bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A UK conservation success story: Longhorn cattle, a case study
Authors: Henson E.L. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe Longhorn cattle breed has a long and prestigious history, dating back prior to the livestock pioneers of the 18th century. It was, for a period, the improved breed of choice in the Midland Counties. But the breed gradually fell from favour and, by the early 1970s, only 6 significant Longhorn herds remained in the UK. However, the Longhorn was one of many rare breeds to benefit from the growth of the rare breeds movement in the 1970s, led by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A number of factors have helped the breed to recover, including: an active breed society providing registrations and analyses based on these, promoting the breed, organising sales and shows and providing an important social framework for breeders and supporters; creation of a semen bank; niche marketing of meat and hides and the use of the breed in conservation grazing.
Equine passports and the National Equine Database – current situation and future prospects
Authors: Graham Suggett R H 
Published: June 2019

AbstractSince 2002 Government and the equine industry have been in partnership to develop a National Equine Database (NED) to provide a central source of reliable information on horses and ponies bred, owned or registered in the United Kingdom. NED will provide both buyers and breeders with a one–stop–shop access to a horse or pony's name, ID (Identification) number, breed, sex, colour, height and pedigree together with performance, evaluation and grading results. NED's other benefits are that it will help to provide more accurate information on the size and shape of the equine industry and assist with equine welfare in that owners, and eventually keepers, will be traceable (when used in conjunction with microchipping) with regard to abandoned and badly–treated equines. NED's existence will also demonstrate the UK's compliance with EU passport legislation which was the trigger for the development of the partnership. The capital development and initial running costs are being met by Defra. Thereafter, NED will have to be self-funding from the sale of data. Defra will continue to make a financial contribution in respect of the up-keep of the data required to administer the passport and disease surveillance and control schemes. PIOs (Passport Issuing Organisations) are mandated under the four sets of UK passport legislation to provide the core data required for the database and breed societies, stud books, competition disciplines and other responsible bodies will supply verified pedigree, performance, evaluation and grading (PPEG) information on a voluntary basis.
Offering concentrates either before, with or after forage and its effect on digesta passage rates and mean retention times in ponies given either oat straw or grass haylage as a basal forage
Authors: Hyslop J. J. 
Published: June 2019

Most mature horses and ponies in the UK are given restricted amounts of concentrate and forage diets in order to avoid excessive nutrient intake and obesity, usually in a number of small meals per day. One practical question often asked by horse owners relates to the timing of concentrate feeding relative to the timing of forage provision. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of feeding concentrate meals either before, with or after forage when either oat straw or grass haylage was offered as the basal forage. Actual dry matter intakes and diet digestibility values from this study have been published previously (Hyslop, 2004). This summary details the effects of offering concentrates either 2 hours before, along with or 2 hours after forage provision on digesta passage rates and mean retention times in mature ponies.6 mature Welsh-cross pony geldings (mean LW 298 kg: s.e. 16.2) were individually housed and used in an eight treatment, 6 x 4 partially balanced incomplete block design experiment consisting of four 21 day periods.
The selection of coloured stimuli by the horse (Equus caballus)
Authors: C.A. Hall  , Cassaday H.J. , Vincent C.J. , Derrington A.M. 
Published: June 2019

Colour is an important feature that increases the visibility of objects and may aid recognition of con-specifics. The adaptive significance of the ability to utilize colour cues has been demonstrated in a number of species, in particular in relation to food selection. The evolution of trichromatic colour vision in primates has been associated with the advantages that it provided in the selection of yellow and orange fruits (Mollon, 1989) or tender young red foliage (Dominy and Lucas, 2001) from a background of green. The horse is a generalist herbivore that must both select nutritious plants and avoid toxic ones. Familiarity is an important factor in this selection process (Augneret al., 1998), although it is not clear exactly what features are used to recognise previously ingested and “safe” herbage.The horse has been shown to possess dichromatic colour vision. There are two types of cone photopigment in the equine retina, with spectral peaks at 429 and 545 nanometres (Macuda, 2000).
The effects of Reiki on the heart rate of horses
Authors: Hale C.E. , Spibey V. 
Published: June 2019

Reiki is an increasingly popular form of complementary therapy. It originated in Japan, and is used to promote relaxation and healing (Rand, 2000). Reiki is a vibrational therapy that is claimed by practioners to be a method of channelling universal life energy (Mansour et al., 1999). This energy is then claimed to balance the biofield and initiate the body's own healing processes (Miles & True, 2003). The therapy involves the flow and transfer of energy, from the practitioner, to the patient. Often described as the “laying on of hands” (Rand, 2000), patients report feelings of warmth, deep relaxation, sleepiness, happiness, increased spiritual awareness, (Rand, 2000) and improved pain control (Olson et al., 2003).Reiki has become popular as an adjunct to conventional medicine (Miles & True, 2003; Olson & Hanson, 1997), and is increasingly being used alongside traditional palliative care for people with serious illnesses (Miles & True, 2003; Wardell & Engebretson, 2001; Neild-Anderson & Ameling, 2000; Mansour et al., 1999; Bullock, 1997; Olson & Hanson, 1997).
Scientific and methodological issues in quality assurance
Authors: Russell Ian , Grimshaw Jeremy , Wilson Brenda 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisThe framework for this chapter stems from the proposal that the basic steps of the quality cycle should be combined with the practical stages of the scientific method to form an extended quality cycle comprising nine steps. The scientific and methodological implications of each step are considered in turn. The discussion of the three steps relating to the development, dissemination and implementation of clinical standards is based on a recent review of rigorous evaluations of clinical guidelines. The discussion of the three steps relating to the comparison of clinical performance with agreed standards is based on the existing principles of medical research. The final step is concerned with the management of change. The chapter ends by applying the steps of the extended quality cycle to the topic of thrombolytic therapy after acute myocardial infarction. The resulting hypothetical quality assurance exercise appears simple and potentially very effective. We conclude that, if quality assurance is pursued with a combination of scientific rigour, imagination and persistence, it has the potential to bring substantial benefits to patients and health professionals.
Clinical audit in hospital
Authors: Heath D. A. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisAudit within general medicine originated from a review of patient clinical records. The main effect of such activities was to lead to an improvement of documentation and a realisation that audit could be performed amicably. Once case note reviews had been established it was usually necessary to progress to specific topic review. Such audits required more input of doctors' time, and to be performed properly needed the support of committed audit staff and limited support from computer technology.The primary aim of medical audit is to improve clinical care. Although an important component it is not the primary purpose of audit to save money.
Quality assurance in general practice
Authors: Baker Richard , Samuel Oliver 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisThis chapter traces the development of quality assurance in general practice over the last quarter of a century. The practical implementation of quality assurance in British general practice is set against experience in other countries. Examples illustrate how ideas for improving care have already been incorporated into normal practice. We describe some of the methods currently in use and speculate about how systems of professional accreditation might become acceptable. Finally we consider the future role of quality assurance in general practice.
Quality assurance in the blood transfusion services
Authors: Cash John D. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisBlood transfusion services, in almost all parts of the developed world, are subject to the same rigours of quality standards as those applied to the rest of the pharmaceutical industry. These standards are established and monitored by governments but are greatly enhanced by staff involvement and commitment. More recent developments, which in some respects are unique to blood transfusion services, have been the commitment of many blood transfusion services to engage in an audit process which seeks to define better the most appropriate uses of blood and blood products.
Quality assurance in biomedical and health services research
Authors: Moir A. T. Boyd , Bouchier Ian A. D. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisIn this paper we deal with those methods which are used, or which may be used, to ensure that research in the biomedical and health services field is of a satisfactory standard. We discuss not only what is undertaken to ensure that the quality of the applications which are funded is of the best, but also those activities which may be pursued in an endeavour to stimulate a healthy quantity of high-quality applications for research. This latter point is an issue relating primarily to health services research. We cover the topic of quality assurance of biomedical and health services research from an experience which is derived mainly, but not solely, from involvement with Scottish funding agencies. Consideration is given to the allocation of budgets for research in medicine and the impact that this has on the quality of biomedical and health services research.
Rocky shores monitoring programme
Authors: Moore Jon , Taylor Peter , Hiscock Keith 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisRocky shores in Sullom Voe were first surveyed in 1976 and, apart from a break of two years (1982–83), have been surveyed annually since. The aim of the surveys is to monitor the health of the rocky shore communities by identifying any major changes in the abundance of the fauna and flora and distinguishing anthropogenic effects from natural fluctuations. The 23 primary sites are spread around Sullom Voe, from Mavis Grind, at the head, to Mioness, just outside the entrance. A belt transect method is employed, and categorical abundances of conspicuous species on a checklist are recorded. Graphical analysis of the data for selected species and sites is presented to illustrate the most important changes that have been observed.The rocky shore communities in Sullom Voe are dynamically stable, except where physical disturbance has not allowed them to reach a state of long-term stability. The effects of, and the recovery from, the 1979 Esso Bernicia oil spill and its clean-up are described. While recovery of communities was rapid on shores where no clean-up was attempted, the communities on shores which were mechanically cleaned were showing continued effects in 1993. The deterioration of dogwhelk populations affected by the antifouling paint additive tributyltin (TBT) has been followed in recent years. Dogwhelk populations close to the terminal jetties are very small and are dominated by adults. Natural fluctuations in abundances of barnacles, dogwhelks, limpets, fucoid algae and littorinid gastropods over the period 1976 to 1992 are also described.
Secondary metabolites
Authors: Waterman Peter G. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisAll plants expend energy and nutrients in the production of secondary metabolites. Ecosystem-level studies on the production of metabolites in African rain forests are reviewed and factors influencing the production and distribution of phenolic compounds discussed. These compounds appear to influence feeding behaviour in primate herbivores and may also be important in mediating the rate of leaf litter decomposition and nutrient recycling. Many metabolites are biologically active and some have proved to have medicinal value: research on some plant families that occur widely in West African forests and which have proved to be particularly rich sources of new metabolites is reviewed.
Mammals of the Guinea–Congo rain forest
Authors: Happold D. C. D. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisThe species composition, and the number of species of mammals, in the Guinea–Congo rain forests varies with locality. The highest species richness (up to 130 species) is found in parts of the West Central and East Central rain forest regions, and the lowest richness occurs in the Western Region and on the periphery of the rain forest zone. Rodents and bats contribute the greatest number of species (about 25% each), with lesser numbers of primates, duikers, and small insectivores; the relative numbers within each order is similar in all localities regardless of the composition and total numbers of species. The geographical distribution of each species is due to the alternating periods of forest fragmentation and expansion in the past, and the species-specific response to these environmental changes. There are about equal numbers of arboreal (30%), terrestrial (35%) and aerial (27%) species, each species within these categories having very specific habitat requirements within the forest. Most rain forest mammals are either frugivores (36%) or insectivores (37%): monkeys are mainly arboreal frugivores and folivores, and most prosimians are arboreal insectivores; forest duikers are terrestrial frugivores, and terrestrial rodents are frugivores or omnivores. Leaves, in spite of their abundance, are rarely eaten because of their low nutritive value and the difficulties of digesting them and consequently folivores (9%) are uncommon. Insects form the principal food for insect-bats and shrews. Mammals exhibit well-defined food partitioning in relation to food selection and body size, and therefore competition for food is probably minimal except during the dry season. Reproduction is more or less continuous in rodents and artiodactyis (with peaks of births at selected seasons); in contrast, monkeys and bats have fairly precise periods when births occur, which vary according to the species. The timing of reproductive events is regulated by the rainfall regime, availabiiity of food, and phyiogenetic characteristics such as the length of gestation and body size. Mammals interact with other rainforest organisms, principally as primary and secondary consumers, pollinators, and dispersers of fruits and seeds. Most species of rain forest mammals are solitary, but a few live in monospecific groups or in polyspecific groups. Forest disturbance in recent years (especially forest clearance and hunting) has had very detrimental effects on the geographical distribution and numbers of individuals of all species of forest mammals.
Ectomycorrhizal fungi of the Guinea–Congo Region
Authors: Buyck Bart , Thoen Daniel , Watling Roy 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisThe occurrence of ectomycorrhizal fungi in West African rain forest systems is demonstrated and linked to the presence of a range of caesalpinoid legumes and to members of the genusUapaca. The vast array of boletes, members of the Russulaceae and Amanitaceae, and chanterelles is described. The virtual absence of ectomycorrhizal Cortinariaceae is emphasised. After an overview three separate yet interlinked studies are described: a survey of ectomycorrhizal fungi throughout the region (Thoen): ectomycorrhizal fungi of a single rain forest community (Watling) and the significance and relationships of the genusRussulain the Guinea–Congo Region (Buyck). Some comparisons are made with other rain forest areas of the world.
Saprotrophic fungi of the Guinea–Congo Region
Authors: Laessøe T. , Ryvarden L. , Watling Roy , Whalley A. J. S. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisA window onto the vast array of saprotrophic fungi found in West Central Africa with particular reference to the Cameroon attempted in this paper. After an overview (Watling) three diverse groups are taken as examples of this array: xylariaceous fungi (Laessøe, Whalley & Watling); polypores (Ryvarden & Watling) and lepiotoid fungi (Watling). Some comparisons are made with other tropical forests. This approach contrasts a lignicolous group in the ascomycetes with one in the basidiomycetes and contrasts terricolous lepiotoid agarics with polyporaceous terricolous and lignicolous fungi.
Growth control of normal and malignant breast epithelium
Authors: Lippman Marc E. , Dickson Robert B. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisWe review information highlighting the multiple roles of both steroidal (primarily oestrogen) and polypeptide regulators of mammary epithelial cell growth, emphasising the work of our laboratory. Effects of both classes of hormones are complex and involve multiple interactions with non-tumour, host tissue. Oestrogen may induce growth regulatory polypeptide growth factors and interact with them in hormone dependent breast cancer. Progression of hormone-dependent breast cancer to hormone independence may involve multiple genetic mechanisms of oncogene activation, loss of the oestrogen receptor, or loss of hormone responsivity of other gene products. Initial carcinogenesis and progression of mammary epithelium to cancer probably also requires both proliferative stimuli (oestrogen, polypeptide growth factors) and genetic damage, leading to qualitatively different hormonal responses (hormone responsive cancer). Future therapies should be designed to block hormonal stimulation better and to interfere with necessary activated or induced components of malignant progression such as oncogenes or polypeptide growth factors receptor systems.
Effects of oestrogen on human breast cancer cells in culture
Authors: Darbre Philippa D. , Daly Roger J. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisOestrogen regulates the growth of human breast cancer cell lines ZR-75–1, T-47-D and MCF-7 (KO and McGrath). Basal cell growth can be reduced (T-47-D) or eliminated (ZR-75–1) by prior growth in the absence of steroid and phenol red for three weeks, demonstrating that oestrogens can have long-lasting effects on cells in culture (termed “steroid memory”). Effects of oestradiol on different cell biological parameters are described and interaction with other steroids and serum growth factors is discussed. Antioestrogen action in these cell lines is affected by at least five parameters: (1) presence of phenol red, (2) time in culture, (3) cell density, (4) antioestrogen concentration, (5) steroid memory.Anin vitromodel for loss of oestrogen sensitivity in breast cancer is presented. Both dependent (ZR-75–1) and responsive (T-47-D) cells lose oestrogen sensitivity when deprived of steroid in the long term but show a gradual increase in growth. For ZR-75–1 cells, the effects appear to be clonal but occur at a high frequency (about 1 in 1,000 cells). Parallel alterations in sensitivity to other steroids, antioestrogens and serum growth factors are shown. Molecular markers of this action are described and the results compared with the well-established model for loss of androgen/glucocorticoid sensitivity in SI 15 cells.
The regulation of oestrogen biosynthesis in human adipose tissue
Authors: Simpson E. R. , Mendelson C. R. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisThe enzyme complex responsible for the conversion of androgens to oestrogens is called aromatase. This enzyme is expressed in a number of tissue sites, including granulosa cells, placenta, hypothalamus and adipose. Oestrogen formation in adipose tissue has been implicated in the aetiology of endometrial and breast cancer. Aromatase comprises two components: a member of the cytochrome P-450 gene family known as aromatase cytochrome P-450, and a flavoprotein, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. We have recently obtained a full-length cDNA insert encoding human aromatase cytochrome P-450 and have expressed it in COSI monkey kidney tumour cells. The resulting transcript encodes a protein which is capable of converting androstenedione, testosterone and 16α-hydroxyandrostenedione to the corresponding oestrogens. Furthermore, characterisation of the aromatase cytochrome P-450 gene indicates that in humans there is only one such gene, which spans about 30kb and has at least nine exons. From these results we conclude that there is only one aromatase enzyme in humans. Study of the expression of this enzyme in human adipose stromal cells indicates that it is subject to regulation by a number of factors including cAMP, phorbol esters, and the growth factors, EGF, TGF-α, TGF-β, TNF and 1Lβ. Since several of these growth factors are produced by breast cancer cells in response to oestrogens, the possibility exists for paracrine and autocrine feedback loops within the breast, in which the growth of a tumour is regulated by oestrogen produced locally in the adipose cells of the surrounding tissue, and this in turn is regulated by the growth factors produced by the tumour as a result of oestrogen action.
Biosynthesis of active oestrogens in the breast
Authors: Vermeulen A. , Deslypere J. P. 
Published: June 2019

SynopsisIt is generally accepted that sex hormones play a role in the development of mammary cancer and it is a reasonable assumption that tissue concentration of oestrogens and their androgen precursors, as well as the activity of oestrogen synthetising or metabolising enzymes, may be valuable parameters of hormone dependency. Except for the sulphate conjugates and for testosterone, androgen and oestrogen levels are higher in mammary tissue (ng/g) than in plasma (ng/ml) and as distinct from plasma, tissue oestradiol (the active oestrogen) levels are higher than oestrone levels. Moreover, oestradiol levels are higher in oestrogen-receptor-positive tissues.Sex hormone levels in mammary tissue find their origin in uptake from plasma and in local synthesis. It is unlikely that local aromatase activity accounts for a large fraction of tissue oestrogens but sulphatase activity may be an important determinant of tissue oestrogen concentration. The major precursors of tissue oestrogens are androstenedione and oestrone sulphate respectively, yielding oestrone which is transformed by the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase to oestradiol. However, the reverse reaction, conversion of E2 into E1, is much more active and is inversely correlated to dehydroepiandrosterone (sulphate) concentration, which inhibits non-competitively the conversion of E2 into E1. This E2DH activity is higher in E2R positive tumours, suggesting that E2DH is a good marker of hormone dependency. As to prognostic factors, a follow-up study concerning sixty-two postmenopausal women, with a follow up of at least four years, revealed that in the recurrence group (n = 17 ), besides E2R and PgR concentrations, all hormone concentrations as well as E2DH activity were also lower than in the disease-free group.