bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting plant invasions under climate change: are species distribution models validated by field trials?
Authors: Sheppard Christine S. , Burns Bruce R. , Stanley Margaret C. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractClimate change may facilitate alien species invasion into new areas, particularly for species from warm native ranges introduced into areas currently marginal for temperature. Although conclusions from modelling approaches and experimental studies are generally similar, combining the two approaches has rarely occurred. The aim of this study was to validate species distribution models by conducting field trials in sites of differing suitability as predicted by the models, thus increasing confidence in their ability to assess invasion risk. Three recently naturalized alien plants in New Zealand were used as study species (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, Psidium guajava and Schefflera actinophylla): they originate from warm native ranges, are woody bird‐dispersed species and of concern as potential weeds. Seedlings were grown in six sites across the country, differing both in climate and suitability (as predicted by the species distribution models). Seedling growth and survival were recorded over two summers and one or two winter seasons, and temperature and precipitation were monitored hourly at each site. Additionally, alien seedling performances were compared to those of closely related native species (Rhopalostylis sapida, Lophomyrtus bullata and Schefflera digitata). Furthermore, half of the seedlings were sprayed with pesticide, to investigate whether enemy release may influence performance. The results showed large differences in growth and survival of the alien species among the six sites. In the more suitable sites, performance was frequently higher compared to the native species. Leaf damage from invertebrate herbivory was low for both alien and native seedlings, with little evidence that the alien species should have an advantage over the native species because of enemy release. Correlations between performance in the field and predicted suitability of species distribution models were generally high. The projected increase in minimum temperature and reduced frosts with climate change may provide more suitable habitats and enable the spread of these species.
Changing climate and the altitudinal range of avian malaria in the Hawaiian Islands – an ongoing conservation crisis on the island of Kaua'i
Authors: Atkinson Carter T. , Utzurrum Ruth B. , Lapointe Dennis A. , Camp Richard J. , Crampton Lisa H. , Foster Jeffrey T. , Giambelluca Thomas W. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractTransmission of avian malaria in the Hawaiian Islands varies across altitudinal gradients and is greatest at elevations below 1500 m where both temperature and moisture are favorable for the sole mosquito vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, and extrinsic sporogonic development of the parasite, Plasmodium relictum. Potential consequences of global warming on this system have been recognized for over a decade with concerns that increases in mean temperatures could lead to expansion of malaria into habitats where cool temperatures currently limit transmission to highly susceptible endemic forest birds. Recent declines in two endangered species on the island of Kaua'i, the ‘Akikiki (Oreomystis bairdi) and ‘Akeke'e (Loxops caeruleirostris), and retreat of more common native honeycreepers to the last remaining high elevation habitat on the Alaka'i Plateau suggest that predicted changes in disease transmission may be occurring. We compared prevalence of malarial infections in forest birds that were sampled at three locations on the Plateau during 1994–1997 and again during 2007–2013, and also evaluated changes in the occurrence of mosquito larvae in available aquatic habitats during the same time periods. Prevalence of infection increased significantly at the lower (1100 m, 10.3% to 28.2%), middle (1250 m, 8.4% to 12.2%), and upper ends of the Plateau (1350 m, 2.0% to 19.3%). A concurrent increase in detections of Culex larvae in aquatic habitats associated with stream margins indicates that populations of the vector are also increasing. These increases are at least in part due to local transmission because overall prevalence in Kaua'i ‘Elepaio (Chasiempis sclateri), a sedentary native species, has increased from 17.2% to 27.0%. Increasing mean air temperatures, declining precipitation, and changes in streamflow that have taken place over the past 20 years are creating environmental conditions throughout major portions of the Alaka'i Plateau that support increased transmission of avian malaria.
Evaluation of the ECOSSE model for simulating soil carbon under short rotation forestry energy crops in Britain
Authors: Dondini Marta , Jones Edward O. , Richards Mark , Pogson Mark , Rowe Rebecca L. , Keith Aidan M. , Perks Mike P. , McNamara Niall P. , Smith Joanne U. , Smith Pete 
Published: January 2014

AbstractUnderstanding and predicting the effects of land‐use change to short rotation forestry (SRF) on soil carbon (C) is an important requirement for fully assessing the C mitigation potential of SRF as a bioenergy crop. There is little current knowledge of SRF in the UK and in particular a lack of consistent measured data sets on the direct impacts of land use change on soil C stocks. The ECOSSE model was developed to simulate soil C dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in mineral and organic soils. The ECOSSE model has already been applied spatially to simulate land‐use change impacts on soil C and GHG emissions. However, it has not been extensively evaluated under SRF. Eleven sites comprising 29 transitions in Britain, representing land‐use change from nonwoodland land uses to SRF, were selected to evaluate the performance of ECOSSE in predicting soil C and soil C change in SRF plantations. The modelled C under SRF showed a strong correlation with the soil C measurements at both 0–30 cm (R = 0.93) and 0–100 cm soil depth (R = 0.82). As for the SRF plots, the soil C at the reference sites have been accurately simulated by the model. The extremely high correlation for the reference fields (R ≥ 0.99) shows a good performance of the model spin‐up. The statistical analysis of the model performance to simulate soil C and soil C changes after land‐use change to SRF highlighted the absence of significant error between modelled and measured values as well as the absence of significant bias in the model. Overall, this evaluation reinforces previous studies on the ability of ECOSSE to simulate soil C and emphasize its accuracy to simulate soil C under SRF plantations.
Which fluid space is affected by ultrafiltration during hemodiafiltration?
Authors: Tapolyai Mihály B. , Faludi Mária , Fülöp Tibor , Dossabhoy Neville R. , Szombathelyi Anita , Berta Klára 
Published: January 2014

AbstractUltrafiltration (UF) is a common procedure performed during almost all dialysis sessions. During UF, several liters of fluid are removed; however, what proportion of this fluid is removed from which fluid space could not be clinically measured easily until now; we designed this study to evaluate the fluid spaces most affected by UF. This is a prospective cohort study of 40 prevalent chronic hemodialysis patients receiving thrice weekly hemodiafiltration (HDF). We measured the patients' fluid spaces using a whole‐body bioimpedance apparatus to evaluate the changes of fluid spaces before and immediately after the HDF sessions. We recorded the data on fluid spaces, UF volume, and blood pressures. The cohort consisted of 40 prevalent HDF patients, aged 60.0 ± 5.2 years (37.5% men; 27.5% people with diabetes), and body weight 71.03 ± 15.48 kg. Achieved UF was 2.38 ± 0.98 L on HDF (measured fluid overload: 2.35 ± 1.44 L). The extracellular fluid (EC) volume decreased from 16.84 ± 3.52 to 14.89 ± 3.06 L (P < 0.0001) and intracellular fluid (IC) volume from 16.88 ± 4.40 to 16.55 ± 4.48 L (P = 0.45). Although urea volume of distribution remained effectively unchanged (31.38 ± 7.28 vs. 30.70 ± 7.32 L; P = 0.45), the degree of EC volume overload decreased from 13.60% ± 7.30% to 3.83% ± 8.32% (P < 0.0001). The mean arterial pressure also decreased from 122.95 ± 19.02 to 108.50 ± 13.91 mmHg (P < 0.0001). We conclude that source of net fluid loss by ultrafiltration is almost exclusively the EC fluid space. The intracellular fluid space is not significantly affected immediately after HDF.
Polio survivors' perceptions of the meaning of quality of life and strategies used to promote participation in everyday activities
Authors: Atwal Anita , Spiliotopoulou Georgia , Coleman Caron , Harding Kate , Quirke Caroline , Smith Nicole , Osseiran Zeina , Plastow Nicola , Wilson Lesley 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIntroductionThe term ‘post‐polio syndrome’ (PPS) is used to describe new and late manifestations of poliomyelitis that occur later in life. Research in this area has focused upon health status rather than its effect on quality of life.AimTo gain an in‐depth understanding of the meaning of quality of life for polio survivors and to determine the type of strategies that are used by people with PPS and the support that they consider as important to facilitate participation in everyday life activities that have an impact on their quality of life.MethodSix focus groups were conducted with 51 participants from two regions in England. Data were audio‐taped and analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsOur research found that polio survivors used terms used to describe quality of life which could be associated with that of happiness. Our research has identified resolvable factors that influence quality of life namely inaccessible environments, attitudes of health‐care professionals and societal attitudes. Polio survivors have tried alternative therapies, chiefly acupuncture and massage, and found them to be effective in enhancing their quality of life.ConclusionIt is suggested that health‐care professionals should consider factors which influence happiness and implement a person‐centred approach with the views of the polio survivor being listened to. The three factors that influenced quality of life could be resolved by health‐care professionals and by society. With regard to strategies used, we suggest that polio survivors should have access to the treatments that they perceive as important, although further research is required to design optimal interventions for this client group.
Having diabetes and having to fast: a qualitative study of British Muslims with diabetes
Authors: Patel Neesha R. , Kennedy Anne , Blickem Christian , Rogers Anne , Reeves David , Chew‐Graham Carolyn 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundThere are approximately 2.7 million Muslims in the UK, constituting 4.8% of the population. It is estimated that 325 000 UK Muslims have diabetes. Whilst dietary practices of Muslims with diabetes have been explored, little work has described the beliefs and decisions to fast during Ramadan, whereby Muslims with diabetes refrain from eating, drinking and taking medication between sunrise and sunset.ObjectiveTo explore beliefs and experiences of fasting during Ramadan of Muslim respondents with diabetes and their perceptions of the role played by their general practitioner (GP) and/or practice nurse (PN) in supporting them.DesignQualitative study.SettingGeneral practices and community groups located in Greater Manchester.Participants23 South Asian Muslims.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted as part of the Collaboration of Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) programme, Greater Manchester. Respondents were recruited using random and purposive sampling techniques. Interviews were analysed thematically using a constant comparison approach.ResultsThirteen respondents reported they fasted and altered diabetes medication and diet during Ramadan. The decision to fast was influenced by pressures from the family and the collective social aspect of fasting, and respondents made limited contact with primary care during fasting.ConclusionTensions exist between the respondent's personal desire to fast or not fast and their family's opinion on the matter, with a strong reluctance to disclose fasting to GP and/or PN. Future research needs to explore whether GPs or PNs feel competent enough to support patients who wish to fast.
Does clear cell carcinoma of stomach exist? Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of clear cell changes in gastric adenocarcinomas
Authors: Kim Joo‐Yeon , Park Do Youn , Kim Gwang Ha , Jeon Tae‐Yong , Lauwers Gregory Y 
Published: January 2014

AimsIn contrast to clear cell carcinomas developing in other organs (e.g. ovary and uterus), gastric adenocarcinomas with clear cell features are not well characterized.Methods and resultsWe evaluated a series of 762 gastric adenocarcinomas for the presence of clear cell changes; and investigated the nature of the changes using several histochemical and immunohistochemical markers, their association with various clinicopathological features, and their prognostic significance. Clear cell changes were observed in 8.5% (n = 65) of gastric cancers. Cases with clear cell changes (GCC) were associated significantly with older age, intestinal type histology, body/fundic location, greater depth of invasion, lymph node metastases and lymphovascular invasion. An increasing proportion of clear cell changes indicated a worsening prognosis, and was identified as an independent marker of poor prognosis using the Cox proportional hazard model (hazard ratio, 0.462; P = 0.003). Of 62 GCCs subjected to special staining, 35 cases (55.6%) displayed cytoplasmic accumulation of glycogen, while 21 (33.3%) contained mucin. GCCs showing glycogen accumulation expressed AFP, glypican‐3 and CD10 more commonly than those with mucin, which commonly expressed Muc5AC and Muc6.ConclusionClear cell gastric adenocarcinoma is a unique subgroup of gastric cancer which, although heterogeneous, has a poor prognosis.
What Causes China's High Inflation? A Threshold Structural Vector Autoregression Analysis
Authors: Guo Fang 
Published: January 2014

AbstractChina's astonishing economic growth implies a necessity to understand its inflation. The present paper employs threshold nonrecursive structural vector autoregression analysis to explore the asymmetric effects of macro‐variables on inflation in low and high inflation regimes. The empirical evidence demonstrates, first, that the reactions of inflation to various shocks are inflation‐regime‐dependent and asymmetric. Second, monetary policy influences China's high inflation and adjusting the domestic interest rate in China may be an effective way to control inflation in a high inflation regime, but not in a low inflation regime. In a high inflation regime, a high inflation rate may cause the macro‐policy authorities to increase the domestic interest rate, in an attempt to stabilize high inflation. Third, contrary to expectations, the world oil price is not a strong cost‐push factor in a low inflation regime. Oil price increases may increase inflation in a high inflation regime, but there is no such obvious effect in a low inflation regime. Finally, China's nominal effective exchange rate influences inflation in both low and high inflation regimes. A nominal effective exchange rate appreciation might be effective in controlling domestic inflation in both regimes.
Mapping publication status and exploring hotspots in a research field: chronic disease self‐management
Authors: Lu Yang , Li Zheng , Arthur David 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAimTo provide insight into the characteristics of chronic disease self‐management by mapping publication status and exploring hotspots.BackgroundChronic disease is becoming a major public health issue worldwide, highlighting the importance of self‐management in this area. Despite the volume and variety of publications, little is known about how ‘chronic disease self‐management’ has developed, since the first publication 40 years ago. Such is the number of publications in the area, that there is a need for a systematic bibliographic examination to enable clinicians and researchers to navigate this literature.DesignA bibliometric analysis of publications was used.MethodsPublication status was achieved using BICOMB software, whereas hotspots were identified with Ucinet software. A search of PubMed was conducted for papers published between 1971–2012.ResultsBy 2011, the number of publications reached 696, a fourfold increase from the previous 10 years, of which 75% came from the USA and UK. There were 1284 journals, which published chronic disease self‐management research, involving various disciplines. The research hotspots highlighted various self‐management strategies for the following: diabetes; cardiac vascular and pulmonary chronic disease; pain relief for neoplasms; and obesity. Psychological adjustment was a permeating theme in self‐management processes as was using internet‐based interventions.ConclusionSelf‐management in chronic disease publication has been most evident in developed countries. The bibliographic mapping and identification of publication hotspots provides scholars and practitioners with key target journals, as well as a rigorous overview of the field for use in further research, evidence‐based practice and health policy development.
Commentary: Working memory training and ADHD – where does its potential lie? Reflections on Chacko et al. (2014)
Authors: Gathercole Susan E. 
Published: January 2014

Chacko et al.'s investigation of the clinical utility of WM training to alleviate key symptoms of ADHD is timely and substantial, and marks a significant point in cognitive training research. Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) involves intensive practice on multiple memory span tasks that increase in difficulty as performance improves with practice. Relative to a placebo version in which the span level of the memory tasks are kept at a low fixed level, Chacko et al. () found that CWMT boosted the performance of children with ADHD on short‐term memory (STM) tasks similar to trained activities. Complex WM span measures sharing little overlap with the structure of training activities were not enhanced. Neither did active CWMT ameliorate classic symptoms of ADHD such as parent or teacher ratings of attentional problems, or direct measures of motor impulsivity and sustained attention. Reading, spelling, comprehension or mathematics scores similarly showed no response to training.
Annual Research Review: Harms experienced by child users of online and mobile technologies: the nature, prevalence and management of sexual and aggressive risks in the digital age
Authors: Livingstone Sonia , Smith Peter K. 
Published: January 2014

Aims and scopeThe usage of mobile phones and the internet by young people has increased rapidly in the past decade, approaching saturation by middle childhood in developed countries. Besides many benefits, online content, contact or conduct can be associated with risk of harm; most research has examined whether aggressive or sexual harms result from this. We examine the nature and prevalence of such risks, and evaluate the evidence regarding the factors that increase or protect against harm resulting from such risks, so as to inform the academic and practitioner knowledge base. We also identify the conceptual and methodological challenges encountered in this relatively new body of research, and highlight the pressing research gaps.MethodsGiven the pace of change in the market for communication technologies, we review research published since 2008. Following a thorough bibliographic search of literature from the key disciplines (psychology, sociology, education, media studies and computing sciences), the review concentrates on recent, high quality empirical studies, contextualizing these within an overview of the field.FindingsRisks of cyberbullying, contact with strangers, sexual messaging (‘sexting’) and pornography generally affect fewer than one in five adolescents. Prevalence estimates vary according to definition and measurement, but do not appear to be rising substantially with increasing access to mobile and online technologies, possibly because these technologies pose no additional risk to offline behaviour, or because any risks are offset by a commensurate growth in safety awareness and initiatives. While not all online risks result in self‐reported harm, a range of adverse emotional and psychosocial consequences is revealed by longitudinal studies. Useful for identifying which children are more vulnerable than others, evidence reveals several risk factors: personality factors (sensation‐seeking, low self‐esteem, psychological difficulties), social factors (lack of parental support, peer norms) and digital factors (online practices, digital skills, specific online sites).ConclusionsMobile and online risks are increasingly intertwined with pre‐existing (offline) risks in children's lives. Research gaps, as well as implications for practitioners, are identified. The challenge is now to examine the relations among different risks, and to build on the risk and protective factors identified to design effective interventions.
Neonatal cerebral morphometry and later risk of persistent inattention/hyperactivity in children born very preterm
Authors: Bora Samudragupta , Pritchard Verena E. , Chen Zhe , Inder Terrie E. , Woodward Lianne J. 
Published: January 2014

BackgroundAttention problems are among the most prevalent neurobehavioral morbidities affecting very preterm (VPT) born children. The first study aim was to document rates of persistent attention/hyperactivity problems from ages 4 to 9 years in a regional cohort of VPT born children. The second aim was to examine the extent to which persistent problems were related to cerebral white matter abnormality and structural development on neonatal MRI.MethodsData were drawn from a prospective longitudinal study of 110 VPT (≤32 weeks gestation) and 113 full‐term (FT) children born from 1998 to 2000. At term equivalent, all VPT and 10 FT children underwent cerebral structural MRI, with scans analyzed qualitatively for white matter abnormalities and quantitatively for cortical and subcortical gray matter, myelinated and unmyelinated white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid volumes. At ages 4, 6, and 9 years, each child's parent and teacher completed the Inattention/Hyperactivity subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.ResultsVPT born children had a fivefold increased risk of persistent attention/hyperactivity problems compared with FT children (13.1% vs. 2.8%; p = .002). No association was found between neonatal white matter abnormalities and later persistent inattention/hyperactivity risk (p ≥ .24). In contrast, measures of cerebral structural development including volumetric estimates of total cerebral tissue and cerebrospinal fluid relative to intracranial volume were associated with an increased risk of persistent attention/hyperactivity problems in VPT born children (p = .001). The dorsal prefrontal region showed the largest volumetric reduction (↓3.2–8.2 mL). These brain‐behavior associations persisted and in some cases, strengthened after covariate adjustment for postmenstrual age at MRI, gender, and family socioeconomic status.ConclusionsJust over one in 10 VPT born children are subject to early onset and persistent attention/hyperactivity problems during childhood. These problems appear to reflect, at least in part, neonatal disturbances in cerebral growth and development rather than the effects of white matter injury.