bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cigarette smoking and depression: tests of causal linkages using a longitudinal birth cohort
Authors: Boden Joseph M. , Fergusson David M. , Horwood L. John
Published: May 2010

Background

Research on the comorbidity between cigarette smoking and major depression has not elucidated the pathways by which smoking is associated with depression.

Aims

To examine the causal relationships between smoking and depression via fixed-effects regression and structural equation modelling.

Method

Data were gathered on nicotine-dependence symptoms and depressive symptoms in early adulthood using a birth cohort of over 1000 individuals.

Results

Adjustment for confounding factors revealed persistent significant (P<0.05) associations between nicotine-dependence symptoms and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modelling suggested that the best-fitting causal model was one in which nicotine dependence led to increased risk of depression. The findings suggest that the comorbidity between smoking and depression arises from two routes; the first involving common or correlated risk factors and the second a direct path in which smoking increases the risk of depression.

Conclusions

This evidence is consistent with the conclusion that there is a cause and effect relationship between smoking and depression in which cigarette smoking increases the risk of symptoms of depression.
An early improvement threshold to predict response and remission in first-episode schizophrenia
Authors: Schennach-Wolff R. , Seemüller F. H. , Mayr A. , Maier W. , Klingberg S. , Heuser I. , Klosterkötter J. , Gastpar M. , Häfner H. , Sauer H. , Schneider F. , Gaebel W. , Jäger M. , Möller H.-J. , Riedel M.
Published: May 2010

Background

Early improvement with treatment is thought to be important in patients with first-episode schizophrenia, yet a valid definition is still outstanding.

Aims

To develop a valid definition of early improvement and test its predictive validity regarding response and remission.

Method

We examined 188 in-patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Early improvement was defined as improvement in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score at week 2, response as a 40% PANSS total score improvement at end-point, and remission according to consensus criteria.

Results

Reasonable predictive validity of early improvement was found for a 46% PANSS total score improvement at week 2 and a 50% improvement for remission (area under the curve: response 0.707, remission 0.692). Estimated confidence intervals ranged from 26 to 62% PANSS reduction for response and remission.

Conclusions

Patients with a first episode of schizophrenia should improve by at least 30% in PANSS total score at week 2 to achieve response and remission.
Discriminating levels of alcohol use associated with self-harm in individuals presenting to a district general hospital
Authors: Holdsworth Nicholas , Griffiths Hugh , Crawford David
Published: May 2010

Aims and method

Although alcohol is reported as commonly associated with self-harm, there is nothing in the literature that bases the association on validated screening tools. We sought to discern the different types of alcohol use as discriminated by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Completed AUDITs from a 2-year period were analysed, all relating to people who had presented to a district general hospital in Northumberland following self-harm.

Results

The proportion of dependent, harmful and hazardous drinkers identified using AUDIT was many times higher than previously estimated in similar studies that had not used a validated alcohol screening tool.

Clinical implications

The routine use of an alcohol screening tool should be part of any standard psychosocial assessment of self-harm, to guide appropriate interventions for problematic alcohol use that might otherwise be overlooked.
Pharmacy-based intervention in Wernicke's encephalopathy
Authors: Day Ed , Callaghan Rhiannon , Kuruvilla Tarun , George Sanju , Webb Kerry , Bentham Peter
Published: May 2010

Aims and method

Clinical audit methodology was used to compare the treatment of alcohol misusers at risk of Wernicke's encephalopathy in an acute medical setting, and to assess the impact of providing information about best practice to prescribing doctors. All patients prescribed thiamine during an admission to an acute hospital trust over a 6-month period were identified, and data about their treatment episode were collected retrospectively. Hospital pharmacists then provided all prescribers with a flowchart summarising current prescribing guidelines, and prescribing patterns were re-audited 6 months later.

Results

Over two audit periods, half of the patients prescribed thiamine whose case notes we examined had symptoms suggestive of Wernicke's encephalopathy, and another 30% were at high risk. Prescribing adhered to hospital guidelines only in 14% of cases, with the pharmacy-led intervention associated with a small but significant increase in the number of patients receiving adequate treatment for Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Clinical implications

Wernicke's encephalopathy is relatively common in alcohol-dependent individuals admitted to hospital, and it is easily and cheaply managed. However, even when potential cases are identified, prescribing guidelines are followed in a minority of cases, even with prompting by a hospital pharmacist. This may be related to the limited research base concerning the optimum dosing schedule of thiamine, or fears about possible anaphylaxis when using parenteral preparations.
Newly introduced deprivation of liberty safeguards: anomalies and concerns
Authors: Shah Ajit , Heginbotham Chris
Published: May 2010

The European Court of Human Rights found that the care and treatment of HL in the ‘Bournewood case’ constituted infringement, in the form of deprivation of liberty, of his rights under Articles 5 (1) and 5 (4) of the European Convention on Human Rights. To prevent the infringement, the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were introduced into the Mental Capacity Act 2005 via the Mental Health Act 2007. The recent implementation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards on 1 April 2009 has exposed some anomalies and higlighted some difficulties in its implemention and application, and these are described in the paper.
Effectiveness and confusion of the Time to Change anti-stigma campaign
Authors: Abraham Abu , Easow Joby M. , Ravichandren Palanisamy , Mushtaq Salman , Butterworth Linda , Luty Jason
Published: May 2010

Aims and method

Several national anti-stigma campaigns have been devised in the UK, including the current Time to Change campaign in England. Our aim was to assess whether the campaign promotional materials were likely to have any effect on public attitudes towards mental illness. Postcards, leaflets and bookmarks promoting the campaign were posted to 250 participants recruited from a representative panel of members of the public. Two weeks later a questionnaire was sent to assess the impact the campaign materials had.

Results

The response rate was 78%. Only 23% of participants recognised the Time to Change logo after 2 weeks and only 20% correctly reported that one in four people were affected by mental health problems when presented with five alternative responses. Almost as many participants thought the campaign was promoting a British political party rather than discrimination against mental illness.

Clinical implications

A single exposure to Time to Change campaign materials is unlikely to be effective. The title of the campaign is likely to be confused with political campaigning in Britain.
Intramolecular Chirality Transfer in trans-5,6-Diaryl-5,6-dihydro-1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-diols: Solvato- and Halochromic Responses by Circular Dichroism
Authors: Suzuki Takanori , Miura Youhei , Nehira Tatsuo , Kawai Hidetoshi , Fujiwara Kenshu
Published: May 2010

Not only the configuration at the C5 and C6 stereocenters but also the intra/intermoleculer hydrogen-bonding mode are determinant for the sense of mobile helicity of the dihydrophenanthroline unit in the title diols in solution. Thus, drastic changes in chiroptical signals are induced through conformational switching of 1 upon addition of protic solvent and/or acid.
Photoluminescence via Two Different Excited States in a Mononuclear Europium(III) Complex with Tetradentate Schiff Base Ligands
Authors: Ebato Shouta , Watanabe Masayuki , Nakajima Kiyohiko , Tsuchimoto Masanobu
Published: May 2010

A europium(III) complex with tetradentate Schiff base ligands (C2H5)3NH[Eu(3,5Clsalen)2] was prepared, and its structure was determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The complex has an eight-coordinate mononuclear structure with two Schiff base ligands in a meridional form. The complex displays emission bands resulting from f–f transitions by excitation at 357 or 234 nm in acetonitrile.
Arthroscopic treatment of the snapping iliopsoas tendon through the central compartment of the hip
Authors: Contreras M. E. K. , Dani W. S. , Endges W. K. , De Araujo L. C. T. , Berral F. J.
Published: May 2010

We undertook a prospective pilot study to determine whether arthroscopic surgery through the central compartment of the hip was effective in the management of a snapping iliopsoas tendon. Seven patients were assessed pre-operatively and at three, six, 12 and 24 months after operation. This included the assessment of pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and function using the modified Harris hip score.

All the patients had resolution of snapping post-operatively and this persisted at follow-up at two years. The mean VAS score for pain fell from 7.7 (6 to 10) pre-operatively to 4.3 (0 to 10) by three months (p = 0.051), and to 3.6 (1 to 8) (p = 0.015), 2.4 (0 to 8) (p = 0.011) and 2.4 (0 to 8) (p = 0.011) by six, 12 and 24 months, respectively. The mean modified Harris hip score increased from 56.1 (13.2 to 84.7) pre-operatively to 88.4 (57.2 to 100) at one year (p = 0.018) and to 87.9 (49.5 to 100) at two years (p = 0.02). There were no complications and no weakness occurred in the musculature around the hip.

Our findings suggest that this treatment is effective and would support the undertaking of a larger study comparing this procedure with other methods of treatment.
One-stage revision for patients with a chronically infected reverse total shoulder replacement
Authors: Beekman P. D. A. , Katusic D. , Berghs B. M. , Karelse A. , De Wilde L.
Published: May 2010

We retrospectively reviewed 11 consecutive patients with an infected reverse shoulder prosthesis. Patients were assessed clinically and radiologically, and standard laboratory tests were carried out. Peroperative samples showed Propionbacterium acnes in seven, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in five, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in one and Escherichia coli in one. Two multibacterial and nine monobacterial infections were seen. Post-operatively, patients were treated with intravenous cefazolin for at least three days and in all antibiotic therapy was given for at least three months. Severe pain (3 of 11) or severe limitation of function (3 of 11) are not necessarily seen. A fistula was present in eight, but function was not affected. All but one patient were considered free of infection after one-stage revision at a median follow-up of 24 months, and without antibiotic treatment for a minimum of six months. One patient had a persistent infection despite a second staged revision, but is now free of infection with a spacer. Complications included posterior dislocation in one, haematoma in one and a clavicular fracture in one. At the most recent follow-up the median post-operative Constant-Murley score was 55, 6% adjusted for age, gender and dominance.

A one-stage revision arthroplasty reduces the cost and duration of treatment. It is reliable in eradicating infection and good functional outcomes can be achieved.
A cemented mobile-bearing total knee replacement prevents periprosthetic loss of bone mineral density around the femoral component
Authors: Minoda Y. , Ikebuchi M. , Kobayashi A. , Iwaki H. , Inori F. , Nakamura H.
Published: May 2010

Bone mineral density (BMD) around the femoral component has been reported to decrease after total knee replacement (TKR) because of stress shielding. Our aim was to determine whether a cemented mobile-bearing component reduced the post-operative loss of BMD. In our study 28 knees receiving a cemented fixed-bearing TKR were matched with 28 receiving a cemented mobile-bearing TKR. They underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, pre-operatively and at three weeks and at three, six, 12, 18 and 24 months post-operatively. The patients were not taking medication to improve the BMD.

The pre-operative differences in the BMD of the femoral neck, wrist, lumbar spine and knee in the two groups were not significant. The BMD of the femur decreased postoperatively in the fixed-bearing group, but not the mobile-bearing group. The difference in the post-operative change in the BMD in the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05) at 18 and 24 months.

Our findings show that a cemented mobile-bearing TKR has a favourable effect on the BMD of the distal femur after TKR in the short term. Further study is required to determine the long-term effects.
Avascular necrosis associated with fracture of the femoral neck after hip resurfacing
Authors: Steffen R. T. , Athanasou N. A. , Gill H. S. , Murray D. W.
Published: May 2010

The cause of fracture of the femoral neck after hip resurfacing is poorly understood. In order to evaluate the role of avascular necrosis we compared 19 femoral heads retrieved at revision for fracture of the femoral neck and 13 retrieved for other reasons.

We developed a new technique of assessing avascular necrosis in the femoral head by determining the percentage of empty osteocyte lacunae present. Femoral heads retrieved as controls at total hip replacement for osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis had 9% (sd 4; n = 13) and 85% (sd 5; n = 10, p < 0.001) empty lacunae, respectively.

In the fracture group the percentage of empty lacunae was 71% (sd 22); in the other group it was 21% (sd 13). The differences between the groups were highly significant (p < 0.001).

We conclude that fracture after resurfacing of the hip is associated with a significantly greater percentage of empty osteocyte lacunae within the trabecular bone. This indicates established avascular necrosis and suggests that damage to the blood supply at the time of surgery is a potent risk factor for fracture of the femoral neck after hip resurfacing.
Invasive group A streptococcal infection
Authors: Brown C. N. , Pollard T. C. B. , Iyer S. , Andrade A. J. M. D.
Published: May 2010

Invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) is the most common cause of monomicrobial necrotising fasciitis. Necrotising infections of the extremities may present directly to orthopaedic surgeons or by reference from another admitting specialty. Recent epidemiological data from the Health Protection Agency suggest an increasing incidence of iGAS infection in England. Almost 40% of those affected had no predisposing illnesses or risk factors, and the proportion of children presenting with infections has risen. These observations have prompted the Chief Medical Officer for the Central Alerting System in England to write to general practitioners and hospitals, highlighting the need for clinical vigilance, early diagnosis and rapid initiation of treatment in suspected cases.

The purpose of this annotation is to summarise the recent epidemiological trends, describe the presenting features and outline the current investigations and treatment of this rare but life-threatening condition.
Photodynamic therapy with acridine orange in musculoskeletal sarcomas
Authors: Matsubara T. , Kusuzaki K. , Matsumine A. , Murata H. , Marunaka Y. , Hosogi S. , Uchida A. , Sudo A.
Published: May 2010

Limb salvage involving wide resection and reconstruction is now well established for managing musculoskeletal sarcomas. However, involvement of major nerves and vessels with a large volume of muscle and skin may result in a useless limb, contributing to depression and a low quality of life. We have been studying alternative treatments for musculoskeletal sarcoma since 1990, and have recently established a regime using photodynamic surgery with cells labelled with acridine orange, photodynamic therapy with cells treated similarly and radiodynamic treatment using the effect of X-rays on such cells.

These techniques have been used after marginal or intralesional resection of tumours since 1999 and have enabled maintenance of excellent limb function in patients with sarcomas.
Characterizing corneal shape after LASIK using a reference system intrinsic to the cornea
Authors: Anera Rosario G. , Alarcón Aixa , Jiménez José R. , Jiménez del Barco Luis
Published: June 2010

The reliability of using a reference system intrinsic to the cornea has been evaluated in order to characterize corneas of subjects after refractive surgery. Data on 90 eyes operated on by LASIK to correct myopia and astigmatism were considered. The corneal parameters (curvature radii and corneal asphericity) found with respect to this reference system are compared with the parameters provided directly by the corneal topographer. The corneal parameters referenced to the intrinsic main axes of the cornea allow a better characterization of the corneal geometry, showing lower variability and diminishing the dissimilarities between the different eyes. The use of these parameters reduces the discrepancies between the real experimental and the theoretically predicted values (21% mean relative error using intrinsic data versus 81% using the topographer data). To understand and reduce these differences is essential in refractive surgery.
Adjugates of Diophantine Quadruples
Authors: Gibbs Philip
Published: May 2010

Diophantine
On representations of Artin–Tits and surface braid groups
Authors: Bardakov Valeriy G. , Bellingeri Paolo
Published: May 2010

We define and study extensions of the Artin and Perron–Vannier representations of braid groups to topological and algebraic generalizations of braid groups. We provide faithful representations of braid groups of oriented surfaces with boundary as automorphisms of finitely generated free groups. The induced representations of such groups as outer automorphisms of finitely generated free groups are still faithful. Also we give a representation of braid groups of closed surfaces as outer automorphisms of finitely generated free groups. Finally, we provide faithful representations of Artin–Tits groups of type 𝒟 as automorphisms of free groups.
Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus: The Impact of Molecular Diagnosis
Authors: Pun Priti , Clark Robin , Wan Kim-Wah , Peverini Ricardo , Merritt T. Allen
Published: June 2010

Neonatal hyperglycemia has multiple causes, some of which are common (sepsis, stress, phenytoin or glucocorticoid administration) and others of which are more rare, including transient neonatal diabetes and mutations of sulfonylurea receptors, which require molecular diagnosis. Many infants identified with the latter condition may respond well to oral sulfonylurea medications. We describe an infant in whom molecular diagnosis permitted such therapy as well as a new diagnosis for the mother, who had been insulin-dependent for 17 years. In addition to aberrant expression of imprinted genes on chromosome 6q24 for transient neonatal diabetes, molecular diagnosis offers a rationale for oral hypoglycemic agents (off-label use) that may improve the lives of affected infants.
Core Concepts: Bilirubin Metabolism
Authors: Hansen Thor Willy Ruud
Published: June 2010

Bilirubin is formed in the reticuloendothelial system as the end product of heme catabolism through a series of oxidation-reduction reactions. The predominant bilirubin isomer in humans is IX-alpha (Z,Z), which, because of its lipophilic nature, can cross phospholipid membranes. In fetal life, this characteristic permits passage of bilirubin through the placenta into the maternal organism for excretion. Postpartum, this same characteristic enables passage of bilirubin across the blood-brain barrier, which is why clinicians worry about jaundice in newborns. Bilirubin is transported in serum bound to albumin. When the bilirubin-albumin complex reaches the liver, bilirubin is transferred into the hepatocytes, where it is bound to ligandin. The next step, which occurs inside the hepatocyte, is binding of bilirubin to glucuronic acid (conjugation) through the enzyme uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT). Both ligandin and UDPGT have very low concentrations and activities in the fetus, but activity increases greatly after birth. However, during the time required to increase these enzyme activities, bilirubin accumulates. An important factor in this process is increased bilirubin production through the breakdown of fetal erythrocytes. Once conjugated in the liver, bilirubin is excreted into the bile and transported through the gut with food and further broken down, contributing to the color of stool. Deconjugation and reabsorption of bilirubin can occur in the bowel, a process known as enterohepatic circulation. Increased enterohepatic circulation is believed to contribute to prolonged jaundice in some newborns and may be partially responsible for human milk-associated jaundice. Some of the steps in bilirubin metabolism can be influenced by drugs or feeding.
Development of New Intensive Hatchery Methods for Rosy Red Fathead Minnow
Authors: Horne Ashlee N , Stone Nathan , Engle Carole R
Published: June 2010

Fathead minnow Pimephales promelas farming practices have remained relatively unchanged for decades. To develop new intensive hatchery methods for the rosy red fathead minnow (a color variant of the fathead minnow), we evaluated spawning substrate preferences, egg mimics, anti-fungal treatments for eggs, and fry stocking densities. Rosy red fathead minnow laid significantly more eggs on a single-layer substrate than on a multilayered substrate but showed little preference between a firm substrate and a flexible substrate. The fish strongly preferred nesting substrates with glass-bead egg mimics over plain (control) substrates or substrates with painted-dot mimics. Eggs treated with chemicals (formalin or hydrogen peroxide at 500, 1,000, or 1,500 mg/L) had higher hatch rates (62.3–81.7%) than did controls (34.3%). The once-daily hydrogen peroxide treatment was equally effective as multiple applications (2–3 applications/d) and resulted in fewer deformities. When newly hatched rosy red fathead minnow fry were stocked at densities of 49, 198, 346, 495, and 643 fry/m2 in pools for 85 d, mean fish weight decreased logarithmically with final density (R  2 = 0.953), while yield increased with initial density (R  2 = 0.846). A cost analysis for fry production levels of 10, 30, 50, and 70 million fry found that the most costly stage was egg collection followed by fry holding, egg incubation, and egg removal. Estimated costs to produce 1 million fry decreased from US$514 to $356 with increasing fry production, indicating economies of scale. Use of spawning substrates with glass-bead egg mimics has the potential to decrease these costs by increasing egg collection efficiency.
Influence of Diet on Mitochondrial Complex Activity in Channel Catfish
Authors: Eya Jonathan C , Ashame Martha F , Pomeroy Charles F
Published: June 2010

A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of commercial diets (32% protein, 3% fat [32/3 diet] or 36% protein, 8% fat [36/8 diet]; Malick Aquafeed, Inc.) and the influence of strain (U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] 103 or Norris) on performance variables and mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities in the liver, muscle, and intestine of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Juvenile channel catfish (average weight = 29.71 and 38.79 g for USDA 103 and Norris strains, respectively) were stocked into sixteen 152-L aquaria at a density of 10 fish/aquarium. Four aquaria were used for each dietary treatment. Fish were fed twice daily to apparent satiation for 16 weeks. Results indicated that diet and strain had significant (P < 0.05) main effects on weight gain, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and specific growth rate. Diet composition had a significant main effect on condition factor, regardless of strain. There was a significant (P < 0.0007) fish strain × diet composition interaction effect on feed efficiency. Regardless of strain, fish fed the 36/8 diet formula had higher activities for respiratory enzyme complexes I, II, III, and IV in the liver, intestine, and muscle than fish fed the 32/3 diet. The strain effect was significant but not consistent for complex I and IV activities in the liver and muscle and complex II activities in the liver and intestine. The fish strain × diet composition interaction effect was significant for complex I activity in the liver and for complex II and IV activities in the muscle. These data demonstrate that the USDA 103 strain of channel catfish appears to possess superior traits in growth performance compared with the Norris strain. Our data indicate that diet has an important effect on channel catfish production and that a commercial 36/8 diet produces enhanced growth performance and mitochondrial enzyme activities relative to a 32/3 diet.
Evaluation of an Ultra-Low-Flow Water Delivery System for Small Experimental Tanks
Authors: Mitchell Andrew , Farmer Bradley
Published: June 2010

An ultra-low-flow water delivery system was developed and tested for use in research studies requiring low flow in small water volumes. Small test systems save on the amount of fish, chemicals, and biologics needed in disease challenge and treatment experiments. The ultra-low-flow system, consisting of a semi-enclosed header tank with a variable-height standpipe and dulled, guarded syringe needle nozzles, can produce flows that result in 1–20 water exchanges/d for a 10-L volume. Water was prefiltered through two inline, 70-μm filters to limit flow loss due to particulates blocking the small-orifice nozzles. Accurate and precise flows are produced by the system, and needle nozzles should last at least 7 d before fouling requires them to be changed; nozzle changes can be made in about 5 s. Flows in the range of 5–135 mL/min were produced by using 3.8-cm-long needles (16, 18, 20, and 21 gauge) with standpipe heights of 15.2, 30.5, and 45.7 cm. Water flows through selected needle nozzles and standpipe heights varied by no more than 5% over a 7-d period. This ultra-low-flow system provides a practical, inexpensive, and precise water delivery system that should have multiple uses for fisheries research.
Induced Volitional Spawning and Larval Rearing of Pinfish
Authors: DiMaggio Matthew A , Grabe Scott W , DeSantis Shawn M , Ohs Cortney L
Published: June 2010

Aquaculture of marine baitfish is still in its infancy. Induced spawning of marine baitfish species has the potential to supplement this seasonal capture fishery and offer a consistent supply to anglers. The pinfish Lagodon rhomboides has been identified as a species with potential for commercial production, yet few studies have focused on the induced spawning and larval rearing of this baitfish. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using Ovaprim, composed of a salmon gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (sGnRHa) and a dopamine antagonist (domperidone), to induce volitional spawning in pinfish. Additionally, a preliminary larval feeding regime was investigated, and growth and development of pinfish larvae were documented. A single dose of 0.50 mL of Ovaprim per kilogram of fish (sGnRHa: 20 μg/mL; domperidone: 10 mg/mL) was sufficient to induce volitional spawning 36–48 h after intraperitoneal injection of female pinfish. Observed fecundity was 2,565 eggs/female (13.1 eggs/g), and larval survival ranged from 10% to 117% through 33 d posthatch (DPH). Larvae were observed to have completed swim bladder inflation by 19 DPH, with 100% percent of larvae exhibiting notochord flexion by the same date. This represents the first published study in which protracted larval rearing was successfully achieved after induced volitional spawning of pinfish.
Evaluating ecosystem response to oyster restoration and nutrient load reduction with a multispecies bioenergetics model
Authors: Fulford Richard S. , Breitburg Denise L. , Luckenbach Mark , Newell Roger I. E.
Published: June 2010

Many of the world's coastal ecosystems are impacted by multiple stressors each of which may be subject to different management strategies that may have overlapping or even conflicting objectives. Consequently, management results may be indirect and difficult to predict or observe. We developed a network simulation model intended specifically to examine ecosystem‐level responses to management and applied this model to a comparison of nutrient load reduction and restoration of highly reduced stocks of bivalve suspension feeders (eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica) in an estuarine ecosystem (Chesapeake Bay, USA). Model results suggest that a 50% reduction in nutrient inputs from the watershed will result in lower phytoplankton production in the spring and reduced delivery of organic material to the benthos that will limit spring and summer pelagic secondary production. The model predicts that low levels of oyster restoration will have no effect in the spring but does result in a reduction in phytoplankton standing stocks in the summer. Both actions have a negative effect on pelagic secondary production, but the predicted effect of oyster restoration is larger. The lower effect of oysters on phytoplankton is due to size‐based differences in filtration efficiency and seasonality that result in maximum top‐down grazer control of oysters at a time when the phytoplankton is already subject to heavy grazing. These results suggest that oyster restoration must be achieved at levels as much as 25‐fold present biomass to have a meaningful effect on phytoplankton biomass and as much as 50‐fold to achieve effects similar to a 50% nutrient load reduction. The unintended effect of oyster restoration at these levels on other consumers represents a trade‐off to the desired effect of reversing eutrophication.
Evidence of source–sink metapopulations in a vulnerable native galaxiid fish driven by introduced trout
Authors: Woodford Darragh J. , McIntosh Angus R.
Published: June 2010

Introduced predators with patchy distributions can create demographic sinks within native prey populations. Such invasions may give rise to source–sink metapopulations if there are still sources of native species colonists in the landscape. In New Zealand, introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhychus mykiss) are linked with declines in native non‐diadromous galaxiids but co‐occur with these galaxiids in some locations. We investigated whether trout create sinks in Galaxias vulgaris populations, and whether trout‐free reaches could act as sources, allowing persistence in the sink habitat. We conducted quantitative seasonal monitoring of G. vulgaris population structure across two subcatchments of the Waimakariri River, South Island. Two trout‐free and seven trout‐invaded sites in the Porter River catchment and two trout‐free and five trout‐invaded sites in the Broken River catchment were monitored over two winters and the adjoining summer. Spatially continuous monitoring of young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) galaxiid distributions and apparent survival across the Broken River catchment was also undertaken. Galaxias vulgaris YOY recruitment was high in trout‐free reaches, indicating positive population growth. Galaxias vulgaris was absent from three trout‐invaded sites, and the remaining invaded sites had significantly depleted juvenile recruitment. Information‐theoretic model selection indicated that trout, rather than habitat, drove recruitment failure. Trout‐invaded sites could be divided into “sinks” that retained no YOY galaxiids, indicating no local recruitment, and “pseudosinks,” which had very few recruits. Absence of small G. vulgaris at sink sites suggested population maintenance through immigration of adults from sources, whereas pseudosink sites appear capable of self‐recruitment at low carrying capacities. Trout‐free reaches appear to act as sources in a river network but are susceptible to future invasions by trout. Thus, not only may invasive species cause source–sink metapopulations in native species, but also the potential of refugia for natives (sources) to become future sinks highlights the vulnerability of these metapopulations when invasive predators are the principal demographic driver.
Positive adjacency effects mediated by seed disperser birds in pine plantations
Authors: Zamora Regino , Hódar José Antonio , Matías Luís , Mendoza Irene
Published: June 2010

This study examines the consequences of adjacent elements for a given patch, through their effects on zoochorous dispersion by frugivorous birds. The case study consists of pine plantations (the focal patch) adjacent to other patches of native vegetation (mixed patches of native forest and shrublands), and/or pine plantations. Our hypothesis is that input of native woody species propagules generated by frugivorous birds within plantations strongly depends on the nature of the surrounding vegetation. To test this hypothesis, we studied frugivorous‐bird abundance, seed dispersion, and seedling establishment in nine pine plantation plots in contact with patches of native vegetation. To quantify adjacency arrangement effects, we used the percentage of common border between a patch and each of its adjacent elements. Frugivorous bird occurrence in pine plantations is influenced by the adjacent vegetation: the greater the contact with native vegetation patches, the more abundant were the frugivorous birds within pine plantations. Furthermore, frugivorous birds introduce into plantations the seeds of a large sample of native fleshy‐fruited species. The results confirm the hypothesis that zoochorous seed rain is strongly determined by the kind of vegetation surrounding a given plantation. This finding underlines the importance of the composition of the mosaic surrounding plantations and the availability of mobile link species as key landscape features conditioning passive restoration processes.
Importance of environmental and spatial gradients on patterns and consequences of resource selection
Authors: Flesch Aaron D. , Steidl Robert J.
Published: June 2010

Strategies to conserve rare species require identifying resources that function as important habitat elements and that promote high demographic performance. Assessing the relative importance of resources, however, can be confounded by natural variation in resource availability and by the hierarchical spatial structure in which resources are organized. Because availability and relative importance of resources often vary across environmental and spatial gradients, we used gradients together with resource selection functions and variance decomposition to assess the relative importance of resources to nest site selection and reproductive performance of Ferruginous Pygmy‐Owls (Glaucidium brasilianum). We measured habitat characteristics of 106 nests and paired available sites at five spatial scales across a 220‐km gradient of precipitation and vegetation in northwest Mexico, in a region adjacent to the southwestern United States where pygmy‐owls have declined to near extinction. Resources explained 76–85% of variation in nest site selection and 21–31% of variation in reproductive performance across all spatial scales combined. Although we found evidence of resource selection at each scale, the magnitude of selection and influence of resources on reproductive performance were greatest where availability of selected resources were low and where temperature extremes and predation risk likely increased the relative importance of these resources. At larger scales, geographic changes in resource use corresponded with changes in availability, whereas at smaller scales, resource use varied little despite changes in availability, suggesting higher specificity and importance of resources at smaller scales. At the smallest scale, owls selected nest cavities with smaller entrances, larger volume, greater height, and orientations that produced cooler microclimates in the hottest regions of the study area; these choices promoted higher reproductive performance. Cavity resources explained more variation in selection and reproductive performance than resources at larger scales, highlighting their importance as conservation targets. High correlation of resource characteristics among spatial scales, however, indicated that selection of resources at small scales depended on characteristics of resources at larger scales. Assessing how resource selection changes in response to underlying variation in resource availability can help prioritize resources most important for conservation and management.
Ecologically asynchronous agricultural practice erodes sustainability of the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Wang Tianming , Wu Jianguo , Kou Xiaojun , Oliver Chadwick , Mou Pu , Ge Jianping
Published: June 2010

Sustainability of agricultural landscapes depends largely on land‐use practices. As one of the most productive and widespread agricultural soils, loess is often deep and easily eroded, posing grand challenges for environmental sustainability around the world. One prime example is the Loess Plateau of China, which has been cultivated for more than 7500 years. Based on long‐term data sets, this study demonstrates that the dominant agricultural practice, winter wheat cropping, continues to be the primary driver for the massive soil erosion and landscape modifications on the Loess Plateau. This traditional farming system is asynchronous with the dynamic rhythm between natural vegetation and climate in the region. In particular, the long summer fallow period for winter wheat fields is concurrent with the heavy‐rainstorm season, which greatly accelerates soil erosion. Our finding indicates that common land‐use practices that have lasted for thousands of years in China are not environmentally sustainable. Agriculture in this region has relied primarily on the continuous “mining” of the soil for the past several thousand years but does not have a one‐thousand‐year future because of myriad environmental and socioeconomic factors associated with soil erosion. To contain soil erosion and promote sustainability on the Loess Plateau, therefore, a change in the agricultural regime is needed to make sure that current and future agricultural practices follow the vegetation–climate rhythm. In addition, to achieve environmental, economic, and social sustainability in this region, multifunctional land‐use planning is required to increase landscape diversity and functions (e.g., proper arrangement of crop fields, orchards, and protected areas).
Twelve years of succession on sandy substrates in a post‐mining landscape: a Markov chain analysis
Authors: Baasch Annett , Tischew Sabine , Bruelheide Helge
Published: June 2010

Knowledge of succession rates and pathways is crucial for devising restoration strategies for highly disturbed ecosystems such as surface‐mined land. As these processes have often only been described in qualitative terms, we used Markov models to quantify transitions between successional stages. However, Markov models are often considered not attractive for some reasons, such as model assumptions (e.g., stationarity in space and time, or the high expenditure of time required to estimate successional transitions in the field). Here we present a solution for converting multivariate ecological time series into transition matrices and demonstrate the applicability of this approach for a data set that resulted from monitoring the succession of sandy dry grassland in a post‐mining landscape. We analyzed five transition matrices, four one‐step matrices referring to specific periods of transition (1995–1998, 1998–2001, 2001–2004, 2004–2007), and one matrix for the whole study period (stationary model, 1995–2007). Finally, the stationary model was enhanced to a partly time‐variable model. Applying the stationary and the time‐variable models, we started a prediction well outside our calibration period, beginning with 100% bare soil in 1974 as the known start of the succession, and generated the coverage of 12 predefined vegetation types in three‐year intervals. Transitions among vegetation types changed significantly in space and over time. While the probability of colonization was almost constant over time, the replacement rate tended to increase, indicating that the speed of succession accelerated with time or fluctuations became stronger. The predictions of both models agreed surprisingly well with the vegetation data observed more than two decades later. This shows that our dry grassland succession in a post‐mining landscape can be adequately described by comparably simple types of Markov models, although some model assumptions have not been fulfilled and within‐plot transitions have not been observed with point exactness. The major achievement of our proposed way to convert vegetation time series into transition matrices is the estimation of probability of events—a strength not provided by other frequently used statistical methods in vegetation science.
Parasitoid competitive displacement and coexistence in citrus agroecosystems: linking species distribution with climate
Authors: Sorribas Juan , Rodríguez Raquel , Garcia-Mari Ferran
Published: June 2010

The introduced parasitoid wasp Aphytis melinus, the most widespread natural enemy of the California red scale (Aonidiella aurantii) and the superior competitor, has displaced the native Aphytis chrysomphali from most citrus areas of the Mediterranean basin and other citrus areas all over the world. However, our extensive survey data on the scale parasitoid populations collected in 2004–2008 show that in large citrus areas of eastern Spain both parasitoids coexist. Using field data from 179 orchards spatially divided in five citrus‐producing agroecosystems, we examined the mechanisms that could explain displacement or coexistence between both Aphytis species in relation to weather conditions. The distribution and abundance of the parasitoid species are related to the mean summer and winter temperatures and relative humidity of each ecosystem. The relative proportion of A. melinus is higher during the warm months, and the abundance of A. chrysomphali increases from south to north, being higher in the cooler northern areas. Aphytis melinus has displaced A. chrysomphali from hot and dry areas, whereas regions with mild summer temperatures and moderate relative humidity present the optimal conditions for the coexistence of the two parasitoids. The more negative effects of winter temperatures on A. melinus allow the earlier use of the available host resource in late winter and spring by A. chrysomphali and the coexistence of both parasitoids in the same orchard via temporal niche partitioning. We combine previous literature on the behavior of Aphytis species in the laboratory under different temperature and humidity conditions with our field results to confirm the role of spatiotemporal weather conditions and seasonal changes in host stages on the variation of Aphytis relative abundance and parasitoid coexistence.
Predicting effects of hydrologic alteration and climate change on ecosystem metabolism in a western U.S. river
Authors: Marcarelli Amy M. , Kirk Robert W. Van , Baxter Colden V.
Published: June 2010

We estimated past and future hydrographs and patterns of ecosystem metabolism in a fifth‐order river of the western United States, where water use and climate change are both expected to alter hydrology in the immediate future. We first reconstructed the unregulated hydrograph to estimate how the current hydrograph has been altered. Due to consumptive use, 95% as irrigation, current discharge during summer (July–September) was 70% lower than would occur if the river was unregulated. We then predicted a future hydrograph including effects of consumptive use and climate change; the magnitude of flow changes were minor under this regime relative to those already manifested by consumptive uses. We used time‐series regression and a six‐year continuous record of open‐water metabolism to demonstrate that, under the current hydrologic regime, gross primary production (GPP) was dependent on both water temperature and flow and that ecosystem respiration (ER) was most dependent on temperature. Monte Carlo simulations under the three hydrologic regimes and three temperature scenarios (current, +2°C, +4°C) suggested that flow, but not temperature, may have profound effects on the magnitude of metabolism. Linking temporally detailed analyses of ecological function and hydrology may lead to better understanding and management of changes due to basin‐scale water use and/or global‐scale climate change.
BULLY PREVENTION IN POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT
Authors: Ross Scott W , Horner Robert H , Higbee Thomas
Published: June 2010

Bullying behaviors are a growing concern in U.S. schools. We present here a behavioral approach to bully prevention utilizing a schoolwide intervention. Bully prevention in positive behavior support (BP‐PBS) teaches students to withhold the social rewards hypothesized to maintain bullying. A single‐subject multiple baseline design across 6 students and three elementary schools was implemented in an empirical evaluation of the intervention's effectiveness. Results indicated that implementation was functionally related to decreased incidents of bullying for all 6 students observed. In addition, we observed a decrease in the social responses from victims and bystanders. Finally, school staff implemented the program with a high degree of fidelity and rated the program as effective and efficient. Limitations and implications of these results are discussed.
EVALUATION OF A MULTICOMPONENT INTERVENTION FOR DIURNAL BRUXISM IN A YOUNG CHILD WITH AUTISM
Authors: Barnoy Emily L , Najdowski Adel C , Tarbox Jonathan , Wilke Arthur E , Nollet Megan D , Roane Henry
Published: June 2010

Bruxism, forceful grinding of one's teeth together, can produce destructive outcomes such as wear on the teeth and damaged gums and bone structures. The current study implemented a multicomponent intervention that consisted of vocal and physical cues to decrease rates of bruxism. A partial component analysis suggested that the vocal cue was only effective at decreasing levels of bruxism when paired with a simultaneous physical cue.
CHOICE BEHAVIOR OF NONPATHOLOGICAL WOMEN PLAYING CONCURRENTLY AVAILABLE SLOT MACHINES: EFFECT OF CHANGES IN PAYBACK PERCENTAGES
Authors: Weatherly Jeffrey N , Thompson Bradley J , Hodny Marisa , Meier Ellen , Dixon Mark
Published: June 2010

In a simulated casino environment, 6 nonpathological women played concurrently available commercial slot machines programmed to pay out at different rates. Participants did not always demonstrate preferences for the higher paying machine. The data suggest that factors other than programmed or obtained rate of reinforcement may control gambling behavior, which should encourage behavior analysts to look beyond direct, contingency‐driven explanations of gambling.
LESS CLEAR PREDICAMENT SUICIDE
Authors: Pridmore Saxby
Published: May 2010

Not Infrequently, we read of an unexpected suicide, and
examination of the available evidence offers no sign of mental disorder.
It is argued that these are examples of egoistic suicide. Examples from
the public record (Sedeq Hedayat, Alan Turing, Larry Walters, Carolyn
Heilbrun, Hunter S Thompson, Ruslana Korshunova, and Branden
Bremmer, among others) are detailed. Perpetrators of school shootings
who suicide may also manifest egoistic components.
A TYPOLOGY OF SUICIDE
Authors: Pridmore Saxby
Published: May 2010

Suicide is an escape option from predicaments. Two
predicaments are conceptualized, 1) the presence of mental disorder,
and 2) external factors. These may co-occur. From the perspective of
the observer, the predicament may be very clear or less clear, leading to
4 types of suicide. Examples are also provided.