bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapamycin induces regression of endometriotic lesions by inhibiting neovascularization and cell proliferation
Authors: Laschke M W , Elitzsch A , Scheuer C , Holstein J H , Vollmar B , Menger M D 
Published: August 2006

Background and purpose:Rapamycin is a widely used drug with antifungal, immunosuppressant and antiangiogenic effects. Herein, we studied whether immunosuppressive doses of rapamycin are capable of influencing endometriotic lesions.Experimental approach:We tested in vitro the potential of rapamycin to inhibit endothelial cell sprouting using the aortic ring assay and we further studied its effect on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), apoptotic cell death‐associated activated caspase‐3 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cultured endometrial tissue fragments. In addition, we analyzed the drug in vivo after induction of endometriotic lesions by transplanting isolated endometrial fragments into the dorsal skinfold chamber of Syrian golden hamsters. Using intravital fluorescence microscopy, we repetitively analyzed angiogenesis, neovascularization and microcirculatory parameters over a time period of 14 days in rapamycin‐treated animals and DMSO‐treated controls.Key results:Administration of rapamycin significantly reduced the size of the endometriotic lesions. This was associated by inhibition of VEGF‐mediated angiogenesis as indicated by a suppression of endothelial cell sprouting in vitro and a reduction of microvessel density in endometriotic lesions in vivo. Moreover, rapamycin directly inhibited cell proliferation within endometrial tissue, while manifestation of apoptotic cell death remained unaffected.Conclusions and implications:Our data indicate that administration of rapamycin may represent a novel therapeutic approach for an antiangiogenic treatment of endometriosis.British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 137–144. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706857
Antiangiogenic therapies in endometriosis
Authors: Ferrero S , Ragni N , Remorgida V 
Published: August 2006

Oral contraceptives, androgenic agents, progestins and gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogues have all been successfully used in the treatment of endometriosis. However, none of these drugs can eradicate the disease. It is widely accepted that the growth of newly formed blood vessels is essential for the establishment and growth of endometriotic lesions; therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis may offer a new option for treatment of this disorder. In this paper, we reviewed anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor agents and other angiostatic drugs (i.e., TNP470, endostatin, anginex, rapamycin) that have been studied in laboratory and animal models of endometriosis. Although preliminary results are interesting, further investigations are required before clinical trials can be planned in humans.British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 133–135. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706860
Assignment of 117 genes from HSA5 to the porcine IMpRH map and generation of a dense human–pig comparative map
Authors: Shimogiri T. , Kiuchi S. , Hiraiwa H. , Hayashi T. , Takano Y. , Maeda Y. , Yasue H. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryTwenty‐two and eight significant quantitative trait loci for economically important traits have been located on porcine chromosomes (SSC) 2q and SSC16 respectively, both of which have been shown to correspond to human chromosome 5 (HSA5) by chromosome painting. To provide a comprehensive comparative map for efficient selection of candidate genes, we assigned 117 genes from HSA5 using a porcine radiation hybrid (IMpRH) panel. Sixty‐six genes were assigned to SSC2 and 48 to SSC16. One gene was suggested to link to SSC2 markers and another to SSC6. One gene did not link to any gene, expressed sequence tag or marker in the map, including those in the present investigation. This study demonstrated the following: (1) SSC2q21–q28 corresponds to the region ranging from 74.0 to 148.2 Mb on HSA5q13–q32 and the region from 176.0 to 179.3 Mb on HSA5q35; (2) SSC16 corresponds to the region from 1.4 to 68.7 Mb on HSA5p–q13 and to the region from 150.4 to 169.1 Mb on HSA5q32–q35 and (3) the conserved synteny between HSA5 and SSC2q21–q28 is interrupted by at least two sites and the synteny between HSA5 and SSC16 is also interrupted by at least two sites.
Patient self‐management of anticoagulation therapy: a trial‐based cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Jowett Sue , Bryan Stirling , Murray Ellen , McCahon Deborah , Raftery James , Richard Hobbs F. D. , Fitzmaurice David 
Published: August 2006

SummaryDemand for anticoagulation management is increasing due to an expansion of clinical indications for therapy. One possible model of care to meet demand is patient self‐management (PSM), beneficial to patients who need control over their condition. This study aimed to determine the cost and cost‐effectiveness of PSM of anticoagulation compared with routine clinic‐based care for patients receiving long‐term anticoagulation. A cost–utility analysis was conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial; 617 patients were recruited and followed up for 12 months. There was no significant difference in mean quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) between groups – after adjusting for baseline, the mean difference in QALYs was 0·009 (95% CI, −0·012 to 0·030). Overall mean healthcare costs in the PSM arm were significantly higher at £417 (CI £394–£442) compared with £122 (CI £103–£144) in the control arm. Therefore, using a formal cost‐effectiveness analysis, PSM of anticoagulation does not appear to be cost‐effective. However, PSM may have other benefits in relieving pressure on traditional clinic‐based care, and the cost‐effectiveness of this model of care for some subgroups of anticoagulation patients needs to be explored further.
Design of a meso‐scale indoor lysimeter for undisturbed soil to investigate the behaviour of solutes in soil
Authors: Takamatsu T. , Koshikawa M. K. , Watanabe M. , Hou H. , Murata T. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryIndoor cylindrical titanium lysimeters (80 cm internal diameter × 150 cm height) filled with undisturbed soil were constructed to study the behaviour of solutes in soil. They were equipped with thermometers, tensiometers, ceramic porous cups, percolate reservoirs, and an automatic irrigation system. Soil sampling was conducted using an original drilling technique. Examination of the wetting front and downward migration of Br− in an Andosol monolith showed no artificial sidewall flow.
Application of two surface complexation models to the adsorption of weak organic acids by soil: an additive approach
Authors: Calvet R. , Barriuso E. , Dubus I. G. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThe description of adsorption of organic acids by soil with models requires many parameters. It is often difficult to obtain their values, and so we might try to test the application of models with published data on soil characteristics. We used two models in our trials, namely the constant capacitance model and the variable surface charge–variable surface potential model. We modelled the sorption data for three weak organic acids [2,4‐D, 2–4‐dichloro‐phenoxy acetic acid; salicylic acid, 2‐hydroxybenzoic acid; and clofencet, 2–4‐(chlorophenyl)‐3‐ethyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐5‐oxopyridazine‐4‐carboxylic acid] in three Cambisols and two Ferralsols. We adopt an additive approach where the five soils were considered to behave as mixtures of goethite and gibbsite. This was done with values taken from the literature on the assumption that the compounds formed monodentate complexes. Variations given by the two models in adsorbed amounts as a result of pH changes were well described for clofencet and 2,4‐D but were less successful for salicylic acid. Simulations of sorption isotherms at various pHs ranging from 5 to 8 matched the experimental data closely for clofencet. Prediction of the adsorption of clofencet and 2,4‐D in a range of Cambisols and Ferralsols at their native pH was generally good. We attribute the somewhat poorer fit observed for salicylic acid to the formation of bidendate complexes. Further improvement to the modelling should involve the formation of bidentate complexes between organic acids and oxide material and the effects of organic matter, particularly in relation to adsorption of non‐ionized compounds.
Physico‐chemical and biological controls on dissolved organic matter in peat aggregate columns
Authors: Stutter M. I. , Lumsdon D. G. , Thoss V. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryWe investigated the importance of physico‐chemical mechanisms responsible for the release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from a peaty soil. Columns containing peat aggregates (embedded within a sand matrix) provided an experimental system in which both convective and diffusive processes contributed to DOM leaching. The use of aggregated peat avoided the problems associated with traditional batch equilibration experiments in which soil structure is destroyed. Biotic and abiotic processes operating in the columns were manipulated by working with two unsterilized columns (at 5°C and 22°C) and one gamma irradiation‐sterilized column (5°C). Continuous solute flows (< 80 hours) and periods of flow interruption (five interruptions of 6 hours to 384 hours) were applied to the columns (using a 1‐mm NaCl electrolyte) to investigate mechanisms of diffusion‐controlled release of DOM. For all columns, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC and DON) effluent concentrations increased after resumption of flow and the maximum concentrations increased with increased flow‐interruption duration. Measurements of effluent UV absorbance (λ= 285 nm) showed that the DOM leached immediately after the flow interruptions contained fewer aromatic moieties of lower molecular weight than the DOM leached after periods of steady flow. The sterilized column had larger DOC and DON effluent concentration spikes than those from the unsterilized column at 5°C (38 mg C dm−3 and 6.5 mg N dm−3 versus 13 mg C dm−3 and 6.5 mg N dm−3 after the 384 hours flow interruption). This result suggested that the concentrations of DOM resulting from physico‐chemical release mechanisms (sterilized column) were attenuated by biological activity (unsterilized columns). Our results indicate that the peat’s microporous structure provides reservoirs of DOM that interact with solute in transport pores via abiotic, rate‐controlled mass transport. Hence, diffusion can influence the quantity and composition of DOM leached from peat in the field depending on intensity and duration of rainfall.
Can taxonomic distinctness assess anthropogenic impacts in inland waters? A case study from a Mediterranean river basin
Authors: ABELLÁN P. , BILTON D. T. , MILLÁN A. , SÁNCHEZ‐FERNÁNDEZ D. , RAMSAY P. M. 
Published: August 2006

Summary1. It is increasingly recognised that adequate measures of biodiversity should include information on the ‘relatedness’ of species within ecological assemblages, or the phylogenetic levels at which diversity is expressed. Taxonomic distinctness measures provide a series of indices to achieve this, which are independent of sample size. Taxonomic distinctness has been employed widely in marine systems, where it has been suggested that this index can provide a reliable measure of anthropogenic impact.2. We tested the behaviour of three related taxonomic distinctiveness indices (Average Taxonomic Distinctness, Δ+; Variation in Taxonomic Distinctness, Λ+; and Total Taxonomic Distinctness, sΔ+) in relation to putative levels of anthropogenic impact in inland waters and their potential utility in environmental monitoring, using an extensive data set for aquatic beetles from the south‐east of the Iberian Peninsula.3. Taxonomic distinctness measures were not able to identify human disturbance effects and there were no clear relationships between these new biodiversity measures and the disturbance level recorded at individual localities. Furthermore, the taxonomic distinctness measures used were apparently less sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic impact than other diversity metrics, such as species richness and rarity.4. We conclude that taxonomic distinctness indices may not always perform as well as other metrics in the assessment of environmental quality. In addition, taxonomic distinctness measure should be interpreted with caution, as their performance and ability to detect anthropogenic disturbance may depend on the phylogenetic structure of sampled taxa within a region, and their evolutionary and ecological history.
Net regional ecosystem CO2 exchange from airborne and ground‐based eddy covariance, land‐use maps and weather observations
Authors: MIGLIETTA F. , GIOLI B. , HUTJES R. W. A. , REICHSTEIN M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractMeasurements of regional net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were made over a period of 21 days in summer 2002 in the South‐Central part of the Netherlands and extrapolated to an area of 13 000 km2 using a combination of flux measurements made by a Sky Arrow ERA research aircraft, half‐hourly eddy covariance data from four towers, half‐hourly weather data recorded by three weather stations and detailed information on regional land use. The combination of this type of information allowed to estimate the net contribution of the terrestrial ecosystems to the overall regional carbon flux and to map dynamically the temporal and spatial variability of the fluxes. A regional carbon budget was calculated for the study period and the contributions of the different land uses to the overall regional flux, were assessed. Ecosystems were, overall, a small source of carbon to the atmosphere equivalent to to 0.23±0.025 g C m−2 day−1. When considered separately, arable and grasslands were a source of, respectively, 0.68±0.022 and 1.28±0.026 g C m−2 day−1. Evergreen and deciduous forests were instead a sink of −1.42±0.015 g C m−2 day−1. During the study period, forests offset approximately 3.5% of anthropogenic carbon emission estimates obtained from inventory data. Lacking of a robust validation, NEE values obtained with this method were compared with independent state of art estimates of the regional carbon balance that were obtained by applying a semi‐empirical model of NEE driven by MODIS satellite fAPAR data. The comparison showed an acceptable matching for the carbon balance of forest that was a sink in both cases, while a much larger difference for arable and grassland was found. Those ecosystems were a sink for satellite‐based estimates while they were a source for the combined aircraft and tower estimates. Possible causes of such differences are discussed and partly addressed. The importance of new methods for determining carbon balance at the regional scale, is outlined.
Climatic controls on the carbon and water balances of a boreal aspen forest, 1994–2003
Authors: BARR ALAN G. , BLACK T. A. , HOGG E. H. , GRIFFIS T. J. , MORGENSTERN K. , KLJUN N. , THEEDE A. , NESIC Z. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe carbon and water budgets of boreal and temperate broadleaf forests are sensitive to interannual climatic variability and are likely to respond to climate change. This study analyses 9 years of eddy‐covariance data from the Boreal Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Sites (BERMS) Southern Old Aspen site in central Saskatchewan, Canada and characterizes the primary climatic controls on evapotranspiration, net ecosystem production (FNEP), gross ecosystem photosynthesis (P) and ecosystem respiration (R). The study period was dominated by two climatic extremes: extreme warm and cool springs, which produced marked contrasts in the canopy duration, and a severe, 3‐year drought.Annual FNEP varied among years from 55 to 367 g C m−2 (mean 172, SD 94). Interannual variability in FNEP was controlled primarily by factors that affected the R/P ratio, which varied between 0.74 and 0.96 (mean 0.87, SD 0.06). Canopy duration enhanced P and FNEP with no apparent effect on R. The fraction of annual photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) that was absorbed by the canopy foliage varied from 38% in late leaf‐emergence years to 51% in early leaf‐emergence years. Photosynthetic light‐use efficiency (mean 0.0275, SD 0.026 mol C mol−1 photons) was relatively constant during nondrought years but declined with drought intensity to a minimum of 0.0228 mol C mol−1 photons during the most severe drought year. The impact of drought on FNEP varied with drought intensity. Years of mild‐to‐moderate drought suppressed R while having little effect on P, so that FNEP was enhanced. Years of severe drought suppressed both R and P, causing either little change or a subtle reduction in FNEP. The analysis produced new insights into the dominance of canopy duration as the most important biophysical control on FNEP.The results suggested a simple conceptual model for annual FNEP in boreal deciduous forests. When water is not limiting, annual P is controlled by canopy duration via its influence on absorbed PAR at constant light‐use efficiency. Water stress suppresses P, by reducing light‐use efficiency, and R, by limiting growth and/or suppressing microbial respiration. The high photosynthetic light‐use efficiency showed this site to be a highly productive boreal deciduous forest, with properties similar to many temperate deciduous forests.
Estimating parameters in a land‐surface model by applying nonlinear inversion to eddy covariance flux measurements from eight FLUXNET sites
Authors: WANG YING PING , BALDOCCHI DENNIS , LEUNING RAY , FALGE EVA , VESALA TIMO 
Published: August 2006

AbstractFlux measurements from eight global FLUXNET sites were used to estimate parameters in a process‐based, land‐surface model (CSIRO Biosphere Model (CBM), using nonlinear parameter estimation techniques. The parameters examined were the maximum photosynthetic carboxylation rate () the potential photosynthetic electron transport rate (jmax, 25) of the leaf at the top of the canopy, and basal soil respiration (rs, 25), all at a reference temperature of 25°C. Eddy covariance measurements used in the analysis were from four evergreen forests, three deciduous forests and an oak‐grass savanna. Optimal estimates of model parameters were obtained by minimizing the weighted differences between the observed and predicted flux densities of latent heat, sensible heat and net ecosystem CO2 exchange for each year. Values of maximum carboxylation rates obtained from the flux measurements were in good agreement with independent estimates from leaf gas exchange measurements at all evergreen forest sites. A seasonally varying and jmax, 25 in CBM yielded better predictions of net ecosystem CO2 exchange than a constant and jmax, 25 for all three deciduous forests and one savanna site. Differences in the seasonal variation of and jmax, 25 among the three deciduous forests are related to leaf phenology. At the tree‐grass savanna site, seasonal variation of and jmax, 25 was affected by interactions between soil water and temperature, resulting in and jmax, 25 reaching maximal values before the onset of summer drought at canopy scale. Optimizing the photosynthetic parameters in the model allowed CBM to predict quite well the fluxes of water vapor and CO2 but sensible heat fluxes were systematically underestimated by up to 75 W m−2.
Long‐term CO2 production from deeply weathered soils of a tropical rain forest: evidence for a potential positive feedback to climate warming
Authors: SCHWENDENMANN LUITGARD , VELDKAMP EDZO 
Published: August 2006

AbstractCurrently, it is unknown what role tropical forest soils will play in the future global carbon cycle under higher temperatures. Many tropical forests grow on deeply weathered soils and although it is generally accepted that soil carbon decomposition increases with higher temperatures, it is not known whether subsurface carbon pools are particularly responsive to increasing soil temperatures. Carbon dioxide (CO2) diffusing out of soils is an important flux in the global carbon. Although soil CO2 efflux has been the subject of many studies in recent years, it remains difficult to deduct controls of this flux because of the different sources that produce CO2 and because potential environmental controls like soil temperature and soil moisture often covary. Here, we report results of a 5‐year study in which we measured soil CO2 production on two deeply weathered soil types at different depths in an old‐growth tropical wet forest in Costa Rica. Three sites were developed on old river terraces (old alluvium) and the other three were developed on old lava flows (residual). Annual soil CO2 efflux varied between 2.8–3.6 μmol CO2‐C m−2 s−1 (old alluvium) and 3.4–3.9 μmol CO2‐C m−2 s−1 (residual). More than 75% of the CO2 was produced in the upper 0.5 m (including litter layer) and less than 7% originated from the soil below 1 m depth. This low contribution was explained by the lack of water stress in this tropical wet forest which has resulted in very low root biomass below 2 m depth. In the top 0.5 m CO2 production was positively correlated with both temperature and soil moisture; between 0.6 and 2 m depth CO2 production correlated negatively with soil moisture in one soil and positively with photosynthetically active radiation in the other soil type. Below 2 m soil CO2 production strongly increased with increasing temperature. In combination with reduced tree growth that has been shown for this ecosystem, this would be a strong positive feedback to ecosystem warming.
Release of cell contents and comminution of particles of perennial ryegrass herbage during ingestion by dairy cows fed indoors or grazing
Authors: Boudon A. , Acosta A. , Delagarde R. , Peyraud J.‐L. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe effect of feeding indoors fresh perennial ryegrass vs. grazing on ingestive behaviour, release of cell contents and comminution of particles during ingestion, as well as on gas production of ingested boli fermented in vitro, was studied. Indoor feeding and grazing were compared using four dairy cows according to a triple reversal design with six periods. Chemical and morphological composition of the ingested herbage was similar for both indoor feeding and grazing treatments. The intake rate was markedly higher indoors compared with grazing [52·1 vs. 22·9 g dry matter (DM) min−1] with heavier boli and less saliva added per gram of DM intake. The proportions of intracellular nitrogen and chlorophyll released during mastication after ingestion of herbage fed indoors were lower, and the median size of the particles in the boli was larger (5·97 vs. 4·44 mm) compared with grazing. As a result, the rate of gas production in vitro was also lower for herbage fed indoors compared with grazing (0·423 vs. 0·469 mL min−1 g−1 incubated DM). Indoor feeding or grazing may have limited consequences in vivo on the kinetics of availability of nutrients for micro‐organisms in the rumen, because the consequences of the more extensive physical damage suffered by herbage ingested at grazing could be compensated by a lower intake rate.