bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term effects of rotational prescribed burning and low‐intensity sheep grazing on blanket‐bog plant communities
Authors: Lee Hyohyemi , Alday Josu G. , Rose Rob J. , O'Reilly John , Marrs Rob H. 
Published: March 2013

Summary

The importance of peatlands is being increasingly recognized internationally for both the conservation of biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services; strategies are being developed world‐wide to help maintain their integrity. Prescribed burning has been highlighted as a threat with considerable debate over its use as it is perceived to produce a Calluna vulgaris monoculture and a decline in preferred peat‐forming species.

We investigated the impact of prescribed burning on vegetation composition and diversity in a long‐term experiment at Moor House NNR in northern England. The study comprised a comparison between no‐burn reference plots last burned in ca. 1924 and an experiment where all plots were burned in 1954/5. Within the experiment, the effects of very light sheep grazing vs. no grazing and three burning rotations (no‐burn since 1954/5, repeat‐burning at 10‐ and 20‐year intervals) were tested.

Calluna vulgaris and Hypnum jutlandicum cover and bryophyte species richness increased in the least‐disturbed, no‐burn reference plots, but bryophyte cover did not. Lichen diversity declined.

Within the formal experiment, low‐intensity sheep grazing had little impact but there were substantive changes produced by the different burning rotations. There was divergence between the burning rotation treatments with the least‐disturbed, no‐burn treatment changing towards a C. vulgaris–H. jutlandicum community, whereas the most‐disturbed 10‐year rotation had a much greater abundance of both Eriophorum and Sphagnum spp.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings suggest that blanket‐bog vegetation on peat responds to prescribed burning in a complex manner. Where burn return interval is long (>20 years), C. vulgaris becomes dominant and there was no evidence that preferred peat‐forming species (Eriophorum/Sphagnum) increased. Where burn return interval is short (10 years), E. vaginatum/Sphagnum abundance increased. We found no evidence to suggest that prescribed burning was deleterious to the abundance of peat‐forming species; indeed, it was found to favour them. These results inform conservation management policy for blanket bogs in the UK and more generally for future wildfire‐mitigation strategies on dwarf‐shrub‐dominated peatlands elsewhere. Some lessons for the management of long‐term experimental studies are also discussed.
Involvement of two type 2C protein phosphatases BcPtc1 and BcPtc3 in the regulation of multiple stress tolerance and virulence of Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Yang Qianqian , Jiang Jinhua , Mayr Christiane , Hahn Matthias , Ma Zhonghua 
Published: March 2013

SummaryType 2C Ser/Thr phosphatases (PP2Cs) are involved in various cellular processes in many eukaryotes, but little has been known about their functions in filamentous fungi. Botrytis cinerea contains four putative PP2C genes, named BcPTC1, ‐3, ‐5, and ‐6. Biological functions of these genes were analysed by gene deletion and complementation. While no phenotypes aberrant from the wild type were observed with mutants of BcPTC5 and BcPTC6, mutants of BcPTC1 and BcPTC3 had reduced hyphal growth, increased conidiation, and impaired sclerotium development. Additionally, BcPTC1 and BcPTC3 mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, and to cell wall degrading enzymes. Both mutants exhibited dramatically decreased virulence on host plant tissues. All of the defects were restored by genetic complementation of the mutants with wild‐type BcPTC1 and BcPTC3 respectively. Different from what is known in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, BcPtc3, but not BcPtc1, negatively regulates phosphorylation of BcSak1 (the homologue of S. cerevisiae Hog1) in B. cinerea, although both BcPTC1 and BcPTC3 were able to rescue the growth defects of a yeast PTC1 deletion mutant under various stress conditions. These results demonstrated that BcPtc1 and BcPtc3 play important roles in the regulation of multiple stress tolerance and virulence of B. cinerea.
Lead Theft—A Study of the “Uniqueness” of Lead from Church Roofs
Authors: Bond John W. , Hainsworth Sarah V. , Lau Tien L. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractIn the United Kingdom, theft of lead is common, particularly from churches and other public buildings with lead roofs. To assess the potential to distinguish lead from different sources, 41 samples of lead from 24 church roofs in Northamptonshire, U.K, have been analyzed for relative abundance of trace elements and isotopes of lead using X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, respectively. XRF revealed the overall presence of 12 trace elements with the four most abundant, calcium, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur, showing a large weight percentage standard error of the mean of all samples suggesting variation in the weight percentage of these elements between different church roofs. Multiple samples from the same roofs, but different lead sheets, showed much lower weight percentage standard errors of the mean suggesting similar trace element concentrations. Lead isotope ratios were similar for all samples. Factors likely to affect the occurrence of these trace elements are discussed.
Finding the missing pieces: working to solve the fisheries bycatch puzzle
Authors: Lewison R. L. 
Published: March 2013

Read the Feature Paper: Estimates of seabird incidental catch by pelagic longline fisheries in the South Atlantic OceanOther Commentaries on this paper: Next step for reducing seabird bycatch; Requisite improvements to the estimation of seabird by‐catch in pelagic longline fisheriesResponse from the authors: Incidental catch of seabirds: strengthening observer programs and increasing cooperation
Requisite improvements to the estimation of seabird by‐catch in pelagic longline fisheries
Authors: Phillips R. A. 
Published: March 2013

Read the Feature Paper: Estimates of seabird incidental catch by pelagic longline fisheries in the South Atlantic OceanOther Commentaries on this paper: Finding the missing pieces: working to solve the fisheries bycatch puzzle; Next step for reducing seabird bycatch.Response from the authors: Incidental catch of seabirds: strengthening observer programs and increasing cooperation
Yield and species composition of a mesic grassland savanna in South Africa are influenced by long‐term nutrient addition
Authors: Tsvuura Zivanai , Kirkman Kevin P. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractSpecies composition and productivity of natural grasslands are influenced by soil nutrient status. With high resource availability, productivity is expected to increase, and competition is assumed to gain prominence with predicted exclusion of species of lower competitive ability. During 2010 and 2011 we used the dry weight rank method to measure above‐ground phytomass production of herbage in 96 plots (9 m × 2.7 m) fertilized for 60 years with two forms of nitrogen (N as limestone ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulphate at four levels: 0, 7.1, 14.1, 21.2 g m−2), phosphorus (P as superphosphate at two levels: 0, 33.6 g m−2), and lime (two levels: 0, 225 g m−2). Light attenuation was measured as the proportion of photosynthetically active radiation reaching the lower leaf layers of the grasses and the ground surface. Light conditions beneath the grass layer were reduced by nutrient addition to 30% of full sunlight but remained above 60% in non‐fertilized plots. Grass total above‐ground phytomass production increased with nutrient addition. The strongest yield responses were attained with N plus P addition. Species responses showed that Themeda triandra and Hyparrhenia hirta decreased in above‐ground phytomass production with nutrient addition while Panicum maximum, Eragrostis curvula and E. plana increased. These findings are discussed in terms of competitive interactions among species, their position in the grass canopy and their physiological tolerances to high nitrogen environments.
Habitat filtering influences the phylogenetic structure of avian communities across a coastal gradient in southern Brazil
Authors: Gianuca Andros Tarouco , Dias Rafael Antunes , Debastiani Vanderlei Júlio , Duarte Leandro D. S. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe evolution of a particular trait or combination of traits within lineages may affect subsequent evolutionary outcomes, leading closely related species to exhibit higher phenotypic similarity than expected under a simple Brownian‐motion evolutionary model. Niche theory postulates that phenotypes determine species distribution across environmental gradients, leading to a phylogenetic signature in the community assembly. Thus, the incorporation of species phylogeny in the analysis of community ecology structure allows one to link broader environmental, spatial and temporal factors to local, small‐scale ecological processes, thus enabling understanding of community assembly patterns in a broader context. We used the net relatedness index to assess phylogenetic structure within avian communities across a harshness gradient in coastal habitats in southern Brazil. We also evaluated phylogenetic beta diversity, to test whether closely related species exploit habitats with similar environmental conditions. In order to do so, we scaled up phylogenetic information from the species to site level using phylogenetic fuzzy weighting. We found a pattern of phylogenetic clustering in less‐vegetated habitats, namely sandy beach and dunes, which are subject to harsher conditions because of proximity to the ocean. Basal lineages were associated with the more structurally homogeneous sandy beach, while late‐divergence clades occurred in more complex habitats, which were positively related to vegetation cover and height. The observed pattern of phylogenetic clustering suggested the importance of harsh conditions in constraining the distribution of avian lineages. Furthermore, contrasting environmental features between habitats influenced phylogenetic variation, demonstrating the prevalence of phylogenetic habitat filtering. From an applied point of view, such as planning and management of biological reserves, we showed that the full array of habitat patches embedded within coastal ecological gradients must be included in order to preserve distinct evolutionary lineages.
Generalization of Variants Identified by Genome‐Wide Association Studies for Electrocardiographic Traits in African Americans
Authors: Jeff Janina M. , Ritchie Marylyn D. , Denny Joshua C. , Kho Abel N. , Ramirez Andrea H. , Crosslin David , Armstrong Loren , Basford Melissa A. , Wolf Wendy A. , Pacheco Jennifer A. , Chisholm Rex L. , Roden Dan M. , Hayes M. Geoffrey , Crawford Dana C. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryElectrocardiographic (ECG) measurements vary by ancestry. Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) have identified loci that contribute to ECG measurements; however, most are performed in Europeans collected from population‐based cohorts or surveys. The strongest associations reported are in NOS1AP with QT interval and SCN10A with PR and QRS durations. The extent to which these associations can be generalized to African Americans has yet to be determined. Using electronic medical records, PR and QT intervals, QRS duration, and heart rate were determined in 455 African Americans as part of the Vanderbilt Genome‐Electronic Records Project and Northwestern University NUgene Project. We tested for an association between these ECG traits and >930K SNPs. We identified a total 36 novel associations with PR interval, QRS duration, QT interval, and heart rate at p < 1.0 × 10−6. Using published GWAS data, we compared our results with those previously identified in other populations. Five associations originally identified in other populations generalized with respect to statistical significance and direction of effect. A total of 43 associations have a consistent direction of effect with European and/or Asian populations. This work provides a catalogue of generalized versus nongeneralized associations, a necessary step in prioritizing GWAS‐identified regions for further fine‐mapping in diverse populations.
How to Improve Cognitive Control in Development During Childhood: Potentials and Limits of Cognitive Interventions
Authors: Kray Jutta , Ferdinand Nicola K. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractCognitive control refers to the ability to control one's own processing along external and internal goals. Working memory, inhibition, and switching processes are key components of cognitive control that increase throughout childhood and are closely related to the maturation of the prefrontal lobes. Given the role of cognitive control in school success, searching for effective cognitive interventions is important. Such interventions may help induce positive change, especially earlier in children's development, as the prefrontal lobes are not fully developed and are sensitive to environmental demands. In this article, we highlight two ways to enhance cognitive control through different interventions: One uses language as a mediator for behavioral regulation, whereas the other involves the practice and training of cognitive control processes. We discuss ways these approaches might be used, limits to their use, and theoretical and practical implications.
Predicting vitamin D deficiency in older Australian adults
Authors: Tran Bich , Armstrong Bruce K. , McGeechan Kevin , Ebeling Peter R. , English Dallas R. , Kimlin Michael G. , Lucas Robyn , van der Pols Jolieke C. , Venn Alison , Gebski Val , Whiteman David C. , Webb Penelope M. , Neale Rachel E. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryObjectiveThere has been a dramatic increase in vitamin D testing in Australia in recent years, prompting calls for targeted testing. We sought to develop a model to identify people most at risk of vitamin D deficiency.Design and ParticipantsThis is a cross‐sectional study of 644 60‐ to 84‐year‐old participants, 95% of whom were Caucasian, who took part in a pilot randomized controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation.MeasurementsBaseline 25(OH)D was measured using the Diasorin Liaison platform. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were defined using 50 and 25 nmol/l as cut‐points, respectively. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. We used multivariate logistic regression to predict low vitamin D and calculated the net benefit of using the model compared with ‘test‐all’ and ‘test‐none’ strategies.ResultsThe mean serum 25(OH)D was 42 (SD 14) nmol/1. Seventy‐five per cent of participants were vitamin D insufficient and 10% deficient. Serum 25(OH)D was positively correlated with time outdoors, physical activity, vitamin D intake and ambient UVR, and inversely correlated with age, BMI and poor self‐reported health status. These predictors explained approximately 21% of the variance in serum 25(OH)D. The area under the ROC curve predicting vitamin D deficiency was 0·82. Net benefit for the prediction model was higher than that for the ‘test‐all’ strategy at all probability thresholds and higher than the ‘test‐none’ strategy for probabilities up to 60%.ConclusionOur model could predict vitamin D deficiency with reasonable accuracy, but it needs to be validated in other populations before being implemented.
The button graft technique for perforations affecting less than 25% of the tympanic membrane: a non‐randomised comparison of a new modification to cartilage tympanoplasty with underlay and overlay grafts
Authors: Abdelghany A.M. 
Published: March 2013

ObjectivesTo evaluate a new composite cartilage–perichondrium graft (button graft) for repair of small‐sized tympanic membrane perforations and to compare its success rate with that of the underlay and overlay techniques with temporal fascia or tragal perichondrium.DesignProspective, sequential allocation of surgical technique study.SettingTertiary care university hospital.PatientsOne hundred 95 patients aged 14–42 years with central, uncomplicated tympanic membrane perforations with completely visualised margins affecting less than 25% of the tympanic membrane, distributed in three groups: 1 (underlay), 2 (overlay) and 3 (button graft).InterventionsPatients were allocated in sequence to: 1 underlay graft, 2 overlay graft and 3 cartilage tympanoplasty with button graft technique. Patients were operated on under local anaesthesia.Main outcome measuresPostoperative status of the tympanic membrane, hearing improvement, duration of surgery and incidence of complications at 12 months postoperative.ResultsGroup 1 (underlay) had 66 patients; group 2 (overlay), 65; and group 3 (cartilage), 66. Success was defined as the complete closure of the tympanic membrane one year after the operation. The success rates were 98.5% (65 of 66), 97% (63 of 65) and 98.5% (65 of 66) cases, and the mean air–bone gap gains were 10.18 (±5.4) dB, 8.5 (+6.5) dB and 9.1 (+5.1) dB for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. No bone conduction threshold or speech discrimination score worsening was noted. The mean durations of the operative procedure were 35 ± 8.4 (range 22,63), 42 ± 6.8 (range 33,75) and 23 ± 6.3 (range 15,41) min for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (P = 0.02). Tympanic membrane retraction occurred in three cases in underlay group 1, and tympanic membrane cholesteatoma pearls occurred in two cases in overlay group 2.ConclusionsThe button graft technique is an effective and fast alternative for the repair of small tympanic membrane perforations if complete visualisation of the margin is possible. The shorter time taken with the button grafts is mainly due to the non‐requirement for a skin incision. The results are comparable to those of the underlay and overlay techniques.
Charcot neuroarthropathy triggered and complicated by osteomyelitis. How limb salvage can be achieved
Authors: Aragón‐Sánchez J. , Lázaro‐Martínez J. L. , Quintana‐Marrero Y. , Álvaro‐Afonso F. J. , Hernández‐Herrero M. J. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractBackgroundCharcot neuroarthropathy is a severe complication in the feet of patients with diabetes, which can lead to a major amputation. Osteomyelitis and surgery for osteomyelitis have been reported as trigger mechanisms of developing Charcot neuroarthropathy. However, the development of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy triggered by osteomyelitis during conservative antibiotic treatment is not well outlined in the medical literature.Case reportsTwo patients apparently developed mid and rear foot Charcot neuroarthropathy, which was clinically suspected while being treated with antibiotics for osteomyelitis. One of them presented osteomyelitis of the navicular bone and subsequently developed acute Charcot neuroarthropathy of the tarsometatarsal joints. The other presented calcaneal osteomyelitis with pathological fracture and developed Charcot neuroarthropathy of the transverse tarsal joint. No offloading had been implemented in either case. A major amputation had been indicated in both cases in their teaching hospitals. Limb salvage was achieved in both cases by means of surgery, culture‐guided post‐operative antibiotics, intraosseus instillation of super‐oxidized solution, bed rest before placing a total contact cast and stabilization of the unstable foot with a total contact cast with an opening for checking the healing course and to detect any complications. The mechanisms of the development of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy in a patient with osteomyelitis are discussed.ConclusionsOsteomyelitis in the feet of patients with diabetes and neuropathy may trigger the development of acute Charcot neuroarthropathy. Fractures and dislocated joints may subsequently become infected from the index focus, producing a severe infected and unstable foot that may require a major amputation. Limb salvage can be achieved in specialized departments.
Horizontal transmission of the microbial symbionts Enterobacter cloacae and Mycotypha microspora to their firebrat host
Authors: Woodbury Nathan , Moore Margo , Gries Gerhard 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe firebrat, Thermobia domestica (Packard) (Thysanura: Lepismatidae), aggregates in response to the faeces of conspecifics. This aggregation response is mediated by two microbial symbionts, the bacterium Enterobacter cloacae (Jordan) Hormaeche & Edwards (Enterobacteriaceae) and the fungus Mycotypha microspora Fenner (Mucorales). Our objective was to determine how these microbes are transmitted between firebrats. We produced fluorescently labelled E. cloacae and M. microspora and presented them to firebrats. Firebrats consumed large quantities of these labelled microbes and deposited them with their faeces where they proliferated rapidly. Firebrats did not harbour E. cloacae or M. microspora within their ovarioles or eggs, and thus cannot transmit them transovarially. Instead, firebrats acquired them horizontally whenever they fed on microbe‐contaminated material, such as faeces, faeces‐contaminated paper, or egg surfaces. Firebrats moult throughout their life, and with each moult they shed the cuticular lining of their digestive tract and likely any microbes residing therein. Because firebrats remain in close contact and live in groups of mixed age and gender, newly moulted individuals can readily re‐acquire E. cloacae or M. microspora from group members. This ensures the perpetuation of their microbial aggregation and arrestment signal.
The fate of soyabean photosynthetic carbon varies in Mollisols differing in organic carbon
Authors: Jin J. , Wang G. H. , Liu J. D. , Yu Z. H. , Liu X. B. , Herbert S. J. 
Published: March 2013

SummaryThe fate of photosynthetically‐fixed carbon (C) in the plant–soil–microbe continuum has received much interest because of its relevance to soil C and the global C cycle. However, information on the flow of this plant C below ground and its contribution to soil C sequestration in soils with contrasting organic C (Corg) is limited. In this study, soyabean (Glycine max L. Merr.) was grown in three Mollisols with low (1.04%), medium (2.90%) and high (5.05%) Corg, respectively. Plants were labelled with 13CO2 to trace the photosynthetic C dynamics in the plant–soil system for up to 288 hours. The total amount of net fixed 13C by plants ranged from 66 to 78 mg pot−1, and there was no difference between soils. The amount of 13C in soil organic matter (SOM) increased from 1.9 to 6.1 mg pot−1 over time in the high‐Corg soil, while it showed a non‐significant change with 2.2 mg pot−1 (on average) in the medium‐Corg soil, and decreased from 2.9 to 0.1 mg pot−1 in the low‐Corg soil. In the low‐Corg soil, the amount of 13C in soil microbes decreased markedly over time, showing a fast turnover, and had a significant correlation (P ≤ 0.01) with 13C in the SOM pool. However, such a relationship was not significant in the soil with high or medium Corg. These results indicate that most of the root‐derived C in the low‐Corg soil is degraded quickly by microbial activity, while the greater input of the photosynthetic C to SOM in the high‐ and/or medium‐Corg soil can probably be attributed to physical sorption of root‐derived C by SOM and minerals, thus protecting it against microbial decomposition.