bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nest attendance and hatchling care in wild American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) in Quintana Roo, Mexico
Authors: Hénaut Yann , Charruau Pierre 
Published: February 2012

AbstractCrocodilians show universal parental care, but few studies concentrate on this behavior in wild crocodiles. We studied nest and hatchling care in genetically pure wild American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) on two Caribbean islands of Mexico. From 2006 to 2009 we made direct observations of crocodile behavior upon discovery of nests and groups of hatchlings in Banco Chinchorro. In 2009, we installed camera traps at 4 nests from the time of their discovery to the hatching of each nest, in Banco Chinchorro and Cozumel Island. Twenty-one other species were observed to visit crocodile nests. No nest predation was observed but nine species represented some danger to nests and/or hatchlings. Females seemed to remain in the nest vicinity during incubation. There was variability in nest visit frequencies and no nest defense toward human intrusion was observed. Visit frequency by other species at nests decreased with increased crocodile visitation. Crocodiles mainly visited nests on darker nights, corresponding to the visits of species representing greater danger for nests. Repair of the nest by females after disturbance was observed for the first time in wild American crocodiles. Crocodile visits were more frequent at the beginning and the end of incubation, which could represent different antipredation strategies. Although adult crocodiles helped during hatching for the emergence of neonates, hatchling care seemed reduced compared to other crocodile species. We provide the first data on nesting behavior of genetically pure American crocodiles in the Yucatan peninsula, which provides a base for future comparisons with Morelet's crocodiles and their hybrids.
Spontaneous neoplasms in zoo mammals, birds, and reptiles in Taiwan – a 10-year survey
Authors: Pang Victor Fei , Chang Pen-Heng , Wang Fun-In , Chin Shih-Chien , Jeng Chian-Ren , Liu Chen-Hsuan , Chu Pei-Yi , Zhuo Yi-Xing 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe characteristics of 163 spontaneous neoplasms diagnosed in 150 necropsied zoo mammals, birds, and reptiles at Taipei Zoo during 1994-2003 were analyzed. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry were employed to classify the tumor types. A total of 2657 necropsied zoo animals, including 1335 mammals, 873 birds and 449 reptiles led to the diagnosis of tumor in 8.1% (108/1335), 4.2% (37/873) and 1.1% (5/449) of cases, respectively. The most predominant type of tumors in mammals was mammary gland tumors (12.0%, 13/108), followed by uterine smooth muscle tumors (10.2%, 11/108), lymphosarcoma (9.3%, 10/108), hepatocellular carcinoma (8.3%, 9/108), and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (6.5%, 7/108). The avian neoplasm with the highest incidence was lymphosarcoma (35.1%, 13/37). Five individual neoplasms were found in different reptile species. The overall incidence of malignant tumors (63.8%, 104/163) was greater than that of benign tumors (36.2%, 59/163). Immunohistochemistry characterization of these tumors revealed a histogenesis which is similar to that seen in domestic animals and humans.
Comment Conversion and the Conflict of Laws in Respect of Spouse Rights to Inheritance in Malaysia
Authors: Kusrin Zuliza Mohd , Muda Mohd Zamro , Laluddin Hayatullah , Mohammad Abdul Basir 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Conversion of either of non-Muslim spouses to Islam has far-reaching legal consequences in matters of the law of personal status in the Malaysian context. This is due to the existence of two different legal systems governing family matters or matters of personal status. Muslims citizens are governed by Islamic family law, whilst non-Muslim citizens are governed by civil law. The existence of dual legal systems, in the case of conversion of either spouse of any civil marriage, leads to a conflict of interest between both parties, for the marriage has to be dissolved according to civil law and the divorce petition has to be applied by the non-Muslim spouse in the civil court. This article attempts to analyze the conflict of laws caused by such conflicts of interest on matters related to the claims of property after the death of either spouse or their conversion. This article focuses mainly on the issues of inheritance and jointly acquired properties.
Significant Decrease of Uncertainties in Sensible Heat Flux Simulation Using Temporally Variable Aerodynamic Roughness in Two Typical Forest Ecosystems of China
Authors: Zhou Yanlian , Ju Weimin , Sun Xiaomin , Wen Xuefa , Guan Dexin 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAerodynamic roughness length zom is an important parameter for reliably simulating surface fluxes. It varies with wind speed, atmospheric stratification, terrain, and other factors. However, it is usually considered a constant. It is known that uncertainties in zom result in latent heat flux (LE) simulation errors, since zom links LE with aerodynamic resistance. The effects of zom on sensible heat flux (SH) simulation are usually neglected because there is no direct link between the two. By comparing SH simulations with three types of zom inputs, it is found that allowing zom temporal variation in an SH simulation model significantly improves agreement between simulated and measured SH and also decreases the sensitivity of the SH model to the heat transfer coefficient Ct, which in turn determines the linkage between zom and thermal roughness length zoh.
Reconciling Simulated and Observed Views of Clouds: MODIS, ISCCP, and the Limits of Instrument Simulators
Authors: Pincus Robert , Platnick Steven , Ackerman Steven A. , Hemler Richard S. , Patrick Hofmann Robert J. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
The properties of clouds that may be observed by satellite instruments, such as optical thickness and cloud-top pressure, are only loosely related to the way clouds are represented in models of the atmosphere. One way to bridge this gap is through “instrument simulators,” diagnostic tools that map the model representation to synthetic observations so that differences can be interpreted as model error. But simulators may themselves be restricted by limited information or by internal assumptions. This paper considers the extent to which instrument simulators are able to capture essential differences between the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), two similar but independent estimates of cloud properties. The authors review the measurements and algorithms underlying these two cloud climatologies, introduce a MODIS simulator, and detail datasets developed for comparison with global models using ISCCP and MODIS simulators. In nature MODIS observes less midlevel cloudiness than ISCCP, consistent with the different methods used to determine cloud-top pressure; aspects of this difference are reproduced by the simulators. Differences in observed distributions of optical thickness, however, are not captured. The largest differences can be traced to different approaches to partly cloudy pixels, which MODIS excludes and ISCCP treats as homogeneous. These cover roughly 15% of the planet and account for most of the optically thinnest clouds. Instrument simulators cannot reproduce these differences because there is no way to synthesize partly cloudy pixels. Nonetheless, MODIS and ISCCP observations are consistent for all but the optically thinnest clouds, and models can be robustly evaluated using instrument simulators by integrating over the robust subset of observations.
Spatial–Intensity Variations in Extreme Precipitation in the Contiguous United States and the Madden–Julian Oscillation
Authors: Jones Charles , Carvalho Leila M. V. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
The spatial–intensity variability of extreme precipitation over the contiguous United States (CONUS) during boreal winter and relationships with the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) are investigated. Daily gridded precipitation is used to define two types of contiguous regions of extreme precipitation (CREPs): the intensity and spatial extent exceeding the 75th and 90th percentiles of frequency distributions. Extreme precipitation occurs twice as frequently when the MJO is active than inactive. Joint probabilities of the fractional area of CONUS sectors when the MJO is active are 2.0–2.5 higher than probabilities during inactive days for both 75th and 90th percentile CREPs (similar for the intensity of CREPs). Probabilities of the fractional area of 75th percentile CREPs when the MJO is active in neutral ENSO are higher than during warm or cold ENSO. Joint probabilities of the fractional area during MJO and warm ENSO are higher than MJO and cold ENSO and statistically significant over southern sectors. Results are similar for joint probabilities of intensity exceedance and MJO activity in warm and cold ENSO phases. Proportions of 75th and 90th percentile CREPs for each sector and phase of the MJO are predominantly large when MJO convective signals are over the central Indian Ocean or western Pacific. Probabilities of the fractional area of 90th percentile CREPs conditioned on MJO phases, however, do not show clear predominance. This indicates that the MJO is not the sole player in the occurrences of CREPs. Last, this study concludes that probabilities of the fractional area and intensity of 75th and 90th percentile CREPs in the CONUS do not depend on the amplitude of the MJO.
Selected sociodemographic factors and related differences in patterns of alcohol use among university students in Slovakia
Authors: Sebena Rene , Orosova Olga , Mikolajczyk Rafael T , van Dijk Jitse P 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Background
Alcohol use and misuse and their relation to sociodemograhic factors are well studied among university students in Western European countries and the USA, but less is known about students in Eastern Europe. The historical past as communistic countries might have affected the social life among these populations, which is again one of the main factors determining the alcohol consumption among university students. The aim of our study was to assess the association of selected sociodemographic factors with different patterns of alcohol use among university students in Slovakia.

Methods
A sample of 813 young adults (mean age 21.1 years, 63.8% females; response rate of 71%) from four universities in Kosice answered questions about their sociodemographic background and about alcohol use. To obtain a detailed picture of different aspects, alcohol use was measured by four variables: frequency of alcohol use, heavy episodic drinking, frequency of drunkenness and problem drinking. Four separate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between sociodemographic and alcohol-related variables. To assess the potentially different effects in both genders, all two-way interactions with gender were tested.

Results
While 41% of the students drank alcohol once a week or more often, 77% reported heavy episodic drinking and 49% had been drunk more than once in the last month. Problem drinking existed in 23.3% of the sample. Gender was consistently associated with all four alcohol-related variables, with males being at higher risk. A higher study year was associated only with lower levels of heavy episodic drinking, but displayed no association with the other studied variables. Living with parents during the semester was consistently associated with less frequent heavy episodic drinking, drunkenness episodes, and problem drinking while having an intimate relationship was associated with less problem drinking only.

Conclusions
Our findings for the university students from Slovakia are in line with previous studies in Western Europe. Additionally, it appears that frequent alcohol use, excessive alcohol use (heavy episodic drinking and drunkenness) and problem drinking among university students represent a continuum and are influenced by the same sociodemographic factors.
Postpartum nurses' perceptions of barriers to screening for intimate partner violence: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Guillery Margaret E , Benzies Karen M , Mannion Cynthia , Evans Sheila 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Background
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a human rights violation that is pervasive worldwide, and is particularly critical for women during the reproductive period. IPV includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Nurses on in-patient postpartum units are well-positioned to screen women for IPV, yet low screening rates suggest that barriers to screening exist. The purpose of this study was to (a) identify the frequency of screening for IPV, (b) the most important barriers to screening, (c) the relationship between the barriers to screening and the frequency of screening for types of abuse, and (d) to identify other factors that contribute to the frequency of screening for IPV.

Methods
In 2008, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 96 nurses from postpartum inpatient units in three Canadian urban hospitals. The survey included the Barriers to Abuse Assessment Tool (BAAT), adapted for postpartum nurses (PPN). Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were used to predict barriers to screening for each type of IPV.

Results
The frequency of screening varied by the type of abuse with highest screening rates found for physical and emotional abuse. According to the BAAT-PPN, lack of knowledge was the most important barrier to screening. The BAAT-PPN total score was negatively correlated with screening for physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Using OLS regression models and after controlling for demographic characteristics, the BAAT-PPN explained 14%, 12%, and 11% of the variance in screening for physical, sexual and emotional abuse, respectively. Fluency in the language of the patient was negatively correlated with screening for each type of abuse. When added as Step 3 to OLS regression models, language fluency was associated with an additional decrease in the likelihood of screening for physical (beta coefficient = -.38, P < .001), sexual (beta coefficient = -.24, P = .05), and emotional abuse (beta coefficient = -.48, P < .001) and increased the variance explained by the model to 25%, 17%, and 31%, respectively.

Conclusions
Our findings support an inverse relationship between rates of screening for IPV and nurses' perceptions of barriers. Barriers to screening for IPV, particularly related to knowledge and language fluency, need to be addressed to increase rates of screening on postpartum units.
Nurse staffing, direct nursing care hours and patient mortality in Taiwan: the longitudinal analysis of hospital nurse staffing and patient outcome study
Authors: Liang Yia-Wun , Chen Wen-Yi , Lee Jwo-Leun , Huang Li-Chi 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Background
Studies over the past decades have shown an association between nurse staffing and patient outcomes, however, most of these studies were conducted in the West. Accordingly, the purpose of this study aimed to provide an overview of the research/evidence base which has clarified the relationship between nurse staffing and patient mortality of acute care hospital wards under a universal health insurance system and attempted to provide explanations for some of the phenomena that are unique in Taiwan.

Methods
Through stratified random sampling, a total of 108 wards selected from 32 hospitals in Taiwan were collected over a consecutive seven month period. The mixed effect logit model was used to explore the relationship between nurse staffing and patient mortality.

Results
The medians of direct-nursing-care-hour, and nurse manpower were 2.52 h, and 378 persons, respectively. The OR for death between the long direct-nursing-care-hour (> median) group and the short direct-nursing-care-hour (≦median) group was 0.393 (95% CI = [0.245, 0.617]). The OR for death between the high (> median) and the low (≦median) nurse manpower groups was 0.589 (95% CI = [0.381, 0.911]).

Conclusions
Findings from this study demonstrate an association of nurse staffing and patient mortality and are consistent with findings from similar studies. These findings have policy implications for strengthening the nursing profession, nurse staffing, and the hospital quality associated with nursing. Additional research is necessary to demonstrate adequate nurse staffing ratios of different wards in Taiwan.
miR-10a is aberrantly overexpressed in Nucleophosmin1 mutated acute myeloid leukaemia and its suppression induces cell death
Authors: Bryant Adam , Palma Catalina A , Jayaswal Vivek , Yang Yee Wa , Lutherborrow Mark , Ma David DF 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackgroundAcute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) mutation is a major subtype of AML. TheNPM1mutation induces a myeloproliferative disorder, but evidence indicates that other insults are necessary for the development of AML. We utilised microRNA microarrays and functional assays to determine if microRNA dysregulation could be involved in the pathogenesis of inNPM1mutated (NPM1mut)-AML.ResultsWe used a stringent locked nucleic acid (LNA) based microRNA microarray platform to profile bone marrow samples of patients with normal karyotype AML. A panel of five microRNAs dichotomised AML patients according to theirNPM1mutational status. miR-10a, let-7b and let-7c were significantly over-expressed, while miR-130a and miR-335 were under-expressed inNPM1mut-AML when compared toNPM1wildtype-AML. Of these, miR-10a is the most differentially expressed inNPM1mut-AML versusNPM1wildtype-AML (> 10 fold higher as confirmed by qRT-PCR). To investigate the functions of miR-10a, the OCI-AML3 cell line was utilised, which is the only commercially available cell line bearingNPM1mut. OCI-AML3 cells were firstly demonstrated to have a similarly high miR-10a expression to primaryNPM1mut-AML patient samples. Inhibition of miR-10a expression by miRCURY LNA Inhibitors (Exiqon) in these cells resulted in increased cell death as assessed by MTS, cell cycle and Annexin-V assays and reduced clonogenic capacity, indicative of an involvement in leukaemic cell survival.In silicofiltering of bioinformatically predicted targets of miR-10a identified a number of potential mRNA targets with annotated functions in haematopoiesis, cell growth and apoptosis. Lucferase reporter assays confirmed a number of these putative tumorogenic genes that are miR-10a suppressible includingKLF4andRB1CC1. This provides a potential mechanism for the pathogenic role of miR-10a inNPM1mut-AML.ConclusionsThis study provides, for the first time,in vitroevidence of a pro-survival role of miR-10a inNPM1mut-AML, that it may contribute to the pathogenesis ofNPM1mut-AML and identifies putative tumorogenic targets.
Prognostic criteria in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a single center experience retrospective analysis
Authors: Tanimine Naoki , Tanabe Kazuaki , Suzuki Takahisa , Tokumoto Noriaki , Ohdan Hideki 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Background
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are morphologically and clinically heterogeneous tumors, and their biological behavior is difficult to predict, ranging from clinically benign to malignant. The aim of our study was to reanalyze the value of the commonly used prognostic criteria and recently reported nomogram in predicting disease recurrence in patients with primary resectable GISTs.

Methods
The clinicopathological features of 60 patients with GISTs who underwent surgical resection between 1998 and 2010 at Hiroshima University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were classified according to the National Institutes of Health and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria, and nomogram predictions were performed. The relationship between patient and tumor characteristics was tested by univariate analysis using the log-rank test. Furthermore, we assessed nomogram performance with the concordance index and calibration.

Results
The median patient follow-up was 4.1 years, with 6 of 60 patients experiencing recurrence. Recurrence was observed only in the high-risk group. The recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 93.0 and 89.9% after 2 and 5 years, respectively. The concordance indices of the nomogram prediction were 0.96 and 0.65 for all patients and the high-risk subgroup, respectively. Calibration of the nomogram-predicted RFS tended to overestimate the recurrence risk relative to the actual RFS.

Conclusions
Although the commonly used criteria provide an excellent estimation of tumor behavior, they are limited by prognostic heterogeneity. The predictive nomogram is a beneficial scoring system but not a direct RFS predictor. We need more consideration for small GISTs, particularly those less than 3 cm in diameter, and small GISTs should be analyzed as a subset with potentiality different biological behavior.
Solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst in the tibia treated with simple curettage without bone graft: a case report
Authors: Takechi Rumi , Yanagawa Takashi , Shinozaki Tetsuya , Fukuda Toshio , Takagishi Kenji 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe solid variant of aneurysmal bone cyst (solid ABC) is rarely encountered in long bones and appropriate treatment for this disease remains unclear. We experienced a 13-year-old boy suffering from pain in his left knee caused by solid ABC. Simple curettage of the bone lesion without any adjuvant therapy and a bone graft gave immediate pain relief. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed typical features of solid ABC, and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression was confirmed in giant cells with a background of spindle cells by immunohistochemistry. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that soft tissue edema surrounding the lesion was improved two months after surgery and there was no indication of recurrence two years after surgery.If COX-2 secreted from the tumor induces soft tissue edema, simple curettage of the bone lesion seems to be a reasonable treatment for solid ABC and is able to minimize invasive treatment of the patients.