bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Entomopathogenicity of Vairimorpha sp. (Microsporidia) in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)
Authors: Haque Md.A. , Canning E.U. , Wright D.J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe biocontrol potential of a microsporidian pathogen, Vairimorpha sp., obtained from field collected diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, was assessed in a laboratory colony of this insect. The pathogenicity was quantified using a standard bioassay procedure by infecting second instar larvae per os with variable dose levels of the pathogen. Vairimorpha sp. caused 100% mortality even at a dosage of 1.5 x 103 spores per larva. The median lethal dose (LD50) was 2.2 x 104 spores per larva on day 5 post-inoculation. The time taken to achieve 90–100% mortality was dose dependent and varied from 5 days with 1.5 x 106 spores per larva to 11 days with 1.5 x 103 spores per larva. The pathogen reduced the food consumption of P. xylostella larvae by 75%, 93% and 95% at doses 1.5 x 104, 1.5 x 105 and 1.5 x 106 spores per larva, respectively. Histological observations showed that the pathogen preferentially infected adipose tissue cells but spread to almost all tissues. The pathogen was transmitted transovarially as well as horizontally and had a marked influence on progeny performance. It was concluded that Vairimorpha sp. has sufficient potential to be tested in the field as a biocontrol agent for P. xylostella.
A test of a pattern recognition system for identification of spiders
Authors: Do M.T. , Harp J.M. , Norris K.C. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractGrowing interest in biodiversity and conservation has increased the demand for accurate and consistent identification of arthropods. Unfortunately, professional taxonomists are already overburdened and underfunded and their numbers are not increasing with significant speed to meet the demand. In an effort to bridge the gap between professional taxonomists and non-specialists by making the results of taxonomic research more accessible, we present a partially automated pattern recognition system utilizing artificial neural networks (ANNs). Various artificial neural networks were trained to identify spider species using only digital images of female genitalia, from which key shape information had been extracted by wavelet transform. Three different sized networks were evaluated based on their ability to discriminate a test set of six species to either the genus or the species level. The species represented three genera of the wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae). The largest network achieved the highest accuracy, identifying specimens to the correct genus 100% of the time and to the correct species an average of 81% of the time. In addition, the networks were most accurate when identifying specimens in a hierarchical system, first to genus and then to species. This test system was surprisingly accurate considering the small size of our training set.
Listronotus bonariensis(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) flight in Canterbury, New Zealand
Authors: Goldson S.L. , Proffitt J.R. , Baird D.B. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractFlight byListronotus bonariensis(Kuschel) in Canterbury, New Zealand varied greatly both within and between seasons; no winter flight was detected between mid-May and mid-August. Predisposing conditions for flight were found to be >19degC, rh <81% and windspeed <10.8 km h–1. Three flight phases with different characteristics were identified when approximately equal numbers of weevils were trapped. These were between mid-August and early December (overwintered weevils), between early December and mid-March (first summer generation weevils) and mid-March and mid-May (first and second generation weevils). The proportion of individuals with developed flight musculature wasc. 8% in the first phase and 30% in the last phase; muscle development was delayed in the mid-phase. First phase weevils with flight muscles werec. 20 times more likely to fly than those in the last. A very weak inverse relationship was observed between developed flight musculature and the presence or absence of eggs. Similarly, there was a very weak inverse relationship between weevil ground densities and the proportion with developed flight muscles. Levels of parasitism byMicroctonus hyperodaeLoan amongst trapped weevils were far less than that on the ground, indicating that it inhibits flight and may explain the relatively slow dispersal of the parasitoid. It was concluded that the adaptive implications of flight could be linked to escape responses from desiccating microclimates rather than dispersal from crowded habitats.
Numerical model simulations of brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens and white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) migration
Authors: Turner R. , Song Y.-H. , Uhm K.-B. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper reports on the performance of an atmospheric numerical model called BLAYER which has been adapted to forecast the movement of migrant brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) and white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horvarth) populations from China to Korea. Comparison of model forecasts with trapping data for the 1987 and 1988 migration seasons indicated: (i) that the model is capable of successfully simulating the movement of planthoppers to Korea; (ii) that the model has sufficient detail to simulate insect movement into different regions of Korea; (iii) the source region for early season migrants is most likely to be south-eastern China (i.e. south of 25°N and east of 115°E); (iv) later season migrants may not necessarily always originate from an expanded northward region (south of 30°N); (v) the flight level of migrants may vary from about 500 to 2000 m altitude from one migration episode to another; and (vi) flight times ranging between 24 and 45 h are required to explain the migratory influxes. The results reported here have led to BLAYER forecasts of planthopper migration being produced on an operational basis within Korea.
Effects of open heart surgery on hearing thresholds measured by high frequency audiometry
Authors: Iriz A , Cagli K , Gocer C , Dursun E , Korkmaz H , Eryilmaz A 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground:The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between pre- and post-operative hearing thresholds, measured by high frequency audiometry, in patients undergoing open heart surgery.Materials and methods:Pre- and post-operative audiometric assessments were performed in 20 patients undergoing open heart surgery. Pure tone audiometry testing was performed at 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, 8000, 10 000, 12 000 and 14 000 Hz. We also evaluated: patients' clinical parameters (i.e. age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, history of myocardial infarction, and whether undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery or valve surgery); various operative details (operative temperatures, cardiopulmonary bypass time and cross-clamp time); and post-operative clinical progress and its effect on hearing loss.Results:Patients' pre- and post-operative pure tone audiometric results were significantly different at some frequencies (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a significant impact of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, history of myocardial infarction and cross-clamp time.Conclusions:This study shows that open heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass can lead to significant post-operative changes in hearing levels at some frequencies. Some additional patient parameters may influence this process. It seems possible that the risk of such hearing loss could be reduced; further studies may be able to define the significance of patients' concomitant disorders.
Vestibular aqueduct in sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Sugiura M , Naganawa S , Ishida I M , Teranishi M , Nakata S , Yoshida T , Nakashima T 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the vestibular aqueduct in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.Methods:We evaluated 19 patients (12 men and seven women; age range, 22−79 years) with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss, using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. All these patients had unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. We also evaluated 47 control subjects (22 men and 25 women; age range, 22–79 years).Results:In sensorineural hearing loss affected ears, the width of the vestibular aqueduct at the midpoint and at the operculum was significantly greater than that in contralateral ears or in control ears. The width of the vestibular aqueduct at the midpoint and the operculum did not correlate with the audiometric threshold or the audiogram configuration. Contrast enhancement of the ipsilateral endolymphatic sac was observed in 17 of 19 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (89 per cent). Eleven of these 17 patients also showed enhancement on the contralateral side, but no patient showed enhancement only on the contralateral side. In sensorineural hearing loss affected ears, the width of the vestibular aqueduct did not differ significantly between those patients with and without enhancement.Conclusions:The vestibular aqueducts of sudden sensorineural hearing loss affected ears are wider than those of controls. Precise imaging and evaluation of the inner ear is essential when investigating the pathological conditions responsible for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Olfactory clearance: what time is needed in clinical practice?
Authors: Philpott C M , Wolstenholme C R , Goodenough P C , Clark A , Murty G E 
Published: November 2007

AbstractObjective:To determine olfactory adaptation and clearance times for healthy individuals, and to assess the effect of common variables upon these parameters.Study design and setting:Fourteen healthy volunteers were recruited for a series of tests. Their initial olfactory threshold levels for phenethyl alcohol were determined. After olfactory exposure to a saturated solution of phenethyl alcohol (i.e. olfactory adaptation), the time taken for subjects to return to their initial olfactory threshold was then recorded (i.e. olfactory clearance). Visual analogue scale scores for subjective variables were also recorded.Results:The 14 subjects performed 120 tests in total. Despite consistent linear trends within individuals, olfactory clearance times varied widely within and between individuals. The mean olfactory clearance time for phenethyl alcohol was 170 seconds (range 81–750). Univariate analysis showed a relationship between olfactory clearance times and age (p = 0.031), symptoms (p = 0.029) and mood (p = 0.048).Conclusions:When testing a person's sense of smell in a clinical setting, recent exposure to similar smells should be noted, and a period of 15 minutes needs to be allowed before retesting if using phenethyl alcohol. Other variables need not be controlled, but greater clearance time may be needed for older patients.
Controversies, genetics, diagnostic assessment, and outcomes relating to the heterotaxy syndrome
Authors: Cohen Meryl S. , Anderson Robert H. , Cohen Mitchell I. , Atz Andrew M. , Fogel Mark , Gruber Peter J. , Lopez Leo , Rome Jonathan J. , Weinberg Paul M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractHow best to analyse and describe the features of the situation commonly known as “visceral heterotaxy” remains controversial. Much of the disagreement devolves on how to deal with the concept of isomerism. In the opinion of some, the concept of bilateral right-sidedness and bilateral left-sidedness, while useful in helping to remember which abnormalities are likely to occur in asplenia or polysplenia, should not be granted the status of a specific “situs”, since there are numerous examples of exceptions to these patterns. On the other hand, those who favour the concept of isomerism point out that, when describing only the heart, and taking the structure of the atrial appendages as the starting point for analysis, basing this on the extent of the pectinate muscles relative to the atrioventricular junctions, then the only possible arrangements for the appendages are the usual one, its mirror-image, and the two situations in which appendages of comparable morphology are found on both sides of the heart, these being the arrangements of right or left isomerism. It is certainly the case that the arrangement of the organs is not always in harmony with the arrangement of the atrial appendages, but those circumstances, in which there is disharmony, can readily be described by paying specific attention to each series of organs. On this basis, in this review, we describe the approach to heterotaxy, and isomerism of the atrial appendages, in terms of the genetic background, the diagnosis, and outcomes after cardiac surgery. Attention is given to the various diagnostic modalities, including fetal and postnatal echocardiography, recent tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging techniques, and the time-honoured approach using angiography.
Activity based financing in England: the need for continual refinement of payment by results
Authors: STREET ANDREW , MAYNARD ALAN 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe English National Health Service is introducing activity based tariff systems or Payment by Results (PbR) as the basis for hospital funding. The funding arrangements provide incentives for increasing activity, particularly day surgery, and, uniquely, are based on costing data from all hospitals. But prices should not be based on average costs and the potential of PbR to improve the quality of care is yet to be exploited. Without refinement, PbR threatens to undermine expenditure control, to divert resources away from primary care, and to distort needs based funding.
THE EFFECT OF SKIN ALLOGRAFT SIZE ON SURVIVAL TIME FOLLOWING TRANSPLANTATION BETWEEN MICE DIFFERING AT THE H‐2 LOCUS
Authors: Gotjamano T 
Published: November 2007

SummarySurvival times of 428 skin allografts varying in area from 1 to 8 cm.2 and exchanged between 4 inbred mouse strains differing at the H‐2 locus are reported in this paper. As a preliminary to the main investigation, the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of allografts and isografts carried out in parallel were correlated and the macroscopic features indicative of graft non‐ viability adopted as criteria for classifying a graft as rejected. In each of three different donor‐recipient combinations tested, massive (8 cm.2) allografts remained viable for 2 to 3 days longer than small (1 cm.2) allografts. The differences between survival times of massive and small grafts were highly statistically significant. Animals bearing massive allografts experienced the greatest loss in body weight during the post‐operative period. It is suggested that temporary immunodepression following severe surgical trauma may be partly responsible for the prolonged survival of massive allografts.Previous studies on the relation between skin allograft size and survival time have led to conflicting results and conclusions. These discrepancies probably stem from the widely differing criteria for graft rejection used by different investigators. In order to eliminate inter‐investigator variation in future studies involving skin graft survival, this paper stresses the need for different workers to adopt uniform criteria for assessing graft viability. Some suggestions are offered and special emphasis placed on demonstrating continued mitotic activity of basal epidermal cells before classifying a skin graft as viable and showing prolonged survival.
THE EXCRETION OF VASOPRESSIN BY NORMAL AND DEHYDRATED SHEEP
Authors: Yesberg Nancy E , Henderson Myrna , Budtz‐Olsen OE 
Published: November 2007

SummaryUrinary vasopressin excretion rates in normal sheep have been shown to range from less than 1 μU/minute to 138 μU/minute. They were inversely related to urine flow rate and directly related to urine osmolality. Dehydration led to an increase in vasopressin excretion up to a rate of 869 μU/minute which was associated with a decrease in urine flow rate and an increase in osmolality. Electrolyte excretion was not significantly related to vasopressin excretion rate in either the normal or dehydrated group, but both sodium and potassium output remained consistently low during dehydration. Evidence is presented that increased vasopressin allows the reabsorption of more solute‐free water for a given osmolar clearance, and that where dehydration results in a reduction of solute‐free water reabsorption it is due to a reduction in osmolar clearance, probably due to a vasopressin enhanced urea reabsorption.
Nicotinic acid: an old drug with a promising future
Authors: Bodor E T , Offermanns S 
Published: November 2007

Nicotinic acid has been used for decades to treat dyslipidaemic states. In particular its ability to raise the plasma HDL cholesterol concentration has led to an increased interest in its pharmacological potential. The clinical use of nicotinic acid is somewhat limited due to several harmless but unpleasant side effects, most notably a cutaneous flushing phenomenon. With the recent discovery of a nicotinic acid receptor, it has become possible to better understand the mechanisms underlying the metabolic and vascular effects of nicotinic acid. Based on these new insights into the action of nicotinic acid, novel strategies are currently under development to maximize the pharmacological potential of this drug. The generation of both flush‐reducing co‐medications of nicotinic acid and novel drugs targeting the nicotinic acid receptor will provide future therapeutic options for the treatment of dyslipidaemic disorders.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, S68–S75; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707528; published online 26 November 2007
Lifestyle limitations of children and young people with severe cerebral palsy: a population study protocol
Authors: Donnelly Collette , Parkes Jackie , McDowell Brona , Duffy Catherine 
Published: November 2007

AbstractTitle. Lifestyle limitations of children and young people with severe cerebral palsy: a population study protocolAim. This paper is a presentation of a study protocol to establish the prevalence of orthopaedic problems (hip dislocation, pelvic obliquity, spinal deformity and contractures) and their impact on pain, function, participation and health in a population of children and young people with severe cerebral palsy.Background. Cerebral palsy is the commonest cause of motor impairment in childhood and is associated with life‐long disability. An estimated 30% of people with cerebral palsy have severe forms and are non‐ambulant. Although the underlying neurological damage is not amenable to correction, many health services are dedicated to providing therapeutic and adaptive support to help people with the condition reach their potential.Method. A cross‐sectional survey of children and young people, aged 4–25 years with severe, non‐ambulant cerebral palsy as defined using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (Levels IV and V). Study participants will be identified from a pre‐existing, geographically defined case register and recruited via a healthcare professional known to them. Two assessments will be undertaken: one involving parents/carers at home and using questionnaires; the other involving the child/young person ideally in one of three settings and including X‐rays if clinically indicated.Discussion. This study will contribute to our knowledge of the history and epidemiology of orthopaedic problems in children and young people with cerebral palsy and how these problems accumulate and impact on participation, health and well‐being. The study will also identify unmet need and make recommendations for good practice in relation to the orthopaedic care and management for people with severe cerebral palsy.
Verbal abuse experienced by nursing students
Authors: Ferns Terry , Meerabeau Liz 
Published: November 2007

Abstract Title. Verbal abuse experienced by nursing students Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to describe the nature, severity, frequency and sources of verbal abuse experienced by nursing students while gaining clinical experience.Background.  Verbal abuse of healthcare workers is currently receiving considerable attention and nursing students have been identified as a group vulnerable to experiencing workplace verbal abuse.Method.  Questionnaires were distributed in 2005 to a convenience sample of 156 third year nursing students from one pre‐registration nursing programme in England. A total of 114 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 73·0%.Findings.  Experience of verbal abuse was reported by 45·1% of respondents, 34·5% had witnessed other students experiencing this and 65·5% reported that they were aware of other students experiencing verbal abuse. The incidents involved patients in 64·7% of cases, 15·7% involved visitors or relatives and 19·6% involved other healthcare workers. Students reported experiencing threats to kill them, racial abuse and sexually oriented verbal abuse, with the majority of incidents occurring in general medical, mental health and general surgical clinical areas.Conclusion.  Education and healthcare providers should prepare students to manage negative verbal exchanges during nursing education, and policies and support networks relating to managing verbal abuse in clinical practice should be available to nursing students.
Evolutionary responses by native species to major anthropogenic changes to their ecosystems: Pacific salmon in the Columbia River hydropower system
Authors: WAPLES ROBIN S. , ZABEL RICHARD W. , SCHEUERELL MARK D. , SANDERSON BETH L. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe human footprint is now large in all the Earth's ecosystems, and construction of large dams in major river basins is among the anthropogenic changes that have had the most profound ecological consequences, particularly for migratory fishes. In the Columbia River basin of the western USA, considerable effort has been directed toward evaluating demographic effects of dams, yet little attention has been paid to evolutionary responses of migratory salmon to altered selective regimes. Here we make a first attempt to address this information gap. Transformation of the free‐flowing Columbia River into a series of slack‐water reservoirs has relaxed selection for adults capable of migrating long distances upstream against strong flows; conditions now favour fish capable of migrating through lakes and finding and navigating fish ladders. Juveniles must now be capable of surviving passage through multiple dams or collection and transportation around the dams. River flow patterns deliver some groups of juvenile salmon to the estuary later than is optimal for ocean survival, but countervailing selective pressures might constrain an evolutionary response toward earlier migration timing. Dams have increased the cost of migration, which reduces energy available for sexual selection and favours a nonmigratory life history. Reservoirs are a benign environment for many non‐native species that are competitors with or predators on salmon, and evolutionary responses are likely (but undocumented). More research is needed to tease apart the relative importance of evolutionary vs. plastic responses of salmon to these environmental changes; this research is logistically challenging for species with life histories like Pacific salmon, but results should substantially improve our understanding of key processes. If the Columbia River is ever returned to a quasinatural, free‐flowing state, remaining populations might face a Darwinian debt (and temporarily reduced fitness) as they struggle to re‐evolve historical adaptations.