bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grounded theory as a method for research in speech and language therapy
Authors: Skeat J. , Perry A.
Published: February 2008

Background: The use of qualitative methodologies in speech and language therapy has grown over the past two decades, and there is now a body of literature, both generally describing qualitative research, and detailing its applicability to health practice(s). However, there has been only limited profession‐specific discussion of qualitative methodologies and their potential application to speech and language therapy.

Aim: To describe the methodology of grounded theory, and to explain how it might usefully be applied to areas of speech and language research where theoretical frameworks or models are lacking.

Methods & Procedures: Grounded theory as a methodology for inductive theory‐building from qualitative data is explained and discussed. Some differences between ‘modes’ of grounded theory are clarified and areas of controversy within the literature are highlighted. The past application of grounded theory to speech and language therapy, and its potential for informing research and clinical practice, are examined.

Main contribution: This paper provides an in‐depth critique of a qualitative research methodology, including an overview of the main difference between two major ‘modes’. The article supports the application of a theory‐building approach in the profession, which is sometimes complex to learn and apply, but worthwhile in its results.

Conclusions: Grounded theory as a methodology has much to offer speech and language therapists and researchers. Although the majority of research and discussion around this methodology has rested within sociology and nursing, grounded theory can be applied by researchers in any field, including speech and language therapists. The benefit of the grounded theory method to researchers and practitioners lies in its application to social processes and human interactions. The resulting theory may support further research in the speech and language therapy profession.
Children with phonological problems: a survey of clinical practice
Authors: Joffe Victoria , Pring T.
Published: February 2008

Background:Children with phonological problems are a significant proportion of many therapists' caseloads. However, little is known about current clinical practice with these children or whether research on the effects of therapy have influenced this practice.

Aims:To investigate the methods of assessment and remediation used by therapists working in the UK.

Methods & Procedures:A questionnaire was sent to therapists working with pre‐ and primary school‐aged children.

Outcomes & Results:Ninety‐eight clinicians of varying experience responded. Most used the South Tyneside Assessment of Phonology to assess children, were confident in choosing therapy, and were aware of evidence that therapy is beneficial. They used a variety of therapies. Auditory discrimination, minimal contrast therapy, and phonological awareness were popular and often used in combination. Most involved parents. In planning therapy, clinicians were more influenced by children's language and cognitive abilities and the motivation of parents than by the nature of the impairment.

Conclusions:Constraints upon clinicians make it difficult for them to convert research findings to practice. In particular, assessments that allow more individualized and targeted interventions appear little used. Clinicians are aware of research but there is a danger that clinical practice and research are diverging.
Supportive‐expressive group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: Improving access for Australian women through use of teleconference
Authors: O'Brien Mary , Harris Jill , King Robert , O'Brien Tom
Published: February 2008

While supportive‐expressive group therapy (SEGT) has been found to be effective in significantly reducing distress associated with life‐threatening illness, the challenge in Australia is to develop a means of providing supportive interventions to rural women who may be isolated both by the experience of illness and by geographical location. In this study an adaptation of SEGT was provided to women with metastatic breast cancer (n =21), who attended face‐to‐face or by telephone conference call. Participants showed significant gains on standardised measures of well‐being, including a reduction in negative affect and an increase in positive affect, over a 12‐month period. A reduction in intrusive and avoidant stress symptoms was also observed over 12 months; however, this difference was not significant. These outcomes suggest that SEGT, delivered in an innovative way within a community setting, may be an effective means of moderating the adverse effects of a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer while improving access to supportive care for rural women. These results are considered exploratory, as the study did not include a matched control group.
Personal approaches to psychotherapy integration
Authors: O'Hara Denis , Schofield Margot J.
Published: February 2008

Growing interest in the process of psychotherapy integration has been evident from both a theoretical and practice perspective. This research aimed to investigate how psychotherapists think about and practice psychotherapy integration. Five experienced therapists participated in in‐depth qualitative interviews on three occasions. In the first interview, each therapist's espoused theory of practice was explored. In the second interview, an interpersonal process recall methodology was used to examine therapists’ practice and reflections on practice using a video‐taped therapy session. For the third interview, the therapists produced symbolic creative representations of their approach to integration, and these were explored and reflected on. The data were analysed using multiple qualitative methods focusing particularly on the comparison between theoretical espousals and practice, and on how integration was conceptualised and practiced. A number of different approaches to psychotherapy integration were identified. The significance of ‘local’ approaches to psychotherapy integration is discussed.
Impact of separation anxiety on psychotherapy outcomes for adults with anxiety disorders
Authors: Kirsten Laura T. , Grenyer Brin F. S. , Wagner Renate , Manicavasagar Vijaya
Published: February 2008

Anxiety is highly prevalent in the community, and despite improvements in therapy a significant proportion of people tend to relapse, or remain significantly symptomatic. Theorists have proposed that untreated attachment anxieties and separation conflicts emerge from childhood development to be pervasive problems in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the influence of juvenile and concurrent adult separation anxiety on psychotherapy outcomes. It was hypothesised that separation anxiety impedes therapy progress. A sample of 154 adults with a DSM‐IV anxiety disorder received eight weekly sessions of group cognitive‐behaviour therapy. In addition to intake and termination measures of anxiety and depression, participants also completed measures of juvenile and adult separation anxiety and the influence of these on outcomes was studied. Higher adult separation anxiety was associated with a greater likelihood of anxiety and comorbid depression remaining unremitted at termination of treatment. Higher juvenile separation anxiety was only associated with a greater likelihood of still being comorbidly depressed at termination of treatment. The findings of this study highlight the need to modify conventional exposure‐based CBT treatments, and provide psychodynamic treatments that address attachment anxieties and separation conflicts.
Visuo‐spatial processing and executive functions in children with specific language impairment
Authors: Marton Klara
Published: February 2008

Background: Individual differences in complex working memory tasks reflect simultaneous processing, executive functions, and attention control. Children with specific language impairment (SLI) show a deficit in verbal working memory tasks that involve simultaneous processing of information.

Aims: The purpose of the study was to examine executive functions and visuo‐spatial processing and working memory in children with SLI and in their typically developing peers (TLD). Experiment 1 included 40 children with SLI (age = 5;3–6;10) and 40 children with TLD (age = 5;3–6;7); Experiment 2 included 25 children with SLI (age = 8;2–11;2) and 25 children with TLD (age = 8;3–11;0). It was examined whether the difficulties that children with SLI show in verbal working memory tasks are also present in visuo‐spatial working memory.

Methods & Procedures: In Experiment 1, children's performance was measured with three visuo‐spatial processing tasks: space visualization, position in space, and design copying. The stimuli in Experiment 2 were two widely used neuropsychological tests: the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test — 64 (WCST‐64) and the Tower of London test (TOL).

Outcomes & Results: In Experiment 1, children with SLI performed more poorly than their age‐matched peers in all visuo‐spatial working memory tasks. There was a subgroup within the SLI group that included children whose parents and teachers reported a weakness in the child's attention control. These children showed particular difficulties in the tasks of Experiment 1. The results support Engle's attention control theory: individuals need good attention control to perform well in visuo‐spatial working memory tasks. In Experiment 2, the children with SLI produced more perseverative errors and more rule violations than their peers.

Conclusions: Executive functions have a great impact on SLI children's working memory performance, regardless of domain. Tasks that require an increased amount of attention control and executive functions are more difficult for the children with SLI than for their peers. Most children with SLI scored either below average or in the low average range on the neuropsychological tests that measured executive functions.
Dynamic behavior of GFP–CLIP-170 reveals fast protein turnover on microtubule plus ends
Authors: Dragestein Katharina A. , van Cappellen Wiggert A. , van Haren Jeffrey , Tsibidis George D. , Akhmanova Anna , Knoch Tobias A. , Grosveld Frank , Galjart Niels
Published: February 2008

Microtubule (MT) plus end–tracking proteins (+TIPs) specifically recognize the ends of growing MTs. +TIPs are involved in diverse cellular processes such as cell division, cell migration, and cell polarity. Although +TIP tracking is important for these processes, the mechanisms underlying plus end specificity of mammalian +TIPs are not completely understood. Cytoplasmic linker protein 170 (CLIP-170), the prototype +TIP, was proposed to bind to MT ends with high affinity, possibly by copolymerization with tubulin, and to dissociate seconds later. However, using fluorescence-based approaches, we show that two +TIPs, CLIP-170 and end-binding protein 3 (EB3), turn over rapidly on MT ends. Diffusion of CLIP-170 and EB3 appears to be rate limiting for their binding to MT plus ends. We also report that the ends of growing MTs contain a surplus of sites to which CLIP-170 binds with relatively low affinity. We propose that the observed loss of fluorescent +TIPs at plus ends does not reflect the behavior of single molecules but is a result of overall structural changes of the MT end.
Moesin and its activating kinase Slik are required for cortical stability and microtubule organization in mitotic cells
Authors: Carreno Sébastien , Kouranti Ilektra , Glusman Edith Szafer , Fuller Margaret T. , Echard Arnaud , Payre François
Published: February 2008

Cell division requires cell shape changes involving the localized reorganization of cortical actin, which must be tightly linked with chromosome segregation operated by the mitotic spindle. How this multistep process is coordinated remains poorly understood. In this study, we show that the actin/membrane linker moesin, the single ERM (ezrin, radixin, and moesin) protein in Drosophila melanogaster, is required to maintain cortical stability during mitosis. Mitosis onset is characterized by a burst of moesin activation mediated by a Slik kinase–dependent phosphorylation. Activated moesin homogenously localizes at the cortex in prometaphase and is progressively restricted at the equator in later stages. Lack of moesin or inhibition of its activation destabilized the cortex throughout mitosis, resulting in severe cortical deformations and abnormal distribution of actomyosin regulators. Inhibiting moesin activation also impaired microtubule organization and precluded stable positioning of the mitotic spindle. We propose that the spatiotemporal control of moesin activation at the mitotic cortex provides localized cues to coordinate cortical contractility and microtubule interactions during cell division.
Integrin-linked kinase localizes to the centrosome and regulates mitotic spindle organization
Authors: Fielding Andrew B. , Dobreva Iveta , McDonald Paul C. , Foster Leonard J. , Dedhar Shoukat
Published: February 2008

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a serine-threonine kinase and scaffold protein with well defined roles in focal adhesions in integrin-mediated cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and signaling. Using mass spectrometry–based proteomic approaches, we identify centrosomal and mitotic spindle proteins as interactors of ILK. α- and β-tubulin, ch-TOG (XMAP215), and RUVBL1 associate with ILK and colocalize with it to mitotic centrosomes. Inhibition of ILK activity or expression induces profound apoptosis-independent defects in the organization of the mitotic spindle and DNA segregation. ILK fails to localize to the centrosomes of abnormal spindles in RUVBL1-depleted cells. Additionally, depletion of ILK expression or inhibition of its activity inhibits Aurora A–TACC3/ch-TOG interactions, which are essential for spindle pole organization and mitosis. These data demonstrate a critical and unexpected function for ILK in the organization of centrosomal protein complexes during mitotic spindle assembly and DNA segregation.
The JAK/STAT pathway positively regulates DPP signaling in the Drosophila germline stem cell niche
Authors: Wang Liwei , Li Zhouhua , Cai Yu
Published: February 2008

The stem cell niche, formed by surrounding stromal cells, provides extrinsic signals that maintain stem cell self-renewal. However, it remains unclear how these extrinsic signals are regulated. In the Drosophila female germline stem cell (GSC) niche, Decapentaplegic (DPP) is an important niche factor for GSC self-renewal. The exact source of the DPP and how its transcription is regulated in this niche remain unclear. We show that dpp is expressed in somatic cells of the niche including the cap cells, a subtype of niche cells. Furthermore, our data show that the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway positively regulates dpp expression in the cap cells, suggesting that JAK/STAT activity is required in somatic niche cells to prevent precocious GSC differentiation. Our data suggest that the JAK/STAT pathway functions downstream/independently of cap cell formation induced by Notch signaling. JAK/STAT signaling may also regulate dpp expression in the male GSC niche, suggesting a common origin of female and male GSC niches.
Examining the link between chromosomal instability and aneuploidy in human cells
Authors: Thompson Sarah L. , Compton Duane A.
Published: February 2008

Solid tumors can be highly aneuploid and many display high rates of chromosome missegregation in a phenomenon called chromosomal instability (CIN). In principle, aneuploidy is the consequence of CIN, but the relationship between CIN and aneuploidy has not been clearly defined. In this study, we use live cell imaging and clonal cell analyses to evaluate the fidelity of chromosome segregation in chromosomally stable and unstable human cells. We show that improper microtubule–chromosome attachment (merotely) is a cause of chromosome missegregation in unstable cells and that increasing chromosome missegregation rates by elevating merotely during consecutive mitoses generates CIN in otherwise stable, near-diploid cells. However, chromosome missegregation compromises the proliferation of diploid cells, indicating that phenotypic changes that permit the propagation of nondiploid cells must combine with elevated chromosome missegregation rates to generate aneuploid cells with CIN.
Glutamate mediates platelet activation through the AMPA receptor
Authors: Morrell Craig N. , Sun Henry , Ikeda Masahiro , Beique Jean-Claude , Swaim Anne Marie , Mason Emily , Martin Tanika V. , Thompson Laura E. , Gozen Oguz , Ampagoomian David , Sprengel Rolf , Rothstein Jeffrey , Faraday Nauder , Huganir Richard , Lowenstein Charles J.
Published: February 2008

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that binds to the kainate receptor, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor (AMPAR). Each receptor was first characterized and cloned in the central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate is also present in the periphery, and glutamate receptors have been identified in nonneuronal tissues, including bone, heart, kidney, pancreas, and platelets. Platelets play a central role in normal thrombosis and hemostasis, as well as contributing greatly to diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Despite the presence of glutamate in platelet granules, the role of glutamate during hemostasis is unknown. We now show that activated platelets release glutamate, that platelets express AMPAR subunits, and that glutamate increases agonist-induced platelet activation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that glutamate binding to the AMPAR increases intracellular sodium concentration and depolarizes platelets, which are important steps in platelet activation. In contrast, platelets treated with the AMPAR antagonist CNQX or platelets derived from GluR1 knockout mice are resistant to AMPA effects. Importantly, mice lacking GluR1 have a prolonged time to thrombosis in vivo. Our data identify glutamate as a regulator of platelet activation, and suggest that the AMPA receptor is a novel antithrombotic target.
GRIM-19 Is Essential for Maintenance of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential
Authors: Lu Hao , Cao Xinmin
Published: February 2008

GRIM-19 was found to copurify with complex I of mitochondrial respiratory chain and subsequently was demonstrated to be involved in complex I assembly and activity. To further understand its function in complex I, we dissected its functional domains by generating a number of deletion, truncation, and point mutants. The mitochondrial localization sequences were located at the N-terminus. Strikingly, deletion of residues 70–80, 90–100, or the whole C-terminal region (70–144) led to a loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). However, similar deletions of another two complex I subunits, NDUFA9 and NDUFS3, did not show such effect. We also found that deletion of the last 10 residues affected GRIM-19's ability to be assembled to complex I. We constructed a dominant-negative mutant containing the N-terminal 60 and the last C-terminal 10 residues, which could be assembled into complex I, but failed to maintain normal ΔΨm. Cells overexpressing this mutant did not spontaneously undergo cell death, but were sensitized to apoptosis induced by cell death agents. Our results demonstrate that GRIM-19 is required for electron transfer activity of complex I, and disruption of ΔΨm by GRIM-19 mutants enhances the cells' sensitivity to apoptotic stimuli.
Regulation of Mitochondrial Morphology by USP30, a Deubiquitinating Enzyme Present in the Mitochondrial Outer Membrane
Authors: Nakamura Nobuhiro , Hirose Shigehisa
Published: February 2008

Recent studies have suggested that ubiquitination of mitochondrial proteins participates in regulating mitochondrial dynamics in mammalian cells, but it is unclear whether deubiquitination is involved in this process. Here, we identify human ubiquitin-specific protease 30 (USP30) as a deubiquitinating enzyme that is embedded in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Depletion of USP30 expression by RNA interference induced elongated and interconnected mitochondria, depending on the activities of the mitochondrial fusion factors mitofusins, without changing the expression levels of the key regulators for mitochondrial dynamics. Mitochondria were rescued from this abnormal phenotype by ectopic expression of USP30 in a manner dependent on its enzymatic activity. Our findings reveal that USP30 participates in the maintenance of mitochondrial morphology, a finding that provides new insight into the cellular function of deubiquitination.
The longest telomeres: a general signature of adult stem cell compartments
Authors: Flores Ignacio , Canela Andres , Vera Elsa , Tejera Agueda , Cotsarelis George , Blasco María A.
Published: February 2008

Identification of adult stem cells and their location (niches) is of great relevance for regenerative medicine. However, stem cell niches are still poorly defined in most adult tissues. Here, we show that the longest telomeres are a general feature of adult stem cell compartments. Using confocal telomere quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (telomapping), we find gradients of telomere length within tissues, with the longest telomeres mapping to the known stem cell compartments. In mouse hair follicles, we show that cells with the longest telomeres map to the known stem cell compartments, colocalize with stem cell markers, and behave as stem cells upon treatment with mitogenic stimuli. Using K15-EGFP reporter mice, which mark hair follicle stem cells, we show that GFP-positive cells have the longest telomeres. The stem cell compartments in small intestine, testis, cornea, and brain of the mouse are also enriched in cells with the longest telomeres. This constitutes the description of a novel general property of adult stem cell compartments. Finally, we make the novel finding that telomeres shorten with age in different mouse stem cell compartments, which parallels a decline in stem cell functionality, suggesting that telomere loss may contribute to stem cell dysfunction with age.
Elongation Changes of Exploratory and Root Hair Systems Induced by Aminocyclopropane Carboxylic Acid and Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Affect Nitrate Uptake andBnNrt2.1andBnNrt1.1Transporter Gene Expression in Oilseed Rape
Authors: Leblanc Antonin , Renault Hugues , Lecourt Julien , Etienne Philippe , Deleu Carole , Le Deunff Erwan
Published: February 2008

Ethylene is a plant hormone that plays a major role in the elongation of both exploratory and root hair systems. Here, we demonstrate in Brassica napus seedlings that treatments with the ethylene precursor, aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) and the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), cause modification of the dynamic processes of primary root and root hair elongation in a dose-dependent way. Moreover, restoration of root elongation in AVG-treated seedlings by 1 mm  l-glutamate suggested that high concentrations of AVG affect root elongation through nonoverlapping ethylene metabolic pathway involving pyridoxal 5′-P-dependent enzymes of nitrate (N) metabolism. In this respect, treatments with high concentrations of ACC and AVG (10 μ  m) over 5 d revealed significant differences in relationships between root growth architecture and N uptake capacities. Indeed, if these treatments decreased severely the elongation of the exploratory root system (primary root and lateral roots) they had opposing effects on the root hair system. Although ACC increased the length and number of root hairs, the rate of N uptake and the transcript level of the N transporter BnNrt2.1 were markedly reduced. In contrast, the decrease in root hair length and number in AVG-treated seedlings was overcompensated by an increase of N uptake and BnNrt2.1 gene expression. These root architectural changes demonstrated that BnNrt2.1 expression levels were more correlated to the changes of the exploratory root system than the changes of the root hair system. The difference between treatments in N transporters BnNrt1.1 and BnNrt2.1 gene expression is discussed with regard to presumed transport functions of BnNrt1.1 in relation to root elongation.
Advanced Data-Mining Strategies for the Analysis of Direct-Infusion Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Data from the Association of Perennial Ryegrass with Its Endophytic Fungus,Neotyphodium lolii
Authors: Cao Mingshu , Koulman Albert , Johnson Linda J. , Lane Geoffrey A. , Rasmussen Susanne
Published: February 2008

Direct-infusion mass spectrometry (MS) was applied to study the metabolic effects of the symbiosis between the endophytic fungus Neotyphodium lolii and its host perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in three different tissues (immature leaf, blade, and sheath). Unbiased direct-infusion MS using a linear ion trap mass spectrometer allowed metabolic effects to be determined free of any preconceptions and in a high-throughput fashion. Not only the full MS1 mass spectra (range 150–1,000 mass-to-charge ratio) were obtained but also MS2 and MS3 product ion spectra were collected on the most intense MS1 ions as described previously (Koulman et al., 2007b). We developed a novel computational methodology to take advantage of the MS2 product ion spectra collected. Several heterogeneous MS1 bins (different MS2 spectra from the same nominal MS1) were identified with this method. Exploratory data analysis approaches were also developed to investigate how the metabolome differs in perennial ryegrass infected with N. lolii in comparison to uninfected perennial ryegrass. As well as some known fungal metabolites like peramine and mannitol, several novel metabolites involved in the symbiosis, including putative cyclic oligopeptides, were identified. Correlation network analysis revealed a group of structurally related oligosaccharides, which differed significantly in concentration in perennial ryegrass sheaths due to endophyte infection. This study demonstrates the potential of the combination of unbiased metabolite profiling using ion trap MS and advanced data-mining strategies for discovering unexpected perturbations of the metabolome, and generating new scientific questions for more detailed investigations in the future.
Genetic Dissection of Hormonal Responses in the Roots of Arabidopsis Grown under Continuous Mechanical Impedance
Authors: Okamoto Takashi , Tsurumi Seiji , Shibasaki Kyohei , Obana Yoshimi , Takaji Hironori , Oono Yutaka , Rahman Abidur
Published: February 2008

We investigated the role of ethylene and auxin in regulating the growth and morphology of roots during mechanical impedance by developing a new growing system and using the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The Arabidopsis seedlings grown horizontally on a dialysis membrane-covered agar plate encountered adequate mechanical impedance as the roots showed characteristic ethylene phenotypes: 2-fold reduction in root growth, increase in root diameter, decrease in cell elongation, and ectopic root hair formation. The root phenotype characterization of various mutants having altered response to ethylene biosynthesis or signaling, the effect of ethylene inhibitors on mechanically impeded roots, and transcription profiling of the ethylene-responsive genes led us to conclude that enhanced ethylene response plays a primary role in changing root morphology and development during mechanical impedance. Further, the differential sensitivity of horizontally and vertically grown roots toward exogenous ethylene suggested that ethylene signaling plays a critical role in enhancing the ethylene response. We subsequently demonstrated that the enhanced ethylene response also affects the auxin response in roots. Taken together, our results provide a new insight into the role of ethylene in changing root morphology during mechanical impedance.
Age, growth and reproduction of the barrelfishHyperoglyphe perciformis(Mitchill) in the western North Atlantic
Authors: Filer K. R. , Sedberry G. R.
Published: February 2008

Otoliths (n= 847) and gonads (n= 817) were collected from barrelfishHyperoglyphe perciformisthat were captured by commercial fishermen in the waters off South Carolina and Georgia in 1995, 1997 and 2001–2006. Of the otoliths collected, 97% were aged successfully, and specimens sampled ranged from 5 to 85 years, with a median age of 12 years. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters yielded the equation:Lt= 857·8{1 − e−0·0985[t−(−8·95)]}, whereLtis fork length (LF) at timet. Through histological examination, 94% of the gonads assessed were assigned to a sex and reproductive class. Females spawned from September to May with a peak from November to January. Males spawned year round, but had a peak from September to April. The sex ratio (M:F) for this population was 1:1·34. The smallest mature female was 605 mmLFand the youngest immature female was 697 mmLF. Estimates ofLFand age at 50% maturity (L50andA50) for females were 660 mmLF(95% CI = 633–667 mmLF) and 6·08 years (95% CI = 3·50–7·27 years), respectively. The youngest mature male was 575 mmLFand the oldest immature male was 762 mmLF, and no estimates ofL50orA50were made for males. It was determined that barrelfish exhibit the typical characteristics of long life span, slow growth and high age at maturity seen in other deepwater fishes, and that care should be taken to manage this species accordingly.
Competition between brown trout and Atlantic salmon parr over pool refuges during rapid dewatering
Authors: Stradmeyer L. , Höjesjö J. , Griffiths S. W. , Gilvear D. J. , Armstrong J. D.
Published: February 2008

Variations in distributions and behaviours of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in allopatry (homogeneous) and in sympatry with brown trout Salmo trutta (mixed) were observed before, during and after 2 day periods of dewatering in a large glass‐sided indoor stream at densities typical of Scottish upland streams. Brown trout utilized pools more than Atlantic salmon at normal flows and in both species the majority of fishes moved into pools during dewatering. There was no significant effect of brown trout, which was the more dominant species, on the overall ability of Atlantic salmon to use pool habitat as a refuge during dewatering. Within mixed and homogeneous groups, average feeding levels decreased during dewatering. The highest ranking fish, which was always a brown trout in mixed groups, predominantly monopolized the pool and other individuals in pools adopted a more cryptic, stationary behaviour. Dewatering effectively increased local population density with the result that dominance status became much more important in maintaining food intake, and polarization between the top ranking fish and others increased. During the first day of dewatering, there was extreme behavioural polarization such that the dominant fish exhibited most aggression and least feeding within the group. Among dominant fish on the second day of dewatering, aggression had largely abated and feeding had returned to pretreatment levels despite the reduced average feeding within the group. The main difference between mixed and homogeneous groups was in the behaviour of the most dominant Atlantic salmon, which was near‐despotic in allopatry and subordinate to brown trout in sympatry.
Effects of water depth and hydrodynamics on the growth and distribution of juvenile cyprinids in the littoral zone of a large pre‐alpine lake
Authors: Stoll S. , Fischer P. , Klahold P. , Scheifhacken N. , Hofmann H. , Rothhaupt K.‐O.
Published: February 2008

In enclosure experiments in the littoral zone of Lake Constance, Germany, juvenile cyprinids showed significantly reduced somatic growth in the shallow eulittoral zone (0·5 m depth) compared to the sublittoral zone (1·6 m depth). Growth was especially reduced in larger and more deep‐bodied fish groups, providing evidence that this is due to increased hydrodynamic stress, induced by ship and wind waves, in the shallow habitats compared to the deep habitat. Other factors such as water temperature and food availability seemed to be of minor importance for the observed growth differences. Gillnet catches at the experimental site and an adjacent site showed that most juvenile cyprinids, including the species from the enclosure study, bream Abramis brama and dace Leuciscus leuciscus, nonetheless prefer shallow habitats compared to deeper sublittoral habitats. Juvenile cyprinids in Lake Constance may prefer these shallow habitats as refuges against larger piscivorous predators, mainly perch Perca fluviatilis, despite the cost in terms of reduced somatic growth indicating that juvenile cyprinids first of all optimize survival rate instead of somatic growth rate.
Trophic resource partitioning among five flatfish species (Actinopterygii, Pleuronectiformes) in a tropical bay in south‐eastern Brazil
Authors: Guedes A. P. P. , Araújo F. G.
Published: February 2008

Five species of flatfishes in a tropical bay in south‐eastern Brazil were studied to test the hypothesis that resource partitioning along the spatial and size dimensions has been used as a mechanism to enable coexistence. Three zones in the study area were defined according to environmental characteristics (inner, middle and outer). Sampling was conducted by otter trawl tows during daylight hours, between October 1998 and September 1999. Achiridae species (Achirus lineatusandTrinectes paulistanus) showed narrow niche width, indicating a specialized feeding strategy, preying on Polychaeta, and occurring mainly in the inner bay zone. Paralichthyidae (Citharichthys spilopterusandEtropus crossotus) and the Cynoglossidae (Symphurus tessellatus) showed broad niche width and a generalized feeding strategy preying on a large number of Crustacea.Symphurus tessellatusdid not change diet with size‐dimension feeding on Amphipoda and Polychaeta, whereasC. spilopterusandE. crossotusshifted diet with growth.Citharichthys spilopterusfed mainly on Mysida and secondarily on shrimps, with juvenile preying on large amounts of Calanoida, whereas adults consumed large amounts of fishes. Isaeidae amphipods were a significant prey for both small and largeE. crossotus, whereas Polychaeta Errantia were used mainly by large fishes.Etropus crossotusandS. tessellatusshare similar feeding resources in outer bay zone preying on Isaeidae and Polychaeta Errantia. Differences in the Pleuronectiformes diet composition along with spatial and size changes in the use of the available resources contributed to allow the organisms’ coexistence in Sepetiba Bay. The high item diversity used by flatfishes indicates that the system plays an important role as a feeding ground, and that interspecific competition for food was unlikely.
Histopathology and PR‐protein markers provide insight into adult plant resistance to stripe rust of wheat
Authors: MOLDENHAUER JENNIFER , PRETORIUS ZACHARIAS A. , MOERSCHBACHER BRUNO M. , PRINS RENÉE , VAN DER WESTHUIZEN AMIE J.
Published: February 2008

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is a serious disease of wheat. The spring wheat cultivar Kariega expresses complete adult plant resistance to stripe rust, whereas Avocet S is susceptible. In former studies, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of doubled haploid lines derived from a Kariega × Avocet S cross revealed two major QTL (QYr.sgi‐7D and QYr.sgi‐2B.1) and two minor QTL (QYr.sgi‐1A and QYr.sgi‐4A.1) responsible for the adult resistance of Kariega in the field. Avocet S contains none of these QTL. In the present study, stripe rust development was compared, by means of fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy, in flag leaves of Kariega, Avocet S and six doubled haploid (DH) lines, containing all four, none or one QTL. Depending on the QTL present, the infection types of the DH lines ranged from resistant to fully susceptible. No differences in fungal growth were observed during the first 5 days post inoculation (dpi), whereas the mean length of the fungal colonies started to differ at 6 dpi. Interestingly, MP 51 carrying QYr.sgi‐7D responded with lignification to the fungal growth without restricting it, whereas MP 35 containing QYr.sgi‐2B.1 did not show lignified host tissue, but fungal growth was restricted. RT PCR experiments with sequences of pathogenesis‐related (PR) proteins resulted in a slightly stronger induction of PR 1, 2 and 5, known markers for the hypersensitive reaction, and peroxidases in MP 51, whereas a second band for chitinases was detected in MP 35 only.
Extraction of high‐quality bacterial RNA from infected leaf tissue for bacterial in planta gene expression analysis by multiplexed fluorescent Northern hybridization
Authors: SCHENK ALEXANDER , WEINGART HELGE , ULLRICH MATTHIAS S.
Published: February 2008

Plant pathogenic bacteria possess a large number of genes that allow them to grow and cause disease on plants. In planta gene expression analysis is important to understand the impact of these genes on bacterial virulence. A new mRNA‐based approach using multiplexed Northern hybridization was developed. High‐quality bacterial and plant total RNA was successfully isolated from leaf tissue infiltrated with Pseudomonas syringae. The procedure employs a new extraction buffer formulation containing glycine, sodium dodecylsulphate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene glycol and β‐mercaptoethanol. Cell lysis and classical acid–phenol extraction steps followed by LiCl precipitation yielded large amounts of total RNA of high purity and integrity. Multiplexing of DIG and chemically fluorescently labelled RNA probes was developed and expression data were normalized using the 23S rRNA gene as reference. The method was validated by studying in planta expression of the P. syringae genes mucD, cmaA, cfl, corR, corS and corP comprising a selection of highly expressed biosynthetic and low‐expressed regulatory genes. The method was assessed regarding its sensitivity and might by useful for studying a variety of plant–microbe interactions.
Evolution of the CYP51 gene in Mycosphaerella graminicola: evidence for intragenic recombination and selective replacement
Authors: BRUNNER P. C. , STEFANATO F. L. , MCDONALD B. A.
Published: February 2008

Recent findings are consistent with a slow but constant shift towards reduced sensitivity of Mycosphaerella graminicola to azole fungicides, which target the CYP51 gene. The goal of this study was to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms through which CYP51‐based mutations associated with altered sensitivity have evolved in M. graminicola over space and time. To accomplish this, we sequenced and compared a portion of the CYP51 gene encompassing the main mutations associated with altered sensitivity towards demethylation inhibitor fungicides. The CYP51 gene showed an extraordinary dynamic shift consistent with a selective haplotype replacement both in space and in time. No mutations associated with increased resistance to azoles were found in non‐European populations. These mutations were also absent in the oldest collections from Europe, whereas they dominated in the recent European populations. Intragenic recombination was identified as an important evolutionary process in populations affected by high fungicide selection, suggesting the creation of novel alleles among existing mutations as a potential source of novel resistance alleles. We propose that CYP51 mutations giving resistance in M. graminicola arose only locally (perhaps in Denmark or the UK) and were then spread eastward across Europe through wind‐dispersed ascospores. We conclude that recurring cycles of recombination coupled with selection due to the widespread use of azole fungicides will increase the frequency of novel mutants or recombinants with higher resistance. Long‐distance gene flow due to wind dispersal of ascospores will move the resulting new alleles to new areas following the prevailing wind directions. A selective replacement favouring haplotypes with various coding mutations at the target site for azole fungicides during the last 5–10 years is the most likely cause of the decrease in sensitivity reported for many azole fungicides in the same period.
Sustained complete remissions in multiple myeloma linked to bortezomib in total therapy 3: comparison with total therapy 2
Authors: Pineda‐Roman Mauricio , Zangari Maurizio , Haessler Jeff , Anaissie Elias , Tricot Guido , Van Rhee Frits , Crowley John , Shaughnessy John D. , Barlogie Bart
Published: February 2008

Total therapy 3 (TT3), incorporating bortezomib up‐front into a tandem transplant regimen for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), effected 2‐year complete response (CR) estimates >90%, which appeared superior to results reported for total therapy 2 (TT2). With median follow‐up times of 2 years with TT3 and 5 years with TT2, the clinical outcomes of 303 patients in the former and 668 in the latter trial were compared, including the subset of 607 patients with gene expression profiling (GEP) data. With similar baseline prognostic factors, event‐free survival (EFS) (P = 0·0002) and CR duration (P = 0·003) were superior with TT3 vs. TT2 with a strong trend noted also for improved overall survival (OS) (P = 0·16). In the GEP‐definedFGFR3subgroup, TT3 imparted significantly superior OS, EFS and CR duration vis‐à‐vis TT2. Matching 300 patients each by standard prognostic factors, TT3 yielded superior EFS and CR duration and borderline superior OS. The advantage of TT3 still pertained when the comparison was limited to patients who completed TT2 consolidation rapidly within 24 months. Our data strongly suggest that the addition of bortezomib in TT3 was accountable for its superior performance rather than greater compliance with protocol completion as a result of greater dose‐density in TT3 vs. TT2.
RNA‐directed agent, cordycepin, induces cell death in multiple myeloma cells
Authors: Chen Lisa S. , Stellrecht Christine M. , Gandhi Varsha
Published: February 2008

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell malignancy that is slow‐growing, and thus traditional DNA‐replication directed chemotherapeutics are ineffective. We hypothesized that those agents that target RNA‐directed processes would be successful in MM. To test this postulate, cordycepin, a polyadenylation inhibitor was used as a proof‐of‐principle towards MM cell lines. Cordycepin accumulated in MM.1S cells as its triphosphate metabolite, 3′dATP and subsequently inhibits RNA synthesis and cell growth. Cell death was via apoptosis induction and over 50% of treated cells were annexin‐V positive after 48 h. As a consequence of RNA synthesis inhibition, we hypothesized that specific genes with short half‐lives may be downregulated, leading to a reduction in protein. Indeed, a reduction in the transcript levels for MET, a survival gene for MM, was detected as early as 4 h and transcripts were reduced to c. 10% of control after 48 h. Interestingly, no significant change in protein levels was observed for Bcl‐2, XIAP, Mcl‐1 or survivin. Stabilization of p53 was not observed, and caspases‐8, ‐9 and ‐3 showed activation following cordycepin treatment but were not required for cell death. Our results suggest that RNA‐directed agents may be a new group of agents for the treatment of MM.
Phenylhydrazine as a partial model for β‐thalassaemia red blood cell hemodynamic properties
Authors: Ramot Yuval , Koshkaryev Alexander , Goldfarb Ada , Yedgar Saul , Barshtein Gregory
Published: February 2008

β‐Thalassaemia is a congenital haemoglobinopathy, associated with red blood cells (RBC) anomalies, leading to impairment of their flow‐affecting properties, namely, RBC deformability, self‐aggregability, and adherence to endothelial cells (EC). Treatment of normal RBC with phenylhydrazine (PHZ) causes selective association of oxidized α‐globin chains with the membrane skeleton, leading to reduced RBC deformability, characteristic of β‐thalassaemia. PHZ has thus been used to mimic phenotypes of β‐thalassaemia RBC. The present study was undertaken to further elucidate the suitability of PHZ‐treated RBC as a model for β‐thalassemic RBC, by comparing the aggregability and adhesiveness of PHZ‐treated RBC to those of RBC from thalassaemia intermedia (TI) patients, using image analysis of RBC under flow. In addition, the externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), a mediator of RBC/EC interaction, was determined. It was found that PHZ caused enhanced RBC adhesiveness to extracellular matrix, similar to TI‐RBC. Furthermore, in both conditions, the enhanced adhesiveness was mediated by PS translocated to the RBC surface. In contrast, PHZ treatment completely abolished RBC aggregability, while TI‐RBC aggregability was slightly elevated. It is proposed that PHZ‐treated RBC resemble β‐thalassaemia RBC in their deformability and adhesiveness, but not in their aggregability, and thus can be used as a limited model for β‐thalassaemia RBC phenotypes.
Reconstructing child welfare through participatory and child‐centred professional practice: a conceptual approach1
Authors: D'Cruz Heather , Stagnitti Karen
Published: February 2008

The ‘child’ in child welfare/protection is seen as a dependent waif and an object of interest, on whose behalf adults speak and act. An alternative perspective has argued for child‐centredness, and includes concepts of child liberation, rights and citizenship. Policymakers and practitioners who may accept the underlying principles may be concerned about the appropriateness and applicability of such principles in relation to practice with children and their parents in child welfare/protection cases. This paper discusses a conceptual framework for research that aims to explore participatory and child‐centred professional practice by critically evaluating and developing, for professional practice, the practical meanings of ‘participatory’ and ‘children as citizens’. We do not present research outcomes based on empirical data; instead, we present our conceptual framework as the first stage of research in progress into participatory and child‐centred professional practice.