bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mass regulation in response to predation risk can indicate population declines
Authors: MacLeod Ross , Lind Johan , Clark Jacquie , Cresswell Will 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIn theory, survival rates and consequent population status might be predictable from instantaneous behavioural measures of how animals prioritize foraging vs. avoiding predation. We show, for the 30 most common small bird species ringed in the UK, that one quarter respond to higher predation risk as if it is mass‐dependent and lose mass. Half respond to predation risk as if it only interrupts their foraging and gain mass thus avoiding consequent increased starvation risk from reduced foraging time. These mass responses to higher predation risk are correlated with population and conservation status both within and between species (and independently of foraging habitat, foraging guild, sociality index and size) over the last 30 years in Britain, with mass loss being associated with declining populations and mass gain with increasing populations. If individuals show an interrupted foraging response to higher predation risk, they are likely to be experiencing a high quality foraging environment that should lead to higher survival. Whereas individuals that show a mass‐dependent foraging response are likely to be in lower quality foraging environments, leading to relatively lower survival.
Species abundance distributions: moving beyond single prediction theories to integration within an ecological framework
Authors: McGill Brian J. , Etienne Rampal S. , Gray John S. , Alonso David , Anderson Marti J. , Benecha Habtamu Kassa , Dornelas Maria , Enquist Brian J. , Green Jessica L. , He Fangliang , Hurlbert Allen H. , Magurran Anne E. , Marquet Pablo A. , Maurer Brian A. , Ostling Annette , Soykan Candan U. , Ugland Karl I. , White Ethan P. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractSpecies abundance distributions (SADs) follow one of ecology’s oldest and most universal laws – every community shows a hollow curve or hyperbolic shape on a histogram with many rare species and just a few common species. Here, we review theoretical, empirical and statistical developments in the study of SADs. Several key points emerge. (i) Literally dozens of models have been proposed to explain the hollow curve. Unfortunately, very few models are ever rejected, primarily because few theories make any predictions beyond the hollow‐curve SAD itself. (ii) Interesting work has been performed both empirically and theoretically, which goes beyond the hollow‐curve prediction to provide a rich variety of information about how SADs behave. These include the study of SADs along environmental gradients and theories that integrate SADs with other biodiversity patterns. Central to this body of work is an effort to move beyond treating the SAD in isolation and to integrate the SAD into its ecological context to enable making many predictions. (iii) Moving forward will entail understanding how sampling and scale affect SADs and developing statistical tools for describing and comparing SADs. We are optimistic that SADs can provide significant insights into basic and applied ecological science.
Fungal rDNA signatures in coronary atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: Ott Stephan J. , El Mokhtari Nour Eddine , Rehman Ateequr , Rosenstiel Philip , Hellmig Stephan , Kühbacher Tanja , Lins Markus , Simon Rüdiger , Schreiber Stefan 
Published: August 2007

SummaryBacterial DNA has been found in coronary plaques and it has therefore been concluded that bacteria may play a role as trigger factors in the chronic inflammatory process underlying coronary atherosclerosis. However, the microbial spectrum is complex and it is not known whether microorganisms other than bacteria are involved in coronary disease. Fungal 18S rDNA signatures were systematically investigated in atherosclerotic tissue obtained through catheter‐based atherectomy of 38 patients and controls (unaffected coronary arteries) using clone libraries, denaturating gradient gel analysis (DGGE), in situ hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Fungal DNA was found in 35 of 38 (92.11%) coronary heart disease patients by either polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal primers or in situ hybridization analysis (n = 5), but not in any control sample. In a clone library with more than 350 sequenced clones from pooled patient DNA, an overall richness of 19 different fungal phylotypes could be observed. Fungal profiles of coronary heart disease patients obtained by DGGE analysis showed a median richness of fungal species of 5 (range from 2 to 9) with a high interindividual variability (mean similarity 18.83%). For the first time, the presence of fungal components in atherosclerotic plaques has been demonstrated. Coronary atheromatous plaques harbour diverse and variable fungal communities suggesting a polymicrobial contribution to the chronic inflammatory aetiology.
Comparative growth in the postnatal skull of the extant North American turtlePseudemys texana(Testudinoidea: Emydidae)
Authors: Bever Gabe S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractBever, G.S. 2007. Comparative growth in the postnatal skull of the extant North American turtlePseudemys texana(Testudinoidea: Emydidae). —Acta Zoologica(Stockholm)88: 000–000Postnatal growth is one of the many aspects of developmental morphology that remains distinctly understudied in reptiles. Variation and ontogenetic scaling within the skull of the extant emydid turtle,Pseudemys texanais described based on 25 continuous characters. Results indicate that skull shape in this species changes little during postnatal growth relative to the only cryptodire taxa for which comparable datasets are available (Apalone feroxandSternotherus odoratus). This relative lack of change results in the paedomorphic retention of a largely juvenile appearance in the adult form ofP. texana. The skulls of males and females, despite the presence of distinct sexual dimorphism in size, grow with similar scaling patterns, and the few observed differences appear to reflect alteration of the male growth trajectory. Comparisons withA. feroxandS. odoratusreveal a number of similarities and differences that are here interpreted within a phylogenetic context. These preliminary hypotheses constitute predictive statements that phylogenetically bracket the majority of extant cryptodire species and provide baseline comparative data that are necessary for the future recognition of apomorphic transformations. Plasticity of ontogenetic scaling as a response to the homeostatic needs and behaviour of individuals commonly is evoked as a limitation of ontogenetic scaling as a means to inform phylogenetic studies. These evocations are largely unfounded considering that variability itself can evolve and thus be phylogenetically informative.
Patient expectation and satisfaction with nursing care in Turkey: a literature review
Authors: Özsoy S. A. , Özgür G. , Durmaz Akyol A. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  Patient satisfaction is used as an important indicator of care quality and is frequently included in healthcare planning and evaluation. This study presents a review of research on patient expectation and satisfaction with nursing care in Turkey.Aim:  To review the national literature on patient expectations and satisfaction with nursing care.Methods:  The researchers reviewed 3089 articles of which 27 were discussed in detail. Of these 3089 articles, 1812 were from all issues of 14 Turkish nursing journals which have been published in the last 50 years, and 1277 articles were from 24 nursing congress and symposium books.Results:  The results of this study are divided into two categories: expectations concerning ‘nursing care’, and ‘satisfaction with nursing care’. The findings show that there exist conceptual and philosophic deficiencies in the approaches to patient satisfaction and that there is a need to use standardized instruments to study and assess patient satisfaction in the future.Conclusion:  Over the last 20 years, studies of patient expectation and satisfaction with nursing care have been gaining high importance, but it is also noticed that in a national and philosophical approach the studies are not based on clearly defined concepts. Moreover, it has been concluded that there is a need for valid and reliable tools in the evaluation of satisfaction.
The struggle to develop nursing research in Turkey
Authors: Özsoy S.A. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  Little is known internationally about nursing research in Turkey. The development of nursing research would, however, provide a distinctive perspective on health needs and service provision. To understand the development of nursing research in Turkey, the development of nursing research in other countries might be analysed.Aim:  To describe the development of nursing research and education in Turkey in a European context.Findings:  The evolution of nursing research in Europe is discussed and the importance of setting nursing research priorities described. Different countries in the world are then examined for the development of nursing research and priorities. Finally, the development of nursing education, nursing research and priorities in Turkey are analysed and discussed in the context of the political and social background.Conclusion:  The development of Turkish nursing research may still be insufficient in relation to the development of nursing research in Europe, but it is following global developments. Over the past years, there has been an increased interest in nursing research and Turkish nurses work hard to produce work for international publication.
Reaching across the pond: a global exchange between health systems
Authors: Ganske K. , Zerull L. , Guinn C. , Dowling G. , Tagnesi K. 
Published: August 2007

Aim:  This article describes a unique programme begun in 2001 through a partnership between the historic St Bartholomew’s Hospital and the London National Health Service Trust, in London, England and Valley Health in Winchester, Virginia, USA. Dubbed the RN International Exchange Program, selected registered nurses have the opportunity to experience first‐hand healthcare delivery in another country and participate in a creative way of expanding knowledge about nursing.Background:  Professional nurses are persistent in seeking new ways to enhance nursing practice and improve patient care. This happens in several ways, including academic study, research, continuing education and dialogue with other healthcare professionals. One method to advance nursing practice is through the sharing of knowledge between nurses, both at home and across the globe.Conclusion:  Participating nurses see this type of global educational opportunity as a once‐in‐a‐lifetime experience that could never be duplicated in the traditional classroom setting.
Developing locally based research capacity in Uganda
Authors: Marshall‐Lucette S. , Corbett K. , Lartey N. , Opio D. , Bikaitwoha M. Everd 
Published: August 2007

Aim:  To describe an educational project to enhance local research capacity within Hospice Africa Uganda, a Uganda‐wide community‐based palliative care organization.Background:  This project emerged from a British Council Higher Education Links Scheme involving stakeholder British and Ugandan higher education institutions. The paper describes the project in relation to the remit of the British Council, the Ugandan context and the specifics of this exploratory project. The aim of the project was to build on the pre‐existing local research capacity.Findings:  The lessons learnt and the participatory approach adopted for meeting the challenges of teaching/learning that emerged from this project are described in relation to the local interprofessional, organizational, socio‐economic and socio‐cultural contexts.Conclusion:  Local knowledge gained through participatory engagement and collaborative working within Uganda is relevant and useful for current and future UK–Ugandan higher education partnerships.
Diabetes knowledge and glycemic control among Chinese people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: He X. , Wharrad H.J. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  Diabetes self‐management education (DSME) is a key component of effective glycemic control and an important part of clinical diabetes management. The effects of DSME in China have not been investigated.Objectives:  To identify factors that could enhance the quality of Chinese DSME programmes. The relationship between patients’ diabetes knowledge and their glycemic control was explored.Methods:  A non‐experimental cross‐sectional study was undertaken in a large Shanghai hospital in China. Forty inpatients and 60 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited. A Chinese version of the Diabetes Knowledge Scale was used to assess subjects’ diabetes knowledge and collect demographic data and HbA1c levels.Results:  The mean diabetes knowledge scores among Chinese with type 2 diabetes was 22.1 ± 3.76 out of a possible 30 marks. There was no difference in overall diabetes knowledge in people with HbA1c <7%, indicating good control and those with HbA1c ≥7%, indicating suboptimal glycemic control (t = −0.811, P = 0.419). However, there were differences in scores between the two groups for some specific questions on sick day management and food substitution. Moreover, sociodemographic characteristics such as age and occupation were significantly correlated with diabetes knowledge; age was negatively correlated with diabetes knowledge and white‐collar workers had the highest mean knowledge score and housewives the lowest.Conclusion:  Sociodemographic characteristics need to be considered when developing diabetes self‐management programmes for Chinese people with type 2 diabetes.
Note on audit fee premiums to client size and industry specialization
Authors: Carson Elizabeth , Fargher Neil 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis research note examines the impact of client size on the estimation of audit fee premiums in the Australian market for audit services. Previous research suggests that higher audit fees are expected for both larger clients and for industry specialization. We find that in the Australian market for audit services, the fee premium attributed to industry specialist audit firms is concentrated in the audit fees paid by the largest clients in each industry. One reason for higher fees paid by larger clients is the demand for additional audit services. We find higher fees for companies cross‐listed on US exchanges. We also find that fee premiums to auditors that are city‐industry leaders are strongly related to client size.
Nested Generalized Linear Mixed Models: An Orthodox Best Linear Unbiased Predictor Approach
Authors: Ma Renjun , Jørgensen Bent 
Published: August 2007

SummaryWe introduce a new class of generalized linear mixed models based on the Tweedie exponential dispersion model distributions, accommodating a wide range of discrete, continuous and mixed data. Using the best linear unbiased predictor of random effects, we obtain an optimal estimating function for the regression parameters in the sense of Godambe, allowing an efficient common fitting algorithm for the whole class. Although allowing full parametric inference, our main results depend only on the first- and second-moment assumptions of unobserved random effects. In addition, we obtain consistent estimators for both regression and dispersion parameters. We illustrate the method by analysing the epilepsy data and cake baking data. Along with simulations and asymptotic justifications, this shows the usefulness of the method for analysis of clustered non-normal data.
Statistical Inference for Evolving Periodic Functions
Authors: Genton Marc G. , Hall Peter 
Published: August 2007

SummaryIn the study of variable stars, where the light reaching an observer fluctuates over time, it can be difficult to explain the nature of the variation unless it follows a regular pattern. In this respect, so-called periodic variable stars are particularly amenable to analysis. There, radiation varies in a perfectly periodic fashion, and period length is a major focus of interest. We develop methods for conducting inference about features that might account for departures from strict periodicity. These include variation, over time, of the period or amplitude of radiation. We suggest methods for estimating the parameters of this evolution, and for testing the hypothesis that the evolution is present. This problem has some unusual features, including subtle issues of identifiability.
L1-Regularization Path Algorithm for Generalized Linear Models
Authors: Park Mee Young , Hastie Trevor 
Published: August 2007

SummaryWe introduce a path following algorithm for L1-regularized generalized linear models. The L1-regularization procedure is useful especially because it, in effect, selects variables according to the amount of penalization on the L1-norm of the coefficients, in a manner that is less greedy than forward selection–backward deletion. The generalized linear model path algorithm efficiently computes solutions along the entire regularization path by using the predictor–corrector method of convex optimization. Selecting the step length of the regularization parameter is critical in controlling the overall accuracy of the paths; we suggest intuitive and flexible strategies for choosing appropriate values. We demonstrate the implementation with several simulated and real data sets.
The comparison of Nail Psoriasis Severity Index with a less time‐consuming qualitative system
Authors: Kaçar N , Ergin Ş , Erdoǧan BŞ 
Published: August 2007

AbstractObjective  Reliable assessment of severity in nail psoriasis is essential to document treatment responses in clinical trials and routine clinical usage. In this study the correlation between Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) and Cannavo's scoring system was assessed, and inter‐rater correlation of NAPSI scores were evaluated.Materials and Methods  Forty‐five patients with nail psoriasis were included. Target nails were selected and graded by the first dermatologist with both scoring systems. The nails were reevaluated by the second dermatologist with NAPSI.Results  The two systems were highly correlated (P < 0.001). For NAPSI inter‐rater correlation was also significant (P < 0.001).Conclusion  Our results showed that the qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the same rater were similar. Although the qualitative scoring system of Cannavo's is less time consuming than NAPSI, to suggest this system inter‐rater correlations should be evaluated.
An experimental study of translocation success and habitat improvement in wild rabbits
Authors: Cabezas S. , Moreno S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe translocation of wild animals is a strategy frequently used in the conservation and management of natural populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of translocation (population supplementation) and habitat improvement on the abundance of European wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus. We used eight open plots with different habitat treatments: two with increased shelter, two with increased food, two with increased shelter and food and two without habitat treatment (control plots). We translocated wild rabbits during 3 consecutive years, each year in four of the eight plots, with the remaining plots serving as control for the translocation treatment. Rabbit abundance (translocated plus native rabbits) was calculated by means of pellet counts, and the results were evaluated mainly by generalized linear mixed models. We found that rabbit abundance was determined primarily by habitat improvement. Rabbits were more abundant in treated than in control plots, and most abundant in the plots where food availability was increased. This effect persisted throughout the year. Translocation also increased abundance, but this effect was the strongest where shelter and food had also been improved and declined and disappeared after breeding. These findings suggest that the habitat is an important factor for rabbit abundance, with food availability being the prime factor regulating densities. Moreover, translocations on their own are only effective in the short term in situations in which factors limiting population growth (e.g. disease and predation) have not been corrected. Translocations should be carried out in conjunction with improvements in release habitat as rabbit densities will depend on the maximum carrying capacity of the habitat.
Prioritizing the world's islands for vertebrate‐eradication programmes
Authors: Brooke M. de L. , Hilton G. M. , Martins T. L. F. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractIn the last 400 years, more species have become extinct on small islands than on continents. Yet, scant attention has hitherto been paid to prioritizing island restorations. Nevertheless, considerable conservation effort is now devoted to removing a major cause of these extinctions – invasive alien vertebrates. Because modern techniques allow the clearance of invasive vertebrates from quite large islands (up to 1000 km2), many islands are candidates for restoration. A robust strategy for allocating available funds is urgently needed. It requires, for each candidate island, an objective estimation of conservation gain and a method for predicting its financial cost. Our earlier work showed that a good first‐pass estimate of vertebrate eradication costs can be made using just island area and target species. Costs increase with island area, while rodents are more expensive per unit area than ungulates. Here, we develop a method for assessing the conservation benefit of a proposed eradication and apply the method to threatened birds, but not other taxa. The method, combining information on how threatened a species is, on the impact of alien vertebrates on that species and on the islands on which the species occurs, allows us to present a means of determining which islands yield the greatest conservation benefit per unit of expenditure on vertebrate eradication. In general, although greater overall benefit would accrue to birds from eradication of invasive vertebrates on larger islands, benefit per unit of expenditure is the highest on relatively small islands, and we identify those that should be priority targets for future eradications. Crucially, this quantitative assessment provides considerable efficiency gains over more opportunistic targeting of islands. The method could be adapted to prioritize islands on a regional or national basis, or with different conservation gains in mind.
Machado‐Joseph Disease Enhances Genetic Fitness: A Comparison Between Affected and Unaffected Women and Between MJD and the General Population
Authors: Prestes P. R. , Saraiva‐Pereira M. L. , Silveira I. , Sequeiros J. , Jardim L. B. 
Published: August 2007

Summary Background: Machado‐Joseph disease (MJD SCA3), a spinocerebellar ataxia related to expansion of a CAG tract, has already been related to anticipation and meiotic drift. However, fitness of MJD carriers has been little studied. Objective: To analyze genetic fitness of MJD patients, comparing them to their unaffected relatives and to the general population (GP) of origin. Subjects and methods: 182 informants, belonging to 82 MJD families, agreed to participate in the study. Informants supplied data about 828 MJD patients. Number of children (NC), gender, age, school attainment, menarche and menopause were compared between general and emeritus (older than 45 years of age or deceased) groups. Results: Mean NC of the GP and of MJD patients were respectively 1.90 and 2.93± 2.3 (p = 0.0037). Comparisons within families also showed differences: the mean NC of unaffected and affected emeritus MJD women were, respectively, 2.68 and 3.89 (p = 0.0037). Affected MJD women had earlier mean ages at the delivery of their first child and menopause (p < 0.011 and 0.07, respectively). Among affected women those who did not have children had larger CAG tracts than those who had children (p < 0.05). Conclusion: MJD enhances the fitness of its carriers, and this phenomenon seems to have a biological basis.