bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conservation and value of local livestock breeds: usefulness of niche products and/or adaptation to specific environments
Authors: Verrier E. , Tixier-Boichard M. , Bernigaud R. , Naves M. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryTwo cases of livestock production involving French local breeds are analysed. The first shows how a high quality product under AOC (Protected Designation of Origin — PDO) has been defined for the Bresse chicken breed, formely kept by fancy breeders. The second shows the role of the local cattle breeds Abondance and Tarentaise in both the use of mountain areas and the development of PDO products. How to consider such values in a public policy dealing with farm animal genetic resources is discussed.
The development of a system of linear measurements to provide an assessment of type and function of beef cattle
Authors: Alderson G.L.H. 
Published: August 2011

SUMMARYLinear measurements have been used as indicators of weight in cattle. Withers height has been used most commonly, but measurements of White Park cattle show that it is of limited value. This paper explores alternative measurements and indices, not only to provide a superior guide to weight, but also as indicators of type and function of beef cattle. A complex index is recommended for breed characterisation, while hip width or rump length are shown to be the preferred single measurements for evaluation of individual animals or within-herd groups.
Middle Devonian trilobites from the Mont d’Haurs section in Givet, France, with two new species of Dechenella
Authors: Bignon Arnaud , Crônier Catherine 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTRecent investigation of the historical Mont d’Haurs section near Givet yielded numerous trilobites from Middle Devonian carbonate deposits. The trilobite fauna described in the present paper comprises a number of taxa from the basal Givetian, including two new ones: Dechenella givetensis sp. n.; Dechenella calxensis sp. n.; Dechenella ziegleri Struve, 1992; Goldius cf. capitellum (Archinal, 1994); and Nyterops cf. hollandi van Viersen, 2007a. This fauna confirms the previously recognised taxonomic diversity pattern and the Dechenella and Nyterops Association from the middle Middle Devonian in the Ardenne area.
Tide-induced fine sediment resuspension in the well-mixed Hangzhou Bay, East China Sea, China
Authors: Shi John Z. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTHangzhou Bay is a typical funnel-shaped high turbid estuary along a mesotidal coast of the East China Sea. In this paper, field studies are undertaken in an attempt to better understand tide-induced fine sediment transport processes in the Bay. Field observations were made mainly of current velocities (speeds and directions) and suspended sediment concentrations at six different relative depths and two stations in September 1992. Results show that (1) high near-bed suspended sediment concentrations varied from 1·81 to 4·00 kg m−3 during the spring tide and from 1·04 to 8·00 kg m−3 during the neap tide; (2) tide-induced near-bed fine sediment resuspension processes are indicated by several periodic suspended sediment concentration peaks; and (3) a hysteresis effect, or suspension-lag, occurs in suspended sediment concentration and resuspension events. Tide-induced fine sediment processes are mainly responsible for very high concentration suspensions of fine sediments in Hangzhou Bay. The occurrence of the suspension-lag phenomenon is likely to be common in other similar muddy tidal environments.
The Effectiveness of Parent-Implemented Language Interventions: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Roberts Megan Y. , Kaiser Ann P. 
Published: August 2011

Purpose
The purpose of this meta-analysis was to systematically evaluate the effects of parent-implemented language interventions on the language skills of children between 18 and 60 months of age with primary and secondary language impairments.

Method
A systematic literature search yielded 18 studies that met the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Effect sizes for each study were calculated for 7 language outcome variables and analyzed using a random effects model. Separate analyses were conducted for each language outcome and for each comparison group. Outcomes were compared for children with and without intellectual disabilities and for parent report and direct observational language measures.

Results

The results indicate that parent-implemented language interventions have a significant, positive impact on receptive and expressive language skills of children with and without intellectual disabilities. Effect sizes (
g
) for child measures ranged from −0.15 to 0.82 depending on the outcome measure and comparison group.

Conclusion
The results of this review indicate that parent-implemented language interventions are an effective approach to early language intervention for young children with language impairments. Critical features of parent-implemented interventions are discussed in terms of implications for practice and future research.
Next Generation Utterance-Based Systems: What Do Pragmatic Studies Tell Us About System Design?
Authors: McCoy Kathleen F. , Hoag Linda , Bedrosian Jan 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Utterance-based AAC systems hold the promise of faster/easier communication. Over the past 10 years, we have conducted a number of investigations into the kinds of pragmatic choices that a user of such a system will have to make and the effects of these choices on public attitudes and conversational behaviors. In this paper, we discuss some of the technological implications of the findings from these experiments.
Towards highly accurate ab initio thermochemistry of larger systems: Benzene
Authors: Harding Michael E. , Vázquez Juana , Gauss Jürgen , Stanton John F. , Kállay Mihály 
Published: August 2011

The high accuracy extrapolated ab initio thermochemistry (HEAT) protocol is applied to compute the total atomization energy (TAE) and the heat of formation of benzene. Large-scale coupled-cluster calculations with more than 1500 basis functions and 42 correlated electrons as well as zero-point energies based on full cubic and (semi)diagonal quartic force fields obtained with the coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative treatment of the triples method and atomic natural orbital (ANO) triple- and quadruple-zeta basis sets are presented. The performance of modifications to the HEAT scheme and the scaling properties of its contributions with respect to the system size are investigated. A purely quantum-chemical TAE and associated conservative error bar of 5463.0 ± 3.1 kJ mol−1 are obtained, while the corresponding 95% confidence interval, based on a statistical analysis of HEAT results for other and related molecules, is ± 1.8 kJ mol−1. The heat of formation of benzene is determined to be 101.5 ± 2.0 kJ mol−1 and 83.9 ± 2.1 kJ mol−1 at 0 K and 298.15 K, respectively.
Labeling Mitochondria with MitoTracker Dyes
Authors: Chazotte Brad 
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTIONMembrane-potential-dependent dyes such as Rhodamine 123, tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester (TMRM), and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) are useful as long as the mitochondrion maintains its negative membrane potential. MitoTracker is a commercially available fluorescent dye (Invitrogen/Molecular Probes) that, like the aforementioned dyes, labels mitochondria within live cells utilizing the mitochondrial membrane potential. However, MitoTracker is chemically reactive, linking to thiol groups in the mitochondria. The dye becomes permanently bound to the mitochondria, and thus remains after the cell dies or is fixed. In addition, it can be used in experiments in which multiple labeling diminishes mitochondrial function. This protocol describes the labeling of mitochondria in live and fixed cells with MitoTracker dyes.
Calibration Protocols for Fluorescent Calcium Indicators: Figure 1.
Authors: Helmchen Fritjof 
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTIONFluorescent calcium indicators are useful for measuring intracellular calcium ion concentrations. For a quantitative understanding of the physiological roles of Ca2+, fluorescence signals measured with calcium indicators have to be converted to intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Most methods for converting a fluorescence signal to [Ca2+]i require the determination of a set of three calibration parameters: (Keff, Rmin, Rmax), (Kd, ΔF/Fmax, [Ca2+]rest), or (Kd, Rf, Fmax) or (Kapp, τmin, τmax). Here we describe the classical procedure for calibration of ratiometric measurements for both in vivo and in vitro calibrations, which is also useful for determining Kd and Rf. The [Ca2+]i dependence of the fluorescence ratio is measured using a set of at least three calibration solutions with known [Ca2+]i levels.
High-Throughput Illumina Strand-Specific RNA Sequencing Library Preparation
Authors: Zhong Silin , Joung Je-Gun , Zheng Yi , Chen Yun-ru , Liu Bao , Shao Ying , Xiang Jenny Z. , Fei Zhangjun , Giovannoni James J. 
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTIONConventional Illumina RNA-Seq does not have the resolution to decode the complex eukaryote transcriptome due to the lack of RNA polarity information. Strand-specific RNA sequencing (ssRNA-Seq) can overcome these limitations and as such is better suited for genome annotation, de novo transcriptome assembly, and accurate digital gene expression analysis. This protocol describes a simple and robust method to generate ssRNA-Seq libraries for the Illumina sequencing platform. It has significantly increased the throughput to 96 libraries in a two-day preparation while simultaneously lowering the reagent costs to below ten dollars per library. It is compatible with both single-read and paired-end multiplex sequencing and, most importantly, its data can also be used with existing conventional RNA-Seq data. This is a significant advantage, because it enables researchers to switch to ssRNA-Seq even if a large amount of data has already been generated by the nonstrand specific methods.
Analysis of Dendrite Development in Drosophila Embryos
Authors: Shrestha Brikha R. , Grueber Wesley B. 
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTIONDendrite morphological diversity helps to define the properties of neural circuits by influencing circuit organization and information processing. Dendrite development has been shown to be driven by a combination of cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors. However, much remains to be discovered about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that give rise to unique yet highly stereotyped dendrite arbors of diverse neuronal types. Work in the last decade has established the Drosophila system as an excellent model for studies of dendrite morphogenesis. This protocol describes the preparation of Drosophila embryos so that dendrite development can be assessed by confocal microscopy. The advantage of studies of embryonic stages is the relative ease of screening candidate genes and the ability to examine large numbers of neurons for phenotypes. This method is a basic and indispensable component of the set of techniques used for screening genes involved in dendrite morphogenesis.
Calibration of Fluorescent Calcium Indicators
Authors: Helmchen Fritjof 
Published: August 2011

INTRODUCTIONDuring the past decades, many different fluorescent indicators have been developed for measuring intracellular ion concentrations. Of particular interest are fluorescent calcium indicators because of the fundamental role of Ca2+in various cellular processes such as contraction, secretion, and gene activation. For a quantitative understanding of the physiological roles of Ca2+, fluorescence signals measured with calcium indicators have to be converted to intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Similarly, changes in [Ca2+]iand the underlying calcium fluxes need to be inferred from the corresponding fluorescence changes. This article describes the theoretical background and the various principal methods for the calibration of calcium imaging data.
Absolute airborne gravimetry: a feasibility study
Authors: Baumann H. , Klingelé E.E. , Marson I. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTWe report here the results obtained during a feasibility study that was pursued in order to evaluate the performances of absolute airborne gravimetry. In contrast to relative systems, which use spring‐type gravimeters, each measurement acquired by absolute systems is independent from the others and the instrument is not suffering from problems like instrumental drift, frequency response of the spring and variation of the calibration factor. After a validation of the dynamic performance of the experimental setup in a moving truck, a comparison between the experimental airborne data retrieved over the Swiss Alps and those obtained by ground upward continuation at flight altitude allow us to state that airborne absolute gravimetry is feasible. The first test flight shows a spatial resolution comparable to those obtained by relative airborne gravimetry. For a wavelength on the order of 12 km the absolute value of gravity can be evaluated with an uncertainty of 6.9 mGal.
The oral health of critically ill children: an observational cohort study
Authors: Ullman Amanda , Long Debbie , Lewis Peter 
Published: August 2011

Aims and objectives.  This study will describe the oral health status of critically ill children over time spent in the paediatric intensive care unit, examine influences on the development of poor oral health and explore the relationship between dysfunctional oral health and healthcare‐associated infections.Background.  The treatment modalities used to support children experiencing critical illness and the progression of critical illness may result in dysfunction in the oral cavity. In adults, oral health has been shown to worsen during critical illness as well as influence systemic health.Design.  A prospective observational cohort design was used.Method.  The study was undertaken at a single tertiary‐referral Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Oral health status was measured using the Oral Assessment Scale and culturing oropharyngeal flora. Information was also collected surrounding the use of supportive therapies, clinical characteristics of the children and the occurrence of healthcare‐associated infections.Results.  Of the 46 participants, 63% (n = 32) had oral dysfunction and 41% (n = 19) demonstrated pathogenic oropharyngeal colonisation during their critical illness. The potential systemic pathogens isolated from the oropharynx and included Candida sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Enterococcus sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The severity of critical illness had a significant positive relationship (p < 0·05) with pathogenic and absent colonisation of the oropharynx. Sixty‐three percent of healthcare‐associated infections involved the preceding or simultaneous colonisation of the oropharynx by the causative pathogen.Conclusions.  This study suggests paediatric oral health to be frequently dysfunctional and the oropharynx to repeatedly harbour potential systemic pathogens during childhood critical illness.Relevance to clinical practice.  Given the frequency of poor oral health during childhood critical illness in this study and the subsequent potential systemic consequences, evidence based oral hygiene practices should be developed and validated to guide clinicians when nursing critically ill children.
Family life and the impact of previous and present residential and day care support for children with major cognitive and behavioural challenges: a dilemma for services and policy
Authors: Brown R. I. , Geider S. , Primrose A. , Jokinen N. S. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIntroduction  Since the development of inclusion and integration, parents have increasingly become the major, and sometimes the only, carers of their children with disabilities. Many families speak of stress and frustration with service and community support, and some have turned to residential and specialised day care services to overcome challenges. The need for, and experiences of, such services needs to be examined not just in terms of the child but also in terms of family impact.Method  The study involved interviewing parents on a 1:1 basis and in a focus group to examine the perceptions of family life, along with their later experience of full‐time day and residential care. The children had multiple diagnoses of intellectual disability plus major challenging behaviour.Results  The results describe the major challenges facing families when the children spent most or all of their time at home. This contrasted starkly with the changes in perceived family life once the children were in residential care and day support. Improvements in behaviour of the children were noted and children began to return home for periods of time. Parent noted increased stability of family life, involvement of siblings in more normal community life and increased opportunities for spouses to function more effectively in one or more life domains. Family members perceived a major improvement in overall quality of life.Discussion  The results are consistent with findings in other family quality of life studies in terms of family experience, and the types of challenges faced when the child was at home, including when excluded from the regular education system. Extensive support in raising children is required by parents and without this there is a deleterious effect on family life. Many families experienced exclusion within their home communities. Full‐time day and residential support were provided, allowing the family to function more effectively and later to provide a more natural home environment for the child. The article raises questions of policy concerning family well‐being, as well as the needs of the child.
Concept of death and perceptions of bereavement in adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: McEvoy J. , MacHale R. , Tierney E. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractBackground  Bereavement is potentially a time of disruption and emotional distress. For individuals with an intellectual disability (ID), a limited understanding of the concept of death may exacerbate this distress. The aim of the present study was to investigate how individuals with ID understand and explain death and make sense of life without the deceased.Method  Thirty‐four people with ID were interviewed using simple vignettes describing death‐related incidents. Participants were asked about the causes of death, the status of the body after death and whether all living things die. In addition, participants were asked about reactions to death and for their views on post‐bereavement support.Results  Nearly one quarter of participants had a full understanding and over two‐thirds a partial understanding of the concept of death. Death comprehension was positively correlated with cognitive ability and adaptive functioning. While cause of death was predominantly associated with illness and old age, participants viewed death as final and understood that all living things die. The role of religious beliefs was also found to be important for many participants.Conclusions  The results support earlier findings that suggest people with ID have only a partial understanding of the concept of death leaving them vulnerable to factually incorrect thoughts. The study highlights the considerable scope for making sense of death using religious and spiritual themes and emphasises the need for teaching individuals biological explanations of the life cycle. The results also provide some insight into the views of individuals with ID for carers involved in providing post‐bereavement support.
SPATULA and ALCATRAZ, are partially redundant, functionally diverging bHLH genes required for Arabidopsis gynoecium and fruit development
Authors: Groszmann Michael , Paicu Teodora , Alvarez John P. , Swain Steve M. , Smyth David R. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryThe Arabidopsis gynoecium is a complex organ that facilitates fertilization, later developing into a dehiscent silique that protects seeds until their dispersal. Identifying genes important for development is often hampered by functional redundancy. We report unequal redundancy between two closely related genes, SPATULA (SPT) and ALCATRAZ (ALC), revealing previously unknown developmental roles for each. SPT is known to support septum, style and stigma development in the flower, whereas ALC is involved in dehiscence zone development in the fruit. ALC diverged from a SPT‐like ancestor following gene duplication coinciding with the At‐β polyploidy event. Here we show that ALC is also involved in early gynoecium development, and SPT in later valve margin generation in the silique. Evidence includes the increased severity of early gynoecium disruption, and of later valve margin defects, in spt‐alc double mutants. In addition, a repressive version of SPT (35S:SPT‐SRDX) disrupts both structures. Consistent with redundancy, ALC and SPT expression patterns overlap in these tissues, and the ALC promoter carries two atypical E‐box elements identical to one in SPT required for valve margin expression. Further, SPT can heterodimerize with ALC, and 35S:SPT can fully complement dehiscence defects in alc mutants, although 35S:ALC can only partly complement spt gynoecium disruptions, perhaps associated with its sequence simplification. Interactions with FRUITFULL and SHATTERPROOF genes differ somewhat between SPT and ALC, reflecting their different specializations. These two genes are apparently undergoing subfunctionalization, with SPT essential for earlier carpel margin tissues, and ALC specializing in later dehiscence zone development.
Relationship between polymorphisms in the 5′ leader cistron, positions 16 and 27 of the adrenergic β2 receptor gene and asthma in a Han population from southwest China
Authors: FU WEI‐PING , ZHAO ZHI‐HUAN , ZHONG LI , SUN CHANG , FANG LI‐ZHOU , LIU LING , ZHANG JIAN‐QING , WANG LEI , SHU JING‐KUI , WANG XU‐MING , DAI LU‐MING 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Adrenergic β2 receptors (ADRB2) play an important role in regulating pulmonary function. Many previous studies have investigated possible associations between polymorphisms in the ADRB2 gene and asthma, but have yielded conflicting results. Furthermore, little is known regarding the possible role of the Arg19Cys polymorphism in susceptibility to asthma among Chinese.Methods:  This case–control association study involved 238 patients with asthma and 265 healthy subjects from a Han population in southwest China. For all subjects, the 5′ leader cistron Arg19Cys, Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu polymorphisms in the ADRB2 gene were characterized by direct sequencing. Genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were determined. In addition, to evaluate the association between the ADRB2 polymorphisms and lung function, bronchodilator response to inhaled β2 agonists (400 µg of albuterol) was assessed in the asthmatic patients.Results:  There were no significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies for the three ADRB2 polymorphisms between the two cohorts. The Arg19/Arg16/Gln27 haplotype was more frequent among asthmatic patients than control subjects (odds ratio 2.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–4.73, P = 0.04). Moreover, the Arg19/Cys19 genotype was associated with a lower FEV1% (mean difference −4.5, 95% CI: −12.5 to 3.6, P = 0.02) and FEV1/FVC (mean difference 8.9, 95% CI: 8.5–9.4, P = 0.01). The bronchodilator response to albuterol was also marginally lower in individuals who were homozygous for the Arg19 genotype (mean difference 4.2, 95% CI: 3.7–4.8, P = 0.03).Conclusions:  The Arg19/Cys19 genotype was an independent risk factor for lower FEV1% and FEV1/FVC. Asthmatic patients with the Arg19/Arg19 genotype showed decreased responsiveness to albuterol. Furthermore, the Arg19/Arg16/Gln27 haplotype may contribute to increased susceptibility to asthma in the Chinese population.