bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of wind turbines on flight behaviour of wintering common eiders: implications for habitat use and collision risk
Authors: LARSEN JESPER K. , GUILLEMETTE MAGELLA 
Published: April 2007

Summary

Wind energy is a fast‐growing renewable energy source and many offshore wind parks will be erected in shallow waters (< 40 m deep) where various coastal bird species are found. The two main issues regarding offshore wind farms and birds are disturbance and collision risk. We studied the effect of wind turbines on the flight behaviour of wintering common eiders Somateria mollissima in order to identify the properties that cause disturbance and the factors that may increase their risk of collision.
The study was conducted at Tunø Knob offshore wind park in the Kattegat, Denmark. We attracted birds though the use of decoys located at increasing distances from the wind park. To discriminate between the potential disturbance effect of the standing towers from that of the revolving rotor blades, wind turbines were switched on or off alternately during 10 experimental trials.
Common eiders reacted strongly to the presence of wind turbines. The number of flying birds was significantly related to flight corridor location and position of the decoy group. That behavioural reaction was interpreted to be a consequence of their high speed and low‐manoeuvrability flight occurring within the vertical height range of the wind turbines. The number of landing birds also reacted to the position of the decoy group in relation to proximity to the turbines, with the greatest effects observed within the wind park. Such avoidance behaviour might decrease use of otherwise suitable habitat.
The movement and noise of rotors affected neither the number of common eiders flying within corridors nor the number of birds reacting to decoys. This suggests that the avoidance behaviour observed was caused by the presence of the structures themselves and that eiders use vision when avoiding human‐made structures.
Synthesis and applications. This study has demonstrated that common eiders avoid flying close to or into the Tunø Knob wind park. This behaviour may result in a reduction in habitat availability within and around wind parks, and raises concerns about the possible impact of the extensive development of large‐scale wind parks in shallow offshore waters, which are the main feeding areas for sea ducks and other marine birds. Our results indicate that the disturbance effect of revolving rotor blades is negligible during daylight hours but highlights the need for studies to be carried out during hours of darkness and conditions of poor visibility (e.g. fog and snow). Until more insight is gained, we recommend caution when planning wind parks in areas of high sea duck densities.
Recreation of lowland heathland on ex‐arable land: assessing the limiting processes on two sites with contrasting soil fertility and pH
Authors: WALKER KEVIN J. , WARMAN ELIZABETH A. , BHOGAL ANNE , CROSS ROY B. , PYWELL RICHARD F. , MEEK BILL R. , CHAMBERS BRIAN J. , PAKEMAN ROBIN 
Published: April 2007

Summary

European heathlands are of high conservation value but have declined as a result of agricultural intensification. Heathland recreation is currently being undertaken on ex‐arable land throughout north‐west Europe to reverse these losses, but seed limitation, elevated soil pH and fertility and competition from ruderal species have been shown to limit community re‐assembly.
We examined the relative importance of these constraints over 9 years (1994–2003) on two ex‐arable sites with contrasting soil fertility and pH. Recreation treatments comprised seed addition (including Calluna vulgaris) combined with (i) applications of elemental sulphur (S) at two rates, to reduce the pH to 4·5 and 5·5, respectively; (ii) sowing a nurse crop, to facilitate the establishment of sown species; and (iii) topsoil removal, to deplete nutrients. The importance of sowing time was assessed by (iv) comparing autumn with spring seed addition.
By 2003 the pH of the S‐addition plots had stabilized close to pH 4·5 and 5·5, but levels of extractable phosphorus (P) had increased dramatically at both sites. Topsoil removal reduced soil P and organic matter but increased pH because of exposure of underlying mineral horizons. These conditions were unsuitable for the establishment of Calluna vulgaris.
Applications of S (3–6 t S ha−1) were sufficient to recreate Calluna vulgaris‐dominated heathland at the less productive site. Acid grassland developed on all other treatments, including S‐amended plots at the more productive site.
The establishment of desirable species was not significantly enhanced by sowing seed mixtures with a nurse crop or in the spring, whereas S addition and topsoil removal reduced the abundance of potentially competitive species.
Synthesis and applications. The application of S can be used to create conditions suitable for the re‐assembly of Calluna vulgaris‐dominated heathland on unproductive ex‐arable soils in north‐west Europe. However, interventionist approaches such as S addition may not be practical for large‐scale heathland recreation schemes. Competition with more nutrient‐demanding species will limit the establishment of slow‐growing heathland species under more fertile conditions, even where the pH has been reduced to appropriate levels. Therefore the recreation of acid grassland by seed addition alone is likely to be a more realistic target for the majority of agricultural sites included in agri‐environment schemes in north‐west Europe.
ApoB but not LDL‐cholesterol is reduced by exercise training in overweight healthy men. Results from the 1‐year randomized Oslo Diet and Exercise Study
Authors: Holme I. , Høstmark A. T. , Anderssen S. A. 
Published: April 2007

Abstract.Objectives. (i) To estimate changes in apoB and apoB/apoA‐I, reflecting the balance between atherogenic and anti‐atherogenic lipoprotein particles, by exercise training and compare with changes in LDL‐C and TC/HDL‐C ratio, and (ii) To compare strengths of relationships between physical fitness and various lipoprotein variablesDesign, setting, and subjects. The study was a 1‐year open randomized trial comprising 219 healthy middle‐aged subjects aged 40–49 years who were allocated to exercise or no exercise, dietary advice or no advice in a 2 × 2 factorial design. This study includes 188 men who completed the trial, 45 to diet, 48 to exercise, 58 to diet + exercise and 37 to control.Interventions. Exercise; supervised endurance exercise three times a week. Diet; reduce weight, increase intake of fish and reduce total fat intake.Main outcome measure. One‐year change in apoB and apoB/apoA‐I ratio.Results. Exercisers decreased their ApoB and ApoB/ApoA‐I values significantly compared to non‐exercisers. LDL‐C was not, but LDL‐C/HDL‐C was marginally but statistically significantly reduced by exercise. One‐year change in ApoB and ApoB/ApoA‐I correlated more strongly to 1‐year changes in physical fitness than LDL‐C or LDL‐C/HDL‐C. Adjusting for changes in LDL‐C or LDL‐C/HDL‐C did not influence the correlation between changes in fitness and ApoB or ApoB/ApoA‐I. However, adjusting for changes in ApoB or ApoB/ApoA‐I wiped out the correlation between change in fitness and LDL‐C or LDL‐C/HDL‐C. Relationships weakened when adjusting for changes in waist circumference, but Apo B or ApoB/ApoA‐I still correlated significantly to changes in fitness.Conclusion. Physical exercise reduced the atherogenic burden as experienced by the reduction in apoB or apoB/apoA‐I levels, but not by LDL‐C in healthy middle‐aged men. Possibly, regular physical activity might increase the LDL‐C particle size, thereby making LDL less atherogenic. Monitoring of apolipoproteins rather than the cholesterol moiety of lipoproteins might improve the assessment of lipoprotein changes after exercise training.
Overweight in medical paediatric inpatients: Detection and parent expectations
Authors: McLean Karen , Wake Melissa , McCallum Zoe 
Published: April 2007

Aims:  (i) To determine prevalence and rates of detection of overweight/obesity among general paediatric inpatients. (ii) To explore parental expectations regarding detection and management of overweight/obesity during admission.Methods:  This is a cross‐sectional survey conducted in the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. A total of 102 children aged 2–12 years admitted to a general paediatric unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital and their parents participated in the survey. The main outcome measures are body mass index (BMI); documentation of weight, height and BMI in patient notes; parent description of child’s weight, parent concern about child’s weight, and parent opinion about detection and management of overweight.Results:  Twelve of 102 children (11.7%, 95% confidence intervals 6.2%, 19.7%) were overweight or obese. All children had a documented weight, two children (2.0%) had a documented height and none had BMI documented. Seven of 12 parents of overweight children described their child’s weight as healthy; five of 12 parents of overweight children were not concerned about their child’s weight. Eight of 12 parents of overweight children believed all admitted children should have their BMI calculated. All parents thought the hospital should take action if a child was found to be overweight.Conclusions:  Although prevalence of overweight was lower than expected, documentation of overweight did not occur for any patient in the study. Parents of overweight children with acute illnesses believed that the hospital should screen for overweight and discuss it with parents. Further studies are required to determine expectations among other patient populations.
Diagnosis of rickets and reassessment of prevalence among rural children in northern China
Authors: STRAND MARK A. , PERRY JUDITH , JIN MEIMEI , TRACER DAVID P. , FISCHER PHILIP R. , ZHANG PEIYING , XI WEIPING , LI SIHAN 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground: Rates of rickets from 15.9 to 26.7% have been reported in China.Methods: Combining the methods of epidemiology and the behavioral sciences, this study investigated the prevalence of rickets in children in rural Shanxi Province, China. A total of 250 children age 12–24 months were examined physically for the presence of rickets, blood was drawn for laboratory analysis, and X‐rays were taken of each child’s wrists.Results: Vitamin D deficiency in the spring was found among 65.3% of children. Rickets diagnosis relying on clinical signs alone determined a rickets prevalence of 41.6%, declining to 17.0% in the fall after a summer of sun exposure (χ2 = 8.356, P = 0.004). But an integrated diagnostic method exploiting clinical signs, X‐ray and alkaline phosphatase levels found the prevalence of active rickets to be 3.7%. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that only five clinical signs reflect active rickets – wide wrists, frontal bossing, rachitic rosary, Harrison’s sulcus, and bowed legs.Conclusions: The prevalence of active rickets in young children in northern China is lower than previously reported. Even in poor countries, simple tests such as X‐rays and alkaline phosphatase can be added to physical examination to more accurately diagnose active rickets.
Prognosis and pathological characteristics of five children with non‐Shiga toxin‐mediated hemolytic uremic syndrome
Authors: KAMIOKA ICHIRO , NOZU KANDAI , FUJITA TERUO , KAITO HIROSHI , TANAKA RYOJIRO , YOSHIYA KUNIHIKO , IIJIMA KAZUMOTO , NAKANISHI KOICHI , YOSHIKAWA NORISHIGE , MATSUO MASAFUMI 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground: The three major signs of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are hemolytic anemia, thrombopenia and acute renal failure. HUS is classified into Shiga toxin‐mediated HUS (Stx‐HUS) and non‐Shiga toxin‐mediated HUS (nStx‐HUS). The prognosis of nStx‐HUS is reported to be less favorable than that of Stx‐HUS. Although the association between the prognosis and pathological characteristics of HUS have been reported such that the prognosis was considered to be poor for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) with predominant arterial involvement (arterial TMA), good for TMA with predominant glomerular involvement (glomerular TMA) and dependent on the extent of necrosis in cases of renal cortical necrosis, it is not yet clear whether pathological findings are also related to the renal prognosis of nStx‐HUS cases. Therefore the purpose of the present paper was to analyze renal biopsy findings and prognosis for five children with nStx‐HUS.Methods: Clinical records of five cases of nStx‐HUS among 74 cases of diagnosed HUS were reviewed, and information and data were summarized.Results: Histological examination of the kidney led to the diagnosis of arterial TMA in three cases, and glomerular TMA and severe renal cortical necrosis in one case each. Analysis of the relationship between renal histological findings and the prognosis found that three patients with arterial TMA and one patient with severe renal cortical necrosis later developed end‐stage renal failure while one patient with glomerular TMA has continued to show normal renal function.Conclusions: These findings indicate that pathological findings are closely related to the prognosis in cases of nStx‐HUS.
Matrix metalloproteinase‐1 promoter polymorphism and epithelial ovarian cancer: Does ethnicity matter?
Authors: Ju Woong , Kim Jae Weon , Park Noh‐Hyun , Song Yong‐Sang , Kim Seung‐Cheol , Kang Soon‐Beom , Lee Hyo‐Pyo 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAim:  To estimate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 promoter ‐1607 bp polymorphism and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in Korean women and to clarify the ethnic difference in genotype distribution of this polymorphism.Methods:  Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of MMP‐1 promoter ‐1607 region in 133 EOC patients and 332 cancer‐free patients were investigated. Then the associations of this polymorphism with EOC or its clinicopathological parameters were analyzed. In addition, genotype distributions of this polymorphism in Korean women were compared with those of other races by extracting data from the previously published literature.Results:  We found no relationship between MMP‐1 promoter ‐1607 bp polymorphism and epithelial ovarian cancer in a Korean population. Furthermore, we found ethnicity‐dependent differences in genotype distributions and allele frequencies by comparison with previous articles on this topic. We report significant ethnic differences in the genotype distributions and allele frequencies of the MMP‐1 promoter ‐1607 bp polymorphism.Conclusion:  Our results indicate that MMP‐1‐1607 bp polymorphism shows ethnic diversity, and that the hypothesis that this polymorphism is associated with epithelial ovarian cancer is not supported by this study in a Korean population. Moreover, this finding concurs with results obtained in white Americans and Europeans.
Theology in its Spatial Turn: Space, Place and Built Environments Challenging and Changing the Images of God
Authors: Bergmann Sigurd 
Published: April 2007

AbstractSpace and place have been marginalised or even absent in theology for long periods of its history. Christian theology, hereby, mirrors a strong characteristic of the so‐called ‘Western culture and its history’, which consequently has placed time over space. In the twentieth century's last years, however, space/place reflections have moved out from the margins to several sectors of sciences and the humanities in what has been summarised as ‘the spatial turn’. Spatial metaphors and the central image of the Earth as ‘our home’ are at the heart of environmentalism. This article starts with a discussion whether the spatial turn represents just a new theme or a necessity at theology's own depth and argues for the later. Theology's reflections about space and place provide a deep challenge and an urgent necessity for theology to become aware of its embeddedness in the existential spatiality of life. Thereafter its first section presents in detail those approaches that recently have regarded the theme of space and place explicitly as a central dimension of theology. Among the profiled approaches we find reflections about themes such as the space of Creation, God's spatiality, the loss of place, and spiritual practices as well as justice, redemption and aesth/ethics in the built environment and the ecological city. A second section maps some of the substantial subthemes in the dynamically emerging agenda. Among the many themes we find are God in the city, lived religion, architecture, eco‐feminism, geography and religion, land, new religiosities, pilgrimage, movement and mobility. In general one can identify two directions of theology in its spatial turn: on the one hand theologians explore what Christian images and practices in space and at place mean for theology's classical questions; on the other hand, they move, slowly but safely, into other discourses by experimenting with theological contributions to other disciplines and public discourses. This article shows how a constructive understanding of theology, which does not only focus on religion's destructive capacity, is fertilised and assisted by the self‐critical reflexiveness in academic theology that embeds the space/place reflection in a broader ecological horizon. Thanks to the embedding of theology in a broader ecological perception and understanding of Creation, the new plastic and spatial theology increases it strength to operate on different scales of nature, society and culture. The overview ends with an open question: Can space set free theology?
Epilithic Cyanobacterial Communities of a Marine Tropical Beach Rock (Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef): Diversity and Diazotrophy
Authors: Díez Beatriz , Bauer Karolina , Bergman Birgitta 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

The diversity and nitrogenase activity of epilithic marine microbes in a Holocene beach rock (Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia) with a proposed biological calcification “microbialite” origin were examined. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequences from the dominant mat (a coherent and layered pink-pigmented community spread over the beach rock) and biofilms (nonstratified, differently pigmented microbial communities of small shallow depressions) were retrieved using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and a clone library was retrieved from the dominant mat. The 16S rRNA gene sequences and morphological analyses revealed heterogeneity in the cyanobacterial distribution patterns. The nonheterocystous filamentous genus
Blennothrix
sp., phylogenetically related to
Lyngbya
, dominated the mat together with unidentified nonheterocystous filaments of members of the
Pseudanabaenaceae
and the unicellular genus
Chroococcidiopsis
. The dominance and three-dimensional intertwined distribution of these organisms were confirmed by nonintrusive scanning microscopy. In contrast, the less pronounced biofilms were dominated by the heterocystous cyanobacterial genus
Calothrix
, two unicellular
Entophysalis
morphotypes,
Lyngbya
spp., and members of the
Pseudanabaenaceae
family.
Cytophaga
-
Flavobacterium
-
Bacteroides
and
Alphaproteobacteria
phylotypes were also retrieved from the beach rock. The microbial diversity of the dominant mat was accompanied by high nocturnal nitrogenase activities (as determined by in situ acetylene reduction assays). A new DGGE
nifH
gene optimization approach for cyanobacterial nitrogen fixers showed that the sequences retrieved from the dominant mat were related to nonheterocystous uncultured cyanobacterial phylotypes, only distantly related to sequences of nitrogen-fixing cultured cyanobacteria. These data stress the occurrence and importance of nonheterocystous epilithic cyanobacteria, and it is hypothesized that such epilithic cyanobacteria are the principal nitrogen fixers of the Heron Island beach rock.
RecombinantSaccharomyces cerevisiaeStrain Expressing a Model Cytochrome P450 in the Rat Digestive Environment: Viability and Bioconversion Activity
Authors: Garrait G. , Jarrige J. F. , Blanquet S. , Beyssac E. , Alric M. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTAn innovative “biodrug” concept, based on the oral administration of living recombinant microorganisms, has recently emerged for the prevention or treatment of various diseases. An engineeredSaccharomyces cerevisiaestrain expressing plant P450 73A1 (cinnamate-4-hydroxylase [CA4H] activity) was used, and its survival and ability to converttrans-cinnamic acid (CIN) intop-coumaric acid (COU) were investigated in vivo. In rats, the recombinant yeast was resistant to gastric and small intestinal secretions but was more sensitive to the conditions found in the large intestine. After oral administration of yeast and CIN, the CA4H activity was shown in vivo, with COU being found throughout the rat's digestive tract and in its urine. The bioconversion reaction occurred very fast, with most of the COU being produced within the first 5 min. The gastrointestinal sac technique demonstrated that the recombinant yeast was able to convert CIN into COU (conversion rate ranging from 2 to 5%) in all the organs of the rat's digestive tract: stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon. These results promise new opportunities for the development of drug delivery systems based on engineered yeasts catalyzing a bioconversion reaction directly in the digestive tract.
Novel Methods for Genetic Transformation of Natural
Bacillus subtilis
Isolates Used To Study the Regulation of the Mycosubtilin and Surfactin Synthetases
Authors: Duitman Erwin H. , Wyczawski Dobek , Boven Ludolf G. , Venema Gerard , Kuipers Oscar P. , Hamoen Leendert W. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Natural isolates of
Bacillus subtilis
are often difficult to transform due to their low genetic competence levels. Here we describe two methods that stimulate natural transformation. The first method uses plasmid pGSP12, which expresses the competence transcription factor ComK and stimulates competence development about 100-fold. The second method stimulates Campbell-type recombination of DNA ligation mixtures in
B. subtilis
by the addition of polyethylene glycol. We employed these novel methods to study the regulation of the synthetases for the lipopeptide antibiotics mycosubtilin (
myc
) and surfactin (
srfA
) in
B. subtilis
strain ATCC 6633. By means of
lacZ
reporter fusions, it was shown that the expression of
srfA
is >100 times lower in strain ATCC 6633 than in the laboratory strain
B. subtilis
168. Expression of the
myc
operon was highest in rich medium, whereas
srfA
expression reached maximal levels in minimal medium. Further genetic analyses showed that the
srfA
operon is mainly regulated by the response regulator ComA, while the
myc
operon is primarily regulated by the transition-state regulator AbrB. Although there is in vitro evidence for a synergistic activity of mycosubtilin and surfactin, the expression of both lipopeptide antibiotics is clearly not coordinated.