Intensive Habitat Loss in South Spain: Arborescent Scrubs with <em>Ziziphus</em> (5220*)

The habitat arborescent matorral with Ziziphus (5220*) was included in the Habitats Directive of the European Commission. These plant formations represent the maximum potential vegetation in a very restrictive arid environment, since it encompasses endemic, tropical, or Maghrebian floristic elements, and from other areas of the ancient Thetis Sea. In fact, the version of this community with Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. [=Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell] constitutes extraordinarily singular flora formations in the Iberian southeast. These are unique communities in Europe and ecologically extremely valuable and, however, have been included among the Europe’s most endangered habitats. The vast economic development experienced in South Spain based on the remarkable transformation of traditional farming patterns into a highly profitable agriculture that uses industrial production methods and the groundwater intensively (agriculture intensification and land-use change), in addition to urbanization without sustainable land planning, determines that European G. senegalensis populations are seriously threatened by severe habitat destruction and fragmentation

Cancer Survival in Adults in Spain: A Population-Based Study of the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN)

© 2022.This document is made available under the CC-BY 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by /4.0/ This document is the published version of a published work that appeared in final form in CancersThe assessment of cancer survival at the population level is essential for monitoring progress in cancer control. We aimed to assess cancer survival and its trends in adults in Spain. Individual records of 601,250 adults with primary cancer diagnosed during 2002-2013 and followed up to 2015 were included from 13 population-based cancer registries. We estimated net survival up to five years after diagnosis and analyzed absolute changes between 2002-2007 and 2008-2013. Estimates were age-standardized. Analyses were performed for 29 cancer groups, by age and sex. Overall, age-standardized five-year net survival was higher in women (61.7%, 95% CI 61.4-62.1%) than in men (55.3%, 95% CI 55.0-55.6%), and ranged by cancer from 7.2% (pancreas) to 89.6% (prostate) in men, and from 10.0% (pancreas) to 93.1% (thyroid) in women in the last period. Survival declined with age, showing different patterns by cancer. Between both periods, age-standardized five-year net survival increased overall by 3.3% (95% CI 3.0-3.7%) in men and 2.5% (95% CI 2.0-3.0%) in women, and for most cancer groups. Improvements were greater in patients younger than 75 years than in older patients. Chronic myeloid leukemia and myeloma showed the largest increases. Among the most common malignancies, the greatest absolute increases in survival were observed for colon (5.0%, 95% CI 4.0-6.0%) and rectal cancers (4.5%, 95% CI 3.2-5.9%). Survival improved even for some cancers with poor prognosis (pancreas, esophagus, lung, liver, and brain cancer). Further investigation of possible sociodemographic inequalities is warranted. This study contributes to the evaluation of cancer control and health services' effectiveness

Robust fabrication of electrospun-like polymer mats to direct cell behaviour

Currently, cell culture systems that include nanoscale topography are widely used in order to provide cells additional cues closer to the in vivo environment, seeking to mimic the natural extracellular matrix. Electrospinning is one of the most common techniques to produce nanofiber mats. However, since many sensitive parameters play an important role in the process, a lack of reproducibility is a major drawback. Here we present a simple and robust methodology to prepare reproducible electrospun-like samples. It consists of a polydimethylsiloxane mold reproducing the fiber pattern to solvent-cast a polymer solution and obtain the final sample. To validate this methodology, poly( L-lactic) acid ( PLLA) samples were obtained and, after characterisation, bioactivity and ability to direct cell response were assessed. C2C12 myoblasts developed focal adhesions on the electrospun-like fibers and, when cultured under myogenic differentiation conditions, similar differentiation levels to electrospun PLLA fibers were obtained.The support of ERC through HealInSynergy (306990) and FPU program AP2009-3626 is acknowledged.Ballester Beltrán, J.; Lebourg., MM.; Capella Monsonís, H.; Díaz Lantada, A.; Salmerón Sánchez, M. (2014). Robust fabrication of electrospun-like polymer mats to direct cell behaviour. Biofabrication. 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1088/1758-5082/6/3/035009S6

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 3

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment at global level of Crepis lacera Ten subsp. titani (Pamp.) Roma-Marzio, G.Astuti & Peruzzi and Anthyllis hermanniae L. subsp. sicula Brullo & Giusso and the regional assessment of Commicarpus plumbagineus (Cav.) Standl. (Spain and Europe) and Ambrosia maritima L. (Italy)

Living biointerfaces based on non-pathogenic bacteria to direct cell differentiation

Genetically modified Lactococcus lactis, non-pathogenic bacteria expressing the FNIII7-10 fibronectin fragment as a protein membrane have been used to create a living biointerface between synthetic materials and mammalian cells. This FNIII7-10 fragment comprises the RGD and PHSRN sequences of fibronectin to bind α5β1 integrins and triggers signalling for cell adhesion, spreading and differentiation. We used L. lactis strain to colonize material surfaces and produce stable biofilms presenting the FNIII7-10 fragment readily available to cells. Biofilm density is easily tunable and remains stable for several days. Murine C2C12 myoblasts seeded over mature biofilms undergo bipolar alignment and form differentiated myotubes, a process triggered by the FNIII7-10 fragment. This biointerface based on living bacteria can be further modified to express any desired biochemical signal, establishing a new paradigm in biomaterial surface functionalisation for biomedical applications

Population-based prevalence of cervical infection with human papillomavirus genotypes 16 and 18 and other high risk types in Tlaxcala, Mexico

This study was supported by the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, the Coordinación de Investigación en Salud del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, the Secretaría de Salud Tlaxcala, the Instituto Nacional de las Mujeres, and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [FOSISS 2013 202468]. Additional support has been provided by Roche Diagnostics, BD Diagnostics, DICIPA and Arbor Vita Corporation. The study sponsors did not played a role in designing the study, collecting, analyzing or interpreting the data, writing the report, or submitting this paper for publication. UC Berkeley Center for Global Public Health, Schoeneman Grant, Joint Medical Program Thesis Grant, and Cancer Research UK (C569/A10404)

Patient, tumor, and healthcare factors associated with regional variability in lung cancer survival: a Spanish high‑resolution population‑based study

Purpose The third most frequently diagnosed cancer in Europe in 2018 was lung cancer; it is also the leading cause of cancer death in Europe. We studied patient and tumor characteristics, and patterns of healthcare provision explaining regional variability in lung cancer survival in southern Spain. Methods A population-based cohort study included all 1196 incident first invasive primary lung cancer (C33–C34 according to ICD-10) cases diagnosed between 2010 and 2011 with follow-up until April 2015. Data were drawn from local population-based cancer registries and patients’ hospital medical records from all public and private hospitals from two regions in southern Spain. Results There was evidence of regional differences in lung cancer late diagnosis (58% stage IV in Granada vs. 65% in Huelva, p value < 0.001). Among patients with stage I, only 67% received surgery compared with 0.6% of patients with stage IV. Patients treated with a combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery had a 2-year mortality risk reduction of 94% compared with patients who did not receive any treatment (excess mortality risk 0.06; 95% CI 0.02–0.16). Geographical differences in survival were observed between the two regions: 35% vs. 26% at 1-year since diagnosis. Conclusions The observed geographic differences in survival between regions are due in part to the late cancer diagnosis which determines the use of less effective therapeutic options. Results from our study justify the need for promoting lung cancer early detection strategies and the harmonization of the best practice in lung cancer management and treatment.Maria Jose Sanchez Perez is supported by the Andalusian Department of Health: Research, Development, and Innovation Office project grant PI-0152/2017. Miguel Angel Luque-Fernandez is supported by the Spanish National Institute of Health, Carlos III Miguel Servet I Investigator Award (CP17/00206)

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in clinical practice: Hepatitis C virus patients with advanced fibrosis

AIM: To evaluates the effectiveness and safety of the first generation, NS3/4A protease inhibitors (PIs) in clinical practice against chronic C virus, especially in patients with advanced fibrosis. METHODS: Prospective study and non-experimental analysis of a multicentre cohort of 38 Spanish hospitals that includes patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1, treatment-nai¨ve (TN) or treatment-experienced (TE), who underwent triple therapy with the first generation NS3/4A protease inhibitors, boceprevir (BOC) and telaprevir (TVR), in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The patients were treatment in routine practice settings. Data on the study population and on adverse clinical and virologic effects were compiled during the treatment period and during follow up. RESULTS: One thousand and fifty seven patients were included, 405 (38%) were treated with BOC and 652 (62%) with TVR. Of this total, 30% (n = 319) were TN and the remaining were TE: 28% (n = 298) relapsers, 12% (n = 123) partial responders (PR), 25% (n = 260) null-responders (NR) and for 5% (n = 57) with prior response unknown. The rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) by intention-to-treatment (ITT) was greater in those treated with TVR (65%) than in those treated with BOC (52%) (P < 0.0001), whereas by modified intention-to-treatment (mITT) no were found significant differences. By degree of fibrosis, 56% of patients were F4 and the highest SVR rates were recorded in the non-F4 patients, both TN and TE. In the analysis by groups, the TN patients treated with TVR by ITT showed a higher SVR (P = 0.005). However, by mITT there were no significant differences between BOC and TVR. In the multivariate analysis by mITT, the significant SVR factors were relapsers, IL28B CC and non-F4; the type of treatment (BOC or TVR) was not significant. The lowest SVR values were presented by the F4-NR patients, treated with BOC (46%) or with TVR (45%). 28% of the patients interrupted the treatment, mainly by non-viral response (51%): this outcome was more frequent in the TE than in the TN patients (57% vs 40%, P = 0.01). With respect to severe haematological disorders, neutropaenia was more likely to affect the patients treated with BOC (33% vs 20%, P = 0.0001), and thrombocytopaenia and anaemia, the F4 patients (P = 0.000, P = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: In a real clinical practice setting with a high proportion of patients with advanced fibrosis, effectiveness of first-generation PIs was high except for NR patients, with similar SVR rates being achieved by BOC and TVR

Interaction between acrylic substrates and RAD16-I peptide in its self-assembling

[EN] Self-assembling peptides (SAP) are widely used as scaffolds themselves, and recently as fillers of microporous scaffolds, where the former provides a cell-friendly nanoenvironment and the latter improves its mechanical properties. The characterization of the interaction between these short peptides and the scaffold material is crucial to assess the potential of such a combined system. In this work, the interaction between poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) and 90/10 ethyl acrylate-acrylic acid copolymer P(EAcoAAc) with the SAP RAD16-I has been followed using a bidimensional simplified model. By means of the techniques of choice (congo red staining, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements) the interaction and self-assembly of the peptide has proven to be very sensitive to the wettability and electro-negativity of the polymeric substrate.The authors acknowledge funding through the European Commission FP7 project RECATABI (NMP3-SL-2009-229239), and from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion through projects MAT2011-28791-C03-02 and -03. This work was also supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion through M. Arnal-Pastor FPU 2009-1870 grant. The authors acknowledge the assistance and advice of Electron Microscopy Service of the UPV.Arnal Pastor, MP.; González-Mora, D.; García-Torres, F.; Monleón Pradas, M.; Vallés Lluch, A. (2016). Interaction between acrylic substrates and RAD16-I peptide in its self-assembling. Journal of Polymer Research. 23(9):173-184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-016-1069-3S173184239Davis ME, Motion JP, Narmoneva DA, Takahashi T, Hakuno D, Kamm RD, Zhang S, Lee RT (2005) Injectable self-assembling peptide nanofibers create intramyocardial microenvironments for endothelial cells. Circulation 111(4):442–450Zhang S, Lockshin C, Cook R, Rich A (1994) Unusually stable beta-sheet formation in an ionic self-complementary oligopeptide. Biopolymers 34:663–672Zhang S, Altman M (1999) Peptide self-assembly in functional polymer science and engineering. Reac Func Polym 41:91–102Zhang S, Gelain F, Zhao X (2005) Designer self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffolds for 3D tissue cell cultures. Semin Cancer Biol 15(5):413–420Zhang S, Zhao X, Spirio L, PuraMatrix (2005) Self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffolds. In: Ma PX, Elisseeff J (eds) Scaffolding in tissue Engineering. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 217–238Sieminski AL, Semino CE, Gong H, Kamm RD (2008) Primary sequence of ionic self-assembling peptide gels affects endothelial cell adhesion and capillary morphogenesis. J Biomed Mater Res A 87(2):494–504Quintana L, Fernández Muiños T, Genove E, Del Mar Olmos M, Borrós S, Semino CE (2009) Early tissue patterning recreated by mouse embryonic fibroblasts in a three-dimensional environment. Tissue Eng Part A 15(1):45–54Garreta E, Genové E, Borrós S, Semino CE (2006) Osteogenic differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts in a three-dimensional self-assembling peptide scaffold. Tissue Eng 12(8):2215–2227Semino CE, Merok JR, Crane GG, Panagiotakos G, Zhang S (2003) Functional differentiation of hepatocyte-like spheroid structures from putative liver progenitor cells in three-dimensional peptide scaffolds. Differentiation 71:262–270Thonhoff JR, Lou DI, Jordan PM, Zhao X, Compatibility WP (2008) Of human fetal neural stem cells with hydrogel biomaterials in vitro. Brain Res 1187:42–51Tokunaga M, Liu ML, Nagai T, Iwanaga K, Matsuura K, Takahashi T, Kanda M, Kondo N, Wang P, Naito AT, Komuro I (2010) Implantation of cardiac progenitor cells using self-assembling peptide improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction. J Mol Cell Cardiol 49(6):972–983Takei J (2006) 3-Dimensional cell culture scaffold for everyone: drug screening. Tissue engineering and cancer biology. AATEX 11(3):170–176McGrath AM, Novikova LN, Novikov LN, Wiberg MBD (2010) ™ PuraMatrix™ peptide hydrogel seeded with Schwann cells for peripheral nerve regeneration. Brain Res Bull 83(5):207–213Wang W, Itoh S, Matsuda A, Aizawa T, Demura M, Ichinose S, Shinomiya K, Tanaka J (2008) Enhanced nerve regeneration through a bilayered chitosan tube: The effect ofintroduction of glycine spacer into the CYIGSR sequence. J Biomed Mater Res Part A 85:919–928Sargeant TD, Guler MO, Oppenheimer SM, Mata A, Satcher RL, Dunand DC, Stupp SI (2008) Hybrid bone implants: self-assembly of peptide amphiphile nanofibers within porous titanium. Biomaterials 29(2):161–171Vallés-Lluch A, Arnal-Pastor M, Martínez-Ramos C, Vilariño-Feltrer G, Vikingsson L, Castells-Sala C, Semino CE, Monleón Pradas M (2013) Combining self-assembling peptide gels with three-dimensional elastomer scaffolds. Acta Biomater 9(12):9451–9460Valles-Lluch A, Arnal-Pastor M, Martinez-Ramos C, Vilarino-Feltrer G, Vikingsson L, Monleon Pradas M (2013) Grid polymeric scaffolds with polypeptide gel filling as patches for infarcted tissue regeneration. Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2013:6961–6964Soler-Botija C, Bagó JR, Llucià-Valldeperas A, Vallés-Lluch A, Castells-Sala C, Martínez-Ramos C, Fernández-Muiños T, Chachques JC, Monleón Pradas M, Semino CE, Bayes-Genis A (2014) Engineered 3D bioimplants using elastomeric scaffold, self-assembling peptide hydrogel, and adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells for cardiac regeneration. Am J Transl Res 6(3):291–301Martínez-Ramos M, Arnal-Pastor M, Vallés-Lluch A, Monleón Pradas M (2015) Peptide gel in a scaffold as a composite matrix for endothelial cells. J Biomed Mater Res Part A 103 A:3293–3302Rico P, Rodríguez Hernández JC, Moratal D, Altankov G, Monleón Pradas M, Salmerón-Sánchez M (2009) Substrate-induced assembly of fibronectin into networks: influence of surface chemistry and effect on osteoblast adhesion. Tissue Eng Part A 15(11):3271–3281Gugutkov D, Altankov G, Rodríguez Hernández JC, Monleón Pradas M, Salmerón Sánchez M (2010) Fibronectin activity on substrates with controlled -OH density. J Biomed Mater Res A 92(1):322–331Rodríguez Hernández JC, Salmerón Sánchez M, Soria JM, Gómez Ribelles JL, Monleón Pradas M (2007) Substrate chemistry-dependent conformations of single laminin molecules on polymer surfaces are revealed by the phase signal of atomic force microscopy. Biophys J 93(1):202–207Cantini M, Rico P, Moratal D, Salmerón-Sánchez M (2012) Controlled wettability, same chemistry: biological activity of plasma-polymerized coatings. Soft Matter 8:5575–5584Anselme K, Ponche A, Bigerelle M (2010) Relative influence of surface topography and surface chemistry on cell response to bone implant materials. Part 2: biological aspects. Proc Inst Mech Eng H J Eng Med 224:1487–1507Hartgerink JD, Beniash E, Stupp SI (2002) Peptide-amphiphile nanofibers: a versatile scaffold for the preparation of self-assembling materials. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99(8):5133–5138Busscher HJ, Vanpelt AWJ, Deboer P, Dejong HP, Arends J (1984) The effect of surface roughening of polymers on measured contact angles of liquids. Colloids Surf 9:319–331Birdi, KS. (1997) Surface tension of polymers. In: Yildrim Erbil H, ed. Handbook of surface and colloid chemistry CRC Press, Boca Raton, p. 292.Collier JH (2003) MessersmithPB.Enzymatic modification of self-assembled peptide structures with tissue transglutaminase. Bioconjug Chem 14(4):748–755Kakiuchi Y, Hirohashi N, Murakami-Murofushi K (2013) The macroscopic structure of RADA16 peptide hydrogel stimulates monocyte/macrophage differentiation in HL60 cells via cholesterol synthesis. BiochemBiophys Res Commun 433(3):298–304Pérez-Garnes M, González-García C, Moratal D, Rico P, Salmerón-Sánchez M (2011) Fibronectin distribution on demixednanoscale topographies. Int J Artif Organs 34(1):54–63Salmerón-Sánchez M, Rico P, Moratal D, Lee TT, Schwarzbauer JE, García AJ (2011) Role of material-driven fibronectin fibrillogenesis in cell differentiation. Biomaterials 32(8):2099–2105Ye Z, Zhang H, Luo H, Wang S, Zhou Q, DU X, et al. (2008) Temperature and pH effects on biophysical and morphological properties of self-assembling peptide RADA16-I. J Pept Sci 14:152–162Keselowsky BG, Collard DM, García AJ (2004) Surface chemistry modulates focal adhesion composition and signaling through changes in integrin binding. Biomaterials 25:5947–5954Scotchford CA, Gilmore CP, Cooper E, Leggett GJ, Downes S (2002) Protein adsorption and human osteoblast-like cell attachment and growth on alkylthiol on gold self-assembled monolayers. J Biomed Mater Res 59:84–99Coelho NM, González-García C, Planell JA, Salmerón-Sánchez M, Altankov G (2010) Different assembly of type IV collagen on hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrata alters endothelial cells interaction. Eur Cell Mater 19:262–272Briz N, Antolinos-Turpin CM, Alió J, Garagorri N, Gómez Ribelles JL, Gómez-Tejedor JA (2013) Fibronectin fixation on poly(ethyl acrylate)-based copolymers. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 101(6):991–997Owens DK, Wendt RC (1969) Estimation of the surface free energy of polymers. J Appl Polym Sci 13(8):1741–1747Soria JM, Martínez Ramos C, Bahamonde O, García Cruz DM, Salmerón Sánchez M, García Esparza MA, Casas C, Guzmán M, Navarro X, Gómez Ribelles JL, García Verdugo JM, Monleón Pradas M, Barcia JA (2007) Influence of the substrate's hydrophilicity on the in vitro Schwann cells viability. J Biomed Mater Res A 83(2):463–470Van Krevelen, DW. (1997) Properties of polymers. Chapter 13 mechanical properties of solid polymers. 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Is salinity the main ecologic factor that shapes the distribution of two endemic Mediterranean plant species of the genus Gypsophila?

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11104-014-2218-2Aims Responses to salt stress of two Gypsophila species that share territory, but with different ecological optima and distribution ranges, were analysed. G. struthium is a regionally dominant Iberian endemic gypsophyte, whereas G. tomentosa is a narrow endemic reported as halophyte. Theworking hypothesis is that salt tolerance shapes the presence of these species in their specific habitats. Methods Taking a multidisciplinary approach, we assessed the soil characteristics and vegetation structure at the sampling site, seed germination and seedling development, growth and flowering, synthesis of proline and cation accumulation under artificial conditions of increasing salt stress and effect of PEG on germination and seedling development. Results Soil salinity was low at the all sampling points where the two species grow, but moisture was higher in the area of G. tomentosa. Differences were found in the species salt and drought tolerance. The different parameters tested did not show a clear pattern indicating the main role of salt tolerance in plant distribution. Conclusions G. tomentosa cannot be considered a true halophyte as previously reported because it is unable to complete its life cycle under salinity. The presence of G. tomentosa in habitats bordering salt marshes is a strategy to avoid plant competition and extreme water stressSoriano, P.; Moruno Manchón, JF.; Boscaiu Neagu, MT.; Vicente Meana, Ó.; Hurtado, A.; Llinares Palacios, JV.; Estrelles, E. (2014). Is salinity the main ecologic factor that shapes the distribution of two endemic Mediterranean plant species of the genus Gypsophila?. Plant and Soil. 384(1-2):363-379. doi:10.1007/s11104-014-2218-2S3633793841-2Alonso MA (1996) Flora y vegetación del Valle de Villena (Alicante). Instituto de Cultura Juan Gil-Albert, AlicanteAlvarado JJ, Ruiz JM, López-Cantarero I, Molero J, Romero L (2000) Nitrogen metabolism in five plant species characteristic of gypsiferous soils. Plant Physiol 156:612–616Ashraf M, Foolad MR (2007) Roles of glycine betaine and proline in improving plant abiotic stress resistance. Environ Exp Bot 59:206–216Ashraf MY (2009) Salt tolerance mechanisms in some halophytes from Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Res J Agric Biol Sci 5:191–206Bates LS, Waldren RP, Tear LD (1973) Rapid determination of free proline for water-stress studies. Plant Soil 39:205–207Ben-Gal A, Neori-Borochov H, Yermiyahu U, Shani U (2009) Is osmotic potential a more appropriate property than electrical conductivity for evaluating whole plant response to salinity? Environ Exp Bot 65:232–237Biondi E (2011) Phytosociology today: Methodological and conceptual evolution. Plant Biosyst 145:19–29Boscaiu M, Bautista I, Lidón A, Llinares J, Lull C, Donat P, Mayoral O, Vicente O (2013a) Environmental-dependent proline accumulation in plants living on gypsum soils. Acta Physiol Plant 35:2193–2204Boscaiu M, Llul C, Llinares J, Vicente O, Boira H (2013b) Proline as a biochemical marker in relation to the ecology of two halophytic Juncus species. J Plant Ecol 6:177–186Bradford KJ (1990) A water relations analysis of seed germination rates. Plant Physiol 94:840–849Breckle SW (1999) Halophytic and gypsophytic vegetation of the Ebro-Basin at Los Monegros. In: Melic A, Blasco-Zumeta J (eds) Manifiesto científico por Los Monegros, vol 24, Bol. SEA., pp 101–104Brenchley JL, Probert RJ (1998) Seed germination responses to some environmental factors in the sea grass Zoostera capricorni from eastern Australia. Aquat Bot 62:177–188Cañadas EM, Ballesteros M, Valle F, Lorite J (2013) Does gypsum influence seed germination? Turk J Bot 38:141–147Chen Z, Cuin TA, Zhou M et al (2007) Compatible solute accumulation and stress-mitigating effects in barley genotypes contrasting in their salt tolerance. J Exp Bot 58:4245–4255Chutipaijit S, Cha-Um S, Sompornailin K (2009) Differential accumulation of proline and flavonoids in Indica rice varieties against salinity. Pak J Bot 41:2497–2506Cushman JC (2001) Osmoregulation in plants: implications for agriculture. Am Zool 41:758–769Debussche M, Thompson JD (2003) Habitat differentiation between two closely related Mediterranean plant species, the endemic Cyclamen balearicum and the widespread C. repandum. Acta Oecol 24:35–45Eskandari H, Kazemi K (2011) Germination and seedling properties of different wheat cultivars under salinity conditions. Not Sci Biol 3:130–134FAO (2006) Guidelines for soil descriptions, 5th edn. Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nation, RomeFerrandis P, Herranz JM, Copete MA (2005) Caracterización florística y edáfica de las estepas yesosas de Castilla-La Mancha. Invest Agrar Sist Recur For 14:195–216Flowers TJ, Hall JL (1978) Salt tolerance in Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum. The effect of sodium chloride on growth and soluble enzymes in a comparative study with Pisum sativum L. J Exp Bot 23:310–321Flowers TJ, Colmer TD (2008) Salinity tolerance in halophytes. New Phytol 179:945–963Flowers TJ, Hajibagheri MA, Clipson NJW (1986) Halophytes. Q Rev Biol 61:313–335García-Fuentes A, Salazar C, Torres JA, Cano E, Valle F (2001) Review of communities of Lygeum spartum L. in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula (western Mediterranean). J Arid Environ 48:323–339Géhu JM (2006) Dictionnaire de Sociologie et Synécologie Végétales. J. Cramer, Berlin-Stuttgart, p 899Géhu JM (2011) On the opportunity to celebrate the centenary of modern phytosociology in 2010. Plant Biosyst 145(suppl):4–8Ghassemi F, Jakeman AJ, Nix HA (1995) Salinisation of land and water resources: human causes, extent, management and case studies. Canberra, Australia. CAB International, The Australian National University, WallingfordGrigore MN, Boscaiu M, Vicente O (2011) Assessment of the relevance of osmolyte biosynthesis for salt tolerance of halophytes under natural conditions. Eur J Plant Sci Biotech 5:12–19Grigore MN, Villanueva M, Boscaiu M, Vicente O (2012a) Do halophytes really require salts for their growth and development? An experimental approach mitigation of salt stress-induced inhibition of Plantago crassifolia reproductive development by supplemental calcium or magnesium. Not Sci Biol 4:23–29Grigore MN, Boscaiu M, Llinares J, Vicente O (2012b) Mitigation of salt stressed-induced Inhibition of Plantago crassifolia reproductive development by supplemental calcium or magnesium. Not Bot Horti Agrobo 40:58–66Hare PD, Cress WA (1997) Metabolic implications of stress-induced proline accumulation in plants. Plant Growth Regul 21:79–102Ishikawa SI, Kachi N (2000) Differential salt tolerance of two Artemisia species growing in contrasting coastal habitats. Ecol Res 15:241–247Kebreab E, Murdoch AJ (1999) Modelling the effects of water stress and temperature on germination rate of Orobanche aegyptiaca seeds. J Exp Bot 50:655–664Khan MA (2002) Halophyte seed germination: Success and Pitfalls. In: Hegazi AM, El-Shaer HM, El-Demerdashe S et al (eds) International symposium on optimum resource utilization in salt affected ecosystems in arid and semi arid regions. Desert Research Centre, Cairo, pp 346–358Khan MA, Gul B, Weber DJ (2000) Germination responses of Salicornia rubra to temperature and salinity. J Arid Environ 45:207–214Khan A, Rayner GD (2003) Robustness to non-normality of common tests for the many-sample location problem. 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