bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of human adrenal vein corticosteroids before and after adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation
Authors: Nakamura Yasuhiro , Rege Juilee , Satoh Fumitoshi , Morimoto Ryo , Kennedy Michael R. , Ahlem Clarence N. , Honma Seijiro , Sasano Hironobu , Rainey William E. 
Published: December 2011

SummaryContext  Although steroid hormones produced by the adrenal gland play critical roles in human physiology, a detailed quantitative analysis of the steroid products has not been reported. The current study uses a single methodology (liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, LC‐MS/MS) to quantify ten corticosteroids in adrenal vein (AV) samples pre‐ and post‐adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation.Design/methods  Three men and six women with a diagnosis of an adrenal aldosterone‐producing adenoma (APA) were included in the study. Serum was collected from the iliac vein (IV) and the AV contralateral to the diseased adrenal. Samples were collected, before and after administration of ACTH. LC‐MS/MS was then used to quantify serum concentrations of unconjugated corticosteroids and their precursors.Results  Prior to ACTH stimulation, the four most abundant steroids in AV were cortisol (90%), cortisone (4%), corticosterone (3%) and 11‐deoxycortisol (0·8%). Post‐ACTH administration, cortisol remained the major adrenal product (79%); however, corticosterone became the second most abundantly produced adrenal steroid (11%) followed by pregnenolone (2·5%) and 17α‐hydroxypregnenolone (2%). ACTH significantly increased the absolute adrenal output of all ten corticosteroids measured (P < 0·05). The four largest post‐ACTH increases were pregnenolone (300‐fold), progesterone (199‐fold), 17α‐hydroxypregnenolone (187‐fold) and deoxycorticosterone (82‐fold).Conclusion  Using LC‐MS/MS, we successfully measured 10 corticosteroids in peripheral and AV serum samples under pre‐ and post‐ACTH stimulation. This study demonstrates the primary adrenal steroid products and their response to ACTH.
Mycorrhiza changes plant volatiles to attract spider mite enemies
Authors: Schausberger Peter , Peneder Stefan , Jürschik Simone , Hoffmann Daniela 
Published: December 2011

Summary1. Indirect induced plant defence via emission of herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPV) to recruit natural enemies of herbivores is a ubiquitous phenomenon, but whether and how emission of above‐ground HIPVs is adaptively modulated by below‐ground mutualistic micro‐organisms is unknown.2. We investigated the effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae on chemical composition of HIPVs emitted by bean plants Phaseolus vulgaris attacked by spider mites, Tetranychus urticae, using proton‐transfer mass spectrometry, and attraction of the spider mites’ natural enemy, the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis, to these HIPVs using a Y‐tube olfactometer.3. Mycorrhiza significantly changed the HIPV composition. Most notably, it increased the emission of β‐ocimene and β‐caryophyllene, two compounds synthesized de novo upon spider mite attack. The constitutively emitted methyl salicylate was increased by spider mite infestation but decreased by mycorrhiza.4. The predators responded strongly to HIPVs emitted by plants infested for 6 days and preferred HIPVs of mycorrhizal plants to those of non‐mycorrhizal plants. In contrast, they were less responsive and indiscriminative to mycorrhization when exposed to volatiles emitted by non‐infested plants and plants infested by spider mites for 1 or 3 days.5. Our study provides a key example of an adaptive indirect HIPV‐mediated interaction of a below‐ground micro‐organism with an above‐ground carnivore.
Precipitation variability and fire influence the temporal dynamics of soil CO2 efflux in an arid grassland
Authors: Vargas Rodrigo , Collins Scott L. , Thomey Michell L. , Johnson Jennifer E. , Brown Renee F. , Natvig Donald O. , Friggens Michael T. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractClimate models suggest that extreme rainfall events will become more common with increased atmospheric warming. Consequently, changes in the size and frequency of rainfall will influence biophysical drivers that regulate the strength and timing of soil CO2 efflux – a major source of terrestrial carbon flux. We used a rainfall manipulation experiment during the summer monsoon season (July–September) to vary both the size and frequency of precipitation in an arid grassland 2 years before and 2 years after a lightning‐caused wildfire. Soil CO2 efflux rates were always higher under increased rainfall event size than under increased rainfall event frequency, or ambient precipitation. Although fire reduced soil CO2 efflux rates by nearly 70%, the overall responses to rainfall variability were consistent before and after the fire. The overall sensitivity of soil CO2 efflux to temperature (Q10) converged to 1.4, but this value differed somewhat among treatments especially before the fire. Changes in rainfall patterns resulted in differences in the periodicity of soil CO2 efflux with strong signals at 1, 8, and 30 days. Increased rainfall event size enhanced the synchrony between photosynthetically active radiation and soil CO2 efflux over the growing season before and after fire, suggesting a change in the temporal availability of substrate pools that regulate the temporal dynamics and magnitude of soil CO2 efflux. We conclude that arid grasslands are capable of rapidly increasing and maintaining high soil CO2 efflux rates in response to increased rainfall event size more than increased rainfall event frequency both before and after a fire. Therefore, the amount and pattern of multiple rain pulses over the growing season are crucial for understanding CO2 dynamics in burned and unburned water‐limited ecosystems.
Predicting species responses to climate change: demography and climate microrefugia in California valley oak (Quercus lobata)
Authors: Mclaughlin BLAIR C. , Zavaleta ERIKA S. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAnticipating species movement under climate change is a major focus in conservation. Bioclimate models are one of the few predictive tools for adaptation planning, but are limited in accounting for (i) climatic tolerances in preadult life stages that are potentially more vulnerable to warming; and (ii) local‐scale movement and use of climatic refugia as an alternative or complement to large‐scale changes in distribution. To assess whether these shortfalls can be addressed with field demographic data, we used California valley oak (Quercus lobata Nee), a long‐lived species with juvenile life stages known to be sensitive to climate. We hypothesized that the valley oak bioclimate model, based on adults, would overpredict the species' ability to remain in the projected persisting area, due to higher climate vulnerability of young life stages; and underpredict the potential for the species to remain in the projected contracting area in local‐scale refugia. We assessed the bioclimate model projections against actual demographic patterns in natural populations. We found that saplings were more constricted around surface water than adults in the projected contracting area. We also found that the climate envelope for saplings is narrower than that for adults. Saplings disappeared at a summer maximum temperature 3 °C below that associated with adults. Our findings indicate that rather than a complete shift northward and upward, as predicted by the species bioclimate model, valley oaks are more likely to experience constriction around water bodies, and eventual disappearance from areas exceeding a threshold of maximum temperature. Ours is the first study we know of to examine the importance of discrete life stage climate sensitivities in determining bioclimate modeling inputs, and to identify current climate change‐related constriction of a species around microrefugia. Our findings illustrate that targeted biological fieldwork can be central to understanding climate change‐related movement for long‐lived, sessile species.
How haematological cancer nurses experience the threat of patients’ mortality
Authors: Leung Doris , Esplen Mary Jane , Peter Elizabeth , Howell Doris , Rodin Gary , Fitch Margaret 
Published: December 2011

leung d., esplen m.j., peter e., howell d., rodin g. & fitch m. (2012) How haematological cancer nurses experience the threat of patients’ mortality. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(10), 2175–2184.AbstractAim.  This article explores how cancer nurses experienced the threat of patients’ mortality on malignant haematology units of one institution in Ontario, Canada.Background.  Although patients with cancer are living longer with bone marrow transplantations, still they face possibilities of dying due to complications from treatment and their disease.Methods.  Interpretive phenomenology guided the process. Nineteen front‐line Registered Nurses were purposively recruited from two inpatient bone marrow transplant units. Focused observations and individual interviews were analysed. Data were collected from April to August 2007.Results.  The major findings emphasized nurses’ internal conflict related to their simultaneous need to help patients fight their disease and to prepare them for the possibility of letting go. The authors used the terms ‘letting go’, not to reflect nurses’ intents to abandon life but to release patients from perceived norms of the ‘curative culture’. Nurses experienced ‘bursting the bubble of hope’ by circumstances not in their control, and were often not certain whether or not to respond and how to respond to the distress of patients and families about death and dying. When feeling reassured of meeting patients’ and families’ expectations, nurses enabled patients and families to let go when further treatment was futile, prevented technological intrusions, and helped patients have ‘easier’ deaths.Conclusion.  Results suggest enhancing nurses’ capacity to negotiate more effectively the contradictory clinical tasks of fighting disease and preparing patients for the end of life. In this regard, nurses may minimize patients’ distress by providing opportunities for them to share their fears and have them validated.
Dementia and relationships: experiences of partners in minority ethnic communities
Authors: Botsford Julia , Clarke Charlotte L. , Gibb Catherine E. 
Published: December 2011

botsford j., clarke c.l. & gibb c.e. (2012) Dementia and relationships: experiences of partners in minority ethnic communities. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(10), 2207–2217.AbstractAim.  This article is a report of a study aimed at examining the experiences of partners of people with dementia in two minority ethnic communities.Background.  Cultural background is important in how people perceive the effects of dementia and respond to them. To date there has been little research on the experiences of minority ethnic partners in the UK.Method.  Using a constructivist grounded theory approach data collection took place in London, England, over an 18‐month period between 2007 and 2009. A total of 43 in‐depth interviews were conducted with seven Greek Cypriot and six African Caribbean partners of people with dementia.Findings.  The outcomes of the study revealed partners of people with dementia engaged in an ongoing process of ‘redefining relationships’. Greek Cypriot partners tended to emphasize family relationships whilst African Caribbean partners tended to view themselves primarily as an individual or as part of a couple.Conclusion.  Increased understanding of how dementia is experienced by partners of people from specific ethnic groups with dementia can equip nurses to give culturally appropriate advice and support. The study findings suggest that ethnicity alone cannot account for individual responses to dementia in a partner, and therefore awareness of cultural factors needs to be balanced with sensitivity to the unique life experience and relationships of the individuals.
Forecasting plant community impacts of climate variability and change: when do competitive interactions matter?
Authors: Adler Peter B. , Dalgleish Harmony J. , Ellner Stephen P. 
Published: December 2011

Summary1. A change in a climate variable may alter a species’ abundance not only through a direct effect on that species’ vital rates, but also through ‘indirect’ effects mediated by species interactions. While recent work has highlighted cases in which indirect effects overwhelm the direct effects of climate, we lack robust generalizations to predict the strength of indirect effects.2. For communities dominated by non‐trophic interactions, we propose that the potential for indirect effects of climate change declines with the strength of stabilizing niche differences.3. We tested this hypothesis by analysing an empirically parameterized four species population model. We quantified negative frequency dependence in population growth rates as a measure of stabilizing niche differences and projected the sensitivity of each species to direct and indirect effects of climate perturbations.4. Consistent with our hypothesis, species’ sensitivities to indirect effects decreased rapidly with increasing stabilization by niche differences.5. Synthesis. Information about niche differences can identify species sensitive to indirect effects of climate change and determine when multispecies forecasting approaches are necessary. However, practical application of this generalization will require methods to predict niche differences from easily collected data.
Positive effect of shade on plant growth: amelioration of stress or active regulation of growth rate?
Authors: Semchenko Marina , Lepik Mari , Götzenberger Lars , Zobel Kristjan 
Published: December 2011

Summary1. While plant competition for light has received considerable attention, the facilitative effect that shading can have on plants and the role of species‐specific adaptations in mediating this phenomenon are still poorly understood. Evidence is accumulating, however, that positive interactions can play as important a role in community structuring as has been shown for competition.2. We examined interspecific variation in growth responses to shade using 46 temperate grassland species grown for 10 weeks in a common garden under identical soil conditions but at different levels of shading. The importance of morphological plasticity and habitat preference as species traits determining the net effect of shading on plant growth was tested.3. Moderate shade (50% daylight) had, on average, a net facilitative effect on plant mass. Plant growth in the 25% daylight treatment was not significantly different from that in full daylight, and it was only when 90% of natural light was made unavailable that shaded plants attained a significantly lower dry mass than plants in full daylight.4. Species that exhibited the most pronounced reduction in specific leaf area and increased allocation to roots in full compared with 50% daylight were least facilitated by shading. This finding supports the hypothesis that morphological plasticity is an important trait determining the strength of facilitative interactions.5. The growth response to shade was also dependent on species’ ecological optima, with species characteristic of nutrient‐poor or dry habitats most facilitated by shade. Greater growth enhancement by shade in grassland stress‐tolerant plants is surprising because such species frequently occupy unproductive vegetation with little shade and should therefore be adapted to high irradiance. This result calls into question the notion that a positive effect of shade on growth always reflects stress amelioration.6. Synthesis.Our study demonstrates a widespread ability of plant species to decouple growth from resource availability and challenges our understanding of the processes determining plant productivity.
Review: The development of family quality of life concepts and measures
Authors: Samuel P. S. , Rillotta F. , Brown I. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractHistorically, intervention programmes in intellectual and developmental disabilities have targeted the individual's special needs independent of the family and environmental context. This trend has been changing over the past two decades. This paper presents a literature review on changing trends in family support and the development of family quality of life (FQOL) and intellectual disability from a construct to a theory. The evolution of research in quality of life from the perspective of the individual with the disability to the family is described. A description of the development of FQOL measures is included, specifically an introduction and comparison of the two leading comprehensive initiatives on measuring FQOL – international FQOL project and the FQOL initiative of the Beach Center on Disability, in the USA. This paper provides the conceptual background and context to the other papers presented in this special issue, which focus on FQOL measurement in specific contexts.
Examination of the communication interface between students with severe to profound and multiple intellectual disability and educational staff during structured teaching sessions
Authors: Bunning K. , Smith C. , Kennedy P. , Greenham C. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground  Individuals with severe to profound and multiple intellectual disability (S‐PMID) tend to function at the earlier stages of communication development. Variable and highly individual means of communicating may present challenges to the adults providing support in everyday life. The current study aimed to examine the communication interface between students with S‐PMID and educational staff.Method  An in‐depth, observational study of dyadic interaction in a class within the secondary part of a special school was conducted. The designated educational level was Key Stage 3 under the National Curriculum of England, which is typically for children from age 11 to 14 years attending a state school. There were four student–teacher dyads in the class. The students had multiple impairments with severely limited communication skills. Video capture of dyadic interaction was conducted during five English lessons and sampled to 2.5 min per dyad per lesson. The video footage was transcribed into standard orthography, detailing the vocal and non‐vocal aspects. A coding framework guided by the principles of structural‐functional linguistics was used to determine the nature of dyadic interaction, comprising linguistic moves, functions and communicative modalities. The relative contributions of student and teacher to the interaction were examined.Results  Significant differences were found between the students and educational staff on the majority of the measures. The teachers dominated the interaction, occupying significantly more turns than the students. Teacher turns contained significantly more initiations and follow‐up moves than the students, who used more response moves. Teacher communication mainly served the functions of requesting and information giving. Feedback and scripted functions were also significantly greater among teacher turns, with only limited occurrence among the students. Self‐ or shared‐expression was greatest among the students. The modalities of speech, touch, singing and objects were used by the teachers for the purpose of communication, whereas vocalisation and gesture were used by the students.Conclusions  Despite differences in the availability of communication skills, both student and teacher were able to make their respective contributions to the interaction during classroom activity. Features of the student–teacher interface retained critical features seen in studies of more able individuals with intellectual disability. Scaffolding provided by teachers appears to be relevant to the communicative contributions of individuals functioning at the earliest stages of communication. The coding framework based on structural‐functional linguistics provides some new potential for examining and enhancing the communication interface between individuals with S‐PMID and the people who support them.
Modelling the concentration–time relationship in milk from cattle administered an intramammary drug
Authors: WHITTEM T. , WHITTEM J. H. , CONSTABLE P. D. 
Published: December 2011

Whittem, T., Whittem, J. H., Constable, P. D. Modelling the concentration–time relationship in milk from cattle administered an intramammary drug. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 35, 460–471.Antimicrobial drugs are often infused directly through the streak canal into the bovine udder for the treatment or prevention of mastitis. These infusions have two major problems: drug residues in milk and variable antimicrobial efficacy. Both problems are influenced by the pharmacokinetics of intramammary delivery and elimination of drugs. This pharmacokinetics does not conform to the assumptions of traditional first‐order mamillary pharmacokinetic models. To help understand drug delivery into and elimination from the udder, a new approach to pharmacokinetic modelling of the udder is proposed. This new model was used to predict the movement of drug within the udder and the concentrations of drug achieved within physiological compartments of the udder. These predictions were examined using computer modelling. The model was evaluated using data from in vivo intramammary infusion of cefuroxime. The model predicts that changes in milking efficiency (residual volume), milk productivity and milking frequency can impact both the drug residue persistence and the time that milk drug concentrations exceed the minimum inhibitory concentrations for pathogens. The model provides a new tool for future evaluation of intramammary dosing studies.
Effects of forest plantations on the genetic composition of conspecific native Aleppo pine populations
Authors: STEINITZ O. , ROBLEDO‐ARNUNCIO J. J. , NATHAN R. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractAfforestation is a common and widespread management practice throughout the world, yet its implications for the genetic diversity of native populations are still poorly understood. We examined the effect of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) plantations on the genetic composition of nearby conspecific native populations. We focused on two native populations in Israel with different levels of isolation from the surrounding plantations and compared the genetic diversity of naturally established young trees within the native populations with that of local native adults, using nine nuclear microsatellite markers. We found that the genetic composition of the recruits was significantly different from that of local adults in both populations, with allelic frequency changes between generations that could not be ascribed to random drift, but rather to substantial gene flow from the surrounding planted Aleppo pine populations. The more isolated population experienced a lower gene‐flow level (22%) than the less isolated population (49%). The genetic divergence between native populations at the adult‐tree stage (Fst = 0.32) was more than twice as high as that of the young trees naturally established around native adults (Fst = 0.15). Our findings provide evidence for a rapid genetic homogenization process of native populations following the massive planting efforts in the last decades. These findings have important implications for forest management and nature conservation and constitute a warning sign for the risk of translocation of biota for local biodiversity.