bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The degradation of the scorecard over the business cycle
Authors: Crook Jonathan N , Thomas, Lyn C , Hamilton Robert
Published: November 2023

The published literature on credit scoring has neither compared the characteristics of those who default nor the discriminating power of individual variables used to predict default, under different economic conditions. Similarly, scorecards constructed by credit-scoring agencies are estimated from data relating to two or three consecutive years for applications over 3-5 years before. The aim of this chapter is to explore the effects of changes in a scoring function over time on the classification of applicants into those likely to default and those not likely to default.

Linear discriminant analysis is applied to a training sample of26.043 applicants for a bank credit card to estimate empirically a model of their repayment behavior in 1989 and 1990. The variables that have additional statistically significant discriminating power over others are broadly similar between the 2 years. although some differences exist Using a holdout sample of 17.084 cases. which is thought to be representative of a profile of applications to the data-supplying organization. we cross-tabulate the number who would be accepted and rejected using the 1989 model with the corresponding predictions using the 1990 model. The characteristics of those who would be accepted using the 1989 model but rejected using the 1990 model are identified. Differences in the predicted classification of a case may be due to differences between the 2 years in the functions estimated and/or to differences in the prior probabilities of default. We consider the proportion of applicants who would be accepted in a year but not in the other if the prior probabilities were adjusted to give the same rejection rate in both years, and discuss their characteristics.
Psychogeriatric service delivery with limited resources
Authors: Dening Tom , Shaji K S
Published: November 2023

Numbers of old people in developing countries are set to increase sharply over the next few decades. The most striking effects of population ageing are to be seen in the most rapidly developing regions: China, India and Latin America. The anticipated doubling over the next 30 years of the numbers of older persons living in these regions will change the global distribution of dementia (Prince, 1997). With its devastating negative effects on carers and families, dementia will soon emerge as a major public health problem in most developing countries. The number of elderly people suffering from depression and other mental health problems will also increase.
The methodology of prophylactic trials: discussion summary
Authors: Tfelt-Hansen P
Published: November 2023

The question about the CONSORT statement (Begg et al. 1996) for reporting clinical trials was raised. It was commented that these rules make common sense; and Cephalalgia, the official journal of the International Headache Society, has introduced a policy of requiring that papers submitted on randomized clinical trials conform with the CONSORT statement. In some headache centres patients may be included multiple times in clinical trials over the years. This may lead to a selection of failures, as has been observed for example in patients with non-opiate sensitive pain. In addition, patients in these centres are not representative for the general migraine population. In highly specialized headache centres one should not use the group of too severe affected patients for clinical trials.
Key issues in the methodology of prophylactic migraine trials
Authors: Tfelt-Hansen P
Published: November 2023

This equation looks like a t-test. To get the biological signal through, one should, when planning the RCT, estimate the pharmacological effect and the variability. A ‘large’ pharmacological in prophylactic migraine trials could be efficacy of active drug A versus placebo. Examples of ‘small’ pharmacological effects could be: I, dose-response curve for drug A; II, minimum effective dose for drug A versus placebo; ill, comparability among drug A and drug B; IV, adverse events after drug A versus adverse events after placebo. Examples of variability (‘noise’) in prophylactic migraine trials are, among others: I, migraine per se is a variable among patients; II, the individual patient’s migraine may vary over time; III, variability of efficacy measures, definitions of migraine attacks, migraine days, migraine periods, severity, duration, etc.; IV, difficulties in distinguishing between effectively treated migraine attacks and attacks of tension-type headache; V, placebo effect, and variable placebo effect, for efficacy; VI, placebo effect for adverse events; VII, time-effect; VIII, variable baseline; IX, non-responders; X, dropouts, due to either lack of efficacy or due to intolerance; XI, major psychosocial events occurring during the trial.
AEDs in migraine prevention
Authors: Silberstein S D
Published: November 2023

Effective migraine treatment begins with making an accurate diagnosis, ruling out alternate causes, ordering appropriate studies, and addressing the headache’s impact. Pharmacotherapy may be acute (abortive) or preventive (prophylactic), and patients who experience frequent, severe headaches often require both approaches. The Technical Reports of the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research (AHCPR) identified and summarized controlled trial evidence on the efficacy and tolerability of preventive migraine drug treatments. They are the basis of the US Headache Consortium guidelines. Anticonvulsant medication is recommended for migraine prevention because placebo-controlled, double-blind trials prove them effective. With the exception of valproic acid and topiramate, anticonvulsants interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives.
Mechanism(s) of action of the antiepileptic drugs valproic acid, gabapentin, and topiramate: implications for the prophylactic management of migraine
Authors: White H S
Published: November 2023

Migraine is believed to represent a paroxysmal and unique neurovascular disorder. However, the precise underlying pathophysiology processes that lead to an acute migraine attack are not completely understood. In the susceptible individual, migraine can be triggered by a multitude of factors including, but not limited to, alterations in ion and glucose metabolism, an increase in nitric oxide synthesis, altered neurotransmitter function, and abnormal peptide release and metabolism (Fig. 12 .1). These and other factors contribute to an increase in neuronal and network hyperexcitability and are thought to contribute to the initiation and propagation of a migraine attack. Increasing evidence also suggests that there is a strong genetic component that contributes to the heightened brain excitability of some susceptible individuals. For example, familial hemiplegic migraine has been linked to missense mutations in the Ca2+ channel gene CACNAIA which encodes the pore-forming protein for the P/Q Ca2+ channel.
Description of a prospective, multicenter observational study of headache treatment with botulinum toxin type A: the program to assess treatment strategies. {PATS™) registry
Authors: Silberstein S D , Stiles M A , Gebeline-Meyers, C , Bradley K C
Published: November 2023

The frequency, severity, and functional limitations associated with primary headache disorders have been shown to significantly reduce patients’ perceived health-related quality of life (QoL) and place a substantial financial burden on society. Current preventive treatments tend to have a modest effect along with a substantial side effect burden related to vascular or systemic distribution. 6 Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) has shown promise for the preventive treatment of headache in several clinical trials. There has been discussion about how BoNT/A should be optimally used for treating headache and’which patients are best suited for treatment.
Prophylactic drugs Ill:discussion summary
Authors: Goadsby P J
Published: November 2023

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSR is) and their use in headache were dis cussed. Prof Olesen (Denmark) made the statement that there is no clinical trial evidence to support their use in headache. Dr Isler (Switzerland) commented that while they were not necessarily useful in headache per se there was a useful effect in enabling patients to cope with their disease. A published controlled trial that showed a possible effect in Chronic Tension-type Headache was considered.1 Prof Silberstein (USA) pointed out that it was not possible to absolutely dissect out an effect on depression from an effect on headache in that study. Dr Aoki surnrnarized results from basic experimental studies of Botulinum Toxin A (Botox A) on nociceptive models, such as formalin injected in the rat forepaw (see Aoki, this volume).
Naratriptan in the preventive treatment of refractory chronic migraine
Authors: Rapoport A M , TepP.er, M E Bigal1 S J , S1-ieftell F D
Published: November 2023

According to the revised version of the International Headache Society (2003), chronic migraine (CM) is considered a complication of migraine. Patients with CM usually have a past history of episodic migraine, reporting a process of transformation characterized by headaches that become more frequent over months to years, with the associated symptoms becoming less severe. I Patients then develop a pat tern of daily or near daily headache resembling chronic tension-type headache, with a few attacks of full-blown migraine superimposed. They often have daily headaches. The treatment of CM often poses a major challenge for the clinician.
Triptans with methysergide
Authors: Valade D
Published: November 2023

There is a discussion specially in France with the Drug Agency to prove that the contra-indications of Triptans/Methysergide are more theoretical than factual. In this study we present our experience concerning the contra-indication indicated by laboratories according to regulation. The contra-indications of the triptans include all the D.H.E. and particularly Methysergide as prophylactic treatment. Is it realistic? Because when you look at the prescriptions of the practitioners, there is a lot of association but no adverse event. I give you my experience on the last one hundred patients treated with the association, Methysergide/Triptans. The distribution was the same as migraine in general population: 15% male and 85% female with a mean age of 46.8 years (18-65 years).
Recognition and initial management of the sick child
Authors: Bloch Mark , Habibi Parvis
Published: November 2023

All clinicians need to be able to recognize the symptoms and signs of the sick child as early as possible. This chapter attempts to give an understanding of the ‘first principles’ with regards to both the well child as well as some insight into the aetiology, symptoms, and signs of the child who has the potential to or is becoming seriously ill. It describes a systematic approach to the initial and ongoing assessment of these children.
Paediatric surgery
Authors: Leff Daniel , McDonald Peter
Published: November 2023

This chapter aims to give the reader a guide to the variety of common paediatric surgical conditions that may present to the general practitioner and need only the assistance of the local hospital.There are a number of rarer neonatal life-threatening surgical conditions that may that warrant urgent involvement of specialist paediatric surgical centres.
Childhood nutrition for primary care
Authors: Dempsey Justine
Published: November 2023

This chapter will look at infant nutrition covering the areas of breast feeding, infant formula, weaning, and look at some of the issues and controversies surrounding these areas. It will also address two of the increasingly common nutritional challenges being faced by health professionals in the community today, iron deficiency anaemia and rickets.
Ophthalmology
Authors: Adams Gill , Dulley Barbara
Published: November 2023

The eye develops early in pregnancy starting about 2 weeks after conception. Infection, drugs, X-rays, or metabolic abnormalities can damage the development process. At birth the visual system is very immature and it must then develop by forming neural connections and pathways. Maturation, which occurs over the next 7–8 years, is called the critical period of visual development and once this plastic phase is completed the system and its pathways are set and cannot be altered (Wiesel 1982).
Childhood obesity in primary care
Authors: Reilly John , Stewart Laura , Wilson David
Published: November 2023

Obesity is now very common in children and adolescents across the world, and prevalence continues to rise. Among health professionals and patients there is widespread ignorance and confusion over issues such as the aetiology, diagnosis, complications, and management of paediatric obesity. The present chapter aims to provide a concise, evidence-based but still practical summary of these issues, with a primary care perspective.
Vascularization in malignant mesothelioma
Authors: Vermeulen P B , Salgado R , Marck E A Van
Published: November 2023

Angiogenesis is, by definition, the development of new blood vessels from the wall of an existing blood vessel. Angiogenesis implies proliferation of endothelial cells and, in certain conditions, maturation of the new blood vessel walls by recruitment of mural cells or pericytes. Malignant and physiological growth processes need a system of patent channels that transports blood and is connected with the circulation of the patient/host [1,2]. Although angiogenesis is one of the mechanisms that fulfil this need, several other mechanisms have been described . Their existence has an important impact on the quantification of ‘vascularization’ in tumour tissue sections and has urged researchers to develop tools to detect the prevailing mechanism of vascularization in the tumours of individual patients [8].
Radiotherapy for mesothelioma
Authors: Stevens C W , Forster K M , Smythe W R
Published: November 2023

Malignant pleural mesotheliomas (MPMs) are almost impossible to cure with radiotherapy as a single modality. The tumours are large, so that potential cure requires commensurately large radiation doses. The treatment volumes are also very large, extending from the supraclavicular fossa to the insertion of the diaphragm, because the entire pleural space, even the intrapulmonary fissures, is at risk for recurrence. The treatment volumes are also very close to radiosensitive structures such as the lung, kidney, liver, oesophagus and heart. These issues challenge the radiation oncologist at many levels.
Immunotherapy for malignant mesothelioma
Authors: O’Brien M E R , Ribate A U , Souberbielle B
Published: November 2023

As with most other solid tumours, there is a need for new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma (MM) because of its increasing incidence and the lack of effective options that significantly improve outcome. Although chemotherapy continues to be used and new drugs are showing additional efficacy in this disease [2], a detailed knowledge of the molecular events responsible for MM, as well as the molecular profile of established MM, is limited. Consequently potential molecular targets for developing new drugs against MM have been scant until recently. Alternative and novel therapies, such as immunotherapy, have been explored to treat MM. There have been reports and discussions suggesting that the immune response may influence or even control the growth of some cases of MM, adding some weight to the potential use of immunotherapy in this disease .
Principles Of Brachytherapy Dosimetry
Authors: Richardson Carolyn
Published: November 2023

The dose distributions are non-homogenous within the treated volume of a brachytherapy implant. Steep dose gradients occur and there is a sleeve of high dose surrounding each source. There are regions or plateaus of minimum dose between sources . Over the years several systems have been used to calculate and describe the dose distributions of brachytherapy implants, looking at the spacing and geometry of the source distribution and specifying how dose calculations should be made. The two systems to be discussed in this chapter are the Manchester system and the Paris system. Both systems used traditional dose formalism for manual calculation of doses and these were adapted for computer calculations. In 1995, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) published the report of Task Group 43 (TG43).
The Role Of Brachytherapy In Head And Neck Cancer
Authors: Coyle Catherine
Published: November 2023

Brachytherapy in head and neck cancer is languishing paradoxically at a time when interest in conformal radiation treatment is at its peak. As interstitial brachytherapy allows increased dose intensity and reduction in dose to surrounding organs at risk, it could be considered the ideal conformal treatment. Its disadvantages lie in the lack of expertise, competition with surgical techniques, and radiation protection issues. It still has a place in several key clinical Expertise is concentrated in specialist centres with the majority using low dose-rate iridium implanation under the Paris rules. Similar techniques have been adapted to allow the use of high dose-rate afterloading systems, but this chapter will concentrate on the low dose-rate techniques. The most common indications are for the treatment of small tongue cancers, floor of mouth, buccal mucosa, and lip tumours. Careful assessment in the clinic to determine suitability for implantation is essential; a good knowledge of the Paris rules is necessary to pre-plan the implant.
The Role Of Brachytheraphy In Miscellaneous Sites
Authors: Coyle Catherine
Published: November 2023

The management of brain tumours is complex and emotionally draining, requiring full multidisciplinary team commitment. Although they only account for less than 2% of all malignancies, the impact of primary central nervous sys- tem (CNS) tumours on the patient and carers is profound. Around 20% of all paediatric malignancies are CNS, but the role of brachytherapy is better established in adults. Historic use of interstitial implants for the management of brain tumours can be traced back to the 1920s.
Management and risk assessment of less common familial cancers
Authors: Jhavar Sameer , Eeles Rosalind
Published: November 2023

Genetic predisposition to cancer is becoming a well-recognized phenomenon. It has been well described for common cancers. It may now be a fact in other cancers as well, the evidence for which is considered in this chapter.
The neurofibromatoses
Authors: Friedman J M
Published: November 2023

Three clinically and genetically distinct diseases are classified as neurofibromatoses: neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis. The inclusion of these three conditions in a single group reflects the fact that they share certain clinical features, but it is important to distinguish each disease from the others because their natural history, complications and management differ. One form of neurofibromatosis does not evolve into one of the other forms during the course of the disease.
von Hippel–Lindau disease
Authors: Maher Eamonn R
Published: November 2023

von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease is a dominantly inherited, multisystem disorder characterized by the development of retinal and central nervous haemangioblastomas, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), phaeochromocytoma, pancreatic endocrine tumours and endolymphatic sac tumours (ELSTs). In addition, renal, pancreatic and epididymal cysts are frequent.
The ethical and insurance issues of cancer genetics
Authors: Morrison Patrick J
Published: November 2023

A family history of cancer, particularly breast, ovarian and colon cancer or rare cancer syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, is now recognized as the biggest risk factor for cancer after age. Testing is not always straightforward, as family dynamics differ within and between families. Experience of genetic testing for breast cancer over the last decade has allowed some ethical principles to be formulated so that a framework to guide procedures with can be utilized.
Ethical Perspectives
Authors: Broeckaert Bert , Glare Paul
Published: November 2023

Recently, the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) promulgated guidelines on the role of prognostication and prognostic factors in palliative care. Attention to ethical aspects of prognostication were evident throughout these guidelines. From the beginning the international expert working group that prepared these guidelines had taken an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on and bringing together the wide-ranging expertise (medicine, nursing, statistics, social sciences, ethics) of its members.
Lung Cancer
Authors: Tammemagi C Martin
Published: November 2023

Lung cancers, although having common anatomic and cellular origins, are a clinically and bio- logically heterogeneous group of diseases. Recent studies using gene expression and proteomic profiling have demonstrated that even within specific histologic categories, considerable molecular heterogeneity exists. Regardless of this heterogeneity, overall, long-term (5 year) survival for all stages of lung cancer is poor and when considering advanced lung cancer is even more dis- heartening. In spite of these generalizations, the clinician and patient need appreciate that even for advanced stage disease, some individuals do experience long-term survival and that within the short term (5 years) there is considerable heterogeneity regarding length of survival.
Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Geoghegan Tony , Lee Michael J
Published: November 2023

In less than a decade, metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum has changed from being primarily a surgically palliated disease to one in which there has been increasing success with combination chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy. Colon cancer is the third commonest malignancy in both sexes. Risk factors for the development of the disease include advanced age, cigarette smoking, inflammatory bowel disease and a genetic predisposition, namely, the hereditary and non-hereditary polyposis syndromes.
Sarcoma
Authors: Morris Katherine T , Brennan Murray F
Published: November 2023

Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare disease with approximately 10–12,000 cases per year in the US. The majority of patients with extremity sarcomas are cured by a single operation with or without the addition of adjuvant radiation therapy. However, depending on certain risk factors, some will go on to advanced disease and subsequent demise. For the purposes of this chapter, we define a patient to have advanced sarcoma if they have systemic or nodal metastasis, large (> 10 cm), deep, and high-grade primary extremity tumours, or visceral or retroperitoneal sarcomas as these are known to have a less favourable prognosis.
Bone Secondaries
Authors: Chow Edward , Yee Albert
Published: November 2023

Bone metastases are a frequent complication of cancer. They are clinically apparent in about 50 per cent of all cancer patients and have been reported in 70–85 per cent of cancer patients at autopsy. Pain arising from bone metastases is the most common symptom requiring treatment in cancer patients. Fifty to seventy-five per cent of patients with bone metastases suffer from severe pain. As reflected in a consensus statement from a National Cancer Institute Workshop, the under-treatment of cancer pain is a serious and neglected public health problem.
Projective Representations of the Symmetric Groups
Authors: Hoffman P N , Humphreys J F
Published: November 2023

The study of the symmetric groups forms one of the basic building blocks of modern group theory. This book is the first completely detailed and self-contained presentation of the wealth of information now known on the projective representations of the symmetric and alternating groups. Prerequisites are a basic familiarity with the elementary theory of linear representations and a modest background in modern algebra. The authors have taken pains to ensure that all the relevant algebraic and combinatoric tools are clearly explained in such a way as to make the book suitable for graduate students and research workers. After the pioneering work of Issai Schur, little progress was made for half a century on projective representations, despite considerable activity on the related topic of linear representations. However, in the last twenty years important new advances have spurred further research. This book develops both the early theory of Schur and then describes the key advances that the subject has seen since then. In particular the theory of Q-functions and skew Q-functions is extensively covered which is central to the development of the subject.
Misconvergence in the Lanczos algorithm
Authors: Parlett Beresford
Published: November 2023

The Lanczos algorithm generates Ritz values in order to approximate eigenvalues. If some eigenvalues are clustered then a Ritz value may hover at a wrong value for a good number of steps. We study this phenomenon and focus on the point of discovery, the first step at which it is certain that there is a hidden eigenvalue in the vicinity of stabilized Ritz values. Both before and after this point the Ritz value behaviour is routine, but for different eigenvalue configurations.
A simple proof of the completeness of ternporal logic programming
Authors: Baudinet* Marianne
Published: November 2023

We address semantic and completeness issues for temporal logic programming, and in particular for the language Templog proposed by Abadi and Manna. We show that the semantic and completeness results for classical logic programming can be extended to TEMP LOG. We thus provide two equivalent formulations of Templog’s declarative semantics, in terms of a minimal model and in terms of a least fixpoint, and we prove the completeness of the temporal resolution proof system that is the basis of Templog’s execution mechanism.
The role of Appendicularia in marine food webs
Authors: Gorsky G , Fenaux R
Published: November 2023

Appendicularians are among the commonest members of the zooplankton community. often the second or the third most abundant group in plankton samples. They are found in all oceans, from coastal surface waters to the deep sea (Chapter 15). Since they are fragile organisms, they are often destroyed or severely damaged when collected with plankton nets. In consequence, there have been relatively few studies attempting to assess their environmental impact. Nevertheless, in recent years it has become obvious that their remarkable filtration systems, and rapid generation times, mean that they almost certainly play a significant role in the marine food web.
The relationships and systematics of the Thaliacea, wi,th keys for identification
Authors: Godeaux J
Published: November 2023

Almost exactly a century ago Brooks (1893) remarked that it should not be difficult to place the relationships of the Thaliacea upon a sound and permanent basis, as the forms which are to be considered are so very few and our knowledge of them so complete. Whilst it is true that there are few different thaliacean types, and that knowledge of their morphology (and other aspects) has increased since Brooks wrote, their relationships are still unclear. For the present, until further molecular data becomes available, speculations about thaliacean relationships are based on comparative embryology and morphology, (including sperm morphology). Three general questions naturally arise when thaliacean relationships are considered: (i) have the Thaliacea evolved from a free living or a sessile ancestor?; (ii) is this ancestor common to the three thaliacean orders?; (iii) what are the relationships between the three orders?
The study organism
Authors: Møller Anders Pape , Gregersen Jens
Published: November 2023

When scientists choose an organism in order to study a particular scientific problem, a number of different factors are often involved. Considerations like abundance and easy access to a large number of individuals are usually important for the potential success of a project. Genetic factors are most readily studied if individuals can be followed across generations. Most-aspects of modern biology have an observational and an experimental approach, and study organisms amenable to experimentation usually greatly facilitate scientific progress. Observations can usually suggest whether potential causal relationships exist, but their existence can only be verified through properly conducted experiments.
Opportunities and pitfalls in co-operative reproduction
Authors: Seger Jon
Published: November 2023

Reproduction is a strictly solitary activity in most animal species. Females (or hermaphrodites) typically pair briefly with males (or other hermaphrodites) to acquire unrelated haploid genomes, and in some species males package their sperm with nutritional resources that females incorporate into eggs. But in the vast majority of species, all subsequent parental investment is the work of one individual: mother. Many invertebrates even forgo mating in the usual sense, as in sessile species where free-swimming sperm find either the females or their free-floating haploid eggs, and species in which mobile females collect spermatophores that were previously deposited at strategic locations by anonymous donors.
The effects of polygyny and colony life history on optimal sex investment
Authors: Nonacs Peter
Published: November 2023

Social insect species, like all other organisms, must reproduce or eventually go extinct. However, unlike many whose sexual lives have remained private and discreet, almost every aspect of reproduction in the social insects has attracted an intrepid and growing band of scientific voyeurs. What may account for this burgeoning interest in sexual behaviour of social insects? First, sex is fun in theory, in experimental research, and in practical application. Second, because the Hymenoptera are haplodiploid, mothers can have great control over the sex of their offspring-only eggs they decide to fertilize become females. This means that natural selection on sex ratios is unconstrained by meiotic processes that tend to produce equal numbers of male and female zygotes. In contrast, termites are diploid and thus serve as an important comparison group for reproductive strategies of the social Hymenoptera. Finally and perhaps of greatest importance, not all members of a colony or group are likely to have identical reproductive goals. It is the potential for reproductive competition between nominally co-operating individuals and the tactics used to gain ascendancy that are of particular interest. Conflicts can exist over ratios of male to female investment, male parentage, and the number of reproductives per colony.
Social behaviour
Authors: Kruuk Hans
Published: November 2023

Despite a social system of group ranges otters are strikingly non-social. ‘Sprainting’ (scent marking) probably enables them to avoid the others who are living in the same range in order to exploit the fish and other resources without interference. Sprainting appears to function as a means of communication mainly over periods lasting only a few hours; it is associated with feeding and otherforms of resource utilization, and all categories of otters do it almost equally often, but much more in winter (when resources are low) than in summer. If otters meet, there is little aggression (except between territorial males), but more avoidance. Sexual behaviour is described; otters are polygamous and poly androus. The two-stage strategy of maternal care for the cubs (first in a natal holt, then accompanying the mother) is described’, some cubs are abandoned. The male is not involved in rearing the cubs. Most social interactions are seen within the small families of a mother with her cubs. Mothers appear to teach their offspring to fish, and cubs get the larger prey whilst the mothers eat small fish. Cubs are dependent on their mother for 10−16 months, an unusually long period which may be related to the acquisition of fishing skills.
Diet
Authors: Kruuk Hans
Published: November 2023

The prey of coastal otters in Shetland was determined from direct observations rather than faecal analysis, and it is compared with data from different coasts and other studies, from otters in fresh water, and from other species. It consisted almost only of fish, mostly small, eel-shaped, bottom-living species. But otters also took some larger prey, especially in winter, and particularly the males as well as females with cubs (who preferentially fed larger fish to their offspring). Occasionally birds and rabbits were taken. The larger fish were important in terms of proportion by weight in the diet, again mostly in winter. Prey were smallest and most diverse in spring, and least varied in summer. There was no substantial variation in the diet of individual otters fishing along the same shores. Feeding and diving efficiency improved with age during the first 18 months of life. In fresh water otters ate similar size fish as in the sea, with similar differences in diet between the sexes. Otters consume a quantity of fish of at least 15 per cent of their body weight per day. The diet of other otter species is described; there are broad similarities world-wide, but where different species occur sympatrically there are striking divergences.
Introduction
Authors: Keay R W J
Published: November 2023

This book is a revised and abbreviated version Nigerian trees which was produced by the Federal Department of Forest Research, Nigeria, in two volumes in 1960 and 1964. Like the original work it is intended for all who are interested in the trees of Nigeria; with this in mind, the use of technical terms has been reduced to the minimum; a glossary is given on pages 3 to 5.
Glossary
Authors: Keay R W J
Published: November 2023

acuminate: of a leaf or other organ where the apex has somewhat concave sides tapering to a sharp or blunt tip acute: ending in a point with straight sides. alternate: of leaves or branches inserted at different levels along the stem anther: the part of the stamen which contains the pollen. aril: a usually fleshy and often brightly coloured coat covering, or partly covering, the seed. In this book the term sometimes includes caruncle. articulated: jointed, or separating at a certain point leaving a clean scar axil: the angle between the leaf and the branch. axillary: arising from the axil. berry: a juicy fruit with seeds immersed in pulp. bipinnate: when the primary divisions (pinnae) of a pinnate compound leaf are themselves pinnate bisexual: having stamens and carpels in the same flower blade: the expanded portion of a leaf bract: a small leaf-like organ at the base of a flower or inflorescence. In this book the term includes bracteole calyx: the outer envelope of the flower consisting of sepals which may be united or free among themselves calyx-tube: when the sepals are partly united, the lower portion is the calyx-tube and the free portions are the calyx-teeth, -lobes or -segments. In this book the term sometimes includes hypanthium.
Key To Families represented by trees in Nigeria
Authors: Keay R W J
Published: November 2023

1a Trees never with more than scale-like leaves; flowers unisexual 2a Trees with white latex, stems fleshy, cactusike; male and female enclosed in a common bract (Euphorbia) Euphorbiaceae  2b Trees without latex, fir-like; male and female flowers on separate trees; leaf-scales in whorls on thread-like green branchlets Casuarinaceae  lb Trees with well-developed leaves, sometimes deciduous 3a Palm trees; leaves over 2.5 m long Palmae  3b Other trees; leaves usually under 2 m long
The Structural Biology of Palms
Authors: Tomlinson P B
Published: November 2023

The family of palms (Palmae or Arecaceae) is of major economic importance, both on a large industrial scale and in peasant agriculture. The palms offer a unique challenge to botanists because of their frequently gigantic size and unusual mechanical properties; they are of interest to evolutionists who wish to know how such an unusual plant form could have evolved and to ecologists who wish to learn about the distinct adaptive features of palms. In this book each organ of the plant and each successive phase in its life-cycle is examined, beginning with seed germination and gradually moving through the vegetative cycle to the production of inflorescence, flower, fruit, and seed, giving a general picture of how the palm 'works'. The information is presented in systematic form. Much of the recent extensive literature on palm biology is summarized and the relationship of the palms to other flowering plants is discussed. This book will be of value both to academic botanists and agronomists.
On the position of Proboscidea in the phylogenetic system of Eutheria: a systematic review
Authors: Fischer Martin S
Published: November 2023

The systematic position of Proboscidea is an example of continuity in mammalian classification. Disregarding any systematic schools, Proboscidea is usually classified as belonging to an independent unit within placental mammals, and almost since early systematic studies, its proximity to sirenians has been postulated. Even in the intuitive system of Linnaeus (1 758), the ‘Ordo Bruta’ comprises among others (e.g. Bradypus, Myrmecophaga, or Manis) Elephas and Trichechus.
Who is who among the Proboscideaã
Authors: Tassy Pascal
Published: November 2023

Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Proboscidea is almost purely a palaeontological game since only two species survive from what was once a formidable group. This game is made difficult, even hazardous, because of the lacunar nature of the fossil record, the usual overemphasis on dental characters in past literature, the relatively few global studies, and fewer cladistic analyses. Nevertheless, it is possible to summarize the ‘state of the art’, i.e. the distribution of morphological characters observed on fossils, through parsimony analysis. The resulting cladogram (Fig. 6.1) sheds some light on the numerous unresolved problems.
The honeycreepers’ world
Authors: Pratt H Douglas , Jeffrey Jack , Conant Sheila
Published: November 2023

The present day Hawaiian Islands (Fig. 2.1) lie at the northern edge of the tropical Pacific 4000 km from the nearest continent (North America) and 3000 km from the nearest high volcanic islands (the Marquesas in southeastern Polynesia). They are the latest subaerial representation of an ancient long chain of islands and guyots or seamounts (the Emperor Chain) that stretch to the northwest and north almost to the Aleutians. As reviewed most recently by Fleischer et al. (1998), this chain is the result of the movement of the Pacific Plate, which forms the floor of the Pacific Ocean, over a mid-ocean ‘hotspot’.A hotspot is a thin place in the Earth’s outer mantle where a magma plume reaches the surface and produces volcanoes.
Analysis Based on a (semi-)Markov Description
Authors: Haccou Patsy , Meelis Evert
Published: November 2023

In previous chapters, the emphasis was on model formulation and validation. This is useful in itself, since it will often increase insight into the temporal structure of the behaviour studied. In most cases, however, we want more than just to describe behaviour. For instance, we may want to study the effects of experimental treatments in order to gain insight into the mechanisms regulating behaviour. A validated model can be used as a firm basis for such analyses. A major advantage of an approach based on the formulation of Markov chain models and many of their generalizations is that, on the time scale(s) where such models can be applied, all the information contained in the behavioural records can be summarized concisely by means of the estimated transition rates.
Protecting forests against damage
Authors: Matthews John D
Published: November 2023

Four kinds of damage are considered here. These are: 2. Damage caused by extremes of climate, particularly wind, snow, and fire. 3. Damage caused by certain diseases, insects, and animals. 4. Damage to site and trees in the course of forest operations. 5. Air pollution These kinds of damage are recurrent and can disrupt the orderly regeneration, tending, and harvesting of tree crops unless control measures are devised and applied. Injuries to site and trees reduce the productive potential of the forest by depressing tree growth and lowering the volume and value of timber produced. When the cost of protective measures is combined with loss of growing stock and increment these climatic, biotic, mechanical, and environmental agents can place a heavy financial burden on a forest enterprise. The purpose of this chapter is to show how the risk of damage may be assessed and how the resistance of the forest can be raised so that the impact of these agents on silvicultural systems is kept as low as possible.
Strip systems
Authors: Matthews John D
Published: November 2023

Strip systems differ in detail but have one common feature, namely that the coupes take the form of quite narrow strips which have certain advantages, mainly of a protective nature, over large coupes. The German word ‘saum’ denotes narrow strips, say up to half the height of the old trees or little more, cut along the edge of the strand. ‘Streif’ denotes broader strips, as in ‘streifenschlag (see page 84).
The group selection system
Authors: Matthews John D
Published: November 2023

The typical form of selection fellings in which single trees are removed is more suited to shade-bearing than to light-demanding species, since the gaps created by the removal of sing-le trees are too small for the regeneration of light-demanders or for the smaller trees to escape suppression from the larger ones standing over them. Hence if the selection system is to be applied to light-demanding species it is necessary to fell trees in groups in order to create gaps of sufficient size to enable regeneration to establish itself. Such fellings are known as group selection fellings and the modification of the selection system under which this type of felling is employed is termed the group selection system.
Coppice with standards
Authors: Matthews John D
Published: November 2023

Coppice with standards consists of two distinct elements: (I) a lower even-aged storey treated as coppice; and (2) an upperstorey of standards forming an uneven-aged crop and treated as high forest. The coppice is termed the underwood and the standards the overwood. The purpose of the standards is to provide a certain proportion of large timber, to provide seed for natural regeneration, and in some cases, to afford protection against frost. Coupes are formed exactly as in simple coppice. The rotation of the coppice is fixed according to requirements and the area is divided into as many annual coupes as there are years in the rotation. As each annual coupe in turn becomes due for felling, the following operations are carried out in it.
Conversion
Authors: Matthews John D
Published: November 2023

The term ‘conversion’ is generally taken to mean a change from one silvicultural system to another, as for instance, conversion of coppice with standards to high forest or from clear cutting to the group selection system (page 175). In silviculture, conversion also includes restoration of degraded forest to a productive condition, leading up eventually to sustained yield working under one of the silvicultural systems. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the methods used when making conversions and give examples of different kinds of conversions to supplement those already described in the chapters on the clear cutting and group selection systems (pages 80 and 175). Natural indigenous forest, managed high forest, coppice with standards, and coppice can all become degraded. The most common causes are: (1) uncontrolled exploitation fellings which remove the best trees of the principal species, leaving only damaged or moribund trees and secondary or weed species; (2) changes in market or economic conditions leading to a decline in the value of the growing stock and neglect of the forest.
Interactions in burrowing communities and their effects on the structure of marine benthic ecosystems
Authors: W. Peter a. , wilde J De
Published: November 2023

Benthic organisms and their abiotic environment are closely related. Simply by their existence, bottom organisms tend to modify the environment in which they live. Burrowing macrofauna species, by their often remarkable behaviour, exert profound impacts on the sediment and bottom water and also, directly or indirectly, on the various biota. Interactions between burrowing species and other inhabitants of the same habitat may be tolerant, promotive or inhibitory: ‘gardening’ occurs if the activities of a burrowing species promote the production of micro-organisms in such a way that this positively contributes to the food resources of the species. Deposit feeding macrofauna species may, through extensive sediment reworking in muddy sediment, cause such severe destabilization of the sea bed that suspension-feeding organisms or epifauna are prevented from persisting in the same habitat.
Biogenic habitat modification in marine sediments: the importance of species composition and activity
Authors: Woodin Sarah Ann , Marinelli Roberta
Published: November 2023

Marine sedimentary environments are well known to be biogenically modified by the organisms that live within them. What is less clear is the degree to which the activities of the infauna vary temporally and/or spatially and how this affects the biogenic alteration of the habitat as well as other organisms. Herein we document such effects on other members of the infauna as well as the importance of the actual species exposed to the biogenic alteration. Juveniles of the bivalve Mercenaria emigrate in response to simulated biogenic sediment turnover, while those of the bivalve Venerupis show no response. Similarly two terebellid polychaete species, Thelepus and Eupolymnia, respond differentially in terms of irrigation amount and frequency to elevated ammonium and sulphide levels as well as to reduced oxygen levels. The significance of these responses is discussed in light of the rates of emigration of the terebellids and the below-sediment deposit feeders as well as with reference to chemical constituents exuded into sediments by some species of terebellid polychaetes and by some species of below-sediment deposit feeders.
Flight based on hindwings
Authors: Brodsky Andrei K
Published: November 2023

At the roots of the evolutionary line which leads to the present-day Neoptera there was an extensive order with hazy borders, the Protoptera, which is only known from wing fossils. Various members of the lower Para- and Oligoneoptera, especially the orders Hypoperlida and Blattin opseida, as well as the Polyneoptera can be derived from them via smooth transitions. The Polyneoptera evolved a more concealed lifestyle in litter, under bark, and in rotting wood and especially in accumulations of coarse plant remains-under fallen trees, twigs, and branches and in ‘macrolitter’ (Rasnitsyn 1980a). Transition to a concealed lifestyle could have been caused by the appearance of aerial predators-dragonflies, which seem to have appeared a little before the Polyneoptera. The most compact body form is provided if the wings are folded flat over the abdomen. With this manner of folding, the forewings acquired a protective function, they became hardened, and the flight function was concentrated in the hindwings. The hindwings expanded at the base to form a canopy during flight (Antonova et al. 1980), flexing in a complex manner for wing folding.