bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sildenafil therapy for neonatal and childhood pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease
Authors: Humpl Tilman , Reyes Janette T. , Erickson Simon , Armano Ruth , Holtby Helen , Adatia Ian 
Published: December 2010

AbstractObjectivesWe hypothesised that sildenafil would improve hemodynamics in children with pulmonary hypertension and attenuate rebound pulmonary hypertension after inhaled nitric oxide withdrawal.Patients and methodsWe undertook an open-label, single-drug study of sildenafil in patients under 5 years of age with either symptomatic or rebound pulmonary hypertension following inhaled nitric oxide withdrawal.ResultsWe recruited 25 patients (median age 180 days, 10–1790) to receive sildenafil. The median right ventricular to systemic systolic blood pressure ratio before sildenafil therapy was 1.0 (0.5–1.4) and decreased to 0.5 (with a range from 0.3 to 1.3; p = 0.0002). In five patients the baseline pulmonary vascular resistance index was 10 (7.1–13.6) Wood units metre square and decreased to 5.8 (2.7–15.6) Wood units metre square (p = 0.04) at 6 months. Ten patients were treated with sildenafil for a median of 34 days (9–499) until resolution of pulmonary artery hypertension and continue to do well. Six patients continued sildenafil therapy for a median of 1002 days (384–1574) with improvement but without resolution of pulmonary hypertension. There was no change in serum creatinine, urea, liver function tests, or platelet count. In 15 patients sildenafil abolished rebound pulmonary artery hypertension following withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide. Median right ventricular pressure to systemic systolic pressure ratio decreased from 1.0 (0.8–1.4) during nitric oxide withdrawal to 0.4 (0.3–0.8) p = 0.006 after pre-treatment with sildenafil.ConclusionIn children under 5 years of age with severe pulmonary hypertension, sildenafil therapy resulted in prolonged hemodynamic improvements without adverse effects. Sildenafil attenuated rebound pulmonary hypertension after withdrawal of inhaled nitric oxide.
Using Wikis as Cost Saving Tools at Field Fisher Waterhouse
Authors: Sarkanen Anneli 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis paper, presented at the BIALL Conference in June 2010 by Anneli Sarkanen, describes the process Field Fisher Waterhouse went through in utilising wikis in the firm for knowledge management and knowledge sharing. It describes the development of the project, the tactics used to encourage adoption, problems encountered and the project's planned future development.
The Recession Mounts the Ivory Tower: How the Lillian Goldman Law Library at Yale has met the Challenges Posed by a Declining Economy
Authors: Cadmus Femi , Kaufmann Blair 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe global recession has wrought havoc on the budgets of libraries worldwide, forcing administrators to reassess priorities and change direction midcourse. Privately funded academic libraries which typically rely heavily on large endowments have not been exempt and in fact have probably been hit the hardest. The challenges encountered by this long drawn financial crisis have ultimately provided opportunities to reassess priorities and conduct business more efficiently. This paper was presented at the BIALL Conference in June 2010 by Femi Cadmus and Blair Kaufmann.
Mass Transfer of Antibiotics Adsorbed by Human Serum Albumin in Hemodialyzers
Authors: Kanamori Toshiyuki , Takeshita Takaaki , Sakai Kiyotaka 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe removal rate of a drug by a hemodialyzer is very important to determine the dosage of the drug to a patient without kidney function. Mass transfer of a drug in a hemodialyzer and a patient's body is more complicated than that of ordinary solutes because most drugs are adsorbed by serum albumin. In this paper, we reveal the adsorption characteristics of five clinical antibiotics onto human serum albumin (HSA) with new experimental methods and discuss the influence of adsorption characteristics on removal of antibiotics by hemodialyzers using mathematical models. The adsorption equilibrium of the antibiotics with HSA followed the Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption rates of the antibiotics onto HSA were measured using a constant‐flow stirred tank reactor with an ultrafiltration module. A kinetic model for antibiotic transfer in a hemodialyzer and a patient's body was derived with the parameters obtained by the above experiments. Validity of the model was confirmed by dialysis experiments using hemodialyzers and antibiotic solutions including HSA. Removal estimation of a drug by hemodialysis therapy is feasible by the model with the parameters of the Langmuir isotherm for the drug.
Acidifying peat as an aid to the reconstruction of lowland heath on arable soil: a field experiment
Authors: Dunsford S. J. , Free A. J. , Davy A. J. 
Published: December 2010

1. The potential of naturally pyritic peat as a soil amendment for the reconstruction of lowland heath on land with a long history of arable cultivation was investigated in a factorial, field experiment. Peat was incorporated to a depth of 0·5 m at 50% and 75% by volume; a third treatment had a 0·1‐m blanket of peat overlaying a 75% mixture, and unamended soil was the control. Half of each treatment plot was sown with forage‐harvested brashings of Calluna vulgaris and the other half with acidophilic grasses (Agrostis capillaris, Festuca ovina, Deschampsia flexuosa). 2. Peat‐treated plots acidified rapidly to pH 2·5–3·5, depending on the proportion of peat, whereas the control soil remained at pH 6·0–7·0. After 5 years the pH of the treated plots had risen slightly and was stable at between 3 and 4. There was considerable spatial variability in all peat incorporation treatments. 3. High densities of C. vulgaris established in the first summer on both peat mixtures, especially the 50% peat, but densities were very low on the peat blanket and control soil. The growth of the largest individual plants was as good on the peat blanket as on the mixtures but was generally poor on the control soil. However, the development of cover was much more rapid on both mixtures (approaching 50% after 5 years) than on either the peat blanket or control soils. Calluna vulgaris flowered well on all peat treatments from the second summer (1994). Various measures of performance of C. vulgaris, considered across treatments, showed optima at around pH 3–4. 4. On the grass subplots, Agrostis capillaris became dominant, reaching very high cover on 50% peat and control soil. Festuca ovina occupied the less acid areas within treatments, and Deschampsia flexuosa increased steadily in cover on particularly acid areas (10% cover by 1996 on the peat blanket). 5. Pioneer annual weeds were replaced by persistent perennial weeds, particularly in C. vulgaris subplots. Their establishment was probably facilitated by lack of competition, together with fertile pockets and channels resulting from imperfect mixing of the peat. Regular cutting above the C. vulgaris canopy was necessary to control the spread of Cirsium arvense, Agrostis gigantea, Rubus fruticosus, Urtica dioica and Betula pendula. Rubus fruticosus and U. dioica invaded even the extremely acid peat blanket. 6. Pyritic peat can be used to create soil conditions suitable for the rapid establishment of heathland species. Grazing, cutting and ‘weed‐wiped’ herbicides would probably be necessary to control persistent, acid‐tolerant weeds in the management of vegetational development.
Simulated long‐term vegetation response to grazing heterogeneity in semi‐arid rangelands
Authors: Weber Gerhard E. , Jeltsch Florian , Van Rooyen Noel , Milton Suzanne J. 
Published: December 2010

1. The long‐term effects of small‐scale spatial heterogeneity of livestock grazing on vegetation dynamics were studied with a grid‐based model of major life forms of savanna vegetation. Based on southern Kalahari ecology, the model includes stochastic life‐history variables, resource competition for soil water, and biomass production for annuals, perennial grasses and shrubs. 2. Grazed at individual severities, the model’s 25 m2 grid cells defined the spatial scale of heterogeneity. Different scenarios of grazing heterogeneity were generated by modifying distributional and behavioural features of the grazing model. Simulations were run over 50 years under moderate to high constant stocking rates. 3. Results confirmed a previously reported threshold response of shrub cover increase: under moderate grazing pressure, little change in shrub cover occurred; when grazing pressure exceeded a threshold, shrub cover increased drastically. 4. Under moderate or high stocking rates, grazing heterogeneity did not modify grazing effects. However, within an intermediate range of stocking rates, small‐scale heterogeneity determined the long‐term impact of grazing. In particular, utilization intensity at the threshold of shrub cover increase was 60% less under high compared to low local grazing heterogeneity. 5. Sensitivity of vegetation dynamics to local grazing heterogeneity was also exemplified under a landscape‐scale grazing gradient as observed at watering points: at a given utilization intensity, a wide zone of increased shrub cover occurred under large local grazing heterogeneity, while under the least heterogeneous grazing only a narrow zone of slightly increased shrub cover occurred. 6. Because of the slow progress of shrub cover increase, a mismatch of management and ecological time scales was diagnosed and its implications for management are discussed. 7. We conclude that knowledge of local grazing heterogeneity is crucial for correct assessment of livestock impact on vegetation dynamics. Consequently, management aiming at sustainable land use should account for spatial grazing aspects. These poorly understood aspects form a gap to be filled by both empirical and theoretical studies.
Conservation of vascular plants in single large and several small mires: species richness, rarity and taxonomic diversity
Authors: Virolainen K. M. , Suomi T. , Suhonen J. , Kuitunen M. 
Published: December 2010

1. This study on vascular plant species of boreal spruce and pine mires concentrated on two geometrical principles: whether single large or several small (SLOSS) reserves contain more species and whether patch shape should be as nearly circular as possible. 2. SLOSS and patch shape have usually been tested by using species richness. Only a few studies have taken the rarity of species into account, and taxonomic diversity has never been used. In our study, all three of these factors were used. 3. Our results showed that the number of species was not related to the spruce mire size, but it increased in relation to the pine mire size. In contrast, the rarity score increased in relation to the area of spruce mires, but it was not related to the area of pine mires. Taxonomic diversity was not related to size in the case of spruce mires, but it increased with pine mires. 4. The SLOSS comparison showed that several small mires contained more vascular plant species than a large one of equal size. Several small mires also had higher rarity scores and taxonomic diversity than a single large mire. The number of species, rarity score and taxonomic diversity increased in relation to the number of small mires in a group. The same results were obtained with both spruce and pine mires. 5. Species richness, rarity score and taxonomic diversity were not related to mire shape. The results did not depend on the mire type.
Effects of sea‐ranching and family background on fitness traits in brown trout Salmo trutta reared under near‐natural conditions
Authors: Dannewitz Johan , Petersson Erik , Prestegaard Tore , Järvi Torbjörn 
Published: December 2010

Summary

Many threatened populations of salmonids depend on supplemental releases of hatchery‐produced fish. Laboratory studies suggest that altered selection regimes in the hatchery may result in evolutionary changes of traits connected to fitness. Such changes can have profound effects on the performance of the hatchery fish following release in the natural environment, and may also affect the genetic characteristics of locally adapted wild populations. However, surprisingly few studies have looked at the ability of hatchery fish to compete with wild conspecifics under natural conditions.
We studied growth, survival and life‐history adoption of a wild and a multigeneration sea‐ranched strain of brown trout Salmo trutta in a semi‐natural stream. The fish were planted in the stream as eyed eggs and their family and strain origins were later revealed by microsatellite markers.
In the first experiment, in which the experimental fish originated from a full‐sib mating design, there were strong family effects on both growth and survival over the first growth season. In the second experiment, in which the experimental fish originated from a half‐sib mating design, there were significant male and female effects on growth parameters but not on survival over the first growth season.
When family and male–female effects were accounted for, there were no differences between wild and sea‐ranched trout in body size and condition factor after the first growth season, or in survival up to this stage. Nor was there any difference between the groups in the proportions that metamorphosed into the migratory smolt phase at 1 year of age.
Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that wild‐born trout of sea‐ranched origin can successfully compete with trout of wild origin under semi‐natural conditions. This indicates that the impact of hatchery selection on the performance of sea‐ranched fish in the wild may not be as pronounced as previously thought. It is suggested that for salmonid populations that depend on supplemental stocking, more effort should be paid to minimizing negative environmental effects during hatchery rearing. The observed differences in fitness characters between families suggest that family effects should be taken into account in stocking programmes because the amount of genetic variation maintained within populations is related to the variance in family performance.
Comparing biodiversity between protected areas and adjacent rangeland in xeric succulent thicket, South Africa: arthropods and reptiles
Authors: Fabricius C. , Burger M. , Hockey P. A. R. 
Published: December 2010

Summary 1. Although it is widely assumed that protected areas conserve species that would not survive elsewhere, this assumption is seldom tested. The aim of the study was to determine the respective roles of a nature reserve and commercial and subsistence rangeland in preserving terrestrial arthropods and reptiles in xeric succulent thicket in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. 2. Faunal diversity on a nature reserve (the Great Fish River Reserve Complex) was compared with a historically overgrazed commercial farm, an intensively managed, conservatively stocked commercial farm and a communal grazing area. Terrestrial arthropods and reptiles were caught in paired pitfall traps inside and outside the nature reserve, specimens being sorted into recognizable taxonomic units (RTU). The taxa occurring in each land management unit were compared using RTU diversity, a hierarchical richness index (HRI), community similarity and uniqueness. 3. The nature reserve contained more RTU and a greater HRI than adjacent land for most arthropod groups, and also supported more unique taxa than the other study localities. 4. Snakes and lizards, in contrast, were almost twice as abundant in the communal grazing area as elsewhere, although reptile species diversity was similar at all localities. 5. Each individual locality contained fewer than 62% of the total number of arthropod RTU and 55% of the total reptile RTU; the communal grazing area contained only 37% of the total number of arthropod RTU collected in the study area. 6. Nineteen (73%) of the ant, 18 (69%) of the weevil, 60 (70%) of the spider and 12 (60%) of the grasshopper RTU and 10 (66%) of the reptiles were shared by the three land uses. Six new weevil species and probably several new arachnid species were collected, but all the new weevils were confined to the nature reserve. 7. The communal grazing area differed most from the nature reserve in richness and community composition, followed by the conservatively stocked commercial farm. The historically overgrazed commercial farm was most similar to the nature reserve. 8. The communal grazing area was characterized by xeric‐adapted reptiles and predatory arthropods whose ranges are centred in the semi‐arid parts of South Africa. In contrast, the nature reserve and commercial farms supported more mesic‐adapted reptiles and herbivorous arthropods. 9. Synthesis and applications. The data show how protected areas are key to conserving those species that decrease under heavily grazed and disturbed conditions. However, they also illustrate that diverse land‐use mosaics promote gamma diversity in the xeric succulent thicket of South Africa. Conservation policies that include protected space in the wider environment and conserve habitat diversity are likely to both promote regional richness and support scarce species.
Body mass indices and outcome in patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Futter James E. , Cleland John G.F. , Clark Andrew L. 
Published: December 2010

AimsThere is an inverse relation between body mass and mortality in large populations of patients with chronic heart failure with a broad range of disease severity. The best measure of body size to describe the relation is not clear.Methods and resultsPatients with chronic heart failure (n = 2271, age 71.9 ± 11.3 years; 74.6% male) due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction were followed for a median of 1785 days (inter‐quartile range, 874–2311 days) in survivors. We measured body mass index (BMI: weight/height2), ponderal index (PI: weight/height3), and body surface area (BSA). In a subset of 1025 patients, we also calculated the ‘Charles index’ [weight/(waist2 × height)] together with bioimpedance data. During follow‐up, 912 patients died. Measures of body mass were strong univariable predictors of outcome, and BSA (χ2 = 71.3) was the strongest predictor followed by height (χ2 = 68.6), weight (χ2 = 57.4), then BMI (χ2 = 15.2). The larger the patient's size, the lower the risk of mortality. Body surface area was the single strongest predictor of outcome in a multivariable model including 14 variables. In the subset with bioimpedance data, basal metabolic rate, BSA, weight, BMI, percentage body fat, fat mass, PI, and fat‐free mass were all univariable predictors of outcome.ConclusionMeasures of body size are strongly related to outcome in patients with chronic heart failure. Body surface area is a stronger predictor of mortality than other measures of body habitus, irrespective of height correction. The greater the overall bulk of the body, the better the survival.
Introduction
Authors: Brock Robert J. , Menezes Gui Manuel Machado , Bergstad Odd Aksel , English Elizabethann 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Brock, R. J., Menezes, G. M. M., Bergstad, O. A., and English, E. 2011. Introduction. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 253.
Norovirus: A Possible Cause of Pneumatosis Intestinalis
Authors: Kim Mi Jin , Kim Yae‐Jean , Lee Ji Hyuk , Lee Jong Seung , Kim Ji Hye , Cheon Doo Sung , Jeong Hye Sook , Koo Hong Hoe , Sung Ki Woong , Yoo Keon Hee , Choe Yon Ho 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTObjective:Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in children is associated with immunosuppression, mucosal disruption from trauma, obstructive pulmonary disease, congenital heart disease, and gastrointestinal infections. Our study is the first report of norovirus infection–associated PI.Patients and Methods:A retrospective review was performed in pediatric patients (older than 30 days) with PI from March 2005 to April 2009. Since December 2008, in addition to routine stool examinations, reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing for calicivirus (norovirus and sapovirus), adenovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus has been performed.Results:Twenty‐seven patients with PI were identified. The median age was 1.4 (range 0.2–14.8 years). Seventeen patients (63.0%) were immunocompromised hosts. Pathogens were identified in 5 immunocompromised patients (5/27 and 5/8 since December 2008). Of note, norovirus was identified in 4 patients (80%, 4/5) during the cold weather season. The genotype of noroviruses in these patients was GII‐4. Among 27 patients with PI, 10 patients (37.0%) developed PI in the spring and 11 (40.7%) in the winter. Twenty‐four patients survived (88.9%, 24/27). None of the patients with norovirus or rotavirus infection died.Conclusions:Our data suggest that norovirus infection may contribute to the development of PI in immunocompromised hosts.
Improvement in Growth of Children With Crohn Disease Following Anti‐TNF‐α Therapy Can Be Independent of Pubertal Progress and Glucocorticoid Reduction
Authors: Malik S , Wong SC , Bishop J , Hassan K , McGrogan P , Ahmed SF , Russell RK 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and Aim:Treatment with antitumour necrosis factor‐α therapy such as infliximab may improve growth in children with Crohn disease (CD), but the extent of improvement in growth and its relation to pubertal progress and glucocorticoid (GC) therapy are unclear. This is a retrospective study of growth, puberty, and disease activity during the 6 months before starting infliximab (T − 6), at baseline (T0), and for the following 6 months (T + 6) and 12 months (T + 12) in children with CD.Patients and Methods:The growth and treatment details of 28 children (male, 17) who were given infliximab at a median (10th, 90th) age of 13.1 years (10.0, 15.7) were reviewed. Data on disease markers (C‐reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and albumin), total alkaline phosphatase, and a physician's global assessment were also collected. Results are expressed as median (10th, 90th).Results:Of the 28 cases, 21 (75%) demonstrated a clinical response to infliximab treatment. Overall, height velocity (HV) increased from 3.6 cm/y (0.4–7.8) at T0 to 5.5 cm/y (2.1–9.2) at T + 6 (P = 0.003). In infliximab responders, HV increased from 2 cm/y (0.3–7.1) to 6.4 cm/y (2.3–9.1) (P = 0.004) and in the nonresponders, HV remained static at 4.3 cm/y (2.5–8.6) at T0 and 3.0 cm/y (2.0–11.3) (P = 0.701) at T + 6. HV also increased in the subgroup of 13 children who had remained prepubertal from 4.5 cm/y (0.4–8) to 5.5 cm/y (3.3–8.4) (P = 0.050). In the subgroup of 11 children who had a reduction (n = 2) or cessation in GC (n = 9), HV increased from 1.8 cm/y (0.3–8.3) at T0 to 5.6 cm/y (2.2–9.2) at T + 6 (P = 0.14), whereas those children who did not receive GC during the 12 months had an increase from 3.7 cm/y (0.6–6.5) to 6.4 cm/y (2.9–9.0) (P < 0.05). HV at T0 and T + 6 showed a significant association with the average alkaline phosphatase during the prior 6 months (r = 0.39, P < 0.05). HV did not show any association with individual markers of disease activity.Conclusions:Clinical response to infliximab therapy is associated with an improvement in linear growth in the short term in children with CD. This increase in height may not be simply due to progress in pubertal status or reduction in GC dose.