bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Orbital- and sub-orbital-scale climate impacts on vegetation of the western Mediterranean basin over the last 48,000 yr
Authors: Fletcher William J. , Sánchez Goñi Maria Fernanda 
Published: September 2008

AbstractHigh-resolution pollen analysis of Alborán Sea core MD95-2043 provides a 48-ka continuous vegetation record that can be directly correlated with sea surface and deep-water changes. The reliability of this record is supported by comparison with that of Padul (Sierra Nevada, Spain). Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 was characterised by fluctuations in Quercus forest cover in response to Dansgaard-Oeschger climate variability. MIS 2 was characterised by the dominance of semi-desert vegetation. Despite overall dry and cold conditions during MIS 2, Heinrich events (HEs) 2 and 1 were distinguished from the last glacial maximum by more intensely arid conditions. Taxon-specific vegetation responses to a tripartite climatic structure within the HEs are observed. In MIS 1, the Bölling-Allerød was marked by rapid afforestation, while a re-expansion of semi-desert environments occurred during the Younger Dryas. The maximum development of mixed Quercus forest occurred between 11.7 and 5.4 cal ka BP, with forest decline since 5.4 cal ka BP. On orbital timescales, a long-term expansion of semi-desert vegetation from MIS 3 into MIS 2 reflects global ice-volume trends, while Holocene arboreal decline reflects summer insolation decrease. The influence of precession on the amplitude of forest development and vegetation composition is also detected.
The addition of high manganese to a copper-deficient diet further depresses copper status and growth of cattle
Authors: Hansen Stephanie L. , Ashwell Melissa S. , Legleiter Leon R. , Fry Robert S. , Lloyd Karen E. , Spears Jerry W. 
Published: September 2008

A study was conducted evaluating the effect of long-term Cu deficiency, with or without high Mn, on growth, gene expression and Cu status of beef cattle. Twenty-one Angus calves were born to cows receiving one of the following treatments: (1) 10 mg supplemental Cu/kg DM (+Cu); (2) no supplemental Cu and 2 mg Mo/kg DM ( − Cu); (3) − Cu diet plus 500 mg supplemental Mn/kg DM ( − Cu+Mn). Calves were weaned at approximately 183 d of age and individually fed throughout the growing and finishing phases. Plasma Cu was lower (P < 0·01) in − Cu calves compared with +Cu calves while high dietary Mn further depressed (P < 0·01) plasma Cu in − Cu+Mn calvesv.− Cu calves. Liver Cu concentrations in +Cu calves were greater (P < 0·01) than in − Cu calves, with no differences between − Cu and − Cu+Mn calves. The daily body-weight gain of +Cu calves was greater (P < 0·01) than − Cu calves during the period from birth to weaning, but did not differ during the growing phase. − Cu+Mn calves gained less (P < 0·05) than − Cu calves during the growing phase. DM intake was lower (P < 0·01) in − Cu+Mn calvesv.− Cu calves, and did not differ among +Cu and − Cu calves. The relative gene expression of cytochrome c oxidase in the liver was lower (P < 0·05) in − Cu calves compared with +Cu or − Cu+Mn calves. In conclusion, feeding a Cu − deficient diet in combination with high Mn negatively affected the growth and Cu status of beef cattle.
Effects of a flaxseed-derived lignan supplement on C-reactive protein, IL-6 and retinol-binding protein 4 in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Pan An , Demark-Wahnefried Wendy , Ye Xingwang , Yu Zhijie , Li Huaixing , Qi Qibin , Sun Jianqin , Chen Yanqiu , Chen Xiafei , Liu Yong , Lin Xu 
Published: September 2008

Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels are associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Phytoestrogens (including lignans and isoflavones) may enhance the management of diabetes and are hypothesized to act through inflammation pathways. The present study explored the effects of flaxseed-derived lignan on inflammatory factors and RBP4 concentrations in type 2 diabetics, who have higher levels of these biomarkers. Seventy community-dwelling diabetic patients (twenty-six men and forty-four post-menopausal women) with mild hypercholesterolaemia completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of supplementation with flaxseed-derived lignan capsules (360 mg/d) or placebo for 12 weeks, separated by an 8-week wash-out period. The participants maintained their habitual diets and levels of physical activity. Baseline to follow-up concentrations of CRP increased significantly within the placebo group (1·42 (sem 0·19) v. 1·96 (sem 0·22) mg/l, P < 0·001), but were comparatively unchanged in the lignan-supplemented group (1·67 (sem 0·19) v. 1·90 (sem 0·26) mg/l, P = 0·94); a significant difference was observed between treatments ( − 0·45 (95 % CI − 0·76, − 0·08) mg/l, P = 0·021). This effect was confined to women (P = 0·016), but not observed in men (P = 0·49). No between-treatment differences were found with regard to IL-6 or RBP4; though IL-6 concentrations increased significantly from baseline to follow-up in both groups (P = 0·004 and P < 0·001 following lignan and placebo treatments, respectively). The study suggests that lignan might modulate CRP levels in type 2 diabetics. These results need to be confirmed by further large clinical trials of longer duration.
Virgin olive oil polyphenol hydroxytyrosol acetate inhibitsin vitroplatelet aggregation in human whole blood: comparison with hydroxytyrosol and acetylsalicylic acid
Authors: González Correa José Antonio , López-Villodres Juan Antonio , Asensi Rocío , Espartero José Luis , Rodríguez-Gutiérez Guillermo , De La Cruz José Pedro 
Published: September 2008

Hydroxytyrosol acetate (HT-AC) is a polyphenol present in virgin olive oil (VOO) at a proportion similar to hydroxytyrosol (HT) (160–479 μmol/kg oil). The present study was designed to measure thein vitroplatelet antiaggregating activity of HT-AC in human whole blood, and compare this effect with that of HT and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The experiments were designed according to the standard procedure to investigate the activity of ASA. HT-AC and HT inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen or arachidonic acid in both whole blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). ASA and HT-AC had a greater effect in whole blood than in PRP when ADP or collagen was used as inducer. ASA and HT-AC had a greater effect in PRP+leucocytes than in PRP alone. All three compounds inhibited platelet thromboxane B2and leucocyte 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α(6-keto-PF1α) production. The thromboxane/6-keto-PGF1αinhibition ratio (as an indirect index of the prostanoid equilibrium) was 10·8 (se1) for HT-AC, 1·0 (se0·1) for HT and 3·3 (se0·2) for ASA. All three compounds stimulated nitric oxide production, although HT was a weaker effect. In our experiments only concentrations higher than 500 μm(HT) or 1 mm(HT-AC and ASA) inhibited 3-nitrotyrosine production. All three compounds inhibited the production of TNFα by leucocytes, with no significant differences between them. In quantitative terms HT-AC showed a greater antiplatelet aggregating activity than HT and a similar activity to that of ASA. This effect involved a decrease in platelet thromboxane synthesis and an increase in leucocyte nitric oxide production.
Milk composition of franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil
Authors: Caon Glauco , Secchi Eduardo Resende , Capp Edison , Kucharski Luiz Carlos 
Published: September 2008

Milk is the only external energy source for mammals in their early stages of life. Its composition varies during lactation in baleen whales and pinnipeds, while only descriptive studies are available for odontocetes. The aim of this work was to identify the components of the milk of franciscana,Pontoporia blainvillei, from southern Brazil. Samples were manually collected from lactating females (N = 5) incidentally caught in the gill-net fishery. The amount of fat, protein, carbohydrate, mineral and trace metal content, and caloric value of the samples were estimated. Milk of the franciscana dolphin presented mean fat, protein and carbohydrate concentrations similar to those described for other coastal species. A significant increase in fat concentration was observed in winter months, with a higher energy density. Potassium was the mineral found in higher amounts. Zinc, mercury and copper were detected in low concentrations. Due to different habitat conditions along the species distribution, the presence of a highly seasonal reproductive period and inter-population genetic variability, studies on milk composition in other areas is recommended.
Partitioning of the Pelagos Sanctuary (north-western Mediterranean Sea) into hotspots and coldspots of cetacean distributions
Authors: Moulins Aurélie , Rosso Massimiliano , Ballardini Marco , Würtz Maurizio 
Published: September 2008

This study used Monte Carlo methods to generate simulations that considered the effort distribution to determine the locations of significant aggregations of cetacean sightings inside the northern Pelagos Sanctuary (north-western Mediterranean Sea). For three years, monitoring has been conducted from five motor vessels covering about 30,050 km. The most frequently encountered species were the striped dolphinStenella coeruleoalbarepresenting 64.7% of all sightings, the fin whaleBalaenoptera physalus(17.0%), Cuvier's beaked whaleZiphius cavirostris(9.9%), Risso's dolphinGrampus griseus(4.3%) and the sperm whalePhyseter catodon(2.2%). Sightings' positions and effort coverage were distributed over a grid of 5′ longitude and 5′ latitude. Spatial concentrations of sightings were analysed according to the distribution of effort to identify ‘hotspots’ (locations where the species occurred at a significantly greater frequency than expected), and ‘coldspots’ (locations with a significantly lower frequency than expected). Most fin whale hotspots (14) were located on the bathyal plain between 2000 and 2500 m, four hotspots were around the 1000 m isobaths, and one is located close to the seamount off Genoa. Fin whale coldspots were mainly along the coast. Striped dolphin hotspots were widely distributed over two main areas, in waters with depths between 2000 and 2500 m and at the continental slope; coldspots for this species were also mainly along the coast in the northern part of the study area. Many hotspots were found in the Genoa Canyon, and hotspots of striped dolphins, Cuvier's beaked whales, sperm whales and Risso's dolphins overlapped in this region. Some of the hotspots of Cuvier's beaked whales were identified at the seamount in the study area, where no other species was sighted frequently. Risso's dolphin hotspots were mainly near the 1000 m isobath. For sperm whales, several hotspots were identified: three associated with steep slope features (such as canyons or the continental slope), and one was in the centre of the flat area of Pelagos where the depth is 2500 m. This study highlights the ecological importance of particular locations inside the Pelagos Sanctuary—locations that should be protected from anthropogenic degradations for marine mammal conservation.
Fatty acid characterization of lipid fractions from blubber biopsies of sperm whalesPhyseter macrocephaluslocated around the Azores
Authors: Walton M.J. , Silva M.A. , Magalhães S.M. , Prieto R. , Santos R.S. 
Published: September 2008

Fatty acid profiles of blubber have been shown previously to provide information on stock structure and sex differences. Generally the predominant blubber lipid of marine mammal species is triacylglycerol (fatty acids linked to glycerol) and previous studies have focused on this lipid class. But in some species such as the sperm whales the predominant lipid is wax esters (fatty acids linked to fatty alcohols) although triacylglycerols are also present. In this study the fatty acids and fatty alcohols of these lipid classes were characterized and the fatty acid profiles compared in order to assess their potential to provide qualitative ecological data.Biopsy samples were obtained from 40 whales found in seas around the Azores achipelago during the period 2002–2003. The samples contained about 10% lipid of which 70% was wax ester and 11% triacylglycerol. The fatty acids of the triacylglycerols and wax esters were respectively approximately 19% and 16% saturated, 74% and 80% monounsaturated and 5% and 3% polyunsaturated with the main contributors being 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7 and 16:0. The alcohols of the wax esters were mainly either saturated or monounsaturated with the main contributors being 18:1n-9 (40%) and 16:0 (22%). No statistically significant differences in profiles were found between different island groups, between sexes or between years of sampling. In future studies there would not appear to be any apparent benefits over total lipid in examining each of the fatty acid classes of sperm whale blubber separately.
Redescription of the zooxanthellateEudendrium moulouyensis(Eudendriidae: Hydrozoa) from the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: De Vito D. , Boero F. , Di Camillo C.G. , Megina C. , Piraino S. 
Published: September 2008

Eudendrium moulouyensisis a zooxanthellate hydroid originally described from the Chafarinas Islands (Alboran Sea, south-western Mediterranean) in summer 1991. According to the original description, this species can be identified due to the occurrence of symbiotic zooxanthellae in the entire endodermal layer of the colony (gastrodermis and tentacle endodermis), a unique feature among the MediterraneanEudendriumspecies. However, several aspects of its life cycle and the extent of its phenotypical variability are still unknown. Since winter 2004, colonies ofE. moulouyensiswere recorded throughout the year from 0.5 m to 30 m depth from the southern Adriatic Sea (Otranto Channel) and the Gibraltar Strait (Alboran Sea). Additional specimens were collected from the northern Adriatic (Vis, Croatia), Sicily Channel (Pantelleria and Lampedusa Islands), and western Sardinia (Costa Paradiso). These findings offered the opportunity to describe for the first time the full life cycle and to elucidate several biological aspects related to phenotypical variation of colony morphology, vertical zonation, seasonality, zooxanthellae–polyp relationship, and cnidome morphology and distribution. The number and morphology of male gonophores per reproductive polyp is described here for the first time, providing a useful taxonomic character to easily discriminateMyrionema amboinensefromE. moulouyensis. From the available information, the occurrence ofM. amboinensein the Mediterranean Sea should be regarded as doubtful, if they are not accompanied by observations of cnidome, male gonophores or distinctly separate tentacles whorls.
Sympagohydra tuuli gen. nov. and sp. nov. (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) a cool hydroid from the Arctic sea ice
Authors: Piraino S. , Bluhm B.A. , Gradinger R. , Boero F. 
Published: September 2008

A new interstitial hydroid, Sympagohydra tuuli, has been collected from the three-dimensional brine channel system of the coastal fast ice off Barrow, Alaska (71°N 156ºW) in 2003 to 2006. This is the first cnidarian species described from the sea ice interstitial habitat. A morphological and systematic account of the new species is provided here. The hydroid stage is represented by solitary naked polyps, which become almost spherical under contraction. Body length can vary from 200 µm to >1 mm according to the degree of relaxation. The aboral side is extensible into a tubular foot-like projection made by epidermal tissue only, a typical feature of representatives of Protohydridae, order Capitata. However, in contrast to the other two known Protohydridae species, S. tuuli is characterized by three to four solid filiform tentacles, armed with microbasic mastigophore and desmoneme cnidocysts, and located at the base of a short hypostome bearing stenoteles. A small number of mastigophores are also scattered along the body column. Due to its unique combination of features, this taxon is designated here as a new species, and the new genus Sympagohydra is established as a new member of the class Hydroidomedusa, subclass Anthomedusae, order Capitata, family Protohydridae, to accommodate S. tuuli.
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis among mothers and their pre-school children on Unguja Island, Zanzibar with emphasis upon ascariasis
Authors: STOTHARD J. R. , IMISON E. , FRENCH M. D. , SOUSA-FIGUEIREDO J. C. , KHAMIS I. S. , ROLLINSON D. 
Published: September 2008

SUMMARYSoil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) is a scourge to the health and well-being of infants and pre-schoolchildren throughout many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. To improve maternal and child health, regular de-worming is recommended and often delivered from mother and child health (MCH) clinics, yet there have been few studies monitoring the progress and impact of interventions on local levels of disease. A cross-sectional parasitological survey, supplemented with questionnaires, was therefore conducted across 10 Ungujan villages examining mothers (n=322) and their pre-school children (n=359). Within children, mean prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm was 8·6% (95% CI 5·5–11·8), 18·9% (95% CI 14·5–23·4) and 1·7% (95% CI 0·2–3·5) while in mothers mean prevalence was 6·7% (95% CI 3·7–9·7), 11·9% (95% CI 8·0–15·8) and 1·9% (95% CI 0·2–3·5), respectively. There was, however, significant spatial heterogeneity of STH by village, 2 villages having much elevated levels of infection, although general access to anthelminthics and utilization of village MCH clinics was good. Levels of parasite aggregation (k) were determined and a multilevel logistic regression model identified access to a household latrine [OR=0·56 (95% CI 0·32–0·99)] and having an infected household member [OR=3·72 (95% CI 2·22–6·26)] as observed risk factors. To further investigate worm burdens of Ascaris lumbricoides, adult worms were expelled using Combantrin® and measured. A negative relationship between mean worm burden and mean worm mass was found. Villages in the north of Unguja represent locations where there is elevated prevalence of both ascariasis and trichuriasis and it appears that local factors are particularly favourable for transmission of these helminths. From a perspective of control, in such locations, intervention efforts should be stepped up and greater efforts placed upon improving household sanitation.
Brain morphometry volume in autistic spectrum disorder: a magnetic resonance imaging study of adults
Authors: Hallahan B. , Daly E. M. , McAlonan G. , Loth E. , Toal F. , O'Brien F. , Robertson D. , Hales S. , Murphy C. , Murphy K. C. , Murphy D. G. M. 
Published: September 2008

BackgroundSeveral prior reports have found that some young children with autism spectrum disorder [ASD; including autism and Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)] have a significant increase in head size and brain weight. However, the findings from older children and adults with ASD are inconsistent. This may reflect the relatively small sample sizes that were studied, clinical heterogeneity, or age-related brain differences.MethodHence, we measured head size (intracranial volume), and the bulk volume of ventricular and peripheral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), lobar brain, and cerebellum in 114 people with ASD and 60 controls aged between 18 and 58 years. The ASD sample included 80 people with Asperger's syndrome, 28 with autism and six with PDD-NOS.ResultsThere was no significant between-group difference in head and/or lobar brain matter volume. However, compared with controls, each ASD subgroup had a significantly smaller cerebellar volume, and a significantly larger volume of peripheral CSF.ConclusionsWithin ASD adults, the bulk volume of cerebellum is reduced irrespective of diagnostic subcategory. Also the significant increase in peripheral CSF may reflect differences in cortical maturation and/or ageing.
Eighty-five per cent of what? Discrepancies in the weight cut-off for anorexia nervosa substantially affect the prevalence of underweight
Authors: Thomas J. J. , Roberto C. A. , Brownell K. D. 
Published: September 2008

BackgroundDSM-IV cites <85% of expected body weight (EBW) as a guideline for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) but does not require a specific method for calculating EBW. The purpose of the present study was to determine the degree to which weight cut-off calculations vary across studies, and to evaluate whether differential cut-offs lead to discrepancies in the prevalence of individuals who are eligible for the AN diagnosis.MethodTwo coders independently recorded the EBW calculation methods from 99 studies that either (a) compared individuals with AN to those with subclinical eating disorders or (b) conducted AN treatment trials. Each weight cut-off was applied to a nationally representative (n=12001) and treatment-seeking (n=189) sample to determine the impact of EBW calculation on the proportion who met the AN weight criterion.ResultsCoders identified 10 different EBW methods, each of which produced different weight cut-offs for the diagnosis of AN. Although only 0.23% of the national sample met the lowest cut-off, this number increased 43-fold to 10.10% under the highest cut-off. Similarly, only 48.1% of treatment seekers met the lowest cut-off, whereas 89.4% met the highest.ConclusionsThere is considerable variance across studies in the determination of the AN weight cut-off. Discrepancies substantially affect the proportion of individuals who are eligible for diagnosis, treatment and insurance reimbursement. However, differences may not be fully appreciated because the ubiquitous citation of the 85% criterion creates a sense of false consensus.
The responsibilities of victory: Jus Post Bellum and the Just War
Authors: BELLAMY ALEX J. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractRecent years have seen a growing interest in questions about justice after war (jus post bellum), fuelled in large part by moral questions about coalition operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. As a result, it has become common to argue that jus post bellum is a third strand of Just War thinking. This article evaluates this position. It argues that that there are broadly two ways of understanding moral requirements after war: a minimalist position which holds that moral principles derived largely from jus ad bellum and jus in bello concerns should constrain what victors are entitled to do after war and a maximalist position which holds that victors acquire additional responsibilities that are grounded more in liberalism and international law than in Just War thinking. Finding problems with both approaches, the article argues that it is premature to include jus post bellum as a third element of Just War thinking and concludes by setting out six principles to guide future thinking in this area.
Legitimacy and the use of force: bridging the analytical – normative divide
Authors: BJOLA CORNELIU 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBy remaining epistemologically committed to an outdated distinction between facts and values, traditional definitions of legitimacy either divest the concept of an important critical component or fail to properly anchor it in the social reality. As an alternative, the article proposes a constitutive theory of legitimacy that reconciles the epistemological tension via the concepts of fairness and tractability and bridges the theoretical gap via the concept of deliberative legitimacy. By applying it to the issue of the use of force, the article argues that a normatively sound and politically relevant model of legitimacy must take into account both to the manner in which actors’ commitment to social norms is crafted and the type of conditions that facilitate or constrain the definition, contestation, and adjudication of what counts as legitimacy in a particular political context.