bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationships between the demography and distribution of two bird‐dispersed plants in an island archipelago
Authors: Burns K. C. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAim I evaluated relationships between the demography and distribution of two bird‐dispersed shrubs in an island archipelago to better understand the life history precursors of different island distributional patterns.Location Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada (48°80′ N, 125°20′ W).Methods The abundance and occurrence ofLonicera involucrataRich. (Caprifoliaceae) andRibes divaricatumDougl. (Grossulariaceae) were measured on 69 islands measuring between 25 and 800 m2. Light and soil conditions were quantified to broadly characterize changes in environmental conditions with island area and isolation. Several experiments and field observations were conducted to evaluate the life history response of each species to changes in island environments.Results Lonicerashowed a typical island distribution; it increased in abundance and occurrence with island area.Ribeshad a more unusual distributional pattern; it showed no differences in occurrence or abundance with island area. The distribution of both species was unrelated to island isolation. Small islands had less soil and more light than large islands, while environmental conditions were unrelated to island isolation.Lonicerahad higher seed germination rates and adult survivorship in large island environments, but similar rates of seed dispersal, seedling survivorship and sapling survivorship in large and small island environments.Ribeshad similar rates of seed dispersal, germination and adult survivorship in large and small island environments. However, slightly higher seedling survivorship in large island environments was offset by decreased sapling survivorship.Conclusions Demographic advantages accrued at particular life history stages were either enhanced (Lonicera) or erased (Ribes) at other life history stages. Nevertheless, overall life history trends were consistent with distributional patterns, and suggest different suites of life history characteristics promote different island distributions.
Species diversity and endemism of five major Malesian islands: diversity–area relationships
Authors: Roos Marco C. , Keßler Paul J. A. , Robbert Gradstein S. , Baas Pieter 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAim  A comparison of biodiversity patterns within Malesia in relation to surface area.Location  Analysis of the patterns in species richness and endemism of vascular plants in the five major Malesian islands, i.e. Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Borneo and New Guinea.Methods  Available data on species richness and species ranges in correlation with the surface area of the respective islands were examined in this work. Estimations of total species numbers for these islands are presented based on extrapolation of all available published Flora Malesiana information and recent checklists, all in all comprising 12,000 different species. The regression analysis of overall species richness and endemism were studied for all species together as well as for different plant families to compare the fit with the Arrhenius species–area model.Results  The five islands form a series of independent areas of increasing size suited for an analysis of the species–area relationships at the regional scale. All species taken together and those of families with even distribution throughout Malesia show significant species–area relationships. Non‐significant relationships were detected in families with western or eastern‐centred Malesian distribution patterns. Relationships between number of endemic species and surface area are significant for all species and for the majority of the families with significant species–area relationships.Main conclusions  Species–area relationships of families appear to be dependent on species number. Families with high numbers of species usually have a significant species–area relationship whereas small families have not. For the families that display an eastern or western Malesian centred pattern, a historical biogeographical explanation should be invoked. Island surface area appears to be a predictor for island percent endemism in Malesian vascular plants. None of the islands appears to be a hotspot of endemism nor of species diversity, as no significant departure from the Arrhenius model was noted for any of them.
The importance of changing oceanography in controlling late Quaternary carbonate sedimentation on a high‐energy, tropical, oceanic ramp: north‐western Australia
Authors: James Noel P. , Bone Yvonne , Kyser T. Kurtis , Dix George R. , Collins Lindsay B. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe North West Shelf is an ocean‐facing carbonate ramp that lies in a warm‐water setting adjacent to an arid hinterland of moderate to low relief. The sea floor is strongly affected by cyclonic storms, long‐period swells and large internal tides, resulting in preferentially accumulating coarse‐grained sediments. Circulation is dominated by the south‐flowing, low‐salinity Leeuwin Current, upwelling associated with the Indian Ocean Gyre, seaward‐flowing saline bottom waters generated by seasonal evaporation, and flashy fluvial discharge. Sediments are palimpsest, a variable mixture of relict, stranded and Holocene grains. Relict intraclasts, both skeletal and lithic, interpreted as having formed during sea‐level highstands of Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 3 and 4, are now localized to the mid‐ramp. The most conspicuous stranded particles are ooids and peloids, which 14C dating shows formed at 15·4–12·7 Ka, in somewhat saline waters during initial stages of post‐Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) sea‐level rise. It appears that initiation of Leeuwin Current flow with its relatively less saline, but oceanic waters arrested ooid formation such that subsequent benthic Holocene sediment is principally biofragmental, with sedimentation localized to the inner ramp and a ridge of planktic foraminifera offshore. Inner‐ramp deposits are a mixture of heterozoan and photozoan elements. Depositional facies reflect episodic environmental perturbation by riverine‐derived sediments and nutrients, resulting in a mixed habitat of oligotrophic (coral reefs and large benthic foraminifera) and mesotrophic (macroalgae and bryozoans) indicators. Holocene mid‐ramp sediment is heterozoan in character, but sparse, most probably because of the periodic seaward flow of saline bottom waters generated by coastal evaporation. Holocene outer‐ramp sediment is mainly pelagic, veneering shallow‐water sediments of Marine Isotope Stage 2, including LGM deposits. Phosphate accumulations at ≈ 200 m water depth suggest periodic upwelling or Fe‐redox pumping, whereas enhanced near‐surface productivity, probably associated with the interaction between the Leeuwin Current and Indian Ocean surface water, results in a linear ridge of pelagic sediment at ≈ 140 m water depth. This ramp depositional system in an arid climate has important applications for the geological record: inner‐ramp sediments can contain important heterozoan elements, mid‐ramp sediments with bedforms created by internal tides can form in water depths exceeding 50 m, saline outflow can arrest or dramatically slow mid‐ramp sedimentation mimicking maximum flooding intervals, and outer‐ramp planktic productivity can generate locally important fine‐grained carbonate sediment bodies. Changing oceanography during sea‐level rise can profoundly affect sediment composition, sedimentation rate and packaging.
Laminated–bioturbated cycles in Maastrichtian chalk of the North Sea: oxygenation fluctuations within the Milankovitch frequency band
Authors: Damholt Tove , Surlyk Finn 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe Maastrichtian chalk of the southern Central Graben, Danish North Sea, is a homogeneous pure white coccolithic chalk mudstone deposited in a deep epeiric shelf sea, which covered large parts of northern Europe. The sediment displays a pronounced cyclicity marked by decimetre‐thick bioturbated beds alternating with slightly thinner non‐bioturbated, mainly laminated beds. The laminated half‐cycles consist of alternating millimetre‐thick, graded, high‐porosity laminae and non‐graded, low‐porosity laminae. The cyclicity has been interpreted previously as caused by periods of slow background sedimentation and bioturbation interrupted by periods of rapid deposition of laminated beds, with the latter reflecting random and local resedimentation processes. Based on textural and structural analysis, the millimetre‐scale, non‐graded laminae are interpreted as having been deposited directly from pelagic rain of pelleted coccoliths representing the primary production. The graded laminae were deposited from small‐volume, low‐density turbidity currents and suspension clouds. The sedimentation rates of the cyclical chalk are similar to those known elsewhere, and the lamination is interpreted as having been preserved from destruction through bioturbation by anoxic conditions at the seafloor. Bioturbated–laminated cycles are thus formed by slow sedimentation during alternating seafloor redox conditions probably on a Milankovitch scale. A direct implication of this interpretation is that the cycles are areally widespread, probably extending throughout the southern Central Graben area and may be useful for correlation and high‐resolution cyclostratigraphy in the chalk fields of the Danish North sea. If the laminated half‐cycles represent a few rapid resedimentation events, with a high sedimentation rate as suggested by most workers, then the sediment would not be truly cyclic, but would represent event sedimentation within a pelagic background represented by the bioturbated beds. In this case, the cycles would have very limited potential for correlation.
Sedimentology and kinematics of a large, retrogressive growth‐fault system in Upper Carboniferous deltaic sediments, western Ireland
Authors: Wignall P. B. , Best J. L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractGrowth faulting is a common feature of many deltaic environments and is vital in determining local sediment dispersal and accumulation, and hence in controlling the resultant sedimentary facies distribution and architecture. Growth faults occur on a range of scales, from a few centimetres to hundreds of metres, with the largest growth faults frequently being under‐represented in outcrops that are often smaller than the scale of feature under investigation. This paper presents data from the exceptionally large outcrops of the Cliffs of Moher, western Ireland, where a growth‐fault complex affects strata up to 60 m in thickness and extends laterally for ≈ 3 km. Study of this Namurian (Upper Carboniferous) growth‐fault system enables the relationship between growth faulting and sedimentation to be detailed and permits reconstruction of the kinematic history of faulting. Growth faulting was initiated with the onset of sandstone deposition on a succession of silty mudstones that overlie a thin, marine shale. The decollement horizon developed at the top of the marine shale contact for the first nine faults, by which time aggradation in the hangingwall exceeded 60 m in thickness. After this time, failure planes developed at higher stratigraphic levels and were associated with smaller scale faults. The fault complex shows a dominantly landward retrogressive movement, in which only one fault was largely active at any one time. There is no evidence of compressional features at the base of the growth faults, thus suggesting open‐ended slides, and the faults display both disintegrative and non‐disintegrative structure. Thin‐bedded, distal mouth bar facies dominate the hangingwall stratigraphy and, in the final stages of growth‐fault movement, erosion of the crests of rollover structures resulted in the highest strata being restricted to the proximity of the fault. These upper erosion surfaces on the fault scarp developed erosive chutes that were cut parallel to flow and are downlapped by the distal hangingwall strata of younger growth faults.
Eustatic and climatic controls on the development of the Wahiba Sand Sea, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Radies Dirk , Preusser Frank , Matter Albert , Mange Maria 
Published: November 2004

AbstractAeolian sand sea accumulations can serve as valuable archives of climate change in continental environments. The Wahiba Sand Sea is situated at the northern margin of the area presently affected by Indian Summer Monsoon Circulation and it records environmental changes associated with this major climatic boundary over the last 160 000 years. The internal stratigraphy and evolution of the sand sea is investigated using a combination of outcrop, borehole, seismic and luminescence data. Proximity to the Indian Ocean means that the sand sea succession shows the influence of sea level changes on the sedimentary architecture and composition of the dune deposits. During the last two glacial periods, low global sea level was associated with a high input of bioclastic grains, reflecting the significance of subaerially exposed shelf areas as one of the main sources of aeolian sediment. The onset of aeolian sediment transport and deposition was related to the breakdown of stabilizing vegetation during arid periods that equate with sea level lowstands. The preservation of aeolian sediments by the formation of supersurfaces and associated palaeosoils took place during times of increased wetness and elevated groundwater tables. This interplay of constructive and destructive periods greatly influenced the sedimentary architecture. Oscillations of wet and dry periods between 160 000 and 130 000 years and 120 000–105 000 years ago are attributed to the evolution of a wet aeolian system. Younger periods of aeolian deposition around and after the last glacial maximum were characterized by dry aeolian conditions. No soil horizons developed during these times.
Ecology and non‐chemical control of Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius (Polygonaceae): a review
Authors: Zaller J G 
Published: November 2004

Summary Rumex crispus and R. obtusifolius are among the most important perennial weeds in agriculture throughout the world. This literature survey revealed that the majority of studies on Rumex ecology, which were conducted under field conditions are of a descriptive nature, while experimental studies mainly report data derived under laboratory or greenhouse conditions. Areas on Rumex ecology which deserve more research include: historical development of Rumex infestations, field studies on seed and root ecology, population ecology, Rumex longevity, and impacts of global climate change on the performance of these species. Although biological, mechanical and cultural control methods were often effective in controlling Rumex populations, they were rarely successful enough to eradicate the weeds. As both species are considered to be indicators of agricultural mismanagement, there is a definite need for well‐replicated, full‐factorial, long‐term field experiments to assess the role of management factors most often stated to be responsible for Rumex infestation and distribution (e.g. high soil N and K levels, slurry and farmyard manure application, sward disturbance, cutting frequency, grazing management, ploughing, soil compaction). It is recommended that future research on non‐chemical Rumex control should focus more on the efficacy of combined applications of biological, mechanical and cultural control methods.
Evaluation of a malarial antibody assay for use in the screening of blood and tissue products for clinical use
Authors: Kitchen A. D. , Lowe P. H. J , Lalloo K. , Chiodini P. L. 
Published: November 2004

Background and Objectives  A new recombinant Plasmodium antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of malarial antibodies was evaluated for the screening of ‘malaria‐risk’ blood and tissue donations.Materials and Methods  A total of 13 269 donor and patient samples were tested by both the EIA and the standard diagnostic antibody immunofluorescence test (IFAT).Results  A total of 114/138 (82·6%) samples from patients with P. falciparum and 11/13 (84·6%) samples from patients with P. vivax tested positive. A total of 714/13 053 (5·47%) samples from donors identified as ‘malaria risk’, owing to residency or travel, were reactive in the EIA.Conclusions  The assay is more sensitive than a previously implemented malarial antibody EIA (73% in acute P. falciparum and 56% in acute P. vivax infections). The sensitivity of this new EIA is comparable to that of the IFAT, and the specificity is sufficient to screen ‘malaria‐risk’ donors.
Effects of extended storage of whole blood before leucocyte depletion on coagulation factors in plasma
Authors: Kretzschmar E. , Kruse F. , Greiss O. , Paunovic D. , Kallweit T. , Trobisch H. 
Published: November 2004

Background and Objectives  The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of leucocyte‐depleted plasma produced from leucocyte‐depleted whole blood, stored for different periods of times before filtration through polyurethane filters.Materials and Methods  Whole blood was collected, from 48 voluntary donors, into quadruple blood bag sets with integrated whole‐blood filters, and stored at room temperature for 1, 2, 6, or 18 h before filtration. Five samples were taken: one directly from the donor; one immediately after collection; one before and one after filtration; and one from plasma units before freezing. All samples were analysed for the following parameters: prothrombin time; activated partial thromboplastin time; prothrombin fragments F1+2; fibrinogen; factors VIII, XI and XII; von Willebrand factor antigen; ristocetin cofactor activity; collagen‐binding capacity; multimers; and complement C3a‐desArg.Results  Different whole‐blood storage times before filtration did not have a significant effect on the stability of coagulation factors. The activity of all investigated coagulation factors in plasma was generally above 90 U/dl, even after 18 h of storage of whole blood before filtration. von Willebrand factor multimeric distribution remained stable throughout the process. However, activation of complement did occur during storage.Conclusions  Leucodepleted plasma originating from leucodepleted whole blood maintains a satisfactory level of coagulation factors, even after the storage of whole blood for 18 h at room temperature before filtration.
GABAC RECEPTOR ION CHANNELS
Authors: Chebib M 
Published: November 2004

SUMMARY1. The present review gives an overview of studies conducted on GABAC receptors over the past 10 years since the author started at the University of Sydney. It concentrates on the structure–activity relationship profiles of the receptor and how these studies were used to: (i) develop selective GABAC receptor ligands; and (ii) understand the impact of amino acid changes on GABAC receptor pharmacology and function.2. Structure–activity relationship studies involving variations of both ligands and their receptor targets are vital to the discovery of drugs that interact selectively with particular native and mutant receptor subtypes. Such agents may be useful for treating anxiety, depression, epilepsyand memory related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease.
EFFECTS OF VITAMIN E ON THE CINNAMALDEHYDE‐INDUCED APOPTOTIC MECHANISM IN HUMAN PLC/PRF/5 CELLS
Authors: Wu Shu‐Jing , Ng Lean‐Teik , Lin Chun‐Ching 
Published: November 2004

SUMMARY1. Cinnamaldehyde has been shown to be effective in inducing cell apoptosis in a number of human cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E on the apoptotic signalling mechanism induced by cinnamaldehyde in human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 cells.2. Using the XTT assay, cinnamaldehyde exhibited a powerful antiproliferative effect on PLC/PRF/5 cells. Apoptosis was elicited when cells were treated with 1 µmol/L cinnamaldehyde, as characterized by the appearance of phosphatidylserine on the outer surface of the plasma membrane.3. The apoptotic effect induced by cinnamaldehyde could be further supported by the release of cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and Omi/HtrA2 from mitochondria to the cytosol and activation of caspase 3. Cinnamaldehyde also upregulated the expression of pro‐apoptotic protein (Bax) and down‐regulated the levels of anti‐apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl‐2 and the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family (X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein (cIAP)‐1 and cIAP‐2).4. Cinnamaldehyde induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. Following the pre‐incubation of PLC/PRF/5 cells with anti‐oxidants, it was found that 100 µmol/L vitamin E significantly diminished the effect of cinnamaldehyde‐induced apoptosis, whereas a lesser effect was seen with on 100 µmol/L N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine. Vitamin E effectively blocked the release of cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and Omi/HtrA2 from mitochondria to the cytosol in cells treated with cinnamaldehyde. Vitamin E also markedly suppressed caspase 3 activation. The expression of apoptotic inhibitors (XIAP, cIAP‐1, cIAP‐2) and anti‐apoptotic (Bcl‐2) and pro‐apoptotic (Bax) proteins was affected by vitamin E pretreatment.5. Taken together, the results suggest that cinnamaldehyde triggers apoptosis possibly through the mitochondrial pathway. Pretreatment with vitamin E markedly prevented cinnamaldehyde‐mediated apoptosis, which was associated with the modulation of XIAP, cIAP‐1, cIAP‐2, Bcl‐2 and Bax protein activity.
Relation between access to tobacco and adolescent smoking
Authors: Dent C , Biglan A 
Published: November 2004

Objective:To examine the relation between rates of sales of tobacco to minors and youth smoking prevalence.Design:Repeated annual cross sectional surveys.Setting:Seventy five communities in Oregon.Participants:A random sample of students in grades 8 and 11 (ages 13 and 17 years) and retail outlets in each participating community.Main outcome measures:Thirty day and daily smoking prevalence.Results:The rate of illegal merchant sales in the communities was related to the smoking rate for 11th graders in those communities, but not for 8th graders. For every 10% increase in illegal sales rates there was an estimated 0.8% increase in 11th grade 30 day smoking prevalence and a 0.4% increase in daily smoking. Communities with lower illegal merchant sales rates had expanded use of social sources and reduced use of commercial sources by 11th graders, with the opposite pattern seen in 8th graders.Conclusions:There appears to be a relatively small positive linear relation between the community rate of sales to minors and 11th grade youth smoking prevalence in those communities. Youth adjust their tobacco sources depending on the level of commercial availability.
“Care and feeding”: the Asian environmental tobacco smoke consultants programme
Authors: Assunta M , Fields N , Knight J , Chapman S 
Published: November 2004

Study objective:To review the tobacco industry’s Asian environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) consultants programme, focusing on three key nations: China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.Methods:Systematic keyword and opportunistic website searches of formerly private internal industry documents.Main results:The release of the 1986 US Surgeon General’s report on second hand smoke provoked tobacco companies to prepare for a major threat to their industry. Asian programme activities included conducting national/international symposiums, consultant “road shows” and extensive lobbying and media activities. The industry exploited confounding factors said to be unique to Asian societies such as diet, culture and urban pollution to downplay the health risks of ETS. The industry consultants were said to be “…prepared to do the kinds of things they were recruited to do”.Conclusions:The programme was successful in blurring the science on ETS and keeping the controversy alive both nationally and internationally. For the duration of the project, it also successfully dissuaded national policy makers from instituting comprehensive bans on smoking in public places.