bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of three years of soil warming and shading on the rate of soil respiration: substrate availability and not thermal acclimation mediates observed response
Authors: HARTLEY IAIN P. , HEINEMEYER ANDREAS , INESON PHIL 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn a number of recent field studies, the positive response of soil respiration to warming has been shown to decline over time. The two main differing hypotheses proposed to explain these results are: (1) soil microbial respiration acclimates to the increased temperature, and (2) substrate availability within the soil decreases with warming so reducing the rate of soil respiration. To investigate the relative merits of these two hypotheses, soil samples (both intact cores and sieved samples) from a 3‐year grassland soil‐warming and shading experiment were incubated for 4 weeks at three different temperatures under constant laboratory conditions. We tested the hypothesis that sieving the soils would reduce differences in substrate availability between warmed and control plot samples and would therefore result in similar respiration rates if microbial activity had not acclimated to soil warming. In addition, to further test the effect of substrate availability, we compared the respiration rates of soils taken from shaded and unshaded plots. Both soil warming and shading significantly reduced respiration rates in the intact cores, especially under higher incubation temperatures. However, sieving the soil greatly reduced these differences suggesting that substrate availability, and not microbial acclimation to the higher temperatures, played the dominant role in determining the response of heterotrophic soil respiration to warming. The effect of shading appeared to be mediated by reduced plant productivity affecting substrate availability within the soil and hence microbial activity. Given the lack of evidence for thermal acclimation of microbial respiration, there remains the potential for prolonged carbon losses from soils in response to warming.
Responses of estuarine intertidal microphytobenthic algal assemblages to enhanced ultraviolet B radiation
Authors: WARING JEN , BAKER NEIL R. , UNDERWOOD GRAHAM J. C. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAs a result of ozone depletion, ground doses of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation in the mid latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere have increased since the 1980s, and current predictions indicate no possible alleviation until at least post 2020. Mudflats and sandflats are important coastal‐zone habitats, and support extensive biofilms of benthic microalgae (microphytobenthos). In intertidal situations, these assemblages are exposed to high levels of UVB radiation during periods of tidal exposure. Exposure of intertidal biofilms dominated by epipelic (mud‐inhabiting) diatoms to 0, 0.18 or 0.35 W m−2 UVB radiation for between 4 and 10 days resulted in no significant decreases in the maximum PSII quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) throughout diel exposure periods. Although the quantum efficiency of electron transport (Fq′/Fm′) showed significant reductions early in some experiments, the major response was an increase in Fq′/Fm′ in UVB exposed biofilms. This increase in Fq′/Fm′ was suggestive of a protective vertical migration down into the sediment. Single‐cell and whole biofilm fluorescence imaging demonstrated, for the first time, that motile diatoms are able to detect UVB radiation independently of UVA or photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and migrate rapidly down (within 15 min) into the sediments to avoid it. This behavioural acclimation mechanism appears to prevent significant accumulation of UVB induced damage to the algae. UVB exposure had no significant effect of biofilm photosynthesis (measured by 14C carbon fixation), but did alter organic carbon allocation patterns, with significantly less new carbon allocated to intracellular storage (glucan) and extracellular colloidal carbohydrate fractions. Significant reductions in the sediment standing stocks of chlorophyll a (Chl a), colloidal carbohydrates, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were seen after 7 days of UVB exposure. This study showed that marine intertidal benthic diatoms use a behavioural strategy to avoid exposure to UVB and that this response is effective as a short‐term protection mechanism against UVB damage. However, altered carbon allocation patterns feed forward over time into changes in biofilm biomass and sediment carbohydrate dynamics. This suggests that continual long‐term exposure to UVB may impact on sediment carbon cycling and trophic interactions and on the stabilization of sediments by microalgal biofilms through their production of extracellular carbohydrates.
Nitrogen deposition interacts with climate in affecting production and decomposition rates in Sphagnum mosses
Authors: GERDOL RENATO , PETRAGLIA ALESSANDRO , BRAGAZZA LUCA , IACUMIN PAOLA , BRANCALEONI LISA 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIncreasing rates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition may reduce growth and accelerate decomposition of Sphagnum mosses in bogs. Sphagnum growth and rates of Sphagnum litter decomposition may also vary because of climate change as both processes are controlled by climatic factors. The initial purpose of this study was to assess if growth and litter decomposition of hummock and lawn Sphagnum species varied with increasing N input in a factorial mid‐term (2002–2005) experiment of N and phosphorus (P) addition, in a bog on the southern Alps of Italy. However, as the experimental period was characterized by an exceptional heat wave in summer 2003, we also explored the interacting effects of fertilization and strongly varying climate on growth and decomposition rates of Sphagnum. The heat wave implied strong dehydration of the upper Sphagnum layer even if precipitation in summer 2003 did not differ appreciably from the overall mean. Sphagnum production was somewhat depressed by high levels (3 g m−2 yr−1) of N addition without concomitant addition of P presumably because of nutrient imbalance in the tissues, but production rates were much lower than the overall means in 2003, when no effect of nutrient addition could be observed. Adding N at high level also increased the potential decay of Sphagnum litter. Higher CO2 emission from N‐fertilized litter was due to amelioration of litter chemistry showing lower C/N quotients in the N‐fertilized treatments. Rates of CO2 emission from incubated litter also were more strongly affected by water content than by nutrient status, with practically no CO2 emission detected when litter was dry. We conclude that higher rates of atmospheric N availability input may depress Sphagnum growth because of P, and presumably potassium, (co‐)limitation. Higher N availability is also expected to promote potential decay of Sphagnum litter by ameliorating litter chemistry. However, both effects are less pronounced if the growing Sphagnum apex and the underlying senescing tissues dry out.
Reduced‐effort schemes for monitoring butterfly populations
Authors: ROY D. B. , ROTHERY P. , BRERETON T. 
Published: June 2007

Summary

Butterflies are one of the few insect groups that can be monitored effectively and have the potential to develop national and Europe‐wide trends in abundance.
For 20 widespread butterfly species, we assess the relative efficiency of reduced‐effort schemes compared to the existing design and estimate the number of sites required to detect changes of given magnitudes over specified periods of time.
A scheme restricted to three counts during July and August requires twice as many monitored sites on average to achieve comparable precision to the existing 26‐week scheme in the United Kingdom. Such a scheme requires 430 monitoring sites on average to achieve 80% power (5% significance level) for detecting a 25% decline in abundance over 10 years.
Such a reduced‐effort scheme may also mean that volunteers are more willing to record in areas where they are likely to see only a few individuals of a few common species (such as on intensively farmed areas). This could potentially help to ensure that butterfly monitoring schemes achieve a more even geographical coverage and less of a bias towards areas rich in butterflies.
Synthesis and applications. Schemes with few sampling visits per year are cost‐effective for expanding butterfly monitoring across Europe, and can be applied to national monitoring programmes and lead to effective assessment of continent‐wide trends in populations.
Stress ulcer prophylaxis for non‐critically ill patients on a teaching service
Authors: Hwang Kevin O. , Kolarov Sanja , Cheng Lee , Griffith Rebecca A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRationale  Doctors frequently give non‐critically ill patients unjustified stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP). It is unknown if this practice also occurs during residency training.Objective  To evaluate the pattern of SUP given to non‐critically ill medical patients on the teaching service of an internal medicine residency programme.Methods  This was a retrospective cohort study of non‐critically ill adults admitted to the internal medicine teaching service of a community hospital from August 2003 to July 2004. We assessed receipt of SUP, association of SUP with risk factors for stress ulcer bleeding; appropriateness of SUP according to evidence‐based criteria; and incidence of stress ulcer bleeding.Results  Of the 774 patient records reviewed, 545 were included in the study. The average age was 55.4 years. Patients were more likely to receive SUP if they had more risk factors for stress ulcer bleeding (P < 0.001). Overall, 54.9% (299 of 545) of patients received SUP. Of these 299 patients, at least 58.5% did not warrant SUP, depending on the criteria used. Of the entire cohort of 545 non‐critically ill patients, 32.1% to 54.9% received unjustified SUP, depending on the criteria applied. There were no cases of stress ulcer bleeding.Conclusions  Many non‐critically ill patients on the teaching service received unjustified SUP, suggesting the need for institutional protocols and educational interventions to promote evidence‐based practice during residency training.
Application of classification tree and logistic regression for the management and health intervention plans in a community‐based study
Authors: Teng Ju‐Hsi , Lin Kuan‐Chia , Ho Bin‐Shenq 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground  A community‐based aboriginal study was conducted and analysed to explore the application of classification tree and logistic regression.Methods  A total of 1066 aboriginal residents in Yilan County were screened during 2003–2004. The independent variables include demographic characteristics, physical examinations, geographic location, health behaviours, dietary habits and family hereditary diseases history. Risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were selected as the dependent variables in further analysis.Results  The completion rate for heath interview is 88.9%. The classification tree results find that if body mass index is higher than 25.72 kg m−2 and the age is above 51 years, the predicted probability for number of cardiovascular risk factors ≥3 is 73.6% and the population is 322. If body mass index is higher than 26.35 kg m−2 and geographical latitude of the village is lower than 24°22.8′, the predicted probability for number of cardiovascular risk factors ≥4 is 60.8% and the population is 74. As the logistic regression results indicate that body mass index, drinking habit and menopause are the top three significant independent variables.Conclusions  The classification tree model specifically shows the discrimination paths and interactions between the risk groups. The logistic regression model presents and analyses the statistical independent factors of cardiovascular risks. Applying both models to specific situations will provide a different angle for the design and management of future health intervention plans after community‐based study.
Exploring the challenges and successes of the Lecturer Practitioner role using a stakeholder evaluation approach
Authors: Hancock Helen , Lloyd Hilary , Campbell Steve , Turnock Chris , Craig Stephen 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRationale  Plans for NHS reform include strategies to reduce the gap between theory and the realities of clinical practice, with the aim of improving patient care. The role of Lecturer Practitioners (LPs) as educators for nurses who ‘bridge’ the theory–practice gap forms a central part of this strategy. Given the amount of investment in the role and its potential, this study sought to evaluate the impact of the LP role within the education and practice setting from the perspective of key stakeholders.Methodology  The study, which included five LPs from a range of backgrounds, followed the principles of stakeholder evaluation. Each LP and their line manager identified six informants who were familiar with the LP’s role. The total sample consisted of 36 participants. Semi‐structured interviews were used to gain the perceptions of stakeholders about the LP role. The emerging themes were then discussed, consensus reached, and a collaborative project report produced.Findings  The findings were derived from the perceptions of the stakeholders. Minimally interpretive analysis of the data resulted in identification of five themes: (i) general overview of LP’s individual qualities; (ii) preconceived notions of the post; (iii) reality of the post; (iv) areas of concern; and (v) developing the role.Conclusions  The findings indicated that the LP role provides a credible and valuable link between theory and practice and, as such, is an important contribution to the modernization agenda of the NHS. It was apparent, however, that there are a number of areas in which developments are needed, and that organizational and individual actions are necessary in order to achieve the most from these posts.
GhDET2, a steroid 5α‐reductase, plays an important role in cotton fiber cell initiation and elongation
Authors: Luo Ming , Xiao Yuehua , Li Xianbi , Lu Xiaofeng , Deng Wei , Li Demou , Hou Lei , Hu Mingyu , Li Yi , Pei Yan 
Published: June 2007

SummaryCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fibers, one of the most important natural raw materials for textile industry, are highly elongated trichomes from epidermal cells of cotton ovules. DET2, an Arabidopsis steroid 5d‐reductase, is considered to catalyze a major rate‐limiting in brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis. To understand the role of BRs in cotton fiber development, GhDET2, which putatively encodes a steroid 5α‐reductase by sequence comparison, was cloned from developing fiber cells. In vitro assessment of GhDET2 protein activity confirmed that GhDET2 encodes a functional steroid 5α‐redutase. High levels of GhDET2 transcript were detected during the fiber initiation stage and the fiber rapid elongation stage. Antisense‐mediated suppression of GhDET2 inhibited both fiber initiation and fiber elongation. Similarly, treating cultured ovules with finasteride, a steroid 5α‐reductase inhibitor, reduced fiber elongation. Inhibition of fiber cell elongation by expression of antisense GhDET2 or the finasteride treatment could be reversed by epibrassinolide, a biologically active BR. Furthermore, seed coat‐specific expression of GhDET2 increased fiber number and length. Therefore, GhDET2 and BRs play a crucial role in the initiation and elongation of cotton fiber cells, suggesting that modulation of BR biosynthesis factors may improve fiber quality or yield.
Relative predispositional effects of HLA class II DRB1‐DQB1 haplotypes and genotypes on type 1 diabetes: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Thomson G. , Valdes A. M. , Noble J. A. , Kockum I. , Grote M. N. , Najman J. , Erlich H. A. , Cucca F. , Pugliese A. , Steenkiste A. , Dorman J. S. , Caillat‐Zucman S. , Hermann R. , Ilonen J. , Lambert A. P. , Bingley P. J. , Gillespie K. M. , Lernmark Å. , Sanjeevi C. B. , Rønningen K. S. , Undlien D. E. , Thorsby E. , Petrone A. , Buzzetti R. , Koeleman B. P. C. , Roep B. O. , Saruhan‐Direskeneli G. , Uyar F. A. , Günoz H. , Gorodezky C. , Alaez C. , Boehm B. O. , Mlynarski W. , Ikegami H. , Berrino M. , Fasano M. E. , Dametto E. , Israel S. , Brautbar C. , Santiago‐Cortes A. , Frazer de Llado T. , She J.‐X. , Bugawan T. L. , Rotter J. I. , Raffel L. , Zeidler A. , Leyva‐Cobian F. , Hawkins B. R. , Chan S. H. , Castano L. , Pociot F. , Nerup J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe direct involvement of the human leukocyte antigen class II DR‐DQ genes in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is well established, and these genes display a complex hierarchy of risk effects at the genotype and haplotype levels. We investigated, using data from 38 studies, whether the DR‐DQ haplotypes and genotypes show the same relative predispositional effects across populations and ethnic groups. Significant differences in risk within a population were considered, as well as comparisons across populations using the patient/control (P/C) ratio. Within a population, the ratio of the P/C ratios for two different genotypes or haplotypes is a function only of the absolute penetrance values, allowing ranking of risk effects. Categories of consistent predisposing, intermediate (‘neutral’), and protective haplotypes were identified and found to correlate with disease prevalence and the marked ethnic differences in DRB1‐DQB1 frequencies. Specific effects were identified, for example for predisposing haplotypes, there was a statistically significant and consistent hierarchy for DR4 DQB1*0302s: DRB1*0405 =*0401 =*0402 > *0404 > *0403, with DRB1*0301 DQB1*0200 (DR3) being significantly less predisposing than DRB1*0402 and more than DRB1*0404. The predisposing DRB1*0401 DQB1*0302 haplotype was relatively increased compared with the protective haplotype DRB1*0401 DQB1*0301 in heterozygotes with DR3 compared with heterozygotes with DRB1*0101 DQB1*0501 (DR1). Our results show that meta‐analyses and use of the P/C ratio and rankings thereof can be valuable in determining T1D risk factors at the haplotype and amino acid residue levels.
The PTPN22 promoter polymorphism –1123G>C association cannot be distinguished from the 1858C>T association in a Norwegian rheumatoid arthritis material
Authors: Viken M. K. , Olsson M. , Flåm S. T. , Førre Ø. , Kvien T. K. , Thorsby E. , Lie B. A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor 22 (PTPN22) gene has, during the last 2 years, been recognized as a susceptibility gene for numerous autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and type 1 diabetes. An association between the exonic 1858C>T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and RA has repeatedly been replicated in several Caucasian populations. The SNP is not associated with autoimmune diseases in Asian populations, as the 1858T allele is almost absent. Recently, a promoter polymorphism –1123G>C was proposed to be associated with acute‐onset type 1 diabetes in Japanese and Korean populations. Furthermore, in Caucasian populations, the presence of additional PTPN22 risk variants has been suggested, indicating that the 1858C>T risk variant cannot explain the entire disease association observed in the region. In this study, we wanted to jointly address and integrate these separate findings to further elucidate the association between the PTPN22 gene and RA in a Norwegian material of 861 RA patients and 559 healthy controls. Our results revealed that the strength of the association with the PTPN22 promoter polymorphism, −1123G>C, is analogous to that observed for 1858C>T. As the −1123G>C variant is also polymorphic in Asian populations, our data underpin the need to further explore the association between this variant and autoimmune diseases in different populations.
The impact of long‐term haemofiltration (continuous veno‐venous haemofiltration) on cell‐mediated immunity during endotoxaemia
Authors: Toft P. , Nilsen B. U. , Bollen P. , Lillevang S. , Olsen K. E. , Brøchner A. C. , Larsen N. H. 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Increased survival with high‐volume continuous veno‐venous haemofiltration (CVVH) has been demonstrated in critically ill patients. This may be the result of intensified blood purification or an effect on the immune system. We hypothesized that CVVH modifies the cell‐mediated immunity. We investigated the effect of high‐volume CVVH for 24 h on the cell‐mediated immunity following endotoxin infusion.Methods:  Thirty pigs were divided into three groups. Ten pigs received 30 μg/kg of Escherichia coli endotoxin. These pigs were treated with CVVH (replacement 35 ml/kg/h) over the following 24 h. Ten pigs received the same bolus of endotoxin and ten pigs served as a control group. The adhesion molecules CD18, CD44 and CD62L and the ability to respond with an oxidative burst were measured. The number of neutrophils was counted in blood and lung tissue. The lymphoproliferative response and cytokines interleukin‐6 and interleukin‐10 were measured.Results:  The infusion of endotoxin was followed by initial granulocytopenia and, later, granulocytosis, activation of CD18 and CD62L, and increased oxidative burst. The cytokine level was increased. CVVH had no effect on the adhesion molecules or cytokine level and did not reduce the number of granulocytes in the lung significantly. CVVH, however, reduced the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils after 2 h of treatment.Conclusion:  In the first few hours after endotoxaemia, high‐volume CVVH reduced the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils. However, in the long term, CVVH was unable to modify the endotoxin‐induced changes in cell‐mediated immunity.
Scandinavian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the diagnosis, management and follow‐up of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia*
Authors: Kroigaard M. , Garvey L. H. , Gillberg L. , Johansson S. G. O. , Mosbech H. , Florvaag E. , Harboe T. , Eriksson L. I. , Dahlgren G. , Seeman‐Lodding H. , Takala R. , Wattwil M. , Hirlekar G. , Dahlén B. , Guttormsen A. B. 
Published: June 2007

The present approach to the diagnosis, management and follow‐up of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia varies in the Scandinavian countries. The main purpose of these Scandinavian Clinical Practice Guidelines is to increase the awareness about anaphylaxis during anaesthesia amongst anaesthesiologists. It is hoped that increased focus on the subject will lead to prompt diagnosis, rapid and correct treatment, and standardised management of patients with anaphylactic reactions during anaesthesia across Scandinavia.The recommendations are based on the best available evidence in the literature, which, owing to the rare and unforeseeable nature of anaphylaxis, mainly includes case series and expert opinion (grade of evidence IV and V).These guidelines include an overview of the epidemiology of anaphylactic reactions during anaesthesia. A treatment algorithm is suggested, with emphasis on the incremental titration of adrenaline (epinephrine) and fluid therapy as first‐line treatment.Recommendations for primary and secondary follow‐up are given, bearing in mind that there are variations in geography and resources in the different countries. A list of National Centres from which anaesthesiologists can seek advice concerning follow‐up procedures is provided. In addition, an algorithm is included with advice on how to manage patients with previous suspected anaphylaxis during anaesthesia. Lastly,Appendix 2provides an overview of the incidence, mechanisms and possibilities for follow‐up for some common drug groups.