bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceived information after surgery for colorectal cancer – an explorative study
Authors: Lithner M. , Johansson J. , Andersson E. , Jakobsson U. , Palmquist I. , Klefsgard R. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim  With fast track surgery and shorter hospital stay, discharge from hospital after cancer surgery is becoming more challenging for the individual patient. The aim of this study was to explore how patients perceive information after surgery for colorectal cancer, what their information needs are and to determine factors affecting received information.Method  A hundred patients filled in the questionnaires QLQ‐C30, CR38 and INFO25 created by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) instrument and the SOC (sense of coherence) instrument and provided written comments within the first 2 weeks after discharge following surgery for colorectal cancer. The questionnaires were analysed using hierarchical cluster analysis and a multiple linear regression analysis. The written comments were analysed using content analysis.Results  In all, 49% of the patients expressed a need for more information. In the written comments they specified these areas of information: they lacked information concerning their surgery, how to handle symptoms and problems at home, someone to contact after discharge and prognostic information about their future. Patients reported most received information in areas of medical tests and disease but less on other services and support in outpatient care. The variation in INFO25 was best explained by gender (P = 0.045) and preoperative health status (American Society of Anesthesiologists score 3, P = 0.022).Conclusion  The results from this study indicate that women and patients with a poorer preoperative health status scored less on information received and would need more time and support to prepare for discharge. The patients expressed a desire for more information about the surgery, how to handle symptoms at home and prognostic information about their future.
Randomized sham‐controlled trial of acupuncture for postoperative pain control after stapled haemorrhoidopexy
Authors: Langenbach M. R. , Aydemir‐Dogruyol K. , Issel R. , Sauerland S. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim  Haemorrhoidectomy usually causes moderate to strong postoperative pain. Chinese studies have found that acupuncture may have an analgesic effect in posthaemorrhoidectomy patients. This is the first Western study aiming assess the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct analgesic therapy after stapled haemorrhoidopexy.Method  In a randomized controlled trial, 50 patients were allocated to three groups. Conventional drug therapy (oral diclofenac and metamizol, local lidocaine) served as baseline analgesia. In the control group (n = 17) only this regimen was used. In addition to baseline analgesia, 17 patients received verum acupuncture. Sham acupuncture was performed on 16 patients. Being the primary outcome measure, pain was measured twice daily using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and compared statistically by repeated‐measures analysis of variance. The study was registered (DRKS00003116).Results  After verum acupuncture, pain intensity was not significantly lower when compared with conventional analgesia (primary hypothesis, P = 0.057), but was when compared to sham acupuncture (P = 0.007). In the afternoon of postoperative day 1, for example, NRS was 2.7 (SD 1.5) in the verum group, but 4.0 (1.0) in the sham group and 4.1 (1.9) under conventional analgesia. Furthermore, significantly fewer rescue analgesics were necessary if verum acupuncture was applied. Cardiovascular parameters were stable in all three groups, and no complications were recorded.Conclusions  In posthaemorrhoidectomy patients, acupuncture appears to be an effective adjunct to conventional analgesia. Further studies are necessary to confirm these observations and to refine the acupuncture technique.
Laparoscopic vs open resection for rectal cancer: a meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Trastulli S. , Cirocchi R. , Listorti C. , Cavaliere D. , Avenia N. , Gullà N. , Giustozzi G. , Sciannameo F. , Noya G. , Boselli C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim  Laparoscopic and open rectal resection for cancer were compared by analysing a total of 26 end points which included intraoperative and postoperative recovery, short‐term morbidity and mortality, late morbidity and long‐term oncological outcomes.Method  We searched for published randomized clinical trials, presenting a comparison between laparoscopic and open rectal resection for cancer using the following electronic databases: PubMed, OVID, Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EBM Reviews, CINAHL and EMBASE.Results  Nine randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included in the meta‐analysis incorporating a total of 1544 patients, having laparoscopic (N = 841) and open rectal resection (N = 703) for cancer. Laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer was associated with a statistically significant reduction in intraoperative blood loss and in the number of blood transfusions, earlier resuming solid diet, return of bowel function and a shorter duration of hospital stay. We also found a significant advantage for laparoscopy in the reduction of post‐operative abdominal bleeding, late intestinal adhesion obstruction and late morbidity. No differences were found in terms of intra‐operative and late oncological outcomes.Conclusion  The meta‐analysis indicates that laparoscopy benefits patients with shorter hospital stay, earlier return of bowel function, reduced blood loss and number of blood transfusions and lower rates of abdominal postoperative bleeding, late intestinal adhesion obstruction and other late morbidities.
Habitat type mediates equilibrium with climatic conditions in the distribution of Iberian diving beetles
Authors: Sánchez‐Fernández David , Lobo Jorge M. , Millán Andrés , Ribera Ignacio 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim The contrasting habitat permanence over geological time‐scales of lotic and lentic habitats may impose different constraints on the dispersal ability of their macroinvertebrate populations, and ultimately on the degree of equilibrium with current climate. We aim to test for differences between species typical of either habitat type in their potential versus realized distributions as a surrogate measure of degree of climate equilibrium, both in refuges and more recently deglaciated areas.Location Western Europe.Methods We focus on 99 Iberian diving beetles (family Dytiscidae). A multidimensional envelope procedure was used to estimate their potential distributions, which were projected for different spatial scales. At the continental scale we calculated the percentage of countries with climatically suitable conditions for each species over those actually occupied (range filling). At the regional scale, we estimated realized distributions using: (1) convex hull polygons for Sweden and the Iberian Peninsula; and (2) generalized linear models for the Iberian Peninsula.Results In the Iberian Peninsula, differences in the degree of equilibrium with climatic conditions between lotic and lentic species were few, if any. However, at the continental scale we found significant differences, with lentic species closer to equilibrium than lotic species. In the recently deglaciated area (Sweden) the subset of species with ranges wide enough to encompass Iberia and Scandinavia were mostly lentic, and all were closer to climatic equilibrium without significant differences between habitat types.Main conclusions Our results show that, at continental scales, climate equilibrium is not concordant between the habitat types across western Europe. We hypothesize that: (1) the differences between refuge areas in dispersal ability are erased probably due to long‐term climatic stability, allowing enough time to reach equilibrium, and (2) the species with wide geographical ranges able to recolonize recently deglaciated areas should have the highest dispersal abilities, and are closer to climatic equilibrium.
Reconstructing spatial vulnerability to forest loss by fire in pre‐historic New Zealand
Authors: Perry George L. W. , Wilmshurst Janet M. , McGlone Matt S. , Napier Aaron 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  Despite small and transient populations, early Māori transformed large areas of New Zealand's forest landscapes. We sought to isolate the biophysical predictors that explain forest loss in the pre‐historic (i.e. pre‐European) period in New Zealand.Location  New Zealand.Methods  We used resampled boosted regression trees to isolate the key predictors of forest loss from a suite of 19 topographic, climatic, soil‐related and archaeological predictors at a 1‐km spatial resolution across New Zealand.Results  The key predictors of fire‐driven forest loss during New Zealand's pre‐history relate to moisture and elevation gradients, with sites characterized by low moisture levels and gentle slopes being most vulnerable. Proxies for human activity were important in the North Island, where Māori population densities were higher, but not the South Island. The predicted pattern of forest loss and its relationship with biophysical variables suggest that early Māori neither deliberately protected fire‐prone regions nor systematically burnt less fire‐prone ones.Main conclusions  Before Māori settlement of New Zealand fire was naturally rare, despite biophysical conditions being conducive to fire spread. The introduction of an ignition source by humans made widespread forest loss inevitable, even in the absence of sustained and deliberate use of fire. Rapid forest loss at the time of human settlement is recurrent across eastern Polynesia, so understanding this dynamic in New Zealand has implications for the region as a whole.
Predictable changes in aboveground allometry of trees along gradients of temperature, aridity and competition
Authors: Lines Emily R. , Zavala Miguel A. , Purves Drew W. , Coomes David A. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  Trees are often observed to get shorter and more narrowly crowned in dry regions and at high elevations. We explore how this pattern is driven by two opposing factors: competition for light makes it advantageous to extend branches to their biomechanical limit, whereas under cold or arid conditions it is advantageous to have shorter branches, thereby reducing the length of the hydraulic transport system and embolism risk. Using data from 700,000 trees of 26 species, we quantify how environmental conditions influence the scaling of height and crown diameter (CD) with stem diameter (d.b.h.). We compare our predictions with those of metabolic scaling theory (MST), which suggests that allometry is invariant of environment.Location  48,000 inventory plots that systematically sample mainland Spain, a region in which climate varies strongly.Methods  We fit d.b.h.–height and d.b.h.–CD functions using Bayesian methods, allowing comparison of within‐ and across‐species trends in allometry along gradients of temperature, precipitation, drought and competition for light (i.e. the basal area of taller trees).Results  The competitive environment had a strong influence on aboveground allometry, but all trees were far shorter than predicted by biomechanical models, suggesting that factors other than biomechanics are important. Species that dominate in arid and cold habitats were much shorter (for a given diameter) than those from benign conditions; but within‐species heights did not vary strongly across climatic gradients.Main conclusions  Our results do not support the MST prediction that d.b.h.–height and d.b.h.–CD allometries are invariant, or that biomechanical constraints determine height allometry. Rather, we highlight the role of hydraulic limitations in this region. The fact that intra‐specific adjustment in d.b.h.–CD – height allometry along environmental gradients was far weaker than across‐species changes may indicate genetic constraints on allometry which might contribute to niche differentiation among species.
Central European plant species from more productive habitats are more invasive at a global scale
Authors: Dostál Petr , Dawson Wayne , van Kleunen Mark , Keser Lidewij H. , Fischer Markus 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  Accumulating evidence indicates that species may be pre‐adapted for invasion success in new ranges. In the light of increasing global nutrient accumulation, an important candidate pre‐adaptation for invasiveness is the ability to grow in nutrient‐rich habitats. Therefore we tested whether globally invasive species originating from Central Europe have come from more productive rather than less productive habitats. A further important candidate pre‐adaptation for invasiveness is large niche width. Therefore, we also tested whether species able to grow across habitats with a wider range of productivity are more invasive.Location  Global with respect to invasiveness, and Central European with respect to origin of study species.Methods  We examined whether average habitat productivity and its width across habitats are significant predictors of the success of Central European species as aliens and as weeds elsewhere in the world based on data in the Global Compendium of Weeds. The two habitat productivity measures were derived from nutrient indicator values (after Ellenberg) of accompanying species present in vegetation records of the comprehensive Czech National Phytosociological Database. In the analyses, we accounted for phylogenetic relatedness among species and for size of the native distribution ranges.Results  Species from more productive habitats and with a wider native habitat‐productivity niche in Central Europe have higher alien success elsewhere in the world. Weediness of species increased with mean habitat productivity. Niche width was also an important determinant of weediness for species with their main occurrence in nutrient‐poor habitats, but not for those from nutrient‐rich habitats.Main conclusions  Our results indicate that Central European plant species from productive habitats and those species from nutrient‐poor habitat with wide productivity‐niche are pre‐adapted to become invasive. These results suggest that the world‐wide invasion success of many Central European species is likely to have been promoted by the global increase of resource‐rich habitats.
The shape of a species' spatial abundance distribution
Authors: Conlisk John , Conlisk Erin , Kassim Abd. Rahman , Billick Ian , Harte John 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  The shape of a species' spatial abundance distribution may change with spatial scale. We predict that the shape will typically change from strictly downward‐sloping (falling) to humped (rising then falling) as the spatial scale increases. The prediction, motivated in part by central limit reasoning, is intended for common or abundant species over reasonably homogeneous habitats. We test the prediction using data on 800+ tree species, one ant species, and 14 bird species.Location  Tree data are for Malaysia and Central America; ant and bird data are for North America.Methods  For each species, histograms and relative mode shape statistics are compared across multiple spatial scales.Results  The predicted pattern is broadly confirmed.Main conclusions  The emerging hump pattern is a candidate for listing among macroecological regularities. In appropriate contexts, spatial theories might be asked to predict the pattern.
The relationship between species replacement, dissimilarity derived from nestedness, and nestedness
Authors: Baselga Andrés 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim  Beta diversity can be partitioned into two components: dissimilarity due to species replacement and dissimilarity due to nestedness (Baselga, 2010, Global Ecology and Biogeography, 19, 134–143). Several contributions have challenged this approach or proposed alternative frameworks. Here, I review the concepts and methods used in these recent contributions, with the aim of clarifying: (1) the rationale behind the partitioning of beta diversity into species replacement and nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity, (2) how, based on this rationale, numerators and denominators of indices have to match, and (3) how nestedness and nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity are related but different concepts.Innovation  The rationale behind measures of species replacement (turnover) dictates that the number of species that are replaced between sites (numerator of the index) has to be relativized with respect to the total number of species that could potentially be replaced (denominator). However, a recently proposed partition of Jaccard dissimilarity fails to do this. In consequence, this partition underestimates the contribution of species replacement and overestimates the contribution of richness differences to total dissimilarity. I show how Jaccard dissimilarity can be partitioned into meaningful turnover and nestedness components, and extend these new indices to multiple‐site situations. Finally the concepts of nestedness and nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity are discussed.Main conclusions  Nestedness should be assessed using consistent measures that depend both on paired overlap and matrix filling, e.g. NODF, whereas beta‐diversity patterns should be examined using measures that allow the total dissimilarity to be separated into the components of dissimilarity due to species replacement and dissimilarity due to nestedness. In the case of multiple‐site dissimilarity patterns, averaged pairwise indices should never be used because the mean of the pairwise values is unable to accurately reflect the multiple‐site attributes of dissimilarity.
The Paradox of In‐Group Love: Differentiating Collective Narcissism Advances Understanding of the Relationship Between In‐Group and Out‐Group Attitudes
Authors: de Zavala Agnieszka Golec , Cichocka Aleksandra , Bilewicz Michał 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectiveThe present studies test the hypothesis that the overlap between collective narcissism and positive in‐group identification conceals the opposite relationships these variables have with out‐group derogation.MethodFive surveys were conducted in different cultural and national contexts, using different samples and different intergroup contexts (Study 1, Polish student sample, N = 85; Study 2, British student sample, N = 81; Study 3, Polish representative sample, N = 979; Study 3, Polish student sample, N = 267 and Study 5, British student sample, N = 241).ResultsThe results of suppression analyses systematically indicate that when the positive relationship between collective narcissism and in‐group positivity is controlled for, the non‐narcissistic in‐group positivity predicts less out‐group negativity, whereas collective narcissism predicts more out‐group derogation.ConclusionsThe results advance our understanding of constructive and destructive forms of in‐group positivity and their different consequences for intergroup attitudes.
Sex Differences in Variability in Personality: A Study in Four Samples
Authors: Borkenau Peter , Hřebíčková Martina , Kuppens Peter , Realo Anu , Allik Jüri 
Published: February 2012

AbstractObjectiveMen vary more than women in cognitive abilities and physical attributes, and we expected that men would vary more in personality too. That this has not been found previously may reflect that (a) personality was measured by self‐reports that confound target sex with informant sex, and (b) men actually vary more but accentuate personality differences less than women.MethodWe analyzed informant reports and self‐reports on the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI‐R or NEO PI‐3) collected for two community and two student samples from four countries: Czech Republic (N = 714; age M = 36.1, SD = 14.1; 58% women), Estonia (N = 1,685; age M = 42.6, SD = 13.4; 58% women), Belgium (N = 345; age M = 18.4, SD = 3.0; 78% women), and Germany (N = 302; age M = 23.4, SD = 2.7; 56% women).ResultsHigher male than female variability was found in each sample for informant reports of Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Men but not women were overrepresented in both tails of the distributions of several personality traits.ConclusionsAccording to liability‐threshold models of mental disorders, this may contribute to men's overrepresentation in some kinds of deviant groups.
Time‐Varying Liquidity Trading, Private Information and Insider Trading
Authors: Lei Qin , Wang Xuewu 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis paper investigates the insider trading before scheduled versus unscheduled corporate announcements to explore how corporate insiders utilise their private information in response to the time‐varying liquidity trading. Using a comprehensive insider trading database, we show that: (1) the insider's propensity to trade increases in the amount of liquidity trading before both the scheduled and unscheduled announcements; (2) insiders buy (sell) more before positive (negative) announcements; and (3) insider purchases are more profitable before unscheduled announcements than before scheduled ones. They suggest that insiders time their trades around scheduled and unscheduled announcements to exploit the varying extent of liquidity trading.
Effect of tranexamic acid on melasma: a clinical trial with histological evaluation
Authors: Na J.I. , Choi S.Y. , Yang S.H. , Choi H.R. , Kang H.Y. , Park K.‐C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Melasma is associated with epidermal hyperpigmentation, weak basement membrane, vascular proliferation and increased numbers of mast cell. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a plasmin inhibitor, is reported to improve melasma when injected locally. However, the effects of oral and topical TXA on melasma have not been well studied and the underlying mechanism remains unclear.Objectives  To elucidate the effects of oral and topical TXA on melasma.Methods  A clinical study was conducted with 25 women for 8 weeks from March to July 2010. Volunteers were instructed to take two TXA tablets three times a day and apply a TXA topical agent twice a day for 8 weeks. Skin pigmentation and erythema was measured using a Mexameter® during each visit and skin biopsies were collected from eight subjects before and 8 weeks after treatment. Fontana‐Masson, anti‐CD31, antitryptase and antitype IV collagen staining was performed.Results  Twenty‐two subjects completed the study and no serious adverse events occurred during the study period. The mean lesional melanin index (MI) scores decreased significantly. Interestingly, the MI scores for the perilesional skin increased. The erythema index scores of lesional and perilesional skin also showed a similar pattern. Histological analysis showed significant reduction of epidermal pigmentation, vessel numbers and mast cell counts. Type IV collagen staining was not observed in all specimens.Conclusion  TXA decreased epidermal pigmentation associated with melasma and also reversed melasma‐related dermal changes, such as vessel number and increased numbers of mast cells.