bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen and harvest date affect developmental morphology and biomass yield of warm‐season grasses
Authors: Waramit Naroon , Moore Kenneth J. , Heaton Emily 
Published: August 2013

AbstractInformation on the growth and development of warm‐season grasses in response to management is required to use them successfully as a biomass crop. Our objectives were to determine optimum harvest periods and effect of N fertilization rates on the biomass production of four warm‐season grasses, and to investigate if traits of canopy structure can explain observed yields with varying harvest dates and N rates. A field study was conducted at Sorenson Research Farm near Ames, IA, during 2006 and 2007. The experimental design was split‐split plot arranged in a randomized complete block with four replications. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutrans L. Nash), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) were main plots. Three N application rates (0, 65, and 140 kg ha−1) were subplots, and 10 harvest dates were sub‐sub plots. Biomass of warm‐season grasses increased with advanced maturity, but differently among species. The maximum yield of eastern gamagrass occurred at the highest MSC (1.6 and 2.2) when the largest seed ripening tillers were present. Big bluestem, switchgrass, and indiangrass obtained the maximum yields at MSC 3.5, 3.9, and 2.9, respectively when the largest reproductive tillers were present. In terms of a biomass supply strategy, eastern gamagrass may be used during early summer, while big bluestem and switchgrass may be best used between mid‐ and late‐ summer, and indiangrass in early fall. Nitrogen fertilization increased yield by increasing tiller development. Optimum biomass yields were obtained later in the season when they were fertilized with 140 kg ha−1.
Pattern of age‐associated decline of static and dynamic balance in community‐dwelling older women
Authors: Takeshima Nobuo , Islam Mohammod M , Rogers Michael E , Koizumi Daisuke , Tomiyama Naoki , Narita Makoto , Rogers Nicole L 
Published: August 2013

AimFalling is the leading cause of injury‐related deaths in older adults, and a loss of balance is often the precursor to a fall. However, little is known about the rate at which balance declines with age. The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an age‐associated decline in static (SB) and/or dynamic (DB) balance in community‐dwelling older women.MethodSB and DB were determined in 971 older women. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine test–retest reliability. Sway velocity was used to measure SB standing on a platform and foam with eyes open and closed. DB was characterized by limits of stability (LOS) that measured end‐point excursion (EXE) and maximum excursion (MXE) of the body's center of pressure.ResultsICC for EXE and MXE for the LOS test were excellent (EPE = 0.96, MXE = 0.96). ICC for SB tests, except for the eyes open firm surface condition (ICC = 0.10), showed a high level of reproducibility (ICC = 0.88 and 0.90). Relationships existed between age and SB (r = 0.31, P < 0.001), and between age and DB (r = −0.46–−0.48, P < 0.001). The rate of decline for both DB and SB was approximately 1% per year. Age was significantly associated with all balance measures. DB got significantly lower with advancing age until 80 years, and then plateaued. SB did not decline with age until 80 years, and then decreased significantly thereafter.ConclusionAlthough large individual variation was found with balance ability, an age‐related decline was found with both dynamic and static balance for Japanese older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 556–560.
Validation and translation of the Kihon Checklist (frailty index) into Brazilian Portuguese
Authors: Sewo Sampaio Priscila Yukari , Sampaio Ricardo Aurélio Carvalho , Yamada Minoru , Ogita Mihoko , Arai Hidenori 
Published: August 2013

AimTo translate the Japanese Kihon Checklist (frailty index) into the Portuguese language, and to validate the use of the checklist for the assessment of the elderly Brazilian population.MethodsA semantic analysis was carried out, along with pretesting of bilingual participants. The checklist was validated against the Edmonton Frail Scale.ResultsA total of 188 Brazilian older adults (mean age 69.5 ± 7.47 years) participated in the present study. In the semantic analysis, six elderly participants reported no difficulty with responding to the Portuguese version of the Kihon Checklist. During pretesting with 21 bilingual participants, we found a strong correlation between the total scores of the original version of the Kihon Checklist in Japanese and the translated version in Portuguese (r = 0.764, P < 0.001). According to the validation process, which involved 161 participants, there was a significant correlation between the total scores of the Kihon Checklist and the Edmonton Frail Scale (r = 0.535, P < 0.001), and between each domain of the checklist with the total score of Edmonton Frail Scale (lifestyle τ = 0.429, P < 0.001; physical strength τ = 0.367, P < 0.001; nutrition τ = 0.211, P = 0.002; eating τ = 0.213, P = 0.001; socialization τ = 0.269, P < 0.001; memory τ = 0.285, P < 0.001; and mood τ = 0.359, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the Portuguese version of the Kihon Checklist showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient: 0.787).ConclusionsThe Portuguese language version of the Kihon Checklist presented good internal consistency and validity. Therefore, we encourage its application in the elderly Brazilian population with an aim of monitoring their frailty to prevent or delay the functional dependence and any other adverse health outcomes. [Correction added on 14 January 2013, after first online publication: the phrase ‘loss of’ has been deleted from the preceding statement.] Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 561–569.
Patients' lay expertise in chronic self‐care: a case study in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Storni Cristiano 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe impact of chronic diseases in our society is growing. The idea of self‐care generates understandable enthusiasm and is seen as a natural answer. It is important to develop an understanding of self‐care practices that goes beyond a clinical understanding of the disease and that acknowledges everyday practicalities, and the perspective of the patient.ObjectiveTo shed light on some of the practicalities of everyday chronic self‐care, to expose to analysis the key role of lay expertise and to stress the importance of its recognition in future chronic care practices and technology.DesignEthnomethodological investigations based on observations of a patient support group (10 months) and some shadowing sessions of everyday practices, semi‐structured interviews with individuals with type 1 diabetes (n = 14) and professional caregivers (n = 7).AnalysisThe qualitative data analysis was inspired by grounded theory and aimed at ordering data under emerging categories and topics.ResultsThe patient's knowledge and expertise is critical to grounding, integrating and complementing technical‐medical/clinical knowledge in everyday chronic self‐care. To deal with the intricacies and difficulties of everyday chronic self‐care, individuals with type 1 diabetes develop different ways of knowing and dealing with the disease that need to be equally taken into account in the reorganization of care delivery, and in the design of the tools to support it.ConclusionRethinking the traditional separation between hard and soft data may be a possible first step towards rethinking the role of lay expertise in chronic care towards better supports for self‐care practices and patient empowerment.
A review of the present state of the absolute calibration for zircon fission track geochronometry using the external detector method
Authors: Danhara Tohru , Iwano Hideki 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe authors have developed and demonstrated an independent calibration of zircon fission track dating with the external detector method. During the past two decades, investigations have continued concerning the issues of the absolute age calibration of fission track dating. The derivation of accurate fission track age equations has been made possible by taking into account the relationships between the latent and etched track lengths. Our dating exercise involving 10 zircon reference samples supports our claim that absolute age determinations can be carried out based on the following three parameters: (1) the 238U spontaneous fission decay constant of 8.5 × 10−17 a−1 (λf) which is recommended by the IUPAC; (2) thermal neutron fluence values based on pre‐irradiated IRMM540 dosimeter glass, which is equivalent to the Au and Co metal activation monitors in the 1990 IUGS recommendation; and (3) a [GQR] correction value of 1.35 which has been experimentally determined for the combination of zircon external surfaces irradiated with mica external detectors. Independent measurements of uranium concentration by the fission track method were also tested. A new method of fission track dating that uses mass spectrometry for uranium measurements was simulated with success using our zircon data. We propose that the Fission Track Community reassesses the situation and formulates a new recommendation, in which the established independent method is placed on at least an equal footing with the standard‐based method.
Assessment of the craniocaudal stability of four extracapsular stabilization techniques during two cyclic loading protocols: A cadaver study
Authors: Choate Christina J. , Lewis Daniel D. , Conrad Bryan P. , Horodyski Mary Beth , Pozzi Antonio 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo (1) compare the effect of cyclic loading on craniocaudal tibial translation in cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL)‐deficient stifles after extracapsular stabilization, and (2) evaluate the effect of peak force during cyclic loading on the rate of development of craniocaudal laxity.Study DesignBiomechanical cadaveric study.Sample PopulationCadaveric pelvic limbs (n = 24 pairs) from skeletally mature dogs.MethodsTwenty‐four pairs of stifles were randomly assigned to 4 stabilization groups: nylon leader lateral circumfabellar‐tibial suture (NLS); FiberTape lateral circumfabellar‐tibial suture (FTLS); TightRope (TR); or bone anchor (BA). Contralateral limbs were cyclically loaded to produce cranial tibial translation at peak forces of either 80 or 160 N. Craniocaudal displacement of the tibia was measured with a mechanical testing machine during cyclic loading with the CrCL intact, after CrCL transection, and after extracapsular stabilization. The number of cycles each construct underwent before reaching 200% and 300% of the mean craniocaudal displacement present during cyclic loading of the CrCL‐intact stifles was calculated. Number of cycles among treatment groups was compared with a Kruskal–Wallis test.P < .05 was considered significant.ResultsMean ± SD translation before and after CrCL transection were 3.9 ± 0.6 and 14.6 ± 1.7 mm, respectively. TR constructs resisted significantly more cycles than NLS constructs before reaching 7.8 mm (200%) and 11.7 mm (300%) of translation when loaded to 80 N. No other differences between constructs were significant at a peak load of 80 N. All constructs reached 7.8 and 11.7 mm of translation in fewer cycles when loaded to 160 N than at 80 N.ConclusionsTR constructs were most resistant to elongation during cyclic loading. Doubling the peak force during cyclic loading significantly decreased the number of cycles constructs withstood, supporting recommendations for restricting postoperative activity after extracapsular stabilization of the CrCL‐deficient stifle.
Accidental experiments: ecological and evolutionary insights and opportunities derived from global change
Authors: HilleRisLambers Janneke , Ettinger Ailene K. , Ford Kevin R. , Haak David C. , Horwith Micah , Miner Brooks E. , Rogers Haldre S. , Sheldon Kimberly S. , Tewksbury Joshua J. , Waters Susan M. , Yang Sylvia 
Published: August 2013

Humans are the dominant ecological and evolutionary force on the planet today, transforming habitats, polluting environments, changing climates, introducing new species, and causing other species to decline in number or go extinct. These worrying anthropogenic impacts, collectively termed global change, are often viewed as a confounding factor to minimize in basic studies and a problem to resolve or quantify in applied studies. However, these ‘accidental experiments’ also represent opportunities to gain fundamental insight into ecological and evolutionary processes, especially when they result in perturbations that are large or long in duration and difficult or unethical to impose experimentally. We demonstrate this by describing important fundamental insights already gained from studies which utilize global change factors as accidental experiments. In doing so, we highlight why accidental experiments are sometimes more likely to yield insights than traditional approaches. Next, we argue that emerging environmental problems can provide even more opportunities for scientific discovery in the future, and provide both examples and guidelines for moving forward. We recommend 1) a greater flow of information between basic and applied subfields of ecology and evolution to identify emerging opportunities; 2) considering the advantages of the ‘accidental experiment’ approach relative to more traditional approaches; and 3) planning for the challenges inherent to uncontrolled accidental experiments. We emphasize that we do not view the accidental experiments provided by global change as replacements for scientific studies quantifying the magnitude of anthropogenic impacts or outlining strategies for mitigating impacts. Instead, we believe that accidental experiments are uniquely situated to provide insights into evolutionary and ecological processes that ultimately allow us to better predict and manage change on our human‐dominated planet.SynthesisHumans have an increasingly large impact on the planet. In response, ecologists and evolutionary biologists are dedicating increasing scientific attention to global change, largely with studies documenting biological effects and testing strategies to avoid or reverse negative impacts. In this article, we analyze global change from a different perspective, and suggest that human impacts on the environment also serve as valuable ‘accidental experiments’ that can provide fundamental scientific insight. We highlight and synthesize examples of studies taking this approach, and give guidance for gaining future insights from these unfortunate ‘accidental experiments’.
The Influence of Forest Regrowth on the Stream Discharge in the North Carolina Piedmont Watersheds
Authors: Kim Yuri , Band Lawrence E. , Song Conghe 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis study focuses on the relationships of watershed runoff with historical land use/land cover (LULC) and climate trends. Over the 20th Century, LULC in the Southeast United States, particularly the North Carolina Piedmont, has evolved from an agriculture dominated to an extensively forested landscape with more recent localized urbanization. The regrowth of forest has an important influence on the hydrology of the region as it enhances ecosystem interaction with recent climate change. During 1920‐2009, the amount of precipitation in some parts of the North Carolina Piedmont forest regrowth area showed increasing trends without corresponding increments in runoff. We employed the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to backcast long‐term hydrologic behavior of watersheds in North Carolina with different LULC conditions: (1) LULC conversion from agricultural to forested area and (2) long‐term stable forested area. Comparing U.S. Geological Survey‐measured stream discharge with SWAT‐simulated stream discharge under the assumption of constant 2006 LULC, we found significant stream discharge underprediction by SWAT in two LULC conversion watersheds during the early simulation period (1920s) with differences gradually decreasing by the mid‐1970s. This model bias suggests that forest regrowth on abandoned agricultural land was a key factor contributing to mitigate the impact of increased precipitation on runoff due to increasing water consumption driven by changes in vegetation.
Water Quality Trading with Lumpy Investments, Credit Stacking, and Ancillary Benefits
Authors: Lentz Adam H. , Ando Amy W. , Brozović Nicholas 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis paper studies the economics of a water quality trading market in a predominantly agricultural watershed, and explores the effects of credit stacking in such a market when buyers and sellers of pollution credits can only reduce pollution with large, discrete investments that yield discontinuous supply and demand. The research simulates hypothetical water quality trading markets in the corn‐belt area of Illinois, where wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can pay farmers to reduce nutrients by installing wetlands and farmers may or may not be allowed to earn payments for multiple services from one wetland. We find that wetlands are a more cost‐effective way to mitigate nitrogen pollution than abatement by WWTPs. Stacking credits may improve social welfare while providing more ecosystem services if there is enough demand for the primary credit in the market (nitrogen) to cover most of the cost of installing the wetland but the supply of nitrogen credits is not exhausted. However, in the presence of lumpy pollution reduction activities, the effects of allowing stacked credit sales are idiosyncratic and not necessarily positive; stacked payments may or may not satisfy additionality. The results imply that credit trading for nitrogen is likely to make society better off, but the effects of allowing farmers to receive multiple payments from a single wetland depend on details of the situation.
Seasonal increase in sea temperature triggers pancreas disease outbreaks in Norwegian salmon farms
Authors: Stene A , Bang Jensen B , Knutsen Ø , Olsen A , Viljugrein H 
Published: August 2013

AbstractPancreas disease (PD) is a viral disease causing negative impacts on economy of salmon farms and fish welfare. Its transmission route is horizontal, and water transport by ocean currents is an important factor for transmission. In this study, the effect of temperature changes on PD dynamics in the field has been analysed for the first time. To identify the potential time of exposure to the virus causing PD, a hydrodynamic current model was used. A cohort of salmon was assumed to be infected the month it was exposed to virus from other infective cohorts by estimated water contact. The number of months from exposure to outbreak defined the incubation period, which was used in this investigation to explore the relationship between temperature changes and PD dynamics. The time of outbreak was identified by peak in mortality based on monthly records from active sites. Survival analysis demonstrated that cohorts exposed to virus at decreasing sea temperature had a significantly longer incubation period than cohorts infected when the sea temperature was increasing. Hydrodynamic models can provide information on the risk of being exposed to pathogens from neighbouring farms. With the knowledge of temperature‐dependent outbreak probability, the farmers can emphasize prophylactic management, avoid stressful operations until the sea temperature is decreasing and consider removal of cohorts at risk, if possible.
Distribution of ciliated epithelial cells in the trachea of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)
Authors: Hoffmann Rebecca , Braun Armin , Knauf Sascha , Kaup Franz‐Josef , Bleyer Martina 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe distribution of ciliated cells in the tracheal epithelium of common marmosets was evaluated.MethodsLight and scanning electron microscopy of tracheal epithelium was performed.ResultsCiliated cells were concentrated in cartilage‐free areas and virtually absent in cartilage‐supported epithelial regions.ConclusionsHeterogeneous distribution of ciliated cells in the trachea has to be considered when using animal models for translational respiratory research approaches.
Peptidylglycine α‐amidating monooxygenase heterozygosity alters brain copper handling with region specificity
Authors: Gaier Eric D. , Miller Megan B. , Ralle Martina , Aryal Dipendra , Wetsel William C. , Mains Richard E. , Eipper Betty A. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractCopper (Cu), an essential trace element present throughout the mammalian nervous system, is crucial for normal synaptic function. Neuronal handling of Cu is poorly understood. We studied the localization and expression of Atp7a, the major intracellular Cu transporter in the brain, and its relation to peptidylglycine α‐amidating monooxygenase (PAM), an essential cuproenzyme and regulator of Cu homeostasis in neuroendocrine cells. Based on biochemical fractionation and immunostaining of dissociated neurons, Atp7a was enriched in post‐synaptic vesicular fractions. Cu followed a similar pattern, with ~ 20% of total Cu in synaptosomes. A mouse model heterozygous for the Pam gene (PAM+/−) was selectively Cu deficient in the amygdala. As in cortex and hippocampus, Atp7a and PAM expression overlap in the amygdala, with highest expression in interneurons. Messenger RNA levels of Atox‐1 and Atp7a, which deliver Cu to the secretory pathway, were reduced in the amygdala but not in the hippocampus in PAM+/− mice, GABAB receptor mRNA levels were similarly affected. Consistent with Cu deficiency, dopamine β‐monooxygenase function was impaired as evidenced by elevated dopamine metabolites in the amygdala, but not in the hippocampus, of PAM+/− mice. These alterations in Cu delivery to the secretory pathway in the PAM+/− amygdala may contribute to the physiological and behavioral deficits observed.
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Atp7a, a Cu‐transporting P‐type ATPase, is localized to the trans‐Golgi network and to vesicles distributed throughout the dendritic arbor. Tissue‐specific alterations in Atp7a expression were found in mice heterozygous for peptidylglycine α‐amidating monooxygenase (PAM), an essential neuropeptide‐synthesizing cuproenzyme. Atp7a and PAM are highly expressed in amygdalar interneurons. Reduced amygdalar expression of Atox‐1 and Atp7a in PAM heterozygous mice may lead to reduced synaptic Cu levels, contributing to the behavioral and neurochemical alterations seen in these mice.