bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Internet Websites Provided by Radiotherapy Departments
Authors: King Emma 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe research identifies and evaluates the content and readability of Websites of all radiotherapy departments that provide a Website. As more patients are being referred for radiotherapy treatment each year, the information needs of the public on this subject is growing. Fifty-two per cent of radiotherapy departments within the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland were identified as providing a Website. These Websites were evaluated, over a period of 2 weeks, using an adapted Website evaluation tool. Five criteria – content, authority, navigation, design and technical aspects – were identified as important aspects of a Website. For each criterion a number of statements were listed and using a Likert scale were marked. Flesch–Kincaid readability tests were used to analyse the readability level of the Websites. Data analysis resulted in the ranking of the Websites. Evaluation scores varied greatly and the readability tests showed 92% of the Websites were written at a level too high for the public. This shows the varying quality of radiotherapy department Websites with scores ranging from 48 to 115, and the varying readability level of these Websites. The research makes suggestions for the improvement of radiotherapy department Websites including the provision of a dedicated Website team within the department, educated in Website design.
The impact of global warming and land‐use change on the pest status of rice and fruit bugs (Heteroptera) in Japan
Authors: KIRITANI K. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractInfestation by rice and fruit bugs (Heteroptera) became a nationwide problem in Japan in the early 1970s. Nine rice bug species and three fruit bug species have been designated as economically important. Cropping restrictions for rice produced fallow paddy fields where various rice bugs reproduced and became abundant. Plautia crossota stali, Halyomorpha halys and Glaucias subpunctatus are dominant species of fruit bug that cause damage to a range of fruit crops. However, they require cones in order to complete their life cycle. Coniferous trees planted in the 1950s bore cones after 20 years. A dry and hot summer contributes to good masting the following year and good cone production, in turn, contributes to the abundance of fruit bugs in the third year. Thus, there is strong circumstantial evidence that land‐use changes were responsible for the abundance of both rice and fruit bugs during the last 30 years. Poleward range expansion was observed in Nezara viridula, Leptocorisa chinensis, G. subpunctatus and Paradasynus spinosus. A survey conducted to assess winter mortality revealed that every 1 °C rise in mean winter temperature resulted in a reduction of about 15% in winter mortality of N. viridula and H. halys in localities where the mean winter temperature ranges from 2 to 6 °C. In general, species with low developmental zero (T0) and small thermal constant (K) show the greatest increase in annual number of generations. Species with a high T0 for preoviposition period show the greatest increase in reproductive activity, while overwintering insects with a lower T0 tend to appear earlier in response to the elevation of temperature. Numbers of warnings issued by the prefectures on the occurrence of rice bugs and fruit bugs were correlated. Recent global warming operates in various ways, (e.g. by increasing annual number of generations, reproductive activity and food, to produce such correlation). There are no substantial bug problems in Korea where no significant land‐use changes have occurred. Rice bug outbreaks in Japan are predicted to become less frequent in the future, because there is no further scope for cropping restriction. Planting of coniferous trees has been continuously decreasing since 1970, but the area of coniferous forest is still almost the same. This suggests that the fruit bug problem will continue for the foreseeable future.
Linking climate change and species invasion: an illustration using insect herbivores
Authors: WARD NICOLA L. , MASTERS GREGORY J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractClimate change and invasive species are two of the most important ecological issues facing the world today. Yet, to date these two factors have largely been viewed independently. In order to prevent large‐scale economic and environmental damage and as a first step towards predicting and preventing invasions, it is important to understand the factors affecting invasions. Here, we focus on insect herbivores and link the climate change and invasive research fields. We illustrate using existing published research that life history traits can be useful indicators of future invasive potential. However, climate change will also affect propagule pressure and the communities into which invaders will arrive. With the aid of a meta‐analysis we show that climate‐induced community changes are likely to increase niche‐availability in the future, further exacerbating the problem of invasive species. It is timely and important that further research linking these two important ecological threats is undertaken.
Molecular characterization of the Aedes aegypti odorant receptor gene family
Authors: Bohbot J. , Pitts R. J. , Kwon H.‐W. , Rützler M. , Robertson H. M. , Zwiebel L. J. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe olfactory‐driven blood‐feeding behaviour of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes is the primary transmission mechanism by which the arboviruses causing dengue and yellow fevers affect over 40 million individuals worldwide. Bioinformatics analysis has been used to identify 131 putative odourant receptors from the A. aegypti genome that are likely to function in chemosensory perception in this mosquito. Comparison with the Anopheles gambiae olfactory subgenome demonstrates significant divergence of the odourant receptors that reflects a high degree of evolutionary activity potentially resulting from their critical roles during the mosquito life cycle. Expression analyses in the larval and adult olfactory chemosensory organs reveal that the ratio of odourant receptors to antennal glomeruli is not necessarily one to one in mosquitoes.
The essence of nursing care: Polish nurses’ perspectives
Authors: Zarzycka Danuta , Ślusarska Barbara 
Published: July 2007

AbstractTitle.  The essence of nursing care: Polish nurses’ perspectives Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to identify Polish nurses’ definition of the concept of nursing care.Background.  Polish nursing currently is in a period of scientific research focusing on development of precise definitions of concepts. Definitions of nursing are influenced by culture, social expectations and healthcare systems. Accepted scientific definitions of concepts should be based on empirical verification that takes theoretical and practical perspectives into account.Methods.  A survey questionnaire was constructed from analysis of a random sample of 27 essays about nursing care that had been completed by 300 Polish nurses. The survey questionnaire, which was designed to measure the essence of nursing care, was completed by 324 Polish nurses during 2004 and 2005.Findings.  Analysis of survey questionnaire responses revealed that the essence of nursing care encompasses providing care, communicating, supporting, helping, assisting, accompanying and managing. Participants indicated that nursing care recipients include healthy persons, ill persons and persons at risk for disease.Conclusion.  The concept of nursing care encompasses several traits or characteristics that can be applied to both well and ill people.
Randomized comparison of a nutrient‐dense formula with an energy‐supplemented formula for infants with faltering growth
Authors: Clarke S. E. , Evans S. , MacDonald A. , Davies P. , Booth I. W. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractIntroduction  The practice of supplementing standard infant formula with energy for infants with faltering growth has been widespread. This increases energy density but disturbs the protein : energy ratio, and increases risks of microbial contamination and errors in feed preparation. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a nutrient‐dense formula (NDF) with an energy‐supplemented formula (ESF) in infants with faltering growth.Methods  In an open, parallel, randomized study, 49 infants with faltering growth were randomized to receive a NDF (4.2 kJ mL−1) or an ESF (4.2 kJ mL−1), for 6 weeks. Anthropometry, biochemistry, feed intake, stool and vomit frequency were collected.Results  No significant differences in tolerance, feed volumes or energy intakes were recorded but the NDF group received 42% more protein and 15–40% more vitamins and minerals. Blood urea concentration in the ESF group fell by 50% over the trial period, suggesting a suboptimal protein : energy ratio in the ESF feed. The NDF group retained a normal mean blood urea concentration, a higher urinary potassium concentration and did not have the significant fall in length z‐score seen in the ESF group.Conclusion  Increasing the energy content of normal infant formula without also increasing protein and micronutrients should not be practiced in infants with faltering growth.
The temporal development in a hybridizing population of wild and cultivated chicory (Cichorium intybusL.)
Authors: SØRENSEN B. S. , KIÆR L. P. , JØRGENSEN R. B. , HAUSER T. P. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractHybridization and its possible impacts is a subject of increased attention in connection with the risk of unintended gene flow from cultivated (including genetically modified) plants to wild relatives. Whether such gene flow by hybridization is likely to take place depends among other things on the persistence of the hybrids in a natural environment over time. To evaluate this, we studied an experimental hybridizing population of wild and cultivated chicories (Cichorium intybus) relative to a previous study on the same population 2 years earlier. We compared the genetic composition, morphology and fitness traits of plants from 2004 to the plants in the same plot in 2002. The majority of the plants in 2004 was more morphologically and genetically intermediate than in 2002. This indicates that no selection towards being wild‐like or cultivar‐like was present over the period of 2 years. Furthermore, no distinct fitness differences existed between the plants of 2004, probably due to most of the plants being intermediate. No hybridization barriers appeared to be present between wild and cultivated chicories beyond the F1generation, since F2hybrids and backcrosses were in abundance; in fact, hybrids of probably fourth or fifth generation were present. In conclusion, all results indicate that no barriers exist to the temporal persistence of chicory hybrids in a natural environment.
Population genetics of the wood‐decay fungus Phlebia centrifuga P. Karst. in fragmented and continuous habitats
Authors: FRANZÉN INA , VASAITIS RIMVYDAS , PENTTILÄ REIJO , STENLID JAN 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe basidiomycete Phlebia centrifuga is a wood‐decay fungus characteristic for unmanaged old‐growth forests of spruce, a habitat that has become increasingly fragmented due to forest management. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic population structures of P. centrifuga in both continuous and fragmented habitats, and estimate the potential impact of fragmentation on the genetic diversity of the fungus. Three hundred fifteen single spore isolates (representing 47 spore families and 33 single isolates) from eight populations across northern Europe (Russia, Finland, and Sweden) were screened with seven microsatellite markers and arbitrary primed polymerase chain reaction with the M13 minisatellite. The two molecular methods generally gave the same pattern for the genetic population structure. There were no significant differences between the observed and the expected heterozygosities, and the inbreeding coefficient (FIS) did not indicate any inbreeding. The fixation index (FST) revealed a general pattern with little to moderate genetic differentiation for the majority of populations, while the southernmost Swedish population Norra Kvill was the only one showing high differentiation from about half of the other populations. Swedish population Fiby with the shortest distance to the continuous habitat was moderately differentiated from most of the others and to the largest extent differed from geographically closest population of Norra Kvill. The results indicate that the fragmentation of old‐growth forest in Russia and Finland is more recent than the fragmentation in Sweden, and the genetic population structures of P. centrifuga in northern Europe might be related to differences in forest landscape dynamics between the two areas.
Population genetics of Plasmodium resistance genes in Anopheles gambiae: no evidence for strong selection
Authors: OBBARD D. J. , LINTON Y.‐M. , JIGGINS F. M. , YAN G. , LITTLE T. J. 
Published: July 2007

Abstract Anopheles mosquitoes are the primary vectors for malaria in Africa, transmitting the disease to more than 100 million people annually. Recent functional studies have revealed mosquito genes that are crucial for Plasmodium development, but there is presently little understanding of which genes mediate vector competence in the wild, or evolve in response to parasite‐mediated selection. Here, we use population genetic approaches to study the strength and mode of natural selection on a suite of mosquito immune system genes, CTL4, CTLMA2, LRIM1, and APL2 (LRRD7), which have been shown to affect Plasmodium development in functional studies. We sampled these genes from two African populations of An. gambiae s.s., along with several closely related species, and conclude that there is no evidence for either strong directional or balancing selection on these genes. We highlight a number of challenges that need to be met in order to apply population genetic tests for selection in Anopheles mosquitoes; in particular the dearth of suitable outgroup species and the potential difficulties that arise when working within a closely‐related species complex.
Kin structure provides no explanation for intruders in social aphids
Authors: ABBOT PATRICK , CHHATRE VIKRAM 
Published: July 2007

AbstractNontraditional social organisms have received increasing attention in recent years, because they present opportunities to study the convergent properties of social evolution. Some aphid species are social, occurring in dense clones with specialized morphs that attack predators and parasites. Little is known about how social aphid colonies resolve conflicts of interest when clonal barriers break down.Pemphigus obesinymphaeis a North American gall‐forming social aphid that produces both nymphal defenders that protect natal clones, and specialized intruders that invade other nearby clones on their host plants. We tested the hypothesis that clones are arranged on their host plants in spatial clusters of related family groups, such that intruders would be biased towards movement within kin groups. Movement within and not between kin groups would then provide insight into the nature of conflict in this social aphid. We sampled eight sites in the eastern United States and in Arizona, and used eight microsatellite markers to estimate pairwise relatedness between spatial groups. We found little evidence of deviation from random distributions of genotypes on their host plants. Evidently,Pem. obesinymphaeintruders typically exploit unrelated clones, and spatial orientation provides no solution to the problem of ‘polyclonality’ in this species. We discuss implications of this result for our understanding of cooperation and conflict in social aphids.
Glacial refugia and recolonization pathways in the brown seaweed Fucus serratus
Authors: HOARAU G. , COYER J. A. , VELDSINK J. H. , STAM W. T. , OLSEN J. L. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe last glacial maximum (20 000–18 000 years ago) dramatically affected extant distributions of virtually all northern European biota. Locations of refugia and postglacial recolonization pathways were examined in Fucus serratus (Heterokontophyta; Fucaceae) using a highly variable intergenic spacer developed from the complete mitochondrial genome of Fucus vesiculosus. Over 1500 samples from the entire range of F. serratus were analysed using fluorescent single strand conformation polymorphism. A total of 28 mtDNA haplotypes was identified and sequenced. Three refugia were recognized based on high haplotype diversities and the presence of endemic haplotypes: southwest Ireland, the northern Brittany‐Hurd Deep area of the English Channel, and the northwest Iberian Peninsula. The Irish refugium was the source for a recolonization sweep involving a single haplotype via northern Scotland and throughout Scandinavia, whereas recolonization from the Brittany‐Hurd Deep refugium was more limited, probably because of unsuitable soft‐bottom habitat in the Bay of Biscay and along the Belgian and Dutch coasts. The Iberian populations reflect a remnant refugium at the present–day southern boundary of the species range. A generalized skyline plot suggested exponential population expansion beginning in the mid‐Pleistocene with maximal growth during the Eems interglacial 128 000–67 000 years ago, implying that the last glacial maximum mainly shaped population distributions rather than demography.
Genetic architecture in codling moth populations: comparison between microsatellite and insecticide resistance markers
Authors: FRANCK P. , REYES M. , OLIVARES J. , SAUPHANOR B. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe codling moth,Cydia pomonella, is renowned for developing resistance to insecticides and causing significant economic damage to pome fruits worldwide. In spite of its economic importance, little is known about the patterns of movement of this pest and the effects of insecticide treatment on the population genetic structure. Here, we investigated the genetic structure of the pest in 27 orchards from France, Italy, Armenia and Chile at seven microsatellite loci and two resistance markers [biochemical activity of cytochrome P450 oxidases and proportion of knockdown resistance(kdr) alleles in the sodium channel gene]. According to the microsatellite loci, we detected isolation by distance at the supranational scale but found no evidence of geographical structure among the 24 French orchards, which were mainly structured by the intensity of the insecticide treatments. Similarly, the highest levels of metabolic resistance associated with activity of the cytochrome P450 oxidases were detected in the most treated orchards. Thekdralleles were observed in southern France and Armenia where the pyrethroid insecticides were or have been intensively sprayed. The intensity of the insecticide treatments marginally affected the allelic richness in each orchard, but not the level of inbreeding. These results suggest important and high‐distance gene flow among the codling moth populations, which were mainly structured according to the history of insecticide applications. Differences in mutation‐migration‐drift equilibrium among treated and untreated orchards also suggest that insecticide applications are the main force regulating the local dynamics of codling moth populations.
Epidemiological and evolutionary consequences of targeted vaccination
Authors: WILLIAMS PAUL D. , DAY TROY 
Published: July 2007

AbstractRecent theory has examined the way in which vaccination strategies are expected to influence the evolution of parasite virulence. Most of this work has assumed that vaccination is imposed on a homogeneous host population. However, host populations are typically composed of different types of individuals, with each type responding differently to infection. Moreover, actual interventions often focus treatment on those hosts that are likely to suffer the most ill effects of a particular disease. Here we consider the epidemiological and evolutionary consequences of interventions that focus vaccination on individuals expressing the greatest susceptibility to infection and/or the greatest vulnerability to mortality once infected. Our results indicate that predictions are very sensitive to the nature and degree of heterogeneity in susceptibility and vulnerability. They further suggest that accounting for realistic kinds of heterogeneity when contemplating targeted treatment plans and policies might provide a new tool in the design of more effective virulence management strategies.
Are clownfish groups composed of close relatives? An analysis of microsatellite DNA variation in Amphiprion percula
Authors: BUSTON PETER M. , BOGDANOWICZ STEVEN M. , WONG ALEX , HARRISON RICHARD G. 
Published: July 2007

AbstractA central question of evolutionary ecology is: why do animals live in groups? Answering this question requires that the costs and benefits of group living are measured from the perspective of each individual in the group. This, in turn, requires that the group's genetic structure is elucidated, because genetic relatedness can modulate the individuals’ costs and benefits. The clown anemonefish, Amphiprion percula, lives in groups composed of a breeding pair and zero to four nonbreeders. Both breeders and nonbreeders stand to gain by associating with relatives: breeders might prefer to tolerate nonbreeders that are relatives because there is little chance that relatives will survive to breed elsewhere; nonbreeders might prefer to associate with breeders that are relatives because of the potential to accrue indirect genetic benefits by enhancing anemone and, consequently, breeder fitness. Given the potential benefits of associating with relatives, we use microsatellite loci to investigate whether or not individuals within groups of A. percula are related. We develop seven polymorphic microsatellite loci, with a number of alleles (range 2–24) and an observed level of heterozygosity (mean = 0.5936) sufficient to assess fine‐scale genetic structure. The mean coefficient of relatedness among group members is 0.00 ± 0.10 (n = 9 groups), and there are no surprising patterns in the distribution of pairwise relatedness. We conclude that A. percula live in groups of unrelated individuals. This study lays the foundation for further investigations of behavioural, population and community ecology of anemonefishes which are emerging as model systems for evolutionary ecology in the marine environment.
Cryptic differentiation in alpine‐endemic, high‐altitude butterflies reveals down‐slope glacial refugia
Authors: HAUBRICH KAROLA , SCHMITT THOMAS 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThe influence of cyclic climate fluctuations and their impact on high‐altitude species is still insufficiently understood. We therefore analysed in this study the genetic structure of cold‐adapted animals and their coherence with geographical distributions throughout the Late Quaternary. We analysed 588 individuals from 23 populations of the alpine‐endemic lesser mountain ringlet, Erebia melampus, by allozyme electrophoresis to detect its intraspecific differentiation. As an outgroup, we added one population of Erebia sudetica inalpina from Grindelwald (Swiss Alps). Seventeen of 18 loci were polymorphic. The mean FST over all samples was 37%. We detected strong differentiation into three lineages with the genetic distances between the two E. melampus groups being larger than between each of the two E. melampus groups and E. sudetica. The mean genetic distance among these three groups was 0.17. These results give evidence for the existence of a species complex within the E. melampus/sudetica group and indicate a discontinuous distribution within this group during at least the last ice age. One of them, E. sudetica inalpina, is found in the northern Alps and most probably had its Würm glacial refugium north of the glaciated Alps. The western E. melampus group might have had a refugium at the southwestern Alps margin, the eastern group in the lower altitudes of the southeastern and/or eastern Alps. In the latter, a further subdivision within this relict area is possible.