bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Linking population genetics and tree height growth models to predict impacts of climate change on forest production
Authors: O'Neill Gregory A. , Nigh Gordon 
Published: July 2011

AbstractChanges to forest growth models used widely in global change research and sustainable forest management are needed to account for expected climate change impacts. We provide a new approach that dynamically merges height–age functions prevalent in forest growth models with transfer functions prevalent in population adaptation research to better represent changes to forest productivity as climates gradually change. Our simulations with data from an extensive provenance test of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in British Columbia, Canada, suggest that climate change will reduce production in lodgepole pine forests established today by at least 7–13% at the end of this century – considerably less than most predictions based solely on transfer or response functions, which do not integrate impacts as climate gradually changes. This work illustrates the need for forest productivity models to consider the changing climate in which a population is growing relative to the static climate of its origin. It also demonstrates the value of long‐term provenance trials in assessing the dynamic impact of climate change on forest productivity, and serves as an example of how provenance trials may be exploited in other forest productivity models or other research fields to assess plant responses to climate.
Spatial heterogeneity in the effects of climate change on the population dynamics of a Mediterranean tortoise
Authors: Fernández‐Chacón Albert , Bertolero Albert , Amengual Arnau , Tavecchia Giacomo , Homar Víctor , Oro Daniel 
Published: July 2011

AbstractClimatic shifts may increase the extinction risk of populations, especially when they are already suffering from other anthropogenic impacts. Our ability to predict the consequences of climate change on endangered species is limited by our scarce knowledge of the effects of climate variability on the population dynamics of most organisms and by the uncertainty of climate projections, which depend strongly on the region of the earth being considered. In this study, we analysed a long‐term monitoring programme (1988–2009) of Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) aimed at evaluating the consequences of the drastic changes in temperature and precipitation patterns predicted for the Mediterranean region on the demography of a long‐lived species with low dispersal capability and already suffering a large number of threats. Capture–recapture modelling of a population in the Ebro Delta (NE Spain) allowed us to assess the effect of climate variability on the survival of tortoises. Winter rainfall was found to be the major driver of juvenile and immature survival, whereas that of adults remained high and constant across the study. Furthermore, local climate series obtained ad hoc from regional climate simulations, for this and 10 additional Mediterranean locations where tortoises occurred, provided us with reliable future climate forecasts, which were used to simulate the fate of these populations under three precipitation scenarios (mean, wet and dry) using stochastic population modelling. We show that a shift to a more arid climate would have negative consequences for population persistence, enhancing juvenile mortality and increasing quasiextinction risk because of a decrease in recruitment. These processes varied depending on the population and the climate scenario we considered, but our results suggest that unless other human‐induced causes of mortality are suppressed (e.g. poaching, fire, habitat fragmentation), climate variability will increase extinction risk within most of the species’ current range.
Can differences in microbial abundances help explain enhanced N2O emissions in a permanent grassland under elevated atmospheric CO2?
Authors: Regan Kathleen , Kammann Claudia , Hartung Karin , Lenhart Katharina , Müller Christoph , Philippot Laurent , Kandeler Ellen , Marhan Sven 
Published: July 2011

AbstractLong‐term effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the ammonia‐oxidizing and denitrifying bacteria in a grassland soil were investigated to test whether a shift in abundance of these N‐cycling microorganisms was responsible for enhanced N2O emissions under elevated atmospheric CO2. Soil samples (7.5 cm increments to 45 cm depth) were collected in 2008 from the University of Giessen Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment (GiFACE), a permanent grassland exposed to moderately elevated atmospheric CO2 (+20%) since 1998. GiFACE plots lay on a soil moisture gradient because of gradually changing depth to the underlying water table and labeled as the DRY block (furthest from water table), MED block (intermediate to water table), and WET block (nearest to water table). Mean N2O emissions measured since 1998 have been significantly higher under elevated CO2. This study sought to identify microbial and biochemical parameters that might explain higher N2O emissions under elevated CO2. Soil biochemical parameters [extractable organic carbon (EOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), NH4+, NO3−], and abundances of genes encoding the key enzymes involved in ammonia oxidation (amoA) and denitrification (nirK, nirS, nosZ) depended more on soil depth and block (underlying soil moisture gradient) than on elevated CO2. Ammonia oxidation and denitrification gene abundances, relative abundances (ratios) of nirS to nirK, of nosZ to both nirS and to nirK, and of the measured soil biochemical properties DON and NO3− tended to be lower in elevated CO2 plots as compared with ambient plots in the MED and WET blocks while the DRY block exhibited an opposite trend. High N2O emissions under elevated CO2 in the MED and WET blocks correlated with lower nosZ to nirK ratios, suggesting that increased N2O emissions under elevated CO2 might be caused by a higher proportion of N2O‐producing rather than N2O consuming (N2 producing) denitrifiers.
Quantifying the hydrological responses to climate change in an intact forested small watershed in Southern China
Authors: Zhou Guoyi , Wei Xiaohua , Wu Yiping , Liu Shuguang , Huang Yuhui , Yan Junhua , Zhang Deqiang , Zhang Qianmei , Liu Juxiu , Meng Ze , Wang Chunlin , Chu Guowei , Liu Shizhong , Tang Xuli , Liu Xiaodong 
Published: July 2011

AbstractResponses of hydrological processes to climate change are key components in the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) assessment. Understanding these responses is critical for developing appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies for sustainable water resources management and protection of public safety. However, these responses are not well understood and little long‐term evidence exists. Herein, we show how climate change, specifically increased air temperature and storm intensity, can affect soil moisture dynamics and hydrological variables based on both long‐term observation and model simulations using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in an intact forested watershed (the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve) in Southern China. Our results show that, although total annual precipitation changed little from 1950 to 2009, soil moisture decreased significantly. A significant decline was also found in the monthly 7‐day low flow from 2000 to 2009. However, the maximum daily streamflow in the wet season and unconfined groundwater tables have significantly increased during the same 10‐year period. The significant decreasing trends on soil moisture and low flow variables suggest that the study watershed is moving towards drought‐like condition. Our analysis indicates that the intensification of rainfall storms and the increasing number of annual no‐rain days were responsible for the increasing chance of both droughts and floods. We conclude that climate change has indeed induced more extreme hydrological events (e.g. droughts and floods) in this watershed and perhaps other areas of Southern China. This study also demonstrated usefulness of our research methodology and its possible applications on quantifying the impacts of climate change on hydrology in any other watersheds where long‐term data are available and human disturbance is negligible.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of meloxicam in piglets subjected to a kaolin inflammation model
Authors: FOSSE T. K. , SPADAVECCHIA C. , HORSBERG T. E. , HAGA H. A. , RANHEIM B. 
Published: July 2011

Fosse, T. K., Spadavecchia, C., Horsberg, T. E., Haga, H. A., Ranheim, B. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of meloxicam in piglets subjected to a kaolin inflammation model.J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.34,367–375.The pharmacokinetics and the analgesic, anti‐inflammatory and antipyretic effects of meloxicam were investigated in a placebo controlled study in 2‐week‐old piglets. Inflammation was induced by a subcutaneous injection of kaolin in the left metacarpus, and 16 h later, meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg) or saline was administered intramuscularly. The absorption half‐life was relatively short (0.19 h) and the elimination half‐life was 2.6 h. Mechanical nociceptive threshold testing was used to evaluate the analgesic effect, but no significant effect of the meloxicam treatment was found. The skin temperature of the inflamed area increased after the kaolin injection, but no significant decrease in temperature was found after administration of meloxicam. Only limited pyresis was observed after the kaolin injection, and no significant antipyretic effect of meloxicam was found. The results indicated that this dose of meloxicam had very limited anti‐inflammatory and analgesic effects in piglets.
Does supervision improve health worker productivity? Evidence from the Upper East Region of Ghana
Authors: Frimpong Jemima A. , Helleringer Stéphane , Awoonor‐Williams John Koku , Yeji Francis , Phillips James F. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryObjectives  To assess whether supervision of primary health care workers improves their productivity in four districts of Northern Ghana.Methods  We conducted a time‐use study during which the activities of health workers were repeatedly observed and classified. Classification included four categories: direct patient care; documentation and reporting; staff development and facility operations; and personal time. These data were supplemented by a survey of health workers during which patterns of supervision were assessed. We used logistic regression models with health facility fixed effects to test the hypothesis that supervision increases the amount of time spent providing direct patient care (productivity). We further investigated whether these effects depend on whether or not supervision is supportive.Results  Direct patient care accounted for <25% of observations. In bivariate analyses, productivity was higher among midwives and in facilities with a high volume of care. Supervisory visits were frequent in those four districts, but only a minority of health workers felt supported by their supervisors. Having been supervised within the last month was associated with a significantly higher proportion of time spent on direct patient care (OR = 1.57). The effects of supervision on productivity further depended on whether the health workers felt supported by their supervisors.Conclusion  Supportive supervision was associated with increased productivity. Investments in supervision could help maximize the output of scarce human resources in primary health care facilities. Time‐use studies represent an objective approach in monitoring the productivity of health workers and evaluating the impact of health‐system interventions on human resources.
Molecular basis of the rare gene complex, DIVa(C)‐, which encodes four low‐prevalence antigens in the Rh blood group system
Authors: Hipsky C. H. , Hue‐Roye K. , Lomas‐Francis C. , Huang C.‐H. , Reid M. E. 
Published: July 2011

Background  Over 40 years ago, an unusual Rh phenotype denoted DIVa(C)‐ was identified in a case of fatal haemolytic disease of the newborn in the third child of Madame Nou. Her RBCs expressed a partial D, weak C and four low‐prevalence Rh antigens: Goa (RH30), Rh33 (RH33), Riv (RH45) and FPTT (RH50). The purpose of this study was to determine the molecular basis associated with this rare DIVa(C)‐ complex.Material and Methods  Blood samples were from three donors previously identified as carrying the DIVa(C)‐ haplotype. Molecular analyses were performed by standard methods.Results  The three donors were heterozygous for RHD and RHD*DIVa.2, and all carried a compound hybrid allele at the RHCE locus. This hybrid RHCE allele contained exons 2 and 3 from RHD*DIVa.2 and exon 5 from RHD [RHCE*CE‐DIVa.2(2‐3)‐CE‐D(5)‐CE] and is in cis to RHD*DIVa.2. The RHCE allele on the in trans chromosome differs between the donors and is RHCE*cE in donor 1, RHCE*ce (254C, 733G) in donor 2 and RHCE*ce in donor 3.Conclusions  The RHD*DIVa.2 encodes the Goa antigen, whereas the compound hybrid allele most likely encodes Rh33, Riv and FPTT. The weakly expressed C antigen on RBCs with the DIVa(C)‐ phenotype could be encoded by exons 2 and 3 from RHD*DIVa.2 in the compound hybrid. This is the first report of RHD*DIVa.2 being involved in a hybrid gene at the RHCE locus. As only one example of anti‐Riv has been described, our molecular analysis and findings provide a tool by which to predict Riv expression.
Condensing results of wet sieving analyses into a single data: a comparison of methods for particle size description
Authors: Fritz Julia , Streich W. Jürgen , Schwarm Angela , Clauss Marcus 
Published: July 2011

SummarySieve analysis is used in feed analysis, and studies of digestive physiology with various approaches to describe an average value of particle size which can serve to compare different samples. To demonstrate the effects of such different approaches, we compared five particle size indicators to demonstrate advantages and disadvantages of each method, the modulus of fineness (MOF), the discrete mean (dMEAN) and median (dMED), and the continuous mean (cMEAN) and median (cMED), well aware of the fact that a gold standard for this procedure is lacking. Data were obtained from 580 individual faecal samples of different herbivore species by wet sieving over a cascade of nine sieves with mesh sizes ranging from 0.063 to 16 mm. MOF, dMEAN and dMED can be calculated directly from the results of sieve analysis, but cMEAN and cMED require a curve‐fitting procedure. Across the whole sample size, dMEAN and cMEAN showed the highest correlation. The correlation between the respective MEAN and MED was higher for d than for c. As expected, MOF deviated most from the other measurements. Simulating different sieve sets resulted in a poor correlation between the results from the different sets in MOF and cMED, but a good correlation in dMEAN and cMEAN, suggesting that these latter measures can also be compared between studies that do not use identical sieve sets. As the calculation of dMEAN is comparatively simpler and less time‐consuming than that of cMEAN, we propose the dMEAN as a standard for the description of a mean particle size value obtained from sieve analysis. For practical application, the good correlation of different simulated sieve sets indicates that sets with fewer sieves could be used in large‐scale studies to reduce analytical workload.
Withdrawn: Effects of OmniGen‐AF on blood neutrophil gene expression, milk leucocyte populations and production performance of early lactating dairy cows
Authors: Schramm R. D. , Shields S. L. , Rezamand P. , Seo K. S. , McGuire M. A. 
Published: July 2011

WithdrawnThe following article from Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, ‘Effects of OmniGen‐AF on blood neutrophil gene expression, milk leucocyte populations and production performance of early lactating dairy cows’ by R. D. Schramm, S. L. Shields, P. Rezamand, K. S. Seo, M. A. McGuire, published online on 6th July 2011 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been withdrawn by agreement between the journal Editors and Blackwell Verlag GmbH. The article has been withdrawn for legal reasons.
Preferences of owners of overweight dogs when buying commercial pet food
Authors: Suarez L. , Peña C. , Carretón E. , Juste M. C. , Bautista‐Castaño I. , Montoya‐Alonso J. A. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryMost pet dogs in developed countries are fed commercial diets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preferences of owners of overweight dogs when buying commercial pet food. The study was a descriptive observational multi‐centre study on a group of 198 owners of urban household dogs. Personal interviews were conducted to examine the owners’ opinions with questions rating the importance of certain qualities of prepared dog food. Bivariate analyses for comparisons of absolute means between groups of owners of dogs with excess weight (n = 137) and owners of normal weight dogs (n = 61) were made using the Mann–Whitney U‐test. A low price (p < 0.001) and special offers (p = 0.008) of commercial dog food were more important for owners of dogs with excess weight than for owners of normal weight dogs. The quality of ingredients (p = 0.007) and the nutritional composition (p < 0.001) were more important for owners of normal weight dogs than for owners of dogs with excess weight. The veterinarian was the most important source of information on dog nutrition for both groups (83.6% for owners of normal weight dogs and 83.2% for owners of dogs with excess weight) (p = 0.88). The owners of dogs with excess weight had less interest in corrected dog nutrition than owners of normal weight dogs (p < 0.001).
Marine ecology as a framework for preparing the next generation of scientific leaders
Authors: Talley Drew , Goodwin Lindsay , Ruzic Roxanne , Fisler Shara 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAcross the United States there is increasing concern about the dwindling scientific workforce and the lack of students prepared for careers in the sciences. To build future leadership in this arena, we must employ innovative approaches that generate young peoples’ interest and develop their capabilities so that an increased number will pursue and be prepared for careers in scientific fields. Marine ecology is an ideal platform to engage young people in the sciences, develop their skills across multiple disciplines, and prepare them to face the complex challenges that lie ahead. In response, Ocean Discovery Institute, a non‐profit organization, has developed Ocean Leaders, a model program to empower young people to become tomorrow’s scientific leaders. Using evaluation data that span the 5 years of the program, we asked how this model can affect participants’ interest and performance in science and how it can contribute directly to the field of marine ecology. Content assessments, surveys, interviews, and tracking data reveal that 73% of Ocean Leader students during this period have declared majors in science and conservation fields, scored higher on standardized science tests relative to their peers, and contributed to ecological research through 10 publications and more than 30 scientific presentations. Using a framework analogous to adaptive management strategies, key components of the program (including in‐depth interactions with scientists and rigorous college readiness coursework) have been identified, resulting in an increased number of students who are interested in and ready to pursue science careers. Critical to this model is the partnership between scientists and a non‐profit organization. Although this model may not easily be replicated in its entirety, aspects of this collaboration and the strategies employed can help to simultaneously advance the field of marine ecology and scientific leadership and understanding.
Meningitis caused by Filobasidium uniguttulatum: case report and overview of the literature
Authors: Pan Weihua , Liao Wanqing , Hagen Ferry , Theelen Bart , Shi Weimin , Meis Jacques F. , Boekhout Teun 
Published: July 2011

SummaryCryptococcal meningitis is mainly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, but occasionally other Cryptococcus species and phylogenetically related species are involved. Herein, we present a case of cryptococcal meningitis from China, which was caused by an azole and flucytosine resistant Filobasidium uniguttulatum. In addition, we present an overview of the literature of meningitis caused by Cryptococcus species other than C. neoformans and C. gattii. Eight cases were related to infections of the central nervous system. Leukaemia and cancer were important risk factors in HIV‐negative patients. Molecular identification and susceptibility testing are important for proper management of patients because the species involved may differ in susceptibility to antifungal drugs.
Older people's mortality index: Development of a practical model for prediction of mortality in nursing homes (Kahrizak Elderly Study)
Authors: Sharifi Farshad , Ghaderpanahi Maryam , Fakhrzadeh Hossein , Mirarefin Mojde , Badamchizadeh Zohre , Tajalizadekhoob Yaser , Fadayivatan Reza , Philp Ian , Larijani Bagher 
Published: July 2011

Aims:  In the elderly, mortality prediction models are important for clinical decision‐making and planning of services required.Methods:  A total of 247 Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF) residents aged ≥65 years were followed up for approximately 39 months. At the baseline, the questionnaires of Barthel Index (BI), Mini‐Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment and Norton Index was given. Medical history was recorded and anthropometric values were also measured at the baseline. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline. Mortality and its causes were recorded during the study.Results:  A total of 30% (74) of participants died during the study. The variables that had a significant association with mortality in the Cox regression hazard model were entered into the principal components analysis (PCA). The older people's mortality index (OPMI) was developed by four variables extracted from PCA, including BI, age, hemoglobin and mid‐arm circumference. Cut‐points of these components were calculated using ROC curve analysis. Based on neural network analysis, there was no significant difference in relative importance of OPMI components. OPMI was correlated to mortality (r = −0.351, P = 0.000) and survival (r = −0.355, P = 0.000). OPMI score was defined as the number of adverse predictors present. An increasing hazard ratio for mortality was observed from scores 1 to 4 (2.10, 4.56, 7.12 and 13.85, respectively).Conclusion:  Our suggested model could predict mortality in KCF residents well. The new developed model could be a practical, easy and non‐expensive index for mortality prediction in elderly care facilities. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: 36–45.