bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can we use the tadpoles of Australian frogs to reduce recruitment of invasive cane toads?
Authors: Cabrera‐Guzmán Elisa , Crossland Michael , Shine Richard 
Published: December 2010

Summary 1. Native to the Americas, cane toads Bufo marinus are an invasive species causing substantial ecological impacts in Australia. We need ways to control invasive species such as cane toads without collateral damage to native fauna. 2. We explored the feasibility of suppressing survival and growth of cane toad tadpoles via competition with the tadpoles of native frogs. Compared to the invasive toads, many native frogs breed earlier in the season and their tadpoles grow larger and have longer larval periods. Hence, adding spawn or tadpoles of native frogs to toad‐breeding sites might increase tadpole competition, and thereby reduce toad recruitment. 3. Our laboratory trials using tadpoles of eight native frog species gave significant results: the presence of six of these species (Cyclorana australis, C. longipes, Litoria caerulea, L. dahlii, L. rothii and L. splendida) reduced toad tadpole survival and/or size at metamorphosis. Litoria caerulea also increased the duration of the larval period of cane toad tadpoles. Tadpoles of the other two frog species (Litoria rubella and Litoria tornieri) did not affect survival or growth of larval cane toads any more than did an equivalent number of additional toad tadpoles. Native frog species with larger tadpoles exerted greater negative effects on toad tadpoles than did native species with smaller tadpoles. 4. Synthesis and applications. Encouraging the general public to construct and restore waterbodies in peri‐urban areas to build up populations of native frogs – especially the much‐loved green tree frog Litoria caerulea– could help to reduce recruitment rates of invasive cane toads in Australia.
Soil nutrient heterogeneity modulates ecosystem responses to changes in the identity and richness of plant functional groups
Authors: García‐Palacios Pablo , Maestre Fernando T. , Gallardo Antonio 
Published: December 2010

Summary 1. Recent research has shown that biodiversity may have its greatest impact on ecosystem functioning in heterogeneous environments. However, the role of soil heterogeneity as a modulator of ecosystem responses to changes in biodiversity remains poorly understood, as few biodiversity studies have explicitly considered this important ecosystem feature. 2. We conducted a microcosm experiment over two growing seasons to evaluate the joint effects of changes in plant functional groups (grasses, legumes, non‐legume forbs and a combination of them), spatial distribution of soil nutrients (homogeneous and heterogeneous) and nutrient availability (50 and 100 mg of nitrogen (N) added as organic material) on plant productivity and surrogates of carbon, phosphorous and N cycling (β‐glucosidase and acid phosphatase enzymes and in situ N availability, respectively). 3. Soil nutrient heterogeneity interacted with nutrient availability and plant functional diversity to determine productivity and nutrient cycling responses. All the functional groups exhibited precise root foraging patterns. Above‐ and below‐ground productivity increased under heterogeneous nutrient supply. Surrogates of nutrient cycling were not directly affected by soil nutrient heterogeneity. Regardless of their above‐ and below‐ground biomass, legumes increased the availability of soil inorganic N and the activity of the acid phosphatase and β‐glucosidase enzymes. 4. Our study emphasizes the role of soil nutrient heterogeneity as a modulator of ecosystem responses to changes in functional diversity beyond the species level. Functional group identity, rather than richness, can play a key role in determining the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning. 5. Synthesis. Our results highlight the importance of explicitly considering soil heterogeneity in diversity–ecosystem functioning experiments, where the identity of the plant functional group is of major importance. Such consideration will improve our ability to fully understand the role of plant diversity on ecosystem functioning in ubiquitous heterogeneous environments.
Cryo‐electron tomography: methodology, developments and biological applications
Authors: VANHECKE D. , ASANO S. , KOCHOVSKI Z. , FERNANDEZ‐BUSNADIEGO R. , SCHROD N. , BAUMEISTER W. , LUČIĆ V. 
Published: December 2010

SummaryCryo‐electron tomography allows three‐dimensional visualization of frozen‐hydrated, vitrified biological material at molecular resolution. Here, we summarize the most important sample preparation methods and technical aspects relevant for cryo‐electron tomography, as well as its recent biological applications from isolated macromolecular complexes to entire cells and tissues.
Endogenous GDNF in ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens does not play a role in the incubation of heroin craving
Authors: Airavaara Mikko , Pickens Charles L. , Stern Anna L. , Wihbey Kristina A. , Harvey Brandon K. , Bossert Jennifer M. , Liu Qing‐Rong , Hoffer Barry J. , Shaham Yavin 
Published: December 2010

ABSTRACTGlial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) mediates the time‐dependent increases in cue‐induced cocaine‐seeking after withdrawal (incubation of cocaine craving). Here, we studied the generality of these findings to incubation of heroin craving. Rats were trained to self‐administer heroin for 10 days (6 hours/day; 0.075 mg/kg/infusion; infusions were paired with a tone‐light cue) and tested for cue‐induced heroin‐seeking in extinction tests after 1, 11 or 30 withdrawal days. Cue‐induced heroin seeking was higher after 11 or 30 days than after 1 day (incubation of heroin craving), and the time‐dependent increases in extinction responding were associated with time‐dependent changes in GDNF mRNA expression in VTA and nucleus accumbens. Additionally, acute accumbens (but not VTA) GDNF injections (12.5 µg/side) administered 1–3 hours after the last heroin self‐administration training session enhanced the time‐dependent increases in extinction responding after withdrawal. However, the time‐dependent increases in extinction responding after withdrawal were not associated with changes in GDNF protein expression in VTA and accumbens. Additionally, interfering with endogenous GDNF function by chronic delivery of anti‐GDNF monoclonal neutralizing antibodies (600 ng/side/day) into VTA or accumbens had no effect on the time‐dependent increases in extinction responding. In summary, heroin self‐administration and withdrawal regulate VTA and accumbens GDNF mRNA expression in a time‐dependent manner, and exogenous GDNF administration into accumbens but not VTA potentiates cue‐induced heroin seeking. However, based on the GDNF protein expression and the anti‐GDNF monoclonal neutralizing antibodies manipulation data, we conclude that neither accumbens nor VTA endogenous GDNF mediates the incubation of heroin craving.
Influence of physico‐chemical parameters of the aquatic medium on germination of Eichhornia crassipes seeds
Authors: Albano Pérez E. , Ruiz Téllez T. , Sánchez Guzmán J. M. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe germination of seeds of Eichhornia crassipes in locations distant from the foci of infestation may be a means of dispersal of this invasive plant. Nonetheless, no modern studies have examined the influence of single components on germination, although the influence of temperature, oxygen and redox potential was examined in earlier studies. The effects of pH, conductivity, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, calcium, iron and boron on germination of E. crassipes were determined in seed germination tests. The results showed that external input of nutrients influences germination, since neither pH nor conductivity alone had any effect, but there was a significant increase in germination in growth media containing phosphorus at 3.95 mg·l−1 (P/L; 95.5%) and boron at 10 mg·l−1 (B/L; 97.5%); at higher concentrations, the latter was toxic. These findings contribute to knowledge of factors controlling the germination of E. crassipes seeds. Consequently, E. crassipes seeds would find very good conditions for germination in water classified as hypereutrophic, which may play a decisive role in expansion of this plant.
The life cycle of the amoeboid algaSynchroma grande(Synchromophyceae, Heterokontophyta) – highly adapted yet equally equipped for rapid diversification in benthic habitats
Authors: Koch C. , Brumme B. , Schmidt M. , Flieger K. , Schnetter R. , Wilhelm C. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractSynchroma grande(Synchromophyceae, Heterokontophyta) is a marine amoeboid alga, which was isolated from a benthic habitat. This species has sessile cell stages (amoeboid cells with lorica and cysts) and non‐sessile cell stages (migrating and floating amoebae) during its life cycle. The different cell types and their transitions within the life cycle are described, as are their putative functions. Cell proliferation was observed only in cells attached to the substrate but not in free‐floating or migrating cells. We also characterised the phagotrophy of the meroplasmodium in comparison to other amoeboid algae and the formation of the lorica. The functional adaptations ofS. grandeduring its life cycle were compared to the cell stages of other amoeboid algae of the red and green chloroplast lineages.S. grandewas found to be highly adapted to the benthic habitat. One sexual and two asexual reproductive strategies (haplo‐diploid life cycle) support the ability of this species to achieve rapid diversification and high adaptivity in its natural habitat.
Prevalence of celiac disease in the northern part of India: A community based study
Authors: Makharia Govind K , Verma Anil K , Amarchand Ritvik , Bhatnagar Shinjini , Das Prasenjit , Goswami Anil , Bhatia Vidyut , Ahuja Vineet , Datta Gupta Siddhartha , Anand Krishnan 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  While celiac disease is estimated to affect about 1% of the world's population, it is thought to be uncommon not only in India but in Asia also. There is a lack of studies on the prevalence of celiac disease from Asian nations. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of celiac disease in the community.Methods:  In a cross sectional study, we estimated the prevalence of celiac disease in urban and rural populations in the National Capital Region, Delhi, India. A structured questionnaire was administered, by door‐to‐door visits, to all participants to collect socio‐demographic data and to screen for features of celiac disease, namely chronic or recurrent diarrhea and, anemia. In children, additional features, namely short stature (linear height below 5th percentile for age) and failure to thrive/gain weight were also used. All respondents who were screen positive (any one of above) and 10% of screen negative individuals were called for serological testing, which is anti‐tissue transglutaminase antibody. All serologically positive respondents were invited to undergo further evaluation including endoscopic biopsy. Celiac disease was diagnosed on the basis of a positive serology, the presence of villous atrophy and/or response to gluten free diet.Result:  Among 12 573 contacted, 10 488 (83.4%) (50.6% male) agreed to participate. Based on screening, 5622 (53.6%) participants were screen positive. Of all those screen positive, 2167 (38.5%) agreed for serological testing; additionally 712 (14%) negatives were also tested. The overall sero‐prevalence of celiac disease was 1.44% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22 1.69) and the overall prevalence of celiac disease was 1.04% (95% CI 0.85 1.25).Conclusion:  The prevalence of celiac disease in this north Indian community is 1 in 96. Celiac disease is more common than is recognized in India.
Urethral strictures
Authors: Mundy Anthony R. , Andrich Daniela E. 
Published: December 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Urethral strictures are common and increasingly common in an ageing population. The treatment is controversial and particularly the relative roles of urethrotomy or urethral dilatation on the one hand and urethroplasty on the other. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject including less commonly discussed issues such as the history and pathology of stricture disease.We would hope that a comprehensive overview of the subject will give a sharper perspective to aid the investigation and management of patients with urethral strictures.
Characterization of the kynurenine pathway in NSC‐34 cell line: implications for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Chen Yiquan , Brew Bruce J. , Guillemin Gilles J. 
Published: December 2010

J. Neurochem.(2011)118, 816–825.AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common type of motor neuron degenerative disease for which the aetiology is still unknown. The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major degradative pathway of tryptophan ultimately leading to the production of NAD+and is also one of the major regulatory mechanisms of the immune response. The KP is known to be involved in several neuroinflammatory disorders. Among the KP intermediates, quinolinic acid (QUIN) is a potent excitotoxin, while kynurenic acid and picolinic acid are both neuroprotectant. This study aimed to (i) characterize the components of the KP in NSC‐34 cells (a rodent motor neuron cell line) and (ii) assess the effects of QUIN on the same cells. RT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry were used to characterize the KP enzymes, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) test was used to assess the effect of QUIN in the absence and presence of NMDA receptor antagonists, kynurenines and 1‐methyl tryptophan. Our data demonstrate that a functional KP is present in NSC‐34 cells. LDH tests showed that (i) QUIN toxicity on NSC‐34 cells increases with time and concentration; (ii) NMDA antagonists, 2‐amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid, MK‐801 and memantine, can partially decrease QUIN toxicity; (iii) kynurenic acid can decrease LDH release in a linear manner, whereas picolinic acid does the same but non‐linearly; and (iv) 1‐methyl tryptophan is effective in decreasing QUIN release by the rodent microglial cell line BV‐2 and thus protects NSC‐34 from cell death. There is currently a lack of effective treatment for ALS and ourin vitroresults provide a novel therapeutic strategy for ALS patients.
Cannabidiol improves brain and liver function in a fulminant hepatic failure‐induced model of hepatic encephalopathy in mice
Authors: Avraham Y , Grigoriadis NC , Poutahidis T , Vorobiev L , Magen I , Ilan Y , Mechoulam R , Berry EM 
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric disorder of complex pathogenesis caused by acute or chronic liver failure. We investigated the effects of cannabidiol, a non‐psychoactive constituent of Cannabis sativa with anti‐inflammatory properties that activates the 5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor 5‐HT1A, on brain and liver functions in a model of hepatic encephalopathy associated with fulminant hepatic failure induced in mice by thioacetamide.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Female Sabra mice were injected with either saline or thioacetamide and were treated with either vehicle or cannabidiol. Neurological and motor functions were evaluated 2 and 3 days, respectively, after induction of hepatic failure, after which brains and livers were removed for histopathological analysis and blood was drawn for analysis of plasma liver enzymes. In a separate group of animals, cognitive function was tested after 8 days and brain 5‐HT levels were measured 12 days after induction of hepatic failure.KEY RESULTS Neurological and cognitive functions were severely impaired in thioacetamide‐treated mice and were restored by cannabidiol. Similarly, decreased motor activity in thioacetamide‐treated mice was partially restored by cannabidiol. Increased plasma levels of ammonia, bilirubin and liver enzymes, as well as enhanced 5‐HT levels in thioacetamide‐treated mice were normalized following cannabidiol administration. Likewise, astrogliosis in the brains of thioacetamide‐treated mice was moderated after cannabidiol treatment.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Cannabidiol restores liver function, normalizes 5‐HT levels and improves brain pathology in accordance with normalization of brain function. Therefore, the effects of cannabidiol may result from a combination of its actions in the liver and brain.
Effects of Aerobic and Anaerobic Fluid Collection on Biochemical Analysis of Peritoneal Fluid in Healthy Horses and Horses with Colic
Authors: Romero Alfredo E. , Nieto Jorge E. , Dechant Julie E. , Hopper Kate , Aleman Monica 
Published: December 2010

Objective:To determine whether in healthy horses and those with colic, exposure of peritoneal fluid to room air affects values obtained on biochemical analysis.Study Design:Prospective study.Animals:Adult horses with a primary complaint of acute abdominal pain (n=29) and 12 healthy horses.Methods:Peritoneal fluid was aseptically collected under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. After collection, pH, PCO2, PO2, HCO3−, Na+, ionized Ca2+, K+, lactate, and glucose were immediately measured using a commercial blood gas analyzer. Biochemical variables were compared between aerobically and anaerobically obtained samples using a paired t‐test.Results:In healthy horses, peritoneal fluid samples collected under anaerobic conditions had higher PCO2and ionized Ca2+and lower PO2, HCO3−, and pH compared with samples exposed to air. No differences were observed for K+, Na+, glucose, and lactate. In horses with colic, samples collected anaerobically had higher PCO2, ionized Ca2+, Na+, and glucose and lower PO2, HCO3−, and pH value compared with samples exposed to air. No differences were observed for K+and lactate.Conclusion:Exposure of peritoneal fluid to room air had a significant effect on pH, PCO2, PO2, and variables associated or dependent on changes in pH such as HCO3−and ionized Ca2+. Interpretation of biochemical analysis of peritoneal fluid may be influenced by sample collection method.
Blood donations from previously transfused or pregnant donors: a multicenter study to determine the frequency of alloexposure
Authors: Rios Jorge A. , Schlumpf Karen S. , Kakaiya Ram M. , Triulzi Darrell J. , Roback John D. , Kleinman Steve H. , Murphy Edward L. , Gottschall Jerome L. , Carey Patricia M. ,   for the NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study‐II
Published: December 2010

BACKGROUND: Transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) mitigation strategies include the deferral of female donors from apheresis platelet (PLT) donations and the distribution of plasma for transfusion from male donors only. We studied the implications of these policies in terms of component loss at six blood centers in the United States.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We collected data from allogeneic blood donors making whole blood and blood component donations during calendar years 2006 through 2008. We analyzed the distribution of donations in terms of the sex, transfusion and pregnancy histories, and blood type.RESULTS: A TRALI mitigation policy that would not allow plasma from female whole blood donors to be prepared into transfusable plasma components would result in nearly a 50% reduction in the units of whole blood available for plasma manufacturing and would decrease the number of type AB plasma units that could be made from whole blood donations by the same amount. Deferral of all female apheresis PLT donors, all female apheresis PLT donors with histories of prior pregnancies, or all female apheresis PLT donors with histories of prior pregnancies and positive screening test results for antibodies to human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) will result in a loss of 37.1, 22.5, and 5.4% of all apheresis PLT donations, respectively.CONCLUSION: A TRALI mitigation policy that only defers female apheresis PLT donors with previous pregnancies and HLAs would result in an approximately 5% decrease in the inventory of apheresis PLTs, but would eliminate a large proportion of components that are associated with TRALI.
Episodic disc accretion in the halo of the ‘old’ pre-main-sequence
cluster η Chamaeleontis
Authors: Murphy Simon J. , Lawson Warrick A. , Bessell Michael S. , Bayliss Daniel D. R. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
We present multi-epoch medium-resolution observations of two M4.5 candidate members in the halo of the ∼8 Myr η Chamaeleontis open cluster. During six months of observations, both stars exhibited variations in their Hα line profiles on time-scales of days to months, with at least one episode of substantial activity attributable to accretion from a circumstellar disc. We derive an accretion rate of ∼10−8.7 M⊙ yr−1 for this event, with a rate of ∼10−10.6 M⊙ yr−1 in quiescence. Episodic accretion like that observed here suggests existing surveys of accreting weak-lined T Tauri stars in young clusters are likely incomplete and that gas dissipation time-scales calculated from the fraction of accreting objects are underestimates.
The Value of Reputation in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking (and the Related Roles of Regulation and Market Efficiency)
Authors: Macey Jonathan 
Published: December 2010

This article explores the roles of reputation, efficient capital markets, and capital market regulation in preserving and creating economic value. Each of these three mechanisms serves as a substitute for the other two, with each playing a role in maintaining the credibility and reliability of markets.While efficient markets and effective regulation are market‐wide phenomena that affect all firms, reputation is a firm‐specific corporate asset. Companies develop reputational capital by treating customers and counterparties fairly (while forgoing the temptation to achieve short‐term profits at their expense). At the same time, companies seeking access to the capital markets but lacking a reputation must typically employ reputational intermediaries. Investment banks, credit rating agencies, accounting firm s, law firms, and organized stock exchanges have all served as reputational intermediaries at various times during the last 200 years.One contributor to the recent financial crisis was a kind of experimentation by some reputational intermediaries with an opportunistic and two‐tiered “customer differentiation” strategy in which some customers were treated very well, while others were treated with little or no regard for their legitimate expectations as to how they would be treated. This strategy has proved to be a failure, imposing significant costs on those organizations as well as their customers. The available substitutes for reputation, capital market effciency and effective regulation, did not provide sufcient offsetting protection for investors.While the two‐tiered “customer differentiation” strategy has failed, the central message of the economic theory of reputation remains intact. This message is that a company's reputation is a valuable asset that must be preserved to ensure the future of the organization. For all financial intermediaries that rely heavily on their reputations when selling their products and services, the author recommends large and continuous investment in maintaining those reputations. For investment banks in particular—a group whose reputations have held up reasonably well—the author suggests that they continue to view their role as reputational intermediaries as a core part of their businesses.