bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of Australian grasses in relation to climate
Authors: Murphy Brett P. , Bowman David M. J. S. 
Published: June 2009

Summary 1. The carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of plants are known to be affected by environmental factors, especially water availability. While δ13C of C4 plants is generally assumed to be much less responsive to environmental variables than that of C3 plants, it is unclear whether the response of δ15N differs between the two photosynthetic pathways. 2. Focussing on differences in the response of members of the C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways to climate variables, we examined the foliar δ13C and δ15N of grasses collected from natural vegetation in a wide range of climatic zones throughout Australia. 3. An index of water availability was clearly related to foliar δ13C and δ15N of both C3 and C4 grasses. There was a negative relationship between water availability and δ13C of C3 grasses (r2 = 0·21), similar to that documented extensively in other C3 plants. An opposite, positive relationship was found between water availability and δ13C in C4 grasses (r2 = 0·17), an effect that has been reported only infrequently. Accounting for differences in δ13C between the different C4 types (NADP‐ME, PCK, NAD‐ME and Aristida) resulted in a substantial increase in the fit of the model relating δ13C to water availability (R2 = 0·48). 4. There was a negative relationship between water availability and δ15N (r2 = 0·40), that was similar in both C3 and C4 grasses, but temperature had no effect on δ15N. This provides strong support for the theory that water availability is the dominant factor determining soil and plant δ15N via its effect on the ‘openness’ of the nitrogen cycle. 5. We also found significant differences in δ15N between the different C4 types, with the highest values for PCK, followed by NADP‐ME and NAD‐ME, and the lowest values for Aristida. The difference in δ15N between PCK and Aristida was large, at 5·1‰. 6. The importance of water availability as a predictor of δ13C in both C3 and C4 grasses suggests that variation in water availability should be considered when estimating C4 grass abundance based on δ13C measurements (e.g. in herbivore diets or as a contributor to biospheric carbon sinks).
Individual responses in spring arrival date to ecological conditions during winter and migration in a migratory bird
Authors: Balbontín Javier , Møller Anders Pape , Hermosell Ignacio G. , Marzal Alfonso , Reviriego Maribel , De Lope Florentino 
Published: June 2009

Summary 1. We studied lifetime arrival patterns in the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica L.) in relation to variation in ecological conditions, as reflected by the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in the Sub‐Saharan winter quarters and at stopover sites in North Africa. 2. Migratory birds have recently advanced their arrival dates, but the relative role of microevolution and phenotypic plasticity as mechanisms of response to changing environmental conditions remains unknown. To distinguish between these two possibilities, we investigated the change in the arrival date using cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses. 3. We predicted that the effect (i.e. slopes) of environmental conditions in stopover or winter areas on arrival date should be similar using cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses in case phenotypic plasticity is the underlying mechanism, or they should differ in case microevolution is the mechanism. 4. As expected according to a previous cross‐sectional study, we found an advance in the arrival date when ecological conditions improve in stopover areas and a delay in the arrival date when ecological conditions improve in the winter quarters. 5. Change in the arrival time at the breeding grounds due to ecological conditions found en route and, in the winter areas, was mainly due to phenotypic plasticity as shown by similarities in the slopes found in these relationships using cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses. 6. We also investigated sex and age of barns swallows as sources of variation in the arrival time with respect to conditions experienced in winter and stopover areas. We found that earlier arrival at the breeding grounds due to prevailing ecological conditions found en route in North Africa was similar for males and females of all age‐classes. In contrast, individuals tended to delay departure when ecological conditions improved in the winter quarters, but this delay differed among age classes, with old individuals delaying departure more than middle‐aged and yearling birds. 7. The migratory response of individuals to changing climatic conditions experienced during different parts of their life provides evidence for individuals responding differently to prevailing conditions in the winter quarters depending on their age, but not to conditions experienced en route during spring migration.
Geographical patterns of genetic structure in marine species with contrasting life histories
Authors: Pelc R. A. , Warner R. R. , Gaines S. D. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAim  Phylogeographical breaks may reflect historical or present‐day impediments to gene flow, and the congruence of these breaks across multiple species lends insight into evolutionary history and connectivity among populations. In marine systems, examining the concordance of phylogeographical breaks is challenging due to the varied sampling scales in population genetics studies and the diverse life histories of marine organisms. A quantitative approach that considers the effects of sampling scale and species life history is needed.Location  The south‐east and south‐west coasts of the United States.Methods  We quantitatively analysed previously published datasets of marine fauna to look for concordance among phylogeographical breaks. We used a bootstrap approach to determine the regions where phylogeographical breaks are more common than expected by chance among species with planktonic dispersal as well as those with restricted dispersal.Results  On the south‐west coast, breaks were clustered near Point Conception among planktonic dispersers and near Los Angeles among restricted dispersers. On the south‐east coast, breaks were most common near the southern tip of Florida for planktonic dispersers and near Cape Canaveral for restricted dispersers.Main conclusions  Dispersal ability is an important determinant of phylogeographical patterns in marine species. Breaks among planktonic dispersers on both coasts are congruent with present‐day flow‐mediated barriers to dispersal, suggesting that phylogeographical structure in species with planktonic larvae may reflect contemporary oceanography, while breaks in restricted dispersers reflect historical processes. These results highlight the importance of explicitly considering sampling scale and life history when evaluating phylogeographical patterns.
Caring in residential aged‐care. Qualitative findings from an e‐cohort sub‐study
Authors: Tuckett Anthony , Hughes Karen , Gilmour Jean , Hegney Desley , Huntington Annette , Turner Cathy 
Published: June 2009

Aim.  The aim of this e‐cohort sub‐study was to explore and describe nurses’ understandings of ‘caring’ in residential aged‐care.Background.  The quality of the work environment is an important issue for recruitment, retention and workforce planning. Knowledge about the people in and the place that is the residential aged‐care facility may assist with the problems surrounding the recruitment and retention of nurses in the workforce.Design.  Qualitative electronic cohort sub‐study.Methods.  This paper presents the qualitative research findings from an electronic cohort sub‐study of 58 registered and enrolled nurses working in the residential aged‐care sector in 2007. Data were collected through an open ended question and a qualitative content analysis was used to generate the core categories.Results.  The concept of caring was grounded in and constrained by, the everyday reality of the nurses in the study. Organisational imperatives for the completion of documentation necessary for accreditation and funding combined with under‐staffing restricted the time available for caring practices. Some nurses represented residential care faculties as devoid of care, others as a place where the resident was central to their work and care. The staff perceived of themselves as an ageing workforce in need of rejuvenation and resourcing.Conclusion.  The concept of caring is manifest in nurses’ language as they describe their workplace, the residents, themselves and the structures that impact on what they do. Good caring manifests itself when the residents are central to the business of the aged care facility. However, nurses in this study describe a range of restrictive factors impeding caring practices and diminishing workforce morale and motivation to create environments that can truly be called a ‘home‐away‐from‐home’ and one that all people would find acceptable.Relevance to clinical practice.  These findings have implications for aged‐care sector recruitment, retention and workforce planning within residential aged‐care facilities.
Perceptions of nurses in nursing homes on the usage of benzodiazepines
Authors: Anthierens Sibyl , Grypdonck Mieke , De Pauw Liesbeth , Christiaens Thierry 
Published: June 2009

Aim. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study on how nurses perceive their own role in the use of benzodiazepines in nursing homes and to identify the factors that have an impact on the nurses’ role in the use of benzodiazepines.Background. The use of benzodiazepines in nursing homes is of particular concern, as nursing‐home residents receive considerably more benzodiazepines than non‐institutionalised older persons. Evidence of their long‐term effectiveness is lacking. Nurses are important partners in the decision‐making process of starting and discontinuation of benzodiazepines.Design. Qualitative descriptive.Method. Three focus group interviews and 10 additional semi‐structured interviews were used with 33 registered nurses. The interviews were thematically analysed.Findings. Nurses’ main concern is to work towards the comfort of the patient. Benzodiazepines are an easy option with not too many side effects and administration of benzodiazepines is experienced as a routine action. When prescribed they will almost automatically lead to chronic usage as there is no evaluation of their effect. There are three aspects that have an impact on nurse’s perceptions of their role in benzodiazepine usage: their own individual attitude and perceptions, their knowledge and organisational factors.Conclusion. Nurses do not see benzodiazepines as a problem drug and once a prescription is initiated it will almost automatically lead to chronic usage. Nurses should work towards a pro‐active promotion of addressing sleeping problems and they can play a key role in non‐pharmacological interventions.Relevance to clinical practice. Nurses can play a key role in suggesting non‐pharmacological alternatives. Education to provide more insight into the problems of insomnia and anxiety may positively influence their attitudes and behaviour. All caregivers in nursing homes should be informed about the relevance of this issue.
Educating patients to evaluate web‐based health care information: the GATOR approach to healthy surfing
Authors: Weber Bryan A , Derrico David J , Yoon Saunjoo L , Sherwill‐Navarro Pamela 
Published: June 2009

Aims and objectives.  Teaching patients to assess web resources effectively has become an important need in primary care. The acronym GATOR (genuine, accurate, trustworthy, origin and readability), an easily memorized strategy for assessing web‐based health information, is presented in this paper.Background.  Despite the fact that many patients consult the World‐Wide Web (or Internet) daily to find information related to health concerns, a lack of experience, knowledge, or education may limit ability to accurately evaluate health‐related sites and the information they contain. Health information on the Web is not subject to regulation, oversight, or mandatory updates and sites are often transient due to ever changing budget priorities. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for patients to develop a list of stable sites containing current, reliable information.Design.  Commentary aimed at improving patient’s use of web based health care information.Conclusions.  The GATOR acronym is easy to remember and understand and may assist patients in making knowledgeable decisions as they traverse through the sometimes misleading and often overwhelming amount of health information on the Web.Relevance to clinical practice.  The GATOR acronym provides a mechanism that can be used to structure frank discussion with patients and assist in health promotion through education. When properly educated about how to find and evaluate Web‐based health information, patients may avoid negative consequences that result from trying unsafe recommendations drawn from untrustworthy sites. They may also be empowered to not only seek more information about their health conditions, treatment and available alternatives, but also to discuss their feelings, ideas and concerns with their healthcare providers.
Review of upper airway resistance syndrome: nursing and clinical management
Authors: Giblin Tara B 
Published: June 2009

Aims.  This study aims to help nurses and nurse practitioners identify and manage paediatric patients with upper airway resistance syndrome. A review of upper airway resistance syndrome is provided, including the signs and symptoms of upper airway resistance syndrome, criteria for diagnosis, recommendations for treatment and implications for nursing in paediatric primary care.Background.  Nurses often encounter sleep‐related problems in the paediatric primary care setting. Commonly, these problems are well known and include snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. Upper airway resistance syndrome is a relatively new diagnosis among sleep‐related breathing disorders with which nurses and nurse practitioners should be familiar. Upper airway resistance syndrome is characterised by incomplete obstruction of the airway during sleep, leading to increased respiratory efforts and frequent arousals despite normal oxygen saturations.Design.  Systematic review.Method. A review of the sleep literature identified articles regarding sleep and/or sleep‐related breathing disorders and paediatrics, and upper airway resistance syndrome. Articles published since 2002 were prioritised; however, all articles describing upper airway resistance syndrome since 1993 were considered.Conclusion.  Timely recognition of sleep‐disordered breathing is crucial to ensuring that patients receive effective and appropriate treatment. Upper airway resistance syndrome should be a part of the differential diagnosis when assessing a child with a sleep‐related breathing disorder.Relevance to clinician practice.  Nurses and nurse practitioners should become comfortable and skilled in performing a thorough sleep history and physical examination to help identify when a child should receive a sleep study or referral to a specialist.
FishPathogens.eu/vhsv: a user‐friendly viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus isolate and sequence database
Authors: Jonstrup S P , Gray T , Kahns S , Skall H F , Snow M , Olesen N J 
Published: June 2009

AbstractA database has been created, http://www.FishPathogens.eu, with the aim of providing a single repository for collating important information on significant pathogens of aquaculture, relevant to their control and management. This database will be developed, maintained and managed as part of the European Community Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases function. This concept has been initially developed for viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus and will be extended in future to include information on other significant aquaculture pathogens. Information included for each isolate comprises sequence, geographical origin, host origin and useful key literature. Various search mechanisms make it easy to find specific groups of isolates. Search results can be presented in several different ways including table‐based, map‐based and graph‐based outputs. When retrieving sequences, the user is given freedom to obtain data from any selected part of the genome of interest. The output of the sequence search can be readily retrieved as a FASTA file ready to be imported into a sequence alignment tool of choice, facilitating further molecular epidemiological study.
Awareness of early warning signs and help‐seeking behaviours among patients with schizophrenia who utilize social rehabilitation facilities in Japan
Authors: KOICHI R. , MIYAMOTO Y. , AKIYAMA M. , TAKAMURA S. 
Published: June 2009

Accessible summary

Schizophrenia is characterized by the occurrence of psychotic relapses. When this happens, early warning signs such as delusions, hallucinations, thought incoherencies and serious chaotic behaviours occur.
In this study, 56.5% of participants who had a history at least one early help‐seeking behaviour when they deteriorated was recognized from the following signs: sleep disorders, depression, hallucinations, nervousness, anxiety, fatigue, delusions, illusions and suicidal ideation.
Early help‐seeking behaviours were related to the following factors: recognition of early warning signs during deterioration, consultation with non‐professional and professional support persons during deterioration; consulting with public mental health workers; and living with family.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between early warning signs (EWS) and early help‐seeking behaviours (HSB) and to identify the characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who sought early help. A cross‐sectional study was carried out in 2004 using a self‐reported questionnaire. Participants were recruited from social rehabilitation facilities for the mentally ill; 224 subjects participated, 170 of whom had schizophrenia. The survey included questions about demographic characteristics, self‐care behaviours (HSB, recognition of EWS and others) and current service utilization and satisfaction. Fisher's exact test and Student's t‐test were used to compare the characteristics of study participants. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between recognition of EWS and early HSB. We found that 96 (56.5%) of 170 patients with schizophrenia reported at least one occasion of early HSB during their deterioration. Early HSB were related to the following factors: recognition of EWS, consultation with non‐professional and professional support persons during deterioration, consulting with public mental health workers and living with family. Care and support should be offered to patients with schizophrenia to enable them to recognize their own mental deterioration.
Entry of bluetongue vector Culicoides imicola into livestock premises in Spain
Authors: CALVETE C. , ESTRADA R. , MIRANDA M. A. , DEL RIO R. , BORRÁS D. , BELDRON F. J. , MARTÍNEZ A. , CALVO A. J. , LUCIENTES J. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract. Culicoides imicola Kieffer is considered to be the main vector of bluetongue disease (BT) and African horse sickness (AHS) in the Mediterranean basin. It has been assumed that this midge species is exophilic and, consequently, that stabling of livestock should provide effective protection against these diseases. This study presents the results of sampling surveys for C. imicola carried out both inside and outside stables on three farms in mainland Spain. The number of C. imicola captured varied as a function of the populations sampled and trap location (inside vs. outside). The daily mean number captured inside during the sampling of each farm population was directly correlated with the daily mean number captured outside, but daily correlation of captures was not observed. By contrast with previous studies, the mean catch of C. imicola inside was consistently higher than that outside. No clear effect of stable characteristics on the degree of entry was detected. In addition, proportions of males and age‐graded female groups varied among populations and with trap location. Proportionately more males and fewer engorged females were captured outside than inside, although the proportions varied among stables. These results contrast with those of previous studies, and with the assumed pronounced exophilic behaviour of C. imicola, and raise important questions about the vector activity of this species in the study area and its implications for the epidemiology of BT and/or AHS.
Polymorphism of intron‐1 in the voltage‐gated sodium channel gene of Anopheles gambiae s.s. populations from Cameroon with emphasis on insecticide knockdown resistance mutations
Authors: ETANG JOSIANE , VICENTE JOSE L. , NWANE PHILIPPE , CHOUAIBOU MOUHAMADOU , MORLAIS ISABELLE , DO ROSARIO VIRGILIO E. , SIMARD FREDERIC , AWONO‐AMBENE PARFAIT , TOTO JEAN CLAUDE , PINTO JOAO 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSequence variation at the intron‐1 of the voltage‐gated sodium channel gene in Anopheles gambiae M‐ and S‐forms from Cameroon was assessed to explore the number of mutational events originating knockdown resistance (kdr) alleles. Mosquitoes were sampled between December 2005 and June 2006 from three geographical areas: (i) Magba in the western region; (ii) Loum, Tiko, Douala, Kribi, and Campo along the Atlantic coast; and (iii) Bertoua, in the eastern continental plateau. Both 1014S and 1014F kdr alleles were found in the S‐form with overall frequencies of 14% and 42% respectively. Only the 1014F allele was found in the M‐form at lower frequency (11%). Analysis of a 455 bp region of intron‐1 upstream the kdr locus revealed four independent mutation events originating kdr alleles, here named MS1 ‐1014F, S1‐1014S and S2‐1014S kdr‐intron‐1 haplotypes in S‐form and MS3‐1014F kdr‐intron‐1 haplotype in the M‐form. Furthermore, there was evidence for mutual introgression of kdr 1014F allele between the two molecular forms, MS1 and MS3 being widely shared by them. Although no M/S hybrid was observed in analysed samples, this wide distribution of haplotypes MS1 and MS3 suggests inter‐form hybridizing at significant level and emphasizes the rapid diffusion of the kdr alleles in Africa. The mosaic of genetic events found in Cameroon is representative of the situation in the West–Central African region and highlights the importance of evaluating the spatial and temporal evolution of kdr alleles for a better management of insecticide resistance.
Pathological replication in cells lacking RecG DNA translocase
Authors: Rudolph Christian J. , Upton Amy L. , Harris Lynda , Lloyd Robert G. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryLittle is known about what happens when forks meet to complete DNA replication in any organism. In this study we present data suggesting that the collision of replication forks is a potential threat to genomic stability. We demonstrate that Escherichia coli cells lacking RecG helicase suffer major defects in chromosome replication following UV irradiation, and that this is associated with high levels of DNA synthesis initiated independently of the initiator protein DnaA. This UV‐induced stable DNA replication is dependent on PriA helicase and continues long after UV‐induced lesions have been excised. We suggest UV irradiation triggers the assembly of new replication forks, leading to multiple fork collisions outside the terminus area. Such collisions may generate branched DNAs that serve to establish further new forks, resulting in uncontrolled DNA amplification. We propose that RecG reduces the likelihood of this pathological cascade being set in motion by reducing initiation of replication at D‐ and R‐loops, and other structures generated as a result of fork collisions. Our results shed light on why replication initiation in bacteria is limited to a single origin and why termination is carefully orchestrated to a single event within a restricted area each cell cycle.