bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Seasonal and age effects on energy requirements in domestic short‐hair cats (Felis catus) in a temperate environment
Authors: Bermingham E. N. , Weidgraaf K. , Hekman M. , Roy N. C. , Tavendale M. H. , Thomas D. G. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThere is little information known about the energy requirements of cats in temperature climates. Energy requirement of domestic short‐haired cats was determined using three groups of mixed gender – old kept outside (approximately 9.9 years of age; 4.8 kg; n = 9), young kept outside (approximately 3.1 years of age; 3.9 kg; n = 8) or young kept inside (approximately 3.1 years of age; 3.9 kg; n = 8). Cats were housed individually for 5 weeks during summer (18.5 ± 0.5 °C) and winter (8.5 ± 0.4 °C) and were fed a commercially available maintenance diet ad libitum. In both periods, energy expenditure was determined from the rates of 2H and 18O elimination for blood H2O over a 12 day period, from a doubly labelled water bolus 2H2O (0.7 g/kg BW) and H218O (0.13 g/kg BW) administered intravenously. During the summer period, macronutrient digestibility was determined. Older cats had a reduction (p < 0.05) in apparent digestibility of dry matter (approximately 9%), energy (approximately 8%) and protein (6%). There was a significant effect of age and season on energy intake and energy expenditure. While lean mass was affected by age and season, there was no effect of age or season on energy expenditure when expressed as a proportion of lean mass. Possible seasonal differences in nutrient digestibility may explain these results.
Post‐fire regeneration in alpine heathland: Does fire severity matter?
Authors: CAMAC JAMES S. , WILLIAMS RICHARD J. , WAHREN CARL‐HENRIK , MORRIS WILLIAM K. , MORGAN JOHN W. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractFire severity is thought to be an important determinant of landscape patterns of post‐fire regeneration, yet there have been few studies of the effects of variation in fire severity at landscape scales on floristic diversity and composition, and none within alpine vegetation. Understanding how fire severity affects alpine vegetation is important because fire is relatively infrequent in alpine environments. Globally, alpine ecosystems are at risk from climate change, which, in addition to warming, is likely to increase the severity and frequency of fire in south‐eastern Australia. Here we examine the effects of variation in fire severity on plant diversity and vegetation composition, 5 years after the widespread fires of 2003. We used floristic data from two wide‐spread vegetation types on the Bogong High Plains: open heathland and closed heathland. Three alternative models were tested relating variation in plant community attributes (e.g. diversity, ground cover of dominant species, amount of bare ground) to variation in fire severity. The models were (i) ‘linear’, attributes vary linearly with fire severity; (ii) ‘intermediate disturbance’, attributes are highest at intermediate fire severity and lowest at both low‐ and high‐severity; and (iii) ‘null’, attributes are unaffected by fire severity. In both heathlands, there were few differences in floristic diversity, cover of dominant species and community composition, across the strong fire severity gradient. The null model was most supported in the vast majority of cases, with only limited support for either the linear and intermediate disturbance models. Our data indicate that in both heathlands, vegetation attributes in burnt vegetation were converging towards that of the unburnt state. We conclude that fire severity had little impact on post‐fire regeneration, and that both closed and open alpine heathlands are resilient to variation in fire severity during landscape scale fires.
Comparison of recommendations for radiotherapy from two contemporaneous thoracic multidisciplinary meeting formats: co‐located and video conference
Authors: Stevens G. , Loh J. , Kolbe J. , Stevens W. , Elder C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundThoracic multidisciplinary meetings (TMDM) are a key component of lung cancer patient management. The optimal design, organisation and function of TMDM are uncertain, and different models may serve different purposes. In the Auckland/Northland region, there are two contemporaneous weekly TMDM using different formats; one is a co‐located TMDM (C‐TMDM), and the other is a video conference TMDM (V‐TMDM) connecting different locations.AimsTo determine whether the rates of referral for radiotherapy (RT) and concordance between recommendations for RT and actual treatment received differed between the two TMDM formats.MethodA retrospective review of demographical and clinical data for cases referred for RT from both TMDM between January–June 2009 and the actual RT delivered.ResultsSeventy‐nine and 31 lung cancers were referred for RT from the co‐located TMDM and the video conference TMDM respectively. While there were significant differences in demographics related to areas of domicile, there were no significant differences between the TMDM in (i) the proportion of cases referred for RT that received RT, (ii) the intent of treatment recommended by the TMDM and the intent of RT delivered, or (iii) transit times to commencement of RT between cases referred from the different TMDM.ConclusionThe similar results from the different formats of TMDM indicate that cases discussed with the use of e‐health technologies are not disadvantaged with respect to recommended therapy nor in the appropriateness of decisions of the TMDM. Use of such technology may reduce the existing disparities in health outcomes between urban and rural patients.
Mini Nutritional Assessment and functional capacity in community‐dwelling elderly in Rural Luozi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Andre Muzembo Basilua , Dumavibhat Narongpon , Ngatu N'landu Roger , Eitoku Masamitsu , Hirota Ryoji , Suganuma Narufumi 
Published: April 2012

Aim:  Good nutrition is beneficial both for the health and the functional capacity of the elderly. However, malnutrition is a serious health problem among the elderly, particularly the elderly living in rural areas in many developing countries. The aim of the present study was to carry out a cross‐sectional study of the elderly in the city of Luozi, Democratic Republic of Congo, through the use of the long and the short forms of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale.Methods:  We carried out a cross‐sectional study in the city of Luozi, a city facing serious socioeconomic problems as a result of wartime conditions in the country. The study included 370 volunteer community‐dwelling elderly people aged 65–88 years, both male and female. Investigations took into account the MNA, the activities of daily living, and the instrumental activities of daily living, falls, current diseases and lifestyle.Results:  Approximately 57.8% of the participants were at risk of malnutrition, whereas 28.4% were malnourished according to the MNA scale. MNA scores were significantly lower (Student's t‐test, P = 0.03) in those with a fall history (MNA score 18.3 ± 4.0) compared with those who did not (MNA score, 21.0 ± 2.7). All the participants with malnutrition suffered from at least one chronic disease. The percentage of participants with dependency was significantly higher in the malnourished participants (87.6%) than in well‐nourished participants (50.9%).Conclusion:  These findings provide information that malnutrition is a serious health concern among elderly people in the city of Luozi, and shows the need for adequate nutrition and social programs for the elderly. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 35–42.
Patterns of elevational beta diversity in micro‐ and macroorganisms
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Soininen Janne , Zhang Yong , Wang Beixin , Yang Xiangdong , Shen Ji 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAim  While ecologists have long been interested in diversity in mountain regions, elevational patterns in beta diversity are still rarely studied across different life forms ranging from micro‐ to macroorganisms. Also, it is not known whether the patterns in turnover among organism groups are affected by the degree to which the environment is modified by human activities.Location  Laojun Mountain, Yunnan Province, China.Methods  The beta diversity patterns of benthic microorganisms (i.e. diatoms and bacteria) and macroorganisms (i.e. macroinvertebrates) in a stony stream were simultaneously investigated between elevations of 1820 and 4050 m. Data were analysed by using a distance‐based approach and variation partitioning based on canonical redundancy analysis.Results  Analyses of community dissimilarities between adjacent sampling sites showed comparable small‐scale beta diversity along the elevational gradient for the organism groups. However, bacteria clearly showed the lowest elevational turnover when analyses were conducted simultaneously for all pairwise sites. Variation partitioning indicated that species turnover was mostly related to environmental heterogeneity and spatial gradients including horizontal distance and elevation, while purely human impacts were shown to be less important.Main conclusions  The elevational beta diversity at large scales was lower for bacteria than for eukaryotic microorganisms or macroorganisms, perhaps indicative of high dispersal ability and good adaptability of bacteria to harsh environmental conditions. However, the small‐scale beta diversity did not differ among the groups. Elevation was the major driver for the turnover of eukaryotic organisms, while the turnover of bacteria was correlated more with environmental variation.
Loss of small glaciers will diminish beta diversity in Pyrenean streams at two levels of biological organization
Authors: Finn Debra S. , Khamis Kieran , Milner Alexander M. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTAim  Small (< 1 km2) alpine glaciers are likely to disappear in this century, resulting in decreased regional habitat heterogeneity in associated streams. Both heterogeneity within and spatial isolation among glacier‐influenced streams can enhance beta diversity of stream‐dwelling organisms. We measured beta at both community and population‐genetic levels within and among streams currently influenced by small Pyrenean glaciers. We aimed to evaluate whether patterns are analogous between the two levels, to apply various approaches for characterizing beta, and to infer the outcome of future glacier loss on regional biodiversity.Location  Four glacier‐fed basins in the Parc National des Pyrénées, France.Methods  We classified each of 18 stream reaches across the basins into either high‐, mid‐ or low‐‘glaciality’ (glacial influence) groups according to four physicochemical characteristics. At each reach, we collected macroinvertebrate communities and evaluated mitochondrial DNA haplotypes for 11–13 individuals of Baetis alpinus Pictet. Using taxa/haplotypes as basic units, we evaluated community and population‐genetic beta diversity simultaneously. We measured beta diversity in three major ways: as multivariate (Sørensen's dissimilarity, Jost D) and ‘classical’ (gamma/alpha) variation to compare among glaciality groups, and as turnover along the glaciality gradient within each basin.Results  For most approaches at both organizational levels, beta was greatest among high‐glaciality reaches, absolute values of variation of beta in high‐glaciality streams were strikingly similar between levels, and the steepest turnover within basins occurred between high‐ and mid‐glaciality reaches. Therefore, high‐glaciality reaches contained assemblages and populations that were unique both within that stream type (among basins) and compared with other stream types within basins.Main conclusions  Parallel beta diversity patterns at population‐genetic and community levels suggested that environmental drivers influence these levels analogously. Extreme conditions (e.g. low temperature, high instability, isolation) in high‐glaciality streams probably enhance beta at both levels. Stream beta diversity is likely to decrease substantially with continued glacial reduction in this system.
Social Goals and Youth Aggression: Meta‐analysis of Prosocial and Antisocial Goals
Authors: Samson Jennifer E. , Ojanen Tiina , Hollo Alexandra 
Published: April 2012

AbstractTo advance research evaluating the relationship between social information processing (Crick & Dodge) and youth aggression, this meta‐analytic study examined associations between social goals and aggression in children in 21 separate research reports. Eligible studies provided descriptive or preintervention measurement of children's aggression and social goals, and were reported in English by March 1, 2010. Findings from two random‐effects meta‐analyses utilizing clustered data analysis techniques (i.e., effect sizes nested within samples) supported an expected (1) negative association between prosocial goals and aggression, and (2) positive association between antisocial goals and aggression. Little heterogeneity in these associations was observed across studies, and no moderating variables were revealed. The findings extend existing meta‐analytic research on social information processing and aggression to include social goals as meaningful correlates of youth aggression.
Episodes of Large Capital Inflows, Banking and Currency Crises, and Sudden Stops
Authors: Furceri Davide , Guichard Stéphanie , Rusticelli Elena 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis paper empirically investigates the relationship between surges in capital inflows and the probability of subsequent banking, currency and balance‐of‐payment crises. Using a panel of developed and emerging economies from 1970 to 2007, it shows that a large capital inflow episode increases substantially the probability of having a banking or a currency crisis in the two following years. The effect is especially large for the case of balance‐of‐payment crises. The paper also finds that the effect of large capital inflows is different depending on the type of flows characterizing the episode. In particular, large capital inflows that are debt driven significantly increase the probability of banking, currency and balance‐of‐payment crises, whereas inflows that are driven by equity portfolio investment or foreign direct investment have a negligible effect.
Spillovers of Domestic Shocks: Will They Counteract the ‘Great Moderation’?
Authors: Carare Alina , Mody Ashoka 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe protracted decline in output volatility – the Great Moderation – began to reach its limits by the mid‐1990s, and volatility even showed a mild rise in some countries. Domestic shocks did not typically rise but we find that they did spread more rapidly across borders. One reason for the faster transmission of domestic shocks was the increased fragmentation of production across multiple global locations that increasingly included the more volatile emerging markets. Although this development was generally benign, it had latent implications for triggering spikes in volatility since domestic stresses could rapidly spillover across borders. The cascading effects of such spillovers were vividly demonstrated by the trade collapse during the Great Recession of 2008–09.
Instrument versus Target Rules As Specifications of Optimal Monetary Policy
Authors: Froyen Richard T. , Guender Alfred V. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractCentral banks frequently apply target rules or instrument rules in the conduct of monetary policy. For a central bank with multiple target variables such as the Federal Reserve's ‘dual mandate’, a target rule expresses the desired values for each target and the relative weight given to each. The so‐called Taylor rule, in which the central bank chooses how to respond to the output gap and inflation, is an example of an instrument rule. This paper sets out the parameters of ‘optimal’ target and instrument rules and analyses their relative merits. In contrast to Svensson and Woodford, we find that target rules offer no clear advantages over optimal instrument rules. From a policy perspective, this suggests that the case for target rules has been overstated. The use of optimal instrument rules accords with current Federal Reserve practice whereby the federal funds rate responds to optimal forecasts – those using all available information.
PZT‐Based Piezoelectric MEMS Technology
Authors: Smith Gabriel L. , Pulskamp Jeffrey S. , Sanchez Luz M. , Potrepka Daniel M. , Proie Robert M. , Ivanov Tony G. , Rudy Ryan Q. , Nothwang William D. , Bedair Sarah S. , Meyer Christopher D. , Polcawich Ronald G. 
Published: April 2012

This review article presents recent advancements in the design and fabrication of thin‐film (<3 μm) lead zirconate titanate (PZT) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices. The article covers techniques for optimizing highly (001)/(100) oriented chemical solution deposited PZT films to achieve improved piezoelectric coefficients. These PZT films combined with surface and bulk micromachining techniques are fabricated into actuators and transducers for radio frequency (RF) switches, nanomechanical logic, resonators, and power transformers for use in communication systems and phased‐array radar. In addition, the large relative displacements generated by PZT thin films have been used to demonstrate mechanical mobility in MEMS devices, including insect‐inspired flight actuators and ultrasonic traveling wave motors. In conjunction with actuation, PZT films are being developed for feedback sensors for the integrated control of insect‐inspired robots.
Peri‐implantitis susceptibility as it relates to periodontal therapy and supportive care
Authors: Pjetursson Bjarni E. , Helbling Christoph , Weber Hans‐Peter , Matuliene Giedre , Salvi Giovanni E. , Brägger Urs , Schmidlin Kurt , Zwahlen Marcel , Lang Niklaus P. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the long‐term survival of implants inserted in periodontally susceptible patients and to investigate the influence of residual pockets on the incidence of peri‐implantitis and implant loss.Materials and methodsFor 70 patients, comprehensive periodontal treatment was followed by installation of 165 Straumann® Dental implants. Subsequently, 58 patients entered a University supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) program and 12 had SPT in a private practice. The follow‐up time ranged from 3 to 23 years (mean 7.9 years). Bleeding on probing (BOP), clinical attachment level (CAL), and peri‐implant probing depths (PPD) were evaluated at baseline (T0), completion of active treatment (T1), and at follow‐up (T2). Peri‐implant bone levels were assessed on radiographs at T2. Patients were categorized as having implants not affected by peri‐implantitis (non‐PIP), or affected by peri‐implantitis (PIP).ResultsFrom 165 implants inserted, six implants were lost, translating into a cumulative survival rate of 95.8%. Solid screw implants yielded significantly higher survival rates than the hollow cylinder and hollow screw implants (99.1% vs. 89.7%). Implants lost due to peri‐implant infection were included in the PIP groups. When peri‐implantitis (PPD≥ 5 mm, BOP+) was analyzed, 22.2% of the implants and 38.6% of patients had one or more implants affected by peri‐implantitis. Using the peri‐implantitis definition (PPD≥6 mm, BOP+), the prevalence was reduced to 8.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Moreover, all these implants demonstrated significant (≥2 mm) bone loss at T2.At T1, the non‐PIP group had significantly (P = 0.011) fewer residual pockets (≥5 mm) per patient than the PIP group (1.9 vs. 4.1). At T2, the PIP group displayed an increased number of residual pockets compared to T1, whereas in the non‐PIP group, the number remained similar to T1. At T2, mean PPD, mean CAL and BOP were significantly higher in the PIP group compared with the non‐PIP group. The prevalence of peri‐implantitis was lower in the group that was in a well organized SPT at the University.ConclusionsIn periodontitis susceptible patients, residual pockets (PPD ≥5 mm) at the end of active periodontal therapy represent a significant risk for the development of peri‐implantitis and implant loss. Moreover, patients in SPT developing re‐infections are at greater risk for peri‐implantitis and implant loss than periodontally stable patients.
Improvement and validation of the method to determine neutral detergent fiber in feed
Authors: HIRAOKA Hisaaki , FUKUNAKA Rie , ISHIKURO Eiichi , ENISHI Osamu , GOTO Tetsuhisa 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTTo improve the performance of the analytical method for neutral detergent fiber in feed with heat‐stable α‐amylase treatment (aNDFom), the process of adding heat‐stable α‐amylase, as well as other analytical conditions, were examined. In this new process, the starch in the samples was removed by adding amylase to neutral detergent (ND) solution twice, just after the start of heating and immediately after refluxing. We also examined the effects of the use of sodium sulfite, and drying and ashing conditions for aNDFom analysis by this modified amylase addition method. A collaborative study to validate this new method was carried out with 15 laboratories. These laboratories analyzed two samples, alfalfa pellet and dairy mixed feed, with blind duplicates. Ten laboratories used a conventional apparatus and five used a Fibertec® type apparatus. There were no significant differences in aNDFom values between these two refluxing apparatuses. The aNDFom values in alfalfa pellet and dairy mixed feed were 388 g/kg and 145 g/kg, the coefficients of variation for the repeatability and reproducibility (CVr and CVR) were 1.3% and 2.9%, and the HorRat values were 0.8 and 1.1, respectively. This new method was validated with 5.8% uncertainty (k = 2) from the collaborative study.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease and Geriatric Depression: Preliminary Findings from Brazil
Authors: Reis Taylor , Brandão Carlos Otavio , Freire Coutinho Evandro Silva , Engelhardt Eliasz , Laks Jerson 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARY AimsDepression is a highly prevalent disorder in the elderly and one of the risk factors for developing dementia. The present study involves patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), geriatric major depressive disorder (MDD) and cognitively healthy controls aiming to compare baseline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers.MethodsThe study included 52 patients with more than 60 years of age with a diagnosis of MDD, AD, and healthy controls. All individuals underwent a medical history, physical, and neurologic examination, laboratory tests and neuropsychological assessment to rule out any clinical diseases or disorders. Measurement of CSF P‐tau181, T‐tau, and Aβ42 was performed using commercial assays (ELISA).ResultsCSF Aβ42 levels of depressed patients and normal controls were significantly higher than in AD. There was not any significant difference in measures of P‐tau among the groups. T‐tau, however, showed to be significantly different among the groups, with higher measures in AD group. Higher levels of P‐tau were observed in four MDD patients compared with controls.ConclusionCSF Aβ42, T‐tau, and P‐tau levels may differentiate between AD and depression in a Brazilian sample.