bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Restoration of hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen through light irradiation‐induced periphyton production
Authors: Kishimoto Naoyuki , Mawatari Koichi 
Published: June 2009

AbstractLarge quantities of detritus can accumulate on the bottom sediments of eutrophic lakes, leading to depletion of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the hypolimnion. Decreased redox potential associated with low hypolimnetic DO concentrations can accelerate the remobilization of ammonia and phosphorus from the sediments back into the water column. As maintenance of aerobic conditions in the hypolimnion is an important consideration for successful lake management, this research focused on the use of periphyton production of DO to control hypolimnetic DO levels. To augment periphyton photosynthesis, light was irradiated to the bottom sediments via glass fibres, in order to examine the effects of light irradiation on DO restoration on bottom sediments in test chambers. Dissolved oxygen restoration by periphytic photosynthesis was confirmed in these experiments, with both temperature and light intensity having positive effects on the areal net oxygen production rate. The Q10 temperature coefficient for net oxygen production was estimated to be 2.24. In typical temperate‐zone lakes, the hypolimnetic water temperature is <15 °C, resulting in an expected areal net oxygen production rate ranging from 100 to 200 mg O2 m−2 day−1 at a light irradiation of 50 μE m−2 s−1. Based on these experimental results, the condenser area required to achieve DO restoration under hypolimnetic light irradiation alone was estimated to be 3.2–4.1% of the hypolimnetic area. Thus, hypolimnetic light irradiation combined with hypolimnetic aeration can reduce energy consumption required for hypolimnetic aeration in DO restoration efforts.
Assessment of element distribution and heavy metal contamination in Chilika Lake sediments (India)
Authors: Zachmann D. W. , Mohanti M. , Treutler H. C. , Scharf B. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractChilika Lake is situated on the Indian east coast. It is one of the largest lagoons in the world, with a unique assemblage of marine, brackish water and freshwater species. Due to the opening of new connections to the sea in the years 2000 and 2008, an environmental change is expected in the lagoon. The study gives an assessment of sediment contamination by heavy metals on the verge of this change (sampling campaign in 2000). Sediment samples from two surface levels (0–5 and 30–35 cm), and from depth profiles, were analysed for mineralogical composition, main and trace element concentrations, and element bonding forms. Background concentrations from a depth profile were also examined. The profile spans a time of ≈13 500 years. Age determinations by radiocarbon dating and the 137Cs‐ and 210Pb‐method were carried out. The composition of the surface sediments is generally uniform. The heavy metals exhibit slightly decreasing concentrations from NE to SW, thus indicating the supply of contaminants from the Mahanadi River. The anthropogenic portion of the heavy metal supply is mainly bound to Fe‐oxide‐hydroxides. Phosphorus is enriched in the sediments of the southern lake sector. Changes in element concentrations in the last 13 500 years have occurred mainly in two steps. The long‐term variations exceed the anthropogenic changes caused by the Mahanadi River inputs. The very sensitive response of coastal area fabrics on climate changes also causes fast geogenic changes in element concentrations in sediments (similar grain sizes). This prevents the use of element concentrations from deep sediment horizons to define contaminations in those areas.
Factors associated with variability in response of diabetic macular oedema after intravitreal triamcinolone
Authors: Mohamed Shaheeda , Leung Gabriel M , Chan Carmen KM , Lai Timothy YY , Lee Vincent YW , Liu David TL , Li Kenneth KW , Li Patrick SH , Lam Dennis SC 
Published: June 2009

AbstractPurpose:  To identify factors associated with variability in anatomical and functional response of diabetic macular oedema (DMO) after 4 mg of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (ivTA), and for recurrence of macular oedema.Design:  Pooled analysis of individual data from two randomized controlled trials.Methods:  This was a multicentre study involving 107 eyes with DMO administered 4 mg ivTA. Predictive factors for response to treatment were evaluated with linear regression analysis. Factors associated with time to recurrence of oedema were studied with Cox proportional hazards modelling. Main outcome measures were maximum improvement in optical coherence tomography (OCT)‐measured central foveal thickness (CFT) and best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA), final CFT and BCVA at 12 months and time to oedema recurrence.Results:  Greater reduction of retinal thickening occurred in eyes with worse baseline thickening (P < 0.001). There was also greater improvement of visual acuity in eyes with poorer preoperative BCVA levels (P < 0.001). Age, duration of oedema and previous macular laser treatment had no significant effect on maximal BCVA or CFT improvement. Eyes given 4 mg triamcinolone alone were more likely to develop recurrence of oedema at 12 months than those given a combination of 4 mg triamcinolone plus sequential laser (hazard ratio 2.60 [95% confidence interval: 1.45–4.67]).Conclusion:  Baseline OCT‐measured retinal thickening and BCVA are important predictors of maximal anatomical and functional response of DMO to ivTA, respectively. Combination treatment strategy using sequential laser therapy may have a role in delaying recurrence of oedema after triamcinolone.
Decadal dynamics of tree cover in an Australian tropical savanna
Authors: LEHMANN CAROLINE E. R. , PRIOR LYNDA D. , BOWMAN DAVID M. J. S. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractSpatio‐temporal variation in tropical savanna tree cover remains poorly understood. We aimed to quantify the drivers of tree cover in tropical mesic savannas in Kakadu National Park by relating changes in tree cover over 40 years to: mean annual rainfall, fire activity, initial tree cover and prior changes in tree cover. Aerial photography, acquired in 1964, 1984 and 2004, was obtained for fifty sites in Kakadu that spanned a rainfall gradient from approximately 1200 to 1600 mm. The remotely sensed estimates of tree cover were validated via field survey. Linear mixed effects modelling and multi‐model inference were used to assess the strength and form of the relationships between tree cover and predictor variables. Over the 40 years, tree cover across these savannas increased on average by 4.94 ± 0.88%, but was spatio‐temporally variable. Tree cover showed a positive albeit weak trend across the rainfall gradient. The strength of this positive relationship varied over the three measurement times, and this suggests that other factors are important in controlling tree cover. Tree cover was positively related to prior tree cover, and negatively correlated with fire activity. Over 20 years tree cover was more likely to increase if (i) tree cover was initially low or (ii) had decreased in the previous 20‐year interval or (iii) there had been fewer fires. Across the examined rainfall gradient, the greater variability in fire activity and inherently higher average tree cover at the wetter latitudes resulted in greater dynamism of tree cover compared with the drier latitudes. This is consistent with savanna tree cover being determined by interactions between mean annual rainfall, tree competition and frequent fire in these tropical mesic savannas.
Sources of protein in two semi‐arid zone mistletoe specialists: Insights from stable isotopes
Authors: BAREA LAURENCE P. , HERRERA M. L. GERARDO 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObtaining adequate levels of dietary protein is essential for the physiology of consumers. This presents potential problems for frugivorous birds because fruit is generally low in protein rendering it nutritionally inadequate and potentially explaining the rarity of exclusive frugivory in birds. We addressed this issue by determining the isotope composition (15N/14N) in the whole blood of two mistletoe consumers, that is, painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta, Meliphagidae) and mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum, Dicaeidae) during the grey mistletoe (Amyema quandang, Loranthaceae) fruiting peak in a semi‐arid woodland, NSW, Australia. Grey mistletoe fruit pulp and arthropods were isotopically distinct (mean δ15N fruit 4.4‰vs. arthropods 7.1‰), thus readily discriminated using the stable isotope approach. Painted honeyeaters and mistletoebirds formed a single group based on their mean δ15N values and, on average, assimilated approximately half of their nitrogen from mistletoe fruit although individual variation was high. The importance of nitrogen derived from mistletoe fruit did not track its abundance in the environment, suggesting that at least during peak fruiting, this resource is not limiting at this site. Researchers should account for intraspecific variation and take a cautious approach when reconstructing diets using stable isotopes by incorporating individual‐based analyses rather than presenting mean values alone. This is the first study to use the isotope approach to investigate the dietary relationship of mistletoe frugivores and mistletoe fruit and has implications for our understanding of the nutritional ecology of frugivores and its functional relationship to ecosystem processes such as seed dispersal.
Effects of invasion of fire‐free arid shrublands by a fire‐promoting invasive alien grass (Pennisetum setaceum) in South Africa
Authors: RAHLAO S. J. , MILTON S. J. , ESLER K. J. , VAN WILGEN B. W. , BARNARD P. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractArid shrublands in the Karoo (South Africa) seldom accumulate sufficient combustible fuel to support fire. However, as a result of invasion by an alien perennial grass (Pennisetum setaceum), they could become flammable. This paper reports on an experiment to assess the effects of fire following invasion by P. setaceum. We established 10 plots (5 × 10 m) separated by 2.5 m, and added grass fuel to five plots (5 and 10 tons ha−1 to alternate halves of the plot) leaving the remaining five plots as interspersed controls. Plots with fuel added were burnt, and fire behaviour was measured during the burns. Rates of fire spread were generally low (0.01–0.07 m s−1) and did not differ significantly between burn treatments. Mean fireline intensities were higher in the high compared with the low fuel treatments (894 and 427 kW m−1, respectively). We recorded plant species and their cover before and after burning on each of the plots. After 15 months of follow‐up monitoring in the burn plots, only two species, the dwarf shrub (Tripteris sinuata) and the perennial herb (Gazania krebsiana) resprouted. Most individuals of other species were killed and did not reseed during the 15‐month study. The mass of added fuel load (high or low) did not influence vegetation recovery rates after fire. Should future invasions by P. setaceum lead to similar fuel loads in these shrublands, inevitable fires could change the vegetation and may favour spread of the flammable grass. Our results have important implications for predicting the effects of invasive alien plants (especially grasses) on fire‐free ecosystems elsewhere. The predicted impacts of fire may alter species composition, ultimately affecting core natural resources that support the Karoo economy.
ENDOSCOPIC SUBMUCOSAL DISSECTION (ESD) FOR COLORECTAL TUMORS
Authors: Saito Yutaka , Sakamoto Taku , Fukunaga Shusei , Nakajima Takeshi , Kuriyama Shinsuke , Matsuda Takahisa 
Published: June 2009

Background:  Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is accepted as a minimally invasive treatment for early gastric cancer, however, it is not widely used in the colorectum because of its technical difficulty.Objective:  To determine the feasibility of using ESD for treating large superficial colorectal tumors.Patients:  A total of 400 consecutive patients were treated by ESD for 405 lesions at National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.Interventions:  Endoscopic submucosal dissection procedures were performed using a bipolar needle knife (B‐knife) or an insulation‐tip knife (IT knife).Results:  The en‐bloc resection rate was 87% and the curative resection rate was 86% among the 405 ESDs: 101 involved tubular adenomas, 255 intramucosal cancers and minute submucosal cancers, 46 submucosal deep cancers and 3 others (MALT and carcinoid tumors). The median operation time was 90 minutes and the mean size of resected specimens was 40 mm (range: 15 mm‐150 mm). Perforations occurred in 14 (3.5%) cases and postoperative bleeding in four (1%) cases, but only one perforation case needed emergency surgery because endoscopic clipping was ineffective.Limitations:  Conducted at single center.Conclusions:  Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a feasible technique for treating large superficial colorectal tumors because it provides a higher en‐bloc resection rate and is less invasive than surgical resection.
Fatigue behaviour of duplex stainless steel reinforcing bars subjected to shot peening
Authors: REAL E. , RODRÍGUEZ C. , BELZUNCE F. J. , SANJURJO P. , CANTELI A. F. , PARIENTE I. F. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTThe influence of shot peening on the fatigue properties of duplex stainless steel reinforcing bars manufactured using both hot‐ and cold‐rolled processes was studied. The S‐N curves of the bars before and after the shot‐peening process were determined, showing that shot peening improves the fatigue behaviour of the rebars. This improvement is essentially due to the introduction of a compressive residual stress field in the surface of the reinforcing bars, but also to the smoothing of the surface flaws and cold working generated during the manufacturing process. This improvement is much greater in the case of the hot‐rolled bars, mainly as a result of their much higher ability for plastic deformation, whereas cold‐rolled bars had a much higher hardness. A more severe peening action capable of promoting greater plastic deformation on the bar surface is judged necessary to improve the fatigue resistance of cold‐rolled rebars.
Prediction of residual fatigue life of aluminium foam through natural frequencies and damping shift
Authors: DATTOMA V. , GIANNOCCARO N. I. , MESSINA A. , NOBILE R. 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTThis paper deals with the application of a non‐destructive technique based on natural frequencies and damping evaluation to predict fatigue failure of closed cell aluminium foams. Two different numerical methods have been used to analyse data, and a detailed analysis about frequency and damping evolution of metallic foam specimens subjected to fatigue load is shown. Moreover, significant correlations between modal data changes and the evolution due to the relevant fatigue loads in the high‐cycle regime have been extracted; these correlations may be efficiently used to predict the residual life with good accuracy from the beginning of the fatigue tests.
Monophyly, phylogeny and systematic position of the †Synechodontiformes (Chondrichthyes, Neoselachii)
Authors: Klug Stefanie 
Published: June 2009

Klug, S. (2009). Monophyly, phylogeny and systematic position of the †Synechodontiformes (Chondrichthyes, Neoselachii). —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 37–49.Identifying the monophyly and systematic position of extinct sharks is one of the major challenges in reconstructing the phylogeny and evolutionary history of sharks in general. Although great progress has been accomplished in the last few decades with regard to resolving the interrelationships of living sharks, a comprehensive phylogeny identifying the systematic position of problematic or exclusively fossil taxa is still lacking. Fossil taxa traditionally assigned to synechodontiform sharks are very diverse with a fossil record extending back into the Palaeozoic but with uncertain inter‐ and intrarelationships. Here, phylogenetic analyses using robust cladistic principles are presented for the first time to evaluate the monophyly of this group, their intrarelationships and their systematic position within Neoselachii. According to the results of this study, taxa assigned to this group form a monophyletic clade, the †Synechodontiformes. This group is sister to all living sharks and displays a suite of neoselachian characters. Consequently, the concept of neoselachian systematics needs to be enlarged to include this completely extinct group, which is considered to represent stem‐group neoselachians. The origin of modern sharks can be traced back into the Late Permian (250 Mya) based on the fossil record of †Synechodontiformes. The systematic position of batoids remains contradictory, which relates to the use of different data (molecular vs. morphological) in phylogentic analyses.
Alendronate decreases the fracture risk in patients with prostate cancer on androgen‐deprivation therapy and with severe osteopenia or osteoporosis
Authors: Planas Jacques , Trilla Enrique , Raventós Carles , Cecchini Lluis , Orsola Anna , Salvador Carles , Placer Jose , Encabo Gloria , Morote Juan 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo evaluate changes in bone mass and fracture risk in patients with prostate cancer on androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT) and with a basal T‐score of >−2.0, who were treated with an oral bisphosphonate, as such patients treated with ADT are at increased risk of bone loss and bone fracture.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe selected 61 patients with prostate cancer treated with ADT; 31 were treated with oral alendronate 70 mg once‐weekly and a control group of 30 were not. At baseline and 12 months we measured bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. All patients had severe osteopenia or osteoporosis at baseline. The risk of femoral neck fracture was calculated at baseline and 12 months (Z‐score 2.7).RESULTSPatients treated with alendronate had a significant increase in BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck after 1 year of follow‐up, with mean (sd) values of 1.06 (0.26) vs 1.01 (0.21) g/cm2 at baseline (P < 0.001), and 0.75 (0.07) vs 0.73 (0.07) g/cm2 (P = 0.03), respectively, while the control group had a significant loss of BMD at the total hip of 0.79 (0.14) vs 0.81 (0.13) g/cm2 (P = 0.03). BMD was significantly improved at the three locations in patients treated with alendronate compared with the control group, with differences at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip of 0.05 (0.07) vs 0.01 (0.10) (P = 0.001), 0.01 (0.04) vs −0.002 (0.03) (P = 0.04) and 0.01 (0.04) vs −0.01 (0.02) g/cm2, respectively (P = 0.001). Patients treated with alendronate had a significant decrease in the fracture risk at the femoral neck, by −0.54 (1.29) (P = 0.04) after 1 year of follow‐up.CONCLUSIONSTreatment with once‐weekly 70 mg alendronate significantly improved the BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck in patients with prostate cancer with severe osteopenia or osteoporosis and on ADT, and significantly decreased the risk of femoral neck fracture.
Population‐based prostate‐specific antigen testing in the UK leads to a stage migration of prostate cancer
Authors: Moore Alison L. , Dimitropoulou Polyxeni , Lane Athene , Powell Philip H. , Greenberg David C. , Brown Clement H. , Donovan Jenny L. , Hamdy Freddie C. , Martin Richard M. , Neal David E. 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo determine, within the UK, the stage and grade of prostate cancers that would be found through population‐based prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing and biopsy.SUBJECTS AND METHODSIn the ‘Prostate Testing for Cancer and Treatment’ trial (ProtecT), men aged 50–69 years were recruited from nine cities in the UK and from randomly selected practices of general practitioners. Those with a PSA level of >3 ng/mL were offered a prostate biopsy. Age, PSA, stage and grade at diagnosis of ProtecT participants with cancer were compared with contemporaneous incident cases aged 50–69 years (age‐restricted Cancer Registry cases) registered with the Eastern Cancer Registration and Information Centre (ECRIC).RESULTSWithin ProtecT, 94 427 men agreed to be tested (50% of men contacted), 8807 (≈9%) had a raised PSA level and 2022 (23%) had prostate cancer; 229 (≈12%) had locally advanced (T3 or T4) or metastatic cancers, the rest having clinically localized (T1c or T2) disease. Within ECRIC, 12 661 cancers were recorded over the same period; 3714 were men aged 50–69 years at diagnosis. Men in ProtecT had a lower age distribution and PSA level, and the cancers were of lower stage and grade (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). If population‐based PSA testing were introduced in the UK, ≈2660 men per 100 000 aged 50–69 years would be found to have prostate cancer, compared to current rates of ≈130 per 100 000. If half of men accepted PSA testing, ≈160 000 cancers would be found, compared to 30 000 diagnosed each year at present.CONCLUSIONSPopulation‐based PSA testing resulted in a significant downward stage and grade migration, and most such cancers were of low stage and grade, which could lead to risks of over‐treatment for some men.
Interval from prostate biopsy to robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy: effects on perioperative outcomes
Authors: Martin George L. , Nunez Rafael N. , Humphreys Mitchell D. , Martin Aaron D. , Ferrigni Robert G. , Andrews Paul E. , Castle Erik P. 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo determine whether shorter intervals (<4 and 6 weeks) between prostate biopsy and robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) have a detrimental effect on perioperative outcomes, as recent studies showed that open RP shortly after prostate biopsy does not adversely influence surgical difficulty or efficacy, but RARP relies solely on visual cues rather than tactile sensation to determine posterior surgical planes of dissection.PATIENTS AND METHODSA series of 559 patients undergoing RARP from March 2004 to July 2007 was retrospectively reviewed. The interval between prostate biopsy and RARP was determined and patients with intervals of ≤4 weeks were compared to those >4 weeks. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were analysed to determine statistically significant differences between the groups. This comparison was then repeated with a ≤6‐ vs >6‐week interval, and examined with a multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTSIn the ≤4‐week group (27 patients) vs the >4‐week group (509 patients), there was a significantly (P < 0.05) higher rate of complications (18.5% vs 6.9%). In the ≤6‐week group (81 patients) vs the >6‐week group (455 patients) there was a smaller but still significantly higher rate of complications (13.6% vs 6.4%). These results were still significant when controlling for patient and disease characteristics and the ‘learning curve’. There was also a significantly higher rate of transfusion in the ≤6‐week group (3.7%) than the >6‐week group (0.7%).CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that RARP should be delayed after prostate biopsy; RARP within 6 weeks of biopsy was associated with a greater risk of complications even when controlling for disease and patient characteristics.