bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Density reductions by predatory trout increase adult size and fecundity of surviving caddisfly larvae in a detritus‐based stream food web
Authors: GREIG HAMISH S. , McINTOSH ANGUS R. 
Published: March 2008

Summary1. In some situations, individuals surviving in environments where predation is intense can grow faster because the benefits of release from intraspecific competition outweigh costs associated with anti‐predator responses. Whether these ‘thinning’ effects of predation occur in detritus‐based food webs where resource renewal occurs independently of consumption by consumers was studied. We investigated how effects of predatory brown trout (Salmo trutta) on the larvae of the detritivorous stream caddisfly, Zelandopsyche ingens, influenced the size and fecundity of the caddisfly adults.2. Trout substantially reduced the abundance of Z. ingens larvae, but adult male and female Z. ingens were significantly larger in trout streams compared to fishless streams. Females in trout streams had 33% more eggs than fishless stream females, and egg sizes were not significantly different. In mesocosms, Z. ingens larvae in low density treatments reflecting trout stream abundances grew significantly faster than larvae in high density treatments that were characteristic of fishless stream abundances. Non‐lethal trout presence did not influence case building behaviour, feeding rates or growth or Z. ingens larvae, indicating non‐lethal effects of predators were negligible.3. Increased adult size and fecundity associated with trout stream individuals were probably a result of predator thinning of larval density indirectly releasing surviving Z. ingens from intraspecific competition. Thus, predator thinning did influence interactions between larvae in this detritus‐based food web as larval growth was strongly density‐dependent. However, extrapolating the total number of eggs potentially produced indicates the increased fecundity of females in trout streams would not compensate for losses of larvae to trout predation.
CO2 fertilization in temperate FACE experiments not representative of boreal and tropical forests
Authors: HICKLER THOMAS , SMITH BENJAMIN , PRENTICE I. COLIN , MJÖFORS KRISTINA , MILLER PAUL , ARNETH ALMUT , SYKES MARTIN T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractResults from free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiments in temperate climates indicate that the response of forest net primary productivity (NPP) to elevated CO2 might be highly conserved across a broad range of productivities. In this study, we show that the LPJ‐GUESS dynamic vegetation model reproduces the magnitude of the NPP enhancement at temperate forest FACE experiments. A global application of the model suggests that the response found in the experiments might also be representative of the average response of forests globally. However, the predicted NPP enhancement in tropical forests is more than twice as high as in boreal forests, suggesting that currently available FACE results are not applicable to these ecosystems. The modeled geographic pattern is to a large extent driven by the temperature dependence of the relative affinities of the primary assimilation enzyme (Rubisco) for CO2 and O2.
Respiration acclimation contributes to high carbon‐use efficiency in a seasonally dry pine forest
Authors: MASEYK KADMIEL , GRÜNZWEIG JOSÉ M. , ROTENBERG EYAL , YAKIR DAN 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPredictions of warming and drying in the Mediterranean and other regions require quantifying of such effects on ecosystem carbon dynamics and respiration. Long‐term effects can only be obtained from forests in which seasonal drought is a regular feature. We carried out measurements in a semiarid Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) forest of aboveground respiration rates of foliage, Rf, and stem, Rt over 3 years. Component respiration combined with ongoing biometric, net CO2 flux [net ecosystem productivity (NEP)] and soil respiration measurements were scaled to the ecosystem level to estimate gross and net primary productivity (GPP, NPP) and carbon‐use efficiency (CUE=NPP/GPP) using 6 years data. GPP, NPP and NEP were, on average, 880, 350 and 211 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively. The above ground respiration made up half of total ecosystem respiration but CUE remained high at 0.4. Large seasonal variations in both Rf and Rt were not consistently correlated with seasonal temperature trends. Seasonal adjustments of respiration were observed in both the normalized rate (R20) and short‐term temperature sensitivity (Q10), resulting in low respiration rates during the hot, dry period. Rf in fully developed needles was highest over winter–spring, and foliage R20 was correlated with photosynthesis over the year. Needle growth occurred over summer, with respiration rates in developing needles higher than the fully developed foliage at most times. Rt showed a distinct seasonal maximum in May irrespective of year, which was not correlated to the winter stem growth, but could be associated with phenological drivers such as carbohydrate re‐mobilization and cambial activity. We show that in a semiarid pine forest photosynthesis and stem growth peak in (wet) winter and leaf growth in (dry) summer, and associated adjustments of component respiration, dominated by those in R20, minimize annual respiratory losses. This is likely a key for maintaining high CUE and ecosystem productivity similar to much wetter sites, and could lead to different predictions of the effect of warming and drying climate on productivity of pine forests than based on short‐term droughts.
Missing methane emissions from leaves of terrestrial plants
Authors: BEERLING DAVID J. , GARDINER TOM , LEGGETT GRAHAM , MCLEOD ANDY , QUICK W. PAUL 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe controversial claim that attached leaves of terrestrial plants emit CH4 aerobically remains to be corroborated. Here, we report CH4 fluxes and CO2 exchange rates for leaves of the C4 species Zea mays using a high‐accuracy traceable online analytical system. In contrast to earlier results for Z. mays, our measurements provide no evidence for substantial aerobic CH4 emissions from photosynthesizing leaves illuminated with photosynthetically active radiation (λ=400–700 nm), or from dark‐respiring leaves. Preliminary measurements with the same system indicated a similar lack of aerobic CH4 emissions in the light or dark from leaves of the C3 species Nicotiana tabacum. These findings are supported by independent high‐precision 13C‐labeling studies that also failed to confirm substantial aerobic CH4 emissions from plants. Nevertheless, we are not able to exclude the possibility that CH4 emissions from plants may be linked to nonenzymatic processes with an action spectrum lying outside the wavelength range for photosynthesis.
Prognostic significance of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT expression in non‐small‐cell lung cancer and precursor lesions
Authors: Cooper W A , Kohonen‐Corish M R J , Chan C , Kwun S Y , McCaughan B , Kennedy C , Sutherland R L , Lee C‐S 
Published: March 2008

Aims:  To investigate the role of DNA repair proteins and their prognostic significance in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods and results:  A retrospective analysis of 108 cases of stage I–II NSCLC was undertaken. Immunohistochemical expression of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT was assessed using tissue microarrays of paraffin‐embedded samples of invasive carcinoma and precursor lesions. Results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Reduced expression of MLH1 was found in 58.5% of tumours and occurred less frequently in poorly differentiated tumours (P = 0.044) and large cell carcinomas (P = 0.004). MSH2 and MGMT expression was reduced in 18.1% and 77.8% of cases, respectively. There was an inverse relationship between MLH1 and MSH2 expression (P = 0.012). Normal expression of MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT was found in all cases of squamous metaplasia and squamous dysplasia. Only a single case of carcinoma in situ (12.5%) showed reduced MLH1, none showed reduced MSH2 and 25% showed reduced MGMT. Survival analyses showed no prognostic significance based on expression of MLH1 (P = 0.92), MSH2 (P = 0.78) or MGMT (P = 0.57).Conclusions:  Reduction in expression of DNA repair proteins MLH1, MSH2 and MGMT is relatively common in NSCLC, appears to be a late event in the development of invasive malignancy and does not influence survival in this patient cohort.
Evolutionary demography of long‐lived monocarpic perennials: a time‐lagged integral projection model
Authors: Kuss Patrick , Rees Mark , Ægisdóttir Hafdís Hanna , Ellner Stephen P. , Stöcklin Jürg 
Published: March 2008

Summary

The evolution of flowering strategies (when and at what size to flower) in monocarpic perennials is determined by balancing current reproduction with expected future reproduction, and these are largely determined by size‐specific patterns of growth and survival. However, because of the difficulty in following long‐lived individuals throughout their lives, this theory has largely been tested using short‐lived species (< 5 years).
Here, we tested this theory using the long‐lived monocarpic perennial Campanula thyrsoides which can live up to 16 years. We used a novel approach that combined permanent plot and herb chronology data from a 3‐year field study to parameterize and validate integral projection models (IPMs).
Similar to other monocarpic species, the rosette leaves of C. thyrsoides wither over winter and so size cannot be measured in the year of flowering. We therefore extended the existing IPM framework to incorporate an additional time delay that arises because flowering demography must be predicted from rosette size in the year before flowering.
We found that all main demographic functions (growth, survival probability, flowering probability and fecundity) were strongly size‐dependent and there was a pronounced threshold size of flowering. There was good agreement between the predicted distribution of flowering ages obtained from the IPMs and that estimated in the field. Mostly, there was good agreement between the IPM predictions and the direct quantitative field measurements regarding the demographic parameters λ, R0 and T. We therefore conclude that the model captures the main demographic features of the field populations.
Elasticity analysis indicated that changes in the survival and growth function had the largest effect (c. 80%) on λ and this was considerably larger than in short‐lived monocarps. We found only weak selection pressure operating on the observed flowering strategy which was close to the predicted evolutionary stable strategy.
Synthesis. The extended IPM accurately described the demography of a long‐lived monocarpic perennial using data collected over a relatively short period. We could show that the evolution of flowering strategies in short‐ and long‐lived monocarps seem to follow the same general rules but with a longevity‐related emphasis on survival over fecundity.
Physical symptoms that predict psychiatric disorders in rural primary care adults
Authors: Rasmussen Norman H. , Bernard Matthew E. , Harmsen William S. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractRationale, aims and objectives  There is a robust association between physical symptoms and mental distress, but recognition rates of psychiatric disorders by primary care doctors are low. We investigated patient‐reported physical symptoms as predictors of concurrent psychiatric disorders in rural primary care adult outpatients.Method  A convenience sample of 1092 patients were assessed with a two‐stage diagnostic system consisting of a brief screening questionnaire and a clinician‐administered semi‐structured interview that linked common physical symptoms with the concurrent presence of psychiatric disorders.Results  Somatoform physical symptoms were highly predictive of the concurrent presence of a psychiatric disorder, with odds ratios ranging from 10.4 (fainting spells) to 54.6 (shortness of breath). Aggregate analysis of somatoform and non‐somatoform symptoms relative to no physical symptom produced odds ratios of 3.0 or higher for headaches, chest pain, dizziness, sleep problem, shortness of breath, tired or low energy, and fainting spells. As the number of symptoms (especially somatoform) increased, the odds of a psychiatric disorder increased.Conclusion  Although individual physical symptoms are valid triggers for suspecting a psychiatric disorder, the most powerful correlates are total number of physical complaints and somatoform symptom status.
Compliance, attitudes and barriers to post‐operative colorectal cancer follow‐up
Authors: Cardella Jonathan , Coburn Natalie G. , Gagliardi Anna , Maier Barbara‐Anne , Greco Elisa , Last Linda , Smith Andrew J. , Law Calvin , Wright Frances 
Published: March 2008

AbstractRationale  Meta‐analyses demonstrate that surveillance following curative‐intent colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery can improve survival. Our multidisciplinary team adopted a stringent CRC follow‐up (FU) guideline in 2000. The purpose of this study was to assess adherence and barriers to FU for CRC.Methods  Patients with primary CRC aged 19–75 years, treated with curative intent surgery from July 2000 to December 2002 were identified from a prospective database. Compliance with FU was assessed primarily by chart review. We also surveyed patients and providers to explore attitudes and barriers to surveillance adherence using tenets of the Health Belief Model.Results  96 patients met inclusion criteria and were appropriate for FU. Median FU was 34 months. Guideline targets were met for 70% of clinic visits; 49% of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) determinations; and 62% of abdominal imaging studies. Post‐operative colonoscopy did not occur in 6/93 patients. Seventy per cent of health care providers and 55% of patients completed a survey. Access to testing and confusion about which provider orders investigations were identified as important barriers to FU.Conclusion  Patterns of CRC FU were widely variable despite implementation of a guideline. Despite patient and provider agreement with the principles of CRC FU, adoption was inhibited by confusion among multiple providers regarding investigation coordination.
Shared decision making: evaluation of German medical students’ preferences
Authors: Schneider Heide B. , Sandholzer Hagen 
Published: March 2008

AbstractRationale  Current medical student perceptions of patient centredness and the priorities of students for a change in medical care were investigated.Methods  We conducted an observational study using questionnaires at the University of Leipzig in Germany. In total, 188 consecutive medical students attending the Department of General Medicine participated in this study. We investigated students’ priorities for an improvement in medical care related to aspects of the patient–doctor relationship and to aspects of organization.Results  Receiving more information and undergoing the process of shared decision making was the most important choice; selected by 43.2% as their first priority. The second choice was found to be consultation time (16.2%) which also refers to the patient–doctor relationship. Shorter queues for tests, also considered important for more patient autonomy, were ranked third (14.6%). Medical students participating in this study were least interested in access to specialists, cost of medications and continuity of care.Conclusion  For the first time, it is shown that shared decision making, in addition to its many benefits, is not only a patients’, but also a prospective doctors’ top priority. Consequently, medical student training programmes might incorporate shared decision‐making training as an important element of patient centredness.
Temperature responses are a window to the physiology of dark respiration: differences between CO2 release and O2 reduction shed light on energy conservation
Authors: KRUSE JÖRG , HOPMANS PETER , ADAMS MARK A. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTWe showed that temperature responses of dark respiration for foliage of Pinus radiata could be approximated by Arrhenius kinetics, whereby E0 determines shape of the exponential response and denotes overall activation energy of respiratory metabolism. Reproducible and predictable deviation from strict Arrhenius kinetics depended on foliage age, and differed between RCO2 and RO2. Inhibition of oxygen reduction (RO2) by cyanide (inhibiting COX) or SHAM (inhibiting AOX) resulted in reproducible changes of the temperature sensitivity for RO2, but did not affect RCO2. Enthalpic growth – preservation of electrons in anabolic products – could be approximated with knowledge of four variables: activation energies (E0) for both RCO2 and RO2, and basal rates of respiration at a low reference temperature (RREF). Rates of enthalpic growth by P. radiata needles were large in spring due to differences between RREF of oxidative decarboxylation and that of oxygen reduction, while overall activation energies for the two processes were similar. Later during needle development, enthalpic growth was dependent on differences between E0 for RCO2 as compared with RO2, and increased E0(RO2) indicated greater contributions of cytochrome oxidase to accompany the switch from carbohydrate sink to source. Temperature‐dependent increments in stored energy can be calculated as the difference between RCO2▵HCO2 and RO2▵HO2.
Skin blood flow in necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum*
Authors: Ngo Binh , Wigington Greg , Hayes Kristie , Huerter Christopher , Hillman Brandon , Adler Matt , Rendell Marc 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground  Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) is a granulomatous skin reaction found in < 1% of diabetic patients. Our purpose was to determine if NLD represented areas of cutaneous ischemia.Methods  Using laser Doppler flowmetry, we measured cutaneous blood flow in nine diabetic patients at NLD lesions and at contiguous uninvolved sites. Flow values were also determined at several reference sites noncontiguous with the NLD lesions and compared to age‐ and sex‐matched controls: 24 diabetic subjects without skin abnormalities, 18 diabetic patients with dermopathy, and 40 nondiabetic subjects.Results  NLD lesions exhibited significantly higher blood flow (4.8 ± 0.7 ml/min/100 g) than areas of unaffected skin close to the lesions (1.2 ± 0.1 ml/min/100 g) (P < 0.01 for both comparisons). There were no significant differences in flow between normal skin sites in NLD patients and normal sites in diabetic patients without skin lesions.Conclusions  Our findings refute the hypothesis that NLD is a manifestation of microvascular ischemic disease of the skin. The increased blood flow seen in NLD lesions suggests an ongoing inflammatory process.
ADVANCED CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST, FAILED TESTOSTERONE OR STILBOESTROL, TREATED BY PREDNISOLONE*
Authors: SCOTT R. KAYE 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY

A series from private practice of 31 consecutive patients having advanced carcinoma of the breast, having failed treatment with testoterone or stilboestrol was treated with prednisolone.
39% (12/31) showed no objective response.

16% (5/31) showed objective improvement for from 6 to 12 months and then relapsed.13% (4/31) continue in remission 6 months or more but less than 12 months.32% (10/31) had objective improvement lasting more than 12 months.

Of cases at risk:

90% (28/31) have survived three months.83% (25/30) have survived six months.60% (12/20) have survived twelve months.20% (3/15) have survived 24 months.14% (2/14) have survived 30 months.

Prednisolone treatment and factor of age:

No patient in the 30–40 age group showed response. Three‐fifths of the patients (13/22) in the 40–60 age group came into remission.All the patients in the over 60 age group came into remission.

Prednisolone treatment and factor of histological differentiation:

Most of the cases were found to be dedifferentiated carcinomas indicating that many anaplastic car cinomas are still hormone dependent. The few adenocarcinomas in the series did not appear to give different response from the undifferentiated group.

Prednisolone treatment and factor of previous hormone response:

3 of 14 (21%) patients in the series who had not responded previously to Testoterone subsequently showed objective prednisolone remission. A patient failed testosterone, therefore has approximately a 20% chance of benefiting subsequently from prednisolone.9 of 10 (90%) patients who had previously responded to testosterone and relapsed showed subsequent prednisolone remission. Such a patient having benefited and then failed testosterone has approximately 90% chance of subsequent benefit from prednisolone.All of the patients relapsing after stilboestrol response showed subsequent response to prednisolone.
Large Kidneys
Authors: Bloomfield J. A. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe lack of interest in the causes of large kidneys is contrasted with concern over causes and significance of small kidneys. A classification of generalized renal enlargement is suggested. Examples of congenital solitary kidney, medullary sponge kidney, polycystic kidney, hydatid infection and infiltration of Hodgkin's disease are illustrated, and the diagnosis of these is discussed, with particular reference to medullary sponge kidney and related conditions.
The Value of Immediate Intravenous Pyelography
Authors: Goy Ian C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYImmediate intravenous pyelography has been performed over a period of two years in various acute clinical conditions. This procedure was found to be of great value in the diagnosis of nn‐opaque calculi, small calculi in the lower ureter, traumatic conditions, and in the differential diagnosis of the acute abdomen.
Carcinoma of the Female Urethra
Authors: Corlette P. M. C. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYAfter a review of the anatomy, aetiology and symptomatology of urethral carcinoma in the female, the treatment, with particular reference to radiotherapeutic methods, is discussed. Five cases are presented which have all been treated by radon implantation, and the author considers that this represents the most hopeful form of conservative therapy at present available. The high incidence of inguinal gland involvement is pointed out, and it is felt that there is a strong argument for their dissection in all cases.
The Pathology of Ulccrativc Colitis
Authors: Mcgovern V. J. 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYThe initial lesion in ulcerative colitis, whether in the large bowel or small, seems to be congestion and oedema of the submucosa followed by ulceration in a characteristic pattern. Deep ulceration is characteristic of the acute form, while in chronic ulcerative colitis the ulcers are superficial to the muscularis mucosae. While the patterns are characteristic, there is often some degree of overlap and, indeed, one variety can be converted into the other.
Preliminary Experience with Percutaneous Transaxillary Arteriography
Authors: Syme James 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARYA study is presented of the use of a percutaneous transaxillary approach for various types of arteriographic investigation in 57 patients over a period of 14 months, using equipment identical with that long in use at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for renal arteriography. Technical difficulties likely to be encountered in certain groups of patients in whom the method may be required are emphasized, and suggestions offered for coping with them. The nature and incidence of complications are noted. Indications for the method are defined in light of these potential difficulties and complications.
Pulmonary Stenosis: Plain Films and Fluoroscopy
Authors: McMyn J. K. 
Published: March 2008

Summary

The plain film findings in pulmonary valvular stenosis are mentioned with particular reference to the frequent finding of unilateral enlargement of the left branch of the pulmonary artery.
Unilateral expansile pulsation of the left lower lobe branch or left descending branch of the left pulmonary artery is a valuable and pathognomic sign of pulmonary valvular stenosis in the absence of similar expansile pulsation of the descending branch of the right pulmonary artery.