bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio‐temporal scaling of biodiversity and the species–time relationship in a stream fish assemblage
Authors: ERŐS TIBOR , SCHMERA DÉNES 
Published: June 2010

Summary1. The increase of species richness with the area of the habitat sampled, that is the species–area relationship, and its temporal analogue, the species–time relationship (STR), are among the few general laws in ecology with strong conservation implications. However, these two scale‐dependent phenomena have rarely been considered together in biodiversity assessment, especially in freshwater systems.2. We examined how the spatial scale of sampling influences STRs for a Central‐European stream fish assemblage (second‐order Bernecei stream, Hungary) using field survey data in two simulation‐based experiments.3. In experiment one, we examined how increasing the number of channel units, such as riffles and pools (13 altogether), and the number of field surveys involved in the analyses (12 sampling occasions during 3 years), influence species richness. Complete nested curves were constructed to quantify how many species one observes in the community on average for a given number of sampling occasions at a given spatial scale.4. In experiment two, we examined STRs for the Bernecei fish assemblage from a landscape perspective. Here, we evaluated a 10‐year reach level data set (2000–09) for the Bernecei stream and its recipient watercourse (third‐order Kemence stream) to complement results on experiment one and to explore the mechanisms behind the observed patterns in more detail.5. Experiment one indicated the strong influence of the spatial scale of sampling on the accumulation of species richness, although time clearly had an additional effect. The simulation methodology advocated here helped to estimate the number of species in a diverse combination of spatial and temporal scale and, therefore, to determine how different scale combinations influence sampling sufficiency.6. Experiment two revealed differences in STRs between the upstream (Bernecei) and downstream (Kemence) sites, with steeper curves for the downstream site. Equations of STR curves were within the range observed in other studies, predominantly from terrestrial systems. Assemblage composition data suggested that extinction–colonisation dynamics of rare, non‐resident (i.e. satellite) species influenced patterns in STRs.7. Our results highlight that the determination of species richness can benefit from the joint consideration of spatial and temporal scales in biodiversity inventory surveys. Additionally, we reveal how our randomisation‐based methodology may help to quantify the scale dependency of diversity components (α, β, γ) in both space and time, which have critical importance in the applied context.
The importance of hatching from resting eggs for population dynamics and genetic composition ofDaphniain a deep reservoir
Authors: ROTHER ANNE , PITSCH MATTHIAS , HÜLSMANN STEPHAN 
Published: June 2010

Summary1. Cyclical parthenogens, organisms switching between sexual and asexual mode of reproduction, are common in aquatic habitats. In permanent waterbodies with year‐round persistence of populations, the relevance of sexually produced resting eggs for population dynamics and structure is still largely unexplored.2. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of recruitment from resting eggs toDaphniaspp. in a deep dimictic reservoir with overwintering populations (Saidenbach Reservoir, Germany). We linked field studies onDaphniapopulation dynamics, hatching rates and diapausing egg abundances in the sediment with allozyme analysis of the genetic variability of both the pelagic population and hatchlings from resting eggs.3. We found higher hatching rates at intermediate depths (10–18 m), although highest diapausing egg abundances were found in the deeper parts of the reservoir. From the extensive field data, we calculated a population budget for the main basin of the reservoir, which showed that hatched daphnids accounted for <1% of the total abundance and explained only a tiny fraction of population growth.4. The genetic composition (MultiLocus Genotypes, MLG) of the pelagic population was relatively stable throughout the stratified period with up to five among 39 detected MLGs attaining frequencies >5% per date. From 11 MLGs differentiated among hatched daphnids, three were recovered in the pelagic population in perceptible, albeit low frequencies (1–4%).5. We conclude that the contribution of hatched animals to the spring population dynamics is negligible in situations with an overwintering population present and will only become relevant if densities are extremely low. In this type of system, the significance of the resting egg bank is presumably mainly related to the maintenance of genetic diversity.
Large‐scale relationships between basin and riparian land cover and the ecological status of European rivers
Authors: WASSON JEAN‐GABRIEL , VILLENEUVE BERTRAND , IITAL ARVO , MURRAY‐BLIGH JOHN , DOBIASOVA MARCELA , BACIKOVA STANISLAVA , TIMM HENN , PELLA HERVÉ , MENGIN NICOLAS , CHANDESRIS ANDRÉ 
Published: June 2010

Summary1. The main objectives of our study were (i) to establish the relative impact of pressures that degrade ecological status, especially those caused by agriculture and urbanisation, (ii) to identify regional patterns in these pressure‐impact relationships and (iii) to evaluate the relative weight of the pressures acting at the basin and riparian corridor scales, and the possible buffering effect of riparian areas.2. We developed large‐scale models linking invertebrate indices of ecological quality to river basin and riparian land cover in France, Slovakia, Estonia and U.K. Invertebrate indices, transformed to ecological quality ratios (EQR), were taken from national monitoring networks. We based the models on partial least squares (PLS) regressions at national and a hydro‐ecoregion (HER) scales. The HERs provided a framework for grouping data in terms of natural river features and human activities.3. The different national methods provided consistent results that indicated the hierarchy of pressures impacting river invertebrates at the European scale. Artificial land cover (e.g. urban and industrial sites) in the river basin represented the pressure with the most negative impact on invertebrate indices, in all countries and regions.4. The impact of agricultural land cover was more variable. Arable land had a smaller impact than urban areas and was insignificant in some models. The proportion of arable land in the river basin appeared to be a weak predictor of agricultural impacts by itself; the type of cultivation and intensity as well as the proximity to the river must be taken into account.5. At the riparian corridor scale, the negative impact of artificial areas or arable land and the positive effects of forests and pastures were demonstrated in many regions. The protective effect of riparian forests against mixed agricultural and urban pressures was demonstrated in three regions in France. Riparian corridors appear to be manageable areas, and these results strongly support the idea of including their restoration in priority actions for achieving good ecological status.
Red flag for green spray: adverse trophic effects of Bti on breeding birds
Authors: Poulin Brigitte , Lefebvre Gaetan , Paz Leire 
Published: June 2010

Summary 1. The expanding use of selective pest‐control agents provides a unique opportunity to study food web interactions in the field while addressing major environmental issues. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is the most commonly used microbial agent to control mosquitoes worldwide. 2. Using breeding house martins Delichon urbicum as a model species, we assessed the effect of Bti spraying on foraging rates and chick diet prior to and during 3 years of Bti spraying in the Camargue, France. Some 9051 feeding flights and 14 857 prey items were recorded in the early, mid and late nesting season at up to three control and three treated sites. Breeding parameters were assessed during 1 year at two control and two treated sites. 3. Intake of Nematocera (Diptera sub‐order including midges and mosquitoes) and their predators (spiders and dragonflies) decreased significantly at treated sites, concurrently with increase of flying ant intake. Small prey (<2·5 mm) were significantly more taken at treated sites, and large prey (>7·5 mm) at control sites, with lower foraging rates at treated sites. 4. Clutch size and fledgling survival were significantly lower at treated sites relative to control with respectively 2·3 vs. 3·2 chicks produced per nest. Breeding success was positively correlated with intake of Nematocera and their predators at the nest level. 5. No previous study has provided compelling evidence of Bti affecting vertebrate populations following the suppression of prey species. Indirect effects caused by repeated application of Bti through food web interactions warrant more attention. 6. Synthesis and applications. Bti is considered the most selective and least toxic agent currently available to control mosquitoes. Mosquito‐control programmes should integrate non‐biased awareness campaigns and mitigation measures balancing the social demands for mosquito reduction with the factors involved in mosquito proliferation and dispersion. Such measures could consist in improved wetland management; reduction in areas and periods of Bti spraying; consideration of alternatives to Bti spraying, such as mosquito traps; specific measures to reinforce animal populations affected by Bti; and suspension of mosquito control in environmentally sensitive areas where nature preservation is a priority.
Stability in the patterns of long‐term development and growth of the Canadian spruce–moss forest
Authors: Pollock Stefanie L. , Payette Serge 
Published: June 2010

AbstractAim The spruce–moss forest is the main forest ecosystem of the North American boreal forest. We used stand structure and fire data to examine the long‐term development and growth of the spruce–moss ecosystem. We evaluate the stability of the forest with time and the conditions needed for the continuing regeneration, growth and re‐establishment of black spruce (Picea mariana) trees.Location The study area occurs in Québec, Canada, and extends from 70°00′ to 72°00′ W and 47°30′ to 56°00′ N.Methods A spatial inventory of spruce–moss forest stands was performed along 34 transects. Nineteen spruce–moss forests were selected. A 500 m2quadrat at each site was used for radiocarbon and tree‐ring dating of time since last fire (TSLF). Size structure and tree regeneration in each stand were described based on diameter distribution of the dominant and co‐dominant tree species [black spruce and balsam fir (Abies balsamea)].Results The TSLF of the studied forests ranges from 118 to 4870 cal. yr bp. Forests < 325 cal. yr bpare dominated by trees of the first post‐fire cohort and are not yet at equilibrium, whereas older forests show a reverse‐J diameter distribution typical of mature, old‐growth stands. The younger forests display faster height and radial growth‐rate patterns than the older forests, due to factors associated with long‐term forest development. Each of the stands examined established after severe fires that consumed all the soil organic material.Main conclusions Spruce–moss forests are able to self‐regenerate after fires that consume the organic layer, thus allowing seed regeneration at the soil surface. In the absence of fire the forests can remain in an equilibrium state. Once the forests mature, tree productivity eventually levels off and becomes stable. Further proof of the enduring stability of these forests, in between fire periods, lies in the ages of the stands. Stands with a TSLF of 325–4870 cal. yr bpall exhibited the same stand structure, tree growth rates and species characteristics. In the absence of fire, the spruce–moss forests are able to maintain themselves for thousands of years with no apparent degradation or change in forest type.
The spiritual needs of neuro‐oncology patients from patients’ perspective
Authors: Nixon Aline , Narayanasamy Aru 
Published: June 2010

Aims.  This study aimed to identify the spiritual needs of neuro‐oncology patients from a patient perspective and how nurses currently support patients with spiritual needs.Background.  Spiritual needs of cancer patients should be assessed and discussed by healthcare professionals from diagnosis. Nurses should assess and support neuro‐oncology patients with their spiritual needs during their hospital stay.Design.  Qualitative research.Methods.  Data were collected through a Critical Incident Technique questionnaire from neuro‐oncology patients and were subjected to thematic content analysis.Results.  Some patients with brain tumours do report spiritual needs during their hospital stay and some of these needs are not met by nurses.Conclusions.  There is clearly a need for healthcare professionals to provide spiritual care for neuro‐oncology patients and their relatives. Further research is required to explore how effective nurses are at delivering spiritual care and if nurses are the most appropriate professionals to support neuro‐oncology patients with spiritual care.Relevance to clinical practice.  The study illuminates that some neuro‐oncology patients’ have spiritual needs that could be met by nurses. Spiritual needs include supportive family relationships, emotional support, loneliness, religious needs, need to talk, reassurance, anxiety, solitude, denial, plans for the future, thoughts about meaning of life, end of life decisions and discussion of beliefs. The implications of the findings of this study are that nurses need to be aware and respond to these spiritual needs.
The experiences of internationally recruited nurses in the UK (1995–2007): an integrative review
Authors: Nichols Julia , Campbell Jackie 
Published: June 2010

Aim.  This review explores the experiences of international nurses recently recruited to the UK nursing workforce (1995–2007) and the implications for retention.Background.  An acute shortage of nurses in the mid 1990s, combined with policy initiatives to increase the number of qualified nurses working in the NHS, resulted in an active campaign to recruit nurses from overseas. Since 1997, approximately 100,000 international nurses have been admitted to the nursing register from more than 50 countries worldwide. Many practice areas are now dependent on overseas nurses as an essential part of their workforce.Design.  An integrative review.Method.  The review was conducted using a range of electronic databases to capture the experiences of this cohort of migrant nurses.Conclusion.  Much literature has been generated over the past decade in relation to the experiences of international nurses recruited during this campaign. Five main themes emerged from the review: motivation for migration, adapting to British nursing, experiences of first world healthcare, feeling devalued and deskilled and vectors of racial discrimination. Although some positive experiences are described, significant numbers of nurses describe not feeling personally or professionally valued by the UK nursing establishment, common emotions expressed are disappointment and unmet expectations. This will have implications for job satisfaction and intention to leave or stay.Relevance to clinical practice.  If overseas nurses choose to leave the UK in large numbers, the health services could face a severe staffing shortage. It is important that we listen carefully to their experiences to help identify priorities for policy and practice aimed at improving job satisfaction for migrant nurses and articulating the value that they bring to UK nursing.
Caring for uninsured patients with diabetes: designing and evaluating a novel chronic care model for diabetes care
Authors: Khan Mohammad A. , Evans Arthur T. , Shah Sejal 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground  Safety net urban hospitals are being overwhelmed by an increasing number of patients with diabetes, who frequently only access the health system through visits to emergency departments and urgent care clinics. It is uncertain whether the chronic care model advocated for diabetes care would be feasible and effective for managing diabetes in an acute care setting.Objective  Determine if redesigning the system of care for treating diabetic patients who do not have primary care doctors is feasible, acceptable to patients and effectively lowers patients' haemoglobin A1c, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Design  Prospective single cohort study.Patients  A total of 1098 consecutive diabetic patients presenting to an urgent care clinic at an urban safety net public hospital in Chicago between October 2004 and April 2006 who had a haemoglobin A1c measured at baseline.Intervention  Adapt the chronic care model for managing diabetes to the acute care setting of an urgent care clinic to manage uninsured patients with diabetes who do not have primary care.Results  Among the 1098 patients, 833 (76%) had a repeat A1c during the 2‐ to 12‐month follow‐up period. On average, A1c values decreased by 1.5 percentage points; systolic blood pressure decreased by 9 mmHg; low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased 11 points; and weight decreased 2.3 pounds (all: P < 0.001). The percentage using angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor drugs increased from 45% to 83%; aspirin use increased from 38% to 83%; and statin use increased from 34% to 76%.Conclusions  This novel chronic care model for diabetes care of uninsured patients without primary care doctors was feasible, acceptable and effective in increasing the quality of diabetes care and decreasing haemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.
SAS macros for point and interval estimation of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for non‐proportional and proportional hazards Weibull models
Authors: Mannan Haider , Stevenson Chris 
Published: June 2010

AbstractAims and objectives  For prediction of risk of cardiovascular end points using survival models the proportional hazards assumption is often not met. Thus, non‐proportional hazards models are more appropriate for developing risk prediction equations in such situations. However, computer program for evaluating the prediction performance of such models has been rarely addressed. We therefore developed SAS macro programs for evaluating the discriminative ability of a non‐proportional hazards Weibull model developed by Anderson (1991) and that of a proportional hazards Weibull model using the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Method  Two SAS macro programs for non‐proportional hazards Weibull model using Proc NLIN and Proc NLP respectively and model validation using area under ROC curve (with its confidence limits) were written with SAS IML language. A similar SAS macro for proportional hazards Weibull model was also written.Results  The computer program was applied to data on coronary heart disease incidence for a Framingham population cohort. The five risk factors considered were current smoking, age, blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity. The predictive ability of the non‐proportional hazard Weibull model was slightly higher than that of its proportional hazard counterpart. An advantage of SAS Proc NLP in terms of the example provided here is that it provides significance level for the parameter estimates whereas Proc NLIN does not.Conclusion  The program is very useful for evaluating the predictive performance of non‐proportional and proportional hazards Weibull models.
Clean and sterile delivery: two different approaches to infection control
Authors: Charrier Lorena , Serafini Paola , Chiono Vincenza , Rebora Monica , Rabacchi Grace , Zotti Carla M. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractRationale  Although the World Health Organization recommends not using sterile technique for low‐risk delivery and literature doesn't report a significant association between clean delivery and higher risk for infection, sterile technique remains a prevalent practice. We conducted our study in the obstetric clinics of two hospitals of Piemonte Region (Italy) that use different operative care models (‘clean’ vs. ‘sterile’).Objectives  Aim of the study was to describe practices and procedures used by midwives during delivery, according to the model adopted, and to compare the incidence of perineal infection between use of ‘clean’ versus ‘sterile’ practices for intrapartum care.Methods  Prospective cohort study. 200 women for each hospital were included in the study. Health care behaviour and practices performed during the different stages of delivery were observed and recorded on an observation sheet. Follow‐up was conducted for 1 month after discharge in order to detect infections of reproductive organs.Results  Many differences were described in procedures and health care worker practices between the two hospitals and even among operators of the same ward, but a greater compliance with the theoretical model adopted was described among midwives and physicians of the ‘clean’ delivery model. No infections were detected in either of the two samples of women included in the study.Conclusions  From our observations we can conclude that many reasons support the adoption of ‘clean’ technique for low‐risk deliveries: reducing inappropriate use of resources and costs for health care, less medicalization, less frequent use of episiotomy and shaving, major compliance of operators with simple and coherent practices and procedures.
Optimized sample preparation for high‐resolution AFM characterization of fixed human cells
Authors: FRANCIS L.W. , GONZALEZ D. , RYDER T. , BAER K. , REES M. , WHITE J.O. , CONLAN R.S. , WRIGHT C.J. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryAtomic force microscopy enables the simultaneous acquisition of high‐resolution topographical and biophysical data allowing integrated analysis of cell surfaces during development and pathogenesis, and, critically, can link molecular and biophysical events. Here we used atomic force microscopy to analyse endometrial epithelial cells and neuronally differentiated P19 cells. Optimized reproducible sample preparation techniques enabled micro‐ and nanoscale multi‐parameter analysis. Comparative analysis using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the utility of atomic force microscopy for examining tissue morphology, and its ability to generate data allowing differentiation of cells from different origins to be monitored. At low resolution atomic force microscopy produced topographic data complementary to scanning electron microscopy images, whilst at high resolution atomic force microscopy captured novel cell surface structural detail for both epithelial and neuronal cell types. Analysis of surface roughness provided biophysical data which enabled qualitative and quantitative differences between samples to be measured. This study provides an important optimization of sample preparation enabling more generalized atomic force microscopy utilization for cellular analysis required for advanced cell surface morphological studies.