bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alternative reproductive tactics in female striped mice: heavier females are more likely to breed solitarily than communally
Authors: Hill Davina L. , Pillay Neville , Schradin Carsten 
Published: August 2015

Summary

Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are discrete reproductive phenotypes governed by decision rules called strategies. ARTs are fixed for life in species with alternative strategies, while tactic expression is plastic in species with a single strategy. ARTs have been investigated in males of many species, but few studies have tested whether the same theoretical framework applies in females.

Female striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) employ three ARTs: communal breeders give birth in a nest shared with female kin and a breeding male and show allo‐parental care; returners give birth away from the shared nest and later return to it; and solitary breeders give birth away from the shared nest and do not return to the group.

Here, studying free‐living female striped mice over six breeding seasons, we tested whether ARTs arise from alternative strategies or a single strategy.

We also asked to what extent stochastic extrinsic factors explain whether individuals become solitary rather than group living.

Females switched tactics, consistent with a single strategy, so we tested whether this represented a mixed or conditional single strategy. Only the latter predicts differences between ARTs in traits indicating competitive ability, such as body mass or age, before individuals adopt a tactic. We weighed females at conception when they were still group living to eliminate potential confounding effects of gestation and subsequent social tactic (solitary versus group living) on body mass.

Females that went on to use a solitary ART were heavier than those that became communal breeders and returners, in support of a conditional strategy.

Solitary breeders also arose through extrinsic factors (mortality of all adult female group members). They weighed less than females that became solitary while relatives were alive, but did not differ in body mass from communal breeders and returners.

We conclude that ART theory applies to both sexes, with female striped mice following a conditional single strategy. Future studies should consider the possibility that phenotypes that superficially resemble evolved tactics might also arise through non‐adaptive extrinsic causes.
Separate effects of moisture content and water activity on the hyphal extension of Penicillium rubens on porous media
Authors: van Laarhoven Karel A. , Huinink Hendrik P. , Segers Frank J. J. , Dijksterhuis Jan , Adan Olaf C. G. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryTo prevent indoor fungal growth, understanding the moisture relations of fungi is a key element. Indoor moisture is quantified by the relative humidity (RH). RH controls the water activity of the indoor materials that fungi grow on, a well‐studied parameter known to limit fungal growth. RH, however, also controls the amount of water present in these materials, the moisture content. The significance of the moisture content of these materials to indoor fungal growth is currently overlooked. In the work reported here, growth experiments with the indoor fungus Penicillium rubens on gypsum substrates were performed to test whether the moisture content influences growth on porous materials. Second, we report the development of a video microscopy method that for the first time quantified hyphal growth on a porous material. It is found that a higher moisture content leads to earlier colonization and higher hyphal extension rates. This is a fundamental step in unravelling the effect of RH on indoor fungal growth. The real‐time monitoring of colonization of gypsum provides a new view of growth on indoor surfaces.
Benchmarking Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinics Using Functional Status Outcomes
Authors: Gozalo Pedro L. , Resnik Linda J. , Silver Benjamin 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo utilize functional status (FS) outcomes to benchmark outpatient therapy clinics.Data SourcesOutpatient therapy data from clinics using Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO) assessments.Study DesignRetrospective analysis of 538 clinics, involving 2,040 therapists and 90,392 patients admitted July 2006–June 2008. FS at discharge was modeled using hierarchical regression methods with patients nested within therapists within clinics. Separate models were estimated for all patients, for those with lumbar, and for those with shoulder impairments. All models risk‐adjusted for intake FS, age, gender, onset, surgery count, functional comorbidity index, fear‐avoidance level, and payer type. Inverse probability weighting adjusted for censoring.Data Collection MethodsFunctional status was captured using computer adaptive testing at intake and at discharge.Principal FindingsClinic and therapist effects explained 11.6 percent of variation in FS. Clinics ranked in the lowest quartile had significantly different outcomes than those in the highest quartile (p < .01). Clinics ranked similarly in lumbar and shoulder impairments (correlation = 0.54), but some clinics ranked in the highest quintile for one condition and in the lowest for the other.ConclusionsBenchmarking models based on validated FS measures clearly separated high‐quality from low‐quality clinics, and they could be used to inform value‐based‐payment policies.
Decomposition Rate and Pattern in Hanging Pigs
Authors: Lynch‐Aird Jeanne , Moffatt Colin , Simmons Tal 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAccurate prediction of the postmortem interval requires an understanding of the decomposition process and the factors acting upon it. A controlled experiment, over 60 days at an outdoor site in the northwest of England, used 20 freshly killed pigs (Sus scrofa) as human analogues to study decomposition rate and pattern. Ten pigs were hung off the ground and ten placed on the surface. Observed differences in the decomposition pattern required a new decomposition scoring scale to be produced for the hanging pigs to enable comparisons with the surface pigs. The difference in the rate of decomposition between hanging and surface pigs was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Hanging pigs reached advanced decomposition stages sooner, but lagged behind during the early stages. This delay is believed to result from lower variety and quantity of insects, due to restricted beetle access to the aerial carcass, and/or writhing maggots falling from the carcass.
The Phenomenon of the Urban Mummy
Authors: Harding Brett E. , Wolf Barbara C. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe environmental mummification of a body in an urban setting is an unusual event. Florida is known for its high temperatures and humidity, which typically result in the rapid putrefaction of bodies. However, under certain circumstances, Florida's climate provides an environment suitable for mummification, typically in isolated areas. We previously reported a case of a homicide/suicide in a residential neighborhood in which the mummified remains were undetected for several years. We have subsequently encountered two additional cases in which mummified bodies were discovered in urban settings. Presented in the historical context of the environmental conditions and postmortem processes involved in mummification, these cases illustrate the particular constellation of human behaviors and scenarios, as well as environmental conditions, which must coincide for this phenomenon to occur and highlight the necessity of the multidisciplinary approach to the medicolegal investigation of such deaths and the determination of the cause and manner of death.
Blow Flies from Forest Fragments Embedded in Different Land Uses: Implications for Selecting Indicators in Forensic Entomology
Authors: de Souza Mirian S. , Pepinelli Mateus , de Almeida Eduardo C. , Ochoa‐Quintero Jose M. , Roque Fabio O. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractGiven the general expectation that forest loss can alter biodiversity patterns, we hypothesize that blow fly species abundances differ in a gradient of native vegetation cover. This study was conducted in 17 fragments across different landscapes in central Brazil. Different land cover type proportions were used to represent landscape structure. In total, 2334 specimens of nine species of Calliphoridae were collected. We used principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce dimensionality and multicollinearity of the landscape data. The first component explained 70%, and it represented a gradient of forest‐pasture land uses. Alien species showed a wide distribution in different fragments with no clear relationship between the abundance values and the scores of PCA axes, whereas native species occurred only in areas with a predominance of forest cover. Our study revealed that certain native species may be sensitive to forest loss at the landscape scale, and they represent a bioindicator in forensic entomology.
Smartphone Image Acquisition During Postmortem Monocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
Authors: Lantz Patrick E. , Schoppe Candace H. , Thibault Kirk L. , Porter William T. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe medical usefulness of smartphones continues to evolve as third‐party applications exploit and expand on the smartphones’ interface and capabilities. This technical report describes smartphone still‐image capture techniques and video‐sequence recording capabilities during postmortem monocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. Using these devices and techniques, practitioners can create photographic documentation of fundal findings, clinically and at autopsy, without the expense of a retinal camera. Smartphone image acquisition of fundal abnormalities can promote ophthalmological telemedicine—especially in regions or countries with limited resources—and facilitate prompt, accurate, and unbiased documentation of retinal hemorrhages in infants and young children.
A Practical Guide for the Formulation of Propositions in the Bayesian Approach to DNA Evidence Interpretation in an Adversarial Environment
Authors: Gittelson Simone , Kalafut Tim , Myers Steven , Taylor Duncan , Hicks Tacha , Taroni Franco , Evett Ian W. , Bright Jo‐Anne , Buckleton John 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe interpretation of complexDNAprofiles is facilitated by a Bayesian approach. This approach requires the development of a pair of propositions: one aligned to the prosecution case and one to the defense case. This note explores the issue of proposition setting in an adversarial environment by a series of examples. A set of guidelines generalize how to formulate propositions when there is a single person of interest and when there are multiple individuals of interest. Additional explanations cover how to handle multiple defense propositions, relatives, and the transition from subsource level to activity level propositions. The propositions depend on case information and the allegations of each of the parties. The prosecution proposition is usually known. The authors suggest that a sensible proposition is selected for the defense that is consistent with their stance, if available, and consistent with a realistic defense if their position is not known.
Reflections on surgical behaviour
Authors: Galandiuk Susan , Bilchuk Natalia 
Published: August 2015

AimWe herein describe the different aspects of surgical behaviour. How surgeons behave affects every aspect of a surgeon's life: in the operating room, at the patient bedside, in the classroom, in the laboratory and even in public as a role model and leader.MethodsIn the present review, the notion of patient safety has become intertwined with the concept of surgical behaviour. Any type of behaviour by a surgeon that interferes with patient care or the ability of others to provide patient care is deleterious and might have an adverse effect on patient safety.ResultsDisruptive behaviour has been defined as ‘personal conduct, whether verbal or physical, that negatively affects or that potentially may negatively affect patient care’. Bad behaviour does not change; what begins incorrectly, frequently only becomes worse with time. It is a disservice to students and trainees not to give them feedback; that is, correct such behaviour. Although recent changes in training appear to lessen the apprentice nature within surgery, it is still a profession whereby trainees largely learn by example.ConclusionWe must always remember that we are being observed by others. Surgeons must never fail to provide the most positive role model.
Assessing Socio‐Economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia
Authors: SMITH ERIN F. , KEYS NONI , LIESKE SCOTT N. , SMITH TIMOTHY F. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis article systematically reviews and synthesises academic, peer‐reviewed literature to assess the state of knowledge concerning socio‐economic vulnerability to climate change impacts and environmental hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It focuses upon empirical research that identifies socio‐economic factors associated with vulnerable subpopulations. Using systematic review methods, 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. These articles are analysed according to their general characteristics, the methods used, and the factors reported to be associated with socio‐economic vulnerability. This body of evidence reveals that (1) the majority of the knowledge about socio‐economic vulnerability in New South Wales and Queensland has only recently emerged; (2) more knowledge has been published about Queensland; and (3) extreme temperature is the most researched environmental hazard. Despite increased research activity over time, the number of factors repeatedly demonstrated to influence socio‐economic vulnerability is small. Age, gender, place of residence, and pre‐existing illness were the most commonly reported factors, although the influence of these factors upon socio‐economic vulnerability is complex. There is scope to extend the empirical research base across a broader range of climate‐related hazards and to better link findings from the domains of climate change vulnerability and population health.
Solid‐state fermentation in multi‐well plates to assess pretreatment efficiency of rot fungi on lignocellulose biomass
Authors: Zhou Simeng , Raouche Sana , Grisel Sacha , Navarro David , Sigoillot Jean‐Claude , Herpoël‐Gimbert Isabelle 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe potential of fungal pretreatment to improve fermentable sugar yields from wheat straw or Miscanthus was investigated. We assessed 63 fungal strains including 53 white‐rot and 10 brown‐rot fungi belonging to the Basidiomycota phylum in an original 12 day small‐scale solid‐state fermentation (SSF) experiment using 24‐well plates. This method offers the convenience of one‐pot processing of samples fromSSFto enzymatic hydrolysis. The comparison of the lignocellulolytic activity profiles of white‐rot fungi and brown‐rot fungi showed different behaviours. The hierarchical clustering according to glucose and reducing sugars released from each biomass after 72 h enzymatic hydrolysis splits the set of fungal strains into three groups: efficient, no‐effect and detrimental‐effect species. The efficient group contained 17 species belonging to seven white‐rot genera and one brown‐rot genus. The yield of sugar released increased significantly (max. 62%) compared with non‐inoculated controls for both substrates.
Evaluation of rheumatoid factor and anti‐citrullinated peptide antibodies in relation to rheumatological manifestations in patients with leprosy from Southern Brazil
Authors: Dionello Carla Fontoura , Rosa Utiyama Shirley Ramos , Radominski Sebastião Cézar , Stahlke Ewalda , Stinghen Servio Tulio , de Messias‐Reason Iara Jose 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundLeprosy patients may present several osteoarticular complaints, which require further evaluation of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, an adequate clinical assessment in addition to testing for rheumatoid factors (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti‐CCP), can be useful in order to establish the correct diagnosis.MethodIn this study, the relation of RF and anti‐CCP with rheumatological manifestations was evaluated in 97 leprosy patients from Southern Brazil. The results were compared to RA patients and healthy controls from the same geographical area and ethnic background.ResultsNeuropathy was observed in 71.1% and arthritis in 35.1% of the leprosy patients. A high frequency of RF positivity was observed among the leprosy patients (41.2%, 40/97), with RF immunoglobulin A (IgA) significantly associated with arthritis (OR = 7.9, 95% CI = 1.5–40.6 P = 0.008). Anti‐CCP was observed in 9.3% (9/97) of the patients, with anti‐CCP2 being the most frequent subtype. Only 4.1% (4/97) of the patients were RF and anti‐CCP concomitantly positive. RF IgM showed a significant association with leprosy when compared to healthy controls (P < 0.0001) whereas for anti‐CCP2 no significant results were observed (P = 0.0585). However, both biomarkers showed a strong association with RA when compared to leprosy in patients from the same geographical area and ethnic background (anti‐CCP2 OR = 38.6; 95% CI = 16.49–90.26; P < 0.0001 and RF IgM OR = 4.51; 95% CI = 2.62–7.77; P < 0.0001).ConclusionDue to the similarity of some rheumatological manifestations in leprosy with other inflammatory diseases, such as RA, clinical and laboratorial evaluation of affected patients must be carefully assessed in order to achieve proper diagnosis and treatment.
The efficacy of propofol on emergence agitation – a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Jiang S. , Liu J. , Li M. , Ji W. , Liang J. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundEmergence agitation (EA) is a common, post‐anesthetic complication in pediatric patients following sevoflurane and desflurane anesthesia. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to assess the effects of an adjunctive dose of propofol to reduce the incidence of EA in pediatric patients.MethodsA comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify clinical trials focusing on the effects of propofol on EA in children under sevoflurane and desflurane anesthesia. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Internet databases, and other sources were searched. The data were combined to calculate the pooled relative ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD), and relevant 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity and potential publication bias were assessed. The required information size was calculated and a Lan‐DeMets sequential monitoring boundary was constructed to improve the precision of our findings.ResultsData from 11 studies showed that an adjunctive dose of propofol conveyed a preventive effect on EA, as compared with placebo (RR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.43–0.74; P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the length of stay in the post‐anesthesia care unit between groups (MD = 0.25 min; 95% CI = −2.81 to 2.31; P = 0.85). The required information size was 2297 patients and the Lan‐DeMets sequential monitoring boundary was crossed. However, most of the included studies had a high risk of bias and non‐ignorable inter‐study and clinical heterogeneity.ConclusionFuture studies on the benefits of adjunct propofol in reducing the incidence of EA are required.
External validation of the Norwegian survival prediction model in trauma after major trauma in Southern Finland
Authors: Raj R. , Brinck T. , Skrifvars M. B. , Handolin L. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundThe Norwegian Survival Prediction Model in Trauma (NORMIT) is a newly developed outcome prediction model for patients with trauma. We aimed to compare the novel NORMIT to the more commonly used Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS) in Finnish trauma patients.MethodsWe performed a retrospective open‐cohort study, using the trauma registry of Helsinki university hospital's trauma unit, including severely injured patients (new injury severity score > 15) admitted from 2007 to 2011. We used 30‐day in‐hospital mortality as the primary outcome, and discharge functional outcome as a secondary outcome of interest. Model performance was evaluated by comparing discrimination (by area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]), using a re‐sample bootstrap technique, and by assessing calibration (GiViTI belt).ResultsWe identified 1111 patients fulfilling the study inclusion criteria. Overall mortality was 13% (n = 147). NORMIT showed slightly better discrimination for mortality prediction (AUC = 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80–0.86 vs. AUC = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.75–0.83, P = 0.004) and functional outcome prediction (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.76–0.82 vs. AUC = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.72–0.78, P < 0.001) than TRISS. Calibration testing revealed poor calibration for both NORMIT and TRISS (P < 0.001), by giving too pessimistic predictions (predicted survival significantly lower than actual survival).ConclusionNORMIT and TRISS showed good discrimination, but poor calibration, in this mixed cohort of severely injured trauma patients from Southern Finland. We found NORMIT to be a feasible alternative to TRISS for trauma patient outcome prediction, but trauma prediction models with improved calibration are needed.
GABRA2 Alcohol Dependence Risk Allele is Associated with Reduced Expression of Chromosome 4p12 GABAA Subunit Genes in Human Neural Cultures
Authors: Lieberman Richard , Kranzler Henry R. , Joshi Pujan , Shin Dong‐Guk , Covault Jonathan 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundGenetic variation in a region of chromosome 4p12 that includes the GABAA subunit gene GABRA2 has been reproducibly associated with alcohol dependence (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association are unknown. This study examined correlates of in vitro gene expression of the AD‐associated GABRA2 rs279858*C‐allele in human neural cells using an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model system.MethodsWe examined mRNA expression of chromosome 4p12 GABAA subunit genes (GABRG1, GABRA2, GABRA4, and GABRB1) in 36 human neural cell lines differentiated from iPSCs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and next‐generation RNA sequencing. mRNA expression in adult human brain was examined using the BrainCloud and BRAINEAC data sets.ResultsWe found significantly lower levels of GABRA2 mRNA in neural cell cultures derived from rs279858*C‐allele carriers. Levels of GABRA2 RNA were correlated with those of the other 3 chromosome 4p12 GABAA genes, but not other neural genes. Cluster analysis based on the relative RNA levels of the 4 chromosome 4p12 GABAA genes identified 2 distinct clusters of cell lines, a low‐expression cluster associated with rs279858*C‐allele carriers and a high‐expression cluster enriched for the rs279858*T/T genotype. In contrast, there was no association of genotype with chromosome 4p12 GABAA gene expression in postmortem adult cortex in either the BrainCloud or BRAINEAC data sets.ConclusionsAD‐associated variation in GABRA2 is associated with differential expression of the entire cluster of GABAA subunit genes on chromosome 4p12 in human iPSC‐derived neural cell cultures. The absence of a parallel effect in postmortem human adult brain samples suggests that AD‐associated genotype effects on GABAA expression, although not present in mature cortex, could have effects on regulation of the chromosome 4p12 GABAA cluster during neural development.