bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective size of harvested ungulate populations
Authors: Sæther B.‐E. , Engen S. , Solberg E. J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe harvest of ungulate populations is often directed against certain sex or age classes to maximize the yield in terms of biomass, number of shot animals or number of trophies. Here we examine how such directional harvest affects the effective size of the population. We parameterize an age‐specific model assumed to describe the dynamics of Fennoscandian moose. Based on expressions for the demographic variancefor a small subpopulation of heterozygotesAabearing a rare neutral allelea, we use this model to calculate how different harvest strategies influence the effective size of the population, given that the population remains stable after harvest. We show that the annual genetic drift, determined by, increases with decreasing harvest rate of calves and increasing sex bias in the harvest towards bulls 1 year or older. The effective population size per generation decreased with reduced harvest of calves and increased harvest of bulls 1 year or older. The magnitude of these effects depends on the age‐specific pattern of variation in reproductive success, which influences the demographic variance. This shows that the choice of harvest strategy strongly affects the genetic dynamics of harvested ungulate populations.
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in the human cerebellum: qualitative and quantitative analyses
Authors: Benagiano Vincenzo , Flace Paolo , Lorusso Loredana , Rizzi Anna , Bosco Lorenzo , Cagiano Raffaele , Ambrosi Glauco 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAlthough autoradiographic, reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated receptors for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the cerebellum of various species, immunohistochemistry has never shown immunoreactivity for VIP within cerebellar neuronal bodies and processes. The present study aimed to ascertain whether VIP immunoreactivity really does exist in the human cerebellum by making a systematic analysis of samples removed post‐mortem from all of the cerebellar lobes. The study was carried out using light microscopy immunohistochemical techniques based on a set of four different antibodies (three polyclonal and one monoclonal) against VIP, carefully selected on the basis of control tests performed on human colon. All of the antibodies used showed VIP‐immunoreactive neuronal bodies and processes distributed in the cerebellar cortex and subjacent white matter of all of the cerebellum lobes, having similar qualitative patterns of distribution. Immunoreactive neurons included subpopulations of the main neuron types of the cortex. Statistical analysis of the quantitative data on the VIP immunoreactivity revealed by the different antibodies in the different cerebellar lobes did not demonstrate any significant differences. In conclusion, using four different anti‐VIP antibodies, the first evidence of VIP immunoreactivity is herein supplied in the human post‐mortem cerebellum, with similar qualitative/quantitative patterns of distribution among the different cerebellum lobes. Owing to the function performed by VIP as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator, it is a candidate for a role in intrinsic and extrinsic (projective) circuits of the cerebellum, in agreement with previous demonstrations of receptors for VIP in the cerebellar cortex and nuclei. As VIP signalling pathways are implicated in the regulation of cognitive and psychic functions, cerebral blood flow and metabolism, processes of histomorphogenesis, differentiation and outgrowth of nervous tissues, the results of this study could be applied to clinical neurology and psychiatry, opening new perspectives for the interpretation of neurodevelopment disorders and development of new therapeutic strategies in cerebellar diseases.
Iliac cortical thickness in the neonate – the gradient effect
Authors: Cunningham Craig A. , Black Sue M. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractRecent studies of the neonatal ilium are beginning to reveal that a recognizable structural patterning of trabecular bone is present in the absence of any direct stance‐related weight transfer. However, little is known about the organization of compact bone in the ilium and the way in which it is laid down during the earliest stages of development. This study investigates cortical bone thickness across both gluteal and pelvic iliac shells in the human neonatal ilium. Measurements of specific regions of interest on the iliac cortices were recorded using reconstructed micro‐computed tomography scans from 30 neonatal ilia. Analysis of gluteal and pelvic cortical thicknesses revealed a distinctive patterning consistent with the expected bone distribution achieved through early bone modelling and remodelling. The analysis of this pattern is important for understanding the relationship between trabecular bone patterning and cortical bone structure in the earliest stages of pelvic development prior to locomotive influences and its response to the specific functional forces acting during this period.
Hunting patterns and geographic profiling of white shark predation
Authors: Martin R. A. , Rossmo D. K. , Hammerschlag N. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPredators can play important roles in structuring their communities through top‐down effects on the distribution and abundance of their prey. Sharks are top predators in many marine communities, yet few studies have quantified those factors influencing their distribution and hunting behaviour. Here, we use location data from 340 predatory interactions between white sharks Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus), and Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus (Schreber), data on associated environmental factors, and spatial analysis, including a novel application of geographic profiling – a tool originally developed to analyse serial crime – to investigate spatial patterns of shark attack and search behaviour at Seal Island in False Bay, South Africa. We found that spatial patterns of shark predation at this site are nonrandom. Sharks appear to possess a well‐defined search base or anchor point, located 100 m seaward of the seal's primary island entry–exit point. This location is not where chances of intercepting seals are greatest and we propose it may represent a balance among prey detection, capture rates, and competition. Smaller sharks exhibit more dispersed prey search patterns and have lower predatory success rates than larger conspecifics, suggesting possible refinement of hunting strategy with experience or competitive exclusion of smaller sharks from the most profitable hunting locations. As many of the features of this system will be common to other instances of foraging, our conclusions and approach employed may have implications and applications for understanding how large predators hunt and for studying other predator–prey systems.
Allometric equations for predicting body mass of dinosaurs
Authors: Packard G. C. , Boardman T. J. , Birchard G. F. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe use data from the literature to compare two statistical procedures for estimating mass (or size) of quadrupedal dinosaurs and other extraordinarily large animals in extinct lineages. Both methods entail extrapolation from allometric equations fitted to data for a reference group of contemporary animals having a body form similar to that of the dinosaurs. The first method is the familiar one of fitting a straight line to logarithmic transformations, followed by back‐transformation of the resulting equation to a two‐parameter power function in the arithmetic scale. The second procedure entails fitting a two‐parameter power function directly to arithmetic data for the extant forms by nonlinear regression. In the example presented here, the summed circumferences for humerus plus femur for 33 species of quadrupedal mammals was the predictor variable in the reference sample and body mass was the response variable. The allometric equation obtained by back‐transformation from logarithms was not a good fit to the largest species in the reference sample and presumably led to grossly inaccurate estimates for body mass of several large dinosaurs. In contrast, the allometric equation obtained by nonlinear regression described data in the reference sample quite well, and it presumably resulted in better estimates for body mass of the dinosaurs. The problem with the traditional analysis can be traced to change in the relationship between predictor and response variables attending transformation, thereby causing measurements for large animals not to be weighted appropriately in fitting models by least squares regression. Extrapolations from statistical models obtained by back‐transformation from lines fitted to logarithms are unlikely to yield reliable predictions for body size in extinct animals. Numerous reports on the biology of dinosaurs, including recent studies of growth, may need to be reconsidered in light of our findings.
Phylogeny and species composition of five European species of Branchiobdella (Annelida: Clitellata: Branchiobdellida) reflect the biogeographic history of three endangered crayfish species
Authors: Füreder L. , Summerer M. , Brandstätter A. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBranchiobdellid annelids are usually found as commensal symbionts associated with crayfish populations, but knowledge of their dispersion and ecology in Europe is generally scarce. We hypothesized that their geographic extension of species and populations may mirror the distribution history of their hosts. We analysed potential host specificities and the geographic distribution of species from the Italian and Austrian Tyrol and Carinthia by characterizing the morphological and genetic features. On the three indigenous crayfish species Astacus astacus, Austropotamobius pallipes and Austropotamobius torrentium, we identified four branchiobdellid species based on morphological characteristics: Branchiobdella hexodonta, Branchiobdella pentodonta, Branchiobdella balcanica and Branchiobdella parasita. In contrast to the morphological classification, phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (CO‐I) sequences identified five main lineages: B. balcanica, B. hexodonta, Branchiobdella italica, B. parasita and B. pentodonta. The arrangement of branchiobdellid species corresponded generally to the geographical distribution of their crayfish hosts' locations but also confirmed previous assumptions of crayfish translocations. Our study provides the first application of ideas on the association of freshwater crayfish and their ectosymbionts to be used for discussing the biogeography of crayfish populations. The phenotypical and genotypical analysis also demonstrated so far ignored effects of human activities at both macro‐ecological and micro‐ecological levels.
Prey classification by an araneophagic ant‐like jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae)
Authors: Nelson X. J. , Jackson R. R. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWhat to attack is one of the most basic decisions predators must make, and these decisions are reliant upon the predator's sensory and cognitive capacity. Active choice of spiders as preferred prey, or araneophagy, has evolved in several distantly related spider families, including jumping spiders (Salticidae), but has never been demonstrated in ant‐like jumping spiders. We used prey‐choice tests with motionless lures to investigate prey‐choice behaviour inMyrmarachne melanotarsa, an East African ant‐like salticid that normally lives in aggregations and often associates with other spider species. We show thatM.melanotarsachooses spiders as prey in preference to insects and, furthermore, discriminates between different types of spiders.Myrmarachne melanotarsa's preferred prey were juvenile hersiliids and its second most preferred were other salticids. To date, all documented examples of araneophagic salticids have been from the basal subfamily Spartaeinae.Myrmarachne melanotarsais the first non‐spartaeine and also the first ant‐like salticid for which araneophagy has been demonstrated.
Darwin's beautiful contrivances: evolutionary and functional evidence for floral adaptation
Authors: Harder Lawrence D. , Johnson Steven D. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryAlthough not ‘a professed botanist’, Charles Darwin made seminal contributions to understanding of floral and inflorescence function while seeking evidence of adaptation by natural selection. This review considers the legacy of Darwin's ideas from three perspectives. First, we examine the process of floral and inflorescence adaptation by surveying studies of phenotypic selection, heritability and selection responses. Despite widespread phenotypic and genetic capacity for natural selection, only one‐third of estimates indicate phenotypic selection. Second, we evaluate experimental studies of floral and inflorescence function and find that they usually demonstrate that reproductive traits represent adaptations. Finally, we consider the role of adaptation in floral diversification. Despite different diversification modes (coevolution, divergent use of the same pollen vector, pollinator shifts), evidence of pollination ecotypes and phylogenetic patterns suggests that adaptation commonly contributes to floral diversity. Thus, this review reveals a contrast between the inconsistent occurrence of phenotypic selection and convincing experimental and comparative evidence that floral traits are adaptations. Rather than rejecting Darwin's hypotheses about floral evolution, this contrast suggests that the tempo of creative selection varies, with strong, consistent selection during episodes of diversification, but relatively weak and inconsistent selection during longer, ‘normal’ periods of relative phenotypic stasis.ContentsSummary530I.Introduction530II.The process of floral and inflorescence adaptation532III.Experimental studies of flowers as adaptations538IV.Floral diversification: microevolution writ large?539V.Concluding comments541Acknowledgements542References542
Head–torso–hand coordination in children with and without developmental coordination disorder
Authors: ELDERS VERA , SHEEHAN SINÉAD , WILSON ANDREW D , LEVESLEY MARTIN , BHAKTA BIPIN , MON‐WILLIAMS MARK 
Published: June 2009

Aim  This study investigated the nature of coordination and control problems in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).Method  Seven adults (two males, five females, age range 20–28y; mean 23y, SD 2y 8mo) and eight children with DCD (six males, two females, age range 7–9y; mean 8y, SD 8mo), and 10 without DCD (seven males, three females, age range 7–9y; mean 8y, SD 7mo) sat in a swivel chair and looked at or pointed to targets. Optoelectronic apparatus recorded head, torso, and hand movements, and the spatial and temporal characteristics of the movements were computed.Results  Head movement times were longer (p<0.05) in children with DCD than in the comparison group, even in the looking task, suggesting that these children experience problems at the lowest level of coordination (the coupling of synergistic muscle groups within a single degree of freedom). Increasing the task demands with the pointing condition affected the performance of children with DCD to a much greater extent than the other groups, most noticeably in key feedforward kinematic landmarks. Temporal coordination data indicated that all three groups attempted to produce similar movement patterns to each other, but that the children with DCD were much less successful than age‐matched children in the comparison group.Interpretation  Children with DCD have difficulty coordinating and controlling single degree‐of‐freedom movements; this problem makes more complex tasks disproportionately difficult for them. Quantitative analysis of kinematics provides key insights into the nature of the problems faced by children with DCD.
Does parent report measure performance? A study of the construct validity of the Functional Mobility Scale
Authors: HARVEY ADRIENNE , BAKER RICHARD , MORRIS MEG E , HOUGH JANET , HUGHES MARTY , GRAHAM H KERR 
Published: June 2009

Aim Parental report is often relied on to measure performance of activities in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study examined whether the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) accurately reflects performance of mobility in children with CP.Method Eighteen children with spastic CP (11 males, seven females; mean age 12y 8mo, SD 2y 8mo, range 8–17y) were recruited from a special development school. Children were in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II (n=5), III (n=4), or IV (n=9), and had quadriplegia (n=9), diplegia (n=7), or hemiplegia (n=2). The children’s mobility was observed directly around and outside the home and at school and their mobility methods were recorded. The parent’s FMS rating was obtained on the telephone by a physiotherapist. Agreement between direct observation and the FMS rating was examined using quadratic weighted kappa (κ) statistics.Results Agreement between direct observation and the FMS was as follows: FMS 5m κ=0.71, 45%; FMS 50m κ=0.76, 94%; FMS 500m κ=0.74, 95%. Differences in the range and number of mobility methods were observed by GMFCS level across environmental settings.Interpretation Substantial agreement was found between FMS ratings and direct observation, particularly over longer distances, providing evidence of the validity of the FMS as a measure of performance in children with CP.
Participation in home, extracurricular, and community activities among children and young people with cerebral palsy
Authors: ORLIN MARGO N , PALISANO ROBERT J , CHIARELLO LISA A , KANG LIN‐JU , POLANSKY MARCIA , ALMASRI NIHAD , MAGGS JILL 
Published: June 2009

Aim  Participation in home, extracurricular, and community activities is a desired outcome of rehabilitation services for children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of age and gross motor function on participation among children and young people with CP.Method  Five hundred participants (277 males, 223 females) were grouped by age and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level. There were 291 children aged 6 to 12 years and 209 young people aged 13 to 21 years. There were 128 participants in GMFCS level I, 220 in levels II/III, and 152 in levels IV/V. Participants completed the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment to measure number of activities (diversity) and how often they were performed (intensity) in the past 4 months.Results  Children had higher overall participation diversity and intensity than young people (p<0.001). Children and young people in GMFCS level I had the highest overall participation, followed by children and young people in levels II/III and IV/V. Children had higher participation in recreational (p<0.001) but not formal (such as team sports or clubs) or physical activities. Children (p<0.01) and young people (p<0.001) in level I had the highest participation in physical activities; diversity and intensity were generally low.Interpretation  The findings provide evidence of the effect of age and gross motor function on participation of children and young people with CP. Low participation in physical activities may have implications for fitness and health, especially for children and young people in GMFCS levels IV and V.
The heritability of P300 amplitude in 18‐year‐olds is robust to adolescent alcohol use
Authors: Perlman Greg , Johnson Wendy , Iacono William G. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractP3 amplitude reduction (P3AR) is associated with adolescent alcohol use (AAU) and highly heritable, suggesting that P3AR may index a genetic predisposition (e.g., an endophenotype) for AAU. However, because P3AR and AAU covary naturally in the population, these observations are also consistent with P3AR reflecting neurotoxic effects of AAU on the developing adolescent brain. In this report, we describe the use of recent advancements in biometric modeling to examine changes in the genetic and environmental contributions to variability in P3 amplitude related to cumulative AAU by late adolescence in a large community‐based twin sample. We found that the genetic and environmental contributions to variability in P3 amplitude were unaffected by AAU. This suggests that P3AR indexes risk for alcoholism independent of any deleterious effect of AAU on adolescent brain development.
Aging effects on early‐stage face perception: An ERP study
Authors: Gao Lei , Xu Jing , Zhang Bingwei , Zhao Lun , Harel Assaf , Bentin Shlomo 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe compared early stages of face processing in young and older participants as indexed by ERPs elicited by faces and non‐face stimuli presented in upright and inverted orientations. The P1 and N170 components were larger in older than in young participants. However, the early distinction between stimulus categories as reflected by N170 face was similar across groups. Face inversion increased and delayed the N170 peak in the younger group while in older participants inversion delayed the N170 peak but had no effect on amplitude. The N170 amplitude was right‐lateralized in the young, but not in the older group. Yet, the difference between the N170 elicited by faces and non‐face stimuli was similarly right‐lateralized in both groups. These data suggest that detection of faces and their streaming to face‐characteristic structural encoding is not altered by age. In contrast, the absence of face‐inversion effects on N170 amplitudes in the elderly suggest that face individuation, which is probably the default strategy in younger people, might not be attempted by default in older people, at least when they look at young faces.
An information behaviour investigation of the community pharmacists in Greece for developing library and information services
Authors: Kostagiolas P. A. , Bairaktaris K. D. , Niakas D. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground and objectives:  Community pharmacists require a constant provision of high quality information for updating their knowledge and improving their practices and skills. The development of library and information services for the pharmacists in a meaningful way should take into consideration their information behaviour and needs. This study is an investigation of the information behaviour of community pharmacists in Greece, as well as their perceptions regarding the contribution of library and information services in their future professional development. This is the only empirical investigation which has been made available regarding the information behaviour of the community pharmacists in Greece.Methods:  An empirical investigation has been conducted between March and April of 2008 through the development and the distribution of a semi‐structured questionnaire. The sample of the respondents consists of 92 community pharmacists from 22 pharmacy associations in Greece.Results:  The community pharmacists have access to the Internet, with limited access to specialized information resources, and they are increasingly utilizing information services in their everyday practices. The pharmaceutical associations (national and local) could play a significant role as information providers and specialized hybrid libraries and information services are required in order to satisfy the current information needs of the community pharmacists.Conclusions:  Meaningful library and information services depend on setting specifications relevant to the community pharmacists’ information behaviour. Indeed, in the near future, structured information services may come to rescue the role of the community pharmacists and empower their irreplaceable position in serving the local communities.