bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Attempted Reduction of Divalent Rare Earth Iodo Aminopyridinates
Authors: Qayyum Sadaf , Noor Awal , Glatz Germund , Kempe Rhett 
Published: July 2009

AbstractRare examples of amido‐iodo complexes of selected divalent lanthanides can be synthesized by using deprotonated Ap*H {Ap*H = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐[6‐(2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl)‐pyridin‐2‐yl]‐amine} as a stabilizing ligand. Reaction of [Ap*K]n with [LnI2(thf)n] (Ln = Eu, Yb, n = 4,5) in THF leads to [Ln(Ap*)I(thf)2]2 (Ln = Eu, Yb). An attempted reduction of these divalent heteroleptic complexes with KC8 to synthesize complexes containing an unsupported Ln–Ln bond resulted in the formation of [Ln(Ap*)2(thf)2]. These lanthanide complexes were characterized by X‐ray structure analysis.
Melanomas display increased cytoprotection to hypericin‐mediated cytotoxicity through the induction of autophagy
Authors: Davids Lester M. , Kleemann Britta , Cooper Susan , Kidson Susan H. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) as a regime for melanoma is of limited success due to factors such as the efficacy of the photosensitizer used, penetration depth and the presence of pigment. We characterised a pigmented and an unpigmented melanoma cell line with respect to their phenotypes. Cell viability was assessed after exposure to hypericin, a UVA‐activated photosensitizer. Exposure to 3 μM activated hypericin induced a cytoprotective (autophagic) response from both cell lines. However, the pigmented cells accumulated a large amount of glycogen in their cytoplasm. We hypothesise that the treatment induces an initial cytoprotective response through autophagy, but with increased stress results in a different mode of cell death in pigmented melanoma cells from unpigmented cells. These results indicate that hypericin‐PDT could be an adjuvant therapy for melanoma.
Changes in quality of life following cognitive-behavioral group therapy for panic disorder
Authors: Rufer M. , Albrecht R. , Schmidt O. , Zaum J. , Schnyder U. , Hand I. , Mueller-Pfeiffer C. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackgroundData about quality of life (QoL) are important to estimate the impact of diseases on functioning and well-being. The present study was designed to assess the association of different aspects of panic disorder (PD) with QoL and to examine the relationship between QoL and symptomatic outcome following brief cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT).MethodsThe sample consisted of 55 consecutively recruited outpatients suffering from PD who underwent CBGT. QoL was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) at baseline, post-treatment and six months follow-up. SF-36 baseline scores were compared with normative data obtained from a large German population sample.ResultsAgoraphobia, disability, and worries about health were significantly associated with decreased QoL, whereas frequency, severity and duration of panic attacks were not. Treatment responders showed significantly better QoL than non-responders. PD symptom reduction following CBGT was associated with considerable improvement in emotional and physical aspects of QoL. However, the vitality subscale of the SF-36 remained largely unchanged over time.ConclusionsOur results are encouraging for cognitive-behavior therapists who treat patients suffering from PD in groups, since decrease of PD symptoms appears to be associated with considerable improvements in QoL. Nevertheless, additional interventions designed to target specific aspects of QoL, in particular vitality, may be useful to enhance patients’ well-being.
Extensibility of the Hamstrings Is Best Explained by Mechanical Components of Muscle Contraction, Not Behavioral Measures in Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Marshall Paul W.M. , Mannion Jamie , Murphy Bernadette A. 
Published: July 2009

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between hamstring extensibility by use of the instrumented straight leg raise; mechanical components of muscle contraction, including muscle recruitment, passive torque measures of tissue stiffness, and eccentric strength; and self‐reported measures of pain and disability.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingUniversity laboratory.ParticipantsTwenty‐one individuals with chronic nonspecific axial lower back pain and 15 healthy control subjects.AssessmentInstrumented straight leg raise, concentric and eccentric hamstring strength, self‐reported measures of pain, disability, fear avoidance, general health and well‐beingMain Outcome MeasurementsObjective measures included hamstring extensibility, hamstring muscle stiffness, absolute and relative concentric/eccentric strength, concentric/eccentric strength ratios. Self‐reported measures included Oswestry disability index, visual analog pain scale, fear avoidance beliefs, and general health and well being.ResultsPatients with lower back pain had lower range of motion, greater changes in muscle stiffness, and impaired concentric‐to‐eccentric strength levels. Stepwise regression identified measures of stiffness as significantly predicting hamstring extensibility (adjusted r2 = 0.58, F = 23.76, P < .001). Self‐reported measures were not associated with extensibility. Gender differences were noted for passive stiffness and absolute strength. For women, later onset of the medial hamstrings also was associated with greater hamstring extensibility.ConclusionsDecreased extensibility of the hamstrings was associated with increased passive stiffness during the common range of motion (20 to 50°). Impaired stretch tolerance is associated with actual mechanical restriction, not behavioral measures indicating increased pain or fear‐avoidant behavior. With no relationship to actual disability and contradictory findings in the literature for the relationship of the hamstrings to the mechanics of the low back, it is unclear whether decreased hamstring extensibility should be targeted in rehabilitation programs for axial lower back pain.
IN VITRO AND ECUADOR-FIELD PERFORMANCE OF VIRUS-TESTED AND VIRUS-INFECTED PLANTS OF TROPAEOLUM TUBEROSUM
Authors: SORIA RE S. , TABOADA C. , GONZALEZ R. VEGA , EVANS T. , DAMSTEEGT V. D. , KITTO S. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYEcuadorean mashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum) germplasm has been found to be widely infected with the potyvirus Tropaeolum mosaic virus (TropMV). The objective of this research was to produce virus-tested (VT) germplasm to compare growth in vitro and in the field with virus-infected (V) germplasm. Twenty-three of 25 apical dome-derived clones tested free of virus based on bioassays using Nicotiana benthamiana and Chenopodium quinoa. In vitro-generated plant tissue was just as effective for determining VT status as greenhouse-generated plant tissue. Genotype rather than virus-infection status appeared to have a greater effect on in vitro proliferation. There were no differences in in vitro rooting among the genotypes or between the VT clones compared to the V clones, with at least 90% of the microcuttings rooting. However, rooted microcuttings of V clones were taller than rooted microcuttings of VT clones. Plants were readily re-established in a greenhouse at the USDA, Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit at Fort Detrick, USA. In field experiment 1, ca. 75% of the plants survived field transplanting and VT plants of genotype 1147 had greater tuber weight (928 g) than V plants (235 g). In field experiment 2, plant mortality was high one month after field transplanting. Genotypes 1093 (59%) and 1141 (54%) had higher survival than genotype 1147 (44%); however, survival did not differ between the VT (46%) and V (59%) plants of all genotypes. No differences were noted in field performance for the three genotypes after 10 months of growth. Although overall tuber yield among the V, VT and VTR (reinfected-VT plants) did not differ, V plants produced big tubers that weighed more than those from VT plants. Thirty-three percent of the VT plants became reinfected and 42% of the V plants tested negative after 10 months in the field based on double-antibody-sandwich ELISA.
Audit of frequent attendees to an ENT emergency clinic
Authors: Fishpool S J C , Stanton E , Chawishly E-K , Hicklin L A C 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective:To audit the number of patients attending an ENT emergency clinic more than twice in the same clinical episode.Method:A completed audit cycle. The inclusion criterion for the retrospective arm was patients who had attended the ENT emergency clinic more than twice between 1 September to 30 November 2007. Data were analysed and interventions implemented. The re-audit, using the same inclusion criteria, was done between 1 March to 31 May 2008.Results:The initial audit found that 38 patients were seen more than twice in the ENT emergency clinic, giving rise to 81 ‘excess’ clinic appointments. After intervention, the re-audit identified 19 patients who were seen more than twice in the ENT emergency clinic, giving rise to 24 ‘excess’ clinic appointments.Conclusion:By insisting that patients seen more than twice in the ENT emergency clinic were reviewed by a senior clinician, and by introducing a management guideline for acute otitis externa, we reduced excess clinic appointments by 70 per cent.
Land types and vegetation in the Luuq district of south-western Somalia
Authors: Wieland Ronald G. , Werger M. J. A. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTA land use survey involving land typing and vegetation classification was conducted within the Luuq District Refugee Area (200,000 ha) in south-western Somalia. Average rainfall and annual temperature of the area are 310 mm and 30.5° C. The area is composed of limestone and basalt uplands, gypsiferous and alluvial interplains, and ancient and recent alluvial terraces of the Juba River.Land types were identified by aerial photo survey and ground observation and mapped on a 1:100,000 scale LandSat Satellite (colour) Image. Soil types were classified according to the method used by the US Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. Vegetation was sampled according to the Braun-Blanquet approach in 52 releves located within previously mapped land types, and analysed using the traditional phytosociological methods and the DECORANA and TWINSPAN computer programs. The results of these methods are compatible with one another. Most community types identify distinct land types: basalt and limestone uplands, gypsum and alluvial interplains, and depressions and gentle rises of the Juba River terrace.Commiphora and Acacia species dominate the open thorny bushland. They are mostly medium-sized shrubs and trees, 1 to 4 m in height. There is little herbaceous ground cover except in depressions and drainageways. Total shrub and tree cover averages 34%. Due to the large influx of refugees, there has been excessive cutting for fuelwood and construction material and notable bushland converted to cropland. Degradation of the vegetation and soils is prominent and is most evident on the upper and lower terraces of the Juba River.
Movement and spatial distribution of the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) in Kenya
Authors: Delany M. J. , Monro R. H. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe movement and spatial distribution of marked Nile rats, Arvicanthis niloticus, was traced through phases of a low density population from January to August 1981, a rapidly growing population from September to January 1982, and a high and declining post-reproductive population from February to April 1982. Apart from late in the population cycle there was considerable movement, interchange and establishment of new ranges. As the population increased individual ranges became smaller. The rats apparently preferred field edges and did not favour the fields themselves. Females frequently established themselves at certain sites where they produced their litters; some of the offspring remained with the mother in the warren. There is also evidence that ousiders of both sexes joined these warrens. Males were generally more wide-ranging than females. Agricultural practices, e.g. mowing and trampling by cattle, influenced the rats preparedness to remain within a particular location. Exploitation of all the available habitat took several months to achieve.
Selection of second-growth woodlands by frugivorous migrating birds in Panama: an effect of fruit size and plant density?
Authors: Martin Thomas E. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTI provide evidence that migrating birds concentrate in tropical second-growth woodlands due, in part, to a greater abundance of small fruits. Migrant birds markedly increased in abundance during spring migration in late March in a young (approximately 25 years old) second-growth woodland in Panama. Migrant abundance and diversity was greater at mist-net level on the second-growth site than in nearby old forest. Diversity of canopy migrants also was greater in the young woodland than in an old second-growth forest. Thus, many migrant species appear to select young second-growth during spring migration in central Panama. Degree of frugivory by many migrant species was greater during migration than earlier in the dry season. Most migrants selecting the second-growth site were highly frugivorous and migrants accounted for most of the visits to common fruit species, but use of fruit trees appeared to be influenced by fruit size relative to gape width. Most migrants have mouths that are better suited to eating the small fruits predominating in young forest than the larger fruits characteristic of old forest. Abundances of bird-dispersed fruit plants and, particularly, those fruit species known to be eaten by migrants were greater in young than in old forest. The high food demands of migrating birds added to the high degree of frugivory of most migrants selecting second-growth forest suggests that the abundance of small fruits in second-growth may be a strong cause for habitat selection during migration.
Pollination of Dendrobium infundibulum, Cymbidium insigne (Orchidaceae) and Rhododendron lyi (Ericaceae) by Bombus eximius (Apidae) in Thailand: a possible case of floral mimicry
Authors: Kjellsson Gösta , Rasmussen Finn N. , Dupuy David 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe orchids Dendrobium infundibulum and Cymbidium insigne are pollinated by the bumblebee Bombus eximius, which also pollinates the ericaceous shrub Rhododendron lyi, A study of the three plants and the bumblebee in maquis-like mountainous vegetation in northern Thailand suggests that they form a floral mimicry system with two mimics (the orchids) to one model (R. lyi). The flowers of the two orchid species offer no food reward to pollinators. Flowers of the three species show definite morphological and visual resemblance, and the species overlap to a great extent in flowering phenology and habitat Mimic flowers were much less numerous than model flowers, which occurred abundantly in the area. The rate of pollinaria removal was very low in both orchid species, resulting in a relatively small percentage of fruit set, especially in D. infundibulum. Infrequency of pollinator visits was, however, somewhat counterbalanced by long-lasting flowers. The pollinaria of the two orchid species are differently positioned on the bee, hence interference between the different reproductive systems is minimized. This is the first report which indicates floral mimicry from tropical Asia.
Effects of light regime on the growth and physiology ofPentaclethra macroloba(Mimosaceae) in Costa Rica
Authors: Oberbauer Steven F. , Strain Boyd R. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTSeedlings ofPentaclethra macroloba(Willd.) Kuntze, a dominant, shade-tolerant species of tropical moist forest in Costa Rica, were raised under three light conditions to assess their acclimatization and growth responses to irradiance. The light environments used were full sun, partial shade (25% of full sun), and full shade (1% of full sun). To test the effect of a sudden change in light level such as would occur in the event of a treefall gap, the seedlings in the above conditions were switched between environments after two months and grown for an additional 1.5 months. Plants in full sun and partial shade had similar total weight; switching between the two environments had no effect on biomass. Plants switched from full sun and partial shade to full shade had negative growth as a result of negative CO2, flux and leaf abscission. Plants transferred from full shade to full sun had lower growth rates than those switched from full shade to partial shade because of severe leaf damage in full sun. The previous environment significantly affected the response of most growth and size characteristics to the present environment. Maximum photosynthesis changed only 30% in response to light level during growth. However, large changes in other photosynthetic and structural characteristics were found. Leaves developed in full shade had lower respiration, leaf thickness, and stomatal density and higher apparent quantum yield, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll content than leaves from full sun. Osmotic potentials were similar between treatments. Despite only small changes in maximum photosynthesis, acclimatization to extreme shade or sun rendered leaves unsuitable for large changes in environment. Consequently, in the event of a large treefall gap, plants already present in the understory will require a substantial period of adjustment before they respond to the increase in light.
On the leaf litter community of the Amazonian blackwater stream Tarumazinho
Authors: Henderson P. A. , Walker I. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTA study of the benthic leaf litter community of the Tarumazinho, a central Amazonian stream (03° S, 60° W) is presented. This small tributary of the Rio Negro is of the blackwater type with a very low nutrient content. The sampling stations were towards the mouth of the tributary where it flowed through annually inundated forest and the work was carried out during the low water season. Previous studies concluded that these acid waters were of very low productivity and held impoverished faunas. However, this study showed that leaf litter banks held a diverse aquatic community of unexpectedly high biomass. This was because the banks supplied food and shelter and were available during the low water period when other habitats had dried out. The macrofauna was dominated by fish and shrimps. From an examination of gut contents a food web was produced. Primary consumers were found to take mainly detritus and fungi and it was concluded that allochthonous inputs were the main source of energy and nutrients. No feeding specialists were found and all the predators took prey from more than one trophic level.
Sporadic food competition with the African honey bee: projected impact on neotropical social bees
Authors: Roubik David W. , Moreno J. Enrique , Vergara Carlos , Wittmann Dieter 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTBee colonies in lowland forest in Panama were monitored for pollen and nectar harvest, pollen species utilization and nectar quality and quantity per returning forager. Despite sharing most pollen resources and nectar of the same quality with 20 introduced colonies of the African honey bee (Apis mellifera), native stingless bees of 12 species were largely unaffected by its activity. Pollen and nectar harvested by the honey bees were 10–200 times that procured by 17 stingless bee colonies. This discrepancy in total harvest and general lack of competitive effect is explained by a honey bee foraging area over 10 times that of the native bees, and apparent foraging shifts to escape competition with honey bees, thus reduced potential overlap in foraging sites.Seven cases of direct resource competition for pollen or nectar were documented, out of 31 tests. Rare periods of intensive harvest were diminished by competing African honey bees. Such harvest peaks lasted for only a few hours in 13 days of observation. Despite average duration of 4% foraging time for each species, peaks included as much as 51% total harvest. Calculations based upon colony populations, food stores and flight range show that if African honey bees persist at a density of 1 colony per km2, colonies of some stingless bee species may disappear after 10 years. Their chances of escaping food competition by taxonomic specialization on flowers seem slight.
An experimental study of seed ingestion and germination in a plant-animal assemblage in Ghana
Authors: Lieberman Milton , Lieberman Diana 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTFleshy fruits collected from abundant woody plants on the Accra Plains, Ghana, were fed to frugivorous species common in the area. Seeds of each plant species were retrieved from each frugivore species for germination trials, and ingested seeds compared to fresh seeds in germination percentage and rapidity. Altogether 85 plant X animal feeding combinations were attempted. In 73% of trials, ingestion did not affect germination percentage; the remain-ing trials were about equally divided between significant increases and decreases. Ingested seeds had significantly faster germination in 12%, and significantly slower germination in 8%, of the trials. Germination percentages in all samples of fresh seeds (= 37%) did not differ signifi-cantly from those ingested seeds (= 31%).There was a significant association between the effect of ingestion on both germination rapidity and percentage (significantly increased, decreased, or neither) and the plant species involved; there was no such association between the effect of ingestion and the animal species. Animals had inconsistent and frequently negligible effects on germination. Two-way analyses of variance (plants X animals) of germination percentage and of germination improvement showed that plant species were a significant source of variation and animal species were not. The fleshy-fruited plants of this assemblage are not generally dependent upon animals for successful germination of their seeds.
Temperature regulation and water balance of day-active Zophosis congesta beetles in East Africa
Authors: Røskaft Eivin , Zachariassen Karl Erik , Maloiy Geoffrey M. O. , Kamau John M. Z. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTEast African tenebrionid beetles of the species Zophosis congesta are active on sun-exposed surfaces in dry habitats during the hottest part of the day, when most other animals have retreated to protected areas. They remain on the surface at ambient temperatures up to 65°C which is 15°C above their highest tolerated body temperature. The beetles appear to regulate their body temperature behaviourally. They frequently rest and cool in the shade, and after each cooling period they remain on the sun-exposed surface until the heat influx from the environment has caused the body temperature to rise close to the lethal level. They have relatively low rates of transpiratory water loss, and appear unable to depress their body temperature by means of evaporative heat loss. The rate of metabolic production of water amounts to only about 20% of the rate of transpiratory water loss. Thus, the beetles depend strongly on water intake from dietary sources. The advantage of this type of activity pattern is probably avoidance of predators.