bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using in situ management to conserve biodiversity under climate change
Authors: Greenwood Owen , Mossman Hannah L. , Suggitt Andrew J. , Curtis Robin J. , Maclean Ilya M. D. 
Published: December 2015

Summary

Successful conservation will increasingly depend on our ability to help species cope with climate change. While there has been much attention on accommodating or assisting range shifts, less has been given to the alternative strategy of helping species survive climate change through in situ management.

Here we provide a synthesis of published evidence examining whether habitat management can be used to offset the adverse impacts on biodiversity of changes in temperature, water availability and sea‐level rise. Our focus is on practical methods whereby the local environmental conditions experienced by organisms can be made more suitable.

Many studies suggest that manipulating vegetation structure can alter the temperature and moisture conditions experienced by organisms, and several demonstrate that these altered conditions benefit species as regional climatic conditions become unsuitable. The effects of topography on local climatic conditions are even better understood, but the alteration of topography as a climate adaptation tool is not ingrained in conservation practice. Trials of topographic alteration in the field should therefore be a priority for future research.

Coastal systems have the natural capacity to keep pace with climate change, but require sufficient sediment supplies and space for landward migration to do so. There is an extensive literature on managed realignment. While the underlying rationale is simple, successful implementation requires careful consideration of elevation and past land use. Even with careful management, restored habitats may not attain the physical and biological attributes of natural habitats.

Synthesis and applications. The recent literature provides a compelling case that some of the adverse effects of climate change can be offset by appropriate management. However, much of the evidence for this is indirect and too few studies provide empirical tests of the long‐term effectiveness of these management interventions. It is clear from the existing evidence that some techniques have a higher risk of failure or unexpected outcomes than others and managers will need to make careful choices about which to implement. We have assessed the strength of evidence of these approaches in order to demonstrate to conservation professionals the risks involved.
Linking functional diversity to resource availability and disturbance: a mechanistic approach for water‐limited plant communities
Authors: Nathan Jonathan , Osem Yagil , Shachak Moshe , Meron Ehud 
Published: December 2015

Summary

Functional diversity (FD) has become a principal concept for revealing mechanisms driving community assembly and ecosystem function. Multiple assembly processes, including abiotic filtering, competition and multi‐trophic relationships, operate simultaneously to structure FD. In water‐limited plant communities, FD is likely to reflect trade‐offs between drought resistance vs. disturbance resistance and competitive ability.

We propose a mathematical mechanistic model for understanding the organization and function of water‐limited plant communities. The approach captures the interplay between abiotic filtering, below‐ and above‐ground competition and disturbance. We exploit this powerful model to uncover mechanisms underlying changes in functional diversity along stress gradients.

Our approach links biomass production and FD to environmental conditions through plant resource capture ability. Functional groups are defined along a single trade‐off axis according to investment in capturing light (shoot) vs. water (root). Species growth rate is determined dynamically by the species traits, water availability and grazing stress. We derive biomass production, functional diversity and composition along precipitation and grazing gradients.

Model's results revealed several regimes structuring FD along the precipitation gradient: ‘Struggle for water’ at low precipitation, ‘competition for water’ at intermediate precipitation and ‘competition for light’ at high precipitation.

We observed a shift in grazing effect on FD from negative at very low precipitation, to positive at higher precipitation. Unimodal FD–grazing intensity relationship was observed under high precipitation, while under low precipitation, FD decreased moderately with increasing grazing intensity.

Synthesis. Our model showcases how fundamental tradeoffs in plant traits may drive functional diversity and ecosystem function along environmental gradients. It offers a mechanism through which novel understandings can be obtained regarding the interplay between water stress, below‐ and above‐ground competition and disturbance intensity and history. We discuss further model testing possibilities as well as required empirical work.
Consistent, small effects of treefall disturbances on the composition and diversity of four Amazonian forests
Authors: Baker Timothy R. , Vela Díaz Dilys M. , Chama Moscoso Victor , Navarro Gilberto , Monteagudo Abel , Pinto Ruy , Cangani Katia , Fyllas Nikolaos M. , Lopez Gonzalez Gabriela , Laurance William F. , Lewis Simon L. , Lloyd Jonathan , ter Steege Hans , Terborgh John W. , Phillips Oliver L. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryUnderstanding the resilience of moist tropical forests to treefall disturbance events is important for understanding the mechanisms that underlie species coexistence and for predicting the future composition of these ecosystems. Here, we test whether variation in the functional composition of Amazonian forests determines their resilience to disturbance.We studied the legacy of natural treefall disturbance events in four forests across Amazonia that differ substantially in functional composition. We compared the composition and diversity of all free‐standing woody stems 2–10 cm diameter in previously disturbed and undisturbed 20 × 20 m subplots within 55, one‐hectare, long‐term forest inventory plots.Overall, stem number increased following disturbance, and species and functional composition shifted to favour light‐wooded, small‐seeded taxa. Alpha‐diversity increased, but beta‐diversity was unaffected by disturbance, in all four forests.Changes in response to disturbance in both functional composition and alpha‐diversity were, however, small (2 – 4% depending on the parameter) and similar among forests.Synthesis. This study demonstrates that variation in the functional composition of Amazonian forests does not lead to large differences in the response of these forests to treefall disturbances, and overall, these events have a minor role in maintaining the diversity of these ecosystems.
Treatment of chronic kidney disease using a traditional Chinese medicine, Flos Abelmoschus manihot (Linnaeus) Medicus (Malvaceae)
Authors: Chen Yizhi , Cai Guangyan , Sun Xuefeng , Chen Xiangmei 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe flowers of Abelmoschus manihot (Linnaeus) Medicus (Malvaceae; Flos A. manihot) have been used in China for many centuries as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. The Huangkui capsule is a single‐plant drug extracted from the dry corolla of Flos A. manihot that has been approved by China's State Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis. The purpose of this paper is to review briefly some of the past experiences in rapid filtration and to present more fully a few facts brought out in recent studies. The primary chemical constituents of Flos A. manihot are flavonoids. In vivo, the flavonoids can be transformed into glucuronide–sulphate conjugates, which are the major metabolites of Flos A. manihot and could contribute to the renoprotective effects in vivo. Flos A. manihot can ameliorate proteinuria, podocyte apoptosis, glomerulosclerosis and mesangial proliferation. The renoprotective effects of Flos A. manihot are related to inhibition of caspase‐3 and caspase‐8 overexpression, reduction of the infiltration of ED1+ and ED3+ macrophages, downregulation of oxidative stress, inhibition of the p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase and serine/threonine kinase pathways and suppression of transforming growth factor‐β1 and tumour necrosis factor‐α expression. Recently, a multicentre randomized controlled trial demonstrated that Flos A. manihot was more effective than the angiotensin‐receptor blocker losartan in reducing proteinuria in patients with primary glomerular disease. Because Flos A. manihot is generally preferred by Chinese patients and clinicians, high‐quality trials to test the efficacy and safety of Flos A. manihot are urgently needed.
Translational Global Praxis: Rethinking Methods and Modes of African Urban Research
Authors: Parnell Susan , Pieterse Edgar 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAdvancing global urbanism depends upon making Africa's cities a more dominant part of the global urban narrative. Constructing a more legitimate research agenda for African cities, however, necessitates a repositioning of conventional modes of research. To achieve intellectual and political traction in what are typical African research conditions—where human needs are great, information is poor, conditions of governance are complex and the reality is changeable—we reflect on the experiences of the African Centre for Cities where (alongside conventional use of theory, methods and data) a translational mode of working has been adopted. The notion of translational urban research praxis captures more than the idea of applied research or even co‐production, and encompasses integrating the research conception, design, execution, application and reflection—and conceiving of this set of activities as a singular research/practice process that is by its nature deeply political and locationally embedded. In this way we suggest that African urbanism can be both usefully illuminated by global theories and methods, and can simultaneously be constitutive of the reform of the ideas through which cities generally are understood.
Relative Risk Regression for Binary Outcomes: Methods and Recommendations
Authors: Marschner Ian C. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryRelative risks are often considered preferable to odds ratios for quantifying the association between a predictor and a binary outcome. Relative risk regression is an alternative to logistic regression where the parameters are relative risks rather than odds ratios. It uses a log link binomial generalised linear model, or log‐binomial model, which requires parameter constraints to prevent probabilities from exceeding 1. This leads to numerical problems with standard approaches for finding the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE), such as Fisher scoring, and has motivated various non‐MLE approaches. In this paper we discuss the roles of the MLE and its main competitors for relative risk regression. It is argued that reliable alternatives to Fisher scoring mean that numerical issues are no longer a motivation for non‐MLE methods. Nonetheless, non‐MLE methods may be worthwhile for other reasons and we evaluate this possibility for alternatives within a class of quasi‐likelihood methods. The MLE obtained using a reliable computational method is recommended, but this approach requires bootstrapping when estimates are on the parameter space boundary. If convenience is paramount, then quasi‐likelihood estimation can be a good alternative, although parameter constraints may be violated. Sensitivity to model misspecification and outliers is also discussed along with recommendations and priorities for future research.
Half‐dose photodynamic therapy followed by diode micropulse laser therapy as treatment for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy: evaluation of a prospective treatment protocol
Authors: Breukink Myrte B. , Mohr Jacqueline K. , Ossewaarde‐van Norel Annette , den Hollander Anneke I. , Keunen Jan E.E. , Hoyng Carel B. , Boon Camiel J.F. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the outcome of a prospective protocol for the treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).MethodsInterventional prospective case series in 59 eyes (59 patients) with active chronic CSC. All patients were first treated with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)‐guided half‐dose photodynamic therapy (PDT). In case of persistent serous subretinal fluid (SRF) after a follow‐up period of at least 6 weeks, ICGA‐guided PDT was repeated. If the SRF persisted after two PDT treatments, additional ICGA‐guided high‐density subthreshold diode micropulse laser (HSML) therapy was performed. Clinical evaluation included best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundoscopy, OCT, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography and ICGA.ResultsAfter a single PDT treatment, complete resolution of SRF was seen in 37 of 59 eyes. Of the 22 eyes with no complete resolution of SRF, 19 eyes received a second PDT treatment, after which seven eyes of the 19 eyes showed a complete resolution of SRF. Ten eyes underwent HSML, of which one eye had complete resolution of SRF within 7 weeks. At final follow‐up a complete resolution of SRF was present in 80% of all eyes. The mean BCVA improved from 0.28 logMAR at baseline to 0.16 logMAR at final follow‐up. Improvement of BCVA was highest after the first treatment (−0.12 logMAR, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe proposed treatment strategy using half‐dose PDT and HSML in active chronic CSC resulted in an anatomical success rate of 80%. The first half‐dose PDT treatment has the highest likelihood of a favourable treatment response on OCT and BCVA increase.
Albumin and pre‐albumin levels do not reflect the nutritional status of female adolescents with restrictive eating disorders
Authors: Huysentruyt Koen , De Schepper Jean , Vanbesien Jesse , Vandenplas Yvan 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAimAlbumin and pre‐albumin are frequently used as nutritional markers in clinical practice. We examined whether serum albumin and pre‐albumin were predicted by body mass index (BMI), hydration and/or inflammation in female adolescents with a recently diagnosed restrictive eating disorder (RED).MethodsThis was a retrospective study of female adolescents with RED from 2002 to 2011. Low albumin and pre‐albumin levels were defined as <3.5 g/dL and <20 mg/dL, respectively. We assessed inflammation using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and dehydration using the haematocrit levels.ResultsWe included 75 females with a mean age of 15.2 years and 64% had a BMI Z score of <−2. The mean albumin and pre‐albumin levels were 4.8 g/dL and 22.2 mg/dL, respectively, with 24% of the children having low pre‐albumin and none having low albumin levels. The stepwise multiple regression for albumin identified ESR and haematocrit as significant predictors, which explained 14.8% of the variance. Age was the only significant predictor for pre‐albumin, which explained 15.3% of the variance.ConclusionAlbumin, but not pre‐albumin, levels were primarily predicted by low‐grade inflammation and hydration, but not by BMI. These markers should not be used to assess nutritional status in adolescents with RED.
Transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance cognition in euthymic bipolar disorder
Authors: Martin Donel M , Chan Herng‐Nieng , Alonzo Angelo , Green Melissa J , Mitchell Philip B , Loo Colleen K 
Published: December 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for enhancing working memory and sustained attention in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder.MethodsFifteen patients with bipolar disorder received anodal left prefrontal tDCS with an extracephalic cathode (prefrontal condition), anodal left prefrontal and cathodal cerebellar tDCS (fronto‐cerebellar condition), and sham tDCS given ‘online’ during performance on a working memory and sustained attention task in an intra‐individual, cross‐over, sham‐controlled experimental design. Exploratory cluster analyses examined responders and non‐responders for the different active tDCS conditions on both tasks.ResultsFor working memory, approximately one‐third of patients in both active tDCS conditions showed performance improvement. For sustained attention, three of 15 patients showed performance improvement with prefrontal tDCS. Responders to active tDCS for working memory performed more poorly on the task during sham tDCS compared to non‐responders.ConclusionsA single session of active prefrontal or fronto‐cerebellar tDCS failed to improve working memory or sustained attention performance in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Several important considerations are discussed in relation to future studies investigating tDCS for enhancing cognition in patients with bipolar disorder.
Thyroid function testing in women who had a stillbirth
Authors: Nijkamp Janna W. , Korteweg Fleurisca J. , Groen Henk , Timmer Albertus , Van Den Berg Gerrit , Bossuyt Patrick M. , Mol Ben Willem J. , Erwich Jan Jaap H.M. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryContextThyroid dysfunction is thought to be associated with stillbirth. Therefore, thyroid function is often recommended in the diagnostic investigations for stillbirth.ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the added value of thyroid function testing in the diagnostic investigations for stillbirth.Design and patientsA nationwide multicentre prospective cohort study in 1025 women who suffered stillbirth >20 weeks of gestation performed between 2002 and 2008. In each woman, an extensive diagnostic work‐up was performed, including placental examination and autopsy. TSH and FT4 values below the 2·5th percentile or above the 97·5th percentile according local laboratory reference values were regarded as abnormal. Women with a history of thyroid disease were evaluated separately.Main outcome measuresThyroid function abnormalities in women with stillbirth.ResultsOf 1025 included women, 21 had a history of thyroid disease (2%). In the 875 with TSH and FT4 results and no history of thyroid disease, 10% had hypothyroxinemia, 4·6% subclinical hypothyroidism, 1·6% overt hypothyroidism and 1·5% subclinical hyperthyroidism. Women with a subclinical hyperthyroidism more often had a foetal death caused by foetal hydrops: 23% vs 2·9% (adjusted OR 10·3, 95% CI 2·5–42).ConclusionsWomen with a stillbirth had a slightly higher prevalence of overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinaemia compared to previous studies on thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women. Given the absence of a strong associations with the cause of stillbirth, and no demonstrated beneficial effects of treating thyroid dysfunction in these women, routine screening after stillbirth is not justified.
Influence of hydroxyapatite granule size, porosity, and crystallinity on tissue reactionin vivo. Part A: synthesis, characterization of the materials, andSEManalysis
Authors: Maté Sánchez de Val José E. , Calvo‐Guirado José L. , Gómez‐Moreno Gerardo , Pérez‐Albacete Martínez Carlos , Mazón Patricia , De Aza Piedad N. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was the synthesis and analysis of the tissue reaction to three different Hydroxyapatite (HA)‐based bone substitute materials differing only in granule size, porosity, and crystallinity through an animal experimental model at 60 days.Materials and methodsThree differentHA‐based biomaterials were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction,SEM, andEDSanalysis, the resultant product was ground in three particle sizes: Group I (2000–4000 μm), GroupII(1000–2000 μm), and GroupIII(600–1000 μm). Critical size defects were created in both tibias of 15 rabbits. Four defects per rabbit for a total of 60 defects were grafted with the synthesized materials as follows: Group I (15 defects), GroupII(15 defects), GroupIII(15 defects), and empty (15 defects control). After animals sacrifice at 60 days samples were obtained and processed forSEMandEDSevaluation of Ca/P ratios, elemental mapping was performed to determine the chemical degradation process and changes to medullary composition in all the four study groups.ResultsThe tendency for the density was to increase with the increasing annealing temperature; in this way it was possible to observe that the sample that shows highest crystallinity and crystal size corresponding to that of group I. TheSEMmorphological examination showed that groupIIIimplant showed numerous resorption regions, groupIIimplant presented an average resorption rate of all the implants. The group I displayed smoother surface features, in comparison with the other two implants.ConclusionThe data from this study show that changing the size, porosity, and crystallinity of oneHA‐based bone substitute material can influence the integration of the biomaterials within the implantation site and the new bone formation.
An epidemiological study to investigate the relationship between Meniere's disease and migraine
Authors: Ray J. , Carr S.D. , Popli G. , Gibson W.P. 
Published: December 2015

ObjectivesA relationship between Meniere's disease and migraine has been postulated previously. This study investigates this relationship further and determines the most influential factors for developing Meniere's disease.DesignEpidemiological study.SettingTwo tertiary referral Neuro‐Otological centres in Sheffield and Sydney.ParticipantsAdult patients referred to the Neuro‐Otology clinic between 2003 and 2010.Main outcome measuresPast history and family history of Meniere's disease and migraine. Logistic regression analysis to determine the most influential factors for Meniere's disease.ResultsOne hundred and eighty‐one patients were included in the study, 102 with Meniere's disease and 79 with other balance disorders. Three significant findings were demonstrated. Firstly, a family history of Meniere's disease (33.3% versus 6.3%) or migraine (21.6% versus 9%) is more common in the Meniere's disease group than in the other balance disorders group. Secondly, a history of migrainous headaches is more common in the Meniere's disease group than in the other balance disorders group (45.1% versus 9%). Thirdly, patients with a past history or a family history of Meniere's disease or migraine have a higher likelihood of suffering from Meniere's disease.ConclusionsThere is an overall relationship between Meniere's disease and migraine. A family history of Meniere's disease or migraine is more common in Meniere's disease. A history of migrainous headache is more common in Meniere's disease. Patients with a past history or family history of Meniere's disease or migraine have a higher likelihood of suffering from Meniere's disease.