bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of adipocytokines and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in young male cancer survivors: an age‐matched control study
Authors: Greenfield Diana M. , Blewitt Alice , Coleman Robert E. , Walsh Jennifer S. , Snowden John A. , Ross Richard J.M. , Han Thang S. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundLife expectancy of cancer survivors has doubled in the past four decades; however, death due to cardiovascular disease is more prevalent in survivors than the general population.Objective, design and methodsWe evaluated novel and traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in young male cancer survivors in a cross‐sectional study of male cancer survivors aged 25–45 years compared with age‐matched noncancer controls. Demographic and anthropometric data were recorded and biochemical and hormonal parameters assayed from fasting blood samples in 176 survivors and 213 controls (lipids were measured in all survivors and 97 controls).ResultsCompared with controls, survivors had significantly higher body mass index, adipocytokines, insulin resistance, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower free androgen index (FAI). Handgrip strength, smoking, alcohol consumption, free oestrogen index, insulin‐like growth factor 1 and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels did not differ between cancer survivors and controls. Risk factors were analysed simultaneously using stepwise multivariable logistic regression, and this showed that high leptin: adiponectin ratio (odds ratio = 2·63; 95% confidence interval: 1·34–5·15; P = 0·005), hypercholesterolaemia (odds ratio = 1·85; 95%CI: 1·08–3·17; P = 0·025) and low FAI (odds ratio = 2·01; 95% confidence interval: 1·07–3·79; P = 0·030) were independently more common in survivors. The odds ratio in survivors for having at least two of these three risk factors rose to 6·58 (95% confidence interval: 3·30–13·12; P < 0·001). Among survivors, risk factors were not different between cancer therapies but worse in survivors who had radiotherapy involving the testes (hyperleptinaemia and insulin resistance) or age at diagnosis above group median (hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia).ConclusionsA high leptin: adiponectin ratio, hypercholesterolaemia and low FAI are observed in young male cancer survivors, especially those who received radiotherapy involving the testes or were diagnosed at a later age. In view of their youth and known increased risk of cardiovascular death, treatment strategies are required to address this cardiovascular risk.
Integrating macroecological metrics and community taxonomic structure
Authors: Harte John , Rominger Andrew , Zhang Wenyu 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe extend macroecological theory based on the maximum entropy principle from species level to higher taxonomic categories, thereby predicting distributions of species richness across genera or families and the dependence of abundance and metabolic rate distributions on taxonomic tree structure. Predictions agree with qualitative trends reported in studies on hyper‐dominance in tropical tree species, mammalian body size distributions and patterns of rarity in worldwide plant communities. Predicted distributions of species richness over genera or families for birds, arthropods, plants and microorganisms are in excellent agreement with data. Data from an intertidal invertebrate community, but not from a dispersal‐limited forest, are in excellent agreement with a predicted new relationship between body size and abundance. Successful predictions of the original species level theory are unmodified in the extended theory. By integrating macroecology and taxonomic tree structure, maximum entropy may point the way towards a unified framework for understanding phylogenetic community structure.
Habitat type and dispersal ability influence spatial structuring of larval Odonata and Trichoptera assemblages
Authors: Curry Colin J. , Baird Donald J. 
Published: August 2015

Summary

Freshwater invertebrate assemblages are believed to be structured by both local and larger scale processes (i.e. dispersal). In rivers, the extent to which dispersal processes influence local assemblage composition may depend on both the taxon and habitat in question. Poor dispersers should display greater spatial structuring than strong dispersers. Likewise, assemblages in poorly connected habitats should experience greater dispersal limitation, and therefore greater spatial structuring.

We sought to test these hypotheses using two contrasting orders of aquatic insect, Odonata and Trichoptera. Odonata are believed to have greater dispersal capacity than Trichoptera. In river ecosystems, these orders inhabit both main channel habitats and more poorly connected riverine wetlands. Multi‐habitat surveys of larval Trichoptera and Odonata assemblages were conducted at 34 sites in three 5th‐order New Brunswick rivers. The degree of spatial and environmental structuring in assemblages was assessed using redundancy analysis‐based variance partitioning. We also assessed the performance of different model‐based spatial predictors (asymmetric eigenvector maps, AEMs and principal coordinates of neighbourhood matrices, PCNMs).

For main channel areas, variance explained purely by environmental variables was greater for Odonata, while the purely spatial component of variance was greater for Trichoptera, regardless of the class of spatial descriptor. In riverine wetlands, both the purely environmental and purely spatial components of variance explained were similar or were greater for Trichoptera than for Odonata.

The component of variance explained by spatial variables was greater in riverine wetlands than main channel areas for both Odonata and Trichoptera for most spatial descriptors, suggesting that taxa inhabiting riverine wetlands may experience greater dispersal limitation. However, the magnitude of this difference was relatively small in most cases. Eigenvector‐based spatial descriptors (PCNMs, AEMs, netPCNMs) explained more variance than traditional spatial descriptors. For Trichoptera, network‐based predictors (AEMs, netPCNMs) explained more variance than PCNMs in main channel areas.

Our results suggest that dispersal ability and habitat type can influence the degree of spatial structuring in aquatic insect assemblages. However, these patterns must be investigated across a wider range of insect groups and at larger spatial scales. Our results also suggest that biomonitoring programs should consider assemblage spatial structure in building reference condition models and that aquatic conservation planners must consider the type and spatial arrangement of habitats in reserve design. Eigenvector‐based spatial descriptors hold promise for interpreting biodiversity patterns in freshwater invertebrates, but more work is required to relate patterns to actual dispersal behaviour.
Effects of the presence of a predatory fish and the phenotype of its prey (a shredding shrimp) on leaf litter decomposition
Authors: Ocasio‐Torres María E. , Crowl Todd A. , Sabat Alberto M. 
Published: August 2015

Summary

The role of inducible defences in trophic cascades is poorly understood. The shrimp shredder Xiphocaris elongata has a short rostrum in the absence of predatory fishes and a long rostrum in their presence. The long rostrum in X. elongata is a morphological defence that is inducible by the predatory fish Agonostomus monticola (mountain mullet).

Our objective was to measure the effect of fish presence and absence and shrimp phenotype (long rostrum versus short rostrum) on the foraging behaviour of X. elongata and on the decomposition of leaves of the riparian tree Cecropia schreberiana, including their potential for direct or trait‐mediated top‐down trophic cascades effects.

Experiments were carried out in wading pools in which leaf discs of C. schreberiana were exposed for 24 days to processing by either microbes or short‐rostrum or long‐rostrum X. elongata in either the presence or absence of the predatory fish A. monticola. Shrimp foraging activities, shrimp survival and leaf decomposition were quantified.

Shrimp density was not affected by fish presence. However, fish presence decreased foraging activity of long‐rostrum X. elongata presumably by increasing their use of refugia throughout the experiments. The foraging of short‐rostrum shrimps did not respond to fish presence.

The fraction of leaf mass remaining was significantly higher when shrimps were in the presence of fish than when fish were absent, particularly when short‐rostrum shrimps were shredding leaves. Shrimps decreased the fraction of mass remaining of C. schreberiana more than the effect of microbial colonisation alone.

These results demonstrate that the presence of the predatory fish A. monticola can create trait‐mediated top‐down trophic cascades in the presence of short‐rostrum X. elongata. This study provides evidence that predators have different effects on prey with morphological inducible defences than prey without defences and that these interactions may have critical consequences for other trophic levels.
How good are Bayesian belief networks for environmental management? A test with data from an agricultural river catchment
Authors: Death Russell G. , Death Fiona , Stubbington Rachel , Joy Michael K. , van den Belt Marjan 
Published: August 2015

Summary

The ecological health of rivers worldwide continues to decline despite increasing effort and investment in river science and management. Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) are increasingly being used as a mechanism for decision‐making in river management because they provide a simple visual framework to explore different management scenarios for the multiple stressors that impact rivers. However, most applications of BBN modelling to resource management use expert knowledge and/or limited real data, and fail to accurately assess the ability of the model to make predictions.

We developed a BBN to model ecological condition in a New Zealand river using field/GIS data (from multiple rivers), rather than expert opinion, and assessed its predictive ability on an independent data set. The developed BBN performed moderately better than a number of other modelling techniques (e.g. artificial neural networks, classification trees, random forest, logistic regression), although model construction was more time consuming. Thus, the predictive ability of BBNs is (in this case at least) on a par with other modelling methods but the approach is distinctly better for its ability to visually present the data linkages, issues and potential outcomes of management options in real time.

The BBN suggested management of habitat quality, such as riparian planting, along with the current management focus on limiting nutrient leaching from agricultural land may be most effective in improving ecological condition.

BBNs can be a powerful and accurate method of effectively portraying the multiple interacting drivers of environmental condition in an easily understood manner. However, most BBN applications fail to appropriately test the model fit prior to use. We believe this lack of testing may seriously undermine their long‐term effectiveness in resource management and recommend that BBNs should be used in conjunction with some measure of uncertainty about model predictions. We have demonstrated this for a BBN of ecological condition in a New Zealand river, shown that model fit is better than that for other modelling techniques, and that improving habitat would be equally effective to reducing nutrients to improve ecological condition.
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in Japan and Taiwan
Authors: Yang Yuan‐Han , Hsu Chia‐Ling , Chou Mei‐Chuan , Kasai Mari , Meguro Kenichi , Liu Ching‐Kuan 
Published: August 2015

AimThe effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are making a major impact on the socioeconomic status of older adults in society. The recognition of early symptoms and clinical presentation are crucial issues to foster early diagnosis and treatment in order to have better therapeutic outcomes.MethodsWe recruited clinically diagnosed AD patients at the very mild stage in the Clinical Dementia Rating scale 0.5 and mild stage Clinical Dementia Rating scale 1.0 in Taiwan and Japan. Psychometrics including the Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) questionnaire were administered to collect and compare the differences of the clinical presentation of the participants from the two countries.ResultsA total of 1189 participants, 641 from Taiwan and 548 from Japan, were recruited in the present study. In the very mild dementia group with Clinical Dementia Rating scale 0.5, apart from AD8‐2: reduced interest in hobbies/activities (P = 0.056) and AD8‐4: trouble learning how to use a tool, appliance or gadget (P = 0.224), other AD8 subitems were significantly different between the two countries. Japanese participants had a higher reported frequency of AD8‐5: forgetting the correct month or year (82.7%) than that (57.9%) in Taiwanese (P < 0.001). Taiwanese participants had a higher reported frequency in AD8‐1: problems with judgment (20.3%), AD8‐3: repeats questions, stories or statements (67.5%), AD8‐6: difficulty handling complicated financial affairs (32.5%); AD8‐7: difficulty remembering appointments (53.8%); and AD8‐8: consistent problems with thinking and/or memory (89.3%) than those in Japanese participants.ConclusionEarly symptoms of AD in both countries are different. The frequently reported early symptoms are important for primary physicians and the general population so that they can recognize the disease in the early stage so as to have a better therapeutic outcome. Such efforts would increase the awareness of dementia in the general population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 797–803.
Factors predicting perioperative delirium and acute exacerbation of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia based on admission data in elderly patients with proximal femoral fracture: A retrospective study
Authors: Tanaka Tomohiro 
Published: August 2015

AimTo examine factors predicting the onset of perioperative delirium and acute exacerbation of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), based on patient background, operative background and laboratory data obtained on admission, in elderly patients with proximal femoral fracture.MethodsThe participants were 152 patients (aged >70 years) who underwent surgery between 1 November 2012 and 31 March 2014. The participants were classified into group B (with onset of perioperative delirium or acute exacerbation of BPSD, n = 52), or group N, (without onset, n = 100), and risk factors were retrospectively examined. Onset was judged based on the presence or absence of common items; that is, “hallucination and delusion,” “disturbing speech,” “excitatory behavior” and “altered sleep‐wake cycle.” The participants were observed for 1 week after admission.ResultsThe incidence of perioperative delirium or acute exacerbation of BPSD was 34.2% in total. In univariate analysis, the incidence was significantly higher (P < 0.005) in group B for the age, history of dementia and serum albumin level items. In multivariate analysis, history of dementia, serum albumin level and peripheral lymphocyte count (odds ratio 3.55, 0.17, 1.00, respectively) were identified as independent predictive factors. In the subanalysis, the incidence was 91.3% in the group with a history of dementia, serum albumin level <3.7 g/dL and peripheral lymphocyte count < 1200/μL.ConclusionsHistory of dementia, a low serum albumin level and low peripheral lymphocyte count were found to be useful factors for predicting the onset of perioperative delirium and acute exacerbation of BPSD. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 821–828.
Mortality in Brazilian community‐dwelling older adults: 7 years of follow up in primary care
Authors: Ferreira Talita Cristina Barbosa Rezende , Coimbra Arlete Maria Valente , Falsarella Glaucia Regina , Costallat Lilian Tereza Lavras , Coimbra Ibsen Bellini 
Published: August 2015

AimTo describe the main causes and factors associated with mortality in community‐dwelling older adults in a county where the public health system covers most of the population.MethodsWe analyzed data from an existing cross‐sectional study of 2209 participants (age ≥60 years) in a city in southeast Brazil where 92% of the population is served by a public system of primary care. Over a period of 7 years, 386 participants died and were included in the sample. We assessed the impacts that dependence on others for basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, Geriatric Depression Scale scores, and health history have on mortality.ResultsThe participants' mean age was 75.2 years (SD 8.2); 51.7% of the participants were women, and 51.3% had depressive symptoms. The main causes of death were circulatory diseases (40.3%), cancer (19.8%) and respiratory diseases (13.5%). Multivariate analysis showed that, taken together, the use of more than four medications per day, smoking, lower income, older age and dependence on others for a greater number of instrumental activities of daily living predicted death in this population.ConclusionsUnderstanding the factors that are associated with mortality can facilitate understanding, and aid in developing policies regarding primary care for the elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 804–809.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with end‐stage kidney disease on hemodialysis
Authors: Plesner Louis L. , Warming Peder E. , Nielsen Ture L. , Dalsgaard Morten , Schou Morten , Høst Ulla , Rydahl Casper , Brandi Lisbet , Køber Lars , Vestbo Jørgen , Iversen Kasper 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in hemodialysis patients with spirometry and to examine the effects of fluid removal by hemodialysis on lung volumes. Patients ≥18 years at two Danish hemodialysis centers were included. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio were measured with spirometry before and after hemodialysis. The diagnosis of COPD was based on both the GOLD criteria and the lower limit of normal criteria. There were 372 patients in treatment at the two centers, 255 patients (69%) completed spirometry before dialysis and 242 of these (65%) repeated the test after. In the initial test, 117 subjects (46%) had airflow limitation indicative of COPD with GOLD criteria and 103 subjects (40.4%) with lower limit of normal criteria; COPD was previously diagnosed in 24 patients (9%). Mean FVC and FEV1 decreased mildly after dialysis (FVC: 2.84 to 2.79 L, P < 0.01. FEV1: 1.97 to 1.93 L, P < 0.01) Hemodialysis did not affect the FEV1/FVC ratio or number of subjects with airflow limitation indicative of COPD (113 vs. 120, P = 0.324; n = 242). COPD is a frequent and underdiagnosed comorbidity in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Spirometry should be considered in all patients on dialysis in order to address dyspnea adequately. Hemodialysis induced a small fall in mean FEV1 and FVC, which was more pronounced in patients with little or no fluid removal, but the FEV1/FVC ratio and the number of subjects with airflow limitation indicative of COPD were not affected by dialysis.
Calculation of the clearance requirements for the development of a hemodialysis‐based wearable artificial kidney
Authors: Kim Dong Ki , Lee Jung Chan , Lee Hajeong , Joo Kwon Wook , Oh Kook‐Hwan , Kim Yon Su , Yoon Hyung‐Jin , Kim Hee Chan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWearable artificial kidney (WAK) has been considered an alternative to standard hemodialysis (HD) for many years. Although various novel WAK systems have been recently developed for use in clinical applications, the target performance or standard dose of dialysis has not yet been determined. To calculate the appropriate clearance for a HD‐based WAK system for the treatment of patients with end‐stage renal disease with various dialysis conditions, a classic variable–volume two‐compartment kinetic model was used to simulate an anuric patient with variable target time‐averaged creatinine concentration (TAC), daily water intake volume, daily dialysis pause time, and patient body weight. A 70‐kg anuric patient with a HD‐based WAK system operating for 24 h required dialysis clearances of creatinine of at least 100, 50, and 25 mL/min to achieve TACs of 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/dL, respectively. The daily water intake volume did not affect the clearance required for dialysis under various conditions. As the pause time per day for the dialysis increased, higher dialysis clearances were required to maintain the target TAC. The present study provided theoretical dialysis doses for an HD‐based WAK system to achieve various target TACs through relevant mathematical kinetic modeling. The theoretical results may contribute to the determination of the technical specifications required for the development of a WAK system.
Mediator Variables in Headache Research: Methodological Critique and Exemplar Using Self‐Efficacy as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Headache Severity and Disability
Authors: Peck Kelly R. , Smitherman Todd A. 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundDespite advances in headache medicine, there remains little research on process‐related variables that mediate relations between headache and outcomes, as well as limited dissemination of optimal statistical methodology for conducting mediation analyses. The present paper thus aims to promote and demonstrate a contemporary approach to mediation analysis as applied to headache.MethodsAn overview of a contemporary path‐analytic approach to mediation analysis is presented, with an empirical exemplar for illustrative purposes. In the exemplar, headache management self‐efficacy (HMSE) was proposed as a mediator between headache severity and disability. The sample included 907 young adults (M age = 19.03 [SD = 2.26]; 70.8% female) with primary headache. Direct and indirect effects of headache severity on headache disability through HMSE were assessed using the espoused methods.ResultsPain severity was positively associated with headache disability (β = 2.91, 95% confidence interval [CI; 2.62, 3.19]) and negatively associated with HMSE (β = −3.50, 95% CI [−4.24, −2.76]); HMSE was negatively associated with headache disability (β = 0.07, 95% CI [−0.09, −0.04]). A positive indirect effect of pain severity on disability through HMSE was identified (point estimate = 0.24, 95% CI [0.14, 0.34]); thus, self‐efficacy mediated the association between pain severity and disability. The proposed mediation model accounted for 38% of total variance in disability (P < .001).ConclusionsThere is a need for theory‐driven and statistically rigorous mediation analyses within the headache literature. In one exemplar application, self‐efficacy partially accounted for the disability resulting from headache. We advocate for increased attention to intervening variables in headache via dissemination of contemporary mediation analyses.
Selective fractionation of cholesterol from whole milk powder: optimisation of supercritical process conditions
Authors: Chitra Jayakumar , Deb Shyamali , Mishra Hari N. 
Published: August 2015

SummarySupercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) of cholesterol from whole milk powder (WMP) was investigated in this study. The combined effects of temperature (40–80 °C) and pressure (150–250 bar) on the efficacy of cholesterol extraction (mg 100 g−1), modifications in the fat content (FC) (%) and solubility index (SI) (%) of WMP were studied and optimised by the application of response surface methodology (RSM). Variations in the free fatty acids (FFAs) (mg oleic acid per 100 g of milk fat) and lightness value (L*) were also investigated after SCFE process. About 55.8% reduction in cholesterol was achieved at the optimised condition of 68 °C, 207 bar with 40 min static time and 2 h dynamic time at flow rate of 6 L min−1. Extraction at the optimised conditions maximised the yield of cholesterol while retaining the FC, SI, FFA and L* at moderate limits of 23.7%, 85.1%, 7.7 mg per 100 g milk fat and 95.4, respectively.