bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality Projections using Generalized Additive Models with applications to annuity values for the Irish population
Authors: Hall M. , Friel N. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractGeneralized Additive Models (GAMs) with age, period and cohort as possible covariates are used to predict future mortality improvements for the Irish population. The GAMs considered are the 1-dimensional age + period and age + cohort models and the 2-dimensional age-period and age-cohort models. In each case thin plate regression splines are used as the smoothing functions. The generalized additive models are compared with the P-Spline (Currie et al., 2004) and Lee-Carter (Lee & Carter, 1992) models included in version 1.0 of the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI) library of mortality projections. Using the Root Mean Square Error to assess the accuracy of future predictions, the GAMs outperform the P-Spline and Lee-Carter models over intervals of 25 and 35 years in the age range 60 to 90. The GAMs allow intuitively simple models of mortality to be specified whilst also providing the flexibility to model complex relationships between the covariates. The majority of morality improvements derived from the projections of future Irish mortality yield annuity values at ages 60, 65, 70 and 80 in 2007 in the range of annuity values calculated, assuming a 2 to 4 percent annual compound improvement in mortality rates for both males and females.
Fire history, fire regimes, and climate change – integrating information for management and planning
Authors: Sommers William 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Background/Question/Methods
Federal and other natural resource managers in the United States are now required to consider climate change in their planning. Wildland fire is a major component included in many of these planning efforts. Fire is a widespread ecosystem disturbance process that is global in scope with local to regional, event driven, resource and societal impacts. The frequency, severity and extent of Wildland fires are largely a function of interactions between vegetation and atmospheric processes. Fire activity and management costs have increased significantly over the last few decades. There is growing evidence that these increases relate to measured changes in climate variables. Our understanding of fire history, fire regimes, and past interactions between fire and climate has grown substantially in recent years. Fire regimes provide a context for interpreting fire history to facilitate our understanding of fire in relation to climate and other factors, and provide a bridge between ecosystem characteristics and climate change projections. The challenge is to provide managers with placed-based information about fire and climate change, involving multiple scales of atmospheric and ecosystem process interaction, that they can use for planning and communication purposes.

Results/Conclusions
We present results of an on going study that integrates fire history, fire regime, and climate change information in formats designed for use by managers in their climate change planning efforts. A representative group of land managers reviewed our proposed information structure in an interactive workshop setting, and provided recommendations for how to make this information accessible and useful to them. We characterize atmospheric scales of importance to fire as the climate change, climate variability, and event scales. These relate to long-term evolution of vegetation, seasonal to decadal drought, and fire events. We use Bailey's vegetation classification at various ecosystem scales to organize the fire history and fire regime information. Bailey classifications also serve as a bridge to LANDFIRE components, such as the Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC), and as a link to GCM-based climate projections. In addition to reporting overall findings, we present examples of specific place-based information for representative ecosystems in different areas of the United States.
Experimental fishing with an “umbrella-and-stones” system to reduce interactions of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and seabirds with bottom-set longlines for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the Southwest Atlantic
Authors: Goetz Sabine , Laporta Martín , Martínez Portela Julio , Santos M. Begoña , Pierce Graham J. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractGoetz, S., Laporta, M., Martínez Portela, J., Santos, M. B., and Pierce, G. J. 2011. Experimental fishing with an “umbrella-and-stones” system to reduce interactions of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and seabirds with bottom-set longlines for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the Southwest Atlantic. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 228–238. Depredation, i.e. the damage or removal, of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) from longlines by sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) can cause considerable economic loss for Spanish fishing vessels in the Southwest Atlantic. The fishery also suffers high bycatch rates of seabirds. The main goal of the study was to assess the extent of depredation and seabird bycatch and to test the potential of the so-called “umbrella” system, coupled with attached stones for faster sinking, for minimizing both. Moreover, we investigated the relationships between sightings of sperm whales, depredation, catches, and environmental variables using generalized additive modelling. Data were collected during 297 hauls on a longliner in 2007/2008 in international waters of the Southwest Atlantic. Sperm whales were sighted during 35% of the hauls, always during gear retrieval, and their presence was positively related to fish damage. The overall depredation rate (0.44% of the total catch) was low, but is assumed to be underestimated because sperm whales were suspected of also taking fish without leaving visual evidence. The “umbrella-and-stones” system was highly effective in preventing bycatch and appeared to restrict depredation, but significantly reduced the catches. The results demonstrate that there is still some way to go to solve the problem of depredation.
Coexistence of giant blue nevus of the scalp with hair loss and alopecia areata
Authors: TAKEICHI Sachiko , KUBO Yoshiaki , MURAO Kazutoshi , INOUE Natsuko , ANSAI Shin‐ichi , ARASE Seiji 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA 43‐year‐old Japanese man presented with a 13‐year history of a grayish macule measuring 7 cm in diameter with sparse hairs on the vertex. Histopathological examination demonstrated two types of melanocytes, spindle‐shaped and ovoid cells, with abundant melanin aggregated around the upper part of the pilosebaceous apparatus. Fibrous, thick collagen bundles were also seen surrounding the upper part of the small hair follicles. There was no infiltration of melanocytes or lymphocytes in the lower dermis or adipose tissue. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of blue nevus, cellular type, was made. Giant cellular blue nevi on the scalp are rare, and 11 cases reported in the published work have shown characteristic features such as hair loss and cranial invasion of nevus cells. It should be noted that melanocytes of giant blue nevi have a high potential to damage other organs such as underlying bone and hair follicles. The patient also showed a typical lesion of alopecia areata on the left temporal which was successfully treated with topical corticosteroid.
Ecological and evolutionary implications of plant tolerance to herbivory
Authors: Fornoni Juan 
Published: November 2010

Summary 1. Plant tolerance to herbivory has been accepted as a mechanism of defense that can be expressed jointly with resistance. Recent advances have partially validated previous theoretical predictions and improved our understanding of tolerance. Here, I highlight the necessity of integrating tolerance into ecological and co‐evolutionary theory to better understand the biology of this defensive mechanism. 2. Existing work has been biased toward understanding the adaptive nature and constraints acting on tolerance rather than its ecological implications. Increasing consensus that tolerance may alter the classical antagonistic dynamic between plants and herbivores suggests possible avenues to explore its population and community consequences. 3. In this review, I summarize previous advances in the ecology and evolution of tolerance to herbivory. I also discuss recent evidence that improves our understanding of unresolved issues such as the specificity of tolerance in response to herbivory, its role as an agent of selection on herbivores, and its ecological and evolutionary consequences which include a role of tolerance during biological invasions. 4. Although there is good support for an adaptive role of tolerance in response to herbivory damage, tolerance can itself impose selection on herbivores. Furthermore, tolerance can influence herbivore population dynamics and coexistence, as recent studies show that tolerance responses increase diversity of the associated herbivore communities on individual host plants. 5. Future studies that take into account the role of herbivores on the expression of tolerance will provide novel insight that will help disentangle the mechanisms of tolerance and its ecological and evolutionary implications.
Evaluation of forage legumes for introduction into natural pastures of semi‐arid rangelands of Kenya
Authors: Macharia P. N. , Kinyamario J. I. , Ekaya W. N. , Gachene C. K. K. , Mureithi J. G. , Thuranira E. G. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractTo address the potential of legumes to contribute to improved quality and quantity of natural pastures in the semi‐arid rangelands of Kenya, five legume species were introduced and evaluated in a small‐plot field experiment over three growing seasons. The investigated species were glycine (Neonotonia wightii), siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), dolichos (Lablab purpureus cv. Rongai), velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) and shrubby stylo (Stylosanthes scabra cv. seca). Treatments included two cutting heights (ground level and 15 cm) and two cutting intervals (at 2 and 4 months). The mean dry matter (DM) yields of glycine and siratro were highest when the legumes were harvested at ground level at 2‐month intervals (10·31 and 7·81 t ha−1 year−1 respectively). Mean DM yield of stylo was highest when the legume was harvested at 15 cm after 4 months (3·52 t ha−1 year−1). These three legumes also produced high organic matter through litter fall, which contributed to soil fertility. Evidence from a supporting pot experiment showed effective nodulation and potential for N fixation. These legumes also possessed deep tap roots and withstood heavy defoliation. These three legumes were selected for further integration with grasses in natural pastures. The DM yields of dolichos and velvet bean when harvested at 15 cm after 2 or 4 months were low (2·48 and 1·91 t ha−1 year−1), and these species were considered inappropriate for further investigation.
Preserving frugivorous birds in agro‐ecosystems: lessons from Spanish olive orchards
Authors: Rey Pedro J. 
Published: November 2010

Summary1. Frugivorous birds are a priority for conservation. They are experiencing the transformation of natural habitats to agro‐ecosystems worldwide and some are taking advantage of agricultural production of fleshy‐fruited plants. However, the mechanisms through which some birds are able to thrive in agricultural landscapes while others become extinct are poorly known.2. This manuscript provides an overview of avian frugivory in olive orchards, one of the principal agro‐ecosystems in the Mediterranean region and an important winter refuge for birds. The hypothesis that Mediterranean avian frugivores are pre‐adapted to olive orchards is used to consider potential constraints to bird occupation of wider agro‐ecosystems.3. Agricultural practices and artificial selection of fruit cause habitat and landscape simplification and reduction of bird food resources in orchards, with resulting negative effects on bird diet and body condition, as well as on bird abundance and diversity. Some of these constraints can be partially overcome by the presence of small hedgerows and copses in the agricultural landscape.4. Five pre‐adaptive features determine the successful occurrence of a bird species in olive orchards: (1) frugivorism intensity; (2) ability to track variation in fruit availability; (3) diet plasticity to cope with low fruit diversity and unbalanced food; (4) fruit handling plasticity to cope with oversized fruits; and (5) ecomorphology and foraging niche conditions which increase the ability to respond to habitat simplification.5. Synthesis and applications. Management practices have the potential to alleviate the constraints that habitat simplification puts on bird movement and diet. Two inter‐related approaches to management are proposed: increasing landscape and habitat diversity by the occurrence of hedgerows and forest remnants; and increasing food availability through reducing the use of pesticides and promoting fruit diversity in hedges.
Interspecific exchange of avian influenza virus genes in Alaska: the influence of trans‐hemispheric migratory tendency and breeding ground sympatry
Authors: PEARCE JOHN M. , REEVES ANDREW B. , RAMEY ANDREW M. , HUPP JERRY W. , IP HON S. , BERTRAM MARK , PETRULA MICHAEL J. , SCOTTON BRADLEY D. , TRUST KIMBERLY A. , MEIXELL BRANDT W. , RUNSTADLER JONATHAN A. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe movement and transmission of avian influenza viral strains via wild migratory birds may vary by host species as a result of migratory tendency and sympatry with other infected individuals. To examine the roles of host migratory tendency and species sympatry on the movement of Eurasian low‐pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) genes into North America, we characterized migratory patterns and LPAI viral genomic variation in mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) of Alaska in comparison with LPAI diversity of northern pintails (Anas acuta). A 50‐year band‐recovery data set suggests that unlike northern pintails, mallards rarely make trans‐hemispheric migrations between Alaska and Eurasia. Concordantly, fewer (14.5%) of 62 LPAI isolates from mallards contained Eurasian gene segments compared to those from 97 northern pintails (35%), a species with greater inter‐continental migratory tendency. Aerial survey and banding data suggest that mallards and northern pintails are largely sympatric throughout Alaska during the breeding season, promoting opportunities for interspecific transmission. Comparisons of full‐genome isolates confirmed near‐complete genetic homology (>99.5%) of seven viruses between mallards and northern pintails. This study found viral segments of Eurasian lineage at a higher frequency in mallards than previous studies, suggesting transmission from other avian species migrating inter‐hemispherically or the common occurrence of endemic Alaskan viruses containing segments of Eurasian origin. We conclude that mallards are unlikely to transfer Asian‐origin viruses directly to North America via Alaska but that they are likely infected with Asian‐origin viruses via interspecific transfer from species with regular migrations to the Eastern Hemisphere.
Heterospecific Vocal Interactions in a Frog from the Southern Temperate Forest, Batrachyla taeniata
Authors: Penna Mario , Velásquez Nelson 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAnimals using sound communication employ different strategies to overcome interferences from biotic and abiotic sources. However, interactions among acoustically active species have been studied to a very limited extent. The evoked vocal responses of 20 male frogs Batrachyla taeniata from the temperate austral forest in Chile were tested with conspecific calls and with the calls of two sympatric species: B. antartandica and B. leptopus, broadcast at amplitudes of 73, 79, 85, 91 and 97 dB peak SPL. The subjects responded actively to the conspecific call, but only responded weakly to the call of B. leptopus at the highest intensity. The preferential responses to conspecific calls could contribute to the typical segregation in monospecific choruses observed in areas where these frogs breed in sympatry.
Revaluating genetic causation: Biology, economy, and kinship in Dakar, Senegal
Authors: FULLWILEY DUANA 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTIn this article, I call for enlarging the conceptual terrain for viewing local biological expressions of illness. To date, a specific DNA sequence pattern, called “the Senegalese sickle cell haplotype,” has enjoyed extraordinary purchase on explanations for why Senegalese people may live with a “milder” form of sickle cell anemia when compared with other African populations. I argue, however, that “mild sickle cell” in Senegal emerges as a lived construct through a constitutive bond of biology, economy, and kinship. I show how patients’ enactments of biological difference are situated within larger informal economies and North–South donor priorities for health. In the absence of state funding to address patients’ needs, Senegalese sicklers create networks of care, health, and normalcy by drawing on Wolof idioms of “shared blood” that come to life in ways beyond metaphor. Their biosocial kinships result in therapeutic economies that restructure valuations of sickle cell despite serious medical constraints in this global context.
A tale of three buildings: Certifying virtue in the new moral economy
Authors: BROWN MICHAEL F. 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTOne expression of the spread of auditing and bureaucratic accountability in global society is the emergence of certifications of virtue, typically after completion of a review process designed to ensure objectivity. In this article, I analyze regulatory interactions in a U.S. construction project, including the procedure for formally certifying buildings as energy efficient and “sustainable,” to bring into focus the sometimes‐paradoxical effects that highly rationalized regulations have on those obliged to comply with them. The case illustrates how virtue is reduced to a checklist of measurable properties whose integrity is maintained through rituals of verification and rigorous risk management. The issues involved lead me to reflect on anthropologists’ inclination to demonize bureaucratic regulation in their ethnographic accounts even as they insist on formal accountability in their own communities and professional networks.
In and out of focus
Authors: KRATZ CORINNE A. 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTIn this article, I trace the history of focus groups as a method and consider how they produce and filter knowledge, interaction, and engagement; their nature as communicative settings; and their political–ideological associations. I analyze focus groups conducted for a primary health care project in Kenya that involved health officials, Washington, DC‐ and Nairobi‐based staff, a U.S. photographer, a U.S. anthropologist, and local women from the project area. This case provides insights into knowledge production in the context of the transnational development industry, how anthropological methods are incorporated and represented in the process, and the epistemological grounds of ethnographic methods.
Interaction of nitric oxide and the cytochrome P‐450 system on blood pressure and renal function in the rat: dependence on sodium intake
Authors: Kuczeriszka M. , Olszyński K. H. , Gąsiorowska A. , Sadowski J. , Kompanowska‐Jezierska E. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  Interaction was examined of nitric oxide (NO) and cytochrome P‐450 (CYP‐450)‐dependent arachidonic acid derivatives, 20‐HETE and EETs, in control of arterial pressure (MABP) and renal function. Modification of this interaction by changing sodium intake was also studied.Methods:  On low, standard or high Na diet (LS, STD and HS rats respectively) effects of sequential blockade of NO synthases (NOS) and CYP‐450 enzyme activity on MABP, renal blood flow (RBF, Transonic probe), renal medullary perfusion (MBF, laser‐Doppler technique), medullary tissue NO (selective electrode) and renal excretion were examined in anaesthetized rats. All NOS were blocked with Nϖ‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME), the neuronal NOS with S‐methyl‐l‐thiocitrulline (SMTC), and CYP‐450 with 1‐aminobenzotriazole (ABT).Results:  In each diet group the baseline MABP was highest in rats pre‐treated with l‐NAME. CYP‐450 inhibition significantly decreased MABP only in LS (−9%) and HS rats (−22%) pre‐treated with l‐NAME. This MABP decrease correlated directly with the dietary sodium content (r = 0.644, P < 0.001). CYP‐450 inhibition decreased RBF in LS and HS rats (not in HS pre‐treated with l‐NAME). Acute exclusion of CYP‐450 significantly increased MBF only in STD, SMTC pre‐treated rats; in HS group it significantly increased medullary tissue NO by about 1.0 nA. The post‐ABT changes in renal excretion occurred in LS and HS rats, irrespective of the status of NO synthesis.Conclusions:  Both NO‐ and CYP‐450‐dependent agents contribute to blood pressure and kidney function control, however, the role of 20‐HETE and EETs becomes crucial only under conditions of high sodium intake or after NOS inhibition.
“Converted and always converting”: Transformational spirituality as metanoia
Authors: Cruchley‐Jones Peter 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis paper reflects from the local context on the issues of living in creation, and explores to what extent, if at all, our theology of creation leads our ethics and spirituality of creation. It begins by examining the theology of creation that is voiced within the author's church. Then it goes on to explore whether the ethics match that theology. The exploration of the disconnection between our theology and ethics leads a critique of world view illustrated in the graffiti of Banksy. The paper contends that the outlook we need to bring to “earth community” is one of metanoia, a readiness to repent and convert towards a life‐style that brings us into greater communion with the earth. But, grounded in this context, the paper asserts this is not in theology's gift. Only by beginning in a spirituality of companionship can we be helped to make the continuous creative changes needed if we are to convert our life‐style and our theology to treat earth as our neighbour.
CHARACTERIZATION BY PRIME GRAPH OF PGL(2, pk) WHERE p AND k > 1 ARE ODD
Authors: AKHLAGHI Z. , KHOSRAVI B. , KHATAMI M. 
Published: November 2010

Let G be a finite group. The prime graph Γ(G) of G is defined as follows. The vertices of Γ(G) are the primes dividing the order of G and two distinct vertices p, p′ are joined by an edge if there is an element in G of order pp′. In [G. Y. Chen et al., Recognition of the finite almost simple groups PGL2(q) by their spectrum, Journal of Group Theory, 10 (2007) 71–85], it is proved that PGL(2, pk), where p is an odd prime and k > 1 is an integer, is recognizable by its spectrum. It is proved that if p > 19 is a prime number which is not a Mersenne or Fermat prime and Γ(G) = Γ(PGL(2, p)), then G has a unique nonabelian composition factor which is isomorphic to PSL(2, p). In this paper as the main result, we show that if p is an odd prime and k > 1 is an odd integer, then PGL(2, pk) is uniquely determined by its prime graph and so these groups are characterizable by their prime graphs.