bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NEUTRON ACTIVATION PATTERNING OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ‘DEMOKRITOS’: THE CASE OF BLACK‐ON‐RED NEOLITHIC POTTERY FROM MACEDONIA, GREECE
Authors: KILIKOGLOU V. , GRIMANIS A. P. , TSOLAKIDOU A. , HEIN A. , MALAMIDOU D. , TSIRTSONI Z.
Published: May 2007

A short history of the application of NAA in the characterization of archaeological materials at the National Center for Scientific Research ‘Demokritos’, Athens, is presented. NAA was first applied in archaeology in 1974 at the Radioanalytical Laboratory, and since 1989 has been one of the primary analytical techniques of the ‘Demokritos’ archaeometry programme. A case study is also presented, concerning chemical patterning of the black‐on‐red Neolithic pottery class from Macedonia. Four chemical groups were identified, each corresponding to a different area of production. It is shown that this standardized concept of pottery technology and style was spread out within at least eastern Macedonia.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AT THE INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES, BUDAPEST UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS: SCHOLARLY ACHIEVEMENTS OF A PROSPEROUS LONG‐TERM COLLABORATION
Authors: BALLA M. , GUNNEWEG J.
Published: May 2007

The laboratory is part of a university institute with a nuclear reactor on the premises. NAA of archaeological materials started in the early 1980s, and has found continuous interest since then. Site‐specific characteristics of the NAA procedure are the long irradiation and counting times, due to the relatively low neutron flux, the single comparator method of standardization and the use of reference materials for quality control. The main research interest focuses on provenance studies of potteries; 90% of the analysed samples are ceramic materials. Most of the projects concentrate on the investigation of pottery finds from Roman Pannonia, and from different archaeological sites in Israel. The Qumran pottery project is presented as a typical example.
Monocyte‐derived dendritic cells from chronic HCV patients are not infected but show an immature phenotype and aberrant cytokine profile
Authors: Gelderblom Huub C. , Nijhuis Laurens E. J. , De Jong Esther C. , Te Velde Anje A. , Pajkrt Dasja , Reesink Henk W. , Beld Marcel G. H. M. , Van Deventer Sander J. H. , Jansen Peter L. M.
Published: May 2007

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by an insufficient immune response, possibly owing to impaired function of antigen‐presenting cells such as myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). Therapeutic vaccination with in vitro generated DCs may enhance the immune response. Subsets of DCs can originate from monocytes, but the presence of HCV in monocytes that develop into DCs in vitro may impair DC function. Therefore, we studied the presence of HCV RNA in monocytes and monocyte‐derived DCs from chronic HCV patients.

Methods: Monocytes were cultured with granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL‐4) for 6 days, and then with GM‐CSF, IL‐4, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), prostaglandin E2, IL‐1β and IL‐6 for 2 days to generate mature DCs. HCV RNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Surface molecules were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was assessed by cytokine bead array.

Results: HCV RNA was present in monocytes in 11 of 13 patients, but undetectable in mature DCs in 13 of 13 patients. The morphology of patient DCs was comparable with DCs from healthy controls, but the percentage of cells expressing surface molecules CD83 (P=0.001), CD86 (P=0.023) and human leucocyte antigen‐DR (P=0.028) was lower in HCV patients. Compared with control DCs, patient DCs produced enhanced levels of IL‐10 (P=0.0079) and IL‐8 (P=0.0079), and lower levels of TNF‐α (P=0.032), IL‐6 (P=NS) and IL‐1β (P=0.0079). Patient and control DCs did not produce IL‐12.

Conclusions: Monocyte‐derived DCs from chronic HCV patients are not infected but show an immature phenotype and aberrant cytokine profile.
The clinical features of dermatomyositis in a South Australian population
Authors: LIMAYE Vidya , BLUMBERGS Peter , SCOTT Grace , ROBERTS‐THOMSON Peter
Published: May 2007

Aim:  To review the clinical features of dermatomyositis (DM) in a South Australian population.

Methods:  Retrospective review of medical records of patients with biopsy‐proven DM in South Australia from 1990 to 2005.

Results:  There were 21 cases of biopsy‐proven DM in SA (62% F, mean age 49.7 ± 18.4 years) and clinical details were available in 20 of these. Malignancy was identified in 9/20 patients; in five this followed the diagnosis of DM, with three malignancies seen within 3 months of disease onset. Three patients had a clearly defined immune insult prior to the diagnosis of DM; one patient had Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection 23 days prior to DM, two had pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations 5 and 14 days prior to the onset of DM, respectively. Two of three patients with anti‐Jo‐1 antibody experienced thromboembolism within 2 months of DM onset and three patients had interstitial lung disease (2 with anti‐Jo‐1 antibody). Creatine kinase (CK) was elevated in 15/20 cases and showed strong correlation with transaminases, and notably not with traditional inflammatory markers.

Conclusions:  This retrospective review of patients with biopsy‐proven DM suggests a role for infection/vaccination in triggering disease onset. A particularly strong association with malignancy was observed and it is suggested that DM may predispose to thrombosis. Transaminases, in addition to CK may be used to monitor disease activity, and traditional inflammatory markers have little role in this.
The epidemiology of dermatomyositis in South Australia
Authors: LIMAYE Vidya , BLUMBERGS Peter , SCOTT Grace , HAKENDORF Paul , STEVANOVIC Vladimir , HIGHTON John , ROBERTS‐THOMSON Peter
Published: May 2007

Aim:  To review the epidemiology of dermatomyositis (DM) in South Australia (SA) and to compare it with other Australian states and New Zealand (NZ).

Methods:  Muscle biopsy and hospital separation data for DM in SA, other Australian states, and NZ were determined. The role of environmental factors was investigated.

Results:  From 1990 to 2005, there were 21 cases of biopsy‐proven DM in SA (62% F, mean age 49.7 ± 18.4) and 99 cases of polymyositis (PM). Based on biopsy‐proven figures, the average incidence of DM per year in SA was 1.4 ± 1.2, and 6.6 ± 2.6 for PM. Since 1991, there were 221 and 441 total separations from SA hospitals with principal diagnoses of DM and PM, respectively. The ratio DM/DM + PM is thought to correlate with solar irradiance, and within Australia, SA had the lowest ratio (0.39, 95% CI 0.22–0.56), with the highest ratio seen in WA (0.67, 95% CI 0.53–0.81). This ratio did not correlate with latitude, duration of sunshine, cloud cover, relative humidity or total rainfall. Within SA, no correlation with socioeconomic status was seen. Australian data were similar to NZ, where the ratios were 0.34 and 0.3 for North and South Islands, respectively. As separation data reflect total hospital visits, we also ascertained individual patient separations from SA hospitals (1997 to July 2005) and found a similar ratio of DM/DM + PM (0.38 ± 0.08).

Conclusions:  The proportion of inflammatory myositis which is DM varies nationwide, with a consistent ratio seen in SA (33–38%). Geoclimatic variables do not appear to influence DM/PM disease expression in Australia.
A survey of psychosocial attributes of Filipino patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: LI‐YU Julie , NAVARRA Sandra V.
Published: May 2007

Aim:  To describe various domains of psychosocial attributes among Filipino patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods:  This is a cross‐sectional survey of SLE patients seen at a tertiary centre in Manila, Philippines in 2005. All patients completed self‐administered questionnaires: Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‐II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Optimism and Pessimism Scales. Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to determine association between levels of depression and anxiety.

Results:  A total of 275 female SLE patients with mean age of 32.57 years ± 12.26 SD (range 19–68) completed the questionnaires. Various levels of depression, anxiety as well as optimism/pessimism were disclosed by patients. There was a significant association between degree of depression and anxiety, P = 0.000, but not with age at time of survey (P = 0.099) nor disease duration (P = 0.584). Areas of concern in the interpersonal domain included ‘irritability’, and ‘having none or lost interest in sex.’ In the socio‐cultural domain, prevalent indicators of ‘indecisiveness’, ‘worthlessness’, and ‘self‐criticism’ ranged from 42.7% to 47.7%. Descriptors of situational domain included guilt and punishment feelings, loss of energy, concentration difficulty, and tiredness/fatigue; notably 15.3% harboured suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions:  This survey among Filipino SLE patients further identified areas of concern in the various interpersonal, socio‐cultural and situational domains which may significantly impact on patients’ and caregivers’ adjustment to the illness, and may thus influence the approach as well as overall response to management of these patients.
Clinical experience in using CD20 monoclonal antibody in treating severe systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: MOHD SHAHRIR M. S. , ABDUL HALIM A. G. , SOEHARDY Z. , NORELLA KONG C. T.
Published: May 2007

Background and method:  This clinical experience involved the treatment of resistant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with CD20 monoclonal antibody. Five patients failed conventional therapy, two developed complications and one needed rituximab as an emergency measure. Four patients had lupus nephritis, three had autoimmune hemolytic anemia, two had immune thrombocytopenia and one had lupoid hepatitis. The patients were aged 14–49 years, (mean 28.63). Three were Malays, two Chinese, two Indian and one Turkish; six were females. Mean disease duration was 63.25 months and mean total rituximab dose received was 2812.50 mL.

Results:  Hemoglobin levels improved from 9.3 ± 5.7 to 13.1 ± 8.6 g/dL for two SLE patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia after 34 weeks (P = 0.180). Platelet counts improved from 25 ± 17 to 198 ± 97 × 109/high powered field from 0 to 10 weeks for three SLE patients with immune thrombocytopenia (P = 0.109). In the lupus nephritis patients on rituximab, serum albumin improved from 24.5 ± 23.2 to 37.5 ± 31.8 mmol/L (n = 3) from week 0 to week 17 (P = 0.100). Urine protein creatinine ratio improved from 0.55 ± 0.23 to 0.08 ± 0.03 g/mmol creatinine (P = 0.068) from week 0 to week 13. C3 and C4 improved from 90.8 ± 36.5 to 120.7 ± 37.9 (P = 0.07) and 21.6 ± 10.1–27.3 ± 16.2 mg/dL (P = 0.27), respectively, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity Disease Index was reduced from 17.9 ± 11.2 to 6.3 ± 6.8 (P = 0.375) after 8 weeks. Two patients developed drug reactions to rituximab.

Conclusion:  All of the patients responded to rituximab on top of their conventional therapy.
Hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis activity in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled study using insulin hypoglycemia stress test
Authors: JOKAR Mohammadhassan , MOOSSAVI Zohreh , FARD Azam Vaziri
Published: May 2007

Aim:  To study the response of cortisol to insulin‐induced hypoglycemia in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods:  We measured the response of cortisol to insulin‐induced hypoglycemia (0.15 µ/kg) in 10 patients (6 female, 4 male) with active RA and 10 (6 female, 4 male) healthy controls. All patients had never received glucocorticoids before the study. The cortisol concentration was assessed by radioimmunoassay.

Results:  The mean age was 47.3 years (± 14.2 years) in patients and 43.5 years (± 10.6 years) in control subjects. The mean disease duration was 66.3 months (range 12–120). The basal serum levels of cortisol in patients with RA were not significantly different from those of controls. Although the mean serum cortisol levels after insulin‐induced hypoglycemia were lower in patients with RA than controls in all samples, the significant difference was seen only in the samples 60 min after insulin injection (18.59 vs. 24.28 µg/dL, P = 0.041).

Conclusion:  Our findings suggest that active RA is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary‐adrenal axis.
Screening for amyloid deposition by subcutaneous fat tissue aspiration technique in rheumatoid arthritic patients and investigating its clinical significance in Iran
Authors: ALISHIRI G. Hussein , BAYAT Noushin , SALIMZADEH Ahmad , FORGHANIZADEH Jafar , SETAREHSHENAS Roya , GHORBANI Gholam Ali
Published: May 2007

Aim:  This study examined the frequency of secondary amyloidosis in Iranian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to determine its clinical significance.

Methods:  A total of 220 RA patients (167 female, 53 male), with minimum disease duration of 5 years, were included in this prospective study over a period of about 2 years. Abdominal subcutaneous fat‐pad aspiration (ASFA) method was used in obtaining specimens from all subjects. All of the specimens were examined for apple‐green birefringence under polarized light microscope. Amyloid deposits were graded from 1+ to 3+. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics of the patients were assessed and recorded.

Results:  Amyloid deposition was detected in 11 (5%) of the fat smears stained with Congo red stain. All of the samples had minimal (1+) amyloid deposits. In this study, amyloid‐positive cases showed clinically significant symptoms; six of the patients (55%) presented with proteinuria, and seven other cases (64%) presented with severe constipation.

Conclusion:  Abdominal fat amyloid deposition was found to be uncommon in adult Iranian RA patients. In up to half of the patients the deposits were subclinical. A longer follow‐up and larger multicentric collaborative study is needed to determine the significance of subclinical amyloid deposits.
Association of Sjögren's syndrome and rosacea: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: SANTOS‐NETO Leopoldo Luiz Dos , ANDRADE Elvis Henrique Santos , YAMAKAWA Patrícia Eiko , WATANABE SILVA Carlos Hirokatsu
Published: May 2007

Both Sjögren's syndrome and rosacea present clinical manifestations that include ocular involvement. We report a case of a 45‐year‐old woman with a history of persistent erythematous malar rash, associated with conjunctival hyperemia, xerophthalmia and blefaritis. The patient filled the current classification criteria proposed for Sjögren's syndrome and those for rosacea. The coexistence of these diseases has not been previously described in the literature. Both diseases have similar symptoms and different treatment approaches. We believe that it is important for clinicians to identify this association in order to provide better care for the patient.
Budd–Chiari syndrome due to membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava in a patient with Behcet's disease
Authors: EBRAHIMI Mahmood , JOKAR Mohammadhassan , TAHERI Reza
Published: May 2007

Budd–chiari syndrome is a well known complication of Behcet's disease. All cases of Behcet's disease with Budd–Chiari syndrome that have been reported in the literature had thrombosis of hepatic veins or inferior vena cava. We describe a 33‐year‐old woman with Behcet's disease who developed Budd–Chiari syndrome due to a membranous web of the inferior vena cava.
Subcutaneous panniculitis complicating pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma
Authors: BERHANE T. A. , SO K. , FROST F. A. , LANGLANDS D. R.
Published: May 2007

Acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas is rare and can occur with the unusual presentation of arthritis and panniculitis that mimic erythema nodosum. We report a case and review the available literature regarding this rare condition of erythema nodosum and panniculitis associated with bilateral ankle and feet pain, which has rendered the patient virtually wheelchair‐bound.
Dermatomyositis in a patient with high grade papillary urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder
Authors: SHARMA Aman , KUMAR Susheel , WANCHU Ajay , MANDAL A. K. , SINGH Surjit , BAMBERY Pradeep
Published: May 2007

Inflammatory myopathies like dermatomyositis are associated with increased incidence of malignancies. This association has been commonly reported with malignancies of ovaries, gastro‐intestinal tract, breast and non‐Hodgkin's lymphomas but occurrence of dermatomyositis with bladder cancer has been rarely reported. We report a patient with carcinoma bladder who developed dermatomyositis while being treated for the bladder cancer.
Multifocal pyomyositis: report of two cases
Authors: AL‐EMADI Samar , HAMMOUDEH Mohammed , ABDULWAHAB Nagui
Published: May 2007

Pyomyositis is a primary infection of the striated muscles. We describe the clinical and imaging features of pyomyositis in two patients, one diabetic and the other immunocompetent. Treatment with incision, drainage and antibiotics was successful and resulted in full recovery. Increased awareness, especially in immuno‐competent patients, should lead to earlier diagnosis, correct treatment and a better outcome.
Transient dermatomyositis complicated with interstitial pneumonia
Authors: HAMAGUCHI Masahide , KAWAHITO Yutaka , KOBAYASHI Tsutomu , YOSHIKAWA Toshikazu
Published: May 2007

We experienced a case of transient dermatomyositis with interstitial pneumonia, which was diagnosed on the basis of clinical manifestation and histology. The patient's symptoms, including both dermatomyositis and interstitial pneumonia, improved without pharmacological treatment.
Heart Failure and Its Management With β‐Blockade: Potential Applications of Once‐Daily Therapy
Authors: Yancy Clyde W.
Published: May 2007

Heart failure (HF) due to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is a progressive disease beginning with a primary injury that activates compensatory cardiovascular mechanisms including varying degrees of neurohormonal activation. Within the neurohormonal cascade, activation of the sympathetic nervous system is in part responsible for ongoing myocardial injury, progressive LV remodeling, and functional deterioration eventually leading to symptomatic HF. Large randomized clinical trials of certain β‐blockers added to standard therapies have shown unequivocal benefits in patients with chronic systolic HF resulting in reduced remodeling, fewer total and cardiovascular deaths, and less risk of hospitalization for worsening HF. Evidence‐based clinical guidelines recommend β‐blockers as part of the regimen for patients with systolic HF as well as LV dysfunction following myocardial infarction. Based on published clinical trial results, bisoprolol, carvedilol, and sustained‐release metoprolol succinate are recommended for systolic HF. Carvedilol, propranolol, and timolol are recommended for post‐myocardial infarction LV dysfunction. Unfortunately, these evidence‐based therapies are often underused in actual practice. Various strategies to increase β‐blocker use in HF have been attempted, including in‐hospital initiation of β‐blocker therapy. Simplifying dosing regimens may also improve adherence to prescribed medications. Use of controlled‐release carvedilol may encourage better adherence in patients with LV dysfunction and help overcome at least one barrier to optimal evidence‐based care.
β‐Blockers in Hypertension: A Reassessment of the Benefit of Combined α‐/β‐Blockade
Authors: Sica Domenic A.
Published: May 2007

β‐Blockers have a long history of use in patients with high blood pressure, either alone or in combination with other classes of antihypertensive agents. Although β‐blockers can lower blood pressure effectively, they have not been convincingly shown to reduce the likelihood of some cardiovascular complications from hypertension, and their utility for this purpose has been critically questioned of late. This growing distrust of β‐blocker therapy, however, is misguided. Negative sentiments about one drug in a class, as has been the case for atenolol, often become unfairly disparaging of all drugs in a class. In the process of such lumping, the heterogeneity of the various compounds making up a drug class is often neglected. Such is the case for combined α‐/β‐blockade, which is to be distinguished from β‐blockade alone because of differences in hemodynamic and metabolic effects. This should prompt a reappraisal of the role of selected agents, such as the combined α‐/β‐blocker carvedilol, in the long‐term treatment of hypertension.
A Historical Perspective on the Development of β‐Adrenergic Blockers
Authors: Frishman William H.
Published: May 2007

The introduction of β‐adrenergic‐blocking drugs into clinical medicine in the early 1960s represented a major advance in pharmacotherapy. The use of these drugs highlighted the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in contributing to the pathophysiology of a wide variety of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular disorders. This article summarizes the history of β‐blocking agents and reviews the applications of this therapeutic class. These drugs may be useful as primary protection against cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients and have proved to be beneficial in other cardiovascular conditions. Not all β‐blockers have the same mechanism of action and, among them, there are pharmacologic differences that may be of clinical importance.
Short‐Term Temporal Effects on Community Structure of Lepidoptera in Restored and Remnant Tallgrass Prairies
Authors: Summerville Keith S. , Bonte Anson C. , Fox Lena C.
Published: May 2007

Understanding the degree to which species assemblages naturally vary over time will be critically important when assessing whether direct management effects or contingency is responsible for species gain or loss. In this study, we tested three predictions related to short‐term variation in prairie moth communities: (1) communities would only exhibit significant temporal variation in newly restored sites (1–3 years old); (2) prairie size and age would positively influence community reassembly, with larger, older restorations sampling a greater proportion of the regional species pool; and (3) older restorations (7–10 years old) would have yet to converge on the community composition of prairie remnants. Moths were sampled from 13 Tallgrass prairie restorations and remnants in central Iowa in 2004–2005. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant effects of sampling year on moth species richness and abundance as well as on the richness of two functional groups, but difference among prairie types was only observed in 2005. Rarefaction analysis revealed that older restorations and prairie remnants supported higher species richness compared to recently planted sites, and nonmetric, multidimensional scaling ordination indicated that restorations older than 7 years were clearly converging on the species composition of remnants. These results suggest that moth communities in restorations and remnants are highly variable in time but that as restorations age, they appear to reaccumulate moth species found in prairie remnants. The long‐term persistence of a particular species assemblage within a given site, however, might be a difficult endpoint to attain in central Iowa prairies because of significant annual variation in species occurrence.
Disentangling Competition, Herbivory, and Seasonal Effects on Young Plants in Newly Restored Communities
Authors: Parsons Michael H. , Lamont Byron B. , Koch John M. , Dods Kenneth
Published: May 2007

Optimizing techniques of impact and consequence assessment are critical when faced with the challenges of reclamation within a damaged or altered ecosystem. Much debate has arisen over an appropriate index to evaluate herbivore and competition effects on restored communities. We assessed concurrent environmental pressures by means of repeated measurements using three common indices of plant performance (biomass, shoot extension, and survival) in conjunction with monitoring for number and timing of plants eaten. Our design incorporated 24 species, representing a range of taxonomic groups and growth forms, planted at low and high densities, inside and outside large‐scale mammal exclosures. We demonstrate that biomass and height measurements are correlated (at both the individual and the combined species levels), whereas the survival index often showed independent information. Using the most conservative measure (survival), we delineate between plant deaths attributed to seasonal effects, competition (some facilitation was apparent), and herbivory (both compensation and loss of fitness were demonstrated). Plant spacing effects depended on the index (response variable) and whether we measured individual or combined species. The survival index rarely showed competition effects. Due to counter facilitation effects, competition was not demonstrated for any index at the combined species level. The comparison of the relative order and magnitude of plants being eaten against impact identified vulnerable and compensating species. Once identified, compensating species may be used sacrificially to buffer damage in new reclamation systems, whereas deterrents may be used around known vulnerable species.
Forest History as a Basis for Ecosystem Restoration—A Multidisciplinary Case Study in a South Swedish Temperate Landscape
Authors: Lindbladh Matts , Brunet Jörg , Hannon Gina , Niklasson Mats , Eliasson Per , Eriksson Göran , Ekstrand Anders
Published: May 2007

Basic knowledge of the previous forest types or ecosystem present in an area ought to be an essential part of all landscape restoration. Here, we present a detailed study of forest and land use history over the past 2,000 years, from a large estate in southernmost Sweden, which is currently undergoing a restoration program. In particular, the aim was to identify areas with long continuity of important tree species and open woodland conditions. We employed a multidisciplinary approach using paleoecological analyses (regional and local pollen, plant macrofossil, tree ring) and historical sources (taxation documents, land surveys, forest inventories). The estate has been dominated by temperate broad‐leaved trees over most of the studied period. When a forest type of Tilia, Corylus, and Quercus started to decline circa 1,000 years ago, it was largely replaced by Fagus. Even though extensive planting of Picea started in mid‐nineteenth century, Fagus and Quercus have remained rather common on the estate up to present time. Both species show continuity on different parts of the estate from eighteenth century up to present time, but in some stands, for the entire 2,000 years. Our suggestions for restoration do not aim for previous “natural” conditions but to maintain the spatial vegetational pattern created by the historical land use. This study gives an example of the spatial and temporal variation of the vegetation that has historically occurred within one area and emphasizes that information from one methodological technique provides only limited information about an area’s vegetation history.
Countering the Broadleaf Invasion: Financial and Carbon Consequences of Removing Hardwoods during Longleaf Pine Savanna Restoration
Authors: Condon Brian , Putz Francis E.
Published: May 2007

The once widespread Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)–dominated ecosystems of the southeastern coastal plain of the United States have been greatly reduced in extent, and many of the remaining stands are being degraded by hardwood invasion due to fire suppression. The first step toward pine savanna restoration is often hardwood removal, a costly process due to their large volumes and low market values. Despite these problems, by marketing a wide range of hard‐ and softwood products, the costs of 13 restoration projects in northern Florida were substantially reduced. Ten different products were sold to 19 different buyers. Fuel chips represented 71–100% of all biomass removed (8.2–81.1 Mg/ha). Although landowners were charged modest amounts for removing biomass harvested as fuel chips, other marketed products yielded revenues. Overall, four projects earned net profits of $29–$383/ha, and four projects generated sufficient revenue to pay 17–99% of the cost of hardwood removal as fuel chips. A carbon accounting of a second set of projects demonstrated that carbon harvested as fuel chips far exceeded that consumed in harvest and transport, yielding net carbon offsets of 451–1,320 Mg C/project (3.3–13.9 Mg C/ha). Using fuel consumption results of this second set of projects, carbon offsets for the 13 restoration projects were estimated as 89–1,524 Mg (3.8–37.9 Mg C/ha). Restorationists should monitor traditional forest product markets as well as developing carbon markets for price fluctuations that could provide significant revenues to restoration projects.
Present State and Future Perspectives of Restoration Ecology—Introduction
Authors: Halle Stefan
Published: May 2007

Although the aim of and the need for ecological restoration, and restoration ecology as its scientific base, are obvious, the field is still struggling with defining its basics. This situation, reflected by the debate about alternative terms to replace “restoration,” the ambiguous self‐image as a movement, art, application, or science, and the lack of a unifying conceptual framework, results in an uncertainty about the future development of the field. In a 10‐year project, an interdisciplinary Research Training Group in Jena followed the regeneration of one degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem, respectively, and suggested a conceptual model for regeneration and restoration that was derived from the shared features of the two systems. As part of the scientific discussion of this new approach, an international workshop “Present State and Future Perspectives of Restoration Ecology” was organized in Jena in November 2004. The following collection of 12 opinion papers and 1 concluding chapter reflect the discussions at the workshop and contributes to the “self‐finding” process of restoration ecology.
The Power of Regeneration: Lessons from a Degraded Grassland
Authors: Blanke Verena , Schulze Birgit , Gerighausen Uta , Küster Silvia , Rothe Remo , Schulze Heike , Siñeriz Manuel
Published: May 2007

To gain insight into mechanisms controlling ecosystem regeneration, we investigated a grassland that was heavily polluted by a phosphate fertilizer factory between 1960 and 1990. Abiotic and biotic filters that influenced species assemblage and succession were monitored and restoration approaches assessed. Studies included the investigation of soil parameters, impact of abiotic stress on microbes and plants, plant succession, recolonization mechanisms, functional group interactions, mycorrhizal diversity and function, and food web analysis. Results indicate that after cessation of pollution, the system had high potential for self‐recovery. About 15 years of research are now summarized by interrelating the results of all projects and fitting them into one conceptual model.
Web‐Based Data, Document, and Knowledge Management in Restoration Projects
Authors: Neumann Michael
Published: May 2007

This paper gives an introduction to composition, creation, and management of knowledge using a long‐term research project as an example. The concept and first experiences for a web‐based knowledge management system (KMS) of the regeneration process of the stream Ilm (Thuringia, Germany) are presented. From 1996 until 2005, this restoration ecology project investigated whether the river ecosystem can attain its natural state again and how the regeneration can be influenced. The web‐based content management system iZone, with an emphasis on information retrieval and feedback, was used to support the process of storage, retrieval, and visualization of existing information, several Ph.D. studies, and expert knowledge in the concluding phase of the research project. The resulting KMS at the moment stores 90 entries from 35 project scientists.
On the Status of Restoration Science: Obstacles and Opportunities
Authors: Weiher Evan
Published: May 2007

Terrestrial restoration ecology is not as well developed as aquatic and wetland restoration. There are several key obstacles to progress in restoration ecology, but these obstacles may also be viewed as opportunities to exploit. One obstacle is demonstration science, or an overreliance on simplistic experiments with few treatment factors and few levels of those factors. Complex, multivariate experiments yield greater insights, especially when teamed with sophisticated methods of data analysis. A second key obstacle is myopic scholarship that has led to little synthesis and weak conceptual theory. A greater awareness of and explicit references to ecological principles will help develop the conceptual basis of restoration science. Where should restoration ecology be headed? We should consider forming partnerships with developers, landscape artists, and industry to do complex, large‐scale experiments and make restoration a more common part of everyday life.
The Recent Double Paradigm Shift in Restoration Ecology
Authors: Temperton Vicky M.
Published: May 2007

The fields of ecology and ecological restoration possess an enormous potential for cross‐fertilization of ideas and information. Ecology could play a major role in informing practical restoration, whereas restoration projects, often situated in quite extreme environments, provide an excellent opportunity to test ecological theories. Efforts to base restoration on more of a scientific foundation, however, have recently started gathering momentum, following the call for such a link by Tony Bradshaw in 1987. On another level, as we gather more experience and information from restoration projects, it is becoming equally clear that often neglected socioeconomic and political aspects of restoration should not be forgotten in the overall approach to restoration. The two paradigm shifts in ecological restoration, toward more scientific foundation and better inclusion of socioeconomic limits and opportunities, locate restoration firmly in the transdisciplinary arena, with all the concomitant challenges and opportunities. In this sense, ecological restoration could be compared to the medical profession, where both a sound knowledge of science and human nature are a prerequisite for success in healing.
People as Ecological Participants in Ecological Restoration
Authors: Burke Sarah M. , Mitchell Neil
Published: May 2007

In 1987, Bradshaw proposed that ecological restoration is the ultimate “acid test” of our understanding the functioning of ecosystems (Bradshaw 1987). Although this concept is widely supported academically, how it can be applied by restoration practitioners is still unclear. This is an issue not limited to Bradshaw’s acid test, but moreover, reflects a general difficulty associated with the polarization between conceptual restoration (restoration ecology) and practical restoration (ecological restoration), where each has functioned to certain degree in isolation of the other. Outside of the more obvious pragmatic reasons for the relative independence between ecological restoration and restoration ecology, we propose that a more contentious explanation is that the approach taken toward understanding ecosystem development in restoration ecology is tangential to what actually takes place in ecological restoration. Current paradigms assume that the process of ecosystem development in restoration should follow the developmental trajectories suggested by classical ecological succession models. However, unlike these models, ecosystem development in restoration is, at least initially, largely manipulated by people, rather than by abiotic and biotic forces alone. There has been little research undertaken to explore how restoration activities impact upon or add to the extant ecological processes operating within a restoration site. Consequently, ecological restoration may not be so much an acid test of our understanding the functioning of ecosystems, but rather, an acid test of our understanding mutually beneficial interactions between humans and ecosystems.
Science, Art, or Application—the “Karma” of Restoration Ecology
Authors: Halle Stefan
Published: May 2007

The present state of restoration ecology is far away from Bradshaw’s “acid test for ecology.” The conclusions drawn from the series of papers in this issue and from the Jena workshop suggest some directions in which the field may progress. More attention must be paid to the degraded state, which should be evaluated by its specific features and carefully analyzed before any restoration plan is laid down. Restoration goals have to be realistic, which includes the appreciation of globally changing conditions, resulting in a paradigm‐shift toward “forward‐restoration.” Basically, the transition from the degraded state conditions to the target state is a kind of succession that is manipulated by the application of goal‐orientated and system‐specific disturbances. Whenever possible, restorationists should step back and make use of naturally occurring succession, which requires a sophisticated restoration strategy, involving flexible management responses, multiple alternative target states, robust measurements for the restoration progress, and careful long‐term monitoring. The unique feature of restoration ecology is the involvement of socioeconomic decisions, and conceptual frameworks for ecological restoration have to implement the specific links to natural succession. To bridge the gap between ecological theory and on the ground restoration, it is essential that restoration practice is translated into the vocabulary and thinking of basic ecology. If all these aspects are integrated, ecological restoration as an application—and restoration ecology as an applied science—may develop into an acid test for our understanding of interactions between people and their environment, rather than for pure ecology.
Science Driven Restoration: A Candle in a Demon Haunted World—Response to Cabin (2007)
Authors: Giardina Christian P. , Litton Creighton M. , Thaxton Jarrod M. , Cordell Susan , Hadway Lisa J. , Sandquist Darren R.
Published: May 2007

Cabin (2007) asks whether formal science is an effective framework and methodology for designing and implementing ecological restoration programs. He argues that beyond certain ancillary benefits, restoration science has little of practical value to offer the practice of restoration. He goes on to suggest that restoration science most often represents an impediment to restoration practice because an “ivory tower” mentality limits the utility of experiments and diverts research dollars away from answering practical questions. His conclusion is that a nonscientific gardening approach may be more effective at restoring degraded ecosystems. We disagree with this perspective because: (1) restoration science has moved beyond exclusively using “square grids” placed on small patches of land to examine treatment effects on species representation; (2) Cabin’s critique greatly undervalues the contribution of science to restoration practice even where the input of restoration scientists is not directly evident; and (3) the practice of restoration is unlikely to advance beyond small‐scale and truly haphazard successes without well‐designed studies that can provide peer‐reviewed and widely accessible published information on the mechanisms underlying both successes and failures. We conclude that through integration with other disciplines, restoration science increasingly will provide novel approaches and tools needed to restore ecosystem composition, structure, and function at stand to landscape scales. As with the broader role of science in the human enterprise (Sagan 1996), the contribution of restoration science to restoration practice can only grow as the discipline matures.
Electrophysiologic Characteristics and Anatomical Complexities of Accessory Atrioventricular Pathways with Successful Ablation of Anterograde and Retrograde Conduction at Different Sites
Authors: CHEN SHIH‐ANN , TAI CHTNG‐TAI , LEE SHIH HUANG , CHIANG CHERN‐EN , WEN ZU‐CHI , CHIOU CHUEN‐WANG , UENG KWO‐CHANG , CHEN YI‐JEN , YU WEN‐JONE , HUANG JIN‐LONG , CHANG MAU‐SONG
Published: May 2007

RF Ablation of Accessory Pathways. Introduction: Catheter ablation may eliminate anterograde and retrograde accessory pathway conduction at closely adjacent but anatomically discrete sites. However, the mechanisms of this discrepancy, the electrophysiologic and anatomical characteristics, and information about systematic study from a large patient population are not available. The purpose of this study was to investigate the electrophysiologic characteristics and anatomical complexities of the accessory pathway in which anterograde and retrograde conduction was successfully ablated at different sites.

Methods and Results: Thirty‐eight (10.9%) patients (19 men and 19 women; mean age 37 ± 2.4 years) fulfilling the criteria of having separate ablation sites for anterograde and retrograde conduction were designated as group I, and the other 310 patients (215 men and 95 women; mean age 47 ± 0.6 years) were designated as group II. The patients with right‐sided free‐wall pathways had the highest incidence (18.6%) of separate ablation sites. The anatomical distance between anterograde and retrograde directions (left anterior oblique view. 13 ± 0.6 vs 8 ± 0.9 mm, P < 0.01; right anterior oblique view, 17 ± 0.6 vs 5 ± 0.7 mm, P < 0.01), and incidence of conduction impairment in one direction after successful ablation of another direction (15% vs 78%, P < 0.05) differed significantly between left and right free‐wall pathways. The mean distances obtained from left (7 ±0.4 vs 14 ± 0.4 mm, P < 0.05) and right (7 ± 1.1 vs 15 ± 0.9 mm, P < 0.05) anterior oblique views were shorter in patients who had impairment of conduction properties than those in patients without impaired conduction after successful ablation of one direction.

Conclusions: This study showed that anatomical and functional dissociation of the accessory pathway into anterograde and retrograde components was possible. Further study on the relation between electropbysiologic and pathologic characteristics would be helpful to confirm these findings.
Comparison of Group Testing Algorithms for Case Identification in the Presence of Test Error
Authors: Kim Hae‐Young , Hudgens Michael G. , Dreyfuss Jonathan M. , Westreich Daniel J. , Pilcher Christopher D.
Published: May 2007

Summary We derive and compare the operating characteristics of hierarchical and square array‐based testing algorithms for case identification in the presence of testing error. The operating characteristics investigated include efficiency (i.e., expected number of tests per specimen) and error rates (i.e., sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, per‐family error rate, and per‐comparison error rate). The methodology is illustrated by comparing different pooling algorithms for the detection of individuals recently infected with HIV in North Carolina and Malawi.
On Smoothing Trends in Population Index Modeling
Authors: Mazzetta Chiara , Brooks Steve , Freeman Stephen N.
Published: May 2007

SummaryIn this article, we consider the U.K. Common Birds Census counts and their use in monitoring bird abundance. We use a state–space modeling approach within a Bayesian framework to describe population level trends over time and contribute to the alert system used by the British Trust for Ornithology. We account for potential overdispersion and excess zero counts by modeling the observation process with a zero‐inflated negative binomial, while the system process is described by second‐order polynomial growth models. In order to provide a biological motivation for the amount of smoothing applied to the observed series the system variance is related to the demographic characteristics of the species, so as to help the specification of its prior distribution. In particular, the available information on productivity and survival is used to formulate prior expectations on annual percentage changes in the population level and then used to constrain the variance of the system process. We discuss an example of how to interpret alternative choices for the degree of smoothing and how these relate to the classification of species, over time, into conservation lists.
Joint Models for a Primary Endpoint and Multiple Longitudinal Covariate Processes
Authors: Li Erning , Wang Naisyin , Wang Nae‐Yuh
Published: May 2007

Summary Joint models are formulated to investigate the association between a primary endpoint and features of multiple longitudinal processes. In particular, the subject‐specific random effects in a multivariate linear random‐effects model for multiple longitudinal processes are predictors in a generalized linear model for primary endpoints. Li, Zhang, and Davidian (2004, Biometrics60, 1–7) proposed an estimation procedure that makes no distributional assumption on the random effects but assumes independent within‐subject measurement errors in the longitudinal covariate process. Based on an asymptotic bias analysis, we found that their estimators can be biased when random effects do not fully explain the within‐subject correlations among longitudinal covariate measurements. Specifically, the existing procedure is fairly sensitive to the independent measurement error assumption. To overcome this limitation, we propose new estimation procedures that require neither a distributional or covariance structural assumption on covariate random effects nor an independence assumption on within‐subject measurement errors. These new procedures are more flexible, readily cover scenarios that have multivariate longitudinal covariate processes, and can be implemented using available software. Through simulations and an analysis of data from a hypertension study, we evaluate and illustrate the numerical performances of the new estimators.
Matching in Studies of Classification Accuracy: Implications for Analysis, Efficiency, and Assessment of Incremental Value
Authors: Janes Holly , Pepe Margaret S.
Published: May 2007

Summary. In case–control studies evaluating the classification accuracy of a marker, controls are often matched to cases with respect to factors associated with the marker and disease status. In contrast with matching in epidemiologic etiology studies, matching in the classification setting has not been rigorously studied. In this article, we consider the implications of matching in terms of the choice of statistical analysis, efficiency, and assessment of the incremental value of the marker over the matching covariates. We find that adjustment for the matching covariates is essential, as unadjusted summaries of classification accuracy can be biased. In many settings, matching is the most efficient covariate‐dependent sampling scheme, and we provide an expression for the optimal matching ratio. However, we also show that matching greatly complicates estimation of the incremental value of the marker. We recommend that matching be carefully considered in the context of these findings.
Nonparametric Inference on Median Residual Life Function
Authors: Jeong Jong‐Hyeon , Jung Sin‐Ho , Costantino Joseph P.
Published: May 2007

SummaryA simple approach to the estimation of the median residual lifetime is proposed for a single group by inverting a function of the Kaplan–Meier estimators. A test statistic is proposed to compare two median residual lifetimes at any fixed time point. The test statistic does not involve estimation of the underlying probability density function of failure times under censoring. Extensive simulation studies are performed to validate the proposed test statistic in terms of type I error probabilities and powers at various time points. One of the oldest data sets from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), which has more than a quarter century of follow‐up, is used to illustrate the method. The analysis results indicate that, without systematic post‐operative therapy, a significant difference in median residual lifetimes between node‐negative and node‐positive breast cancer patients persists for about 10 years after surgery. The new estimates of the median residual lifetime could serve as a baseline for physicians to explain any incremental effects of post‐operative treatments in terms of delaying breast cancer recurrence or prolonging remaining lifetimes of breast cancer patients.