bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal requirements for egg development of two endemic Wiseana pest species (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) of economic importance
Authors: Atijegbe Sylvester R. , Mansfield Sarah , Ferguson Colin M. , Rostás Michael , Worner Susan P. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSeveral endemic hepialid species in the genus Wiseana have become serious pests in New Zealand. Two species, in particular, reach high numbers, causing significant economic damage to pasture. Key developmental parameters for egg hatch for both species are needed along with monitoring and weather data to estimate the optimal time to apply control measures to the vulnerable early instar larvae. In this study, thermal requirements for the egg stage of Wiseana copularis and W. cervinata were determined to provide the basis of a prototype phenology model designed to improve the timing of application, therefore, the efficacy of an insect growth regulator, diflubenzuron, against early instar larvae. The standard linear regression method and the Ikemoto and Takai method of insect development were compared for the goodness of fit to the egg‐stage development of W. copularis and W. cervinata at constant temperatures to determine a developmental lower threshold (T0) and degree day (DD) requirement for the egg to the larval stage for each species. The Ikemoto and Takai method gave the highest estimate of T0 for W. copularis at 7.9°C compared with 6.4°C for the standard regression method. For W. cervinata, the estimates ranged from 6.6°C (Ikemoto and Takai method) to 4.1°C (standard regression method). Of the two methods, the Ikemoto and Takai method had the better fit and lowest standard error for the parameters of interest. Thus, the Ikemoto and Takai model was chosen to estimate the critical parameters, T0 and the requirement for egg‐larval development of W. copularis (7.9°C, 185 DD) and W. cervinata (6.6°C, 177 DD).
Effect of swallowing training combined with nutritional intervention on the nutritional status and quality of life of laryngeal cancer patients with dysphagia after operation and radiotherapy
Authors: Zhu Xuewei , Liu Dahai , Zong Minru , Wang Jianfeng 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundDysphagia is a common complication in patients with laryngeal cancer after surgery and radiotherapy.ObjectivesTo explore the effect of swallowing training administered in combination with nutritional intervention on the nutritional status and quality of life of laryngeal cancer patients with dysphagia after surgery and radiotherapy.MethodsSixty‐six patients with laryngeal cancer who developed dysphagia were randomly divided into control group and intervention group (n = 33 in each group). Patients in both groups received total laryngectomy and prophylactic radiotherapy and were provided routine health counseling and swallowing training. Patients in the intervention group were additionally provided with nutritional intervention. All patients were evaluated using video fluoroscopic swallowing examination (VFSE), Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment on nutritional status (PG‐SGA) score, and Quality of Life Questionnaire‐core 30 (QLQ‐c30) score immediately after radiotherapy and 3 months later.ResultsPrior to swallowing training, there was no significant between‐group difference with respect to VFSE evaluation, PG‐SGA score, or QLQ‐c30 score. Both groups showed improvement in these measures at 3 months after radiotherapy; however, the improvement in the intervention group was significantly better than that in the control group.ConclusionsSwallowing training combined with nutritional intervention can improve swallowing function, nutritional status and the quality of life of laryngeal cancer patients with dysphagia after operation and radiotherapy.
Calonectria in the age of genes and genomes: Towards understanding an important but relatively unknown group of pathogens
Authors: Li JieQiong , Wingfield Michael J. , Barnes Irene , Chen ShuaiFei 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe genus Calonectria includes many aggressive plant pathogens causing diseases on various agricultural crops as well as forestry and ornamental tree species. Some species have been accidentally introduced into new environments via international trade of putatively asymptomatic plant germplasm or contaminated soil, resulting in significant economic losses. This review provides an overview of the taxonomy, population biology, and pathology of Calonectria species, specifically emerging from contemporary studies that have relied on DNA‐based technologies. The growing importance of genomics in future research is highlighted. A life cycle is proposed for Calonectria species, aimed at improving our ability to manage diseases caused by these pathogens.
Clinical Outcome of Free Vascularized Fibula Graft for Nonunion of Garden IV Femoral Neck Fracture of 13 Years Duration: A Case Report
Authors: Zhang Yangming , Liu Yongguang , Yan Qulun , Xiang Zhou 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundFemoral neck fractures in young patients are mostly caused by high‐energy trauma and demonstrate more displacement and vertical fracture surfaces, which increase nonunion and osteonecrosis risks. Free vascularized fibula graft (FVFG) is effective in treating old femoral neck fractures and nonunion; however, available data are limited to patients within 2 years after injury or revision surgery. We present the case of a patient who was diagnosed with femoral neck fracture at the age 9 and treated with FVFG 13 years later.Case presentationA 9‐year‐old Asian girl who experienced left hip pain after an injury was diagnosed with Garden IV left femoral neck fracture, which was treated through manipulation reduction and fixed with splints. At age 16, the pain worsened after another injury and was considered to be in the physical development stage. She refused surgical treatment; hence, the fracture was fixed externally with splints. At age 22, she was hospitalized owing to a 12‐day left hip pain with restricted movement caused by a fall. She was diagnosed with old Garden IV femoral neck fracture nonunion and treated with FVFG. Seven years postoperatively, imaging showed that the left femoral neck was internally fixed, the fracture had healed, and the Harris score was 90 points. The 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey responses revealed that the patient's physiological functioning, emotional well‐being, energy, and mental health were normal. She achieved satisfactory functional results and resumed her normal daily life.ConclusionFVFG could provide satisfactory outcomes for long‐term old femoral neck fractures.
Simple: Statistical Inference on Membership Profiles in Large Networks
Authors: Fan Jianqing , Fan Yingying , Han Xiao , Lv Jinchi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNetwork data are prevalent in many contemporary big data applications in which a common interest is to unveil important latent links between different pairs of nodes. Yet a simple fundamental question of how to precisely quantify the statistical uncertainty associated with the identification of latent links still remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we propose the method of statistical inference on membership profiles in large networks (SIMPLE) in the setting of degree-corrected mixed membership model, where the null hypothesis assumes that the pair of nodes share the same profile of community memberships. In the simpler case of no degree heterogeneity, the model reduces to the mixed membership model for which an alternative more robust test is also proposed. Both tests are of the Hotelling-type statistics based on the rows of empirical eigenvectors or their ratios, whose asymptotic covariance matrices are very challenging to derive and estimate. Nevertheless, their analytical expressions are unveiled and the unknown covariance matrices are consistently estimated. Under some mild regularity conditions, we establish the exact limiting distributions of the two forms of SIMPLE test statistics under the null hypothesis and contiguous alternative hypothesis. They are the chi-square distributions and the noncentral chi-square distributions, respectively, with degrees of freedom depending on whether the degrees are corrected or not. We also address the important issue of estimating the unknown number of communities and establish the asymptotic properties of the associated test statistics. The advantages and practical utility of our new procedures in terms of both size and power are demonstrated through several simulation examples and real network applications.
Bromus tectorum responses to intergenerational drought: Implications for evolvability and selection under climate warming
Authors: Moler Ehren R. V. , Zorio Stephanie D. , Aho Ken 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBromus tectorum poses a substantial threat to sagebrush steppe in the North American intermountain west. Responses of B. tectorum to increasing aridity across the western USA may influence the species’ ability to invade new habitats and further dominate colonised regions. We investigated the phenotypic plasticity of stomatal density, root and shoot length, and root:shoot length ratio across replicates of 23 genotypes subjected to two generations of high and low watering regimes. Shoot lengths greatly increased, root lengths increased and root:shoot ratios decreased with higher levels of progeny (F1) watering. We did not detect explicit transgenerational parental (P) effects on the reaction norms of any trait. Stomatal density did not vary consistently with F1 watering, suggesting a diversified bet‐hedging strategy. As a consequence, heritability for stomatal density did not differ significantly from zero, indicating that evolvability was extremely low. Highest overall potentials for phenotypic selection (the ratio of among‐to‐within genotype trait variances) occurred for shoot length, followed by root length, stomatal density and root:shoot length ratio. Potentials for phenotypic selection were variable among traits and watering treatments. Highest potentials for stomatal density occurred in well‐watered progeny of water‐starved parent plants (i.e. plants from the combined low P H2O, high F1 H2O regime), whereas the highest potentials for phenotypic selection for shoot length occurred for the combined high P H2O, high F1 H2O treatment. We conclude that B. tectorum expresses complex phenotypic trade‐offs with successive exposure to drought, and that phenotypic responses for some traits may allow the species to expand its fundamental niche in response to climate change.
Prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: the Vientiane Eye Study
Authors: Tan Yiran , Guo Brad , Nygaard Stephen , Carillo Cesar , Pham Huy-Dat , Nouansavanh Kham Od , Souksamone Kitar , Casson Robert J 
Published: March 2022

AimsTo determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness in Vientiane Province, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).MethodsWe conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 1264 participants aged 40 years and older from urban and rural areas of Vientiane Province. The ophthalmic examination included presenting and pinhole Snellen visual acuity (VA) with an illiterate E chart, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment and dilated stereoscopic fundus examination. Visual impairment and blindness were defined by both presenting and pinhole VA based on the better eye according to WHO criteria: VA worse than 6/12 to 6/18 for mild impairment, VA worse than 6/18 to 6/60 for moderate impairment, VA worse than 6/60 to 3/60 for severe impairment and VA worse than 3/60 for blindness.ResultsComprehensive ophthalmic examinations were performed on 1264 participants (77.8% participation rate). Population-weighted prevalence of presenting bilateral blindness was 1.4% (95% CI 0.8 to 2.0) and bilateral visual impairment was 22.4% (95% CI 14.7 to 30.1). After pinhole correction, the corresponding prevalence of blindness was 1.3% (95% CI 0.8 to 2.0) and that of visual impairment was 12.6% (95% CI 8.2 to 16.9). Cataract was the leading cause of presenting bilateral blindness (52.9%), whereas uncorrected refractive error was the predominant cause of presenting visual impairment (40.3%).ConclusionsVisual impairment and blindness remain major public health problems in Lao PDR. There is an ongoing need to fund ophthalmic care resources and community education programmes to improve access to healthcare in this region.
Disease-specific assessment of Vision Impairment in Low Luminance in age-related macular degeneration – a MACUSTAR study report
Authors: Terheyden Jan Henrik , Pondorfer Susanne G , Behning Charlotte , Berger Moritz , Carlton Jill , Rowen Donna , Bouchet Christine , Poor Stephen , Luhmann Ulrich F O , Leal Sergio , Holz Frank G , Butt Thomas , Brazier John E , Finger Robert P 
Published: March 2022

Background/aimsTo further validate the Vision Impairment in Low Luminance (VILL) questionnaire, which captures visual functioning and vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) under low luminance, low-contrast conditions relevant to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsThe VILL was translated from German into English (UK), Danish, Dutch, French, Italian and Portuguese. Rasch analysis was used to assess psychometric characteristics of 716 participants (65% female, mean age 72±7 years, 82% intermediate AMD) from the baseline visit of the MACUSTAR study. In a subset of participants (n=301), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of repeatability (CoR)) and construct validity were assessed.ResultsFour items were removed from the VILL with 37 items due to misfit. The resulting Vision Impairment in Low Luminance with 33 items (VILL-33) has three subscales with no disordered thresholds and no misfitting items. No differential item functioning and no multidimensionality were observed. Person reliability and person separation index were 0.91 and 3.27 for the Vision Impairment in Low Luminance Reading Subscale (VILL-R), 0.87 and 2.58 for the Vision Impairment in Low Luminance Mobility Subscale (VILL-M), and 0.78 and 1.90 for the Vision Impairment in Low Luminance Emotional Subscale (VILL-E). ICC and CoR were 0.92 and 1.9 for VILL-R, 0.93 and 1.8 for VILL-M and 0.82 and 5.0 for VILL-E. Reported VRQoL decreased with advanced AMD stage (p<0.0001) and was lower in the intermediate AMD group than in the no AMD group (p≤0.0053).ConclusionThe VILL is a psychometrically sound patient-reported outcome instrument, and the results further support its reliability and validity across all AMD stages. We recommend the shortened version of the questionnaire with three subscales (VILL-33) for future use.Trial registration numberNCT03349801.
Primary care gap: factors associated with persistent lack of primary care after hospitalisation
Authors: Cummings Elizabeth , Martinez Sandra , Mourad Michelle 
Published: March 2022

IntroductionAccess to primary care in the USA is associated with decreased acute care utilisation and better health outcomes, yet millions of Americans lack a primary care provider (PCP). In our study, we report the risk factors for having no assigned PCP for hospitalised patients both at the time of discharge and over the course of the following year.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 12 663 adult patients discharged from the medicine service at our academic inpatient hospital from 2017 to 2018. We compared the characteristics of patients with and without a PCP listed in the electronic health record at time of discharge. In a second analysis, for those patients without a PCP, we used subsequent encounters with our health system to compare characteristics of those who had a PCP assigned within 1 year after discharge with those who did not.ResultsAt time of discharge, patients without a PCP were more likely to be younger, male, non-Asian and non-Black, to have Medicaid insurance or to be self-pay, to be experiencing homelessness and to have a substance use disorder diagnosis. During the year after discharge, the most significant risk factors for persistently lacking a PCP were non-private insurance status (Medicaid, Medicare, self-pay), experiencing homelessness and having a substance use disorder diagnosis.DiscussionOur study demonstrates important risk factors for persistently lacking an assigned PCP in our urban patient population, including health insurance status, homelessness and substance use disorders. Targeted interventions are indicated to connect these high-risk individuals to primary care.
Mortality after acute kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis in patients prescribed immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Authors: Baker Megan L , Yamamoto Yu , Perazella Mark A , Dizman Nazli , Shirali Anushree C , Hafez Navid , Weinstein Jason , Simonov Michael , Testani Jeffrey M , Kluger Harriet M , Cantley Lloyd G , Parikh Chirag R , Wilson F Perry , Moledina Dennis G 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundIn patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, acute kidney injury (AKI) is common, and can occur either from kidney injury unrelated to ICI use or from immune activation resulting in acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). In this study, we test the hypothesis that occurrence of AIN indicates a favorable treatment response to ICI therapy and therefore among patients who develop AKI while on ICI therapy, those with AIN will demonstrate greater survival compared with others with AKI.MethodsIn this observational cohort study, we included participants initiated on ICI therapy between 2013 and 2019. We tested the independent association of AKI and estimated AIN (eAIN) with mortality up to 1 year after therapy initiation as compared with those without AKI using time-varying Cox proportional hazard models controlling for demographics, comorbidities, cancer type, stage, and therapy, and baseline laboratory values. We defined eAIN as those with a predicted probability of AIN >90th percentile derived from a recently validated diagnostic model.ResultsOf 2207 patients initiated on ICIs, 617 (28%) died at 1 year and 549 (25%) developed AKI. AKI was independently associated with higher mortality (adjusted HR, 2.28 (95% CI 1.90 to 2.72)). Those AKI patients with eAIN had more severe AKI as reflected by a higher peak serum creatinine (3.3 (IQR 2.1–6.1) vs 1.4 (1.2–1.9) mg/dL, p<0.001) but exhibited lower mortality than those without eAIN in univariable analysis (HR 0.43 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.89)) and after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and cancer type and severity (adjusted HR 0.44 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.93)).ConclusionIn patients treated with ICI, mortality was higher in those with AKI unrelated to ICI but lower in those where the underlying etiology was AIN. Future studies could evaluate the association of biopsy-proven or biomarker-proven AIN with mortality in those receiving ICI therapy.
Comparison of cardiac CT angiography coronary artery dimensions and ethnicity in Trinidad: the CADET pilot study
Authors: Welch Tonya , Rampersad Fidel , Motilal Shastri , Seecheran Naveen Anand 
Published: March 2022

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine if there were any significant differences in coronary artery (CA) dimensions at prespecified segments during cardiac CT angiography (CCTA) compared with ethnicity at an academic tertiary medical centre in Trinidad and Tobago.MethodsPatients (n=170) who underwent CCTA from July 2016 to June 2021 at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex were selected based on predefined selection criteria. The size of the left main and proximal, mid and distal diameters of the left anterior descending, left circumflex and right coronary artery (RCA) were measured using quantitative coronary angiography, syngo.CT Coronary Analysis (Siemens Healthineers AG, Erlangen, Germany). Routine medical history, cardiovascular medications and anthropometric data were also recorded. Comparisons were performed using an independent sample t-test and analysis of variance for continuous variables.ResultsOne hundred and seventy participants were enrolled in this study. There were no statistically significant associations between gender and CA dimensions; however, there were significant associations between South Asian and Caribbean black ethnicities for almost all CA dimensions except for the distal RCA segment. These findings were replicated when the analysis was adjusted for body surface area with the addition of the mid-RCA segment, which was bordering near-significance (p value 0.051).ConclusionsSignificantly smaller CA dimensions were observed in South Asian patients compared with Caribbean black patients undergoing CCTA. This pilot study could be clinically significant for Trinidadian patients at risk of developing coronary artery disease.Trial registration numberNCT04774861.
Summer habitat use and movements of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in Canadian agro-ecosystems
Authors: Kramer Corey J. , Boudreau Melanie R. , Miller Ryan S. , Powers Ryan , VerCauteren Kurt C. , Brook Ryan K. 
Published: March 2022

Resource selection informs understanding of a species’ ecology and is especially pertinent for invasive species. Since introduced to Canada, wild pigs ( Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1978) remain understudied despite recognized negative impacts on native and agricultural systems globally. Elsewhere in North America, pigs typically use forests and forage in agricultural crops. We hypothesized Canadian wild pigs would behave similarly, and using GPS locations from 15 individuals, we examined diel and seasonal resource selection and movement in the Canadian prairie region. Forests were predominately selected during the day, while corn ( Zea mays L.), oilseeds, and wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) were predominately selected at night. Forests and corn were consistently selected throughout the growing season. Wetlands and forests showed greater use rates than other habitats, with evident trade-offs as crop use increased with the timing of maturation. Activity was consistent with foraging in growing crops. Results indicate diel patterns were likely a function of short-term needs to avoid daytime anthropogenic risk, while seasonal patterns demonstrate how habitats that fill multiple functional roles — food, cover, and thermoregulation — can be optimized. Understanding selection by invasive species is an important step in understanding their potential environmental impacts in novel environments and informs their management.