bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An ontogenetic perspective on the relationship between age and size at maturity
Authors: BERNER D. , BLANCKENHORN W. U. 
Published: March 2007

Summary

Understanding the relationship between age and size at maturity is essential because these traits are pivotal determinants of an organism's fitness.
The relationship between age and size is commonly addressed using optimization and quantitative genetic approaches. Here we argue that the value of such studies is often limited by an insufficient consideration of organismal ontogeny.
On the basis of a simple conceptual framework of hierarchical resource allocation, we identify key aspects of ontogeny that prove critical to a fuller understanding of the relationship between age and size, and which, to date, have been insufficiently explored. In particular, these include intrinsic variation in growth rate within and among populations, and the physiological nature of the maturation process that co‐ordinates growth and reproductive function in an organism.
We also provide some guidance to the empirical investigation of these aspects, anticipating that a wider theoretical, but especially empirical appreciation of ontogenetic detail will greatly increase the explanatory and predictive power of life‐history studies.
The use of micro‐Raman spectroscopy to differentiate between sound and eroded primary enamel
Authors: GILCHRIST FIONA , SANTINI ARIO , HARLEY KATHRYN , DEERY CHRISTOPHER 
Published: March 2007

Objective.  The aim of this study was to investigate differences in phosphate group concentration between areas of sound and eroded enamel in primary teeth using micro‐Raman spectroscopy (MRS).Methods.  The Raman spectroscopic technique enables researchers to obtain information about molecules by analysing scattered light caused by monochromatic laser excitation. Ten extracted anterior primary teeth with areas of sound and eroded enamel were used. Three, 10‐s scans were carried out at three points along a 3‐µm linear area in both sound and eroded primary enamel, and Raman spectra were obtained with the LabRam 300 fitted with an Olympus BX40 microscope. Scanning electron microscopy was used to confirm the presence of sound and eroded enamel on each tooth.Results.  The phosphate ν1 band was located between 958.5 and 967.0 cm−1. There was no statistically significant difference between the area under the phosphate ν1 band values for the eroded and sound areas (P = 0.7302). Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of sound and eroded areas on all specimens.Conclusion.  In this study, there was no statistically significant difference found between phosphate group concentration in eroded and sound primary enamel when analysed by MRS.
Estimating regional species richness of tropical insects from museum data: a comparison of a geography‐based and sample‐based methods
Authors: BECK JAN , KITCHING IAN J. 
Published: March 2007

Summary

The identification of spatial patterns of species richness at regional scales, such as biodiversity hotspots, is complicated in invertebrate taxa (particularly those from tropical regions) by incomplete and biased inventory data. Estimation techniques of regional species richness from incompletely sampled landscapes have recently become available, but their applicability to data from museum collections and local taxonomic checklists has not been investigated.
We use records of sphingid moths in grid cells of 1° latitude and longitude on 14 Malesian islands to estimate the total species richness of these islands, as well as that of the whole archipelago, by five parametric and nonparametric estimation techniques. We compare these values to figures based on GIS‐supported estimates of geographical ranges of each species.
Our analyses suggest that the F3 estimator of regional species richness leads to least deviation from the GIS‐based estimate, followed by Chao2 and ICE, which are often employed in local comparisons. Overestimation occurred more often than underestimation and estimates of well‐sampled islands (with many available grid cells) are less deviant than those of poorly sampled islands. We did not obtain conclusive results as to whether strongly undersampled grid cells are better excluded from an analysis (at the cost of reduced grid cell number) or not.
Synthesis and applications. In agreement with some previously published assessments, we conclude that the F3 estimator has the greatest potential for predicting regional species richness in partially sampled landscapes. Sample‐based methods for estimating regional species richness can provide an alternative to the much more work‐intensive geographical modelling of species distributions, which may facilitate the inclusion of tropical invertebrate groups in documenting global diversity patterns. However, under conditions of incomplete, non‐systematic sampling, which is typical for museum and checklist data, errors can still be large, particularly if the number of sampling units (e.g. grid cells) is low. Estimation values should not be interpreted uncritically when the data conditions that lead to biased values are not precisely defined.
Umbrella potential of plants and dragonflies for wetland conservation: a quantitative case study using the umbrella index
Authors: BRIED JASON T. , HERMAN BROOK D. , ERVIN GARY N. 
Published: March 2007

Summary

Shortcuts to measuring biodiversity enable prioritization of conservation effort in the face of limited time, personnel and funding. The conservation umbrella approach focuses management effort according to individual species that may confer protection to a larger community. This approach can help guide the management agenda towards attainable goals by maximizing conservation returns per unit effort. The development of the umbrella index has shown promise in identifying umbrella species in terrestrial ecosystems but has received little attention with respect to the management of wetland ecosystems.
We used the umbrella index to assess the umbrella potential of vascular plants and dragonflies (Odonata) from 15 wetland impoundments in northern Mississippi, USA. The presence of adult odonates was determined by repeated visual surveys and plant lists were compiled from 50 plots per site.
Umbrella schemes, or the sites occupied by top umbrella species, missed large numbers of beneficiary species and occurrences. With one exception, umbrella schemes failed to optimize conservation returns relative to randomized schemes in both assemblages. Also, umbrella schemes approximately equalled the performance of non‐umbrella schemes both overall and for species with a low rate of occurrence. Low occurrence rates in both assemblages may have hindered umbrella index performance because the index assumes that species with moderate occurrence rates have the most umbrella potential.
Cross‐taxon analyses (Mantel tests and McNemar tests) suggested transferability of plant and dragonfly umbrella schemes, and non‐random association between the plants and dragonflies in these wetlands.
Synthesis and applications. Despite the questionable performance of umbrella schemes in our study, the use of a quantitative ecological tool such as the umbrella index instead of political or popularity criteria is strongly recommended for future selection of umbrella species. The results of cross‐taxon analyses supported growing evidence for spatial and functional relationships between wetland macrophytes and adult odonates. We suggest that the more easily measured assemblage can be used to set priorities for wetland conservation planning in circumstances where human resources are constrained.
Government advice on peanut avoidance during pregnancy – is it followed correctly and what is the impact on sensitization?
Authors: Dean T. , Venter C. , Pereira B. , Grundy J. , Clayton C. B. , Higgins B. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackgroundIn 1998, the UK government issued precautionary advice that pregnant or breast‐feeding women with a family history of atopy, may wish to avoid eating peanuts during pregnancy and lactation. This study aimed to assess the compliance with this recommendation and investigate its impact upon peanut sensitization.MethodsA total of 858 children born immediately after the advice were followed for 2 years and assessed for peanut sensitization. A standardized questionnaire was used to ascertain history of atopy and maternal exposure to peanuts during pregnancy. Following parental consent children were skin prick tested to assess sensitization to peanuts.ResultsSixty‐five per cent of mothers had avoided peanuts during pregnancy. Forty‐two per cent of the mothers had heard about the government advice, and half modified their diet as a consequence. Neither maternal nor family history of atopy had any significant effect on peanut consumption. Parity did play a role, and mothers having their first child were twice as likely to change their diet (P < 0.001). Mothers of 77% of the children sensitized to peanuts had avoided peanuts during pregnancy. In this cohort study maternal consumption of peanut during pregnancy was not associated with peanut sensitization in the infant.ConclusionsThe majority of mothers in this cohort avoided peanut consumption during pregnancy. It is likely that either the government advice is misunderstood by mothers, or that those who communicate the advice have not fully explained who it is targeted at.
Dietary zinc intake and sex differences in taste acuity in healthy young adults
Authors: McDaid O. , Stewart‐Knox B. , Parr H. , Simpson E. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackgroundPrevious research suggests that adequate dietary zinc intake may be important in determining the sensory experience of food, appetite and consequently, dietary quality. The aim of this pilot study was to explore relationships between taste sensitivity and dietary zinc intake in healthy young adults (age 20–40 years: 24 male, mean age ± SD = 27 ± 4.86 years; 26 female, mean age ± SD = 23 ± 2.10).MethodA signal detection method was used to assess taste acuity for the four basic tastes: sweet (glucose), sour (citric acid), salt (sodium chloride) and bitter (quinine). A 4‐day food diary was used to determine dietary intakes of zinc (mg day−1) and salt.ResultsMales reported a higher zinc intake than females (P = 0.001). Higher dietary zinc intake was associated with better taste acuity for salt in females (P = 0.017) but not in males. Acuity for bitter taste appeared to be related to zinc intake in males (P = 0.007) but not females. Among those whose average daily zinc intake was below the RNI, males were less sensitive than females to sour (P = 0.02) and bitter (P = 0.014) taste.ConclusionThese findings suggest that zinc is more important for taste acuity in males than females and indicate the importance of taking sex differences into account when studying taste acuity.
Early versus late enteral nutritional support in adults with burn injury: a systematic review
Authors: Wasiak J. , Cleland H. , Jeffery R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackgroundBurn injury increases the body's metabolic demands, and therefore nutritional requirements. Provision of an adequate supply of nutrients is believed to lower the incidence of metabolic abnormalities, thus reducing septic morbidity, and improving survival rates. Enteral nutrition support is the best feeding method in a patient who is unable to achieve an adequate oral intake, but optimal timing of its introduction after burn injury (i.e. early versus late) needs to be established. The purpose of this review is to examine evidence for the effectiveness and safety of early versus late enteral nutrition support in adults with burn injury.MethodsAn examination of randomized and controlled clinical trials using various medical databases such as The Cochrane Library (Issue 3, 2006), MEDLINE (from 1950), CINHAL (from 1982) and EMBASE (from 1980).ResultsThe trial evidence about the benefit of early enteral nutritional support on standardized clinical outcomes such as length of hospital stay and mortality remained inconclusive. Similarly, the question of whether early enteral feeding influenced or decreased metabolic rate, reduced septic and other complications remained uncertain.ConclusionsPromising results suggest early enteral nutrition support may blunt the hypermetabolic response to thermal injury, but it is insufficient to provide clear guidelines for practice. Further research incorporating larger sample sizes and rigorous methodology that utilizes valid and reliable outcome measures is essential.
Adequacy of dietetic service provision to adult critical care: a survey of 33 centres in Northern England
Authors: Windle E. M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground:Nutrition interventions improve morbidity, mortality and length of stay in the critically ill. Dietitians play a central role in facilitating these interventions. However, data regarding the current level and adequacy of dietetic service provision to critical care in the UK is lacking. This study aimed to clarify current service trends in Northern England for critical care, in relation to dietetic funding, grading and activity characteristics and comparisons with nationally recognized standards of care.Methods:A work profile questionnaire was sent to 53 dietitians in Northern England. Data was collected on funding, activity patterns, organization of nutrition support, pay banding/grade and arrangements for cover during absence.Results:The response rate was 66% (35/53). Thirty‐three hospitals were represented. No critical care centre funding or actual activity achieved national guidance for funded dietetic full‐time equivalents (FTE). Total sample deficit for funding against recommendations was 32.9 FTE. Staff pay bands/grades were inconsistent. Routine patient review occurred on a daily basis by 31% dietitians and 23% were members of a nutrition support team. Cover during absence was limited or provided by a dietitian at a lower staff grade in 67% of centres.Conclusions:Serious deficiencies exist in dietetic services to critical care in the sample studied. Further work is now required to identify inter‐regional and national trends and to define appropriate dietetic job profiles for critical care.
Correlates of maternal behaviours in mothers of children with fragile X syndrome
Authors: Wheeler Anne , Hatton Deborah , Reichardt Alison , Bailey Don 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground The behaviours of 24 mothers of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) with their affected children were examined during planned observations in their homes. The goal of this study was to describe concurrent maternal interactive behaviour and the factors that influence the type and frequency of these behaviours within this group.Methods The frequency ofmaintaining,directiveandscaffoldingbehaviours and the extent to which the mothers displayedwarm sensitivityandrestrictionswere examined within a 60‐min naturalistic observation and a 10‐min toy play observation. Rating scales and parent questionnaires were used to assess selected maternal mental health factors, including depression, anxiety, stress and social support. The cognitive status of mothers and developmental and behavioural abilities of children were also examined.Results The women in this study used primarily maintaining behaviours in interactions with their children. Maintaining behaviours and warm sensitivity were consistent across structured and unstructured settings, while directive, scaffolding and restricting were not correlated across the two settings. Child receptive language skills were related to higher rates of maintaining and scaffolding behaviours. The women reported clinically significant levels of stress, depression and anxiety at a prevalence rate higher than that of the general public. Child behaviour problems contributed to maternal stress, and mothers with higher stress engaged in fewer interactions with their children.Conclusions The relations between maternal stress, child problem behaviour and number of interactive behaviours exhibited by the mothers in this study provide information that can inform interventions and provide direction for future research exploring environmental influences on the development of children with fragile X syndrome.
Drug administration errors in an institution for individuals with intellectual disability: an observational study
Authors: Van Den Bemt P. M. L. A. , Robertz R. , De Jong A. L. , Van Roon E. N. , Leufkens H. G. M. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground  Medication errors can result in harm, unless barriers to prevent them are present. Drug administration errors are less likely to be prevented, because they occur in the last stage of the drug distribution process. This is especially the case in non‐alert patients, as patients often form the final barrier to prevention of errors. Therefore, a study was set up aimed at identifying the frequency of drug administration errors and determinants for these errors in an institution for individuals with intellectual disability (ID).Methods  This observational study (‘disguised observation’) was conducted within an institution in the Netherlands caring for 2500 individuals with ID and lasted from October to December 2004 with a case control design for identifying determinants for errors. The institution consists of both day care units and living units (providing full‐time care), located in different towns. For the study, five units from different towns were selected. Within each study unit, the administration of drugs to patients was observed for 2 weeks. In total, 953 drug administrations to 46 patients (25 male, mean age 25.8 years, range 2–73 years) were observed.Results  With inclusion of wrong time errors, 242 administrations with at least one error were observed [frequency = 242/953 (25.4%)] and with exclusion 213 administrations with at least one error were observed [frequency = 213/953 (22.4%)]. Determinants associated with errors were routes of administration ‘oral by feeding tube’ (OR 189.66; 95% CI 46.16–779.24) and ‘inhalation’ (OR 9.98; 95% CI 4.78–20.80), the units ‘adult full‐time care’ (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.05–4.35) and ‘children daytime care’ (OR 10.80; 95% CI 4.43–26.29) and the absence of a distribution robot (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.67–5.95). None of the identified errors were reported to the voluntary reporting system.Conclusion  This study shows that administration errors in an institution for individuals with ID are common and that they are not formally reported to the voluntary reporting system. Furthermore, it identified some determinants that may be the focus for future improvements aimed to reduce error frequency.
Uniform ion beam milling of a non‐flat surface at off‐normal incidence and four azimuths
Authors: ALKEMADE P.F.A. , DOCTER M.W. , KUTCHOUKOV V.G. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryAtom removal from surfaces via bombardment by ion beams –ion beam sputtering or ion milling– is a widely employed technique to form geometric structures in materials. In this work we present and test a new method to achieving uniform material removal from an irregular surface. The method is based on ion milling at off‐normal incidence under four consecutive perpendicular azimuthal specimen orientations. Mathematical analysis shows that uniform ion milling of an uneven surface is achieved at the polar angle of incidence θ where the quantity has its maximum [Y(θ) is the number of removed atoms per incident ion].The four‐azimuth milling procedure is tested successfully for a 30 keV Ga+ beam on a suspended but wrinkled Si3N4/Au bilayer foil and on truncated Si pyramids with slopes up to 40°. Despite the variations in local surface orientations, uniform milling is achieved at a polar incidence angle of 45° and four consecutive azimuths of 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°.
In situ atomic force microscopy and image analysis of dentine submitted to acid etching
Authors: PACIORNIK S. , DE‐DEUS G. , REIS C. M. , PINHO MAURICIO M. H. , PRIOLI R. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThe effect of acid etching on root dentine was analyzed with Atomic Force Microscopy using a liquid cell that allowed image acquisition while the sample was kept in contact with the etching solution. The time evolution of the etching process was evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Image sequences against etching time were obtained showing a clear trend of surface cleaning and opening of dentine tubules. Image analysis methods were employed to quantify the changes on the dentine surface, through the detection and morphological measurement of dentine tubules over time. The measurements indicated an overall increase in the diameter of the tubules against time, with a saturation value between 3.5 and 5.5 μm reached after approximately 300 seconds.
Non‐destructive characterization of deer (Cervus Elaphus) antlers by X‐ray microtomography coupled with image analysis
Authors: LÉONARD A. , GUIOT L. P. , PIRARD J.‐P. , CRINE M. , BALLIGAND M. , BLACHER S. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryX‐ray microtomography coupled with image analysis was tested as a non‐destructive alternative method for the textural characterization of the trabecular part of deer antlers (Cervus Elaphus). As gas adsorption and mercury intrusion cannot be applied on this soft and spongy material, its pore texture was, up to now, determined from histological sections that give only two‐dimensional information. In this work, X‐ray microtomography is used to scan entire or half pieces of antlers and three‐dimensional image analysis is performed in order to assess the differences between samples collected at various antler locations. Results clearly show a porosity profile along the sample diameter. The pore size distribution is showed to be dependent on the sample original site.
Micromechanical properties of tobacco mosaic viruses
Authors: SCHMATULLA ALEXANDER , MAGHELLI NICOLA , MARTI OTHMAR 
Published: March 2007

SummaryA tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) subject to local forces can be viewed as an uniform beam with local loads. We used a custom built Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to determine the curvature induced in the TMV by concentrated load or by distributed forces. Local forces were created by the AFM tip. Distributed forces were applied to the virus via the surface tension of receding droplets. The experimental results of both methods can be described when we attribute a Young modulus of 6 ± 3 GPa to the virus. Our value is about five times larger than published data. We compare our results to the literature and work out possible error sources in our experiment and in published one.
Three‐dimensional measurement and visualization of morphogenesis applied to cardiac embryology
Authors: SOUFAN A. T. , VAN DEN BERG G. , MOERLAND P. D. , MASSINK M. M. G. , VAN DEN HOFF M. J. B. , MOORMAN A. F. M. , RUIJTER J. M. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryVolume growth and proliferation are key processes in heart morphogenesis, yet their regionalization during development of the heart has been described only anecdotally. To study the contribution of cardiomyocyte proliferation to heart development, a quantitative reconstruction method was designed, allowing the local mapping of this morphogenetic process. First, a morphological surface reconstruction is made of the heart, using sections stained specifically for cardiomyocytes. Then, by a comprehensive series of image processing steps, local three‐dimensional (3D) information of proliferation is obtained. These local quantitative data are then mapped onto the morphological surface reconstruction, resulting in a reconstruction that not only provides morphological information (qualitative), but also displays local information on proliferation rate (quantitative). The resulting 3D quantitative reconstructions revealed novel observations regarding the morphogenesis of the heart.