The production and turnover of extramatrical mycelium of ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest soils : role in carbon cycling

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluation of methods to estimate production, biomass and turnover of ectomycorrhizal mycelium in forests soils : A review

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The current state of introduction of human papillomavirus vaccination into national immunisation schedules in Europe: first results of the VENICE2 2010 survey.

The Venice 2 human papillomavirus vaccination survey evaluates the state of introduction of the HPV vaccination into the national immunisation schedules in the 29 participating countries. As of July 2010, 18 countries have integrated this vaccination. The vaccination policy and achievements vary among those countries regarding target age groups, delivery infrastructures and vaccination coverage reached. Financial constraints remain the major obstacle for the 11 countries who have not yet introduced the vaccination

The effect of sacubitril/valsartan on left ventricular myocardial deformation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PARAMOUNT trial)

Background: Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain (GCS) have been shown to be impaired in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. We sought to assess whether treating patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction with sacubitril/valsartan would significantly improve GLS and GCS compared with valsartan alone. Methods and Results: PARAMOUNT (Prospective Comparison of ARNI With ARB on Management of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Trial) was a phase II, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind multicenter trial in 301 patients with New York Heart Association functional class II–III heart failure, a left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%, and an N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide of ≥400 pg/mL. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to sacubitril/valsartan titrated to 200 mg twice daily or valsartan titrated to 160 mg twice daily for 36 weeks. We assessed changes in the GLS and the GCS from baseline to 36 weeks, adjusting for baseline value, in patients with sufficient imaging quality for 2-dimensitonal speckle tracking analysis at both timepoints (n = 60 sacubitril/valsartan, n = 75 valsartan only). GCS was significantly improved at 36 weeks in the sacubitril/valsartan group when compared with the valsartan group (Δ4.42%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67–8.17, P = .021), with no significant difference observed in GLS (Δ0.25%, 95% CI, –1.19 to 1.70, P = .73). Patients with a history of hospitalization for heart failure had a differentially greater improvement in GCS when treated with sacubitril/valsartan. Conclusions: In patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, sacubitril/valsartan improved GCS but not GLS when compared with valsartan during a 36-week period

Genetic Differentiation of the Western Capercaillie Highlights the Importance of South-Eastern Europe for Understanding the Species Phylogeography

The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus L.) is a grouse species of open boreal or high altitude forests of Eurasia. It is endangered throughout most mountain range habitat areas in Europe. Two major genetically identifiable lineages of Western Capercaillie have been described to date: the southern lineage at the species' southernmost range of distribution in Europe, and the boreal lineage. We address the question of genetic differentiation of capercaillie populations from the Rhodope and Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, across the Dinaric Mountains to the Slovenian Alps. The two lineages' contact zone and resulting conservation strategies in this so-far understudied area of distribution have not been previously determined. The results of analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences of 319 samples from the studied populations show that Alpine populations were composed exclusively of boreal lineage; Dinaric populations of both, but predominantly (96%) of boreal lineage; and Rhodope-Rila populations predominantly (>90%) of southern lineage individuals. The Bulgarian mountains were identified as the core area of the southern lineage, and the Dinaric Mountains as the western contact zone between both lineages in the Balkans. Bulgarian populations appeared genetically distinct from Alpine and Dinaric populations and exhibited characteristics of a long-term stationary population, suggesting that they should be considered as a glacial relict and probably a distinct subspecies. Although all of the studied populations suffered a decline in the past, the significantly lower level of genetic diversity when compared with the neighbouring Alpine and Bulgarian populations suggests that the isolated Dinaric capercaillie is particularly vulnerable to continuing population decline. The results are discussed in the context of conservation of the species in the Balkans, its principal threats and legal protection status. Potential conservation strategies should consider the existence of the two lineages and their vulnerable Dinaric contact zone and support the specificities of the populations

Belowground Biodiversity Relates Positively to Ecosystem Services of European Forests

Environmental Biolog