bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The appropriateness of, and compliance with, telephone triage decisions: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Blank Lindsay , Coster Joanne , O’Cathain Alicia , Knowles Emma , Tosh Jonathan , Turner Janette , Nicholl Jon
Published: June 2012

Aim.  This paper is a report of the synthesis of evidence on the appropriateness of, and compliance with, telephone triage decisions.

Background.  Telephone triage plays an important role in managing demand for health care. Important questions are whether triage decisions are appropriate and patients comply with them.

Data sources.  CINAHL, Cochrane Clinical Trials Database, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Psyc Info were searched between 1980–June 2010.

Design.  Literature review: Rapid Evidence Synthesis.

Review methods.  The principles of rapid evidence assessment were followed.

Results.  We identified 54 relevant papers: 26 papers reported appropriateness of triage decision, 26 papers reported compliance with triage decision, and 2 papers reported both. Nurses triaged calls in most of the studies (n = 49). Triage decisions rated as appropriate varied between 44–98% and compliance ranged from 56–98%. Variation could not be explained by type of service or method of assessing appropriateness. However, inconsistent definitions of appropriateness may explain some variation. Triage decisions to contact primary care may have lower compliance than decisions to contact emergency services or self care.

Conclusion.  Telephone triage services can offer appropriate decisions and decisions that callers comply with. However, the association between the appropriateness of a decision and subsequent compliance requires further investigation and further consideration needs to be given to the minority of calls which are inappropriately managed. We suggest that a definition of appropriateness incorporating both accuracy and adequacy of triage decision should be encouraged.
Peer‐led diabetes self‐management programme for community‐dwelling older people in China: study protocol for a quasi‐experimental design
Authors: Shen Huixia , Edwards Helen , Courtney Mary , McDowell Jan , Wu Ming
Published: June 2012

Aim.  A protocol for a new peer‐led self‐management programme for community‐dwelling older people with diabetes in Shanghai, China.

Background.  The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes poses major public health challenges. Appropriate education programmes could help people with diabetes to achieve self‐management and better health outcomes. Providing education programmes to the fast growing number of people with diabetes present a real challenge to Chinese healthcare system, which is strained for personnel and funding shortages. Empirical literature and expert opinions suggest that peer education programmes are promising.

Design.  Quasi‐experimental.

Methods.  This study is a non‐equivalent control group design (protocol approved in January, 2008). A total of 190 people, with 95 participants in each group, will be recruited from two different, but similar, communities. The programme, based on Social Cognitive Theory, will consist of basic diabetes instruction and social support and self‐efficacy enhancing group activities. Basic diabetes instruction sessions will be delivered by health professionals, whereas social support and self‐efficacy enhancing group activities will be led by peer leaders. Outcome variables include: self‐efficacy, social support, self‐management behaviours, depressive status, quality of life and healthcare utilization, which will be measured at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks.

Discussion.  This theory‐based programme tailored to Chinese patients has potential for improving diabetes self‐management and subsequent health outcomes. In addition, the delivery mode, through involvement of peer leaders and existing community networks, is especially promising considering healthcare resource shortage in China.
Are adults with intellectual disabilities socially excluded? An exploratory study in Taiwan
Authors: Wang Y‐T.
Published: June 2012

Background  The aim of this exploratory study is to examine to what extent adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Taiwan are socially excluded and to identify the factors that are potentially associated with such social exclusion.

Methods  The research method of this study is secondary data analysis, using descriptive and χ2 statistical analysis. Two data sets, from the 2003 and 2006 surveys entitled ‘Survey of Living Situation for People with Disabilities in Taiwan’, were used (n = 572; n = 618). In addition, ‘independent living/living within the community’ (as opposed to residing in an institution), ‘employment’ and ‘household economic situation/residing in a low‐income household’ were social exclusion indicators in this study.

Results  The results revealed that in the 2003 (2006) survey, 81.9% (79.6%) of the subjects fell into at least one category of social exclusion, 11.3% (12.3%) fell into two or more categories and 0.2% (1.1%) fell into all three categories. Moreover, older women with ID, with no spouse or partner, lower educational levels and greater severity of the disability had a significantly greater likelihood of being subjected to more categories of social exclusion.

Conclusions  The finding that the proportion of adults with ID and no social exclusion has risen from 18.1% in 2003 to 20.4% in 2006 represents an encouraging trend. However, there has been a marked increase in the proportion of the subjects with more categories of social exclusion, particularly with regard to those who have to endure all three categories, from 0.2% in 2003, to 1.1% in 2006. This implies that, at the time of the last survey, there was still considerable room for improvement in the social inclusion of adults with ID in Taiwan.
The concept of quality of life and its role in enhancing human rights in the field of intellectual disability
Authors: Verdugo M. A. , Navas P. , Gómez L. E. , Schalock R. L.
Published: June 2012

Background The changed societal views of persons with disabilities are reflected in the 2006 United NationsConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.However, what is not specified in the Convention is how to operationalise and measure the Articles composing the Convention, and how to use that information to further enhance the human rights of persons with disabilities.

Method The authors analyse the relationships between eight core quality of life domains and the 34 Articles contained in the Convention.

Results There is a close relationship between the core quality of life domains and the 34 Articles contained in the Convention. Furthermore, the current status of these Articles can be evaluated through the assessment of indicators associated with the eight core quality of life domains.

Conclusions Based on the assessment of these quality of life‐related outcomes, three strategies can be used to enhance the human rights of persons with intellectual disability. These three are to employ person‐centred planning, publish provider profiles and implement a system of support.
Promoting social inclusion through Unified Sports for youth with intellectual disabilities: a five‐nation study
Authors: McConkey R. , Dowling S. , Hassan D. , Menke S.
Published: June 2012

Background  Although the promotion of social inclusion through sports has received increased attention with other disadvantaged groups, this is not the case for children and adults with intellectual disability who experience marked social isolation. The study evaluated the outcomes from one sports programme with particular reference to the processes that were perceived to enhance social inclusion.

Method  The Youth Unified Sports programme of Special Olympics combines players with intellectual disabilities (called athletes) and those without intellectual disabilities (called partners) of similar skill level in the same sports teams for training and competition. Alongside the development of sporting skills, the programme offers athletes a platform to socialise with peers and to take part in the life of their community. Unified football and basketball teams from five countries – Germany, Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Ukraine – participated. Individual and group interviews were held with athletes, partners, coaches, parents and community leaders: totalling around 40 informants per country.

Results  Qualitative data analysis identified four thematic processes that were perceived by informants across all countries and the two sports to facilitate social inclusion of athletes. These were: (1) the personal development of athletes and partners; (2) the creation of inclusive and equal bonds; (3) the promotion of positive perceptions of athletes; and (4) building alliances within local communities.

Conclusions  Unified Sports does provide a vehicle for promoting the social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities that is theoretically credible in terms of social capital scholarship and which contains lessons for advancing social inclusion in other contexts. Nonetheless, certain limitations are identified that require further consideration to enhance athletes' social inclusion in the wider community.
Pushing the resolution limits in cryo electron tomography of biological structures
Authors: DIEBOLDER CHRISTOPH. A. , KOSTER ABRAHAM J. , KONING ROMAN I.
Published: June 2012

Cryo electron tomography is a three‐dimensional imaging technique that is suitable for imaging snapshots of the structural arrangements of biomolecular complexes and macromolecules, both in vitro and in the context of the cell. In terms of attainable resolution, cryo electron tomographic reconstructions now show resolvable details in the 5–10 nm range, connecting optical microscopy with molecular imaging techniques. In view of the current developments in super‐resolution light microscopy and correlative light and electron microscopy, cryo electron tomography will be increasingly important in structural biology as a tool to bridge light microscopy with molecular imaging techniques like NMR, X‐ray diffraction and single particle electron microscopy. In cell biology, one goal, often referred to as visual proteomics, is the molecular mapping of whole cells. To achieve this goal and link cryo electron tomography to these high‐resolution techniques, increasing the attainable resolution to 2–5 nm is vital. Here, we provide an overview of technical factors that limit the resolution in cryo electron tomography and discuss how during data acquisition and image processing these can be optimized to attain the highest possible resolution. Also, existing resolution measurement approaches and current technological developments that potentially increase the resolution in cryo electron tomography are discussed.
Potential effects of tooth‐brushing on human dentin wear following exposure to acidic soft drinks
Authors: CHOI S , PARK K.‐H. , CHEONG Y , MOON S.W. , PARK Y.‐G. , PARK H.‐K.
Published: June 2012

This study used scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to examine the short‐term potential effects of brushing time and the start‐time of tooth‐brushing after demineralization on primary dentin wear in vitro. Thirty‐six noncarious primary central incisors were assigned to 12 experimental groups. Exposure to cola drinks was used to initiate the demineralization process. Three brushing times (5, 15 and 30 s) and four start‐times of brushing (0, 30, 60 and 120 min) after an erosive attack were used for the abrasion process. Tooth‐brushing the softened dentin surface led to increases in the open tubular fraction and microstructural changes on the dentin surface. Brushing immediately after exposure to cola resulted in the greatest irreversible dentin loss, whereas brushing 60 or 120 min after pretreatment resulted in the least irreversible dentin loss. However, brushing time had no effect on the irreversible loss of dentin wear. Based on these experimental results, tooth‐brushing should be performed at least 60 min after consuming a cola drink to achieve the desired tooth cleaning and avoid the introduction of surface lesions on dentin.
Common mental disorders in pregnancy in the context of interpartner violence
Authors: ALMEIDA C. P. , CUNHA F. F. , PIRES E. P. , SÁ E.
Published: June 2012

Accessible summary

The presence of mental disorders during pregnancy in the context of interpartner violence was studied.

A cross‐sectional study with pregnant women of Hospital Pedro Hispano.

Pregnancy is generally described as a period with a high incidence of common mental disorders (CMD) in the life cycle of many women who incur the risk of developing mental problems including depression, post‐traumatic stress and drug abuse. Our objective with this study was to gauge how the presence of violence in Portuguese pregnant women affected their psychopathology. One hundred and eighty‐four pregnant outpatients of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Hospital Pedro Hispano in Matosinhos, Oporto, Portugal with an average age of 29 and in their last 3 months of pregnancy were the subjects of this study. These participants were divided into two groups: one of abused women (n= 107) and another of non‐abused women (n= 77). In order to be able to compare them, both groups were assessed with the Conflict Tactic Scale 2, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Inventory of the Clinical Evaluation of Depression. It was observed that pregnant women who had suffered violence during pregnancy exhibited some form of CMD during pregnancy. Another important finding was the evidence of the negative impacts that domestic violence had on the mental health of women.
Widespread yet heterogeneous genomic divergence
Authors: NOSIL PATRIK , FEDER JEFF L.
Published: June 2012

Genetic differentiation during adaptive divergence and speciation is heterogeneous among genomic regions. Some regions can be highly differentiated between populations, for example, because they harbour genes under divergent selection or those causing reproductive isolation and thus are resistant to gene flow. Other regions might be homogenized by gene flow and thus weakly differentiated. Debates persist about the number of differentiated regions expected under divergence with gene flow, and their causes, size, and genomic distribution. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, a study of freshwater stickleback used next‐generation sequencing to shed novel insight into these issues (Roesti et al. 2012). Many genomic regions distributed across the genome were strongly differentiated, indicating divergence with gene flow can involve a greater number of loci than often thought. Nonetheless, differentiation of some regions, such as those near the centre of chromosomes where recombination is reduced, was strongly accentuated over others. Thus, divergence was widespread yet highly heterogeneous across the genome. Moreover, different population pairs varied in patterns of differentiation, illustrating how genomic divergence builds up across stages of the speciation process. The study demonstrates how variation in different evolutionary processes, such as selection and recombination rate, can combine to result in similar genomic patterns. Future work could focus on teasing apart the contributions of different processes for causing differentiation, a task facilitated by experimental manipulations.
Coevolutionary genetic variation in the legume‐rhizobium transcriptome
Authors: HEATH KATY D. , BURKE PATRICIA V. , STINCHCOMBE JOHN R.
Published: June 2012

Coevolutionary change requires reciprocal selection between interacting species, where the partner genotypes that are favoured in one species depend on the genetic composition of the interacting species. Coevolutionary genetic variation is manifested as genotype × genotype (G × G) interactions for fitness in interspecific interactions. Although quantitative genetic approaches have revealed abundant evidence for G × G interactions in symbioses, the molecular basis of this variation remains unclear. Here we study the molecular basis of G × G interactions in a model legume‐rhizobium mutualism using gene expression microarrays. We find that, like quantitative traits such as fitness, variation in the symbiotic transcriptome may be partitioned into additive and interactive genetic components. Our results suggest that plant genetic variation had the largest influence on nodule gene expression and that plant genotype and the plant genotype × rhizobium genotype interaction determine global shifts in rhizobium gene expression that in turn feedback to influence plant fitness benefits. Moreover, the transcriptomic variation we uncover implicates regulatory changes in both species as drivers of symbiotic gene expression variation. Our study is the first to partition genetic variation in a symbiotic transcriptome and illuminates potential molecular routes of coevolutionary change.
Phosphoglucomutase is absent in Trypanosoma brucei and redundantly substituted by phosphomannomutase and phospho‐N‐acetylglucosamine mutase
Authors: Bandini Giulia , Mariño Karina , Güther M. Lucia Sampaio , Wernimont Amy K. , Kuettel Sabine , Qiu Wei , Afzal Shamshad , Kelner Anna , Hui Raymond , Ferguson Michael A. J.
Published: June 2012

The enzymes phosphomannomutase (PMM), phospho‐N‐acetylglucosamine mutase (PAGM) and phosphoglucomutase (PGM) reversibly catalyse the transfer of phosphate between the C6 and C1 hydroxyl groups of mannose, N‐acetylglucosamine and glucose respectively. Although genes for a candidate PMM and a PAGM enzymes have been found in the Trypanosoma brucei genome, there is, surprisingly, no candidate gene for PGM. The TbPMM and TbPAGM genes were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and the TbPMM enzyme was crystallized and its structure solved at 1.85 Å resolution. Antibodies to the recombinant proteins localized endogenous TbPMM to glycosomes in the bloodstream form of the parasite, while TbPAGM localized to both the cytosol and glycosomes. Both recombinant enzymes were able to interconvert glucose‐phosphates, as well as acting on their own definitive substrates. Analysis of sugar nucleotide levels in parasites with TbPMM or TbPAGM knocked down by RNA interference (RNAi) suggests that, in vivo, PGM activity is catalysed by both enzymes. This is the first example in any organism of PGM activity being completely replaced in this way and it explains why, uniquely, T. brucei has been able to lose its PGM gene. The RNAi data for TbPMM also showed that this is an essential gene for parasite growth.
Differential regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis by DraR‐K, a novel two‐component system in Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Yu Zhenyu , Zhu Hong , Dang Fujun , Zhang Weiwen , Qin Zhongjun , Yang Sheng , Tan Huarong , Lu Yinhua , Jiang Weihong
Published: June 2012

A novel two‐component system (TCS) designated as DraR‐K (sco3063/sco3062) was identified to be involved in differential regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor. The S. coelicolor mutants with deletion of either or both of draR and draK exhibited significantly reduced actinorhodin (ACT) but increased undecylprodigiosin (RED) production on minimal medium (MM) supplemented separately with high concentration of different nitrogen sources. These mutants also overproduced a yellow‐pigmented type I polyketide (yCPK) on MM with glutamate (Glu). It was confirmed that DraR‐K activates ACT but represses yCPK production directly through the pathway‐specific activator genes actII‐ORF4 and kasO, respectively, while its role on RED biosynthesis was independent of pathway‐specific activator genes redD/redZ. DNase I footprinting assays revealed that the DNA binding sites for DraR were at −124 to −98 nt and −24 to −1 nt relative to the respective transcription start point of actII‐ORF4 and kasO. Comparison of the binding sites allowed the identification of a consensus DraR‐binding sequence, 5′‐AMAAWYMAKCA‐3′ (M: A or C; W: A or T; Y: C or T; K: G or T). By genome screening and gel‐retardation assay, 11 new targets of DraR were further identified in the genome of S. coelicolor. Functional analysis of these tentative targets revealed the involvement of DraR‐K in primary metabolism. DraR‐K homologues are widely spread in different streptomycetes. Interestingly, deletion of draR‐Ksav (sav_3481/sav_3480, homologue of draR‐K) in the industrial model strain S. avermitilis NRRL‐8165 led to similar abnormal antibiotic biosynthesis, showing higher avermectin while slightly decreased oligomycin A production, suggesting that DraR‐K‐mediated regulation system might be conserved in streptomycetes. This study further reveals the complexity of TCS in regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces.
Myogenic regional responsiveness to cholinergic and vipergic stimulation in human colon
Authors: Maselli M. A. , Trisolini P. , Petitta C. , Lorusso D. , Cicenia A. , Scirocco A. , Pezzolla F. , Severi C.
Published: June 2012

Background  Differences in the actions of enteric neurotransmitters on colonic circular and longitudinal muscle layers have not been clearly determined, nor the possible existence of intrinsic myogenic phenotypes that might contribute to regional differences in human colon motor activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the direct pharmaco‐mechanical coupling of carbachol (CCh) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on human colonic smooth muscle strips and cells.

Methods  Circular and longitudinal muscle strips and cells were obtained from 15 human specimens of ascending and sigmoid colon. Both isometric tension on muscle strips and contraction and relaxation on cells were measured in response to increasing CCh and VIP concentrations.

Key Results  Circular muscle strips of ascending colon were more sensitive to the effect of CCh than that of sigmoid colon, EC50 values being, respectively, 4.15 μmol L−1 and 8.47 μmol L−1 (P < 0.05), although there were no differences in maximal responses. No regional differences were observed in longitudinal muscle strips or in smooth muscle cells. Maximal responses to CCh were higher on circular than longitudinal muscle strips and cells throughout the colon. A greater sensitivity to VIP was observed in ascending colon compared with sigmoid colon, both in circular (EC50: 0.041 and 0.15 μmol L−1, respectively, P < 0.01) and longitudinal (EC50: 0.043 and 0.09 μmol L−1, respectively, P < 0.05) strips, and similar differences were observed in longitudinal smooth muscle cells (EC50: 44.85 and 75.24 nmol L−1, respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusions & Inferences  Regional myogenic differences in pharmaco‐mechanical coupling between the enteric neurotransmitters and smooth muscle contribute to the complex regional motor patterns of human colon.
Alien aquatic plant species in European countries
Authors: HUSSNER A
Published: June 2012

HussnerA (2012). Alien aquatic plant species in European countries.Weed Research52, 297–306.

Alien aquatic plant species cause serious ecological and economic impacts to European freshwater ecosystems. This study presents a comprehensive overview of all alien aquatic plants in Europe, their places of origin and their distribution within the 46 European countries. In total, 96 aquatic species from 30 families have been reported as aliens from at least one European country. Most alien aquatic plants are native to Northern America, followed by Asia and Southern America.Elodea canadensisis the most widespread alien aquatic plant in Europe, reported from 41 European countries.Azolla filiculoidesranks second (25), followed byVallisneria spiralis(22) andElodea nuttallii(20). The highest number of alien aquatic plant species has been found in Italy and France (34 species), followed by Germany (27), Belgium and Hungary (both 26) and the Netherlands (24). Even though the number of alien aquatic plants seems relatively small, the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO,http://www.eppo.org) has listed 18 of these species as invasive or potentially invasive within the EPPO region. As ornamental trade has been regarded as the major pathway for the introduction of alien aquatic plants, trading bans seem to be the most effective option to reduce the risk of further unintended entry of alien aquatic plants into Europe.
Osteopathia striata congenita with cranial sclerosis and intellectual disability due to contiguous gene deletions involving the WTX locus
Authors: Holman SK , Morgan T , Baujat G , Cormier‐Daire V , Cho T‐J , Lees M , Samanich J , Tapon D , Hove HD , Hing A , Hennekam R , Robertson SP
Published: June 2012

Osteopathia striata congenita with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) is a skeletal dysplasia caused by germline deletions of or truncating point mutations in the X‐linked gene WTX (FAM123B, AMER1). Females present with longitudinal striations of sclerotic bone along the long axis of long bones and cranial sclerosis, with a high prevalence of cleft palate and hearing loss. Intellectual disability or neurodevelopmental delay is not observed in females with point mutations in WTX leading to OSCS. One female has been described with a deletion spanning multiple neighbouring genes suggesting that deletion of some neighbouring loci may result in abnormal neurodevelopment. In this cohort of 13 females with OSCS resulting from deletions of WTX, a relationship is observed where deletion of ARHGEF9 and/or MTMR8 in conjunction with WTX results in an additional neurodevelopmental phenotype whereas deletion of ASB12 along with WTX is associated with a good neurodevelopmental prognosis.
Allergens in urban schools and homes of children with asthma
Authors: Permaul Perdita , Hoffman Elaine , Fu Chunxia , Sheehan William , Baxi Sachin , Gaffin Jonathan , Lane Jeffrey , Bailey Ann , King Eva , Chapman Martin , Gold Diane , Phipatanakul Wanda
Published: June 2012

To cite this article: Permaul P, Hoffman E, Fu C, Sheehan W, Baxi S, Gaffin J, Lane J, Bailey A, King E, Chapman M, Gold D, Phipatanakul W. Allergens in urban schools and homes of children with asthma. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012: 23: 543–549.

Background:  Most studies of indoor allergens have focused on the home environment. However, schools may be an important site of allergen exposure for children with asthma. We compared school allergen exposure to home exposure in a cohort of children with asthma. Correlations between settled dust and airborne allergen levels in classrooms were examined.

Methods:  Settled dust and airborne samples from 12 inner‐city schools were analyzed for indoor allergens using multiplex array technology (MARIA). School samples were linked to students with asthma enrolled in the School Inner‐City Asthma Study (SICAS). Settled dust samples from students’ bedrooms were analyzed similarly.

Results:  From schools, 229 settled dust and 197 airborne samples were obtained. From homes, 118 settled dust samples were obtained. Linear mixed regression models of log‐transformed variables showed significantly higher settled dust levels of mouse, cat and dog allergens in schools than homes (545% higher for Mus m 1, estimated absolute difference 0.55 μg/g, p < 0.0001; 198% higher for Fel d 1, estimated absolute difference 0.13 μg/g, p = 0.0033; and 144% higher for Can f 1, estimated absolute difference 0.05 μg/g, p = 0.0008). Airborne and settled dust Mus m 1 levels in classrooms were moderately correlated (r = 0.48; p < 0.0001). There were undetectable to very low levels of cockroach and dust mite allergens in both homes and schools.

Conclusion:  Mouse allergen levels in schools were substantial. In general, cat and dog allergen levels were low, but detectable, and were higher in schools. Aerosolization of mouse allergen in classrooms may be a significant exposure for students. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of indoor allergen exposure in schools on asthma morbidity in students with asthma.
Identification and expression analysis of components involved in rice Xa21‐mediated disease resistance signalling
Authors: Bai H. , Lan J. P. , Gan Q. , Wang X. Y. , Hou M. M. , Cao Y. H. , Li L. Y. , Liu L. J. , Hao Y. J. , Yin C. C. , Wu L. , Zhu L. H. , Liu G. Z.
Published: June 2012

Rice Xa21 gene encodes a receptor‐like kinase that confers broad‐spectrum resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Recently, a number of genes involved in the Xa21‐mediated disease resistance pathway have been identified. Based on our previous data and the literature, we chose 16 candidate proteins and made corresponding antibodies. Using Western blotting, we systematically investigated the expression profile of the proteins in Xa21‐mediated disease resistance response. We found nine proteins with altered expression. We further compared their expression in resistance, susceptible and mock responses, and found that GST expression was up‐regulated during the resistance process, indicating GST is a positive regulator in resistance responses. ATPsB expression was down‐regulated during both the resistance and susceptible response processes, although it was higher in the resistance response than that in the susceptible response. The total amount of MYB, GAPDH, CatB, Trx and NB‐ARC proteins was lower in the resistance than in the susceptible response, but their abundance per unit bacteria in the resistance response was still higher than in the susceptible response, suggesting that these proteins might be positive regulators in the resistance response. In addition, expression of another ERF was induced by inoculation with bacterial blight pathogen, and expression of Zf‐LSD1 was activated by wounding stress alone. Interestingly, most proteins showed similar altered expression patterns in the resistance and susceptible responses, but differed to some extents, implying that both responses might share common molecular mechanisms. This study revealed evidence of resistance‐related protein expression, providing a foundation for better understanding of their functions.
How common is the ability of extrafloral nectaries to produce nectar droplets, to secrete nectar during the night and to store starch?
Authors: Gaffal K. P.
Published: June 2012

Evidence in favour of the ability of extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) to form nectar drop(let)s, secrete extrafloral nectar (EFNec) also during the night and store starch was compiled in order to refute controversial assertions. Not only were more than 150 reports of direct observations of EFNec drop(let)s found, but also 90 studies which suggest that EFNec secretion is copious enough to form drop(let)s automatically by forces of physics (surface tension strength), provided nectar accumulation is not interrupted by predatory animals. Twenty direct observations of nocturnal production of EFNec sufficiently proved that it is not always produced during the day. Additionally, numerous observations of the nocturnal activities of nectar consumers on EFNs indirectly indicated very common nocturnal secretion of EFNec. Although there is an early report of a starch‐containing EFN from 1881 (Trelease), few similar observations in other EFNs followed. Nevertheless, four studies have described the disappearance of stored starch during secretion and senescence of the EFNs. Referring back to an apparent relationship between the degradation of starch stored in a floral nectary and programmed cell death, at least in EFNs with transient storage of starch, a similar relationship cannot be excluded.
Interactive effects of mechanical stress, sand burial and defoliation on growth and mechanical properties in Cynanchum komarovii
Authors: Xu L. , Yu F.‐H. , Werger M. , Dong M. , Anten N. P. R.
Published: June 2012

In drylands, wind, sand burial and grazing are three important factors affecting growth and mechanical properties of plants, but their interactive effects have not yet been investigated. Plants of the semi‐shrub Cynanchum komarovii, common in semi‐arid parts of NE Asia, were subjected to brushing, burial and defoliation. We measured biomass allocation and relative increment rates of dry mass (RGRm), height (RGRh) and basal diameter (RGRd). We also measured the stem mechanical properties, Young’s modulus (E), second moment of area (I), flexural stiffness (EI) and breaking stress (σb), and scaled these traits to the whole‐plant level to determine the maximum lateral force (Flateral) and the buckling safety factor (BSF). Brushing increased RGRm; neither burial nor defoliation independently affected RGRm, but together they reduced it. Among buried plants, brushing positively affected stem rigidity and strength through increasing RGRd, E, I and EI, and at whole plant level this resulted in a larger BSF and Flateral. However, among unburied plants this pattern was not observed. Our results thus show that effects of mechanical stress and grazing on plants can be strongly modified by burial, and these interactions should be taken into account when considering adaptive significance of plant mechanical traits in drylands.
Visual and chemical cues affecting the detection rate of the emerald ash borer in sticky traps
Authors: Domingue M. J. , Lelito J. P. , Fraser I. , Mastro V. C. , Tumlinson J. H. , Baker T. C.
Published: June 2012

Using sticky traps, we compared the efficacy of chemical and visual lures, both alone and in combination, for improving the detection of populations of the emerald ash borer (EAB),Agrilus planipennis. Ash leaflets to which EAB visual decoys were pinned and coated with sticky material were able to trap EAB with as high a rate of detection as large sticky visually unbaited ‘prism traps’ currently used in wide‐scale EAB surveillance programs in North America, in a high‐density area. Both the sticky leaf traps and prism traps captured more EAB when a point source of plant odours, either manuka or phoebe oil, was deployed with the trap. For the sticky leaf traps, the shape of the EAB visual decoy lure was found to be important in optimizing the detection rate. Either an entire dead beetle or else two elytra placed side by side to mimic a resting beetle resulted in optimal trap performance. When two elytra were placed end to end or else other body parts were deployed, the traps lost their efficacy. Small green plastic surfaces to which EAB visual decoys were pinned were found to be fairly good substitutes for live ash leaflets, but the rate of beetle detection was reduced significantly from that of the ash leaflet plus EAB decoy. Throughout all experiments, a clear male bias occurred in sticky leaf traps when EAB visual decoys were placed on the traps. The implications of these findings for developing new trapping designs for EAB and other forest buprestids are discussed.
Simvastatin exerts cardioprotective effects and inhibits the activity of Rho‐associated protein kinase in rats with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Li Chuan‐Bao , Li Xiao‐Xing , Chen Yu‐Guo , Gao Hai‐Qing , Bao Mei‐Cheng , Zhang Juan , Bu Pei‐Li , Zhang Yun , Ji Xiao‐Ping
Published: June 2012

Insulin resistance (IR) is crucially involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of simvastatin on IR in rats with MS.

A rat model of MS was established and myocardial damage was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Twenty‐two MS rats were divided into two groups of 11 rats each: (i) an MS group; and (ii) a simvastatin‐treated MS. Ten Wistar rats were used as controls. The phosphorylation of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT‐1), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS‐1) and Akt were analysed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting.

Insulin resistance‐induced MS was associated with a significant increase in Rho kinase (ROCK) activity and inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3‐K)/Akt pathway. Decreased levels of phosphorylated (p‐) MYPT‐1 and p‐IRS‐1 (Ser307) and increased levels of p‐Akt were found in hearts from the MS + simvastatin compared with the MS group. These results suggest that simvastatin reduces ROCK activity and increases Akt activity.

Simvastatin exerts cardioprotective effects and improves IR, which can be attributed, at least in part, to the inhibition of ROCK and activation of PI3‐K/Akt.
Body image of children and adolescents with cancer: A metasynthesis on qualitative research findings
Authors: Lee Mei‐Yin , Mu Pei‐Fan , Tsay Shwu‐Feng , Chou Shin‐Shang , Chen Yu‐Chih , Wong Tai‐Tong
Published: June 2012

Children and adolescents with cancer are confronted with many challenges. This review considered studies that used qualitative methods to examine the body image experience of children and adolescents with cancer. A systematic literature search of English and Chinese databases was undertaken, covering the period between 1960 and October 2010. Qualitative research findings were extracted and pooled using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument. Eight papers met the inclusion criteria. The derived four metasyntheses included being distanced from the body, loss of self‐identity, self‐protective strategies and support, and getting rid of the shackles of the body. In conclusion, children and adolescents with cancer also experience various problems associated with changes in their body image. Repeated courses of treatment lead to loss of a normal, orderly life, and might even result in changes in interpersonal interactions. In response to body image change, individuals with cancer develop self‐protective, coping strategies. Children and adolescents who experience life‐threatening cancer come to face body image change positively, and might hold a confident attitude toward their future.
Individual's perspective of local community environment and health indicators in older adults
Authors: Giraldez‐Garcia Carolina , Forjaz Maria João , Prieto‐Flores Maria‐Eugenia , Rojo‐Perez Fermina , Fernandez‐Mayoralas Gloria , Martinez‐Martin Pablo
Published: June 2012

Aim:  This study evaluated the relationship between individual's perspective of local community environment and health in older people.

Methods:  A survey about quality of life in older adults in Spain was applied to a representative sample of 1106 community‐dwelling people (mean age ± SD = 72.07 ± 7.83 years, 43.67% males). Local community (Community Wellbeing Index, neighborhood problems, time in the neighborhood), psychosocial and sociodemographic measures were considered. Four health outcomes (self‐perceived health status, functional independence, depression and number of chronic medical conditions) were studied. Multivariate logistic analyses were carried out.

Results:  At least two local community measures were independently associated with each health outcome. Satisfaction with community services significantly contributed to all models; it was positively related with self‐rated health and functional independence, and negatively associated with depression and chronic medical conditions.

Conclusion:  The individual's perspective of the local community environment was associated with health outcomes in older adults. This can be useful in the development of policies committed to promoting social integration and active aging in the community. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 130–138.
Systematic review of care intervention studies for the management of incontinence and promotion of continence in older people in care homes with urinary incontinence as the primary focus (1966–2010)
Authors: Flanagan Lisa , Roe Brenda , Jack Barbara , Barrett James , Chung Alan , Shaw Christine , Williams Kate S
Published: June 2012

The aim of this paper was to compare published studies of care interventions for the management and promotion of continence, with urinary incontinence as the primary focus, in older care home residents. Incontinence is a prevalent and serious problem amongst older people in care homes, with an increasing international focus. MEDLINE and CINAHL searches via OVID (January 1966 to May 2010) were carried out, with studies limited to English language publications only. Included in this search were studies investigating urinary and fecal incontinence in people aged 65 years or older in care homes. Studies on surgical or pharmacological interventions or fecal incontinence alone were excluded. A total of 33 interventional studies were identified. Toileting programs and incontinence pads are the mainstays of treatment, with some studies implying significant economic and labor costs. Drug therapy as an adjunct to toileting programs has so far shown only moderate benefits. Combined physical therapy/behavioral therapies have shown effective short‐term improvements. Adaptations to physical environment and staff training techniques might also be paramount. Exercise and Functional Incidental Training programs, although expensive, might provide additional benefit by reducing wetness rates and improving appropriate toileting rates. Combined complex behavioral interventions are now a common feature and their effectiveness for the management of urinary incontinence should be determined in future studies. Studies including long‐term effectiveness on maintaining continence with full economic evaluation are also warranted in this population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2012; 12: ••–••.
Development and characterization of attenuated metabolic mutants of Bordetella bronchiseptica for applications in vaccinology
Authors: Yevsa Tetyana , Ebensen Thomas , Fuchs Barbara , Zygmunt Beata , Libanova Rimma , Gross Roy , Schulze Kai , Guzmán Carlos A.
Published: June 2012

Bordetella bronchiseptica is an important pathogen causing a number of veterinary respiratory syndromes in agriculturally important and food‐producing confinement‐reared animals, resulting in great economic losses annually amounting to billions of euros worldwide. Currently available live vaccines are incompletely satisfactory in terms of efficacy and safety. An efficient vaccine for livestock animals would allow reducing the application of antibiotics, thereby preventing the massive release of pharmaceuticals into the environment. Here, we describe two new potential vaccine strains based on the BB7865 strain. Two independent attenuating mutations were incorporated by homologous recombination in order to make negligible the risk of recombination and subsequent reversion to the virulent phenotype. The mutations are critical for bacterial metabolism, resistance to oxidative stress, intracellular survival and in vivo persistence. The resulting double mutants BB7865 risA aroA and BB7865 risA dapE were characterized as promising vaccine candidates, which are able to confer protection against colonization of the lower respiratory tract after sublethal challenge with the wild‐type strain.
Vagrancy as a Penal Problem: The Logistics of Administering Punishment in Late‐Nineteenth‐Century Canada
Authors: RANASINGHE PRASHAN
Published: June 2012

There exists a voluminous literature on the history of vagrancy and vagrancy legislation. However, virtually all of its focus has been on the manifestations of vagrancy as a social problem. What has not received attention is another important aspect to this history, one that finds its roots and geneses directly out of its construction as a social problem. This is the problem associated with the logistics surrounding the administration of punishment within correctional institutions, what I call vagrancy as a penal problem. The day‐to‐day operations of the criminal justice system, especially that part which was responsible for the administration of punishment, were immensely burdened because of the sheer number of vagrants who came through the system. This created logistical problems with respect to housing, classifying, maintaining and regulating prisoners, and especially with respect to vagrants, putting them to hard labour. This paper seeks to elucidate the penal problem of vagrancy by narrating the voices of the personnel who worked in correctional institutions.
(Social) Democracy in the Blood? Civic and Ethnic Idioms of Nation and the Consolidation of Swedish Social Democratic Power, 1928–1932
Authors: SCHALL CARLY ELIZABETH
Published: June 2012

This paper attempts to explain Swedish Social Democrats' consolidation of power between 1928 and 1932 through an examination of idioms of nation. Qualitative analysis of articles and editorials from a Social Democratic and a liberal newspaper is carried out. The analysis focuses on how civic, ethnic and, a mixed civic‐ethnic idiom of nation were deployed in order to expand the Social Democrats' electoral base. The Social Democrats could combine egalitarianism/democracy with ethnic nationalism because ethnic bases for the nation weremoreinclusive than other, especially class, bases available to them. Two challenges for the literature on nationalism and the welfare state are raised: (1) the civic‐ethnic distinction must be rethought to accommodate the Swedish case, wherein ethnic nationalism was used for “civic” ends; and (2) the focus on the Social Democrats as promoting working class interests may be misplaced given the party's mobilization on the basis ofnation.
Unstructured Light Fields
Authors: Davis Abe , Levoy Marc , Durand Fredo
Published: June 2012

We present a system for interactively acquiring and rendering light fields using a hand‐held commodity camera. The main challenge we address is assisting a user in achieving good coverage of the 4D domain despite the challenges of hand‐held acquisition. We define coverage by bounding reprojection error between viewpoints, which accounts for all 4 dimensions of the light field. We use this criterion together with a recent Simultaneous Localization and Mapping technique to compute a coverage map on the space of viewpoints. We provide users with real‐time feedback and direct them toward under‐sampled parts of the light field. Our system is lightweight and has allowed us to capture hundreds of light fields. We further present a new rendering algorithm that is tailored to the unstructured yet dense data we capture. Our method can achieve piecewise‐bicubic reconstruction using a triangulation of the captured viewpoints and subdivision rules applied to reconstruction weights.
Data Driven Surface Reflectance from Sparse and Irregular Samples
Authors: Ruiters Roland , Schwartz Christopher , Klein Reinhard
Published: June 2012

In recent years, measuring surface reflectance has become an established method for high quality renderings. In this context, especially non‐parametric representations got a lot of attention as they allow for a very accurate representation of complex reflectance behavior. However, the acquisition of this data is a challenging task especially if complex object geometry is involved. Capturing images of the object under varying illumination and view conditions results in irregular angular samplings of the reflectance function with a limited angular resolution. Classical data‐driven techniques, like tensor factorization, are not well suited for such data sets as they require a resampling of the high dimensional measurement data to a regular grid. This grid has to be on a much higher angular resolution to avoid resampling artifacts which in turn would lead to data sets of enormous size. To overcome these problems we introduce a novel, compact data‐driven representation of reflectance functions based on a sum of separable functions which are fitted directly to the irregular set of data without any further resampling. The representation allows for efficient rendering and is also well suited for GPU applications. By exploiting spatial coherence of the reflectance function over the object a very precise reconstruction even of specular materials becomes possible already with a sparse input sampling. This would be impossible using standard data interpolation techniques. Since our algorithm exclusively operates on the compressed representation, it is both efficient in terms of memory use and computational complexity, depending only sub‐linearly on the size of the fully tabulated data. The quality of the reflectance function is evaluated on synthetic data sets as ground truth as well as on real world measurements.