bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interactive biotic and abiotic regulators of soil carbon cycling: evidence from controlled climate experiments on peatland and boreal soils
Authors: Briones María Jesús I. , McNamara Niall P. , Poskitt Jan , Crow Susan E. , Ostle Nicholas J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPartially decomposed plant and animal remains have been accumulating in organic soils (i.e. >40% C content) for millennia, making them the largest terrestrial carbon store. There is growing concern that, in a warming world, soil biotic processing will accelerate and release greenhouse gases that further exacerbate climate change. However, the magnitude of this response remains uncertain as the constraints are abiotic, biotic and interactive. Here, we examined the influence of resource quality and biological activity on the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration under different soil moisture regimes. Organic soils were sampled from 13 boreal and peatland ecosystems located in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Finland and Sweden, representing a natural resource quality range of C, N and P. They were incubated at four temperatures (4, 10, 15 and 20 °C) at either 60% or 100% water holding capacity (WHC). Our results showed that chemical and biological properties play an important role in determining soil respiration responses to temperature and moisture changes. High soil C : P and C : N ratios were symptomatic of slow C turnover and long‐term C accumulation. In boreal soils, low bacterial to fungal ratios were related to greater temperature sensitivity of respiration, which was amplified in drier conditions. This contrasted with peatland soils which were dominated by bacterial communities and enchytraeid grazing, resulting in a more rapid C turnover under warmer and wetter conditions. The unexpected acceleration of C mineralization under high moisture contents was possibly linked to the primarily role of fermented organic matter, instead of oxygen, in mediating microbial decomposition. We conclude that to improve C model simulations of soil respiration, a better resolution of the interactions occurring between climate, resource quality and the decomposer community will be required.
Changes in forest biomass and linkage to climate and forest disturbances over Northeastern China
Authors: Zhang Yuzhen , Liang Shunlin 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe forests of northeastern China store nearly half of the country's total biomass carbon stocks. In this study, we investigated the changes in forest biomass by using satellite observations and found that a significant increase in forest biomass took place between 2001 and 2010. To determine the possible reasons for this change, several statistical methods were used to analyze the correlations between forest biomass dynamics and forest disturbances (i.e. fires, insect damage, logging, and afforestation and reforestation), climatic factors, and forest development. Results showed that forest development was the most important contributor to the increasing trend of forest biomass from 2001 to 2010, and climate controls were the secondary important factor. Among the four types of forest disturbance considered in this study, forest recovery from fires, and afforestation and reforestation during the past few decades played an important role in short‐term biomass dynamics. This study provided observational evidence and valuable information for the relationships between forest biomass and climate as well as forest disturbances.
Livestock and food security: vulnerability to population growth and climate change
Authors: Godber Olivia F. , Wall Richard 
Published: April 2014

AbstractLivestock production is an important contributor to sustainable food security for many nations, particularly in low‐income areas and marginal habitats that are unsuitable for crop production. Animal products account for approximately one‐third of global human protein consumption. Here, a range of indicators, derived from FAOSTAT and World Bank statistics, are used to model the relative vulnerability of nations at the global scale to predicted climate and population changes, which are likely to impact on their use of grazing livestock for food. Vulnerability analysis has been widely used in global change science to predict impacts on food security and famine. It is a tool that is useful to inform policy decision making and direct the targeting of interventions. The model developed shows that nations within sub‐Saharan Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, and some Asian nations are likely to be the most vulnerable. Livestock‐based food security is already compromised in many areas on these continents and suffers constraints from current climate in addition to the lack of economic and technical support allowing mitigation of predicted climate change impacts. Governance is shown to be a highly influential factor and, paradoxically, it is suggested that current self‐sufficiency may increase future potential vulnerability because trade networks are poorly developed. This may be relieved through freer trade of food products, which is also associated with improved governance. Policy decisions, support and interventions will need to be targeted at the most vulnerable nations, but given the strong influence of governance, to be effective, any implementation will require considerable care in the management of underlying structural reform.
Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change
Authors: Koide Roger T. , Nguyen Binh T. , Skinner R. Howard , Dell Curtis J. , Peoples Matthew S. , Adler Paul R. , Drohan Patrick J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBecause of climate change, insufficient soil moisture may increasingly limit crop productivity in certain regions of the world. This may be particularly consequential for biofuel crops, many of which will likely be grown in drought‐prone soils to avoid competition with food crops. Biochar is the byproduct of a biofuel production method called pyrolysis. If pyrolysis becomes more common as some scientists predict, biochar will become more widely available. We asked, therefore, whether the addition of biochar to soils could significantly increase the availability of water to a crop. Biochar made from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) shoots was added at the rate of 1% of dry weight to four soils of varying texture, and available water contents were calculated as the difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point water contents. Biochar addition significantly increased the available water contents of the soils by both increasing the amount of water held at field capacity and allowing plants to draw the soil to a lower water content before wilting. Among the four soils tested, biochar amendment resulted in an additional 0.8–2.7 d of transpiration, which could increase productivity in drought‐prone regions or reduce the frequency of irrigation. Biochar amendment of soils may thus be a viable means of mitigating some of the predicted decrease in water availability accompanying climate change that could limit the future productivity of biofuel crops.
Performance and blood parameters when lambs and meat‐goat kids were finished on pasture with and without whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum) supplementation
Authors: Turner K. E. , Belesky D. P. , Zajac A. M. , Dowd M. K. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe evaluated forage production patterns, weight gains and blood parameters when lambs (Ovis aries) and meat‐goat (Caprus hircus) kids were finished on a mixed sward of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) with (SUP) and without (UNSUP) supplemental whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum; WCS) in a replicated study. Botanical composition and energy/protein ratios of the sward varied with year and with time during the growing season. Swards had greater amounts of red clover relatively early and more cocksfoot later in the season. Suffolk (SX) lambs had the heaviest body weights, Katahdin (KA) lambs were intermediate, and meat‐goat (GX) kids were the lightest at the end of each year. Overall body weight gain followed a trend of SX > KA > GX, and WCS supplementation increased weight gain for all animals by 18%. Only in 2008 did SUP animals have higher blood urea nitrogen levels, which may indicate less efficient use of dietary nitrogen when grazing grass–legume pastures managed for high nutritive value compared with UNSUP animals. Gossypol in WCS did not affect blood packed cell volume between SUP and UNSUP lambs and meat‐goat kids. Suffolk lambs, Katahdin lambs and cross‐bred Boer meat‐goat kids finished on pasture with and without WCS supplementation produced desirable body weights for most ethnic markets in the USA.
Focused Groundwater Controlled Feedbacks into the Hyporheic Zone During Baseflow Recession
Authors: Malzone Jonathan M. , Lowry Christopher S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractGroundwater surface water interaction in the hyporheic zone remains an important challenge for water resources management and ecosystem restoration. In heterogeneous stratified glacial sediments, reach‐scale environments contain an uneven distribution of focused groundwater flow occurring simultaneously with diffusely discharging groundwater. This results in a variation of stream‐aquifer interactions, where focused flow systems are able to temporally dominate exchange processes. The research presented here investigates the direct and indirect influences focused groundwater discharge exerts on the hyporheic zone during baseflow recession. Field results demonstrate that as diffuse sources of groundwater deplete during baseflow recession, focused groundwater discharge remains constant. During baseflow recession the hyporheic zone is unable to expand, while the high nitrate concentration from focused discharge changes the chemistry of the stream. The final result is a higher concentration of nitrate in the hyporheic zone as this altered surface water infiltrates into the subsurface. This indirect coupling of focused groundwater discharge and the hyporheic zone is unaccounted for in hyporheic studies at this time. Results indicate important implications for the potential reduction of agricultural degradation of water quality.
Ageing and Dementia in a Longitudinal Study of a Cohort withDownSyndrome
Authors: Carr Janet , Collins Suzanne 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundA population sample of people withDown syndrome has been studied from infancy and has now been followed up again at age 47 years.MethodsIntelligence and language skills were tested and daily living skills assessed. Memory/cognitive deterioration was examined using two test instruments.ResultsScores on verbal tests of intelligence changed little. Those on a non‐verbal test, on self‐help skills and on both memory tests showed some decline, even when the scores of those already suffering from dementia were discounted.ConclusionsAt age 47, scores on most tests of even the majority of the cohort (i.e. those not definitely diagnosed with dementia) showed some decline. While this includes the scores of people who may subsequently develop dementia, it may also reflect the normal ageing process in this population.
Severity of polymorphic light eruption in pre‐ and post‐menopausal women: a comparative study
Authors: Reddy H. , Carmichael A.J. , Wahie S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundPolymorphic light eruption (PLE) is approximately four times more common in women than in men and often begins in young adult life. It is hypothesized that patients with PLE have an inherent resistance to UVL‐induced immunosuppression, which is a physiological phenomenon in normal healthy individuals. Consequently, in PLE there is a delayed‐type hypersensitivity reaction to a UVL‐modified skin antigen, which results in an inflammatory reaction and a variable rash. The female hormone, 17β‐oestradiol, has been shown to inhibit UVL‐induced physiological suppression of contact hypersensitivity responses. This has been postulated to account for the female preponderance of PLE. If 17β‐oestradiol plays a significant part in the disease, one might hypothesize that the severity of PLE might reduce in women after menopause.ObjectivesTo compare the severity of PLE in pre‐menopausal women with that in post‐menopausal women.MethodsEighteen pre‐menopausal and 18 post‐menopausal women with PLE had their Polymorphic Light Eruption Severity Index (PLESI) scored by a single investigator.ResultsPre‐menopausal women (mean age 40 years; range 25–50) had a mean PLESI of 54.8 (range 0–86, SD 20.2). Post‐menopausal women (mean age 63 years; range 53–78) had a mean PLESI of 36.8 (range 0–74, SD 18.2). A significant difference in mean PLESI values between pre‐ and post‐menopausal women was noted (18.0; 95% CI 4.9–31.0; P = 0.008). At the time of the study, three subjects in the pre‐menopausal group and one subject in the post‐menopausal group were on oestrogen preparations. Even after excluding the four patients on oral oestrogens, there remained a statistically significant difference in the mean PLESI scores between the pre‐menopausal and post‐menopausal groups (55.10 vs. 36.64; difference of 18.46, 95% CI: 4.0–32.91; P = 0.014).ConclusionsThe severity of PLE was significantly less in post‐menopausal women as compared with pre‐menopausal women.
Doctors' compliance with national guidelines and clinical pathway on the treatment of tuberculosis inpatients in Hubei, China
Authors: Zheng Xiaofei , Zhong Fangying , Zhang Xinping 
Published: April 2014

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesThe Ministry of Health in China has enacted a revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) guidelines and clinical pathway (CP) on new smear‐positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) inpatients to improve the quality of TB care and asked doctors' compliance to them on the treatment of TB inpatients. However, it remains unknown whether doctors adhere to them well. So this study focuses on evaluating the doctors' compliance with them in one representative TB hospital for medical quality improvement.MethodsA hospital‐based retrospective study involving all medical records of newly diagnosed smear‐positive pulmonary TB inpatients from July 2011 to July 2013. Analysis indicators including adequate drug regimens rate, adequate drug dosages rate and adequate length of hospital stay rate were chosen to assess doctors' compliance with NTP guidelines and CP on the treatment of new smear‐positive pulmonary TB inpatients. The optimal value of these indicators is 100%.ResultsOf the 334 inpatients selected, the rate of adequate drug regimens prescribed is 26.95% (90/334), and the rate of adequate drug dosages is 0% (0/90). For the dosage of single drug, the rates of adequate dosage of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol are 24.44% (22/90), 85.56% (77/90), 70% (63/90) and 13.33% (12/90). Moreover, 75.56% (68/90) of isoniazid was prescribed too high and 83.34% (75/90) of ethambutol was prescribed too low. The rate of adequate length of hospital stay provided is 28.44% (95/334).ConclusionDoctors' compliance with NTP guidelines and CP on new smear‐positive pulmonary TB inpatients is depressed and needs improvement.
Comparison of two bioelectrical impedance devices and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry to evaluate body composition in heart failure
Authors: Alves F. D. , Souza G. C. , Biolo A. , Clausell N. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe utilisation of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in heart failure can be affected by many factors and its applicability remains controversial. The present study aimed to verify the adequacy of single‐frequency BIA (SF‐BIA) and multifrequency BIA (MF‐BIA) compared to dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for evaluating body composition in outpatients with heart failure.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, 55 patients with stable heart failure and left ventricle ejection fraction ≤45% were evaluated for fat mass percentage, fat mass and fat‐free mass by DEXA and compared with the results obtained by SF‐BIA (single frequency of 50 kHz) and MF‐BIA (frequencies of 20 and 100 kHz).ResultsMF‐BIA and DEXA gave similar mean values for fat mass percentage, fat mass and fat‐free mass, whereas values from SF‐BIA were significantly different from DEXA. Both SF‐BIA and MF‐BIA measures of body composition correlated strongly with DEXA (r > 0.8; P < 0.001), except for fat mass assessed by SF‐BIA, which showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.760; P < 0.001). MF‐BIA also showed a better agreement with DEXA by Bland–Altman analysis in all measurements. However, both types of equipment showed wide limits of agreement and a significant relationship between variance and bias (Pitmans's test P > 0.05), except MF‐BIA for fat‐free mass.ConclusionsCompared with DEXA, MF‐BIA showed better accuracy than SF‐BIA, although both types of equipment showed wide limits of agreement. The BIA technique should be used with caution, and regression equations might be useful for correcting the observed variations, mainly in extreme values of body composition.
High Life Cycle Efficacy Explains Fast Energy Payback for Improved Off‐Grid Lighting Systems
Authors: Alstone Peter , Lai Patricia , Mills Evan , Jacobson Arne 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe energy intensity of fuel‐based lighting is substantial given the paltry levels of lighting service, poor economic outcomes, and exposure to public health risks for users throughout the developing world. There is a great opportunity to reduce fossil energy consumption (and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions) while improving public health and economic outcomes for the poor by encouraging upgrading from fuel‐based to rechargeable light‐emitting diode (LED) lighting. However, switching to efficient lighting requires up‐front investments of energy for manufacturing. This study explores life cycle energy performance in the market for modern off‐grid lighting (OGL) products in Sub‐Saharan Africa and introduces a new metric, life cycle efficacy, which facilitates comparisons and analysis of life cycle energy performance (light output per unit of embodied plus use‐phase energy consumption) for lighting technology systems. Combining field insights on technology adoption dynamics with embodied energy estimates for a range of products available in 2012 shows that OGL energy “debts” are “paid back” in 20 to 50 days (substantially faster than kilowatt‐scale grid‐connected solar electricity systems) with energy return on investment ratios from 10 to 40. This stems from greatly improved life cycle efficacy for off‐grid LED lighting (∼20 lumens/watt [lm/W]), compared to fuel‐based lighting (∼0.04 lumens/W). Life cycle benefits—not only energy, but also economic and health benefits—depend strongly on product service lifetime (related to quality) and fuel displacement fraction (related to performance). OGL life cycle efficacy increases from longer lifetime and/or improved LED source efficacy lead to better quality and less‐expensive lighting available in the developing world with lower energy use than the fuel‐based incumbent technology.
Effects of Inoculum Density and Wounding on Stem Infection of Three Eastern US Forest Species by Phytophthora ramorum
Authors: Tooley Paul W. , Browning Marsha , Leighty Robert M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSeedlings of three Eastern US forest species Quercus rubra (northern red oak), Quercus prinus (chestnut oak) and Acer rubrum (red maple) were inoculated by applying Phytophthora ramorum sporangia to stems at different inoculum densities with and without wounding. Disease occurred in all treatments involving wounds, and no disease was observed in unwounded treatments. Younger seedlings (2–3 years old) did not differ significantly from older seedlings (5–6 years old) in disease incidence, but older seedlings sustained smaller lesions compared with younger seedlings. For both old and young seedlings, disease on wounded stems was observed down to the lowest sporangia concentration utilized (500 sporangia/ml for old seedlings and 100 sporangia/ml for young seedlings). The results show that in the presence of wounding, even very low sporangia concentrations can result in disease, and further suggest that wounding caused by insects and other factors may play an important role in P. ramorum epidemiology in forest environments.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of intravenous fentanyl and buprenorphine in healthy greyhound dogs
Authors: KuKanich B. , Allen P. 
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of two highly protein‐bound, lipophilic opioid drugs. Fentanyl (10 μg/kg) and buprenorphine (20 μg/kg) were administered intravenously (IV) to six healthy greyhound dogs (three males and three females). The doses were based on clinically administered doses for dogs. Plasma drug concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, and noncompartmental pharmacokinetics were estimated with computer software. The volume of distribution (area) was larger for fentanyl (7.42 L/kg) compared to buprenorphine (3.54 L/kg). The plasma clearance of fentanyl (38.6 mL·min/kg) was faster than buprenorphine (10.3 mL·min/kg). The terminal half‐life of fentanyl (2.22 h) was shorter than buprenorphine (3.96 h). Despite similar physicochemical properties including octanol–water partition coefficient and pKa, the pharmacokinetics of fentanyl and buprenorphine were not similar. Both fentanyl (84%) and buprenorphine (95–98%) are considered highly protein bound, but the differences in protein binding may contribute to the lack of similarity of pharmacokinetics in healthy dogs.
A proposed framework for establishing and evaluating hypotheses about the behaviour of extinct organisms
Authors: Hone D. W. E. , Faulkes C. G. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractReconstructing the possible behaviours of long extinct species, and especially those with no close living relatives, are naturally fraught with difficulty: data are often limited and hard to interpret. However, the field of palaeoethology has not been helped by a poor understanding of the range and plasticity of the behaviour of extant organisms, coupled with a tendency to generalize and over‐interpret the limited information available. Here we attempt to construct a framework for the establishment of viable hypotheses about the behaviour of extinct organisms and the generation of support for, or testing of, these hypotheses. We advocate that it is preferable to under‐interpret available data, than to suggest problematic hypotheses that may become accepted as correct.