bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alcohol consumption and mortality and hospital admissions in men from the Midspan Collaborative cohort study
Authors: Hart Carole L. , Smith George Davey 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTAims  To investigate the relationships between alcohol consumption and mortality and morbidity risk by specific causes.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Twenty‐seven work‐places in West and Central Scotland.Participants  A total of 6000 men aged 21–64 years at screening in 1970–1973, median follow‐up 29 years.Measurements  Relative rates, using Cox's proportional hazard models, by weekly reported units of alcohol consumption for all cause, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, respiratory, digestive, liver disease and alcohol‐related causes of mortality and for specific causes of acute hospital admissions.Findings  Mortality risk was increased for men drinking 15–21 or more units per week for all causes, stroke, liver disease and alcohol‐related causes. For respiratory mortality, drinkers of 35 or more units had double the risk compared to non‐drinkers. CHD mortality showed increasing trends with consumption when adjusted for age and after full adjustment showed no clear patterns, although the 8–14 units group had a lower risk than non‐drinkers [relative rate 0.81 (0.68–0.97)]. Hospital admissions had similar patterns to mortality for stroke and liver disease. Increased risk began at 8–14 units for alcohol‐related admissions, and at 15–21 units for respiratory admissions. Non‐drinkers had higher risks of having a CHD admission than drinkers and there were decreasing trends with increasing consumption (P = 0.019).Conclusions  Consumption of 15–21 units per week and over was associated with increased mortality from most causes and increased risk of hospital admissions from stroke, liver disease and respiratory diseases. Alcohol‐related admissions were raised from 8 to 14 units. Alcohol use may have been under‐reported in our study, but it was similar to other studies of the time. The apparent protective effect of alcohol with CHD admissions could be due partly to detrimental effects of heavy drinking causing sudden deaths. The associations, including that with respiratory disease, may arise from inadequate adjustment for confounding by other factors such as smoking.
Bacterial ‘cosmopolitanism’ and importance of local environmental factors for community composition in remote high‐altitude lakes
Authors: SOMMARUGA RUBEN , CASAMAYOR EMILIO O. 
Published: November 2008

Summary1. In October 2004, plankton samples were collected from six permanent lakes located between 4960 and 5440 m a.s.l. in the Mount Everest region (Nepal) to assess how spatial and local environmental factors affect natural bacterial community composition. Fingerprinting analysis of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragment was done by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).2. The number of DGGE bands (range: 12–23) was not correlated with lake area or remoteness, but there was a strong negative correlation with the ratio of catchment to lake area (r = −0.826, P < 0.05), suggesting that hydraulic retention time affects the establishment of the bacterial community in these seepage lakes.3. Most dominant sequences belonged to Betaproteobacteria except in two lakes where members of Bacteroidetes made the largest relative contribution. Up to 81% of the phylotypes had high similarity (>98 to 100%) in partial 16S rRNA gene sequence to those reported from other alpine lakes and glaciers around the world, suggesting the presence of ‘cosmopolitan’ bacteria.4. An analysis based on dissimilarity matrices and the Mantel test revealed the existence of dissimilarities in bacterial community composition related to geographical distance over a small spatial scale (<6 km), but determined by local environmental constraints.5. Our results suggest that several bacterial phylotypes are ubiquitous in the freshwater aquatic realm, but taxon sorting by local environmental constraints is important.
The quality of paediatric nursing care: developing the Child Care Quality at Hospital instrument for children
Authors: Pelander Tiina , Leino‐Kilpi Helena , Katajisto Jouko 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTitle. The quality of paediatric nursing care: developing the Child Care Quality at Hospital instrument for children.Background. Recent years have shown a growing recognition of children’s rights and the need to listen to and consult with children, especially at an international level, including in the hospital setting. Children’s views should be considered in the planning and delivery of paediatric nursing care. However, previous work has tended to concentrate on medical rather than nursing care.Method. The CCQH instrument was developed in three phases. First, in 2004 following a literature review and interviews/drawings by hospitalized children (n = 40), the items were designed and an expert panel (n = 7) assessed the instrument’s content validity (phase I). Revisions were made based on children’s interviews (n = 8), children’s questionnaires (n = 41, 16) and nurses’ evaluations (n = 19, 198) in phases II and III in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Construct validity was assessed in phase III by means of principal component analysis. The instrument’s reliability was statistically tested in phases II and III.Findings. The main quality categories were nurse characteristics, nursing activities and environment. For each category, Cronbach’s alpha values improved during the development process. Principal component analysis supported the theoretical construct of the subcategories in the nursing activities and environment categories.Conclusion. The CCQH questionnaire is a promising instrument for use among children. Future research is needed to evaluate its suitability for completion by children of varying ages and in different cultures and healthcare settings.
Judging the quality of clinical audit by general practitioners: a pilot study comparing the assessments of medical peers and NHS audit specialists
Authors: Bowie Paul , McKay John , Murray Lilian , Lough Murray 
Published: November 2008

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  Clinical audit informs general practitioner (GP) appraisal and will provide evidence of performance for revalidation in the UK. However, objective evidence is now required. An established peer assessment system may offer an educational solution for making objective judgements on clinical audit quality. National Health Service (NHS) clinical audit specialists could potentially support this system if their audit assessments were comparable with established medical peer assessors. The study aimed to quantify differences between clinical audit specialists and medical peer assessors in their assessments of clinical audit projects.Methods  A comparison study of the assessment outcomes of clinical audit reports by two groups using appropriate assessment instruments was conducted. Mean scores were compared and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and limits of agreement calculated. A two‐point mean difference would be relevant.Results  Twelve significant event analysis (SEA) reports and 12 criterion audit projects were assessed by 11 experienced GP assessors and 10 NHS audit specialist novice assessors. For SEA, the mean score difference between groups was <1.0. The 95% CI for bias was −0.1 to 0.5 (P = 0.14). Limits of agreement ranged from −0.7 to 1.2. For criterion audit, a mean score difference of ≤1.0 was calculated for seven projects and scores between 1.1 and 1.9 for four. The 95% CI for bias was 0.8 to 1.5 (P < 0.001). Limits of agreement ranged from −2.5 to −0.0.Conclusions  The study findings suggest that a sample of NHS clinical audit specialists can give numerically accurate feedback scores to GPs on the quality of their clinical audit activity compared with established peer assessors as part of the model outlined.
Histochemical Detection of Glycoconjugates in the Canine Epididymis
Authors: Schick B. , Habermann F. , Sinowatz F. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryA histochemical study using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labelled lectins to identify glycoconjugates present in the efferent ductules and the three segments of the ductus epididymis (initial, middle and terminal segment) of dogs was carried out. The lectins used were: mannose‐binding lectins (Con A, LCA and PSA), galactose‐binding lectins (PNA, RCA), N‐acetylgalactosamine‐binding lectins (DBA, SBA, SJA and GSL I), N‐acetylglucosamine‐binding lectins (WGA and WGAs), fucose‐binding lectins (UEA) and lectins which bind to complex carbohydrate configurations (PHA E and PHA L). The lectin‐binding pattern in the canine epididymis presents similarities and differences to those observed in other mammalian species. The ductuli efferentes distinctly stained with most of the lectins used, whereas in the ductus epididymis a segment specific staining pattern was observed. Whereas principal cells of the ductus epididymis stained clearly with several FITC‐labelled lectins (WGA, UEA and PHA‐L), basal cells showed only a significant binding of Con A.
Water Deficit Reduced Fertility of Young Microspores Resulting in a Decline of Viable Mature Pollen and Grain Set in Rice
Authors: Nguyen G. N. , Sutton B. G. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPollen formation in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is highly vulnerable to environmental stresses such as heat, chilling and drought. In rice plants exposed to drought during male reproductive development, the most obvious damage often observed is a decline in the number of engorged pollen and grain set. This has been well characterized in rice under chilling and to a lesser extent under drought stress. Moreover, detailed literature on the immediate effects of drought on developing young microspores in rice is still limited. Here, we report findings from experiments on rice plants exposed to water deficit for three consecutive days during early stages of anther development. When the osmotic potential of the growing medium was equal to or less than −0.5 MPa, as induced by polyethylene glycol, the leaf water potential was significantly lowered and grain set was reduced. A strong correlation between grain set and viable young microspores (P < 0.001, r2 = 0.8223) indicates that water deficit immediately reduced fertility of rice plants at the time of exposure. This result suggests a new underlying mechanism of water deficit‐induced pollen abortion in rice.
Barley Root Morphology Affects the Zoospore Production Rate by the Obligate Root Parasite and Soil‐borne Virus Vector Polymyxa graminis
Authors: McGrann Graham R. D. , Mutasa‐Göttgens Effie S. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractPlasmodiophorid parasites in the genus Polymyxa infect roots by means of zoospores and transmit more than 15 soil‐borne viruses in a wide range of arable crops. Barley mutants, selected for variations in root hair formation and morphology, were used to demonstrate that root hairs were important but not essential for infection by zoospores of Polymyxa graminis. The relative rates of parasite establishment in roots were determined indirectly as the relative number of zoospores released by roots inoculated with P. graminis in wild‐type and mutant plants. The number of P. graminis zoospores released per gram root fresh weight was significantly reduced in brb and rhl1.b mutants, both of which have no root hairs. This is an important result because there are no natural sources of resistance to P. graminis. Reducing infection levels of viruliferous P. graminis will slow the build up of virus inoculum in the soil and the selection of strains able to overcome the virus resistance in current cereal cultivars.
Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does Artificially Inseminated via Intravaginal Administration of [des‐Gly 10, d‐Ala6]‐LHRH Ethylamide as Ovulation Inductor
Authors: Quintela LA , Peña AI , Vega MD , Gullón J , Prieto C , Barrio M , Becerra JJ , Herradón PG 
Published: November 2008

ContentsThis study was aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of rabbit does artificially inseminated (AI) with a GnRH analogue [des‐Gly10, d‐Ala6]‐LHRH. ethylamide to induce ovulation by intravaginal administration, delivered in the seminal dose. In a preliminary experiment, 39 does were divided into three groups (n = 13) that, at the time of AI, received the following ovulation induction treatments: (i) control group: 20 μg of gonadorelin administered intramuscularly; (ii) 25 μg of the GnRH analogue added to the seminal dose; (iii) 30 μg of the GnRH analogue added to the seminal dose. Fertility did not differ between the three groups (control: 80.6%, group 2: 82.8%, group 3: 73.3%). In a second experiment, a large‐scale field trial was conducted to test the use of 25 μg of the GnRH analogue [des‐Gly10, d‐Ala6]‐LHRH ethylamide delivered in the seminal dose (n = 270) against 20 μg of gonadorelin administered intramuscularly. Fertility was higher (p < 0.05) when ovulation was induced by intravaginal administration of the GnRH agonist (91.1% vs 85.6%). Prolificacy or mortality at birth was never affected by the ovulation induction treatments. In a third experiment, two groups of does [control group (n = 39): ovulation was induced using 20 μg of gonadorelin administered intramuscularly; treatment group (n = 40): ovulation was induced using 25 μg of [(des‐Gly10, d‐Ala6)‐LHRH ethylamide added to the seminal dose] were inseminated at 42‐day intervals for five successive AI cycles, to test the response to the GnRH agonist after repeated intravaginal administration to the same animals. Fertility and prolificacy were not influenced by the ovulation induction treatment neither there was an interaction between treatment and parity. The last experiment was aimed to determine whether it could be possible to add the GnRH agonist to the semen in the AI Center, just after semen collection and dilution, or it would have to be added in the farm, immediately before AI. Kindling rates did not significantly differ when ovulation was induced by intramuscular injection of gonadorelin (84.5%) or when the GnRH agonist was added to the seminal dose just at the moment (93.8 %) or 24 h before AI (90.4 %), but it was significantly lower when the hormone was added to the semen 32 h before AI (76.3 %). Prolificacy, however, was not influenced by the ovulation induction treatment.
Evaluations of Boar Gonad Development, Spermatogenesis with regard to Semen Characteristics, Libido and Serum Testosterone Levels based on large White Duroc × Chinese Erhualian Crossbred Boars
Authors: Ren D , Xing Y , Lin M , Wu Y , Li K , Li W , Yang S , Guo T , Ren J , Ma J , Lan L , Huang L 
Published: November 2008

ContentsChinese Erhualian pigs are known for prolificacy with distinct reproductive traits compared with Western commercial breeds. In this study, a four‐generation intercross resource population was constructed using White Duroc boars and Chinese Erhualian sows as founder animals, and a total of 14 male reproductive traits were recorded in 411 F2/F3 boars including the testis and epididymis weights, the seminiferous tubular diameter and spermatogenesis at 60, 90 and 300 days of age, semen characteristics, serum testosterone concentration and libido level at 300 days of age. The White Duroc–Erhualian boars showed remarkable segregations in the traits measured except for the seminiferous tubular diameter and had high ratio (13.9%) of the abnormality of spermatogenesis, providing a good experimental population for detecting quantitative trait loci affecting these male reproductive traits. Furthermore, the correlations among nine male reproductive traits at 300 days of age indicated that the testis weight and the body weight were strongly correlated with the sperm production, supporting the two traits as important parameters for boar selection to increase sperm production and ultimately improve boar fertility. The libido level in the White Duroc–Erhualian boars that was evaluated by a new and easily recorded scoring system showed a significant correlation with serum testosterone concentration. Yet, both libido and serum testosterone concentration were not correlated with the sperm production. Results of this study provided new information on the male reproductive physiology and genetics in Chinese Erhualian and White Duroc boars.
Comparison of different predictive models for estimating fish yields in Shahpur Dam, Pakistan
Authors: Janjua Muhammad Yamin , Ahmad Tahira , Gerdeaux Daniel 
Published: November 2008

AbstractWater reservoirs and dams are major water resources, being diverse in terms of both size and fisheries potential. Reservoir productivity is variable, with significant variations being observed for reservoirs of comparable size and geology, even within the same geographical area. The ability to estimate fish yields through the application of predictive models is an important step for the effective management of fisheries resources in freshwater basins and flowing waters. Various physical, chemical and biological processes establish limits on the yield of commercial fish species. Various physicochemical parameters were measured in this present study during 2001–2002 on a monthly basis for Shahpur Dam in Pakistan. Morphoedaphic indices were derived as MEIt, MEIc and MEIa. A number of different predictive models proposed for different regions are used to predict fish production in Shahpur Dam, for comparison with the actual fish production. From a management perspective, fish yield predictive models based on MEI appeared to be most useful as fish yield predictors.
The effects of water retention time and watershed features on the limnology of two tropical reservoirs in Brazil
Authors: Soares Maria Carolina S. , Marinho Marcelo M. , Huszar Vera L. M. , Branco Christina W. C. , Azevedo Sandra M. F. O. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAlthough reservoirs are similar to natural lakes in many respects, such driving forces as water retention time and watershed features can play important roles in the limnology of manmade lakes. With the goal of investigating how these factors influence the limnology of tropical reservoirs, physical and chemical variables were measured at four sampling sites in two reservoirs in southern Brazil, from June 2002 to June 2003. Funil Reservoir is located in one of the most‐populated areas in the country, in the Paraíba do Sul river basin, which drains and drastically influences the water quality of the reservoir. In contrast, Lajes Reservoir is located in a well‐preserved area, with its water retention time varying from six to 30 times longer than for Funil Reservoir. Funil Reservoir is a turbid (median euphotic zone = 4.3 m), eutrophic reservoir (median total phosphorus (TP) = 3.1 µm), with a high phytoplankton biomass (median chlorophyll‐a concentration = 10.0 µg L−1). In contrast, Lajes Reservoir is a transparent (median euphotic zone = 9.2 m), mesotrophic water system (median TP = 1.0 µm), with a low phytoplankton biomass (median chlorophyll‐a = 1.9 µg L−1). Both reservoirs were stratified during the summer months, but isothermy was only observed in Funil Reservoir. Because of its short water retention time, Funil Reservoir is a much more dynamic system than Lajes Reservoir, with a pronounced temporal pattern related to changes in its water column and its phytoplankton biomass. Spatial heterogeneity is more evident in Lajes Reservoir, mainly as a consequence of its location in a preserved area, long water retention time and the presence of net cages for fish culture in the waterbody. The typical spatial zonation found in reservoirs, related to nutrient sedimentation and light availability, however, is more evident in Funil Reservoir than in Lajes Reservoir. Despite the similarities between these two water systems, which are in the same geographical region with similar climate, and are comparable in size, the distinct watershed features and water retention time are responsible for marked differences between these reservoirs.
Potential for mixed mating in the protandrous perennial Saponaria officinalis (Caryophyllaceae)
Authors: DAVIS SANDRA L. , TURNER‐JONES LAURAH 
Published: November 2008

AbstractThe prevalence of mixed mating among plant species is intriguing from an evolutionary perspective because most theoretical models predict that plant species should evolve towards either complete selfing or complete outcrossing. Several ecological factors, such as pollinator variability, have been invoked to explain this discrepancy. However, empirical data detailing the mechanisms of selfing and the impact of selfing on progeny fitness are rare. One trait that might allow a high degree of variability in outcrossing rates is dichogamy, the temporal separation of male and female functions within perfect flowers. The present study examines the potential for mixed mating by using floral manipulations in five populations of Saponaria officinalis, a protandrous perennial herb. Bagged flowers produced fewer seeds than control flowers and open‐pollinated emasculated flowers, and the emasculated flowers were not significantly different from the controls. Controlled pollinations indicated that there were no differences between seed production in geitonogomous, outcrossed or control groups. There were some differences in seed weight between the pollination treatments, but there was no effect of pollen source on germination date or seedling weight. These results suggest that insect visitation provides an important contribution to seed set, even though self‐pollination is capable of producing viable seeds.
Population genetic structure of Cistus ladanifer L. (Cistaceae) and genetic differentiation from co‐occurring Cistus species
Authors: CARLIER JORGE , LEITÃO JOSÉ , FONSECA FILOMENA 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAmplified fragment length polymorphism and inter simple sequence repeat markers were used to assess the genetic structure of Cistus ladanifer and its genetic differentiation from co‐occurring Cistus species. Clear genetic differentiation was found between two populations corresponding to the morphological description of Cistus palhinhae and the 23 Cistus ladanifer populations analyzed. However, the magnitude of differentiation (DICE coefficients >0.98) appears to be more in agreement with the taxonomic designation of Cistus ladanifer ssp. sulcatus, which has been proposed by some authors, and not C. palhinhae. Dendrogram analysis of the genetic relationships among Cistus ladanifer, Cistus populifolius, Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus crispus, Cistus libanotis, Cistus salvifolius and Cistus albidus, with Halimium halimifolium as an outgroup, showed two main clusters. Taxa composition of these clusters concurs with the taxonomic classification proposed for Iberian species on the basis of flower color. One cluster comprised species with pink flowers (C. crispus and C. albidus, P = 81.3%) classified into the subgenus Cistus, and the other cluster contained the remaining five species (P = 77.9%) that have white flowers and are classified into two subgenera, Leucocistus (C. ladanifer, C. populifolius, C. salvifolius and C. monspeliensis) and Halimioides (C. libanotis). Within the subgenera Leucocistus, C. ladanifer was found to be distinct and can be separated into the section Ladanium, while the remaining species that are grouped together in a branch (P = 74.8%) can be separated into the section Ledonia.