real wages if the local economy initially has low unemployment. However, demand shocks have greater effects in reducing unemployment, and increasing labor force participation, if the local economy initially has high unemployment, although these differences are only of modest statistical significance. The estimates are based on a new econometric approach to determining the correct dynamic structure for how local labor markets respond to demand shocks. This new approach finds that demand shocks have persistent effects on labor force participation and real wages, but not on unemployment, which contradicts some previous research.