bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of scale on interpreting life‐history characteristics of ungulates and carnivores
Authors: Bowyer R. Terry , Kie John G. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTMany life‐history characteristics of large mammals are scale sensitive. We provide examples where varying temporal and spatial scales can affect interpretation of data concerning life‐history characteristics in large herbivores and carnivores and offer recommendations for selecting the most appropriate sampling scale or scales. We also document that some animals make decisions concerning their spatial distribution at scales well beyond the size of the home range. Conversely, other decisions involving sexual segregation of sexes, or where to give birth, may be made at scales below the level of the habitat patch. Such differences in behaviour affect our understanding of habitat selection in large herbivores, and interpreting tradeoffs between acquiring essential resources and avoiding predators. Moreover, some landscape attributes may be selected at one scale, whereas other characteristics of the environment may be selected at another. We argue that even sophisticated models for explaining the ecology and behaviour of mammals benefit from framing specific hypotheses that are related to the to the life‐history characteristics of those animals. We also believe that the failure to consider and select the most appropriate scale, or suite of scales, may lead to the mismanagement of critical natural resources. We forge relationships among scale, life‐history characteristics of mammals, and biodiversity. Finally, we synthesize the literature on scale for large mammals and make recommendations for future research.
Multiscale responses of soil stability and invasive plants to removal of non‐native grazers from an arid conservation reserve
Authors: Beever Erik A. , Huso Manuela , Pyke David A. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTDisturbances and ecosystem recovery from disturbance both involve numerous processes that operate on multiple spatial and temporal scales. Few studies have investigated how gradients of disturbance intensity and ecosystem responses are distributed across multiple spatial resolutions and also how this relationship changes through time during recovery. We investigated how cover of non‐native species and soil‐aggregate stability (a measure of vulnerability to erosion by water) in surface and subsurface soils varied spatially during grazing by burros and cattle and whether patterns in these variables changed after grazer removal from Mojave National Preserve, California, USA. We compared distance from water and number of ungulate defecations — metrics of longer‐term and recent grazing intensity, respectively, — as predictors of our response variables. We used information‐theoretic analyses to compare hierarchical linear models that accounted for important covariates and allowed for interannual variation in the disturbance–response relationship at local and landscape scales. Soil stability was greater under perennial vegetation than in bare interspaces, and surface soil stability decreased with increasing numbers of ungulate defecations. Stability of surface samples was more affected by time since removal of grazers than was stability of subsurface samples, and subsurface soil stability in bare spaces was not related to grazing intensity, time since removal, or any of our other predictors. In the high rainfall year (2003) after cattle had been removed for 1–2 years, cover of all non‐native plants averaged nine times higher than in the low‐rainfall year (2002). Given the heterogeneity in distribution of large‐herbivore impacts that we observed at several resolutions, hierarchical analyses provided a more complete understanding of the spatial and temporal complexities of disturbance and recovery processes in arid ecosystems.
Low vs. high concentration of levobupivacaine for post‐operative epidural analgesia: influence of mode of delivery
Authors: Dernedde M. , Stadler M. , Bardiau F. , Seidel L. , Boogaerts J. G. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  Although the use of continuous epidural infusion (CEI) and patient‐controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) has become commonplace in pain management, there is still controversy regarding the relative effects of mass, volume and concentration of the local anaesthetic. This prospective study evaluated the influence of two concentrations of levobupivacaine on the quality of analgesia in two modes of delivery after lower abdominal surgery.Methods:  Eighty‐two patients were randomly assigned to four groups to receive combined low thoracic epidural analgesia and general anaesthesia followed by post‐operative CEI or PCEA using 1.5 or 5 mg/ml levobupivacaine (15 mg/h in CEI and bolus 5 mg, lockout 20 min in PCEA). Sensory block, pain scores, levobupivacaine and rescue morphine consumption, motor blockade, haemodynamics, side‐effects and patient satisfaction were registered within 48 h.Results:  The four groups were similar with regard to demographics, quality of analgesia, morphine consumption and satisfaction rate. No difference in the quality of analgesia was observed for the two modes of delivery with regard to the concentration of levobupivacaine, but the consumption of the local anaesthetic was higher in the CEI groups. The Bromage scores in the PCEA groups were reduced to zero for all except one patient, whereas eight patients presented scores of one or more in the CEI population.Conclusion:  Levobupivacaine in thoracic epidurals provides an equal quality of post‐operative analgesia in low and high volume independent of the delivery mode, i.e. CEI or PCEA. This is in accordance with the assumption that the total dose of the local anaesthetic determines the quality of analgesia.
Evaluation of the new Viewmax laryngoscope in a simulated difficult airway
Authors: Leung Y. Y. , Hung C. T. , Tan S. T. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  In this study, we evaluated the learning curve and performance of the Viewmax laryngoscope during simulated difficult laryngoscopy in an intubation manikin (Laerdal Airway Management Trainer).Methods:  To determine the learning curve, 25 anaesthesiologists without previous experience with the Viewmax laryngoscope performed 10 successive intubations in an intubation manikin with a normal airway. Time to intubation and failed intubation attempts were recorded. Another manikin was modified to enable comparison of the Viewmax laryngoscope with Macintosh and McCoy laryngoscopes. The time to intubation, number of failed intubation attempts, modified Cormack and Lehane (MCL) laryngeal view grading, percentage of glottic opening (POGO score), use of gum elastic bougie and subjective rating of degree of difficulty were recorded.Results:  The learning curve for the Viewmax laryngoscope showed a progressive decrease in time to successful intubation and reached a plateau at the sixth attempt. In simulated difficult laryngoscopy, the Viewmax laryngoscope demonstrated significantly better laryngeal view than the Macintosh and McCoy laryngoscopes in terms of MCL grading (Macintosh, P = 0.01; McCoy, P < 0.01) and POGO score (Macintosh, P < 0.01; McCoy, P < 0.01). The time required for intubation in simulated difficult laryngoscopy for the Viewmax laryngoscope was significantly longer than that for the Macintosh (P = 0.02) and McCoy (P < 0.01) laryngoscopes. There was no significant difference in the degree of difficulty, number of failed intubations and use of gum elastic bougie.Conclusion:  When compared with the Macintosh and McCoy laryngoscopes in a manikin, the Viewmax laryngoscope appears to improve the view of the larynx but requires a longer time for tracheal intubation.
Effect of needle insertion site on ilioinguinal‐iliohypogastric nerve block in children
Authors: Kundra P. , Sivashanmugam T. , Ravishankar M. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  Three different sites of needle insertion have been proposed for ilioinguinal‐iliohypogastric (ILIH) nerve block. This double‐blind study was designed to assess the quality of analgesia produced from these different sites.Methods:  One hundred and thirty‐two children of ASA grade I and II were randomly allocated into four groups to receive no nerve block (control group, n = 30) or ILIH block at 1 cm inferio‐medial to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) in group IM (n = 34), 1–2 cm medial to the ASIS in group M (n = 34) and 2 cm superio‐medial to the ASIS in group SM (n = 34) with 0.25 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine after induction of anaesthesia. Pain was assessed using the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) pain discomfort scale (APDS) score. The amount and pattern of fentanyl consumed over the ensuing 24‐h period was noted.Results:  APDS score and fentanyl requirement were similar in all the study groups but significantly higher until 8 h after surgery in the control group, P < 0.05. Twenty‐two out of 102 children in the study groups and all patients in the control group received additional fentanyl during the post‐operative period. Only 6 out of 22 children required additional fentanyl supplementation beyond the 30‐min interval. Overall failure rate of ILIH nerve block was 6%.Conclusion:  ILIH block can be successfully accomplished from any point if the needle bevel lies between the two muscle planes above and below the internal oblique.
Desflurane vs. sevoflurane as the main inhaled anaesthetic for spontaneous breathing via a laryngeal mask for varicose vein day surgery: a prospective randomized study
Authors: Saros G. B. , Doolke A. , Anderson R. E. , Jakobsson J. G. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  Sevoflurane has become widely used in day surgery; however, desflurane may be a valuable alternative even in this setting. This study compares emergence from anaesthesia for day surgery with spontaneous breathing using either desflurane or sevoflurane.Methods:  This prospective, randomized, single‐blinded study examined 70 ASA III patients undergoing elective ambulatory varicose vein surgery. Primary endpoint was emergence time (cessation of anaesthetic gas to communicating). Secondary endpoints included post‐operative pain, nausea, time to discharge, and patient satisfaction. Patients were anaesthetized according to a standardized protocol including multimodal analgesia and antiemetic therapy and were randomized to receive sevoflurane or desflurane as the main anaesthetic while breathing spontaneously through a laryngeal mask airway. Fresh gas flow was oxygen in air 1 : 2 l/min.Results:  Intra‐operative anaesthesia was uneventful apart from airway irritation observed in 5/35 desflurane and 1/35 sevoflurane patients. Emergence was 25–40% faster in patients anaesthetized with desflurane. Pain and post‐operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were equally infrequent in both groups. Overall, patient satisfaction was high with no difference between the groups.Conclusion:  Desflurane is associated with a faster emergence with no differences during the post‐operative course except a somewhat higher incidence of airway irritation.
Propofol formulated with long‐/medium‐chain triglycerides reduces the pain of injection by target controlled infusion
Authors: Suzuki H. , Miyazaki H. , Andoh T. , Yamada Y. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  Propofol is a widely used intravenous anesthetic although its injection pain is a common and unpleasant problem. Long‐/medium‐chain triglyceride (LCT/MCT) propofol has been introduced, as its low free propofol content is expected to reduce injection pain compared with LCT propofol. Target controlled infusion (TCI) differs from conventional induction in the initial infusion pattern. During induction using TCI, we investigated injection pain caused by two propofol solutions with different triglyceride compositions.Methods:  Fifty patients, ASA I–II, with adequate communicative ability, were randomly assigned to two groups. TCI was conducted with Diprifusor for LCT and with BeComSim (custom‐made software) for LCT/MCT. The target blood concentration was set at 4 μg/ml for both groups. At 30, 60, and 120 s after the infusion, patients were asked questions regarding the severity of pain on a 0–10 pain score. The total dose of propofol and the time required to induce anesthesia were also investigated.Results:  The LCT/MCT propofol group had a larger number of pain‐free patients and showed lower severity of pain than the LCT group [the number of pain‐free patients being 11 and 3, respectively (P < 0.05), and median maximum pain being 0 and 4.5, respectively (P < 0.01)]. The dose and time required for induction were not significantly different between the groups (dose of 84 ± 27 and 80 ± 24 mg, respectively, and time of 119 ± 60 and 107 ± 55 s, respectively).Conclusion:  Our study showed that the frequency and severity of pain during TCI induction with propofol could be significantly reduced using LCT/MCT propofol rather than LCT propofol.
Testing the directionality of evolution: the case of chydorid crustaceans
Authors: Adamowicz S. J. , Sacherová V. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Although trends are of central interest to evolutionary biology, it is only recently that methodological advances have allowed rigorous statistical tests of putative trends in the evolution of discrete traits. Oligomerization is one such proposed trend that may have profoundly influenced evolutionary pathways in many types of animals, especially arthropods. It is a general hypothesis that repeated structures (such as appendage segments and spines) tend to evolve primarily through loss. Although largely untested, this principle of loss is commonly invoked in morphological studies of crustaceans for drawing conclusions about the systematic placements of taxa and about their phylogeny. We present a statistical evaluation of this hypothesis using a molecular phylogeny and character matrix for a family of crustaceans, the Chydoridae, analysed using maximum likelihood methods. We find that a unidirectional (loss-only) model of character evolution is a very poor fit to the data, but that there is evidence of a trend towards loss, with loss rates of structures being perhaps twice the rates of gain. Thus, our results caution against assuming loss a priori, in the absence of appropriate tests for the characters under consideration. However, oligomerization, considered as a tendency but not a rule, may indeed have had ramifications for the types of functional and ecological shifts that have been more common during evolutionary diversification.
Efficacy of topical griseofulvin in treatment of tinea corporis
Authors: Kassem Mohamed A. A. , Esmat Samia , Bendas Eihab R. , El‐Komy Mohamed H. M. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryTinea infections are among the most common dermatological conditions throughout the world. Griseofulvin is a classical oral fungistatic antibiotic, active against Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton and Microsporum species, the causative fungi of tinea corporis. To evaluate the efficacy of topical griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea circinata using three different vehicles for drug delivery. Sixteen patients with tinea circinata were instructed to apply either griseofulvin gel form in group A or a similar placebo gel for control group; a niosomal gel formulation of griseofulvin for group B or; a liposomal gel formulation of griseofulvin for group C. Patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically after 3 weeks. Marked improvement was seen for groups A, B and C both clinically and mycologically while no improvement was observed in the placebo group. Mild and transient irritation was reported in four patients. Our results show that topical griseofulvin preparations may be effective and safe in treating tinea circinata and that further large‐scale studies may establish the high efficacy of the niosomal gel formulation.
Propagule vs. niche limitation: untangling the mechanisms behind plant species’ distributions
Authors: Moore Kara A. , Elmendorf Sarah C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractDistinguishing the roles of propagule limitation and niche requirements in controlling plant species distributions is important for understanding community structure, invasion, and restoration. We used species distribution models based on plant and environmental survey data to assess the strength of species’ affinities for particular environmental conditions. We hypothesized that species with statistically detectable environmental requirements were primarily niche‐limited, while species with weak habitat affinities were primarily propagule‐limited. We tested this hypothesis via a seeding experiment in which we compared species’ reproductive fitness in occupied and unoccupied sites. Species that appeared to be niche‐limited based on distribution models had lower fitness when planted in unoccupied sites, while species that models suggested were propagule‐limited had equivalent fitness when planted in occupied and unoccupied sites. Our results demonstrate that within a single community, both species limited primarily by niche availability or primarily by propagule availability can be identified using observational data.
Functional diversity: back to basics and looking forward
Authors: Petchey Owen L. , Gaston Kevin J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFunctional diversity is a component of biodiversity that generally concerns the range of things that organisms do in communities and ecosystems. Here, we review how functional diversity can explain and predict the impact of organisms on ecosystems and thereby provide a mechanistic link between the two. Critical points in developing predictive measures of functional diversity are the choice of functional traits with which organisms are distinguished, how the diversity of that trait information is summarized into a measure of functional diversity, and that the measures of functional diversity are validated through quantitative analyses and experimental tests. There is a vast amount of trait information available for plant species and a substantial amount for animals. Choosing which traits to include in a particular measure of functional diversity will depend on the specific aims of a particular study. Quantitative methods for choosing traits and for assigning weighting to traits are being developed, but need much more work before we can be confident about trait choice. The number of ways of measuring functional diversity is growing rapidly. We divide them into four main groups. The first, the number of functional groups or types, has significant problems and researchers are more frequently using measures that do not require species to be grouped. Of these, some measure diversity by summarizing distances between species in trait space, some by estimating the size of the dendrogram required to describe the difference, and some include information about species’ abundances. We show some new and important differences between these, as well as what they indicate about the responses of assemblages to loss of individuals. There is good experimental and analytical evidence that functional diversity can provide a link between organisms and ecosystems but greater validation of measures is required. We suggest that non‐significant results have a range of alternate explanations that do not necessarily contradict positive effects of functional diversity. Finally, we suggest areas for development of techniques used to measure functional diversity, highlight some exciting questions that are being addressed using ideas about functional diversity, and suggest some directions for novel research.
Multivariate dispersion as a measure of beta diversity
Authors: Anderson Marti J. , Ellingsen Kari E. , McArdle Brian H. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBeta diversity can be defined as the variability in species composition among sampling units for a given area. We propose that it can be measured as the average dissimilarity from individual observation units to their group centroid in multivariate space, using an appropriate dissimilarity measure. Differences in beta diversity among different areas or groups of samples can be tested using this approach. The choice of transformation and dissimilarity measure has important consequences for interpreting results. For kelp holdfast assemblages from New Zealand, variation in species composition was greater in smaller holdfasts, while variation in relative abundances was greater in larger holdasts. Variation in community structure of Norwegian continental shelf macrobenthic fauna increased with increases in environmental heterogeneity, regardless of the measure used. We propose a new dissimilarity measure which allows the relative weight placed on changes in composition vs. abundance to be specified explicitly.
Contending with Risk Selection in Health Insurance Markets in Germany
Authors: Glazer Jacob , McGuire Thomas G. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract In many countries, competition among health plans or sickness funds raises issues of risk selection. Funds may discourage or encourage potential enrollees from joining, and these actions may have efficiency or fairness implications. This article reviews the experience in the U.S., and comments on the evidence for risk selection in Germany. There is little evidence that risk selection causes efficiency problems in Germany, but risk selection does lead to an inequality in contribution rates. A simple approach to equalizing contribution rates that does not involve risk adjustment is presented and discussed.
An anatomical study of the buccinator muscle fibres that extend to the terminal portion of the parotid duct, and their functional roles in salivary secretion
Authors: Kang Hyo‐Chang , Kwak Hyun‐Ho , Hu Kyung‐Seok , Youn Kwan‐Hyun , Jin Guang‐Chun , Fontaine Christian , Kim Hee‐Jin 
Published: April 2006

AbstractUntil now there has been no definitive anatomical study describing the area where the parotid duct enters the buccinator muscle. In this study, we performed anatomical and histological examinations to investigate the relationship between the parotid duct and the buccinator muscle. Thirty specimens (including the buccinator and the terminal portion of the parotid duct) were obtained from embalmed Korean cadavers. Dissection was performed on 22 of these specimens, and the remaining eight specimens were prepared for histological examination and stained with haematoxylin–eosin or Gomori trichrome. In all specimens, small, distinct muscle fibres originating from the buccinator muscle extended to and inserted into the terminal portion of the parotid duct. The topography of these fibres varied, and we classified them into three categories according to where they originated. Type I buccinator muscle fibres, which inserted into the terminal portion of the parotid duct, originated simultaneously from the anterior and posterior aspects of the duct (ten cases, 45.5%). Type II fibres originated from the anterior aspect of the duct and inserted into the anterior side of the duct (seven cases, 31.8%). Type III fibres originated from the posterior aspect of the parotid duct and ran anteriorly toward the duct (five cases, 22.7%). These results were confirmed in the histological examination of all eight specimens. Based on these findings, we have proposed a tentative description of the physiological role of the buccinator muscle fibres in salivary secretion and in the formation of the sialoliths.