bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psoas and quadratus lumborum muscle asymmetry among elite Australian Football League players
Authors: Hides J , Fan T , Stanton W , Stanton P , McMahon K , Wilson S 
Published: September 2008

ObjectiveIn this study, asymmetry relative to the preferred kicking leg was determined if it exists for the psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles among elite Australian Football League (AFL) players.DesignAFL players were assessed at three time points from 2005 to 2007 (start of preseason, end of season and end of preseason training). MRI was used to determine the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles at the L4–L5 vertebral level (psoas) and the L3–L4 vertebral level (quadratus lumborum).SettingMRI was performed in a hospital setting.Participants54 professional AFL players were eligible to participate in this study. The number of subjects at each of the three time points was 36 for time 1 (T1 Nov 2005), 31 for time 2 (T2 Aug 2006) and 43 for time 3 (T3 Feb Mar 2007).Risk factorsThe repeated measures factor in the analyses was “asymmetry”, defined as “ipsilateral” or “contralateral” to preferred kicking leg. Number of injuries (coded as 0, 1, 2 or more) was also included as a risk factor.Main outcome measurementsThe dependent variables were the CSAs of the psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles.ResultsAt all three time points, the CSA of the psoas muscle was significantly greater ipsilateral to the kicking leg, while the CSA of the quadratus lumborum muscle was significantly greater on the side contralateral to the kicking leg. Asymmetry in muscle size was not related to number of injuries.ConclusionsAsymmetry of the psoas and the quadratus lumborum muscles exists in elite AFL players.
Molecular phylogeny of the North American eurybioid asters (Asteraceae, Astereae) based on the nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacersThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Systematics Research.
Authors: Selliah Sugirthini , Brouillet Luc 
Published: September 2008

The eurybioid asters Oreostemma , Herrickia , Eurybia , and Triniteurybia form a complex that is part of the North American clade of tribe Astereae. They comprise 31 species of perennial herbs that are widely distributed on the continent. Previous analyses had shown poor resolution among the four genera and among the species, particularly within Eurybia (23 spp.), which includes diploids and polyploids. We investigated phylogenetic relationships within the group using the nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS regions, in separate and combined parsimony and Bayesian analyses. We detected incongruence between the ITS and ETS regions when polyploids were included, and so only diploids were considered in the combined analyses. Eurybia pygmaea (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom is confirmed as a member of Symphyotrichum ; Eurybia is monophyletic once this species is re-classified. The eurybioids form a paraphyletic grade with Oreostemma, sister to the remaining taxa, followed in succession by Herrickia , Eurybia , and Triniteurybia , and with the latter genus sister to subtribe Machaerantherinae. Thus the xeric Machaerantherinae (x = 6, 5, 4) is nested within the grade of mesic eurybioids (x = 9). Although largely grouping together, the polyploid taxa of Eurybia apparently do not constitute a clade and their relationships to the diploid taxa and to each other could not be assessed further. Among the diploids, two clades emerge: one including the western Eurybia integrifolia (Nutt.) G.L. Nesom and Eurybia sibirica (L.) G.L. Nesom, and the southeastern Eurybia eryngiifolia (Torr. & A. Gray) G.L. Nesom; and a second including the western Eurybia radulina (A. Gray) G.L. Nesom, the eastern cordate-leaved (sect. Eurybia) and the narrow-leaved, mostly coastal plain species of Eurybia. Our analyses, therefore, do not support the current classifications of Eurybia.
Black-fruited hawthorns of western North America — one or more agamic complexes?This paper is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Systematics Research.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the University of Idaho botanist who got us thinking about the complexities of Northwest hawthorns: the late Steven J. Brunsfeld.
Authors: Dickinson Timothy A. , Lo Eugenia Y.Y. , Talent Nadia , Love Rhoda M. 
Published: September 2008

Black-fruited hawthorns in North America comprise two taxonomic groups within the genus Crataegus , section Brevispinae and section Douglasianae. The first of these has recently been shown to be monospecific, consisting of the blueberry haw, Crataegus brachyacantha Sarg. & Engelm., of Louisiana and Texas. Crataegus section Douglasianae, however, comprises several taxa in a single clade that is not closely related to section Brevispinae, and that is now one of the best-studied groups of hawthorns at least in North America. Most taxa in the group are found in, or west of, the Rocky Mountains. They include diploids, triploids, and tetraploids that can be ascribed to four or more species that differ in distribution and ecology, thorn morphology, leaf shape, and floral architecture. Diploids are self-incompatible, whereas polyploidy is associated with pseudogamous, gametophytic apomixis and self compatibility. Molecular data suggest that polyploids have arisen repeatedly, both within and from crosses between ploidy levels. We suggest that Crataegus section Douglasianae represents at least two agamic complexes that may serve as models for understanding the biology of, the relationships within, and the appropriate taxonomic treatment of other such groups that may make up much of the rest of the genus.
Systematics of three North American polyploid arctic alkali grasses (Puccinellia, Poaceae): morphology, ploidy, and AFLP markersThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Systematics Research.
Authors: Consaul Laurie L. , Gillespie Lynn J. , Waterway Marcia J. 
Published: September 2008

We used flow cytometry, amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP), and macromorphology from field and common garden specimens to delimit and identify parental taxa of three polyploid species of Puccinellia from the North American Arctic. Tetraploid Puccinellia bruggemannii T.J. Sørensen, hexaploid Puccinellia angustata (R. Br.) E.L. Rand & Redfield, and octoploid Puccinellia andersonii Swallen were generally separable based on ploidy and AFLP pattern, and showed allopolyploid origin. All three shared AFLP bands with at least two diploids and with Puccinellia phryganodes (Trin.) Scribn. & Merr., shown here to have both triploid and tetraploid populations in Canada. Approximately 10% of hexaploid individuals had AFLP patterns that were intermediate between P. angustata and P. bruggemannii, or P. angustata and P. andersonii, and occupied corresponding intermediate positions in morphological ordinations. Geographic distributions provide better support for introgression than for multiple polyploid events to account for these intermediate patterns. In common garden experiments, half of the characters had significantly different values between field and common garden specimens, but these plastic characters varied depending on the species pair analyzed and between experiments. Moreover, several characters were significantly different among species, but these characters were also different in each of the two experiments. Given this variation, we pooled the field and common garden data to determine important key characters by discriminant analysis of species pairs.
Phylogenetic relationships in subtribe Poinae (Poaceae, Poeae) based on nuclear ITS and plastidtrnT–trnL–trnF sequencesThis paper is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Systematics Research.
Authors: Gillespie Lynn J. , Soreng Robert J. , Bull Roger D. , Jacobs Surrey W.L. , Refulio-Rodriguez Nancy F. 
Published: September 2008

The worldwide temperate subtribe Poinae comprises the largest grass genus, Poa (500+ species), and multiple additional small genera. We explore generic boundaries and relationships among genera of Poinae using nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer data (ITS) and plastid trnT–trnL–trnF (TLF) sequence data. ITS and TLF analyses are mostly congruent with regards to circumscription of genera, and with respect to relationships among Poinae genera, but tree structure is generally better supported among genera in the ITS strict consensus tree. ITS and TLF both support two main Poinae lineages: (i) Poa and (ii) a clade comprising all other sampled Poinae. Nine small genera were nested within the large Poa clade, including Aphanelytrum , Dissanthelium , and Tovarochloa , supporting inclusion of these as sections within Poa. In the second clade, three subclades support close relationships among Nicoraepoa , Hookerochloa , and Arctagrostis ; Arctophila and Dupontia ; and Apera , Bellardiochloa , and Ventenata . Genera of the related subtribes Alopecurinae, Cinninae, and Miliinae were mixed among or in part external to Poinae in different ways in ITS and TLF analyses, and only subtribe Puccinelliinae was strongly supported and monophyletic. ITS analyses supported placement of Catabrosella , Hyalopoa , and Paracolpodium in Puccinelliinae (no TLF data available). The position of Poa subgenus Arctopoa is incongruent between the two analyses: TLF data support inclusion within Poa and ITS data place it outside of Poa. Similarly, TLF data resolves the genus Aniselytron outside of Poa, whereas ITS data place it within Poa. Based on these results and a consideration of morphology, we recognize Arctopoa and Aniselytron as genera, probably of ancient hybrid origins. Nothogenus × Duarctopoa is coined for Arctopoa × Dupontia, with a single nothospecies × Duarctopoa labradorica . A new combination is provided for Poa subg. Sylvestres .
Extending the von Bertalanffy growth model using explanatory variables
Authors: Kimura Daniel K. 
Published: September 2008

von Bertalanffy parameters are usually estimated for a species, perhaps by sex, in some well-defined geographical area. An alternative way to estimate von Bertalanffy parameters is to model them in a general fixed-effects nonlinear model. For this model, the length of the ith individual is modeled as yi= f(φ, ti, xi) + εi, where yiis the length and tiis the age of the ith specimen at the time of sampling, φ are the unknown parameters required to model von Bertalanffy growth, and xiare covariates associated with the ith specimen that minimally contain sex information (xi1), but may also contain additional covariates. Standard nonlinear least squares and associated likelihood methods can be used to estimate parameters for this model. For Pacific ocean perch ( Sebastes alutus ), we model the effect that depth of collection has on estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters; for sablefish ( Anoplopoma fimbria ), we model the effects due to latitude of collection; and for walleye pollock ( Theragra chalcogramma ) in the eastern Bering Sea, we model the effects due to variations in year classes. Results illustrate how modeling von Bertalanffy growth parameters directly using explanatory variables can be used to describe how growth relates to geographic, environmental, or biological factors.
The influence of fuelbed properties on moisture drying rates and timelags of longleaf pine litter
Authors: Nelson Ralph M. , Hiers J. Kevin 
Published: September 2008

Fire managers often model pine needles as 1 h timelag fuels, but fuelbed properties may significantly change the rate at which needles exchange moisture with the atmosphere. The problem of determining whether moisture loss from fine fuels is being controlled by individual particles or by the fuelbed remains unresolved. Results from this laboratory experiment indicate that first-period timelags of longleaf pine ( Pinus palustris Mill.) needles are altered by fuelbed loading and needle arrangement. Timelags of individual needles ranged from 3.3 to 5.3 h; timelags of beds of vertically oriented needles (4.4 to 8.6 h) approximated those of individual particles, but were slightly influenced by loading. Beds of horizontal needles dried with load-dependent timelags that varied from 6.5 to 31.6 h. Fuel loads ranged from 0.04 (for individual particles) to 1.07 kg·m–2. We report a new metric, the area drying rate, which is analogous to a unit-area burning rate. For beds of flat needles, plots of the area drying rate versus fuel load illustrate a transition from control by individual particles to control by the bed structure when fuel loading is approximately 0.33 kg·m–2. Beds of vertical needles were particle controlled. Results should be useful to fire managers when modeling fire behavior.
Pathogen attack and spatial patterns of juvenile mortality and growth in a temperate tree, Prunus grayana
Authors: Seiwa Kenji , Miwa Yoshiko , Sahashi Norio , Kanno Hiroshi , Tomita Mizuki , Ueno Naoto , Yamazaki Miki 
Published: September 2008

To examine whether the Janzen–Connell hypothesis is valid in temperate forests, we investigated the density, growth, mortality, and agents of mortality of seedlings and the density, size, and age of saplings of Prunus grayana Maxim. at three distances (0–3, 6–10, and 16–26 m) from conspecific adults in a temperate forest in Japan. An inoculation experiment was also conducted to test the host range of a leaf pathogen. The probability of mortality was highest at 0–3 m during the first 2 years of growth. Mortality mainly resulted from distance-dependent attack by two types of pathogen that caused damping-off epidemics and spot symptoms on leaves. The leaf pathogen was identified as Phaeoisariopsis pruni-grayanae Sawada, which infected many more seedlings of Prunus grayana than of the two other tree species tested in an inoculation experiment. The vertical and diameter growth was lowest at 0–3 m and highest at 16–26 m in both seedlings and saplings. As a result, the greatest number of large and older saplings was observed at 16–26 m. Our results demonstrate that the Janzen–Connell mechanism operates in a beech-dominated forest in the temperate region of Japan.
Genetic variation in direct and indirect measures of wood stiffness in coastal Douglas-fir
Authors: Cherry Marilyn L. , Vikram Vikas , Briggs David , Cress Daniel W. , Howe Glenn T. 
Published: September 2008

We studied wood stiffness (estimated by modulus of elasticity, MOE), wood density, wood moisture content, and growth in a progeny test (50–130 families per trait; 1–3 sites) of coastal Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). We measured MOE directly using lumber bending tests (MOEbl) and indirectly using tools (HM200 and ST300) that can be used to measure acoustic velocity in logs (VelHM) or standing trees (VelST). Acoustic MOEs in logs and standing trees (MOEHM and MOEST) were obtained from the velocities and green wood density. For backward selection, we estimated genetic gains in MOEbl of 8.6%–12.3%. Relative efficiencies (REs), the relative gains in MOEbl expected from indirect selection for correlated traits, were 78%–93% for the HM200 traits, 57%–58% for the ST300 traits, 38% for the basic wood density of basal discs (Denbd), and 98% for the oven-dry density of logs estimated from the lumber (Denol). The HM200 is an efficient tool for improving MOEbl, but gains will be lower using the ST300 on standing trees. Indirect selection on Denbd should be used with caution because the RE was low and Denbd was negatively correlated with growth (–0.49 to –0.73).
Inverse relationship between understory light and foliar nitrogen along productivity gradients of boreal forests
Authors: Kranabetter J. M. , Simard S. W. 
Published: September 2008

The constraints of light and N on sapling growth in forest understories can covary with site productivity, but this reciprocal relationship is not always recognized when describing stand dynamics. To facilitate this, we examined light availability and foliar N status of understory subalpine fir ( Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) along natural productivity gradients of old-growth boreal forests in British Columbia, Canada. Understory light declined with soil fertility, from a high of 30% of full sun on poor sites to as low as 15% on very rich sites. In contrast, understory foliar N concentration (N%) of subalpine fir increased with soil fertility (ranging from 9.3 to 14.2 g·kg–1) and paralleled asymptotic stand height, despite growing in the shade. Trends in foliar N% of the understory were comparable with overstory subalpine fir, and both increased in foliar N% with soil fertility more so than lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.). Foliar N per unit leaf area of the suppressed understory was fairly consistent and relatively low (approximately 2.0 g N·m–2), suggesting no net change in the resource constraints to growth along the productivity gradient. The inherent linkages between soil fertility, light attenuation, and species N nutrition provides a useful framework for understanding regeneration dynamics over a full range of site potential.
A NEW CNN OSCILLATOR MODEL FOR PARALLEL IMAGE SEGMENTATION
Authors: STRZELECKI MICHAŁ , KOWALSKI JACEK , KIM HYONGSUK , KO SOOHONG 
Published: September 2008

Segmentation of the textured images into disjoint homogeneous regions is a very important aspect of visual perception. The texture represents properties of visualized objects; it may provide information about their structure. One of the recently developed tools used for texture segmentation is a network of synchronized oscillators. A parallel network operation is based on a "temporary correlation" theory, which attempts to explain scene recognition as performed by the human brain. This theory states that the synchronized oscillations of neuron groups attract attention if it is focused on a coherent stimulus (image object). For more than one perceived stimulus, these synchronized patterns switch in time between different neuron groups, thus forming temporal maps coding several features of the analyzed scene. Consequently, to implement this theory, a new oscillator network was proposed for image segmentation. The segmentation is obtained due to local interactions among neighboring cells. Such a network was successfully used for segmentation of the wide range of different images, including textured and biomedical ones. The network is very suitable for a hardware realization owing to its parallel structure. The realization provides a much faster image segmentation when compared to computer simulation techniques. The paper presents a new mathematical oscillator model suitable to be implemented in a CNN network chip. The model was used to design and simulate a CMOS oscillator circuit, which enables parallel network operation. The proposed oscillator model was analyzed and discussed from the point of view of its computer simulations. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the oscillator network which implements the presented model is able to perform segmentation of the sample textured images. Oscillator circuit and block diagram of the proposed network chip were also presented and discussed.
The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Ecosystem Approach
Authors: Fabra Adriana , Gascón Virginia 
Published: September 2008

AbstractLack of adequate governance of the high seas areas has resulted in the continued degradation of ocean and marine habitats. The ecosystem approach, which comprises integrated, precautionary management policies, can be an important tool to reverse this situation. CCAMLR was a pioneer in the incorporation of an ecosystem approach to the conservation and management of marine living resources, and continues to be a leader in its implementation. Through its actions at scientific, institutional and compliance levels, it has attempted to balance conservation objectives with the maintenance of commercial fisheries. CCAMLR has many achievements in this regard, but needs to face new challenges posed by the expansion of fisheries, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, if it is not to abandon the core conservation principles embodied in the Antarctic Treaty. Other regional fishery bodies that have committed themselves to incorporating the ecosystem approach in their regimes can learn important lessons from CCAMLR's successes and also from its difficulties. Incorporating the ecosystem approach is an ambitious goal, but one that can contribute significantly to ocean governance.
Mediterranean Challenges: Between Old Problems and New Solutions
Authors: Gavouneli Maria 
Published: September 2008

AbstractTrue to its venerable tradition, the Mediterranean system seems poised to embark on a new attempt at innovation. Within the first few months of 2008, we have celebrated the adoption of the much-awaited new protocol on integrated coastal zone management in the Mediterranean and we have witnessed a number of mutually reinforcing initiatives, coming from both the neighbourhood, especially the European Union, and from afar, including financial organisations such as the World Bank. They are all designed, if not to reverse, then at least to prevent the threat to biodiversity from accelerating. In essence, the wider Mediterranean community is moving beyond the traditional allocation of state jurisdiction at sea and expanding both landwards, towards the coast, and seawards, towards the high seas. In so doing, it is developing and making use of new tools for environmental protection, challenging and perhaps redesigning in the process the traditional jurisdictional tenets of the law of the sea. This paper will attempt to map these developments and come up with a first assessment of their prospects, given the daunting structural and financial deficiencies of the system.
Wider Caribbean Region—A Pivotal Time to Strengthen Regional Instruments For Biodiversity Conservation
Authors: Lausche Barbara 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) are linked economically by their transboundary living marine resources. The region is facing a continued decline of these resources. Science is improving our understanding of the human contributions to this decline, but national policies and programmes have not kept pace with this understanding. The Caribbean Regional Seas Programme and its Cartagena Convention and Protocols provide the regional legal framework for protection and sustainable management of the WCR's living marine and coastal resources. This article focuses on the Cartagena Convention's Protocol for biodiversity conservation, the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW), arguing that governments and organizations need to significantly increase participation in this regional treaty regime to effectively address transboundary environmental challenges. A new initiative, the Global Environment Facility-supported Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem project, will help in this effort. International policy supports strengthened regional seas programmes. It is now imperative for all levels and sectors to assist governments in strengthening this important treaty regime for biodiversity conservation in the Wider Caribbean Region.