bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does lethal control of top‐predators release mesopredators? A re‐evaluation of three Australian case studies
Authors: Allen Benjamin L. , Lundie‐Jenkins Geoff , Burrows Neil D. , Engeman Richard M. , Fleming Peter J.S. , Leung Luke K.‐P. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryTop‐predators can sometimes be important for structuring fauna assemblages in terrestrial ecosystems. Through a complex trophic cascade, the lethal control of top‐predators has been predicted to elicit positive population responses from mesopredators that may in turn increase predation pressure on prey species of concern. In support of this hypothesis, many relevant research papers, opinion pieces and literature reviews identify three particular case studies as supporting evidence for top‐predator control‐induced release of mesopredators in Australia. However, many fundamental details essential for supporting this hypothesis are missing from these case studies, which were each designed to investigate alternative aims. Here, we re‐evaluate the strength of evidence for top‐predator control‐induced mesopredator release from these three studies after comprehensive analyses of associated unpublished correlative and experimental data. Circumstantial evidence alluded to mesopredator releases of either the European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) or feral Cat (Felis catus) coinciding with Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) control in each case. Importantly, however, substantial limitations in predator population sampling techniques and/or experimental designs preclude strong assertions about the effect of lethal control on mesopredator populations from these studies. In all cases, multiple confounding factors and plausible alternative explanations for observed changes in predator populations exist. In accord with several critical reviews and a growing body of demonstrated experimental evidence on the subject, we conclude that there is an absence of reliable evidence for top‐predator control‐induced mesopredator release from these three case studies. Well‐designed and executed studies are critical for investigating potential top‐predator control‐induced mesopredator release.
Soil seed banks of fringing salt lake vegetation in arid Western Australia – density, composition and implications for postmine restoration using topsoil
Authors: van Etten Eddie J.B , Neasham Brett , Dalgleish Sarah 
Published: August 2014

SummaryAlthough studies of seed banks in arid ecosystems are commonplace, they are lacking for the large arid zone of Western Australia. Across the six major plant communities fringing a large salt lake within this zone, topsoil (0–5 cm depth) was collected from 12 to 36 sites per community. Samples were dried, spread out on a bed of vermiculite in seedling trays and placed in a well‐watered glasshouse to determine the readily germinable component of the soil seed bank. Subsamples of topsoil were treated with smoke water, hot water or flooding to help determine seed bank of species with dormancy mechanisms. As with other studies of arid seed banks, large numbers of grasses and forbs emerged from the topsoil, with relatively small numbers of woody perennial species and hummock grasses (Triodia spp.) present, even in communities where such species were dominant. There were, however, a few exceptions where a reasonable density of dominant trees/shrub seed was present in topsoil. Soil treatment generally had limited effect on composition and density of emergent seedlings. Although floristic similarity between soil seed banks and corresponding above‐ground vegetation was modest, there were clear differences in soil seed bank composition between communities. The implications of the results for using topsoils to restore landforms of the study area after mining or other disturbance are discussed.
Ecological indicators for assessing management effectiveness: A case study of horse riding in an Alpine National Park
Authors: de Bie Kelly , Vesk Peter A. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryRecreation activities and visitor use often have deleterious ecological impacts in protected areas. Management agencies then face the difficult task of providing recreation and tourism opportunities without compromising environmental values. This study assessed the success of efforts aimed at conserving alpine vegetation along the Mt Bogong Massif in Victoria, Australia, through controlling the use of horses. Vegetation condition was assessed in 2001 to coinciding with restrictions on the use of horse riding on trails and then resurveyed 10 years later. Sampling was undertaken in track plots that included the trail and surrounding vegetation, and control plots located away from the trail. There were significant differences in the amount of bare ground, the height of shrubs and ground layer vegetation, and shrub cover between track and control plots in 2001. Ten years later, track plots were recovering with reductions in bare ground and changes in vegetation, with improved ground layer vegetation height. Results show that vegetation condition has improved with restrictions of horse numbers. The indicators selected were sensitive to changes in vegetation condition and hence should be used for ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of this and similar management interventions.
Can increased glacial melting resulting from global change provide attached algae with transient protection against high irradiance?
Authors: Martyniuk Nicolás , Modenutti Beatriz , Balseiro Esteban G. 
Published: August 2014

Summary

Climate change is altering temperatures and precipitation patterns all over the world. Melting glaciers increase surface run‐off, thereby increasing the transport of suspended solids through streams. The increased load of suspended solids affects turbidity, which decreases the availability of photosynthetically active radiation for primary producers.

We analysed how glacial loading of clays influences the light : nutrient ratio and photosynthetic parameters (measured with a pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer) and the carbon : phosphorus (C : P) elemental ratio of periphytic primary producers. A field study was conducted in two canopy‐free streams that receive water from the glaciers of Mount Tronador (Patagonia, Argentina), one with high glacial load and the other with clear water. In addition, we conducted an in situ colonisation experiment with three different light treatments.

We observed that periphytic biomass (chlorophyll a and carbon content) in the streams and in the experiment varied directly with turbidity. Moreover, photosynthetic parameters varied similarly because of an increase in the efficiency of electron transfer per open reactive centre in the more turbid stream and a chronic photoinhibition of photosystem II in the clearer stream.

Periphytic C : P also varied with turbidity as we observed a decrease in C : P with an increase in light in both streams and in the experiment.

Our main conclusion is that an increase in glacial melting with its associated increase in glacial clay load should protect primary producers against high irradiances (photosynthetic active radiation + ultraviolet radiation) in canopy‐free streams.
Influence of depression, anxiety and stress on cognitive performance in community‐dwelling older adults living in rural Ecuador: Results of the Atahualpa Project
Authors: Del Brutto Oscar H , Mera Robertino M , Del Brutto Victor J , Maestre Gladys E , Gardener Hannah , Zambrano Mauricio , Wright Clinton B 
Published: August 2014

AimTo assess the relationship between cognitive status and self‐reported symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress of older adults living in an underserved rural South American population.MethodsCommunity‐dwelling Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years were identified during a door‐to‐door census, and evaluated with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale‐21 (DASS‐21) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). We explored whether positivity in each of the DASS‐21 axes was related to total and domain‐specific MoCA performance after adjustment for age, sex and education.ResultsA total of 280 persons (59% women; mean age, mean age 70 ± 8 years) were included. Based on established cut‐offs for the DASS‐21, 12% persons had depression, 15% had anxiety and 5% had stress. Mean total MoCA scores were significantly lower for depressed than for not depressed individuals (15.9 ± 5.5 vs 18.9 ± 4.4, P < 0.0001). Depressed participants had significantly lower total and domain‐specific MoCA scores for abstraction, short‐term memory and orientation. Anxiety was related to significantly lower total MoCA scores (17 ± 4.7 vs 18.8 ± 4.5, P = 0.02), but not to differences in domain‐specific MoCA scores. Stress was not associated with significant differences in MoCA scores.ConclusionThe present study suggests that depression and anxiety are associated with poorer cognitive performance in elderly residents living in rural areas of developing countries. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 508–514.
Development of the Thai version of Mini‐Cog, a brief cognitive screening test
Authors: Trongsakul Supaporn , Lambert Rod , Clark Allan , Wongpakaran Nahathai , Cross Jane 
Published: August 2014

AimsCognitive impairment, such as dementia, has emerged as the leading public health problem among the elderly. Therefore, early detection of the disorder and providing appropriate healthcare and management is important, particularly, for the patients with comorbid diabetes who require long‐term treatment strategies. In Thailand, because of a large number of elderly patients with diabetes, and time constraints in primary care settings, a short and effective cognitive screening test is required. The Mini‐Cog is a short and valid cognitive screening test that was specifically designed for use in primary care settings. The present study translated the English language version into a Thai language version, and then measured the interrater reliability and concurrent validity.MethodsThe processes of cross‐language translation were carried out to develop a Thai language version of the Mini‐Cog. A total of 21 Thai older adults with type 2 diabetes with a mean aged of 69 ± 7 years were recruited into a study investigating the interrater reliability and concurrent validity of the Mini‐Cog Thai version in one primary care center in Thailand.ResultsThe Mini‐Cog Thai version showed a good interrater reliability (K = 0.80, P < 0.001, 95% CI 0.50–1.00) and a positive concurrent validity (r = 0.47, P = 0.007, 95% CI 0.37,0.55) with the Mini‐Mental State Examination Thai 2002.ConclusionsThe findings show that the Thai version of the Mini‐Cog is a reliable, performance‐based tool in the screening for cognitive function in primary care settings in Thailand. It is recommended that it could be used as a new cognitive screening test for the aging population in the Thai community. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15: 594–600.
Pilot study on the clinical and microbiological effect of subgingival glycine powder air polishing using a cannula‐like jet
Authors: Kargas K , Tsalikis L , Sakellari D , Menexes G , Konstantinidis A 
Published: August 2014

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of subgingival glycine powder air polishing (GPAP) during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT).MethodsEach quadrant of 25 subjects was randomly assigned to the following treatments: subgingival scaling with hand instruments (SRP), GPAP, subgingival ultrasonic debridement (UD) and no subgingival treatment (NT). Clinical recordings included the following: probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (RE), clinical attachment level (CAL), Gingival and Plaque Index. Subgingival plaque samples were taken from two sites >4 mm per quadrant. Therapy, recordings and microbial sampling were performed at baseline, 3 and 6 months, while at 1 month only clinical recordings and sampling were performed. Subgingival samples were analysed using ‘checkerboard’ DNA‐DNA hybridization for Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerrella forsythia and Treponema denticola.ResultsAll groups were homogeneous at baseline for the clinical parameters assessed. The GPAP group displayed statistically significant higher PPD compared to SRP and UD at 1, 3 and 6 months and no statistical differences with the ‘no treatment’ group at all time points. At 1 month, the GPAP group displayed statistically significantly higher levels of CAL compared to SRP, while at 3 and 6 months statistically significant differences were observed with groups assigned to SRP and UD. No differences were observed among groups for RE, PI, GI and numbers of the investigated bacteria at any time point.ConclusionsOn the basis of clinical and microbiological data, this study does not support the superiority of GPAP as sole treatment over SRP or subgingival ultrasonic scaling.
Likelihood of Myocardial Infarction during Stroke Rehabilitation Preceded by Cardiovascular Screening and an Exercise Tolerance Test: The Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS) Trial
Authors: Nadeau Stephen E. , Rose Dorian Kay , Dobkin Bruce , Wu Samuel S. , Dai Yufeng E. , Schofield Richard , Duncan Pamela W. ,   for The LEAPS Investigative Team
Published: August 2014

Background Coronary artery disease is highly prevalent in patients with stroke, but because revascularization does not improve major clinical outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease relative to intensive medical therapy, routine evaluation for this disease is not warranted in stroke patients. However, it might be warranted in patients destined to undergo vigorous physical therapy. The Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke study, a randomized controlled trial of 408 participants that tested the relative efficacy of two rehabilitation techniques on functional walking level, provided the opportunity to address this question. Aim The study aims to test the efficacy of screening for cardiovascular disease and an exercise tolerance test in assuring safety among patients undergoing vigorous rehabilitation for gait impairment. Methods All participants were screened for serious cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions. At six-weeks poststroke, they also completed a cardiovascular screening inventory and underwent an exercise tolerance test involving bicycle ergometry. Participants received 36, 90-min sessions of a prescribed physical therapy (three per week), initiated at either two-months or six-months poststroke. Results Twenty-nine participants were excluded on the basis of the cardiac screening questionnaire, and 15 failed the exercise tolerance test for cardiovascular reasons. No participant experienced a cardiac event during a treatment session. Two participants experienced myocardial infarctions, but continued in the trial. In three additional participants, myocardial infarctions caused or contributed to death. Conclusions The combination of a negative cardiac screen and the absence of exercise tolerance test failure appeared to have a high negative predictive value for cardiac events during treatment, despite the likelihood of a high prevalence of coronary artery disease in our population.
Part II: Predictors of Depression after Stroke and Impact of Depression on Stroke Outcome: An Updated Systematic Review of Observational Studies
Authors: Kutlubaev Mansur A. , Hackett Maree L. 
Published: August 2014

Background We previously published a systematic review in 2005 on factors associated with the development of depression in people with stroke. Aim To update and expand that review to include published data on the impact of depression on stroke outcome. Methods We included all published observational studies (to May 31, 2013) with prospective consecutive recruitment of people with a clinical diagnosis of stroke where an attempt was made to assess the variables associated with, or predictive of, the development of depression. Results We included data from 23 studies including 18 374 people. Depression after stroke was associated with prestroke depression, more severe neurological deficit and physical disability in the acute phase, and later after stroke. No consistent relationship between depression and demographic parameters or stroke features was identified. The review of the impact of depression on stroke outcome included data from 14 cohorts, including 4498 people, and found that depression was negatively associated with functional outcome in stroke survivors. Conclusions Early identification of patients at high risk of depression after stroke, those with a history of depression and physical disability after stroke, would enable the early implementation of effective management and prevention strategies for depression. The reciprocal relationship between depression and physical disability highlights the need for interventions that reduce disability after stroke, which may in turn improve mood and overall recovery for an increasingly large number of stroke survivors.
Microarray analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐infected monocytes reveals IL26 as a new candidate gene for tuberculosis susceptibility
Authors: Guerra‐Laso José M. , Raposo‐García Sara , García‐García Silvia , Diez‐Tascón Cristina , Rivero‐Lezcano Octavio M. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryDifferences in the activity of monocytes/macrophages, important target cells of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, might influence tuberculosis progression. With the purpose of identifying candidate genes for tuberculosis susceptibility we infected monocytes from both healthy elderly individuals (a tuberculosis susceptibility group) and elderly tuberculosis patients with M. tuberculosis, and performed a microarray experiment. We detected 78 differentially expressed transcripts and confirmed these results by quantitative PCR of selected genes. We found that monocytes from tuberculosis patients showed similar expression patterns for these genes, regardless of whether they were obtained from younger or older patients. Only one of the detected genes corresponded to a cytokine: IL26, a member of the interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) cytokine family which we found to be down‐regulated in infected monocytes from tuberculosis patients. Non‐infected monocytes secreted IL‐26 constitutively but they reacted strongly to M. tuberculosis infection by decreasing IL‐26 production. Furthermore, IL‐26 serum concentrations appeared to be lower in the tuberculosis patients. When whole blood was infected, IL‐26 inhibited the observed pathogen‐killing capability. Although lymphocytes expressed IL26R, the receptor mRNA was not detected in either monocytes or neutrophils, suggesting that the inhibition of anti‐mycobacterial activity may be mediated by lymphocytes. Additionally, IL‐2 concentrations in infected blood were lower in the presence of IL‐26. The negative influence of IL‐26 on the anti‐mycobacterial activity and its constitutive presence in both serum and monocyte supernatants prompt us to propose IL26 as a candidate gene for tuberculosis susceptibility.
Phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase and Akt are required for RIG‐I‐mediated anti‐viral signalling through cross‐talk with IPS‐1
Authors: Yeon Sang Hyeon , Song Moon Jung , Kang Hye‐Ri , Lee Joo Young 
Published: August 2014

SummaryRetinoic acid‐inducible gene I (RIG‐I) is a cytosolic pattern‐recognition receptor that recognizes viruses and triggers anti‐viral immune responses. Activation of intracellular RIG‐I signalling is mediated through interferon‐β (IFN‐β) promoter stimulator‐1 (IPS‐1), an adaptor of RIG‐I, which induces IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 3 activation and type I IFN expression. The phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI3K) and Akt pathway is activated in host immune cells upon viral infection. However, the mechanism as to how they work in RIG‐I signalling has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the role of PI3K and Akt in the regulation of RIG‐I‐mediated IRF3 activation and type I IFN expression in macrophages. Our results show that Sendai virus infection, which is recognized by RIG‐I, led to IRF3 activation and IFN‐β expression and these responses were attenuated by the PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and an Akt dominant‐negative mutant in the macrophage cell line(RAW264.7). IRF3 phosphorylation and dimerization as well as IFN‐β expression induced by a synthetic RIG‐I agonist, short poly(I:C), were suppressed by LY294002 or siRNA‐Akt in bone marrow‐derived macrophages. Suppression of PI3K and Akt using a dominant‐negative mutant and siRNA knockdown resulted in attenuation of IRF3 activation and IFN‐β expression induced by RIG‐I itself or its adaptor, IPS‐1. Association of Akt with IPS‐1 increased with short poly(I:C) stimulation and required the pleckstrin homology domain of Akt and caspase‐recruitment domain in IPS‐1. Collectively, our results show that PI3K and Akt are required downstream of IPS‐1 for RIG‐I‐mediated anti‐viral immune responses. The results describe a novel, interactive relationship between RIG‐I downstream signalling molecules resulting in efficient anti‐viral immunity.
Overweight adolescents eat what? And when? Analysis of consumption patterns to guide dietary message development for intervention
Authors: Smith K. L. , Straker L. M. , Kerr D. A. , Smith A. J. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about overweight adolescent dietary consumption patterns, with challenges to collecting meaningful data making it difficult to develop targeted obesity interventions. The present study aimed to examine the timing and consumption of fruit, vegetables and junk food by time of the day and day of the week.MethodsOverweight adolescents (n = 61), aged 12–16 years, completed 3‐day food records. Negative binomial and binary logistic regression using generalised estimating equations were used to compare the amount and likelihood of the consumption of each food group between time periods.ResultsOverweight adolescent girls were more likely to eat fruit on weekdays than weekends [odds ratio (OR) = 5.0. P < 0.001], as were boys (OR = 2.5, P = 0.034). Adolescents consumed more fruit at school than other meals [girls: incident rate ratio (IRR) = 7.5, P < 0.001; boys: IRR = 4.0, P = 0.050]. Weekday dinner was the meal where girls were most likely to consume vegetables (OR = 3.0, P = 0.009) and when boys consumed the most vegetables (IRR = 30.9, P = 0.006). Fast food consumption was most likely for girls at dinner on the weekend (OR = 9.6, P = 0.042), whereas fast food intake for boys increased overall on the weekend (IRR = 3.6, P = 0.001). Intake of ‘other junk’ (e.g. crisps) peaked during school hours for girls (IRR = 7.2, P < 0.001) and sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption increased for boys on the weekend (IRR = 3.3, P = 0.001). Overall, trends in fruit intake showed opposing times for high and low consumption compared to vegetable intake.ConclusionsThese results represent the next step in using time of day and day of week consumption patterns to develop targeted, evidence‐based dietary messages for interventions in overweight adolescents.