bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cancer‐Protective Factors in Fruits and Vegetables: Biochemical and Biological Background.
Authors: Dragsted Lars Ove , Strube M. , Larsen J. C. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract: Cancer‐protective factors are present in several fruits, vegetables and commonly used spices and herbs. They can be divided into several different groups, based on their chemical structure, e.g. polyphenols, thiols, carotenoids and retinoids, carbohydrates, trace metals, terpenes, tocopherols and degradation products of glucosinolates (i.e. isothiocyanates, indoles and dithiothiols) and others. Among each of these groups of compounds are substances, which may exert their cancer‐protective action by more than one biochemical mechanism.The biochemical processes of carcinogenesis are still not known in detail and probably varies with the cancer disease in question. Accordingly, the description of the biochemical backgrounds for the actions of cancer‐protective factors must be based on a simplified model of the process of carcinogenesis. The model used in this presentation is a generalised initiation‐promotion‐conversion model, in which initiators are thought to be directly or indirectly genotoxic, promoters are visualised as substances capable of inferring a growth advantage on initiated cells and converters are believed to be genotoxic, e.g. mutagens, clastogens, recombinogens or the like.Experimental evidence for the mechanisms of action of cancer‐protective agents in fruits and vegetables that protect against initiation include the scavenging effects of polyphenols on activated mutagens and carcinogens, the quenching of singlet oxygen and radicals by carotenoids, the antioxidant effects of many compounds including ascorbic acid and polyphenols, the inhibition of activating enzymes by some flavonols and tannins, the induction of oxidation‐and of conjugation (protective) enzymes by indoles, isothiocyanates and dithiothiones, the shielding of sensitive structures by some polyphenols and the stimulation of DNA‐repair exerted by sulphur‐containing compounds.Mechanisms at the biochemical level in anti‐promotion include the antioxidant effects of carotenoids and the membrane stabilizing effects reported with polyphenols, the inhibition of proteases caused by compounds from soybeans, the stimulation of immune responses seen with carotenoids and ascorbic acid and the inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase by polyphenols and carotenoids.A few inhibitors of conversion have been identified experimentally, and it can be argued on a theoretical basis, that many inhibitors of initiation should also be efficient against conversion.The mechanisms of anticarcinogenic substances in fruits and vegetables are discussed in the light of cancer prevention and inhibition.
General Preventive Measures Against Carcinogenic Exposure in the External Environment
Authors: Keiding Lis M. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractDifferent measures are used to prevent unacceptable carcinogenic exposure from different sources in the external environment, be it accumulated carcinogens from previous pollution, exposure related to life‐style, and exposure related to living standards and the organization of the community as a whole. A precondition for goal‐directed prevention is knowledge of exposures to carcinogens and measures to minimize or substitute carcinogens in products and in emissions. One of the most significant sources of carcinogens in the outdoor air in many Western countries is the traffic, especially diesel‐powered vehicles. Necessary preventive measures include restriction of carcinogenic exhaust from the individual vehicle, plans for the community to diminish transportation needs, as well as to changing the usual behaviour of the individual. Unlike exposure to carcinogens in the surrounding air, exposure to accumulated carcinogens in ground‐water and in soil at polluted sites may be diminished by the pattern of use. International aspects are involved in for instance minimizing the risk of getting skin cancer from sunlight. Besides protecting vulnerable individuals there should be a global preservation of the ozone layer. Lowering the risk of long transported air pollution, like radioactivity from accidents at nuclear power stations, demands international efforts to increase safety measures and information about accidents.
Dietary Guidelines and Food Recommendations in Denmark
Authors: Haraldsdóttir Jóhanna 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn Denmark the official dietary guidelines and food recommendations are expressed in the Five Dietary Advices and the Danish food circle. Such guidelines are entirely different from recommendations on nutrient intakes, which are expressed in terms of exact values and established through a more formal procedure.Some of the most fundamental principles for food recommendations given to the public are that they are perceived as consistent and based on a firm consensus, and that their relevance and translation into practical action is obvious to the public. When the situation in Denmark is compared to these principles the main issue turns out to be neither lack of consistency in recommendations issued by government agencies and voluntary health organisations, nor is it lack of consensus among the experts about the fundamental messages of the guidelines. A more important problem is that the public does not distinguish between formal recommendations from authorized sources, and a variety of advices from other sources as well as non‐formal comments from individual scientists. A cause of serious concern is the fact that the Danish public seems to lack a realistic picture of what the dietary guidelines imply in terms of foods. A number of contradictions is built into the process of communicating dietary recommendations effectively to the public. These can only be solved if the process is planned on a long‐term basis.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Progesterone‐Induced Blocking Factor and Cytokine Profile in Women with Threatened Pre‐Term Delivery
Authors: Hudić Igor , Fatušić Zlatan , Szekeres‐Bartho Julia , Balić Devleta , Polgar Beáta , Ljuca Dženita , Dizdarević‐Hudić Larisa 
Published: March 2009

Problem  The objective of this study was to compare serum concentrations of progesterone‐induced blocking factor (PIBF), anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10), and pro‐inflammatory (IL‐6, TNFα, and IFNγ) cytokines of women with threatened pre‐term delivery, with those of women with normal pregnancy and to evaluate the impact of PIBF on the outcome of pregnancy.Method of study  A prospective study was conducted on a sample of 30 women with threatened pre‐term delivery (study group) and 20 healthy pregnant women (control group) between the 24th and 37th gestational weeks. Serum PIBF, anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10), and pro‐inflammatory (IL‐6, TNFα, and IFNγ) cytokine concentrations were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results  Thirteen of 30 patients (43.3%) with symptoms of threatened pre‐term delivery, and one of 20 patients (5%) in the control group delivered before the 37th week of gestation. Mean PIBF concentrations in serum samples of patients with threatened pre‐term delivery were significantly lower than in those of healthy pregnant women (171.12 ± 162.06 ng/mL versus 272.85 ± 114.87 ng/mL; P < 0.05). Women with symptoms of threatened pre‐term delivery had significantly lower serum levels of IL‐10, and higher levels of IL‐6 as well as IFNγ compared with healthy controls.Conclusion  Our results indicate that measuring PIBF and cytokine concentrations in serum during pregnancy is feasible and may be important for understanding immunological causes of pre‐term delivery.
Long‐term variation in Amazon forest dynamics
Authors: Laurance Susan G. W. , Laurance William F. , Nascimento Henrique E. M. , Andrade Ana , Fearnside Phillip M. , Rebello Expedito R. G. , Condit Richard 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestions: Have forest dynamics changed significantly in intact Amazon rainforests since the early 1980s? If so, what environmental drivers might potentially be responsible?Location: Central Amazonia, north of Manaus, Brazil.Methods: Within 20 1‐ha plots scattered over ∼300 km2, all trees (≥10 cm diameter at breast height) were marked, identified, and measured five times between 1981 and 2003. We estimated stand‐level dynamics (mortality, recruitment, and growth) for each census interval and evaluated weather parameters over the study period.Results: We observed a widespread, significant increase in tree mortality across our plots. Tree recruitment also rose significantly over time but lagged behind mortality. Tree growth generally accelerated but varied considerably among census intervals, and was lowest when mortality was highest. Tree basal area rose 4% overall, but stem number exhibited no clear trend. In terms of climate variation, annual maximum and minimum temperatures increased significantly during our study. Rainfall anomalies were strongly and positively associated with ENSO events.Conclusions: The increasing forest dynamics, growth, and basal area observed are broadly consistent with the CO2 fertilization hypothesis. However, pronounced shorter‐term variability in stand dynamics might be associated with climatic vicissitudes. Tree mortality peaked, and tree recruitment and growth declined during atypically wet periods. Tree growth was fastest during dry periods, when reduced cloudiness might have increased available solar radiation. Inferences about causality are tenuous because tree data were collected only at multi‐year intervals. Mean temperatures and rainfall seasonality have both increased over time in central Amazonia, and these could potentially have long‐term effects on forest dynamics and carbon storage.
A new algorithm for the determination of differential taxa
Authors: Tsiripidis Ioannis , Bergmeier Erwin , Fotiadis Georgios , Dimopoulos Panayotis 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion:How can we determine differential taxa in a vegetation data set?Methods:The new algorithm presented here uses an intuitive fidelity threshold based on relative constancy differences. It is tested on a simulated and a real data set. The results of the proposed algorithm are discussed in comparison with other methods used for the determination of differential taxa.Results:The new algorithm defines each taxon in each group of relevés as: (1) positively differentiating, (2) positively‐negatively differentiating, (3) negatively differentiating, or (4) non‐differentiating. Each taxon in a data set may be: (1) positively, positively‐negatively or negatively differentiating for each group in the data set, (2) differentiating for some groups and non‐differentiating for the remaining groups, or (3) non‐differentiating for all groups in the data set.Conclusions:The new algorithm finds the relevé groups that are positively differentiated against other groups that are negatively differentiated. It reveals differentiating structures in the data set and thus makes quantification of the relations among and between different syntaxonomic ranks conceivable. As it distinguishes between different types of differential taxa, it might improve standards of typification in vegetation classification.
Temporal dynamics of marginal steppic vegetation over a 26‐year period of substantial environmental change
Authors: Matesanz Silvia , Brooker Rob W. , Valladares Fernando , Klotz Stefan 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestions: (1) Is climate a strong driver of vegetation dynamics, including interannual variation, in a range margin steppic community? (2) Are there long‐term trends in cover and species richness in this community, and are these consistent across species groups and species within groups? (3) Can long‐term trends in plant community data be related to variation in local climate over the last three decades?Location: A range margin steppic grassland community in central Germany.Methods: Cover, number and size of all individuals of all plant species present in three permanent 1‐m2 plots were recorded in spring for 26 years (1980–2005). Climatic data for the study area were used to determine the best climatic predictor for each plant community, functional group and species variable (annual data and interannual variation) using best subsets regression.Results: April and autumn temperature showed the highest correlation with total cover and species richness and with interannual variations of cover and richness. However, key climate drivers differed between the five most abundant species. Similarly, total cover and number and cover of perennials significantly decreased over time, while no trend was found for the cover and number of annuals. However, within functional groups there were also contrasting species‐specific responses. Long‐term temperature increases and high interannual variability in both temperature and precipitation were strongly related to long‐term trends and interannual variations in plant community data.Conclusions: Temporal trends in vegetation were strongly associated with temporal trends in climate at the study site, with key roles for autumn and spring temperature and precipitation. Dynamics of functional groups and species within groups and their relationships to changes in temperature and precipitation reveal complex long‐term and interannual patterns that cannot be inferred from short‐term studies with only one or a few individual species. Our results also highlight that responses detected at the functional group level may mask contrasting responses within functional groups. We discuss the implications of these findings for attempts to predict the future response of biodiversity to climate change.
Comparison of two plant functional approaches to evaluate natural restoration along an old‐field – deciduous forest chronosequence
Authors: Aubin Isabelle , Ouellette Marie‐Hélène , Legendre Pierre , Messier Christian , Bouchard André 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion: Are direct and indirect trait‐based approaches similar in their usefulness to synthesize species responses to successional stages?Location: Northern hardwood forests, Québec, Canada (45°01′–45°08′N; 73°58′–74°21′W).Methods: Two different trait‐based approaches were used to relate plant functional traits to succession on an old‐field – deciduous forest chronosequence: (i) a frequently used approach based on co‐occurrence of traits (emergent groups), and (ii) a new version of a direct functional approach at the trait level (the fourth‐corner method). Additionally, we selected two different cut‐off levels for the herb subset of the emergent group classification in order to test its robustness and ecological relevance.Results: Clear patterns of trait associations with stand developmental stages emerged from both the emergent group and the direct approach at the trait level. However, the emergent group classification was found to hide some trait‐level differences such as a shift in seed size, light requirement and plant form along the chronosequence. Contrasting results were obtained for the seven or nine group classification of the herbaceous subset, illustrating how critical is the number of groups for emergent group classification.Conclusion: The simultaneous use of two different trait‐based approaches provided a robust and comprehensive characterization of vegetation responses in the old‐field – deciduous forest chronosequence. It also underlines the different goals as well as the limitations and benefits of these two approaches. Both approaches indicated that abandoned pastures of the northern hardwood biome have good potential for natural recovery. Conversion of these lands to other functions may lead to irremediable loss of biodiversity.
Environmental limitation contributes to the differential colonization capacity of two forest herbs
Authors: Baeten Lander , Hermy Martin , Verheyen Kris 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion: The recovery of forest plant communities in post‐agricultural landscapes is largely determined by dispersal constraints, but can environmental legacies of former land use additionally limit the recolonization of recent forests by forest herbs?Location: Ancient forest and recent forest on former heavily fertilized agricultural land (Muizenbos, northern Belgium).Methods: Seeds and adults of two forest herbs with similar life‐history traits, but contrasting colonization capacity – the fast‐colonizing Geum urbanum and the slow‐colonizing Primula elatior– were introduced into both ancient and recent forest sites. Soil conditions and plant tissue nutrient concentrations were measured to characterize habitat quality. To determine whether the introduced species could successfully establish and persist, we monitored recruitment, longevity and adult performance during 8 years in permanently marked plots.Results: Phosphorus availability was ten times higher in recent forest soils and was also reflected in the plant tissue samples. Species longevity was clearly lower in recent forest sites indicating higher turnover. The fast‐colonizing G. urbanum counterbalanced this lower longevity by new establishment, while the slow‐colonizing P. elatior dropped below the number of originally introduced individuals. Additionally, G. urbanum performed better in recent forest sites in contrast to P. elatior.Conclusions: Even when dispersal constraints of the slow‐colonizing forest herb P. elatior are eliminated through introduction, environmental conditions in recent forest sites additionally restrict its recruitment, longevity and performance. These experimental results suggest that environmental constraints may strengthen the differences in colonization capacity among forest herbs if slow dispersers also tend to be less likely to establish.
A soil heat and water transfer model to predict belowground grass rhizome bud death in a grass fire
Authors: Choczynska Joanna , Johnson E. A. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractQuestion:Grasses often resprout from surviving belowground buds following a fire in which aboveground matter is consumed. We used a soil heat and water transport model to present a general method for determining the potential mortality of rhizome buds due to fire for three tallgrass species (Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, andPanicum virgatum).Methods:Soil heating was described by physical processes that include heat conduction through the soil and heating and evaporation of soil water. We considered the following factors: soil moisture, texture, mineral thermal conductivity, maximum surface temperature, and fire residence time. Simulated soil temperature profiles were combined with measured belowground bud distributions to determine the proportion of buds expected to be heated to lethal temperatures under various conditions.Location:Wisconsin, USA.Results:Lethal temperatures for buds do not occur below ∼2 cm, and at least 30% of rhizome buds remain below lethal temperatures, even under extreme conditions.Conclusions:The model explains the possible mechanisms for grass belowground rhizome bud survival in fires. Changes in fire and soil conditions do not notably impact soil temperatures and rhizome bud survival.
The relationship of clinical laboratory parameters and patient attributes to the quality of life of patients on hemodialysis
Authors: YAMANA Eiko 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAim:  With advances in medicine, the subjective assessment of patients on hemodialysis regarding their quality of life (QOL) is gaining importance. Clinicians cannot rely solely on objective markers, such as the rates of complications and mortality, when evaluating responses to dialysis. In clinical settings, laboratory values are used as measures of patients' health. However, the relationship between clinical laboratory values and QOL has not been elucidated yet. Therefore, the present study aimed to define the relationship of laboratory values and patient attributes to the QOL of outpatients on hemodialysis in order to obtain basic data for reevaluating nursing support for patients on hemodialysis in the future.Methods:  The participants were 44 outpatients receiving hemodialysis at Hospital B. The QOL was surveyed using a self‐administered questionnaire, the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form. The following patient attributes and laboratory values were taken from the medical records: age; sex; primary disease; number of years on hemodialysis; complications; number of hours of hemodialysis per session; percentage weight gain; cardiothoracic ratio; blood pressure; hematocrit; and the serum levels of albumin, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium.Results:  The serum potassium level significantly affected mental health, social functioning, symptoms, and the effect of kidney disease, with the 3.5–5.0 mEq/L target range group scoring higher than the ≥5.1 mEq/L group.Conclusions:  The serum potassium level significantly affected not only physical health, but also QOL, a measure of psychosocial health. This suggests that providing nursing support to patients, guided by the serum potassium target range of 3.5–5.0 mEq/L, might improve and maintain QOL.
Effects of Tea Plantations on Stream Invertebrates in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot in Africa
Authors: Biervliet Olly van , Wiśniewski Konrad , Daniels Joseph , Vonesh James R 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTTropical stream ecosystems in montane forest watersheds are important centers of endemism and diversity and provide essential ecosystem services. These habitats are subject to a variety of stressors, including the conversion of adjacent terrestrial habitats from forest to agriculture, but the impacts of these anthropogenic effects are largely unknown because of the paucity of studies in these systems. In montane habitats in the wet tropics, large‐scale cultivation of tea is common and can represent an important source of income at local and national scales. However, little is known about how tea cultivation impacts adjacent stream ecosystems. In this study, we examine stream macroinvertebrate assemblages in a biodiversity hotspot the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Specifically, we compare diversity of macroinvertebrate assemblages found on cobbles in stream riffles in watersheds dominated by forest with those surrounded by tea cultivation. We found that streams surrounded by tea were characterized by significantly lower dissolved oxygen and had lower total estimated species richness and number of families. Furthermore, the richness of invertebrate taxa known to be sensitive to anthropogenic disturbance were substantially reduced in tea streams and general assemblage‐level analysis shows significant differences in the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages between tea and forested streams. Our results suggest that tea cultivation may reduce stream habitat quality and biodiversity in the East Usambaras. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of tea cultivation on streams over longer times scales and to address methods for minimizing negative effects of agriculture on montane stream communities.
Parrots Take it with a Grain of Salt: Available Sodium Content May Drive Collpa (Clay Lick) Selection in Southeastern Peru
Authors: Powell Luke L. , Powell Thomas U. , Powell George V. N. , Brightsmith Donald J. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTSoils from 18 parrot collpas (‘clay licks’) in southeastern Peru averaged four times more available sodium than uneaten control soils. Collpa soils contained marginally more clay than control sites and clay content was uncorrelated with available sodium content. Parrots may select and ingest soils based on available sodium content.