bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vegetation and fire history of a Chinese site in southern tropical Xishuangbanna derived from phytolith and charcoal records from Holocene sediments
Authors: Gu Yansheng , Pearsall Deborah M. , Xie Shucheng , Yu Jianxin 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim  The aims of this paper are to reconstruct the vegetation and fire history over the past 2000 years in a well‐preserved rain‐forest area, to understand interactions between climate, fire, and vegetation, and to predict how rain forest responds to global warming and increased intensity of human activity.Location  Xishuangbanna, south‐west China, 21–22° N, 101–102° E.Methods  Phytolith (plant opal silica bodies) morphotypes, assemblages, and indices were used to reconstruct palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate changes in detail. Micro‐charcoal particles found in phytolith slides, together with burnt phytoliths and highly weathered bulliform cells, were employed to reconstruct a record of past fire occurrence. A survey of field sediments, lithology, and 14C dating were also employed.Results  Phytoliths were divided into 11 groups and classified into 33 well‐described morphotypes according to their shape under light microscopy and their presumed anatomical origins and ecological significance. The phytolith assemblages were divided into six significant zones that reveal a complete history of vegetation changes corresponding to climate variation and fire occurrence. Phytolith assemblages and indices show that the palaeoclimate in the study area is characterized by the alternation of warm–wet and cool–dry conditions. Phytolith and charcoal records reveal that 12 fire episodes occurred. Comparison of burnt phytoliths with an aridity index (Iph) shows that fire episodes have a strong relationship with drought events.Main conclusions  Our results indicate that fire occurrence in the tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna is predominantly under the control of natural climate variability (drought events). Nearly every fire episode is coupled with a climatic event and has triggered vegetation composition changes marked by a pronounced expansion of grasses. This indicates that drought interacts with fire to exert a strong influence on the ecological dynamics of the rain forest. However, the impact of human activity in recent centuries is also significant. Our results are important for understanding the interactions between climate, fire, and vegetation, and for predicting how rain forest responds to global warming and increased human activity.
Body mass, habitat generality, and avian community composition in forest remnants
Authors: Brown William P. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim  Many theories of biodiversity and biogeography assume that species respond equally to variability in habitat area and isolation. This assumption does not allow for differential responses due to interspecific competition or other mechanisms, and therefore does not allow community composition to be predicted. As body size is relevant to area requirements and interspecific dominance, a natural experiment was conducted to quantify the differential responses of avian species abundance to variability in remnant area, isolation and forest cover based on average species body mass.Location  Deciduous forest remnants of varying area and isolation throughout the State of Delaware, USA.Methods  Forest remnants within stratified area and isolation classes were randomly selected for breeding bird surveys; total forest cover (ha) within 2 km of each survey point was subsequently determined as a covariate. Surveys were conducted within 100–150 m from the edge of each remnant and detected bird species were divided into five classes based on a log2‐transformation of body mass (very small, small, medium, large and very large). Assuming a negative binomial distribution, the abundance of detected individuals in each mass class was analysed using generalized linear models with remnant area, isolation, local forest cover and two‐way interactions specified as independent variables. The same analyses were conducted for individual species where sample size allowed.Results  Very small, small and very large bodied species decreased in abundance with decreasing local forest cover and remnant area and with increasing remnant isolation, while large species increased in abundance. Medium‐sized species decreased in abundance with increasing forest cover, did not respond to remnant isolation and showed a concave, curvilinear response to increasing remnant area. Large and medium‐sized species were the most abundant birds in small, isolated remnants despite occurring in the largest remnants with the more abundant very small and small species, suggesting that communities are not randomly organized.Main conclusions  Regardless of presumed habitat associations, large and medium‐sized species are of the appropriate size to be dominant competitors when forest resources are limiting, and thus may be considered ‘generalists’. The smallest species may be excluded entirely from small, isolated remnants even though such remnants meet their ecological needs; the needs of very large species are not met in small remnants. The applicability of biodiversity theories to community composition, species abundance and, by extension, to conservation, can be improved by incorporating differential responses based on body mass into their assumptions.
Evidence for Gondwanan vicariance in an ancient clade of gecko lizards
Authors: Gamble Tony , Bauer Aaron M. , Greenbaum Eli , Jackman Todd R. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim Geckos (Reptilia: Squamata), due to their great age and global distribution, are excellent candidates to test hypotheses of Gondwanan vicariance against post‐Gondwanan dispersal. Our aims are: to generate a phylogeny of the sphaerodactyl geckos and their closest relatives; evaluate previous phylogenetic hypotheses of the sphaerodactyl geckos with regard to the other major gecko lineages; and to use divergence date estimates to inform a biogeographical scenario regarding Gondwanan relationships and assess the roles of vicariance and dispersal in shaping the current distributions of the New World sphaerodactyl geckos and their closest Old World relatives.Location Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, Atlantic Ocean.Methods We used parsimony and partitioned Bayesian methods to analyse data from five nuclear genes to generate a phylogeny for the New World sphaerodactyl geckos and their close Old World relatives. We used dispersal–vicariance analysis to determine ancestral area relationships among clades, and divergence times were estimated from the phylogeny using nonparametric rate smoothing.Results We recovered a monophyletic group containing the New World sphaerodactyl genera,Coleodactylus,Gonatodes,Lepidoblepharis,PseudogonatodesandSphaerodactylus, and the Old World Gekkotan generaAristelliger,Euleptes,Quedenfeldtia,Pristurus,SaurodactylusandTeratoscincus. The dispersal–vicariance analysis indicated that the ancestral area for this clade was North Africa and surrounding regions. The divergence between the New World spaherodactyl geckos and their closest Old World relative was estimated to have occurredc. 96 Myrbp.Main conclusions Here we provide the first molecular genetic phylogenetic hypothesis of the New World sphaerodactyl geckos and their closest Old World relatives. A combination of divergence date estimates and dispersal–vicariance analysis informed a biogeographical scenario indicating that the split between the sphaerodactyl geckos and their African relatives coincided with the Africa/South America split and the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. We resurrect the family name Sphaerodactylidae to represent the expanded sphaerodactyl clade.
Examining the hierarchical factor structure of the SF‐36 Taiwan version by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Wu Chia‐huei , Lee Keng‐lin , Yao Grace 
Published: August 2007

AbstractRationale  The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form‐36 Taiwan version (SF‐36 Taiwan version) using data from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan.Method  The 2001 National Health Interview Survey was conducted by stratified multistage systematic sampling, resulting in 19 777 valid responses for the SF‐36 Taiwan version. In this study, the 19 777 participants were randomly divided into two independent samples. One sample (n = 9856) was used for exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and the other (n = 9921) was used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).Results  The EFA suggested a seven‐first‐order‐factor structure for the SF‐36 Taiwan version. In addition, hierarchical EFA revealed that there was only one second‐order factor underlying the seven first‐order factors. Further, CFA was conducted on the other sample to compare the performances of the original model with eight first‐order factors and two second‐order factors, and the revised model with seven first‐order factors and one second‐order factor. The CFA results revealed that the original model was better than the revised model.Conclusion  According to the EFA and CFA, it can be concluded that the original structure is still acceptable for the SF‐36 Taiwan version.
The relationship between second‐year medical students’ OSCE scores and USMLE Step 2 scores
Authors: Simon Steven R. , Bui Anh , Day Shelley , Berti David , Volkan Kevin 
Published: August 2007

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  A valid tool to measure clinical competency early in medical school could identify students who may require special educational attention. The overall aim is to assess the relationship between students’ scores on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) given in the second year of medical school and their subsequent performance on Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE Step 2).Methods  Participants were 390 second‐year medical students participating in a required OSCE; complete data (Medical College Admission Test, OSCE, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores) were available for 340 students (87%). Univariate correlations and linear regression analyses were performed.Results  Total OSCE score was moderately correlated with USMLE Step 2 score (r = 0.395, P < 0.001), as were two skills subscores of the OSCE, differential diagnosis (r = 0.343, P < 0.001) and identification of abnormality (r = 0.322, P < 0.001). In linear regression analysis, neither OSCE total score nor any of the subscores independently predicted Step 2 scores; only Step 1 score (β = 0.687, P < 0.001) and female sex (β = 0.152, P < 0.001) remained independent correlates of Step 2 score.Conclusion  OSCEs early in medical school can be useful in the early assessment of clinical competence.
The effects of a back rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain
Authors: Gaskell Lynne , Enright Stephanie , Tyson Sarah 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim  The aim of this paper was to perform a pragmatic before–after analysis of a back rehabilitation programme (BRP) for patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). A total of 877 patients were recruited onto the BRP, which were carried out at four centres within the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust. The BRP consisted of nine 2‐hour group sessions of therapy run over 5 weeks and included 1 hour of exercise and 1 hour of education, advice problem solving and goal setting.Method  Using the Wilcoxen signed rank tests and paired t‐tests levels of pain, disability, anxiety and depression were significantly reduced pre‐post programme (P < 0.001). In addition, the levels of fitness and perceived control improved significantly (P < 0.001) suggesting that participants were better able to manage their LBP.Conclusion  Overall, the BRP proved to be effective in reducing pain, disability, anxiety and depression levels for people with chronic LBP. However, despite significant improvements in outcome measures only 50% of the patients completed the BRP and questionnaires post BRP. The implications of the findings are discussed with respect to modified programmes and alternative management for patients within different subgroups of LBP.
Patient factors associated with attrition from a self‐management education programme
Authors: Gucciardi Enza , DeMelo Margaret , Offenheim Ana , Grace Sherry L. , Stewart Donna E. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractObjective  To examine utilization patterns of diabetes self‐management training (DSME) and identify patient factors associated with attrition from these services at an ambulatory diabetes education centre (DEC).Methods  A retrospective medical chart review of first time visits (536) to the centre between 1 August 2000 and 31 July 2001 was conducted for patients with type 2 diabetes. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine utilization patterns over a 1‐year period. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify patient factors associated with attrition from DSME and non‐use of group education among new patients.Results  Almost 50% of new patients withdrew prematurely from recommended DSME services over the 1‐year period, and only 24.8% attended group education. Patient variables such as being older than 65 years of age, primarily speaking English, or working full or part‐time were associated with attrition from DSME and non‐use of group education when compared with middle aged, non‐English‐speaking, and non‐working patients.Conclusions  High DSME attrition rates indicate that retention needs to become a focus of programme policy, planning and evaluation to improve programme effectiveness. DSME tailored to the cultural and linguistic characteristics of the community, and convenient and accessible to working and older patients will potentially increase retention in and accessibility to these services.
Are the outcomes of clinical pathways evidence‐based? A critical appraisal of clinical pathway evaluation research
Authors: El Baz Noha , Middel Berrie , Van Dijk Jitse P. , Oosterhof Andre , Boonstra Piet W. , Reijneveld Sijmen A. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractAim and objective To evaluate the validity of study outcomes of published papers that report the effects of clinical pathways (CP).Method Systematic review based on two search strategies, including searching Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Psychinfo and Picarta from 1995 till 2005 and ISI Web of KnowledgeSM. We included randomized controlled or quasi‐experimental studies evaluating the efficacy of clinical pathway application. Assessment of the methodological quality of the studies included randomization, power analysis, selection bias, validity of outcome indicators, appropriateness of statistical tests, direct (matching) and indirect (statistical) control for confounders. Outcomes included length of stay, costs, readmission rate and complications. Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of the selected papers and recorded the findings with an evaluation tool developed from a set of items for quality assessment derived from the Cochrane Library and other publications.Results The study sample comprised of 115 publications. A total of 91.3% of the studies comprised of retrospective studies and 8.7% were randomized controlled studies. Using a quality‐scoring assessment tool, 33% of the papers were classified as of good quality, whereas 67% were classified as of low quality. Of the studies, 10.4% controlled for confounding by matching and 59.1% adopted parametric statistical tests without testing variables on normal distribution. Differences in outcomes were not always statistically tested.Conclusion Readers should be cautious when interpreting the results of clinical pathway evaluation studies because of the confounding factors and sources of contamination affecting the evidence‐based validity of the outcomes.
Biophysical properties of salmonid alphaviruses: influence of temperature and pH on virus survival
Authors: Graham D A , Staples C , Wilson C J , Jewhurst H , Cherry K , Gordon A , Rowley H M 
Published: August 2007

AbstractA series of laboratory studies were undertaken to investigate the survival of salmonid alphaviruses (SAV) under a range of conditions relevant to waste disposal, persistence and spread in the field, and to laboratory studies and testing. SAV was found to be rapidly inactivated in the presence of high levels of organic matter at 60 °C at pH 7.2 and at pH 4 and pH 12 at 4 °C, suggesting that composting, ensiling and alkaline hydrolysis would all be effective at inactivating virus in fish waste. Testing was conducted under sterile conditions at 4, 10, 15 and 20 °C in sea water, half‐strength sea water and fresh (hard) water, both in the absence and the presence of added organic matter. Virus survival was shown to be inversely related to temperature, and to be reduced by the presence of organic matter. Calculated half lives (t1/2) under these conditions ranged from 61.0 to 1.5 days. Testing in non‐sterile sea water resulted in reduced t1/2 values. The half life of SAV in serum was also found to be inversely related to temperature, emphasizing the need for rapid shipment of samples at 4 °C to laboratories for virus isolation studies.
Lyman break galaxies at z ∼ 1 and the evolution of dust attenuation in star-forming galaxies with redshift
Authors: Burgarella D. , Le Floc'h E. , Takeuchi T. T. , Huang J. S. , Buat V. , Rieke G. H. , Tyler K. D. 
Published: August 2007

Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) galaxies have been selected from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer deep imaging survey. The presence of a far-UV (FUV) drop-out in their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) proved to be a very complete (83.3 per cent) but not very efficient (21.4 per cent) tool for identifying Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z∼ 1. In this paper, we explore the physical properties of these galaxies and how they contribute to the total star formation rate (SFR). We divide the LBG sample into two subclasses: red LBGs (RLBGs) detected at λ= 24 μm which are mainly luminous infrared (IR) galaxies (LIRGs) and blue LBGs (BLBGs) undetected at λ= 24 μm down to the MIPS/GTO limiting flux density of 83 μJy. Two of the RLBGs are also detected at 70 μm. The median SED of the RLBGs is similar (above λ∼ 1 μm) to that of a luminous dusty starburst at z∼ 1.44, HR10. However, unlike local luminous and ultraluminous IR galaxies, RLBGs are UV bright objects. We suggest that these objects contain a large amount of dust but that some bare stellar populations are also directly visible. The median SED of the BLBGs is consistent with their containing the same stellar population as the RLBGs (i.e. a 250–500 Myr old, exponentially decaying star formation history) but with a lower dust content. The luminosity function (LF) of our LBG sample at z∼ 1 is similar to the LF of near-UV (NUV) selected galaxies at the same redshift. The integrated luminosity densities of z∼ 1 LBGs and NUV-selected galaxies are very consistent. Making use of the RLBG sample, we show that SFRs estimated from UV measurements and corrected using the IRX−β method provide average total SFRTOT in agreement with the sum of the UV and IR contributions: SFR UV+ SFR dust. However, IRX−β-based SFRTOT shows a large dispersion. Summing up the detected UV (1150-Å rest-frame) and IR-based SFRs of the detected objects, we find that only one-third of the total (i.e. UV + dust) LBG SFR resides in BLBGs and two-thirds in RLBGs, even though most LBGs at z∼ 1 are BLBGs. On the other hand, the total SFR of LBGs accounts for only 11 per cent of the total SFR at z∼ 1. Finally, we observe a regular decrease in the luminosity ratio Ldust/LFUV from z= 0 to z≈ 2 for UV-selected samples.
Depositional controls on glaucony texture and composition, Upper Jurassic, West Siberian Basin
Authors: EDER VIKA G. , MARTÍN‐ALGARRA AGUSTÍN , SÁNCHEZ‐NAVAS ANTONIO , ZANIN YURI N. , ZAMIRAILOVA ALBINA G. , LEBEDEV YURI N. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis study examines textural inhomogeneity and variable chemical composition of Upper Jurassic glaucony in relation to small‐scale synsedimentary and postsedimentary authigenic processes controlled by the palaeonvironmental and palaeogeographical context. Four glaucony types with complex textural and compositional features have been recognized in cores of the Georgiev Formation of the West Siberian Basin. Samples exclusively made of light green type 1 glaucony (K2O < 6·5%: the less mature type, richer in glauconite–smectite mixed layer) formed under dysoxic conditions in the deepest distal marine environments of the northern sectors of the West Siberian Basin. Dark green type 2 glaucony is the most mature (richest in glauconitic mica: K2O up to 8·5%), is sometimes associated with type 1 glaucony, and is typical of high bottom areas with a low sedimentation rate within the central sectors of the basin. Type 3 glaucony is formed by brown grains, poorer in K and Fe but richer in Al and Si than type 2 glaucony, and is only present in strongly condensed successions of the central‐eastern sectors of the West Siberian Basin. Type 4 glaucony is much richer in Fe than any other type, shows fresh yellowish green cores slightly less mature than type 2 glaucony, and brown rims and cracks with composition similar to that of type 3 grains; it was formed in western sectors of the West Siberian Basin, close to Urals. Weathering under a subtropical to temperate climate, and erosion of badly drained peneplaned lowland areas around the basin, provided Al‐rich terrigenous clays as substratum for glauconitization, which explains Al and Si enrichment in Siberian glaucony. Maturation from glauconite–smectite to glauconitic mica is monitored by a change from light to dark green colour related to decrease in Al, Si, Mg, Ca and Na, and to increase in K and Fe. Brown rims of type 4 glaucony, and brown type 3 grains formed after leaching of Fe and K from mature glauconite, with formation of clays and Fe oxyhydroxides as reaction products, as a result of free oxygen exposure related to a hydrodynamic regime and temporary sea‐level fall. Glauconitization stopped and diagenetic pyrite formed due to basin deepening and burial under black shales during the latest Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous transgression. This study demonstrates that, due to the complex nature of glaucony, the authigenesis of glauconitic minerals in the rock record cannot be correctly understood if the palaeoenvironmental context and the palaeogeographical context of glaucony‐bearing sediments are not considered.