bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Host Tree Traits on Epiphyte Diversity in Natural and Anthropogenic Habitats in Ecuador
Authors: Köster Nils , Nieder Jürgen , Barthlott Wilhelm 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTVascular epiphytes represent a highly diverse element of tropical rain forests, but they depend strongly on the structure and taxonomic composition of their tree communities. For conservation planning, it is therefore critical to understand the effect of host tree characteristics on epiphyte species richness in natural and anthropogenically transformed vegetation. Our study compares the effect of human land‐use on epiphyte diversity based on 220 study plots in a lowland rain forest and an Andean cloud forest in western Ecuador. We evaluate the relevance of host tree size and taxonomic identity for epiphyte species richness in contiguous primary forests, forest fragments, isolated remnant trees (IRTs), and secondary forests. At both study sites, epiphyte diversity was highest in primary forests, and it was lowest on IRTs and in secondary forests. Epiphyte species numbers of forest fragments were significantly reduced compared with the contiguous primary forest at the lowland study site, but not in the cloud forest area. Host tree size was a core predictor among secondary forests, but it had less significance within other habitat types. Taxonomic identity of the host trees also explained up to 61 percent of the variation in epiphyte diversity, especially for IRTs. The structural and taxonomic composition of the tree community in anthropogenically transformed habitat types proved to be fundamental to epiphyte diversity. This highlights the importance of deliberate selection of tree species for reforestation in conservation programs and the possible negative effects of selective logging in primary forests.Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp.
Which Extent is Plasticity to Light Involved in the Ecotypic Differentiation of a Tree Species from Savanna and Forest?
Authors: Goulart Maíra F. , Lovato Maria B. , de Vasconcellos Barros Fernanda , Valladares Fernando , Lemos‐Filho José P. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTLight intensity and heterogeneity are some of the main environmental factors that differ between forest and savanna habitats, and plant species from these habitats form distinct functional types. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that not only differences in morphological and physiological traits but also phenotypic plasticity in response to light are involved in adaptation to forest and savanna habitats by investigating ecotypic differentiation between populations of Plathymenia reticulata (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae), a tree from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and the Brazilian Cerrado (savanna). Seeds from four natural populations (one from each biome core area and two from ecotonal regions) were grown in a common garden with four light treatments. Fifteen morphological and physiological characteristics were evaluated until individuals reached 6 mo old. Comparisons among populations showed differences for seven traits in at least one light treatment. These differences pointed to local adaptation to different biomes. Populations showed different levels of phenotypic plasticity in response to light in seven traits. Higher plasticity was found either in the forest core population or ecotonal populations; lower values were found in the cerrado core population. Lower plasticity in the cerrado population emphasizes the stress resistant syndrome, as lower plasticity is probably advantageous in a habitat where a conservative resource use is crucial. Higher plasticity in forest individuals suggests higher ability in exploiting the light heterogeneity in this habitat. Also, higher plasticity in ecotonal populations can be important to ensure the maintenance of P. reticulata in these temporally and spatially dynamic areas.Abstract in Portugese is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp.
Tropical UnderstoryPiperShrubs Maintain High Levels of Genotypic Diversity Despite Frequent Asexual Recruitment
Authors: Lasso Eloisa , Dalling James W. , Bermingham Eldredge 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACTMany plant species have the capacity to regenerate asexually by resprouting from stem and leaf fragments. In the pan‐tropical shrub genusPiper, this tendency is thought to be higher in shade‐tolerant than light‐demanding species, and to represent a trade‐off with annual seed production. Here we use molecular markers to identify clones in fivePiperspecies varying in light requirements. We test predictions that (i) asexual recruitment success is highest in shade‐tolerant species, and (ii) that consequently, shade‐tolerant species are characterized by lower genotypic diversity than light‐demandingPiper. We found that two shade‐tolerantPiperspecies recruited asexually more frequently (36–42% of sampled shoots were of asexual origin) than, two light‐demanding and one shade‐tolerant species (0–26%). Furthermore, as predicted, genotypic diversity was negatively correlated with the frequency of asexual recruitment in the population. Nonetheless, genotypic diversity ofPiperwas high compared with other clonal plants. The proportion of unique genotypes found per population ranged from 0.58 to 1.0 and the genotypic Simpson's diversity ranged from 0.93 to 1.0 for all five species. Our results suggest that even though asexual reproduction plays an important role in maintaining local populations ofPiperin the understory, it does not seem to reduce genotypic diversity to levels that will threaten these species ability to respond to environmental change.Abstract in Spanish is available in the online version of this article.
Cyclic AMP is both a pro‐apoptotic and anti‐apoptotic second messenger
Authors: Insel P. A. , Zhang L. , Murray F. , Yokouchi H. , Zambon A. C. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) can either stimulate or inhibit programmed cell death (apoptosis). Here, we review examples of cell types that show pro‐apoptotic or anti‐apoptotic responses to increases in cAMP. We also show that cells can have both such responses, although predominantly having one or the other. Protein kinase A (PKA)‐promoted changes in phosphorylation and gene expression can mediate pro‐apoptotic responses, such as in murine S49 lymphoma cells, based on evidence that mutants lacking PKA fail to undergo cAMP‐promoted, mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis. Mechanisms for the anti‐apoptotic response to cAMP likely involve Epac (Exchange protein activated by cAMP), a cAMP‐regulated effector that is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the low molecular weight G‐protein, Rap1. Therapeutic approaches that activate PKA‐mediated pro‐apoptosis or block Epac‐mediated anti‐apoptotisis may provide a means to enhance cell killing, such as in certain cancers. In contrast, efforts to block PKA or stimulate Epac have the potential to be useful in diseases settings (such as heart failure) associated with cAMP‐promoted apoptosis.
Determinants of spider species richness in coastal dunes along a gradient of mediterraneity
Authors: CARVALHO JOSÉ C. , CARDOSO PEDRO , CRESPO LUÍS C. , HENRIQUES SÉRGIO , CARVALHO RUI , GOMES PEDRO 
Published: March 2011

Abstract.  1. The Iberian Peninsula is one of the most relevant areas in terms of species richness, rarity and endemism in the Mediterranean Basin. Using spiders as a model, we studied the relative importance of environmental and non‐environmental spatial variation along a gradient of mediterraneity on the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula.2. We performed a spatially explicit analysis to evaluate the contribution of pure environmental and pure spatial effects and their shared influence on spider species richness by variation partitioning and principal coordinates of neighbour matrices (PCNM). We dissect the spatial variation of species richness into additive scale‐specific models through PCNM analysis and estimate the relative importance of environmental variables for each model.3. Variation partitioning revealed that 72.8% of species richness variation could be explained by the environmental (climate and dune stability) and spatial variables. Most of this variation (51.3%) corresponds to the environmental spatially structured component.4. The influence of environmental variables was scale‐dependent. At the broadest scales, the latitudinal‐climatic gradient was the dominant factor that influenced spider species richness variation. At the finest scale, stability of the dune system was the most important component.5. In conclusion, spider species richness patterns were determined mostly by spatially structured environmental variation. More importantly, this study shows that different environmental factors act at multiple scales. Hence, our results reinforce the importance of the incorporation of both local and broad‐scale factors when examining species richness patterns.
Habitats Directive species lists: urgent need of revision
Authors: CARDOSO PEDRO 
Published: March 2011

Abstract.  1. The European Habitats Directive is the main legislative work regarding Europe’s nature conservation policy. It lists the protected habitats and species in the European Union. The species lists include 122 arthropods.2. The current lists of arthropods (Annexes II and IV) present, possibly among other, five obvious biases: taxonomic, geographic, range, size and aesthetic biases. Species of selected taxa (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Odonata and Orthoptera), from Northern or Central Europe, relatively widespread, of a large body size and attractive are favoured over species of other taxa, from southern and Mediterranean Europe, endemic or relatively small or inconspicuous. Such biases are obstacles to the effective protection of the European fauna.3. Two main strategies should be followed to avoid these problems and therefore increase the effectiveness of conservation policies: (i) the adoption of objective and transparent criteria for the listing of protected species, and (ii) implement regular updates and amendments to the lists based on such criteria.
Value of embolisation of collateral veins from gastric varices before balloon‐occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration
Authors: Yamagami Takuji , Tanaka Osamu , Yoshimatsu Rika , Miura Hiroshi , Nishimura Tsunehiko 
Published: March 2011

AbstractObjective: The purpose of our investigation was to determine the safety and usefulness of embolisation procedures in balloon occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) as treatment of gastric varices after portal hypertension.Materials and Methods: Between June 2004 and August 2009, 40 patients underwent BRTO for gastric varices that occurred after portal hypertension in our institution. When large collateral vessels of gastric varices had developed as drainage veins other than the gastro‐renal shunt, these collateral vessels were embolised prior to BRTO.Results: Embolisation was performed for 18 collateral vessels in 16 cases before BRTO. Embolised collateral vessels were the left inferior phrenic vein (n = 14), intercostal vein (n = 3), and ascending lumbar vein communicating with the gastro‐renal shunt (n = 1). Mean number of micro‐coils used was 5.7 in left inferior phrenic veins, 4.7 in intercostal veins and 4 in the ascending lumbar vein. In 36 (90%) patients, contrast‐enhanced abdominal CT after BRTO showed that the gastric varices were well obliterated. The rate of occurrence of cases in which the remnant of the enhanced area in the gastric varices was seen even after BRTO was statistically higher in cases requiring embolisation of collateral vessels than in those who did not (4/16 versus 0/24, P = 0.0199 according to Fisher's exact probability test). Recurrence of gastric varices was determined by endoscopy in 1 (2.5%) case necessitating embolisation of collateral vessels. There were no serious complications.Conclusion: Embolisation of collateral vessels before BRTO is a safe and useful procedure. However, especially in cases having collaterals sufficiently large to require embolisation, careful follow‐up for recurrence of gastric varices is necessary.
Reducing delay in the diagnosis of pregnancy‐associated breast cancer: How imaging can help us
Authors: Taylor Donna , Lazberger Joanne , Ives Angela , Wylie Elizabeth , Saunders Christobel 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction: The evaluation of breast symptoms during pregnancy or lactation can be challenging but prompt, appropriate assessment of symptoms may lead to earlier cancer detection.Methods: A review of breast imaging from 22 women with breast cancer during or within 1 year of pregnancy was undertaken as part of a large population‐based study of gestational breast cancer. Consensus findings of three reads using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System lexicon were recorded.Results: The commonest presenting symptom was a lump. Diagnosis by percutaneous biopsy was made correctly in 21 of 23 lesions. Lesions were predominantly invasive ductal carcinoma (91%). One third had extensive associated ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Ultrasound (US) was abnormal in all symptomatic patients. The most common sonographic finding was a solitary hypoechoic mass with irregular margins. ‘Expanded stroma’ with prominent ducts and architectural distortion was noted in three cases; all had extensive high‐grade DCIS. In three women, bilateral breast US detected cancer in the asymptomatic breast. Mammography (performed in 86% of women) was abnormal in 74%, despite the presence of dense breast tissue in 47%. Widespread calcifications were visible in 26%, with detection of asymptomatic contra‐lateral disease in one patient. MRI was performed in six patients. Background parenchymal enhancement did not impair lesion detection; however, overestimation of lesion size can occur.Conclusions: Ultrasonography is recommended for the initial diagnosis of breast symptoms during pregnancy and lactation. A negative study should not delay direct fine needle aspiration of a palpable lesion. Mammography is indicated where initial assessment suggests malignancy. MRI may have a role in selected cases.
Patterns of care for cervical cancer in Auckland, New Zealand, 2003–2007
Authors: Capelle Lisa , Stevens Wendy , Brooks Susan 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction: The purpose of this review is to document current patterns of care for the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1 to IVA cervical cancer in a New Zealand cancer centre.Methods: This is a retrospective review of women with newly diagnosed FIGO Stage IB1–IVA cervical cancer in the Auckland/Northland regions between 2003 and 2007.Results: Two hundred seven patients were identified. Fifty‐three percent were stage IB, 24% stage II, 19% stage III and 3% stage IVA. Factors associated with stage ≥IIB were age >50, lack of participation in cervical screening and public first specialist assessment. Ninety percent (90/100) of stage IB1 patients and 73% (8/11) of stage IB2 patients were treated with primary surgery. Thirty‐eight percent of surgically treated stage IB1 and 100% of surgically treated stage IB2 tumours had indications for adjuvant radiotherapy. Radiotherapy utilisation rates were: stage IB 49% (IB1 44%, IB2 91%); stage II 93%; stage III 90%; and stage IVA 71%. Brachytherapy utilisation rate (BTU) for stages IIB to IVA was 64% overall and 75% in definitively treated patients. Seventy‐five percent of patients treated with definitive radiotherapy received concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy.Conclusion: Both radiotherapy and brachytherapy utilization rates were below optimal and are being addressed. No formal surgical or chemotherapy utilisation estimates exist for comparison; however, the use of concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy was similar to other groups. A high rate of adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy was noted in surgically treated Stage IB patients, suggesting a need for an increased consideration of primary chemoradiotherapy in these patients to avoid the unnecessary toxicity of trimodality therapy. Future outcome analysis is planned.
Dosimetric analysis of imaging changes following pulmonary stereotactic body radiation therapy
Authors: Prendergast Brendan M , Bonner James A , Popple Richard A , Spencer Sharon A , Fiveash John B , Keene Kimberly S , Cerfolio Robert J , Minnich Douglas J , Dobelbower Michael C 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether late patterns of pulmonary fibrosis are related to specific radiation doses administered during thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).Methods: The records of all patients treated with SBRT for either pulmonary metastases or inoperable primary lung tumours at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from November 2005 to July 2008 were reviewed. Patients selected for analysis had diagnostic chest computed tomography (CT) scans acquired at least 180 days after completion of therapy. CT scans acquired at follow‐up were co‐registered with the original treatment planning CT scans for 12 eligible patients (17 lesions), and late‐occurring pulmonary imaging abnormalities (IAs) were contoured. Dosimetric parameters analysed include D80, D90, V18 and Vprescription dose of the IA and V14 and V18 of the lung.Results: Late pulmonary IAs were identified in 11 treated areas from nine patients. Late IAs could not be identified in six treated areas from three patients secondary to emphysema, tumour progression and severe atelectasis, respectively. The mean doses to 80% (D80) and 90% (D90) of the IAs were 18.4 and 14.5 Gy, respectively (ranges: 5.6–27.8 and 3.3–22.4 Gy). On average, 79.4% (range: 45.6–97.5%) of the IA received at least 18 Gy, while an average of 19.3% (range: 0.2–42.2%) received the prescription dose. On average, only 4.2% (range: 1.1–7.8%) of the lungs received 18 Gy.Conclusion: Imaging abnormalities consistent with pulmonary fibrosis are common after SBRT and are well approximated by the 18 Gy isodose distribution. The clinical ramification of these findings should be evaluated in future studies.
Potential danger of toothbrushes for children
Authors: Lalitha R.M. , Ranganath K. , Prasad Kavitha , Agrawal Khemraj , Perumal Mahendra 
Published: March 2011

AbstractToothbrush, the innocent cleaning aid, has been reported to cause life threatening oropharyngeal injuries in pediatric literature. A case of a 4‐year‐old child reporting to an emergency department with a toothbrush impaled in her mouth while her father was forcefully brushing her teeth is reported here. Hemostasis was achieved by digital pressure and the impaled toothbrush was removed surgically. Uneventful recovery was noted. Parental anxiety and a lack of patient cooperation was noted. Such impaled objects fractured and left behind have been reported to cause serious space infections and mediastinitus. Advising parents to be careful with their children's toothbrush is important as prevention of injuries from such commonly used object could be easily achieved.
Proteomic Signature of Fatty Acid Biosynthesis Inhibition Available for In Vivo Mechanism-of-Action Studies
Authors: Wenzel Michaela , Patra Malay , Albrecht Dirk , Chen David Y.-K. , Nicolaou K. C. , Metzler-Nolte Nils , Bandow Julia E. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT

Fatty acid biosynthesis is a promising novel antibiotic target. Two inhibitors of fatty acid biosynthesis, platencin and platensimycin, were recently discovered and their molecular targets identified. Numerous structure-activity relationship studies for both platencin and platensimycin are currently being undertaken. We established a proteomic signature for fatty acid biosynthesis inhibition in
Bacillus subtilis
using platencin, platensimycin, cerulenin, and triclosan. The induced proteins, FabHA, FabHB, FabF, FabI, PlsX, and PanB, are enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and thus linked directly to the target pathway. The proteomic signature can now be used to assess the
in vivo
mechanisms of action of compounds derived from structure-activity relationship programs, as demonstrated for the platensimycin-inspired chromium bioorganometallic PM47. It will further serve as a reference signature for structurally novel natural and synthetic antimicrobial compounds with unknown mechanisms of action. In summary, we described a proteomic signature in
B. subtilis
consisting of six upregulated proteins that is diagnostic of fatty acid biosynthesis inhibition and thus can be applied to advance antibacterial drug discovery programs.
Improved Detection of Candida sp.
fks
Hot Spot Mutants by Using the Method of the CLSI M27-A3 Document with the Addition of Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Garcia-Effron Guillermo , Park Steven , Perlin David S. 
Published: March 2011

ABSTRACT

Echinocandins are highly bound to serum proteins, altering their antifungal properties. The addition of 50% human serum to the MIC assay improves the identification of echinocandin-resistant
Candida
spp. harboring
fks
hot spot mutations. However, this modification cannot readily be applied to the method of the CLSI M27-A3 document due to safety and standardization difficulties. The aim of this study was to evaluate commercial bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a safe and standardized alternative to human serum. A collection of 28 echinocandin-susceptible strains, 10
Candida parapsilosis
sensu lato strains (with naturally reduced echinocandin susceptibility), and 40
FKS
hot spot mutants was used in this work. When RPMI 1640 was used for susceptibility testing, wild-type strains and
fks
mutants showed MIC range overlaps (−2, −1, and −3 2-fold-dilution steps separated these populations for anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin, respectively). On the other hand, the addition of BSA to RPMI 1640 differentially increased echinocandin MIC values for these groups of strains, allowing better separation between populations, with no MIC range overlaps for any of the echinocandin drugs tested. Moreover, the use of RPMI-BSA reduced the number of
fks
hot spot mutant isolates for which MIC values were less than or equal to the upper limit for the wild type (very major errors) from 9, 2, and 7 with RPMI alone to 3, 0, and 3 for anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin, respectively. When RPMI-BSA was used to study the susceptibility of
C. parapsilosis
sensu lato species to echinocandins, the strains behaved as anidulafungin- and micafungin-resistant isolates (MIC, ≥8 μg/ml). These data support the need for a revision of the CLSI protocol for
in vitro
testing of echinocandin susceptibility in order to identify all or most of the
fks
hot spot mutants. Also, caspofungin could be used as a surrogate marker of reduced susceptibility to echinocandins.