bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exserohilum Leaf Spot on Tiger Grass
Authors: Brunings Asha M. , Datnoff Lawrence E. , Palmateer Aaron J. , Locke James C. , Krause Charles R. 
Published: December 2009

Tiger grass [Thysanolaena maxima (Roxb.) Kuntze] is a popular ornamental grass grown throughout landscapes in South Florida. In the summer of 2006, a leaf spot was observed on tiger grass in the landscape and a commercial nursery in Homestead, FL. The causal agent of the leaf spot was isolated and characterized morphologically and molecularly as Exserohilum rostratum (Drechsler) Leonard & Suggs. At high inoculum densities, symptoms were apparent as early as 12 h after inoculation, and caused widespread necrosis. Germinating conidia of E. rostratum and appressoria were observed in direct association with lesions. This newly discovered disease could potentially have a dramatic effect on the aesthetic quality and salability of this landscape ornamental. Accepted for publication 24 September 2009. Published 15 December 2009.
Nitrogen deposition in tropical forests from savanna and deforestation fires
Authors: CHEN YANG , RANDERSON JAMES T. , VAN DER WERF GUIDO R. , MORTON DOUGLAS C. , MU MINGQUAN , KASIBHATLA PRASAD S. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe used satellite‐derived estimates of global fire emissions and a chemical transport model to estimate atmospheric nitrogen (N) fluxes from savanna and deforestation fires in tropical ecosystems. N emissions and reactive N deposition led to a net transport of N equatorward, from savannas and areas undergoing deforestation to tropical forests. Deposition of fire‐emitted N in savannas was only 26% of emissions – indicating a net export from this biome. On average, net N loss from fires (the sum of emissions and deposition) was equivalent to approximately 22% of biological N fixation (BNF) in savannas (4.0 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and 38% of BNF in ecosystems at the deforestation frontier (9.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1). Net N gains from fires occurred in interior tropical forests at a rate equivalent to 3% of their BNF (0.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1). This percentage was highest for African tropical forests in the Congo Basin (15%; 3.4 kg N ha−1 yr−1) owing to equatorward transport from frequently burning savannas north and south of the basin. These results provide evidence for cross‐biome atmospheric fluxes of N that may help to sustain productivity in some tropical forest ecosystems on millennial timescales. Anthropogenic fires associated with slash and burn agriculture and deforestation in the southern part of the Amazon Basin and across Southeast Asia have substantially increased N deposition in these regions in recent decades and may contribute to increased rates of carbon accumulation in secondary forests and other N‐limited ecosystems.
Effects of a half a millennium winter on a deep lake – a shape of things to come?
Authors: STRAILE DIETMAR , KERIMOGLU ONUR , PEETERS FRANK , JOCHIMSEN MARC C. , KÜMMERLIN REINER , RINKE KARSTEN , ROTHHAUPT KARL‐OTTO 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAnalyses of the effects of extreme climate periods have been used as a tool to predict ecosystem functioning and processes in a warmer world. The winter half‐year 2006/2007 (w06/07) has been extremely warm and was estimated to be a half‐a‐millennium event in central Europe. Here we analyse the consequences of w06/07 for the temperatures, mixing dynamics, phenologies and population developments of algae and daphnids (thereafter w06/07 limnology) in a deep central European lake and investigate to what extent analysis of w06/07 limnology can really be used as a predictive tool regarding future warming. Different approaches were used to put the observations during w06/07 into context: (1) a comparison of w06/07 limnology with long‐term data, (2) a comparison of w06/07 limnology with that of the preceding year, and (3) modelling of temperature and mixing dynamics using numerical experiments. These analyses revealed that w06/07 limnology in Lake Constance was indeed very special as the lake did not mix below 60 m depth throughout winter. Because of this, anomalies of variables associated strongly with mixing behaviour, e.g., Schmidt stability and a measure for phosphorus upward mixing during winter exceeded several standard deviations the long‐term mean of these variables. However, our modelling results suggest that this extreme hydrodynamical behaviour was only partially due to w06/07 meteorology per se, but depended also strongly on the large difference in air temperature to the previous cold winter which resulted in complete mixing and considerable cooling of the water column. Furthermore, modelling results demonstrated that with respect to absolute water temperatures, the model ‘w06/07’ most likely underestimates the increase in water temperature in a warmer world as one warm winter is not sufficient to rise water temperatures in a deep lake up to those expected under a future climate.
Expression profiles of proliferative and antiapoptotic genes in sporadic and colitis‐related mouse colon cancer models
Authors: Švec Jiří , Ergang Peter , Mandys Václav , Kment Milan , Pácha Jiří 
Published: December 2009

SummaryElevated levels of survivin, telomerase catalytic subunit (TERT), integrin‐linked kinase (ILK), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX‐2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the regulatory factors c‐MYB and Tcf‐4 are often found in human cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC) and have been implicated in the development and progression of tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of these genes in mouse models of sporadic and colitis‐associated CRC. To address these issues, we used qRT‐PCR approach to determine changes in gene expression patterns of neoplastic cells (high‐grade dysplasia/intramucosal carcinoma) and surrounding normal epithelial cells in A/J and ICR mouse strains using laser microdissection. Both strains were injected with azoxymethane and ICR mice were also given drinking water that contained 2% dextran sodium sulphate. In both sporadic (A/J mice) and colitis‐associated (ICR mice) models of CRC, the levels of TERT mRNA, COX‐2 mRNA and Tcf‐4 mRNA were higher in neoplastic cells than in surrounding normal epithelial cells. In contrast, survivin mRNA was upregulated only in neoplastic cells from A/J mice and ILK mRNA was upregulated only in neoplastic cells from ICR mice. However, the expression of iNOS mRNA was similar in normal and neoplastic cells in both models and c‐MYB mRNA was actually downregulated in neoplastic cells compared with normal cells in both models. These findings suggest that the genetic background and/or the molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis associated with genotoxic insults and colonic inflammation influence the gene expression of mTERT, COX‐2, Tcf‐4, c‐MYB, ILK and survivin in colon epithelial neoplasia.
Little evidence for limiting similarity in a long‐term study of a roadside plant community
Authors: Thompson Ken , Petchey Owen L. , Askew Andrew P. , Dunnett Nigel P. , Beckerman Andrew P. , Willis Arthur J. 
Published: December 2009

Summary 1. Understanding the assembly of ecological communities is central to managing such communities for conservation, restoration and invasion resistance. A central plank of modern theory is limiting similarity, i.e. a finite limit to the similarity of coexisting species. 2. Here, we test the theory of limiting similarity in a roadside plant community that has been monitored for almost 50 years. We measure differences between observed trait distributions (‘functional diversity, FD’) and those expected on the basis of three different null models, several trait combinations and four different methods of measuring FD. 3. The general pattern was of lower observed than expected FD, or no difference between observed and expected FD, independent of FD measure and trait set. Some rare species had ‘unusual’ traits; thus if the null model assumed all species had equal chance of occurring, observed FD was generally lower than expected by chance, but if the null model assumed the probability of occurrence of rare species was proportional to the observed frequency of occurrence or excluded rare species, observed FD was not significantly different from expected. 4. Synthesis. The results do not support the idea that niche differences are central to the assembly of this plant community. However, they do suggest that rare species may be functionally unusual, and that the patterns revealed by this kind of analysis can be strongly influenced by the choice of null model, and much less so by the choice of FD measure.
Pigs transgenic for human thrombomodulin have elevated production of activated protein C
Authors: Petersen Björn , Ramackers Wolf , Tiede Andreas , Lucas‐Hahn Andrea , Herrmann Doris , Barg‐Kues Brigitte , Schuettler Wolfgang , Friedrich Lars , Schwinzer Reinhard , Winkler Michael , Niemann Heiner 
Published: December 2009

Petersen B, Ramackers W, Tiede A, Lucas‐Hahn A, Herrmann D, Barg‐Kues B, Schuettler W, Friedrich L, Schwinzer R, Winkler M, Niemann H. Pigs transgenic for human thrombomodulin have elevated production of activated protein C. Xenotransplantation 2009; 16: 486–495. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract: Background: The inability of porcine thrombomodulin (TM) to activate human anticoagulant protein C after pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation may lead to an aberrant activation of coagulation with microthrombosis and ultimately failure of the transplanted organ. Here, we describe the production of triple‐transgenic pigs expressing hCD59/DAF and human thrombomodulin (hTM) and tested hTM‐transgenic fibroblasts obtained from these pigs for their ability to activate human protein C in a new in vitro assay.Methods: Fibroblast cell cultures were established from a hCD59/DAF transgenic pig and transfected with a vector coding for hTM under transcriptional control of the CMV promoter. Transfected cells were analyzed for integration and expression of the hTM vector by PCR and RT‐PCR. One cell clone was used as donor for somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce triple transgenic (CD59/DAF/hTM) pigs. Pigs were characterized in detail with regard to hTM integration and expression by PCR, RT‐PCR, Northern blot, Western blot, immunostaining, and FACS analysis. Fibroblasts from hTM‐transgenic pigs were analyzed in a new in vitro hTM coactivity assay to assess the production of activated protein C (aPC) and results were compared to those from wild‐type controls.Results: In total, 1040 cloned transgenic embryos were transferred to eight recipients. Five recipients remained pregnant and delivered 22 piglets. Expression of hTM was detected in all xenorelavant organs including heart, liver, kidney, lung, and pancreas. The lowest levels of expression were found in lung and liver while all animals showed a strong, but frequently patchy expression pattern of hTM in heart, kidney, and pancreas. The hTM cofactor activity (ranging on a scale from 5–18 U/105 cells/2h) was significantly higher in fibroblasts of hTM‐transgenic clones compared to wild‐type porcine fibroblasts (1.7 U/105cells/2h).Conclusions: For the first time, healthy hTM‐transgenic pigs could be successfully generated by somatic cell nuclear transfer. hTM can be expressed in porcine organs without perturbation of the porcine coagulation system. hTM‐transgenic porcine fibroblasts showed elevated aPC production in an in vitro hTM coactivity assay. These findings warrant further work on the control of the xenogenic activation of coagulation by transgenic approaches.
Successful cross‐breeding of cloned pigs expressing endo‐β‐galactosidase C and human decay accelerating factor
Authors: Yazaki Satoko , Iwamoto Masaki , Onishi Akira , Miwa Yuko , Suzuki Shunichi , Fuchimoto Dai‐ichiro , Sembon Shoichiro , Furusawa Tadashi , Hashimoto Michiko , Oishi Takatsugu , Liu DaGe , Nagasaka Takaharu , Kuzuya Takafumi , Maruyama Shoichi , Ogawa Haruko , Kadomatsu Kenji , Uchida Kazuharu , Nakao Akimasa , Kobayashi Takaaki 
Published: December 2009

Yazaki S, Iwamoto M, Onishi A, Miwa Y, Suzuki S, Fuchimoto D, Sembon S, Furusawa T, Hashimoto M, Oishi T, Liu D, Nagasaka T, Kuzuya T, Maruyama S, Ogawa H, Kadomatsu K, Uchida K,  Nakao A, Kobayashi T. Successful cross‐breeding of cloned pigs expressing endo‐β‐galactosidase C and human decay accelerating factor. Xenotransplantation 2009; 16: 511–521. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract: Background:  For successful organ xenotransplantation, genetically engineered pigs have been actively produced. Our attention has focused on (i) reduction of αGal expression by its digestion enzyme, endo‐β‐galactosidase C (EndoGalC), and (ii) inhibition of complement activation by human decay accelerating factor (hDAF). Cell sorting and nuclear transfer enabled the effective production of cloned pigs expressing transgene at high levels. We report the successful cross‐breeding of pigs expressing EndoGalC and hDAF.Methods:  After hDAF and EndoGalC genes were transfected into pig fibroblasts from the fetus of Landrace × Yorkshire and Meishan, respectively, transfected cells expressing transgenes effectively were collected using a cell sorter. Cloned pigs were produced using the technology of somatic cell nuclear transfer. After cross‐breeding of cloned pigs, kidneys expressing both EndoGalC and hDAF were transplanted into baboons to examine the efficacy of gene transduction.Results:  Well‐designed cloned pigs were produced by cross‐breeding. αGal expression levels in cloned pigs were reduced up to 2 to 14%, compared to that in wild‐type pigs. hDAF expression reached about 10‐ to 70‐fold, compared to that in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. No congenital deformity was observed. There was no problem of increased stillbirth rate or growth retardation. Hyperacute rejection could be avoided in such a cloned pig to baboon kidney transplantation without any treatment for anti‐pig antibody removal. However, grafts suffered from fibrin deposition as early as 1 h after transplantation, and were rejected after 1 week.Conclusions:  Using a cell sorting system for effective collection of transfected cells, two types of cloned pigs were produced with a very high level of hDAF expression and a low level of αGal expression. Such genetic modification was effective in preventing hyperacute rejection, but there was an immediate lapse into procoagulation after transplantation, resulting in acute vascular rejection. Effective suppression of antibody binding to the graft would be necessary, even if a high level of hDAF is expressed.
Short‐term complications of wide‐lumen stapled anastomosis after ileocolic resection for Crohn’s disease: who is at risk?
Authors: Riss S. , Bittermann C. , Zandl S. , Kristo I. , Stift A. , Papay P. , Vogelsang H. , Mittlböck M. , Herbst F. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAim  There is growing evidence that stapled anastomoses are similarly effective compared to hand‐sewn anastomoses in Crohn’s patients. This study was designed to assess safety and limitations of wide‐lumen stapled ileocolic anastomoses.Method  All patients with ileocolic resections for Crohn’s disease perfomed between 1998 and 2006 were studied. A stapled anastomosis was constructed whenever possible. Potential risk factors for postoperative complications were recorded, retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.Results  In 209 out of 220 cases (95%, 132 primary operations) stapled anastomoses were performed. Eleven patients underwent a hand‐sewn anastomosis owing to massive bowel dilatation (n = 7) or increased wall thickness (n = 4). There were 10 major (4.5%; surgical: 8, medical: 2) complications including two anastomotic leaks and one anastomotic bleed (all from stapled anastomoses) and one death not related to the anastomosis. Minor complications occurred in 25 patients.In multivariate analysis, major surgical postoperative complications were significantly associated with a low level of albumin (P = 0.0113) and previous resections for Crohn’s disease (P = 0.0144).Conclusion  Stapled ileocolic anastomosis was safe in the majority of Crohn’s patients. The most important limitation was technical impracticability. A low level of albumin and a history of previous resection increased the risk of postoperative complications.
Autofluorescence imaging colonoscopy for the detection of dysplastic lesions in ulcerative colitis: a pilot study
Authors: Matsumoto T. , Nakamura S. , Moriyama T. , Hirahashi M. , Iida M. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAim  Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) is a novel technology for endoscopy, which enhances neoplastic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this investigation was to examine whether AFI colonoscopy can identify dysplasia in ulcerative colitis.Method  We examined 48 patients with ulcerative colitis by AFI colonoscopy. Apparently flat, coarse granular mucosa and visible protruding lesions under conventional colonoscopy were observed by AFI. Those target areas were classified into low AF and high AF according to the colour under AFI colonoscopy. The grade of dysplasia was determined in the specimens obtained from the target areas.Results  About 126 sites (35 protruding lesions and 91 flat areas) were examined by AFI colonoscopy. AF was determined to be high in 42 areas and to be low in 84 areas. The positive rate of dysplasia was higher in protrusions (31%) than in flat mucosa (3.3%, P < 0.0001). The rate of positive dysplasia was not statistically different between lesions determined to be low AF (14%) and those to be high AF (5%, P = 0.09). The positive rate of dysplasia in protruding lesions was significantly higher in low AF than in high AF (45.0%vs 13.3%, P = 0.043), while the value in flat lesions was not different between low AF and high AF (8.2%vs 0%, P = 0.3).Conclusions  Autofluorescence imaging colonoscopy seems to have a role for the detection of dysplaia in ulcerative colitis.
How adults with learning disabilities view living independently
Authors: Bond Rebecca J. , Hurst Jenni 
Published: December 2009

Accessible summary

Nine people with learning disabilities talked about living on their own.
They talked about good and bad things in their lives.
They said it is sometimes hard but better than living in residential care.
They want people who provide services to know that it can be hard to live alone.

SummaryIt is seen as increasingly important for people with learning disabilities to be supported to live independently and manage their own self care, productivity and leisure activities. This qualitative study explored the experiences of nine adults with mild learning disabilities who lived alone with minimal support. Their narratives were analysed using thematic analysis and seven themes emerged. These were feelings on living alone, practical issues, support issues, choice and control, vulnerability, health issues and the impact of having a learning disability. This study has implications for service users, professionals and service providers working with people with learning disabilities. In particular, the issues raised reflected the need to increase social inclusion and provide the right level of support. Participants talked about service providers needing to be aware of their vulnerability and wanted people to respect their right to make their own choices.
Partitioning diversity for conservation analyses
Authors: Jost Lou , DeVries Philip , Walla Thomas , Greeney Harold , Chao Anne , Ricotta Carlo 
Published: December 2009

AbstractAim  Differentiation of sites or communities is often measured by partitioning regional or gamma diversity into additive or multiplicative alpha and beta components. The beta component and the ratio of within‐group to total diversity (alpha/gamma) are then used to infer the compositional differentiation or similarity of the sites. There is debate about the appropriate measures and partitioning formulas for this purpose. We test the main partitioning methods, using empirical and simulated data, to see if some of these methods lead to false conclusions, and we show how to resolve the problems that we uncover.Location  South America, Ecuador, Orellana province, Rio Shiripuno.Methods  We construct sets of real and simulated tropical butterfly communities that can be unambiguously ranked according to their degree of differentiation. We then test whether beta and similarity measures from the different partitioning approaches rank these datasets correctly.Results  The ratio of within‐group diversity to total diversity does not reflect compositional similarity, when the Gini–Simpson index or Shannon entropy are used to measure diversity. Additive beta diversity based on the Gini–Simpson index does not reflect the degree of differentiation between N sites or communities.Main conclusions  The ratio of within‐group to total diversity (alpha/gamma) should not be used to measure the compositional similarity of groups, if diversity is equated with Shannon entropy or the Gini–Simpson index. Conversion of these measures to effective number of species solves these problems. Additive Gini–Simpson beta diversity does not directly reflect the differentiation of N samples or communities. However, when properly transformed onto the unit interval so as to remove the dependence on alpha and N, additive and multiplicative beta measures yield identical normalized measures of relative similarity and differentiation.
Is detrusor hypertrophy in women associated with voiding dysfunction?
Authors: LEKSKULCHAI Orawan , DIETZ Hans Peter 
Published: December 2009

Background:  In men, bladder wall thickness ≥5 mm seems to be a useful predictor of outlet obstruction, with a diagnostic value exceeding that of free uroflowmetry indices. There are no data in the literature examining whether this may also apply in women.Aims:  To identify the relationships between detrusor wall thickness (DWT) and symptoms and urodynamic findings suggestive of voiding dysfunction.Methods:  This is a retrospective study analysing data sets of 686 women seen for urodynamic testing in a tertiary urogynaecological unit. Hesitancy, poor stream and stop–start voiding were recorded as symptoms of voiding dysfunction. All women underwent free uroflowmetry and multichannel urodynamic testing. We used the urethral resistance factor (URA) and the obstruction coefficient (OCO), methods employed to quantify bladder outlet resistance in men. Transperineal ultrasound for DWT was performed after voiding and catheter removal. Statistical analysis was carried out by using the statistical software (spss 15.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).Results:  Symptoms of voiding dysfunction were reported by 33.1% of patients and 22.4% had urodynamically diagnosed voiding dysfunction. The mean DWT in symptomatic women was not statistically different from the mean DWT in those without symptoms. URA and OCO of symptomatic women were significantly different from those of asymptomatic women (P < 0.01). DWT was not associated with parameters of voiding function, URA or OCO.Conclusions:  Contrary to the situation in men, increased DWT in women does not seem to be associated with symptoms or signs of voiding dysfunction. Therefore, DWT cannot be used as a predictor of voiding difficulty in women.