bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Clinical Efficacy of Topical Pimecrolimus with Betamethasone in Chronic Skin Lesions Due to Sulfur Mustard Exposure: A Randomized, Investigator‐Blind Study
Authors: Panahi Yunes  , Moharamzad Yashar  , Beiraghdar Fatemeh  , Naghizadeh Mohammad Mehdi  
Published: December 2008

Abstract:  This study compared topical pimecrolimus with betamethasone in the treatment of pruritus and chronic skin lesions due to sulfur mustard exposure. Seventy male chemical‐injured war veterans participated in this investigator‐blinded clinical trial. They were randomized to receive pimecrolimus cream 1% (n = 35) or betamethasone cream 0.1% (n = 35) two times a day for 6 weeks. Dermatological examination and assessment of pruritus severity by a pruritic score questionnaire and visual analogue scale were done before and after the treatment course. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in pruritus, burning sensation, and skin dryness was shown in both groups after the treatment. However, the severity of hyper‐ and hypopigmentation, vesicle, erythema, fissure, lichenification and excoriation did not decrease significantly in either group (P > 0.05). Mean (± standard deviation) pruritic scores at baseline for the pimecrolimus and betamethasone groups were 30.4 (± 8.0) and 33.6 (± 7.2), respectively (P = 0.103). These scores decreased to 18.8 (± 4.8) in the pimecrolimus and 20.8 (± 4.0) in the betamethasone groups after treatment; both showed a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.001). Change of pruritus score from baseline to after the treatment course was not statistically different between the two groups (P = 0.502). No serious side‐effects were reported during the course of the treatment. Topical pimecrolimus 1% was as effective as betamethasone cream 0.1% in controlling pruritus, burning sensation and skin dryness of sulfur mustard‐exposed patients.
Nest Selection by Cavity‐nesting Birds in Subtropical Montane Forests of the Andes: Implications for Sustainable Forest Management
Authors: Politi Natalia , Hunter, Jr Malcolm , Rivera Luis 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTDevelopment of sustainable forestry has been hampered in tropical countries by a scarcity of research on the ecological effects of logging. We focused on cavity‐nesting birds, a group known to be sensitive to logging. Cavities used for nesting were not a random subset of all available suitable cavities. Birds selected cavities that were relatively high above the ground, had smaller entrances, and were excavated by woodpeckers. The use of tree species was also not random: Calycophyllum multiflorum, Blepharocalyx gigantea, and Podocarpus parlatorei were disproportionately important. Cavity nests were also more likely to be found in areas with trees with high mean diameter at breast height. This study emphasizes the need to maintain some unlogged forest patches within logging areas and retain certain species of trees. This study has implications for forest management in Argentina, where a new law mandates the sustainable use of forest resources and where many landowners are interested in forest certification.
Dry Season Den Use by Pygmy Spotted Skunk (Spilogale pygmaea) in a Tropical Deciduous Forest of Mexico
Authors: Cantú‐Salazar Lisette , Hidalgo‐Mihart Mircea G. , López‐González Carlos A. , González‐Romero Alberto 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTDry season den use by the pygmy spotted skunk Spilogale pygmaea, an endemic and threatened species of western Mexico, was evaluated at the micro and macrohabitat level, in the tropical deciduous forest of Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico. During the dry seasons of 1997, 1998, and 2000, 79 skunk den sites (29 for females and 50 males) were located using Radiotelemetry. Dens were underground excavations with one to five access points, located mostly on open ground or under live or dead trees. Skunks exhibited a continued reuse of dens but evidence of simultaneous occupation by two or more skunks was not found. Microhabitat den‐site analysis showed that skunks showed flexibility and individual variation in usage of the microhabitat surrounding den sites inside the forest. Macrohabitat den‐site analysis showed that skunks were not selecting either tropical deciduous or tropical semideciduous forest; however, no dens were located outside the forest in transformed habitats, strengthening the hypothesis of the association of this species with the tropical deciduous forests on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The current deforestation rates of the tropical deciduous forest in the coast of Jalisco could be reducing the potential den sites for pygmy spotted skunks and exposing them to adverse environmental conditions and predation.
Elevational Patterns of Diversity and Abundance of Eusocial Paper Wasps (Vespidae) in Costa Rica
Authors: Kumar Anjali , Longino John T. , Colwell Robert K. , O'Donnell Sean 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTWe used a standard sampling protocol to measure elevational patterns of species richness and abundance of eusocial paper wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Costa Rica. The sample transect of six sites spanned approximately 2000 m in elevation from lowland to montane forest. Species accumulation curves and species richness estimates both document a low elevation peak in paper wasp species richness at 50 and 300 m asl, with a decline in species richness at higher elevations. Comparison of species composition among elevations revealed strong species turnover from a rich lowland fauna to a depauperate, but distinct, montane fauna. We also observed a general trend toward a greater abundance of paper wasps at higher elevations, a pattern not usually observed in eusocial insects. Army ant species that prey on paper wasps declined in abundance with elevation across the sample transect, a pattern that has been observed at other sites. We discuss the possibility that elevational changes in predation pressure affect variation in paper wasp abundance and species richness. Eusocial paper wasp species employ one of two modes of colony founding, independent and swarm founding. We found that the total abundance of individual swarm‐founding wasps was higher at all elevations than the abundance of independent‐founding wasps, supporting previous suggestions that Neotropical swarm founders are more successful ecologically.
Reproduction in Wild Populations of the Threatened TreeMacadamia tetraphylla: Interpopulation Pollen Enriches Fecundity in a Declining Species
Authors: Pisanu Philip C. , Gross Caroline L. , Flood Lorelie 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTMacadamia tetraphylla is a subtropical rain forest tree from fragmented lowlands in eastern Australia. Owing to habitat loss and fragmentation, this commercially important species is vulnerable to extinction. Breeding system and fecundity were investigated in nine populations incorporating three habitat types (moderately disturbed, highly disturbed, and intact) to determine if seed set, seed weight, and genetic diversity are compromised by disturbance. Breeding success was also tested using pollen donors from distant (30–100 km), local (2–3 km), neighbor (10–20 m), and near‐neighbor (< 10 m) sources.Macadamia tetraphyllais weakly self‐compatible but incapable of automatic self‐pollination. Across populations, seed to flower ratios were always < 0.1 percent in open‐pollinated trees and trees from moderately disturbed habitats had the highest fruit production. Outcross pollen produced more seed per raceme than open‐pollinated or self‐pollination treatments. Seed set and seed weights were positively influenced by pollen source with local pollen and distant pollen effecting more or heavier seeds. Germination rates and genetic diversity did not vary significantly in seedlings from different pollen sources. Results suggest a pollen source from at least a 2 km distance is an optimal outbreeding distance; however, many wild populations do not have conspecifics at optimal distances owing to habitat fragmentation. Highly disturbed populations are producing seed but the longevity of these sites is threatened by weed invasions. We conclude that small populations in degraded habitats that are at risk of being overlooked should not be ignored but should be a focus for restoration efforts as they are a valuable asset for the conservation ofM. tetraphylla.
Reduced‐impact Logging has Little Effect on Temporal Activity of Frugivorous Bats (Chiroptera) in Lowland Amazonia
Authors: Presley Steven J. , Willig Michael R. , Saldanha Luiz N. , Wunderle Jr Joseph M. , Castro‐Arellano Ivan 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTReduced‐impact logging (RIL) represents a viable option for sustainable use of Neotropical lowland forests while minimizing negative effects on local biodiversity. Many Neotropical bats of the family Phyllostomidae provide ecosystem services associated with pollination and seed dispersal that promote the regeneration of disturbed areas; therefore, effects of RIL on these species is of particular concern. We determined patterns of temporal activity, degree of temporal overlap of activity, and dispersion in peaks of activity for seven abundant species of frugivorous bat in Tapajós National Forest, Pará, Brazil. In addition, we evaluated the effects of RIL at a harvest level of 18.7 m3/ha and habitat physiognomy on temporal patterns of activity for these species. Bats were surveyed for four nights at each of 96 sites for a total sampling effort of 64,512 net‐m‐h. Sites were distributed among four experimental blocks, two blocks of unlogged forest and two blocks of forest subjected to RIL. Half of the sites in each management type were in forest gaps and half were in closed‐canopy forest. In general, species exhibited similar patterns of activity, and greater than expected temporal overlap in activity among species. RIL and forest physiognomy had little effect on activity patterns of species. RIL in Amazonia removes fewer trees than do naturally occurring treefalls and such changes in habitat structure do not alter activity patterns of frugivorous bats. Evidence suggests that RIL does not have an appreciable adverse effect on frugivorous bats in Amazonia.
Interspecific Competition and Niche Separation in Primates: A Global Analysis
Authors: Schreier Brian M. , Harcourt Alexander H. , Coppeto Stephanie A. , Somi Masha F. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTPrimates are an extraordinarily well‐known tropical forest, mammalian taxon. We investigated potential modes of niche separation in primates by identifying sympatric species with putatively similar niche characteristics and assessing potential competition using data gleaned from an extensive literature review. We defined competing species‐pairs as (a) sympatric species in which (b) the body mass of the larger species was within 30 percent of the smaller species’ mass and (c) the species had the same category of diet. A sample of 43 well‐studied forests (7–20 per continent) provided 673 pairs of sympatric primate species. Of these, 45 pairs (7%) are potential competitors by our definition. Africa has the largest number of competing pairs (17 pairs), while Asia might have the highest percentage of competitors in each forest site (17%). Niche separation was investigated for each pair by examining them for each of eight possible modes of separation: detailed differences in diets (28% of potential competitors), use of different heights in the forest (25%), use of different types of forest (14%), use of different locations within the forest (11%), use of support branches of different diameters (7%), different ranging behavior (6%), different techniques of prey capture (4%), and differential timing of activity (4%). The use of different heights in the forest is the dominant form of potential separation in Africa (31% of competing species‐pairs) and Asia (38%), while detailed differences in diet appears to be the primary mode of niche separation in the Americas (26%) and Madagascar (32%).
Examining the Consulting Physician Model to Enhance the School Nurse Role for Children With Asthma
Authors: Wilson Kristin D. , Moonie Sheniz , Sterling David A. , Gillespie Kathleen N. , Kurz Richard S. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND:  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health Program recommends a consulting physician for schools to help manage asthma. The literature examines the effects when a school nurse is present, but the addition of a consulting physician is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of having a consulting physician on school absenteeism and children sent home due to health reasons for children with asthma and all children pooled together.METHODS:  A 2‐year preimplementation group cohort and 1‐year implementation group cohort of grades K‐6 in an urban school district were used to determine the impact of a consulting physician on school absenteeism for children with asthma and all children pooled together.RESULTS:  A consulting physician was significantly associated with reduced missed school days for children with asthma and all children as a group. All children pooled together were 44% more likely (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.31‐1.58) to be sent home without the consulting physician. There was a reduction from 13.8% to 12.6% of sent home events in children with asthma.CONCLUSIONS:  Having consulting physicians in school districts appears to be associated with fewer days of school absence. The results provide additional evidence and suggest that more research is required to determine if this association is valid and to better understand the cause of such an association.
Associations Between Adolescent Risk Behaviors and Injury: The Modifying Role of Disability
Authors: Raman Sudha R. , Boyce William F. , Pickett William 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND:  Adolescents with disabilities are at risk for poor health outcomes including injury. The objective of this study was to examine if disability status modifies the association between risk behavior and injury among adolescents.METHODS:  The cross‐sectional Health Behavior in School‐Aged Children Survey was administered to a representative sample of 7235 Canadian students (grades 6‐10) in 2002. Students who reported at least 1 functional difficulty due to a health condition were classified as having a disability. Engagement in up to 6 individual risk behaviors and a summative multiple risk behavior score were considered the primary exposures. Primary outcomes included medically attended injury experienced during a 12‐month period.RESULTS:  Sixteen percent of students reported a disability. Almost all risk behaviors and all injury outcomes were more common among students with disabilities than in those without disabilities (eg, older age group’s smoking: 17.5% vs 8.9%, p = <.01; medically attended injury: 67.4% vs 51.4%, p = <.01). Clear risk gradients were observed between engagement in multiple risk behavior and all injury outcomes. The association between multiple risk behavior and injury was accentuated by disability status among older students, particularly for students with disabilities who engaged in frequent multiple risk behavior (adjusted risk ratio 1.8, 95% CI: 1.6‐1.9).CONCLUSIONS:  Canadian students with disabilities who engage in risk behaviors experience higher risks for medically attended injury than their nondisabled peers who engage in those same risk behaviors. Injury prevention programs that focus on risk‐taking behavior should integrate the needs of this high‐risk group of adolescents in order to prevent additional disability.
The Relationship Between School Policies and Youth Tobacco Use*
Authors: Adams Monica L. , Jason Leonard A. , Pokorny Steven , Hunt Yvonne 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND:  The school setting is frequently used both to educate youth about risks involved in tobacco use and to implement tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Given that school‐based programs have resulted in limited success, it is necessary to identify other setting‐level intervention strategies. School tobacco policies represent a type of universal intervention that might have some promise for preventing or reducing tobacco use.METHODS:  Hierarchical linear modeling was used to assess whether school tobacco policies were related to observations of tobacco use and current smoking among 16,561 seventh through twelfth graders attending 40 middle and high schools in Illinois.RESULTS:  Results indicated that the enforcement of school tobacco policies, but not the comprehensiveness of those policies, was associated with fewer observations of tobacco use by minors on school grounds as well as lower rates of current smoking among students.CONCLUSIONS:  The school setting is a key system to impact youth tobacco use. Findings underscore the need to train school personnel to enforce school tobacco policy.
An Examination of Public School Safety Measures Across Geographic Settings
Authors: Shelton Andrea J. , Owens Emiel W. , Song Holim 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND:  Violence at a school can have a negative impact on the health of students, teachers, administrators, and others associated with the school and surrounding community. The use of weapons in school buildings or on school grounds accounts for the majority of violent deaths, particularly among males. This national trend suggests the need for a more concerted effort to improve safety and prevent violence. This article reports the use of 13 safety measures in US public schools in 4 geographic regions (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West) and 3 community settings (urban, suburban, and rural).METHODS:  Data representing 16,000 schools reported in the Educational Longitudinal Survey of 2002‐2004 were analyzed. Data were self‐reported by school administrators.RESULTS:  Of the various safety measures assessed, fire alarms and extinguishers were consistently reported regardless of the geographic region or community setting of the school. Other than measures for fire safety, schools throughout the country routinely used exterior light and student lockers as safety measures. There was a significant difference by geographic region and community setting in the use of safety measures that required specific personnel, namely a security guard and an adult to direct a guest to sign in.CONCLUSION:  Recognizing the patterns of violence at public high schools, administrators working with students, other school personnel, and community partners may consider more combinations of the safety measures within their institutions together with local resources and services to improve safety and reduce violence.
Is There a Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement? Positive Results From Public School Children in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Chomitz Virginia R. , Slining Meghan M. , McGowan Robert J. , Mitchell Suzanne E. , Dawson Glen F. , Hacker Karen A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVES:  To determine relationships between physical fitness and academic achievement in diverse, urban public school children.METHODS:  This cross‐sectional study used public school data from 2004 to 2005. Academic achievement was assessed as a passing score on Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) achievement tests in Mathematics (fourth, sixth, and eighth grade, n = 1103) and in English (fourth and seventh grade, n = 744). Fitness achievement was assessed as the number of physical fitness tests passed during physical education (PE). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the probability of passing the MCAS tests, controlling for students’ weight status (BMI z score), ethnicity, gender, grade, and socioeconomic status (school lunch enrollment).RESULTS:  The odds of passing both the MCAS Mathematics test and the MCAS English test increased as the number of fitness tests passed increased (p < .0001 and p < .05, respectively).CONCLUSIONS:  Results show statistically significant relationships between fitness and academic achievement, though the direction of causation is not known. While more research is required, promoting fitness by increasing opportunities for physical activity during PE, recess, and out of school time may support academic achievement.
BASIN EVOLUTION OF THE LURESTAN REGION IN THE ZAGROS FOLD‐AND‐THRUST BELT, IRAN
Authors: Farzipour‐Saein A. , Yassaghi A. , Sherkati S. , Koyi H. 
Published: December 2008

The evolution of the central part of the Lurestan region in the Zagros fold‐and‐thrust belt has been studied using newly generated isopach maps for different time intervals between the Late Cretaceous and the Miocene. The study was based on existing geological maps, gravity data, measured stratigraphic surface sections, original field work and well data. Understanding the processes which have influenced facies and thickness variations in the study area will have a significant impact on future hydrocarbon exploration.Cenomanian carbonates assigned to the Sarvak Formation, the main reservoir unit in the study area, are composed of both pelagic and neritic facies. These facies occur along the roughly north‐south trending “Anaran lineament”, interpreted to represent a palaeohigh, which influenced patterns of sedimentation in the Cretaceous‐Tertiary. The palaeohigh formed as a result of the reactivation of a basement lineament in the Late Cretaceous. The continuing influence of this lineament on patterns of sedimentation during Oligocene — early Miocene time is indicated by a range of evidence including the presence of clinoform geometries.Analysis of sedimentary thicknesses in the Zagros foreland basin between the Late Cretaceous and the early Miocene indicates progressive SWward migration of the depocentre. Late Cretaceous ophiolite obduction and plate margin convergence exerted a major influence on stratigraphic architecture, and controlled depocentre migration and foreland basin evolution.