bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trophic Cascades Following the Disease‐Induced Decline of an Apex Predator, the Tasmanian Devil
Authors: HOLLINGS TRACEY , JONES MENNA , MOONEY NICK , MCCALLUM HAMISH 
Published: September 2013

AbstractAs apex predators disappear worldwide, there is escalating evidence of their importance in maintaining the integrity and diversity of the ecosystems they inhabit. The largest extant marsupial carnivore, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened with extinction from a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). The disease, first observed in 1996, has led to apparent population declines in excess of 95% in some areas and has spread to more than 80% of their range. We analyzed a long‐term Tasmania‐wide data set derived from wildlife spotlighting surveys to assess the effects of DFTD‐induced devil decline on populations of other mammals and to examine the relative strength of top–down and bottom–up control of mesopredators between 2 regions with different environmental conditions. Collection of the data began >10 years before DFTD was first observed. A decrease in devil populations was immediate across diseased regions following DFTD arrival, and there has been no indication of population recovery. Feral cats (Felis catus) increased in areas where the disease was present the longest, and feral cat occurrence was significantly and negatively associated with devils. The smallest mesopredator, the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), declined rapidly following DFTD arrival. This result suggests the species was indirectly protected by devils through the suppression of larger predators. Rainfall deficiency was also a significant predictor of their decline. Environmental variables determined the relative importance of top–down control in the population regulation of mesopredators. In landscapes of low rainfall and relatively higher proportions of agriculture and human settlement, top–down forces were dampened and bottom–up forces had the most effect on mesopredators. For herbivore prey species, there was evidence of population differences after DFTD arrival, but undetected environmental factors had greater effects. The unique opportunity to assess population changes over extensive temporal and spatial scales following apex predator loss further demonstrated their role in structuring ecosystems and of productivity in determining the strength of top–down control.Cascadas Tróficas Después de la Declinación Inducida por Enfermedad de un Depredador Apical, el Demonio de Tasmania
Colesevelam for Type 2 diabetes mellitus: an abridged Cochrane review*
Authors: Ooi C. P. , Loke S. C. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractAimColesevelam, a second‐generation bile acid sequestrant, may be beneficial in controlling both glycaemia and lipids simultaneously. Our goal was to evaluate the systemic effects of colesevelam on Type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodThe original Cochrane review was conducted using the methodology for the systematic review of interventions of the Cochrane Collaboration in RevMan 5.2. We comprehensively searched the literature in several databases up to January 2012. Two reviewing authors independently selected and extracted the data, and then evaluated the quality of the randomized controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria.ResultsSix randomized controlled trials were selected, which ranged from 8 to 26 weeks in duration. A total of 1450 participants were divided into two groups: those treated with colesevelam and no other anti‐diabetic drug treatments/placebo, or with colesevelam added on to anti‐diabetic drug treatments. The colesevelam added on to anti‐diabetic agents demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the fasting blood glucose (mean difference of –0.82 mmol/l, 95% CI –1.2 to –0.44), HbA1c (mean difference –0.5%, 95% CI –0.6 to –0.4) and LDL cholesterol (mean difference –0.34 mmol/l, 95% CI –0.44 to –0.23). There were no reported data on weight. Non‐severe hypoglycaemic episodes were infrequently observed.ConclusionThe limited number of studies concerning the treatment with colesevelam added to anti‐diabetic agents showed significant effects on glycaemic control; however, more research on the reduction of cardiovascular risks is required. Furthermore, long‐term data on the health‐related quality of life and all‐cause mortality also need to be investigated.
Phenotypic and genetic divergence within a single whitefish form – detecting the potential for future divergence
Authors: Hirsch Philipp Emanuel , Eckmann Reiner , Oppelt Claus , Behrmann‐Godel Jasminca 
Published: September 2013

AbstractHuman‐induced nutrient input can change the selection regime and lead to the loss of biodiversity. For example, eutrophication caused speciation reversal in polymorphic whitefish populations through a flattening of littoral–pelagic selection gradients. We investigated the current state of phenotypic and genetic diversity in whitefish (Coregonus macrophthalmus)in a newly restored lake whose nutrient load has returned to pre‐eutrophication levels and found that whitefish spawning at different depths varied phenotypically and genetically: individuals spawning at shallower depth had fewer gill rakers, faster growth, and a morphology adapted to benthic feeding, and they showed higher degrees of diet specialization than deeper spawning individuals. Microsatellite analyses complemented the phenotype analyses by demonstrating reproductive isolation along different spawning depths. Our results indicate that whitefish still retain or currently regain phenotypic and genetic diversity, which was lost during eutrophication. Hence, the population documented here has a potential for future divergence because natural selection can target phenotypes specialized along re‐established littoral–pelagic selection gradients. The biodiversity, however, will have better chances to return if managers acknowledge the evolutionary potential within the local whitefish and adapt fishing and stocking measures.
The Efficacy of Systemic Therapy for Childhood and Adolescent Externalizing Disorders: A Systematic Review of 47 RCT
Authors: von Sydow Kirsten , Retzlaff Ruediger , Beher Stefan , Haun Markus W. , Schweitzer Jochen 
Published: September 2013

Systemic (family) therapy is a widely used psychotherapy approach. However, most systematic efficacy reviews have focused solely on “family‐based treatment” rather than on the theoretic orientation “systemic therapy.” We systematically review trials on the efficacy of systemic therapy for the treatment of childhood and adolescent externalizing disorders. All randomized (or matched) controlled trials (RCT) evaluating systemic/systems‐oriented therapy in various forms (family, individual, group, multi‐family group therapy) with child or adolescent index patients (0–17 years) suffering from mental disorders were identified by data base searches and cross‐references. Inclusion criteria were as follows: index patient diagnosed with a DSM‐ or ICD‐listed mental disorder, and trial published in any language up to the end of 2011. The RCTs were analyzed for their research methodology, interventions applied, and results (postintervention; follow‐up). A total of 47 trials from the United States, Europe, and China, published in English, German, and Mandarin, were identified. A total of 42 of them showed systemic therapy to be efficacious for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, conduct disorders, and substance use disorders. Results were stable across follow‐up periods of up to 14 years. There is a sound evidence base for the efficacy of systemic therapy for children and adolescents (and their families) diagnosed with externalizing disorders.
Threats and opportunities for freshwater conservation under future land use change scenarios in the United States
Authors: Martinuzzi Sebastián , Januchowski‐Hartley Stephanie R. , Pracheil Brenda M. , McIntyre Peter B. , Plantinga Andrew J. , Lewis David J. , Radeloff Volker C. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractFreshwater ecosystems provide vital resources for humans and support high levels of biodiversity, yet are severely threatened throughout the world. The expansion of human land uses, such as urban and crop cover, typically degrades water quality and reduces freshwater biodiversity, thereby jeopardizing both biodiversity and ecosystem services. Identifying and mitigating future threats to freshwater ecosystems requires forecasting where land use changes are most likely. Our goal was to evaluate the potential consequences of future land use on freshwater ecosystems in the coterminous United States by comparing alternative scenarios of land use change (2001–2051) with current patterns of freshwater biodiversity and water quality risk. Using an econometric model, each of our land use scenarios projected greater changes in watersheds of the eastern half of the country, where freshwater ecosystems already experience higher stress from human activities. Future urban expansion emerged as a major threat in regions with high freshwater biodiversity (e.g., the Southeast) or severe water quality problems (e.g., the Midwest). Our scenarios reflecting environmentally oriented policies had some positive effects. Subsidizing afforestation for carbon sequestration reduced crop cover and increased natural vegetation in areas that are currently stressed by low water quality, while discouraging urban sprawl diminished urban expansion in areas of high biodiversity. On the other hand, we found that increases in crop commodity prices could lead to increased agricultural threats in areas of high freshwater biodiversity. Our analyses illustrate the potential for policy changes and market factors to influence future land use trends in certain regions of the country, with important consequences for freshwater ecosystems. Successful conservation of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem services in the United States into the future will require attending to the potential threats and opportunities arising from policies and market changes affecting land use.
Substantial reorganization of China's tropical and subtropical forests: based on the permanent plots
Authors: Zhou Guoyi , Houlton Benjamin Z. , Wang Wantong , Huang Wenjuan , Xiao Yin , Zhang Qianmei , Liu Shizhong , Cao Min , Wang Xihua , Wang Silong , Zhang Yiping , Yan Junhua , Liu Juxiu , Tang Xuli , Zhang Deqiang 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThere is evidence that climate change induced tree mortalities in boreal and temperate forests and increased forest turnover rates (both mortality and recruitment rates) in Amazon forests. However, no study has examined China's tropical and subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests (TEBF) that cover >26% of China's terrestrial land. The sustainability of this biome is vital to the maintenance of local ecosystem services (e.g., carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, climatic regulation), many of which may influence patterns of atmospheric circulation and composition at regional to global scales. Here, we analyze time‐series data collected from thirteen permanent plots within China's unmanaged TEBF to study whether and how this biome has changed over recent decades. We find that the numbers of individuals and species for shrub and small tree have increased since 1978, whereas the numbers of individuals and species for tree have decreased over this same time period. The shift in species composition is accompanied by a decrease in the mean diameter at breast height (DBH) for all individuals combined. China's TEBF may thereby be transitioning from cohorts of fewer and larger individuals to ones of more and smaller individuals, which shows a unique change pattern differing from the documented. Regional‐scale drying is likely responsible for the biome's reorganization. This biome‐wide reconstitution would deeply impact the regimes of carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation and have implications for the sustainability of economic development in the area.
Carbon emissions performance of commercial logging in East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Griscom Bronson , Ellis Peter , Putz Francis E. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractAdoption of reduced‐impact logging (RIL) methods could reduceCO2emissions by 30–50% across at least 20% of remaining tropical forests. We developed two cost effective and robust indices for comparing the climate benefits (reducedCO2emissions) due toRIL. The indices correct for variability in the volume of commercial timber among concessions. We determined that a correction for variability in terrain slope was not needed. We found that concessions certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC,N = 3), when compared with noncertified concessions (N = 6), did not have lower overallCO2emissions from logging activity (felling, skidding, and hauling). On the other hand,FSCcertified concessions did have lower emissions from one type of logging impact (skidding), and we found evidence of a range of improved practices using other field metrics. One explanation of these results may be thatFSCcriteria and indicators, and associatedRILpractices, were not designed to achieve overall emissions reductions. Also, commonly used field metrics are not reliable proxies for overall logging emissions performance. Furthermore, the simple distinction between certified and noncertified concessions does not fully represent the complex history of investments in improved logging practices. To clarify the relationship betweenRILand emissions reductions, we propose the more explicit term ‘RIL‐C’ to refer to the subset ofRILpractices that can be defined by quantified thresholds and that result in measurable emissions reductions. If tropical forest certification is to be linked withCO2emissions reductions, certification standards need to explicitly requireRIL‐C practices.
Energy requirements and environmental impacts associated with the production of short rotation willow (Salix sp.) chip in Ireland
Authors: Murphy Fionnuala , Devlin Ger , McDonnell Kevin 
Published: September 2013

AbstractWillow Salix sp. is currently cultivated as a short rotation forestry crop in Ireland as a source of biomass to contribute to renewable energy goals. The aim of this study is to evaluate the energy requirements and environmental impacts associated with willow (Salix sp.) cultivation, harvest, and transport using life cycle assessment (LCA). In this study, only emissions from the production of the willow chip are included, end‐use emissions from combustion are not considered. In this LCA study, three impact categories are considered; acidification potential, eutrophication potential and global warming potential. In addition, the cumulative energy demand and energy ratio of the system are evaluated. The results identify three key processes in the production chain which contribute most to all impact categories considered; maintenance, harvest and transportation of the crop. Sensitivity analysis on the type of fertilizers used, harvesting technologies and transport distances highlights the effects of these management techniques on overall system performance. Replacement of synthetic fertilizer with biosolids results in a reduction in overall energy demand, but raises acidification potential, eutrophication potential and global warming potential. Rod harvesting compares unfavourably in comparison with direct chip harvesting in each of the impact categories considered due to the additional chipping step required. The results show that dedicated truck transport is preferable to tractor‐trailer transport in terms of energy demand and environmental impacts. Finally, willow chip production compares favourably with coal provision in terms of energy ratio and global warming potential, while achieving a higher energy ratio than peat provision but also a higher global warming potential.
Pain reports and pain medication treatment in nursing home residents with and without dementia
Authors: Monroe Todd B , Misra Sumathi K , Habermann Ralf C , Dietrich Mary S , Cowan Ronald L , Simmons Sandra F 
Published: September 2013

AimThe purpose of this pilot study was to determine if a diagnosis of dementia influenced pain self‐reports and pain medication use in a group of verbally communicative nursing home (NH) residents.MethodsThe study design was a between groups, cross‐sectional chart audit and a seven‐question structured pain interview comparing outcomes in residents with and without a diagnosis of dementia. The study was carried out at a large metropolitan NH in the southern USA. The participants consisted of 52 long‐stay NH residents capable of self‐consent with at least one order for pain medication (opioid or non‐narcotic) either pro re nata, scheduled or both. Approximately 40% (n = 20) had a diagnosis of dementia.ResultsAlthough each group had similar pain‐related diagnoses, residents without a dementia diagnosis were significantly more likely to have a medication order for an opioid (OR 4.37,95% CI 1.29–14.73, P = 0.018). Based on self‐reported pain interview responses, no statistically significant differences were identified between the groups for chronic pain symptoms. However, among residents who reported current pain, those with a dementia diagnosis reported greater pain intensity (based on a 0–10 numeric rating scale) than did those without dementia (median 8.0 vs 6.0, respectively; P = 0.010).ConclusionsVerbally communicative NH residents with mild and moderate cognitive impairment can report their pain symptoms and pain intensity. Nurses in long‐term care might assume that residents with dementia cannot reliably self‐report their pain; however, suffering from untreated severe pain could exacerbate cognitive impairment, worsen functional impairment and severely impair sleep. A brief, focused pain interview might be one method for increasing the detection of moderate to severe pain in verbally communicative NH residents with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 541–548.
Association between physical activity and serum C‐peptide levels among the elderly
Authors: Li Ying , Meng Lu , Miao QianQian , Sato Yasuto 
Published: September 2013

AimSerum C‐peptide is an active peptide that has important physiological functions and characteristics in the elderly. The present study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and serum C‐peptide level independent of insulin level among the elderly.MethodsThe study included 1700 elderly participants aged ≥65 years. Stratified analysis of covariance was used to compare serum C‐peptide levels in participants with different physical activity levels. Two separate multiple linear regression models were created to estimate the association between physical activity and serum C‐peptide level.ResultsThe results of analysis of covariance stratified by sex, body mass index and serum insulin level showed that those who engaged in vigorous physical activity had lower serum C‐peptide levels than those who engaged in light or no physical activity. Separate multiple linear regression analysis showed that in those with low serum C‐peptide levels (≤0.621 nmol/L), physical activity was significantly positively associated with the serum C‐peptide level. In contrast, physical activity was negatively associated with the serum C‐peptide level among those with serum C‐peptide level >0.621 nmol/L.ConclusionsThe serum C‐peptide level showed a significant two‐way association with physical activity. The present findings suggest that physical activity modification is important for improving serum C‐peptide levels among the elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 647–653.
PRDM16 rs2651899 Variant Is a Risk Factor for Chinese Common Migraine Patients
Authors: An Xing‐Kai , Ma Qi‐Lin , Lin Qing , Zhang Xiao‐Rong , Lu Cong‐Xia , Qu Hong‐Li 
Published: September 2013

ObjectiveRecent genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 3 loci in or near PRDM16 (1p36.32, rs2651899), LRP1 (12q13.3, rs11172113) and TRPM8 (2q37.1, rs10166942) in the population‐based Women's Genome Health Study (WGHS) of migraine, and 2 loci in or near TRPM8 and LRP1 were repeated in European GWAS study. To evaluate whether the same variants are related to migraine in Chinese population, we investigated migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MO) patients of Chinese Han ethnicity in mainland China.MethodsA case‐control study in a cohort of 207 migraine cases and 205 ethnically matched controls was conducted by using the dual‐color fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes analysis.ResultsThe genotypes of all polymorphisms in 2 groups followed the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We found significant differences in allele distribution of rs2651899 variant in PRDM16 between MO patients and control subjects (P = .049, OR = 1.335, 95%CI 1.001‐1.782), and there were no difference between MA patients and controls in the frequency of genotype and allele. Also, no significant differences in genotypic and allelic distributions between MA or MO patients and controls were observed in the polymorphisms of rs10166942 of TRPM8 and rs11172113 of LRP1, and there was no significant difference comparing male with female in all loci.ConclusionOur data suggested that rs2651899 variant in PRDM16 plays a potential role in Chinese MO migraine susceptibility, and gender may not play a role.
‘Swift, Simple, Effective Justice?’ Identifying the Aims of Penalty Notices for Disorder and Whether these have been Realised in Practice
Authors: Grace Sara 
Published: September 2013

AbstractSince the introduction of penalty notices for disorder (PNDs), there has been no clear political statement as to the purpose of the scheme. The findings of a grounded analysis of the relevant parliamentary debates, consultation papers and White Papers on PNDs (which have not received any consideration in the literature thus far) are presented, providing an overall thematic framework within which to understand and assess PNDs. The findings of a critical review of 250 PNDs undertaken by the author are considered in light of this framework, to ask whether, and to what extent, PNDs achieve their aims.
A Systematic Literature Review of Doorstep Crime: Are the Crime‐Prevention Strategies More Harmful than the Crime?
Authors: Gorden Caroline , Buchanan Julian 
Published: September 2013

AbstractResearch literature into doorstep crime is limited. This article draws on a focused literature review, to explore existing evidence about the efficacy of crime‐prevention strategies targeting doorstep crime. The findings of the review suggest that doorstep crime strategies to protect older people frequently present offenders as a ‘monstrous figure’; promote home security aids and adaptations; increase vigilance and suspicion; and encourage new doorstep habits. This article examines the nature and development of doorstep crime, and critiques the efficacy of prevention strategies that may, it is argued, risk damaging the older person's quality of life.