bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scattered trees: a complementary strategy for facilitating adaptive responses to climate change in modified landscapes?
Authors: Manning Adrian D. , Gibbons Philip , Lindenmayer David B. 
Published: May 2009

Summary 1. Facilitating adaptive responses of organisms in modified landscape will be essential to overcome the negative effects of climate change and its interaction with land use change. Without such action, many organisms will be prevented from achieving the predicted range shifts they need to survive. 2. Scattered trees are a prominent feature of many modified landscapes, and could play an important role in facilitating climate change adaptation. They are keystone structures because of the disproportionally large ecological values and ecosystem services that they provide relative to the area they occupy in these landscapes. The provision of habitat and connectivity will be particularly relevant. 3. Scattered trees are declining in modified landscapes due to elevated tree mortality and poor recruitment often associated with intensive land use. The continuing global decline of scattered trees will undermine the capacity of many organisms to adapt to climate change. 4. Synthesis and applications. The sustainable management of scattered trees in modified landscapes could complement other strategies for facilitating climate change adaptation. They create continuous, though sparse, vegetation cover that permits multi‐directional movements of biota across landscapes and ecological networks. They have the capacity to span ecosystems and climatic gradients that cannot be captured in formal reserves alone. The management of scattered trees should be an integral part of conservation objectives and agricultural activities in modified landscapes. Public investment, through mechanisms such as agri‐environmental schemes, in rotational grazing, temporary set‐asides, tree‐planting and regulations that reduce clearing and early mortality among standing trees will improve the capacity of biota to adapt to climate change.
Chronic fatigue syndrome combines increased exercise‐induced oxidative stress and reduced cytokine and Hsp responses
Authors: Jammes Y. , Steinberg J. G. , Delliaux S. , Brégeon F. 
Published: May 2009

Abstract.Objectives.  As heat shock proteins (Hsp) protect the cells against the deleterious effects of oxidative stress, we hypothesized that Hsp expression might be reduced in patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) who present an accentuated exercise‐induced oxidative stress.Design.  This case–control study compared nine CFS patients to a gender‐, age‐ and weight‐matched control group of nine healthy sedentary subjects.Interventions.  All subjects performed an incremental cycling exercise continued until exhaustion. We measured ventilation and respiratory gas exchange and evoked compound muscle potential (M‐wave) recorded from vastus lateralis. Repetitive venous blood sampling allowed measurements of two markers of oxidative stress [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced ascorbic acid (RAA)], two cytokines (IL‐6 and TNF‐α) and two Hsp (Hsp27 and Hsp70) at rest, during maximal exercise and the 60‐min recovery period.Results.  Compared with controls, resting CFS patients had low baseline levels of RAA and Hsp70. Their response to maximal exercise associated (i) M‐wave alterations indicating reduced muscle membrane excitability, (ii) early and accentuated TBARS increase accompanying reduced changes in RAA level, (iii) absence of significant increase in IL‐6 and TNF‐α, and (iv) delayed and marked reduction of Hsp27 and Hsp70 variations. The post‐exercise increase in TBARS was accentuated in individuals having the lowest variations of Hsp27 and Hsp70.Conclusions.  The response of CFS patients to incremental exercise associates a lengthened and accentuated oxidative stress, which might result from delayed and insufficient Hsp production.
Comparison of subjective and objective assessments of sleep in healthy older subjects without sleep complaints
Authors: O'DONNELL DEIRDRE , SILVA EDWARD J. , MÜNCH MIRJAM , RONDA JOSEPH M. , WANG WEI , DUFFY JEANNE F. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryOlder adults have reduced sleep quality compared with younger adults when sleeping at habitual times and greater sleep disruption when their sleep is at adverse times. The purpose of this analysis was to investigate how subjective measures of sleep relate to objectively recorded sleep in older subjects scheduled to sleep at all times of day. We analyzed data from 24 healthy older (55–74 years) subjects who took part in a 32‐day inpatient study where polysomnography was recorded each night and subjective sleep was assessed after each scheduled wake time. The study included baseline nights and a forced desynchrony (FD) protocol when the subjects lived on a 20‐h rest activity schedule. Our postsleep questionnaire both included quantitative and qualitative questions about the prior sleep. Under baseline and FD conditions, objective and subjective sleep latency were correlated, subjective sleep duration was related to slow‐wave sleep and wake after sleep onset, subjective sleep quality was related to stage 1 and 2 sleep, and sleepiness and refreshment at wake time were related to duration of premature awakening. During FD, most measures of objective and subjective sleep varied with circadian phase and many additional correlations between objective and subjective sleep were present. Our findings show that when sleeping at habitual times, these healthy older subjects did not perceive their generally poor sleep quality, but under FD conditions where sleep quality changed from day‐to‐day their subjective sleep ratings were more associated with their objective sleep.
The effect of 40 h constant wakefulness on task‐switching efficiency
Authors: BRATZKE DANIEL , ROLKE BETTINA , STEINBORN MICHAEL B. , ULRICH ROLF 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis study investigated efficiency of switching between different tasks in 12 male participants (19–30 years) during 40 h of constant wakefulness. As index of task‐switching efficiency, switch costs in reaction time were assessed every 3 h under controlled behavioural and environmental conditions. Overall reaction times and switch costs showed a temporal pattern consistent with the assumption of a combined influence of a sleep homeostatic and a circadian process. An additional analysis indicated that the variation in switch costs could not be attributed to interference of the current task with persisting activation from preceding tasks. We therefore conclude that sleep loss and the circadian system affect the ability to prepare the current task rather than automatic processing of irrelevant stimulus information.
Antileishmanial and immunomodulatory activity of Xylopia discreta
Authors: LÓPEZ R. , CUCA L. E. , DELGADO G. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryThis study aimed at determining the in vitro antileishmanial activity of the essential oil and eight extracts obtained from Xylopia discreta. J774 and U937 macrophages were exposed to the different substances to establish the median lethal concentration (LC50). The median effective concentration (EC50) was obtained by determining the reduction of Leishmania panamensis‐infected cells. A selectivity index (SI) (LC50/EC50) ≥ 20 defined a specific activity for one Xylopia discreta leaf extracts and for the essential oil, being these the two that showed the highest activity (SI = 64·8 and 110, respectively in J774 cells). To assess the substances’ immunomodulatory activity, pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory soluble mediators produced after treating infected macrophages were quantified by flow cytometry. The leaf methanol extract and the essential oil induced a differential production of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, a chemokine associated with a Leishmania‐resistant phenotype (Th1).
Evaluation of a hand‐held, computer‐based intervention to promote early self‐care behaviors after lung transplant
Authors: DeVito Dabbs Annette , Dew Mary Amanda , Myers Brad , Begey Alex , Hawkins Robert , Ren Dianxu , Dunbar‐Jacob Jacqueline , Oconnell Erin , McCurry Kenneth R 
Published: May 2009

Abstract:  Background:  Lung transplant recipients are expected to perform self‐care behaviors to maximize transplant‐related health outcomes. Despite high non‐adherence rates in performing these self‐care behaviors, and the dire clinical consequences of such non‐adherence, interventions are lacking. Pocket Personal Assistant for Tracking Health (Pocket PATH) is a hand‐held device developed for patients to record health data, review data trends, and report condition changes to the transplant team.Methods:  A pilot trial was conducted to compare self‐care agency, self‐care behaviors, and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) between recipients randomized to use Pocket PATH (n = 15) vs. standard care (n = 15) for the first two months following hospital discharge after lung transplantation.Results:  Baseline characteristics were equivalent across groups. Patients in the Pocket PATH group showed significantly higher ratings of self‐care agency, performed self‐care behaviors at significantly higher rates, and reported significantly better HRQOL than standard care controls.Conclusion:  Pocket PATH is more efficacious than standard care in promoting early self‐care agency, self‐care behaviors, and HRQOL in lung recipients. A large‐scale randomized controlled trial is needed to test the impact of Pocket PATH on long‐term self‐care behaviors.
Effect of Anti‐Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (Anti‐bFGF) on In Vitro Embryonic Development in Rat
Authors: Unur E. , Ulger H. , Ekinci N. , Hacıaliogulları M. , Ertekin T. , Kilic E. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryIn this study, we aimed at the in vitro effects of anti‐fibroblast growth factor‐2 (anti‐FGF‐2 or anti‐bFGF) on embryo culture in rats. In vitro effects of anti‐bFGF on total embryonic development were investigated in 40 rat embryos (which were divided into four groups) (obtained from five pregnant females) at 9.5 days of gestation that were cultured in whole rat serum (WRS), and in WRS+ 2.5, 5, and 10 μg/ml anti‐bFGF. After 48 h of culturing, the embryos from each group were harvested to be analysed morphologically according to a morphological scoring system and biochemically to obtain the embryo protein content. The morphological score, embryo protein content, somite number and crown‐rump length of embryos indicated that embryos cultured in WRS+ anti‐bFGF had significant embryonic retardation. Mean morphological scores for the embryos grown in WRS, in the presence of 2.5, 5 and 10 μg anti‐FGF‐2 were 61.4 ± 1.64, 46.3 ± 8.42, 27 ± 2.58 and13.6 ± 0.96 respectively. These results suggest that bFGF is very important for normal embryonic development and rat anti‐bFGF neutralizes bFGF effect.
Analysing scots pine defence‐related transcripts and fungal DNA levels in seedlings single‐ or dual‐inoculated with endophytic and pathogenic Rhizoctonia species
Authors: Grönberg H. , Hietala A. M. , Haahtela K. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryFungal DNA and induction of host defence‐related transcripts were monitored by real‐time PCR in young Scots pine seedlings inoculated with pathogenic uninucleate (UNR) and endophytic binucleate (BNR) Rhizoctonia species. The UNR (teleomorph Ceratobasidium bicorne) causes root dieback in conifer seedlings following invasion of the vascular cylinder via root apex and destroying apical meristems whilst the BNR, representing anastomosis group AG‐I of genus Ceratobasidium, is primarily restricted to the cortex in basal root regions. In the experiment 1 the fungi were simultaneously inoculated on roots, while in experiment 2, BNR was pre‐inoculated 168 h before inoculation with UNR. Nucleic acids were extracted from infected roots at intervals up to 192 h post‐infection (hpi), and the genomic DNA levels of the host and fungi and the transcript levels of a house‐keeping gene (glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase) and nine putative defence genes were quantified. In simultaneous inoculation UNR was more competitive than BNR whereas pre‐inoculation of BNR suppressed but did not completely prevent root colonization by UNR. Stilbene synthase (STS) transcription was significantly up‐regulated in single‐inoculations with both fungi and in dual inoculation in both experiments. Maximum STS transcript levels were observed in roots single‐inoculated with UNR; the peak level at 48 hpi in experiment 2 was significantly higher than in seedlings single‐inoculated with BNR or co‐inoculated with both fungi, the latter two treatments showing relatively similar STS transcript levels. Similarly, transcript levels of phenylalanine ammonia lyase at 48 hpi in experiment 2 were significantly higher in roots single‐inoculated with UNR compared with BNR or in UNR+BNR co‐inoculations. The other seven putative defence genes monitored did not show any clear‐cut up‐regulation following fungal inoculation. We conclude that BNR suppresses UNR in Scots pine roots via direct competition for infection sites, since the studied transcripts showed no evidence of BNR induced resistance against UNR.
Isolation, identification and necrotic activity of viridiol from Chalara fraxinea, the fungus responsible for dieback of ash
Authors: Andersson P. F. , Johansson S. B. K. , Stenlid J. , Broberg A. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryInvestigation of secondary metabolite production of Chalara fraxinea, the fungus responsible for dieback of ash, led to the isolation of the phytotoxin viridiol and the fungistatic compound viridin. Viridiol showed necrotic activity towards ash‐seedlings.
Identification of quantitative trait loci for drought tolerance at seedling stage by screening a large number of introgression lines in maize
Authors: Hao Z. , Liu X. , Li X. , Xie C. , Li M. , Zhang D. , Zhang S. , Xu Y. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractThe maize genome hosts tremendous phenotypic and molecular diversity. Introgression lines (ILs), developed by continuous backcrossing to recurrent parents, could provide a unique genetic stock for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. Using maize lines from six heterotic groups of different ecological zones, we developed >500 BC2F2 IL sets by crossing 11 inbred lines (as recurrent parents) with >200 local maize inbred lines (as donor parents). Of them, 34 IL sets were selected as a subset for drought tolerance screening and a total of 417 ILs survived under severe water stress at seedling stage. One set of 32 surviving ILs, derived from Chang7‐2/DHuang212, was used for QTL mapping with simple sequence repeat markers covering the whole genome, with seven QTL detected. Furthermore, investigating all surviving ILs, we identified two common regions in bin 3.04, corresponding to marker intervals bnlg1904–umc1772 and umc1223–bnlg1957, respectively, which shared high genetic variation in three IL sets. Our results indicated that selective genotyping can be used to identify genetic loci for complex traits. The ILs, highly selected for drought tolerance in this study, provide a unique set of materials for both genomic studies and development of enhanced germplasm resources.
The Cryoprotective Effect of Trehalose Supplementation on Boar Spermatozoa Quality
Authors: Hu J‐H , Li Q‐W , Jiang Z‐L , Yang H , Zhang S‐S , Zhao H‐W 
Published: May 2009

ContentsIn order to improve boar sperm quality during frozen‐thawed process, the influence of the presence of trehalose on success of cryopreservation of boar sperm were investigated. We evaluated freeze‐thawing tolerance of boar spermatozoa in a base cooling extender with the addition of different trehalose concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mm), and try to determine the optimum concentration of trehalose. We chose sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity as parameters to evaluate cryopreservation capacity of boar spermatozoa. We obtained the best results for 100 mm trehalose‐supplemented extenders, with values of 49.89% for motility, 44.69% for mitochondrial activity, 66.52% for acrosome integrity and 44.61% for membrane integrity, while freeze‐thawing tolerance diminished significantly for 200 . The synergic effect of trehalose and glycerol resulted in better cryosurvival of boar spermatozoa than that of a single cryoprotectant. In conclusion, when trehalose‐supplementation was added up to 100 mm, trehalose confers a greater cryoprotective capacity to the extender, and the sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity parameters were significantly improved during frozen‐thawed process.
Treatment of in‐stent restenosis with beraprost sodium: An experimental study of short‐ and intermediate‐term effects in dogs
Authors: Seiji Kazumasa , Tsuda Masashi , Matsuhashi Toshio , Takase Kei , Miyachi Hideo , Yamada Takayuki , Ishibashi Tadashi , Higano Shuichi , Takahashi Shoki 
Published: May 2009

Summary

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the short‐term administration of beraprost sodium, a stable prostaglandin I2 analogue, on neointimal thickening after stenting.
To examine the immediate and short‐term effects, Z‐stents were placed in the iliac veins of 12 dogs, which were randomly assigned to either a beraprost‐treated or control (saline) group. Beraprost (0.35 μg/kg per min) or saline (1.5 mL/min) was administered 30 min before stenting and was continued for 5 h thereafter. Platelet aggregation was measured before and after drug administration. At 3, 7 and 14 days after stenting, dogs were killed and immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen was used to quantify the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). To evaluate intermediate‐term effects, a Z‐stent was placed in the right iliac vein in 10 dogs, followed by beraprost treatment. Three days later, a second Z‐stent was placed contralaterally with saline infusion as a control. After 4 weeks, dogs were killed and neointimal thickness was measured under a light microscope to calculate the intima : media area ratio.
Platelet aggregation was more significantly suppressed in the beraprost‐treated than in the control group (P = 0.01). In addition, SMC proliferation was significantly lower in the beraprost‐treated group 7 and 14 days after stenting (P < 0.05). Over the intermediate term, the intima : media area ratio was significantly lower in the beraprost‐treated vein compared with control (P < 0.05).
In conclusion, short‐term beraprost treatment during stenting suppresses in situ platelet aggregation and SMC proliferation, thus reducing neointimal thickening.
Curcumin ameliorates high glucose‐induced acute vascular endothelial dysfunction in rat thoracic aorta
Authors: Fang Xiao‐Dong , Yang Fan , Zhu Li , Shen Yue‐Liang , Wang Lin‐Lin , Chen Ying‐Ying 
Published: May 2009

Summary

The aims of the present study were to explore the protective effect of curcumin against the acute vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose and to investigate the possible role of heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 in this protective action.
Thoracic aortic rings, with or without endothelium, obtained from male Sprague‐Dawley rats were mounted in an organ bath. Isometric contraction of the rings was recorded. After completion of the organ bath studies, rings were homogenized and centrifuged (30 000 g, 4°C, 15 min) and HO activity was determined in the supernatant.
After 2 h incubation of aortic rings in the presence of high glucose (44 mmol/L), the relaxation evoked by acetylcholine (3 × 10−8 to 3 × 10−5 mol/L) was significantly decreased only in rings with an intact endothelium. When rings were coincubated in the presence of curcumin (10−13 to 10−11 mol/L) and high glucose, curcumin reversed the vasodilator dysfunction induced by high glucose dose dependently.
Curcumin (10−11 mol/L) increased HO activity in the aortic rings compared with activity in control rings (63.1 ± 3.6 vs control 43.2 ± 2.9 pmol/mg per h, respectively; P < 0.01). Protoporphyrin IX zinc (10−6 mol/L), an inhibitor of HO‐1, offset the protective effects of curcumin. In addition, the non‐selective guanylate cyclase (GC) inhibitor methylene blue (10−6 mol/L) completely abolished the protective effects of curcumin.
In conclusion, the results of the present study show that curcumin alleviates the acute endothelium‐dependent vasodilator dysfunction induced by high glucose in rat aortic rings. Increased HO‐1 activity and stimulation of GC may be involved in the protective effects of curcumin.
Respiratory dysfunctions induced by prenatal nicotine exposure
Authors: Campos Marlys , Bravo Eduardo , Eugenín Jaime 
Published: May 2009

SummaryMaternal tobacco smoking is the principal risk factor associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a leading cause of death of infants under 1 year of age. Victims of SIDS show a higher incidence of respiratory control abnormalities, including central apnoeas, delayed arousal responses and diminished ventilatory chemoreflexes.Nicotine is likely the link between maternal tobacco smoking and SIDS. Prenatal nicotine exposure can alter the breathing pattern and can reduce hypoxia‐ and hypercarbia‐induced ventilatory chemoreflexes.In vitroapproaches have revealed that prenatal nicotine exposure impairs central chemosensitivity, switching the cholinergic contribution from a muscarinic to a nicotinic receptor‐based drive. In addition, serotonergic, noradrenergic, GABAergic, glycinergic and glutamatergic, among others, are affected by prenatal nicotine.Here we propose that prenatal nicotine affects the respiratory network through two main processes: (i) reorganization of neurotransmitter systems; and (ii) remodelling of neural circuits. These changes make breathing more vulnerable to fail in early postnatal life, which could be related to the pathogenesis of SIDS.
Sulphasalazine accelerates apoptosis in neutrophils exposed to immune complex: Role of caspase pathway
Authors: Bertolotto M , Dallegri F , Dapino P , Quercioli A , Pende A , Ottonello L , Montecucco F 
Published: May 2009

Summary

Neutrophils release several histotoxic molecules that cause tissue injury. Neutrophil apoptosis is a crucial process that governs the persistence of inflammatory disorders and tissue damage. Thus, in the present study, we investigated whether the anti‐inflammatory drug sulphasalazine (SSZ) affects neutrophil apoptosis in the presence of insoluble immune complex (IC).
Neutrophils were obtained from healthy donors. Neutrophils were resuspended in incubation medium and incubated for 2–12 h with or without 10, 30 or 100 μmol/L SSZ and 25 μg/mL IC. In some experiments, cells were co‐incubated with 20 μmol/L Z‐IETD‐fmk (a caspase 8 inhibitor) or 20 μmol/L Z‐LEHD‐fmk (a caspase 9 inhibitor). Apoptosis was evaluated morphologically on cytological preparations stained with May–Grünwald–Giemsa as well as by flow cytometry analysis of annexin V and propidium iodide staining. Caspase 3 activity was determined spectrophotometrically.
At 100 μmol/L, SSZ significantly accelerated IC‐induced neutrophil apoptosis. Treatment of neutrophils with 20 μmol/L of the caspase 8 or 9 inhibitors Z‐IETD‐fmk or Z‐LEHD‐fmk, respectively, demonstrated that the SSZ‐induced pro‐apoptotic effect was mediated by a caspase 8‐ but not caspase 9‐dependent pathway. The caspase 3 activity assay showed that treatment with 100 μmol/L SSZ increased caspase 3 activation.
In conlusion, the results of the present study indicate that it is possible that the molecular mechanism underlying SSZ protection against neutrophil‐mediated tissue injury inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, involves a caspase 8‐dependent pathway.