bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predator interactions, mesopredator release and biodiversity conservation
Authors: Ritchie Euan G. , Johnson Christopher N. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThere is growing recognition of the important roles played by predators in regulating ecosystems and sustaining biodiversity. Much attention has focused on the consequences of predator‐regulation of herbivore populations, and associated trophic cascades. However apex predators may also control smaller ‘mesopredators’ through intraguild interactions. Removal of apex predators can result in changes to intraguild interactions and outbreaks of mesopredators (‘mesopredator release’), leading in turn to increased predation on smaller prey. Here we provide a review and synthesis of studies of predator interactions, mesopredator release and their impacts on biodiversity. Mesopredator suppression by apex predators is widespread geographically and taxonomically. Apex predators suppress mesopredators both by killing them, or instilling fear, which motivates changes in behaviour and habitat use that limit mesopredator distribution and abundance. Changes in the abundance of apex predators may have disproportionate (up to fourfold) effects on mesopredator abundance. Outcomes of interactions between predators may however vary with resource availability, habitat complexity and the complexity of predator communities. There is potential for the restoration of apex predators to have benefits for biodiversity conservation through moderation of the impacts of mesopredators on their prey, but this requires a whole‐ecosystem view to avoid unforeseen negative effects.
‘Nothing has changed since I began. My eye has permitted no change. I am going to keep things like this.’ From ‘Hawk Roosting’, by Ted Hughes.
Anography: a technique for determining the location of the internal opening in perianal fistula
Authors: Pinsk I. , Seppala R. , Friedlich M. S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAim  Anography is a radiological investigation for fistula‐in‐ano that identifies the primary fistula track through the internal opening. The efficacy of anography as a radiological method of identifying the location of the internal opening was investigated.Method  A retrospective study of 50 patients with a clinical diagnosis of fistula‐in‐ano of criptoglandular aetiology was performed. During anography, the location of the internal opening was recorded with respect to the quadrant of anal canal and distance from the anal verge. These data were compared with the findings during examination under anaesthesia (EUA), which was used as the gold standard for the identification of the internal opening.Results  The sensitivity of anography for identifying a patent internal opening was 91% and specificity 100%. There was complete agreement between anography reports and findings at EUA regarding the quadrant of anal canal in which the internal opening was located. In more than 90% of patients, the internal opening was found at EUA within 1 cm from the site described on anography.Conclusion  Anography is an accurate test for predicting the exact quadrant of the anal canal in which the internal opening is located, as well as the distance of the internal opening from the anal verge. This inexpensive and simple radiological investigation should be the test of first choice in the evaluation of patients with fistula‐in‐ano when difficulty is anticipated in identifying the internal opening.
Pathological response after chemoradiation for T3 rectal cancer
Authors: Chennupati S. K. , Kamaya A. , Fisher G. A. , Ford J. M. , Kunz P. , Itakura H. , Welton M. L. , Shelton A. , Van Dam J. , Koong A. C. , Chang D. T. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on nodal disease in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.Method  Thirty‐two patients staged uT3N0 and 27 patients staged uT3N1 rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent pre‐CRT staging using endoscopic ultrasound or rectal protocol CT were included. The median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range: 45–50.4 Gy) at 1.8 Gy per fraction and all patients received concurrent 5‐FU or capecitabine‐based chemotherapy. Low anterior resection or abdomino‐perineal resection occurred at a median of 46 days (range: 27–112 days) after CRT.Results  Eleven of 32 uT3N0 patients (34.4%) and 13 of 26 uT3N1 patients (50.0%) had ypN+ (P = 0.29). For patients with uT3N0, 10 of 20 (50.0%) with ypT2‐3 and 1 of 12 (8.3%) with ypT0‐1 were ypN+ (P = 0.02). For patients with uT3N1, 12 of 20 (60.0%) with ypT2‐3 and 1 of 6 (16.7%) with ypT0‐1 were ypN+ (P = 0.16). Overall, the ypN+ rate was 11.1% in the ypT0‐yT1 group compared with 55.0% in the ypT2‐yT3 group (P = 003). Among patients with uT3N0 disease, the ypN+ rate in patients who had surgery > 46 days vs≤ 46 days was 7.1%vs 55.6% (P = 0.01) respectively. Among patients with uT3N1 disease, the ypN+ rate in patients who had surgery > 46 days vs≤ 46 days was 54.5%vs 46.7%, (P = 0.99) respectively. Overall, the ypN+ rate in patients who had surgery > 46 days vs≤ 46 days was 28.0%vs 51.5% (P = 0.11).Conclusions  The risk of residual nodal disease after CRT is significant. Primary tumour response is associated with nodal response.
Wittgenstein's Philosophical Grammar: A Neglected Discussion of Vagueness
Authors: Faulkner Nadine 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn this paper I explore a neglected discussion of vagueness put forward by Wittgenstein in his Philosophical Grammar (1932–34). In this work, unlike Philosophical Investigations (1953), Wittgenstein not only discusses the venerable Sorites paradox but provides a novel conception of vagueness using an analogy with coin tossing and converging intervals. As he sees it, the problematic picture of vagueness arises because we conflate aspects of the functioning of vague concepts with those of non‐vague ones. Thus, while we accept that vague concepts have no sharp cut‐off points (are boundaryless), we nevertheless retain the idea that we can progress towards the penumbra the way we progress towards the cut‐off points of non‐vague concepts. As a potential remedy, Wittgenstein's analogy with coin tossing and converging intervals replaces this picture and provides an understanding of the functioning of vague concepts in which no notion of a progression arises.
Globalization, tourism and local living conditions on Jamaica's north coast
Authors: Dodman David 
Published: July 2009

Jamaica's tourism industry has grown rapidly in recent decades, with significant implications for national development. However, the distribution of the benefits from this growth sector has been socially and spatially uneven. Drawing on substantial data sets collected through a variety of participatory research practices, this paper assesses the socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the residents of Montego Bay and Falmouth on Jamaica's north coast, the main site for tourism development in the country. The research involved training community residents as researchers, and used traditional quantitative methods alongside techniques borrowed from participatory rapid appraisal.The local society and economy are clearly shown to be affected by processes of globalization and mobility. However, existing patterns of national economic development – including the expansion of the tourism industry – have failed to alleviate the social and environmental problems faced by relatively powerless members of the Jamaican society. In contrast, the most effective responses to this situation have involved stakeholder groups negotiating and breaking down entrenched scaled relationships through the mobilization of particular forms of social networks.
Harmonization of Corporate Tax Systems and Its Effect on Collusive Behavior
Authors: SCHINDLER DIRK , SCHJELDERUP GUTTORM 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWe study how harmonization of corporate tax systems affects the stability of international cartels. We show that tax base harmonization reinforces collusive agreements, while harmonization of corporate tax rates may destabilize or stabilize cartels. We also find that bilateral and full harmonization to a common standard is worse from society's point of view than unilateral harmonization to a minimum tax standard.
Commodity Tax Competition with Constrained Taxes
Authors: BELAN PASCAL , GAUTHIER STÉPHANE 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis paper examines a symmetric Nash equilibria of a two‐country model of fiscal competition with a continuum of taxable commodities in each country. The innovation is to impose a uniformity restriction that there can be only two rates of tax on the different commodities, a positive rate and the zero rate. The main results characterize, under two alternative modes of taxation, the equilibrium fiscal rules chosen by countries, i.e., the level of the positive rate and the set of taxed commodities. Under the origin principle, it appears that the equilibrium fiscal base is narrower than the optimal one and the tax rate is too high. In contrast, under the destination principle, the optimal rule is implemented.
Eruptive pseudo‐angiomatosis lesions are associated with intravascular neutrophils and do not harbour Epstein–Barr virus
Authors: Jin SP , Chang MS , Shin HS , Kim BY , Park HJ , Won CH , Cho SY 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground  Eruptive pseudo‐angiomatosis (EPA) is a rare, relatively newly described cutaneous disorder characterized by the sudden onset of several bright red, angioma‐like papules surrounded by blanched halo. Its aetiology is unknown; however, viral infection or mosquito bites have been speculated as possible causes.Objective  This study aims to determine the clinical and histopathological features of EPA, and whether it is associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection.Methods  We conducted a retrospective chart review of 25 EPA cases from 2006 to 2008. In order to determine latent EBV infection, EBV‐encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization was performed in 18 subjects. To determine EPA's distinguishing histological characteristics, we compared the cases with 22 control cases of perivascular lymphocytic infiltration for haematoxylin and eosin, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD31 and c‐kit staining patterns.Results  The patient sample's female‐to‐male ratio was 2.1 : 1, and the patients’ age ranged from 5 to 79 years (average 46 years). The lesions appeared during the months of July to September in all but 3 patients. Skin biopsies demonstrated capillary ectasia with perivascular mononuclear cellular infiltrates in the upper dermis. Most patients were otherwise healthy, and routine laboratory results were all normal except in one patient who had diabetes. The skin lesions faded without any treatment in 1–2 weeks. Results of EBER in situ hybridization were all negative. The only histological distinguishing feature of EPA was the presence of intravascular neutrophils, which was found to be present in 19 of the 20 EPA cases (95%), in contrast to only 3 of the 22 control subjects (14%) (P < 0.0001).Conclusion  The sudden onset of lesions during the summer months among our patients supports the ‘paraviral eruption’ concept of this probably underdiagnosed condition. The significant presence of intravascular neutrophils may be a diagnostic clue of EPA in South Korea.
Scalp psoriasis: European consensus on grading and treatment algorithm
Authors: Ortonne JP , Chimenti S , Luger T , Puig L , Reid F , Trüeb RM 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe scalp is a common site of involvement of psoriasis and, for many patients, is a challenging aspect of their disease. This can be attributed not only to the scaling, itching and cosmetic embarrassment that go with scalp psoriasis, but also to the fact that the scalp skin is relatively inaccessible, making topical therapies difficult to apply. The proximity of sensitive facial skin can also limit the use of potentially irritating topical treatments. Nevertheless, the specific challenges of scalp psoriasis are often neglected by treatment guidelines. This paper summarizes the discussions that took place at an international conference of experts convened in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2008. The objective of the meeting was to review the available treatments for scalp psoriasis in terms of efficacy, safety, convenience, and the implications for patient compliance with treatment. In addition, definitions of mild, moderate and severe scalp psoriasis were agreed. This paper presents a treatment algorithm that includes recommendations for patients in all three categories. It considers the role of potent topical corticosteroids, vitamin D3 derivatives, salicylic acid preparations, and photo‐ and radiotherapy, as well as systemic therapies, including newer biological agents, for patients with widespread psoriasis with scalp involvement. Data from clinical trials indicate that a potent topical corticosteroid in a short‐contact formulation is the most appropriate treatment for most patients with scalp psoriasis.
Cytosolic expression of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SacB protein inhibits tissue development in transgenic tobacco and potato
Authors: CAIMI P. G. , McCOLE L. M. , KLEIN T. M. , HERSHEY H. P. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYFructans are linear or branched polymers containing a single sucrose and repeating fructose residues. An early model for fructan biosynthesis in higher plants suggested that partial synthesis of the polymer occurred in the cell cytosol. The current model suggests that synthesis requires the interaction of two separate fructosyltransferases located in the vacuole. Tobacco lines containing a chemically induced promoter, directing expression of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SacB gene in the present study, provided an opportunity to regulate and target fructan synthesis to the cytosol of transgenic plants. Induced expression of the gene led to rapid destruction of leaf tissue. Amino acid substitution at a highly conserved site (Arg331) in the SacB gene reduced the fructosyltransferase efficiency without reducing the invertase activity of the enzyme. Expression of the mutant gene in transgenic tobacco also resulted in leaf damage. However, the appearance of necrotic tissue was greatly delayed. The results suggest that the phenotype is due to accumulation of fructan in the cytosol. Fructan metabolism in the cytosol of potato tubers was also detrimental to development. Tuber size and starch synthesis was significantly reduced in lines containing the untargeted gene. Transgenic tobacco and potato containing the SacB gene offer an opportunity to study the metabolism of fructan and the effect of accumulation on plant cell development.
The vacuolar sorting domain of sporamin transports GUS, but not levansucrase, to the plant vacuole
Authors: TURK STEFAN C. H. J. , DE ROOS KOEN , SCOTTI PIER A. , VAN DUN KEES , WEISBEEK PETER , SMEEKENS SJEF C. M. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYFructans (polyfructosylsucrose) are synthesized by a number of plants and micro‐organisms. Plant fructans are localized in the vacuole and have a low degree of polymerization (DP), whereas the fructans synthesized by microorganisms are usually much bigger. There is an increasing interest in fructans for both food and non‐food applications. In order to accumulate fructans of high DP in the plant vacuole, the levansucrase protein of Bacillus subtilis was fused to the vacuolar targeting sequence of sporamin and expressed in plants. Transgenic tobacco plants in which this fusion gene is expressed accumulate fructans to levels up to 21% of the d. wt. They showed a reduced translocation of carbohydrates, bleaching of the leaves, stunted growth and increased levels of hexoses and starch. The levansucrase protein was not translocated to the plant vacuole, but retained in the endomembrane system, even though the same targeting signal was able to translocate the E. coli GUS protein to the plant vacuole.
Fructan and fructan‐metabolizing enzymes in the growth zone of barley leaves
Authors: ROTH ADRIAN , LÜSCHER MARCEL , SPRENGER NORBERT , BOLLER THOMAS , WIEMKEN ANDRES 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYTo study the role of fructan in leaf development of barley seedlings, fructan contents and the activities of enzymes involved in fructan metabolism were measured in segments of the third leaf at the stage of maximal growth. Fructans amounted to more than 10% of the d. wt in the growth zone at the base of the developing leaf and decreased sharply in the zone above. The specific activities of sucrose: sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐SST) and sucrose: fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT), two key enzymes in fructan synthesis, also peaked in the growth zone but decreased more slowly in the zone above. By contrast, the specific activities of invertase and fructan exohydrolase (FEH) were low in the growth zone at the leaf base and had their peak just above it. The specific activity of fructan: fructan 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐FFT) was approx. constant over the whole leaf. These results indicate that transitory accumulation of fructans in the growth zone plays a key role in the development of barley leaves.
Rise of fructan exohydrolase activity in stubble of Lolium perenne after defoliation is decreased by uniconazole, an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of gibberellins
Authors: MORVAN ANNETTE , CHALLE GAËLLE , PRUD'HOMME MARIE‐PASCALE , SAOS JOËLLE LE , BOUCAUD JEAN 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYThe objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the relative involvement of fructans from leaf sheaths and from elongating leaf bases to regrowth after defoliation of Lolium perenne L. by following fructan exohydrolase (FEH), sucrose‐sucrose fructosyl transferase (SST) and invertase (INV) activities and (ii) to examine whether gibberellins could be implicated in regulation of FEH activity. In stubble, 36 % of fructans are located in leaf bases and 64 % in leaf sheaths. During the first phase of regrowth, the depletion of carbohydrates was mainly due to the decline of fructans, which represented 76% and 50 % of the carbohydrates mobilized from leaf sheaths and elongating leaf bases respectively. Despite a decrease in protein content, FEH activity increased 2‐5‐fold in leaf sheaths and sixfold in elongating leaf bases, so that the fructan‐hydrolysing activity was four times higher in growing leaves than in leaf sheaths, 2 d after defoliation. INV activity also increased, whereas the pattern of SST activity was inversely related to the variations of both hydrolysing activities. SST activity, which is highest in growing leaves, declined approximately threefold in leaf sheaths and elongating leaf bases at the beginning of regrowth.The increase in activity of FEH in stubble was strongly inhibited by an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of gibberellin, uniconazole. FEH activity was decreased to c. 67 %, 45 % and 33 % of the level in nontreated plants 24, 48 and 72 h following defoliation, respectively. The inhibition could be overcome by a subsequent treatment with gibberellic acids (GAs). For the first time, data are provided to support the view that GAs might play a role in the regulation of FEH activity, and the implication of this result is discussed.
Patterns of solute in individual mesophyll, bundle sheath and epidermal cells of barley leaves induced to accumulate carbohydrate
Authors: KOROLEVA O. A. , FARRAR J. F. , TOMOS A. D. , POLLOCK C. J. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYAfter cooling the roots and shoot apex of barley, there is a reduction in sucrose export from, and an increased total accumulation of carbohydrate and induction of fructan synthesis in, source leaves. We investigated carbohydrate accumulation in individual leaf cells. Using the microsampling technique and microfluorometric enzymatic assay, the amounts of various carbohydrates were measured in mesophyll, bundle sheath and epidermal cells. Epidermal cells take no part in carbohydrate partitioning and have very low concentrations of sugars even when leaf export is reduced. Even without cooling, however, there are remarkable changes in sucrose concentration (up to 200 mM) in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells during the photoperiod. The activity of acid invertase in samples from individual cells was very low, c. 3 μmol sucrose (g f. wt)−1 h−1. Interrelationships between these cell types and the control of fructan metabolism are discussed.
Fructan metabolism in two species of Bromus subjected to chilling and water stress
Authors: PUEBLA ANDREA F. , SALERNO GRACIELA L. , PONTIS HORACIO G. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYTwo species of Bromus adapted to different climatic conditions were studied to determine their responses to chilling and water stress. Enzymes of sucrose and fructan metabolism as well as fructoside content were measured in roots and shoots. The results indicate that Bromus pictus (adapted to a cold desert area) has a constitutive fructan synthesis, whilst B. auleticus (adapted to a warmer northern climate) only accumulated fructan under cold stress. Microscopic observations of roots exposed to fluorescent probes ascertained cell viability and showed that the apex of roots in the northern species were more affected by the water‐deficit treatment than the southern species. The presence of fructans in B. pictus and their absence in B. auleticus support the hypothesis that fructans play a role in plant tolerance to environmental stress.
Effects of short‐term phosphorus deficiency on carbohydrate storage in sink and source leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Authors: WANG C. , TILLBERG J.‐E. 
Published: July 2009

SUMMARYBarley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Agneta) was cultivated hydroponically under continuous light, constant temperature and relative humidity. The relative growth rate (rgr) was kept at 25 % by an exponential supply of complete medium for 2 wk. The cultures were then transferred to phosphorus‐free media and the amounts of total P, fructans, starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose in sink and source leaves were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 156 h. The capacity of net fructan synthesis (i.e. total activity of sucrose: sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐SST) and sucrose: fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT)), the activity of fructan exohydrolase (FEH), as well as the activity of acid invertase were also measured in the two types of leaves. Omission of P from the growth medium caused a decrease in the P content in both sink and source leaves, whereas the RGR was not affected during the 156 h of the experiment. The fructan concentration increased in low‐P plants whilst there was little or no effect on the concentrations of starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose. There was a slight increase in the capacity of net fructan synthesis in both sink and source leaves at 156 h after the onset of P‐starvation. There was no change in the activity of FEH or acid invertase. The results indicate that in barley leaves the mechanism for carbon partitioning into fructans is more sensitive towards low P conditions than the mechanism for carbon partitioning into starch.