bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct Effects of Cattle on Grassland Birds in Canada
Authors: BLEHO BARBARA I. , KOPER NICOLA , MACHTANS CRAIG S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractEffects of grazing on grassland birds are generally thought to be indirect, through alteration of vegetation structure; however, livestock can also affect nest survival directly through trampling and other disturbances (e.g., livestock‐induced abandonment). We extracted data on nest fates from 18 grazing studies conducted in Canada. We used these data to assess rates of nest destruction by cattle among 9 ecoregions and between seasonal and rotational grazing systems. Overall, few nests were destroyed by cattle (average 1.5% of 9132 nests). Nest destruction was positively correlated with grazing pressure (i.e., stocking rate or grazing intensity), but nest survival was higher in more heavily grazed areas for some species. Because rates of destruction of grassland bird nests by cattle are low in Canada, management efforts to reduce such destruction may not be of ecological or economic value in Canada.Efectos Directos del Ganado sobre las Aves de Pastizales en Canadá
Development of a Natural Practice to Adapt Conservation Goals to Global Change
Authors: HELLER NICOLE E. , HOBBS RICHARD J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractConservation goals at the start of the 21st century reflect a combination of contrasting ideas. Ideal nature is something that is historically intact but also futuristically flexible. Ideal nature is independent from humans, but also, because of the pervasiveness of human impacts, only able to reach expression through human management. These tensions emerge in current management rationales because scientists and managers are struggling to accommodate old and new scientific and cultural thinking, while also maintaining legal mandates from the past and commitments to preservation of individual species in particular places under the stresses of global change. Common management goals (such as integrity, wilderness, resilience), whether they are forward looking and focused on sustainability and change, or backward looking and focused on the persistence and restoration of historic states, tend to create essentialisms about how ecosystems should be. These essentialisms limit the options of managers to accommodate the dynamic, and often novel, response of ecosystems to global change. Essentialisms emerge because there is a tight conceptual coupling of place and historical species composition as an indicator of naturalness (e.g., normal, healthy, independent from humans). Given that change is increasingly the norm and ecosystems evolve in response, the focus on idealized ecosystem states is increasingly unwise and unattainable. To provide more open‐ended goals, we propose greater attention be paid to the characteristics of management intervention. We suggest that the way we interact with other species in management and the extent to which those interactions reflect the interactions among other biotic organisms, and also reflect our conservation virtues (e.g., humility, respect), influences our ability to cultivate naturalness on the landscape. We call this goal a natural practice (NP) and propose it as a framework for prioritizing and formulating how, when, and where to intervene in this period of rapid change.Desarrollo de una Práctica Natural para Adaptar Objetivos de Conservación al Cambio Global
Individualizing HbA1c targets for patients with diabetes: impact of an automated algorithm within a primary care network
Authors: Berkowitz S. A. , Atlas S. J. , Grant R. W. , Wexler D. J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimsTo develop glycaemic goal individualization algorithms and assess potential impact on a healthcare system and different segments of the population with diabetes.MethodsA cross‐sectional observational study of patients with diabetes in a primary care network age > 18 years with an HbA1c measured between 1 January and 31 December 2011. We applied diabetes guidelines to create targeted algorithms 1 and 2, which assigned HbA1c goals based on age, duration of diabetes (< 15 years or < 10 years), diabetes complications and Charlson co‐morbidity score (< 6 or < 4) [targeted algorithm 2 was designed to assign more patients a goal < 64 mmol/mol (8.0%) than targeted algorithm 1]. Each patient's HbA1c was compared with these targeted goals and to the ‘standard’ goal < 53 mmol/mol (7.0%). Agreement was tested using McNemar's test.ResultsOverall, 55.7% of 12 199 patients would be considered controlled under the ‘standard’ approach, 61.2% under targeted algorithm 1 and 67.5% under targeted algorithm 2. Targeted algorithm 1 reclassified 1213 (23.6%) patients considered uncontrolled under the standard approach to controlled, P < 0.001. Targeted algorithm 2 reclassified 1844 (35.2%) patients, P < 0.001. Compared with those controlled under the standard goal, there was no significant difference in the proportion of those controlled using targeted goals who had Medicaid, had less than a high school diploma or received primary care in a federally qualified health centre.ConclusionsTwo automated targeted algorithms would reclassify one quarter to one third of patients from uncontrolled to controlled within a primary care network without differentially affecting vulnerable patient subgroups.
Smoking and lipid‐related indices in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wakabayashi I. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimsLipid‐related indices, including the ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, the ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol and lipid accumulation product, are known to be good discriminators for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships between smoking and the lipid indices in patients with diabetes.MethodsSubjects were those who had been diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus at annual health check‐ups at their places of work (n = 2563). The subjects were divided into three groups of non‐smokers, light smokers (≤ 20 cigarettes/day) and heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes/day). The relationships between smoking and the lipid indices were investigated.ResultsBoth in all subjects and in the subjects without a habit of alcohol drinking, the LDL cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio and the log‐transformed triglyerides:HDL cholesterol ratio tended to be higher with an increase in the amount of smoking, and the log‐transformed lipid accumulation product was significantly higher in heavy smokers than in non‐smokers. In the non‐alcohol drinking subjects, the odds ratios of heavy smokers vs. non‐smokers for high LDL cholesterol:HDL cholesterol ratio [2.32 (95% CI 1.40–3.84)], for high triglycerides:HDL cholesterol ratio [1.69 (95% CI 1.06–2.69)] and for high lipid accumulation product [1.65 (95% CI 1.02–2.67)] were significantly higher than a reference level of 1.00. The associations between smoking and the lipid indices were weaker in alcohol drinkers than in non‐drinkers.ConclusionsIn patients with diabetes, the levels of lipid‐related indices were higher in smokers than in non‐smokers, and cardiometabolic disorders, reflected by high lipid indices, are thought to be involved in the proneness of smokers to develop atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
EphA4 is associated with multiple cell types in the marmoset primary visual cortex throughout the lifespan
Authors: Goldshmit Yona , Homman‐Ludiye Jihane , Bourne James A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractEphs form the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases. They interact with the membrane‐bound ligands – ephrins – to control crucial aspects of brain development. EphA4 is the most prominent member of the family in terms of versatility and ability to bind most ephrin ligands. EphA4 regulates brain development by modulating neuronal migration and connectivity. In the present study, we address the involvement of EphA4 in patterning the primary visual cortex (V1) of the marmoset monkey by characterizing the cellular expression profile of EphA4 from late embryonic stages to adulthood. We identified continuous expression on neurons in the cortical plate and mature neocortical layers, similar to that described in the mouse, excluding a role for EphA4 in the formation of borders between visual areas in the marmoset neocortex. In addition to neurons, we also report expression of EphA4 on glial populations, including radial glia and astrocytes. In contrast to what is seen in the mouse, EphA4 expression on astrocytes persists in the adult marmoset V1, including around blood vessels and in the white matter. Robust expression by glial populations, which retain neurogenic properties in the postnatal marmoset, indicates that EphA4 may have acquired additional roles during evolution, with important implications for the benefits of EphA4‐blocking therapies following brain injury.
Treg‐enriched CD4+ T cells attenuate collagen synthesis in keloid fibroblasts
Authors: Murao Naoki , Seino Ken‐ichiro , Hayashi Toshihiko , Ikeda Masaki , Funayama Emi , Furukawa Hiroshi , Yamamoto Yuhei , Oyama Akihiko 
Published: March 2014

AbstractKeloid is an inflammatory and fibrotic disease with an unknown pathogenesis. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) of CD4+ lineage can suppress other effector CD4+ T cells and modulate the immune response. A relative decrease in the number of Tregs may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases. We therefore investigated the number of Tregs in keloids using immunohistochemistry and examined the interaction between Tregs and keloid fibroblasts (KFs) using a coculture system. It was found that the ratio of Tregs/CD4+ T cells was lower compared with that in other common inflammatory skin conditions. In addition, Treg‐enriched CD4+ T cells reduced collagen synthesis by KFs. Our findings suggest that a local imbalance of Tregs contributes to the development of keloids and that correction of this imbalance might represent a novel therapeutic approach to keloid fibrosis.
T helper 17 and Tregs: a novel proposed mechanism for NB‐UVB in vitiligo
Authors: Hegazy Rehab A. , Fawzy Marwa M. , Gawdat Heba I. , Samir Nesrin , Rashed Laila A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractNarrowband ultraviolet (NB‐UV)B is accepted as corner stone therapy for vitiligo. Its influence on the expression of IL‐17, IL‐ 22 and FoxP3 as markers for the Th17 and Tregs lineages has not been studied before in the context of non‐segmental vitiligo (NSV). The study included 20 active NSV patients who received 36 NB‐UVB sessions and 20 controls. Clinical evaluation Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) and determination of tissue expression of IL‐17, IL‐22 and FoxP3 by qRT‐PCR (lesional, perilesional) were carried out before and after therapy. Baseline levels of IL‐17 and IL‐22 were significantly higher in patients, whereas FoxP3 was significantly lower. After therapy, IL‐17 and IL‐22 significantly dropped, whereas FoxP3 significantly increased (lesional, perilesional). Baseline and post‐treatment VASI showed significant positive correlations with IL‐17 and IL‐22 and significant negative correlation with FoxP3 expression. Restoration of the balance between Th17 and Tregs might represent a novel pathway for the improvement that NB‐UVB exerts in vitiligo patients.
Regulation of exosome release by glycosphingolipids and flotillins
Authors: Phuyal Santosh , Hessvik Nina P. , Skotland Tore , Sandvig Kirsten , Llorente Alicia 
Published: March 2014

Exosomes are released by cells after fusion of multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane. The molecular mechanism of this process is still unclear. We investigated the role of sphingolipids and flotillins, which constitute a raft‐associated family of proteins, in the release of exosomes. Interestingly, our results show that dl‐threo‐1‐phenyl‐2‐decanoylamino‐3‐morpholino‐1‐propanol, an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase, seemed to affect the composition of exosomes released from PC‐3 cells. However, the inhibition of ceramide formation from the de novo pathway by fumonisin B1 did not affect exosome secretion. Moreover, in contrast to findings obtained with other cell lines published so far, inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase 2, an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of ceramide from sphingomyelin, did not inhibit the secretion of exosomes in PC‐3 cells. Finally, small interfering RNA‐mediated downregulation of flotillin‐1 and flotillin‐2 did not significantly change the levels of released exosomes as such, but seemed to affect the composition of exosomes. In conclusion, our results reveal the involvement of glycosphingolipids and flotillins in the release of exosomes from PC‐3 cells, and indicate that the role of ceramide in exosome formation may be cell‐dependent.
Sustainable limits to crop residue harvest for bioenergy: maintaining soil carbon in Australia's agricultural lands
Authors: Zhao Gang , Bryan Brett A. , King Darran , Luo Zhongkui , Wang Enli , Yu Qiang 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe use of crop residues for bioenergy production needs to be carefully assessed because of the potential negative impact on the level of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. The impact varies with environmental conditions and crop management practices and needs to be considered when harvesting the residue for bioenergy productions. Here, we defined the sustainable harvest limits as the maximum rates that do not diminish SOC and quantified sustainable harvest limits for wheat residue across Australia's agricultural lands. We divided the study area into 9432 climate‐soil (CS) units and simulated the dynamics of SOC in a continuous wheat cropping system over 122 years (1889 – 2010) using the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM). We simulated management practices including six fertilization rates (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1) and five residue harvest rates (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). We mapped the sustainable limits for each fertilization rate and assessed the effects of fertilization and three key environmental variables – initial SOC, temperature, and precipitation – on sustainable residue harvest rates. We found that, with up to 75 kg N ha−1 fertilization, up to 75% and 50% of crop residue could be sustainably harvested in south‐western and south‐eastern Australia, respectively. Higher fertilization rates achieved little further increase in sustainable residue harvest rates. Sustainable residue harvest rates were principally determined by climate and soil conditions, especially the initial SOC content and temperature. We conclude that environmental conditions and management practices should be considered to guide the harvest of crop residue for bioenergy production and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the life cycle of bioenergy production.
Short‐term CO2‐C emissions from soil prior to sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) replanting in southern Brazil
Authors: de Figueiredo Eduardo B. , Panosso Alan R. , Reicosky Donald C. , La Scala Newton 
Published: March 2014

AbstractNew management strategies should be identified to increase the potential of bioenergy crops to minimize climate change. This study quantified the impact of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) harvest systems, straw and soil management on carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes prior to crop replanting carried out on February 2010 in southern Brazil. The soil studied was classified as Haplustult (USDA Soil Taxonomy). Three sugarcane harvest systems were considered: burned (BH) and green harvest with straw maintained on (GH SM) or removed from (GH SR) the soil surface. Our hypothesis is that intensive tillage and the management of sugarcane crop straw could lead to higher CO2 emissions from soil. We measured CO2 emissions in no‐till (NT) conditions and after conventional tillage (CT), and with or without dolomite and agricultural gypsum applications. Soil CO2 emissions were measured with a Li Cor chamber (Model Li‐8100). Water content of soil and soil temperature readings were first taken 24 h after tillage, over the next 25 days after tillage with 18 measurement days. The removal of sugarcane straw from the soil surface resulted in the rapid reduction of water content of soil (6% in volume) followed by a 64% increase in soil CO2‐C emissions, supporting our hypothesis. Additional soil CO2‐C emissions caused by removal of crop straw were 253 kg CO2‐C ha−1, which is as high as CO2‐C losses induced by tillage. Dolomite and agricultural gypsum applications did not always increase CO2 emissions, especially when applied on soil surface with crop straw and tilled. The conversion from burned to green harvest systems can improve the soil C sequestration rate in sugarcane crops when combined with reduced tillage and straw maintenance on soil surface. The effect of straw removal and related CO2 emission for electricity generation should be considered in further studies from sugarcane areas.
Nitrogen fertilizer and landscape position impacts on CO2 and CH4 fluxes from a landscape seeded to switchgrass
Authors: Mbonimpa Eric G. , Hong Chang O. , Owens Vance N. , Lehman R. Michael , Osborne Shannon L. , Schumacher Thomas E. , Clay David E. , Kumar Sandeep 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of N fertilizer and landscape position on carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from a US Northern Great Plains landscape seeded to switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). The experimental design included three N levels (low, 0 kg N ha−1; medium, 56 kg N ha−1; and high, 112 kg N ha−1) replicated four times. The experiment was repeated at shoulder and footslope positions. Soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes were monitored once every 2 weeks from May 2010 to October 2012. The CO2 fluxes were 40% higher at the footslope than the shoulder landscape position, and CH4 fluxes were similar in both landscape positions. Soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes averaged over the sampling dates were not impacted by N rates. Seasonal variations showed highest CO2 release and CH4 uptake in summer and fall, likely due to warmer and moist soil conditions. Higher CH4 release was observed in winter possibly due to increased anaerobic conditions. However, year to year (2010–2012) variations in soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes were more pronounced than the variations due to the impact of landscape positions and N rates. Drought conditions reported in 2012, with higher annual temperature and lower soil moisture than long‐term average, resulted in higher summer and fall CO2 fluxes (between 1.3 and 3 times) than in 2011 and 2010. These conditions also promoted a net CH4 uptake in 2012 in comparison to 2010 when there was net CH4 release. Results from this study conclude that landscape positions, air temperature, and soil moisture content strongly influenced soil CO2 fluxes, whereas soil moisture impacted the direction of CH4 fluxes (uptake or release). However, a comprehensive life cycle analysis would be appropriate to evaluate environmental impacts associated with switchgrass production under local environmental conditions.
Determination of the Mechanical Axis and Joint Orientation Lines in the Canine Humerus: A Radiographic Cadaveric Study
Authors: Wood Mirae C. , Fox Derek B. , Tomlinson James L. 
Published: March 2014

ObjectiveTo describe a radiographic method for determination of the mechanical axes and joint orientation lines in orthogonal planes for the canine humerus and establish a range of normal joint orientation angles in a population of large breed dogs.Study DesignRadiographic study.Sample PopulationHumeri (n = 50) of skeletally mature, nonchondrodystrophic canine cadavers, weighing 20–40 kg with no evidence of orthopedic disease.MethodsMediolateral and craniocaudal digital radiographs were used to establish anatomic landmarks for determination of the mechanical axis in both frontal and sagittal planes, the joint orientation lines of both shoulder and elbow and measurement of the resulting mechanical lateral distal humeral angle (mLDHA) in the frontal plane, and the mechanical caudal proximal humeral angle (mCaPHA), and mechanical cranial distal humeral angle (mCrDHA) in the sagittal plane.ResultsMeans (±SD) for the joint orientation angles were: mLDHA, 86.92 ± 1.24°, mCaPHA, 43.28 ± 5.44°, and mCrDHA, 71.86 ± 3.97°. The 95% CI ranges for the joint orientation angles were mLDHA, 86.58–87.86°, mCaPHA, 41.77–44.79°, and mCrDHA, 70.76°–72.96°.ConclusionA method for measurement of the mechanical axis and associated joint angles of the normal canine humerus in the frontal and sagittal planes was established and reference intervals reported. In the frontal plane, it was determined that the canine humerus is not perpendicular to the elbow joint; therefore, elbow mechanical axis deviation is normal and requires further assessment.
Non‐Matrix‐Matched Calibration for the Multi‐Element Analysis of Geological and Environmental Samples Using 200 nm Femtosecond LA‐ICP‐MS: A Comparison with Nanosecond Lasers
Authors: Jochum Klaus Peter , Stoll Brigitte , Weis Ulrike , Jacob Dorrit E. , Mertz‐Kraus Regina , Andreae Meinrat O. 
Published: March 2014

LA‐ICP‐MS is one of the most promising techniques for in situ analysis of geological and environmental samples. However, there are some limitations with respect to measurement accuracy, in particular for volatile and siderophile/chalcophile elements, when using non‐matrix‐matched calibration. We therefore investigated matrix‐related effects with a new 200 nm femtosecond (fs) laser ablation system (NWRFemto200) using reference materials with different matrices and spot sizes from 10 to 55 μm. We also performed similar experiments with two nanosecond (ns) lasers, a 193 nm excimer (ESI NWR 193) and a 213 nm Nd:YAG (NWR UP‐213) laser. The ion intensity of the 200 nm fs laser ablation was much lower than that of the 213 nm Nd:YAG laser, because the ablation rate was a factor of about 30 lower. Our experiments did not show significant matrix dependency with the 200 nm fs laser. Therefore, a non‐matrix‐matched calibration for the multi‐element analysis of quite different matrices could be performed. This is demonstrated with analytical results from twenty‐two international synthetic silicate glass, geological glass, mineral, phosphate and carbonate reference materials. Calibration was performed with the certified NIST SRM 610 glass, exclusively. Within overall analytical uncertainties, the 200 nm fs LA‐ICP‐MS data agreed with available reference values.