bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Infection intensity, spore density and inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi decrease during secondary succession in tropical Brazilian ecosystems
Authors: Zangaro Waldemar , Ansanelo Adrielly Pereira , Lescano Luis Eduardo Azevedo Marques , de Almeida Alves Ricardo , Rondina Artur Berbel Lírio , Nogueira Marco Antonio 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:Little is known about the relationship involving arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and functional groups of plants that characterize different phases of tropical succession. We appraised the AM infection intensity of root cortex and spore density in the soil in sites over tropical successional gradients (grassland, secondary forest and mature forest) for several years in Araucaria, Atlantic and Pantanal ecosystems in Brazil. The intensity of AM infection decreased with advancing successional stages in all ecosystems and it was around 60–80% in early stages of succession, 37–56% in secondary forests and 19–29% in mature forests. Similarly, the AM spore number also decreased with advancing succession and was the highest in early stages (73–123 g−1), intermediate in secondary forests (32–54 g−1) and lowest in the mature forests (10–23 g−1). To verify whether such reductions influenced the potential of AM inoculum in soil, seedlings of Heliocarpus popayanensis (Malvaceae) were grown as test plants in soils obtained from five grasslands, five young secondary forests, and five mature forests in the Atlantic ecosystem. The soil inocula from the grasslands and secondary forests were 7.6 and 5.7 times more effective in stimulating seedling growth than inocula from the mature forests, respectively. Our results show that plant species in grasslands and young secondary forests stimulate the multiplication of AM fungi, leading to a higher potential of the AM inoculum. In later-successional stages, plant investment in AM fungi decreases and the potential of the AM inoculum is also reduced.
Neotropical primary productivity affects biomass of the leaf-litter herpetofaunal assemblage
Authors: Deichmann Jessica L. , Toft Catherine A. , Deichmann Peter M. , Lima Albertina P. , Williamson G. Bruce 
Published: August 2012

Abstract:Soil fertility and plant productivity are known to vary across the Amazon Basin partially as a function of geomorphology and age of soils. Using data on herpetofaunal abundance collected from 5 × 5 m and 6 × 6 m plots in mature tropical forests, we tested whether variation in community biomass of litter frogs and lizards across ten Neotropical sites could be explained by cation exchange capacity, primary productivity or stem turnover rate. About half of the variation in frog biomass (48%) could be attributed to stem turnover rate, while over two-thirds of the variation in lizard biomass (69%) was explained by primary productivity. Biomass variation in frogs resulted from variation in abundance and size, and abundance was related to cation exchange capacity (45% of variation explained), but size was not. Lizard biomass across sites varied mostly with individual lizard size, but not with abundance, and size was highly dependent on primary productivity (85% of variation explained). Soil fertility and plant productivity apparently affect secondary consumers like frogs and lizards through food webs, as biomass is transferred from plants to herbivorous arthropods to secondary consumers.
Charge Me if You Can: Assessing Political Biases in Vote-buying Verdicts in Democratic Taiwan (2000–2010)
Authors: Wu Chung-li 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWhile the judicial system is an important part of any given political regime, other than in a few Western countries, it has received comparatively little attention. This study employs vote-buying litigation as a litmus test to inquire whether or not the judiciary in Taiwan is politically biased in its judgments. Vote buying has long marred Taiwan's elections and the general public does not seem to trust the judicial system to be independent of political influences. This study examines the impact of political variables (including partisanship, whether candidates are elected or not, and the type of election) on court decisions in vote-buying litigation between 2000 and 2010. The article looks at these decisions at three levels: district courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court. The empirical findings indicate that the effects of political factors are considerably less an influence than expected on trial outcomes.
Endemic human blastomycosis in Quebec, Canada, 1988–2011
Authors: LITVINOV I. V. , St-GERMAIN G. , PELLETIER R. , PARADIS M. , SHEPPARD D. C. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYBlastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection found in various parts of the world. A review of literature for Quebec, Canada revealed only few case reports with the most recent one dating back to 1993. However, whether Quebec represents an important endemic region for blastomycosis in North America is unknown. In this work we reviewed 158 cases of human blastomycosis documented in Quebec during 1988–2011 using microbiological records available from the provincial public health laboratory. The estimated annual incidence of blastomycosis in the province is was ∼0·133 cases per 100 000 individuals with the highest rates of 0·79 and 0·46 cases per 100 000 recorded in South-eastern and South-western Quebec. Moreover, the annual incidence rate significantly increased over the past 20 years. This study for the first time establishes Quebec as an important endemic region for Blastomyces dermatitidis.
A population-based study of the epidemiology and clinical features of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in Pennsylvania, 2001–2010
Authors: CASEY J. A. , COSGROVE S. E. , STEWART W. F. , POLLAK J. , SCHWARTZ B. S. 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYNo U.S. general population-based study has characterized the epidemiology and risk factors, including skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI), for healthcare-associated (HA) and community-associated (CA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We estimated the incidence of HA- and CA-MRSA and SSTI over a 9-year period using electronic health record data from the Geisinger Clinic in Pennsylvania. MRSA cases were frequency-matched to SSTI cases and controls in a nested case-control analysis. Logistic regression was used to assess risk factors, while accounting for antibiotic administration. We identified 1713 incident CA- and 1506 HA-MRSA cases and 78 216 SSTI cases. On average, from 2005 to 2009, the annual incidence of CA-MRSA increased by 34%, HA-MRSA by 7%, and SSTI by 4%. Age, season, community socioeconomic deprivation, obesity, smoking, previous SSTI, and antibiotic administration were identified as independent risk factors for CA-MRSA.
Health information regarding diabetes mellitus reduces misconceptions and underestimation of consequences in the general population
Authors: Dorner Thomas E , Lackinger Christian , Schindler Karin , Stein K Viktoria , Rieder Anita , Ludvik Bernhard 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate self-assessed knowledge about diabetes mellitus, to assess determinants of health knowledge and to evaluate consequences of health knowledge on appraisal about consequences of the disease.DesignPopulation-based computer-assisted web interview survey, supplemented with a paper-and-pencil survey via post.SettingRepresentative sample of the general Austrian population aged 15 years and older.SubjectsMen (n 1935) and women (n 2065) with and without diabetes mellitus.ResultsSome 20·5 % of men and 17·7 % of women with diabetes, and 46·2 % of men and 36·7 % of women without diabetes, rated their knowledge about diabetes mellitus to be ‘very bad’ or ‘rather bad’. Individuals with diabetes and individuals with a family member with diabetes rated their information level more often as ‘very good’ or ‘rather good’, with adjusted OR (95 % CI) of 1·7 (1·1, 2·8) and 2·1 (1·6, 2·7), respectively, in men and 2·7 (1·5, 4·8) and 2·7 (2·1, 3·5), respectively, in women. Additional significant influencing factors on diabetes knowledge were age and educational level in both sexes, and city size in men. Independent of personal diabetes status, diabetes knowledge was associated with a lower perception of restrictions on daily life of diabetes patients and with a lower probability of underestimating health consequences of diabetes.ConclusionsHealth knowledge is associated with fewer misconceptions and less underestimation of health consequences in individuals both with and without diabetes mellitus. Thus health information about diabetes is important on the individual level towards disease management as well as on the public health level towards disease prevention.
Beverage consumption patterns of Canadian adults aged 19 to 65 years
Authors: Nikpartow Nooshin , Danyliw Adrienne D , Whiting Susan J , Lim Hyun J , Vatanparast Hassanali 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the beverage intake patterns of Canadian adults and explore characteristics of participants in different beverage clusters.DesignAnalyses of nationally representative data with cross-sectional complex stratified design.SettingCanadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2·2 (2004).SubjectsA total of 14 277 participants aged 19–65 years, in whom dietary intake was assessed using a single 24 h recall, were included in the study. After determining total intake and the contribution of beverages to total energy intake among age/sex groups, cluster analysis (K-means method) was used to classify males and females into distinct clusters based on the dominant pattern of beverage intakes. To test differences across clusters, χ2 tests and 95 % confidence intervals of the mean intakes were used.ResultsSix beverage clusters in women and seven beverage clusters in men were identified. ‘Sugar-sweetened’ beverage clusters – regular soft drinks and fruit drinks – as well as a ‘beer’ cluster, appeared for both men and women. No ‘milk’ cluster appeared among women. The mean consumption of the dominant beverage in each cluster was higher among men than women. The ‘soft drink’ cluster in men had the lowest proportion of the higher levels of education, and in women the highest proportion of inactivity, compared with other beverage clusters.ConclusionsPatterns of beverage intake in Canadian women indicate high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages particularly fruit drinks, low intake of milk and high intake of beer. These patterns in women have implications for poor bone health, risk of obesity and other morbidities.
Nutrition knowledge and other determinants of food intake and lifestyle habits in children and young adolescents living in a rural area of Sicily, South Italy
Authors: Grosso Giuseppe , Mistretta Antonio , Turconi Giovanna , Cena Hellas , Roggi Carla , Galvano Fabio 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to test the reliability of a nutrition questionnaire and to assess potential associations between nutrition knowledge, food consumption and lifestyle behaviours, controlling for sociodemographic factors.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingComprehensive school in the municipality of Butera, a rural area of Sicily, South Italy.SubjectsThe survey was conducted between March and May 2010 on 445 students (4–16 years).ResultsAll constructs of the questionnaire had statistically significant Cronbach's α and Pearson's correlation coefficients, showing good internal consistency and temporal stability. After controlling for covariates, nutrition knowledge was positively associated with pasta/rice, fish, vegetable and fruit intakes, and negatively with sweets, snacks, fried foods and sugary drinks consumption. Moreover, students whose parents were in the highest educational and occupational categories reported eating significantly more fruits and vegetables and less meat, sweets, snacks, fried foods and sugary drinks. Students with higher nutrition knowledge scores were less likely to have two or more snacks daily and to spend more than 3 h in sedentary activities daily (OR = 0·89, 95 % CI 0·83, 0·97 and OR = 0·92, 95 % CI 0·86, 0·99, respectively). High parental education was associated with less frequent snacking and more frequent weekly physical activity, compared with lower categories, whereas high parental occupational category was associated with daily breakfast.ConclusionsImproving nutrition knowledge in children and young adolescents may translate into educating them in good dietary habits. Moreover, nutrition intervention programmes should also involve parents to improve dietary quality and nutritional habits of the entire family.
Selective deletion of leptin receptors in adult hippocampus induces depression-related behaviours
Authors: Guo Ming , Huang Tung-Yi , Garza Jacob C. , Chua Streamson C. , Lu Xin-Yun 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that leptin and its receptors (LepRb) in the central nervous system play an important role in regulating depression- and anxiety-related behaviours. However, the physiological functions of LepRb in specific brain regions for mediating different emotional behaviours remain to be defined. In this study, we examined the behavioural effects of LepRb ablation in the adult hippocampus using a series of behavioural paradigms for assessing depression- and anxiety-related behaviours. Targeted deletion of LepRb was achieved using the Cre/loxP site-specific recombination system through bilateral stereotaxic delivery of an adeno-associated virus expressing Cre-recombinase (AAV-Cre) into the dentate gyrus of adult mice homozygous for a floxed leptin receptor allele. AAV-Cre-mediated deletion of the floxed region of LepRb was detected 2 wk after injection. In accordance with this, leptin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt was attenuated in the hippocampus of AAV-Cre injected mice. Mice injected with AAV-Cre displayed normal locomotor activity and anxiety-like behaviour, as determined in the elevated plus-maze, light–dark box and open field tests, but showed increased depression-like behaviours in the tail suspension, saccharin preference and learned helplessness tests. Taken together, these data suggest that deletion of LepRb in the adult hippocampus is sufficient to induce depression-like behaviours. Our results support the view that leptin signalling in the hippocampus may be essential for positive mood states and active coping to stress.
Antipsychotic augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials
Authors: Dold Markus , Aigner Martin , Lanzenberger Rupert , Kasper Siegfried 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Because of the high number of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) not responding satisfactorily to initial monotherapy with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), the evaluation of additional treatment options is highly relevant. To examine efficacy of add-on pharmacotherapy with antipsychotics, a systematic literature search was applied to identify all double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (DB-PC-RCTs) determining the efficacy of antipsychotic augmentation of SRIs in treatment-resistant OCD. The primary outcome of the pooled meta-analytic data analysis was response to the adjunctive antipsychotic treatment measured by both the rates of participants achieving response [defined as ⩾35% reduction in Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (YBOCS)] and mean changes in YBOCS total score. Twelve DB-PC-RCTs investigating quetiapine (N = 5), risperidone (N = 3), olanzapine (N = 2), aripiprazole (N = 1) and haloperidol (N = 1) with a total of 394 subjects were included. Significantly more patients responded to augmentation with antipsychotics than with placebo [relative risk = 2.10, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.16–3.80]. Additionally, the mean reduction of the YBOCS total score revealed an efficacy in favour of the antipsychotic medication [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.54, 95% CI 0.15–0.93]. Significant efficacy was identifiable only for risperidone, but not for quetiapine and olanzapine. The results regarding aripiprazole and haloperidol were inconsistent. Overall, about one-third of SRI-resistant OCD patients benefited from an augmentation strategy with antipsychotics. Based on the favourable risk:benefit ratio, risperidone can be considered as the agent of first choice and should be preferred to quetiapine and olanzapine. Further trials, mainly with higher antipsychotic doses, are required to optimize pharmacological treatment recommendations for SRI-refractory OCD.
Effects of amphetamine on the human brain opioid system – a positron emission tomography study
Authors: Guterstam Joar , Jayaram-Lindström Nitya , Cervenka Simon , Frost J. James , Farde Lars , Halldin Christer , Franck Johan 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Studies in rodents have shown that psychostimulant drugs such as cocaine and amphetamine cause endorphin release in the brain reward system. There is also evidence for the involvement of the opioid system in human psychostimulant dependence. The acute effects of an i.v. psychostimulant drug on the brain opioid system, however, have not yet been investigated in humans. We hypothesized that an i.v. dose of amphetamine as compared to placebo would cause an opioid release in the human brain reward system, measurable as a reduction of the binding potential of the µ-opioid receptor radioligand [11C]carfentanil. Ten healthy young men were examined using positron emission tomography (PET) and [11C]carfentanil in three sessions: at baseline; after placebo; after an i.v. amphetamine dose of 0.3 mg/kg bodyweight. The order of amphetamine and placebo was double-blinded and randomized. PET examinations were performed with a Siemens high resolution research tomograph. Data were analysed with the simplified reference tissue model, applying manually drawn regions of interest for every subject. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, we found no significant differences in [11C]carfentanil binding potential between amphetamine and placebo conditions in any of the investigated brain regions. In contrast to data from rodent studies and a recent study of oral amphetamine administration in humans, an i.v. dose of amphetamine does not cause any acute opioid release in healthy human subjects. The postulated role of the opioid system in mediating the effects of amphetamine needs to be further investigated in animal models of the disease as well as in patient populations.
The evaluation of AZ66, an optimized sigma receptor antagonist, against methamphetamine-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity and memory impairment in mice
Authors: Seminerio Michael J. , Hansen Rolf , Kaushal Nidhi , Zhang Han-Ting , McCurdy Christopher R. , Matsumoto Rae R. 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Sigma (σ) receptors have recently been identified as potential targets for the development of novel therapeutics aimed at mitigating the effects of methamphetamine. Particularly, σ receptors are believed to mitigate some of the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine through modulation of dopamine, dopamine transporters and body temperature. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that targeting σ receptors may prevent cognitive impairments produced by methamphetamine. In the present study, an optimized σ receptor antagonist, AZ66, was evaluated against methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction. AZ66 was found to be highly selective for σ receptors compared to 64 other sites tested. Pretreatment of male, Swiss Webster mice with i.p. dosing of AZ66 significantly attenuated methamphetamine-induced striatal dopamine depletions, striatal dopamine transporter reductions and hyperthermia. Additionally, neurotoxic dosing with methamphetamine caused significant memory impairment in the object recognition test, which was attenuated when animals were pretreated with AZ66; similar trends were observed in the step-through passive avoidance test. Taken together, these results suggest that targeting σ receptors may provide neuroprotection against the neurotoxicity and cognitive impairments produced by methamphetamine.
Nocturnin in the demosponge Suberites domuncula: a potential circadian clock protein controlling glycogenin synthesis in sponges
Authors: Müller Werner E. G. , Wang Xiaohong , Grebenjuk Vlad A. , Korzhev Michael , Wiens Matthias , Schlossmacher Ute , Schröder Heinz C. 
Published: August 2012

Sponges are filter feeders that consume a large amount of energy to allow a controlled filtration of water through their aquiferous canal systems. It has been shown that primmorphs, three-dimensional cell aggregates prepared from the demosponge Suberites domuncula and cultured in vitro, change their morphology depending on the light supply. Upon exposure to light, primmorphs show a faster and stronger increase in DNA, protein and glycogen content compared with primmorphs that remain in the dark. The sponge genome contains nocturnin, a light/dark-controlled clock gene, the protein of which shares a high sequence similarity with the related molecule of higher metazoans. The sponge nocturnin protein was found showing a poly(A)-specific 3′-exoribonuclease activity. In addition, the cDNA of the glycogenin gene was identified for subsequent expression studies. Antibodies against nocturnin were raised and used in parallel with the cDNA to determine the regional expression of nocturnin in intact sponge specimens; the highest expression of nocturnin was seen in the epithelial layer around the aquiferous canals. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed that primmorphs after transfer from light to dark show a 10-fold increased expression in the nocturnin gene. In contrast, the expression level of glycogenin decreases in the dark by 3– 4-fold. Exposure of primmorphs to light causes a decrease in nocturnin transcripts and a concurrent increase in glycogenin transcripts. It was concluded that sponges are provided with the molecular circadian clock protein nocturnin that is highly expressed in the dark where it controls the stability of a key metabolic enzyme, glycogenin.
Efficient modification of the surface properties of interconnected porous hydroxyapatite by low-pressure low-frequency plasma treatment to promote its biological performance
Authors: Lee Dae-Sung , Moriguchi Yu , Myoui Akira , Yoshikawa Hideki , Hamaguchi Satoshi 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment at low pressure is found to significantly improve the biological performance of artificial bones made of interconnected porous calcium hydroxyapatite (IP-CHA). One of the essential parameters associated with their biological performance is hydrophilicity of their exterior surfaces as well as surfaces of inner pores. It is found that plasma treatment at low pressures is highly effective in making the inner pore surfaces more hydrophilic. Preliminary in vivo experiments of plasma-treated IP-CHA artificial bones in rats have shown fast formation of blood vessels in their inner pores, implying the increase in osteoconductivity due to the plasma treatment.
Aerosol growth in a medium with temperature gradient
Authors: Nemchinsky Valerian 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The simple method of modelling aerosol growth developed in our previous paper (Nemchinsky and Shigeta 2012 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng.
20 045017) is used to model nanoparticle growth in a plasma reactor with gas flow and steep temperature gradient. It is shown that depending on the parameters of the precursor monomers at the entrance of the reactor zone, an increase in gas speed could either increase or decrease the final nanoparticles' size at the exit of the reaction zone.