bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Appropriate precision agriculture with site-specific cropping system management for marginal and small farmers.
Authors: Dhananjoy Mandal Dhananjoy Mandal , Ghosh P. P. , Dasgupta M. K. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
As conceived in the 'West', precision agriculture (PA) may be suitable for capital-intensive, high-technology regions in developed countries, monoculture affected by a single major soil-borne plant pathogen or pest in large farms, but not for peasant farming or the pest-complex-ridden unaided agriculture as found in less-developed countries (LDCs). PA is not about an abstract of characterization. Appropriate precision agriculture (APA) as site-specific appropriate precision agriculture (SSAPA) represents cropping system (CS) management with such geoinformatics and agri-informatics as are available for land, soil, water, meteorology and forecasting inputs and outputs by marketing, production, protection and other essential information provided through a decision support system through communication networking. Such management approaches are not ordinarily available to most of the farmers in LDCs. It is a prelude to site-specific cropping system management (SSCSM) as the chosen methodology of PA that is likely to be appropriate for marginal and small farmers (MSFs) of LDCs. Benchmark socio-economic information about the farmers of the district in which the experimental site Senkapur-on-Ajay is located, along with predictable trends of macro-meteorological information for 35 years, surface soil and profile survey data in the experimental site and around were made available. In addition, computation of crop suitability was done by conducting a field experiment in a rice-based CS with annual crop rotation as cropping sequence (cs) and when each cs has been rotated for 3 years it is considered a CS. Nine rice and vegetable-based CSs and 27 cs were compared in terms of cultural practices with improved package (IP) and farmer's package (FP), crop growth and productivity, soil nutrient management systems and nutrient use efficiency, appropriate integrated pest management (AIPM), pest:natural enemies (P:NE) balance, energy use efficiency and economics approximately each with several variables. Further information and advice including pest management decisions were provided through marketing information and intelligence, as well as through a communication networking system (CNS) with farmers reporting on pest intensities, with responses from the researcher together with the farmers by means of visits and mobile telephone connections with some local leading farmers, and a post-experimental survey of the targeted farmers on the utilities and problems, if any, on the perception on APA with SSCSM in a 10 km radius of the experimental site. The farmers were satisfied with the information provided during the experiment. This methodology can be adopted for as many locations as possible, wherever similar trials in different sub-agro-ecosystems in various agro-ecosystems are conducted. The methodologies have to be fine-tuned with continuous and active experimentation and communication networking.
Nutrition labelling - is it effective in encouraging healthy eating?
Authors: Hieke S. , Wills J. M. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Nutrition labelling has experienced considerable attention in research, combining the expertise as well as general behavioural insights from disciplines such as the social sciences, human medicine and biology, but also business-oriented fields including marketing, communication and general strategy. With a topic as complex as consumption behaviour and its effects on global well-being and health as substantial as they are, many researchers have undertaken studies of quantitative and qualitative nature to explore these relationships. The resulting proliferation of literature has called for reviewing work at many stages, hoping to provide the informational base for actions to be taken on a public health and policy level. Based on such recent changes and developments in the European nutrition labelling landscape, this paper sets out to give an overview on the topic, the reviewing work that has been done so far and the necessary updates on the most recent work in this field. Looking at the question of whether nutrition labelling so far has been effective in encouraging healthy eating, results of this review may be seen as a base for evaluating future achievements of the new EU regulation.
Who is most susceptible to movie smoking effects? Exploring the impacts of race and socio‐economic status
Authors: Soneji Samir , Lewis Valerie A. , Tanski Susanne , Sargent James D. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAimsThis study assesses how race/ethnicity and socio‐economic status modify the relationship between exposure to movie smoking and having tried smoking in adolescents.DesignData come from a cross‐sectional telephone survey and were analyzed using logistic regression models. A respondent reporting ever having tried smoking was regressed on exposure to movie smoking, race, socio‐economic status, the interactions of these variables and family and background characteristics.SettingNational sample of US adolescents.ParticipantsA total of 3653 respondents aged 13–18 years.MeasurementsOutcome was if subjects reported ever having tried smoking. Movie smoking exposure was assessed through respondents' reporting having watched a set of movie titles, which were coded for smoking instances.FindingsThe proportion having tried smoking was lower for blacks (32%) compared to Hispanics (41%) and whites (38%). The relationship between movie smoking and having tried smoking varied by race/ethnicity. Among whites and Hispanics exposure to movie smoking positively predicted smoking behavior, but movie smoking had no impact on blacks. Socio‐economic status further modified the relation among whites; high socio‐economic status white adolescents were more susceptible to movie smoking than low socio‐economic status white adolescents.ConclusionsExposure to movie smoking is not experienced uniformly as a risk factor for having ever tried smoking among US adolescents. Whites and Hispanics are more likely to try smoking as a function of increased exposure to movie smoking. In addition, higher socio‐economic status increases susceptibility to movie smoking among whites. Youth with fewer risk factors may be more influenced by media messages on smoking.
Differential effects of infliximab on absolute circulating blood leucocyte counts of innate immune cells in early and late rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Coulthard L R , Geiler J , Mathews R J , Church L D , Dickie L J , Cooper D L , Wong C , Savic S , Bryer D , Buch M H , Emery P , Morgan A W , McDermott M F 
Published: June 2012

SummaryAnti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) biologics have revolutionized therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared the effects of infliximab on numbers of circulating leucocyte subsets in early RA (disease/symptom duration of ≤1 year) and late RA patients (&gt;1 year). A control group consisted of early RA patients treated with a combination of methotrexate (MTX) and methylprednisolone. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (pre-therapy) from all RA patients, divided into three groups: (i) late RA receiving infliximab/MTX, (ii) early RA–infliximab/MTX, (iii) early RA–steroid/MTX, and also from follow-up patients at 2 and 14 weeks. Significant differences in absolute counts of monocytes and granulocytes were observed between healthy controls and RA patients. At baseline CD14bright monocytes and CD16+ granulocytes were increased in both early RA and late RA patients. CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and B cells were all increased at baseline in early RA, but not in late RA. At 2 weeks following infliximab treatment decreased granulocytes were observed in both early and late RA and decreased natural killer (NK) cells in late RA. CD16+ granulocytes and NK cells were also decreased at 14 weeks post-infliximab in early RA. Biotinylated infliximab was used to detect membrane-associated TNF (mTNF)-expressing leucocytes in RA patients. CD16+ granulocytes, NK cells and CD14dim monocytes all expressed higher levels of mTNF in RA patients. In summary infliximab is associated with decreased CD16+ granulocyte and NK cell counts, possibly through binding of mTNF. Differential effects of infliximab between early and late RA suggest that pathogenic mechanisms change as disease progresses.
Small metacarpal bones of low quality in obese children
Authors: Longhi Silvia , Pasquino Bruno , Calcagno Annalisa , Bertelli Enrica , Olivieri Irene , Di Iorgi Natascia , Radetti Giorgio 
Published: June 2012

SummaryObjectiveIt is still not known whether fat mass excess could exert a positive effect on bone. The aim of our study was to evaluate bone strength and quality in a group of overweight and obese children and adolescents by assessing bone geometry at metacarpal bones and ultrasound at phalangeal level.Design and patientsThis is a cross sectional observational study performed in 123 subjects, aged 11·2 ± 2·9 years.MeasurementsDigitalized X‐rays were evaluated at the level of the 2nd metacarpal bone for the determination of the outer (D) and inner (d) diameter, cortical area (CA), medullary endocortical area (EA), metacarpal index (MI) and bone strength (Bending Breaking Resistance Index; BBRI). A total of 98 subjects underwent amplitude dependent speed of sound (Ad‐SOS) and bone transmission time (BTT) assessment by phalangeal ultrasonography.ResultsSDs for each measured parameter were as follows: Males: D = −0·71 ± 0·95, d = −0·29 ± 0·86, CA = −0·69 ± 0·69, EA = −0·32 ± 0·79, Ad‐SOS = −1·14 ± 0·91, BTT = −1·17 ± 1·11 and BBRI (417 ± 151 vs 495 ± 174 mm3) were all significantly lower than in controls (P < 0·05). Females: D = −1·03 ± 1·06, d = −0·38 ± 0·92, CA = −0·91 ± 0·72, EA = −0·46 ± 0·79, Ad‐SOS = −1·08 ± 1·11, BTT = −0·97 ± 1·07 and BBRI (342 ± 117 vs 649 ± 318 mm3) were all significantly lower than in controls (P < 0·05).ConclusionsObese children show an unfavourable bone geometry and a bone of low quality and reduced strength compared to controls at a nonweight bearing skeletal site. This finding seems to support a detrimental effect of fat mass on bone and explain the frequent occurrence of wrist fractures in this group of children.
Agronomic value and adaptation across climatically contrasting environments ofItalian red clover landraces and natural populations
Authors: Annicchiarico P. , Pagnotta M. A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis study aimed to support red clover (Trifolium pratenseL.) breeding programmes by investigating germplasm adaptive variation. Four landraces representative of the former commercial ecotypes from northern and centralItaly, thirteen natural populations collected in Italy across a wide latitudinal and altitudinal range in exploited or abandoned old natural grasslands, natural pastures or in the wild, and the varietiesPerseo andDivin were evaluated for 2‐year forage yield, for plant survival and for some morphophysiological traits. Evaluations were made at two sites, one with a subcontinental climate (Lodi) and the other with aMediterranean climate (Viterbo). Specific adaptation was particularly large in natural populations, whose interaction with location implied a widespread inversion of population ranks across sites for forage yield depending on their geographical origin. Forage yield and persistence of the populations were not correlated, owing to the trend of landrace and variety germplasm towards high yield but poor persistence. AtLodi, forage yield was associated with winter hardiness and was maximized by landrace germplasm, whereas persistence depended on various factors and was high only in a set of natural populations collected from pastures. AtViterbo, natural populations that evolved under severe summer drought stress tended towards high yield and persistence, showing no yield disadvantage relative to the best‐performing landrace or variety germplasm.
Mixed‐grass prairie rhizome biomass is influenced by cattle grazing intensity
Authors: Dong X. , Cheng F.‐C. , Wang D. , Wang G. , Patton B. D. , Nyren P. E. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThis study was conducted on a mixed‐grass prairie in south‐central North Dakota, USA, to test the effect of animal grazing on rhizome biomass. Below‐ground plant biomass samples were collected from pastures with moderate and heavy grazing by beef cattle. Because the biomass data did not meet the normality assumptions, the computer resampling method involving a nested anova was used. A reduction in rhizomes was found under heavy grazing, as compared with moderate grazing. Although rhizomes only accounted for a small fraction of total below‐ground plant biomass, our study suggested that the high rhizome density found in the moderately grazed pastures might be partly responsible for the greater potential of plant regrowth in the moderately grazed pastures than in the heavily grazed pastures on this mixed‐grass prairie.
The role of seed dispersal, pollination and historical effects on genetic patterns of an insular plant that has lost its only seed disperser
Authors: Calviño‐Cancela María , Escudero Marcial , Rodríguez‐Pérez Javier , Cano Emilio , Vargas Pablo , Velo‐Antón Guillermo , Traveset Anna 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim The genetic structure of many plant species is heavily dependent on their pollinators and seed dispersers, and can thus be altered if either of the associated mutualistic interactions is disrupted. In this study we assess the genetic diversity and structure and infer the seed/pollen gene‐flow patterns among insular populations ofDaphne rodriguezii, a shrub pollinated and dispersed by animals that has lost its only disperser (the lizardPodarcis lilfordi) in most of its populations.Location The island of Menorca and the islet of Colom (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean).Methods To assess the contribution of gene flow via pollen and seeds to the genetic structure ofD. rodrigueziiwe used amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs; seeds and pollen) and plastid DNA sequences (cpDNA; seeds). We sampled individuals from all population nuclei of the species (12–19 adults per population): one population in Colom, where the plant–lizard interaction persists, and four in Menorca, where the seed dispersal mutualism disappeared with the extinction of the lizard.Results The highest heterozygosity values were found in Colom and in its closest population (Favàritx), whereas values were lower in the smallest Menorcan populations, which also had higher relatedness among individuals. We found distinct genetic signals between AFLP and cpDNA analyses. While AFLP markers showed low differentiation between populations, cpDNA showed a clear differentiation between them.Main conclusions Our results point to negative impacts of the disperser loss on genetic diversity and relatedness in the smaller and more isolated populations. They also suggest an old isolation by seeds, probably occurring well before the extinction of the lizard (c. 2000 years ago). Gene flow was maintained via pollination; however, the seed disperser loss may ultimately hinder pollinator‐mediated gene flow, as a result of reduced probabilities of effective pollination among increasingly distant and scarce individuals.
Global patterns of amphibian phylogenetic diversity
Authors: Fritz Susanne A. , Rahbek Carsten 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAim  Phylogenetic diversity can provide insight into how evolutionary processes may have shaped contemporary patterns of species richness. Here, we aim to test for the influence of phylogenetic history on global patterns of amphibian species richness, and to identify areas where macroevolutionary processes such as diversification and dispersal have left strong signatures on contemporary species richness.Location  Global; equal‐area grid cells of approximately 10,000 km2.Methods  We generated an amphibian global supertree (6111 species) and repeated analyses with the largest available molecular phylogeny (2792 species). We combined each tree with global species distributions to map four indices of phylogenetic diversity. To investigate congruence between global spatial patterns of amphibian species richness and phylogenetic diversity, we selected Faith’s phylogenetic diversity (PD) index and the total taxonomic distinctness (TTD) index, because we found that the variance of the other two indices we examined (average taxonomic distinctness and mean root distance) strongly depended on species richness. We then identified regions with unusually high or low phylogenetic diversity given the underlying level of species richness by using the residuals from the global relationship of species richness and phylogenetic diversity.Results  Phylogenetic diversity as measured by either Faith’s PD or TTD was strongly correlated with species richness globally, while the other two indices showed very different patterns. When either Faith’s PD or TTD was tested against species richness, residuals were strongly spatially structured. Areas with unusually low phylogenetic diversity for their associated species richness were mostly on islands, indicating large radiations of few lineages that have successfully colonized these archipelagos. Areas with unusually high phylogenetic diversity were located around biogeographic contact zones in Central America and southern China, and seem to have experienced high immigration or in situ diversification rates, combined with local persistence of old lineages.Main conclusions  We show spatial structure in the residuals of the relationship between species richness and phylogenetic diversity, which together with the positive relationship itself indicates strong signatures of evolutionary history on contemporary global patterns of amphibian species richness. Areas with unusually low and high phylogenetic diversity for their associated richness demonstrate the importance of biogeographic barriers to dispersal, colonization and diversification processes.
A diminution in ascorbate oxidase activity affects carbon allocation and improves yield in tomato under water deficit
Authors: GARCHERY CÉCILE , GEST NOÉ , DO PHUC T. , ALHAGDOW MOFTAH , BALDET PIERRE , MENARD GUILLAUME , ROTHAN CHRISTOPHE , MASSOT CAPUCINE , GAUTIER HÉLÈNE , AARROUF JAWAD , FERNIE ALISDAIR R. , STEVENS REBECCA 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTThe regulation of carbon allocation between photosynthetic source leaves and sink tissues in response to stress is an important factor controlling plant yield. Ascorbate oxidase is an apoplastic enzyme, which controls the redox state of the apoplastic ascorbate pool. RNA interference was used to decrease ascorbate oxidase activity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Fruit yield was increased in these lines under three conditions where assimilate became limiting for wild‐type plants: when fruit trusses were left unpruned, when leaves were removed or when water supply was limited. Several alterations in the transgenic lines could contribute to the improved yield and favour transport of assimilate from leaves to fruits in the ascorbate oxidase lines. Ascorbate oxidase plants showed increases in stomatal conductance and leaf and fruit sugar content, as well as an altered apoplastic hexose : sucrose ratio. Modifications in gene expression, enzyme activity and the fruit metabolome were coherent with the notion of the ascorbate oxidase RNAi lines showing altered sink strength. Ascorbate oxidase may therefore be a target for strategies aimed at improving water productivity in crop species.
Association of CFU‐Mk with total colony‐forming units in thawed cord blood units
Authors: Eskola M. , Arvola A. , Juutistenaho S. , Aranko K. , Kekomäki R. 
Published: June 2012

Background and Objectives  Cord blood unit (CBU) total colony‐forming unit (CFU) count both pre‐cryo and post‐thaw has been shown to be associated with platelet (PLT) engraftment. Pre‐cryo CBUs show good growth of megakaryocytic CFUs (CFU‐Mk); however, CFU‐Mk have rarely been studied in post‐thaw CBUs.Materials and Methods Nucleated cells (NCs) from post‐thaw CB were cultured in a collagen‐based assay designed to support growth of CFU‐Mk. To ensure accurate counting two independent investigators evaluated four culture chambers per sample for CFU‐Mk growth. Post‐thaw CFU and other cellular characteristics of the CBUs were enumerated independently and compared to CFU‐Mk.Results The post‐thaw CBU total CFU count varied from 0·47 to 4·20 × 106 colonies (median, 0·99 × 106) and total CFU‐Mk count from 0·11 to 0·70 × 106 colonies (median, 0·21 × 106). Total CFU‐Mk count was closely associated with total CFU count (Spearman’s Rho = 0·86, P = 0·0072), haemoglobinized CFU (Rho = 0·86, P = 0·0072) and CFU‐granulocyte/macrophage (CFU‐GM; Rho = 0·81; P = 0·0154). Total CFU‐Mk count also correlated with the post‐thaw total CD34+ cell count (median, 2·55 × 106; range, 1·40–12·5 × 106; Rho = 0·83; P = 0·0154).Conclusion CFU‐Mk growth was associated with total CFU, haemoglobinized CFU, CFU‐GM and CD34+ cells in thawed CBUs. This study confirms the preservation of CFU‐Mk potential after CB cryopreservation.
Modelling the dependency of the Smith–Watson–Topper parameter on the cycles‐to‐failure using serial hybrid neural networks
Authors: KLEMENC J. , JANEZIC M. , FAJDIGA M. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTCalculating the fatigue damage with a strain‐based approach requires an ɛ–Ndurability curve that links the strain amplitude to the corresponding number of cycles‐to‐failure. This ɛ–Ncurve is usually modelled by the Coffin–Manson relationship. If a loading mean‐level also needs to be considered, the original Coffin–Manson relationship is modified using a Smith–Watson–Topper parameter. In this article a methodology for modelling the dependence of the Smith–Watson–Topper parameter on the number of cycles‐to‐failure is presented. The core of the presented methodology represents a multilayer perceptron neural network combined with the Smith–Watson–Topper analytical model. The article presents the theoretical background of the methodology, which is applied for the case of the experimental fatigue data. The results show that it is possible to model ɛ–Ncurves for different influential parameters, such as the specimen's diameter and the testing temperature. The results further show that it is possible to predict ɛ–N curves even for those combinations of the influential parameters for which no experimental data about the material endurance is available. This fact makes the presented model very suitable for the application in an R&D process when a durability of a product should be estimated on the basis of a very limited set of experimental data about the material endurance characteristics.
Study on bending fretting fatigue of LZ50 axle steel considering ratchetting by finite element method
Authors: ZHU Y. , KANG G. , DING J. , ZHU M. 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTBased on the finite element simulation, the crack nucleation location and failure life of bending fretting fatigue are analysed and predicted for LZ50 axle steel, respectively. In the simulation, a simplified two‐dimensional finite element model with an equivalent normal force is proposed and the role of ratchetting is also considered by using a new cyclic elastoplastic constitutive model. The crack nucleation location and fatigue life are finally predicted by Smith–Watson–Topper (SWT) critical plane criteria referring to the finite element calculation. It is shown that the predicted results are in fairly good agreement with the experimental ones.