bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Unseeded Areas on Species Richness of Coal Mines Reclaimed with Municipal Biosolids
Authors: Halofsky Jessica E. , McCormick Larry H. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract Land application of municipal biosolids on coal mine spoils can benefit vegetation establishment in mine reclamation. However, the application of biosolids leads to domination by early‐successional species, such as grasses, and low establishment of woody and volunteer species, thus reducing potential for forestry as a postmining land use. In this experiment, tree seedlings were planted in strips (0.6‐, 1‐, and 4‐m wide) that were not seeded with grasses, and the effects of unseeded strip width on seedling growth and species richness were assessed. Planted seedling mortality was high; therefore, the effect of unseeded strip width on seedling growth could not be determined. However, it was found that natural plant invasion and species richness were highest in the 4‐m unseeded strips. The practice of leaving 4‐m‐wide unseeded strips in mine reclamation with biosolids in the eastern United States, along with the improvement of tree seedling planting practices and planting stock, would help promote a more species‐rich plant community that could be utilized for forestry or a variety of other postmining land uses.
Assessing Simple Versus Complex Restoration Strategies for Industrially Disturbed Forests
Authors: Rayfield Bronwyn , Anand Madhur , Laurence Sophie 
Published: November 2005

AbstractAssessing the community‐level consequences of ecological restoration treatments is essential to guide future restoration efforts. We compared the vegetation composition and species richness of restored sites that received a range of restoration treatments and those of unrestored sites that experienced varying levels of disturbance. Our study was conducted in the industrially degraded landscape surrounding Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Forest once present in this area was degraded through logging, mining, and smelting activities beginning in the late 1800s until restoration of the most visibly degraded areas began in 1974. Restoration treatments ranged from simple abiotic enhancements to complex, multistage revegetation treatments using native and non‐native species, which included fertilizing, spreading of ground dolomitic limestone, understory seeding, and tree planting. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to determine which restoration treatments explained differences in the community structure among sites. We found that native understory vascular species richness was similar in restored sites that received more complex restoration treatments and unrestored sites that were mildly disturbed; however, the role of planted trees and non‐native species in the restored communities remains unclear. Understory vascular seeding played a key role in determining community composition of vascular understory and overstory communities, but the time since restoration commenced was a more important factor for nonvascular communities because they received no direct biotic enhancements. The use of non‐native species in the vascular seed mix seems to be slowly encouraging the colonization of native species, but non‐natives continue to dominate restored sites 25 years after restoration began.
Naturally Saline Boreal Communities as Models for Reclamation of Saline Oil Sand Tailings
Authors: Purdy Brett G. , Ellen Macdonald S. , Lieffers Victor J. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract Reclaimed landscapes after oil sands mining have saline soils; yet, they are required to have similar biodiversity and productivity as the predisturbance nonsaline landscape. Given that many species in the boreal forest are not tolerant of salinity, we studied the effects of soil salinity on plant communities in natural saline landscapes to understand potential plant responses during the reclamation process. Vegetation–soil relationships were measured along transects from flooded wetlands to upland forest vegetation in strongly saline, slightly saline, nonsaline, and reclaimed boreal landscapes. In strongly saline landscapes, surface soil salinity was high (>10 dS/m) in flooded, wet‐meadow, and dry‐meadow vegetation zones as compared to slightly saline (<5 dS/m) and nonsaline (<2 dS/m) landscapes. Plant communities in these vegetation zones were quite different from nonsaline boreal landscapes and were dominated by halophytes common to saline habitats of the Great Plains. In the shrub and forest vegetation zones, surface soil salinity was similar between saline and nonsaline landscapes, resulting in similar plant communities. In strongly saline landscapes, soils remained saline at depth through the shrub and forest vegetation zones (>10 dS/m), suggesting that forest vegetation can establish over saline soils as long as the salts are below the rooting zone. The reclaimed landscape was intermediate between slightly saline and nonsaline landscapes in terms of soil salinity but more similar to nonsaline habitats with respect to species composition. Results from this study suggest it may be unrealistic to expect that plant communities similar to those found on the predisturbance landscape can be established on all reclaimed landscapes after oil sands mining.
Residual Effects of Glyphosate Herbicide in Ecological Restoration
Authors: Cornish P. S , Burgin S. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract This study assesses the risks in ecological restoration arising from transplanting into soil containing glyphosate residues. Four Australian restoration species were grown for 60 days in nonadsorbing media treated continuously with glyphosate to establish threshold concentrations for damage. Visual signs of injury were observed in three species, and severe effects on root growth in all species, at solution concentrations as low as 18 mg/L. Only the perennial grass Themeda sp. died at this concentration, with other species surviving at concentrations in the range 36–360 mg/L, beyond which all plants died. Fourteen days exposure followed by removal of glyphosate from root media produced similar effects. Field and glasshouse experiments with the relatively tolerant tree species Angophora costata showed that application rates in the range 10–50 L/ha of herbicide product (360 g/L) would be needed to sustain damage to young plants transplanted into soil typical of local restoration sites. The volume of spray delivered using a hand‐operated sprayer varied between operators by 5‐ and 10‐fold to complete the same tasks, at the high end presenting a potential risk to the most tolerant species under field conditions, even when spray concentrations follow label instructions. For all but the most sensitive species, the risk of glyphosate residues in ecological restoration should be minimized by training operators of unregulated applicators to deliver controlled volumes of herbicide when spot spraying prior to transplanting.
Incorporating Restoration in Sustainable Forestry Management: Using Pine‐Bark Mulch to Improve Native Species Establishment on Tephra Deposits
Authors: Blanco‐García Arnulfo , Lindig‐Cisneros Roberto 
Published: November 2005

Abstract Native plant establishment is limited by harsh environmental conditions in areas affected by tephra deposition following volcanic eruptions. Late‐successional species might be lacking even decades after the disturbance. We assessed the effectiveness of pine‐bark mulch, a by‐product of sustainable timber production in the study area, in promoting the establishment and survival of a late‐successional species (Pinus pseudostrobus) and a nitrogen‐fixing legume (Lupinus elegans). We established a factorial experiment in areas covered with tephra during the eruption of the Paricutín volcano in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. After 1 year, P. pseudostrobus survival was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in plots with pine‐bark mulching (46.5%) than in plots without mulching (21.8%). After 2 years, surviving pines with mulching were significantly taller (p= 0.03) than pines without mulching (45.3 ± 3.8 cm and 31.2 ± 3.7 cm, respectively). Lupinus elegans plants survived longer when grown in plots with pine‐bark mulching than without mulching. Mulching reduced tephra temperatures during the dry season (when temperatures can reach up to 58°C 4 cm below the surface of bare tephra). Lupinus elegans plants were affected by herbivory by small rodents, run‐off, and frost at the end of the growing season. Our results suggest that mulching can ameliorate harsh environmental conditions on sites covered with tephra while incorporating a by‐product of sustainable forestry into restoration practice.
The Lack of Favorable Responses of an Endangered Pitcher Plant to Habitat Restoration
Authors: Stephen Brewer J. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract Restoring habitat structure that existed before active and inadvertent fire suppression is thought to be critical to maintaining populations of some rare plants in fire‐suppressed habitats. Nevertheless, the impacts of habitat restoration on most endangered plants are poorly understood. Current theory predicts and empirical studies have shown that the reduction of shade or competition (frequently a goal of many habitat restoration projects in degraded fire‐dependent ecosystems) benefits plants adapted to nutrient‐poor soils by increasing the benefit‐to‐cost ratio of adaptations for enhanced nutrient capture. Here, I examined how experimental reduction of neighboring plants in a wet longleaf pine community dominated in the ground cover by shrubs and stump sprouts influenced the growth, the reproduction, the carnivorous effort, and the benefits of carnivory in a U.S. federally endangered species, Sarracenia rubra ssp. alabamensis. Two years of data showed no significant effects of neighbor reduction or prey exclusion on any of several indicators of plant performance, nor was there any evidence of a hypothesized morphological trade‐off between shade avoidance and prey capture. These results were unexpected. Inadequate replication and atypical precipitation patterns were ruled out as possible explanations. The population studied here (unlike that of a different, but morphologically similar, species growing in a fire‐maintained pine grass–sedge savanna) did not exhibit the ability to respond to variation in competition from neighboring plants.
Screening of Grassland Plants for Restoration after Spotted Knapweed Invasion
Authors: Perry Laura G. , Johnson Chandra , Alford Élan R. , Vivanco Jorge M. , Paschke Mark W. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract Invasions of North American grasslands by Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) are mediated in part by Spotted knapweed root exudation of (±)‐catechin, a potent phytotoxin. Residual soil (±)‐catechin may interfere with reestablishment of native grassland species even after Spotted knapweed populations are controlled. Grassland species that are resistant to (±)‐catechin may be more successful for restoration of areas infested by Spotted knapweed. We evaluated the (±)‐catechin resistance of 23 grassland species by measuring the effects of seven (±)‐catechin concentrations (0–4.0 mg/mL) on seed germination, seedling root and shoot elongation, and seedling mortality. (±)‐Catechin treatments were chosen to reflect the range of observed Spotted knapweed field soil (±)‐catechin concentrations. Inhibition of root elongation was the strongest and most common effect of (±)‐catechin treatment. High (±)‐catechin concentrations reduced mean root lengths of 5 of the species by more than 75% and another 10 species by more than 55%. Experimentally derived concentrations needed to reduce root length by 50% (EC50), an indicator of (±)‐catechin resistance, ranged from 0.43 mg/mL ± 0.30 SE to greater than 4.0 mg/mL among species. Eight species with EC50s greater than 3.0 mg/mL were identified as resistant to (±)‐catechin and are likely suitable for revegetation of Spotted knapweed–infested areas. (±)‐Catechin resistance was positively correlated with mean seed mass, suggesting that seed carbohydrate reserves may allow seedlings to detoxify (±)‐catechin, develop barriers to (±)‐catechin exposure, or sustain a positive growth rate, despite (±)‐catechin‐induced cell death. Future efforts to identify allelochemical‐resistant grassland species should focus on large‐seeded species.
Phantom Limb Pain Treatment with Mirtazapine: A Case Series
Authors: Kuiken Todd A. , Schechtman Leslie , Harden R. Norman 
Published: November 2005

AbstractObjectives: To pilot the efficacy of mirtazapine for relief of phantom limb pain (PLP); to correlate the putative drug mechanism with theoretical PLP mechanisms; and to develop a rationale for further study of mirtazapine in this population.Design: Open‐label case series.Subjects/Patients: Four individuals with PLP for at least 3 months after amputation.Methods: All subjects received oral mirtazapine between 7.5 and 30 mg/day. An 11‐point numeric rating scale (0 to 10) measured pain intensity and relief during monitored outpatient follow‐up visits.Results/Discussion: Mirtazapine use improved the PLP experienced by these subjects by at least 50%. Subjects with PLP‐related sleeping difficulties reported the greatest pain relief concomitant with improved sleep quality. One subject was able to eliminate the use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant while using mirtazapine for PLP and depression without change in mood or affect. Mirtazapine enhances noradrenergic and serotonergic activity and may modulate PLP by central mechanisms. Current concepts of the proposed pathophysiology of PLP and the hypothetical impact of mirtazapine are discussed.Conclusion: Mirtazapine may be an effective treatment for PLP that can also potentially enhance sleep and mood. This information provides preliminary reinforcement for more formal, controlled studies concerning mirtazapine use in PLP.
Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Octogenarians: Results and Follow‐Up
Authors: Cahana Alex , Seium Yodit , Diby Marc , Martin Jean‐Baptiste , Ruefenacht Daniel , Dietrich Pierre Yves 
Published: November 2005

AbstractObjectives:  To determine pain relief, performance status, morbidity, and mortality associated with percutaneous vertebroplasty for spinal pain in patients aged 80 years and older.Design:  Prospective, descriptive, third‐party independent interview, clinical audit.Setting:  University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.Participants:  Patients aged 80 years and older who underwent vertebroplasty between August 1997 and August 2004 because of vertebral fractures from osteoporotic or malignant etiologies.Methods:  Primary outcome measures were verbal rating scale (VRS) (0—no pain, 5—intolerable) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scale (0—normal activity, 4—unable to get out of bed) before and after procedure. Patients were interviewed 8 to 35 months post treatment (mean 25), independently assessed for pain relief, analgesic consumption, and overall satisfaction by using the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Outcome Measures questionnaire.Results:  Mean VRS scores significantly decreased from 4.86 ± 0.64 to 2.39 ± 1.14 (P < 0.05), and mean ECOG performance scores improved from 1.87 ± 0.97 to 1.29 ± 1.06 (P < 0.05) after treatment. When patients were analyzed by etiology (group 1—cancer; group 2—osteoporosis), both groups significantly reduced their VRS (P < 0.05); however, only group I significantly improved their performance (P < 0.05; P = 0.334, respectively). Nine patients answered the ASA questionnaire (18 deceased, 1 demented, 1 lost to follow‐up) and reported an improvement in their ability to perform daily tasks. No early or late complications were observed; none of the deaths were procedure‐related.Conclusions:  Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a safe, minimally invasive, well‐tolerated analgesic procedure among octogenarians suffering from spinal pain, permitting increased activities of daily living. Pain reduction is significant regardless of the etiology; performance scores are significantly improved in cancer pain.
Antidepressant combinations: epidemiological considerations
Authors: Agüera L. F. , Rojo J. E. , Ros S. , de la Gándara J. , de Pedro J. M. 
Published: November 2005

Objective:  To evaluate the treatment options in patients who do not respond appropriately to a single antidepressant alone.Method:  The medical literature was reviewed.Results:  A number of strategies are available if a patient fails to respond adequately to initial antidepressant treatment, including the combination with another psychoactive drug. Evidence published to date appears to suggest that benzodiazepines are the drugs most frequently combined with antidepressants. The combination of two antidepressants together is less common, occurring in approximately 5–15% of cases showing a poor initial response. The key figures involved in such co‐prescription are psychiatrists.Conclusion:  There appears to be considerable variability in the data concerning combined prescription of antidepressants, with differences arising depending on the type of physician, the type of patient or illness and the geographical area. It is also unclear how closely research findings parallel with what doctors do in everyday practice.
Neuropharmacological basis of combining antidepressants
Authors: de la Gándara J. , Rojo J. E. , Ros S. , Agüera L. , de Pedro J. M. 
Published: November 2005

Objective:  To review the neuropharmacological basis of antidepressant combination therapy.Method:  Literature searches and other relevant material were obtained and reviewed.Results:  The overall clinical aim of combining antidepressants is to increase the efficacy whilst minimizing the side effects. Although such prescriptions are frequently based on the previous experience and knowledge, a sound neuropharmacological basis to support these combinations is desirable. When combining antidepressants, it is important to combine mechanisms of action, rather than simply one drug with another, and to aim for synergistic effects. The possibilities of combining mechanisms of action should also be exploited to the full if necessary, and the potential exists for combining two independent actions that have synergistic effects on the serotonergic, noradrenergic and even the dopaminergic systems.Conclusion:  Unfortunately, there are still, as yet, insufficient data to categorically justify choosing one or other combination based only on the neuropharmacological evidence.
Neonatal dexamethasone and chronic tianeptine treatment inhibit ligature‐induced periodontitis in adult rats
Authors: Breivik Torbjørn , Gundersen Yngvar , Osmundsen Harald , Fonnum Frode , Opstad Per Kristian 
Published: November 2005

Objective:  The responsiveness of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis has been found to play a significant role for susceptibility and resistance to periodontal disease. In the present study we have investigated the effects of two different treatment strategies, which have been found to down‐regulate the HPA axis, on ligature‐induced periodontitis.Methods:  In experiment 1, newborn rats were treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid hormone dexamethasone‐21‐phosphate, which permanently down‐regulates HPA axis responsiveness. In experiment 2, adult rats were treated with the novel antidepressant drug tianeptine, which opposes the action of stress. Periodontitis was inflicted upon all rats. Just before decapitation the animals received gram‐negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce a robust immune and HPA axis response.Results:  Compared to the saline‐treated control rats, dexamethasone‐treated rats had significantly less periodontal bone loss (p < 0.01), reduced expression of glucocorticoid receptors in the hippocampus (p < 0.001), lower corticosterone (p = 0.01) and higher plasma levels of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α (p < 0.05) after LPS challenge. Also the tianeptine‐treated rats showed significantly reduced periodontal bone loss (p = 0.01), enhanced plasma levels of TNF‐α (p < 0.05), and transforming growth factor‐1β (p < 0.01), whereas no significant difference was found in corticosterone levels.Conclusion:  An individual's responsiveness to danger signals, whether they are of immunological, chemical, or psychological origin, may be an important factor for explaining variability in susceptibility to periodontal disease. The results may provide new insight into the mechanisms of periodontal disease development, and open new vistas for disease prevention.
Porphyromonas gingivalisaffects host collagen degradation by affecting expression, activation, and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases
Authors: Zhou Jing , Windsor L. Jack 
Published: November 2005

Objective: Studies have shown thatPorphyromonas gingivalisand host matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in the tissue destruction associated with periodontal disease. It is still unclear which MMPs or their inhibitors are regulated byP. gingivalisat the transcriptional and/or at the protein levels. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine what effectsP. gingivalissupernatant has on the collagen degrading ability of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and how it regulates the activation, mRNA expression, and inhibition of MMPs.Methods: Culture supernatant fromP. gingivalisATCC 33277 was added to HGFs cultured in six‐well plates coated with Type I collagen. At certain time intervals, the cell conditioned media was collected for zymography and/or western blot analyses to determine the MMP and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP) protein levels. The cells were then removed and the collagen cleavage visualized by Coomassie blue staining. The mRNA expression of multiple MMPs and TIMPs by the treated and untreated HGFs was determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction.Results: The collagen in the six‐well plates was degraded more rapidly by the HGFs treated with 10% v/vP. gingivalissupernatant. More active MMP‐1, MMP‐2, MMP‐3, and MMP‐14 were detected in the conditioned media from the HGFs treated with theP. gingivalissupernatant. TIMP‐1, but not TIMP‐2, was decreased in the presence of theP. gingivalissupernatant. MMP‐1 mRNA expression by the treated HGFs increased more than two‐fold over the untreated HGFs. MMP‐3 mRNA was unchanged, MMP‐2 mRNA had a slight increase, MMP‐14 mRNA decreased, and MMP‐15 increased. MMP‐12 mRNA was induced in theP. gingivalistreated HGFs. TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 mRNA had a slight increase withP. gingivalistreatment.Conclusion: Porphyromonas gingivalisincreased the collagen degrading ability of HGFs, in part, by increasing MMP activation and by lowering the TIMP‐1 protein level, as well as by affecting the mRNA expression of multiple MMPs and TIMPs.