bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial heterogeneity of tundra vegetation response to recent temperature changes
Authors: JIA GENSUO J. , EPSTEIN HOWARD E. , WALKER DONALD A. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe spatial heterogeneity of recent decadal dynamics in vegetation greenness and biomass in response to changes in summer warmth index (SWI) was investigated along spatial gradients on the Arctic Slope of Alaska. Image spatial analysis was used to examine the spatial pattern of greenness dynamics from 1991 to 2000 as indicated by variations of the maximum normalized difference vegetation index (Peak NDVI) and time‐integrated NDVI (TI‐NDVI) along latitudinal gradients. Spatial gradients for both the means and temporal variances of the NDVI indices for 0.1° latitude intervals crossing three bioclimate subzones were analyzed along two north–south Arctic transects. NDVI indices were generally highly variable over the decade, with great heterogeneity across the transects. The greatest variance in TI‐NDVI was found in low shrub vegetation to the south (68.7–68.8°N) and corresponded to high fractional cover of shrub tundra and moist acidic tundra (MAT), while the greatest variance in Peak‐NDVI predominately occurred in areas dominated by wet tundra (WT) and moist nonacidic tundra (MNT). Relatively high NDVI temporal variances were also related to specific transitional areas between dominant vegetation types. The regional temporal variances of NDVI from 1991 to 2000 were largely driven by meso‐scale climate dynamics. The spatial heterogeneity of the NDVI variance was mostly explained by the fractional land cover composition, different responses of each vegetation type to climate change, and patterned ground features. Aboveground plant biomass exhibited similar spatial heterogeneity as TI‐NDVI; however, spatial patterns are slightly different from NDVI because of their nonlinear relationship.
Effects of elevated CO2 on fine root dynamics in a Mojave Desert community: a FACE study
Authors: PHILLIPS DONALD L. , JOHNSON MARK G. , TINGEY DAVID T. , CATRICALA CHRISTINA E. , HOYMAN TONI L. , NOWAK ROBERT S. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractFine roots (≤1 mm diameter) are critical in plant water and nutrient absorption, and it is important to understand how rising atmospheric CO2 will affect them as part of terrestrial ecosystem responses to global change. This study's objective was to determine the effects of elevated CO2 on production, mortality, and standing crops of fine root length over 2 years in a free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) facility in the Mojave Desert of southern Nevada, USA. Three replicate 25 m diameter FACE rings were maintained at ambient (∼370 μmol mol−1) and elevated CO2 (∼550 μmol mol−1) atmospheric concentrations. Twenty‐eight minirhizotron tubes were placed in each ring to sample three microsite locations: evergreen Larrea shrubs, drought‐deciduous Ambrosia shrubs, and along systematic community transects (primarily in shrub interspaces which account for ∼85% of the area). Seasonal dynamics were similar for ambient and elevated CO2: fine root production peaked in April–June, with peak standing crop occurring about 1 month later, and peak mortality occurring during the hot summer months, with higher values for all three measures in a wet year compared with a dry year. Fine root standing crop, production, and mortality were not significantly different between treatments except standing crop along community transects, where fine root length was significantly lower in elevated CO2. Fine root turnover (annual cumulative mortality/mean standing crop) ranged from 2.33 to 3.17 year−1, and was not significantly different among CO2 treatments, except for community transect tubes where it was significantly lower for elevated CO2. There were no differences in fine root responses to CO2 between evergreen (Larrea) and drought‐deciduous (Ambrosia) shrubs. Combined with observations of increased leaf‐level water‐use efficiency and lack of soil moisture differences, these results suggest that under elevated CO2 conditions, reduced root systems (compared with ambient CO2) appear sufficient to provide resources for modest aboveground production increases across the community, but in more fertile shrub microsites, fine root systems of comparable size with those in ambient CO2 were required to support the greater aboveground production increases. For community transects, development of the difference in fine root standing crops occurred primarily through lower stimulation of fine root production in the elevated CO2 treatment during periods of high water availability.
Mineral nitrogen cycling through earthworm casts in a grazed pasture under elevated atmospheric CO2
Authors: CHEVALLIER ALEXIS J. T. , LIEFFERING MARK , CARRAN R. A. , NEWTON P. C. D. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractWe used the New Zealand grazed pasture free air CO2 enrichment experiment to determine the effects of elevated CO2 on earthworm (Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus) cast production and mineral nitrogen (N) concentration over a 5‐week period in the spring. Elevated CO2 did not affect earthworm biomass or the amount of cast material produced. However, cast mineral N concentrations were 18% lower, resulting in 27% less mineral N being deposited on the soil surface under elevated CO2. An analysis of the earthworms' potential diet showed that a reduction in the N content of sheep dung at elevated CO2 was the most likely cause of the lower cast N concentrations. Earthworm casts made only a small contribution to mineral N cycling in our system; however, their quality may act as a sensitive indicator of reduced N availability under elevated CO2 which is consistent with the hypothesised process of progressive N limitation.
Interprofessional education in undergraduate healthcare programmes: the reaction of student dietitians
Authors: Whelan K. , Thomas J. E. , Cooper S. , Hilton R. , Jones S. C. , Newton T. , O'Neill B. , Gill E. E. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackground  Interprofessional education (IPE) is a novel teaching and learning initiative where students of more than one health profession learn interactively together. However, despite its potential for improving interprofessional relationships, there is little information regarding the participation of student dietitians in IPE. The aim of this paper was to consider the reaction of student dietitians to an IPE course in order to stimulate debate between dietitians regarding the issues relating to IPE.Methods  Student dietitians participated in an IPE course consisting of seven sessions on communication and ethics in health care together with students of medicine and nursing. Student dietitians completed an evaluation questionnaire following each session that surveyed their reaction to the session using both a Likert scale and free‐text comments.Results  Twenty‐six student dietitians completed the IPE course. All sessions were rated positively for interest value (P ≤ 0.14), learning experience (P ≤ 0.036) and value for clinical practice (P ≤ 0.05). The limited number of free‐text comments indicated some positive experiences regarding interprofessional learning, teaching content and teaching strategy.Conclusions  This is one of very few evaluations to describe the reaction of student dietitians to IPE. Student dietitians had largely positive reactions to the IPE course. Further research is required to evaluate whether these positive reactions were a direct consequence of the inclusion of students from other health professions and whether these translate into positive effects on learning, behaviour and results. The opportunities for the dietetic profession posed by students’ involvement in IPE are discussed.
Ca2+ transient induced by extracellular changes in osmotic pressure in Arabidopsis leaves: differential involvement of cell wall–plasma membrane adhesion
Authors: HAYASHI TERUYUKI , HARADA AKIKO , SAKAI TATSUYA , TAKAGI SHINGO 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACTWe investigated the mechanism underlying the perception of extracellular changes in osmotic pressure in Vallisneria gigantea Graebner and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. expressing cytoplasmic aequorin. Hypertonic and hypotonic treatments of A. thaliana leaves each rapidly induced a Ca2+ transient. Both responses were essentially dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and were sensitive to Gd3+, a potential blocker of stretch‐activated Ca2+ channels. Immediately after plasmolysis caused by hypertonic treatment and subsequent deplasmolysis caused by hypotonic treatment, the cells did not respond to a second hypertonic treatment and exhibited an impaired adhesion of the plasma membrane (PM) to the cell wall (CW). Recovery of the responsiveness required about 6 h. By contrast, no refractory phenomenon was observed in response to hypotonic treatment. Pretreatment with cellulase completely inhibited the Ca2+ transient induced by hypertonic treatment, but it did not affect the response to hypotonic treatment. V. gigantea mesophyll cells pretreated with cellulase exhibited an impaired adhesion of the PM to the CW. The leaf cells of multicellular plants can respond to both hypertonic and hypotonic treatments through the stretch‐activated Ca2+ channels, whereas cellulase‐sensitive adhesion of the PM to the CW is involved only in the response to hypertonic treatment.
Evidence for altered polar and lateral auxin transport in the gravity persistent signal (gps) mutants of Arabidopsis
Authors: NADELLA VIJAYANAND , SHIPP MATTHEW J. , MUDAY GLORIA K. , WYATT SARAH E. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACTPlant shoots do not respond when they are reoriented relative to gravity at 4 °C. However, when returned to vertical at room temperature, these organs bend in response to the previous cold gravistimulation. The inflorescence stem of the Arabidopsis thaliana gravity persistent signal (gps) mutants respond abnormally after the cold gravistimulation: gps1 does not bend when returned to room temperature, gps2 bends the wrong way and gps3 over‐responds, curving past the predicted angle. In wild type and the mutants, basipetal auxin transport in the inflorescence stem was abolished at 4 °C but restored when plants were returned to room temperature. In gps1, auxin transport was increased; in both gps2 and gps3, no significant difference was found when compared to wild type. Expression of the auxin‐inducible PIAA2::GUS reporter gene, indicated that auxin‐induced gene expression was redistributed to the lower side of the inflorescence stem in wild type after gravistimulation at 4 °C. In gps1, no asymmetries in PIAA2::GUS expression were seen. In gps2, PIAA2::GUS expression was localized to the upper side of the stem and in gps3, asymmetric PIAA2::GUS expression was extended throughout the elongation zone of the inflorescence stem. These results are consistent with altered lateral Indole‐3‐acetic‐acid (IAA) gradients being responsible for the phenotype of each mutant.
Low growth temperatures modify the efficiency of light use by photosystem II for CO2 assimilation in leaves of two chilling‐tolerant C4 species, Cyperus longus L. and Miscanthus × giganteus
Authors: FARAGE PETER K. , BLOWERS DAVID , LONG STEPHEN P. , BAKER NEIL R. 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACTTwo C4 plants, Miscanthus × giganteus and Cyperus longus L., were grown at suboptimal growth temperatures and the relationships between the quantum efficiencies of photosynthetic electron transport through photosystem II (PSII) (PSII operating efficiency; Fq′/Fm′) and CO2 assimilation (φCO2) in leaves were examined. When M. × giganteus was grown at 10 °C, the ratio of the PSII operating efficiency to φCO2 increased relative to that found in leaves grown at 14 and 25 °C. Similar increases in the Fq′/Fm′ : φCO2 occurred in the leaves of two C. longus ecotypes when the plants were grown at 17 °C, compared to 25 °C. These elevations of Fq′/Fm′ : φCO2 at low growth temperatures were not attributable to the development of anthocyanins, as has been suggested for maize, and were indicative of the operation of an alternative sink to CO2 assimilation for photosynthetic reducing equivalents, possibly oxygen reduction via a Mehler reaction, which would act as a mechanism for protection of PSII from photoinactivation and damage. Furthermore, in M. × giganteus grown at 10 °C, further protection of PSII was effected by a 20‐fold increase in zeaxanthin content in dark‐adapted leaves, which was associated with much higher levels of non‐photochemical quenching of excitation energy, compared to that observed in leaves grown at 14 and 25 °C. These differences may explain the long growing season and remarkable productivity of this C4 plant in cool climates, even in comparison to other C4 species such as C. longus, which occur naturally in such climates.
Equine cutaneous non‐neoplastic nodular and proliferative lesions in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: VALENTINE BETH A. 
Published: November 2005

Abstract  A retrospective study examined data on cutaneous nodular and proliferative lesions in horses, donkeys and mules submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University in a 3.5‐year period. One hundred and sixteen non‐neoplastic nodular and proliferative lesions were identified, comprising 18% of all lesions studied and 6.4% of total equine pathology accessions. Exuberant granulation tissue, eosinophilic granuloma, fungal granuloma, cysts and habronaemiasis were most common, and constituted 91% of non‐neoplastic lesions, 16% of all lesions studied, and 5.85% of total equine pathology accessions. Calcinosis circumscripta and cutaneous granulomas, including eosinophilic granuloma, fungal granuloma, and other granulomas, were most common in horses up to 10 years of age. Eosinophilic granuloma was more common in males than in females, and was diagnosed most often in autumn and winter. Fungal granuloma was common in this population and was most often diagnosed in the spring. Habronaemiasis was diagnosed in late summer and early autumn, and was most common in males. Results of this study indicate that equine non‐neoplastic nodular and proliferative skin lesions are commonly submitted for histopathologic examination. Results also suggest that regional differences exist regarding incidence of cutaneous fungal granuloma and season of occurrence of eosinophilic granuloma in horses.
The metabolite products of chlorocholine chloride (CCC) in eggs and meat of laying hens fed 15N‐CCC containing diets
Authors: Nurhayati  , Chakeredza S. , Chaidir  , Edrada R. A. , Ebel R. , Ter Meulen U. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the metabolic products of chlorocholine chloride (CCC) in eggs and meat of laying hens fed a diet containing 15N‐CCC. Ten brown laying hens were randomly divided into two groups of five each. One group was offered 15N‐CCC free diet while the other group received a diet with 100 ppm 15N‐CCC for 11 days. Samples of eggs and meat from the laying hens were collected. Egg yolks and albumen were separated. Meat was collected from the breast and femur. The metabolic products of CCC were measured using ion trap electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ion trap‐ESI‐MS/MS). Determination of CCC or its metabolites in eggs and meat showed that CCC was metabolised to choline. Corresponding MS/MS spectra were obtained for m/z 104 (choline) or 105 (15N‐choline), whereas nothing was detected at m/z 122 (CCC) or 123 (15N‐CCC). The results from this study indicate that CCC will be metabolised in tissues of laying hens.
Effects of amount of intake and stage of forage maturity on urinary allantoin excretion and estimated microbial crude protein synthesis in the rumen of steers
Authors: Südekum K.‐H. , Brüsemeister F. , Schröder A. , Stangassinger M. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryUsing ruminally cannulated steers, we investigated how urinary allantoin excretion was related to variations in feed intake and stage of forage maturity. Further, different approaches were compared for predicting ruminal microbial crude protein (MCP) synthesis and its efficiency. Experimental diets were arranged in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design (experiment 1) and a 4 × 4 Latin square design (experiment 2). In experiment 1, a mixed diet [forage to concentrate, 68:32 on a dry matter (DM) basis] was fed at three intake levels corresponding to 1, 1.5 and 2 times maintenance energy requirements. In experiment 2, four silage‐based diets were fed based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenneL.), which was harvested at four maturity stages. Both experiments demonstrated the influence of diet on microbial growth rate and by this on efficiency of MCP synthesis, although the magnitude of the effects differed between approaches used for estimating MCP. Linear functions satisfactorily characterised the relationship between urinary allantoin excretion (y) and digestible organic matter (OM) intake (x, kg/day; experiment 1: y = 7.94 + 17.34 x; R2 = 0.785) or intake of OM effectively degraded in the rumen (x, kg/day; experiment 2; y = 22.32 + 5.93 x; R2 = 0.695). Urinary excretion of allantoin permitted a semi‐quantitative prediction of MCP synthesis: ranking of diets and magnitude of changes in MCP synthesis were reflected.
Primary hair growth in dogs depends on dietary selenium concentrations*
Authors: Yu S. , Wedekind K. J. , Kirk C. A. , Nachreiner R. F. 
Published: December 2005

SummarySelenium (Se) plays an important role in hair growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary selenium concentration on hair growth in dogs. Thirty‐six beagles were stratified into six groups based on age, gender and body condition score. The dogs were fed a torula yeast‐based canned food for 3 weeks. Then the dogs were fed varying amounts of selenium supplied as selenomethionine for an additional 24 weeks. Analysed selenium concentrations in the experimental foods for the six groups were 0.04, 0.09, 0.12, 0.54, 1.03 and 5.04 mg/kg dry matter respectively. Body weight and food intake were not affected by the selenium treatments. Serum selenium concentration was similar initially but was significantly different at the end of the study among groups. Dietary selenium concentration below 0.12 mg/kg diet may be marginal for an adult dog. Dietary treatment had no effect on serum total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), and free 3,3′,5‐triiodothyronine (FT3). There was a significant diet and time interaction (p = 0.038) for total 3,3′,5 triiodothyronine (TT3). Hair growth was similar among groups initially but significantly reduced in dogs fed diets containing 0.04, 0.09 or 5.04 mg Se/kg when compared with 0.12, 0.54 and 1.03 mg Se/kg at week 11 (p < 0.05) and week 22 (p = 0.061). These results demonstrated that both low and high selenium diets reduce hair growth in adult dogs.
Possible involvement of selenium inStaphylococcus aureusinhibition in cow's whey
Authors: Malbe M. , Attila M. , Atroshi F. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryPrevious investigations have shown that selenium supplementation inhibits growth of mastitis pathogens in cow's milk. The present study was performed to clarify the role of selenium in defence mechanisms of mammary gland. We have examined the effects of selenium supplementation onStaphylococcus aureusgrowth inhibiting activity in whey. Six selenium‐supplemented and six non‐supplemented Estonian dairy cows were used for this study. Selenium‐supplemented cows received 4 mg organic selenium in the form of selenium yeast in their daily diet for 8‐week period. Cows from non‐supplemented group received the same amount of yeast free of selenium in their diet. All cows had initially low blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (≤1.02 μkat/g Hb). During the 8‐week experiment these cows had low somatic cell count (<300 000 cells/ml) and negative bacteriological findings in their quarter milk samples. Bacterial growth inhibitory activity in specific whey fractions was clearly evident in 3 out of 6 cows supplemented with selenium. The inhibitory effect was more profound if the cow's blood GPx activity exceeded 4 μkat/g Hb, whereas in non‐supplemented cows the inhibition ofS. aureusgrowth was not observed. This study confirms the presence of selenium‐dependent antibacterial activity in cow's milk.
The influence of an increased cobalt supply to dairy cows on the vitamin B12 status of their calves
Authors: Stemme K. , Meyer U. , Flachowsky G. , Scholz H. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryIn the experiment the influence of an elevated oral cobalt supply (Co content in the ration 0.27 mg Co/kg DM; supplement of 0.14 mg Co/kg DM as CoSO4) to pregnant dairy cows on the vitamin B12 concentration in milk, colostrum and vitamin B12 status of their calves was tested in comparison with unsupplemented controls (0.13 mg Co/kg DM). While there was no significant difference in vitamin B12 concentration in the at 70th day of lactation (start of the experiment; 3.77 ± 1.41 vs. 3.66 ± 1.03 ng/ml) and 290th day of lactation (almost drying off; 4.75 ± 3.05 vs. 4.44 ± 0.96 ng/ml), cobalamin concentration in the milk colostrum showed a tendency towards a higher cobalt content in the ration of the supplemented cows in comparison with the controls (21.0 ± 8.4 vs. 16.7 ± 11.9 ng/ml). Differences in the vitamin B12 concentration in the serum of the newborn calves before and after ingestion of colostrum were not detected. From these results it can be concluded that cobalt content of 0.13 mg Co/kg DM in the ration based on wilted grass silage seems to be sufficient for pregnant dairy cows.
An in vitro evaluation of the adhesion of Candida species to oral and lung tissue cells
Authors: Nikawa H. , Egusa H. , Makihira S. , Okamoto T. , Kurihara H. , Shiba H. , Amano H. , Murayama T. , Yatani H. , Hamada T. 
Published: November 2005

SummaryThe analysis of the adherence capacity of fungi to surfaces of both oral tissue and different tissues would be of interest in the fungal dissemination as an oral and systemic pathogen. We developed an in vitro adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐based assay technique to extract the cellular and fungal ATP separately, which allowed the quantitative evaluation of the adhesion of the yeast to monolayers of human gingival epithelial cells (GEC), gingival fibroblasts (GF) and pulmonary fibroblasts (PF). Seven oral isolates of Candida species (three of Candida albicans, three of Candida tropicalis and one of Candida glabrata) were used in the study. The adherent level of the Candida species varied depending on both the isolates and the cell origins, although all the Candida isolates had a significantly higher level of adherence to GEC than to GF except the single isolate of C. tropicalis. Whereas the adherent level of the five isolates to GEC was significantly higher than that to PF, the adherent level of the remaining two isolates of C. tropicalis to GEC was significantly lower than that to PF. These results suggest that candidal adherence to host tissue cells should be regulated in an isolate‐dependent and cell‐origin‐dependent manner, and that the phenomena may be involved in the colonisation and/or dissemination of the fungi.
Cockroaches as carriers of fungi of medical importance
Authors: Lemos A. A. , Lemos J. A. , Prado M. A. , Pimenta F. C. , Gir E. , Silva H. M. , Silva M. R. R. 
Published: November 2005

SummaryThe fungal pathogenic flora of the external surface of 103 cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) collected from the intensive care unit of a hospital were investigated. In this study, a high percentage of test cockroaches (93.2%) were found to carry fungi of medical importance. The main fungi isolated were species of Candida, Aspergillus and Penicillium. Information about the carriage of pathogenic fungi by cockroaches in hospital environment is scanty. The results suggest that cockroaches can play a role in dissemination of fungi, which they can carry on their external surface.