bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does plant height determine the freezing resistance in the páramo plants?
Authors: SKLENÁŘ PETR , KUČEROVÁ ANDREA , MACEK PETR , MACKOVÁ JANA 
Published: March 2010

AbstractNeotropical ecosystems between treeline and snowline, called páramos, stretch along Andean ranges from Costa Rica to northern Peru. The páramo climate is characterized by regular night frosts occurring throughout the year. Páramo plants use two strategies to deal with freezing temperatures. They either avoid ice formation in the tissues or tolerate extracellular ice formation. We tested the microclimate hypothesis, which suggests that the freezing resistance of the páramo plants is determined by plant height, that is, that taller plants experience a milder microclimate and avoid freezing, whereas smaller plants are exposed to the more extreme thermal conditions near the ground and tolerate them. We measured the temperature at which ice formed inside the plants (the ‘exotherm’), and compared it with the temperature at which 50% damage to the tissue occurred (Lt50); a significant difference between the exotherm and Lt50 would indicate freezing tolerance whereas the absence of a difference would indicate avoidance by supercooling. We analysed the freezing resistance of 38 common Ecuadorian páramo species. We found no correlation between plant height and freezing resistance mechanism or injury temperature and reject the microclimate hypothesis. Tolerant plants reach higher altitudes than avoidant plants, but their altitudinal ranges largely overlap and the Lt50 does not differ between them. These results suggest that there is no qualitative difference between the two strategies to survive the páramo frosts. Shrub leaves were injured at significantly lower temperatures than other life forms, such as herbs, which may reflect leaf anatomical differences among the plants.
Does decomposition of standard materials differ among grassland patches maintained by livestock?
Authors: VAIERETTI MARÍA VICTORIA , CINGOLANI ANA M. , HARGUINDEGUY NATALIA PÉREZ , GURVICH DIEGO E. , CABIDO MARCELO 
Published: March 2010

AbstractGrazing can modify vegetation structure and species composition through selective consumption, modifying plant litter quality and hence decomposability. In most grasslands, moderate stocking rates maintain a mosaic of high‐quality patches, preferentially used by herbivores (‘grazing lawns’), and low‐quality tall patches, which are avoided. In grazing lawns decomposition rates can be accelerated because of the higher litter quality of its component species and, besides, through the indirect effect of increased nutrient availability in soil. We aimed at testing this indirect effect using standard materials, comparing their decomposition in grazing lawns, open and closed tall tussock grasslands. We selected 10 patches of each type and sampled floristic composition, soil variables and cattle dung deposition. Standard materials were filter paper and Poa stuckertii litter. We prepared litterbags of 0.3 mm (thin mesh) and 1 mm mesh size (coarse mesh). Samples were incubated for 65 days in two ways: above‐ground (thin and coarse mesh) and below‐ground (only thin mesh), aiming at analysing the conditions for decomposition for surface litter and buried litter or dead roots, respectively. Physical and chemical soil variables did not differ among patch types, despite the differences in species composition. Closed tussock grasslands showed the lowest dung deposition, confirming the less intense use of these patches. Soil nitrogen availability (N‐NO3‐ and N‐NH4+) was not significantly different among patch types. Each standard material followed a different decomposition pattern across patch types. For above‐ground incubated samples, Poa litter decomposed significantly faster in lawns, and slower in open tussock grasslands. Filter paper decomposed significantly faster in closed tussock grasslands than in the other two patch types. Decomposition of below‐ground incubated samples did not significantly differ among patch types, in line with results for soil variables. Above‐ground differences in decomposition may be associated with differences in microclimatic conditions resulting from differences in vegetation structure.
Trajectories of change: riparian vegetation and soil conditions following livestock removal and replanting
Authors: BURGER B. , REICH P. , CAVAGNARO T. R. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractRiparian zones provide critically important ecological functions, including the interception of nutrients and sediments before they enter waterways. Consequently, riparian zones, and the vegetation they support, are often considered as an important ‘final buffer’ between waterways and adjacent land. In agricultural ecosystems, riparian zones are therefore increasingly recognized as an important component of strategies aimed at minimizing the flow of nutrients and sediments into waterways. Accordingly, riparian zones are increasingly afforded protection and are targeted for restoration. Here we present results of a study in which we aimed to identify patterns of change in soil and vegetation properties in riparian zones, under different management regimes, adjacent to tributary streams in one of south‐eastern Australia's main agricultural regions. We compared riparia that were heavily impacted by agricultural activities, were in remnant condition or had undergone some restoration activities and were thus in a transitional state. There was an increase in plant cover and soil C concentration between impacted through to remnant sites, with transitional sites intermediate, suggesting that improvements in soil conditions were becoming evident following restoration activities. In our assessment of soil physicochemical properties we investigated the relationships between riparian condition and soil properties, taking into account the influence of adjacent land use on these relationships. Importantly, the concentrations of NO3‐ and plant available P in riparian surface soils were more or less influenced by concentrations in the adjacent land depending upon riparian condition. This will, in turn, have consequences for nutrient inputs into streams. This study emphasizes that riparian zones need to be managed within their wider landscape context. Furthermore, the results of this study will inform efforts seeking to minimize impacts of agricultural activities on waterways, through the conservation and/or restoration of riparian ecosystems.
Raman spectral imaging of prostate cancer: can Raman molecular imaging be used to augment standard histopathology?
Authors: Tollefson Matthew , Magera James , Sebo Thomas , Cohen Jeffrey , Drauch Amy , Maier John , Frank Igor 
Published: March 2010

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVETo evaluate whether Raman molecular imaging (RMI, which combines digital imaging and analytical spectroscopy to evaluate the biochemical composition of interrogated material) can be used to identify biochemical differences in patients with Gleason 7 prostate cancer who progress to metastatic disease and die from prostate cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe identified 38 patients who had a radical prostatectomy for Gleason 7 adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Half progressed to metastatic disease and half had no evidence of disease after treatment. Patients were matched for preoperative prostate‐specific antigen level, surgical margin status, pathological stage, tumour volume, age at surgery, year of surgery and DNA ploidy. Sequential 5 µm sections were obtained from paraffin‐embedded tissue and one genitourinary pathologist selected areas of tumour for study. Principal component analysis was used to investigate the correlation between spectral response and clinical outcome.RESULTSThe analysis was able to distinguish between those with progressive disease and those with no evidence of disease, most notably within the Gleason 3 regions when evaluating the epithelium and stroma as separate histological elements. A two‐sample t‐test gave P < 0.01 for both the Gleason 3 and 4 epithelium and stroma classes.CONCLUSIONSRMI is a novel technique that shows promise for identifying patients at risk of progression by visualizing molecular information not seen using other current methods. In Gleason 7 disease, RMI shows distinctive chemical differences in patients who progress to metastatic disease in both Gleason pattern 3 and 4 regions. This preliminary work lays the foundation for the further study of RMI for evaluating prostate tissue.
Long‐term efficacy of the bone‐anchored male sling for moderate and severe stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Carmel Maude , Hage Bechir , Hanna Samer , Schmutz Gerard , Tu Le Mai 
Published: March 2010

Study Type – Therapy (outcomes research) Level of Evidence 2cOBJECTIVETo present a prospective long‐term evaluation of the bone‐anchored male sling (InVanceTM, American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, MN, USA) for patients with moderate to severe stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after prostate surgeryPATIENTS AND METHODSForty‐five patients had a male sling implanted for SUI after prostate surgery. The evaluation before and after surgery included a complete history and physical examination, various questionnaires (American Urological Association Symptom Score, University of California Los Angeles/RAND prostate index), cysto‐urethroscopy, International Continence Society (ICS) 1‐h pad test and a urodynamic study. The follow‐up assessments were at 2, 6 and 12 months after surgery, and yearly thereafter. The success rate was defined as the percentage of patients ‘dry’ and ‘improved’.RESULTSThe median (range) follow‐up was 36 (2–64) months. Twelve patients (27%) had previous adjuvant radiotherapy. Eighteen patients (40%) had moderate SUI (two or three pads/day) and 27 (60%) had severe SUI (more than three pads/day). All preoperative ICS 1‐h pad tests were positive. The success rate was 76%; 16 patients were dry (36%), 18 were improved (one or two pads/day, 40%) and in 11 the sling was a failure (24%); 76% of ICS 1‐h pad tests were negative after surgery. The postoperative urodynamic study showed no signs of bladder outlet obstruction. In all, 72% of patients were satisfied/very satisfied with the surgery and 86% considered themselves cured/almost cured. The success rate was not affected by the presence of previous radiotherapy or the severity of SUI. Ten patients had perineal numbness, but in all it resolved within 1–3 months. There was one mesh infection which required its removal. There was no urethral erosion.CONCLUSIONCompared to previous studies, the InVance male sling had a good success rate for moderate and severe SUI, with a median follow‐up of 36 months. The results did not differ for moderate or severe SUI or with the presence of previous radiotherapy.
Corticotropin‐releasing hormone‐receptor 2 is required for acute stress‐induced bladder vascular permeability and release of vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Boucher William , Kempuraj Duraisamy , Michaelian Margaret , Theoharides Theoharis C. 
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVETo investigate the corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) receptor (CRH‐R) requirement for the effect of acute stress on bladder vascular permeability and release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as increasing evidence indicates that acute stress worsens certain inflammatory disorders, including interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBlS), which is characterized by pain, variable bladder inflammation, increased expression of bladder vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and many detrusor mast cells.MATERIALS AND METHODSBladders of normal C57BL/6, and C57BL/6‐ derived CRH‐R1, CRH‐R2 or double CRH‐R1 + 2 knockout (−/−) female mice (10–12 weeks old) were catheterized under anaesthesia. After emptying the urine, normal saline was instilled with or without intravesical CRH‐R antagonists in C57BL/6 mice before they were stressed by placing them in a restrainer for 30 min. Evans blue was injected in the tail vein before stress for the permeability experiments. The bladders from C57BL/6 or CRH‐R −/− mice were then removed, minced into 1 mm2 pieces and cultured overnight. Culture media were collected 24 h later for VEGF assay. C57BL/6 bladder was processed for CRH‐R immunohistochemistry.RESULTSAcute stress increased bladder vascular permeability in control C57BL/6 and CRH‐R1 −/− mice, but not CRH‐R2 −/− or CRH‐R1+2 −/− mice. The CRH‐R2 antagonist Astressin 2B, but not the CRH‐R1 antagonist Antalarmin, inhibited stress‐induced VEGF release from C57BL/6 mouse bladder explants. Stress could not induce a VEGF increase from bladder explants of CRH‐R2 −/− or CRH‐R1+2 −/− mice, but did so in CRH‐R1 −/− mice. Bladder CRH‐R2 immunoreactivity was detected in C57BL/6 bladders.CONCLUSIONSAcute stress induces bladder vascular permeability and VEGF release that is dependent on CRH‐R2. These findings suggest that CRH and VEGF might participate in the pathogenesis of IC/PBlS and provide for new therapeutic targets.
Radical prostatectomy in older men: survival outcomes in septuagenarians and octogenarians
Authors: Pierorazio Phillip M. , Humphreys Elizabeth , Walsh Patrick C. , Partin Alan W. , Han Misop 
Published: March 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVETo examine the survival outcomes of septuagenarians and octogenarians (aged ≥80 years) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at our institution, as the US Preventive Services Task Force recently released recommendations that men aged ≥75 years should not be screened for prostate cancer.PATIENTS AND METHODSOur institutional RP database (1982–2008) was queried for men aged ≥70 years at the time of surgery to evaluate actuarial survival after RP; 386 aged 70–81 years (median 71) underwent RP. The median (range) follow‐up was 6.5 (1–22) years. Clinicopathological characteristics and mortality data were evaluated; mortality data were gathered through Social Security Administration Death Index and causes of death were confirmed with the Center for Disease Control National Death Index information. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was used to evaluate cause‐specific survival.RESULTSTen patients (2.6%) had clinical stage T1a‐b, 213 (55.3%) had T1c, and 143 (37.1%) had T2 prostate cancer. The median (range) preoperative prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level was 6.2 (0.2–49.9) ng/mL, and the biopsy and pathological Gleason sum was 6 (3–9) and 7 (4–9), respectively. Causes of death included prostate cancer (17), other malignancies (14), cardiovascular causes (14), neurological disease (four), pneumonia (two) and accident (one). The prostate cancer‐specific survival rate was 97.6%, 94.0% and 90.2% at 5, 10 and 15 years after RP, respectively; the respective cardiovascular survival rate was 99.5%, 97.6% and 92.5%, and the overall survival rate was 93.1%, 82.5% and 68.9%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSIf appropriately selected, older men have excellent overall and prostate‐cancer specific survival after RP. The benefits of surgery should be weighed against the increased risks of surgical and anaesthetic complications.
Relationship between prostate cancer mortality and number of unfavourable risk factors in men treated with definitive brachytherapy
Authors: Taira Al V. , Merrick Gregory S. , Galbreath Robert W. , Butler Wayne M. , Lief Jonathan H. , Wallner Kent E. 
Published: March 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVETo explore whether the number of unfavourable pretreatment risk factors predicts cause‐specific mortality in men treated with prostate brachytherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween April 1995 and March 2006, 739 patients were treated who had at least one of the following adverse risk factors: pretreatment prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level of >10 ng/mL, a Gleason score of ≥7, clinical stage ≥T2b, or a PSA velocity (PSAV) of >2 ng/mL/year. Supplemental external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) was delivered to 464 (62.8%) men and 301 (40.7%) received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Of men with more than two risk factors, 87% received EBRT and 62% received ADT.RESULTSThe biochemical progression‐free survival (bPFS), cause‐specific survival (CSS) and overall survival for all patients were 95.0%, 97.9% and 70.0% at 12 years. Men with three or four risk factors had a prostate cancer‐specific mortality (PCSM) at 12 years of 5.3%, vs 1.7% for men with one or two risk factors (P= 0.006). When ‘percentage of positive biopsy cores >50%’ replaced PSAV as a risk factor, men with two or more risk factors had a PCSM of 8.9%, vs 1.0% for men with one or two risk factors (P= 0.001). There was no difference in all‐cause mortality between the groups in either analysis.CONCLUSIONMultimodal brachytherapy results in high rates of bPFS and CSS, even for men with several unfavourable risk factors. Men with two or more unfavourable risk factors had a slightly greater risk of PCSM and no difference in all‐cause mortality. The presence of three or four unfavourable intermediate‐risk factors does not appear to clearly identify a group that requires further treatment intensification, although the percentage of positive cores might be more predictive than PSAV.
Plasma osteoprotegerin concentrations in peripheral sensory neuropathy in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Nybo M. , Poulsen M. K. , Grauslund J. , Henriksen J. E. , Rasmussen L. M. 
Published: March 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 289–294 (2010)AbstractAims  Osteoprotegerin (OPG) has been linked to different diabetes complications, including cardiovascular disease, and new findings have indicated a specific role in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but the exact mechanism is unknown. To investigate a possible association between OPG and diabetic peripheral sensory neuropathy, we therefore analysed plasma OPG in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients with and without peripheral neuropathy.Subjects and methods  Two hundred Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients and 305 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients participated in the study. Plasma OPG was measured with a sandwich immunoassay. Peripheral neuropathy was assessed by the Semmes–Weinstein monofilament test.Results  In T2DM, plasma OPG concentrations were significantly higher in the peripheral neuropathy group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between the presence of neuropathy in T2DM and plasma OPG levels on logistic regression (P = 0.006). However, when investigated in a full multiple regression model including other long‐term diabetes complications, the association became insignificant (P = 0.092). In T1DM, the difference in plasma OPG between groups did not reach significance (P = 0.066). However, plasma OPG significantly correlated to peripheral neuropathy in this group also (P = 0.022), although this correlation was not significant in a multiple linear regression model (P = 0.051).Conclusion  Plasma OPG levels are related to peripheral neuropathy in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, although with the strongest relationship in T2DM. Before understanding the significance of this, the pathological mechanism involved and, speculatively, a possible use of plasma OPG as a peripheral sensory neuropathy marker, a larger prospective study is needed.
A simple Chinese risk score for undiagnosed diabetes
Authors: Gao W. G. , Dong Y. H. , Pang Z. C. , Nan H. R. , Wang S. J. , Ren J. , Zhang L. , Tuomilehto J. , Qiao Q. 
Published: March 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 274–281 (2010)AbstractAims  A diabetes risk score for screening undiagnosed diabetes was constructed and validated in Chinese adults.Methods  Two consecutive population‐based diabetes surveys among Chinese adults aged 20–74 years were conducted in 2002 (n = 1986) and 2006 (n = 4336). Demographic and anthropometric measures were collected following similar procedures. Standard 2‐h 75‐g oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed to diagnose diabetes in both surveys. Fasting capillary plasma glucose (FCG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were also measured together with the OGTTs on the same day of the 2006 survey. Beta coefficients estimated using logistic regression analysis derived from data of the 2002 survey were used to develop the risk assessment algorithm. The performance of the algorithm was validated in the study population of the 2006 survey.Results  Of all the variables tested, waist circumference, age and family history of diabetes were significant predictors of diabetes and were used to construct the risk assessment score. The score, ranging from 3 to 32, performed well when applied to the study population of the 2006 survey. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 67.3% (95% CI, 64.9–69.7%) for the score, while it was 76.3% (73.5–79.0%) for FCG alone and 67.8% (64.9–70.8%) for HbA1c alone. At a cut‐off point of 14, the sensitivity and specificity of the risk score were 84.2% (81.0–87.5%) and 39.8% (38.2–41.3%).Conclusions  The risk score based on age, waist circumference and family history of diabetes is efficient as a layperson‐oriented diabetes screening tool for health promotion and for population‐based screening programmes.
Can children with Type 1 diabetes and their caregivers estimate the carbohydrate content of meals and snacks?
Authors: Smart C. E. , Ross K. , Edge J. A. , King B. R. , McElduff P. , Collins C. E. 
Published: March 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 348–353 (2010)AbstractAims  Carbohydrate (CHO) counting allows children with Type 1 diabetes to adjust mealtime insulin dose to carbohydrate intake. Little is known about the ability of children to count CHO and whether a particular method for assessing CHO quantity is better than others. We investigated how accurately children and their caregivers estimate carbohydrate, and whether counting in gram increments improves accuracy compared with CHO portions or exchanges.Methods  One hundred and two children and adolescents (age range 8.3–18.1 years) on intensive insulin therapy and 110 caregivers independently estimated the CHO content of 17 standardized meals (containing 8–90 g CHO), using whichever method of carbohydrate quantification they had been taught (gram increments, 10‐g portions or 15‐g exchanges).Results  Seventy‐three per cent (n = 2530) of all estimates were within 10–15 g of actual CHO content. There was no relationship between the mean percentage error and method of carbohydrate counting or glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (P > 0.05). Mean gram error and meal size were negatively correlated (r = −0.70, P < 0.0001). The longer children had been CHO counting the greater the mean percentage error (r = 0.173, P = 0.014). Core foods in non‐standard quantities were most frequently inaccurately estimated, while individually labelled foods were most often accurately estimated.Conclusions  Children with Type 1 diabetes and their caregivers can estimate the carbohydrate content of meals with reasonable accuracy. Teaching CHO counting in gram increments did not improve accuracy compared with CHO portions or exchanges. Large meals tended to be underestimated and snacks overestimated. Repeated age‐appropriate education appears necessary to maintain accuracy in carbohydrate estimations.
A DEFENSE OF THE NECESSARY UNITY OF PHENOMENAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Authors: ALTER TORIN 
Published: March 2010

AbstractSome argue that split‐brain cases undermine the thesis that phenomenal consciousness is necessarily unified. This paper defends the phenomenal unity thesis against Michael Tye's (2003) version of that argument. Two problems are identified. First, his argument relies on a questionable analysis of the split‐brain data. Second, his analysis leads to the view that in experimental situations split‐brain patients are not single subjects – a result that would render the analysis harmless to the phenomenal unity thesis.