bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is spring burning a viable management tool for species‐rich grasslands?
Authors: Milberg Per , Akoto Brenda , Bergman Karl‐Olof , Fogelfors Håkan , Paltto Heidi , Tälle Malin 
Published: January 2014

AbstractQuestionThe management of species‐rich semi‐natural grasslands, a fragmented and threatened vegetation type in Europe, involves costs. Mowing is expensive and grazing can be difficult to achieve and maintain for logistical reasons. Is annual spring burning, which is potentially cheaper than mowing and grazing, a viable management tool for species‐rich grasslands?LocationLong‐term field trials in 11 grasslands in southern Sweden.MethodsWe calculated the odds for a species being an indicator of good management, an indicator of poor management, or an indicator of nitrogen influence in spring‐burned plots, grazed plots and annually mowed plots. Odds ratios contrasting spring‐burned plots with grazed plots and spring‐burned plots with mowed plots were subjected to meta‐analyses in which we compared the odds ratios after 1, 8 and 14 spring burns. For a single trial, we also analysed data after 1, 8, 14, 28 and 39 spring burns.ResultsCompared with mowed and grazed plots, the odds of the four different indicators of good management decreased in spring‐burned plots, while the odds for the two indicators of poor management increased. There was no trend in the two indicators of excess nitrogen. Therefore, the conservation value of vegetation in spring‐burned plots becomes reduced over time relative to traditional management.ConclusionsSpring burning is not an appropriate long‐term management method if the aim is to maintain the conservation value of the vegetation in traditionally managed semi‐natural grasslands.
Peri‐implant conditions around sintered porous‐surfaced (SPS) implants. A 36‐month prospective cohort study
Authors: Malchiodi Luciano , Ghensi Paolo , Cucchi Alessandro , Pieroni Stefano , Bertossi Dario 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectivesThe specific aim of this study was to assess sintered porous‐surfaced (SPS) implant system from a biological point of view, through a prospective study of the health status and the evolution of the peri‐implant tissues over time and analysis of the changes observed in the various peri‐implant parameters.Material and MethodsHundred and fifty‐one patients were treated consecutively from 2005 to 2007 using 280 SPS implants, which were restored with a single crown or a partial fixed denture. To accurately monitor the health and biological evolution of peri‐implant soft and hard tissues, a number of clinical parameters were adopted, such as the modified Plaque Index (mPI), the modified sulcus Bleeding Index (mBI), Peri‐implant Probing Depth (PPD), and Crestal Bone Level (CBL). Clinical and radiographic examinations were scheduled over a 36‐month follow‐up of functional loading according to a well‐established protocol generally applied to determine implant success rates and Peri‐implant Bone Loss (PBL). Statistical analysis was used to determine any significant differences or correlations (P = 0.05).ResultsA total of 259 SPS implants in 136 patients were followed up for 36 months. According to Buser's success criteria, the overall implant‐based success rate was 98.1% and the mean PBL was 0.48 ± 0.29 mm. MBI and mPI mean values showed statistically significant differences between baseline and follow‐up analyses (P < 0.001). No statistically significant differences in mean PPD values were found between baseline and control analyses (P = 0.060).ConclusionThis prospective cohort study revealed that the biological behavior of SPS implant system was characterized by high tissue stability during the observation period, both as regards soft and hard tissues. In particular, the crestal bone remodeling pattern was very similar to that reported in other studies, confirming that the bone loss around SPS implants, at least at 36 months, seems to be predictable.
Potential impacts of oil and gas development and climate change on migratory reindeer calving grounds across the Russian Arctic
Authors: Kuemmerle Tobias , Baskin Leonid , Leitão Pedro J. , Prishchepov Alexander V. , Thonicke Kirsten , Radeloff Volker C. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractAimDrivers of biodiversity loss are increasingly broad in scale, requiring conservation planning to move towards range‐wide assessments. This is especially challenging for migratory species, such as reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus), which use only a small portion of their range at a given point in time, and for which some parts of their range, such as calving grounds, may be much more important than others. Our aim was to identify potential calving ground habitat of wild tundra reindeer populations throughout Russia, where scarce knowledge about seasonal reindeer habitat is an obstacle for conservation planning, and to assess possible impacts from oil and gas development and climate change.LocationNorthern Eurasia.MethodWe used occurrence data from known reindeer calving grounds using species distribution models to first assess calving grounds characteristics and second predict their distribution across the Russian Arctic. We then compared our calving ground map with maps of oil and gas development, and a range of climate change indicators.ResultsWe found areas throughout the Russian Arctic that are suitable for calving, including for some wild reindeer populations where calving ground locations are unknown. Variables relating to resource availability in spring and predator avoidance were the strongest predictors in our model. Oil and gas development affects calving grounds especially in the Barents Sea region and in south‐western Siberia, whereas climate change affects calving grounds on Taymyr, Chukotka, and Kamchatka.Main conclusionsWe conducted the first assessment of calving grounds of Russia's wild reindeer populations, highlighting the spatial heterogeneity of the threats that they may face. Given the potentially strong impact of oil and gas development and climate change, conservation planning should aim for designing resilient conservation networks that would allow Arctic biodiversity to freely move in time and space and thus to adapt to changing environments.
Adaptive decision making or differential mortality: what causes offspring emergence in a gregarious parasitoid?
Authors: Koppik Mareike , Thiel Andra , Hoffmeister Thomas S. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractHosts represent a limited resource for the developing offspring of parasitic insects laying eggs in or on spatially discrete resources like fruits, seeds, or other insects. The quality of hosts differs with respect to the value and amount of resources they provide for the feeding larvae. Accordingly, the size of a clutch of eggs laid on a given host should be a function of host quality, because severe competition between developing larvae can lead to increased mortality and/or decreased size of the offspring, both causing a fitness loss for the offspring and the mother. Therefore, females should be selected for the ability to estimate host quality and to adjust their clutch size accordingly. Using the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) this study investigated the respective contribution of developmental mortality of offspring vs. the clutch size decision of the mother as a determinant of final offspring emergence per host. In addition, taking offspring size into account, the study examined the fitness consequences of female oviposition decisions. Developmental mortality was very low in all quality classes of hosts except previously frozen and thus dead host pupae. Females laid reduced clutch sizes on dead, previously parasitized, and smaller hosts. In contrast to offspring number, offspring size did not differ between host qualities. We conclude that females are able to sense the quality of a host and adjust the number of eggs they lay to mitigate larval competition.
Motor and sensory responses after percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation in multiple sclerosis patients with lower urinary tract symptoms treated in daily practice
Authors: Zecca C. , Digesu G. A. , Robshaw P. , Puccini F. , Khullar V. , Tubaro A. , Gobbi C. 
Published: January 2014

Background and purposePosterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is an effective treatment option for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.MethodsPatients with MS and LUTS unresponsive to medical treatment received PTNS for 12 weeks after saline urodynamics to evaluate the prevalence of motor, sensory and combined responses during PTNS and to determine whether the type of response can predict treatment outcome. LUTS were also assessed using a 3‐day bladder diary, patient perception of bladder condition (PPBC) questionnaire, patient perception of intensity of urgency scale (PPIUS), Kings Health QOL questionnaire (KHQ) and Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB‐q) before and after treatment. Patients were considered as “responders” if they reported an improvement >50% in their LUTS according to the PPBC. Sensory, motor and combined sensory/motor responses were compared between responders and non‐responders.ResultsEighty‐three patients were included. 61% (51/83) of patients were responders. Sensory, motor and combined sensory/motor responses were found in 64% (53/83), 6% (5/83) and 30% (25/83) of patients respectively. A sensory response alone, or in combination with a motor response, was better associated with a successful outcome than the presence of a motor response alone (P = 0.001).ConclusionsA sensory response, either alone or in combination with a motor response, is more frequent and seems to be better associated with a successful outcome of PTNS than motor response alone.
Health Service Management Study for Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Two Models of Stroke Care
Authors: Chan Daniel K. Y. , Levi Chris , Cordato Dennis , O'Rourke Fintan , Chen Jack , Redmond Helen , Xu Ying-Hua , Middleton Sandy , Pollack Michael , Hankey Graeme J. 
Published: January 2014

Background The most effective and efficient model for providing organized stroke care remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare the effect of two models in a randomized controlled trial. Methods Patients with acute stroke were randomized on day one of admission to combined, co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care or traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care. Outcomes measured at baseline and 90 days post-discharge included functional independence measure, length of hospital stay, and functional independence measure efficiency (change in functional independence measure score ÷ total length of hospital stay). Results Among 41 patients randomized, 20 were allocated co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care and 21 traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care. Baseline measurements showed no significant difference. There was no significant difference in functional independence measure scores between the two groups at discharge and again at 90 days postdischarge (co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care: 103·6 ± 22·2 vs. traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care: 99·5 ± 27·7; P = 0·77 at discharge; co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care: 109·5 ± 21·7 vs. traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care: 104·4 ± 27·9; P= 0·8875 at 90 days post-discharge). Total length of hospital stay was 5·28 days less in co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care compared with traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care (24·15 ± 3·18 vs. 29·42 ± 4·5, P = 0·35). There was significant improvement in functional independence measure efficiency score among participants assigned to co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care compared with traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care (co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care: median 1·60, interquartile range: 0·87–2·81; traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care: median 0·82, interquartile range: 0·27–1·57, P = 0·0393). Linear regression analysis revealed a high inverse correlation ( R2 = 0·89) between functional independence measure efficiency and time spent in the acute stroke unit. Conclusion This proof-of-concept study has shown that co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care was just as effective as traditionally separated acute/rehabilitation stroke care as reflected in functional independence measure scores, but significantly more efficient as shown in greater functional independence measure efficiency. Co-located acute/rehabilitation stroke care has potential for significantly improved hospital bed utilization with no patient disadvantage.
Nurse‐assessed metabolic monitoring: A file audit of risk factor prevalence and impact of an intervention to enhance measurement of waist circumference
Authors: Rosenbaum Simon , Nijjar Sukh , Watkins Andrew , Garwood Natasha , Sherrington Catherine , Tiedemann Anne 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to: (i) document the prevalence of risk factors for non‐communicable diseases among mental health consumers (inpatients) with various diagnoses; and (ii) audit the frequency of waist circumference (WC) documentation before and after an intervention that involved a single nurse‐education session, and change in assessment‐form design. The study was undertaken in a private psychiatric hospital in Sydney, Australia. Twenty‐five nurses participated in the educational intervention. File audits were performed prior to intervention delivery (n = 60), and 3 months' (n = 60), and 9 months' (n = 60) post‐intervention. Files were randomly selected, and demographic (age, diagnosis) and risk factor (WC, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, blood pressure) data were extracted. WC was higher in this cohort compared to published general population means, and only 19% of patients had a BMI within the healthy range. In total, 37% of patients smoked, while 31% were hypertensive. At baseline, none of the audited files reported WC, which increased to 35 of the 60 (58%) files audited at the 3‐month follow up. At the 9‐month follow up, 25 of the 60 (42%) files audited reported a WC. In the 120 post‐intervention files audited, only two patients refused measurement. These results illustrate the poor physical health of inpatients, and suggest that nurse‐assessed metabolic monitoring can be enhanced with minimal training.
Enhanced Multiferroic and Magnetocapacitive Properties of (1 − x)Ba0.7Ca0.3TiO3–xBiFeO3 Ceramics
Authors: Li Cai‐Xia , Yang Bin , Zhang Shan‐Tao , Zhang Rui , Sun Ye , Zhang Hong‐Jun , Cao Wen‐Wu 
Published: January 2014

The structures, Curie temperature, dielectric relaxor behaviors, ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, and magnetocapacitance of the (1−x)Ba0.70Ca0.30TiO3–xBiFeO3 [(1−x)BCT–xBF, x = 0–0.90] solid solutions have been systematically investigated. The ceramics have coexisted tetragonal (T) and orthorhombic (O) phases when x ≤ 0.06, coexisted pseudocubic (PC) and O phases when x = 0.065, coexisted cubic and O phases when 0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.12, PC phase when 0.21 ≤ x ≤ 0.42, coexisted T and rhombohedral (R) phases when 0.52 ≤ x ≤ 0.70, and R phase when x ≥ 0.75. Significantly, composition‐dependent microstructures and Curie temperature are observed, the average grain size increases from 1.9 μm for x = 0, reaches 12.0 μm for x = 0.67, and then decreases to 1.3 μm for x = 0.90. At room temperature, the ceramics with x = 0.42–0.70 show piezoelectric properties and multiferroic behaviors, characterized by the polarization‐electric field, polarization current intensity–electric field, and magnetization–magnetic field curves, the composition with x = 0.67 has maximum polarization, remnant polarization, maximum magnetization, and remnant magnetization of 15.0 μC/cm2, 9.1 μC/cm2, 0.33 emu/g, and 0.14 emu/g, respectively. In addition, the magnetocapacitance is evidenced by the increased relative dielectric constant with increasing the applied magnetic field (H). With ΔH = 8 kOe, the composition with x = 0.67 shows the largest values of (εr(H) − εr(0))/εr(0) = 2.96% at room temperature. The structure–property relationship is discussed intensively.
Transseptal Access for Left Atrial Ablation: The Catheter‐Probing Techniques Are Not Without Risk
Authors: LEHRMANN HEIKO , SCHNEIDER JENS , JADIDI AMIR S. , PARK CHAN‐IL , SCHIEBELING‐RÖMER JOCHEN , ALLGEIER JÜRGEN , ARENTZ THOMAS , WEBER REINHOLD 
Published: January 2014

Risk of Catheter‐Probing During Transseptal AccessBackgroundTransseptal puncture (TP) is a prerequisite for LA ablations. LA access can be gained by catheter probing in case of PFO (trans‐PFO method) or puncture of the interatrial septum (IAS) using a transseptal needle. A 2nd access can again be gained via PFO, a 2nd TP or catheter probing of the previous puncture site (probe‐TS method). This study investigates the risk factors and complications related to the mode of transseptal access.Methods and ResultsFrom August 2010 to August 2012, a total of 544 LA ablations, were performed. The mode of LA access was either a double TP or a single TP followed by the probe‐TS or the trans‐PFO method, respectively. TP was always guided by TEE and was successfully performed without complications in all cases. In contrast, 6/410 patients (1.5%) in whom catheter probing was performed (probe‐TS, n = 4, trans‐PFO, n = 2) had a dissection of the superior IAS originating from inside the oval fossa (n = 5) or perforation above the oval fossa (n = 1). Perforation into the pericardial space occurred in 4/6 patients, leading to one cardiac tamponade. In 5/6 patients, LA ablation was successfully completed, after repeated TP, despite effective anticoagulation. Patients with complications had the following characteristics: LA size 46 ± 4 mm, persistent AF (5/6), a repeat transseptal procedure (3/6) and a right‐sided pouch (RSP, 5/6).ConclusionsInteratrial septum dissection/perforation, occasionally with perforation into the pericardial space, is an unreported complication of TP, especially with the catheter‐probing techniques. An RSP is an unrecognized risk factor in this context and can be visualized by TEE.
Assessment of tissue oxygenation of periodontal inflammation in smokers using optical spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Kan‐Zhi , Duarte Poliana Mendes , Santos Vanessa Renata , Xiang Xiaoming , Xu Minqi , Miranda Tamires Szeremeske , Fermiano Daiane , Gonçalves Tiago Eduardo Dias , Sowa Micheal G. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBackgroundWe have recently developed a periodontal diagnostic tool that was validated in non‐smokers with periodontitis. Tobacco smoking is a recognized risk factor for periodontal diseases that can mask gingival bleeding and lead to a false negative diagnosis. Therefore, the purpose of current study is to further validate this instrument in smokers with periodontal diseases.MethodsUsing a portable optical near‐infrared spectrometer, optical spectra were obtained, processed and evaluated from healthy (n = 108), gingivitis (n = 100), and periodontitis (n = 79) sites of 54 systemically healthy smokers. A modified Beer–Lambert unmixing model that incorporates a non‐parametric scattering loss function was used to determine the relative contribution of deoxygenated haemoglobin (Hb) and oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2) to the overall spectrum. The balance between tissue oxygen delivery and utilization in periodontal tissues was then assessed.ResultsTissue oxygen saturation was significantly decreased in the gingivitis (p = 0.016) and periodontitis (p = 0.007) sites, compared to the healthy sites. There was a trend towards increased concentration of Hb and decreased concentration of HbO2 from healthy to diseased sites, without statistical significance (p > 0.05).ConclusionsOptical spectroscopy can determine tissue oxygenation profiles of healthy and diseased sites in smokers. The spectral profile of periodontal sites in smokers generally resembles those from non‐smoking patients.
Red cell distribution width, haemoglobin A1c and incidence of diabetes mellitus
Authors: Engström G. , Smith J. G. , Persson M. , Nilsson P. M. , Melander O. , Hedblad B. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectiveHyperglycaemia has multiple effects on the red blood cell (RBC), including glycation of haemoglobin, reduced deformability and reduced lifespan. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of the heterogeneity of erythrocyte volumes. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between RDW and glucose, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM).Design, setting and subjectsRDW and mean corpuscular volume were measured in 26 709 non‐diabetic participants (aged 45–73 years) from the population‐based Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort. HbA1c and fasting venous blood glucose levels were measured in 4845 subjects.Main outcome measureIncidence of DM (n = 2944) over 14 years of follow‐up was studied by linkage with national and local DM registers.ResultsIndividuals with low RDW had significantly higher risk of developing DM [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–1.70, for 1st vs. 4th quartile], especially in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (n = 416) (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.12–4.14). Low RDW was also associated with significantly higher waist circumference and glucose, insulin and triglyceride concentrations. By contrast, RDW was significantly and positively associated with HbA1c, corresponding an increase in HbA1c of 0.10% per 1 SD increase in RDW.ConclusionLow RDW is associated with increased incidence of DM independently of other risk factors. We propose that low RDW could be a surrogate marker of reduced RBC survival, with lower HbA1c due to shorter duration of glucose exposure. RDW is a biomarker that could improve risk assessment for individuals at risk of developing DM.
Genera as proxies for species α‐ and β‐diversity: tested across a deep‐water Atlantic–Arctic boundary
Authors: Bett Brian J. , Narayanaswamy Bhavani E. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe deep‐sea floor is increasingly subject to anthropogenic impacts. Consequently, there are increasing efforts to develop appropriate management strategies. Species‐level indicators and assessments are hampered in the deep sea by the high proportion of unknown species routinely encountered. If environmental management is to keep pace with exploitation, alternative approaches including higher taxon surrogacy (taxonomic sufficiency) must be considered. Here we compare genus‐ and species‐level studies of the diversity and ecology of deep‐sea macrobenthos on the West Shetland Slope (NE Atlantic). This is an environmentally complex region that encompasses a biogeographic transition from temperate North Atlantic to Arctic conditions, and so may be particularly challenging for any general relationship between species‐ and genus‐level analyses. We ask two questions: (i) does genus diversity reflect species diversity and (ii) does genus‐level ecology reflect species‐level ecology? We conclude that among the West Shetland Slope macrobenthos: (i) genus‐level α‐ and β‐diversity measures are highly correlated with and good predictors of their species‐level equivalents and (ii) that their ecology is very well described by genus‐level data. We further note that, given the complexity of the West Shetland Slope environment, it may be reasonable to expect these conclusions to hold in other deep‐sea environments.