bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental Native Tree Seedling Establishment for the Restoration of a Mexican Cloud Forest
Authors: Alvarez‐Aquino Claudia , Williams‐Linera Guadalupe , Newton Adrian C. 
Published: August 2004

Abstract The cloud forests of Mexico have been degraded and severely fragmented, and urgently require restoration. However, progress with restoration has been constrained by a lack of information concerning the seedling ecology of native tree species. An experiment was therefore conducted to assess the influence of different environmental factors on the seedling survival and growth of four native tree species (Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana, Carpinus caroliniana, Symplocos coccinea, and Quercus acutifolia). The seedlings were established on three sites, in two contrasting environments: inside forest fragments and on adjacent agricultural land. Highly significant differences were recorded in seedling survival and growth among sites, environments, species, and interactions between these factors. Highest survival was recorded for Quercus, which uniquely among the four species displayed the same survival percentage inside and outside the forest. Survival of the other species was higher inside the forest. In contrast, growth rates of all four species were higher outside the forest. The most important cause of mortality outside the forest was desiccation, although significant seedling predation was also observed on two sites. Results indicate that all four species can be established successfully both within forest fragments and in neighboring agricultural areas, emphasizing the scope for forest restoration. However, the interactions observed between species, sites, and environments highlight the importance of accurate species–site matching if optimum rates of growth and survival are to be obtained. Quercus spp. have great potential for establishment on agricultural sites.
Evaluating Restoration Success on Lyell Island, British Columbia Using Oblique Videogrammetry
Authors: Davis Trevor J. , Klinkenberg Brian , Keller C. Peter 
Published: August 2004

AbstractIn degraded ecosystems where the impact on wildlife and the destruction of natural systems is high, restoration becomes a critical component of recovery. Monitoring restoration activities plays a key role in determining end points for restoration and assessing effectiveness. Appropriate monitoring of major systems, particularly in assessing vegetation reestablishment and slope stabilization, requires a long‐term commitment to annual assessment of change and improvement over time. However, intrinsic factors built into government or public management systems, such as budgeting and staffing limitations, limit the ability for long‐term monitoring of critical restoration projects. In the research reported in this article, we devised and assessed a new remote method for assessing restoration success and tested it on restoration and monitoring requirements in Lyell Island, British Columbia. We developed a system (the oblique data fusion system [ODFS]) to extract spatial information from oblique aerial video imagery. The ODFS enables low‐cost change detection and database updates at a range of operational scales. System tests show an absolute spatial accuracy on the order of ±2.1 m. The evaluation, based on digitized historical data, ground surveys, and the ODFS‐derived data, indicates that the landslide rate (new area/year) tapered off following treatment; after 5 years it had been reduced by a factor of 3 relative to the background rate. The recovery is deemed sufficient to initiate secondary restoration tasks. The evaluation demonstrates the accuracy and utility of the ODFS for long‐term monitoring of landscape restoration efforts, particularly in remote areas. In conclusion, this new innovative method shows considerable promise for park managers.
High Acorn Predation Prevents the Regeneration of Quercus liaotungensis in the Dongling Mountain Region of North China
Authors: Sun Shucun , Gao Xianming , Chen Lingzhi 
Published: August 2004

Abstract The mature oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz) forests in the Dongling mountains of northern China have become degraded in recent years because regeneration has been limited. To determine whether or not seedling establishment of the oak is seed limited, microsite limited, or predator limited and to determine whether seedling establishment is affected by ground cover, we conducted field experiments during a mast year and investigated the fate of seeds and the soil seed bank dynamics of the oak. A large acorn crop (128.8 acorns/m2) was observed in the study period, and the peak density of acorns on the forest floor reached 46.5 acorns/m2, suggesting that tree recruitment was not seed limited. Acorns in the soil seed bank were mainly lost through decay (principally after fungal attack), consumption in situ, and removal by animals. Predation (including consumption in situ and removal) accounted for 86.4% of acorn loss and was therefore likely to have been the most important factor influencing seed dynamics. More than 70% of acorns were found to have germinated, but no established seedling was observed on the forest floor. Using cages to exclude predators, it was estimated that 87% of acorns germinated and 49% became established as seedlings, indicating that the acorns on the forest floor could emerge and grow in the absence of predators. We conclude that the regeneration of the tree population is limited by predators rather than by the availability of microsites. The presence of ground cover increased the germination rate and increased the chance of seed survival in the early stage of the experiment, but at the end of the investigation, no established seedling was found in the quadrats both with and without ground cover, possibly because of high density of animal predators. On the basis of these results, we suggest that selective tree felling will increase the coverage of the herbaceous layer, which can further decrease the population density of the rodents, and thereby improve the regeneration of oak trees.
Benefits of Using Shrubs as Nurse Plants for Reforestation in Mediterranean Mountains: A 4‐Year Study
Authors: Castro Jorge , Zamora Regino , Hódar José A. , Gómez José M. , Gómez‐Aparicio Lorena 
Published: August 2004

AbstractShrubs are commonly considered competitors of planted seedlings in reforestation programs. However, shrubs can facilitate the establishment of understory seedlings in environments that, like Mediterranean‐type ecosystems, are characterized by harsh environmental conditions. In 1997, an experiment was set up in the Sierra Nevada mountains (southeast Spain) to test the use of shrubs as nurse plants for an alternative reforestation technique. Two‐year‐old seedlings ofPinus sylvestrisandPinus nigrawere planted in four microhabitats: (1) open interspaces without vegetation (which is the usual method employed in reforestation programs), (2) under individuals of the shrubSalvia lavandulifolia, (3) under the north side of spiny shrubs, and (4) under the south side of spiny shrubs. Seedlings were also distributed in plots with and without ungulates to test the effect of herbivore damage. We report here the results of survival and growth after four growing seasons, a time span long enough to draw robust conclusions concerning the suitability of this technique. Pine survival was remarkably higher when planted under individuals ofS. lavandulifoliaas compared with open areas (2.6 times forP. sylvestrisand 1.8 forP. nigra). The survival of both pine species was also higher when planted on the north side of spiny shrubs, while mortality on the south side was similar to that found in open areas. The reduction of solar radiation by the canopy of shrubs was likely the main factor determining shrub facilitation. The growth of the pines differed among years. However, growth was not inhibited when planted with shrubs as compared with open areas in any of the years. Herbivore damage was low but was mostly concentrated in the leader shoot, exacerbating the deleterious effect of ungulate herbivores on pine growth. We conclude that the use of shrubs as nurse plants for reforestation is a viable technique to increase establishment success of reforestation in Mediterranean‐type ecosystems and that it might be similarly useful in other water‐stressed environments. In addition, this technique offers the advantage of following natural succession, thus minimizing the impact in the community.
Restoring Stream Ecosystems: Lessons from a Midwestern State
Authors: Moerke Ashley H. , Lamberti Gary A. 
Published: August 2004

Abstract Reach‐scale stream restorations are becoming a common approach to repair degraded streams, but the effectiveness of these projects is rarely evaluated or reported. We surveyed governmental, private, and nonprofit organizations in the state of Indiana to determine the frequency and nature of reach‐scale stream restorations in this midwestern U.S. state. For 10 attempted restorations in Indiana, questionnaires and on‐site assessments were used to better evaluate current designs for restoring stream ecosystems. At each restoration site, habitat and water quality were evaluated in restored and unrestored reaches. Our surveys identified commonalities across all restorations, including the type of restoration, project goals, structures installed, and level of monitoring conducted. In general, most restorations were described as stream‐relocation projects that combined riparian and in‐stream enhancements. Fewer than half of the restorations conducted pre‐ or post‐restoration monitoring, and most monitoring involved evaluations of riparian vegetation rather than aquatic variables. On‐site assessments revealed that restored reaches had significantly lower stream widths and greater depths than did upstream unrestored reaches, but riparian canopy cover often was lower in restored than in unrestored reaches. This study provides basic information on midwestern restoration strategies, which is needed to identify strengths and weaknesses in current practices and to better inform future stream restorations.
British Association of Critical Care Nurses Position statement on the use of restraint in adult critical care units
Authors: Bray Kate , Hill Karen , Robson Wayne , Leaver Gill , Walker Nikki , O'Leary Mary , Delaney Trish , Walsh Dominic , Gager Melanie , Waterhouse Catheryne 
Published: August 2004

Summary• Critical care nurses in the United Kingdom have become increasingly concerned about the use, potential abuse and risks associated with physical restraint of patients.• Restraint in critical care is not only confined to physical restraint but can also encompass chemical and psychological methods• There are concerns regarding the legal and ethical issues relating to the (ab)use of physical restraint techniques in critical care• The aim of this article was to present the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN) position statement on the use of restraint in adult critical care units and to provide supporting evidence to assist clinical staff in managing this process.
A study exploring factors which influence the decision to commence nurse‐led weaning
Authors: Gelsthorpe Tony , Crocker Cheryl 
Published: August 2004

Summary• Nurse‐led weaning can improve patient outcome• Exploration of the factors that influence the commencement of weaning• Themes of decision‐making, pathophysiological and multidisciplinary team factors emerged• Experience was a key factor in the decision to wean• The use of protocol‐led weaning may not be useful in the decision to wean
Learning portfolios – evidence of learning: an examination of students’ perspectives
Authors: Corcoran Janet , Nicholson Caroline 
Published: August 2004

Summary• There is a lack of evaluative literature on the use of learning portfolios in nursing• Many students are still unclear on the benefit of using a learning portfolio, and fulfilling the criteria for the portfolios remains low priority• Over a 5‐year period, tutors on the Specialist Practitioner Qualification in Critical Care found that there was a wide variety of practice in portfolio use.• There is comparatively little known about how the students perceive the use of portfolios. Therefore, a small descriptive survey took place in 2001/2002 involving 22 previous students, to identify the value of portfolios from the student perspective• Recommendations from this study are given on how to improve portfolio use
The planning, organising and delivery of a memorial service in critical care
Authors: Platt Jane 
Published: August 2004

Summary• The Intensive Care Society (1998) recommends that facilities should be available to follow up bereaved relatives• As part of bereavement follow up, a memorial service has been held at Royal Preston Hospital for the last three years. Over 300 people attended in 2003• A memorial service is often referred to as a ritual. Rituals seem to meet certain universal needs, such as confirming the reality of the death, assisting in the expression of feelings, stimulating memories of the deceased and providing support to the family and friends of the deceased• An audit in 2003 has confirmed the value of the service: 97% of attendees were glad they attended the service and 72% would like to be invited to the service again next year
Standardizing the assessment of clinical competence: an overview of intensive care course design
Authors: McGaughey Jennifer 
Published: August 2004

Summary• Rationale for the development of the Certificate in Health Studies: Intensive Care and High Dependency for Adults course developed at Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland• Structure and content of clinical module reviewed• Clinical assessment strategy discussed• Focus on the utilization of a standardized portfolio, individualized learning contract and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) to evaluate clinical competence• Evaluation of OSCE as an assessment tool and of the course provision
FtsZ‐dependent localization of GroEL protein at possible division sites
Authors: Ogino Hidetaka , Wachi Masaaki , Ishii Akihiro , Iwai Noritaka , Nishida Tetsuya , Yamada Sakuo , Nagai Kazuo , Sugai Motoyuki 
Published: August 2004

When Escherichia coli is treated with penicillin, the envelopes bulge at the centre of the cells and the cells then lyse. The bulges expand into vesicle‐like structures termed penicillin‐induced vesicles. We have developed a method to isolate these structures and have shown that they contain mainly membrane proteins plus a high concentration of a 60 kDa protein. The N‐terminal amino acid sequence of the protein is identical to that of GroEL protein. Western blotting analysis using anti‐GroEL antibody showed that GroEL is indeed concentrated in the vesicles. Indirect immuno‐fluorescence microscopy showed that GroEL protein is localized at the centre of the cells at the site of formation of FtsZ‐rings. Localization of GroEL is dependent on FtsZ but not other Fts proteins. GroEL mutants formed elongated cells having no or asymmetrically localized FtsZ‐rings at the restrictive temperature. These findings suggest a possible role of the GroEL protein in cell division.
Experimental Burkholderia pseudomallei infection of pigs
Authors: Najdenski H. , Kussovski V. , Vesselinova A. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryExperimental infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei was successfully produced after a single intravenous challenge of 2‐month‐old pigs with a dose of 5.0 × 109 bacterial cells. Clinical, paraclinical and morphological findings of the infectious process and post‐infectious immunity were examined up to day 30 post infection (p.i.). A transient and short hyperthermia accompanied by enhanced and longer demonstrated pulse frequency. An increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and tachypnea were observed too after clinical examination. The infection starts with significant leucopenia, and a reduced number of alveolar and peritoneal macrophages which have been overcome in the latest intervals of infection. In contrast, the phagocytic activity of leucocytes was statistically increased during the course of infection and up to day 15 p.i. in the case of alveolar macrophages. Burkholderia pseudomallei was able to colonize the lungs during the whole experiment and was only present 3 days in the spleen and mesenterial lymph nodes (MLN). Significant antibody response was developed as early as day 7 p.i. Hyperaemia, haemorrhages and necrotic foci were found in the brain, liver spleen and MLN. Lung tissue was also hyperaemic, with formation of small abscesses and signs of catarrhal pneumonia. Data obtained in this study revealed that B. pseudomallei causes a chronic generalized infection in pigs, even after intravenous challenge.
Neuropathological Findings in Brains of Bavarian Cattle Clinically Suspected of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Authors: Miyashita M. , Stierstorfer B. , Schmahl W. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryThe brains of 26 Bavarian bovines clinically suspected of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) were the subject of a neuropathological evaluation containing histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Six animals tested positive for BSE. In these six brains severe histological lesions that correlated with previous reports from the United Kingdom were observed. Immunohistochemistry with prion protein (PrPSc), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin were conducted on the mid‐brain containing the red nucleus. All BSE‐positive brains stained positively for PrPSc, and no plaques were observed. The BSE‐affected brains showed a substantially more intense staining pattern for GFAP in comparison with the control groups, some of which were diagnosed with severe neuropathological disorders. Synaptophysin staining on BSE‐positive brains was substantially reduced in the neuropil of the mid‐brain, especially in the red nucleus. Twenty animals tested negative for BSE. The most common diagnoses were listeriosis, viral infections of unknown aetiology, brain oedema and hypomagnesaemia. These disorders may represent the most important clinical differential diagnoses for BSE in Bavaria.
Impairment of the Peripheral Lymphoid Compartment in Iron‐deficient Piglets
Authors: Svoboda M. , Drabek J. , Krejci J. , Rehakova Z. , Faldyna M. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of neonatal iron deficiency on immune functions in young piglets. While control piglets were not given any iron preparation until the age of 21 days, another group of piglets was given 200 mg of Fe3+‐dextran i.m. on day 3. Red blood cell parameters in the former, iron‐deficient group were characteristic of hypochromic anaemia. In addition, the total leucocyte count (P < 0.01), relative and absolute neutrophil count (P < 0.01) and absolute lymphocyte count (P < 0.05) in peripheral blood were found significantly lower in iron‐deficient piglets than in their iron‐supplemented counterparts. Lymphocyte activity as measured by in vitro lymphocyte transformation test was impaired in iron‐deficient piglets. A statistically significant decrease in circulating B‐lymphocyte numbers was found in non‐supplemented animals. Iron deficiency apparently negatively influenced the immunocompetence in piglets.
Taking Advantage of the Positive Side‐Effects of Smallpox Vaccination
Authors: Mayr A. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryFrom the introduction of smallpox vaccination approximately 200 years ago right up to its discontinuation (1980), reports by physicians and scientists about positive side‐effects such as healing of chronic skin rashes, reduced susceptibility to various infectious diseases, e.g. measles, scarlet fever and whooping cough, and even the prophylactic use of the vaccination, e.g. against syphilis, were published again and again. Comparison with the period after cessation of vaccination confirms the experiences of the above vaccinators. As early as 1956, targeted research on these observations led to evidence of the ‘ring‐zone phenomenon’, i.e. the production of soluble antiviral substances in infected chicken embryos and cell cultures. With the help of modern immunological and bioengineering methods, it was later possible to demonstrate that these effects are based on the activation of lymphoreticular cells and the regulatory effect of certain cytokines within the context of the non‐specific immune system. These findings led to the development of paramunization with paraspecific vaccines from highly attenuated animal pox viruses. During attenuation, deletions in the virus DNA occur. Attenuated animal pox strains are therefore suited for the production of vector vaccines. The fact that these vector vaccines demonstrate an especially high level of paraspecific efficacy and lack harmful effects is likewise the result of the attenuated animal pox viruses. Optimum regulation of the entire immune system leads to increased paramunity already in the first few days after vaccination and to enhanced antigen recognition and thus accelerated commencement of specific immunity.
Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations for 25 Selected Antimicrobial Agents against Dichelobacter nodosus and Fusobacterium Strains Isolated from Footrot in Sheep of Portugal and Spain
Authors: Jiménez R. , Píriz S. , Mateos E. , Vadillo S. 
Published: August 2004

SummaryThe agar dilution method was used to determine the inhibitory activity of 25 antimicrobial agents against 69 strains of Dichelobacter nodosus and 108 strains of the genus Fusobacterium, all of which were isolated from 90 clinical cases of ovine footrot between October 1998 and November 2000. In the case of the micro‐organisms belonging to the genus Fusobacterium, the six β‐lactams studied (benzyl penicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, cefadroxil, cefuroxime and cephalexine) proved to be, in general, the most effective antimicrobial agents. Chloramphenicol, clindamycin and doxycycline were also quite active against Fusobacterium spp. With regard to the 69 strains of D. nodosus tested, the levels of resistance remain low.