bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evolutionary view of functional diversity in family 1 glycosyltransferases
Authors: Yonekura‐Sakakibara Keiko , Hanada Kousuke
Published: March 2011

Glycosyltransferases (GTs) (EC 2.4.x.y) catalyze the transfer of sugar moieties to a wide range of acceptor molecules, such as sugars, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, antibiotics and other small molecules, including plant secondary metabolites. These enzymes can be classified into at least 92 families, of which family 1 glycosyltransferases (GT1), often referred to as UDP glycosyltransferases (UGTs), is the largest in the plant kingdom. To understand how UGTs expanded in both number and function during evolution of land plants, we screened genome sequences from six plants (Physcomitrella patens, Selaginella moellendorffii, Populus trichocarpa, Oryza sativa, Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis lyrata) for the presence of a conserved UGT protein domain. Phylogenetic analyses of the UGT genes revealed a significant expansion of UGTs, with lineage specificity and a higher duplication rate in vascular plants after the divergence of Physcomitrella. The UGTs from the six species fell into 24 orthologous groups that contained genes derived from the common ancestor of these six species. Some orthologous groups contained multiple UGT families with known functions, suggesting that UGTs discriminate compounds as substrates in a lineage‐specific manner. Orthologous groups containing only a single UGT family tend to play a crucial role in plants, suggesting that such UGT families may have not expanded because of evolutionary constraints.
Profiling of short RNAs during fleshy fruit development reveals stage‐specific sRNAome expression patterns
Authors: Mohorianu Irina , Schwach Frank , Jing Runchun , Lopez‐Gomollon Sara , Moxon Simon , Szittya Gyorgy , Sorefan Karim , Moulton Vincent , Dalmay Tamas
Published: March 2011

Plants feature a particularly diverse population of short (s)RNAs, the central component of all RNA silencing pathways. Next generation sequencing techniques enable deeper insights into this complex and highly conserved mechanism and allow identification and quantification of sRNAs. We employed deep sequencing to monitor the sRNAome of developing tomato fruits covering the period between closed flowers and ripened fruits by profiling sRNAs at 10 time‐points. It is known that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in development but very little information is available about the majority of sRNAs that are not miRNAs. Here we show distinctive patterns of sRNA expression that often coincide with stages of the developmental process such as flowering, early and late fruit maturation. Moreover, thousands of non‐miRNA sRNAs are differentially expressed during fruit development and ripening. Some of these differentially expressed sRNAs derived from transposons but many derive from protein coding genes or regions that show homology to protein coding genes, several of which are known to play a role in flower and fruit development. These findings raise the possibility of a regulative role of these sRNAs during fruit onset and maturation in a crop species. We also identified six new miRNAs and experimentally validated two target mRNAs. These two mRNAs are targeted by the same miRNA but do not belong to the same gene family, which is rare for plant miRNAs. Expression pattern and putative function of these targets indicate a possible role in glutamate accumulation, which contributes to establishing the taste of the fruit.
Rapid gastric emptying, rather than delayed gastric emptying, might provoke functional dyspepsia
Authors: Kusano Motoyasu , Zai Hiroaki , Shimoyama Yasuyuki , Hosaka Hiroko , Kuribayashi Shikou , Kawamura Osamu , Mori Masatomo
Published: March 2011

It has been suggested that there could be three possible mechanisms of gastric dysfunction in patients with FD: (i) delayed gastric emptying, (ii) impaired gastric accommodation of food intake, and (iii) hypersensitivity to gastric distention. Postprandial fullness seems to be the most severe symptom in patients who report aggravation of their symptoms after meals. Therefore, it has been assumed that delayed gastric emptying and consequent prolonged antral distension could reduce hunger, increase satiety, and even cause gastric discomfort, all of which would pose a significant barrier to adequate nutrition.

We previously reported that postprandial water intake inhibits gastric antral motility along with an increase of cholecystokinin (CCK) in normal subjects. We assumed that the rapid increase of CCK after water intake was initiated by a feedback mechanism related to the inflow of fatty chyme into the duodenum that inhibits gastric antral activity. This duodeno‐gastric interaction is known as the “duodenal break.” We also reported that total gastric emptying was more rapid after the intake of a high‐viscosity liquid meal than after a low‐viscosity meal, because the low‐viscosity liquid meal inhibits gastric empting after rapid initial inflow into the duodenum.

Considering these results, we hypothesized that rapid gastric emptying, rather than delayed gastric emptying, could be a cause of FD. In some patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), we have found a significant correspondence between PDS‐related dyspepsia and accelerated gastric emptying in the early postprandial period.

It is worth emphasizing that the duodenum and the duodeno‐gastric interaction (duodenal break) could have an important role in the pathophysiology of FD. We consider that rapid gastric emptying might be a more important factor than delayed gastric emptying in patients with FD.
Combined brush cytology and stent placement in a single session for presumed malignant biliary stricture
Authors: Kawada Natsuko , Uehara Hiroyuki , Katayama Kazuhiro , Takano Yasuna , Takakura Rena , Imanaka Kazuho , Ohkawa Kazuyoshi , Takenaka Akemi , Ishikawa Osamu
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  Biliary stricture may be benign or malignant and causes obstructive jaundice. Brush cytology is a simple technique for diagnosing the cause of biliary stricture; however, its sensitivity has been reported to be low. A technique that comprises diagnosing the cause of stricture with a satisfactory sensitivity and relieving jaundice is required. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of brush cytology and the feasibility of the subsequent stent placement in a single endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) session performed for presumed malignant biliary strictures.

Methods:  Data were collected by reviewing the medical records of 100 consecutive patients with suspected malignant biliary stricture who underwent brush cytology followed by stent placement at our center. Diagnostic performance of brush cytology, completion rate of the whole procedures comprising brush cytology and stent placement, and complications were evaluated.

Result:  Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall accuracy of brush cytology were 83%, 100%, 100%, 33% and 84%, respectively. Biliary stent was successfully inserted for all patients (100%) subsequent to brush cytology in a single ERCP session. Eight patients (8%) had complications.

Conclusion:  Brush cytology was performed with much higher sensitivity of 83% than those of previous reports and the subsequent stent placement was successfully completed in all cases. For presumed malignant biliary stricture, brush cytology should be selected as an initial attempt because this technique is simple and enables subsequent stent placement in a single ERCP session.
Prevalence and determinants of Helicobacter pylori sero‐positivity in the Australian adult community
Authors: Pandeya Nirmala , Whiteman David C ,   for the Australian Cancer Study
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  To estimate the sero‐prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori infection in the Australian adult population and identify determinants.

Methods:  We analyzed serum samples and questionnaire data from 1355 community controls who participated in a nationwide case‐control study of esophageal cancer in Australia between 2002 and 2005. We estimated the prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval using log binomial regression models.

Results:  The age and sex standardized sero‐prevalence of H. pylori was 15.5%. The prevalence of infection varied significantly with age, ranging from 5% (< 40 years) to 32% (≥ 70 years). H. pylori infection was significantly higher among those born overseas (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–1.98) compared with those born in Australia or New Zealand. H. pylori sero‐prevalence was 23% higher among participants living in the lowest quartile of socio‐economic areas (PR 0.77; 95%CI 0.59–0.99 for Q4 compared with Q1). H pylori serostatus was significantly inversely associated with university education (PR 0.56; 95%CI 0.38–0.83), frequent reflux symptoms (PR 0.62; 95%CI 0.42–0.91), use of proton pump inhibitor (PR 0.69; 95%CI 0.48–0.98) and use of medications for gut spasms (PR 0.48; 95%CI 0.25–0.93). H. pylori serostatus was not associated with body mass index, smoking, alcohol or physical activity.

Conclusions:  The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Australian adults is lower than other developed countries. H. pylori infection is most common among those living in the areas of socio‐economic disadvantage or who were born overseas.
Effects of acetylcholine on sling and clasp fibers of the human lower esophageal sphincter
Authors: Liu Jun‐Feng , Lu Hui‐Lai , Wen Shi‐Wang , Wu Rui‐Feng
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  Manometric studies on the human lower esophageal sphincter (LES) have shown radial asymmetry of the high‐pressure zone (HPZ). The aim of this study was to compare the functional properties of human LES clasp and sling muscles, and to look at their relationship with the expression of muscarinic receptors and intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Methods:  Muscle strips of sling and clasp fibers from the LES were obtained from patients undergoing subtotal esophagectomy. Isometric tension responses of the strips to acetylcholine were studied. Western blotting and reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were used to determine the expression of five subtypes of muscarinic receptors. Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was measured using laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Results:  Acetylcholine caused a concentration‐dependent increase in the tension of sling and clasp strips, the sling strip being stronger than clasp (P = 0.00). Messenger RNA and protein for the five muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChRs) expressed in the sling and clasp muscles were highest for M2, and then in decreasing levels: M3 > M1 > M4 > M5. Acetylcholine caused significant elevation of [Ca2+]i in sling and clasp muscle cells in the presence of extracellular Ca2+ (1.5 mmol/L), and Ach‐induced [Ca2+]i elevation was 1.6 times greater in sling cells than in clasp cells.

Conclusion:  Variation of intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ may be the reason for differential responses to acetylcholine for sling versus clasp fibers. However, these differences are not associated with the distribution and the level of expression of the five mAChRs between the two muscle types. Further study should focus on the ligand affinity and signal transduction pathway.
Use of an external real‐time image viewer coupled with prespecified actions enhanced the complete examinations for capsule endoscopy
Authors: Shiotani Akiko , Honda Keisuke , Kawakami Makiko , Nishi Ryuji , Murao Takahisa , Ishii Manabu , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Kusunoki Hiroaki , Hata Jiro , Haruma Ken
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  The clinical utility of capsule endoscopy (CE) is often limited by incomplete small‐bowel transit. The aim was to determine whether the use of an external real‐time viewer could reduce delays caused by delayed gastric emptying of the capsule or delayed intestinal transit and also improve the rate of positive findings.

Methods:  We compared the proportion of completed exams and positive results among a group of patients studied before introduction of real‐time viewer and a group in which capsule transit through the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel was regularly monitored and actions (e.g. administration of water or intravenous metoclopramide) were taken if it was delayed.

Results:  One hundred procedures in the viewer group and 100 control procedures in the age‐matched controls were analyzed. In the viewer group, additional water intake (22 cases) and/or administration of metoclopramide (26 cases) were required. Endoscopic‐assisted duodenal placement of the capsule was required in three cases. Overall one‐third (n = 33) of cases required viewer‐prompted interventions. The completion rate (86% vs 66%, P = 0.002) and the rate of positive findings (80% vs 67%, P = 0.04) were significantly higher in the viewer group compared to the no viewer group.

Conclusions:  Checking the progress of the capsule with the external real‐time viewer improved the diagnostic yield and completion rate of CE.
Additive improvement induced by bezafibrate in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis showing refractory response to ursodeoxycholic acid
Authors: Takeuchi Yasuto , Ikeda Fusao , Fujioka Shin‐ichi , Takaki Toshiyuki , Osawa Toshiya , Yasunaka Tetsuya , Miyake Yasuhiro , Takaki Akinobu , Iwasaki Yoshiaki , Kobashi Haruhiko , Yamamoto Kazuhide , Itoshima Tatsuya
Published: March 2011

Background and Aim:  Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been widely used in the treatment of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). However, some patients are refractory to UDCA. The aim of this study is to clarify the additive improvement induced by bezafibrate in patients refractory to UDCA.

Methods:  This study was a prospective analysis of 37 consecutive PBC patients. All patients were treated first for 6 months with UDCA, and then with bezafibrate, if their alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels did not decrease more than 40% or within the normal range after 6 months' treatment with UDCA. Clinical parameters were monitored for the subsequent 24 months.

Result:  Twenty‐two patients (59%) achieved improvement of ALP levels after the treatment with UDCA. Those patients (Group A) had significantly lower levels of ALP at diagnosis than those with abnormal ALP levels after 6 months' treatment with UDCA (Group B; P = 0.020). They continued UDCA monotherapy, and maintained normal ALP levels at subsequent follow ups. However, immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels remained abnormal in eight patients, whose IgM levels at the time of diagnosis were significantly higher than those whose IgM were normalized after 6 months' treatment with UDCA (P = 0.026). Those in Group B were treated additionally with bezafibrate, and 12 patients (80%) achieved normal ALP and IgM levels within 12 months of commencement of therapy.

Conclusion:  Higher ALP level at diagnosis is one of the predictors for UDCA failure. Combination treatment of bezafibrate in addition to UDCA may be an effective treatment for PBC patients refractory to UDCA.
Breeding system and pollination by mimicry of the orchid Tolumnia guibertiana in Western Cuba
Authors: VALE ÁNGEL , NAVARRO LUIS , ROJAS DANNY , ÁLVAREZ JULIO C.
Published: March 2011

The mimicry of malpighiaceous oil‐flowers appears to be a recurrent pollination strategy among many orchids of the subtribe Oncidiinae. These two plant groups are mainly pollinated by oil‐gathering bees, which also specialize in pollen collection by buzzing. In the present study, the floral ecology of the rewardless orchid Tolumnia guibertiana (Oncidiinae) was studied for the first time. The orchid was self‐incompatible and completely dependent on oil‐gathering female bees (Centris poecila) for fruit production. This bee species was also the pollinator of two other yellow‐flowered plants in the area: the pollen and oil producing Stigmaphyllon diversifolium (Malpighiaceae) and the polliniferous and buzzing‐pollinated Ouratea agrophylla (Ochnaceae). To evaluate whether this system is a case of mimetism, we observed pollinator visits to flowers of the three plant species and compared the floral morphometrics of these flowers. The behavior, preferences and movement patterns of Centris bees among these plants, as well as the morphological data, suggest that, as previously thought, flowers of T. guibertiana mimic the Malpighiaceae S. diversifolium. However, orchid pollination in one of the studied populations appears to depend also on the presence of O. agrophylla. Moreover, at the two studied populations, male and female pollination successes of T. guibertiana were not affected by its own floral display, and did not differ between populations. The results are discussed in relation to the behavior and preferences of Centris bees, as well as the differential presence and influence of each of the two floral models.
MARKET DISCIPLINING OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES' SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS
Authors: BULUT LEVENT
Published: March 2011

In this article, we contribute to the current literature on market disciplining of the sovereign governments of the developing countries by distinguishing both sides of the market discipline hypothesis by adopting three‐stage least square estimation to incorporate the contemporaneous feedback effects between primary structural budget balances and the country's default‐risk premiums. We provide empirical evidence of a unidirectional causal relationship between a country's default‐risk premium and primary structural budget balances with the direction flowing from primary structural budget balances to country's risk premium in 40 developing countries over the period 1975–2008. We also employ the Arellano‐Bond dynamic panel generalized methods of moments estimation to control for this joint determination of primary structural budget balances and the country's default‐risk premium, and find supportive evidence of undisciplined sovereign governments and of nonlinearly behaving well‐functioning financial markets in the sample countries. (JEL C5, G1, G3)
SIZE MATTERS: THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF BEACH EROSION AND NOURISHMENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Authors: PENDLETON LINWOOD , MOHN CRAIG , VAUGHN RYAN K. , KING PHILIP , ZOULAS JAMES G.
Published: March 2011

Despite the widespread use of nourishment in California, few studies estimate the welfare benefits of increased beach width. This paper relies on panel data funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies. Beach choices of respondents were combined with beach attribute data to reveal how changes in width affect choice and the economic value of beach visits. We use a random‐utility approach to show that the value of beach width varies for different types of beach uses: water contact, sand‐, and pavement‐based activities. We also find that the marginal value of beach width depends on initial beach width. (JEL Q50)
GENDER AND THE INFLUENCE OF PEER ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON ADOLESCENT SEXUAL ACTIVITY
Authors: WADDELL GLEN R.
Published: March 2011

I consider the alcohol consumption of opposite‐gender peers as explanatory to adolescent sexual intercourse and demonstrate that female sexual activity is higher where there is higher alcohol consumption among male peers. This relationship is robust to school fixed effects, cannot be explained by broader cohort effects or general antisocial behaviors in male peer groups, and is distinctly different from any influence of the alcohol consumption of female peers which is shown to have no influence on female sexual activity. There is no evidence that male sexual activity responds to female peer alcohol consumption. (JEL J13, I12)
Efficacy and safety of topiramate on weight loss: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Kramer C. K. , Leitão C. B. , Pinto L. C. , Canani L. H. , Azevedo M. J. , Gross J. L.
Published: March 2011

Topiramate was associated with weight loss in clinical trials. We summarize the evidence on the efficacy and safety of topiramate in the treatment of overweight/obesity. The databases Medline, Embase, and Cochrane were searched. Randomized controlled studies with at least 16 weeks of duration that report the effect of topiramate on weight loss and adverse events were eligible for inclusion. Ten studies were included (3320 individuals). Patients treated with topiramate lost an average of 5.34 kg (95% confidence interval [95%CI]−6.12 to −4.56) of additional weight as compared with placebo. According to meta‐regression analysis, treatment duration and dosage were associated with the efficacy of topiramate treatment. Evaluating trials using topiramate 96–200 mg day−1, the weight loss was higher in trials with >28 weeks of duration (−6.58 kg [95%CI −7.48 to −5.68]) than in trials with ≤28 weeks (−4.11 kg [95%CI −4.92 to −3.30]). Data of 6620 individuals were available for adverse events evaluation and those more frequently observed were paraesthesia, taste impairment and psychomotor disturbances. The odds ratio for adverse events leading to topiramate withdrawal was 1.94 (95%CI 1.64–2.29) compared with the control group. In conclusion, topiramate might be a useful adjunctive therapeutic tool in the treatment of obesity as long as proper warnings about side effects are considered.
Relationship between young peoples' sedentary behaviour and biomedical health indicators: a systematic review of prospective studies
Authors: Chinapaw M. J. M. , Proper K. I. , Brug J. , van Mechelen W. , Singh A. S.
Published: March 2011

The aim of this systematic review was to describe the prospective relationship between childhood sedentary behaviour and health indicators. We identified prospective studies from searches in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo and Cochrane, from January 1989 through April 2010. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts for eligibility, rated the methodological quality of the studies, and extracted data.

We identified 31 papers, examining 27 different cohorts. The quality score of the studies ranged from 38 to 88%. Nine studies were scored as high quality. According to the best evidence synthesis we found insufficient evidence for a longitudinal positive relationship between ‘sedentary time’– mainly TV viewing – and body mass index (BMI) and more specific indicators of fat mass. One high quality and two low quality studies found a significant inverse relationship between sedentary time – mainly TV viewing – and aerobic fitness, leading to moderate evidence for this inverse relationship. There was insufficient evidence for a longitudinal relationship between sedentary time and blood pressure, blood lipids or bone mass.

Our systematic review suggests that there is moderate evidence for a longitudinal inverse relationship between screen time and aerobic fitness during childhood. Thus there is evidence to limit screen time in young people in order to prevent low levels of fitness. The possible detrimental health effects of prolonged or excessive sitting on other health indicators needs further study.
How Great is Britain? Power, Responsibility and Britain's Future Global Role
Authors: Morris Justin
Published: March 2011

Hedley Bull argued that for a state to be classed as a great power it must be in the first rank in terms of military strength but also recognised by others to have, and conceived by its own leaders and peoples to have, certain special rights and duties. Adopting this approach, this article argues that Britain's great power credentials are far stronger than commonly appreciated and that, while the term is no longer in vogue, within government the idea that Britain is a great power remains an influential factor in determining British foreign and defence policy.
WHAT IT TAKES: THE ELEMENTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: March 2011

One of the biggest movies of 2010 was The Social Network, the spectacular tale of how Facebook made the leap from a concept to a globe‐spanning, behaviour‐changing, dollar‐generating business phenomena. At one point one of the lead characters is in bed with a girlfriend. “What do you do?” she asks. “I'm an entrepreneur” he replies. “You mean you're unemployed” she retorts.
FIRMING UP FOR TOMORROW
Authors: Houlder Dominic
Published: March 2011

Dominic Houlder, Adjunct Professor of Strategic and International Management at London Business School, is a consultant and adviser to numerous commercial and charitable organisations and publications worldwide. He was Group Strategy Director at Blue Circle Industries and a manager at Boston Consulting Group. Here, he talks with Georgina Peters about his next book, The New Professionals, which will be published in 2012.
DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING?
Authors: Birkinshaw Julian
Published: March 2011

Setting goals is basic management, and there's only one right way to set them so that everyone in the organisation is aligned. Who could argue with that? Hold on, says Julian Birkinshaw, who spent three years studying new principles in management in 25 companies across three continents. In today's chaotic business environment, he asserts that lateral goals may be the best course for your company.
THE CHANGING OF THE GOLDEN GUARD
Authors: Auguste Gilles , Gutsatz Michel
Published: March 2011

Luxury brands, much like companies in other industries, are in the midst of a sea change when it comes to their management and business practices. But Gilles Auguste and Michel Gutsatz believe that the major firms in this industry are facing an acute challenge simply because those who have led the industry so successfully are now facing the challenge of ‘going global’, while at the same time preparing for retirement.
THINK AGAIN: ENTREPRENEURS ON A DANCE FLOOR
Authors: Anderson Jamie , Kupp Martin , Reckhenrich Jorg
Published: March 2011

The business world has a healthy appetite for learning from unusual role models. In this article from the 2006 archives, Jamie Anderson, Martin Kupp and Jorg Reckhenrich reveal the entrepreneurial side of an entertainment legend.
PROFILE: DON SULL
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: March 2011

In this series, Business Strategy Review profiles a major thinker who has made a significant difference to how organisations are managed and how business careers have been shaped as a result.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: March 2011

Dan Cable and Virginia Kay, ‘Striving for self verification during organisational entry’, Working Paper, London Business School.
EXECUTIVE SUMMMARY: STUCK IN THE ADOPTION FUNNEL
Authors: Crainer Stuart
Published: March 2011

Anja Lambrecht, Katja Seim, Catherine Tucker, ‘Stuck in the adoption funnel: The effect of interruptions in the adoption process on usage’, Marketing Science, forthcoming; available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=941697.
VOICES: HEALTH + CARE IN THE UK
Authors: Teisberg Elizabeth
Published: March 2011

The British health care system has come under increasing scrutiny as people ask whether the billions of pounds spent each year are actually contributing to a healthier nation. Elizabeth Teisberg says the UK needs to drive improvement in value to help people enjoy hardier, longer and more productive lives — without raising costs.
Testing Second Language Oral Proficiency in Direct and Semidirect Settings: A Social‐Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective
Authors: Jeong Hyeonjeong , Hashizume Hiroshi , Sugiura Motoaki , Sassa Yuko , Yokoyama Satoru , Shiozaki Shuken , Kawashima Ryuta
Published: March 2011

This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify differences in the neural processes underlying direct and semidirect interviews. We examined brain activation patterns while 20 native speakers of Japanese participated in direct and semidirect interviews in both Japanese (first language [L1]) and English (second language [L2]). Significantly greater activation was observed in the regions involved in social communication (the medial prefrontal cortex and the bilateral posterior superior temporal sulci) during the direct interview conducted in the L2 than during the semidirect interview conducted in the L2. In contrast, both the direct and semidirect interviews conducted in the L1 produced similar increases in activation in the same brain areas as those observed during the L2 direct interview. These findings suggest that the direct interview may have elicited L2 communicative ability to a greater degree than the semidirect interview. Furthermore, during the L2 direct interview, activity in the right superior temporal region, which is involved in the processing of paralinguistic features (e.g., prosody and intonation), was positively correlated with increased L2 oral proficiency. Based on our findings, we conclude that the L2 direct interview may elicit more balanced and varied aspects of communicative ability than the L2 semidirect interview.
Holism in nursing and health promotion: distinct or related perspectives? – A literature review
Authors: Povlsen Lene , Borup Ina K.
Published: March 2011

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 798–805
 
Holism in nursing and health promotion: distinct or related perspectives? – A literature review

Background:  The concept of holism is central in health promotion as well as in nursing. Holism or a holistic view on health was identified as one of the key principles of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion and is linked to social ecology and the determinants of health.

Aims:  To explore how the term holism was defined and/or described in Nordic articles with a health‐promotion approach, and how holism aspects were related to nursing and health promotion, and to the other key principles of the Ottawa Charter.

Methods:  Abstracts were first identified by the search word ‘health promotion’ as a keyword. The search was limited to 1986–2008 and abstracts written in English by authors with a Nordic affiliation. Abstracts/articles for this study were subsequently selected from these abstracts using the search words ‘holism’ and ‘holistic’ and analysed by quantitative and manifest qualitative content analysis.

Findings:  The sample included 23 articles: one theoretical, two reviews and 20 empirical studies. Sixteen articles included a hospital setting or nursing perspective. A holistic perspective could be extracted from most articles. No larger but several minor differences were identified in the way holism aspects were related to nursing and health promotion respectively.

Conclusion:  There is a risk that the individual patient perspective of holism in nursing may result in less chance of reaching larger groups of patients with chronic diseases and mental health problems, not least the most vulnerable ones.
dFOXO‐independent effects of reduced insulin‐like signaling in Drosophila
Authors: Slack Cathy , Giannakou Maria E. , Foley Andrea , Goss Martin , Partridge Linda
Published: March 2011

The insulin/insulin‐like growth factor‐like signaling (IIS) pathway in metazoans has evolutionarily conserved roles in growth control, metabolic homeostasis, stress responses, reproduction, and lifespan. Genetic manipulations that reduce IIS in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and the mouse have been shown not only to produce substantial increases in lifespan but also to ameliorate several age‐related diseases. In C. elegans, the multitude of phenotypes produced by the reduction in IIS are all suppressed in the absence of the worm FOXO transcription factor, DAF‐16, suggesting that they are all under common regulation. It is not yet clear in other animal models whether the activity of FOXOs mediate all of the physiological effects of reduced IIS, especially increased lifespan. We have addressed this issue by examining the effects of reduced IIS in the absence of dFOXO in Drosophila, using a newly generated null allele of dfoxo. We found that the removal of dFOXO almost completely blocks IIS‐dependent lifespan extension. However, unlike in C. elegans, removal of dFOXO does not suppress the body size, fecundity, or oxidative stress resistance phenotypes of IIS‐compromised flies. In contrast, IIS‐dependent xenobiotic resistance is fully dependent on dFOXO activity. Our results therefore suggest that there is evolutionary divergence in the downstream mechanisms that mediate the effects of IIS. They also imply that in Drosophila, additional factors act alongside dFOXO to produce IIS‐dependent responses in body size, fecundity, and oxidative stress resistance and that these phenotypes are not causal in IIS‐mediated extension of lifespan.
The −980C /G polymorphism in APH‐1A promoter confers risk of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Qin Wei , Jia Longfei , Zhou Aihong , Zuo Xiumei , Cheng Zhe , Wang Fen , Shi Fudong , Jia Jianping
Published: March 2011

We previously described an association between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and a single‐nucleotide polymorphism −980C/G (rs3754048) in the promoter of the anterior pharynx‐defective‐1a (APH‐1A) gene. Here, we examine the potential of this −980C/G polymorphism to affect APH‐1A transcription and confer a risk of AD. We validated the presence of APH‐1A promoter polymorphism −980C/G in other two Chinese cohort sets (450 AD and 450 controls). Subsequently, we measured APH‐1A mRNA and protein levels and γ‐secretase activity in C or G allele carriers. Finally, we examined the polymorphism’s transcriptional function using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay and also tracked transcription factor binding to the variant promoter sequence with electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). We found that the APH‐1A levels and γ‐secretase activity were higher in individuals carrying allele G. The G allele increased APH‐1A transcriptional activity significantly in both N2A cells and HEK293 cells. The EMSA revealed an increased binding of the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) to allele G. Overexpression of YY1 resulted in an activation of the APH‐1A promoter (2.7‐fold). Specific YY1 siRNA led to decreases in APH‐1A promoter activity and mRNA and protein levels. Our data indicate that the APH‐1A promoter polymorphism −980C/G might alter the binding ability of YY1 transcription factor, resulting in an increased level of APH‐1A and γ‐secretase activity. These factors further facilitated β‐amyloid (Aβ) 42 generation and ultimately modified patients’ susceptibility to AD. The involvement of transcription factor YY1 might be a novel mechanism for the development of AD.
Reliability of the ABC/2 Method in Determining Acute Infarct Volume
Authors: Pedraza Salvador , Puig Josep , Blasco Gerard , Daunis‐i‐Estadella Josep , Boada Imma , Bardera Anton , Castellanos Mar , Serena Joaquín
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Infarct volume is used as a surrogate outcome measure in clinical trials of therapies for acute ischemic stroke. ABC/2 is a fast volumetric method, but its accuracy remains to be determined. We aimed to study the accuracy and reproducibility of ABC/2 in determining acute infarct volume with diffusion‐weighted imaging.

METHODS

We studied 86 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke. Three blinded observers determined volume with the ABC/2 method, and the results were compared with those of the manual planimetric method.

RESULTS

The ABC/2 technique overestimated infarct volume by a median false increase (variable ABC/2 volume minus planimetric volume) of 7.33 cm3 (1.29, 22.170, representing a 162.56% increase over the value of the gold standard (variable ABC/2 volume over planimetric volume) (121.70, 248.52). In each method, the interrater reliability was excellent: the intraclass correlations were .992 and .985 for the ABC/2 technique and planimetric method, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ABC/2 is volumetric method with clinical value but it consistently overestimates the real infarct volume. J Neuroimaging 2012;22:155‐159
Temperature‐induced changes in spider mite fitness: offsetting effects of development time, fecundity, and sex ratio
Authors: Margolies David C. , Wrensch Dana L.
Published: March 2011

Temperature affects many life history parameters in poikilotherms. Temperature clearly affects development time and fecundity, which affect the intrinsic rate of increase. In haplodiploid mites, ambient temperature may also affect offspring sex ratio which, in turn, affects intrinsic rate of increase. The combined effect of all these processes determines the fitness of individual females. However, sex ratio also affects mating structure and, potentially, rate of local adaptation. We investigated the direct effect of temperature variation on sex ratio, development time, and fecundity in the twospotted spider mite (Tetyranychus urticae), and calculated the effect of their interaction on mite intrinsic rate of increase. We conducted experiments at 2 temperatures and designed the experiment to separate pre‐adult and adult sensitivity to temperature variation. Mites were reared from eggs to adult ecdysis at either 22 °C or 32 °C. Upon emergence as adults, these 2 groups were each split between 22 °C and 32 °C and allowed to oviposit. Not surprisingly, development from egg to adult was accelerated when mites were exposed to the higher temperature during offspring development, regardless of the temperature experienced by the mother during her development. Fecundity and the proportion of female offspring were affected by temperature only when mothers were exposed during both development and oviposition. About 12 offspring were gained and female bias was increased by 26% when the mother's development occurred at 22 °C, whereas oviposition at 22 °C added only 6 more offspring and increased female bias by only 7%. There was no correlation between sex ratio and fecundity; both were related to temperature but not to each other. Furthermore, development time, not fecundity or sex ratio, appeared to the main factor affecting the intrinsic rate of increase. Our results support other evidence that sex ratio varies independently of development time and fecundity.
Effects of photoperiod and raised winter temperatures on egg development and timing of oviposition in the willow psyllid Cacopsylla moscovita
Authors: Hill J. K. , Hodkinson I. D.
Published: March 2011

Nymphal development of Cacopsylla moscovita (And.) (Homoptera: Psylloidea) takes place only on female catkins of Salix repens L. and close phenological synchrony is crucial because development times of catkins and nymphs are similar. Eggs are laid on catkins as soon as they develop and close synchrony between oviposition and budburst maximizes time available for nymphal development. Sampling adult C. moscovita in the field revealed little synchrony between egg development and budburst, with over 60% of females containing mature eggs four weeks before catkins first appeared. In the laboratory, egg development was influenced by both temperature and photoperiod. At 10 °C, egg development occurred approximately one month earlier than at 5 °C and two weeks earlier than in the field. Adult survival in the laboratory was substantially reduced at increased temperature, with only 20% of adults surviving longer than two weeks at 10 °C, compared with over 95% at 5 °C. Body condition (weight corrected for size) of males and females decreased significantly in the field over winter. However, body condition of females levelled off before budburst, coincident with egg development implying that females had resumed feeding. We discuss our results in relation to regulation of phenological synchrony between oviposition and catkin appearance.
Orientation disruption of Planotortrix octo using pheromone or inhibitor blends
Authors: Suckling D.M. , Burnip G.M.
Published: March 2011

Orientation disruption (indicated by reduced trap catch) of adult male Planotortrix octo (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) was examined in eight small plot trials at four apple orchards over three years, using either (i) Z5–14:OAc (inhibitor), (ii) a blend of 25:75 Z5–14:OAc and Z8–14:OAc (inhibitor plus partial pheromone), or (iii) 50:50 Z8–14:OAc and 14:OAc (pheromone) in polyethylene rope dispensers at 100 or 200 dispensers per 0.1 ha. Use of inhibitor plus partial pheromone gave significant reductions in trap catch in all eight trials. Inhibitor alone gave statistically significant reductions in catch in all three trials where it was tested, but was not as effective as the inhibitor plus partial pheromone in one of these trials. Three trials comparing efficacy between the pheromone and the inhibitor plus partial pheromone blend showed no difference between these blends. Analysis of covariance of trap catch after treatment, using the catch in the first generation in each trap as a covariate, was useful for detection of treatment effects. Traps containing the blend of Z5–14:OAc and Z8–14:OAc were not attractive, suggesting that false trails may not be important where this blend is used, since it is an incomplete pheromone and contains an inhibitor.

Disruption of mating was examined in closed containers, with dispensers containing (i), or (ii). Mating frequency was 86.4% in the controls, compared to only 14.3% with the inhibitor present alone, or 1.7% with partial pheromone and inhibitor. The frequency of mating in scotophase within 1–8 h after termination of 24 h exposure to a very high dose of the non‐attractive blend of 25%:75% Z5‐/Z8–14:OAc was identical for treated and untreated P. octo males.
Effects of plant chemical extracts and physical characteristics of Apium graveolens and Chenopodium murale on host choice by Spodoptera exigua larvae
Authors: Berdegue M. , Trumble J. T.
Published: March 2011

Choice tests with whole plants and leaf discs indicated that fourth instar Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Noctuidae: Amphypyrini) were found more frequently and ate significantly more of the weed Chenopodium murale than the associated crop plant Apium graveolens. In order to explain the preference, plant extracts, plant volatiles, soluble protein concentrations, water contents, and leaf toughness of the two plants were investigated. Bioassays of aqueous methanol (90%) and hexane extracts of leaves on cellulose discs indicated that neither attractants in C. murale nor repellents in A. graveolens could account for the observed preference. No significant difference could be found between the effects of plant volatiles from C. murale, A. graveolens and a control on larval dispersal by S. exigua. Selective feeding for higher levels of proteins also was not a factor, because A. graveolens had nearly twice the soluble protein of C. murale. Water content was approximately 6% higher (by weight) in C. murale than A. graveolens but most polyphagous larvae do not typically show compensatory feeding for water alone. However, the potentially related characteristic of leaf toughness was significantly different, with A. graveolens exhibiting 1.53 times the toughness of C. murale. Studies comparing five types of larval behavior on both plant species showed that the time spent in swallowing behavior was significantly greater on the tougher A. graveolens leaves relative to C. murale. To test the hypothesis that leaf toughness was affecting larval host choice, both plants were finely ground and incorporated into agar blocks. No differences in feeding behavior were detected. The implications of leaf toughness for larval diet and host choice are discussed.
The importance of non‐pollen plant parts as food sources for the common blossom thrips, Frankliniella schultzei
Authors: Milne J. R. , Walter G. H. , Kaonga D. , Sabio G. C.
Published: March 2011

Like other flower thrips, Frankliniella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) feeds on pollen. However, the influence of a pollen diet on the life history of F. schultzei may not be as significant as reported for other thrips species. Frankliniella schultzei was reared successfully and with low mortalities (≤20%) on Wax Mallow, (Malvaviscus arboreus Cav.) plant part diets. Development times and fecundity on a petal diet were not significantly different from that on a pollen diet. Fecundity on a diet combining M. arboreus pollen, petal and leaf tissues was significantly higher than those individually containing these tissues. In laboratory choice tests, F. schultzei females encountered petal most often of the three plant parts. Pollen and leaf were encountered with similar frequencies. A significantly higher proportion of petal encounters (0.8) resulted in feeding than did pollen encounters (0.5). Few leaf encounters (0.1) were followed by feeding. Adult and larval F. schultzei were found in M. arboreus flowers but not on leaves. All parts of the flower were inhabited and not just the pollen‐bearing petal apices and anthers. We propose that feeding on pollen within M. arboreus flowers is just one of many influences on the life history of F. schultzei and suggest that this may extend to other thrips species/host‐plant combinations.
Phenotypic differences between thelytokous and arrhenotokous Trichogramma minutum from Zeiraphera canadensis
Authors: Wang Zhiyong , Smith Sandy M.
Published: March 2011

Both thelytokous and arrhenotokous Trichogramma minutum were collected from eggs of the spruce budmoth, Zeiraphera canadensis in New Brunswick, Canada and their phenotypic traits compared for use in biological control. The lower threshold temperature for development of thelytokous and arrhenotokous parasitoids was 9.7 and 10.1 °C, respectively; the former required significantly higher degree‐days for development from egg to adult (x̄ ± SE = 165.1 ± 5.8 °D) than the latter (128.1 ± 4.9 °D). Thelytokous and arrhenotokous parasitoids had similar forewing length (0.49 ± 0.01 vs. 0.49 ± 0.01 mm) and adult lifespan (13.3 ± 0.7 vs. 14.0 ± 1.1 days), but significantly different fecundity and sex ratios. Thelytokous females produced fewer offspring (89.5 ± 6.6 vs. 173.9 ± 6.4) and fewer female progeny (77.2 ± 5.4 vs. 109.8 ± 3.3) despite an overall higher proportion of females (91.6 ± 1.1% vs. 65.4 ± 2.8%) than their arrhenotokous counterparts. Ovarian dissections showed that the number of eggs increased with parasitoid age in arrhenotokous parasitoids but remained steady in thelytokous parasitoids. The variation in ovarian development of the two forms was the major factor contributing to the differences in fecundity. Thelytokous parasitoids were more host‐specific than arrhenotokous ones; when offered eight host species, the former rejected three whereas the latter rejected only one. Thelytokous parasitoids survived better than arrhenotokous ones when stored from 30 to 150 days at 4 °C. Thelytokous females were slower at initiating flight after emergence than arrhenotokous females but maintained flight activity longer (6 h). These results indicate that thelytokous T. minutum are different from their arrhenotokous counterparts physiologically, biologically and ecologically and that they may play different roles in the field. The potential for using thelytokous parasitoids in biological control programs is discussed.