bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Holocene vegetation and climate change on the Colorado Great Plains, USA, and the invasion of Colorado piñon (Pinus edulis)
Authors: Anderson R. Scott , Feiler Eric 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim  To reconstruct the last c. 7000 years of vegetation and climate change in an unusual region of modern Great Plains grassland and scarp woodland in south‐east Colorado (USA), and to determine the late Holocene biogeography of Colorado piñon (Pinus edulis) at its easternmost extent, using a series of radiocarbon‐dated packrat (Neotoma sp.) middens.Location  The West Carrizo Canyon drains the Chaquaqua Plateau, a plateau that projects into the western extent of the southern Great Plains grasslands in south‐eastern Colorado, USA. Elevations of the study sites are 1448 to 1525 m a.s.l. Today the plateau is mostly Juniperus scopulorum–P. edulis woodland.Methods  Plant macrofossils and pollen assemblages were analysed from 11 14C‐dated packrat middens. Ages ranged from 5990 yr bp (6839 cal. yr bp) to 280 yr bp (485 cal. yr bp).Results  The results presented here provide information on the establishment and expansion of Juniperus–P. edulis woodland at its eastern limits. The analysis of both plant macrofossils and pollen from the 11 middens documents changes in plant communities over the last 7000 years, and the establishment of P. edulis at its easternmost limit. Though very minor amounts of P. edulis pollen occur as early as the middle Holocene, plant macrofossils were only recovered in middens dating after c. 480 cal. yr bp.Main conclusions  Originally, midden research suggested a late glacial refuge to the north‐east of the Carrizo Canyon site, and a middle Holocene expansion of P. edulis. Results reported here are consistent with a late Holocene expansion, here at its eastern limits, but noted elsewhere at its northern and north‐eastern limits. In general, this late Holocene expansion is consistent with pollen data from sediments in Colorado and New Mexico, and suggests that P. edulis is still expanding its range at its present extremes. This has implications for further extension of its range due to changing climatic conditions in the future.
From Africa via Europe to South America: migrational route of a species‐rich genus of Neotropical lowland rain forest trees (Guatteria, Annonaceae)
Authors: Erkens Roy H. J. , Maas Jan. W. , Couvreur Thomas L. P. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim Several recent studies have suggested that a substantial portion of today’s plant diversity in the Neotropics has resulted from the dispersal of taxa into that region rather than by vicariance. In general, three routes have been documented for the dispersal of taxa onto the South American continent: (1) via the North Atlantic Land Bridge, (2) via the Bering Land Bridge, or (3) from Africa directly onto the continent. Here a species‐rich genus of Neotropical lowland rain forest trees (Guatteria, Annonaceae) is used as a model to investigate these three hypotheses.Location The Neotropics.Methods The phylogenetic relationships within the long‐branch clade of Annonaceae were reconstructed (using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) in order to gain insight in the phylogenetic position ofGuatteria. Furthermore, Bayesian molecular dating and Bayesian dispersal–vicariance (Bayes‐DIVA) analyses were undertaken.Results Most of the relationships within the long‐branch clade of Annonaceae were reconstructed and had high support. However, the relationship between theDuguetiaclade, theXylopia–Artabotrysclade andGuatteriaremained unclear. The stem node age estimate ofGuatteriaranged between 49.2 and 51.3 Ma, whereas the crown node age estimate ranged between 11.4 and 17.8 Ma. For the ancestral area ofGuatteriaand its sister group, the area North America–Africa was reconstructed in 99% of 10,000 DIVA analyses, while South America–North America was found just 1% of the time.Main conclusions The estimated stem to crown node ages ofGuatteriain combination with the Bayes‐DIVA analyses imply a scenario congruent with an African origin followed by dispersal across the North Atlantic Land Bridge in the early to middle Eocene and further dispersal into North and Central America (and ultimately South America) in the Miocene. The phylogenetically and morphologically isolated position of the genus is probably due to extinction of the North American and European stem lineages in the Tertiary.
Climate history, human impacts and global body size of Carnivora (Mammalia: Eutheria) at multiple evolutionary scales
Authors: Diniz‐Filho José Alexandre Felizola , Rodríguez Miguel Ángel , Bini Luis Mauricio , Olalla‐Tarraga Miguel Ángel , Cardillo Marcel , Nabout João Carlos , Hortal Joaquín , Hawkins Bradford A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim One of the longest recognized patterns in macroecology, Bergmann’s rule, describes the tendency for homeothermic animals to have larger body sizes in cooler climates than their phylogenetic relatives in warmer climates. Here we provide an integrative process‐based explanation for Bergmann’s rule at the global scale for the mammal order Carnivora.Location Global.Methods Our database comprises the body sizes of 209 species of extant terrestrial Carnivora, which were analysed using phylogenetic autocorrelation and phylogenetic eigenvector regression. The interspecific variation in body size was partitioned into phylogenetic (P) and specific (S) components, and mean P‐ and S‐components across species were correlated with environmental variables and human occupation both globally and for regions glaciated or not during the last Ice Age.Results Three‐quarters of the variation in body size can be explained by phylogenetic relationships among species, and the geographical pattern of mean values of the P‐component is the opposite of the pattern predicted by Bergmann’s rule. Partial regression revealed that at least 43% of global variation in the mean phylogenetic component is explained by current environmental factors. In contrast, the mean S‐component of body size shows large positive deviations from ancestors across the Holarctic, and negative deviations in southern South America, the Sahara Desert, and tropical Asia. There is a moderately strong relationship between the human footprint and body size in glaciated regions, explaining 19% of the variance of the mean P‐component. The relationship with the human footprint and the P‐component is much weaker in the rest of the world, and there is no relationship between human footprint and S‐component in any region.Main conclusions Bergmannian clines are stronger at higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere because of the continuous alternation of glacial–interglacial cycles throughout the late Pliocene and Pleistocene, which generated increased species turnover, differential colonization and more intense adaptive processes soon after glaciated areas became exposed. Our analyses provide a unified explanation for an adaptive Bergmann’s rule within species and for an interspecific trend towards larger body sizes in assemblages resulting from historical changes in climate and contemporary human impacts.
Endemism and evolution in the Coral Triangle: a call for clarity
Authors: Bellwood David R. , Meyer Christopher P. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn a recent paper (Bellwood & Meyer, Journal of Biogeography, 2009, 36, 569–576), we critically evaluated the utility of marine endemics for marking the geographical origins of species. In reply, Briggs (2009) identified two issues that needed clarification: (1) whether endemics are assumed to mark the geographical origins of species or areas of exceptionally high rates of origination, and (2) whether our evaluation of the role of endemics disproves the centre of origin hypothesis. Of these two issues, the first can be clearly resolved by recourse to the original literature that explicitly states that it has been assumed that endemics do indeed mark the probable sites of origin of species. The second is equally clear: our evidence does not and can not disprove the centre of origin theory. We suggest, however, that the current data, and endemics in particular, provide limited support for centre of origin theories and that they are more consistent with some centre of accumulation theories. The Indo‐Australian Archipelago (IAA; Coral Triangle) therefore appears to be an area where species persist, a centre of survival, regardless of the site of origin of species.
The Arabidopsis ATRIP ortholog is required for a programmed response to replication inhibitors
Authors: Sweeney Paul R. , Britt Anne B. , Culligan Kevin M. 
Published: July 2009

SummaryThe programmed response to replication inhibitors in eukaryotic cells requires the protein kinase ATR (ataxia telangiectasia mutated and rad3‐related), which is activated primarily through the persistence of replication protein A (RPA)‐bound single‐stranded DNA at stalled replication forks and sites of DNA damage undergoing excision repair. Once activated, ATR initiates a cascade of events, including cell‐cycle arrest and induction of DNA repair, to mitigate the mutagenic effects of DNA replication in the presence of damage and/or blockage. While many of the molecular regulators of ATR have been determined in yeast and animal cells, little is known about ATR regulation in plants. To genetically define ATR regulatory pathways in Arabidopsis, we describe here a genetic screen for identifying mutants that display a characteristic phenotype of Arabidopsis atr null mutants – hypersensitivity to the replication blocking agent hydroxyurea (HU). Employing this screen, we isolated a novel mutant, termed hus2 (hydroxyurea‐sensitive), that displays hypersensitivity to HU, aphidicolin and ionizing radiation, similar to atr mutants. In addition, cell‐cycle progression in response to replication blocks and ionizing radiation is defective in hus2, displaying a nearly identical phenotype to atr mutants. Positional cloning of hus2 reveals a gene sequence similar to yeast Rad26/Ddc2 and ATRIP (ATR interacting protein), suggesting that hus2 encodes an Arabidopsis ATRIP ortholog.
Cell wall glucomannan in Arabidopsis is synthesised by CSLA glycosyltransferases, and influences the progression of embryogenesis
Authors: Goubet Florence , Barton Christopher J. , Mortimer Jennifer C. , Yu Xiaolan , Zhang Zhinong , Miles Godfrey P. , Richens Jenny , Liepman Aaron H. , Seffen Keith , Dupree Paul 
Published: July 2009

SummaryMannans are hemicellulosic polysaccharides that have previously been implicated as structural constituents of cell walls and as storage reserves but which may serve other functions during plant growth and development. Several members of the Arabidopsis cellulose synthase‐like A (CSLA) family have previously been shown to synthesise mannan polysaccharides in vitro when heterologously expressed. It has also been found that CSLA7 is essential for embryogenesis, suggesting a role for the CSLA7 product in development. To determine whether the CSLA proteins are responsible for glucomannan synthesis in vivo, we characterised insertion mutants in each of the nine Arabidopsis CSLA genes and several double and triple mutant combinations. csla9 mutants showed substantially reduced glucomannan, and triple csla2csla3csla9 mutants lacked detectable glucomannan in stems. Nevertheless, these mutants showed no alteration in stem development or strength. Overexpression of CSLA2, CSLA7 and CSLA9 increased the glucomannan content in stems. Increased glucomannan synthesis also caused defective embryogenesis, leading to delayed development and occasional embryo death. The embryo lethality of csla7 was complemented by overexpression of CSLA9, suggesting that the glucomannan products are similar. We conclude that CSLA2, CSLA3 and CSLA9 are responsible for the synthesis of all detectable glucomannan in Arabidopsis stems, and that CSLA7 synthesises glucomannan in embryos. These results are inconsistent with a substantial role for glucomannan in wall strength in Arabidopsis stems, but indicate that glucomannan levels affect embryogenesis. Together with earlier heterologous expression studies, the glucomannan deficiency observed in csla mutant plants demonstrates that the CSLA family encodes glucomannan synthases.
Resurrecting the differential mortality model of sexual size dimorphism
Authors: MAS E. DE , RIBERA C. , MOYA‐LARAÑO J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn some animal groups males may be several times smaller than females. One of the hypotheses proposed to explain the evolution of this extreme sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is the differential mortality model (DMM), which is based on the assumption that when males are the searching sex, higher male mortality relaxes male–male contest competition, leading to the adaptive evolution of early‐maturing, small males that are favoured by viability selection. Evidence for the main prediction of this model, i.e. that there is a negative relationship between differential mortality and SSD, has remained elusive. Using sex differences in pitfall trap catches – a proxy of sex differences in mobility and mortality – across 40 spider species, and using the evolutionary comparative method, we found significant negative relationships between differential mortality and SSD for three size traits. Thus, the DMM can still explain part of the observed variance in SSD.
Development of elite indica rice lines with wide spectrum of resistance to Thai blast isolates by pyramiding multiple resistance QTLs
Authors: Sreewongchai T. , Toojinda T. , Thanintorn N. , Kosawang C. , Vanavichit A. , Tharreau D. , Sirithunya P. 
Published: July 2009

With 1 figure and 2 tables AbstractThe rice varieties IR64 and Jao Hom Nin (JHN) demonstrated a broad‐spectrum resistance against the rice blast pathogens in Thailand. A genomic investigation unravelled many resistance genes residing on four genomic regions, chromosome 2 and 12 in IR64 and 1 and 11 in JHN. A cross between these varieties was made to combine resistance genes into a single genotype. Marker‐assisted selection (MAS) was employed to identify F2 and F3 plants carrying a combination of four resistance QTLs in a homozygous fusion. Flanking markers RM212/RM319 and RM144/RM139 to blast resistant QTLs on chromosome 1 and 11 in JHN rice and tightly‐linked markers RM208 and RM179 to blast resistant QTLs on chromosome 2 and 12 in IR64 rice variety were used for MAS. The stepwise MAS screening was brought in as a strategy to provide a cost‐saving and minimum number of PCR performing to select resistant genotypes. F4 generation, lines carrying all resistant QTLs show a broader spectrum of resistance against 11 representatives of Thai blast pathogen isolates.
Meiotic behaviour in the first interspecific hybrids between Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria decumbens
Authors: De Souza‐Kaneshima A. M. , Simioni C. , Felismino M. F. , Mendes‐Bonato A. B. , Risso‐Pascotto C. , Pessim C. , Pagliarini M. S. , Do Valle C. B. 
Published: July 2009

With 2 figures and 1 table Abstract Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria decumbens constitute the two most widely used tropical forage species for cultivated pastures and support both beef and dairy cattle production in the tropics. Two apomictic cultivars –B. brizantha cv. ‘Marandu’ and B. decumbens cv. ‘Basilisk’– cover more than 100 million hectares of cultivated pastures throughout Latin America and Southeast Asia. This paper discusses the cytogenetic data of the first successful attempt in obtaining interspecific hybrids between these two species. Artificial hybridization between two diploid (2n = 2x = 18) sexual accessions (B. brizantha, B105 × B. decumbens, D004) was performed in the greenhouse. Only three hybrids were recovered. One of them was treated with colchicine in tissue culture and two amphidiploid plants were obtained. Meiosis in the diploid genitors was quite normal, while in the diploid hybrid parental genome separation was observed together with some irregular chromosome segregation. Genome separation was also observed in several cells in the two 4n amphidiploid hybrids. In these, a high number of meiocytes with chromosomes chaotically spread in the cytoplasm was recorded during meiosis. The abnormalities observed compromised the meiotic products characterized by polyads. Chromosomes associated generally as bivalents but some association as quadrivalents in diakinesis in one of the amphidiploid hybrids indicates taxonomic proximity between these two species. Moreover, it indicates that introgression of desirable genes may be feasible between these two most important agronomic species of the genus.
Genetic analysis of adult plant resistance to Puccinia hordei in barley
Authors: Golegaonkar P. G. , Park R. F. , Singh D. 
Published: July 2009

With 2 figures and 5 tables AbstractGenetic studies were conducted to determine the number of genes conferring adult plant resistance (APR) to Puccinia hordei in eight barley genotypes and to determine their relationship with each other. Field testing of segregating populations at two field sites indicated that the genotypes ‘Vada’, ‘Nagrad’, ‘Gilbert’ and ‘WI3407’ each carried one gene for APR to leaf rust. Genotypes ‘Patty’, ‘Pompadour’‘Athos’ and ‘RAH1995’ showed digenic inheritance of APR at one field site and monogenic inheritance at the second. One of the genes identified in each cultivar provided high levels of APR and was effective at both field sites. The second APR gene was effective only at one field site, and it conferred low levels of APR. Tests of allelism between resistant genotypes confirmed a common APR gene in all with the exception of ‘WI3407’, which was genetically distinct from the gene common in ‘Vada’, ‘Nagrad’, ‘Patty’ and ‘Pompadour’.
Combined assessment of chronic kidney disease and subclinical peripheral artery disease used to predict future cardiac events
Authors: ITAYA HIDEKI , SHIBA MASANORI , JOKI NOBUHIKO , NAKAMURA MASATO 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT:Background:  Both the presence of peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney disease has been reported to be independent risk factors associating with poor prognosis. However, the impact of combination of peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney disease remains unknown.Methods:  The long‐term outcome in 715 consecutive patients who had undergone coronary angiogram for the evaluation of chest pain was analyzed. Patients on haemodialysis were excluded from this analysis. Cohort patients were divided into four groups according to the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI <0.9) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR <60 mL/min per m2): group A (n= 498; ABI >0.9, GFR >60); B (n = 65, ABI <0.9, GFR >60); C (n = 99; ABI >0.9, GFR <60); and D (n = 53; ABI <0.9, GFR <60). The mean follow‐up period was 620 ± 270 days and evaluated the major cardiac adverse events included survival, stroke, acute coronary syndrome and heart failure.Results:  The mean follow‐up period was 620 ± 270 days. Total long‐term event was present in 89 patients (groups A–D were 9.4%, 18.5%, 15.2% and 28.3%, respectively). Long‐term event rate was 28.3% for patients with the presence of peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney disease, compared to 9.4% for those without peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney disease (P < 0.0001). Kaplan–Meier event‐free survival curves also showed that the combination of peripheral arterial disease and chronic kidney disease predicted long‐term event rate.Conclusion:  The combination of chronic kidney disease and ABI of less than 0.9 undergoing coronary angiogram is strongly associated with long‐term event rate.
Irritable bowel syndrome in haemodialysis: Prevalence, link with quality of life and depression
Authors: AFSAR BARIS , ELSURER RENGIN , YILMAZ M ILKER , EYILETEN TAYFUN , YENICESU MÜJDAT 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is decreased in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly prevalent in general population. This study evaluated the prevalence of IBS and its association with HRQOL and depression in HD.Methods:  Sociodemographic and laboratory variables were recorded. Severity of depressive symptoms and HRQOL were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Short Form 36 (SF‐36), respectively. Diagnosis of IBS was based on Rome II criteria.Results:  Among 236 patients 69 (29.2%) had IBS. Patients with IBS had lower SF‐36 scores and had higher depressive symptoms than patients without IBS. Presence of IBS was associated with sleep disturbance (odds ratio (OR) = 2.012; P = 0.045), physical component summary score (OR = 0.963, P = 0.029), mental component summary score (OR = 0.962, P = 0.023), BDI score (OR = 1.040, P = 0.021) and albumin (OR = 0.437, P = 0.01).Conclusion:  IBS is highly prevalent in HD patients. Presence of IBS is closely related with HRQOL and depression.
Opinions on the content and effects of the Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) Guidelines: A survey of renal nurses and comparison with the opinions of nephrologists in Australasia
Authors: IRVING MICHELLE J , JOHNSON DAVID W , MCDONALD STEPHEN , WALKER ROWAN G , FROMMER MICHAEL S , FETHERSTONHAUGH DEIRDRE , DEANS PAMELA , CRAIG JONATHAN C 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Renal nurses in Australia and New Zealand are critical to the care of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on dialysis. We aimed to obtain the opinions of renal nurses in Australia and New Zealand on the Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment (CARI) Guidelines.Methods:  A self‐administered survey was distributed to all members of the professional organisation for renal nurses (Renal Society of Australasia) in 2006. The results were compared with those from a similar survey in 2002 and an identical 2006 survey of Australian and New Zealand nephrologists.Results:  Of the 173 respondents, more than 95% considered the Guidelines to be a good synthesis of the available evidence, 80% indicated that the Guidelines had significantly influenced their practice and 86% considered that the Guidelines had improved patient outcomes. Older respondents were less likely to perceive that the Guidelines had improved patient outcomes, and renal nurse educators were more likely to consider that the Guidelines were based on the best available evidence than other respondents. Respondents were generally more positive about the Guidelines in 2006 than in 2002. Although nephrologists were generally positive about the CARI Guidelines, renal nurses were more positive, especially regarding the effect of the Guidelines on practice and the improvement in health outcomes.Conclusion:  Australian and New Zealand renal nurses valued the CARI Guidelines highly, used them in practice and considered that they led to improved patient outcomes. Positive responses towards the Guidelines increased between 2002 and 2006.
Work satisfaction of Japanese public health nurses: Assessing validity and reliability of a scale
Authors: Yamashita Mineko , Takase Miyuki , Wakabayshi Chihiro , Kuroda Kaori , Owatari Nozomi 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe Index of Work Satisfaction, developed by Stamps et al., was administered to 583 nurses who had practiced public health nursing in Japan. After psychometric evaluation, three components were identified as contributing to their job satisfaction: the work environment, professional confidence, and commitment to the profession. Overall, the participants in the study were quite satisfied. The findings corroborated previous reports on Japanese nurses' job satisfaction, in that the nurses in the study were most satisfied with their relationships with peers, patients/families, and supervisors. However, they were least satisfied with having enough time for client care, having confidence, and promotion opportunities. The implications are discussed, to the effect that understanding the factors related to public health nurses' job satisfaction could help administrators to improve regulations and other issues related to the work environment.