bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of apoptotic index in multiple myeloma patients treated by conventional therapy and novel agents, thalidomide and bortezomib
Authors: Minarik Jiri , Scudla Vlastimil , Ordeltova Marta , Bacovsky Jaroslav , Pika Tomas , Langova Katerina 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective:  To assess the outcome of the measurement of apoptotic index in myeloma patients treated by conventional chemotherapy and novel drugs with biological mechanism of action, thalidomide and bortezomib.Patients and methods:  In a cohort of 189 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma from November 1997 through February 2008, we assessed the prognostic significance of plasma cell apoptotic index (PC‐AI) using annexin‐V. The whole group was subsequently divided according to treatment approach (conventional chemotherapy only vs. inclusion of novel drugs, thalidomide and bortezomib), and curves of overall survival were constructed.Results:  In the whole group (n = 189), low levels of PC‐AI <4.5% significantly separated patients with unfavorable prognosis (median OS 16 vs. 38 months, P = 0.004). In patients treated with conventional chemotherapy only (n = 139) the results were similar (median OS 10 vs. 25 months, P = 0.02), and the apoptotic index maintained its significance even within the group of 50 patients treated also with novel drugs (median OS 30 vs. 54 months, P = 0.027). PC‐AI was found to be independent on both Durie‐Salmon staging system and the International Prognostic Index.Conclusion:  Presented results suggest the use of apoptotic index by flow cytometry measurement as a fast and accessible method for prognostic stratification of myeloma patients in routine practice.
The contribution of rewetting to vegetation restoration of degraded peat meadows
Authors: van Dijk J. , Stroetenga M. , van Bodegom P.M. , Aerts R. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: What is the contribution of a rise in groundwater level to vegetation restoration of degraded peat meadows compared to abandonment only?Location: Abandoned peat meadows in the central part of The Netherlands.Methods: Comparison of species composition and species abundance of vegetation and seed banks of reference and rewetted peat meadows, using plant trait and seed bank analysis.Results: Vegetation of rewetted meadows shared on average only 27% of their species with the reference meadow, while this was 50% on average for species in the seed bank. Rewetted meadows had a lower total number of species and a lower number of wet grassland and fen species present in the vegetation, but had higher species richness per m2, although evenness was not affected. Rewetting increased the dominance of species of fertile and near neutral habitats, but did not result in an increase of species of wet or waterlogged habitats. Re‐wetted meadows were dominated by species relying mainly on vegetative reproduction and species with a low average seed longevity compared to the reference meadow.Conclusion: Rewetting was not effective as a restoration measure to increase plant species diversity or the number of wet grassland and fen species in the vegetation. If no additional restoration management is applied, the seed bank will be depleted of seeds of species of wet grassland or fen habitats, further reducing the chances of successful vegetation restoration.
Some factors affecting successional change on uranium mine wastes: Insights for ecological restoration
Authors: Martínez‐Ruiz C. , Marrs R.H. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: Are growth form and dispersal‐mode replacement during vegetation succession in semi‐arid Mediterranean conditions affected by the starting quality of the substrate and by site aspect?Location: Central‐western Spain.Methods: We monitored successions on three waste materials left after uranium mining: unbroken waste, broken waste and wastes amended with a sandy material (Arkoses); both north and south aspects were also studied on each substrate.Results: The substrate starting quality had the greatest influence on spontaneous succession, separating the poorer quality substrates (broken and unbroken wastes) from the better ones (Arkoses) and two reference communities (Topsoil and Dehesa). The importance of aspect was confirmed then within each substrate type. Most species with a short life span (mostly annuals and a few biennials), together with some woody species on Arkoses, showed no response to age (years following the deposition of new soil). Others short‐lived species declined over time on the poorer wastes but not on the better Arkoses. There was a tendency for life form replacement (from thero‐phytes to hemicryptophytes) during succession only on the poorer‐quality substrates. No dispersal‐mode replacement sequence was found.Conclusion: Improving the abiotic conditions of the substrate had a great effect on vegetation succession, but this effect was modified by aspect. Aspect took longer to induce differences in floristic composition on the poorer substrates, where succession was slower. Some trends in species responses to successional change were found by considering species traits, particularly life‐form.
Assessing plant‐nutrient relationships in highly invaded Californian grasslands using non‐normal probability distributions
Authors: Gea‐Izquierdo Guillermo , Gennet Sasha , Bartolome James W. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion:Is native species occurrence related to soil nutrients in highly invaded Californian annual grasslands? What is the best method to analyze this relationship, given that native species occur in very low numbers and are absent from many locations?Location:California, USA.Methods:We investigated the effects of soil characteristics and livestock grazing on native plant occurrence at 40 plots from six sites during the period 2003–2005. Low absolute cover (< 5.8%) of native species resulted in strongly skewed, zero‐inflated data sets. To overcome problems in the analysis created by non‐normality and correlations within plots, we used GLMs and GLMMs, either with a Poisson or a negative binomial distribution, to analyse native species richness andNassella pulchracover.Results:N. pulchracover was strongly associated with low phosphorus in sandy soils, whereas native species richness was highest in soils with low available nitrogen (high C:N).Conclusion:Under current conditions, phosphorus seems to be a critical factor influencing abundance ofN. pulchra. Low fertility soils may provide refugia for native species in highly invaded California grasslands as they may be below a threshold required for non‐native annuals to completely dominate. By using non‐normal distributions in linear models with random components, we report well fitted models with more accurately tested significant covariates.
Reinstatement of traditional mowing regimes counteracts population senescence in the rare perennial Primula vulgaris
Authors: Endels Patrick , Jacquemyn Hans , Brys Rein , Hermy Martin 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: Traditional management of grassland verges or ditch banks included mowing as a way to provide additional harvesting of hay. Nowadays, such sites are often left unmanaged, as mowing verges is no longer profitable in modern agricultural systems. Are vulnerable plant species able to withstand competition with the surrounding vegetation and maintain viable populations under these circumstances? How do they respond to reinstatement of traditional mowing regimes?Location: Oedelem, northwestern Belgium.Methods: To investigate the effect of reinstatement of the rare perennial Primula vulgaris, demography and adult plant performance were monitored in a grassland verge between 1999 and 2003 under different mowing regimes. Year transitions between life stages were analysed with matrix population models. To disentangle the contributions of the deviations in different life stage transitions to the variation in overall population growth rate, life table response experiments were used.Results: Both management and year had a strong impact on demographic traits of P. vulgaris. If plots were left unmanaged, lower plant performance and declining population growth rates were observed. While population growth rates differed significantly between mowing regimes, mowing of plots only in July did not differ from mowing in July and October in terms of vegetative and reproductive output of adults. Mowing twice a year appeared to be most efficient in increasing population growth rate both by raising recruitment and growth of individuals into large reproductive adults.Conclusions: Large P. vulgaris populations show a good ability to recover from recent abandonment of traditional management regimes. By mowing twice a year, managers are able to target vital rates that are most influential: growth and flowering of adult individuals.
Vegetation classification, mapping, and monitoring at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota: An application of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification
Authors: Faber‐Langendoen Don , Aaseng Norm , Hop Kevin , Lew‐Smith Michael , Drake J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion:How can the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) serve as an effective tool for classifying and mapping vegetation, and inform assessments and monitoring?Location:Voyageurs National Park, northern Minnesota, U.S.A and environs. The park contains 54 243 ha of terrestrial habitat in the sub‐boreal region of North America.Methods:We classified and mapped the natural vegetation using the USNVC, with ‘alliance’and ‘association’as base units. We compiled 259 classification plots and 1251 accuracy assessment test plots. Both plot and type ordinations were used to analyse vegetation and environmental patterns. Color infrared aerial photography (1:15840 scale) was used for mapping. Polygons were manually drawn, then transferred into digital form. Classification and mapping products are stored in publicly available databases. Past fire and logging events were used to assess distribution of forest types.Results and Discussion:Ordination and cluster analyses confirmed 49 associations and 42 alliances, with three associations ranked as globally vulnerable to extirpation. Ordination provided a useful summary of vegetation and ecological gradients. Overall map accuracy was 82.4%.Pinus banksiana ‐ Picea marianaforests were less frequent in areas unburned since the 1930s.Conclusion:The USNVC provides a consistent ecological tool for summarizing and mapping vegetation. The products provide a baseline for assessing forests and wetlands, including fire management. The standardized classification and map units provide local to continental perspectives on park resources through linkages to state, provincial, and national classifications in the U.S. and Canada, and to NatureServe's Ecological Systems classification.
Restoration of grazing management and its effect on vegetation in an upland grassland
Authors: Pavlů Vilém , Hejcman Michal , Pavlů Lenka , Gaisler Jan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: How are plant species and functional group composition, and potential sward height affected by implementation of different grazing regimes on previously abandoned semi‐natural grassland?Location: The Jizerské mountains, northern Czech Republic.Methods: We established a randomized block experiment with the following treatments: unmanaged control (U), intensive (IG) and extensive (EG) continuous grazing, first cut followed by intensive (ICG) and first cut followed by extensive (ECG) continuous grazing for the rest of the growing season. The percentage cover of all vascular plant species was recorded in 40 permanent plots.Results: Total plant species richness increased in all managed treatments, whereas species number was reduced in U at the end of the experiment. Tall forbs (Aegopodium podagraria, Galium album, Anthriscus sylvestris, Cirsium arvense) as well as tall grasses (Elytrigia repens and Alopecurus pratensis) were more abundant in U. Species associated with both grazing treatments (IG, EG) were Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra agg. and Phleum pratense. Agrostis capillaris, Taraxacum spp., Trifolium repens, Ranunculus repens and Cirsium vulgare were promoted by ECG and ICG. Abundance of tall grasses and tall forbs reflected the intensity of management in the order U>EG, ECG>IG, ICG. Prostrate forbs, on the other hand, increased their cover with increasing intensity: ICG>IG>ECG>EG.Conclusions: Plant species composition of semi‐natural grasslands is affected by the defoliation regime. Continuous grazing on abandoned grassland alters the sward structure towards a permanent pasture with short, light‐sensitive grasses and prostrate forbs. To maintain or enhance plant species richness in semi‐natural grasslands, understanding the effects of different grazing regimes on plant species composition is necessary.
Plant community establishment in a restored wetland: Effects of soil removal
Authors: Hausman Constance E. , Fraser Lauchlan H. , Kershner Mark W. , de Szalay Ferenc A. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: This study investigated the establishment of wetland plant assemblages following soil removal and restored hydrology in a former agricultural field. The following questions were posed. Does plant community composition differ as a result of soil removal? Does soil removal reduce the frequency of non‐wetland plants? Does soil removal reduce the frequency of non‐native invasive plants?Location: The Panzner Wetland Wildlife Reserve (PWWR) in Summit County, northeastern Ohio, USA.Methods: During 2000–2001, restoration was conducted on two adjoining fields (3.9 ha total) by excavating the upper 40–50 cm of soil layer and establishing 12 10 m × 10 m undisturbed control plots. Preliminary data included seed bank composition and soil organic matter, estimated from three different soil depths on the control plots. In spring 2004, a 10 m × 10 m soil‐removed plot was established adjacent to each control plot. Plant percent cover of all species was estimated within the center 5 m × 5 m of every plot. Above‐ground biomass of all species from three 0.25‐m2 quadrats was collected. Environmental water measurements included water depth, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity.Results: The top 10 cm of soil contained the most seeds, the highest species diversity, the greatest proportion of annual to perennial plants, and the lowest organic content. Obligate and facultative wetland plants were found in soil‐removed plots while facultative upland and upland plants were found in control plots. The only plots with arable weeds were the control plots. However, plant communities on soil‐removed plots in the North field, which had a higher elevation (ca. 15–20 cm), had a different species composition than soil‐removed plots in the South field.Conclusions: The results of a controlled, replicated large‐scale study on the effects of soil removal showed that soil removal altered both the biotic and abiotic environment, but that the proximity to the water table was the primary controlling factor in the assembly of plant communities.
Impact of sheep grazing on nutrient budgets of dry heathlands
Authors: Fottner S. , Härdtle W. , Niemeyer M. , Niemeyer T. , von Oheimb G. , Meyer H. , Mockenhaupt M. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestions: What effect does sheep grazing have on the nutrient budgets of heathlands? Can grazing compensate for atmospheric nutrient loads in heathland ecosystems? What are the conclusions for heathland management?Location: Lüneburg Heath, NW Germany.Methods: During a one‐year grazing experiment (stocking rate 1.1 sheep/ha) nutrient balances for N, Ca, K, Mg and P were calculated by quantifying input rates (atmospheric deposition, sheep excrement) and output rates (biomass removal, leaching).Results: Atmospheric nutrient deposition amounted to 22.8 kg.ha−1.a−1 for N and < 0.2 kg.ha−1.a−1 for P. Sheep excrement increased the inputs for N and P by ca. 3.5 and 0.2 kg.ha−1.a−1, respectively. Grazing reduced N‐ and P‐stores in the above‐ground biomass by 25.6 and 1.9 kg.ha−1.a−1, respectively. N‐and P‐losses via leaching amounted to 2.2 and < 0.2 kg.ha−1.a−1. Output:input ratios for P were high, indicating that grazing severely affected P‐budgets of heaths.Conclusions: Our results suggest that sheep grazing has the potential to compensate for atmospheric nutrient loads (particularly for current N deposition rates). However, in the long term the combination of elevated N‐deposition and P‐loss due to grazing may cause a shift from N‐(co‐) limited to more P‐(co‐) limited plant growth. To counteract an aggravation of P‐deficiency in the long term, grazing may be combined with management measures that affect P‐budgets to a lesser extent (e.g. prescribed burning).
Characterization of diverse plant communities in Aspen Parkland rangeland using LiDAR data
Authors: Su Jason G. , Bork Edward W. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: How effective is high‐resolution airborne LiDAR technology for quantifying biophysical characteristics of multiple community types within diverse rangeland environments?Location: Native Aspen Parkland vegetation in central Alberta, Canada.Methods: Vegetation within 117 reference plots stratified across eight types, including forest, shrubland, upland grassland and lowland meadow communities, were assessed in 2001 for the height, cover and density of vegetation within various strata (herb, shrub and tree layers). Actual ground data were subsequently compared against modelled values for each community type and strata derived from the analysis of airborne LiDAR data obtained in 2000.Results: LiDAR data were effective for quantifying vegetation height, cover and density of the overstory within closed‐ and open Populus forest communities. However, LiDAR measurements typically underestimated the height and cover of shrublands, as well as most of the herbaceous communities. Analysis of LiDAR intensity data indicated reflectance generally decreased as LiDAR sampling points moved upwards from the ground to the vegetation canopy.Conclusions: While LiDAR technology is useful for characterizing deciduous forest properties, the quantification of understory vegetation characteristics, as well as those of individual shrublands and grasslands, was more limiting. Further refinements in analysis methods are necessary to increase the reliability of characterizing these communities.
Effects of chronic herbivory and historic land use on population structure of a forest perennial, Trillium catesbaei
Authors: Jenkins Michael A. , Webster Christopher R. , Rock Janet H. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion:How have long‐term herbivory and past land use impacted the population structure ofTrillium catesbaei, a long‐lived rhizomatous herb?Location:Western Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA.Methods:We examinedT. catesbaeipopulations at three sites: (1) Cades Cove (CC), an area of intensive historic land use that has been maintained as open fields and woodlots with a history of chronic deer herbivory, (2) Whiteoak Sink (WOS), a reference area with similar land‐use history, geology, and soils that has succeeded to closed‐canopy forest with relatively low levels of deer herbivory, and (3) Leadbetter Ridge (LBR), an area of primary forest that has never received significant anthropogenic disturbance.Trillium catesbaeiis the most commonTrilliumspecies at the three study sites, but smaller in stature, shorter lived, and more of a habitat generalist.Results:Chronic herbivory in CC has created a highly‐truncated age structure with no plants older than 9 years, while plant ages at the other sites were more evenly distributed. Compared to WOS, plants in CC were younger at a given height and more likely to flower when younger. Across all life stages, populations at CC contained 68 × fewer plants than WOS. The age structures of WOS and LBR were similar. Compared to published age estimates for otherTrilliumspecies, our results suggest thatT. catesbaeiis relatively short lived within the genus.Conclusions:Chronic herbivory had pronounced effects on the population structure of a perennial herb. Other long‐lived herbaceous species may exhibit similar truncated age structures and flowering by younger and smaller plants. Habitat generalist species within a genus, such asT. catesbaei, that are able to reproduce more quickly may persist longer under chronic herbivory. However, chronic herbivory has likely caused the loss of herbaceous species from CC and may eventually cause the local extirpation ofT. catesbaeipopulations.
The interrelationship between productivity, plant species richness and livestock diet: a question of scale?
Authors: Süss Karin , Storm Christian , Zimmermann Kai , Schwabe Angelika 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: What relationship exists between productivity, plant species richness and livestock diet? Are the results dependent on scale?Location: A sheep‐grazed Koelerio‐Corynephoretea sandy habitat of the northern upper Rhine (Germany) as a low productivity model system.Methods: The investigation was carried out for three years at a fine scale (2 m2) and for two years at a broad scale (79 m2). Productivity was measured by means of weighed above‐ground phytomass for fine scale and colour‐infrared (CIR) aerial photographs of the same system for fine and broad scales. For both scales, total numbers of vascular plant species and numbers of endangered vascular plant species were extracted from current vegetation relevés. Additionally, we obtained data on livestock diet (grazed phytomass, crude protein content).Results: Statistical analyses show an influence of the year on all variables; relationships between variables are not significant in every year. Species richness and number of endangered species are negatively related to productivity at fine scale while crude protein content and grazed phytomass are positively related to productivity. At the broad scale the diversity‐productivity relationship shows a ‘hump’ with highest species numbers in middle pioneer stages; numbers of endangered species are highest in all pioneer stages.Conclusions: We found a strong impact of scale and year on the diversity‐productivity relationship. It is inappropriate to analyse only small plots (2 m2), and it is necessary to study different years. This vegetation complex is dependent on grazing impact; thus there is an inversely proportional relationship between nature conservation value (high diversity) and livestock nutrition.
Long‐term dynamics in a planted conifer forest with spontaneous ingrowth of broad‐leaved trees
Authors: Goris Robbie , Kint Vincent , Haneca Kristof , Geudens Guy , Beeckman Hans , Verheyen Kris 
Published: July 2009

AbstractQuestion: What are the age structure and growth trends in a 160‐year old not‐managed Pinus sylvestris plantation with spontaneous development of Quercus robur and can recruitment of Q. robur be related to the radial growth pattern of the P. sylvestris overstorey?Location: Mattemburgh forest reserve, The Netherlands.Methods: Throughout the forest, we sampled 103 oaks and 102 pines with an increment corer. Tree ring widths were measured and cross‐dated to produce mean ring width series. With these data we determined tree ages, investigated growth trends and identified growth releases and suppressions.Results:
Q. robur is uneven‐aged: some individuals recruited around 1925, but most reached coring height in the 1940s. The latter recruitment period related to a transition from stressed to released growth of the overstorey pines, growth releases of the oldest Q. robur and occurrence of P. sylvestris regeneration. No further recruitment has taken place since 1950.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that an old pine plantation can develop spontaneously into well‐structured pine forest with an understorey of oak and pine. However, understorey recruitment in these forest types is not a continuous process and in this case a single allogenic canopy disturbance triggered its establishment.