bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aspirin might reduce the incidence of pancreatic cancer: A meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Zhang Yan-Peng , Wan You-Dong , Sun Yu-Ling , Li Jian , Zhu Rong-Tao 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAlthough there is evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might be able to prevent pancreatic cancer, the findings from epidemiological studies have been inconsistent. In this paper, we conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to examine this possibility. We searched PubMed and Embase for observational (cohort or case-control) studies examining the consumption of aspirin and other NSAIDs and the incidence of or mortality rates associated with pancreatic cancer. Twelve studies including approximately 258,000 participants in total were analysed. The administration of aspirin significantly reduced the incidence of pancreatic cancer (8 studies; odds ratio (OR) = 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.62 to 0.96;I2 = 74.2%) but not the mortality associated with it (2 studies; OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.73 to 1.22). Specifically, frequent aspirin use was associated with reduced pancreatic cancer incidence (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.83 for high frequency; OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.38 to 0.84 for medium frequency). The summary ORs regarding the incidence of pancreatic cancer and either non-aspirin NSAIDs use (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.90 to 1.31) or overall NSAIDs use (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.86 to 1.10) were not significant. In conclusion, aspirin use might reduce the incidence of pancreatic cancer; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution because of study heterogeneity.
Network structure of multivariate time series
Authors: Lacasa Lucas , Nicosia Vincenzo , Latora Vito 
Published: October 2015

AbstractOur understanding of a variety of phenomena in physics, biology and economics crucially depends on the analysis of multivariate time series. While a wide range tools and techniques for time series analysis already exist, the increasing availability of massive data structures calls for new approaches for multidimensional signal processing. We present here a non-parametric method to analyse multivariate time series, based on the mapping of a multidimensional time series into a multilayer network, which allows to extract information on a high dimensional dynamical system through the analysis of the structure of the associated multiplex network. The method is simple to implement, general, scalable, does not requiread hocphase space partitioning and is thus suitable for the analysis of large, heterogeneous and non-stationary time series. We show that simple structural descriptors of the associated multiplex networks allow to extract and quantify nontrivial properties of coupled chaotic maps, including the transition between different dynamical phases and the onset of various types of synchronization. As a concrete example we then study financial time series, showing that a multiplex network analysis can efficiently discriminate crises from periods of financial stability, where standard methods based on time-series symbolization often fail.
Ca2+/calmodulin regulates Kvβ1.1-mediated inactivation of voltage-gated K+ channels
Authors: Swain Sandip M. , Sahoo Nirakar , Dennhardt Sophie , Schönherr Roland , Heinemann Stefan H. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractA-type K+ channels open on membrane depolarization and undergo subsequent rapid inactivation such that they are ideally suited for fine-tuning the electrical signaling in neurons and muscle cells. Channel inactivation mostly follows the so-called ball-and-chain mechanism, in which the N-terminal structures of either the K+ channel’s α or β subunits occlude the channel pore entry facing the cytosol. Inactivation of Kv1.1 and Kv1.4 channels induced by Kvβ1.1 subunits is profoundly decelerated in response to a rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, thus making the affected channel complexes negative feedback regulators to limit neuronal overexcitation. With electrophysiological and biochemical experiments we show that the Ca2+ dependence is gained by binding of calmodulin to the “chain” segment of Kvβ1.1 thereby compromising the mobility of the inactivation particle. Furthermore, inactivation regulation via Ca2+/calmodulin does not interfere with the β subunit’s enzymatic activity as an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase, thus rendering the Kvβ1.1 subunit a multifunctional receptor that integrates cytosolic signals to be transduced to altered electrical cellular activity.
Recovery of strain-hardening rate in Ni-Si alloys
Authors: Yang C. L. , Zhang Z. J. , Cai T. , Zhang P. , Zhang Z. F. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIn this study, the recovery of strain-hardening rate (RSHR) was discovered for the first time in polycrystalline materials (Ni-Si alloys) that have only dislocation activities during tensile test. Detailed microstructure characterizations show that the activation of dislocations in the secondary slip systems during tensile deformation is the major reason for this RSHR. By taking into account other metals that also exhibit RSHR during tension, a more general mechanism for the RSHR was proposed, i.e. the occurrence of a sharp decrease of dislocation mean free path (Λ) during plastic deformation, caused by either planar defects or linear defects.
Reorganization of sea urchin gene regulatory networks at least 268 million years ago as revealed by oldest fossil cidaroid echinoid
Authors: Thompson Jeffrey R. , Petsios Elizabeth , Davidson Eric H. , Erkenbrack Eric M. , Gao Feng , Bottjer David J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEchinoids, or sea urchins, are rare in the Palaeozoic fossil record and thus the details regarding the early diversification of crown group echinoids are unclear. Here we report on the earliest probable crown group echinoid from the fossil record, recovered from Permian (Roadian-Capitanian) rocks of west Texas, which has important implications for the timing of the divergence of crown group echinoids. The presence of apophyses and rigidly sutured interambulacral areas with two columns of plates indicates this species is a cidaroid echinoid. The species, Eotiaris guadalupensis, n. sp. is therefore the earliest stem group cidaroid. The occurrence of this species in Roadian strata pushes back the divergence of cidaroids and euechinoids, the clades that comprise all living echinoids, to at least 268.8 Ma, ten million years older than the previously oldest known cidaroid. Furthermore, the genomic regulation of development in echinoids is amongst the best known and this new species informs the timing of large-scale reorganization in echinoid gene regulatory networks that occurred at the cidaroid-euechinoid divergence, indicating that these changes took place by the Roadian stage of the Permian.
Kavain inhibition of LPS-induced TNF-α via ERK/LITAF
Authors: Tang Xiaoren , Amar Salomon 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Kavain, an extract from the shrub Piper methysticum, was recently reported to modulate TNF-α expression in both human and mouse cells via regulation of LPS-Induced TNF-Alpha Factor (LITAF). The purpose of the present study was to define the molecular pathway(s) associated with Kavain′s effects on TNF modulation. In vitro studies using WT mouse primary macrophages showed that Kavain significantly reduced E. coli LPS-induced TNF-α production but this effect was almost abrogated in LITAF−/− and ERK2−/− cells. Therefore we reintroduced the ERK2 gene in ERK2−/− cells and partially restored E. coli LPS-induced LITAF-mediated TNF-α production. The translocation of LITAF into to nucleus was found to be dependent on ERK2 S206 residue. Kavain inhibits LITAF/TNF-α expression via dephosphorylation of ERK2 in response to E. coli LPS. Finally, in vivo, Kavain had a significant anti-inflammatory effect on wild type mice that developed Collagen Antibody Induced Arthritis (CAIA), but only a minor effect in ERK2−/− mice also affected by CAIA. Based on these findings, we concluded that ERK2 may be the kinase upstream for LITAF being a crucial factor for Kavain-mediated regulation of LPS-induced TNF-α.
Persistent Language Delay Versus Late Language Emergence in Children With Early Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Geers Ann E. , Nicholas Johanna , Tobey Emily , Davidson Lisa 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
The purpose of the present investigation is to differentiate children using cochlear implants (CIs) who did or did not achieve age-appropriate language scores by midelementary grades and to identify risk factors for persistent language delay following early cochlear implantation.

Materials and Method

Children receiving unilateral CIs at young ages (12–38 months) were tested longitudinally and classified with normal language emergence (
n
= 19), late language emergence (
n
= 22), or persistent language delay (
n
= 19) on the basis of their test scores at 4.5 and 10.5 years of age. Relative effects of demographic, audiological, linguistic, and academic characteristics on language emergence were determined.

Results
Age at CI was associated with normal language emergence but did not differentiate late emergence from persistent delay. Children with persistent delay were more likely to use left-ear implants and older speech processor technology. They experienced higher aided thresholds and lower speech perception scores. Persistent delay was foreshadowed by low morphosyntactic and phonological diversity in preschool. Logistic regression analysis predicted normal language emergence with 84% accuracy and persistent language delay with 74% accuracy.

Conclusion
CI characteristics had a strong effect on persistent versus resolving language delay, suggesting that right-ear (or bilateral) devices, technology upgrades, and improved audibility may positively influence long-term language outcomes.
Language Impairment in the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Context
Authors: Redmond Sean M. 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a ubiquitous designation that affects the identification, assessment, treatment, and study of pediatric language impairments (LIs).

Method
Current literature is reviewed in 4 areas: (a) the capacity of psycholinguistic, neuropsychological, and socioemotional behavioral indices to differentiate cases of LI from ADHD; (b) the impact of co-occurring ADHD on children's LI; (c) cross-etiology comparisons of the nonlinguistic abilities of children with ADHD and specific LI (SLI); and (d) the extent to which ADHD contributes to educational and health disparities among individuals with LI.

Results
Evidence is presented demonstrating the value of using adjusted parent ratings of ADHD symptoms and targeted assessments of children's tense marking, nonword repetition, and sentence recall for differential diagnosis and the identification of comorbidity. Reports suggest that the presence of ADHD does not aggravate children's LI. The potential value of cross-etiology comparisons testing the necessity and sufficiency of proposed nonlinguistic contributors to the etiology of SLI is demonstrated through key studies. Reports suggest that children with comorbid ADHD+LI receive speech-language services at a higher rate than children with SLI.

Conclusion
The ADHD context is multifaceted and provides the management and study of LI with both opportunities and obstacles.
Specific Language Impairment, Nonverbal IQ, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cochlear Implants, Bilingualism, and Dialectal Variants: Defining the Boundaries, Clarifying Clinical Conditions, and Sorting Out Causes
Authors: Rice Mabel L. 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
The purpose of this research forum article is to provide an overview of a collection of invited articles on the topic “specific language impairment (SLI) in children with concomitant health conditions or nonmainstream language backgrounds.” Topics include SLI, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, cochlear implants, bilingualism, and dialectal language learning contexts.

Method
The topic is timely due to current debates about the diagnosis of SLI. An overarching comparative conceptual framework is provided for comparisons of SLI with other clinical conditions. Comparisons of SLI in children with low-normal or normal nonverbal IQ illustrate the unexpected outcomes of 2 × 2 comparison designs.

Results
Comparative studies reveal unexpected relationships among speech, language, cognitive, and social dimensions of children's development as well as precise ways to identify children with SLI who are bilingual or dialect speakers.

Conclusions
The diagnosis of SLI is essential for elucidating possible causal pathways of language impairments, risks for language impairments, assessments for identification of language impairments, linguistic dimensions of language impairments, and long-term outcomes. Although children's language acquisition is robust under high levels of risk, unexplained individual variations in language acquisition lead to persistent language impairments.
Wideband filtering power divider with high selectivity
Authors: Zhang Bo , Liu Yuanan 
Published: October 2015

A wideband filtering power divider (PD) with high selectivity is introduced, based on a terminated coupled line structure. The bandwidth tuning, isolation and impedance matching performances optimisation are presented and explained. Finally, the filtering PD is designed and implemented with a centre frequency (f0) of 3.0 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of 70%. The upper stopband is achieved up to 2.6 f0, with a rejection of better than 13 dB. The measured minimum in‐band insertion loss is 0.3 dB (not including the splitting loss). Isolation of higher than 16.7 dB between the output ports is observed up to 2.7 f0.
Computer modelling and field testing of the trip mechanism for GIS
Authors: Yang Ming‐Ta , Wang Jing‐Min , Chen Cheng‐Chuan , Cian Ying‐Rong 
Published: October 2015

Circuit breakers (CBs) play a crucial role in power system reliability. Most CB failures observed in the field are related to operating mechanism. One of the useful approaches to effectively diagnose the mechanism failures of CBs is based on the trip coil current signatures. Using the simulation tool MapleSim, this study proposes a simulation model of CB trip mechanism to identify the CB failures and their causes. The impacts of intentional abnormalities on the trip coil current taken from the field testing of trip mechanism are scrutinised. The intentional abnormalities include trip coil operating voltage, trip coil circuit resistance, and shaft gap. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed MapleSim simulation model, the work made the trip coil current comparison between computer simulation and field testing. In this study, the field testing data are gathered from 23 kV gas insulated switchgear with good and various faulty conditions. The simulation‐based findings in this study provide a useful and valuable insight into the CB trip mechanism failures, offering more diagnostic advice to maintenance personnel. The proposed results are of great interest in CB diagnosis.
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Spawning Events and Habitat Characteristics of Sacramento River Green Sturgeon
Authors: Poytress William R. , Gruber Joshua J. , Van Eenennaam Joel P. , Gard Mark 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSpawning of the Southern Distinct Population Segment of Green Sturgeon Acipenser medirostris occurs annually within the Sacramento River in California. Artificial substrate samplers were used to collect Green Sturgeon eggs between 2008 and 2012 and in a reach of the river 94 river kilometers (rkm) long (rkm 426–332). A total of 268 eggs and 5 posthatch larvae were sampled from seven identified spawning sites between April 2 and July 7, primarily from medium gravel substrates. At these sites the mean water column velocities were 0.8 m/s at depths ranging from 0.6 to 11.3 m (6.4 ± 2.3 m, mean ± SD). We noted an average discharge of 314 m3/s and a median turbidity value of 3.9 NTU during estimated spawning events. Spawning at all sites occurred when average water temperatures were 13.5 ± 1.0°C and during water year types ranging from critically dry to wet. Green Sturgeon eggs averaged 4.11 ± 0.20 mm in diameter (n = 207), were very adhesive, and were between developmental stages 2 (just fertilized) and 44 (posthatch larva). We estimated that eggs were collected from a minimum of 54 different spawning events, based on sample date and location, egg developmental stage at capture, and water temperatures. Green Sturgeon spawning data indicates there is spatial separation from sympatric White Sturgeon A. transmontanus, but some temporal overlap exists. The thermally and hydrologically managed Sacramento River with its numerous diversions and competing water demands appears to have an approximate reach of 120 rkm in the 405‐km‐long river that is favorable for Green Sturgeon spawning in most years. Management decisions need to assess and incorporate the spawning habitat requirements of Green Sturgeon and coordinate this information with that of endangered winter‐run Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha while attempting to meet the diverse demands of the limited Sacramento River water resources.
Cool, Pathogen‐Free Refuge Lowers Pathogen‐Associated Prespawn Mortality of Willamette River Chinook Salmon
Authors: Benda Susan E. , Naughton George P. , Caudill Christopher C. , Kent Michael L. , Schreck Carl B. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSpring Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha are transported above dams in the Willamette River to provide access to blocked spawning habitat. However, 30–95% of these transplants may die before spawning in some years. To varying degrees, salmon in other tributaries—both blocked and unblocked—have similar prespawn mortality (PSM) rates. Our study determined whether holding fish in constant temperature, pathogen‐free conditions prior to spawning increased survival through spawning in 2010 through 2012. In addition, we evaluated pathogens as a potential cause of PSM. To monitor survival we captured adult Chinook Salmon early and late in the season from the lower Willamette River and upper tributaries and held them until spawning in 13°C, pathogen‐free water. Samples were collected at the time of transport, from moribund or dead fish throughout the summer, and after spawning in the autumn. Prespawn mortalities and postspawned fish from river surveys on holding and spawning reaches above traps were also sampled. Necropsies were performed on all fish, and representative organs were processed for histopathological analysis. Using multiple logistic regression odds ratio analysis, fish that were held were up to 12.6 times less likely to experience PSM than fish that were outplanted to the river. However, Aeromonas salmonicida and Renibacterium salmoninarum were more prevalent in held fish that had PSM than in outplanted fish with PSM, suggesting that fish that were held were more susceptible to these bacteria. Spawned held fish were more likely to have Myxobolus sp. brain infections and less likely to be infected with the kidney myxozoan, Parvicapusla minibicornis, than were spawned outplanted fish. The equal likelihood of other pathogens for held fish and outplanted spawned fish suggests interactive effects determine survival and that holding Chinook Salmon at 13°C prevented expression of lethal pathogenesis. Overall, holding could be a viable method to reduce PSM, but issues of transport stress, proliferative disease, and antibiotics remain.
RNA structure framework: automated transcriptome-wide reconstruction of RNA secondary structures from high-throughput structure probing data
Authors: Incarnato Danny , Neri Francesco , Anselmi Francesca , Oliviero Salvatore 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Summary: The rapidly increasing number of discovered non-coding RNAs makes the understanding of their structure a key feature toward a deeper comprehension of gene expression regulation. Various enzymatic- and chemically- based approaches have been recently developed to allow whole-genome studies of RNA secondary structures. Several methods have been recently presented that allow high-throughput RNA structure probing (CIRS-seq, Structure-seq, SHAPE-seq, PARS, etc.) and unbiased structural inference of residues within RNAs in their native conformation. We here present an analysis toolkit, named RNA Structure Framework (RSF), which allows fast and fully-automated analysis of high-throughput structure probing data, from data pre-processing to whole-transcriptome RNA structure inference.
Availability and implementation: RSF is written in Perl and is freely available under the GPLv3 license from http://rsf.hugef-research.org.
Contact: salvatore.oliviero@hugef-torino.org
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Marsupial population dynamics in a tropical rainforest: intraspecific competition and nonlinear effect of rainfall
Authors: Ferreira Mariana Silva , Kajin Maja , Cerqueira Rui , Vieira Marcus Vinícius 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Population fluctuations are the result of the combined action of endogenous (feedback structure) and exogenous factors (large- and local-scale climate variables). In this paper, we used a 13-year time series to identify the feedback structure in a population of the brown 4-eyed opossum Metachirus nudicaudatus and to test a hypothesis on the effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation and rainfall using Royama’s theoretical framework. Metachirus nudicaudatus was regulated by a strong 1st-order negative feedback, with intraspecific competition for food resources as the probable factor governing the endogenous system. Contrary to our expectations, El Niño did not explain the marsupial dynamics better than 1-year lagged rainfall, that may operate in 2 different manners: as a nonlinear perturbation effect influencing the strength of density dependence (intraspecific competition and intraguild predation) or as a lateral perturbation effect influencing the carrying capacity of the environment.
As flutuações populacionais são resultado da ação conjunta de fatores endógenos (estrutura de retroalimentação) e exógenos (variáveis climáticas locais e de larga escala). A partir de uma série temporal de 13 anos, nós identificamos a estrutura de retroalimentação da população da cuíca marrom de quatro olhos Metachirus nudicaudatus , e testamos hipóteses a respeito dos efeitos do El Niño Oscilação Sul e chuva utilizando a abordagem teórica de Royama. Metachirus nudicaudatus é regulado por uma forte retroalimentação negativa de primeira ordem, com a competição intraespecífica por recursos alimentares como o provável fator que rege o sistema endógeno. Ao contrário do que esperávamos, o El Niño não explicou a dinâmica populacional deste marsupial melhor do que a chuva com a defasagem de 1 ano, que pode atuar em duas formas: como um efeito de perturbação não-linear, influenciando a força da dependência densidade (competição intraespecífica e predação intraguilda), ou como um efeito de perturbação lateral, influenciando a capacidade de suporte do ambiente.