bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying search effort of moving animals at several spatial scales using first‐passage time analysis: effect of the structure of environment and tracking systems
Authors: Pinaud David 
Published: September 2007

Summary

How and at what spatial scale(s) animals change their movements in relation to their environment is central to several topics in ecology and conservation, including foraging ecology, habitat selection and dispersal. A method (first‐passage time analysis, FPT) has recently been proposed to measure changes in movements through the landscape, as an index of search effort at the pertinent spatial scales. This method seems largely applicable to an increasing number of studies using satellite, radio‐tracking or global positioning system (GPS), but its limits have not yet been assessed.
Here I used several movement simulations to examine the ability of FPT analysis to detect area‐restricted search (ARS) according to different changes in movements, different patch structures and tracking accuracy.
FPT analysis was able to detect changes in movements when both speed and sinuosity changed, or when the animal reacted to patch boundaries. It was also able to detect ARS within the same path at several spatial scales in patches (nested or not) of different sizes.
Tracking accuracy affected the detection of ARS by FPT analysis. With the widely used Argos system, a minimum of 13 locations in effective ARS was necessary to detect this behaviour; seven when velocity filtering was applied. Similarly, spatial error in location affected the estimation of the ARS scale value, but the application of velocity filtering reduced this effect.
Comparisons between a real GPS track and pathways simulating the Argos error showed that the time‐sampling rate of locations (due to satellite‐pass frequency) decreased the probability of detecting ARS at small scales (<10 km), while the spatial error decreased this probability by >50% across the whole range of scales. A velocity filter enabled significant reductions in this effect.
Synthesis and application. Within limits, FPT analysis is highly suitable for animal movement analysis, either to quantify habitat use, or to determine the scale most relevant for describing an ecological system or factors affecting movement decisions. In anticipation of increasing applications of FPT analysis in applied ecology, I provide recommendations for the use of the technique with several tracking methods.
In search of forage: predicting dynamic habitats of Mongolian gazelles using satellite‐based estimates of vegetation productivity
Authors: Mueller Thomas , Olson Kirk A. , Fuller Todd K. , Schaller George B. , Murray Martyn G. , Leimgruber Peter 
Published: September 2007

SummaryTemporal variability in habitat suitability has important conservation and ecological implications. In grasslands, changes in resource availability can occur at broad spatial scales and enlarge area requirements of ungulate populations, which increases their vulnerability to habitat loss and fragmentation. Understanding and predicting these dynamics, although critical, has received little attention so far.We investigated habitat dynamics for Mongolian gazelles (Procapra gutturosaPallas) in the eastern steppes of Mongolia. We quantified the distribution of gazelles at four different time periods and tracked primary productivity using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from satellite imagery.A second‐order logistic model showed that NDVI was an efficient predictor of gazelle presence. We tested the predictive power of the model with independent data from a gazelle telemetry study: 85% of all relocations were found within the predicted area.Gazelles preferred an intermediate range of vegetation productivity, presumably facing quality quantity trade‐offs where areas with low NDVI are limited by low ingestion rates, and areas with high NDVI are limited by the low digestibility of mature forage.Spatiotemporal variation of gazelle habitat areas was high. Only 15% of the study area was consistently gazelle habitat throughout all survey periods, indicating that gazelles need to range over vast areas in search of food. Only 1% of the gazelle habitats were consistently located inside protected areas. Synthesis and applications.Habitat variability in grasslands often leads to area requirements of ungulates that prevent effective conservation within single protected areas. They require landscape‐level management plans, but dynamic habitat predictions to inform such plans are difficult to implement and are often unavailable. We showed that satellite estimates of vegetation productivity can be used successfully to generate dynamic habitat models in landscapes with highly variable resources, and demonstrated that intermediate NDVI values were critical to predict occurrence of Mongolian gazelles.
Evaluation of a culturally adapted German version of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC 5A) questionnaire in a sample of osteoarthritis patients
Authors: Rosemann Thomas , Laux Gunter , Droesemeyer Sabine , Gensichen Jochen , Szecsenyi Joachim 
Published: September 2007

AbstractObjective  The chronic care model and the 5A approach have achieved widespread acceptance and reflect the core elements of patient‐centred care in chronic diseases, including arthritis. Appropriate assessment tools are indispensable to assess whether provided care is in alignment with these evidence‐based conceptual frameworks of care. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of a translated and culturally adapted version of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC 5A) questionnaire among osteoarthritis (OA) patients.Methods  Of 300 administered questionnaires, 236 (78.6%) were returned. Established statistical approaches were used in order to assess psychometric properties. Test–retest reliability was tested in 75 randomly selected patients who received the questionnaire a second time after 2 weeks. The EUROPEP questionnaire was used in order to address external validity.Results  Scale internal consistency was confirmed with values ranging from 0.52 to 0.97 for Pearson’s r. Internal consistency reliability was satisfying: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.78 or higher for all scales. Test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) exceeded 0.77. Correlations with the EUROPEP, which is not organized according to a conceptual approach to care, were only strong in corresponding scales.Conclusions  The PACIC 5A is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the congruency of care to the chronic care model of OA patients. Its use is encouraged in quality improvement projects but also in further research.
Does a new steam meal catering system meet patient requirements in hospital?
Authors: Hickson M. , Fearnley L. , Thomas J. , Evans S. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground  It has been consistently observed that a significant proportion of hospital inpatients are malnourished and many actually develop malnutrition in hospital. The NHS provides over 300 million meals each year at a cost of £500 million, yet there is relatively little research evaluating how well different catering systems provide for the needs of hospital inpatients.Aim  The aim of the study was to: (i) evaluate whether a new steam meal catering system (Steamplicity) enables patients in theory to meet their energy requirements in hospital and (ii) compare energy and protein intake using Steamplicity with a traditional bulk cook‐chill system.Methods  Patients not at nutritional risk had their food intake at one lunchtime assessed. Energy intake was compared with the patients’ energy requirements and energy and protein intake were compared with previous data from a bulk system.Results  Fifty‐seven patients had a median daily energy requirement of 7648 kJ (1821 kcal) [inter‐quartile range (IQR): 6854–9164 kJ]. Assuming 30% [2293 kJ (546 kcal)] should be supplied by the lunch meal the average intake of 1369 kJ (326 kcal) fell short by 40%. Patients served meals from Steamplicity ate less energy [1369 kJ versus 1562 kJ (326 kcal versus 372 kcal) P = 0.04] but similar protein (18 g versus 19 g P = 0.34) to the bulk system. The largest difference was the energy provided by the dessert since the bulk system served more hot high‐calorie desserts.Conclusions  Patient intakes did not meet their estimated requirements. The patients in this study were eating well and not at nutritional risk, thus patients with a poor appetite will be even less likely to meet their nutritional requirements. Steamplicity meals result in a lower energy intake than meals from a bulk cook‐chill system, but similar protein intakes.
A protective role of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene variant towards ischaemic stroke in Sardinians
Authors: Quarta G. , Stanzione R. , Evangelista A. , Zanda B. , Sciarretta S. , Di Angelantonio E. , Marchitti S. , Di Murro D. , Volpe M. , Rubattu S. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract.Objectives.  Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a key role in the metabolism of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), a strong, inverse, independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.We sought to investigate the relationship between a common variant of CETP gene, the Taq1 B polymorphism, that has been previously associated with CETP blood concentrations, and the risk of ischaemic stroke in a genetically homogenous population from the Sardinia island, Italy. This population has been previously shown to be a highly conservative sample.Design.  A total of 215 cases of ischaemic stroke and 236 controls were selected and characterized for the CETP Taq1 B polymorphism. Allele and genotype frequencies were compared amongst cases and controls.Results.  Age, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia were independent risk factors for stroke in this cohort. We found that presence of the CETP Taq1 B2 allele was associated with a significantly decreased risk of ischaemic stroke when assuming a recessive mode of inheritance (OR 0.55, 95% CI = 0.34–0.90, P = 0.017). This result was confirmed by multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age, presence of hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia (OR 0.53, 95% CI = 0.32–0.88, P = 0.014). By performing separate analysis for gender we found that the effect was present in females but not in males, with a significant sex‐CETP gene variant interaction for both recessive (P = 0.005) and additive (P = 0.029) modes of inheritance.Conclusions.  Our data suggest that the Taq1 B2 allelic variant of the CETP gene may be associated, as a protective factor, with occurrence of ischaemic stroke. Further studies are needed to further elucidate the clinical implications of our finding.
A novel approach to simulate segregation at the centreline of continuously cast steel using laser‐scanning confocal microscopy
Authors: AMINORROAYA SIMA , DIPPENAAR RIAN 
Published: September 2007

SummaryA concentric solidification technique was employed to simulate the segregation of alloying elements that occur during solidification at the centreline of continuously cast steel. Microstructural development of low carbon steel upon solidification has been observed in situ in a laser‐scanning confocal microscope. Sulphide precipitates that formed in the last remaining liquid were identified, and evidence is provided that segregation occurring at the centreline of steel slabs can reasonably be simulated by the use of the concentric solidification technique.
Surface structure of size exclusion chromatography stationary phase
Authors: KALE A. , CHERYAN M. , ROBINSON S. , MACLAREN S. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryChromatography is a widely used separation unit operation for separating nanomaterials such as proteins and enzymes, quantum dots and carbon nanotubes. An understanding of the chromatographic stationary phase on a nanoscale would be extremely helpful in improving the process and developing efficient and new materials. This study is an attempt to characterize the stationary phase in its swollen wet state using environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Observation of the wet beads using ESEM is limited to a micron‐range resolution. However, AFM can be used in wet mode to characterize the stationary phase in both wet and dry states with nanometric resolution. In the swollen state, microscale cracks were observed on the surface and this may explain the high mass transfer rate and lower back pressures of the stationary phase. The structures on the surface of the stationary phase depict that the micron‐sized beads may be composed of nanometric beads.
Facing change: forms and foundations of contemporary adaptation to biotic invasions
Authors: CARROLL SCOTT P. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractOngoing adaptation in native populations to anthropogenic change both facilitates and challenges ecologically appropriate and sustainable management. Human disturbance promotes adaptive responses at the genomic, individual and population levels. Traits vary widely in whether adaptation occurs through plasticity or evolution, and these modes interact within and among traits. For example, plasticity in one trait may be adaptive because it permits homeostasis and lessens the intensity of selection in another. Both opportunity and catastrophe generate adaptive responses. Recently evolved adaptations characterize the responses of many native species to biotic invasions. Several well‐known examples involve native phytophagous insects colonizing introduced plants. For example, our studies of North American and Australian soapberry bugs on nonindigenous plants demonstrate both diversifying and homogenizing contemporary evolution. Modes of adaptation differ among traits and populations and as a function of the host on which they develop. The genetic architecture of the evolving adaptations involves a substantial degree of nonadditive genetic variation. One important consequence of contemporary adaptation may be an enhanced capacity of native communities to provide adaptive biological control of invasive species. Conservation scientists may manipulate adaptation to achieve conservation goals, but must also decide how deeply they wish to attempt to control the phenotypes and genotypes of other species.
The RovA regulons of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pestis are distinct: evidence that many RovA‐regulated genes were acquired more recently than the core genome
Authors: Cathelyn Jason S. , Ellison Damon W. , Hinchliffe Stewart J. , Wren Brendan W. , Miller Virginia L. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryRovA is a transcriptional activator of Yersinia invasin, an outer membrane protein involved in bacterial attachment and invasion across the intestinal epithelium. In Y. enterocolitica, a rovA mutant is attenuated for virulence compared with either wild‐type or inv mutant strains, indicating that RovA may regulate additional virulence factors. Here, we used microarray analysis to define the RovA regulon. Curiously, there was little overlap between the RovA regulons of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pestis despite the fact that RovA itself is highly conserved between the two species. Some of these differences are explained by the observation that a number of RovA‐regulated loci in Y. enterocolitica do not have orthologues in Y. pestis and vice versa, suggesting that RovA established regulatory control over genetic material acquired after the divergence of the species. Electromobility shift assays demonstrated that 15 of these RovA‐regulated loci directly interact with RovA, and 11 of these promoters had similar affinity as observed for the inv promoter. H‐NS and YmoA are believed to form a transcriptional repression complex on the inv promoter, and several studies indicate that RovA and H‐NS have overlapping DNA binding sites. H‐NS and YmoA regulated a subset of the RovA‐regulated loci. Furthermore, H‐NS directly bound to 14 of the 15 promoters bound by RovA. From these data, we hypothesize that RovA generally behaves as an anti‐H‐NS factor to alleviate transcriptional repression in Y. enterocolitica. A number of recent studies have presented data and a model suggesting that H‐NS functions as a transcriptional silencer of horizontally acquired genes. This repression can be selectively relieved by regulators such as RovA, and the observation that nearly all RovA‐activated genes are repressed by H‐NS is consistent with this model.
Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms are not associated with alopecia areata
Authors: Akar Ahmet , Orkunoglu Funda E. , Tunca Mustafa , Taştan Halis B. , Kurumlu Zafer 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground  It has been demonstrated that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) is strongly expressed in key structures of hair follicles, and a lack of VDR leads to alopecia. We investigated whether there was any association between VDR gene polymorphisms (BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI) and alopecia areata (AA).Methods  Thirty‐two patients with AA and 27 healthy control subjects were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.Results  In the patient group, the B and b allele frequencies were 53.1% and 46.9%, A and a allele frequencies were 70.3% and 29.7%, and T and t allele frequencies were 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively. In the control group, the corresponding values were 51.9% and 48.1%, 63.0% and 37.0%, and 77.8% and 22.2%, respectively. In the patient group, the BB, Bb, and bb genotype frequencies were 25.0%, 56.2%, and 18.8%, AA, Aa, and aa genotype frequencies were 43.8%, 53.1%, and 3.1%, and TT, Tt, and tt genotype frequencies were 37.5%, 50.0%, and 12.5%, respectively. In the control group, the corresponding values were 11.1%, 81.5%, and 7.4%, 29.6%, 66.7%, and 3.7%, and 63.0%, 29.6%, and 7.4%, respectively. None of the allele or genotype frequencies showed statistically significant differences between the patient and control groups.Conclusion  These findings suggest that there is no relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and AA.
Recovery of renal function after 90 d on dialysis: implications for transplantation in patients with potentially reversible causes of renal failure
Authors: Siddiqui Samira , Norbury Michael , Robertson Sue , Almond Alison , Isles Chris 
Published: September 2007

Abstract:  Background:  Late recovery of renal function in patients requiring dialysis is a well recognized but uncommon phenomenon. Moves to increase the number of live donor transplants and the recognition that early transplantation is associated with better graft survival means it is possible that patients who are going to recover renal function may be transplanted unnecessarily.Design:  Prospective survey of patients receiving dialysis for more than 90 d in south west Scotland from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2005.Methods:  Routine measurement of residual renal function by combined urea and creatinine clearance allowed us to detect late recovery whenever this occurred.Results:  Eight of 202 (4%) patients recovered sufficient renal function to stop dialysing after 90‐d treatment. The likely cause of the renal failure in five of these patients was atheroembolism. One with atherosclerotic renovascular disease had been stented and would have received a live related renal transplant had his sister not had second thoughts about the procedure.Conclusion:  It may be sensible to postpone transplantation in patients with certain types of renal failure, perhaps particularly patients with renovascular disease who have recently undergone a failed revascularization procedure.
Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of Streptococcus mutans from different oral cavity sites of caries‐free and caries‐active children
Authors: Lembo F. L. , Longo P. L. , Ota‐Tsuzuki C. , Rodrigues C. R. M. D. , Mayer M. P. A. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  Streptococcus mutans exhibits extensive genotypic diversity, but the role of this variation is poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the number and distribution of genotypes of S. mutans isolated from caries‐active and caries‐free children and to evaluate some of their phenotypic traits.Methods:  Stimulated saliva, tongue surface and biofilms over sound and carious teeth surfaces were sampled from 10 caries‐free and 11 caries‐active children aged 5–8 years. A total of 339 isolates of S. mutans were genotyped by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction using OPA2 primer. One isolate from each genotype was tested for its acid susceptibility and its ability to form a biofilm.Results:  Fifty‐one distinct genotypes were determined, one to three genotypes in each oral sample. A single genotype was detected in seven children, whereas the remaining 14 children exhibited two to seven genotypes. There were no significant differences in the number of genotypes detected in caries‐free and caries‐active children. No correlation was observed between the number of genotypes and the mutans streptococci salivary levels. Five of the six high biofilm‐forming genotypes were obtained from caries‐active children, although the differences in biofilm formation between isolates from caries‐free and caries‐active children were not statistically significant. Genotypes with low susceptibility to acid challenge were statistically more frequent among isolates from caries‐active children than among those from caries‐free children.Conclusion:  The present data suggested that there were differences in the distribution of genotypes of S. mutans according to the oral site and that S. mutans populations differ in their acid susceptibility and ability to form biofilms, factors allowing their colonization of sucrose‐rich environments.
The influence of the quality and quantity of social support in the promotion of community participation following stroke
Authors: Beckley Margaret Newsham 
Published: September 2007

Background:  Community participation for a client who has sustained a stroke often requires the client to make adjustments, adaptations, and compensations for residual impairments or disability following stroke rehabilitation. The ability to make these needed adjustments, adaptations, and compensations often require a client‐centred assistance from an occupational therapist (

Rogers, 2006

). Assessment of environmental factors, such as social support, is one avenue an occupational therapist may consider in the provision of client‐centred assistance. As such, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of social support on community participation after stroke. Methods:  Ninety‐five stroke survivors were interviewed at home 3 to 6 months postdischarge from a rehabilitation hospital. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the effects of social support on community participation, as measured by the Reintegration to Normal Living Index, following stroke rehabilitation. Quality and quantity of social support were measured using the Social Support Inventory for People with Acquired Disabilities. Results:  The quality of social support did not have a greater relationship to community participation than the quantity of social support, as hypothesised. As main effects, both quality (P = 0.03) and quantity (P = 0.004) of social support were found to be significant. Quality and quantity of social support explained 31% and 35% of the variance, respectively, with regard to community participation, indicating moderately strong relationships to the dependent variable. However, the results of bivariate analyses indicate that for people who had sustained a stroke, community participation was more related to their functional limitation (P = 0.001), rather than to the support that was available to them.Conclusions:  Assessment and development of social support as a component of occupational therapy intervention may improve the degree of community participation for people with stroke.