bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forest management intensity measures as alternative to stand properties for quantifying effects on biodiversity
Authors: Gossner Martin M. , Schall Peter , Ammer Christian , Ammer Ulrich , Engel Kerstin , Schubert Holger , Simon Ulrich , Utschick Hans , Weisser Wolfgang W. 
Published: September 2014

While land use is known to be a major driver of biodiversity loss, it is generally difficult to quantify land‐use intensity. As a consequence, studies often use a qualitative approach and contrast different land‐use categories, or use structural ecosystem attributes as a proxy for land‐use intensity. In this paper we compared these different approaches with two quantitative approaches using forest management as an example. We carried out detailed biodiversity assessments of ten different groups of organisms, ranging from fungi and plants to arthropods and birds; in 12 different forest stands of four forest types in three regions of Southern Germany. We compared the explanatory power of the categorical approach to the explanatory power of (1) stand structural attributes, (2) stand structural complexity indices, (3) measures of forest ‘naturalness', and (4) a recently developed quantitative descriptors of land‐use intensity in forests, Silvicultural Management Intensity (SMI).The diversities of many taxa differed between the different land‐use categories but the explanatory power of the categorical approach strongly decreased when using jackknifing. Single structural attributes explained differences in biodiversity for some taxa which were illustrative for proximate mechanisms underlying biodiversity changes. Stand structural complexity indices i.e., combinations of single structural attributes, showed higher explanatory power than single structural attributes but explained less variation in biodiversity among stands than land‐use intensity measures. SMI was negatively correlated with forest ‘naturalness', and, for many groups of organisms, increasing SMI decreased biodiversity, but trophic guilds responded differently. Some guilds, such as wood‐ and bark living fungi, saprophytic arthropods, herbivores, canopy predators and breeding birds showed a clear negative response to increasing land‐use intensity, while for others such as plants there was no relationship. Some guilds, such as mosses and ground dwelling predators appeared to even benefit from increased land‐use intensity. Using a quantitative measure of land‐use intensity can thus help to understand even more subtle relationships between human impact and the diversity of organisms. Measures such as SMI seem to be useful tools for quantifying land‐use intensity in forests and may be applied to biodiversity data of different forest ecosystems worldwide.
Orthodontic bracket slot dimensions as measured from entire bracket series
Authors: Brown Paul , Wagner Warren , Choi Hyden 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACT

Objective:
To measure the slot dimensions of an entire series of metal orthodontic brackets.

Materials and Methods:
Ten bracket series approximating five complete sets of brackets each were imaged and measured. Descriptive statistics were generated.

Results:
Slot dimension varied significantly from series to series as well as within the series themselves. About one-third of the brackets would not accommodate a full-size wire, and 15% to 20% are 0.001 inches or larger than the nominal advertised size.

Conclusion:
The clinician is unlikely to have on hand complete sets (upper and lower 5-5) of ideal brackets and should both expect and be able to be accommodate tooth movement through wire bending in three planes of space to overcome any bracket deficiencies.
Understanding biology to tackle the disease: Multiple myeloma from bench to bedside, and back
Authors: Bianchi Giada , Anderson Kenneth C. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAnswer questions and earn CME/CNEMultiple myeloma (MM) is a cancer of antibody‐producing plasma cells. The pathognomonic laboratory finding is a monoclonal immunoglobulin or free light chain in the serum and/or urine in association with bone marrow infiltration by malignant plasma cells. MM develops from a premalignant condition, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), often via an intermediate stage termed smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), which differs from active myeloma by the absence of disease‐related end‐organ damage. Unlike MGUS and SMM, active MM requires therapy. Over the past 6 decades, major advancements in the care of MM patients have occurred, in particular, the introduction of novel agents (ie, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents) and the implementation of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in suitable candidates. The effectiveness and good tolerability of novel agents allowed for their combined use in induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy, resulting in deeper and more sustained clinical response and extended progression‐free and overall survival. Previously a rapidly lethal cancer with few therapeutic options, MM is the hematologic cancer with the most novel US Food and Drug Administration‐approved drugs in the past 15 years. These advances have resulted in more frequent long‐term remissions, transforming MM into a chronic illness for many patients. CA Cancer J Clin 2014;64:422–444. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Endoscopic treatment for complex biliary and pancreatic duct injuries
Authors: Bouchard Simon , Devière Jacques 
Published: September 2014

AbstractSevere injuries of biliary or pancreatic ducts are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Severe bile duct injuries such as major biliary leaks, complete transection, or complete occlusion of bile ducts can be grouped under the term complex bile duct injuries (CBDI). In the spectrum of pancreatic duct injuries, disconnected pancreatic duct syndrome (DPDS) represents the most severe form and most often occurs after a severe episode of acute pancreatitis. Treatment of these complex injuries is quite challenging and for many years surgical management has been considered the treatment of choice. However, in the past few years, some studies have reported the successful management of CBDI or DPDS using endoscopic procedures alone or in combination with a percutaneous approach. In this review, we detail the endoscopic or combined endoscopic/percutaneous treatment possibilities for CBDI and DPDS.
Clinical and endoscopic parameters at presentation that predict the need for long-term immunosuppression in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Sreerama Ranjit K. , Chhabra Puneet , Sharma Vishal , Nada Ritambhra , Sharma Ravi , Rao Chalapathi , Gupta Rajesh , Kaman Lileswar , Rana Surinder S. , Bhasin Deepak K. 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Introduction: The clinical course of ulcerative colitis (UC) ranges from a mild course with prolonged periods of remission to severe disease requiring long-term immunosuppression for disease control. There is limited data on the predictors of need for immunosuppression at presentation. Objective: The aim was to evaluate clinical, endoscopic and histopathological parameters at presentation in patients with UC that predict the need for long-term immunosuppressive therapy. Materials and Methods: We studied 81 patients (males; 40; mean age 38.69 ± 12.90 years) with UC (41 prospectively and 40 retrospectively). The clinical presentation, duration, extra-intestinal features, extent of disease, haematological and biochemical features, histology and outcome (drugs, surgery, and mortality) were recorded and analyzed. Subgroup analysis was done after dividing the patients into two groups depending upon whether they needed long term immunosuppressants or not. Results: The presenting symptoms were bloody stools (100%), mucus in stools (98.8%), abdominal pain (35.8%), anorectal pain (14.8%) and extra-intestinal symptoms (4.9%). Of these 81 patients, 7 (8.6%) patients required surgery and 2 (2.4%) patients died. Long term immunosuppressants were used in 19 patients (Azathioprine 16, Mycophenolate mofetil 2 and Tacrolimus 1). The patients who received immunosuppressants had a higher prevalence of pancolitis (47.4% vs. 16.1%, P = 0.005). Other clinical, hematological and histological parameters such as inflammatory grade, chronicity grade, cellular infiltrates, submucosal fibrosis, Paneth cell metaplasia, and the presence of neuronal cells were similar in the two groups. Conclusion: Of the clinical, biochemical, endoscopic and histological features at presentation only the presence of pancolitis predicts the need for long term immunosuppressants in ulcerative colitis.
Endoscopic ultrasound coil placement of gastric varices: Emerging modality for recurrent bleeding gastric varices
Authors: Harwani Yogesh , Goenka Mahesh Kumar , Rai Vijay , Goenka Usha 
Published: September 2014

AbstractGastric varices are the probable source of bleeding in 10-36% of patients, with acute variceal bleeding and carry high mortality and rebleeding rates. Till date, cyanoacrylate glue injection is considered as the standard of care but has high complication rate. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided coil placement is a new emerging technique of management of gastric varices. In this case report, we detail the EUS guided coil placement for management of gastric varices after failed glue injections.
Eventration of diaphragm with a rare association
Authors: Shafiq Syed , Ramathilakam B. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractEventration of the diaphragm is a rare anomaly of unknown origin characterized by a permanent high position of one or rarely both the leaflets of the diaphragm, providing a potential space for the displacement of abdominal viscera on the affected side(s). The etiology, diagnosis, and management of this condition remains a controversial subject. We report a rare case of infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in a patient with eventration of the diaphragm and gastric volvulus who presented to us with retrosternal discomfort. To the best of our knowledge, this rare association has not been reported in the literature, although one case of esophageal adenocarcinoma arising from Barrett’s esophagus in association with eventration of the diaphragm has been reported previously. This case again emphasis the varied associations of an eventration of the diaphragm.
Automatic Identification of Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) Varieties Based on Leaf
Authors: Nasir A Fakhri A , A Rahman M Nordin , Mat Nashriyah , Mamat Rasid 
Published: September 2014

Currently, the traditional method used to identify Ficus deltoidea Jack (Moraceae) varieties require the plant taxonomists to observe and examine the leaf morphology of herbarium or live specimens. An automated variety identification system would ease the herbs collector to carry out valuable plant identification work. In this paper, a model for F. deltoidea varieties identification based on their leaf shape, color and texture was developed. Five different varieties of F. deltoidea were used in the proposed work with sixty nine sample data collected for each of varieties. First, the F. deltoidea leaves were plucked and the picture of leaves is then taken by a digital scanner in the format of JPEG. For leaf shape, a total of fourteen shape features were extracted based on basic geometric features. The mean of different color channels was calculated in leaf color feature extraction. Furthermore, four texture features based on gray-level co-occurrence matrix was implemented to extract leaf texture properties. By using the leaf structure, a set of three different leaf properties which are leaf shape, color and texture features was extracted. The features weight is then calculated using eigenvalues coefficient in principal component analysis. The best principal components are retained for identification experiments. Lastly, Nearest Neighbor with Euclidean distance was used in variety identification based on three different leaf properties mentioned above. The effectiveness of different leaf features are demonstrated in the identification experiment.
Ratio Estimators Using Coefficient of Variation and Coefficient of Correlation
Authors: Sangngam Prayad 
Published: September 2014

This paper introduces ratio estimators of the population mean using the coefficient of variation of study variable and auxiliary variables together with the coefficient of correlation between the study and auxiliary variables under simple random sampling and stratified random sampling. These ratio estimators are almost unbiased. The mean square errors of the estimators and their estimators are given. Sample size estimation in both sampling designs are presented. An optimal sample size allocation in stratified random sampling is also suggested. Based on theoretical study, it can be shown that these ratio estimators have smaller MSE than the unbiased estimators. Moreover, the empirical study indicates that these ratio estimators have smallest MSE compared to the existing ones.
Understanding nitrile-degrading enzymes: classification, biocatalytic nature and current applications
Authors: Rodríguez Jorge Ricaño 
Published: September 2014

AbstractNitrile-degrading enzymes commonly known as nitrilase enzymes are able to metabolize nitrile-substituent compounds and they have several industrial applications, for example: in drugs synthesis. It is also common to observe their exploitation for obtaining chemical compounds with commercial interests related to cosmetics production, paints and additives. In addition, these are frequently used in the active metabolites synthesis of pesticides. Due to the catalytic nature of such proteins, it is possible to take advantage of their biotechnological potential to be applied in various scientific fields including synthetic biocatalysis and environmental remediation, since they have been successfully used for soils nitrile-wastes decontamination such as cyanide, bromoxynil and benzonitrile. On the other hand, these enzymes are considered very important intermediaries of metabolic pathways related to indolic compounds that are produced by bacteria, plants and superior fungi, acting in most cases as vegetal growth hormones. Given the fact that indole-derivative molecules play an important role in physiological responses in superior organisms, nitrilase enzymes may be considered as important part of unknown multi-enzymatic secondary metabolites pathways. In light of the above considerations, this review attempts to summarize the current status of nitrilase research and describing in detail the main characteristics of nitrile-converting enzymes with emphasis on fungal proteins, including their function and catalytic selectivity. Likewise, their relationship with plant metabolism and biotechnological importance in bioremediation processes is discussed.
Plaguicidas en México: usos, riesgos y marco regulatorio
Authors: Ortíz Irmene , Avila-Chávez Marco A. , Torres Luis G. 
Published: September 2014

Resumen
El presente documento describe la situación actual referente a la reglamentación de la producción, distribución, almacenamiento y uso de los plaguicidas en México. Se muestran datos de morbilidad como consecuencia del uso de estos productos como un referente de sus efectos sobre la salud humana, así como, los sitios en la República Mexicana en donde la incidencia es mayor. Adicionalmente, se presenta una revisión de la regulación nacional e internacional sobre plaguicidas, así como, las distintas dependencias gubernamentales, organizaciones civiles y centros de investigación involucrados en el tema en México. La información presentada sugiere que a pesar de las regulaciones y restricciones de uso de los plaguicidas, éstos pueden representar un grave problema de salud para los trabajadores y poblaciones expuestas, así como, de contaminación de suelos y aguas en México.
The brightness ratio of H Lyman‐α/H2 bands in FUV auroral emissions: A diagnosis for the energy of precipitating electrons and associated magnetospheric acceleration processes applied to Saturn
Authors: Tao Chihiro , Lamy Laurent , Prangé Renée 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWe propose that the ratio of the auroral brightness of H Lyman‐α to that of far ultraviolet H2 and the absolute value of the H2 brightness provide good indicators of the acceleration versus nonacceleration processes for field‐aligned auroral electron precipitation in the Saturn magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupled system. This finding is based on model results indicating that this ratio is a decreasing function of the auroral electron energy over the whole auroral energy range, as previously suggested by Cassini observations. For electron energies above 5 keV, the results agree with the Knight relation, as in the environments of the Earth and Jupiter. On the other hand, decreasing electron flux with increasing electron energies below a few keV is also found and alternately explained as a nonacceleration reflecting the magnetospheric plasma distribution and/or wave‐particle interactions.
Musicology, Statistics in
Authors: Beran Jan 
Published: September 2014

AbstractQuantitative musicology is a relatively new field of statistical applications that is increasingly important due to the availability of digitized data. In principle, all fields of statistical theory are potentially useful. In contrast to genuinely quantitative sciences, many questions in musicology have no unique ‘correct’ answer, and often no strictly objective optimality criterion exists to find an optimal solution to a problem. In this paper, some typical examples illustrate the role of statistics in musicology
Change Point Methods in Genetics
Authors: Chen Jie 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIn this review article, recent applications of change point methods in genetics will be discussed. The latest advances in bio‐technology have provided new tools for scientists to carry out health and life science research. The array, or microarray, technology has made it possible to simultaneously quantify expression patterns of thousands or hundreds of thousands of genes in various cell lines, tissues, and conditions. The resulting datasets from various experiments using microarray technology are of high‐throughput and cast challenges to data analysts.Specifically, to study the genetic reasons of tumor growth, cancer formation, and genetic diseases, geneticists can now use microarray technology to conduct DNA copy number experiments to obtain gene positions, log base 2 ratio intensities, and DNA copy numbers along the genome. It turns out that identifying loci of DNA copy number variations along the chromosome or genome can be viewed as a change point problem of detecting the changes presented in the sequence of log ratio intensities. The author will discuss the background of DNA copy number experiments, especially the experiments using the array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) technique, the resulting aCGH data, and the appropriate change point methods that can be used to analyze the aCGH data. Several applications of the change point methods to the analysis of fibroblast cell line data, the breast tumor data, and the breast cancer data will be given.
Panel Count Data
Authors: Sun Jianguo 
Published: September 2014

AbstractPanel count data usually refer to data arising from studies on recurrent events in which study subjects are followed or observed only periodically rather than continuously. In these situations, the objective of interest is about the occurrence of some events that can occur multiple times or repeatedly and the studies resulting in this type of information are often referred to as event history studies. There are many fields that produce panel count data and they include medical studies, reliability experiments and social science. This article will review some basic concepts about panel count data, some common issues and questions of interest in their analysis as well as the corresponding statistical procedures that are available. In particular, we will discuss estimation of the mean function of the underlying counting process characterizing the occurrence of the events, comparison of several processes and regression analysis of panel count data. Some discussion will also be provided for situations that involve dependent or informative observation processes.
Multivariate Symmetry and Asymmetry
Authors: Serfling Robert J. 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Univariate symmetry has interesting and diverse forms of generalization to the multivariate case. Here several leading concepts of multivariate symmetry—spherical, elliptical, central, and angular—are examined and various closely related notions discussed. Methods for testing the hypothesis of symmetry and approaches for measuring the direction and magnitude of skewness are reviewed.
Generalized Order Statistics
Authors: Kamps Udo 
Published: September 2014

AbstractOrder statistics and record values appear in many statistical applications and are widely used in statistical modeling and inference. Both models describe random variables arranged in ascending order of magnitude. Generalized order statistics provide a unified approach to a variety of models of ordered random variables with different interpretations, such as ordinary order statistics, sequential order statistics, progressively type II censored order statistics, record values,kth record values, and Pfeifer's records. These models can be effectively applied, for example, in reliability theory. Here, an order statistic represents the life length of somek‐out‐of‐nsystem, which is an important technical structure. For this application, sequential order statistics serve to describe influences of failures on the life‐length distributions of the remaining components. Record values are used in shock models, and they are closely connected with the occurrence times of some corresponding nonhomogeneous Poisson process, with some minimal repair scheme, and with the relevation transform. The distribution theory of generalized order statistics is established along the lines of ordinary order statistics. By this, we find that many well‐known properties of order statistics and record values are also valid for generalized order statistics. The results on generalized order statistics concern their distribution theory, relations and bounds for moments, characterizations of distributions, preservation of aging properties and stochastic ordering, extreme‐value theory, and statistical inference with respect to model and distribution parameters.
Occupancy Distributions
Authors: Charalambides Ch. A. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractOccupancy distributions are defined on the stochastic model of random allocation of balls of different kinds intondistinguishable urns. The reduction of the joint distribution of the occupancy numbers, when a specific number ofmballs are allocated, to the joint conditional distribution of independent random variables given their sum, when the number of balls allocated is unspecified, is a powerful technique in the study of occupancy distributions. Using this technique, the distribution of the numberKiof urns occupied byiballs each is derived in terms of the distribution of the independent random variables. In particular, the distribution of the numberK = n − K0of occupied urns is deduced and the distribution of the numberWkof balls required until the occupancy of a predetermined numberkof urns is obtained. Several applications and a generalization of the occupancy model are presented.
Digamma and Trigamma Distributions
Authors: Sibuya Masaaki 
Published: September 2014

AbstractDigamma distributions are mixture distributions of logarithmic series distributions, and hence heavy‐tailed distributions, which have two parameters. The distributions vary widely with the parameter values; if one parameter is larger, the distribution is close to the logarithmic series distributions. If this parameter is near zero, the distribution is reduced to trigamma distributions, which are close to zeta distributions or Zipf's law.