bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The set of habitable planets and astrobiological regulation mechanisms
Authors: Vukotić Branislav 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe number of habitable planets in the Milky Way and its temporal variation are major unknowns in the nascent fields of astrobiology and Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence studies. All numerical models developed thus far have suffered from large uncertainties in the input data, in addition to our lack of understanding of the processes of astrobiological dynamics. Here, we argue that at least the input data can now be specified with more confidence, and use a simple Monte Carlo model of the Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) as a flexible platform for their elucidation. Previous papers have described some of the major results of this class of models; in this paper we present its mechanics and input parameters, notably the number of the habitable planets in the GHZ and their temporal distribution, based on the results of Lineweaver et al. (Lineweaver, C.H., Fenner, Y. & Gibson, B.K. (2004). Science303, 59–62.) Regulation mechanisms (such as gamma-ray bursts or supernovae) and their temporal evolution, assumed to be main agents responsible for large-scale correlation effects, are modelled as type α (which can sterilize part of or the entire GHZ) and type β (which are of local importance) events with decreasing mean temporal frequency over the cosmological timescale. The considered global risk function implies as an upper limit that about one out of a hundred habitable sites will achieve high astrobiological complexity. The preliminary results of numerical modelling presented here and elsewhere imply that the lack of a sudden change from an essentially dead Galaxy to a Galaxy filled with complex life – the astrobiological phase transition – in our past (a version of Fermi's paradox) may be understood as a consequence of global astrobiological disequilibrium, strongly indicating such a transitional epoch in our future.
Soil pH, ecological stoichiometry, and allometric scaling in soil biota
Authors: Mulder Christian , Elser James 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe factors regulating the structure of food webs are a central focus of community andecosystem ecology, as trophic interactions among species have important impacts onnutrient storage and cycling in many ecosystems. For soil invertebrates in grasslandecosystems in the Netherlands, the site-specific slopes of the faunal biomass to organism body mass relationships reflected basic biochemical and biogeochemical processes associated with soil acidity and soil C:N:P stoichiometry. That is, the higher the phosphorus availability in the soil, the higher, on average, the slope of the faunal biomass size spectrum (i.e., the higher the biomass of large-bodied invertebrates relative to the biomass of small invertebrates). While other factors may also be involved, these results are consistent with the growth rate hypothesis from biological stoichiometry that relates phosphorus demands to ribosomal RNA and protein production. Thus our data represent the first time that ecosystem phosphorus availability has been associated with allometry in soil food webs (supporting information available online). Our results have broad implications, as soil invertebrates of different size have different effects on soil processes.
Observation of halogen species in the Amundsen Gulf, Arctic, by active long-path differential optical absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Pöhler Denis , Vogel Leif , Frieß Udo , Platt Ulrich 
Published: February 2010

In the polar tropospheric boundary layer, reactive halogen species (RHS) are responsible for ozone depletion as well as the oxidation of elemental mercury and dimethyl sulphide. After polar sunrise, air masses enriched in reactive bromine cover areas of several million square kilometers. Still, the source and release mechanisms of halogens are not completely understood. We report measurements of halogen oxides performed in the Amundsen Gulf, Arctic, during spring 2008. Active long-path differential optical absorption spectroscopy (LP-DOAS) measurements were set up offshore, several kilometers from the coast, directly on the sea ice, which was never done before. High bromine oxide concentrations were detected frequently during sunlight hours with a characteristic daily cycle showing morning and evening maxima and a minimum at noon. The, so far, highest observed average mixing ratio in the polar boundary layer of 41 pmol/mol (equal to pptv) was detected. Only short sea ice contact is required to release high amounts of bromine. An observed linear decrease of maximum bromine oxide levels with ambient temperature during sunlight, between -24 °C and -15 °C, provides indications on the conditions required for the emission of RHS. In addition, the data indicate the presence of reactive chlorine in the Arctic boundary layer. In contrast to Antarctica, iodine oxide was not detected above a detection limit of 0.3 pmol/mol.
Standard virtual biological parts: a repository of modular modeling components for synthetic biology
Authors: Cooling M. T. , Rouilly V. , Misirli G. , Lawson J. , Yu T. , Hallinan J. , Wipat A. 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
Motivation: Fabrication of synthetic biological systems is greatly enhanced by incorporating engineering design principles and techniques such as computer-aided design. To this end, the ongoing standardization of biological parts presents an opportunity to develop libraries of standard virtual parts in the form of mathematical models that can be combined to inform system design.
Results: We present an online Repository, populated with a collection of standardized models that can readily be recombined to model different biological systems using the inherent modularity support of the CellML 1.1 model exchange format. The applicability of this approach is demonstrated by modeling gold-medal winning iGEM machines.
Availability and Implementation: The Repository is available online as part of http://models.cellml.org. We hope to stimulate the worldwide community to reuse and extend the models therein, and contribute to the Repository of Standard Virtual Parts thus founded. Systems Model architecture information for the Systems Model described here, along with an additional example and a tutorial, is also available as Supplementary information. The example Systems Model from this manuscript can be found at http://models.cellml.org/workspace/bugbuster. The Template models used in the example can be found at http://models.cellml.org/workspace/SVP_Templates200906.
Contact: m.cooling@auckland.ac.nz
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
BIS-Vista™ Occipital Montage in Patients Undergoing Neurosurgical Procedures during Propofol–Remifentanil Anesthesia
Authors: Dahaba Ashraf A. , Xue Ji Xiu , Zhao Guo Guang , Liu Qing Hai , Xu Guo Xun , Bornemann Helmar , Rehak Peter H. , Metzler Helfried 
Published: February 2010

Background
Neurosurgical procedures that require a frontal approach could be an impediment for a successful Bispectral Index (BIS) frontal sensor placement. The aim of this study was to explore the utility of using the new BIS-Vista monitor (Aspect Medical Systems, Newton, MA) for occipital sensor placement in the patients undergoing brain neurosurgical procedures during propofol-remifentanil anesthesia.

Methods
Two BIS Quatro sensors (Aspect Medical Systems, Newton, MA) mounted on the occipital and frontal regions were connected to two BIS-Vista monitors at three anesthesia states: before induction, during anesthesia maintenance, and recovery.

Results
There were significant differences before induction (P = 0.0002) and at anesthesia maintenance (P = 0.0014) between mean +/- SD occipital (83.4 +/- 4.8, 66.7 +/- 7.2) and frontal (93.1 +/- 3.4, 56.9 +/- 9.1) BIS-Vista values. During anesthesia recovery, there was no difference (P = 0.7421) between occipital (54.6 +/- 9.3) and frontal (53.1 +/- 7.3) BIS-Vista values. Bland and Altman analysis revealed a BIS-Vista negative-bias (limits of agreement) of -9.7 (+1.1, -20.5) before anesthesia induction, +9.8 positive-bias (+22.8, -1.7) during anesthesia maintenance, and -0.9 bias (+10.9, -12.8) during anesthesia recovery.

Conclusion
We demonstrated that not only the regional limits of agreement are too wide to allow data of the two montages to be used interchangeably but also the variation is a function of anesthetic depth. However, keeping in mind a relatively consistent BIS-Vista -10 bias before induction and +10 bias during anesthesia maintenance with limits of agreement of approximately +/-11 BIS units, approximately double the clinically acceptable less than 10 BIS units level of agreement, BIS-Vista off-label occipital montage might be helpful in following a trend of propofol-remifentanil anesthesia in individual cases where frontal access is particularly difficult.
Planning for the persistence of river biodiversity: exploring alternative futures using process‐based models
Authors: TURAK EREN , FERRIER SIMON , BARRETT TOM , MESLEY EDWINA , DRIELSMA MICHAEL , MANION GLENN , DOYLE GAVIN , STEIN JANET , GORDON GEOFF 
Published: February 2010

Summary1. Planning for the conservation of river biodiversity must involve a wide range of management options and account for the complication that the effects of many actions are spatially removed from these actions. Reserve design algorithms widely used in conservation planning today are not well equipped to address such complexities.2. We used process‐based models to estimate the expected persistence of river biodiversity under alternative catchment‐wide management scenarios and applied it in the Hunter Region (37 000 km²) in southeastern Australia.3. The biological condition of 12 197 subcatchments was estimated using a multiple linear regression model that related assessments of the integrity of macroinvertebrate assemblages to human‐induced disturbances at river sites. The best‐fit model (R2 = 0.76) used measures of both local and catchment‐wide disturbances as well as elevation and distance from source as predictor variables. Based on the outputs of this model, we estimated that substantial loss of river biodiversity had occurred in some parts of the coastal fringes and the lower parts of the larger river systems. The most affected river type was small, low‐gradient streams.4. The predicted biodiversity condition together with river types based on macroinvertebrate assemblages and abiotic attributes was used to estimate a biodiversity persistence index (BDI).5. A priority value for each subcatchment was calculated for different actions by changing the disturbance values for that subcatchment and calculating the resulting marginal change in regional BDI. Maps were thereby created for three different types of priority: catchment protection priority, catchment restoration priority and river section conservation priority.6. The subcatchments of high catchment protection priority for river biodiversity were mostly in the uplands and within protected areas. The river sections of high conservation priority included many coastal lowland rivers in and around protected areas as well as many upland headwater streams. Subcatchments of high priority for catchment restoration were mostly in coastal areas or lowland floodplains.7. This approach may be particularly well suited to guide the integrated implementation of three place‐based protection strategies proposed for freshwaters: focal areas, critical management zones and catchment management zones.
Peer learning partnerships: exploring the experience of pre‐registration nursing students
Authors: Christiansen Angela , Bell Amelia 
Published: February 2010

Aims and objectives.  This paper explores the impact of a peer learning initiative developed to facilitate, purposefully, mutually supportive learning relationships between student nurses in the practice setting.Background.  Finding effective strategies to support learning in the practice setting has been the focus of professional concern for a considerable time. In the UK clinical mentorship is seen as pivotal to ensuring fitness to practice; however, recent debate on the nature of learning has revealed the clinical workplace as a rich learning environment where learning occurs not only through hierarchical relationships, but also from a network of peer relationships. Formalising peer relationships through peer assisted learning is increasingly suggested as a strategy to support workplace learning and support novice students’ transition to the clinical setting. Despite the developing literature in this field there is limited understanding about how students experience facilitated peer relationships.Design.  An interpretive qualitative design.Methods.  Focus group interviews were used to collect interactive and situated discourse from nursing students who had recently participated in peer learning partnerships (n = 54). Narrative data were analysed thematically.Results.  Findings suggest that active support from a fellow student reduced the feelings of social isolation experienced by novice students in initial clinical placements, helping them to deal more effectively with the challenges faced and reducing the factors that have an impact on attrition. In addition, the reciprocity of the peer learning partnerships facilitated understanding of mentorship and created a heightened sense of readiness for registration and professional practice.Conclusions.  Peer learning partnerships facilitated by mentors in clinical practice can support the transition to nursing for first year students and can help more experienced students gain a confidence and a heightened readiness for mentorship and registered practice.Relevance to practice.  Facilitated peer learning partnerships can enhance the student experience in the practice setting and can help maximise opportunities for learning and support. This suggests that peer assisted learning is a legitimate area for innovation and further research.
The effectiveness of brief interventions in the clinical setting in reducing alcohol misuse and binge drinking in adolescents: a critical review of the literature
Authors: Wachtel Tracey , Staniford Mabel 
Published: February 2010

Aims and objectives.  To investigate the effectiveness of brief interventions for adolescent alcohol misuse and to determine if these interventions are useful in reducing alcohol consumption. To determine if brief interventions could be used successfully by nurses in the clinical setting.Background.  Australian adolescents are consuming risky levels of alcohol in ever increasing numbers. The fiscal, health‐related and social costs of this alcohol misuse are rising at an alarming rate and must be addressed as a matter of priority. Brief interventions have been used with some success for adult problem drinkers in the clinical setting. Brief interventions delivered in the clinical setting by nurses who are ‘on the scene’ are therefore a potential strategy to redress the epidemic of adolescent alcohol misuse.Design.  Literature review.Methods.  Multiple databases were searched to locate randomised controlled trials published within the past 10 years, with participants aged 12–25 years. Included studies used brief intervention strategies specific to alcohol reduction. Fourteen studies met these criteria and were reviewed.Results.  A range of different interventions, settings, participant age‐ranges and outcome measures were used, limiting generalisability to the studied populations. No trials were carried out by nurses and only one took place in Australia. Motivational interviewing (one form of brief intervention) was partially successful, with the most encouraging results relating to harm minimisation. Long‐term follow‐up trials using motivational interviewing reported significant reductions in alcohol intake and harmful effects, but this may be partially attributed to a normal maturation trend to a steady reduction in alcohol consumption.Conclusions.  No single intervention could be confidently recommended due to confounding evidence. However, successful elements of past studies warrant further investigation. These include face‐to‐face, one‐session, motivational interviewing‐style brief interventions, focusing on harm minimisation and all with long‐term follow‐up.Relevance to clinical practice.  The introduction of brief interventions in the hospital setting has the potential to address the epidemic of adolescent alcohol misuse. Nurses are well placed to deliver these interventions, but a standardised approach is required to ensure consistency. Further research is urgently needed to ensure clinical practice is based on the best available evidence and to ensure findings are more relevant to Australian adolescents and to nurses in a clinical setting.
The relationship between social support and loneliness in Turkish patients with cancer
Authors: Yildirim Yasemin , Kocabiyik Seher 
Published: February 2010

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between family social support and loneliness in Turkish patients with cancer.Background.  Loneliness is a major problem affecting about 50% of adult cancer patients. Adequate social support may cause a reduced cancer‐related mortality in patients with cancer.Design.  A cross‐sectional, descriptive and correlational design was used.Method.  Cancer patients undergoing treatment in the outpatient chemotherapy unit at a university hospital between January–April 2007 were enrolled. After inclusion and exclusion processes, a total of 144 patients with solid cancer comprised the final sample of the study. The Perceived Social Support from Family Scale, the Revised University of California, Los Angeles‐Loneliness Scale and a demographic data form were used. Data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, student t‐test, one‐way variance analysis and Pearson’s correlation test.Results.  The mean age was 51·76 (SD 12·14). Ninety‐two patients (63·9%) were female and most were married. The mean social support score and the mean loneliness score were 15·92 (SD 3·22) and 33·09 (SD 0·17), respectively. There were significant differences between the mean scores for the marital status (p < 0·01) and living style (p < 0·001) characteristics. There was a moderately significant negative correlation between the mean social support scores and the loneliness scores (r = −0·492, p < 0·001). The loneliness level of the patients was reduced by increasing social support.Conclusions.  The results suggest that the Turkish cancer patients have experienced a relatively low level of loneliness and there is a significant negative correlation between their loneliness scores and their social support scores. Loneliness can be reduced by increasing social support from family members.Relevance to clinical practice.  In planning patients’ care, nurses should evaluate physiological, psychological and socio‐demographic statuses of patients to increase the patients’ social support and to decrease their loneliness. Determining and improving family social support of cancer patients should be an essential part of nursing practice. To prevent cancer patients’ social isolation, nurses may also encourage family members to enlarge their social support networks.
Where is nursing in academic nursing? disciplinary discourses, identities and clinical practice: a critical perspective from Ireland
Authors: McNamara Martin S 
Published: February 2010

Aim.  To elicit the languages of legitimation of senior nursing academics and national leaders and to investigate the extent to which distinctive disciplinary identities and discourses are embedded in them.Background.  Over six years after Irish nursing education became established in the higher education sector, an investigation into the disciplinary maturity of the field is overdue.Design.  A constructivist–structuralist research design was used; data were elicited by means of naturalistic professional conversations and subjected to critical discourse analytic methods to interrogate their structuring and structured character. The focus here is on the latter.Methods.  The languages of legitimation of Irish nursing’s key disciplinary custodians were elicited and subjected to a critical discourse analysis informed by a theoretical framework that helps to explicate the bases of claims to academic legitimacy embedded in these languages.Results.  Clinical practice figures as a problematic component of Irish nursing’s academic identity and disciplinary discourse. Yet a focus on clinical practice is seen as central to the autonomy, integrity and distinctiveness of nursing as an academic discipline as well as to the legitimacy and credibility of those who claim to profess it. The overall consensus on the state of academic nursing in Ireland is that of a field characterised by low autonomy, high density, weak specialisation and disciplinary immaturity.Conclusions.  The analysis highlights the need for academic nursing to reconfigure its relationships with clinical nursing, increase its intellectual autonomy, enhance its internal coherence, strengthen the epistemic power of its knowledge base and critically evaluate the ways the past should inform current and future practices and identities.Relevance to clinical practice.  The production and dissemination of knowledge for nursing policy and practice provides the foundation for nursing education. If clinical practice is not central to the educational and research activities of nurse academics, the relevance of academic nursing to its professional base and its status and future trajectory as a distinct presence in academia, will continue to be questioned.
Investigating the health profile of patients with end‐stage renal failure receiving peritoneal dialysis: a cluster analysis
Authors: Chan MF , Wong Frances KY , Chow Susan KY 
Published: February 2010

Aim.  To determine whether the patients with end stage renal failure can be differentiated into several subtypes based on five main variables.Background.  There is a lack of interventional research linking to clinical outcomes among the patients with end stage renal failure in Hong Kong and with no clear evidence of differences in terms of their clinical/health outcomes and characteristics.Design.  A cross‐sectional survey.Method.  Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. One hundred and fifty‐three patients with end stage renal failure were recruited during 2007 at three renal centres in Hong Kong. Five main variables were employed: predisposing characteristic, enabling resources, quality of life, symptom control and self‐care adherence.Results.  A cluster analysis yielded two clusters. Each cluster represented a different profile of patients with end stage renal failure. Cluster A consisted of 49·7% (n = 76) and Cluster B consisted of 50·3% (n = 77) of the patients. Cluster A patients, more of whom were women, were older, less educated, had higher quality of life scores, a better adherence rate and more had received nursing care supports than patients in Cluster B.Conclusions.  We have identified two groupings of patients with end stage renal failure who were experiencing unique health profile. Nursing support services may have an effect on patient health outcomes but only on a group of patients whose profile is similar to the patients in Cluster A and not for patients in Cluster B. A clear profile may help health care professional make appropriate strategies to target a specific group of patients to improve patient outcomes.Relevance to clinical practice.  The identification of risk for future health‐care use could enable better targeting of interventional strategies in these groups. The results of this study might provide health care professionals with a model to design specified interventions to improve life quality for each profile group.