bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Interaction of Stars and Magnetic Field in the Orientation System of Night Migrating Birds
Authors: Wiltschko Wolfgang , Wiltschko Roswitha 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTo investigate the relative importance of stellar and magnetic cues for the compass orientation of night migrating birds, 45 European robins (Erithacus rubecula) were tested in automatically registering cages with view of the clear natural night sky. One group was tested in the natural local geomagnetic field, the other group in a field pointing to 120° ESE; birds from both groups were additionally tested in a magnetic field the horizontal component of which was compensated. The observed orientation behavior leads to the conclusion that star compass and magnetic compass are not independent, but that they are interlinked in the way that the star compass is established by information from the magnetic compass.
Contribution to the Study of the Social Behaviour of Captive Golden Jackals (Canis aureus L.)1
Authors: Wandrey Rüdiger 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe goal of this study was to record and generalize the social behaviour of golden jackals living in captivity, to relate the findings to previous studies on other canids and to give a basis to compare the results with studies made in the natural habitat of golden jackals. Besides different species of canids 12 (5,7) golden jackals (Canis aureus L.) were observed for approx. 1300 hours and their behaviour recorded. As a result 59 behavioural elements could be described clearly and related to specific behavioural sequences. It was found that aggression rules the way of life of the animals and that a lot of non‐aggressive behaviour patterns can be reduced to aggressive behavioural elements. A further finding was that there exists a close related family group which is separated from other groupings of other jackals by the adult ♂ very strongly. It is very unlikely that the golden jackal has played an important role in the domestication of the dog.
Sozialverhalten zweier Elasmucha‐Arten (Heteroptera: Insecta)*
Authors: Melber Albert , Schmidt Gerhard H. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe social behaviour of two Elasmucha species (E. grisea and E. fieberi) manifested in a parental care with a high effectiveness was studied in the surroundings of Würzburg and analysed in the laboratory. ♀♀ exhibiting various methods of defence are able to find their eggs after removal; an olfactory or chemotactile orientation is involved. A distinct grouping behaviour of the young larvae is well adapted to the parental care. There is no species specifity in the guarding of the eggs and larvae as well as in the larvae‐groups.
Modification des effets liés à la priorité de résidence chez Xiphophorus (Pisces, Poeciliidae): le rôle des manipulations expérimentales
Authors: Zayan René C. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAn experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that the effects of prior residence on aggressive behaviour and on dominance might not be found if both the resident and the intruder were handled before the test; in Braddock's experiment (1949) demonstrating these effects, the intruders were the only handled fishes.All our fishes, ♂♂ of the genus Xiphophorus, were isolated for a pre‐experimental period of exactly 22 h; then two fishes were randomly selected and handled as follows for the dominance test (phase 1): — In the Experimental condition (23 E‐pairs), fishes were taken out of their isolation tank and were then introduced simultaneously into the tank that had been occupied by one of them, randomly selected (the “resident”). — In the Control condition (23 C‐pairs), the resident was taken out of its tank 5 min before the end of the 22 h‐isolation period, and then it was again introduced into its area for the remaining 5 min residence‐period; thereafter, the “intruder” was taken out of its isolation tank and transferred into the tank occupied by the resident. As soon as the dominance of a fish was definitely recorded in the resident‘ area, the members of each pair were handled again according to their previous E or C‐condition; for this second transfer (phase 2) both fishes were introduced into the isolation tank that had been occupied by the intruder of the first test prior to its initial transfer.The results of the first test demonstrated that the two handling conditions had very different effects on the behaviour of the pair‐members. Only in the C‐pairs did prior residence affect positively initiation of aggressive behaviour and final dominance; reciprocal aggression was much more frequent between members of the E‐pairs. The dominance‐subordination relationships that had established during the first test remained highly stable (90% of the cases) after the second transfer, indicating that true territoriality, i.e. dominance reversal when each fish becomes resident in its turn, was mostly absent in our pairs of Poeciliids.
Treatment of acute bronchitis with EPs 7630: Randomized, controlled trial in children and adolescents
Authors: Kamin Wolfgang , Ilyenko Lidia I. , Malek Fathi A. , Kieser Meinhard 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground:  The aim of this trial was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630, a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides, in children and adolescents suffering from acute bronchitis, outside the strict indication for antibiotics.Methods:  A total of 220 patients with acute bronchitis were randomized and given either verum containing EPs 7630 (1–6 years/>6–12 years/>12–18 years: 3 × 10/3 × 20/3 × 30 drops/day) or matching placebo for 7 days. The main outcome measure was the change in the total score of bronchitis‐specific symptoms (BSS) from day 0 to day 7.Results:  The decrease in the BSS total score was significantly higher for EPs 7630 compared to placebo (change day 0–day 7: 4.4 ± 1.6 vs 2.9 ± 1.4 points; P < 0.0001). Improvements were most pronounced for ‘coughing’ and ‘rales at auscultation’. Tolerability was similarly good in both groups.Conclusions:  EPs 7630 proved to be an efficacious and well‐tolerated option for the treatment of acute bronchitis in children and adolescents outside the strict indication for antibiotics.
Value of long‐term ecological studies
Authors: LINDENMAYER DAVID B. , LIKENS GENE E. , ANDERSEN ALAN , BOWMAN DAVID , BULL C. MICHAEL , BURNS EMMA , DICKMAN CHRIS R. , HOFFMANN ARY A. , KEITH DAVID A. , LIDDELL MICHAEL J. , LOWE ANDREW J. , METCALFE DANIEL J. , PHINN STUART R. , RUSSELL‐SMITH JEREMY , THURGATE NIKKI , WARDLE GLENDA M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractLong‐term ecological studies are critical for providing key insights in ecology, environmental change, natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. In this paper, we briefly discuss five key values of such studies. These are: (1) quantifying ecological responses to drivers of ecosystem change; (2) understanding complex ecosystem processes that occur over prolonged periods; (3) providing core ecological data that may be used to develop theoretical ecological models and to parameterize and validate simulation models; (4) acting as platforms for collaborative studies, thus promoting multidisciplinary research; and (5) providing data and understanding at scales relevant to management, and hence critically supporting evidence‐based policy, decision making and the management of ecosystems. We suggest that the ecological research community needs to put higher priority on communicating the benefits of long‐term ecological studies to resource managers, policy makers and the general public. Long‐term research will be especially important for tackling large‐scale emerging problems confronting humanity such as resource management for a rapidly increasing human population, mass species extinction, and climate change detection, mitigation and adaptation. While some ecologically relevant, long‐term data sets are now becoming more generally available, these are exceptions. This deficiency occurs because ecological studies can be difficult to maintain for long periods as they exceed the length of government administrations and funding cycles. We argue that the ecological research community will need to coordinate ongoing efforts in an open and collaborative way, to ensure that discoverable long‐term ecological studies do not become a long‐term deficiency. It is important to maintain publishing outlets for empirical field‐based ecology, while simultaneously developing new systems of recognition that reward ecologists for the use and collaborative sharing of their long‐term data sets. Funding schemes must be re‐crafted to emphasize collaborative partnerships between field‐based ecologists, theoreticians and modellers, and to provide financial support that is committed over commensurate time frames.
Striatal direct pathway modulates response time in execution of visual discrimination
Authors: Fukabori Ryoji , Okada Kana , Nishizawa Kayo , Kai Nobuyuki , Kobayashi Kenta , Uchigashima Motokazu , Watanabe Masahiko , Tsutsui Yuji , Kobayashi Kazuto 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe dorsal striatum in the basal ganglia circuitry is a principal structure that mediates the acquisition and performance of instrumental learning. The projections from the dorsal striatum are composed of two subpopulations of medium spiny neurons that constitute the direct and indirect pathways. The mechanism by which these striatal projections control the learning processes of instrumental actions remains unknown. We addressed the behavioral role of the striatal direct (striatonigral) pathway in the performance of visual discrimination. Immunotoxin targeting of the striatal neuronal type containing dopamine D1 receptor in mice resulted in a moderate level of elimination of the striatonigral pathway. Targeting of the neural pathway from the whole region of the dorsal striatum lengthened the response time but did not affect the accuracy of response selection in a two‐choice reaction time task dependent on light stimulus. This lengthened motor response was induced early in the test sessions and was gradually restored to normal levels during repetitive sessions. In addition, subregion‐specific pathway targeting revealed that the delay in learned motor response was generated by the elimination of the striatonigral pathway arising from the dorsomedial striatum but not from the dorsolateral striatum. Our findings indicate that the striatonigral pathway, in particular from the dorsomedial striatum, contributes to the regulation of response time in the execution of visual discrimination. The restoration of motor response deficits during repetitive sessions suggests the presence of a mechanism by which the response facilitation is acquired through continuation of learning despite the removal of the striatonigral pathway.
Intracortical connectivity of layer VI pyramidal neurons in the somatosensory cortex of normal and barrelless mice
Authors: Pichon Fabien , Nikonenko Irina , Kraftsik Rudolf , Welker Egbert 
Published: February 2012

AbstractIn mice, barrels in layer IV of the somatosensory cortex correspond to the columnar representations of whisker follicles. In barrelless (BRL) mice, barrels are absent, but functionally, a columnar organization persists. Previously we characterized the aberrant geometry of thalamic projection of BRL mice using axonal reconstructions of individual neurons. Here we proceeded with the analysis of the intracortical projections from layer VI pyramidal neurons, to assess their contribution to the columnar organization. From series of tangential sections we reconstructed the axon collaterals of individual layer VI pyramidal neurons in the C2 barrel column that were labelled with biocytin [controls from normal (NOR) strain, 19 cells; BRL strain, nine cells]. Using six morphological parameters in a cluster analysis, we showed that layer VI neurons in NOR mice are distributed into four clusters distinguished by the radial and tangential extent of their intracortical projections. These clusters correlated with the cortical or subcortical projection of the main axon. In BRL mice, neurons were distributed within the same four clusters, but their projections to the granular and supragranular layers were significantly smaller and their tangential projection was less columnar than in NOR mice. However, in both strains the intracortical projections had a preference for the appropriate barrel column (C2), indicating that layer VI pyramidal cells could participate in the functional columnar organization of the barrel cortex. Correlative light and electron microscopy analyses provided morphometric data on the intracortical synaptic boutons and synapses of layer VI pyramidal neurons and revealed that projections to layer IV preferentially target excitatory dendritic spines and shafts.
Orexin / hypocretin 1 receptor antagonist reduces heroin self‐administration and cue‐induced heroin seeking
Authors: Smith Rachel J. , Aston‐Jones Gary 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe orexin/hypocretin system is involved in several addiction‐related behaviors. In the present experiments, we examined the involvement of orexin in heroin reinforcement and relapse by administering the orexin 1 receptor antagonist SB‐334867 prior to heroin self‐administration or prior to cue‐induced or heroin‐induced reinstatement of extinguished heroin seeking in male Sprague Dawley rats. SB‐334867 (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) reduced heroin intake during self‐administration under fixed ratio‐1 and progressive ratio schedules. SB‐334867 also attenuated reinstatement of heroin seeking elicited by cues, but not reinstatement elicited by a heroin prime. These results indicate that orexin antagonism reduces heroin self‐administration, and they support a role for orexin in cue‐triggered drug relapse.
Pseudomonas putida growing at low temperature shows increased levels of CrcZ and CrcY sRNAs, leading to reduced Crc‐dependent catabolite repression
Authors: Fonseca Pilar , Moreno Renata , Rojo Fernando 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThe Crc protein of Pseudomonas inhibits the expression of genes involved in the transport and assimilation of a number of non‐preferred carbon sources when preferred substrates are available, thus coordinating carbon metabolism. Crc acts by binding to target mRNAs, inhibiting their translation. In Pseudomonas putida, the amount of free Crc available is controlled by two sRNAs, CrcY and CrcZ, which bind to and sequester Crc. The levels of these sRNAs vary according to metabolic conditions. Pseudomonas putida grows optimally at 30°C, but can also thrive at 10°C. The present work shows that when cells grow exponentially at 10°C, the repressive effect of Crc on many genes is significantly reduced compared with that seen at 30°C. Total Crc levels were similar at both temperatures, but those of CrcZ and CrcY were significantly higher at 10°C. Therefore, Crc‐mediated repression may, at least in part, be reduced at 10°C because the fraction of Crc protein sequestered by CrcZ and CrcY is larger, reducing the amount of free Crc available to bind its targets. This may help P. putida to face cold stress. The results reported might help understanding the behaviour of this bacterium in bioremediation or rhizoremediation strategies at low temperatures.
Free graft foreskin anoplasty
Authors: Fucini C. , Caminati F. , Basiricò F. , Bartolini N. , Mirasolo V. M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim Reconstruction of a stenotic anal canal and repair of a stenotic perineal colostomy using a free graft foreskin.Method The use of free graft foreskin anoplasty was described by Freeman for the treatment of mucosal prolapse in pediatric patients. The original surgical technique was modified and employed in two adult patients for the reconstruction of the anal region.Results The graft, in both cases, took well with a satisfactory functional and morphological recovery of the anal canal.Conclusion Free graft foreskin anoplasty, has proved to be an effective solution to stenosis in the anal canal following major local surgery.
Referral proformas improve compliance to national colorectal 2‐week wait targets: does this affect cancer detection rates?
Authors: Jani A. , Jenner L. , Ma F. , Dutton S. , Stevens R. , Sharma R. A. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim  To facilitate implementation of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for urgent colorectal cancer referral, local cancer networks have promoted the use of standardized proformas in primary care. This clinical audit assessed use of the proforma within the Thames Valley Cancer Network (TVCN) to see whether increased proforma use was associated with higher compliance to NICE guidelines and higher cancer detection rates.Method  All 2‐week wait referrals for lower bowel cancer to the six Acute NHS Trusts in the TVCN received during the month of June 2010 were identified, anonymized and analysed in relation to colorectal cancer detection rates.Results  Of the 586 referrals audited, proforma usage varied significantly across the six Acute NHS Trusts from 18% to 96%. Referral letters from primary care had NICE compliance ranging from 30 to 50%. In those which received a referral protocol, 50–90% were NICE compliant. Proforma use was associated with higher cancer detection rates (P = 0.03).Conclusion  These results have wide‐ranging implications since they suggest that the adoption of a simple proforma in primary care can improve the effectiveness of referral for suspected cancer.
Canine eyelid granular cell tumor: a report of eight cases
Authors: Lu Jennifer E. , Dubielzig Richard 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTo describe a previously unreported neoplasm of the medial canthus and eyelid in dogs. Clinical and pathologic features of granular cell tumors in the dog were reviewed. Granular cell tumors, arising from the medial canthal eyelid of eight dogs, were identified from the archives of the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW). The affected dogs ranged in age from 5 to 12 years (mean of 9.25 years). Follow‐up information was available for seven of the eight cases. The clinical presentation included swollen hyperemic lids (4/8), ulcerated skin overlying the mass (2/8), and red conjunctiva (7/8). All eight of the cases had firm masses extending from the palpebral conjunctiva to the eyelid margin at the medial canthus. Histologically, the tissue was composed of a highly collagenous neoplastic growth. The neoplastic cells were oval to strap‐like cells with an oval bland appearing nucleus and abundant amounts of granular cytoplasm with very distinct cell boundaries. These granular cells were embedded in a dense collagen matrix. A PAS stain faintly highlighted the granular appearance of the neoplastic cells, which is a defining characteristic of this tumor. There was no recurrence in the seven cases available for follow‐up. Canine granular cell tumors of the medial canthus present clinically and histologically as a benign neoplasm. Granular cell tumors have a characteristic histological appearance. Granular cell tumors should be on the differential list for nodules of the medial canthus in dogs.
Circadian rhythms in executive function during the transition to adolescence: the effect of synchrony between chronotype and time of day
Authors: Hahn Constanze , Cowell Jason M. , Wiprzycka Ursula J. , Goldstein David , Ralph Martin , Hasher Lynn , Zelazo Philip David 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTo explore the influence of circadian rhythms on executive function during early adolescence, we administered a battery of executive function measures (including a Go‐Nogo task, the Iowa Gambling Task, a Self‐ordered Pointing task, and an Intra/Extradimensional Shift task) to Morning‐preference and Evening‐preference participants (N = 80) between the ages of 11 and 14 years who were tested in the morning or afternoon. Significant Chronotype × Time of Day interactions (controlling for amount of sleep the previous night) revealed that adolescents tested at their optimal times of day performed better than those tested at their nonoptimal times. Implications for our understanding of physiological arousal, sleep, and executive function during adolescence are discussed.
Word learning in deaf children with cochlear implants: effects of early auditory experience
Authors: Houston Derek M. , Stewart Jessica , Moberly Aaron , Hollich George , Miyamoto Richard T. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWord‐learning skills were tested in normal‐hearing 12‐ to 40‐month‐olds and in deaf 22‐ to 40‐month‐olds 12 to 18 months after cochlear implantation. Using the Intermodal Preferential Looking Paradigm (IPLP), children were tested for their ability to learn two novel‐word/novel‐object pairings. Normal‐hearing children demonstrated learning on this task at approximately 18 months of age and older. For deaf children, performance on this task was significantly correlated with early auditory experience: Children whose cochlear implants were switched on by 14 months of age or who had relatively more hearing before implantation demonstrated learning in this task, but later implanted profoundly deaf children did not. Performance on this task also correlated with later measures of vocabulary size. Taken together, these findings suggest that early auditory experience facilitates word learning and that the IPLP may be useful for identifying children who may be at high risk for poor vocabulary development.A video abstract of this article can be viewed at http://youtu.be/buEmjBLy5kc.
Infant word segmentation and childhood vocabulary development: a longitudinal analysis
Authors: Singh Leher , Steven Reznick J. , Xuehua Liang 
Published: February 2012

AbstractInfants begin to segment novel words from speech by 7.5 months, demonstrating an ability to track, encode and retrieve words in the context of larger units. Although it is presumed that word recognition at this stage is a prerequisite to constructing a vocabulary, the continuity between these stages of development has not yet been empirically demonstrated. The goal of the present study is to investigate whether infant word segmentation skills are indeed related to later lexical development. Two word segmentation tasks, varying in complexity, were administered in infancy and related to childhood outcome measures. Outcome measures consisted of age‐normed productive vocabulary percentiles and a measure of cognitive development. Results demonstrated a strong degree of association between infant word segmentation abilities at 7 months and productive vocabulary size at 24 months. In addition, outcome groups, as defined by median vocabulary size and growth trajectories at 24 months, showed distinct word segmentation abilities as infants. These findings provide the first prospective evidence supporting the predictive validity of infant word segmentation tasks and suggest that they are indeed associated with mature word knowledge.A video abstract of this article can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxzLi5oLZQ8.
LONG‐RUN DETERMINANTS OF JAPANESE EXPORTS TO CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES: A SECTORAL ANALYSIS
Authors: JAUSSAUD JACQUES , REY SERGE 
Published: February 2012

AbstractDuring the period 1971–2007, Japanese sectoral exports to China and the United States depended on real exchange rate fluctuations and external demand (GDP of the country of destination). This result holds for both geographical destinations and for all six sectors under investigation in this study: foods, textiles, metal products, chemicals, non‐metal products, and machinery and equipment. For both China and the United States and for almost all sectors, the real exchange rate fluctuations and GDP have had the expected effects. Real appreciation of the yen and greater uncertainty derived from increased exchange rate volatility have reduced Japanese exports.