bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Birth seasonality and offspring production in threatened neotropical primates related to climate
Authors: WIEDERHOLT RUSCENA , POST ERIC 
Published: March 2011

AbstractGiven the threatened status of many primate species, the impacts of global warming on primate reproduction and, consequently, population growth should be of concern. We examined relations between climatic variability and birth seasonality, offspring production, and infant sex ratios in two ateline primates, northern muriquis, and woolly monkeys. In both species, the annual birth season was delayed by dry conditions and El Niño years, and delayed birth seasons were linked to lower birth rates. Additionally, increased mean annual temperatures were associated with lower birth rates for northern muriquis. Offspring sex ratios varied with climatic conditions in both species, but in different ways: directly in woolly monkeys and indirectly in northern muriquis. Woolly monkeys displayed an increase in the proportion of males among offspring in association with El Niño events, whereas in northern muriquis, increases in the proportion of males among offspring were associated with delayed onset of the birth season, which itself was related, although weakly, to warm, dry conditions. These results illustrate that global warming, increased drought frequency, and changes in the frequency of El Niño events could limit primate reproductive output, threatening the persistence and recovery of ateline primate populations.
Gas composition of baled grass silage as influenced by the amount, stretch, colour and type of plastic stretch‐film used to wrap the bales, and by the frequency of bale handling
Authors: McEniry J. , Forristal P. D. , O’Kiely P. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe effectiveness of the polyethylene stretch‐film barrier to air infiltration is the major factor affecting the preservation of silage in bales. Three separate experiments investigated the effects of the number of layers of stretch‐film cover, film colour, stretch extent, film type and frequency of bale handling on gas composition, surface mould growth and conservation characteristics of baled grass silages. Monitoring gas composition in bales during ensiling proved useful for assessing the success with which wrapped bales were stored anaerobically. Under good storage conditions the early stages of ensiling were characterized by the rapid reduction of O2 concentration in the bale and the creation of a CO2‐rich environment. However, wrapping bales in only two layers of stretch‐film failed to create the anaerobic conditions required for a successful fermentation and the inhibition of visible fungal growth. In contrast, a minimum of four layers of stretch‐film were required to achieve suitably anaerobic conditions, but the additional benefits of applying more layers were relatively small. Under temperate climatic conditions with moderate solar radiation, film colour had little effect on the gas composition in baled silage. Likewise, the extent of stretching applied to the film at wrapping and film type had no influence on gas composition, baled silage quality or mould development. However, frequent mechanical handling of bales after wrapping had a negative effect on gas composition and surface mould growth, and thus should be kept to a minimum.
KUD – a scale for clinical evaluation of moderate‐to‐severe dementia
Authors: Ericsson Iréne , Malmberg Bo , Langworth Sven , Haglund Anders , Almborg Ann‐Helene 
Published: March 2011

Aim. To develop a test of cognitive performance in persons with moderate‐to‐severe dementia.Background. Various instruments are used to assess the course of dementia and to evaluate treatments in persons with dementia. Most neuropsychological assessments are inappropriate for measuring cognitive abilities in persons with severe dementia, because these persons perform at floor level in such measurements.Design. A cross‐sectional research design.Methods. The test (Clinical Evaluation of Moderate‐to‐Severe Dementia; Swedish acronym: KUD) was developed from a pool of 25 test items with the final KUD consisting of 15 items. Reliability and validity were established using 220 subjects (with various dementia diagnoses) with scores of Mini‐Mental State Examination between 0–20. Approximately two weeks after the first test, 116 of the original 220 subjects were retested.Results. A factor analysis with the 15‐item scale revealed an interaction factor comprising three items and a cognitive performance factor with 12 items. The internal consistence reliability was 0·93 for the KUD (Cronbach’s alpha). Test–retest reliability was also high (0·92) and correlation between the KUD and the MMSE (≤20) was high (r = 0·80).Conclusion. The KUD seems to be a valid, reliable performance‐based assessment scale for measuring cognitive performance in persons with MMSE score below 12 or 15 points.Relevance to clinical practice. It is of outmost interest that cognitive performance can be easily followed for persons with moderate‐to‐severe dementia in, for example, drug therapies and other therapies, but also in terms of treatment of and support to the person based on his or her abilities.
First‐time mothers: social support, maternal parental self‐efficacy and postnatal depression
Authors: Leahy‐Warren Patricia , McCarthy Geraldine , Corcoran Paul 
Published: March 2011

Aims and objectives.  To examine the relationships between social support, maternal parental self‐efficacy and postnatal depression in first‐time mothers at 6 weeks post delivery.Background.  Social support conceptualised and measured in different ways has been found to positively influence the mothering experience as has maternal parental self‐efficacy. No research exists which has measured the relationships between social support, underpinned by social exchange theory and maternal parental self‐efficacy using a domain‐specific instrument, underpinned by self‐efficacy theory and postnatal depression, with first‐time mothers at 6 weeks post delivery.Design.  A quantitative correlational descriptive design was used.Method.  Data were collected using a five‐part questionnaire package containing a researcher developed social support questionnaire, the Perceived Maternal Parental Self‐Efficacy Scale and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Four hundred and ten mothers completed questionnaires at 6 weeks post delivery.Results.  Significant relationships were found between functional social support and postnatal depression; informal social support and postnatal depression; maternal parental self‐efficacy and postnatal depression and informal social support and maternal parental self‐efficacy at 6 weeks post delivery.Conclusion.  Nurses and midwives need to be aware of and acknowledge the significant contribution of social support, particularly from family and friends in positively influencing first‐time mothers’ mental health and well‐being in the postpartum period. The development of health care policy and clinical guidelines needs to define and operationalise social support to enhance maternal parental self‐efficacy.Relevance to clinical practice.  These findings suggest that nurses and midwives need to be cognisant of the importance of social support for first‐time mothers in both enhancing maternal parental self‐efficacy and reducing postnatal depressive symptomatology in the early postpartum period.
The response scale for the intellectual disability module of the WHOQOL: 5‐point or 3‐point?
Authors: Fang J. , Fleck M. P. , Green A. , McVilly K. , Hao Y. , Tan W. , Fu R. , Power M. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractObjective  To deal with the question of whether a 5‐point response Likert scale should be changed to a 3‐point scale when used in the field testing of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs), which was raised after the pilot study of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)‐DIS, a module being developed with the World Health Organization measure of quality of life for disabilities.Methods  Three possible ways were used to generate hypothetical data by merging a 5‐point scale into a 3‐point scale. The analyses were based on both item response theory and classical measurement theory. The partial credit model for polytomous response was performed for item evaluation; the confirmatory factor analysis was used to check construct validity, the Cronbach's alpha for domain reliability, and correlation analyses for the relationship between the 5‐point scale and the generated 3‐point scale.Results  Most items with a 5‐point response scale had disordered response options and/or unequal‐length intervals between successive response options; these deficiencies were removed or improved without decline of validity and reliability in the hypothetical data of 3‐point scales.Conclusion  Instead of the 5‐point scale, a 3‐point scale could be used for IDs in the field test of developing the module WHOQOL‐DIS.
Initial validation of the Chinese Quality of Life Questionnaire – Intellectual Disabilities (CQOL‐ID): a cultural perspective
Authors: Wong P. K. S. , Wong D. F. K. , Schalock R. L. , Chou Y‐C. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground  In the field of intellectual disabilities (ID), the quality of life concept has been developing rapidly in Chinese societies including Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan. However, there is a lack of locally validated instruments to measure the quality of life of people with ID. The study reported in this paper attempted to validate the Chinese Quality of Life Questionnaire – Intellectual Disabilities adapted from the Quality of Life Questionnaire developed by Schalock & Keith.Methods  People with mild/moderate ID aged 15 years or above were recruited from special schools, skills centres, community service units and residential units in different regions of Hong Kong. A number of procedures were followed including reliability tests, factor analysis, content validity and construct validity.Results  A total of 359 participants were recruited for the study. Factor analysis was conducted according to the rotated component matrix method, in which 23 items were extracted from the original 40‐item version of the Quality of Life Questionnaire and three domains (renamed satisfaction, competence and daily choice making/interpersonal relations) were observed. The items in each domain were shown to have factor loadings ranging from 0.42 to 0.90. Construct validity tests indicated the positive nature of the relationship between earnings, and that self‐determination and social interaction increase with more independent living environments and less segregated work environments achieving higher scores (P < 0.000, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). The scale also achieved a good degree of reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.79).Conclusions  Initial validity tests indicated that the Chinese Quality of Life Questionnaire – Intellectual Disabilities may be a useful instrument for measuring the quality of life of Chinese people with ID. Cultural issues are discussed and recommendations for future research and service development are made.
Reduced reproductive success of hatchery coho salmon in the wild: insights into most likely mechanisms
Authors: THÉRIAULT VÉRONIQUE , MOYER GREGORY R. , JACKSON LAURA S. , BLOUIN MICHAEL S. , BANKS MICHAEL A. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractSupplementation of wild salmonids with captive‐bred fish is a common practice for both commercial and conservation purposes. However, evidence for lower fitness of captive‐reared fish relative to wild fish has accumulated in recent years, diminishing the apparent effectiveness of supplementation as a management tool. To date, the mechanism(s) responsible for these fitness declines remain unknown. In this study, we showed with molecular parentage analysis that hatchery coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) had lower reproductive success than wild fish once they reproduced in the wild. This effect was more pronounced in males than in same‐aged females. Hatchery spawned fish that were released as unfed fry (age 0), as well as hatchery fish raised for one year in the hatchery (released as smolts, age 1), both experienced lower lifetime reproductive success (RS) than wild fish. However, the subset of hatchery males that returned as 2‐year olds (jacks) did not exhibit the same fitness decrease as males that returned as 3‐year olds. Thus, we report three lines of evidence pointing to the absence of sexual selection in the hatchery as a contributing mechanism for fitness declines of hatchery fish in the wild: (i) hatchery fish released as unfed fry that survived to adulthood still had low RS relative to wild fish, (ii) age‐3 male hatchery fish consistently showed a lower relative RS than female hatchery fish (suggesting a role for sexual selection), and (iii) age‐2 jacks, which use a sneaker mating strategy, did not show the same declines as 3‐year olds, which compete differently for females (again, implicating sexual selection).
Mutations in β′ subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase perturb the activator polymerase functional interaction required for promoter clearance
Authors: Swapna Ganduri , Chakraborty Atanu , Kumari Vandana , Sen Ranjan , Nagaraja Valakunja 
Published: March 2011

SummaryTranscription activator C employs a unique mechanism to activate mom gene of bacteriophage Mu. The activation process involves, facilitating the recruitment of RNA polymerase (RNAP) by altering the topology of the promoter and enhancing the promoter clearance by reducing the abortive transcription. To understand the basis of this multi‐step activation mechanism, we investigated the nature of the physical interaction between C and RNAP during the process. A variety of assays revealed that only DNA‐bound C contacts the β′ subunit of RNAP. Consistent to these results, we have also isolated RNAP mutants having mutations in the β′ subunit which were compromised in C‐mediated activation. Mutant RNAPs show reduced productive transcription and increased abortive initiation specifically at the C‐dependent mom promoter. Positive control (pc) mutants of C, defective in interaction with RNAP, retained the property of recruiting RNAP to the promoter but were unable to enhance promoter clearance. These results strongly suggest that the recruitment of RNAP to the mom promoter does not require physical interaction with C, whereas a contact between the β′ subunit and the activator, and the subsequent allosteric changes in the active site of the enzyme are essential for the enhancement of promoter clearance.
The Chromobacterium violaceum type III effector CopE, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac1 and Cdc42, is involved in bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and pathogenesis
Authors: Miki Tsuyoshi , Akiba Kinari , Iguchi Mirei , Danbara Hirofumi , Okada Nobuhiko 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThe type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded by Chromobacterium pathogenicity islands 1 and 1a (Cpi‐1/‐1a) is critical for Chromobacterium violaceum pathogenesis. T3SS‐dependent virulence is commonly characterized by type III effector virulence function, but the full repertoire of the effector proteins of Cpi‐1/‐1a T3SS is unknown. In this study, we showed that expression of Cpi‐1/‐1a T3SS is controlled by the master regulator CilA. We used transcriptional profiling with DNA microarrays to define CilA regulon and identified genes encoding T3SS effectors whose translocation into host cells was dependent on Cpi‐1/‐1a T3SS. From these effectors, we found that CopE (CV0296) has similarities to a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rho GTPases in its C‐terminal portion. The N‐terminal portions (1–81 amino acids) of CopE and a CivB as a putative chaperone were required for its translocation. CopE specifically activates Rac1 and Cdc42 followed by the induction of actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. Interestingly, C. violaceum invades human epithelial HeLa cells in a Cpi‐1/‐1a‐encoded T3SS‐ and CopE‐dependent manner. Finally, C. violaceum strains lacking copE and expressing a CopE–G168V deficient in GEF activity were attenuated for virulence in mice, suggesting that CopE contributes to the virulence of this pathogen.
The effect of FFP:RBC ratio on morbidity and mortality in trauma patients based on transfusion prediction score
Authors: Borgman M. A. , Spinella P. C. , Holcomb J. B. , Blackbourne L. H. , Wade C. E. , Lefering R. , Bouillon B. , Maegele M. 
Published: March 2011

Background and Objectives  The empiric use of a high plasma to packed red‐blood‐cell [fresh frozen plasma:red‐blood‐cells (FFP:RBC)] ratio in trauma resuscitation for patients with massive bleeding has become well accepted without clear or objective indications. Increased plasma transfusion is associated with worse outcome in some patient populations. While previous studies analyse only patients who received a massive transfusion, this study analyses those that are at risk to receive a massive transfusion, based on the trauma‐associated severe haemorrhage (TASH) score, to objectively determine which patients after severe trauma would benefit or have increased complications by the use of a high FFP:RBC ratio.Methods  Multicentre retrospective study from the Trauma Registry of the German Trauma Society. Multivariate logistic regression and statistical risk adjustments utilized in analyses.Results  A high ratio of FFP:RBC in the ≥15 TASH group was independently associated with survival, with an odds ratio of 2·5 (1·6–4·0), while the <15 TASH group was associated with increased multi‐organ failure, 47% vs. 38%, (P < 0·005).Conclusions  A predictive model of massive transfusion upon admission might be able to rapidly identify which severe trauma patients would benefit or have increased complications from the immediate application of a high ratio of FFP:RBCs. This study helps to identify the appropriate population for a prospective, interventional trial.
Differential Translation of Duck‐ and Rabbit‐Globin Messenger RNAs in Reticulocyte‐Lysate Systems
Authors: Stewart Andrew G. , Gander Eugen S. , Morel Carlos , Luppis Benedetta , Scherrer Klaus 
Published: March 2011

A 9 to 10‐S messenger RNA was purified from duck immature erythrocyte polyribosomes and found to direct the synthesis of several duck globin chains in a rabbit reticulocyte‐lysate protein‐synthesising system. The ability to compete with the endogenous rabbit globin mRNA was, however, very low. On the other hand, rabbit 9‐S RNA, when put into a duck immature erythrocyte‐lysate cell‐free system, was translated with high efficiency, effectively depressing the translation of the endogenous duck mRNA.These experiments lead us to conclude that between duck and rabbit messengers there are fundamental differences in the RNA structure at or near the initiation sites leading to their respective abilities to be recognised and translated with different efficiencies in cell‐free systems.
Phytophthora ramorum is a generalist plant pathogen with differences in virulence between isolates from infectious and dead‐end hosts
Authors: Hüberli D. , Garbelotto M. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryVariation in virulence was examined among isolates of Phytophthora ramorum from epidemiologically important or infectious (non‐oak) and transmissive dead‐end (oak) hosts from North America. Twelve isolates representative of the genetic, geographic and host range of P. ramorum in the western United States were inoculated on leaves of Umbellularia californica (bay laurel or bay) and stems of Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak). In spite of extreme genetic similarity among the isolates employed, and even within the same genotype, significant differences in lesion size were measured, suggesting virulence in this pathogen is also controlled by epigenetic factors. A strong positive correlation between lesion size on bay laurel and coast live oak provides experimental evidence P. ramorum is a generalist pathogen that lacks host specificity. Isolates from non‐transmissive oaks were significantly less pathogenic both on oaks and bays than isolates from infectious hosts. These results are essential to further our understanding of the epidemiology and evolutionary potential of this pathogen. A quantitative differential in virulence of isolates from hosts with different epidemiological roles has been described for many animal diseases, but is a novel report for a plant disease.
Chromium supplementation and substitution of barley grain with corn: effects on metabolite and hormonal responses in periparturient dairy cows
Authors: Sadri H. , Rahmani H. R. , Khorvash M. , Ghorbani G. R. , Bruckmaier R. M. 
Published: March 2011

SummaryThirty‐two multiparous Holstein cows were used to investigate the effects of chromium‐l‐methionine (Cr‐Met) supplementation and dietary grain source on metabolic indices throughout the periparturient period. Cows were fed a total mixed ration with the concentrate portion based on ground barley (barley based diet, BBD) – or ground corn (corn‐based diet, CBD) from 21 days before anticipated calving through 28 days after calving. The Cr‐Met was supplemented at dosages of 0 or 0.08 mg of Cr/kg of metabolic body weight throughout the experiment. Thus, treatments were in a 2 (Cr‐Met) × 2 (grain sources) factorial arrangement. Plasma glucose, non‐esterified fatty acids, triglyceride, very low‐density lipoprotein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), insulin, glucagon, cortisol and insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) concentrations were not affected by chromium supplementation on calving day (d 0). However, there was a trend for decreased β‐hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and increased cholesterol on d 0 in cows fed the Cr supplemented diet. On d 21 postpartum (wk 3 p.p.), plasma glucagon concentration tended to be greater in cows fed the Cr supplemented diet. However, other plasma metabolite and hormone measures were not affected by Cr supplementation in wk 3 p.p. There was no effect of grain source on d 0 plasma metabolic and endocrine measures. In wk 3 p.p., a significant difference was found only for plasma concentration of glucagon that was higher for cows fed the BBD compared with the CBD. There was an interaction of Cr‐Met supplementation and grain source in wk 3 p.p. plasma concentration of BUN to decrease in CBD and increase in BBD, supplemented with Cr‐Met. No Cr by grain interactions were observed for other plasma metabolic variables on d 0 and in wk 3 p.p. These results indicate that Cr‐Met supplementation and substituting barley grain with corn throughout the transition period have only moderate effects on metabolic and endocrine parameters.
Dispersal ability of marked, irradiated olive fruit flies [Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae)] in arid regions
Authors: Rempoulakis P. , Nestel D. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe dispersal of marked, irradiated olive fruit flies originating from a hybrid laboratory strain was studied in an olive groove located in the arid regions of southern Israel. Release–recapture experiments (eight in total) were conducted throughout a period of 5 months (July–December 2008). In each experiment, ca. 5000 flies were released. Recapture of flies was conducted using a grid of 30 yellow sticky traps set in expanding semicircles from the centre of release. Service of traps was conducted 3 and 15 days after the release. Fly quality and adult food type (only sucrose and protein + sucrose) before release was also investigated. Results point at an average dispersal distance of marked, irradiated olive flies of ca. 50 m. Pre‐release adult diet did not affect dispersal ability. Fly recovery averaged ca. 3.5% during summer and ca. 1.5% during autumn. Most of the recovery concentrated during the first 3 days after releases, suggesting low survival of the released flies afterwards. As inferred from circular statistics, direction of dispersal was non‐random with a significant directionality to the north‐west. Results are discussed in view of environmental temperatures and wind direction.