bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasticity and ontogenetic drift of biomass allocation in response to above‐ and below‐ground resource availabilities in perennial herbs: a case study of Alternanthera philoxeroides
Authors: Geng Yu‐Peng , Pan Xiao‐Yun , Xu Cheng‐Yuan , Zhang Wen‐Ju , Li Bo , Chen Jia‐Kuan 
Published: July 2006

AbstractChanges in plant biomass allocation in response to varying resource availabilities may result from ontogenetic drift caused by allometric growth (i.e., apparent plasticity), a true adjustment of ontogenetic trajectories (true plasticity) or both (complex plasticity). Given that the root allocation of annual species usually decreases during the growth, the developmentally explicit model predicts that annual herbs will exhibit true plasticity in root allocation under above‐ground resource limitation and apparent plasticity for moderate stress of below‐ground resource. For perennial species, the root allocation of which increases during growth, the reverse patterns would be expected. In this study, we tested the developmentally explicit model with a perennial weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. We report its adaptive changes and ontogenetic drift of root allocation in response to different resource levels (i.e., light, water and nutrient availability) by comparing root allocation on both an age and a size basis. The root allocation of A. philoxeroides increased with the size (i.e., ontogenetic drift) during the growth, and exhibited significant changes in response to different resource availabilities. Furthermore, the root allocation in response to water or nutrient availability exhibited typical complex plasticity, while the light stress only slowed down the growth, with the ontogenetic trajectory unchanged (apparent plasticity). The contrasting responses to above‐ground and below‐ground stresses were consistent with the prediction of the developmentally explicit model.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Meeus Mira , Nijs Jo , De Meirleir Kenny 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground: In addition to debilitating fatigue the majority of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) experience chronic widespread pain.Aims: Conducting a systematic review to critically assess the existing knowledge on chronic pain in CFS. We focussed on the definition, the prevalence and incidence, the aetiology, the relevance and the therapy strategy for chronic musculoskeletal pain and post‐exertional pain in CFS.Methods: To identify relevant articles, we searched eight medical search engines. The search terms “chronic fatigue syndrome” AND “pain”, “nociception”, “arthralgia” and “myalgia”, were used to identify articles concerning pain in CFS. Included articles were reviewed by two blinded researchers.Results: Twenty‐five articles and two abstract were identified and selected for further appraisal. Only 11 search results focussed on musculoskeletal pain in CFS patients. Regarding the standardized review of the articles, a 96% agreement between the researchers was observed. There is no consensus in defining chronic widespread pain in CFS, and although there is little or no strong proof for the exact prevalence, chronic pain is strongly disabling in CFS. Aetiological theories are proposed (sleep abnormalities, tryptophan, parovirus‐B, hormonal and brain abnormalities and central sensitisation) and a reduction of pain threshold after exercise has been shown. Furthermore depression seemed not related to pain in CFS and a staphylococcus toxoid vaccine caused no significant pain reduction.Conclusions: The results from the systematic review highlight the clinical importance of chronic pain in CFS, but only few studies addressing the aetiology or treatment of chronic pain in CFS are currently available.
Detection of European ancestry in escaped farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in the Magaguadavic River and Chamcook Stream, New Brunswick, Canada
Authors: O'Reilly Patrick T. , Carr Jonathan W. , Whoriskey Frederick G. , Verspoor Eric 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
The use of European Atlantic salmon strains for commercial culture by the salmon farming industry has never been permitted in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, Canada. Despite this, varying levels of European ancestry were detected in escaped farmed salmon in the Magaguadavic River (in 1999 and 2000) and in Chamcook Stream (in 2003), New Brunswick. Of the 53 escaped farmed salmon smolts from the Magaguadavic River and 17 escaped farmed parr from Chamcook Stream analysed, a single European “type” allele was observed at a single locus in two escaped farmed salmon smolts from the Magaguadavic River and in two escaped farmed parr from the Chamcook Stream. Of the 35 escaped farmed salmon adults analysed, two captured at the Magaguadavic fishway had European “type” microsatellite alleles at multiple loci and one also exhibited European “type” mitochondrial DNA. These results highlight the need for better containment strategies for freshwater hatcheries and genetic screening programmes for farmed salmon broodstock to minimize the likelihood of the introgression of non-local genetic material into severely depressed wild Atlantic salmon populations in the Bay of Fundy region.
A review of the impacts of salmonid farming on marine coastal ecosystems in the southeast Pacific
Authors: Buschmann Alejandro H. , Riquelme Verónica A. , Hernández-González María C. , Varela Daniel , Jiménez Jaime E. , Henríquez Luis A. , Vergara Pedro A. , Guíñez Ricardo , Filún Luis 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe production of farmed salmonids in Chile reached 550 000 t in 2004. The industry is considered to be consolidated, but with potential for further expansion to the south into pristine coastal areas. The environmental impacts of the salmonid farming industry in Chile were reviewed in 1996, and evidence at that time did not suggest significant adverse effects. However, after almost ten years of sustained growth, current evidence indicates that significant loss of benthic biodiversity and localized changes in the physico-chemical properties of sediments have occurred in areas with salmonid farms. Furthermore, the presence of these farms significantly increases in pulses the density of dinoflagellates. Data suggest that escaped farmed fish may have an impact on native species, although their survival in the wild appears low. The abundance of omnivorous diving and carrion-feeding marine birds increased from twofold to fivefold in areas with salmon farms compared with control areas without them. It is urgent that an ecosystem approach be implemented to assess all impacts of salmonid farming on coastal ecosystems in southern Chile.
Constitutively activated FLT3 phosphorylates BAD partially through Pim‐1
Authors: Kim Kyu‐Tae , Levis Mark , Small Donald 
Published: July 2006

SummaryConstitutively activating internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 (Fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3) play an important role in leukaemogenesis and their presence is associated with a poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Examining the anti‐ and pro‐apoptotic proteins in constitutively activated FLT3 signalling in BaF3/ITD and MV4‐11 cells, we found that the level of Bcl‐2 antagonist of cell death (BAD) phosphorylation was greatly decreased in response to FLT3 inhibition. Both Ser‐112 and Ser‐136 of BAD are rapidly dephosphorylated after treatment with the FLT3 inhibitor CEP‐701 in BaF3/ITD and MV4‐11 cells. In confirmation of the cell line data, BAD was highly phosphorylated in both constitutively activated wild‐type and mutant FLT3 primary AML samples, and rapidly dephosphorylated after treatment of the primary samples with CEP‐701. Upstream proteins known to phosphorylate BAD include Akt, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (Erk/MAPK), Pim‐1 and Pim‐2. We and other groups have shown that constitutively activated FLT3 induces multiple signalling pathways, including phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt, Erk/MAPK and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak/STAT). Thus, BAD may be a nexus point upon which these multiple signalling pathways converge in FLT3‐mediated cell survival. In support of this, siRNA knockdown of BAD expression in MV4‐11 cells conferred resistance to CEP‐701‐mediated apoptosis. Our data suggests that Pim‐1 is one of the principal kinases mediating the anti‐apoptotic function of FLT3/ITD signalling via the phosphorylation of BAD.
Nine years of enriched CO2 changes the function and structural diversity of soil microorganisms in a grassland
Authors: Drissner D. , Blum H. , Tscherko D. , Kandeler E. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryTo gain insight into microbial function following increased atmospheric CO2 concentration, we investigated the influence of 9 years of enriched CO2 (600 μl litre−1) on the function and structural diversity of soil microorganisms in a grassland ecosystem under free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE), as affected by plant species (Trifolium repens L. and Lolium perenne L. in monocultures and mixed culture) and nitrogen (N) supply. We measured biomass and activities of enzymes covering cycles of the most important elements (C, N and P). The microbial community was profiled by molecular techniques of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. The enrichment in CO2 increased soil microbial biomass (+48.1%) as well as activities of invertase (+36.2%), xylanase (+22.9%), urease (+23.8%), protease (+40.2%) and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (+54.1%) in spring 2002. In autumn, the stimulation of microbial biomass was 25% less and that of enzymes 3–12% less than in spring. Strong correlations between activities of invertase, protease, urease and alkaline phosphomonoesterase and microbial biomass were found. The stimulation of microbial activity in the enriched atmosphere was probably caused by changes in the quantity and kind of root litter and rhizodeposition. The response of soil microorganisms to enriched CO2 was most pronounced under Trifolium monoculture and under greater N supply. The PLFA analysis revealed that total PLFA contents were greater by 24.7% on average, whereby the proportion of bioindicators representative of Gram‐negative bacteria increased significantly in the enriched CO2 under less N‐fertilized Lolium culture. Discriminant analysis showed marked differences between the PLFA profiles of the three plant communities. Shannon diversity indices calculated from DGGE patterns were greater (+12.5%) in the enriched CO2, indicating increased soil bacterial diversity. We conclude that greater microbial biomass and enzyme activity buffer the potential increase in C sequestration occurring from greater C addition in enriched CO2 due to greater mineralization of soil organic matter.
A combination of HbA1c, fasting glucose and BMI is effective in screening for individuals at risk of future type 2 diabetes: OGTT is not needed
Authors: NORBERG M. , ERIKSSON J. W. , LINDAHL B. , ANDERSSON C. , ROLANDSSON O. , STENLUND H. , WEINEHALL L. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract.Objective.  To identify a screening model that predicts high risk of future type 2 diabetes and is useful in clinical practice.Design and methods.  Incident case‐referent study nested within a population‐based health survey. We compared screening models with three risk criteria and calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values and attributable proportion. We used fasting plasma glucose (FPG) alone or with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycosylated haemoglobin A (HbA1c) (normal range 3.6–5.3%), body mass index (BMI), triglycerides and family history of diabetes (FHD).Setting.  Participants in a health survey at all primary care centres (n = 33 336) and subjects with diagnosed type 2 diabetes in primary and hospital care (n = 6088) in Umeå during 1989–2001.Subjects.  Each of the 164 subjects who developed clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes (median time to diagnosis of 5.4 years) and 304 sex‐ and age‐matched referents without diabetes diagnosis.Results.  Screening models with at least one criterion present had sensitivities of 0.90–0.96, specificities of 0.43–0.57 and PPVs of 8–9%. Combinations of the criteria, FPG ≥ 6.1 mmol L−1 (capillary plasma), HbA1c ≥ 4.7% and BMI ≥ 27 in men and BMI ≥ 30 in women, had sensitivities, specificities and PPVs of 0.66%, 0.93% and 32%, and 0.52%, 0.97% and 46% respectively. Using FHD as one of three risk criteria showed comparable results. Addition of triglycerides or OGTT did not improve the prediction.Conclusions.  The combination of HbA1c, FPG and BMI are effective in screening for individuals at risk of future clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. OGTT or FHD is not necessary.
Comment: Number of sample populations required to determine the effects of herbicide resistance on plant growth and fitness
Authors: COUSENS R. D. , GILL G. S. , SPEIJERS E JANE 
Published: July 2006

SummaryExperiments to determine the relative growth and fitness of herbicide–resistant and susceptible weeds commonly include only a single population of each. It is argued that such limited experimental designs can be misleading and should be avoided. Guidelines are given to aid decisions on choice of number of populations.
Assessment of weed density at an early stage by use of image processing
Authors: ANDREASEN C. , RUDEMO M. , SEVESTRE S. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryIdentification of plants against a soil background using colour images is discussed, and a technique is presented for finding plant segments consisting of crop or weed plants, or both. The problems of overlapping plants and image border effects are explored using techniques developed in stereology. An automatic weed density estimation method is proposed, based on a non–linear regression model and features of the plant segments in an image. The method is applied to a set of images from five barley fields. At present two features of the segments are used: segment area and whether a segment cuts the image border or not. Further, a method is suggested for evaluating the automatic weed density estimation by comparison with an interactive weed density estimator including human judgement. Critical factors and ways of improving the automatic method by including additional features are discussed.
Evaluation of the bioefficacy and leaching of a controlled–release formulation of chlorsulfuron
Authors: Stork P. R. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryA controlled–release formulation of chlorsulfuron (DT26B) and a conventional granular formulation were compared for their initial bioefficacy and leaching in laboratory and field experiments. Three alkaline soil types, representative of farm soils in SE Australia, were used for these experiments. Laboratory tests of initial bioefficacy using a Mallee sand (pH 7.2) were able to detect, within ED05–95 limits, that approximately 50% of active ingredient remained as a non–available reserve in DT26B immediately after spraying, when compared with the granular formation. There was also an indication that the bioavailable component of active ingredient in DT26B would be sufficient for weed control. This was confirmed at field sites on a Kattyoong sand (pH 7.9) and a Wimmera Grey clay (pH 8.4), after using recommended application rates of chlorsulfuron during the 1994 winter growing season. The formulations produced only marginal differences in control of Lolium rigidum Gaud. The field leaching trials at these sites showed that there can be rapid leaching of chlorsulfuron with only small amounts of rainfall. Under these conditions, there was an overall trend of reduced leaching by DT26B at both trial sites, although these reductions were not significant when compared with the granular formation, A laboratory system designed to measure the mobility of herbicides is described. It was used to impose upon each formulation a greater level of leaching than in the field trials, using Mallee sand columns irrigated with 50 mm day–1 under –50 kPa suction. This test revealed a negligible reduction in leaching of chlorsulfuron by DT26B as compared with the granular formulation. Therefore, although the controlled–release formulation DT26B demonstrated that it could provide a viable alternative for weed control under conventional spraying conditions in arable farming, the agricultural usage of DT26B for the purpose of reducing leaching could not be warranted at its current stage of development.
Rates of chlorsulfuron degradation in three Brazilian oxisols
Authors: RAVELLI A. , PANTANI O. , CALAMAI L. , FUSI P. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryThe degradation of chlorsulfuron was studied in laboratory experiments in three oxisols from south and south–east Brazil. Three soil profiles were sampled by horizon, and classified according to USDA soil taxonomy and the Brazilian system. Degradation assays were made to evaluate the influence of temperature, humidity and liming on chlorsulfuron decomposition. Further experiments were set up to study enhanced biodegradation. Abiotic degradation was also studied in sterile soils, to evaluate, by comparison with non–sterile soils, the role of microorganisms in degradation. The degradation always followed first–order kinetics and was generally faster in samples from A than B horizons. An increase in temperature (from 25 to 40°C) increased chlorsulfuron degradation. Further, an increase in moisture content increased chlorsulfuron degradation in samples from the A horizons of all soils, whereas for two out of three soils, degradation in samples from the B horizon was greater at lower water content. The biotic contribution to degradation was significant only for the soil with higher fertility. Soil liming significantly increased chlorsulfuron half–life in all samples. Significant enhancement of degradation (decrease in half–life on reapplication) was observed only in soil from A horizons, where a higher microbial activity was likely.
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection in renal transplant: treatment and outcome
Authors: Sharma R.K. , Bansal S.B. , Gupta A. , Gulati S. , Kumar A. , Prasad N. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract:  Background:  Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common cause of liver disease in post‐renal transplant period and causes poor patient and graft survival. We analyzed the effects of antiviral therapy using ribavirin monotherapy or ribavirin in combination with interferon (IFN)‐alpha in our kidney transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods:  Total of 14 patients received antiviral therapy, all of whom had stable graft function, raised aminotransferases and positive HCV viremia at the start of treatment. Eight patients received ribavirin alone for a period of six months to two yr, in doses of 400–800 mg daily. Five patients received IFN‐alpha therapy for a period of two months to 1.5 yr, in doses of 1.5 million units daily or three million units thrice weekly with ribavirin. One patient received pegylated IFN 50 μg once weekly in combination with ribavirin. The response was seen in terms of biochemical and virological improvement at the end of study period.Results:  In patients treated with ribavirin alone (n = 8), mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels before and after treatment were significantly different (198.4 ± 147.6 and 104.8 ± 66.5 IU/L respectively; p < 0.05). ALT levels normalized completely in three patients at the end of treatment, improved in three patients and deteriorated in two. Only in one of eight patients on ribavirin alone, HCV‐RNA became negative after six months of treatment while in the rest (n = 7) HCV‐RNA continued to be positive. In subjects on IFN plus ribavirin (n = 6), the mean ALT levels decreased significantly (from 280.2 ± 114.9 IU/L at baseline to 71 ± 49 IU/L at end of therapy; p < 0.05). Two patients had sustained remission (33.3%) on IFN plus ribavirin (persistently negative HCV‐RNA), two patients relapsed after initial remission and in two patients treatment was stopped after two months because of graft dysfunction. Totally four patients developed graft dysfunction at some time during the course of IFN therapy (66.6%), but it was discontinued in only two (33.3%). All patients regained normal creatinine levels after discontinuation of IFN, although one patient developed chronic allograft nephropathy as shown by kidney biopsy. Four patients in IFN group developed leucopenia. Two patients developed severe anemia one of whom required blood transfusion and one developed severe flu‐like syndrome requiring stoppage of therapy.Conclusion:  Ribavirin monotherapy in renal transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis C infection results in good biochemical response but is not associated with virological clearance. IFN in combination with ribavirin is effective in two‐thirds of patients after a minimum therapy of six months, but it is poorly tolerated, results in graft dysfunction in significant number of patients, and relapse can occur after stopping treatment.
Reproductive Behaviour of the Annona Fruit Borer, Cerconota anonella
Authors: Da Silva Edleide L. , De Carvalho Cenira M. , Do Nascimento Ruth R. , Mendonça Adriana L. , Da Silva Carlos E. , Gonçalves Gláucia B. , De Freitas Maria do Rosário T. , Sant'Ana Antônio E. G. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe Annona fruit borer, Cerconota anonella, causes significant damage to the fruits of Annona squamosa (custard apple) and A. muricata (soursop). The methods currently available for the control of this pest are costly and new techniques, possibly involving the use of pheromones for trapping or disrupting the mating cycle of the insect are required. In order to provide the basic information required for the development of new control systems, the reproductive behaviour of the moth was observed under laboratory conditions. The calling and courtship behaviours exhibited by virgin females and males of C. anonella commenced at the eighth hour of the scotophase and continued for a 3.5‐h period. Males were attracted by conspecific females as young as 1 d old, and showed a courtship behaviour composed of three steps: antennation, wing fanning and short flights. Mating mainly occurred when both males and females were between 2 and 5 d old, but maximum activity was observed on the third day after emergence. Receptive females elevated their wings, showing their abdomens where the abdominal hairpencils were already exposed. As part of the courtship repertoire and immediately prior to copula, males performed pronounced sideways movements of their abdomens, a behaviour that appears to be exclusive to C. anonella.