bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Contrasting changes in vegetation structure and diversity with time since fire in two Australian Mediterranean‐climate plant communities
Authors: GOSPER CARL R. , YATES COLIN J. , PROBER SUZANNE M. , PARSONS BLAIR C. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractMallee‐heath and mallee communities occur in a mosaic across large areas of south‐western Australia, in topographically subdued and fire‐prone landscapes. Consequently, it could be expected that these communities would have historically experienced similar fire regimes, and would respond similarly to variation in aspects of the fire regime. We studied the response of mallee‐heath and mallee to time since the last fire, measuring species density, species–area relationships, diversity indices and vegetation structure. Floristic responses to time since fire accorded with the initial floristic composition model of plant succession, with declining species density and Shannon diversity with age in mallee‐heath. Mallee‐heath exhibited structural senescence when > approximately 45–55 years since fire, with increasing standing dead vegetation, bare ground and stagnating or declining size in sprouting Eucalyptus spp. Mallee showed no such evidence of senescence, and indeed continued to increase in stature beyond the mean fire interval but without the compositional change required to provide support for the relay floristic model of plant succession. These results indicate that mallee‐heath is a fire maintained community and as such is reliant upon periodic burning to maintain diversity and vigour. Mallee, in contrast, is modified but not maintained by fire (at least over the period of time since fire examined) and hence is less susceptible to fire interval effects. Indeed, structural attributes likely to be significant for fauna habitat and carbon sequestration continue to develop in mallee unburnt for 55 years or more. Different responses to time since fire will create challenges for management, particularly in fragmented landscapes where fire potentially interacts with other threatening processes.
Ophthalmic and cone derived electrodiagnostic findings in outbred Miniature Long‐haired Dachshunds homozygous for a RPGRIP1 mutation
Authors: Busse Claudia , Barnett Keith C. , Mellersh Cathryn S. , Adams Vicki J. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractObjective  To investigate ophthalmic and cone‐derived electrodiagnostic findings in outbred Miniature Long‐haired Dachshunds (MLHD) homozygous for a mutation in the RPGRIP1 gene previously associated with cone‐rod dystrophy 1 (cord1).Animals  A total of 36 MLHD homozygous for the RPGRIP1 mutation and 23 dogs clear of the mutation (control group).Procedures  The dogs underwent ophthalmic examination and photopic electroretinogram (ERG) recordings.Results  None of the control dogs presented with clinical or ophthalmic signs consistent with cord1. Amongst the dogs homozygous for the mutation one presented with bilateral symmetrical total retinal atrophy. None of the other dogs in this group showed signs consistent with cord1. Photopic ERG recordings were available in 23 control dogs and 34 dogs homozygous for the mutation. Photopic a‐ and b‐waves following four light stimuli (3 cdS/m2) at a rate of 5.1 Hz were not significantly different between groups. The amplitudes of the 30 Hz flicker (128 flashes, 3 cdS/m2) response were significantly reduced in the dogs homozygous for the PRGRIP1 mutation. The difference in age between the two groups did not significantly affect the difference.Conclusion  Homozygosity of the RPGRIP1 mutation does not invariably result in early onset cord1. However, cone derived ERG recordings show evidence of a reduced cone or inner retinal function in homozygous but clinically normal MLHD. Modifying genes that have yet to be identified may influence an individual dog’s risk of developing the blinding cord1 and also the age of onset and rate of progression.
Effect of central corneal thickness on intraocular pressure with the rebound tonometer and the applanation tonometer in normal dogs
Authors: Park Young‐Woo , Jeong Man‐Bok , Kim Tae‐Hyun , Ahn Jae‐Sang , Ahn Jeong‐Taek , Park Shin‐Ae , Kim Se‐Eun , Seo Kangmoon 
Published: April 2011

AbstractObjective To evaluate the effect of central corneal thickness (CCT) on the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) with the rebound (TonoVet®) and applanation (TonoPen XL®) tonometers in beagle dogs.Animal studied Both eyes of 60 clinically normal dogs were used.Procedures The IOP was measured by the TonoVet®, followed by the TonoPen XL®in half of the dogs, while the other half was measured in the reverse order. All CCT measurements were performed 10 min after the use of the second tonometer.Results The mean IOP value measured by the TonoVet®(16.9 ± 3.7 mmHg) was significantly higher than the TonoPen XL®(11.6 ± 2.7 mmHg;P < 0.001). The IOP values obtained by both tonometers were correlated in the regression analysis (γ2 = 0.4393,P < 0.001). Bland–Altman analysis showed that the lower and upper limits of agreement between the two devices were −0.1 and +10.8 mmHg, respectively. The mean CCT was 549.7 ± 51.0 μm. There was a correlation between the IOP values obtained by the two tonometers and CCT readings in the regression analysis (TonoVet®:P = 0.002, TonoPen XL®:P = 0.035). The regression equation demonstrated that for every 100 μm increase in CCT, there was an elevation of 1 and 2 mmHg in IOP measured by the TonoPen XL®and TonoVet®, respectively.Conclusions The IOP obtained by the TonoVet®and TonoPen XL®would be affected by variations in the CCT. Therefore, the CCT should be considered when interpreting IOP values measured by tonometers in dogs.
Computed tomographic‐dacryocystography (CT‐DCG) of the normal canine nasolacrimal drainage system with three‐dimensional reconstruction
Authors: Rached Paula A. , Canola Júlio C. , Schlüter Claudia , Laus José L. , Oechtering Gerhard , de Almeida Denise E. , Ludewig Eberhard 
Published: April 2011

AbstractThe aims of the study were (1) to quantify the influence of selected imaging parameters on the image quality (slice thickness, mAs, and beam orientation) defining optimal conditions for scan protocols and (2) to evaluate the benefits of the 3D reconstruction techniques for visualization of NDS structures in dogs. CT‐DCG was performed bilaterally in 32 heads of dogs. CT transverse images were obtained using a combination of two slice thickness values (0.8 mm and 2 mm) and two mAs values (50 mAs and 300 mAs). Two beam projection orientations were also tested: transverse plane (perpendicular to the hard palate) and oblique to the hard palate. Three‐dimensional images were obtained using Volume Rendering (VR). Transverse beam projection proved to be superior for the assessment of the inferior and superior lacrimal canaliculi and lacrimal sac. In this study, there was no statistical difference regarding mAs values (50 mAs and 300 mAs) and slice thickness values (0.8 mm and 2 mm). Three‐dimensional images were helpful for the assessment of topographic relationship between nasolacrimal structures and cranial landmarks.
The effect of UV‐blocking contact lenses as a therapy for canine chronic superficial keratitis
Authors: Denk Nora , Fritsche Jens , Reese Sven 
Published: April 2011

AbstractObjective To evaluate the effect of UV‐blocking soft contact lenses in treatment for chronic superficial keratitus (CSK).Methods Twenty six dogs with CSK were treated continuously with UV‐blocking contact lenses for 6 months. A contact lens was placed on one eye of each dog; the other eye remained without a lens as a control eye. After this primary study, five of the dogs were further treated and they wore then contact lenses in both eyes. Continuously, all patients were concurrently treated topically with cyclosporine. The contact lenses were changed every 4 weeks and an ophthalmic examination performed. Evaluation criteria included corneal alterations as pigmentation, edema, pannus and vascularization. To determine the transmittance characteristics of the contact lenses before and after use, 32 contact lenses were measured with a UV‐vis‐NIR spectrophotometer.Results Pigmentation increased in eyes wearing lenses and in control eyes over the evaluation period of 6 months. Corneal edema increased in the eyes wearing lenses, but remained unaffected in the control eyes. A significant difference in the incidence of pannus and the extent of corneal vascularisation could not be evaluated. Adverse effects were noted in six cases (corneal edema and vascularisation, conjunctivitis, blepharospasm). All new lenses studied reduced UV‐radiation to a safe level, whereas used lenses did not maintain their transmittance characteristics.Conclusions No positive effect of UV‐blocking contact lenses could be proven with the study design used.
360‐degree conjunctival grafting for management of diffuse keratomalacia in a dog
Authors: Pumphrey Stephanie A. , Pizzirani Stefano , Pirie Christopher G. 
Published: April 2011

AbstractWe present a report describing use of a 360‐degree conjunctival graft for management of progressive keratomalacia refractory to medical treatment in a 5‐month‐old American Cocker Spaniel. In the dog of this report, the extension of melting to nearly the entire corneal surface limited surgical options. Following surgery and later resection of the graft, the patient is visual with minimal corneal opacity. Numerous corneal grafting techniques have been described in companion animals, but require special materials and may not be possible when melting is extensive. Although older animals or animals with additional corneal pathology may have less ideal outcomes in terms of corneal clarity than the patient of this report, we believe that 360‐degree conjunctival grafting offers a viable and cost‐effective option for management of cases with extensive keratomalacia that may otherwise have resulted in enucleation.
Barriers and facilitators to cannabis treatment
Authors: GATES PETER , COPELAND JAN , SWIFT WENDY , MARTIN GREG 
Published: April 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. Despite its continued widespread use, relatively few individuals with cannabis use disorders present to treatment services. There is a dearth of research examining the reasons for this observed underutilisation of treatment. The aim of this paper is to examine barriers and facilitators to entry into cannabis treatment.Design and Methods. Three surveys of regular cannabis users in treatment (n = 100), in the community (n = 100) and from a widespread Internet sample (n = 294).Results. Perceived barriers included: not being aware of treatment options; thinking treatment is unnecessary; not wanting to stop using cannabis; and wanting to avoid the stigma associated with accessing treatment. Perceived facilitators included: improving available information on treatment; keeping treatment specific to cannabis; offering additional services, such as telephone support; and simplifying treatment admission processes.Discussion and Conclusions. Participant's perceptions differed significantly depending on their age, gender and treatment status. Participants in treatment typically reported barriers intrinsic to the individual while participants from the community reported barriers relating to the treatment available. Reported facilitators were more homogenous and most commonly related to availability of information. [Gates P, Copeland J, Swift W, Martin G. Barriers and facilitators to cannabis treatment. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:311–319]
Problems in identifying predictors and correlates of weight loss and maintenance: implications for weight control therapies based on behaviour change
Authors: Stubbs J. , Whybrow S. , Teixeira P. , Blundell J. , Lawton C. , Westenhoefer J. , Engel D. , Shepherd R. , Mcconnon Á. , Gilbert P. , Raats M. 
Published: April 2011

SummaryWeight management is a dynamic process, with a pre‐treatment phase, a treatment (including process) phase and post‐treatment maintenance, and where relapse is possible during both the treatment and maintenance.Variability in the statistical power of the studies concerned, heterogeneity in the definitions, the complexity of obesity and treatment success, the constructs and measures used to predict weight loss and maintenance, and an appreciation of who and how many people achieve it, make prediction difficult.In models of weight loss or maintenance: (i) predictors explain up to 20–30% of the variance; (ii) many predictors are the sum of several small constituent variables, each accounting for a smaller proportion of the variance; (iii) correlational or predictive relationships differ across study populations; (iv) inter‐individual variability in predictors and correlates of outcomes is high and (v) most of the variance remains unexplained.Greater standardization of predictive constructs and outcome measures, in more clearly defined study populations, tracked longitudinally, is needed to better predict who sustains weight loss.Treatments need to develop a more individualized approach that is sensitive to patients' needs and individual differences, which requires measuring and predicting patterns of intra‐individual behaviour variations associated weight loss and its maintenance. This information will help people shape behaviour change solutions to their own lifestyle needs.
Volitional saccades and attentional mechanisms in schizophrenia patients and healthy control subjects
Authors: Reuter Benedikt , Möllers David , Bender Julia , Schwehn Asysa , Ziemek Juliane , Gallinat Jürgen , Kathmann Norbert 
Published: April 2011

AbstractSchizophrenia (SZ) patients showed increased volitional saccade latencies, suggesting deficient volitional initiation of action. Yet increased volitional saccade latencies may also result from deficits in attention shifts. To dissociate attention shifting and saccade initiation, we asked 25 SZ patients and 25 healthy subjects to make saccades toward newly appearing (onset) targets and toward the loci of disappearing (offset) targets. Similar onsets and offsets were also used as attention cues in a Posner‐type manual task. As expected, onsets and offsets had similar effects on attention. In contrast, saccade latencies were considerably longer with offset compared to onset targets, reflecting additional time for volitional saccade initiation. Unexpectedly, SZ patients had normal saccade latencies. Presumably, the expected deficit was compensated by decreased fixation‐related neural activity, which was induced by the disappearance of fixation stimuli.
L‐NAME cotreatment did prevent neither mitochondrial impairment nor behavioral abnormalities in adult Wistar rats treated with vitamin A supplementation
Authors: de Oliveira Marcos Roberto , da Rocha Ricardo Fagundes , Schnorr Carlos Eduardo , Moreira José Cláudio Fonseca 
Published: April 2011

AbstractVitamin A has been characterized as a potential neurotoxin, because ingestion of such vitamin – or its derivatives, the retinoids – at moderate to high doses elicits a myriad of deleterious effects, from acute intoxication involving head‐ache, confusion, and ‘pseudo tumor cerebri’ to chronic, and perhaps irreversible, abnormalities, including irritability, anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation. Nevertheless, it still remains to be found the mechanism by which vitamin A induces cognitive decline. Based on the fact that vitamin A at clinical doses is a potent pro‐oxidant agent to the central nervous system, we performed the present work to analyze whether a cotreatment with L‐NAME at 30 mg/kg (four times a week) was able to prevent (or minimize) the biochemical and/or behavioral disturbances resulting from a 28‐day daily supplementation with retinol palmitate at doses from 1000 to 9000 IU/kg/day. Then, we investigated mitochondrial function, redox parameters, and the levels of proteins potentially involved in neurodegenerative events, as for instance α‐synuclein and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts. Besides, monoamine oxidase enzyme activity was quantified in this work. We observed that L‐NAME cotreatment was not completely effective in preventing the redox disturbances induced by vitamin A supplementation. Moreover, L‐NAME cotreatment did not affect the behavioral deficits elicited by vitamin A supplementation. We conclude that other parameters rather than NO levels or its derivatives, as for example ONOO−, take a more important role in mediating the negative effects triggered by vitamin A supplementation.
Na+/K+‐ATPase inhibition upregulates NMDA‐evoked currents in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Zhang Linan , Guo Fang , Su Suwen , Guo Huicai , Xiong Chen , Yin Jian , Li Wenya , Wang Yongli 
Published: April 2011

AbstractNa+/K+‐ATPase and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor in hippocampus play very important roles in the regulation of learning and memory. Here, we showed that dihydroouabain (DHO, 10−5–10−3 m), a Na+/K+‐ATPase inhibitor, significantly potentiated NMDA current in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, which was blocked by PP2 (the selective Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and PD‐98059 [the selective inhibitor of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) cascade]. These findings reported here uncover that Src mediates the cross‐talk between Na+/K+‐ATPase and NMDA receptor to transduce the signals from Na+/K+‐ATPase to the MAPK cascade and provide new insights into therapeutic target for deeper understanding of the nature of cognitive disorder.
Alpha‐interferon induced sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic melanoma
Authors: North Jeffrey , Mully Thaddeus 
Published: April 2011

Despite its modest potential benefit, alpha‐interferon is one of the most frequently employed therapies for melanoma. With the increasing incidence of melanoma, a parallel increase in interferon use and the associated adverse reactions that accompany interferon therapy should be expected. We present a case of an interferon‐induced sarcoidosis‐like reaction in a melanoma patient that was initially misinterpreted clinically and radiographically as metastatic melanoma. The etiology of sarcoidosis remains a mystery, but appears to involve Th‐1 cytokines such as interferon and interleukin‐2. Observance of a sarcoidosis‐like reaction induced by interferon therapy lends additional support to the importance of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. It is important for pathologists to be aware of this entity when interpreting biopsies from melanoma patients treated with interferon.North J, Mully T. Alpha‐interferon induced sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic melanoma.
Sleep disturbance in mild cognitive impairment: differential effects of current and remitted depression
Authors: Naismith Sharon L. , Rogers Naomi L. , Lewis Simon J. G. , Diamond Keri , Terpening Zoë , Norrie Louisa , Hickie Ian B. 
Published: April 2011

Naismith SL, Rogers NL, Lewis SJG, Diamond K, Terpening Z, Norrie L, Hickie IB. Sleep disturbance in mild cognitive impairment: differential effects of current and remitted depression.Objective:Although patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) commonly report sleep disturbance, the extent to which depressive symptoms contribute to this relationship is unclear. This study sought to delineate the contribution of current and remitted major depression (MD) to sleep disturbance in MCI.Methods:Seventy-seven patients meeting criteria for MCI (mean age = 66.6 ± 8.8 years) were grouped according to those withnohistory of depression (MCI,n= 33), those meeting criteria forcurrentMD [mild cognitive impairment and meeting criteria for current major depression (DEP-C),n= 14] and those withremittedMD [mild cognitive impairment and remitted major depression (DEP-R),n= 30]. Additionally, 17 healthy controls (CON) participated. Sleep was patient-rated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and included assessment of sleep quality, duration, efficiency, disturbances, medications, sleep onset latency and daytime dysfunction. Depression severity was clinician-rated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.Results:Overall sleep disturbance was significantly greater in the DEP-C and DEP-R groups in comparison to the CON and MCI groups (p< 0.001). Only 12% of CON reported sleep disturbance, compared to 30% of MCI, 63% of DEP-R and 86% of DEP-C. Sub-scale analysis showed that the sleep disturbance in depressive groups was most evident across the domains of sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep latency and daytime dysfunction.Conclusion:Sleep disturbance in MCI is strongly associated with a current or past diagnosis of MD. The finding that sleep complaints are still prominent in those with remitted depression, suggests that ‘trait' markers exist that may reflect underlying neurobiological changes within the sleep–wake system.
The cataclysmic variable SDSS J1507+52: an eclipsing period bouncer in the Galactic halo
Authors: Uthas Helena , Knigge Christian , Long Knox S. , Patterson Joseph , Thorstensen John 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
SDSS J1507+52 is an eclipsing cataclysmic variable (CV) consisting of a cool, non-radially pulsating white dwarf and an unusually small substellar secondary. The system has a high space velocity and a very short orbital period of about 67 min, well below the usual minimum period for CVs. To explain the existence of this peculiar system, two theories have been proposed. One suggests that SDSS J1507+52 was formed from a detached white dwarf-brown dwarf binary. The other theory proposes that the system is a member of the Galactic halo population.
Here, we present the ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy of SDSS J1507+52 obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope with the aim of distinguishing between these two theories. The UV flux of the system is dominated by the emission from the accreting white dwarf. Fits to model stellar atmospheres yield physical parameter estimates of Teff= 14 200 ± 500 K, log g= 8.2 ± 0.3, v sin i= 180 ± 20 km s-1 and [Fe/H]=-1.2 ± 0.2. These fits suggest a distance towards SDSS J1507+52 of d= 250 ± 50 pc. The quoted uncertainties include systematic errors associated with the adopted fitting windows and interstellar reddening.
Assuming that there is no contribution to the UV flux from a hot, optically thick boundary layer, we find a Teff much higher than previously estimated from eclipse analyses. The strongly subsolar metallicity we infer for SDSS J1507+52 is consistent with that of halo stars at the same space velocity. We therefore conclude that SDSS J1507+52 is a member of the Galactic halo.
Rationales Behind Irrationality of Decision Making in Groundwater Quality Management
Authors: Ronen Daniel , Sorek Shaul , Gilron Jack 
Published: April 2011

This issue paper presents how certain policies regarding management of groundwater quality lead to unexpected and undesirable results, despite being backed by seemingly reasonable assumptions. This happened in part because the so‐called reasonable decisions were not based on an integrative and quantitative methodology. The policies surveyed here are: (1) implementation of a program for aquifer restoration to pristine conditions followed, after failure, by leaving it to natural attenuation; (2) the “Forget About The Aquifer” (FATA) approach, while ignoring possible damage that contaminated groundwater can inflict on the other environmental systems; (3) groundwater recharge in municipal areas while neglecting the presence of contaminants in the unsaturated zone and conditions exerted by upper impervious surfaces; (4) the Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) practice considering aquifers to be “filters of infinite capacity”; and (5) focusing on well contamination vs. aquifer contamination to conveniently defer grappling with the problem of the aquifer as a whole.Possible reasons for the failure of these seemingly rational policies are: (1) the characteristic times of processes associated with groundwater that are usually orders of magnitude greater than the residence times of decision makers in their managerial position; (2) proliferation of improperly trained “groundwater experts” or policymakers with sectoral agendas alongside legitimate differences of opinion among groundwater scientists; (3) the neglect of the cyclic nature of natural phenomena; and (4) ignoring future long‐term costs because of immediate costs.