bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal‐newborn nurses’ experiences of inconsistent professional breastfeeding support
Authors: Nelson Antonia M. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractTitle.  Maternal‐newborn nurses’ experiences of inconsistent professional breastfeeding support Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to describe the meaning and significance of common, essential elements of inconsistent professional breastfeeding support as revealed through the experiences of maternal‐newborn nurses in a hospital.Background.  Professional breastfeeding support has been found to have a beneficial effect on breastfeeding, although mothers also report that inconsistent professional breastfeeding support has a negative influence on their breastfeeding efforts.Method.  An existential‐phenomenological approach was used, and interviews were conducted with 12 maternal‐newborn nurses between October 2005 and January 2006. Interview transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis.Findings.  Inconsistency in professional breastfeeding support was directly related to the fact that ‘supporting’ breastfeeding is a dynamic, multidimensional process with relational, contextual and situational components. Eight themes were identified: Inconsistencies still exist but things are changing; A need for ‘buy in’; There is no escaping personal experience; What works for one does not work for all; Time impacts recommendations; We have a privileged vantage point; ‘My job’: what it is and what it is not and After all, breastfeeding is a maternal ‘choice’.Conclusion.  Addressing inconsistent professional breastfeeding support involves understanding the multiple institutional and personal factors that influence this phenomenon. Because multiple practitioners assist each mother‐infant dyad in learning to breastfeed, fostering strong collaborative relationships within this support team is essential. Regular opportunities for all team members to dialogue and actively participate in the updating of breastfeeding policies may increase ‘buy in’, promote greater collaboration and decrease both conflict and inconsistencies.
Personal resilience as a strategy for surviving and thriving in the face of workplace adversity: a literature review
Authors: Jackson Debra , Firtko Angela , Edenborough Michel 
Published: September 2007

AbstractTitle.  Personal resilience as a strategy for surviving and thriving in the face of workplace adversity: a literature review Aim.  This paper is a report of a literature review to explore the concept of personal resilience as a strategy for responding to workplace adversity and to identify strategies to enhance personal resilience in nurses.Background.  Workplace adversity in nursing is associated with excessive workloads, lack of autonomy, bullying and violence and organizational issues such as restructuring, and has been associated with problems retaining nurses in the workforce. However, despite these difficulties many nurses choose to remain in nursing, and survive and even thrive despite a climate of workplace adversity.Data sources.  The literature CINAHL, EBSCO, Medline and Pubmed databases were searched from 1996 to 2006 using the keywords ‘resilience’, ‘resilience in nursing’, and ‘workplace adversity’ together with ‘nursing’. Papers in English were included.Findings.  Resilience is the ability of an individual to positively adjust to adversity, and can be applied to building personal strengths in nurses through strategies such as: building positive and nurturing professional relationships; maintaining positivity; developing emotional insight; achieving life balance and spirituality; and, becoming more reflective.Conclusion.  Our findings suggest that nurses can actively participate in the development and strengthening of their own personal resilience to reduce their vulnerability to workplace adversity and thus improve the overall healthcare setting. We recommend that resilience‐building be incorporated into nursing education and that professional support should be encouraged through mentorship programmes outside nurses’ immediate working environments.
Multi‐scale features for identifying individuals in large biological databases: an application of pattern recognition technology to the marbled salamander Ambystoma opacum
Authors: Gamble Lloyd , Ravela Sai , McGarigal Kevin 
Published: September 2007

Summary

Capture–mark–recapture (CMR) studies provide essential information on demography, movement and other ecological characteristics of rare and endangered species. This information is required by managers to focus conservation strategies on the most relevant threats and life stages, identify critical habitat areas, and develop benchmarks for measuring success in recovery plans. However, CMR studies have been limited by individual identification methods that are not effective or practical for many types of organisms.
We develop a pattern recognition algorithm and photo‐identification method that uses photographs taken in the field to identify individual marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum), using their dorsal patterns as ‘fingerprints.’ The algorithm ranks all images in a database against each other in order of visual similarity. We couple this technology with a graphic user interface to visually confirm or reject top‐ranked algorithm results. Using this process, we analyse all adult salamander captures from one year of a long‐term study.
In a database of 1008 images, the algorithm identified 95% of 101 known matches in the top 10 ranks (i.e. top 1% of all images). Time spent on manual elements of the matching process was estimated at one minute per image, permitting full indexing of all capture records.
Capture histories constructed from matched images identified 366 individuals that were captured between 2 and 5 times. Of these, less than 2% were captured at more than one of the 14 pond basins included in the study, suggesting that migrations were strongly directional to and from basins and that ‘pond‐shopping’ among first‐time breeders was infrequent. Females arrived at basins later, remained longer, and experienced more weight‐loss than males during the breeding period.
Synthesis and applications. We develop, test, and apply a pattern recognition algorithm that enables efficient identification of individual marbled salamanders in a database exceeding 1000 images. We expect that this algorithm can be modified to facilitate individual identification in many other organisms because it does not rely on manual coding or discrete geometric pattern features. High performance results suggest that it can be scaled to larger databases, allowing biologists to address critical conservation‐based questions regarding demography, reproduction and dispersal of rare and endangered species.
Hydrology, habitat change and population demography: an individual‐based model for the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis
Authors: Elderd B. D. , Nott M. Philip 
Published: September 2007

Summary

Habitat destruction and fragmentation have led to precipitous declines in a number of species of concern. For these species, traditional models that group individuals into age or stage cohorts may not accurately capture the stochasticity associated with small populations. Additionally, traditional models do not explicitly incorporate landscape‐level structure, which becomes increasingly important at small population sizes. Thus, for declining species, spatially explicit individual‐based models (SEIBM) can be used to understand both population demography and the impacts of habitat destruction, and to guide management practices to increase the chances of species survival.
To gauge the impacts of changes in habitat and also demographic rates on a US endangered species, we constructed an SEIBM for the Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis Howell) of the South Florida Everglades. The model simulates temporal and spatial dynamics of individual sparrows using local GIS‐based topography, vegetation and hydrology along with behavioural and demographic rates derived from field studies.
When adult mortality and, to a lesser extent, juvenile mortality were increased in model simulations, there was an increase in extinction risk and a decrease in population size, whereas changes in number of clutches or female mating range had little impact. In contrast to the effects of simulating changes in mortality rates, simulated landscape‐level changes (increasing water levels or decreasing habitat availability) were associated with dramatic population declines and increases in extinction risk. The sparrow appears to be particularly sensitive to the loss of higher‐elevation breeding habitat. These results highlight the importance of proper water‐ and land‐use management in assuring the species’ survival.
Synthesis and applications. Although changes in demographic rates affect population growth and are often the focus of conservation efforts, changes in habitat structure can also dramatically alter population viability. When both landscape‐level and demographic data are available, spatially explicit models are particularly advantageous. Not only do they allow researchers and resource managers to prioritize areas for habitat restoration and species management, but they can also be used to help focus future research efforts.
Biodiversity dynamics in isolated island communities: interaction between natural and human‐mediated processes
Authors: GILLESPIE ROSEMARY G. , CLARIDGE ELIN M. , RODERICK GEORGE K. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe flora and fauna of oceanic islands have inspired research since the early scientific explorations. Islands can be considered ‘nature's test tubes’— simple systems with multiple replicates. Our research has used the simplicity of island systems to understand ecological community dynamics and to compare the properties of island communities with those in more complex mainland systems. Here, we present three topics: (i) current patterns of biodiversity on isolated islands of the Pacific; (ii) current patterns of disturbance and invasion on islands; and (iii) future trajectories inferred from these patterns. We examine features of islands (in particular, topography and isolation) that have allowed for given levels and distribution of endemicity. The extent to which island communities are impacted by, resist or accommodate disturbance and/or invasions by nonindigenous species appears to be dictated to a large extent by properties of the native communities and how these communities were originally assembled. Accordingly, patterns of disturbance and invasion are very different for high (montane) islands that are extremely isolated compared to those that are nearer to a source of natural migrants. As with all biotas, those on islands are dynamic entities. However, the unique aspect of islands is their isolation, and extreme isolation has largely been lost over the course of the last few centuries due to the development of transportation routes. We argue that such a modified dynamic will affect the future of the biota and the processes that gave rise to the biota. Specifically for isolated habitats, ecological processes will become increasingly more likely to generate biodiversity than evolutionary processes which have been relatively more important in the past. In the short term, island biotas and other similar biotas that occur in montane habitats may fare well as species are often abundant locally in the habitat to which they are indigenous, and may demonstrate considerable resistance and resilience to invasion. However, island biotas — and other biotas that show high local endemism — will likely not fare well in the face of prolonged disturbance. The biotas in these areas generally display a relatively low dispersal capacity; therefore, under conditions of long‐term habitat modification, isolated biotas are likely to be swamped by non‐natives, which — simply because of random processes and higher propagule pressure — will move more readily into available habitats. Thus, despite the importance of incorporating the evolutionary process into conservation efforts, we must also be careful to evaluate the likely form that the processes will take when the context (specifically, extent of isolation) has been highly modified.
Peripheral Circulating Activated B‐cell Populations are Associated with Nephritis and Disease Activity in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Dolff S. , Wilde B. , Patschan S. , Dürig J. , Specker C. , Philipp T. , Kribben A. , Witzke O. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractB‐cell‐dependent autoantibody production is a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which requires costimulatory molecules. The aim of the study was to analyse the expression of costimulatory molecules on B cells in patients with SLE. Twenty‐six patients with SLE (four male, 22 female, mean age 46 ± 15 years) as defined by the American College of Rheumatology criteria and 13 healthy controls (three male, 10 female, mean age 43 ± 15 years) were included in the study. In a subgroup analysis, SLE patients were divided according to renal involvement due to SLE (10 with and 16 patients without renal involvement). Clinical disease activity was assessed according to the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI). Blood B‐cell populations were analysed by FACS for the cell surface marker expression of CD27, CD38, CD71, CD80, CD86 and CD137 ligand. The expression levels of CD71, CD80 and CD86 on B cells were significantly enhanced in SLE patients when compared with healthy controls (27 ± 3% versus 11 ± 2%, P = 0.0003, 55 ± 2% versus 28 ± 4%, P < 0.0001, 34 ± 3% versus 12 ± 2%, P < 0.0001). CD86 expression was significantly elevated in patients with renal involvement when compared with patients without renal disease (43 ± 6% versus 28 ± 3%, P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the expression levels of CD80 and CD86 on CD19+ B cells and disease activity. Moreover, prednisone dose significantly correlated with SLEDAI (r = 0.5, P = 0.02) and with the expression levels of CD86 (r = 0.47, P = 0.02). A pathological B‐cell population is associated with disease activity and renal involvement in SLE which are obviously resistant to therapy with medium doses of prednisone.
Testing the spatial significance of weed patterns in arable land using Mead’s test
Authors: HEIJTING S , VAN DER WERF W , KRUIJER W , STEIN A 
Published: September 2007

SummaryThere is a need in weed science for statistical tests for patchiness and spatial pattern. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance of Mead’s test for detecting patterns in synthetic data and in real weed counts made in maize, and making a first assessment of its applicability in ecological studies on weeds. In an extension to Mead’s test, made here for the first time, we merge original quadrat count data into rectangular cells of m by n quadrats. Care was taken to rule out the effect of starting point on the test result. Using the synthetic data, we demonstrate the ability of the test to detect both patchiness and homogeneity as deviations from randomness. The first deviation results in right‐sided significance, and the second in left‐sided significance of the test. Analysis of the real weed patterns demonstrated patchiness at many scales for five of the six investigated species and lack of any deviation from randomness in the sixth: Taraxacum officinale. The latter was the only wind dispersing species in the dataset. No deviation towards homogeneity was found in any of the real weed species at any scale. All patchy patterns showed anisotropy, being elongated in the direction of field traffic. As it turns out, Mead’s test is well suited to detect departures from randomness in observed weed patterns and enhances the suite of diagnostic tools that can be employed by weed ecologists.
Kidney transplantation in infants and small children
Authors: Chavers Blanche , Najarian John S. , Humar Abhinav 
Published: September 2007

Abstract: Transplantation is now the preferred treatment for children with end‐stage kidney disease. But not all pediatric age groups have enjoyed the same success. The number of transplants in infants and young children has lagged behind the number in older children. One reason for this is the philosophy of some centers to maintain infants on dialysis until they reach some arbitrarily determined age, at which time they would undergo a transplant. If kidney transplantation is the therapy of choice for older children with renal failure, and equivalent results can be obtained in all age groups, why should it not be offered to these youngest patients? Our center’s philosophy for many years has been not to restrict transplant based on size or age. We have performed over 50 kidney transplants in infant recipients, and have shown equivalent results to those obtained in older children. Important factors in obtaining a successful outcome include the use of adult kidneys from a living donor, careful attention to operative and perioperative care, and performing the transplant early or in a pre‐emptive fashion. The latter allows for minimizing the negative impact of uremia on physical and neurologic development in infants.
Neutral theory: a historical perspective
Authors: LEIGH E. G. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractTo resolve a panselectionist paradox, the population geneticist Kimura invented a neutral theory, where each gene is equally likely to enter the next generation whatever its allelic type. To learn what could be explained without invoking Darwinian adaptive divergence, Hubbell devised a similar neutral theory for forest ecology, assuming each tree is equally likely to reproduce whatever its species. In both theories, some predictions worked; neither theory proved universally true.Simple assumptions allow neutral theorists to treat many subjects still immune to more realistic theory. Ecologists exploit far fewer of these possibilities than population geneticists, focussing instead on species abundance distributions, where their predictions work best, but most closely match non‐neutral predictions.Neutral theory cannot explain adaptive divergence or ecosystem function, which ecologists must understand. By addressing new topics and predicting changes in time, however, ecological neutral theory can provide probing null hypotheses and stimulate more realistic theory.
Effects of feeding yeast and propionibacteria to dairy cows on milk yield and components, and reproduction*
Authors: Lehloenya K. V. , Stein D. R. , Allen D. T. , Selk G. E. , Jones D. A. , Aleman M. M. , Rehberger T. G. , Mertz K. J. , Spicer L. J. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryTo determine the effect of supplemental feeding of Diamond V‐XP yeast (XPY) alone or in combination with propionibacteria strain P169 on milk production, milk components, body weight, days to first and second ovulation, plasma insulin, and plasma and milk glucose, 31 primiparous and multiparous (MP) Holstein cows were fed one of three dietary treatments between 2 weeks prepartum to 30 weeks postpartum: (i) control (n = 10), fed a corn silage‐based total mixed ration (TMR); (ii) XPY (n = 11), fed control TMR plus XPY (at 56 g/head/day); and (iii) P169+XPY (n = 10), received control TMR plus XPY plus P169 (at 6 × 1011 cfu/head/day). After parturition, daily milk weights were recorded, and milk samples were collected twice weekly for milk component analyses. Daily uncorrected milk, solids‐corrected milk, and 4% fat‐corrected milk production for MP cows fed P169+XPY was 9–16% greater than control MP cows, but these increases were only evident during mid lactation (9–30 weeks). The percentage of milk fat was 8–18% greater in control than XPY and P169+XPY groups. Milk lactose percentage in MP cows fed P169+XPY was 3–5% greater than in control and XPY MP cows. Primiparous and MP cows fed P169+XPY had 28–32% greater milk glucose levels than control and XPY‐fed cows. Diurnal plasma glucose concentration was not affected by diet in MP cows. Plasma insulin levels in MP cows fed P169+XPY were 30–34% greater than in other groups of MP cows. Milk glucose and plasma insulin responses to P169+XPY feeding suggest that P169+XPY might have enhanced gluconeogenesis and increased glucose uptake by the mammary gland in Holstein cows. Thus, a combined feed supplement of P169 and XPY may hold potential as a natural feed alternative to hormones and antibiotics to enhance lactational performance.
Growth, weaning performance and blood indicators of humoral immunity in Holstein calves fed supplemental flavonoids
Authors: Yaghoubi S. M. J. , Ghorbani G. R. , Rahmani H. R. , Nikkhah A. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryThe primary objective was to test the hypothesis that flavonoids mediate immune response and affect calf performance. Twenty Holstein calves [7 ± 2 days age; 41.4 ± 0.7 kg body weight (BW)] were randomly assigned to four treatments of (i) no; (ii) low (7.3 × 10−5 g/kg BW); (iii) medium (7.3 × 10−4 g/kg BW); and (iv) high (3.6 × 10−3 g/kg BW) doses of flavonoids intake in a completely randomized design. Calves received the treatments as a tablet until weaning or a daily intake of 680 g starter. After weaning, calves received no supplemental flavonoids and monitored until 120 days of age. The flavonoids were extracted from propolis. Treatments did not affect body length, wither height and the severity of scours. At week 5 of age, BW was higher when calves fed the high compared to the low dose of flavonoids. At week 6, calves fed the high dose of flavonoids had higher BW than those fed no or low doses of flavonoids. The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations remained lower at the first 3 weeks of the experiment when calves received the low but not the high doses of flavonoids. At week 4, both medium and low doses of flavonoids moderated serum IgG. At week 8, the medium and high but not the low doses of flavonoids lowered serum IgG. At week 6, calves fed high and medium flavonoids doses had lower blood immunoglobulin M (IgM) than control calves. Results suggest that flavonoids affect the humoral immune response and can improve growth in young calves. This response depended on calf age. Future studies are needed to further evaluate the premise that dietary forages or the main source of flavonoids are helpful for a less stressful weaning in the modern calf raising.
Malassezia Otitis Externa in the Dog: The Effect of Heat‐fixing Otic Exudate for Cytological Analysis
Authors: Griffin J. S. , Scott D. W. , Erb H. N. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryThis study was conducted on 32 dogs with Malassezia otitis externa to determine the effect of heat‐fixing otic exudate on cytological analysis. Malassezia infection was confirmed by cytological examination of otic exudate. Otic discharge collected with cotton swabs was then rolled onto glass slides. One slide per dog was heat‐fixed prior to staining; the other slide was not heat‐fixed. The number of yeast in 10 oil‐immersion fields (1000× magnification) was counted for both slides from each dog. Heat‐fixing did not systematically cause either increased or decreased numbers of Malassezia on cytology of otic exudate.