bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth and Yield Response of Facultative Wheat to Winter Sowing, Freezing Sowing and Spring Sowing at Different Seeding Rates
Authors: Ozturk A. , Caglar O. , Bulut S. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractGrowth and yield of wheat are affected by environmental conditions and can be regulated by sowing time and seeding rate. In this study, three sowing times [winter sowing (first week of September), freezing sowing (last week of October) and spring sowing (last week of April)] at seven seeding rates (325, 375, 425, 475, 525, 575 and 625 seeds m−2) were investigated during the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, in Erzurum (Turkey) dryland conditions, using Kirik facultative wheat. A split‐plot design was used, with sowing times as main plots and seeding rates randomized as subplots. There was a significant year × sowing time interaction for grain yield and kernels per spike. Winter‐sown wheat produced a significantly higher leaf area index, leaf area duration, spikes per square metre, kernel weight and grain yield than freezing‐ and spring‐sown wheat. The optimum time of sowing was winter for the facultative cv. Kirik. Grain yields at freezing and spring sowing were low, which was largely the result of hastened crop development and high temperatures during and after anthesis. Increasing seeding rate up to 525 seeds m−2 increased the spikes per square metre at harvest, resulting in increased grain yield. Seeding rate, however, was not as important as sowing time in maximizing grain yield. Changes in spikes per square metre were the major contributors to the grain‐yield differences observed among sowing times and seeding rates. Yield increases from higher seeding rates were greater at freezing and spring sowing. We recommended that a seeding rate of 525 seeds m−2 be chosen for winter sowing, and 575 seeds m−2 for freezing and spring sowing.
Body weights at weaning and 18 months of Zebu, Brown Swiss, Charolais and crossbred heifers in south‐east Mexico
Authors: Magaña J.G. , Segura‐Correa J.C. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the body weights up to 18 months of age of 12 breed groups of Zebu (Z), Brown Swiss (BS) and Charolais heifers (CH), and their crosses under tropical conditions. A total of 1434 data on weaning weights adjusted to 240 days (WW8), average daily gain to 240 days (ADG8) and 1025 body weights adjusted to 550 days (BW18) and average postweaning daily gain (ADG18) of heifers born from 1981 to 1995 were used. Cows and calves remained together from birth to weaning and grazed on Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). Years of birth were grouped in three periods, because of the small numbers of observations per year (1981–85, 1986–90 and 1991–95). Similarly, months of birth were grouped in three seasons: dry (February to May), rainy (June to September) and windy and rainy (October to January). Ages of dams were classified in six groups (≤3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and ≥8 years). Breed groups were animals with 12.5%, 25.0%, 50.0%, 62.5%, 75.0% and 100% BS genes and 25.0%, 50.0%, 75.0% and 100% CH genes and also Z and undefined crossbred animals. Data were analysed using a fixed model that included effects of period, and season of birth, age of dam and breed group of heifer. Analyses of variance showed significant (p < 0.05) effects of period, season and breed group for all traits. However, parity was significant (p < 0.05) only for WW8 and ADG8. Interactions among main factors were not significant (p > 0.05). Z heifers gained the least weight to weaning but were similar to BS at 18 months of age. CH were heavier at 18 months of age than BS heifers, but not at weaning. Body weights at 18 months of age of 1/8 and 1/4 BS crossbred heifers were similar (p > 0.05) and lower than F1 (BS × Z) (p < 0.05); however, the later and higher grades of BS had the highest body weights at 18 months of age and were similar to CH and 1/4 CH × 3/4 Z heifers. Undefined crossbred heifers had better performance than the Z breed group. Environmental factors were important sources of variation for pre‐ and postweaning traits. Under the conditions of this study, crossbred heifers generally performed better than Z heifers up to 18 months of age.
Quantitative analysis of production traits in saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus): III. juvenile survival
Authors: Isberg S.R. , Thomson P.C. , Nicholas F.W. , Barker S.G. , Moran C. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryMortality records of 1302 juvenile crocodiles were available for analysis. Crocodiles that were slaughtered during this study were treated as censored (n = 2151). Additionally, records from animals that had neither died nor been slaughtered, i.e. were still alive in the production system (n = 1582), were censored at the last date of data collection. There were a total of 3733 censored records. The data were all full‐sib records from 29 parental pairs from Janamba Croc Farm (Northern Territory, Australia), collected over nine consecutive years. Data were analysed using an extension of Cox's proportional hazards model to include frailty (random) terms to account for genetic effects. Heritability of log survival time for juvenile crocodile survival was 0.15 (SE 0.04). The probability of a juvenile crocodile surviving to day 400 was estimated to be only 51%. These results are the first to quantify juvenile survival in a captive breeding situation. Also, this is the first heritability estimate of crocodile survival and is a fundamental element in the development of a genetic improvement programme.
Economic values for production and functional traits and assessment of their influence on genetic improvement in the Boran cattle in Kenya
Authors: Rewe T.O. , Indetie D. , Ojango J.M.K. , Kahi A.K. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryEconomic values for production (sale weight in steers, SWs, kg and heifers, SWh, kg; dressing percentage, DP; consumable meat percentage, CMP and milk yield, MY, kg) and functional (cow weight, CoWT, kg; cow survival rate, CoSR, %; postweaning survival rate, PSR, %; feed intake of cows, FIc, heifers, FIh and steers, FIs, kg DM) traits were estimated for six production systems utilizing the Boran breed in Kenya. The influence of the estimated economic values on genetic improvement was also assessed using different selection indices. The six production systems were described according to their sale age, levels of input and final goal, namely, short‐fed medium input beef (SMB); long‐fed medium input beef (LMB); short‐fed high input beef (SHB); long‐fed high input beef (LHB); long‐fed low input dual purpose (LLD); and long‐fed medium input dual purpose (LMD). Two evaluation bases were considered: fixed herd size and fixed pasture input. In the fixed herd‐size situation, the economic values for production (except MY in beef systems) and functional traits (except FI in all systems) were positive meaning a unit increase in genetic merit of these traits had greater influence on revenues than costs. As expected, the economic value for MY was negative in the pure beef systems (SMB, LMB, SHB and LHB) and positive in the dual‐purpose systems (LLD and LMD). When compared with the economic values estimated in the fixed herd‐size situation, in the fixed pasture input situation they were lower for feed intake in the three classes of livestock and other traits related to it in all systems. These traits were CoSR, CoWR, PSR, CoWT, SWh and MY. The economic values for CoWT in LLD and LMD were negative (KSh −11.14 and −15.33 respectively). The economic values did not influence much the direction of the genetic response in each trait in the different production systems. However, the magnitude of the actual gain was dependent on the index applied. The magnitude of the economic values for production and functional traits estimated in this study suggest that genetic improvement of these traits will have a positive effect on profitability of Boran cows kept in dual‐purpose systems and when herd size is restricted. In beef systems, genetic improvement of MY will have a negative effect on profitability, especially when restrictions on herd size and feed exists.
Modelling number of services per conception of Japanese Black cattle by random regression
Authors: Nishida A. , Aziz M.A. , Nishida S. , Suzuki K. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryRepeated records of number of services per conception (NSC) were collected on 607 Japanese Black cows. Data were analysed by random regression (RRM) and multiple trait (MTM) models, considering NSC in each parity as a separate trait. The chosen RRM included additive genetic and permanent environmental effects fitted with a third‐order Legendre polynomials of parity. Heritabilities (h2) estimated by RRM decreased along the NSC trajectory from 0.15 in the first parity to 0.04 in the sixth parity and then increased up to 0.22 in the 10th parity. The corresponding estimates obtained by MTM ranged between 0.04 in parity 9 and 0.13 in parity 1. Permanent environmental proportions (p2) of the total phenotypic variance estimated by RRM showed similar pattern and magnitude to those of h2 estimated by the same method. On the contrary, the p2 estimated by MTM ranged between 0.04 in the first parity and 0.11 in the 10th parity. Additive genetic (rG), permanent environmental (rP) and phenotypic (rPH) correlations were also estimated. The values estimated by RRM between adjacent parities were higher than those of parities far apart. The corresponding values estimated by MTM were lower than those estimated by RRM with no certain trend. The results indicated that NSC in heifers is more heritable than NSC in cows with different parities. Reproductive traits are economically important traits and hence, they should be considered in breeding goals.
Use of survival analysis as a tool for the genetic improvement of age at first conception in Nellore cattle
Authors: Pereira E. , de Oliveira H.N. , Eler J.P. , Silva J.A. II de V. , Van Melis M.H. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryRestricted breeding seasons in beef cattle lead to censoring of reproductive data. In this paper, age at first conception (AFC) of Nellore females exposed to the sires for the first time between 11 and 16 months of age, was studied aiming to verify the possibility of genetically advance sexual precocity using a survival model. The final data set contained 6699 records of AFC in days. Records of females that did not calve in the next year following exposure to the sire were considered censored (77.5% of total). The model used was a Weibull mixed survival model including effects of contemporary groups, period (fixed) and animal (random). The effect of the contemporary groups on AFC was important (p < 0.01). Heritabilities were 0.51 and 0.76 in logarithmic and original scales respectively. Results indicate that it is possible to genetically advance sexual precocity, using the outcome of survival analysis of AFC as selection criterion. They also suggest that improvements of the environment could advance sexual precocity too, thus an adequate pregnancy rate for farmers could quickly be achieved.
Semi‐automated detection of the foveal avascular zone in fluorescein angiograms in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Conrath John , Valat Olivier , Giorgi Roch , Adel Mouloud , Raccah Denis , Meyer Franck , Ridings Bernard 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground:  The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is known to enlarge in diabetic retinopathy. In a preliminary study, the authors applied a region growing algorithm to fluorescein angiograms to detect the FAZ in a semi‐automated fashion.Methods:  The FAZ in 44 fluorescein angiograms of 44 eyes of 41 patients with diabetic retinopathy underwent manual outlining, then analysis with the region growing function of the ENVI image analysis software. The same algorithm was applied after median filtering of the images.Results:  Correlation coefficient was 0.98 between the first two authors, 0.89 between the first author and semi‐automated detection before median filtering and 0.91 after median filtering. Average surface areas however, were smaller with semi‐automated detection (1951 pixels before and 2226 pixels after median filtering) than with manual detection (3032 pixels).Conclusions:  Semi‐automated detection of the FAZ is possible, but refinements need to be made in angiogram quality and/or image pretreatment to improve results.
Eye care service utilization in older people seeking aged care
Authors: Tay Tien , Rochtchina Elena , Mitchell Paul , Lindley Richard , Wang Jie Jin 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground:  To assess the need for, and the use of eye care services in older people seeking aged care.Methods:  In total, 188 people (69.1% of those eligible) aged 65+ years who were assessed for aged care provision at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, were recruited in 2003 and re‐examined a year later. At baseline, presenting visual acuity (VA) was randomly assessed in half the participants. People with under‐corrected refractive error (pinhole VA improved at least 10 letters in those with presenting VA <6/6), bilateral visual impairment (better eye VA <6/12), or self‐reported visual problems, were recommended to have further assessment by eye care professionals. At follow up, information on utilization of eye care services in the past 12 months was collected and VA was assessed in all returned participants.Results:  Of the 188 baseline participants, 121 (70% of survivors) were revisited a year later. Overall, 90/121 participants (74%) had seen an eye care professional in the previous year. Of the 66 participants who were recommended to see an eye care professional, 42 (64%) were revisited and 37/42 (88%) complied with the recommendation. At revisit, bilateral visual impairment was found in 49/120 (41%). The proportion with bilateral visual impairment was lower in participants whose vision was assessed at baseline (35%) than in those whose vision was not assessed (47%, P = 0.17), and also lower among people who had visited an eye care professional during the previous 12 months (39%) than those who had not (45%, P = 0.57).Conclusions:  This pilot study indicates a relatively high need for, and high utilization of eye care services in the subgroup of older people seeking aged care services.
Photographic Essay
Authors: Barsam Allon , Heatley Catherine J , Herbert Luke 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSuprachoroidal haemorrhage occurs most commonly as an intraoperative or a postoperative complication of ocular surgery. Spontaneous suprachoroidal haemorrhage is rare. Herein a case is described of spontaneous suprachoroidal haemorrhage in a patient who received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for the treatment of a myocardial infarction. Systemic thrombolysis may induce spontaneous suprachoroidal haemorrhage. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can improve the likelihood of a favourable visual outcome. To the authors’ knowledge, there have been only three previous reports in the literature of spontaneous suprachoroidal haemorrhage secondary to thrombolysis.
Clinical Case Notes
Authors: Cilliers Helena , Harper C Alex 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis interventional case report describes a patient with a combined hamartoma of the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which was treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Verteporfin. A 17‐year‐old girl presented with a combined hamartoma of the retina and RPE. Progressive decrease in vision due to vascular leakage and macular involvement led to the decision to treat this lesion with PDT. Rapid vascular closure occurred after PDT as confirmed by fundus fluorescein angiography and the clinical appearance gradually improved. However, visual acuity did not improve substantially. PDT with Verteporfin could be considered as a treatment modality for combined hamartomas of the retina and RPE, which demonstrate progressive vascular leakage.
Paediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy: setting new frontiers
Authors: SAMAD LUBNA , AQUIL SHAHID , ZAIDI ZAFAR 
Published: January 2006

OBJECTIVETo assess the safety and outcome of paediatric percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for atypical cases and compare the results with ‘standard’ unilateral paediatric PCNL.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed children who had had a PCNL between December 1997 and December 2004. Patients were grouped as follows: group 1, aged >5–16 years with normal anatomy and normal renal function undergoing unilateral PCNL or staged bilateral PCNL; group 2, ≤ 5 years with normal anatomy and renal function undergoing unilateral PCNL; group 3, undergoing bilateral simultaneous PCNL; group 4, impaired renal function in addition to renal stone disease; group 5, renal anatomical abnormality with calculi in the same kidney. Demographics, stone profile, procedure and outcome indicators were analysed for each group.RESULTSIn all, 188 consecutive PCNLs in 169 children were included (mean age 3.3–10.3 years, mean stone burden 19.1–33.3 mm in the five groups). The mean duration of PCNL was 69–115 min. Stone clearance was satisfactory with single tract access in 90–100% of patients. Transient postoperative fever was the commonest complication (12.5–51%) followed by hyponatraemia and hypokalaemia. Blood transfusion was required in 0–7.7%. The mean stone clearance rates were 47–90% in the five groups; additional extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy increased the cumulative clearance rates to 90–100%.CONCLUSIONPCNL is safe for treating renal stones, with excellent results and minimal complications. Comparable results are achieved in the very young child, children with anatomically abnormal kidneys, children with impaired renal function and children with bilateral renal stones undergoing simultaneous bilateral PCNL. Hence none of these factors should be considered as relative contraindications.
Working collaboratively with teachers to promote effective learning
Authors: ATKINSON CATHY , REGAN TERESA , WILLIAMS CHRISTINE 
Published: January 2006

The work of educational psychologists (EPs) is often focused on those children identified as having special educational needs. This focus may restrict opportunities for EPs to become involved in the wider application of psychology within education. This article explores ways in which EPs can make an effective contribution to the enhancement of learning opportunities for all children by working collaboratively with teachers.As a group of EPs working in the same local education authority (LEA), we undertook a small‐scale action research project with teachers in order to explore ways to promote children's thinking and learning skills. The study involved us working with Year 5 class teachers in three mainstream primary schools over a six‐week period, with the aim of developing materials which helped pupils develop an awareness of their own learning techniques (metacognition) and a positive and confident approach to learning (self‐efficacy). Some of the benefits of and barriers to joint research are considered, as well as implications for future collaborative work between teachers and EPs.
Automated Production of Schematic Maps for Mobile Applications
Authors: Mark Ware J. , Taylor George E. , Anand Suchith , Thomas Nathan 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThe advent of high‐end miniature technology, together with the increasing availability of large scale digital geographic data products, has created a demand for techniques and methodologies that assist in the automated generation of maps specifically tailored to mobile GIS applications. This paper concerns itself with the problem of automatic generation of schematic maps. Schematic maps are diagrammatic representations based on linear abstractions of networks. In the context of mobile mapping they are seen as being a particularly useful means of displaying transportation networks. This paper describes an algorithm that automates the production of schematic maps. The algorithm makes use of the simulated annealing optimisation technique. An implementation of the algorithm is also presented, together with experimental results.
Investigating New Wireless Technologies and Their Potential Impact on Children's Spatiality: A Role for GIS
Authors: Williams Morris , Jones Owain , Wood Lucy , Fleuriot Constance 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis paper outlines exploratory research undertaken by the “A New Sense of Place?” Project in Bristol, UK, into the potential new, location sensitive, computing technologies may have for enhancing urban children's socio‐spatial practices. The paper describes a series of workshops held with children in which mapping activities and use of the technologies are supported by the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS). The paper suggests that sound‐enabled GIS could play a major role in the management of such technologies.
Generating Agricultural Landscapes for Alternative Futures Analysis: A Multiple Attribute Decision‐Making Model
Authors: Berger Patricia A. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractThis paper describes the development of a multi‐attribute decision model that generates depictions of the agricultural landscape for use in alternative futures studies. The fundamental assumption of the model is that changes in agricultural land cover are due to rational decisions made by an agricultural producer that are based on the attributes of the producer, the crops, and the field. The model first evaluates any changes in the land base due to conversion of farmland to non‐agricultural uses, and then uses field descriptions, crop characteristics, and the decision paradigm of an agricultural producer to determine the preferred crop for each field under a particular policy scenario. By cycling over the fields for each time‐step in the simulation, future depictions of the agricultural system that respond to various drivers of change are generated. An example implementation of an alternative futures model is provided to show how this method can be used to examine alternative policy or management options.
Polygon‐to‐Polygon Spatial Accessibility Using Different Aggregation Approaches: A Case Study of National Forests in the US Mountain West Region
Authors: Crawford Thomas W. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractSpatial accessibility is an enduring topic of spatial analysis that is intimately tied to issues of spatial representation and scale. A variety of methods to measure accessibility have been developed with most research focusing on metropolitan‐sized spatial extents using census‐defined aggregation units and relying on vector point representation to calculate Euclidean or network distances as key ingredients in measure formulations. Less research considers broader scales where both origin and destination points are treated as polygons. This research develops alternative gravity‐based measures of polygon‐to‐polygon accessibility for a case study of county‐level accessibility to national forests in the western US. Different methods of county and forest representation are implemented using census block centroids and a lattice approach for disaggregation and re‐aggregation. Other characteristics that are analyzed include origin‐destination linkage definitions, population weighting, and distance thresholds. Correlation analysis is used to assess relationships of alternative measures with a simple percentage measure and with each other. Low correlations would suggest that measures capture different aspects of accessibility that are related to their qualitative characteristics. Results show the alternative measures to be dissimilar from the percentage measure; however, high correlations among alternative measures suggest that there is little to differentiate certain disaggregated measures in spite of their richer qualitative interpretation.