bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Importance of drainage channels for waders foraging on tidal flats: relevasnce for the management of estuarine wetlands
Authors: LOURENÇO PEDRO M. , GRANADEIRO JOSÉ P. , PALMEIRIM JORGE M. 
Published: June 2005

Summary

Despite covering a relatively small area on a global scale, estuarine tidal flats are vital to many aquatic bird species during much of the yearly cycle. Small‐scale features of tidal flats, such as water drainage channels, can influence the carrying capacity of estuarine wetlands, yet their ecological impact is poorly understood. In this study we evaluated the influence of drainage channels on the quality of feeding habitat for waders in the Tagus estuary, Portugal.
We measured the abundance of seven wader species at five distance classes from drainage channels, and analysed the variation in peck rates, step rates, turning rates and success rates. In addition we measured the density of macroinvertebrate prey and the sediment physical–chemical characteristics at different distances from the channels.
All wader species occurred at higher densities near the channels. In the study area 44% of the birds fed on just 12% of the available surface, less than 5 m away from drainage channels. Wader foraging behaviour also suggests a greater feeding effort near the channels.
While the characteristics of the sediments did not change significantly with distance from channels, prey abundance corresponded closely with wader abundance, suggesting that the small scale distribution of birds on the tidal flats may be related to the presence of their prey.
Synthesis and applications. Our study shows that the areas around drainage channels are particularly important feeding sites for waders foraging on tidal flats. Consequently, managers of estuarine wetlands should strive to preserve or improve channel networks. This can be achieved by (i) preserving saltmarshes and saltpans adjacent to tidal flats, (ii) minimizing the reclamation of upshore flats and (iii) avoiding embankments and canalizations of inland water flows that reduce the number of water entry points onto tidal flats.
Sex Differences in the Neuroendocrine Response to Short‐Term Fasting in Rhesus Macaques
Authors: Lado‐Abeal J. , Robert‐McComb J. J. , Qian X.‐P. , Leproult R. , Van Cauter E. , Norman R. L. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractWhen energy intake is restricted in mammals, there are neuroendocrine adjustments in the secretion of reproductive and metabolic hormones to reallocate energy for vital functions. In the present study, we investigated whether there were differences in the luteinising hormone (LH), growth hormone (GH) and cortisol responses to a 48‐h fast in adult gonad‐intact male and female rhesus macaques. In both male and female macaques, blood glucose levels were significantly lower in fasted than in control studies, and levels were higher in males than in females. Male rhesus monkeys had significantly lower (P < 0.01) mean serum LH levels after a 48‐h fast than under fed conditions and this was attributable primarily to a decrease in the amount of LH released during each secretory episode. In fasted females, serum LH levels were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than during the fed conditions but no differences were found in pulse amplitude or in the number of pulses. Almost twice as many GH pulses were observed in both males and females during fasting but there was no difference in either mean serum GH levels or pulse amplitude between control and fasted studies. A typical diurnal profile in cortisol levels was observed in both sexes and both experimental conditions. Under control conditions, male macaques released less cortisol than females, and although fasting increased mean cortisol levels in both males and females, only the males shown a significant rise over levels observed in control studies. The changes in plasma LH and cortisol levels in fasted rhesus macaques are similar to those observed in humans and suggest that gonadotrophin and corticotrophin secretion are more resistant to short‐term energy deprivation in female than in male primates.
Intravenous Peptide YY3‐36 and Y2 Receptor Antagonism in the Rat: Effects on Feeding Behaviour
Authors: Scott V. , Kimura N. , Stark J. A. , Luckman S. M. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractSystemic injection of peptide YY3‐36 reduces food intake in rodents and humans, although some groups have reported a lack of response. PYY3‐36 is thought to act via the Y2 receptor to presynaptically inhibit the release of neuropeptide Y and GABA from hypothalamic arcuate neurones. Due to the controversy surrounding its action in rodents, we tested the peptide intravenously on feeding behaviour in rats and attempted to block its actions with the Y2 receptor antagonist BIIE0246. PYY3‐36 significantly decreased food intake during the first hour in male Sprague‐Dawley rats fasted overnight and then re‐fed. BIIE0246 had no effect alone on re‐feeding, but completely blocked the action of PYY3‐36. In a second experiment of similar design, the behavioural satiety sequence (BSS) was studied. Normal rats eat, drink, explore and groom before entering rest. PYY3‐36 significantly reduced food eaten maintaining the normal BSS, although shifting it to the left as expected for a natural satiety factor. The latency to rest occurred earlier for animals given PYY3‐36 alone and PYY3‐36 tended to increase the total time in rest compared with controls. These behavioural effects of PYY3‐36 were blocked by BIIE0246, and BIIE0246 alone did not have an effect on the BSS. These results support the role of PYY3‐36 as a natural satiety factor acting through Y2 receptors.
Differential display analysis of Porphyromonas gingivalis gene activation response to heat and oxidative stress
Authors: Shelburne C. E. , Gleason R. M. , Coulter W. A. , Lantz M. S. , Lopatin D. E. 
Published: June 2005

Background/aims:  The etiologic relationship between periodontitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis is attributed to the ability of the organism to express a variety of virulence factors, many of which are cell surface components including lipopolysaccharide and arginine‐specific cysteine proteases (Arg‐gingipains, RgpA, and RgpB). P. gingivalis responds to the stress of rapid elevation in temperature by activating a set of genes to produce heat shock proteins that mediate the effects of sudden changes in environmental temperatures by repairing or eliminating cellular proteins denatured by that stress.Methods:  We used restriction fragment differential display (RFDD) to identify and measure the genes expressed by surrogates of environmental stresses, heat and oxidative stress. The results were then confirmed using quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results:  We selected 16 genes differentially induced from over 800 total expression fragments on the RFDD gels for further characterization. With primers designed from those fragments we found that a + 5°C heat shock caused a statistically significant increase in expression compared 12 of 18 untreated genes tested. The exposure of P. gingivalis to atmospheric oxygen resulted in statistically significant increases in five of the target genes. These genes are likely involved in transport and synthesis of components of the lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway important in anchoring the Arg‐gingipains required for virulence‐related activities.Conclusion:  These results emphasize the need for studies to measure the coordinated responses of bacteria like P. gingivalis which use a multitude of interrelated metabolic activities to survive the environmental hazards of the infection process.
Acute adenitis in children: Clinical course and factors predictive of surgical drainage
Authors: Luu Thuy Mai , Chevalier Isabelle , Gauthier Marie , Carceller Ana Maria , Bensoussan Arie , Tapiero Bruce 
Published: June 2005

Objectives:  To describe clinical course of children hospitalized for a first episode of acute unilateral infectious adenitis and to identify factors predictive of surgical lymph node drainage. Methods:  We reviewed medical records of children from 0 to 17 years of age discharged from a tertiary care pediatric center with a diagnosis of adenitis between 1 April 1996 and 31 March 2001. Patients were included if they had acute (≤10 days) unilateral lymph node swelling greater or equal to 2.5 cm on initial physical examination. Exclusion criteria were: bilateral adenitis or adenitis at more than one site; prior adenitis; underlying chronic disease. Results:  Two hundred and eighty‐four patients were included in this study. The mean age was 4.0 years (3.1 SD). Twenty‐three per cent of infected nodes were >5 cm in size and 92.6% were cervical. Thirteen of 252 blood cultures were positive (5.2%), of which one showed Streptococcus pneumoniae and 12 contaminants. Mean length of stay was 4.2 days (2.2 SD). Surgical node drainage was performed in 60 (21.1%) patients. Factors significantly associated with increased risk of surgical drainage were age <1 year (adjusted OR: 14.5; 95% CI: 5.0–42.2) and node involvement >48 h (adjusted OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.2–7.2). There were no major complications. Follow‐up was documented in 183 patients, of whom 92.3% achieved complete healing. Conclusions:  Children hospitalized for a first episode of acute unilateral infectious adenitis generally do well. Younger patients and those with longer duration of node involvement before admission have an increased risk of surgical node drainage.
Factors related to recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax
Authors: GUO Yubiao , XIE Canmao , RODRIGUEZ R. Michael , LIGHT Richard W. 
Published: June 2005

Objectives:  The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify factors associated with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) in southern China, and to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of different procedures.Methods:  A total of 182 consecutive patients (89.0% male; mean age, 38.9 years), admitted with their first episode of pneumothorax, were reviewed retrospectively. Follow up was available in 138 patients (75.8%), including 68 treated by chemical pleurodesis and 70 by chest tube drainage alone. The cumulative recurrence rates with different therapeutic procedures and different chemical sclerosing agents were compared, and the factors that influenced the recurrence rate were analysed using Cox's proportional hazard model.Results:  The most common pre‐existing lung disease responsible for pneumothorax was COPD (69.7%), followed by tuberculosis (16.5%). Recurrence was significantly more common in taller patients, patients with lower weight, and patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. The cumulative recurrence rates in the pleurodesis therapy group after 6 months, 1 and 3 years were 13, 16 and 27%, respectively, whereas in the chest tube drainage group the recurrence rates were 26, 33 and 50%, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate for those receiving tetracycline compared with those who received gentamicin.Conclusions:  Spontaneous pneumothorax patients who are taller, weigh less or have secondary spontaneous pneumothorax are more likely to have recurrences. The risk of recurrence is reduced in patients who undergo chemical pleurodesis. Since there was no significant difference between intrapleural tetracycline and gentamicin, gentamicin should be considered as a potential chemical sclerosing agent.
The efficacy of incentive spirometry in patients with COPD
Authors: BASOGLU Ozen Kacmaz , ATASEVER Alev , BACAKOGLU Feza 
Published: June 2005

Objective:  Although incentive spirometry (IS) is frequently used to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications, its efficacy in patients with COPD has not been documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of IS on pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, dyspnoea and health‐related quality of life in patients hospitalized for COPD.Methodology:  A total of 27 consecutive patients (mean age, 68.4 ± 7.9 years; 26 males) admitted for COPD exacerbations were recruited for the study. In total, 15 (IS treatment group) used IS for 2 months, together with medical treatment. The remaining 12 (medical treatment group) were given only medical treatment. Pulmonary function and blood gases were measured. Assessment of dyspnoea by visual analogue scale (VAS) and quality of life using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were performed at admission and after 2 months of treatment.Results:  The activity, impact and total scores for the SGRQ improved (all P ≤ 0.0001), PaCO2 values decreased (P = 0.02), PaO2 and PAO2 values increased (P = 0.02 and P = 0.01, respectively) in the IS treatment group. However, there were no significant differences between the measurements made pretreatment and after 2 months of medical therapy in the medical treatment group, with regards to pulmonary function, blood gases, SGRQ scores and VAS.Conclusion:  The use of IS appears to improve arterial blood gases and health‐related quality of life in patients with COPD exacerbations, although it does not alter pulmonary function parameters.
Comparison of existing symptom‐based questionnaires for identifying COPD in the general practice setting
Authors: VAN SCHAYCK Constant P. , HALBERT Ronald J. , NORDYKE Robert J. , ISONAKA Sharon , MARONI Jaman , NONIKOV Dmitry 
Published: June 2005

Objective:  Underdiagnosis of COPD is widespread, at least in part due to underuse of spirometry. Symptom‐based questionnaires may be helpful as an adjunct to spirometry. The aim of this study was to determine which types of questions might aid in identifying COPD.Methodology:  Questionnaires were identified by literature review and input from a multinational advisory board of primary care providers. Questions were placed into groups and evaluated with respect to their ability to perform in two scenarios: (i) to identify persons with COPD from a general population (Case‐finding scenario); and (ii) to distinguish persons with COPD from those with asthma (Differential Diagnosis scenario). Questions were retrospectively validated using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Potential predictive ability was examined in bivariate and multivariate frameworks.Results:  Four published question sets and six additional documents were included. There was agreement in the use of smoking and symptom‐based questions, but important differences in the use of demographic, personal history and other information. Most question types had significant bivariate relationships with airway obstruction. In multivariate analysis, age, BMI, smoking status and pack‐years, symptoms (cough, phlegm, dyspnoea, wheeze), and prior diagnosis consistent with asthma or COPD all showed significant ability to discriminate between persons with and without obstruction in a general population.Conclusion:  Simple self‐administered questionnaires can be used to identify persons for whom spirometric testing may be especially appropriate. Development of such questionnaires will require additional study, including prospective validation of items in an appropriate clinical setting and policy recommendations on the use of these tools.
NEWLY DEVELOPED AUTOFLUORESCENCE IMAGING VIDEOSCOPE SYSTEM FOR THE DETECTION OF COLONIC NEOPLASMS
Authors: Nakaniwa Noritomo , Namihisa Akihiro , Ogihara Tatsuo , Ohkawa Akimitsu , Abe Satoshi , Nagahara Akihito , Kobayashi Osamu , Sasaki Jun , Sato Nobuhiro 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Previously, we reported that most gastrointestinal tumors could be distinguished with the Light‐Induced Fluorescence Endoscopy for GastroIntestine system (LIFE‐GI system) using a fiberscope. However, the quality of the fiberscopic images was inferior compared with videoscopic images. Therefore, we developed a new Auto‐Fluorescence Imaging (AFI) videoscope system (manufactured by Olympus Corp.).Methods:  We evaluated the clinical usefulness of the AFI videoscope system for the detection of colonic neoplasms. Using this system, we observed 168 colonic polyps.Results:  Images obtained by AFI provided better brightness than autofluorescence fiberscopic images and lesion margins were clearly evident. It demonstrated excellent recognition capability to a small lesion that was difficult to be detected by conventional observation. Sensitivity was 89% and specificity 81%, with specificity higher than that of the autofluorescence fiberscopic images.Conclusions:  This newly developed AFI videoscope system will be useful for the detection of colonic neoplasms.
ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE UNDER IRRIGATION
Authors: Kume Keiichiro , Yamasaki Masahiro , Kanda Kikuo , Yoshikawa Ichiro , Otsuki Makoto 
Published: June 2005

Background:  Endoscopic therapy is often difficult to achieve particularly when the field of view of the lesion is poor due to contamination of mucus and blood. We developed five different types of end hoods that facilitate endoscopic procedures by simultaneously allowing various treatments and irrigation of the site.Methods:  The end‐hood pieces were fabricated by drilling a side hole in the cap portion of conventional transparent hoods, then the irrigation tube was glued to the exterior surface of the hole. The fabricated transparent hood was placed at the tip of the endoscope.Results:  Types 1 and 2 were useful for upper‐gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage, type 3 for lower‐GI hemorrhage, type 4 for endoscopic submucosal dissection and type 5 for endoscopic mucosal resection.Conclusions:  With this method, endoscopic procedure is easy and economical, as therapeutic procedures can be performed under irrigation using a conventional endoscopy.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS OF THE POUCH AND BOWEL FREQUENCY AFTER RESTORATIVE PROCTOCOLECTOMY IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS
Authors: Shinozaki Masaru , Koganei Kazutaka , Fukushima Tsuneo 
Published: June 2005

Background and aim:  Pouchitis is one of the late complications of restorative proctocolectomy in ulcerative colitis (UC) and is associated with increased bowel frequency. The present study aimed to clarify the endoscopic findings that are associated with bowel frequency.Patients and methods:  The macroscopic and microscopic features in the ileum proximal to the pouch, the pouch, and the remnant short rectum in 100 endoscopies on 63 patients were studied retrospectively.Results:  Four of 28 (14%) patients had inflammatory changes in the proximal ileum. Sixty‐seven percent of patients showed an abnormal appearance of the pouch. Granularity, friability, presence of mucus, erythema, and erosions were significantly related to bowel frequency. ‘Endoscopic pouch activity index’ (EPAI), which is the number of positive findings of diffuse erythema, mucus, friability, ulcer, erosion, and granularity, was strongly associated with bowel frequency (P < 0.0001). Patients without macroscopic inflammation in the rectum had significantly lower bowel frequency than those with mild or moderately active inflammation (P = 0.0294 and 0.0183, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that ‘endoscopic pouch activity index’ and histological grade of pouch inflammation were significant factors (P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0429, respectively) influencing bowel frequency. Time–course study demonstrated that changes in EPAI and macroscopic grade of the rectum were significantly related to alteration in bowel frequency (P = 0.0120 and 0.0244, respectively).Conclusion:  Erythema, mucus discharge and granularity were significantly related to bowel frequency. EPAI may be useful to evaluate endoscopic pouch inflammation.
Bioaugmentation for bioremediation: the challenge of strain selection
Authors: Thompson Ian P. , Van Der Gast Christopher J. , Ciric Lena , Singer Andrew C. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryDespite its long‐term use in bioremediation, bioaugmentation of contaminated sites with microbial cells continues to be a source of controversy within environmental microbiology. This largely results from its notoriously unreliable performance record. In this article, we argue that the unpredictable nature of the approach comes from the initial strain selection step. Up until now, this has been dictated by the search for catabolically competent microorganisms, with little or no consideration given to other essential features that are required to be functionally active and persistent in target habitats. We describe how technical advances in molecular biology and analytical chemistry, now enable assessments of the functional diversity and spatial distribution of microbial communities to be made in situ. These advances now enable microbial populations, targeted for exploitation, to be differentiated to the cell level, an advance that is bound to improve microbial selection and exploitation. We argue that this information‐based approach is already proving to be more effective than the traditional ‘black‐box’ approach of strain selection. The future perspectives and opportunities for improving selection of effective microbial strains for bioaugmentation are also discussed.
Evaluating the Effect of Education on Earnings: Models, Methods and Results from the National Child Development Survey
Authors: Blundell Richard , Dearden Lorraine , Sianesi Barbara 
Published: June 2005

SummaryRegression, matching, control function and instrumental variables methods for recovering the effect of education on individual earnings are reviewed for single treatments and sequential multiple treatments with and without heterogeneous returns. The sensitivity of the estimates once applied to a common data set is then explored. We show the importance of correcting for detailed test score and family background differences and of allowing for (observable) heterogeneity in returns. We find an average return of 27% for those completing higher education versus anything less. Compared with stopping at 16 years of age without qualifications, we find an average return to O-levels of 18%, to A-levels of 24% and to higher education of 48%.
Exploring the Economic and Social Determinants of Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Social Support in England
Authors: Shields Michael A. , Price Stephen Wheatley 
Published: June 2005

SummaryA fundamental focus of Government concern is to enhance well-being. Recently, policy makers in the UK and elsewhere have recognized the importance of the community and society to the well-being of the nation as a whole. We explore the extent to which economic and social factors influence the psychological well-being of individuals and their perceptions of the social support that they receive, using Health Survey for England data. We employ a random-effects ordered probit modelling approach and find that unobserved intrahousehold characteristics help to explain the variation in our dependent variables, particularly for co-resident females. Our results indicate that individuals with acute and chronic physical illness, who are female, unemployed or inactive in the labour market and who live in poor households or areas of multiple deprivation report lower levels of psychological well-being. Reduced perceptions of social support are associated with being male, single or post marriage, from an ethnic minority, having low educational attainment and living in a poor household, but are not statistically related to area deprivation measures. These findings may help to inform the contemporary policy debate surrounding the promotion of individual well-being and community, through the alleviation of social exclusion.