bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large-scale seasonal distribution of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the central Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Aïssi Mehdi , Celona Antonio , Comparetto Giorgia , Mangano Renata , Würtz Maurizio , Moulins Aurélie
Published: September 2008

Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are the only mysticete regularly found in the Mediterranean Sea. Its exceptional high abundance during the summer period in the north-western Mediterranean is essentially due to productive waters, but outside of this spatio-temporal window its distribution still remains quite unknown. This paper investigates the distribution of the fin whale on large-scales during the 2002–2006 period. Three areas of the central Mediterranean Sea were selected: the Ligurian Sea in the north-western Mediterranean belonging to the Pelagos Sanctuary; the area connecting both Mediterranean basins in the south-western Mediterranean, the Strait of Messina; and the waters surrounding the island of Lampedusa, in the central Mediterranean. Of the 41,270 km covered by the three surveys, a total of 98 sightings was recorded corresponding to 198 fin whales. Results display a year round distribution along synchronic seasonal dispatching, with a feeding behaviour occurrence in the northern part of the Pelagos Sanctuary during late spring and summer. They indicate high abundance in the Lampedusa area from late winter to early spring manifesting feeding activity. In the Strait of Messina, our results point out the importance of this area as a seasonal feeding ground and an important location for regular autumn transfers between both Mediterranean basins. According to the feeding ground in the two Mediterranean basins, whales change foraging strategy, one being single animals or animal pairs searching for prey in the water column while the other strategy is associated with more individuals feeding on the surface. The strategies differ also by their ecological conditions, such as depth affinity and shoreline distance.
Immediate response of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins to high-speed personal watercraft in the Mississippi Sound
Authors: Miller Lance J. , Solangi Moby , Kuczaj Stan A.
Published: September 2008

Measuring the impact of anthropogenic factors on marine mammals is critical to the conservation of these species. Recently, the effect of personal watercraft on marine mammal behaviour and well-being has become a topic of increasing concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of high-speed personal watercraft on Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behaviour. Opportunistic surveys were conducted from a research vessel in the Mississippi Sound (30º13′22.6″N 89º01′36.5″W) from September 2003 through to August 2005. The passing of a high-speed personal watercraft significantly increased dolphin dive duration, dolphin group cohesion and dolphin breathing synchrony. Additionally, in 47% of the encounters a dolphin group's behaviour changed within one minute of the presence of a high-speed personal watercraft. The most notable changes were an increase in dolphin travelling behaviour and a decrease in feeding behaviour following the boat's presence. The results demonstrated an immediate, short-term change in dolphin behaviour, suggesting that an increase in the frequency of high-speed personal watercraft in this area could produce long-term detrimental effects. Research on the long-term effects of boat traffic on marine mammals is clearly needed to assess and hopefully mediate any potential long-term effects.
Climate controls on the variability of fires in the tropics and subtropics
Authors: van der Werf Guido R. , Randerson James T. , Giglio Louis , Gobron Nadine , Dolman A. J.
Published: September 2008

In the tropics and subtropics, most fires are set by humans for a wide range of purposes. The total amount of burned area and fire emissions reflects a complex interaction between climate, human activities, and ecosystem processes. Here we used satellite‐derived data sets of active fire detections, burned area, precipitation, and the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) during 1998–2006 to investigate this interaction. The total number of active fire detections and burned area was highest in areas that had intermediate levels of both net primary production (NPP; 500–1000 g C m−2 year−1) and precipitation (1000–2000 mm year−1), with limits imposed by the length of the fire season in wetter ecosystems and by fuel availability in drier ecosystems. For wet tropical forest ecosystems we developed a metric called the fire‐driven deforestation potential (FDP) that integrated information about the length and intensity of the dry season. FDP partly explained the spatial and interannual pattern of fire‐driven deforestation across tropical forest regions. This climate‐fire link in combination with higher precipitation rates in the interior of the Amazon suggests that a negative feedback on fire‐driven deforestation may exist as the deforestation front moves inward. In Africa, compared to the Amazon, a smaller fraction of the tropical forest area had FDP values sufficiently low to prevent fire use. Tropical forests in mainland Asia were highly vulnerable to fire, whereas forest areas in equatorial Asia had, on average, the lowest FDP values. FDP and active fire detections substantially increased in forests of equatorial Asia, however, during El Niño periods. In contrast to these wet ecosystems we found a positive relationship between precipitation, fAPAR, NPP, and active fire detections in arid ecosystems. This relationship was strongest in northern Australia and arid regions in Africa. Highest levels of fire activity were observed in savanna ecosystems that were limited neither by fuel nor by the length of the fire season. However, relations between annual precipitation or drought extent and active fire detections were often poor here, hinting at the important role of other factors, including land managers, in controlling spatial and temporal variability of fire.
A multispecies chemistry model of Io's local interaction with the Plasma Torus
Authors: Dols V. , Delamere P. A. , Bagenal F.
Published: September 2008

We model the local interaction between the plasma in the torus and Io's neutral corona (inside ∼6 RIo), focusing on the multispecies chemistry outside the collision‐dominated ionosphere. We include a detailed chemistry of S, O, SO2, SO under ionization, charge exchange, and recombination processes in a parcel of plasma that follows a prescribed flow field around Io's ionosphere and interacts with the neutral density profiles in the corona, as constrained by available observations. We compare the model results to the Galileo plasma observations in Io's wake (GLL/J0). We conclude the following: (1) The plasma characteristics along GLL/J0 require a dense SO2 corona confined close to Io (<2 RIo). (2) Molecular SO2 chemistry dominates the interaction, with atomic chemistry playing a negligible role. (3) SO2+ is the main output ion of the local interaction, but it recombines and dissociates rapidly so that the contribution of the local interaction to the global mass and energy supply of the torus is very small. (4) The high density of plasma observed in the wake requires a supplemental ionization source beyond the thermal electrons of the torus, and we estimate the ionization due to the (∼350 eV) field‐aligned electron beams observed around Io. (5) Assuming a SO2 atmosphere/corona with a vertical column of 6 × 1016 cm−2 and a prescribed deceleration of the flow around Io, we estimate a local ion mass production rate of ∼200 kg/s. We also compute a neutral loss rate of ∼2400 kg/s and a pick‐up current of ∼5.2 MAmp, both dominated by the SO2 resonant charge exchange reaction.
Transport and variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current south of Africa
Authors: Swart Sebastiaan , Speich Sabrina , Ansorge Isabelle J. , Goni Gustavo J. , Gladyshev Sergey , Lutjeharms Johann R. E.
Published: September 2008

Data from five CTD and 18 XBT sections are used to estimate the baroclinic transport (referenced to 2500 dbar) of the ACC south of Africa. Surface dynamic height is derived from XBT data by establishing an empirical relationship between vertically integrated temperature and surface dynamic height calculated from CTD data. This temperature‐derived dynamic height data compare closely with dynamic heights calculated from CTD data (average RMS difference = 0.05 dyn m). A second empirical relationship between surface dynamic height and cumulative baroclinic transport is defined, allowing us to study a more extensive time series of baroclinic transport derived from upper ocean temperature sections. From 18 XBT transects of the ACC, the average baroclinic transport, relative to 2500 dbar, is estimated at 90 ± 2.4 Sv. This estimate is comparable to baroclinic transport values calculated from CTD data. We then extend the baroclinic transport time‐series by applying an empirical relationship between dynamic height and cumulative baroclinic transport to weekly maps of absolute dynamic topography derived from satellite altimetry, between 14 October 1992 and 23 May 2007. The estimated mean baroclinic transport of the ACC, obtained this way, is 84.7 ± 3.0 Sv. These transports agree well with simultaneous in‐situ estimates (RMS difference in net transport = 5.2 Sv). This suggests that sea level anomalies largely reflect baroclinic transport changes above 2500 dbar.
Antarctic Circumpolar Current frontal system in the South Atlantic: Monitoring using merged Argo and animal‐borne sensor data
Authors: Boehme L. , Meredith M. P. , Thorpe S. E. , Biuw M. , Fedak M.
Published: September 2008

We describe large‐scale features of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) in the Atlantic part of the Southern Ocean by merging Argo data and data obtained by novel animal‐borne CTD sensors. Twenty one of these CTD‐Satellite Relay Data Loggers (CTD‐SRDLs) were attached to Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on South Georgia. The merged data yield unified gridded hydrogaphic fields with high temporal and spatial resolution, enabling the determination of features absent in each of the data sets separately. The structure and variability of the frontal field revealed by this data set were compared with those in daily quarter‐degree, optimally interpolated sea surface temperature fields and fields of weekly gridded sea level anomaly. In general, the frontal positions derived using our data set are in agreement with previous work, especially where the pathways are constrained by topography, e.g., at the North Scotia Ridge and the South Scotia Ridge. However, with the improved temporal and spacial resolution provided by the CTD‐SRDLs, we were able to observe some novel features. All frontal positions are more variable than previously indicated across the Scotia Sea and west of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge on seasonal time scales. The merged data set shows the temporal variability of the Southern ACC Front (SACCF) north of South Georgia and in its position east of the island, where the SACCF lies further north than has been suggested in previous work. In addition, the Subantarctic Front crosses the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge about 400 km further north when compared to previous work.
Fractal properties of isolines at varying altitude revealing different dominant geological processes on Earth
Authors: Baldassarri Andrea , Montuori Marco , Prieto‐Ballesteros Olga , Manrubia Susanna C.
Published: September 2008

Geometrical properties of landscapes result from the geological processes that have acted through time. The quantitative analysis of natural relief represents an objective form of aiding in the visual interpretation of landscapes, as studies on coastlines, river networks, and global topography, have shown. Still, an open question is whether a clear relationship between the quantitative properties of landscapes and the dominant geomorphologic processes that originate them can be established. In this contribution, we show that the geometry of topographic isolines is an appropriate observable to help disentangle such a relationship. A fractal analysis of terrestrial isolines yields a clear identification of trenches and abyssal plains, differentiates oceanic ridges from continental slopes and platforms, localizes coastlines and river systems, and isolates areas at high elevation (or latitude) subjected to the erosive action of ice. The study of the geometrical properties of the lunar landscape supports the existence of a correspondence between principal geomorphic processes and landforms. Our analysis can be easily applied to other planetary bodies.
Evolution of millennial‐scale climate variability during the mid‐Pleistocene
Authors: Weirauch D. , Billups K. , Martin P.
Published: September 2008

We use the oxygen isotopic composition of planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber (white) from Ocean Drilling Program Site 1058 in the subtropical northwestern Atlantic to construct a high‐resolution (∼ 800 year) climate record spanning the mid‐Pleistocene climate transition (∼410 ka to 1350 ka). We investigate whether or not millennial‐scale instabilities in the proxy record are associated with the extent of continental glaciation. G. ruberδ18O values display high‐frequency fluctuations throughout the record, but the amplitude about mean glacial and interglacial δ18O values increases at marine isotope stage (MIS) 22 (880 ka) and is highest during MIS 12. These observations support that millennial‐scale climate instabilities are associated with ice sheet size. Time series analysis illustrates that these variations have significant concentration of spectral power centered on periods of ∼10–12 ka and ∼5 ka. The timing of these fluctuations agrees well, or coincides with, the periodicities of the second and fourth harmonics, respectively, of precessional forcing at the equator. An insolation‐based origin of the millennial‐scale instabilities would be independent of ice volume and explains the presence of these fluctuations before the mid‐Pleistocene climate transition as well as during interglacial intervals (e.g., MIS 37 and 17). Because the amplitude of the millennial‐scale variations increases during the mid‐Pleistocene transition, feedback mechanisms associated with the growth of large, 100‐ka‐paced, polar ice sheets may be important amplifiers of regional surface water hydrographic changes.
Costs and benefits of capturing urban runoff with competitive bidding for decentralized best management practices
Authors: Cutter W. Bowman , Baerenklau Kenneth A. , DeWoody Autumn , Sharma Ritu , Lee Joong Gwang
Published: September 2008

Urban storm water runoff is both a source of pollution and a potentially valuable resource. Centralized facilities traditionally have been used to manage runoff. Decentralized best management practice (BMP) options may be able to avoid the costs of purchasing expensive urban land needed for centralized facilities. We investigate the cost effectiveness of implementing BMPs in a Los Angeles area watershed with two voluntary incentive mechanisms: competitive bidding and a fixed subsidy. The subsidy mechanism has lower BMP placement costs but generates relatively large excess profits for landowners. The bidding mechanism has higher BMP placement costs but generates smaller excess profits and tends to be more cost effective for the regulator, particularly at higher runoff capture levels. We also compare the costs of bidding and centralized alternatives and find that the bidding alternative is significantly less costly than a centralized alternative for a range of storm water capture goals. Finally, we examine the value of infiltrated storm water and find that it is up to 38% of total BMP costs.
An efficient calibration method for continental‐scale land surface modeling
Authors: Troy Tara J. , Wood Eric F. , Sheffield Justin
Published: September 2008

Land surface models contain physically conceptualized parameters that require calibration for optimal model performance. However, calibration time can be prohibitive. To reduce computational time, we calibrated the VIC land surface model for a subset of the grid cells and then interpolated the parameters to the uncalibrated grid cells. In the continental United States, the “observation” to which we calibrated was the monthly runoff ratio, calculated for 1130 small basins throughout the country and interpolated to those grid cells that did not fall within a small gauged basin. The results demonstrated that this approach is sufficiently accurate and computationally efficient for large‐scale applications. We examined the effect of model spatial and temporal resolutions on calibrated parameter sets to evaluate if one could calibrate at coarser resolutions and apply these parameter sets to finer resolutions, reducing computational time. Results indicated that calibrating at different temporal resolutions causes minimal changes in modeled runoff while transferring parameter sets across spatial resolutions can cause significant changes in model performance.
Humidity impact on the aerosol effect in warm cumulus clouds
Authors: Altaratz O. , Koren I. , Reisin T.
Published: September 2008

The effects of aerosols on clouds are recognized as among the most important factors affecting climate change yet these effects are poorly understood due to the complexity of cloud processes and the strong influence of other environmental conditions. A numerical cloud model is used here to study the combined influence of aerosol concentration and upper level humidity conditions on moderate‐sized, coastal, convective clouds. We show that these variables are strongly linked in their effects on clouds and suggest a microphysical variable space in which their influence can be distinguished.
Effects of basal‐melting distribution on the retreat of ice‐shelf grounding lines
Authors: Walker R. T. , Dupont T. K. , Parizek B. R. , Alley R. B.
Published: September 2008

The stability of marine ice streams depends on the distribution as well as the magnitude of melting beneath the adjacent ice shelf, as shown by new model results. Recent observations of rapid retreat of ice‐shelf grounding lines in the Amundsen Sea sector of West Antarctica have highlighted the need for understanding how basal melting of ice shelves by warm ocean waters affects ice dynamics and potentially contributes indirectly to sea‐level rise. We apply two ice stream‐ice shelf flow line models to investigate the effects of varying the spatial distribution of basal melting on grounding‐line dynamics. For experiments with identical average melting, we find that retreat increases significantly as melting is concentrated near the grounding line, indicating that knowledge of the basal‐melting distribution is likely necessary for accurate prediction of grounding‐line migration.
Partially ejected flux ropes: Implications for interplanetary coronal mass ejections
Authors: Gibson S. E. , Fan Y.
Published: September 2008

Connecting interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) to their solar pre‐eruption source requires a clear understanding of how that source may have evolved during eruption. Gibson and Fan (2006a) have presented a three‐dimensional numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a CME, which showed how, in the course of eruption, a coronal flux rope may writhe and reconnect both internally and with surrounding fields in a manner that leads to a partial ejection of only part of the rope as a CME. In this paper, we will explicitly describe how the evolution during eruption found in that simulation leads to alterations of the magnetic connectivity, helicity, orientation, and topology of the ejected portion of the rope so that it differs significantly from that of the pre‐eruption rope. Moreover, because a significant part of the magnetic helicity remains behind in the lower portion of the rope that survives the eruption, the region is likely to experience further eruptions. These changes would complicate how ICMEs embedded in the solar wind relate to their solar source. In particular, the location and evolution of transient coronal holes, topology of magnetic clouds (“tethered spheromak”), and likelihood of interacting ICMEs would differ significantly from what would be predicted for a CME which did not undergo writhing and partial ejection during eruption.
Diurnal changes in middle atmospheric H2O and O3: Observations in the Alpine region and climate models
Authors: Haefele A. , Hocke K. , Kämpfer N. , Keckhut P. , Marchand M. , Bekki S. , Morel B. , Egorova T. , Rozanov E.
Published: September 2008

In this paper we investigate daily variations in middle atmospheric water vapor and ozone based on data from two ground‐based microwave radiometers located in the Alpine region of Europe. Temperature data are obtained from a lidar located near the two stations and from the SABER experiment on the TIMED satellite. This unique set of observations is complemented by three different three‐dimensional (3‐D) chemistry‐climate models (Monitoring of Stratospheric Depletion of the Ozone Layer (MSDOL), Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Reactive Processes Ruling the Ozone Budget in the Stratosphere (LMDz‐REPROBUS), and Solar Climate Ozone Links (SOCOL)) and the 2‐D atmospheric global‐scale wave model (GSWM). The first part of the paper is focused on the first Climate and Weather of the Sun‐Earth System (CAWSES) tidal campaign that consisted of a period of intensive measurements during September 2005. Variations in stratospheric water vapor are found to be in the order of 1% depending on altitude. Meridional advection of tidal nature is likely to be the dominant driving factor throughout the whole stratosphere, while vertical advection becomes more important in the mesosphere. Observed ozone variations in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere show amplitudes of several percent in accordance with photochemical models. Variations in lower stratospheric ozone are not solely governed by photochemistry but also by dynamics, with the temperature dependence of the photochemistry becoming more important. The second part presents an investigation of the seasonal dependence of daily variations. Models tend to underestimate the H2O diurnal amplitudes, especially during summer in the upper stratosphere. Good agreement between models and observations is found for ozone in the upper stratosphere, which reflects the fact that the O3 daily variations are driven by the photochemistry that is well modeled.
Size distribution, shape, and composition of mineral dust aerosols collected during the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis Special Observation Period 0: Dust and Biomass‐Burning Experiment field campaign in Niger, January 2006
Authors: Chou Cédric , Formenti Paola , Maille Michel , Ausset Patrick , Helas Günter , Harrison Mark , Osborne Simon
Published: September 2008

Dust samples were collected onboard the UK community BAe‐146 research aircraft of the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) operated over Niger during the winter Special Observation Period of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis project (AMMA SOP0/DABEX). Particle size, morphology, and composition were assessed using single‐particle analysis by analytical scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The aerosol was found to be composed of externally mixed mineral dust and biomass burning particles. Mineral dust consists mainly of aluminosilicates in the form of illite and kaolinite and quartz, accounting for up to 80% of the aerosol number. Fe‐rich particles (iron oxides) represented 4% of the particle number in the submicron fraction. Diatoms were found on all the samples, suggesting that emissions from the Bodélé depression were also contributing to the aerosol load. Satellite images confirm that the Bodélé source was active during the period of investigation. Biomass burning aerosols accounted for about 15% of the particle number of 0.1–0.6 μm diameter and were composed almost exclusively of particles containing potassium and sulfur. Soot particles were very rare. The aspect ratio AR is a measure of particle elongation. The upper limit of the AR value distribution is 5 and the median is 1.7, which suggests that mineral dust particles could be described as ellipsoids whose major axis never exceeds 1.9 × Dp (the spherical geometric diameter). This is consistent with other published values for mineral dust, including the recent Aerosol Robotic Network retrieval results of Dubovik et al. (2006).
The Immune System and Its Ecology
Authors: Tauber Alfred I.
Published: September 2008

In biology, the ‘ecological orientation’ rests on a commitment to examining systems, and the conceptual challenge of defining that system now employs techniques and concepts adapted from diverse disciplines (i.e., systems philosophy, cybernetics, information theory, computer science) that are applied to biological simulations and model building. Immunology has joined these efforts, and the question posed here is whether the discipline will remain committed to its theoretical concerns framed by the notions of protecting an insular self, an entity demarcated from its environment, or will shift its focus of interest to a wider context. An ecological perspective emphasizes the interchange between the organism and its environment, the processing of information, and the regulation arising from responses to this larger context. Moving from the first attempts at modeling the immune system as a closed network, immunologists have joined the general interest in systems analysis, and that move might portend a significant shift to an open, more holistic consideration of immune regulation.
STREAM: Static Thermodynamic REgulAtory Model of transcription
Authors: Bauer Denis C. , Bailey Timothy L.
Published: September 2008

Motivation: Understanding the transcriptional regulation of a gene in detail is a crucial step towards uncovering and ultimately utilizing the regulatory grammar of the genome. Modeling transcriptional regulation using thermodynamic equations has become an increasingly important approach towards this goal.

Here, we present stream, the first publicly available framework for modeling, visualizing and predicting the regulation of the transcription rate of a target gene. Given the concentrations of a set of transcription factors (TFs), the TF binding sites (TFBSs) in a regulatory DNA region, and the transcription rate of the target gene, stream will optimize its parameters to generate a model that best fits the input data. This trained model can then be used to (a) validate that the given set of TFs is able to regulate the target gene and (b) to predict the transcription rate under different conditions (e.g. different tissues, knockout/additional TFs or mutated/missing TFBSs).

Availability: The platform independent executable of stream, as well as a tutorial and the full documentation, are available at http://bioinformatics.org.au/stream/. stream requires Java version 5 or higher.

Contact:  d.bauer@imb.uq.edu.au; t.bailey@imb.uq.edu.au
DESHARKY: automatic design of metabolic pathways for optimal cell growth
Authors: Rodrigo Guillermo , Carrera Javier , Prather Kristala Jones , Jaramillo Alfonso
Published: September 2008

Motivation: The biological solution for synthesis or remediation of organic compounds using living organisms, particularly bacteria and yeast, has been promoted because of the cost reduction with respect to the non-living chemical approach. In that way, computational frameworks can profit from the previous knowledge stored in large databases of compounds, enzymes and reactions. In addition, the cell behavior can be studied by modeling the cellular context.

Results: We have implemented a Monte Carlo algorithm (DESHARKY) that finds a metabolic pathway from a target compound by exploring a database of enzymatic reactions. DESHARKY outputs a biochemical route to the host metabolism together with its impact in the cellular context by using mathematical models of the cell resources and metabolism. Furthermore, we provide the sequence of amino acids for the enzymes involved in the route closest phylogenetically to the considered organism. We provide examples of designed metabolic pathways with their genetic load characterizations. Here, we have used Escherichia coli as host organism. In addition, our bioinformatic tool can be applied for biodegradation or biosynthesis and its performance scales with the database size.

Availability: Software, a tutorial and examples are freely available and open source at http://soft.synth-bio.org/desharky.html

Contact:  alfonso.jaramillo@polytechnique.fr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Longitudinal study of parental movie restriction on teen smoking and drinking in Germany
Authors: Hanewinkel Reiner , Morgenstern Matthis , Tanski Susanne E. , Sargent James D.
Published: September 2008

Aims  To determine if adolescents who report that their parents restrict viewing movies based on rating have a lower risk of trying smoking and drinking alcohol in the future.

Design  Prospective observational study. A cohort of 2110 German adolescents younger than 15 years who had never smoked or drunk alcohol at baseline were surveyed 12–13 months later to determine smoking and binge drinking initiation. Risk of substance use was assessed as a function of parental restriction on viewing FSK‐16 movies (movies that only those aged 16 years and over would be allowed to see in theaters).

Findings  The percentage of students who tried smoking was 16.3%, 10.9% initiated binge drinking and 5.0% used both substances during the follow‐up period. There was a significant effect of parental movie restriction on each substance use outcome measure after controlling for covariates. Compared with adolescents whose parents never allowed them to view FSK‐16 movies, the adjusted relative risk [(RR) (95% confidence interval (CI)] for use of both substances were 1.64 (1.05–2.58) for adolescents allowed to view them once in a while, 2.30 (1.53–3.45) for sometimes and 2.92 (1.83–4.67) for all the time. FSK‐16 restrictions were associated with lower viewership of all classes of movies, but especially FSK‐16/18 movies; in addition, FSK‐16 restrictions were associated with substantially lower exposure to movie depiction of tobacco and alcohol use, suggesting a mediational mechanism for the association.

Conclusions  Among young adolescents, parental restriction from viewing movies rated for older adolescents/adults decreases the risk of substance use in the future.
Risk and speed of transitions to first alcohol dependence symptoms in adolescents: a 10‐year longitudinal community study in Germany
Authors: Behrendt Silke , Wittchen Hans‐Ulrich , Höfler Michael , Lieb Roselind , Low Nancy Chooi Ping , Rehm Jürgen , Beesdo Katja
Published: September 2008

Background  Although in many western countries alcohol use (AU) and symptoms of alcohol dependence (AD) are frequent in adolescence, temporal patterns and trajectories remain understudied. It is unclear whether early onset of AU is associated with the speed of transition to first AD symptoms and whether specific first AD symptoms and their timing are associated with AD.

Aims  To examine (i) the incidence patterns of self‐reported first AD symptoms; (ii) whether early AU is associated with the risk and speed of transition to first AD symptoms; and (iii) whether first AD symptoms and their timing are associated with AD.

Design  A total of 3021 community subjects from Germany aged 14–24 years at baseline followed prospectively over 10 years. AU, AD symptoms and AD were assessed using the Munich–Composite International Diagnostic Interview (DIA‐X/M‐CIDI).

Findings  Among first AD symptoms, tolerance (13.1%) and much time spent (5.0%) were most prevalent. Five to 30% of all first AD symptoms occurred during the first year after first AU. Early AU was not related to the risk of first AD symptoms. The speed of transition to first AD symptoms was greater among those with AU onset in later adolescence. Tolerance and loss of control were associated with AD development (risk difference 3.9% and 15.4%), as was early onset of tolerance, much time spent and loss of control.

Conclusion  Early AU and early AD symptoms are frequent among adolescents. Early self‐reported tolerance, much time spent and loss of control are particularly predictive for AD and important targets for early preventive interventions.
Reducing youth alcohol drinking through a parent‐targeted intervention: the Örebro Prevention Program
Authors: Koutakis Nikolaus , Stattin Håkan , Kerr Margaret
Published: September 2008

Aims  To evaluate a 2.5‐year prevention programme working through parents, targeting drinking among 13–16‐year‐olds.

Design  Quasi‐experimental using matched controls with a pre–post, intention‐to‐treat design.

Setting  Schools located in inner city, public housing and small town areas.

Participants  A total of 900 pupils entering junior high school and their parents, followed longitudinally.

Intervention  Parents received information by mail and during parent meetings in schools urging them to: (i) maintain strict attitudes against youth alcohol use and (ii) encourage their youth's involvement in adult‐led, organized activities.

Measurements  Evaluation of the implementation used measures of parental attitudes against underage drinking and youths' participation in organized activities. Outcomes were youths' drunkenness and delinquency.

Findings  The implementation successfully influenced parents' attitudes against underage drinking, but not youth participation in organized activities. At post‐test, youths in the intervention group reported less drunkenness and delinquency. Effect sizes were 0.35 for drunkenness and 0.38 for delinquency. Findings were similar for boys and girls and for early starters. Effects were not moderated by community type.

Conclusions  Working via parents proved to be an effective way to reduce underage drinking as well as delinquency.
Bed occupancy and incidence of Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in an intensive care unit
Authors: Howie A. J. , Ridley S. A.
Published: September 2008

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) incidence and workload as reflected by daily bed occupancy were assessed retrospectively over a 12‐month period in a mixed adult ICU. All MRSA positive results were retrieved from the Microbiology Department; patients with MRSA were divided into those whose admission swabs were positive and those whose specimens subsequently became positive. There were 619 admissions, 48 of which had MRSA on admission (7.8% incidence) and 16 new MRSA infections in ICU (total incidence 10.3%). The frequency of MRSA acquisition was significantly higher on days when more than seven beds were occupied (0.0090 vs 0.0059 new acquisitions per patient per day, respectively, p = 0.015). In this well staffed but physically small unit local routes of infection transmission may be relevant.
Evaluation of pelvic wedge for gynaecological laparoscopy
Authors: Kundra P. , Kanna V. , Bupathi A. , Sudeep K.
Published: September 2008

Seventy‐eight ASA 1 and 2 women scheduled for elective diagnostic laparoscopy under general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups. Patients were either positioned with a 20° Trendelenberg tilt (group T) or with a wedge placed under the pelvis (group W). A standard general anaesthetic technique was used in all patients. The endoscopic view of pelvic organs was graded on a four‐point scale by the operating surgeon. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), SpO2, and peak airway pressure (Paw) were continuously measured. Significantly more patients (77%) in group W had grade 1 view (clear view of pelvic organs without additional manoeuvres) when compared with group T (46%). Mean Paw increased significantly in group T when compared with group W. The use of a pelvic wedge provides a better view of pelvic viscera than 20° Trendelenberg tilt during gynaecological laparoscopy.
Benchmarking nurse staffing levels: the development of a nationwide feedback tool
Authors: Van den Heede Koen , Diya Luwis , Lesaffre Emmanuel , Vleugels Arthur , Sermeus Walter
Published: September 2008

Title. Benchmarking nurse staffing levels: the development of a nationwide feedback tool.

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to develop a methodology that corrects nurse staffing for nursing care intensity in a way that allows nationwide benchmarking of nurse staffing data.

Background. Although nurse workload measurement systems are recognized to be informative in nurse staffing decisions, they are rarely used. When these systems are used, however, it is only possible to compare units within hospitals, because currently available instruments are not standardized for comparisons beyond hospital boundaries. The Belgian Nursing Minimum Dataset (B‐NMDS) contains uniformly measured data about the intensity of nursing care and nurse staffing levels for all hospitals in Belgium.

Method. We conducted a retrospective multilevel analysis of the B‐NMDS for the year 2003. The sample included 690,258 inpatient days for 298,691 patients, recorded from 1637 acute care nursing units in 115 hospitals. We corrected the number of nursing staff by using different covariates available in the B‐NMDS: intensity of nursing care, type of day (week vs. weekend), service type (general vs. intensive) and hospital type (academic vs. general).

Findings. The multilevel approach allowed us to explain about 70% of the variability in the number of nursing staff per nursing unit using hospital type (P = 0·0053); intensity of nursing care (P < 0·0001) and service type (P < 0·0001) as the only covariates.

Conclusion. The feedback tool we developed can inform nurse managers and policymakers about nursing intensity‐adjusted nurse staffing levels according to different benchmarks. Our study demonstrates that investing in large nursing datasets is appropriate for the international nursing community.
Older people’s experience of falls: understanding, interpretation and autonomy
Authors: Roe Brenda , Howell Fiona , Riniotis Konstantinos , Beech Roger , Crome Peter , Ong Bie Nio
Published: September 2008

Title.  Older people’s experience of falls: understanding, interpretation and autonomy

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore the experiences of older people who suffered a recent fall and identify possible factors that could contribute to service development.

Background.  Falls in older people are prevalent and are associated with morbidity, hospitalization and mortality, personal costs to individuals and financial costs to health services.

Method.  A convenience sample of 27 older people (mean age 84 years; range 65–98) participated in semi‐structured taped interviews. Follow‐up interviews during 2003–2004 were undertaken to detect changes over time. Data were collected about experience of the fall, use of services, health and well‐being, activities of daily living, informal care, support networks and prevention. Thematic content analysis was undertaken.

Findings.  Twenty‐seven initial interviews and 18 follow‐up interviews were conducted. The majority of people fell indoors (n = 23) and were alone (n = 15). The majority of falls were repeat falls (n = 22) and five were a first‐ever fall. People who reflected on their fall and sought to understand why and how it occurred developed strategies to prevent future falls, face their fear, maintain control and choice and continue with activities of daily living. Those who did not reflect on their fall and did not know why it occurred restricted their activities and environments and remained in fear of falling.

Conclusion.  Assisting people to reflect on their falls and to understand why they happened could help with preventing future falls, allay fear, boost confidence and aid rehabilitation relating to their activities of daily living.
Reactions of primary caregivers of frail older people and people with cancer in the palliative phase living at home
Authors: Grov Ellen Karine , Eklund Marthe Lyngås
Published: September 2008

Title.  Reactions of primary caregivers of frail older people and people with cancer in the palliative phase living at home

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study conducted to (1) compare means of the single items and the dimensions of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment among caregivers of frail older people and caregivers of cancer patients in the palliative phase; (2) examine gender differences for the scoring parameters in the Caregiver Reaction Assessment within each group and (3) examine the demographic variables’ association with the caregiver groups’ scores for the dimensions of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment.

Background.  Limited research has focused on the caregiver situation in the home‐care setting among primary caregivers of frail older people, and caregivers of patients with cancer in the palliative phase.

Methods.  A convenience sample of 224 caregivers of frail older people, and 85 caregivers of patients with cancer in the palliative phase was recruited between 2002 and 2005. We used the Caregiver Reaction Assessment to collect the data.

Results.  The mean scores for the Caregiver Reaction Assessment dimensions showed statistically significant differences between the two groups of caregivers for the factors self‐esteem, family support, finances and health. For caregivers of frail older people, we found statistically significant associations between several demographic variables and the Caregiver Reaction Assessment dimensions. For caregivers of patients with cancer in the palliative phase, age was the only demographic variable that was statistically significantly associated with the dimensions.

Conclusion.  Healthcare personnel should pay attention to how relatives experience their caregiver situation, and the Caregiver Reaction Assessment could be a valuable tool for gathering systematic data on this.
Nurses’ perceptions of preoperative teaching for ambulatory surgical patients
Authors: Tse Kar‐yee , So Winnie Kwok‐wei
Published: September 2008

Title.  Nurses’ perceptions of preoperative teaching for ambulatory surgical patients.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to examine nurses’ perceptions of the importance of providing preoperative information to ambulatory surgical patients, and factors that might influence their provision of such teaching.

Background.  Ambulatory surgery is now widespread and creates a challenge for nurses to provide preoperative teaching in the limited contact time they have with patients. Although nurses act as key educators in patient teaching, little is known about their perceptions of the importance of preoperative teaching, or about current practice in the provision of such teaching for ambulatory surgical patients.

Methods.  A self‐administered questionnaire including demographics and the Preoperative Teaching Questionnaire was completed by 91 of the 169 eligible nurses (response rate 53·8%) working in day‐surgery units, operating theatres or outpatient clinics providing ambulatory surgery services in two public hospitals in Hong Kong in 2005.

Results.  A discrepancy between nurses’ perceptions and practice in relation to the provision of preoperative information was found. Limited teaching aids, tight operation schedules and language barriers affected the delivery of preoperative information to ambulatory surgical patients.

Conclusion.  The results highlight the importance of reviewing current preoperative teaching methods and improving the effectiveness of such teaching to enhance the quality of care for ambulatory surgical patients.
Informal learning with PDAs and smartphones
Authors: Clough G. , Jones A.C. , McAndrew P. , Scanlon E.
Published: September 2008

Abstract  There has been increasing interest in informal learning in recent years alongside interest in how such learning can be supported by technology. However, relatively little is known about the extent to which adults make use of their own mobile devices to support informal learning. In this study, a survey was used to investigate whether, and to what extent, experienced users of mobile devices use their mobile devices to support intentional informal learning. If so, do they make use of mobile device connectivity to support opportunistic informal learning and does such connectivity support or encourage collaborative informal learning? Experienced mobile device users were recruited from web forums and business, and asked whether they used their devices to support informal learning. A pattern of learning uses emerged, some of which deployed the mobile device capabilities relatively unchanged, others triggered adaptations to typical learning activities to provide a better fit to the needs of the learner. These informal learning activities provided the basis for the design of a flexible mobile learning framework that can be extended to support developments in mobile technology, and increasing use of Web 2.0 technologies by informal learners.
Development of a recommended food intake pattern for healthy Danish adolescents consistent with the Danish dietary guidelines, nutrient recommendations and national food preferences
Authors: Biltoft‐Jensen A. , Trolle E. , Christensen T. , Ygil K. H. , Fagt S. , Matthiessen J. , Groth M. V. , Tetens I.
Published: September 2008

Background  Danish adolescents have poor dietary habits compared to current recommendations. The present study aimed to develop a recommended food intake pattern for adolescents consistent with Danish Dietary Guidelines (DDG), Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) and dietary preferences.

Methods  The nutrient content of a food intake pattern consistent with DDG was calculated using dietary intake data from a random sample of 11–15‐year‐old boys (n = 85) and girls (n = 70). A recommended food intake pattern was modelled to meet NNR. The discretionary energy allowance was calculated as the difference between the total energy level and the energy needed to meet recommended nutrient needs. The flexibility of the recommended food intake pattern was tested against various energy requirements and with the inclusion of basic foods with higher sugar and/or fat content.

Results  The developed food intake pattern meets all nutrient goals except for vitamin D. At low energy requirements, the intake of iron and selenium is of concern. To fulfil nutrient recommendations, half of the bread/cereals and vegetables consumed should be fibre‐rich, and fats should be of plant origin.

Conclusions  The recommended food intake pattern meets most nutrient recommendations and makes it possible to advise on discretionary energy.
Human Naturally Occurring and Adaptive Regulatory T cells Secrete High Levels of Leukaemia Inhibitory Factor upon Activation
Authors: Mahic M. , Kalland M. E. , Aandahl E. M. , Torgersen K. M. , Taskén K.
Published: September 2008

Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a member of the IL‐6 cytokine family which signals through cognate receptors and activates target genes involved in survival, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation and suppression of differentiation in different cell types. Binding of LIF to the LIFRα/gp130 receptor complex has been shown to activate the Janus kinase‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. Here we show that activation of naturally occurring and adaptive regulatory T cells leads to increased LIF expression which is abrogated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Furthermore, the LIF receptors gp130 and LIFRα are upregulated on the surface of activated T cells and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation is increased. Interestingly, LIF was not required for suppressive function but rather appeared to have a stimulatory effect on T cells that served to modulate and counteract immunosuppression by regulatory T cells.