bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Life after fire: smoke and ash as germination cues in ericads, herbs and graminoids of northern heathlands
Authors: Bargmann Tessa , Måren Inger E. , Vandvik Vigdis 
Published: May 2014

AbstractQuestionWhat is the impact of the fire cues smoke and ash on seed germination of important functional groups in the heathland system, namely ericads, herbs and graminoids? We predict that if germination from heathland seed banks is in part regulated by fire cues, there should be stronger responses to fire cue treatments in seed bank samples taken from heath that has not been recently burned in comparison with samples taken from newly burned heath, where seed banks have been exposed to the same cues in situ.LocationLygra, Lindås commune, western Norway.MethodsThe efficacy of smoke, charred wood, ash and heat in promoting germination has been documented in a wide range of species and systems, but relatively little work has been done on fire‐related cues in northern European heathlands under anthropogenic fire regimes. We studied fire experimentally by testing the effects of aqueous smoke solution, ash and a combination of the two treatments, on the germination of graminoids, herbs and ericads. A greenhouse germination trial compared seed banks from old heath (28 yr since the last fire) with seed banks from newly burned heath (burned the previous year), where we expected that fire‐cued germination had already occurred.ResultsWe found that both ericads and graminoids responded to fire cues, whereas herbs did not. In line with our predictions, responses were stronger in the old heath than in the young heath. Further, the smoke treatment is a more effective cue than ash across all functional groups.ConclusionsThe prevalence of positive fire cue responses across functional groups underscores the importance of fire in the ecology of these heathlands, and hence of burning as a central tool for their management. The finding that the germination response is stronger in naïve seed banks than in seed banks that have already been exposed to recent fire cues through in situ fires further supports the role of fire in the successional dynamics of these heathlands.
Development and assessment of brief versions of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Ruminative Response Scale
Authors: Topper Maurice , Emmelkamp Paul M. G. , Watkins Ed , Ehring Thomas 
Published: May 2014

ObjectivesWorry and depressive rumination have been found to be involved in the onset and maintenance of a range of psychological disorders. The development of brief screening measures for excessive worry and depressive rumination is therefore desirable to facilitate the assessment of worry and rumination in prevention and treatment settings where routine administration of full questionnaires is not practical due to time‐related constraints.Design and methodsUsing the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) as gold standard starting points, brief versions of these measures were developed in a large sample of adolescents (N = 1,952) and results were cross‐validated in two independent samples (N = 1,954; N = 457).ResultsThe brief versions demonstrated acceptable to high internal consistency (brief PSWQ: α = .84–.91; brief RRS: α = .78–.81) and correlated highly with the full questionnaires (brief PSWQ: r = .91–.94; brief RRS: r = .88–.91). In addition, they showed high sensitivity (brief PSWQ: .90–.92; brief RRS: .90–.93), and high specificity (brief PSWQ: .88–.90; brief RRS: .80–.87) to detect excessive worry and rumination. The validity of the brief measures was further supported by demonstrating that the brief measures showed similar differences in scores between males and females as the full measures as well as substantial relationships to other measures of repetitive negative thinking and symptom measures of anxiety and depression. Finally, the brief measures predicted future symptoms of anxiety and depression.ConclusionsThe brief versions of the PSWQ and RRS are time‐efficient and valid instruments for the screening of worry and depressive rumination. Their use in clinical practice is recommended to inform treatment and/or to select individuals at risk for development of psychological disorders who may benefit from preventive interventions.Practitioner points

The newly developed brief PSWQ and brief RRS are valid, internally reliable measures that show high diagnostic efficiency to detect excessive worry and depressive rumination.

The brief PSWQ and brief RRS are time‐efficient instruments that can be used to determine whether a focus on reducing worry and depressive rumination during treatment is indicated.

The brief PSWQ and brief RRS can be used for large‐scale screening purposes to identify individuals eligible for targeted prevention programmes.

A potential limitation is that items of the brief RRS have depressive item content which may inflate the observed association with depression.

Future research is needed to assess the quality of the brief PSWQ and the brief RRS in broader community and clinical samples.
A Valsalva leak‐point pressure of >100 cmH2O is associated with greater success in AdVance™ sling placement for the treatment of post‐prostatectomy urinary incontinence
Authors: Barnard Jon , van Rij Simon , Westenberg Andre M. 
Published: May 2014

ObjectivesTo determine if there is a Valsalva leak‐point pressure (VLPP) threshold that predicts for retro‐urethral transobturator sling (RTS) success in men with post‐prostatectomy urinary incontinence (UI).Patients and MethodsThe preoperative urodynamic parameters of all patients undergoing RTS (AdVance™) sling surgery over the last 5 years were analysed and compared with the postoperative outcomes. The sling was defined as having been successful if the patient no longer had to wear pads or merely used a pad to provide a sense of security.ResultsIn all, 46 men with a mean (range) age of 65 (45–83) years, underwent AdVance™ sling surgery. 10 men had undergone holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, one a transurethral resection of the prostate and 35 radical prostatectomy. 11 men had a VLPP of ≤100 cmH2O. Of these 11 men, three had no, or minimal, improvement in their leakage and all three required a secondary procedure (artificial urinary sphincter, AUS). In the 35 men with a VLPP of >100cmH2O there were three failures. One of these was successfully salvaged with a repeat sling, another with an AUS and one with ProACT™ balloons. The hazard ratio (HR) for failure with a VLPP of ≤100 cmH20 compared with a VLPP of >100 cmH2O was 4 (95% confidence interval 0.68–23.7).ConclusionA VLPP of >100 cmH2O has a high degree of predictability for success for AdVance™ sling placement for men with post‐prostatectomy UI.
Histamine H4 receptor as a new therapeutic target for choroidal neovascularization in age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Kaneko Hiroki , Ye Fuxiang , Ijima Ryo , Kachi Shu , Kato Seiichi , Nagaya Masatoshi , Higuchi Akiko , Terasaki Hiroko 
Published: May 2014

Background and PurposeThe present treatment for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is not sufficient. Hence, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of reducing histamine H4 receptor expression on CNV in mice.Experimental ApproachH4 receptor expression was examined in CNVs from patients with AMD. In mice, laser photocoagulation was performed in the retina to induce experimental CNV (laser CNV). Protein and mRNA expression levels were determined and CNV volume measured in wild‐type and Hrh4‐/‐ mice with laser CNV. The effects of JNJ7777120, an H4 receptor antagonist, administered intravitreously, on CNV volume and pathological vessel leakage were determined in mice with laser CNV and controls. Fundus imaging, retinal histology and electroretinography were performed on eyes injected with JNJ7777120 to evaluate retinal toxicity.Key ResultsHuman H4 receptors were only confirmed in CNV samples from AMD patients and not in the other subretinal tissues. Mouse H4 receptors were expressed in retinal pigment epithelium only after inducing laser CNV in wild‐type mice, and were co‐localized with the macrophage marker F4/80. Laser CNV volume was reduced in Hrh4‐/‐ mice compared with that in wild‐type mice, and JNJ7777120 suppressed laser‐induced CNV volume and pathological CNV leakage in wild‐type mice. Also eyes injected with JNJ7777120 did not show retinal degeneration.Conclusions and ImplicationsH4 receptors are expressed in macrophages that accumulate around CNVs. Suppressing H4 receptor expression prevented the pathological vessel leakage without showing retinal toxicity, indicating that the H4 receptor has potential as a novel therapeutic target in AMD.
Demographic changes following mechanical removal of exotic brown trout in an Intermountain West (USA), high‐elevation stream
Authors: Saunders W. Carl , Budy Phaedra , Thiede Gary P. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractExotic species present a great threat to native fish conservation; however, eradicating exotics is expensive and often impractical. Mechanical removal can be ineffective for eradication, but nonetheless may increase management effectiveness by identifying portions of a watershed that are strong sources of exotics. We used mechanical removal to understand processes driving exotic brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations in the Logan River, Utah. Our goals were to: (i) evaluate the demographic response of brown trout to mechanical removal, (ii) identify sources of brown trout recruitment at a watershed scale and (iii) evaluate whether mechanical removal can reduce brown trout densities. We removed brown trout from 2 km of the Logan River (4174 fish), and 5.6 km of Right Hand Fork (RHF, 15,245 fish), a low‐elevation tributary, using single‐pass electrofishing. We compared fish abundance and size distributions prior to, and after 2 years of mechanical removal. In the Logan River, immigration to the removal reach and high natural variability in fish abundances limited the response to mechanical removal. In contrast, mechanical removal in RHF resulted in a strong recruitment pulse, shifting the size distribution towards smaller fish. These results suggest that, before removal, density‐dependent mortality or emigration of juvenile fish stabilised adult populations and may have provided a source of juveniles to the main stem. Overall, in sites demonstrating strong density‐dependent population regulation, or near sources of exotics, short‐term mechanical removal has limited effects on brown trout populations but may help identify factors governing populations and inform large‐scale management of exotic species.
Antioxidant activity of Pinus pinaster infected with Fusarium circinatum is influenced by maternal effects
Authors: Vivas M. , Nunes C. , Coimbra M. A. , Solla A. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThe antioxidant activity of Pinus pinaster seedlings originating from two contrasting maternal environments and inoculated with the fungal pathogen Fusarium circinatum was examined. The antioxidant activity related positively to the stem necrosis caused by the pathogen (p = 0.005), but this relationship differed significantly between maternal environments (p ≤ 0.002). Seedlings from mother trees grown under a favourable environment expressed a more variable antioxidant activity to F. circinatum than seedlings from mother trees grown in a less favourable environment. Antioxidant activity ranging from 80 to 100% resulted in shorter necrosis in seedlings from the favourable maternal environment than in seedlings from the unfavourable environment. Maternal effects caused shifts in the relationship between antioxidant activity and necrosis in offspring, and significantly modified the individual plant capacity for antioxidant response on pathogen penetration.
Effects of consumers and nitrogen availability on heterotrophic microbial activity during leaf decomposition in headwater streams
Authors: Cheever Beth M. , Webster Jackson R. 
Published: May 2014

Summary

Microbial processes in streams may be influenced by bottom‐up factors, such as nutrient availability, and by top‐down factors, such as the activity of upper trophic levels. The latter pathway has been well described between autotrophs and grazers, but the effects of consumers on heterotrophic basal trophic levels may also be important. Consumers may influence microbial activity through consumption of microbial biomass and by altering nutrient availability via consumer nutrient recycling (CNR).

We investigated the effects of two shredder taxa, Gammarus spp. and Tipula spp., on nitrogen (N) uptake during organic matter decomposition by leaf‐associated heterotrophic microbial assemblages under conditions of ambient and enriched N availability in stream mesocosms. Colonised red maple leaves were placed in mesocosms with low (<20 μg L−1) or high (>800 μg L−1) nitrate concentration in the presence of amphipods, tipulids or no shredders. To test the importance of consumption and CNR, leaf packs were constructed from both coarse and fine mesh, which respectively allowed or prevented shredders from consuming detritus.

Nitrogen enrichment generally increased red maple breakdown rates, while shredder influence on leaf breakdown was taxon specific. Feeding by tipulids increased red maple breakdown rate compared with amphipods, although not significantly. While feeding by amphipods did not directly influence breakdown rates, amphipod nutrient recycling stimulated leaf breakdown rate by the same magnitude as the N‐enrichment treatment.

Fungal biomass increased with N enrichment. However, this did not lead to changes in N uptake, which was extremely variable and did not respond significantly to either treatment. In general, N uptake (per leaf mass) was greatest under enriched N conditions when tipulids were present.

Our results indicate that both top‐down and bottom‐up factors influence microbial activity in heterotrophic systems and suggest that consumers may play important roles in detrital processing, not only through direct consumption but also through nutrient recycling.
Winter climate change affects growing‐season soil microbial biomass and activity in northern hardwood forests
Authors: Durán Jorge , Morse Jennifer L. , Groffman Peter M. , Campbell John L. , Christenson Lynn M. , Driscoll Charles T. , Fahey Timothy J. , Fisk Melany C. , Mitchell Myron J. , Templer Pamela H. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractUnderstanding the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to global change remains a major challenge of ecological research. We exploited a natural elevation gradient in a northern hardwood forest to determine how reductions in snow accumulation, expected with climate change, directly affect dynamics of soil winter frost, and indirectly soil microbial biomass and activity during the growing season. Soils from lower elevation plots, which accumulated less snow and experienced more soil temperature variability during the winter (and likely more freeze/thaw events), had less extractable inorganic nitrogen (N), lower rates of microbial N production via potential net N mineralization and nitrification, and higher potential microbial respiration during the growing season. Potential nitrate production rates during the growing season were particularly sensitive to changes in winter snow pack accumulation and winter soil temperature variability, especially in spring. Effects of elevation and winter conditions on N transformation rates differed from those on potential microbial respiration, suggesting that N‐related processes might respond differently to winter climate change in northern hardwood forests than C‐related processes.
Strong contribution of autumn phenology to changes in satellite‐derived growing season length estimates across Europe (1982–2011)
Authors: Garonna Irene , de Jong Rogier , de Wit Allard J.W. , Mücher Caspar A. , Schmid Bernhard , Schaepman Michael E. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractLand Surface Phenology (LSP) is the most direct representation of intra‐annual dynamics of vegetated land surfaces as observed from satellite imagery. LSP plays a key role in characterizing land‐surface fluxes, and is central to accurately parameterizing terrestrial biosphere–atmosphere interactions, as well as climate models. In this article, we present an evaluation of Pan‐European LSP and its changes over the past 30 years, using the longest continuous record of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) available to date in combination with a landscape‐based aggregation scheme. We used indicators of Start‐Of‐Season, End‐Of‐Season and Growing Season Length (SOS, EOS and GSL, respectively) for the period 1982–2011 to test for temporal trends in activity of terrestrial vegetation and their spatial distribution. We aggregated pixels into ecologically representative spatial units using the European Landscape Classification (LANMAP) and assessed the relative contribution of spring and autumn phenology. GSL increased significantly by 18–24 days decade−1 over 18–30% of the land area of Europe, depending on methodology. This trend varied extensively within and between climatic zones and landscape classes. The areas of greatest growing‐season lengthening were the Continental and Boreal zones, with hotspots concentrated in southern Fennoscandia, Western Russia and pockets of continental Europe. For the Atlantic and Steppic zones, we found an average shortening of the growing season with hotspots in Western France, the Po valley, and around the Caspian Sea. In many zones, changes in the NDVI‐derived end‐of‐season contributed more to the GSL trend than changes in spring green‐up, resulting in asymmetric trends. This underlines the importance of investigating senescence and its underlying processes more closely as a driver of LSP and global change.
L‐mimosine increases the production of vascular endothelial growth factor in human tooth slice organ culture model
Authors: Trimmel K. , Cvikl B. , Müller H.‐D. , Nürnberger S. , Gruber R. , Moritz A. , Agis H. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractAimTo assess the pro‐angiogenic and pro‐inflammatory capacity of the dentine–pulp complex in response to the prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor L‐mimosine in a tooth slice organ culture model.MethodologyHuman teeth were sectioned transversely into 600‐μm‐thick slices and cultured in medium supplemented with serum and antibiotics. Then, pulps were stimulated for 48 h with L‐mimosine. Pulps were subjected to viability measurements based on formazan formation in MTT assays. In addition, histological evaluation of pulps was performed based on haematoxylin and eosin staining. Culture supernatants were subjected to immunoassays for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to determine the pro‐angiogenic capacity and to immunoassays for interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 to assess the pro‐inflammatory response. Interleukin‐1 served as pro‐inflammatory control. Echinomycin was used to inhibit hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) alpha activity. Data were analysed using Student's t‐test and Mann–Whitney U test.ResultsPulps within tooth slices remained vital upon L‐mimosine stimulation as indicated by formazan formation and histological evaluation. L‐mimosine increased VEGF production when normalized to formazan formation in the pulp tissue of the tooth slices (P < 0.05). This effect on VEGF was reduced by echinomycin (P < 0.01). Changes in normalized IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels upon treatment with L‐mimosine did not reach the level of significance (P > 0.05), whilst treatment with IL‐1, which served as positive control, increased IL‐6 (P < 0.05) and IL‐8 levels (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor L‐mimosine increased VEGF production via HIF‐1 alpha in the tooth slice organ culture model whilst inducing no prominent increase in IL‐6 and IL‐8. Pre‐clinical studies will reveal if these in vitro effects translate into dental pulp regeneration.
Characteristics of a large cohort of patients with diabetes having at‐risk feet and outcomes in patients with foot ulceration referred to a tertiary care diabetes unit
Authors: Riaz Musarrat , Miyan Zahid , Zaidi Syed I , Alvi Syed FD , Fawwad Asher , Ahmadani Muhammad Y , Zafar Asim B , Malik Rayaz A , Basit Abdul 
Published: May 2014

AbstractTo identify in a large population cohort the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with diabetes at risk of foot ulceration and outcomes in those with foot ulcers. All patients with diabetes attending Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology from January 2004 to April 2012 included in the study. Clinical, biochemical and socio‐demographic data were collected and patients were categorised into those at no risk of ulceration, at risk of ulceration and those with foot ulcer, according to the University of Texas classification. Patients with foot ulceration followed for their final outcome, that is complete healing, persisted non‐healed ulcer, lower extremity amputation, lost to follow‐up or death. A total of 18 119 patients with diabetes underwent assessment, 3576 (19·7%) patients defined as at high risk for foot ulceration and 3731 (20·6%) presented with foot ulcer. Age, male gender, hypertension, higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), history of smoking and presence of neuropathy were risk factors (P < 0·000) for foot ulceration. Amputation rate in patients with foot ulceration was significantly related to severity of ulceration at presentation. Preventive foot care practices were followed by 19·02% patients. One thousand eight hundred seventy three (50·2%) patients completely healed, 293 (11%) patients underwent amputation and 397 (10·1%) patients continued to be treated in the foot clinic. All patients with diabetes should be screened for neuropathy to identify those at risk of foot ulceration, as it is the major contributory factor for foot ulceration. The final outcome of foot ulceration was determined by the severity and grade of ulcer at presentation.
Reassessment of Hydrofluoric Acid Desilicification in the Carius Tube Digestion Technique for Re–Os Isotopic Determination in Geological Samples
Authors: Li Jie , Zhao Pei‐Pei , Liu Jingao , Wang Xuan‐Ce , Yang Alexandra Yang , Wang Gui‐Qing , Xu Ji‐Feng 
Published: May 2014

In this study, Re and Os isotopes were systematically determined in six geological reference materials (RMs; covering a wide range of lithologies) using the Carius tube (CT) digestion technique with and without hydrofluoric acid desilicification. Our results show that the HF desilicification increased the Re extraction efficiency (by 9–15%) evidenced from basaltic and andesitic rocks (e.g., BHVO‐2, TDB‐1 and AGV‐2). This implies that a small proportion of Re resides in silicate phases. For mafic–ultramafic rocks (e.g., BCR‐2, WGB‐1 and WPR‐1), Re extraction efficiencies obtained by the CT digestion with and without HF desilicification were similar. This may indicate that Re in these rocks may dominantly reside in some phases (e.g., magnetite and sulfides) that could be completely dissolved in aqua regia solutions without the aid of HF desilicification. Our results also show that the HF desilicification increased Os extraction efficiency (by 13–99%) in some RMs (e.g., BHVO‐2, WGB‐1 and AGV‐2). This observation suggests that a portion of Os‐rich trace phases may occur as inclusions in the silicate phases that act as isolators at ~ 200 mesh sizes. This study demonstrates that the HF desilicification step prior to CT digestion is important for complete extraction of Re and Os in geological samples.