bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
C‐reactive protein concentration in dogs with primary immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia
Authors: Griebsch Christine , Arndt Gisela , Raila Jens , Schweigert Florian J. , Kohn Barbara 
Published: April 2009

Background:Canine primary immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) is associated with a high‐mortality rate. C‐reactive protein (CRP) is the most important acute‐phase protein in dogs and may have value as a marker of prognosis or response to treatment in IMHA.Objective:The objectives of this study were to evaluate serum CRP concentration in dogs with primary IMHA at presentation and during treatment, to assess potential differences based on survival time, and to compare CRP with other laboratory parameters of inflammation and prognosis.Methods:Inclusion criteria for primary IMHA were anemia (PCV<0.30 L/L), a positive Coombs' test or persistent autoagglutination of erythrocytes, and the exclusion of underlying diseases by other diagnostic tests. Dogs were divided into 2 groups based on survival: dogs that were still alive 14 days after start of treatment (group 1) and dogs that died or were euthanized before day 14 (group 2). Serum CRP concentration, a CBC, and a biochemistry profile were performed on days 0, 3, 8, and 14. Serum CRP also was determined in 25 clinically healthy dogs.Results:CRP concentration in the 25 clinically healthy dogs ranged from 0–8.9 μg/mL (median 2.2 μg/mL). Thirty dogs were diagnosed with primary IMHA, 24 in group 1 and 6 in group 2. On day 0, CRP concentration in dogs in both groups (median 224 μg/mL) was increased above the reference interval. In group 1 dogs, median CRP concentration was 242 μg/mL on day 0, 69 μg/mL on day 3, 35 μg/mL on day 8, and 2 μg/mL on day 14. In group 2 dogs, median CRP concentration was 194 μg/mL on day 0, 119 μg/mL on day 3, and 41 μg/mL on day 8; only 1 dog in group 2 survived to day 8. There was a significant correlation between CRP and total WBC concentrations on days 0 and 3 (r=−.598,P=.003).Conclusions:Serum CRP concentration was markedly increased in dogs with primary IMHA. CRP concentration did not differ based on patient survival, but might be a marker for long‐term monitoring of these patients.
Fine-scale structure within a Trillium maculatum (Liliaceae) population
Authors: Walker Alana N. , Foré Stephanie A. , Collins Beverly 
Published: April 2009

In long-lived ant-dispersed perennial herbs of mesic forests, interactions among fruiting plants, seed dispersal, and plant mortality over life-history stages can create demographic and genetic structure. We investigated whether there was nonrandom variation in the distributions of individuals and in genetic diversity within and among life-history stages of the forest herb Trillium maculatum Raf. (Liliaceae). In 2002 and 2004, all T. maculatum plants in a 5 m × 5 m plot (1572 and 1379 individuals, respectively) were mapped and classified as seedling, one-leaf, three-leaf nonflowering, or flowering. Spatial distributions of plants within and across life-history stages were tested against random expectation. Allozyme analysis of 262 individuals from three life-history stages was used to assess genetic diversity and structure in 2004. The number of seedlings and the proportion of one-leaf plants differed between years, but the proportions of three-leaf nonflowering and flowering plants remained the same. There was little evidence of vegetative reproduction, but heterozygosity was low and there was evidence of inbreeding. Seedlings were clumped around flowering plants at distances up to 50 cm and one-leaf plants were clumped at distances up to 100 cm. There were no apparent genetic differences among life-history stages, nor any apparent spatial genetic structure among all sampled individuals. These results, like those of other demographic and allozyme studies of Trillium species, can be explained by restricted dispersal and random mortality.
Effect of introduced Euphorbia esula on the pollination of Viola pedatifida
Authors: Montgomery B. R. 
Published: April 2009

Introduced plants may compete for pollination with native plants, resulting in reduced fruit or seed set. In this study, I use several techniques to assess whether the invasive plant Euphorbia esula L. (leafy spurge, Euphorbiaceae) reduces the pollination success of chasmogamous flowers of the native plant Viola pedatifida G. Don (prairie violet, Violaceae), which has chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers. Euphorbia pollen was found on most Viola stigmas, suggesting the potential for competition. Additionally, application of Euphorbia pollen to Viola stigmas prior to conspecific pollen reduced seed set. However, natural receipt of Euphorbia and other heterospecific pollen was not associated with decreased fruit or seed set. In the field, fruit set was higher for Viola in sites with Euphorbia despite increased Euphorbia pollen receipt, and seed set did not vary with the presence of Euphorbia. However, there was no significant interaction between the presence of Euphorbia and flower type (cleistogamous or chasmogamous), suggesting that increased fruit set near Euphorbia is unrelated to pollination. This study suggests that Viola and Euphorbia interact through shared pollinators, but there is no evidence that competition for pollination with Euphorbia reduces Viola’s fecundity or results in increased reliance on cleistogamous flowers.
Investigating optimal aggregation interval sizes of loop detector data for freeway travel-time estimation and prediction
Authors: Park Dongjoo , You Soyoung , Rho Jeonghyun , Cho Hanseon , Lee Kangdae 
Published: April 2009

With recent increases in the deployment of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies, traffic management centers have the ability to obtain and archive large amounts of data regarding the traffic system. These data can then be employed in estimations of current conditions and the prediction of future conditions on the roadway network. In this paper, we propose a general solution methodology for the identification of the optimal aggregation interval sizes of loop detector data for four scenarios (i) link travel-time estimation, (ii) corridor / route travel-time estimation, (iii) link travel-time forecasting, and (iv) corridor / route travel-time forecasting. This study applied cross validated mean square error (CVMSE) model for the link and route travel-time estimations, and a forecasting mean square error (FMSE) model for the link and corridor / route travel-time forecasting. These models were applied to loop detector data obtained from the Kyeongbu expressway in Korea. It was found that the optimal aggregation sizes for the travel-time estimation and forecasting were 3 to 5 min and 10 to 20 min, respectively.
Oxygen diffusion and consumption in low-sulphide tailings covers
Authors: Demers Isabelle , Bussière Bruno , Mbonimpa Mamert , Benzaazoua Mostafa 
Published: April 2009

Acid-generating tailings can be reclaimed using oxygen barrier covers in humid climates, such as in Quebec. A single-layer low-sulphide tailings cover is an attractive alternative to traditional water covers to maximize the impoundment’s storage capacity. Low-sulphide tailings can serve as a moisture-retaining material to limit oxygen diffusion, and their residual sulphides can consume the diffusive oxygen that still gets through the cover. A laboratory experiment using instrumented columns was initiated to confirm the efficiency of a low-sulphide tailings monolayer cover placed over acid-generating tailings to reduce the oxygen flux reaching the reactive tailings. Oxygen concentration profiles were measured over the thickness of the cover and oxygen fluxes were calculated to evaluate the effect of three parameters on these fluxes: water table level, cover sulphide content, and cover thickness. Oxygen fluxes at the bottom of the low-sulphide tailings cover layer, calculated using oxygen gradient and estimated effective diffusion coefficient and predicted using Vadose/W, were lower than 1.5 mol·m−2·year−1. These results suggest that a low-sulphide tailings cover with an elevated water table can reduce oxygen migration and potentially limit acid mine drainage generation.
The effects of timber harvest, forest fire, and herbivores on regeneration of deciduous trees in boreal pine-dominated forests
Authors: den Herder Michael , Kouki Jari , Ruusila Vesa 
Published: April 2009

Forest management, fire, and herbivores are the major factors affecting regeneration of deciduous trees in boreal forests. In a large-scale experiment, we manipulated the use of prescribed burning, the level of green-tree retention and the presence of moose ( Alces alces L.) and hare ( Lepus timidus L. and Lepus europaeus Pallas) to study their effects on early regeneration of three native pioneer tree species, i.e., rowan ( Sorbus aucuparia L.), aspen ( Populus tremula L.), and silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth). Green-tree retention enhanced survival of all tested tree species. Prescribed burning enhanced the survival rate of birch and rowan, but aspen survival was only enhanced by burning on clearcuts and areas with 50 m3/ha of retention trees. Excluding moose enhanced rowan growth and birch survival. Aspen growth and survival was enhanced when both moose and hare were excluded. Seedlings were most frequently browsed on clearcuts, and most seedling mortality was caused by voles or hare. At low densities, the effect of moose on pioneer trees may be smaller than that of other herbivores or the fire–management regime. Considering the large number of species depending on pioneer trees, the results support the use of tree retention and fire as useful management alternatives not only to promote biodiversity but also to enhance regeneration of deciduous trees and reduce herbivore damage.
Impact of seasonally frozen soil on germinability and antioxidant enzyme activity of Picea asperata seeds
Authors: Qin Jihong , Liu Qing 
Published: April 2009

In the subalpine zone of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau of China, Dragon spruce (Picea asperata Mast.) is commonly used for reforestation. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of seasonally frozen soil on the germination of P. asperata seeds and to investigate whether these effects were associated with resumption of the antioxidant defense system. The nonfrozen treatment resulted in near failure of germination (1%) and was associated with relatively high levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and low activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxide (APX). Germination of P. asperata seeds at 10 cm under the seasonally frozen soil was higher than that at 5 cm by 26%; this higher germination rate was associated with the recovery of SOD, CAT, and APX activities. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in seeds from seasonally frozen treatments were higher than those in the nonfrozen treatment, implying greater lipid peroxidation and that frozen seeds might have suffered from oxidative stress. The results indicate that seasonally frozen soil facilitated the germination of P. asperata seeds and that germination was closely related to the resumption of antioxidant enzymes activity. Overall, these findings suggest that the disappearance of seasonally frozen ground caused by global warming might result in failure of regeneration of P. asperata.
Estimating Quebec provincial forest resources using ICESat/GLAS
Authors: Nelson Ross , Boudreau Jonathan , Gregoire Timothy G. , Margolis Hank , Næsset Erik , Gobakken Terje , Ståhl Göran 
Published: April 2009

Ground plots, airborne profiling and space lidar (light detection and ranging) measurements of canopy height and crown closure, space radar topographic data, a Landsat cover type map, and a vegetation zone map were used in a model-assisted, two-phase sampling design to estimate the aboveground biomass and carbon resources of Quebec. It was determined that a simple random sampling estimator, with covariance terms added, could be used to quantify the variability of regional Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) biomass estimates where interorbit distances are, on average, ≥15 km apart. Prediction error increased standard errors, on average, 24.4%, 4.6%, and 2.8% at the cover type, vegetation zone, and provincial levels, respectively. Inclusion of the covariance term in the calculation of grouped cover type variances increased the vegetation zone standard errors up to 3.7 times and the provincial standard errors 15.6 times. In the southern commercial forests of Quebec, GLAS underestimated ground-based biomass values by 7.3% (stratified linear model) and 10.2% (nonstratified linear model). Quebec forests support 2.57 ± 0.33 gigatonnes of carbon (nonstratified linear model). Approximately 25% of that carbon was found to be located in two southern vegetation zones (northern hardwood and mixedwood), another 25% in two northern vegetation zones (taiga and treed tundra), and the remaining 50% in the boreal zone.
Long-term effects of tanoak competition on Douglas-fir stand development
Authors: Harrington Timothy B. , Tappeiner John C. 
Published: April 2009

In 1- to 2-year-old Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) plantations near Cave Junction and Glendale, Oregon, sprout clumps of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehd.) and other hardwoods were removed with herbicides in April 1983 to leave relative covers of 0%, 25%, 50%, or 100% of the nontreated cover, which averaged 15%. In 1996 (Cave Junction) and 1998 (Glendale), precommercial thinning (PCT) of Douglas-fir and cutting of nonconifer woody species were operationally applied across the four densities of tanoak. In 2005, Douglas-fir in 0% relative cover of tanoak averaged 5–8 cm larger at breast height and 3–6 m taller, and had two to four times the net stand volume of those growing in 100% relative cover. From 1999 to 2005, Douglas-fir stand growth accelerated more rapidly in tanoak relative covers of 0% and 25% than in covers of 50% and 100%. Differential development of Douglas-fir and hardwoods in relative covers of 0%, 25%, and 100%, followed by selection of crop trees via PCT, resulted in three distinct stand structures: pure stands of Douglas-fir with a single canopy layer 12–16 m tall, mixed stands with overstory Douglas-fir (12 m) and midstory hardwoods (7 m), and mixed stands with a single canopy layer (8–9 m).
Improved nutritional status of Cupressus lusitanica when grown adjacent to Pinus radiata
Authors: Watt Michael S. , Davis Murray R. , Parfitt Roger L. 
Published: April 2009

We examined how a mixture of Pinus radiata D. Don and Cupressus lusitanica Mill. influences foliage element concentrations at 20 sites, covering a fertility gradient. Foliage element concentrations of plants at plot boundaries, where the two species grew adjacent to each other, were compared with those of plants at plot centres, where they were surrounded by plants of the same species. For C. lusitanica, plot position significantly affected nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulphur (S) with concentrations of these elements at the plot boundary exceeding concentrations at the plot centre by 10%–14%. For P. radiata, plants at the plot boundary had a significantly greater P concentration and lower N/P ratio than plants at the centre, but differences between positions were less than that for C. lusitanica (<7%). For C. lusitanica, the difference between foliage concentrations of N and P at the plot boundary and centre significantly declined as the mean plot concentrations of these elements increased. It is likely that C. lusitanica at the boundary benefited from the greater availability of N, P, and S in the root rhizosphere, where they were mobilized from soil organic matter by the ectomycorrhizae of P. radiata. We also suggest that P. radiata at the plot boundary may have benefited from mobilization of P by the endomycorrhizae of C. lusitanica.
Influence of tree species on epiphytic macrolichens in temperate mixed forests of northern Italy
Authors: Nascimbene Juri , Marini Lorenzo , Nimis Pier Luigi 
Published: April 2009

Tree species is a key factor in shaping epiphytic lichen communities. In managed forests, tree species composition is mainly controlled by forest management, with important consequences on lichen diversity. The main aim of this work was to evaluate the differences at tree level in macrolichen richness and composition between Abies alba Mill. and Fagus sylvatica L. in a temperate mixed forest in northern Italy, in addition to evaluating two different proportions of the two species at the stand level. Abies alba and F. sylvatica host lichen communities including several rare and sensitive species. Our findings indicate that both tree species were important for lichen diversity, since they hosted different communities. However, F. sylvatica proved to be a more favourable hosting tree for several rare and sensitive species. Species associated with A. alba were mainly acidophytic lichens, while those associated with F. sylvatica were foliose hygrophytic lichens, mainly establishing over bryophytes. The frequency of the flagship species Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was a valuable predictor of cyanolichen richness and was useful in identifying sites hosting lichen communities that are potentially more sensitive to thinning and human disturbance. The results support the relevance of mixed A. alba – F. sylvatica formations among European habitats worthy of conservation.
Conifer regeneration in stand-replacement portions of a large mixed-severity wildfire in the Klamath–Siskiyou Mountains
Authors: Donato Daniel C. , Fontaine Joseph B. , Campbell John L. , Robinson W. Douglas , Kauffman J. Boone , Law Beverly E. 
Published: April 2009

Large-scale wildfires (∼104–106ha) have the potential to eliminate seed sources over broad areas and thus may lead to qualitatively different regeneration dynamics than in small burns; however, regeneration after such events has received little study in temperate forests. Following a 200 000 ha mixed-severity wildfire in Oregon, USA, we quantified (1) conifer and broadleaf regeneration in stand-replacement patches 2 and 4 years postfire; and (2) the relative importance of isolation from seed sources (live trees) versus local site conditions in controlling regeneration. Patch-scale conifer regeneration density (72%–80% Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb). Franco)) varied widely, from 127 to 6494 stems·ha–1. Median densities were 1721 and 1603 stems·ha–12 and 4 years postfire, respectively, i.e., ∼12 times prefire overstory densities (134 stems·ha–1). Because of the complex burn mosaic, ∼58% of stand-replacement area was ≤200 m from a live-tree edge (seed source), and ∼81% was ≤400 m. Median conifer density exceeded 1000 stems·ha–1out to a distance of 400 m from an edge before declining farther away. The strongest controls on regeneration were distance to live trees and soil parent material, with skeletal coarse-grained soils supporting lower densities (133 stems·ha–1) than fine-grained soils (729–1492 stems·ha–1). Other site factors (e.g., topography, broadleaf cover) had little association with conifer regeneration. The mixed-severity fire pattern strongly influenced the regeneration process by providing seed sources throughout much of the burned landscape.
The Foundation of ‘Partnership’? Union Effects on Employee Trust in Management
Authors: Bryson Alex 
Published: April 2009

This article addresses the question: what impact do trade unions have on employee trust in management? Using nationally representative data on employees in theBritish Social Attitudes Survey(BSAS) 1998, we assess associations between measures of unionisation and employee perceptions that managers usually keep their promises to employees. The article provides broad support for the three hypotheses explored here. First, employee trust in managers is higher where there is a balance of power between unions and management at the workplace. Secondly, employees' trust in managers is higher where management supports union membership, and is lowest where management actively discourages membership. This is equally true among employees in unionised and non-unionised workplaces. Thirdly, employees' perceptions of union effectiveness are positively associated with higher trust in management.The positive association between managerial support for union membership and employee trust in management can be interpreted in various ways. But the finding suggests that management can influence employee perceptions of them for better or for worse through their engagement with unions.Management can also foster a high trust relationship with employees by ensuring that unions have sufficient power to make a positive contribution to the running of the workplace, since unions with the ‘right amount of power’ are associated with higher trust in management. Weak unions are particularly bad for employee perceptions of management, raising the question why employers often recognise unions for pay bargaining, but preside over a decline in union strength at the workplace.Unions are best able to create a climate in which employees trust management where they are perceived to be doing their job well, where they have regard to union members' problems and complaints, and where they contribute to the smooth running of the workplace. In these circumstances, trust in management is generally no different from that found among employees in non-unionised workplaces. However, where unions are viewed as ineffective, trust in management is lower than in comparable non-unionised workplaces.
Yet More Maths Problems
Authors: Howson Geoffrey 
Published: April 2009

This article considers several key problems facing the teaching and learning of mathematics at secondary level. In particular, it studies the need for better defined aims for mathematics teaching; the standards currently being attained by students viewed from an international perspective; the validity of many of the assessment procedures on which the government places such emphasis; and the underlying problem, that of an insufficiency of well-qualified mathematics teachers — a problem that, for several decades, governments have chosen to ignore. Suggestions are made on how the various aims of mathematics education might be better met.‘Does “Mathematics for all” mean “No mathematics for all”?’ Title of a lecture given by J. de Lange in 1983.‘A calculator, …, a friend or an independent financial advisor can substitute for an education in mathematics for instrumental purposes’ (Bramall, 2000).‘Q. I would like to know the rate of inflation for the years since 1987 to the present time to work out the true value of my savings. Can you help?A. Certainly. Since 1987 the cost of living has gone up by 70 per cent. So £1 today is worth the equivalent of only 30p then.’ Reader's question and financial expert's answer in ‘Your money’, Saga Magazine, April 2001.