bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The significance and scope of reproductive tract infections among Third World women
Authors: Wasserheit Judith N. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractDue to biomedical, behavioral and societal factors, reproductive tract infections are widespread in the Third World. Without early diagnosis and accurate therapy, their complications severely compromise women's health, fertility and productivity; infant health and survival; and the effectiveness of family planning programs. Clinicians and public health planners can address these treatable syndromes through research and services in socially acceptable settings including family planning, prenatal and MCH clinics. Specific approaches are discussed.
Preliminary study of the prevalence of speech and language difficulties in young offenders
Authors: Bryan Karen 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: There are no systematic surveys of the UK prison population, but data from several sources suggest that a significant number of prisoners might have limitations in their speech, language and communication abilities.Aim: To examine the hypothesis that compared with the general population, a significantly larger number of the prison population has speech, language and communication difficulties.Methods & Procedures: A survey of 10% of the young offenders within one young offender's institution was conducted. Tests of naming, picture description, grammatical competency and comprehension were used.Outcomes & Results: Forty‐three per cent of participants scored at a level significantly lower than the limits acceptable for their age on the Boston Naming Test; 73% scored significantly below the acceptable limits for their age on grammatical competency; 23% scored significantly below the acceptable limits for their age on language comprehension; 47% of participants received more than one rating of moderate impairment on picture description.Conclusion: It was confirmed that high levels of speech, language and communication difficulties are found among the young offender population. The implications for the management of young offenders, the limitations of the study and indications for further research are discussed.
Working memory and novel word learning in children with hearing impairment and children with specific language impairment
Authors: Hansson K. , Forsberg J. , Löfqvist A. , Mäki‐Torkko E. , Sahlén B. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractBackground: Working memory is considered to influence a range of linguistic skills, i.e. vocabulary acquisition, sentence comprehension and reading. Several studies have pointed to limitations of working memory in children with specific language impairment. Few studies, however, have explored the role of working memory for language deficits in children with hearing impairment.Aims: The first aim was to compare children with mild‐to‐moderate bilateral sensorineural hearing impairment, children with a preschool diagnosis of specific language impairment and children with normal language development, aged 9–12 years, for language and working memory. The special focus was on the role of working memory in learning new words for primary school age children.Methods & Procedures: The assessment of working memory included tests of phonological short‐term memory and complex working memory. Novel word learning was assessed according to the methods of Gilbertson and Kamhi (1995). In addition, a range of language tests was used to assess language comprehension, output phonology and reading.Outcomes & Results: Children with hearing impairment performed significantly better than children with a preschool diagnosis of specific language impairment on tasks assessing novel word learning, complex working memory, sentence comprehension and reading accuracy. No significant correlation was found between phonological short‐term memory and novel word learning in any group. The best predictor of novel word learning in children with specific language impairment and in children with hearing impairment was complex working memory. Furthermore, there was a close relationship between complex working memory and language in children with a preschool diagnosis of specific language impairment but not in children with hearing impairment.Conclusions: Complex working memory seems to play a significant role in vocabulary acquisition in primary school age children. The interpretation is that the results support theories suggesting a weakened influence of phonological short‐term memory on novel word learning in school age children.
Can management of freshwater fish populations be used to protect and enhance the conservation status of a rare, fish‐eating bird, the bittern, Botaurus stellaris, in the UK?
Authors: Noble R. A. A. , Harvey J. P. , Cowx I. G. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe bittern, Botaurus stellaris (L.), is a Red Data list species in the UK with currently approximately 30 breeding males restricted to a few wet reedbeds, the majority of which are located in the East Anglian region of England. Although having a diverse diet, the bittern is mainly piscivorous, and eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.), and rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.), are their main prey species. The EU Species Action Plan for the bittern targeted degradation of wet reedbed habitat and food availability as the two main threats and limiting factors to the conservation status of bitterns. To date, most conservation work has focused on the rehabilitation and creation of wetland reedbed habitat with little or no manipulation of the available or required food base, because of a paucity of knowledge regarding the habitat requirements of fish species in wetlands. Research was undertaken at a key bittern‐breeding site in the UK to assess the impact of habitat management on the dynamics of resident fish populations and their availability to bitterns. Fish stock assessments indicated that current management techniques, in particular reedbed lowering, open water creation and the extensive use of sluices in complex hydrological systems, have impacted on the distribution and recruitment dynamics of fish populations within the reedbed complex, consequently affecting the potential food base for bitterns. It was concluded that fish population management must complement reedbed management regimes if current conservation targets for bitterns are to be met.
Fish introductions and their management in the English Lake District
Authors: Winfield I. J. , Durie N. C. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractFor biogeographical reasons, the English Lake District contains relatively few native fish species although it encompasses 14 major lakes and many smaller water bodies. Nevertheless, it is nationally important for fish biodiversity because of the presence of vendace, Coregonus albula (L.), whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus (L.), and Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), while recreational angling contributes significantly to the local tourism industry. Several recent illegal introductions of fish species have been observed at several lakes, probably as a result of anglers live‐baiting for pike, Esox lucius L., including roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.) and ruffe, Gymnocephalus cernuus (L.), where they now threaten native species through competition and predation. As the removal of introduced populations is practically impossible, their management is limited to preventing further introductions. A description is given of legislation introduced in 2002 to achieve this objective by banning the use of live‐baits in 14 lakes of high conservation importance.
Coupling insights from a carp, Cyprinus carpio, angler survey with feeding experiments to evaluate composition, quality and phosphorus input of groundbait in coarse fishing
Authors: Niesar M. , Arlinghaus R. , Rennert B. , Mehner T. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractA carp angler survey indicated that specialised carp anglers used on average 215 kg groundbaits (mostly cereals, nuts, beans, boilies) per year which corresponded to a mean annual gross P‐input of 1018 g P angler−1. A feeding experiment was conducted with juvenile carp fed with a random sample of the main bait types used in coarse angling to estimate the nutritional quality and P‐retention efficiency. The investigated groundbaits had a rather low nutritional quality. Based on the examined P‐retention efficiencies, the net annual P‐input was calculated to be 839 g P per angler. To counterbalance this P‐input, an annual harvest rate of 175–225 kg carp biomass per angler would be necessary. Thus, under certain conditions, a substantial contribution by carp and other coarse angling to the P‐loading is likely. Further studies on the issue of groundbaiting are needed to develop guidelines for more effective management of coarse angling.
Fish habitat is everyone's business, Canada's fish habitat management programme
Authors: Goodchild G. A. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThe conservation and protection of fish habitat in support of Canada's coastal and inland fisheries is the mandate of Canada's Fish Habitat Management Programme. The programme's objective of a net gain of the productive capacity of habitat is achieved by a variety of actions that protect fish habitat but allow works and undertakings in and around water. Some of the core activities include a review of works and proposals for adherence to the requirements of the Fisheries Act, the issuance of letters of mitigation advice, and authorisation and enforcement activities for compliance with legislation and policies. The programme is enhanced through working with partners in community outreach activities, the generation of mitigation guidelines and fact sheets, as well as compliance monitoring and assessment. This paper presents an overview of the Canadian Fish Habitat Management Programme and focuses on how an expanded programme is being managed within the Province of Ontario. Habitat managers’ tools used to protect the resource are detailed. In 1997, an expanded programme for habitat management was initiated. Subsequently, there has been greater emphasis on advice to clients, agency partnerships and public education. Focussing on redesign and relocation of projects and mitigation of harmful effects has likely resulted in the reduction of the number of authorisations for habitat destruction in this period, despite an overall increase in project referrals for review. Once the Habitat Management Programme is fully implemented across Canada, it will be possible, through monitoring and review, to assess whether there is a greater achievement of no net loss of the productive capacity of habitat and potentially a net gain. This programme of habitat protection and conservation could serve as a model for other jurisdictions.
Neurobehavioral correlates of sleep‐disordered breathing in children
Authors: O'Brien Louise M. , Mervis Carolyn B. , Holbrook Cheryl R. , Bruner Jennifer L. , Smith Nigel H. , McNally Nechia , Catherine McClimment M. , Gozal David 
Published: May 2004

SummaryThe effects of sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) on neurobehavioral function were examined in two matched groups of children from the general population. Thirty‐five children with polysomnographically confirmed SDB were matched for ethnicity, age, gender, maternal educational attainment, and maternal smoking, to healthy children with no evidence of SDB. Children with SDB had significantly lower mean scores on the Differential Ability Scales for General Conceptual Ability (similar to IQ) and for the Non‐verbal Cluster. On the neuropsychology assessment battery (NEPSY), children with SDB scored significantly lower than the control group on the attention/executive function domain and two subtests within that domain, one measuring visual attention and the other executive function. In addition, children with SDB scored significantly lower than the controls on one subtest from the NEPSY language domain: Phonological Processing. This subtest measures phonological awareness, a skill that is critical for learning to read. No differences in behavior, as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) or the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale, were found between the two groups. Using a novel algorithm to assess sleep pressure, we found that children with SDB were significantly sleepier than controls. Furthermore, total arousal index was negatively correlated with neurocognitive abilities, suggesting a role for sleep fragmentation in pediatric SDB‐induced cognitive dysfunction.
Waking up properly: is there a role of thermoregulation in sleep inertia?
Authors: Kräuchi Kurt , Cajochen Christian , Wirz‐Justice Anna 
Published: May 2004

SummaryWe assume that alertness should be highest at the end of a sleep episode: it is not. There is always sleep inertia upon awakening, which can last minutes to hours, and whose underlying physiological mechanisms are largely unknown. Previously, we had found a functional relationship between the degree of distal vasodilatation (as measured by the distal‐proximal skin temperature gradient (DPG) and sleepiness (as measured by subjective ratings), promoting rapid sleep onset. This led us to hypothesize that the dissipation of sleep inertia (sleepiness) would be associated with reverse thermoregulatory mechanisms, i.e. distal vasoconstriction. In two sets of experiments with either a nocturnal sleep episode (study 1) or an afternoon nap (study 2) we could show that vasodilatation of hands and feet increased after lights off and that this was reversed after lights on. The time course of the DPG was significantly and positively correlated with subjective sleepiness (KSS), reflecting similar temporal relationships in both studies 1 and 2. The extremities cooled at a rate very closely parallel to the decay of sleepiness [time constants for the exponential decline calculated for study 2: DPG, 0.286 ± 0.048 h versus KSS, 0.332 ± 0.050 h; NS], indicating redistribution of heat from the shell to the core during dissipation of sleepiness. There was no statistical evidence that the time course of sleep inertia and its thermophysiological correlates depend on sleep structure prior to awakening. The symmetry between the thermoregulatory processes initiating sleepiness and those dissipating it is striking. In order to directly test our hypothesis, further studies with thermophysiological interventions (e.g. cooling the extremities) are needed.
Stimulus‐induced brain lactate: effects of aging and prolonged wakefulness
Authors: Urrila Anna S. , Hakkarainen Antti , Heikkinen Sami , Vuori Kim , Stenberg Dag , Häkkinen Anna‐Maija , Lundbom Nina , Porkka‐Heiskanen Tarja 
Published: May 2004

SummaryBoth aging and sleep deprivation disturb the functions of the frontal lobes. Deficits in brain energy metabolism have been reported in these conditions. Neurons use not only glucose but also lactate as their energy substrate. The physiological response to elevated neuronal activity is a transient increase in lactate concentrations in the stimulated area. We have previously shown that cognitive stimulation increases brain lactate. To study the effect of prolonged wakefulness on the lactate response we designed an experiment to assess brain lactate levels during a 40‐h sleep deprivation period in young (19–24 years old; n = 13) and in aged (60–68 years old; n = 12) healthy female volunteers. Brain lactate levels were assessed with proton MR‐spectroscopy (1H MRS) during the performance of a silent word generation task. The 1H MRS voxel location was individually selected, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, to cover the activated area in the left frontal lobe. The degree of sleepiness was verified using vigilance tests and self‐rating scales. In the young alert subjects, the silent word generation test induced a 40% increase in lactate, but during the prolonged wakefulness period this response disappeared. In the aged subjects, the lactate response could not be detected even in the alert state. We propose that the absence of the lactate response may be a sign of malfunctioning of normal brain energy metabolism. The behavioral effects of prolonged wakefulness and aging may arise from this dysfunction.
Central and obstructive sleep apnoea during ascent to high altitude
Authors: BURGESS Keith R. , JOHNSON Pamela L. , EDWARDS Natalie 
Published: May 2004

Objective:  The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between central sleep apnoea (CSA) at high altitude and arterial blood gas tensions, and by inference, ventilatory responsiveness.Methodology:  Fourteen normal adult volunteers were studied by polysomnography during sleep, and analysis of awake blood gases during ascent over 12 days from sealevel to 5050 m in the Nepal Himalayas.Results:  Thirteen subjects developed CSA. Linear regression analysis showed tight negative correlations between mean CSA index and mean values for sleep SaO2, PaCO2 and PaO2 over the six altitudes (r2 ≥ 0.74 for all, P < 0.03). Paradoxically there was poor correlation between the individual data for CSA index and those parameters at the highest altitude (5050‐m) where CSA was worst (r2 < 0.12 for all, NS), possibly due to variation in degree of acclimatization between subjects. In addition, CSA replaced mild obstructive sleep apnoea during ascent. Obstructive sleep apnoea index fell from 5.5 ± 6.9/h in rapid eye movement sleep at sealevel to 0.1 ± 0.3/h at 5050 m (P < 0.001, analysis of variance), while CSA index rose from 0.1 ± 0.3/h to 55.7 ± 54.4/h (P < 0.001).Conclusion:  There was a general relationship between decreasing PaCO2 and CSA, but there were significant effects from variations in acclimatization that would make hypoxic ventilatory response an unreliable predictor of CSA in individuals.
Pulmonary fibrosis in myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitides
Authors: HOMMA Sakae , MATSUSHITA Hiroshi , NAKATA Koichiro 
Published: May 2004

Objective:  The association of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) with myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO‐ANCA)‐associated vasculitides has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathological characteristics of PF in patients who tested positive for MPO‐ANCA.Methodology:  In this study, 31 patients (17 males and 14 females; mean age, 69 years) diagnosed as having PF with positive MPO‐ANCA levels ranging from 10 to 840 EU with a mean of 112.5 EU, were evaluated clinicopathologically.Results:  Among 31 patients with PF, 22 had underlying systemic diseases such as collagen vascular diseases, while nine had unknown aetiology. Evidence of glomerulonephritis was demonstrated in 14 patients. The clinical features were a history of dry cough and/or fine crackles in all 31 patients. Chest CT scans showed honeycombing in the lung bases in 26 patients. The histopathological features of the diseased lung tissues in all 11 autopsied cases were compatible with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern. Vasculitis was confirmed in bronchial arteries and/or pulmonary arterioles in five patients. The mortality was as high as 13 of the 31 patients. The causes of death were: deterioration of PF in five (two of whom were associated with pulmonary haemorrhage), lung cancer in two, pneumonia in four, and digestive tract bleeding in two. The survival rates in PF with MPO‐ANCA‐negative collagen vascular diseases, cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis (CFA), and PF with positive MPO‐ANCA, were compared. The 5‐year survival rate in PF with positive MPO‐ANCA was worse than in PF with MPO‐ANCA‐negative collagen vascular diseases and was the same for CFA.Conclusion:  Although there was no correlation between MPO‐ANCA titres and the activity of PF, this study demonstrated that the presence of positive MPO‐ANCA was an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with PF.
Field studies on a social lizard: Home range and social organization in an Australian skink, Egernia major
Authors: OSTERWALDER K. , KLINGENBÖCK A. , SHINE R. 
Published: May 2004

Abstract  Although most reptiles have polygynous mating systems without long‐term pair bonds, one lineage of large scincid lizards in Australia is exceptional in this respect. Reports of complex sociality in the genus Egernia led us to conduct the first radiotelemetric field study of a species within this group. Land mullets (Egernia major) are large (60 cm total length), viviparous lizards from rainforest habitats in south‐eastern Australia. To document the spatial ecology and social organization of this species, we captured 12 adult lizards in the Barrington Tops area of eastern New South Wales and implanted them with miniature radiotransmitters. The lizards were released at their sites of capture and located daily for the next 6 weeks. All of the radiotracked lizards had discrete home ranges of approximately 10 000 m2, based around well‐defined core areas (approximately 2000–3000 m2). Females tended to move further, and to range over wider areas, than did males. All of the radiotracked lizards lived in social groups consisting of one or more adult males and females plus juveniles of all age classes. Subgroups were apparent within one group of five radio‐tagged lizards: individual animals consistently shared their shelter sites and home ranges with one or more specific individuals. Male/female pairings were more frequent than expected under the null hypothesis of random association among individuals. The data in the present study support anecdotal reports of pair bonds in E. major and support suggestions that the social systems of species in this genus are more complex than those of previously studied reptiles.
Soil temperature and depth of legume germination during early and late dry season fires in a tropical eucalypt savanna of north‐eastern Australia
Authors: WILLIAMS PAUL R. , CONGDON ROBERT A. , GRICE ANTHONY C. , CLARKE PETER J. 
Published: May 2004

Abstract  Temperatures that significantly increase seed germination of some tropical legumes (i.e. 80–100°C) were documented in the topsoil during the passage of early (May) and late (October) dry season fires in a tropical eucalypt savanna of north‐eastern Australia. Elevated temperatures penetrated at least 30 mm into the soil during the higher‐intensity, late dry season fires, but were only detected at 10 mm during the early dry season fires. The depth from which germination of two native legume forbs Galactia tenuiflora and Indigofera hirsuta occurred was positively related to the temperature elevation in the topsoil and was greater after late compared with early dry season fires. A broader range in germination depth, resulting in higher seedling densities, was recorded for I hirsuta after late dry season fires. These results suggest that seedling emergence of native leguminous forbs is likely to occur at a greater density after late rather than early dry season fires in tropical eucalypt savannas of north‐eastern Australia. Therefore, the season of burning, as a result of its relationship to fire intensity, can influence species composition through its effect on seed germination.