bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
War of the weeds: Competition hierarchies in invasive species
Authors: LAWES R. A. , GRICE A. C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractInvasive plant species succeed because they are able to propagate and disperse into unoccupied habitat, outcompete and suppress other plant species or use a combination of these two strategies. Ecosystems are often invaded by multiple species and it is important to determine which species are likely to dominate plant communities through competition and which species will succeed by other means. We assessed frequency and abundance of 65 invasive species over 1700 km of riparian zone in the Burdekin catchment of North Queensland, Australia and established a dominance hierarchy for those species. The cover of every invasive and one native shrub known to have increased in abundance in historical times, was surveyed in quadrats as part of a nested hierarchical design consisting of 8030 quadrats, within 803 transects, within 90 sites. Total species cover and species frequency were derived from the results of this survey. We estimated the pairwise interactions between individual species and used a non‐parametric David Score to rank species and construct a competition hierarchy of invasive species at the quadrat and transect levels. Species frequency and cover were highly correlated (r2 = 0.81). The competition hierarchy of species at the quadrat level was moderately related to species cover, but poorly related to species frequency (r2 = 0.24 and 0.02). The competition rank of many species, including Urochloa mosambicensis and Parthenium hysterophorus, changed markedly with scale when assessed at the quadrat and transect levels. This suggests different processes influenced their competitive success at different scales. This technique enabled us to explore and accept the hypothesis that abundant species are often the most competitive. However, some exceptions were identified in this study and these species may in time become more abundant in the catchment.
The transport of nutrients and energy into the Australian Snowy Mountains by migrating bogong mothsAgrotis infusa
Authors: GREEN KEN 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAlthough energy flows are fundamental to our understanding of the functioning of ecosystems, the extent of transport of energy and nutrients by biological agents into mountains is poorly understood. Bogong moths constitute a keystone species in the ecology of the alpine zone of mainland Australia. Although known to transport nutrients and energy essential to the functioning of the alpine ecosystem, this has never been quantified. By allocating mortality between predation, and non‐predator‐related causes, a model was constructed to calculate mortality of moths in the Snowy Mountains region of the Australian Alps. Density of predators, their food requirements and the proportion of predator diet that was moth were estimated, and energy and nutrient content of moths were measured. This allowed a first order estimate of the total mortality of moths above 1500 m in the Snowy Mountains annually (1015 million) and the annual contributions of energy (4929 GJ) and nutrients (7.2 t of nitrogen and 0.97 t of phosphorus) by these moths to the system. The deleterious effects of transportation of exogenous chemicals to the mountains have been explored elsewhere but the fertilizing effect of this transport of nutrients still requires attention.
The influence of body mass index on the cost of radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer
Authors: Bolenz Christian , Gupta Amit , Hotze Timothy , Ho Richard , Cadeddu Jeffrey A. , Roehrborn Claus G. , Lotan Yair 
Published: March 2010

Study Type – Economic (cost impact) Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of obesity on the costs of robotic‐assisted (RALP), laparoscopic (LRP) and open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe charts of 629 patients who underwent RP (262 RALP, 211 LRP and 156 RRP) between September 2003 and April 2008 at our institution were reviewed. Clinical and pathological data were collected, including age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, body mass index (BMI), tumour stage, complications and length of stay. Direct and component costs (anaesthesia, laboratory, operating room service, radiology, room and board, pharmacy and surgical supplies) were obtained. Differences in costs were evaluated using three BMI categories (<25, normal weight; 25–<30, overweight; and ≥30 kg/m2, obese).RESULTSOf 629 patients, 136 (21.6%) had normal weight, 320 (50.9%) were overweight, and 173 (27.5%) were obese. Clinical and pathological characteristics were similar in the three BMI categories of the entire cohort. The median direct cost was higher for obese patients (P= 0.035). On further stratification by type of RP, costs were higher amongst obese than the other groups undergoing LRP (median US$5703 vs $5347; P= 0.002) and RRP (median $4885 vs $4377; P= 0.004). In patients who underwent RALP there were no significant differences in direct costs (median $6761 in obese vs $6745 in non‐obese; P= 0.64).CONCLUSIONObesity influenced the costs in patients who underwent LRP and RRP, mainly due to increased operating room service and anaesthesia costs in obese patients. RALP can be performed with no additional financial burden in obese patients.
A Case for Global Governance Theory: Practitioners Avoid It, Academics Narrow It, the World Needs It
Authors: Carver John 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTManuscript Type: PerspectiveResearch Question/Issue: This paper promotes the furtherance of global governance theory with sufficient universal applicability to open up an entirely new area of corporate governance research, both in theoretical effectiveness and in competing practices stimulated by theory.Research Findings/Insights: This paper does not arise from a research study, but from the argument that board governance suffers from lack of a theoretical base despite its crucial instruction and accountability function between owners and operators. Therefore, this paper is not to report research results, but to introduce a perspective on the need for conceptual coherence in the board's role, practices, and relationships – a perspective worthy of being called a global theory of governance.Theoretical/Academic Implications: The central theme of this paper is that a global theory of corporate governance is needed, can be highly practical, and has already begun. The case is made that global governance theory will not arise from research into the elements of current board practices, but by studied attention to: (1) the purpose of boards; (2) the irreducible minimum elements of accountability among varied governance venues; and (3) the concepts and principles that would enable those universal characteristics to be optimized. The case is made that isolating the relatively few essential components of responsible governance yields a foundation that enables all other elements to vary based on cultural, legal, and idiosyncratic variables for each board.Practitioner/Policy Implications: Any development of governance theory necessarily changes the light in which practices are viewed: board relationships with shareholders and with management; director discipline and training required to fulfill theory‐based obligations; roles of chair and committees; advisability of combination directors/executives; distinction of directly board‐controlled decisions versus those allowed to vary as management sees fit; nature and content of reporting and CEO evaluation; and a host of other issues of board practices and expressions of leadership.
Corporate‐Governance Ratings and Company Performance: A Cross‐European Study
Authors: Renders Annelies , Gaeremynck Ann , Sercu Piet 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTManuscript Type: EmpiricalResearch Question/Issue: Prior studies have failed to unequivocally establish a positive relationship between corporate‐governance ratings and company performance, although theoretically, we would expect to find one. In this paper, we try to establish whether a positive relationship exists through modeling the relationship more carefully.Research Findings/Insights: After controlling for selection bias and endogeneity simultaneously, we find a significant positive relationship between corporate‐governance ratings and performance. However, the strength of this relationship seems to depend on the quality of the institutional environment. Finally, we find that improvements in corporate‐governance ratings over time result in decreasing marginal benefits in terms of performance.Theoretical/Academic Implications: Our paper contributes to the literature by showing that improved corporate‐governance ratings lead to better performance, but that econometric problems might obscure this relationship. We also show that for a sample of developed countries the institutional environment affects the relationship between governance ratings and performance. Finally, this paper contributes to the literature on the impact, regarding compliance and effectiveness, of codes of good governance.Practitioner/Policy Implications: Our results are relevant for both companies and policy makers. They indicate that companies can improve performance by adhering to good corporate‐governance practices. For policy makers, the findings suggest that soft laws and the invisible hand of the market lead to companies improving their corporate governance.
Genetic and environmental factors and the distribution of multiple sclerosis in Europe
Authors: Handel A. E. , Handunnetthi L. , Giovannoni G. , Ebers G. C. , Ramagopalan S. V. 
Published: March 2010

Background:  The observation that the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) increases further from the equator has prompted considerable interest in the factors that might underlie this latitude gradient. Potential candidates include population frequencies of disease‐associated Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles which are the major genetic component of MS susceptibility. Ultraviolet (UV) exposure and smoking have also been implicated as key environmental risk factors.Methods:  We used multiple sources of published data on MS prevalence, HLA allele frequencies, UV index and cigarette smoking to assess the contributions of both nature and nurture to the distribution of MS within Europe.Results:  We observed that HLA alleles unequivocally interact with a population‐wide level to determine disease risk. The UV index and smoking behaviour was also shown to correlate with disease distribution in Europe. For countries with HLA, UV and smoking data, these three factors were shown to account for 75% of the variance in MS prevalence.Conclusions:  Genetic (HLA) and environmental (UV and smoking) risk factors thus interact in a complex manner with each other to determine a large proportion of MS susceptibility within Europe.
Obovatol attenuates microglia‐mediated neuroinflammation by modulating redox regulation
Authors: Ock Jiyeon , Han Hyung S , Hong Su H , Lee So Y , Han Young‐Min , Kwon Byoung‐Mog , Suk Kyoungho 
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose:  Obovatol isolated from the medicinal herb Magnolia obovata exhibits a variety of biological activities. Here, the effect of obovatol and its mechanism of action on microglial activation, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration were investigated.Experimental approach:  In microglial BV‐2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we measured nitric oxide (NO) and cytokine production, and activation of intracellular signalling pathways by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Western blots. Cell death was assayed in co‐cultures of activated microglia (with bacterial LPS) and neurons and in LPS‐induced neuroinflammation in mice in vivo.Key results:  Obovatol inhibited microglial NO production with an IC50 value of 10 µM. Obovatol also inhibited microglial expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric‐oxide synthase, which was accompanied by the inhibition of multiple signalling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa B, signal transducers and activators of transcription 1, and mitogen‐activated protein kinases. In addition, obovatol protected cultured neurons from microglial toxicity and inhibited neuroinflammation in mice in vivo. One molecular target of obovatol in microglia was peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2), identified by affinity chromatography and mass spectrometry. Obovatol enhanced the reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐scavenging activity of Prx2 in vitro, thereby suppressing proinflammatory signalling pathways of microglia where ROS plays an important role.Conclusions and implications:  Obovatol is not only a useful chemical tool that can be used to investigate microglial signalling, but also a promising drug candidate against neuroinflammatory diseases. Furthermore, our results indicate that Prx2 is a novel drug target that can be exploited for the therapeutic modulation of neuroinflammatory signalling.
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine inhibits mitochondrial complex I activity in mice: a possible mechanism underlying neurotoxicity
Authors: Puerta Elena , Hervias Isabel , Goñi‐Allo Beatriz , Zhang Steven F , Jordán Joaquín , Starkov Anatoly A , Aguirre Norberto 
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose: 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) causes a persistent loss of dopaminergic cell bodies in the substantia nigra of mice. Current evidence indicates that such neurotoxicity is due to oxidative stress but the source of free radicals remains unknown. Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes by MDMA was assessed as a possible source.Experimental approach: Activities of mitochondrial complexes after MDMA were evaluated spectrophotometrically.In situvisualization of superoxide production in the striatum was assessed by ethidium fluorescence and striatal dopamine levels were determined by HPLC as an index of dopaminergic toxicity.Key results: 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine decreased mitochondrial complex I activity in the striatum of mice, an effect accompanied by an increased production of superoxide radicals and the inhibition of endogenous aconitase. α‐Lipoic acid prevented superoxide generation and long‐term toxicity independent of any effect on complex I inhibition. These effects of α‐lipoic acid were also associated with a significant increase of striatal glutathione levels. The relevance of glutathione was supported by reducing striatal glutathione content with L‐buthionine‐(S,R)‐sulfoximine, which exacerbated MDMA‐induced dopamine deficits, effects suppressed by α‐lipoic acid. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine, partially prevented MDMA‐induced dopamine depletions, an effect reversed by L‐arginine but not D‐arginine. Finally, a direct relationship between mitochondrial complex I inhibition and long‐term dopamine depletions was found in animals treated with MDMA in combination with 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine.Conclusions and implications: Inhibition of mitochondrial complex I following MDMA could be the source of free radicals responsible for oxidative stress and the consequent neurotoxicity of this drug in mice.This article is commented on by Moncada, pp. 217–219 of this issue. To view this commentary visithttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2010.00706.xand to view related papers in this issue by Pravdicet al.and Kurzet al.visithttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2010.00698.xandhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2010.00656.x
Naringin improves bone properties in ovariectomized mice and exerts oestrogen‐like activities in rat osteoblast‐like (UMR‐106) cells
Authors: Pang Wai‐Yin , Wang Xin‐Lun , Mok Sau‐Keng , Lai Wan‐Ping , Chow Hung‐Kay , Leung Ping‐Chung , Yao Xin‐Sheng , Wong Man‐Sau 
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose:  Naringin, a flavanone glycoside in citrus fruits, has been recently reported to stimulate bone formation in vitro and in vivo. The present study was designed to determine if naringin could exert oestrogen‐like protective actions in bone.Experimental approach:  Young C57/BL6J mice were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated orally with naringin (0.2 or 0.4 mg·g−1·day−1), 17β‐oestradiol (2 µg·g−1·day−1) or its vehicle for 6 weeks. Bone mineral densities (BMD) and polar stress‐strain index (SSI) were measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Rat osteoblast‐like UMR‐106 cells were co‐incubated with the oestrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 to determine if the effects of naringin on osteoblastic functions were ER dependent. Functional transactivation of ERα and ERβ as well as ERα phosphorylation by naringin were also studied.Key results:  Naringin at 0.4 mg·g−1·day−1 increased BMD at trabecular‐rich bone in OVX mice. Naringin (at both doses) significantly increased SSI at distal femur and lumbar spine and increased biomechanical strength (ultimate load and energy for breaking) at tibia diaphysis in OVX mice. The stimulatory effects of naringin on osteoblastic functions could be abolished by co‐incubation with ICI 182780 in UMR‐106 cells. Naringin failed to stimulate ERα‐ or ERβ‐mediated oestrogen response element‐dependent luciferase activity but could significantly induce ERα phosphorylation at serine 118, in UMR‐106 cells.Conclusions and implications:  Naringin was effective in protecting against OVX‐induced bone loss in mice and its actions might be mediated through ligand‐independent activation of ER in osteoblastic cells.
LASSBio‐881: anN‐acylhydrazone transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily type 1 antagonist orally effective against the hypernociception induced by capsaicin or partial sciatic ligation
Authors: Tributino JLM , Santos MLH , Mesquita CM , Lima CKF , Silva LL , Maia RC , Duarte CD , Barreiro EJ , Fraga CAM , Castro NG , Miranda ALP , Guimaraes MZP 
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose: Compound LASSBio‐881 is an orally effective antinociceptive that binds to cannabinoid receptors and is active mainly on the neurogenic component of pain models. We investigated whether transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily type 1 (TRPV1) channels are involved in the effects of LASSBio‐881.Experimental approach: Modulation of capsaicin (CAP)‐ and low pH‐induced currents was evaluated in TRPV1‐expressingXenopusoocytes.In vivoeffects were evaluated in CAP‐induced acute and inflammatory changes in nociception, as well as in partial sciatic ligation‐induced thermal hypernociception.Key results: LASSBio‐881 inhibited TRPV1 currents elicited by CAP with an IC50of 14 µM, and inhibited proton‐gated currents by 70% at 20 µM. Functional interaction with CAP was surmountable. Locally applied LASSBio‐881 decreased time spent in CAP‐elicited nocifensive behaviour by 30%, and given orally it reduced measures of CAP‐ or carrageenan‐evoked thermal hypernociception by 60 and 40% respectively. In addition, LASSBio‐881 decreased the paw withdrawal responses to thermal stimuli of animals with sciatic neuropathy 7–11 days after nerve ligation, at a dose of 300 µmol·kg−1·day−1p.o. At this dose, hyperthermia was not observed within 4 h following oral administration.Conclusions and implications: LASSBio‐881 is a TRPV1 antagonist that apparently competes with CAP. Accordingly, LASSBio‐881 inhibited nociception in models of acute, inflammatory and neuropathic pain presumed to involve TRPV1 signalling. Thesein vivoactions were not hindered by hyperthermia, a common side effect of other TRPV1 antagonists. We propose that the antinociceptive properties of LASSBio‐881 are due to TRPV1 antagonism, although other molecular interactions may contribute to the effects of this multi‐target drug candidate.
Use of a novel radiometric method to assess the inhibitory effect of donepezil on acetylcholinesterase activity in minimally diluted tissue samples
Authors: Kikuchi Tatsuya , Okamura Toshimitsu , Arai Takuya , Obata Takayuki , Fukushi Kiyoshi , Irie Toshiaki , Shiraishi Tetsuya 
Published: March 2010

Background and purpose:  Cholinesterase inhibitors have been widely used for the treatment of patients with dementia. Monitoring of the cholinesterase activity in the blood is used as an indicator of the effect of the cholinesterase inhibitors in the brain. The selective measurement of cholinesterase with low tissue dilution is preferred for accurate monitoring; however, the methods have not been established. Here, we investigated the effect of tissue dilution on the action of cholinesterase inhibitors using a novel radiometric method with selective substrates, N‐[14C]methylpiperidin‐4‐yl acetate ([14C]MP4A) and (R)‐N‐[14C]methylpiperidin‐3‐yl butyrate ([14C]MP3B_R), for AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) respectively.Experimental approach:  We investigated the kinetics of hydrolysis of [14C]‐MP4A and [14C]‐MP3B_R by cholinesterases, and evaluated the selectivity of [14C]MP4A and [14C]MP3B_R for human AChE and BChE, respectively, compared with traditional substrates. Then, IC50 values of cholinesterase inhibitors in minimally diluted and highly diluted tissues were measured with [14C]MP4A and [14C]MP3B_R.Key results:  AChE and BChE activities were selectively measured as the first‐order hydrolysis rates of [14C]‐MP4A and [14C]MP3B_R respectively. The AChE selectivity of [14C]MP4A was an order of magnitude higher than traditional substrates used for the AChE assay. The IC50 values of specific AChE and BChE inhibitors, donepezil and ethopropazine, in 1.2‐fold diluted human whole blood were much higher than those in 120‐fold diluted blood. In addition, the IC50 values of donepezil in monkey brain were dramatically decreased as the tissue was diluted.Conclusions and implications:  This method would effectively monitor the activity of cholinesterase inhibitors used for therapeutics, pesticides and chemical warfare agents.
BEHAVIOR OF AVIRULENT YERSINIA PESTIS IN LIQUID WHOLE EGG AS AFFECTED BY STORAGE TEMPERATURE, ANTIMICROBIALS AND THERMAL PASTEURIZATION
Authors: GURTLER JOSHUA B. , RIVERA REBECCA B. , ZHANG HOWARD Q. , SOMMERS CHRISTOPHER H. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTYersinia spp. are psychrotrophic bacteria capable of growth at temperatures as low as −2C, known to contaminate shell eggs and liquid eggs in the U.S.A. and South America. A study was performed to determine the thermal sensitivity of avirulent Yersinia pestis in liquid whole egg (LWE), evaluate the growth pattern of the bacterium in LWE at temperatures of 4–22C and assess the ability of 10 antimicrobial compounds to inhibit the growth of attenuated Y. pestis in LWE. The estimated decimal reduction values of avirulent Y. pestis in LWE at 54C (D54) were 1.39–1.58 min, and D60 values were 13.8 and 11.4 s by the addition of 0 and 965 IU of nisin (MP Biomedicals, LLC, Solon, OH), respectively. Low molecular weight chitosan (0.5%) and an activated lactoperoxidase system (2.18 U/mL) were ineffective at inhibiting growth of Y. pestis, while 500 IU/mL of nisin inhibited populations by up to 1 log cfu/mL at 4, 10 and 15C when compared with the control. Allyl isothiocyanate, diacetyl, diethyl dicarbonate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, methylparaben, monolaurin and benzoyl peroxide inhibited the growth of attenuated Y. pestis when added at high levels.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe genus Yersinia does not currently pose a problem in pasteurized liquid egg products, although it has been isolated from eggs in the U.S.A. and Argentina. Yersiniae, which are psychrotrophic bacteria, can grow at temperatures as low as −2C; therefore, incidental or intentional contamination of liquid whole egg (LWE) with Yersinia spp. could result in multiplication to high populations, even when stored under refrigeration (ca. 4C). We have shown that avirulent Yersinia pestis is able to multiply to populations of >2, 5 and 8 log cfu/mL in LWE at 4C within 6, 14 and 26 days, respectively. This study provides information that will be helpful in determining thermal and nonthermal means of controlling yersiniae in LWE products.