bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term effects of cutting frequency and liming on soil chemical properties, biomass production and plant species composition of Lolio‐Cynosuretum grassland after the cessation of fertilizer application
Authors: Hejcman Michal , Schellberg Jürgen , Pavlů Vilém 
Published: February 2010

AbstractQuestion: Is there any effect of cutting frequency and liming on P and K availability in the soil, biomass production and plant species composition after cessation of fertilizer application?Location: Eifel Mountains, SW Germany.Methods: The long‐term Grassland Extensification and Nutrient Depletion Experiment was established on a fertilized and mown pasture (Lolio‐Cynosuretum) in 1993. Treatments were: (1) two cuts per year without liming, (2) two cuts with liming, (3) four cuts without liming, (4) four cuts with liming and (5) continued intensive mowing as the control.Results: From 1993 to 2006, the plant available P concentration in the soil decreased substantially, whereas K concentration decreased only slightly. Biomass production decreased from 7 to 5 t DM ha−1. These trends were affected by cessation of NPK fertilizer application but not by cutting frequency or liming. In 2007, substantial differences in species composition between the control and the two‐cut and four‐cut treatments were recorded, whereas liming had no effect. Higher species richness was recorded in cut treatments compared to the control, but no effects of cutting frequency or liming were observed. Ellenberg indicator values indicated that soil nutrients influenced changes in species composition only marginally.Conclusions: The decrease in productivity and available soil P and K in favor of species richness was not achieved to any greater extent by four cuts than by two cuts, or by lime application. Although species richness slightly increased, we conclude that the restoration of low productive grasslands cannot be achieved by cutting management.
Optimization of culture conditions for plant regeneration ofPanicumspp. through somatic embryogenesis
Authors: Seo Mi‐Suk , Takahara Manabu , Takamizo Tadashi 
Published: February 2010

AbstractWe developed a rapid and efficient shoot regeneration system forPanicumspp. by adjusting the regeneration medium and studying the responses of different genotypes and the influence of explant types (mature seed, immature embryo and shoot apex). We usedPanicum meyerianum(Nees) andPanicum longijubatum(Stapf) which were shown to perform well, to select the optimal medium for shoot regeneration. The highest frequency of shoot regeneration was obtained on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 30 g L−1maltose and 1 mg L−1N‐phenyl‐N′‐[(1,2,3‐thidiazol‐5‐yl) urea]. The callus formed green spots after 1 week of culture and showed primary green shoots after 2 weeks. In this system, the calli derived from mature seed of ninePanicumgenotypes showed large variation in shoot regeneration ability: from 0 to 69.9% in the frequency of shoot formation and from 0 to 8.4 in the number of shoots per callus. Guineagrass (Panicum maximumJacq.) showed no ability and switchgrass (Panicum virgatumL.) showed low ability to regenerate from mature seed‐derived calli; however, both were able to be regenerated from immature embryos and calli derived from shoot apices. We developed an efficient protocol for high shoot regeneration of variousPanicumgenotypes which provides a foundation for efficient tissue culture and genetic improvement ofPanicum.
Bushmeat Hunting Alters Recruitment of Large‐seeded Plant Species in Central Africa
Authors: Vanthomme Hadrien , Bellé Boris , Forget Pierre‐Michel 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTWe investigated the effect of local hunting on plant recruitment at the community level in the Ngotto Forest, Central African Republic. It is the first study of this kind in the afrotropics. To compare our results with previous studies conducted in the neotropics, we used the protocol proposed byNuñez‐Iturri and Howe. We compared animal relative abundances and seed length, density and diversity of seedlings at two sites with contrasting anthropogenic pressures: one with low hunting pressure (LH) and one with high hunting pressure (HH). Furthermore, we investigated how density and diversity of recruitment vary with seed length in the two sites. Both sites exhibit similar soil, climate and tree species composition, and have never been logged. Large mammals (frugivores and herbivores) were extirpated from HH and relative abundance of medium‐sized frugivores drastically decreased in HH compared with LH. In HH, diversity of seedlings was reduced compared with LH, especially for large‐seeded plant species dispersed by large game mammals. The approach used in this study shows promising perspectives to investigate the effects of human disturbances on the regeneration of tropical forests. Furthermore, in the afrotropical context of a lack of data on plant–animal ecological relationships, seed length appears to be a good predictor of the strength of the deficit of plant recruitment due to large mammal extirpation because of hunting. Thus, more efforts are needed to study the ecological roles of large‐seeded plants in order to better understand the effects of their disappearance on tropical forest resilience.
The prevalence of oilseed rape hypersensitivity in a mixed cereal farming population
Authors: Trinidade A. , Kumar S. , Haji M. , Shakeel M. , Leong P. 
Published: February 2010

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 13–17.Background:  Oilseed rape production is widespread in cereal growing areas. Many patients attending our clinics for seasonal allergy claim that they are allergic to it.Aim:  To determine the prevalence of oilseed rape allergy in our population.Population:  General population within a mixed cereal farming area attending a rhinology and allergy clinic in a district general hospital, UK.Methods & materials:  Retrospective chart analysis. The results of 1475 consecutive patients who underwent skin prick allergy testing over a 2‐year period (January 2003–December 2005) and of 640 consecutive patients over a 1‐year period (September 2008–September 2009) were analysed and compared.Results:  Allergy to house dust mite was found to be most common (n = 526, 25%) followed by grass pollen (n = 519, 24%) and cereals (n = 429, 20%). Oilseed rape hypersensitivity was relatively uncommon, comprising only 2% of the population tested (n = 28).Conclusion:  Oilseed rape does not cause significant allergy, even in areas of high production. It is likely that those patients exhibiting oilseed rape allergy may in fact be symptomatic due to the effect of other allergens, acting either synergistically with the oilseed rape allergen, or more likely, in spite of it.
Psychological aspects of adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a prospective population controlled questionnaire study
Authors: Kaptein A.A. , Hughes B.M. , Scharloo M. , Hondebrink N. , Langeveld T.P.M. 
Published: February 2010

Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 31–38.Objective:  To examine psychosocial concomitants, illness perceptions, and treatment perceptions in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia.Design:  Prospective controlled cohort study.Setting:  A tertiary care facility.Participants:  Forty‐nine out‐patients (38 women, 11 men; average age of 52 years) with adductor spasmodic dysphonia completed a battery of reliable and validated psychometric assessment instruments. Control patients’ data were derived from scores in questionnaires by samples in the formal Manuals of the questionnaires used.Main outcome measures:  Psychosocial functioning, illness perceptions, and treatment perceptions.Results:  Scores on psychosocial measures were elevated in male patients especially, indicating levels of psychological morbidity significantly above those seen in the general population. Assessments of illness perceptions and treatment perceptions indicated that patients perceive that they have a very low degree of control over the disorder, and experience a high emotional impact from it. Voice Handicap Index scores illustrated substantial degrees of perceived handicap.Conclusions:  Adductor spasmodic dysphonia is associated with significant negative psychosocial concomitants, coupled with low perceived control over the condition. Future research should elucidate the implications of illness perceptions and treatment perceptions for the biopsychosocial care of persons with adductor spasmodic dysphonia in order to improve self‐management and enhance quality of life.
Use of UV‐A Energy for Photosynthesis in the Red Macroalga Gracilaria lemaneiformis
Authors: Xu Juntian , Gao Kunshan 
Published: February 2010

AbstractUV radiation is known to inhibit photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)‐driven photosynthesis; however, moderate levels of UV‐A have been shown to enhance photosynthesis and growth rates of some algae. Here, we have shown that UV‐A alone could drive photosynthetic utilization of bicarbonate in the red alga Gracilaria lemaneiformis as evidenced in either O2 evolution or carbon fixation as well as pH drift. Addition of UV‐B inhibited the apparent photosynthetic efficiency, raised the photosynthetic compensation point and photosynthesis‐saturating irradiance level, but did not significantly affect the maximal rate of photosynthetic O2 evolution. The electron transport inhibitor, DCMU, inhibited the photosynthesis completely, reflecting that energy of UV‐A was transferred in the same way as that of PAR. Inorganic carbon acquisition for photosynthesis under UV alone was inhibited by the inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase. The results provided the evidence that G. lemaneiformis can use UV‐A efficiently to drive photosynthesis based on the utilization of bicarbonate, which could contribute significantly to the enhanced photosynthesis in the presence of UV‐A observed under reduced levels of solar radiation.
Synergistic Effect of Ultrasound and Thiazone–PEG 400 on Human Skin Optical Clearing In Vivo
Authors: Zhong Huiqing , Guo Zhouyi , Wei Huajiang , Guo Long , Wang Chuanxing , He Yonghong , Xiong Honglian , Liu Songhao 
Published: February 2010

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a new physical method in combination with mixed solution of thiazone and polyethylene glycol 400 (thiazone PEG 400 solution) penetration into tissue to assess the skin optical clearing. Four treatments were performed: (1) control group (C); (2) polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400); (3) 0.25% thiazone (0.25%T); (4) 0.25% thiazone and 5‐min ultrasound (0.25%T/SP). The diffuse reflectance spectra and imaging depth of human skin in vivo at different times were measured by spectroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The optical clearing efficacy of skin was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The results showed that the diffuse reflectance at 540 nm of samples at 10 min after being treated by 0.25%T/SP decreased by approximately 15.51%, whereas, 0.46%, 4.73% and 5.75% were received in C, PEG400 and 0.25%T, respectively. And at 60 min, the decrease in diffuse reflectance of samples in 0.25%T/SP is about 2.22‐fold, 1.20‐fold compared with that of the samples in PEG 400 and 0.25%T, at 540 nm, respectively. Simultaneously, 0.25%T/SP results in 41.33% increase in OCT 1/e light penetration depth after 60 min. There was a significant difference in the optical clearing effect on skin between ultrasound‐mixed solution of thiazone in combination with PEG 400 and the mixed solution (P < 0.05).
Genetic variants regulating insulin receptor signalling are associated with the severity of liver damage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Dongiovanni P , Valenti L , Rametta R , Daly A K , Nobili V , Mozzi E , Leathart J B S , Pietrobattista A , Burt A D , Maggioni M , Fracanzani A L , Lattuada E , Zappa M A , Roviaro G , Marchesini G , Day C P , Fargion S 
Published: February 2010

Background/aimsThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of functional ENPP1(ectoenzyme nucleotide pyrophosphate phosphodiesterase 1)/PC-1 (plasma cell antigen-1) and IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate-1) polymorphisms influencing insulin receptor activity on liver damage in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, whose progression is associated with the severity of insulin resistance.Patients and methods702 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD from Italy and the UK, and 310 healthy controls. The Lys121Gln ENPP1/PC-1 and the Gly972Arg IRS-1 polymorphisms were evaluated by restriction analysis. Fibrosis was evaluated according to Kleiner. Insulin signalling activity was evaluated by measuring phosphoAKT levels by western blotting in a subset of obese non-diabetic patients.ResultsThe ENPP1 121Gln and IRS-1 972Arg polymorphisms were detected in 28.7% and 18.1% of patients and associated with increased body weight/dyslipidaemia and diabetes risk, respectively. The ENPP1 121Gln allele was significantly associated with increased prevalence of fibrosis stage >1 and >2, which was higher in subjects also positive for the 972Arg IRS-1 polymorphism. At multivariate analysis, the presence of the ENPP1 121Gln and IRS-1 972Arg polymorphisms was independently associated with fibrosis >1 (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.97; and OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.23, respectively). Both polymorphisms were associated with a marked reduction of ∼70% of AKT activation status, reflecting insulin resistance and disease severity, in obese patients with NAFLD.ConclusionsThe ENPP1 121Gln and IRS-1 972Arg polymorphisms affecting insulin receptor activity predispose to liver damage and decrease hepatic insulin signalling in patients with NAFLD. Defective insulin signalling may play a causal role in the progression of liver damage in NAFLD.
AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH FOR IMPUTING MISSING DATA IN TIME SERIES
Authors: FIGUEROA GARCÍA JUAN CARLOS , KALENATIC DUSKO , LÓPEZ BELLO CESAR AMILCAR 
Published: February 2010

This paper presents a proposal based on an evolutionary algorithm for imputing missing observations in time series. A genetic algorithm based on the minimization of an error function derived from their autocorrelation function, mean, and variance is presented.All methodological aspects of the genetic structure are presented. An extended description of the design of the fitness function is provided. Four application examples are provided and solved by using the proposed method.
Pre-SMA Gray-matter Density Predicts Individual Differences in Action Selection in the Face of Conscious and Unconscious Response Conflict
Authors: van Gaal Simon , Scholte H. Steven , Lamme Victor A. F. , Fahrenfort Johannes J. , Ridderinkhof K. Richard 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe presupplementary motor area (pre-SMA) is considered key in contributing to voluntary action selection during response conflict. Here we test whether individual differences in the ability to select appropriate actions in the face of strong (conscious) and weak (virtually unconscious) distracting alternatives are related to individual variability in pre-SMA anatomy. To this end, we scanned 58 participants, who performed a masked priming task in which conflicting response tendencies were elicited either consciously (through primes that were weakly masked) or virtually unconsciously (strongly masked primes), with structural magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry revealed that individual differences in pre-SMA gray-matter density are related to subjects' ability to voluntary select the correct action in the face of conflict, irrespective of the awareness level of conflict-inducing stimuli. These results link structural anatomy to individual differences in cognitive control ability, and provide support for the role of the pre-SMA in the selection of appropriate actions in situations of response conflict. Furthermore, these results suggest that flexible and voluntary behavior requires efficiently dealing with competing response tendencies, even those that are activated automatically and unconsciously.
Neuroaesthetics: A Coming of Age Story
Authors: Chatterjee Anjan 
Published: February 2010

AbstractNeuroaesthetics is gaining momentum. At this early juncture, it is worth taking stock of where the field is and what lies ahead. Here, I review writings that fall under the rubric of neuroaesthetics. These writings include discussions of the parallel organizational principles of the brain and the intent and practices of artists, the description of informative anecdotes, and the emergence of experimental neuroaesthetics. I then suggest a few areas within neuroaesthetics that might be pursued profitably. Finally, I raise some challenges for the field. These challenges are not unique to neuroaesthetics. As neuroaesthetics comes of age, it might take advantage of the lessons learned from more mature domains of inquiry within cognitive neuroscience.
Global Evaluation of the ISBA-TRIP Continental Hydrological System. Part I: Comparison to GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates and In Situ River Discharges
Authors: Alkama R. , Decharme B. , Douville H. , Becker M. , Cazenave A. , Sheffield J. , Voldoire A. , Tyteca S. , Le Moigne P. 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
In earth system models, the partitioning of precipitation among the variations of continental water storage, evapotranspiration, and freshwater runoff to the ocean has a major influence on the terrestrial water and energy budgets and thereby on simulated climate on a wide range of scales. The evaluation of continental hydrology is therefore a crucial task that requires offline simulations driven by realistic atmospheric forcing to avoid the systematic biases commonly found in global atmospheric models. Generally, this evaluation is done mainly by comparison with in situ river discharge data, which does not guarantee that the spatiotemporal distribution of water storage and evapotranspiration is correctly simulated. In this context, the Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere–Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (ISBA-TRIP) continental hydrological system of the Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques is evaluated by using the additional constraint of terrestrial water storage (TWS) variations derived from three independent gravity field retrievals (datasets) from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). On the one hand, the results show that, in general, ISBA-TRIP captures the seasonal and the interannual variability in both TWS and discharges. GRACE provides an additional constraint on the simulated hydrology and consolidates the former evaluation only based on river discharge observations. On the other hand, results indicate that river storage variations represent a significant contribution to GRACE measurements. While this remark highlights the need to improve the TRIP river routing model for a more useful comparison with GRACE [Decharme et al. (Part II of the present study)], it also suggests that low-resolution gravimetry products do not necessarily represent a strong additional constraint for model evaluation, especially in downstream areas of large river basins where long-term discharge data are available.
Global Evaluation of the ISBA-TRIP Continental Hydrological System. Part II: Uncertainties in River Routing Simulation Related to Flow Velocity and Groundwater Storage
Authors: Decharme B. , Alkama R. , Douville H. , Becker M. , Cazenave A. 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
In the companion paper to this one (Part I), the Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere–Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (ISBA-TRIP) continental hydrological system of the Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques is evaluated by using river discharge measurements and terrestrial water storage (TWS) variations derived from three independent datasets of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). One of the conclusions is that the river reservoir simulated by TRIP at the global scale seems to be one of the main sources of TWS and/or discharge errors. Here, the authors study these uncertainties in river routing processes, such as flow velocity and groundwater storage. For this purpose, a simple groundwater reservoir depending on a time delay factor and a variable streamflow velocity calculated via Manning’s formula are added to TRIP following the approach of Arora and Boer. The previous and the new TRIP are then compared, and two studies of the sensitivity to the groundwater time delay factor and to the flow velocity are performed. Using the same experiment design as in Part I, the authors show that the effect of this flow velocity and of the groundwater time delay factor on the ISBA-TRIP simulation is potentially significant. Nevertheless, over tropical and temperate basins, a competition between the two processes implies a slight difference between the previous and the new TRIP compared to both the GRACE and the discharge signals. The global results underline that simulating a realistic streamflow velocity is a key process for global-scale application.
The Effect of Grid Spacing and Domain Size on the Quality of Ensemble Regional Climate Downscaling over South Asia during the Northeasterly Monsoon
Authors: Qian Jian-Hua , Zubair Lareef 
Published: February 2010

Abstract
The performance of an ensemble-based dynamical regional climate downscaling system is evaluated over southern Asia in a northeasterly monsoon season for different choices in grid spacing and domain size. A seven-member ensemble of the ECHAM4.5 global climate model at a resolution of about 300-km grid size was used to drive the RegCM3 regional climate model with grid sizes of 100, 50, 25, and 20 km, respectively. The performance is reported in detail over Sri Lanka. Two sets of regional model runs were undertaken to assess the effect of grid spacing and model domain size on the downscaling performance. The RegCM3 simulation with 100-km grid size significantly underestimates the height of the central mountain range in Sri Lanka, in a manner that is too coarse to capture orographic influences on the rainfall. However, the RegCM3 simulations with grid sizes from 20 to 50 km capture mesoscale features that arise from uplift condensation on the windward side of the monsoon winds due to the topography. These simulations also capture the orographic influences on the month-to-month rainfall over Sri Lanka that were absent in the ECHAM4.5. While the “small domain” runs [where only the forcings for the region immediately around Sri Lanka (4°–11°N, 76°–85°E) are used] are computationally more efficient, the results are overly controlled by the lateral boundary driving of the ECHAM4.5 so they inherit large uncertainty from the seven ECHAM4.5 realizations used for the RegCM3 ensemble runs. The “large domain” simulation used a domain comprising both land and ocean (approximately 4°S–22°N, 65°–96°E). The large-domain group of simulations produced reasonable spatial distribution of precipitation over the region. Moreover, the ensemble spread was considerably reduced in the large-domain high-resolution runs. Therefore, fine enough grid resolution (25 km or less) and sufficiently large domain size are both needed to simulate the essential features of precipitation in this tropical and monsoonal region.