bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of Interim Recommendations and Use of Hib Vaccine During Vaccine Shortages
Authors: Kempe Allison , Babbel Christine , Wallace Gregory S. , Stokley Shannon , Daley Matthew F. , Crane Lori A. , Beaty Brenda , Black Sandra R. , Barrow Jennifer , Dickinson L. Miriam
Published: April 2010

OBJECTIVES:

The goals were to determine among pediatricians and family physicians (1) knowledge of interim recommendations regarding Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine administration, (2) current practices, and (3) factors associated with nonadherence.

METHODS:

An Internet-based survey was conducted in April 2008 among national samples.

RESULTS:

Response rates were 68% (220 of 325 physicians) among pediatricians and 51% (153 of 302 physicians) among family physicians. Seventy-three percent of pediatricians and 45% of family medicine physicians reported insufficient Hib vaccine supplies, and 22% to 24% reported having to defer doses for infants 2 to 6 months of age ≥10% of the time. Ninety-eight percent of pediatricians and 81% of family physicians were aware of the interim recommendations (P ≤ .0001), and virtually all knew that the booster dose should be deferred; however, 22% of pediatricians and 33% of family medicine physicians reported not deferring this dose. Physicians in both specialties were less likely to adhere to recommendations to defer in this age group if they thought that their practice had sufficient vaccine supplies (pediatricians, odds ratio: 0.01 [95% confidence interval: 0.003–0.03]; family medicine physicians, odds ratio: 0.10 [95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.33]). Family medicine physicians were less likely to adhere to recommendations if they had not heard about the interim recommendations (odds ratio: 0.04 [95% confidence interval: 0.01–0.21]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Most primary care physicians experienced Hib vaccine shortages, and many have had to defer doses for 2- to 6-month-old children. Most are knowledgeable regarding interim recommendations, but one-fifth to one-third reported nonadherence.
The Prevalence of Infections WithTrichophyton tonsuransin Schoolchildren: the CAPITIS Study
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Susan M. , Farrand Nancy , Schuenemann Eric , Stering Tricia K. , Preuett Barry , Magie Richard , Campbell Annette
Published: April 2010

BACKGROUND:

Although Trichophyton tonsurans has become the leading cause of tinea capitis in the United States, reported infection rates vary widely, and prevalence estimates for the pediatric population at large remain poorly characterized.

METHODS:

A prospective, cross-sectional, surveillance study of children attending kindergarten through fifth grade in 44 schools across the bi-state (Kansas/Missouri), Kansas City metropolitan area was conducted. Fungal cultures were collected from all participants, and molecular analyses were used to characterize the patterns of infection within the population.

RESULTS:

Of 10514 children (age: 8.3 ± 1.9 years) examined for the presence of T tonsurans on their scalps, 6.6% exhibited positive cultures. Infection rates at participating schools ranged from 0% to 19.4%, exceeding 30% at a given grade level in some schools. Black children demonstrated the highest rates of infection (12.9%), with prevalence estimates for the youngest members of this racial group approaching 18%. Infection rates for Hispanic (1.6%) and white (1.1%) children were markedly lower. A single genetic strain of T tonsurans was identified in only 16.6% of classrooms, whereas each child harbored a unique genetic strain in 51.4%.

CONCLUSIONS:

We report a large-scale, citywide, surveillance study of T tonsurans infection rates among children in primary school in a metropolitan area. The striking prevalence rates and genetic heterogeneity among the fungal isolates confirm the relatively large degree to which this pathogen has become integrated into metropolitan communities.
Smoking and smoking cessation in pregnancy
Authors: Eastham Rob , Gosakan Radhika
Published: April 2010

Key content

A 2005 survey of new mothers in England revealed that the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women remains high.

Smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of fetal and infant morbidity in the UK.

Potential problems during pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, placental complications, premature rupture of membranes, premature birth and fetal growth restriction.

Counselling sessions are effective in pregnancy and lead to a reduction in the incidence of preterm birth and low birthweight.

Nicotine replacement therapy can be considered in pregnant women under some circumstances, whilst current evidence suggests other pharmacological therapies are contraindicated.

Learning objectives

To understand the risks of smoking to fetal and child health.

To understand epidemiological factors and implications for smoking cessation services.

To become familiar with the recommended smoking cessation methods offered during pregnancy.

Ethical issues

Nicotine crosses the placenta and has been shown to cause a dose‐related rise in maternal blood pressure and heart rate. Some argue that use of nicotine replacement therapy unnecessarily exposes the fetus to health risks.

Please cite this article as: Eastham R, Gosakan R. Smoking and smoking cessation in pregnancy. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2010;12:103–109.
Academic training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK: current progress and opportunities
Authors: David Anna L , Whitten Melissa , Rodeck Charles H
Published: April 2010

Key content

UK initiatives to promote academic training in obstetrics and gynaecology are under way.

New posts at all levels of academic training are available nationally.

Guidance towards a career in academic obstetrics and gynaecology is available from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Academic mentors are available to support academic trainees in the specialty.

Learning objectives

To understand the initiatives that are supporting progress in academic obstetrics and gynaecology at all career levels in the UK.

To find out more information about academic training in general.

To learn about academic training opportunities in obstetrics and gynaecology.

Ethical issues

How can academic trainees be good clinicians and researchers?

Why is research valued more than teaching and what can be done about this?

How can future academic leaders in obstetrics and gynaecology be identified and nurtured?

Please cite this article as: David AL, Whitten M, Rodeck CH. Academic training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK: current progress and opportunities. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2010;12:111–118.
Safety of diagnostic imaging in pregnancy. Part 1: X‐ray, nuclear medicine investigations, computed tomography and contrast media
Authors: Eskandar Osama , Eckford Seumas , Watkinson Tony
Published: April 2010

Key content

The safety of diagnostic imaging in pregnancy is a real concern.

In general, X‐rays and computed tomography scans are unlikely to cause deterministic effects in an individual pregnancy.

Apart from the adverse effect of iodine on the fetal thyroid gland, common nuclear medicine investigation procedures are unlikely to involve teratogenic fetal doses.

Iodinated agents should be avoided in pregnancy.

It is recommended that paramagnetic contrast agents used with magnetic resonance imaging are only considered in pregnancy if absolutely necessary.

Learning objectives

To understand the principles, diagnostic value and safety of various diagnostic modalities using ionised radiation, at different stages of pregnancy.

To choose the most appropriate imaging tool for various medical conditions in pregnancy.

To be able to counsel pregnant women and provide them with accurate information about the safety of various diagnostic imaging modalities.

Ethical issues

Physicians should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of any radiographic procedure and include the mother in the decision‐making process whenever possible.

Please cite this article as: Eskandar OS, Eckford SD, Watkinson T. Safety of diagnostic imaging in pregnancy. Part 1: X‐ray, nuclear medicine investigations, computed tomography and contrast media. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2010;12:71–78.
Vascular malformations in relation to obstetrics and gynaecology: diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Abu‐Ghazza Osama , Hayes Kevin , Chandraharan Edwin , Belli Anna‐Maria
Published: April 2010

Key content

Acquired uterine artery and congenital uterine arteriovenous malformations are rare but are associated with intractable uterine haemorrhage and increased maternal morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed early.

A high index of suspicion is required to make a timely diagnosis.

Haemorrhages resulting from acquired uterine artery and congenital uterine arteriovenous malformations are associated with a previous history of obstetric or gynaecological surgery.

Ultrasound can be key in diagnosing and localising these lesions before angiography.

Selective uterine artery embolisation is the treatment of choice.

Learning objectives

To understand how uterine artery malformations are acquired and potential methods of prevention.

To recognise the clinical presentations of these lesions.

To note the role of ultrasound and colour Doppler examination in their diagnosis.

To identify appropriate management strategies.

Ethical issues

Early diagnosis prevents unnecessary intervention such as evacuation of retained products of conception and use of antibiotics in cases of postpartum haemorrhage, or even hysterectomy.

Selective uterine artery embolisation appears to preserve ovarian function.

Please cite this article as: Abu‐Ghazza O, Hayes K, Chandraharan E, Belli AM. Vascular malformations in relation to obstetrics and gynaecology: diagnosis and treatment. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2010;12:87–93.
Responding to Reading Instruction in a Primary‐Grade Classroom
Authors: Mokhtari Kouider , Porter Leah , Edwards Patricia
Published: April 2010

In this article, the authors present a snapshot of how one kindergarten and Reading Recovery teacher organized instruction in her classroom, enabling her to provide constructively responsive reading assessment and instruction for her developing and struggling readers.

في هذه المقالة يقدم المؤلفون لقطة للطريقة التي نظمت فيها معلمة متخصصة في منهاج استعادة القراءة في الروضة التعليم في غرفة صفها الأمر الذي مكنها من توفير تقاييم وتعليم متكيفة بنائية في القراءة لقراءها المتطورين والمواجهين صعوبة في القراءة.

本文作者展示一幅快照，介绍一名「恢复阅读能力」教师如何在她的幼儿园教室中编排教学，为处于萌发期及有阅读困难的学生提供建设性及适切学习需要的阅读评估与教学。

Dans cet article, les auteurs présentent un instantané de la façon dont un enseignant de jardin d'enfants en Récupération de la lecture a organisé l'enseignement dans sa classe, ce qui lui a permis de produire de façon constructive un enseignement et une évaluation de la lecture réactive à l'intention de ses lecteurs sans problèmes ou en difficulté.

Авторы описывают деятельность учительницы, занимавшейся с дошкольниками по программе “Возрождение чтения”. Методы, предлагаемые этой программой, дали ей возможность оперативно отзываться на нужды учеников, которые делают лишь первые – зачастую нелегкие – шаги в чтении, и конструктивно оценивать их работу.

En este artículo los autores presentan una estampa de cómo una maestra de jardín de niños y de Reading Recovery organizó la instrucción en su aula, haciéndole posible dar evaluaciones e instrucción de lectura constructiva para sus lectores en desarrollo y con dificultades.
Clinical Medicine and Clinical Trials
Authors: Tepper Joel E.
Published: April 2010

The author discusses the role of clinical trials in clinical medicine.
Suppression of MG132-mediated cell death by peroxiredoxin 1 through influence on ASK1 activation in human thyroid cancer cells
Authors: Du Zhen-Xian , Yan Ying , Zhang Hai-Yan , Liu Bao-Qin , Gao Yan-Yan , Niu Xiao-Fang , Guan Yifu , Meng Xin , Wang Hua-Qin
Published: April 2010

Proteasome inhibitors represent a novel class of antitumor agents with pre-clinical and clinical evidence of activity against hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. However, emerging evidence indicates that antiapoptotic factors may also accumulate as a consequence of exposure to these drugs, thus it seems plausible that the activation of survival signaling cascades might compromise their antitumoral effects. Peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) are a family of thiol-containing peroxidases identified primarily by their ability to remove cellular hydroperoxides. The function of PRDX1 in particular has been implicated in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Another important finding is that aberrant upregulation of PRDX1 has been discovered in various cancers. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase that is regulated under conditions of cellular stress. ASK1 phosphorylates c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK, and elicits an apoptotic response. ASK1 activity is regulated at multiple levels, one of which is through interaction with PRDX1. In this study, for the first time we report that upregulation of PRDX1 expression was found in thyroid cancer cells treated with proteasome inhibitors, and PRDX1 knockdown resulted in accelerated proteasome inhibitor-induced cell death. In addition, we demonstrated that ASK1 activity was implicated in the PRDX1-dependent response of thyroid cancer cells to proteasome inhibitor-mediated cell death.
Cement hydration in the presence of black gram pulse
Authors: Singh N.B. , Das S.S. , Dwivedi V.N.
Published: April 2010

Naturally occurring black gram pulse (BGP) in the form of fine powder was used as an admixture during the hydration of ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The hydration characteristics of OPC in the presence of different concentrations of BGP were studied with the help of calorimetric, differential scanning calorimetric, powder X-ray diffraction, UV-visible, Fourier transform-infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. The results suggested that BGP is adsorbed on the surface of cement/hydration products and a weak interaction occurs between them. Due to this interaction, BGP retards the hydration process of the cement. Mössbauer studies suggest that the addition of BGP in OPC increases the asymmetry of the electronic environment around Fe3+ ions and leads to the formation of nano-sized hydration products.
Effects of w/c ratio on Portland limestone cement concrete
Authors: Pourkhorshidi A. , Jamshidi M. , Najimi M.
Published: April 2010

Hitherto, limestone has been recognised as a suitable substitute for cement replacement. The present study was an experimental investigation of the properties of Portland limestone cement and the effects of water-to-cement (w/c) ratio on performance of concretes containing it. The Portland limestone cement concrete specimens (containing 14% limestone) with w/c ratio of 0·35, 0·45 and 0·55 were experimentally compared to ordinary Portland cement concrete specimens. The results demonstrated that w/c ratio has a prominent effect on the performance of Portland limestone cement concretes, with higher w/c resulting in weaker performance. Therefore Portland limestone cement containing 14% limestone can be considered as a low-cost, effective and available supplementary cementing material.
Genetic algorithm rheological equations for cement paste
Authors: Al-Martini S. , Nehdi M.
Published: April 2010

The rheological behaviour of cement pastes incorporating superplasticisers is influenced by the ambient temperature and mixing time; which is critical for hot weather concreting. Rheological parameters including yield stress and plastic viscosity of cement pastes with a water/cement ratio of 0·38 and incorporating polycarboxylate-, melamine sulfonate-, and naphthalene sulfonate-based superplasticisers were measured as a function of the superplasticiser dosage and temperature (22–45°C) over 20 to 110 min from the time of mixing, with 30 min between successive measurements. The rheological tests were conducted using an advanced shear-stress/shear-strain controlled rheometer. Test results indicate that the yield stress and plastic viscosity of cement paste vary in a linear fashion with the elapsed time, whereas their variations with the temperature and superplasticiser dosage follow power and inverse power functions, respectively. In this study, curves showing shear stress plotted against shear rate for cement pastes incorporating the various superplasticisers at different ambient temperatures and mixing times were predicted using genetic algorithms. Rheological equations were then derived from these curves using the Bingham model and employed to predict the yield stress and plastic viscosity of cement pastes. A sensitivity study was performed to evaluate the effects of mixing time, ambient temperature, and superplasticiser dosage on the calculated yield stress and plastic viscosity. It was shown that the computed yield stress and plastic viscosity values compared well with corresponding experimental data
The Effects of Gender Violence/Harassment Prevention Programming in Middle Schools: A Randomized Experimental Evaluation
Authors: Taylor Bruce , Stein Nan , Burden Frances
Published: April 2010

In this experiment, 123 sixth and seventh grade classrooms from Cleveland area schools were randomly assigned to one of two five-session curricula addressing gender violence/sexual harassment (GV/SH) or to a no-treatment control. Three-student surveys were administered. Students in the law and justice curricula, compared to the control group, had significantly improved outcomes in awareness of their abusive behaviors, attitudes toward GV/SH and personal space, and knowledge. Students in the interaction curricula experienced lower rates of victimization, increased awareness of abusive behaviors, and improved attitudes toward personal space. Neither curricula affected perpetration or victimization of sexual harassment. While the intervention appeared to reduce peer violence victimization and perpetration, a conflicting finding emerged—the intervention may have increased dating violence perpetration (or at least the reporting of it) but not dating violence victimization.
An Evidence-Based Review on Guided Imagery Utilization in Adult Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Casida Jesus , Lemanski Suzanne A.
Published: April 2010

This article illustrates a comprehensive review, synthesis, and critical appraisal of the research evidence surrounding guided imagery utilization in cardiac surgery. By adding guided imagery in the “usual care” of adult cardiac surgery patients, pre- and postoperative anxiety and pain, as well as hospital length of stay may be reduced. However, in spite of fairly strong “level” of evidence, the limited number of studies and low research quality deter the full acceptance of guided imagery as a standard therapeutic modality in this population. Acute and critical care nurses can offer guided imagery to their patients based on the documented safety of its use and clinically significant findings that it may have a direct impact on patients’ recovery outcomes. Higher quality, methodologically rigorous, and larger-scale studies are warranted to establish the efficacy and standard utilization of guided imagery during perioperative and rehabilitative periods. Future studies should also address long-term outcomes, specifically on physical and psychological health, well-being, and overall quality of life after cardiac surgery.
The “Dig It!” Smithsonian Soils Exhibition: Lessons Learned and Goals for the Future
Authors: Drohan Patrick J. , Havlin John L. , Megonigal J. Patrick , Cheng H. H.
Published: April 2010

The opening of “Dig It!: The Secrets of Soil,” a 5000‐ft2 exhibit on soil at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, presented an opportunity to reflect on the development process. The project generated important and new ways of thinking about soils education, and taught the SSSA much about itself and how to manage a project of this size and scope. While early struggles in organization and financing of the exhibit presented challenges never before faced by SSSA at this scale, persistence, flexibility, and some unconventional thinking won out in the end, and SSSA achieved its most significant educational success to date. Most importantly, the process taught many soil scientists that achieving greater visibility for soil science meant partnering with professionals outside of soil science, and trusting that they could convey the message delivered by the exhibit with the same enthusiasm they might have in the classroom. The lessons learned from the project, in the scope of its history, can help others further SSSA, soils education, and soil science as a respected, scientific field. We suggest six goals for the future of soil science that, if embraced with whole‐heart dedication and support, can help to embed the importance of soil in world thinking and policy. Our suggested goals are unconventional, like the experiences we faced in creating the exhibit, and thus perhaps will seem beyond the capability of most soil scientists. Hence our reminder: unconventional and bold thinking are what helped create the exhibit and will be what leads SSSA forward as a society best serving the world.
Soil Organic Matter Stability in Intensively Managed Ponderosa Pine Stands in California
Authors: McFarlane Karis J. , Schoenholtz Stephen H. , Powers Robert F. , Perakis Steven S.
Published: April 2010

Forest soils comprise a large portion of the global terrestrial C pool, and soil organic matter (SOM) is essential to soil function and forest productivity; however, responses of SOM quality to changes in fertility, moisture availability, or management are not well understood. We tested the effects of two common forest management practices, fertilization and competing vegetation control using herbicides, on surface SOM distribution and stability characteristics in three ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. Lawson & C. Lawson) plantations of differing productivity, soil type, and parent material in northern California by using density fractionation and aerobic laboratory incubation of the surface soils. The treatment effects on pine productivity revealed responses dominated by moisture limitation at the less productive sites and by nutrient limitation at the most productive site. The stability of surface SOM increased with increasing site productivity. Fertilization increased N concentrations and decreased C/N ratios in whole soils and light fractions at the less productive sites, and the effects persisted for more than a decade. Furthermore, fertilization increased soil C mineralization from the intermediate‐productivity site during incubation. In contrast, fertilization decreased C mineralization from the most productive site, suggesting that fertilization increased SOM stabilization at this site. Controlling understory vegetation with herbicides reduced N availability, as evidenced by reduced light‐fraction N at the poorest site and decreased N mineralization during incubation. Our study demonstrates the importance of site characteristics and the use of a combination of indices in determining the effects of forest management practices on SOM characteristics and dynamics.
Errors Analysis Of Heat Pulse Probe Methods: Experiments and Simulations
Authors: Liu Gang , Si Bing Cheng
Published: April 2010

The heat pulse probe (HPP) method can be used to measure specific heat capacity (c), thermal conductivity (λ), and water content of soil; however, many factors are believed to contribute to measurement errors in both λ and c from the HPP method. The objective of this study was to examine if contact resistance, heat‐driven flow, temperature‐dependent thermal properties, or epoxy fillings affect the estimated soil thermal properties and water content from the HPP method. Heat pulse experiments were conducted on oven‐dry sand, water‐saturated sand, sand saturated with agar‐stabilized water, and coarse snow (large grain size). The results showed that for the sand and coarse snow, the thermal contact resistance did not contribute to the overestimation of heat capacity. There was little difference in measured water contents between sand saturated with water and sand saturated with agar‐stabilized water, suggesting no obvious heat‐driven flow under saturated conditions. Compared with an 8‐s heat pulse with a power strength (q′) >80 W m−1, a long heat pulse of duration 60 s and q′ < 6 W m−1 reduced the overestimation of soil c and water content (θw) on oven‐dry sands. Both temperature‐dependent soil thermal properties and epoxy filling inside the heater needle contributed to the overestimation of c and θw.
Carbon Sequestration and Nutrient (Nitrogen, Phosphorus) Accumulation in River‐Dominated Tidal Marshes, Georgia, USA
Authors: Loomis Mark J. , Craft Christopher B.
Published: April 2010

Soil organic C, N, and P were measured in salt, brackish, and tidal freshwater marshes in river‐dominated estuaries (Ogeechee, Altamaha, and Satilla) of the Georgia coast to evaluate the effects of salinity on C, N, and P storage and accumulation. Tidal freshwater marshes had greater concentrations of organic C (10.81% w/w) and N (0.71% w/w) than brackish (7.71% C, 0.50% N) or salt (5.95% C, 0.35% N) marshes. Soil accretion rates of 137Cs were greater in tidal freshwater (4.78 mm yr−1) and brackish marshes (4.41 mm yr−1) than in salt marshes (1.91 mm yr−1). Consequently, organic C and N accumulation was greater in tidal freshwater (124 and 8.2 g m−2 yr−1) and brackish (93 and 6.5 g m−2 yr−1) marshes than salt marshes (40 and 2.4 g m−2 yr−1). Phosphorus accumulation was greater in the brackish marshes. Lower salinity tidal freshwater and brackish marshes remove more C, N, and P; however, salt marshes dominate the spatial extent of the study area (60%) vs. brackish (33%) and tidal freshwater marshes (7%). Combining measurements of C, N, and P accumulation with tidal marsh area, we estimated that tidal freshwater, brackish, and salt marshes stored or removed the equivalent of 2 to 20% of watershed N inputs entering the estuaries from the terrestrial landscape. After accounting for N2 fixation and denitrification, tidal marshes collectively removed the equivalent of 13 to 32% of the N entering estuaries. Tidal marshes, especially tidal freshwater and brackish marshes, are important for improving water quality and decreasing the impacts of N eutrophication of estuarine ecosystems.
Unweathered Wood Biochar Impact on Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Bovine‐Urine‐Amended Pasture Soil
Authors: Clough T.J. , Bertram J.E. , Ray J.L. , Condron L.M. , O'Callaghan M. , Sherlock R.R. , Wells N.S.
Published: April 2010

Low‐temperature pyrolysis of biomass produces a product known as biochar The incorporation of this material into the soil has been advocated as a C sequestration method. Biochar also has the potential to influence the soil N cycle by altering nitrification rates and by adsorbing or NH3 Biochar can be incorporated into the soil during renovation of intensively managed pasture soils. These managed pastures are a significant source of N2O, a greenhouse gas, produced in ruminant urine patches. We hypothesized that biochar effects on the N cycle could reduce the soil inorganic‐N pool available for N2O‐producing mechanisms. A laboratory study was performed to examine the effect of biochar incorporation into soil (20 Mg ha−1) on N2O‐N and NH3–N fluxes, and inorganic‐N transformations, following the application of bovine urine (760 kg N ha−1). Treatments included controls (soil only and soil plus biochar), and two urine treatments (soil plus urine and soil plus biochar plus urine). Fluxes of N2O from the biochar plus urine treatment were generally higher than from urine alone during the first 30 d, but after 50 d there was no significant difference (P = 0.11) in terms of cumulative N2O‐N emitted as a percentage of the urine N applied during the 53‐d period; however, NH3–N fluxes were enhanced by approximately 3% of the N applied in the biochar plus urine treatment compared with the urine‐only treatment after 17 d. Soil inorganic‐N pools differed between treatments, with higher concentrations in the presence of biochar, indicative of lower rates of nitrification. The inorganic‐N pool available for N2O‐producing mechanisms was not reduced, however, by adding biochar.
Soil Analysis Based on Samples Withdrawn from Different Volumes: Correlation versus Calibration
Authors: Wielopolski Lucian , Johnsen Kurt , Zhang Yuen
Published: April 2010

Soil, particularly in forests, is replete with spatial variation with respect to soil C. The present standard chemical method for soil analysis by dry combustion (DC) is destructive, and comprehensive sampling is labor intensive and time consuming. These, among other factors, are contributing to the development of new methods for soil analysis. These include a near‐ and mid‐infrared (NIR and MIR) spectroscopy, laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). These technologies overcome many of the state‐of‐the‐art DC method's shortcomings and offer advances that it cannot. While NIR and MIR measure C bonds, the other two new methods, like DC, are more specific in measuring C and other elements based on chemical, atomic, and nuclear reactions. In addition to their fundamentally different physical principles, these approaches vastly differ in the volumes they typically sample: LIBS, 10−9m3; DC, 10−7m3; NIR and MIR, 10−6m3; and INS, about 0.3 m3Thus, extra care is needed when comparing the findings from any two of these methods. Also, the high heterogeneity of the soil matrix, the nonuniformity of C distribution, and the presence of coarse fragments, particularly in forested ecosystems, further compound the difficulties in making direct comparisons. We investigated the implications of these differences when correlating any two of these methods and reviewed the processes of comparing a volumetric measurement against a point measurement. We also conducted a detailed comparison of the INS method with the standard DC test. We found that the total (soil organic matter and roots) measured by the INS correlated better than its components with the DC analyses(r2= 0.97,P= 10−7). The samples for DC analysis were taken from excavations of 40‐ by 40‐ by 40‐cm plots, in 5‐ and 10‐cm layers.
Soil Enzyme Activity in a Mediterranean Forest after Six Years of Drought
Authors: Sardans Jordi , Peñuelas Josep
Published: April 2010

A 6‐yr experiment in drought manipulation was conducted in aQuercus ilexL. Mediterranean forest to simulate the drought conditions projected for the coming decades. We investigated the effects of those drought conditions on soil urease, protease, and β‐glucosidase activities and the changes in C and N stocks in soil, leaves, and leaf litter. Elimination of runoff and rainfall resulted in lower soil water content than in control soils in autumn, winter, and spring (27, 61, and 53%, respectively). In soils subjected to runoff plus partial rainfall elimination, urease activities were reduced by 25% in autumn, winter, and spring; soil protease activities by 33% in winter and spring; and β‐glucosidase by 25 to 30% in summer and spring. Drought reduced the C/N ratio of the leaf litter of the dominant species, Q. ilex, by 11%, indicating a decrease in N remobilization before leaf fall. We therefore did not observe an increase in the C/N concentration ratio in litter and soil as we had expected. Drought decreased N availability in spring, the growing season, by reducing soil NO3−concentration. The reduction in enzyme activities in the drought‐affected soils was mainly due to the prolonged decrease in water availability and, to a lesser extent, to current soil water availability, mainly in summer, and to changes in the nutritional quality of the enzyme substrate. The observed drop in soil enzyme activity can contribute to a decrease in the amount of N liberated and consequently to a decline in the plant N capture, which was observed in some community species such asArbutus unedoL.
Quantification and Implications of Soil Losses from Commercial Sod Production
Authors: Millar David , Stolt Mark , Amador José A.
Published: April 2010

Commercial sod farms occupy about 1.62 × 103 km2 of the landscape of the United States. Land managers generally consider sod farms on an equal footing with other, sustainable agricultural land uses. We measured soil losses associated with sod harvesting in farms in the northeastern United States. Sod harvest resulted in soil losses ranging from 74 to 114 Mg ha−1 yr−1, considerably higher than the tolerable soil loss of 6.7 Mg ha−1 yr−1 Soil losses were proportional to time under sod production, with soil removal rates of 0.833 cm yr−1 We estimate that sod harvesting in the United States results in the net, permanent loss of 12.0 to 18.7 Tg of agriculturally productive soil from sod farms—and associated ecosystem services—every year. The soil losses reported here have important implications in terms of land use planning, transactions involving the purchase of development rights, and tax deductions for
Soil Quality and Tree Growth in Plantations of Forest and Agricultural Origin
Authors: Boussougou Inès Nelly Moussavou , Brais Suzanne , Tremblay Francine , Gaussiran Stephanne
Published: April 2010

Soil organic matter loss and increased soil compaction have been identified as the factors most likely to directly impact tree growth in managed forests. We compared the soil quality of plantations established on former agricultural lands (n = 20) with plantations established following clear cutting of native forests (n = 20). Half of the plantations had been planted with jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and half with white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss], 9 to 27 yr before the study. The old field plantations had lower (at 0–10 and 10–20 cm) mineral soil macroporosity and higher field capacity than forest plantations, indicating more severe soil compaction. The old field plantations, however, also had higher soil C content, raising the permanent wilting point and canceling compaction effects on the available water holding capacity. An indicator of organic matter quality, namely the potential net mineralization per unit of soil Kjeldahl N, was lower in the old fields. Species also affected soil quality indicators—with lower values of macroporosity and higher values of field capacity observed under white spruce. Despite significant differences in soil conditions, no significant effect (P < 0.05) of plantation origin on tree growth could be found. Old fields can support productive plantations of both species.
Soil Physical Properties Regulate Lethal Heating during Burning of Woody Residues
Authors: Busse Matt D. , Shestak Carol J. , Hubbert Ken R. , Knapp Eric E.
Published: April 2010

Temperatures well in excess of the lethal threshold for roots (60°C) have been measured in forest soils when woody fuels are burned. Whether this heat pulse is strongly moderated by soil moisture or soil texture is not fully understood, however. We measured soil heat profiles during 60 experimental burns, identifying changes in maximum soil temperature and heat duration above 60°C as a function of soil moisture and soil texture. Experimental treatments included a factorial combination of soil moisture (∼5, 15, 30, and 45% v/v) and soil textural (sandy loam, sandy loam–pumice, loam, clay loam) gradients, with a surface fuel load comprised of a dense layer of masticated wood. Soil moisture had a strong influence on heat transfer. A volumetric moisture content of 20% or greater quenched the heat pulse in all soils at depths of 2.5 cm and lower. In comparison, soil temperatures in dry soil far exceeded the lethal threshold to a depth of 10 cm. Differences in heating characteristics among the four soil types were minor despite their dissimilarities in texture, porosity, bulk density, and presumed thermal conductivity. It was also shown that intact soil cores were required to produce accurate heat profiles during burning, as maximum soil temperatures in the surface 5 cm were overestimated by 40 to 100°C using disturbed soil (sieved and packed). The empirical results along with a simple predictive model of soil heating show that burning of woody fuels when underlying soils have 20% volumetric moisture or greater is an effective means for limiting lethal heating in a variety of soils.
“Dig It!”: How an Exhibit Breathed Life into Soils Education
Authors: Megonigal J. Patrick , Stauffer Barbara , Starrs Siobhan , Pekarik Andrew , Drohan Patrick , Havlin John
Published: April 2010

We propose that the primary goal of public soils education should not be to teach, but to inspire The goal to inspire guided the design of “Dig It! The Secrets of Soil,” a large exhibit in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, for 18 mo beginning in June 2008. The “Dig It!” exhibit was designed from an ecosystem perspective, in which agriculture—the traditional context for soils education—is considered to be just one of many ecosystem types. For visitors inspired primarily by art and culture, there were objects chosen to surprise and expand the imagination about soils. The exhibit was designed to communicate to wide range of ages, centered on 12–14 yr olds. As such, it was rich in audiovisual media that included a cartoon, a movie, two looping videos, a kiosk for exploring the state soils, a quiz game, and a role‐playing game. It also included scale models and actual soil monoliths. The exhibit addressed the full spectrum of issues that concern contemporary soil scientists—climate change, aquatic eutrophication, soil degradation, sustainable farming, and others—by organizing the content according to scale (global, regional. and local). Interviews with visitors indicated that the exhibit had the potential to effectively alter the preconceived notions of more than 2 million visitors about soils. We fully expect the exhibit to continue inspiring the public about soils through the richness of the exhibit website (www.forces.si.edu/soils; verified 6 Mar. 2010), which includes videos, games, and interactive content.
Reactions to Loss Scale: Assessing Grief in College Students
Authors: Cooley Eric , Toray Tamina , Roscoe Lauren
Published: April 2010

The most common tools for assessing grief and loss focus on death-related loss. The Reactions to Loss Scale (RTL) broadens the scope of bereavement measures to include reactions to non-death losses. The population targeted by this measure, emerging adults (college students), commonly experiences a myriad of both death-related and non-death losses. The validity of the Reactions to Loss Scale (RTL) is investigated in 4 studies. Factor analysis of the 65-item RTL ( N = 564) identified 3 subscales, each demonstrating good reliability. In the first 3 studies, the RTL was found to be related to depression, anxiety, negative affect, and positive measures of satisfaction with life, happiness, and positive affect. In Study 4, prospective data was utilized to evaluate predictive validity. These data found that the RTL was predictive of longitudinal changes in negative affect, perceived social support, satisfaction with life, and positive feelings about the specific loss.
‘Economists Who Think like Ecologists’: Reframing Systems Thinking in Games for Learning
Authors: DeVane Ben , Durga Shree , Squire Kurt
Published: April 2010

Over the past several years, educators have been exploring the potential of immersive interactive simulations, or video games for education, finding that games can support the development of disciplinary knowledge, systemic thinking, the production of complex multimodal digital artifacts, and participation in affinity spaces or sites of collective intelligence. Examining verbal interaction data from a game-based after-school program, the authors offer evidence that expert players of learning video games: (a) think relationally and strategically about elements of the game system; (b) draw on their experiences in similar activity domains when approaching systemic problems; (c) consider systemic properties as they are tied to action; and (d) think and act in markedly social ways while engaged in systems-oriented reasoning. Using discourse analysis, the authors examine the talk and game play of two participants to understand how they think about the relationships between elements of the game system. From these exchanges a kind of play emerges which contains the kinds of systemic thinking that educators might hope to find in twenty-first-century classrooms. There was evidence from students' reasoning that the situated systems thinking in which they engage contains the reasoning and problem-solving strategies for complex economic, political and geographic systems that twenty-first-century classrooms might value.
Game Critics: Exploring the Role of Critique in Game-Design Literacies
Authors: Peppler Kylie , Warschauer Mark , Diazgranados Alicia
Published: April 2010

Digital games have become a major part of the twenty-first-century learning environment, but little attention has been paid to understanding what young learners already know about games and how this understanding can be used as a bridge to academic literacy. In this study, the authors analyze second-grade students' efforts at critiquing digital games. Students collectively developed and applied their own standards for evaluating three computer-based games, coming up with criteria similar to those used by professional game designers. Students defended their evaluations using logic and reasoning, thus practicing important thinking and argumentation skills that are often overlooked at the elementary school level. In class discussions of their evaluations, they were exposed to the kinds of specialized language required for the development of academic language proficiency, and, in writing about their critiques, they produced longer and more sophisticated texts than those they wrote for other assignments.
Training, Sharing or Cheating? Gamer Strategies to Get a Digital Upper Hand
Authors: Mortensen Torill Elvira
Published: April 2010

Digital game-players devote a large amount of their time to discovering rules hidden in the code and discoverable through empirical study, experiments, and developing or rediscovering the mathematical formulae governing the code. They do this through their own independent play as they test areas, gear and abilities, through data mining using ‘add-ons’, and through joint efforts outside of the game where they analyse and discuss the results from different gaming situations and create theories on how their game world works. This article shows how gamers are attracted to solving of the code puzzle and share their efforts in sites dedicated to efficient gaming, and also discusses the activity gamers call ‘theory crafting’ – ‘rule mining’ –, in the light of gaming as a learning strategy.
Elthusa epinepheli sp. nov. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae) a branchial parasite of the grouper Epinephelus howlandi (Serranidae, Epinephelinae) from off New Caledonia
Authors: Trilles Jean-Paul , Justine Jean-Lou
Published: April 2010

The cymothoid isopod Elthusa epinepheli sp. nov., a branchial parasite of the blacksaddle grouper Epinephelus howlandi (Serranidae, Epinephelinae) from the coral reef of New Caledonia (Southwestern Pacific), is described and figured.Within the genus, E. epinepheli shows some similarity with E. raynaudii and E. myripristae. The ovigerous female of E. epinepheli can be distinguished from E. raynaudii by a less ovate body; cephalon deeply immersed in pereonite 1; eyes almost concealed by the amphicephalic processes; pereonites 3–7 distinctly decreasing in size (width and length); pleonites 1–5 distinctly increasing in width; and pleotelson larger. E. epinepheli can be distinguished from E. myripristae by the anterior margin of the cephalon being rounded in dorsal view and all pleonites being visible. E. epinepheli is the first species of Elthusa reported from the host genus Epinephelus.
Parasitic copepods from reef grunts (Teleostei, Haemulidae) with description of a new species of Lernanthropus (Siphonostomatoida, Lernanthropidae) from the Mexican Caribbean
Authors: Suárez-Morales Eduardo , Reyes-Lizama Christian , González-Solís David
Published: April 2010

During a parasitological survey of the reef ichthyofauna in the Caribbean coast of Mexico, parasitic siphonostomatoid copepods were obtained from the white grunt Haemulon plumierii (Lacepède) and the blue striped grunt H. sciurus (Shaw). Caligus haemulonis Krøyer, 1863 has been recorded from both species of Haemulon in the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic, but it is reported herein for the first time from Mexico. The prevalence and intensity of infection of C. haemulonis has not previously been evaluated in the Caribbean grunts; during this survey, prevalence was highest in H. sciurus; values are similar to those found in other haemulids. Lernanthropus chacchi sp. nov. can be distinguished from its closest congener, L. rathbuni Wilson, 1922, by its female having a dorsal plate covering the entire urosome and the lack of lateral notches at the base of the modified third legs, the male has relatively longer third legs, different body proportions and ornamentation of the first and second legs. This is the third species of Lernanthropus known from reef grunts in the Caribbean and the second species of the genus described from Mexican waters. The infection prevalence of the new species on H. sciurus (24%) was higher than that known for L. rathbuni from other haemulids. Taxonomic illustrations of females and males of both species are also provided. Other crustacean ectoparasites included the copepod Hatschekia spp. and praniza larvae of a gnathid isopod.
Description of a new species of Haemoproteus (Haemosporidia, Apicomplexa) from an Orange-tufted Sunbird Nectarinia osea
Authors: Paperna Ilan , Yosef Reuven
Published: April 2010

Haemoproteus osea sp. nov. is described from the blood of Nectarinia osea, sunbird species, endemic to Israel and the Red Sea zone of Arabia. Infection was found only in one out of 44 birds, in Eilat, at the north end of Gulf of Aqaba; level of parasitaemia was 0.07%. Young gametocytes adhere alongside the nucleus. The gametocytes extend alongside the erythrocyte nucleus, filling the entire space to the erythrocyte envelope and only slightly impose over the tip of the erythrocyte nucleus. Mean nuclear displacement ratio is 0.75. H. osea differs from H. sequeirae Tendeiro, 1947 in having the microgametocyte cytoplasm blue staining, similarly to the macrogametocyte, rather than reddish white, and also in causing less evident displacement of the erythrocyte nucleus.