bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio‐temporal variation in the structure of a deep water Posidonia oceanica meadow assessed using non‐destructive techniques
Authors: Borg Joseph Anthony , Micallef Mark Alan , Schembri Patrick Joseph 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe Malta‐Comino Channel (Maltese islands, central Mediterranean), supports extensive meadows of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica that in some places extend to a depth of around 43 m, which is rare for this seagrass. To assess spatial and temporal variation in the state of the deeper parts of the P. oceanica meadow with time, data on the structural characteristics of the seagrass meadow at its lower bathymetric limit were collected during the summers of 2001, 2003 and 2004 from four stations (two stations within each of two sites) located at a similar depth, over a spatial extent of 500 m. Shoot density was estimated in situ, while data on plant architecture (number of leaves, mean leaf length, and epiphyte load) were successfully obtained using an underwater photographic technique that was specifically designed to avoid destructive sampling of the seagrass. Results indicated that P. oceanica shoot density was lower than that recorded from the same meadow during a study undertaken in 1995; the observed decrease was attributed to the activities of an offshore aquaculture farm that operated during the period 1995–2000 in the vicinity of the meadow. ANOVA indicated significant spatial and temporal variations in meadow structural attributes at both sites during the 3‐year study; for example, shoot density values increased overall with time at site A; a indication of potential recovery of the meadow following cessation of the aquaculture operations. Lower shoot density values recorded from site B (compared with site A) were attributed to higher epiphyte loads on the seagrass, relative to those at site A. The findings, which include new data on the structural characteristics of P. oceanica occurring at depths >40 m, are discussed with reference to the use of the non‐destructive photographic technique to monitor the state of health of deep water seagrass meadows.
Spatial variability ofPosidonia oceanica(L.) Delile epiphytes around the mainland and the islands of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Pardi Giuseppina , Piazzi Luigi , Balata David , Papi Ilaria , Cinelli Francesco , Benedetti‐Cecchi Lisandro 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThis paper investigates patterns of variability in epiphytes ofPosidonia oceanicaleaves at various spatial scales around Sicily, including geographical differences among the Mediterranean basins, differences between the small islands and mainland, and the variability among and within replicated meadows in each of the previous conditions. Data on percentage cover of the most common epiphytic organisms were analysed by univariate techniques. Encrusting red algae, encrusting brown algae, filamentous algae, encrusting bryozoans, erect bryozoans, hydroids and Foraminifera were the most abundant taxa. Significant differences in the abundance of taxa were detected among geographical regions, while no significant differences were found between the islands and mainland. At smaller scales, variability was concentrated mostly among leaves 100s of centimetres apart and among meadows a few kilometres apart. These results suggest that both geographical and local processes are important in structuring the epiphytes ofP. oceanicaleaves in this area of the Mediterranean.
Mats of Beggiatoa bacteria reveal that organic pollution from lumber mills inhibits growth of Zostera marina
Authors: Elliott Joel K. , Spear Erin , Wyllie‐Echeverria Sandy 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to determine the distribution and abundance of Zostera marina (eelgrass) in relation to the distribution of the mat forming bacteria Beggiatoa spp., and the levels of sulfide and organic material (wood waste) in the sediment. Underwater videography and intertidal surveys were used to map the distribution and abundance of Z. marina beds and Beggiatoa in the nearshore area of Commencement Bay, WA (USA), a location that has a long history of sawmill activity. Zostera marina occurred from the intertidal to −6 m mean lower low water (MLLW) on sandy substrates in areas with low levels of sulfide (<50 μm) and organic material (<5 % total volatile solids). Areas with high sulfide levels (>200 μm) occurred where there were significant amounts of organic material in the sediments, which was found to be wood waste that had been discarded from sawmills. Zostera marina was absent from the intertidal and occurred at lower densities in areas with high sulfide levels. In contrast, mats of Beggiatoa were only found in areas where the sulfide levels were >1000 μm and there were significant deposits of wood. Thus, the negative correlation between the distribution and abundance of Z. marina and Beggiatoa suggests that the presence of Beggiatoa mats could be used as a biological indicator of inhibiting levels of hydrogen sulfide in the marine environment.
The use of surface alkaline phosphatase activity in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica as a biomarker of eutrophication
Authors: Martínez‐Crego Begoña , Romero Javier , Alcoverro Teresa 
Published: November 2006

AbstractEutrophication is one of the most relevant man‐induced changes occurring in coastal waters. The identification and assessment of specific responses to eutrophication in seagrasses can provide a useful tool for the detection of changes in the water quality in coastal zones, given the wide range of distribution of these organisms. In this study, we combine a correlational (across‐sites comparison) and a manipulative (fertilization experiment) approach to evaluate the usefulness and potential of alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica as an eutrophication biomarker. Our results showed that APA decreases promptly following nutrient additions, the response being maintained except during the winter period. APA also varies across natural meadows under different levels of nutrient discharges at scales relevant for monitoring purposes. AP activity seems to be an optimal ‘physiological biomarker’ that responds promptly and reliably to a pulse of eutrophication exposure. However, other considerations, such as the seasonality (the response disappears in winter), suggest its use with some caution and, as far as possible, as a complement of other bio‐indicators.
Temporal changes of mollusc populations from a Zostera marina bed in southern Spain (Alboran Sea), with biogeographic considerations
Authors: Arroyo María del Carmen , Salas Carmen , Rueda José Luis , Gofas Serge 
Published: November 2006

AbstractMolluscs associated with a Zostera marina bed from Cantarriján bay (Southern Spain, Alboran Sea) at 14–16 m depth were sampled monthly from October 1996 to September 1997. A total of 44,819 individuals belonging to 80 species were identified. In spite of the high species richness, only seven species of gastropods showed a dominance value (D) higher than 1%. Jujubinus striatus was the dominant species of the assemblage with 70.8% of the total abundance. The other dominant species were Rissoa membranacea (9.8%), Nassarius pygmaeus (5.8%), Mitrella minor (4%), Smaragdia viridis (1.9%), Rissoa monodonta (1.4%), Bittium reticulatum (1.3%). The dynamic pattern of the mollusc populations showed a temporal trend with monthly values of species richness and abundance ranging between 10 and 25 species and between 178 and 4412 individuals·222 m−2. The species richness and abundance were higher in the spring and summer months than in the autumn and winter ones. The diversity (Shannon–Wiener, H’) follows a similar trend, with increases from April to September and decreases from October to March. H’ values (ranging from 0.45 to 3.10) are more influenced by the evenness (J) than by the species richness. A multivariate analysis (Cluster, Multi‐dimensional Scaling) based on both presence/absence and quantitative data has also pointed out a temporal trend, with spring–summer samples significantly different from autumn–winter samples. The temporal changes in abundance seem related with the species’ biology, such as recruitment events, as well as to the canopy features and shoot density variation in the Zostera meadow. From the biogeographical point of view, most of the molluscs (65%) found in the Cantarriján bed, have a Lusitanian–Mediterranean distribution (sensuEkman 1953). The proximity to Africa is shown by the presence of four species with a mainly West African distribution. Only R. membranacea has a typical Atlantic distribution, driven by that of Z. marina in NW Europe.
Farm‐related injury event, social consequences and injury reporting in the Land Lantbruk newspaper in Sweden: A retrospective study of farm‐related injury reporting during 2000–2005
Authors: Lundälv Jörgen 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjective:  The aim of the present study was to detect how a leading news paper, the Land Lantbruk in Stockholm, Sweden, informs the public and specifically the rural sector in Sweden and the Scandinavian countries concerning injury events (farm‐related injury event) and the use of injury prevention and control. Injury reporting in the Land Lantbruk has been studied from the point of injury prevention and control. A study of injury prevention and rural health and safety in Australia shows that the newspaper The Land that serves Australia’s rural community should ‘be an under‐utilised vehicle for news and commentary on rural health and safety issues’.Design:  The study period was from January 2000 to February 2005. A total of 178 articles were reviewed and analysed. The articles were available on a newspaper database in the Land Lantbruk newspaper. Articles that addressed farm‐related injury event and rural health and safety were chosen and organised into subgroups.Results:  Tractor and motor vehicle safety (35%) was most common among the injury reporting. Although the newspaper Land Lantbruk provided excellent coverage of the causes of these events, the reports tended to focus on circumstances and did not provide information on injury prevention or the advantages of also coverage of the social and psychosocial long‐term consequences of accidents.Conclusion:  In the prevention work of reducing farm‐related injuries in the rural sector in the Scandinavian countries and decreasing the human suffering represented by this health problem, rural politicians, insurance companies, rural authorities and also handicap organisations should listen more to the injured individuals and their own experiences relative to the difficulty of life after an accident. The reaction of family and relatives, and experiences of the long‐term social consequences, have not been included in the media coverage. Journalists at the Land Lantbruk could also share experiences of the Swedish coverage of rural health and safety from Australian journalists from The Land.
Total joint replacement surgery in a rural centre
Authors: Stewart Grant D. , Stewart Pamela C. , Nott Matthew L. , Long Gareth 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjective:  To demonstrate that total joint replacement surgery can be safely and effectively performed in rural hospitals with acceptable outcomes. Design:  Case series. Setting:  A rural district hospital. Participants:  Participants were 64 patients, 30 men and 34 women, who underwent total knee replacements (TKR); and 63 patients, 41 men and 22 women, who had total hip replacements (THR). Main outcome measures:  Level of patient satisfaction following total joint replacement surgery, obtained by patient interview. Incidence of postoperative joint specific complications, for example infection, THR dislocation and manipulation under anaesthetic (MUA) of a TKR. Results:  None of the TKR or THR patients developed a deep wound infection. In this study 8.8% TKR patients had an MUA but all during a period of limited physiotherapy services; 5.8% THR patients suffered a dislocated prosthesis. Following TKR 95.3% patients reported to be ‘happy’ with the outcome of their surgery. Of the THR patients 97.0% declared they were ‘happy’ with their surgical outcome. Conclusions:  There was a high level of patient satisfaction, low infection rate, acceptable levels of MUA for TKR and dislocation for THR following total joint replacement in our rural district hospital. The surgeons performed a medium volume of total joint replacements and an appropriate multidisciplinary team was in place. In such settings joint replacement surgery can be safely and successfully performed in rural centres to the benefit of rural patients, surgeons and GPs.
Suturing as an advanced skill for Registered Nurses in the emergency department
Authors: Middleton Rebekkah 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjective:  Many patients present to emergency departments (EDs) for wounds that require repair by suturing. This study looked at ascertaining the efficacy of Advanced Clinical Nurses’ (ACN) suturing dermal lacerations in tertiary, regional and rural ED settings. Design:  Convenience sample; prospective questionnaire. Setting:  Three mixed adult and paediatric EDs. These departments were tertiary, regional and rural regional EDs. Participants:  Eighty patients requiring sutures for dermal lacerations that were repaired by an ACN. Of them 24 were men and seven were women. Mean age was 40.5 years, with a range of 21–58 years. Ten results from rural ED; six from regional ED; 15 from tertiary ED. Main outcome measure(s):  Any differences between suturing standards in rural, regional and tertiary EDs; clinical results of suturing performed by ACNs; local medical officers’ satisfaction with wound repair. Results:  A total of 31 responses were received. The lacerations were located on the face in 13 patients (42%), the scalp in 10 (32%), an extremity in 2 (6%), and on the trunk in 6 (20%). A total of 196 sutures were required. Local medical officers graded wound repair as ‘good’ in 24 cases (77%) and adequate in seven cases (23%). There were no wound healing complications reported. Conclusions:  Nurses who complete a standardised training program in wound management and repair are capable of providing high‐quality, definitive care for patients who present to EDs with dermal lacerations. This is true irrespective of whether the Registered Nurse is working in a rural, regional or tertiary ED.
Patient outcomes following an intervention involving community pharmacists in the management of depression
Authors: Crockett Judith , Taylor Susan , Grabham Anita , Stanford Pamela 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjective:  Documentation and evaluation of patient outcomes in a pilot study into the role of rural community pharmacists in the management of depression. Design:  Parallel groups design with a control and intervention group. Setting:  Thirty‐two community pharmacies in rural and remote New South Wales, Australia. Participants:  One hundred and six patient participants, mean age of 46 years, predominantly female, not currently employed, recruited by participating pharmacists. Interventions:  Intervention pharmacists were given video‐conference training on the nature and management of depression by a psychiatrist, psychologist and general practitioner and asked to dispense medication with extra advice and support. Control pharmacists were asked to provide usual care. Main outcome measures:  Adherence by self‐report, K10, Drug Attitude Index. Results:  The results indicated that adherence to medications was high in both groups (95% versus 96%) and that both groups had improved significantly in wellbeing (a reduction K10 score of 4 (control) versus 4.7 (intervention)). No significant change was found in attitude to drug treatment once baseline scores were controlled for. Conclusions:  Because both groups improved in wellbeing it is not possible to claim that the training provided to the intervention pharmacists was responsible for the success. However, the improvements gained in such a short time (two months) suggest that the involvement of pharmacists has had a beneficial rather than negative effect. Further research into the most appropriate ways in which to integrate the skills of pharmacists into a model of mental health care delivery in rural communities is recommended.
A technically simple method for staining of acid‐fast bacilli in cytology smears: An evaluation
Authors: Chaturvedi Sujata , Raheja Preety , Thakur Rajeev , Singh Navjeevan , Arora Vinod K. , Suri Vaishali , Bhatia Arati 
Published: November 2006

AbstractObjective:  To study the effects of modifications in the Ziehl‐Neelsen staining procedure on predictive accuracy for acid fast bacilli in comparison to the conventional technique. Simplicity of procedure and reagent economy were the factors taken into consideration.Design:  Comparative evaluation between thick and thin air‐dried smears stained conventionally and thick ethanol‐fixed smears stained by the modified technique was done.Results:  Positive predictive accuracy of all the three smears, that is, thick air‐dried, thin air‐dried and thick ethanol‐fixed, was 100%. Negative predictive accuracy for thick air‐dried, thin air‐dried and thick ethanol‐fixed smears was 36.36%, 32.33% and 34.78%, respectively. Overall predictive accuracy was 66.67% for thick air‐dried, 61.90% for thin air‐dried and 64.29% for thick ethanol‐fixed. These differences were found to be statistically insignificant.Conclusion:  The modified method offers an accuracy comparable to the conventional technique, is simpler and with improved reagent economy. It is of special importance to diagnostic facilities in rural set‐ups.
Low‐cycle fatigue in silicon: comparison with fcc metals
Authors: GEORGE A. , JACQUES A. , LEGROS M. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTUndoped FZ silicon single crystals were cyclically loaded in tension‐compression under plastic strain amplitude control in a temperature and strain rate domain where the glide of dislocations is still controlled by the lattice friction: 1073–1173 K and (1.5–6) × 10−4s−1; the plastic strain amplitude being varied from 6 × 10−4 to 10−2. Cyclic hardening curves display logarithmic then linear hardening and pass through a maximum before the peak stress per cycle stabilizes. The maximum and stabilized stresses decrease when temperature increases. Microscopical observations suggest that strain localization takes place near the maximum cyclic stress and beyond. But, contrary to what is observed in fcc metals, the maximum or saturation stress decreases when the strain amplitude per cycle increases. Several types of dislocation arrangements, rather different from those found in copper, but looking more similar to Ni fatigued at low temperatures, were revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Before mechanical saturation, edge dislocation dipoles gather in thick stripes forming more or less corrugated walls, depending on the amplitude per cycle, when viewed normal to the primary slip plane. Once the maximum stress is reached, it seems that parts of the microstructure cease to participate in the imposed plastic strain, while others concentrate it. In active areas, thick walls condense into much thinner ones, forming chevrons when viewed normal to the slip plane. In areas which seem to be inactive, dipolar walls anneal out leaving a rather homogeneous distribution of prismatic loops. Thin PSBs with a well‐characterized ‘ladder‐structure’ are very rare. Characteristic lengths of the observed patterns are given and briefly discussed using current theories of cyclic deformation.
A fracture mechanics approach to estimate the fatigue endurance of welded t‐joints including residual stress effects
Authors: SCHINDLER H. J. , MARTENS H. J. , SÖNNICHSEN S. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTResidual stresses and weld defects play a major role in the fatigue behaviour of welded structures, so these effects need to be accounted for in a theoretical analysis. A simplified engineering procedure based on linear‐elastic fracture mechanics is applied to estimate the fatigue behaviour, particularly the limit of endurance. Local geometrical irregularities and pre‐existing flaws, which are typical for this kind of weld, are covered by an overall notch intensity factor instead of a specific stress intensity factor, so the initial flaw size is not needed explicitly in the analysis. The effect of residual stresses can be easily included. The cut‐compliance method was applied to measure the residual stress distribution on the cross‐section of the weld. A welded T‐joint was used as a benchmark. Unexpectedly, compressive residual stresses were found to prevail in the root region. According to the analysis, they contribute to the endurance limit of the considered joint by about 50%. This result was confirmed by fatigue tests where a significant decrease in the fatigue strength after a post‐weld stress relieving heat treatment was observed.
Significance of the elastic peak stress evaluated by FE analyses at the point of singularity of sharp V‐notched components
Authors: MENEGHETTI G. , LAZZARIN P. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTThe paper presents an expression useful to estimate the notch stress intensity factor (NSIF) from finite element analyses carried out by using a mesh pattern with a constant element size. The evaluation of the NSIF from a numerical analysis of the local stress field usually requires very refined meshes and then large computational effort. The usefulness of the presented expression is that (i) only the elastic peak stress numerically evaluated at the V‐notch tip is needed and no longer the whole stress–distance set of data; (ii) the adopted meshes are rather coarse if compared to those necessary for the evaluation of the whole local stress field. The proposed expression needs the evaluation of a virtual V‐notch tip radius, i.e. the radius which would produce the same elastic peak stress than that calculated by FEM at the sharp V‐notch tip by means of a given mesh pattern. Once such a radius has been theoretically determined for a given geometry, the expression can be applied in a wide range of notch depths and opening angles.
Strictureplasty vs resection in small bowel Crohn's disease: an evaluation of short‐term outcomes and recurrence
Authors: Reese G. E. , Purkayastha S. , Tilney H. S. , Von Roon A. , Yamamoto T. , Tekkis P. P. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAim  To compare postoperative adverse events and recurrence following strictureplasty or bowel resection in patients with small bowel Crohn's disease (CD).Method  A literature search was performed to identify studies published between 1980 and 2006 comparing outcomes of CD patients undergoing either strictureplasty or bowel resection. Hazard ratios were calculated from Kaplan–Meier plots of cumulative recurrence data. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed. Random‐effect meta‐analytical techniques were employed. Sensitivity analysis and assessment of heterogeneity were performed.Results  Seven studies comprising 688 CD patients (strictureplasty n = 311, 45%; resection with or without strictureplasty n = 377, 55%) were included. Patients undergoing strictureplasty alone had a lower risk of developing postoperative complications than those who underwent resection (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.31–1.16) although this was not statistically significant (P = 0.13). Surgical recurrence after strictureplasty was more likely than after resection (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.96–1.93, P = 0.09). Patients who had a resection had a significantly longer recurrence‐free survival than those undergoing strictureplasty alone (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.15, P = 0.01).Conclusion  Patients with small bowel CD undergoing strictureplasty alone may have fewer postoperative complications than those undergoing a concomitant bowel resection. However, surgical recurrence maybe higher following strictureplasty alone than with a concomitant small bowel resection. Patients may require appropriate preoperative counselling regarding the pros and cons of each operative technique.