bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Riparian land use and the relationship between the benthos and litter decomposition in tropical montane streams
Authors: ENCALADA ANDREA C. , CALLES JUAN , FERREIRA VERONICA , CANHOTO CRISTINA M. , GRAÇA MANUEL A. S. 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. Although stream–catchment interactions have been analysed in some detail in temperate environments, little is known about the effects of land‐use changes in the tropics. Here, we analyse differences in benthic communities (macroinvertebrates and fungi) under two contrasting land uses (mature secondary forest and pasture) in montane streams in north‐western Ecuador and their influence on the rates of litter processing.2. Between 2005 and 2006, we used a combination of coarse and fine mesh bags to study the relative contribution of macroinvertebrates and fungi to processing of two types of litter, Alnus acuminata and Inga spectabilis, in three‐first‐order streams running through mature secondary montane forests and adjacent downstream reaches running through pastures. At the same time, we characterised the assemblages of shreddering macroinvertebrates and fungi communities and the litter processing rates in stream reaches under both vegetation types.3. Litter processing rates attributable to invertebrate feeding (coarse mesh bags) were significantly slower in streams running through pastures. Nevertheless, shredder diversity and richness were similar between pasture and forest sections, while shredder abundance was significantly higher in forest streams (mainly Phylloicus sp. :Trichoptera). Fungal reproductive activity and litter processing rates were low (fine mesh bags) and did not differ significantly between pasture and forest stream reaches.4. Phylloicus sp. abundance was the best predictor of the percentage of litter remaining in coarse mesh bags across pasture and forest sites. Neither shredder diversity nor their species richness was a significant predictor of mass loss, as most of the decomposition was performed by a single keystone species. Although litter decomposition by microbial decomposers was low, fungal biomass (but not diversity) was the best variable explaining the percentage of litter remaining in fine mesh bags.5. Our data suggest that, in these Neotropical montane streams, land use can have a significant impact on the rates of critical ecosystem processes, such as litter decomposition. In this study, this effect was not mediated by a major shift in the structure of the benthos, but by a decrease in the abundance and relative representation of a single species whose life history makes it critical to litter processing.6. This study highlights the significant role that macroinvertebrate fauna can have in the processing of litter in Neotropical streams and the predominant role that single species can have in terms of controlling stream ecosystem‐level processes. Understanding the extent to which these patterns affect the long‐term and large‐scale functioning of stream ecosystems still needs further research and will become increasingly important in terms of managing lotic ecosystems in the context of rapid land‐use change.
Changes in fish assemblages in catchments in north‐eastern Spain: biodiversity, conservation status and introduced species
Authors: MACEDA‐VEIGA ALBERTO , MONLEON‐GETINO ANTONIO , CAIOLA NUNO , CASALS FREDERIC , De SOSTOA ADOLFO 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. North‐eastern Spain is a hot spot for the introduction of alien fish species, and its native fish fauna is one of the most endangered worldwide. We used an extensive data set from 2002 to 2003 and historical information from the area to characterize fish diversity and establish conservation priorities in river catchments.2. Diversity indices were used to characterize fish diversity at the basin scale. An index of conservation status was applied for each species, which considers the occurrence, abundance and endemicity of each taxon. We used indirect ordination methods to test the relationship among basin features and to identify those variables most correlated with each other. To identify physical, biotic and environmental characteristics that seem to make a basin particularly susceptible to invasion, we performed a step‐wise multiple regression to examine the relationship between the number of native, translocated and introduced fish species (including the original native species richness of each basin), and landscape variables.3. Over a period of approximately 50 years, the mean range size of native fish species has decreased by 60%. The greatest decline occurred in Gasterosteus gymnurus, Anguilla anguilla and Salaria fluviatilis, for which species over 75% of the original distribution area has been lost. The species with the highest conservation index were Gasterosteus gymnurus and Salaria fluviatilis.4. Basin area and the catchment type explained 70% of variation in native species richness, whereas the number of dams and basin area accounted for more than 80% of variation in the number of introduced species.5. The original native species richness and the number of introduced species at basin scale were not related, and thus there was no evidence of “biotic resistance” to invasion. The restoration of natural hydrologic processes and the development of specific management tools to protect native species, such as the prioritization of areas for fish conservation and the eradication of local populations of exotic species, are required to restore native fish fauna in these catchments.
A matter of timing: heat wave impact on crustacean zooplankton
Authors: HUBER VERONIKA , ADRIAN RITA , GERTEN DIETER 
Published: April 2010

Summary1. Climate change has affected zooplankton phenology and abundance in many freshwater ecosystems. The strong temperature anomalies that characterise summer heat waves make these events particularly suitable to study the effects of different seasonal warming patterns on zooplankton. Since heat waves are expected to occur more frequently under continuing climate change, they may also allow us to investigate how freshwater systems will be affected in the future.2. Using a long‐term data set (1991–2007) from a shallow, eutrophic lake in Germany, we identify time periods in spring and summer during which cyclopoid copepods and bosminids are particularly sensitive to changes in water temperature. Based on this knowledge, we consider why summer populations responded differently to recent heat wave events that occurred at different times in the season.3. Linear regressions of moving averages suggested that water temperatures shortly before and shortly after the clear‐water phase (CWP) were crucial for summer development of bosminids and cyclopoid copepods, respectively. Algal food availability (diatoms and cryptophytes) in the first weeks after the CWP also strongly influenced the summer populations of the two zooplankton groups.4. Inter‐annual differences in water temperature during the critical time periods at least partly explained the contrasting responses of cyclopoid copepods and bosminids to heat wave events.5. Our findings indicate that the zooplankton response to climate warming, particularly to heat wave events, is critically dependent on the temporal pattern of elevated water temperatures. Beyond that, we show that the summer zooplankton populations react to periods of warming in relation to events in the plankton annual cycle (such as the CWP in eutrophic lakes) rather than to warming at a fixed time in the season.
Elevated CO2 effects on semi‐arid grassland plants in relation to water availability and competition
Authors: Dijkstra Feike A. , Blumenthal Dana , Morgan Jack A. , LeCain Daniel R. , Follett Ronald F. 
Published: April 2010

Summary 1. It has been suggested that much of the elevated CO2 effect on plant productivity and N cycling in semi‐arid grasslands is related to a CO2‐induced increase in soil moisture, but the relative importance of moisture‐mediated and direct effects of CO2 remain unclear. 2. We grew five grassland species common to the semi‐arid grasslands of northern Colorado, USA, as monocultures and as mixtures of all five species in pots. We examined the effects of atmospheric CO2 concentration (ambient vs. 780 p.p.m.) and soil moisture (15 vs. 20% m/m) on plant biomass and plant N uptake. Our objective was to separate CO2 effects not related to water from water‐mediated CO2 effects by frequently watering the pots, thereby eliminating most of the elevated CO2 effects on soil moisture, and including a water treatment similar in magnitude to the water‐savings effect of CO2. 3. Biomass of the C3 grasses Hesperostipa comata and Pascopyrum smithii increased under elevated CO2, biomass of the C4 grass Bouteloua gracilis increased with increased soil moisture, while biomass of the forbs Artemisia frigida and Linaria dalmatica had no or mixed responses. Increased plant N uptake contributed to the increase in plant biomass with increased soil moisture while the increase in plant biomass with CO2 enrichment was mostly a result of increased N use efficiency (NUE). Species‐specific responses to elevated CO2 and increased soil moisture differed between monocultures and mixtures. Both under elevated CO2 and with increased soil moisture, certain species gained N in mixtures at the expense of species that lost N, but elevated CO2 led to a different set of winners and losers than did increased water. 4. Elevated CO2 can directly increase plant productivity of semi‐arid grasslands through increased NUE, while a CO2‐induced increase in soil moisture stimulating net N mineralization could further enhance plant productivity through increased N uptake. Our results further indicate that the largest positive and negative effects of elevated CO2 and increased soil moisture on plant productivity occur with interspecific competition. Responses of this grassland community to elevated CO2 and water may be both contingent upon and accentuated by competition.
Female zebra finches compromise clutch temperature in energetically demanding incubation conditions
Authors: Nord Andreas , Sandell Maria I. , Nilsson Jan‐Åke 
Published: April 2010

Summary 1. Avian embryos depend on the incubating parent to provide a thermal environment suitable for embryogenesis, but as the maintenance of optimal incubation temperatures is energetically costly, an incubating bird often must trade off embryonic investment against self‐maintenance. 2. We manipulated the energetic cost of incubation in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata Vieillot) by varying ambient temperature and clutch size during nocturnal incubation and recorded the corresponding effects on incubation metabolic rate and clutch temperature. 3. Females increased their night‐time incubation metabolic rate more than twofold when incubating at 10 °C compared to when incubating close to thermoneutrality (28 °C). Furthermore, clutch enlargement caused females to elevate their metabolic rate with 2·8% per additional egg added to the clutch. 4. However, despite spending more energy, females did not fully cover the increased costs of incubation, because clutch temperature decreased with decreasing ambient temperature and increasing clutch size. 5. These findings suggest that parental investment in incubation can be energetically constrained and sometimes result in clutch temperatures below the optimal level for embryonic development, at least during nocturnal incubation.
Thermal time approach to predicting seedling emergence dates of red clover, white clover and lucerne in farm fields
Authors: Sakanoue S. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractA practical method for predicting seedling emergence dates of red and white clovers, and lucerne is proposed. The germination response at seven different constant temperatures ranging from 5 to 35°C was examined. Germination rate, which is a reciprocal of the duration for 50% germination of seeds, was linearly regressed against temperature to calculate the base temperature and thermal constant of seed germination. The calculated values were 3·9°C and 15·8 degree days for red clover, 4·2°C and 13·6 degree days for white clover, and 2·9°C and 17·7 degree days for lucerne. Using the base temperatures, thermal constants, and the daily mean air temperatures at the study site, the seedling emergence dates of the three forage legumes were predicted. At the same time, in an outdoor pot experiment, seeds of these legumes were sown approximately every 3 weeks and seedling emergence dates were determined. The predicted dates of seedling emergence generally fitted the observed dates. Another prediction was attempted using the base temperatures, thermal constants, and normal daily mean air temperatures recorded over more than 30 years in the study site. This prediction showed that the seedlings of the three forage legumes began to emerge at the beginning of April and could continue to emerge until the beginning of November when their non‐dormant seeds were present in the site, and that when the seeds were sown from mid‐November of one year to late March of the next year, the emergence of seedlings was delayed until the beginning of April.
Colonization and lignin decomposition of pine needle litter by Lophodermium pinastri
Authors: Osono T. , Hirose D. 
Published: April 2010

SummaryThe colonization and lignin decomposition of pine (Pinus thunbergii and Pinus densiflora) needle litter by an endophytic fungus, Lophodermium pinastri, was examined with field observations, a field experiment and laboratory experiments. In pine needles collected from the field, needle mass per length and lignin content were lower in needle portions bearing Lophodermium fruiting bodies than in the remaining needle portions, whereas total carbohydrate content was not different between them. Total and live hyphal lengths were greater in needle portions bearing Lophodermium fruiting bodies than in the remaining needle portions. Lophodermium fruiting bodies were not formed on sterilized needles after a 6‐month incubation on the forest floor, whereas they formed on 20% of non‐sterilized needles, indicating that this fungus can only colonize live needles on the branch. In pure culture decomposition tests, mass loss of lignin was detected for several isolates of L. pinastri, but was variable among isolates and between the needles of two pine species. A comparison of the rDNA‐internal transcribed spacer sequences between L. pinastri isolates of P. thunbergii and P. densiflora indicated that the two groups were phylogenetically separated. This study is the first to show that L. pinastri has the ability to decompose lignin in dead pine needles.
Regeneration and molecular characterization of interspecific somatic hybrids between Satsuma mandarin and two seedy sweet oranges for scion improvement
Authors: Fu J. , Peng Z. J. , Cai X. D. , Guo W. W. 
Published: April 2010

With 2 figures AbstractIn an effort to produce novel and elite tetraploid germplasm for citrus seedless scion cultivar improvement, symmetric fusions were conducted between embryogenic suspension protoplasts of Citrus unshiu Marc. cv. ‘Guoqing No. 1’ (G1) and mesophyll protoplasts isolated from the leaves of ‘Red Anliu’ (Citrus sinensis Osbeck cv. ‘Red Anliu’) or ‘Taoye’ sweet oranges (C. sinensis Osb. cv. ‘Taoye’). Eight plants from G1+ ‘Red Anliu’ and 20 plants from G1+ ‘Taoye’ were regenerated, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis showed that all five randomly selected plants from G1+ ‘Taoye’ were tetraploid, and for four randomly selected plants recovered from G1+ ‘Red Anliu’, three were tetraploid and the remaining one was diploid. Genetic compositions of regenerated plants were determined by nuclear simple sequence repeat (SSR), chloroplast‐SSR and mitochondrial cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence analysis. It was confirmed that all tetraploid plants from both fusions were true somatic hybrids, with chloroplast DNA and mitochondrial DNA from embryogenic callus parent. The diploid from G1+ ‘Red Anliu’ was identified to be originated from G1 protoplast, the callus parent. The potential of these novel allotetraploid somatic hybrids in citrus scion breeding was discussed.
Cardiotoxicity with 5‐fluorouracil and capecitabine: more than just vasospastic angina
Authors: Stewart T. , Pavlakis N. , Ward M. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractIn this case series we present a variety of different cardiac toxicities with 5‐fluorouracil and its pro‐drug capecitabine, including myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, sinoatrial and atrioventricular node dysfunction, tako‐tsubo cardiomyopathy and QT prolongation with torsade‐de pointes ventricular tachycardia. We stress the fact that while vasospasm is a well‐recognized side‐effect of this class of chemotherapeutic agent, broader cardiotoxicity is commonly seen and an increased awareness of the range of toxicity is necessary if repeat toxicity is to be avoided.
Validity of the indicator ‘death in low‐mortality diagnosis‐related groups’ for measuring patient safety and healthcare quality in hospitals
Authors: Mihrshahi S. , Brand C. , Ibrahim J. E. , Evans S. , Jolley D. , Cameron P. 
Published: April 2010

AbstractThe indicator ‘death in low‐mortality diagnosis‐related groups (DRG)’ is a patient safety indicator (PSI) that can be derived from routinely collected administrative data sources. It is included in a group of PSI that have been proposed to compare and monitor standards of hospital care in Australia. To summarize the attributes of this indicator as a measure of quality and safety in healthcare and examine issues regarding the development process, definitions and use of the indicator in practice. A structured literature search was conducted using the Ovid Medline database to identify peer‐reviewed published literature which used ‘death in low‐mortality DRG’ as a quality/safety indicator. Key quality websites were also searched. The studies were critically appraised using a standardized method. A total of 12 articles was identified which met our search criteria. Most were of low methodological quality because of their retrospective study designs. Only three studies provided evidence that the quality of care gap is higher in ‘deaths in low‐mortality DRG’ than in other cases. Most of the studies reviewed show that there are several limitations of the indicator for assessing patient safety and quality of care. The few studies that have assessed associations with other measures of hospital quality have shown only weak and inconsistent associations. Higher quality, prospective, analytic studies are required before ‘death in low‐mortality DRG’ is used as an indicator of quality and safety in healthcare. Based on current evidence, the most appropriate use is as a screening tool for institutions to quickly and easily identify a manageable number of medical records to investigate in more detail.
Fishing out marine parasites? Impacts of fishing on rates of parasitism in the ocean
Authors: Wood Chelsea L. , Lafferty Kevin D. , Micheli Fiorenza 
Published: April 2010

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 761–775AbstractAmong anthropogenic effects on the ocean, fishing is one of the most pervasive and extends deepest into the past. Because fishing reduces the density of fish (reducing transmission efficiency of directly transmitted parasites), selectively removes large fish (which tend to carry more parasites than small fish), and reduces food web complexity (reducing transmission efficiency of trophically transmitted parasites), the removal of fish from the world’s oceans over the course of hundreds of years may be driving a long‐term, global decline in fish parasites. There has been growing recognition in recent years that parasites are a critical part of biodiversity and that their loss could substantially alter ecosystem function. Such a loss may be among the last major ecological effects of industrial fishing to be recognized by scientists.
Concomitant carcinoma in situ and tumour size are prognostic factors for bladder recurrence after nephroureterectomy for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma
Authors: Pieras Enrique , Frontera Guillermo , Ruiz Xavi , Vicens Antoni , Ozonas Mariano , Pizá Pedro 
Published: April 2010

Study Type – Diagnosis (validating cohort) Level of Evidence 1bOBJECTIVETo identify prognostic risk factors for the development of subsequent bladder recurrence in patients undergoing nephroureterectomy (NU) for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe data of 79 patients who underwent NU for localized upper tract TCC were collected retrospectively, and analysed for clinical and pathological variables. Patients with previous invasive bladder tumours were excluded. Age, sex, tumour location, previous/synchronic bladder tumours, stage, grade, concomitant upper tract carcinoma in situ (CIS), and size were all analysed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done using the Kaplan‐Meier Method, with the log‐rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model, respectively.RESULTSThe median follow‐up was 71 months, during which bladder tumours were detected in 42 patients (54%). On univariate analyses, tumour stage ≥ pT2 (P= 0.015), concomitant upper tract CIS (P= 0.001), high‐grade tumour G3 (P= 0.027) and tumour size >4 cm (P= 0.011) were statistically significant predictors of intravesical recurrence. After multivariate analyses, concomitant CIS (P= 0.005, hazard ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.4–5.8) and tumour size >4 cm (P= 0.042; 1.9, 1–3.7) were significantly related to bladder tumour recurrence.CONCLUSIONThere is a high bladder recurrence rate after NU for upper tract TCC. Patients with tumours of >4 cm and concomitant upper tract CIS have a major risk of developing subsequent bladder recurrence. Therefore, closer surveillance of the bladder is needed in these patients and they may potentially benefit from prophylactic intravesical instillation therapy.
Are histopathological features of prostate cancer lesions associated with identification of extracapsular extension on magnetic resonance imaging?
Authors: Wang Liang , Akin Oguz , Mazaheri Yousef , Ishill Nicole M. , Kuroiwa Kentaro , Zhang Jingbo , Hricak Hedvig 
Published: April 2010

Study Type – Diagnosis (exploratory cohort) Level of EvidenceOBJECTIVETo assess the effect of histopathological lesion characteristics on the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for per‐lesion identification of extracapsular extension (ECE) of prostate cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study included 176 patients (median age 58.9 years, range 38–77) who underwent endorectal MRI before radical prostatectomy between January 2001 and July 2004, had no previous treatment and had whole‐mount step‐section pathological specimens showing at least one capsule‐abutting lesion. The likelihood of ECE of capsule‐abutting lesions was retrospectively scored from 1 to 5 based on radiologists’ prospective MRI interpretations. Generalized estimating equation regression models were used to determine the effect of the following histological variables on the sensitivity of MRI for identifying ECE of capsule‐abutting lesions: maximum diameter, largest perpendicular diameter (LPD), bi‐dimensional diameter product, Gleason grade, and zonal extent.RESULTSOn histopathology, 339 capsule‐abutting lesions were found, including 54 with ECE. MRI correctly identified ECE in 36/54 capsule‐abutting lesions, including nine of 18 with focal ECE and 27/36 with established ECE, giving sensitivities (95% confidence interval) of 67 (53–78)%, 50 (27–73)% and 75 (58–87)%, respectively. MRI incorrectly identified ECE in 27/285 (9%) capsule‐abutting lesions without ECE. MRI sensitivity for per‐lesion ECE identification was significantly associated only with histopathological LPD (P= 0.009). Fifty‐one patients (29%) had ECE. MRI had a sensitivity (95% confidence interval) of 69 (54–81)% and specificity of 90 (83–94)% for per‐patient ECE identification.CONCLUSIONSThe sensitivity of MRI in per‐lesion identification of prostate cancer ECE is significantly associated with the lesion LPD at histopathology.