bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing soil seed bank persistence in flood‐meadows: The search for reliable traits
Authors: Hölzel Norbert , Otte Annette 
Published: April 2009

Abstract. To assess seed bank persistence of target species in endangered flood‐meadows (alliances Cnidion and Molinion), we investigated established vegetation and soil seed bank of 46 plots for 3 yr and 2 yr, respectively. As traits of seed persistence we calculated various continuous indices that refer to the frequency and abundance of species in above‐ground vegetation and at different soil depths. Furthermore, we tested the significance and soundness of easily observed traits such as maximum seed density per plot and seed attributes (mass, size and shape) as predictors of soil seed bank features.In linear regression, SAI, the seed accumulation index, showed the best agreement (R2= 0.64) with the seed longevity index that was derived from the database by Thompson et al. (1997) for a set of 115 species. The second best predictor (R2= 0.39) of the seed longevity index was maximum seed density per plot in the lower soil layer (5–10 cm). Depth distribution indices and seed attributes showed weaker but still significant relations. The dynamic character of flood‐meadows was reflected by a large proportion of species with a strong tendency to accumulate seeds in the soil relative to their importance in above‐ground vegetation. Most of these species have a ruderal strategy, exploiting gaps after flood disturbances, while the dominants of flood‐meadows tended to have short‐lived seed banks. Compared to other grassland types, a relatively large proportion of rare and endangered target species can be expected to form long‐term persistent seed banks. However, only under marginal conditions that facilitate seed survival in the soil (e.g. fallow) are these persistent seed banks likely to contribute to restoration.We conclude that easily observed traits of persistence such as seed weight, size and shape do not meet the accuracy needed in scientific and practical applications. Thus, there is a crucial demand for further seed bank studies in poorly investigated habitats and of rare species.
Role of age on the outcome of liver surgery. A single institution experience
Authors: Spiliotis John , Datsis Anastassios C. , Vaxevanidou Archodoula , Lambropoulou Eva , Voutsina Adamantia , Chrysanthopoulos Kostas , Zacharis George 
Published: April 2009

Objective:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of age on different types of liver surgery.Methodology:  Between 2002 and 2007, 50 patients underwent a variety of liver surgical procedures due to primary or metastatic tumours. Of these, 24 were 70 years old or older, and 26 patients were younger than 70 years old at the time of the operation.Results:  Among the patients included in the study, 22 underwent radiofrequency ablation. Another 11 underwent non‐anatomical liver resection. The remaining 17 patients underwent liver resection, with more than three segments resected. The type of procedure, duration of operation, estimated blood loss, and postoperative death and morbidity rates were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean survival of patients that underwent radiofrequency ablation or non‐anatomical resection was not significantly different between the two groups. However, in the patients in which liver resection was performed, mean survival was significantly greater in the younger group.Conclusions:  These results indicate that hepatic resection is a safe and feasible procedure in elderly patients. The postoperative outcome in this age group is comparable of that of younger patients.
Haplotype analysis of HLA‐A, ‐B antigens and ‐DRB1 alleles in south Indian HIV‐1‐infected patients with and without pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Raghavan S. , Selvaraj P. , Swaminathan S. , Alagarasu K. , Narendran G. , Narayanan P. R. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryWe have shown earlier the association of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐A11 with resistance and HLA‐B40 and ‐DR2 with susceptibility to HIV and HIV‐TB. In the present study, we have attempted to find out the HLA‐DR2 subtypes and the possible HLA‐A/‐B/‐DRB1 haplotype combinations that are associated with susceptibility or resistance to HIV and HIV with pulmonary tuberculosis (HIV+PTB+). HLA‐DR2 subtyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction‐based sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probe method. Overrepresentation of HLA‐DRB1*1501 in HIV‐positive PTB‐negative (HIV+PTB–) patients (P = 0.004, Pc = 0.06) and ‐DRB1*1502 in HIV‐positive PTB‐positive (HIV+PTB+) patients (P = 0.019) was observed as compared to healthy controls. Haplotype analysis revealed an increased frequency of HLA‐A2‐DRB1*1501 haplotype in HIV+PTB– patients (P = 0.008) and HLA‐A2‐DRB1*1502 among HIV+PTB+ patients (P = 0.01) compared to healthy controls. The haplotypes B40‐DRB1*1501 and B40‐DRB1*04 were found to be moderately increased in HIV+PTB– and HIV+PTB+ patients (P < 0.05). The study suggests that HLA‐A2‐DRB1*1501 haplotype may be associated with HIV infection while HLA‐A2‐DRB1*1502 haplotype might be associated with susceptibility to PTB in HIV patients. Moreover, HLA‐B40‐DRB1*1501 and HLA‐B40‐DRB1*04 haplotypes may be associated with susceptibility to HIV infection and to PTB in HIV patients.
Relationship between saprotrophic growth in soil of different biotypes of Pochonia chlamydosporia and the infection of nematode eggs
Authors: Siddiqui I.A. , Atkins S.D. , Kerry B.R. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe ecology of Pochonia chlamydosporia in soil and its interaction with both plant and nematode hosts are important for the successful exploitation of the fungus as a biological control agent. Differences in saprotrophism and parasitism were assessed for biotypes of P. chlamydosporia, which had originated from the eggs of cyst or root‐knot nematodes. Colonisation in soils of different textures (compost, sandy loam and loamy sand) measured by the numbers of colony‐forming units, differed greatly. Most biotypes were more abundant in sterilised soil of the different textures compared with non‐sterilised soils. The proportion of nematode eggs parasitised in a baiting technique demonstrated that biotypes had host preferences. Those biotypes that originated from root‐knot nematodes (RKN‐biotypes) infected significantly more Meloidogyne hapla eggs than Globodera pallida eggs, whereas biotypes from cyst nematodes (CN‐biotypes) parasitised more G. pallida eggs than M. hapla eggs. Differences in virulence between biotypes in an in vitro assay in which the fungi were placed directly onto the egg masses of M. hapla and those differences observed in the baiting technique showed similar trends. There was a negative linear correlation between the growth of the eight biotypes in soil and the proportion of eggs they infected in compatible interactions (i.e. fungal biotype originated from the same nematode genus as the target eggs). Those biotypes that infected most nematode eggs colonised soil the least extensively, suggesting that virulence may have a fitness cost. However, the relationship between saprotrophic growth and virulence is complex. The relative abundance of the different biotypes in soil in Petri dish assays was similar to that under glasshouse conditions using potato but not tomato as the plant host. Chlamydospores of some biotypes applied to soil significantly reduced (>50%) the population densities of M. hapla on tomato and of G. pallida on potato plants. Some biotypes that were both effective and virulent are good candidates for biological control of specific nematode pests. Data presented here and elsewhere indicate that RKN‐biotypes have different host preferences to CN‐biotypes; the specific primers based on the vcp1 gene from P. chlamydosporia rapidly confirmed the host origin of seven of the eight biotypes.
Use of real‐time quantitative PCR to investigate root and gall colonisation by co‐inoculated isolates of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia
Authors: Atkins S.D. , Peteira B. , Clark I.M. , Kerry B.R. , Hirsch P.R. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia is a potential biological control agent for plant parasitic nematodes, but to date, there has been little investigation of interactions (competitive, antagonistic or synergistic) between different isolates that occur together on roots and nematode galls. Real‐time quantitative PCR (qPCR) has greatly improved the study of many fungi in situ on plant and nematode hosts, but distinguishing closely related isolates remains difficult. In this study, primers to discriminate P. chlamydosporia var. chlamydosporia and P. chlamydosporia var. catenulata were used to measure the relative abundance of isolates of the two varieties when inoculated singly or together on tomato plants. Also, sequence‐characterised amplified polymorphic regions were identified to distinguish two different isolates of P. chlamydosporia var. chlamydosporia. Individual 1‐cm root segments and nematode galls were excised, DNA extracted and subjected to real‐time qPCR with the discriminatory primers. The qPCR method proved sensitive and reproducible and demonstrated that roots and nematode galls were not uniformly colonised by the fungi. Results indicated that the P. chalmydosporia var. catenulata isolate was more abundant on roots and eggs than P. chlamydosporia var. chlamydosporia, but all the isolates infected a similar proportion of nematode eggs. There was an indication that the abundance of each fungal isolate was reduced in co‐inoculation experiments compared with single inoculations, but the number of root segments and galls colonised was not statistically significantly different.
SELECT shows no effect on prostate cancer prevention
Authors: Drudge‐Coates Lawrence 
Published: April 2009

AbstractTo determine whether selenium, vitamin E, or both could prevent prostate cancer and other diseases with little or no toxicity in relatively healthy men. Oral selenium (200 μg/d from L‐selenomethionine) and matched vitamin E placebo, vitamin E (400 IU/d of all rac‐α‐tocopheryl acetate) and matched selenium placebo, selenium + vitamin E, or placebo + placebo for a planned follow‐up of minimum of 7 years and a maximum of 12 years. Number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer and prespecified secondary outcomes, including lung, colorectal, and overall primary cancer. Selenium or vitamin E, alone or in combination at the doses and formulations used, did not prevent prostate cancer in this population of relatively healthy men.
Efficacy of urinary guidelines in the management of post‐stroke incontinence
Authors: Vaughn Stephanie 
Published: April 2009

AbstractUrinary incontinence (UI) is common occurrence among stroke survivors and impacts their recovery. This mixed method study examined the effects of implementation of evidence‐based urinary guidelines by the Interdisciplinary (ID) team in the management of post‐stroke UI in stroke survivors in an acute rehabilitation hospital in Southern California. Essential elements of the guidelines included assessment of the bladder pattern, the urinary WBC’s, the implementation of a scheduled toileting program, pelvic floor exercises, and the administration of Vitamin C 500 mg. by mouth. Functional Independent Measure (FIM) scores and urinary white blood cells (WBC’s) were used to evaluate the efficacy the guidelines. Post guideline implementation FIM scores and urinary WBC’s demonstrated improvement over the pre‐scores. These results indicate that positive stroke outcomes were achieved following implementation. In addition, the ID team, comprised of nurses, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, was queried as to the member’s knowledge and perceptions of their roles in the implementation of the guidelines. Highlighted themes from the ID focus groups were communication and structure, relating that the guidelines were useful in promoting collaborative practice among the ID team members.
Effect of rapid influenza testing on the clinical management of paediatric influenza
Authors: Jennings Lance C. , Skopnik Heino , Burckhardt Isabel , Hribar Irene , Del Piero Luc , Deichmann Klaus A. 
Published: April 2009

Background  Rapid tests are now widely available to assist the diagnosis of influenza; implementation may optimise the use of antiviral and antibiotic agents in the clinical management of influenza.Objective  To explore the clinical management of children with influenza‐like illness (ILI) when rapid influenza tests were and were not performed.Methods  Between 15 January 2007 and 30 April 2007, a standardised questionnaire was used to record the clinical features of children aged 1–12 years who presented to office‐based paediatricians in Germany with febrile ILI during periods of local influenza activity. For each paediatric contact, a clinical diagnosis of either ‘influenza positive’, ‘influenza negative’ or ‘suspected ILI’ was made. Where performed, the outcome of a Clearview Exact Influenza A + B rapid test was recorded. Prescriptions for antiviral agents and antibiotic medications were also recorded.Results  A total of 16 907 questionnaires were evaluated. After fever (an entry criteria for all children), cough (84·6%), fatigue/decreased activity (83·0%), rhinorrhoea (73·7%) and headache (67·1%) were the most common symptoms. Influenza was clinically diagnosed in 56·8% (9596/16 907) of cases. The antiviral oseltamivir was prescribed for 24·6% (178/725) of children who were influenza positive by symptom assessment alone and 60·1% (4618/7685) of children who were influenza positive by rapid test. Antibiotics were less commonly prescribed for children who were influenza positive by rapid test [3·5% (271/7685) versus 17·2% (125/725) for symptom assessment alone].Conclusions  In children with ILI, a positive rapid test result for influenza promotes the rational use of antiviral agents and reduces the inappropriate use of antibiotic medications.
Alterations of Zinc Transporter Proteins ZnT‐1, ZnT‐4 and ZnT‐6 in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease Brain
Authors: Lyubartseva Ganna , Smith Jennifer L. , Markesbery William R. , Lovell Mark A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractOur previous studies demonstrate alterations of zinc (Zn) transporter proteins ZnT‐1, ZnT‐4 and ZnT‐6 in vulnerable brain regions of subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and early and late stage Alzheimer's disease (AD), suggesting disruptions of Zn homeostasis may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD. A preclinical stage of AD (PCAD) has been described in which subjects show no overt clinical manifestations of AD, but demonstrate significant AD pathology at autopsy. To determine if alterations of ZnT proteins occur in PCAD, we measured ZnT‐1, ZnT‐4 and ZnT‐6 in the hippocampus/parahippocampal gyrus (HPG) and cerebellum (CER) of seven PCAD subjects and seven age‐matched normal control (NC) subjects using Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Our results show a significant decrease (P < 0.05) of ZnT‐1 in HPG of PCAD subjects, along with an increase of ZnT‐4 in PCAD CER and ZnT‐6 in PCAD HPG, but a significant decrease in PCAD CER compared to NC subjects. Confocal microscopy of representative sections of HPG shows altered ZnTs are associated with neurons immunopositive for MC‐1, a monoclonal antibody that identifies neurons early in formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Overall, our results suggest that alterations in Zn transport proteins may contribute to the pathology observed in PCAD subjects before onset of clinical symptoms.
Damage and casualties modelling as part of a vulnerability assessment for tsunami hazards: a case study from Aceh, Indonesia
Authors: Marchand M. , Buurman J. , Pribadi A. , Kurniawan A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractVulnerability reduction to tsunamis has become a major issue after the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. An ex ante (before the event) evaluation of possible disaster reduction measures requires insight into the potential risks. As part of a study focusing on sea defence measures for Aceh and Nias provinces in Indonesia, we have developed a model that is capable of quantifying potential damages and casualties for tsunami‐prone coastal areas. The model was able to reproduce the damage of 2004 sustained in Banda Aceh quite accurately. Because it is GIS based, the model also shows the spatial distribution of damage. Maps can be prepared that show high‐ and low‐impact areas for various tsunami event scenarios. This information is very useful for cost–benefit analysis of mitigation measures, such as sea defence measures, spatial planning and evacuation procedures.
Taking Comedy Seriously: Laughter and Pathos in Beaumarchais's Eugénie
Authors: HARRIS JOSEPH 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis article explores Beaumarchais's conflicting impulses towards comedy and pathos through the dynamics of onstage laughter in his problematic play Eugénie. While this drame's early scenes encourage a broadly comic response, the audience becomes progressively aware of laughter's moral shortcomings – not least in one crucial scene, where the pitiful heroine looks on in agonised compassion as her father's cruel mockery of her own seduction and abandonment unwittingly backfires upon himself. Father and daughter thus come to embody two conflicting spectatorial modes, those of comedy and the drame respectively, and Beaumarchais paints a touching portrait of the latter's moral superiority.
Extending the realm of health policy with a “new public health” approach: A comparative look at the Canadian and Swedish national experiences
Authors: Bernier Nicole F. 
Published: April 2009

Abstract: Modern health‐care systems in OECD countries were built around hospitals and the preferences of organized medicine and are largely focused on acute‐care services and services provided by doctors. Starting in the early 1980s, however, the professionalization in several countries of trades traditionally involved in health promotion, together with the constitution of a group of researchers in social epidemiology and the corresponding development of specialized schools and research centres, brought new actors into health policy‐making worldwide. This led to the extension of contemporary health policy beyond the post‐war bio‐medical model into population health promotion and social policy. This article describes and analyses the means (and limitations) used by Canada and Sweden for extending the action radius of health policies. Results show that national policies in health promotion beyond the health sector contributed above all to developing and legitimizing an official discourse that presents social problems as factors affecting social inequalities in health. Health promotion represented a tool for maintaining central social norms, as national governments were re‐defining their role in social policy.Sommaire: Les systèmes modernes de soins de santé dans les pays de l'OCDE ont été construits autour d'hôpitaux et des préférences de la médecine organisée et sont essentiellement axés sur les services de soins intensifs de courte durée et les services médicaux. Cependant, depuis le début des années 1980, la professionnalisation des métiers traditionnellement impliqués dans la promotion de la santé survenue dans plusieurs pays, associée à la constitution d'un groupe de chercheurs en épidémiologie sociale et le développement d'écoles et de centres de recherche spécialisés ont introduit de nouveaux acteurs dans l'élaboration de politiques en matière de santéà l'échelle mondiale. Cela a entraîné une transformation de la politique de la santé contemporaine, qui a dépassé le modèle biomédical d'après‐guerre pour s'étendre à la promotion de la santé de la population et à la politique sociale. Le présent article décrit et analyse les moyens utilisés par le Canada et la Suède pour étendre le rayon d'action des politiques de la santé et les limites auxquelles ils font face. Les résultats indiquent que les politiques nationales visant la promotion de la santé au‐delà du secteur de la santé ont contribué avant tout à développer un discours officiel qui présente les problèmes sociaux comme des facteurs ayant une incidence sur les inégalités sociales de la santé. La promotion de la santé a représenté un outil pour maintenir des normes sociales nationales, alors que les gouvernements centraux redéfinissaient leur rôle en matière de politique sociale.
MalAvi: a public database of malaria parasites and related haemosporidians in avian hosts based on mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages
Authors: BENSCH STAFFAN , HELLGREN OLOF , PÉREZ‐TRIS JAVIER 
Published: April 2009

AbstractResearch in avian blood parasites has seen a remarkable increase since the introduction of polymerase chain reaction‐based methods for parasite identification. New data are revealing complex multihost–multiparasite systems which are difficult to understand without good knowledge of the host range and geographical distribution of the parasite lineages. However, such information is currently difficult to obtain from the literature, or from general repositories such as GenBank, mainly because (i) different research groups use different parasite lineage names, (ii) GenBank entries frequently refer only to the first host and locality at which each parasite was sampled, and (iii) different researchers use different gene fragments to identify parasite lineages. We propose a unified database of avian blood parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon identified by a partial region of their cytochrome b sequences. The database uses a standardized nomenclature to remove synonymy, and concentrates all available information about each parasite in a public reference site, thereby facilitating access to all researchers. Initial data include a list of host species and localities, as well as genetic markers that can be used for phylogenetical analyses. The database is free to download and will be regularly updated by the authors. Prior to publication of new lineages, we encourage researchers to assign names to match the existing database. We anticipate that the value of the database as a source for determining host range and geographical distribution of the parasites will grow with its size and substantially enhance the understanding of this remarkably diverse group of parasites.
Analysis of
bla
SHV
Codon 238 and 240 Allele Mixtures Using Sybr Green High-Resolution Melting Analysis
Authors: Andersson Patiyan , Harris Tegan , Tong Steven Y. C. , Giffard Philip M. 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT

Klebsiella pneumoniae
isolates frequently contain complex mixtures of
bla
SHV
alleles. A high-resolution melting-based method for interrogating the extended-spectrum activity conferring codon 238 and 240 polymorphisms was developed. This detects minority extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding alleles, allows estimation of allele ratios, and discriminates between single and double mutants.