bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface mineralogy of Martian low‐albedo regions from MGS‐TES data: Implications for upper crustal evolution and surface alteration
Authors: Rogers A. Deanne , Christensen Philip R.
Published: January 2007

Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS‐TES) data are used to derive the modal mineralogy of spectrally distinct Martian low‐albedo regions and to identify spatial trends in mineralogic assemblages. Results from this work are consistent with the major results of previous spectroscopic studies: (1) Plagioclase and clinopyroxene are the dominant minerals of most southern highlands regions, (2) the northern plains exhibit the lowest pyroxene abundance within Martian low‐albedo regions, and (3) the highest concentrations of high‐silica phase(s) are found in the northern plains, Solis Planum and a few southern high‐latitude regions. Low‐albedo regions may be classified into four units on the basis of relative abundances of plagioclase, pyroxene, and high‐silica phase(s). Unit distributions between ±45° latitude exhibit moderate correlation with distinct provinces (e.g., Syrtis Major, Aonium Sinus) defined by large‐scale morphology, elevation, and to some extent, surface age, suggesting that the spectral and compositional differences between these units are more strongly controlled by original bedrock mineralogy than by surface‐atmosphere interactions and alteration. Syrtis Major exhibits a difference in mineralogy from the surrounding highlands suggesting a differing degree of fractional crystallization, assimilation, or source region composition. Areas with thick crust near the Tharsis Plateau exhibit lower abundances of olivine and greater plagioclase/pyroxene ratios than surrounding highland terrains, suggesting that magmas in this region may have undergone increased olivine fractionation. Regions where surface alteration is more likely to be the primary control on observed spectral signatures are the high‐latitude areas (>45°), where globally, surfaces dominated by high‐silica phase(s) are most commonly found.
Rapid evolution of flowering time by an annual plant in response to a climate fluctuation
Authors: Franks Steven J. , Sim Sheina , Weis Arthur E.
Published: January 2007

Ongoing climate change has affected the ecological dynamics of many species and is expected to impose natural selection on ecologically important traits. Droughts and other anticipated changes in precipitation may be particularly potent selective factors, especially in arid regions. Here we demonstrate the evolutionary response of an annual plant,
Brassica rapa
, to a recent climate fluctuation resulting in a multiyear drought. Ancestral (predrought) genotypes were recovered from stored seed and raised under a set of common environments with descendant (postdrought) genotypes and with ancestor×descendant hybrids. As predicted, the abbreviated growing seasons caused by drought led to the evolution of earlier onset of flowering. Descendants bloomed earlier than ancestors, advancing first flowering by 1.9 days in one study population and 8.6 days in another. The intermediate flowering time of ancestor×descendant hybrids supports an additive genetic basis for divergence. Experiments confirmed that summer drought selected for early flowering, that flowering time was heritable, and that selection intensities in the field were more than sufficient to account for the observed evolutionary change. Natural selection for drought escape thus appears to have caused adaptive evolution in just a few generations. A systematic effort to collect and store propagules from suitable species would provide biologists with materials to detect and elucidate the genetic basis of further evolutionary shifts driven by climate change.
Serum proteome profiling detects myelodysplastic syndromes and identifies CXC chemokine ligands 4 and 7 as markers for advanced disease
Authors: Aivado Manuel , Spentzos Dimitrios , Germing Ulrich , Alterovitz Gil , Meng Xiao-Ying , Grall Franck , Giagounidis Aristoteles A. N. , Klement Giannoula , Steidl Ulrich , Otu Hasan H. , Czibere Akos , Prall Wolf C. , Iking-Konert Christof , Shayne Michelle , Ramoni Marco F. , Gattermann Norbert , Haas Rainer , Mitsiades Constantine S. , Fung Eric T. , Libermann Towia A.
Published: January 2007

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are among the most frequent hematologic malignancies. Patients have a short survival and often progress to acute myeloid leukemia. The diagnosis of MDS can be difficult; there is a paucity of molecular markers, and the pathophysiology is largely unknown. Therefore, we conducted a multicenter study investigating whether serum proteome profiling may serve as a noninvasive platform to discover novel molecular markers for MDS. We generated serum proteome profiles from 218 individuals by MS and identified a profile that distinguishes MDS from non-MDS cytopenias in a learning sample set. This profile was validated by testing its ability to predict MDS in a first independent validation set and a second, prospectively collected, independent validation set run 5 months apart. Accuracy was 80.5% in the first and 79.0% in the second validation set. Peptide mass fingerprinting and quadrupole TOF MS identified two differential proteins: CXC chemokine ligands 4 (CXCL4) and 7 (CXCL7), both of which had significantly decreased serum levels in MDS, as confirmed with independent antibody assays. Western blot analyses of platelet lysates for these two platelet-derived molecules revealed a lack of CXCL4 and CXCL7 in MDS. Subtype analyses revealed that these two proteins have decreased serum levels in advanced MDS, suggesting the possibility of a concerted disturbance of transcription or translation of these chemokines in advanced MDS.
The Lipopolysaccharide of Sinorhizobium meliloti Suppresses Defense-Associated Gene Expression in Cell Cultures of the Host Plant Medicago truncatula
Authors: Tellström Verena , Usadel Björn , Thimm Oliver , Stitt Mark , Küster Helge , Niehaus Karsten
Published: January 2007

In the establishment of symbiosis between Medicago truncatula and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the microsymbiont plays an important role as a signal molecule. It has been shown in cell cultures that the LPS is able to suppress an elicitor-induced oxidative burst. To investigate the effect of S. meliloti LPS on defense-associated gene expression, a microarray experiment was performed. For evaluation of the M. truncatula microarray datasets, the software tool MapMan, which was initially developed for the visualization of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) datasets, was adapted by assigning Medicago genes to the ontology originally created for Arabidopsis. This allowed functional visualization of gene expression of M. truncatula suspension-cultured cells treated with invertase as an elicitor. A gene expression pattern characteristic of a defense response was observed. Concomitant treatment of M. truncatula suspension-cultured cells with invertase and S. meliloti LPS leads to a lower level of induction of defense-associated genes compared to induction rates in cells treated with invertase alone. This suppression of defense-associated transcriptional rearrangement affects genes induced as well as repressed by elicitation and acts on transcripts connected to virtually all kinds of cellular processes. This indicates that LPS of the symbiont not only suppresses fast defense responses as the oxidative burst, but also exerts long-term influences, including transcriptional adjustment to pathogen attack. These data indicate a role for LPS during infection of the plant by its symbiotic partner.
Plant Gene and Alternatively Spliced Variant Annotator. A Plant Genome Annotation Pipeline for Rice Gene and Alternatively Spliced Variant Identification with Cross-Species Expressed Sequence Tag Conservation from Seven Plant Species
Authors: Chen Feng-Chi , Wang Sheng-Shun , Chaw Shu-Miaw , Huang Yao-Ting , Chuang Trees-Juen
Published: January 2007

The completion of the rice (Oryza sativa) genome draft has brought unprecedented opportunities for genomic studies of the world's most important food crop. Previous rice gene annotations have relied mainly on ab initio methods, which usually yield a high rate of false-positive predictions and give only limited information regarding alternative splicing in rice genes. Comparative approaches based on expressed sequence tags (ESTs) can compensate for the drawbacks of ab initio methods because they can simultaneously identify experimental data-supported genes and alternatively spliced transcripts. Furthermore, cross-species EST information can be used to not only offset the insufficiency of same-species ESTs but also derive evolutionary implications. In this study, we used ESTs from seven plant species, rice, wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), barley (Hordeum vulgare), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), soybean (Glycine max), and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), to annotate the rice genome. We developed a plant genome annotation pipeline, Plant Gene and Alternatively Spliced Variant Annotator (PGAA). Using this approach, we identified 852 genes (931 isoforms) not annotated in other widely used databases (i.e. the Institute for Genomic Research, National Center for Biotechnology Information, and Rice Annotation Project) and found 87% of them supported by both rice and nonrice EST evidence. PGAA also identified more than 44,000 alternatively spliced events, of which approximately 20% are not observed in the other three annotations. These novel annotations represent rich opportunities for rice genome research, because the functions of most of our annotated genes are currently unknown. Also, in the PGAA annotation, the isoforms with non-rice-EST-supported exons are significantly enriched in transporter activity but significantly underrepresented in transcription regulator activity. We have also identified potential lineage-specific and conserved isoforms, which are important markers in evolutionary studies. The data and the Web-based interface, RiceViewer, are available for public access at http://RiceViewer.genomics.sinica.edu.tw/.
Recent Proliferation and Translocation of Pollen Group 1 Allergen Genes in the Maize Genome
Authors: Valdivia Elene R. , Sampedro Javier , Lamb Jonathan C. , Chopra Surinder , Cosgrove Daniel J.
Published: January 2007

The dominant allergenic components of grass pollen are known by immunologists as group 1 allergens. These constitute a set of closely related proteins from the β-expansin family and have been shown to have cell wall-loosening activity. Group 1 allergens may facilitate the penetration of pollen tubes through the grass stigma and style. In maize (Zea mays), group 1 allergens are divided into two classes, A and B. We have identified 15 genes encoding group 1 allergens in maize, 11 genes in class A and four genes in class B, as well as seven pseudogenes. The genes in class A can be divided by sequence relatedness into two complexes, whereas the genes in class B constitute a single complex. Most of the genes identified are represented in pollen-specific expressed sequence tag libraries and are under purifying selection, despite the presence of multiple copies that are nearly identical. Group 1 allergen genes are clustered in at least six different genomic locations. The single class B location and one of the class A locations show synteny with the rice (Oryza sativa) regions where orthologous genes are found. Both classes are expressed at high levels in mature pollen but at low levels in immature flowers. The set of genes encoding maize group 1 allergens is more complex than originally anticipated. If this situation is common in grasses, it may account for the large number of protein variants, or group 1 isoallergens, identified previously in turf grass pollen by immunologists.
The Arabidopsis Aleurone Layer Responds to Nitric Oxide, Gibberellin, and Abscisic Acid and Is Sufficient and Necessary for Seed Dormancy
Authors: Bethke Paul C. , Libourel Igor G.L. , Aoyama Natsuyo , Chung Yong-Yoon , Still David W. , Jones Russell L.
Published: January 2007

Seed dormancy is a common phase of the plant life cycle, and several parts of the seed can contribute to dormancy. Whole seeds, seeds lacking the testa, embryos, and isolated aleurone layers of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) were used in experiments designed to identify components of the Arabidopsis seed that contribute to seed dormancy and to learn more about how dormancy and germination are regulated in this species. The aleurone layer was found to be the primary determinant of seed dormancy. Embryos from dormant seeds, however, had a lesser growth potential than those from nondormant seeds. Arabidopsis aleurone cells were examined by light and electron microscopy, and cell ultrastructure was similar to that of cereal aleurone cells. Arabidopsis aleurone cells responded to nitric oxide (NO), gibberellin (GA), and abscisic acid, with NO being upstream of GA in a signaling pathway that leads to vacuolation of protein storage vacuoles and abscisic acid inhibiting vacuolation. Molecular changes that occurred in embryos and aleurone layers prior to germination were measured, and these data show that both the aleurone layer and the embryo expressed the NO-associated gene AtNOS1, but only the embryo expressed genes for the GA biosynthetic enzyme GA3 oxidase.
Methylation of Gibberellins by Arabidopsis GAMT1 and GAMT2
Authors: Varbanova Marina , Yamaguchi Shinjiro , Yang Yue , McKelvey Katherine , Hanada Atsushi , Borochov Roy , Yu Fei , Jikumaru Yusuke , Ross Jeannine , Cortes Diego , Ma Choong Je , Noel Joseph P. , Mander Lew , Shulaev Vladimir , Kamiya Yuji , Rodermel Steve , Weiss David , Pichersky Eran
Published: January 2007

Arabidopsis thaliana GAMT1 and GAMT2 encode enzymes that catalyze formation of the methyl esters of gibberellins (GAs). Ectopic expression of GAMT1 or GAMT2 in Arabidopsis, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), and petunia (Petunia hybrida) resulted in plants with GA deficiency and typical GA deficiency phenotypes, such as dwarfism and reduced fertility. GAMT1 and GAMT2 are both expressed mainly in whole siliques (including seeds), with peak transcript levels from the middle until the end of silique development. Within whole siliques, GAMT2 was previously shown to be expressed mostly in developing seeds, and we show here that GAMT1 expression is also localized mostly to seed, suggesting a role in seed development. Siliques of null single GAMT1 and GAMT2 mutants accumulated high levels of various GAs, with particularly high levels of GA1 in the double mutant. Methylated GAs were not detected in wild-type siliques, suggesting that methylation of GAs by GAMT1 and GAMT2 serves to deactivate GAs and initiate their degradation as the seeds mature. Seeds of homozygous GAMT1 and GAMT2 null mutants showed reduced inhibition of germination, compared with the wild type, when placed on plates containing the GA biosynthesis inhibitor ancymidol, with the double mutant showing the least inhibition. These results suggest that the mature mutant seeds contained higher levels of active GAs than wild-type seeds.
The PEROXIN11 Protein Family Controls Peroxisome Proliferation inArabidopsis
Authors: Orth Travis , Reumann Sigrun , Zhang Xinchun , Fan Jilian , Wenzel Dirk , Quan Sheng , Hu Jianping
Published: January 2007

PEROXIN11 (PEX11) is a peroxisomal membrane protein in fungi and mammals and was proposed to play a major role in peroxisome proliferation. To begin understanding how peroxisomes proliferate in plants and how changes in peroxisome abundance affect plant development, we characterized the extended Arabidopsis thaliana PEX11 protein family, consisting of the three phylogenetically distinct subfamilies PEX11a, PEX11b, and PEX11c to PEX11e. All five Arabidopsis PEX11 proteins target to peroxisomes, as demonstrated for endogenous and cyan fluorescent protein fusion proteins by fluorescence microscopy and immunobiochemical analysis using highly purified leaf peroxisomes. PEX11a and PEX11c to PEX11e behave as integral proteins of the peroxisome membrane. Overexpression of At PEX11 genes in Arabidopsis induced peroxisome proliferation, whereas reduction in gene expression decreased peroxisome abundance. PEX11c and PEX11e, but not PEX11a, PEX11b, and PEX11d, complemented to significant degrees the growth phenotype of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae pex11 null mutant on oleic acid. Heterologous expression of PEX11e in the yeast mutant increased the number and reduced the size of the peroxisomes. We conclude that all five Arabidopsis PEX11 proteins promote peroxisome proliferation and that individual family members play specific roles in distinct peroxisomal subtypes and environmental conditions and possibly in different steps of peroxisome proliferation.
The Kinesin ATK5 Functions in Early Spindle Assembly inArabidopsis
Authors: Ambrose J. Christian , Cyr Richard
Published: January 2007

During cell division, the mitotic spindle partitions chromosomes into daughter nuclei. In higher plants, the molecular mechanisms governing spindle assembly and function remain largely unexplored. Here, live cell imaging of mitosis in Arabidopsis thaliana plants lacking a kinesin-14 (ATK5) reveals defects during early spindle formation. Beginning during prophase and lasting until late prometaphase, spindles of atk5-1 plants become abnormally elongated, are frequently bent, and have splayed poles by prometaphase. The period of spindle elongation during prophase and prometaphase is prolonged in atk5-1 cells. Time-lapse imaging of yellow fluorescent protein:ATK5 reveals colocalization with perinuclear microtubules before nuclear envelope breakdown, after which it congresses inward from the poles to the midzone, where it becomes progressively enriched at regions of overlap between antiparallel microtubules. In vitro microtubule motility assays demonstrate that in the presence of ATK5, two microtubules encountering one another at an angle can interact and coalign, forming a linear bundle. These data indicate that ATK5 participates in the search and capture of antiparallel interpolar microtubules, where it aids in generating force to coalign microtubules, thereby affecting spindle length, width, and integrity.
Improving requirements elicitation: an empirical investigation of procedural prompts
Authors: Pitts Mitzi G , Browne Glenn J
Published: January 2007

Abstract.  Information system success is dependent upon the effectiveness of requirements elicitation. Requirements elicitation is subject to numerous challenges, however, including cognitive limitations of analysts. In the present study, we test prompts designed to overcome the cognitive limitations that cause analysts to gather inadequate and inaccurate requirements. The study’s results indicate that providing analysts with procedural prompts to aid their requirements elicitation can result in the acquisition of additional meaningful requirements. In addition, the procedural prompts designed to mitigate cognitive challenges were significantly more effective than simple interrogatory prompts. Theoretical implications for the elicitation of requirements and practical implications for the training and practice of systems analysts are discussed.
Physical Properties of Extruded Products as Affected by Cheese Whey
Authors: ONWULATA C.I. , KONSTANCE R.P. , SMITH P.W. , HOLSINGER V.H.
Published: January 2007

Corn, rice and potato flour were extruded with sweet whey solids (SWS) or whey protein concentrate (WPC) using low and high shear extrusion processing conditions. WPC added at product content of 25% had minimal effect on the texture of extruded products. Expansion and breaking strength were improved in some processes through changes in extrusion shear and moisture. Whey product incorporation resulted in reduced specific mechanical energy input to the process. Increasing whey product concentration beyond 25% reduced expansion and water absorption indices significantly, affecting textural hardness. Product quality characteristics were directly related to the whey product content.
Physical Properties of Low‐fat Sour Cream Containing Exopolysaccharide Producing Lactic Acid
Authors: ADAPA S. , SCHMIDT K.A.
Published: January 2007

Syneresis, color, apparent viscosity, and texture of three treatments of low‐fat (6%) sour cream were compared. Samples were made using SC 801 (commercial sour cream culture with 3 m exopolysaccharide capsule) alone, or + S‐3 (Streptococcus thermophilus with 2 m capsule) at 75:25 (v/v), or + S‐4 (Streptococcus thermophilus with no capsule) at 75:25 (v/v).Treatments S‐4 and S‐3 resulted in higher syneresis. No differences were found among color ‘L*’,‘a*’, and ‘b*’ values but S‐3 had higher viscosity than S‐4. No differences in cohesiveness occurred but SC 801 had higher adhesiveness than did S‐4. SC 801 had the highest gumminess and S‐4 the lowest.
A concept analysis of self‐monitoring
Authors: Wilde Mary H. , Garvin Suzanne
Published: January 2007

Title. A concept analysis of self‐monitoring

Aim. This paper reports a concept analysis delineating and clarifying the concept of self‐monitoring to facilitate development and evaluation of interventions to enhance self‐monitoring.

Background. The concepts of self‐monitoring, self‐management, self‐care and symptom management are often used in similar or interchangeable ways. Clarification of the concept of self‐monitoring is needed for research and theory development.

Method. Rodgers and Knafl's evolutionary concept analysis process was used to delineate and clarify the concept. The PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched using keywords ‘self‐monitoring’, ‘self‐management’ and ‘self‐care’ (with and without the hyphen) for the years 1998–2005, to update a previous study (not published). Later, searching was refined and the keyword ‘self‐monitoring’ was paired with ‘awareness’ and ‘self‐regulation’ was added. Approximately half the papers were from nursing (n = 34) and half from other disciplines (n = 32). The sample from 1998 to 2005 was further stratified by chronic condition. Definition, exemplars, usage, attributes, antecedents/consequences and implications for further study were identified.

Findings. Self‐monitoring was composed of two complementary components (attributes): (1) awareness of bodily symptoms, sensations, daily activities, and cognitive processes and (2) measurements, recordings and observations that inform cognition or provide information for independent action or consultation with care providers.

Conclusion. Self‐monitoring may be an important concept for understanding how people self‐manage chronic conditions. This concept analysis may be useful for researchers who wish to measure this dimension and to develop nursing theory in this area.
Globalization and the cultural safety of an immigrant Muslim community
Authors: Baker Cynthia
Published: January 2007

Title. Globalization and the cultural safety of an immigrant Muslim community

Aim.  This paper reports a study the aim of which was to further understanding of cultural safety by focusing on the social health of a small immigrant community of Muslims in a relatively homogeneous region of Canada following the terror attacks on 11 September 2001 (9/11).

Background.  The aftermath of 9/11 negatively affected Muslims living in many centers of Western Europe and North America. Little is known about the social health of Muslims in smaller areas with little cultural diversity. Developed by Maori nurses, the cultural safety concept captures the negative health effects of inequities experienced by the indigenous people of New Zealand. Nurses in Canada have used the concept to understand the health of Aboriginal peoples. It has also been used to investigate the nursing care of immigrants in a Canadian metropolitan centre. Findings indicated, however, that the dichotomy between culturally safe and unsafe groups was blurred.

Method.  The methodology was qualitative, based on the constructivist paradigm. A purposive sample of 26 Muslims of Middle Eastern, Indian or Pakistani origin and residing in the province of New Brunswick, Canada were interviewed in 2002–2003.

Findings.  Participants experienced a sudden transition from cultural safety to cultural risk following 9/11. Their experience of cultural safety included a sense of social integration in the community and invisibility as a minority. Cultural risk stemmed from being in the spotlight of an international media and becoming a visible minority.

Conclusion.  Cultural risk is not necessarily rooted in historical events and may be generated by outside forces rather than by longstanding inequities in relationships between groups within the community. Nurses need to think about the cultural safety of their practices when caring for members of socially disadvantaged cultural minority groups as this may affect the health services delivered to them.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome – patients' perceptions of their sleep and its effects on their life situation
Authors: Broström Anders , Johansson Peter , Strömberg Anna , Albers Jan , Mårtensson Jan , Svanborg Eva
Published: January 2007

Title. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome – patients' perceptions of their sleep and its effects on their life situation

Aim.  This paper reports a descriptive study of how untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome perceived their sleep situation and how the syndrome affected their life situation.

Background.  Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is a prevalent problem independently associated with an increased risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic heart failure and mortality. Increased consumption of healthcare resources can often be seen among patients over a long period of time since many have been undiagnosed and untreated.

Methods.  A phenomenographic approach was employed. Data were collected by interviews during 2005 with 20 purposively selected participants with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

Findings.  Participants described loud snoring, frequent awakenings, dyspnoea, frustration over nocturia, fear of dying during sleep and partners’ anxiety about the apnoea, as being night‐time effects of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. They described dry and sore throats, tiredness and daytime sleepiness, shame about falling asleep and snoring, thoughts about complications and depressed mood as daytime effects. Needs, such as increased alertness, improved ability to concentrate, improved relationship, adequate information as well as effective treatment, were described. Participants tried self‐care strategies such as information‐seeking about sleep disturbances and treatment, adapted sleeping routines, change of bedroom arrangements, adapted daily schedules, hyperactivity and avoidance of difficult situations.

Conclusion.  The perceived effects and needs, as well as tried self‐care actions by the patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in this study, could be used to identify and evaluate concerns of other patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome waiting for treatment.
Factors influencing the development of evidence‐based practice: a research tool
Authors: Gerrish Kate , Ashworth Peter , Lacey Anne , Bailey Jeff , Cooke Jo , Kendall Sally , McNeilly Elaine
Published: January 2007

Title. Factors influencing the development of evidence‐based practice: a research tool

Aim.  The paper reports a study to develop and test a tool for assessing a range of factors influencing the development of evidence‐based practice among clinical nurses.

Background.  Achieving evidence‐based practice is a goal in nursing frequently cited by the profession and in government health policy directives. Assessing factors influencing the achievement of this goal, however, is complex. Consideration needs to be given to a range of factors, including different types of evidence used to inform practice, barriers to achieving evidence‐based practice, and the skills required by nurses to implement evidence‐based care.

Methods.  Measurement scales currently available to investigate the use of evidence in nursing practice focus on nurses’ sources of knowledge and on barriers to the use of research evidence. A new, wider ranging Developing Evidence‐Based Practice questionnaire was developed and tested for its measurement properties in two studies. In study 1, a sample of 598 nurses working at two hospitals in one strategic health authority in northern England was surveyed. In study 2, a slightly expanded version of the questionnaire was employed in a survey of 689 community nurses in 12 primary care organizations in two strategic health authorities, one in northern England and the other in southern England.

Findings.  The measurement characteristics of the new questionnaire were shown to be acceptable. Ten significant, and readily interpretable, factors were seen to underlie nurses’ relation to evidence‐based practice.

Conclusion.  Strategies to promote evidence‐based practice need to take account of the differing needs of nurses and focus on a range of sources of evidence. The Developing Evidence‐Based Practice questionnaire can assist in assessing the specific ‘evidencing’ tendencies of any given group of nurses.
Prevalence, self‐efficacy and perceptions of conflicting advice and self‐management: effects of a breastfeeding journal
Authors: Hauck Yvonne , Hall Wendy A. , Jones Christine
Published: January 2007

Title. Prevalence, self‐efficacy and perceptions of conflicting advice and self‐management: effects of a breastfeeding journal

Aim.  This paper reports an assessment of the effects of a breastfeeding journal on breastfeeding prevalence and perceptions of conflicting advice, self‐management and self‐efficacy.

Background.  Breastfeeding prevalence rates in most developed countries are not meeting recommendations. Women's concerns about inconsistent advice, limited involvement in decision‐making, accessibility of information and inappropriate follow‐up have been recognized. Research on evaluation of interventions addressing these concerns and including antenatal and early postnatal periods is required.

Method.  An intervention study was conducted from July 2003 to April 2004, with control and intervention groups recruited sequentially. The intervention group received a breastfeeding journal at 36 weeks antenatally in breastfeeding classes that were attended at different times by intervention and control group members. The intervention and control groups were compared during postpartum hospitalization and 12 weeks for breastfeeding prevalence and perceptions of self‐efficacy, conflicting advice and self‐management.

Findings.  No statistically significant differences were noted between the intervention and control groups in breastfeeding prevalence at 12 weeks or self‐efficacy during hospitalization. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in conflicting advice at both times. Although conflicting advice continues to present a dilemma for women, levels of conflicting advice did not explain breastfeeding self‐efficacy. Breastfeeding self‐management was a statistically significant contributor to breastfeeding prevalence prior to the addition of breastfeeding self‐efficacy.

Conclusions.  Women's perceptions of their ability to manage and be actively involved in decision‐making explained breastfeeding prevalence at 12‐week postpartum. Efforts to encourage women's involvement in decision‐making about breastfeeding are a useful strategy to promote breastfeeding.
Towards a typology of computer use in primary education
Authors: Tondeur J. , Van Braak J. , Valcke M.
Published: January 2007

Abstract In the present study, we reject the view that computer use can be studied as an isolated variable in a learning environment. Our main objective is to develop an instrumental tool to measure different types of educational computer use in the classroom. This builds on a comprehensive review of the literature about computer use in education. This review helped to construct a questionnaire to identify a typology of computer use in primary education. In addition, the questionnaire was enriched by input of experts in this field. The questionnaire was presented to a sample of 352 primary school teachers. The input from a first subsample was used to carry out an exploratory factor analysis; the second subsample was used to verify the identified factor structure via confirmatory factor analysis. A three‐factor structure of computer use in primary education was identified: ‘the use of computers as an information tool’, ‘the use of computers as a learning tool,’ and ‘learning basic computer skills’. The three‐factor structure was confirmed in the confirmatory factor analysis. The results underpin a number of meaningful differences in the current practice of computer use in primary education.
A dendritic cell‐based vaccine for treating HIV infection: background and preliminary results
Authors: Andrieu J. M. , Lu W.
Published: January 2007

Antibody response against human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV) is ineffective and cellular immune response is not strong enough to achieve the complete suppression or at least a strong control of viral replication in HIV‐ infected patients. In 2001, we showed in vitro that dendritic cells (DCs) of HIV‐infected patients loaded with autologous HIV chemically inactivated by aldrithiol‐2 were capable of raising an HIV‐specific cellular immune response powerful enough to allow the destruction of autologous HIV‐ infected CD4 T cells. In 2003, we showed that simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)‐infected macaques vaccinated with inactivated SIV‐loaded autologous DCs raised a strong SIV‐specific cellular response. Ten months after vaccination, plasma viral load of 7 out of the 10 vaccinated monkeys remained 1000‐fold lower than initially.

In December 2004, we published results observed in 18 untreated HIV‐infected patients vaccinated with autologous monocyte‐derived DCs loaded with autologous inactivated HIV. A year following vaccination, 8 patients had a plasma viral load decrease >90%; among them, 4 had viral load <1000 copies mL−1. Moreover, by one year, the viral load decline of the 18 patients was significantly correlated with their percentage of HIV‐1‐gag‐specific CD8+ T cells expressing perforin and that of HIV‐1‐specific CD4+ TH1 cells. This is the first demonstration of the capacity of a therapeutic vaccine to induce an effective HIV‐specific T cell response associated with sustained viral suppression in untreated viremic patients. The manipulation of antigen presenting cells to elicit virus‐specific cellular responses is a promising tool to control persistant viral infections.
The association between fibrinogen haplotypes and myocardial infarction in men is partly mediated through pleiotropic effects on the serum IL‐6 concentration
Authors: Mannila M. N. , Eriksson P. , Leander K. , Wiman B. , De Faire U. , Hamsten A. , Silveira A.
Published: January 2007

Background and objectives.  Fibrinogen haplotypes have been associated with risk of myocardial infarction (MI), independently of plasma fibrinogen concentration, and experimental data indicate that fibrinogen exerts pleiotropic effects on interleukin 6 (IL‐6) production. Also, the coagulation factor XIII (gene symbol F13A1) Val34Leu haplotype tag single nucleotide polymorphism (htSNP) has been reported to exert pleiotropic effects on serum IL‐6 concentration and to be associated with risk of MI. Therefore, in the present case–control study (a substudy to the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program), the effects of the fibrinogen gamma (FGG) 9340T>C [rs1049636], fibrinogen alpha (FGA) 2224G>A [rs2070011] and F13A1 Val34Leu [rs5985] htSNPs on concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and serum IL‐6 and risk of MI were assessed.

Results.  There were no associations between these SNPs and the plasma fibrinogen concentration. In contrast, in male controls the FGA 2224G>A htSNP was significantly associated with serum IL‐6 concentration (P < 0.05). Also, in men the FGG‐FGA*1 haplotype (containing the major FGG 9340T and FGA 2224G alleles) was associated with increased risk of MI [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29 (1.02, 1.62)] and with higher IL‐6 concentrations, whereas the least common FGG‐FGA*4 haplotype (containing the minor FGG 9340C and FGA 2224A alleles) conferred lowered risk [adjusted OR (95% CI): 0.70 (0.57, 0.86)] and lowered IL‐6 concentrations. In women, fibrinogen haplotypes were not associated with risk of MI after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion.  In healthy men, fibrinogen haplotypes are associated with serum IL‐6 concentrations in a manner consistent with their impact on MI risk.
Use of inhaled and oral glucocorticoids, severity of inflammatory disease and risk of hip/femur fracture: a population‐based case–control study
Authors: De Vries F. , Pouwels S. , Lammers J. W. J. , Leufkens H. G. M. , Bracke M. , Cooper C. , Van Staa T. P.
Published: January 2007

Background.  Patients using higher dosages of inhaled or oral glucocorticoids (GCs) have an increased risk of hip/femur fractures. The role of the underlying disease in the aetiology of this increased risk has not been widely studied.

Objective.  To evaluate the contribution of the underlying disease to the risk of hip/femur fracture in patients using inhaled or oral GCs.

Design and subjects.  A case–control study within the Dutch PHARMO‐RLS database was conducted. Cases (n = 6763) were adult patients with a first hip/femur fracture during enrolment. Each case was matched to four controls by age, gender and region.

Results.  The risk of hip/femur fracture increased with current use of inhaled GCs (crude OR 1.30, 95% CI:1.16–1.47) and with current use of oral GCs (crude OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.46–1.90). After adjustment for disease severity, the risk of hip/femur fracture was no longer statistically significantly increased in inhaled GC users (adjusted OR 1.08, 95% CI: 0.91–1.27), whilst it remained elevated in oral GC users (adjusted OR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.22–1.67). Patients using inhaled GCs without any exposure to oral GCs had no increased risk of fracture (adjusted OR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.79–1.22).

Conclusion.  Inhaled GC users had no increased risk of femur/hip fracture after adjustment for underlying disease severity. Our data suggest that, even at higher dosages, inhaled GC use is not an independent risk factor for fracture. In contrast, oral GC use was associated with an increased risk of fracture, which was not fully explained by the underlying disease severity.
Physical activity and exercise performance predict long‐term prognosis in middle‐aged women surviving acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Al‐Khalili F. , Janszky I. , Andersson A. , Svane B. , Schenck‐Gustafsson K.
Published: January 2007

Aim. To evaluate the importance of exercise testing (ET) parameters and leisure time physical activity in predicting long‐term prognosis in middle‐aged women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods and results. Women aged <66 years recently hospitalized for ACS in the Greater Stockholm area in Sweden were recruited. All underwent baseline clinical examinations including ET and then were followed up for 9 years. Nonparticipation in ET had a hazard ratio of 4.26 (95% confidence interval 2.02–8.95) for total mortality and 3.03 (1.03–8.91) for cardiovascular mortality. All ET parameters were significantly different between survivors than nonsurvivors, except for chest pain and ST‐segment depression during ET. Sedentary lifestyle and ET parameters were related to total mortality and cardiovascular mortality in a multivariate analysis adjusting for potential confounders. Predictors of total mortality were sedentary lifestyle 2.94 (1.31–6.62), exercise time 1.75 (1.07–2.87) and inadequate haemodynamic responses: low increase in pulse rate 2.04 (1.16–3.60) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) 1.88 (1.19–2.95) from rest to peak exercise. Parameters that predicted cardiovascular mortality were sedentary lifestyle 3.15 (1.13–8.74) and poor increase in SBP 2.76 (1.30–5.86) from rest to peak exercise. The relation of sedentary lifestyle to survival was substantially weakened when exercise parameters were added to the multivariate analysis model.

Conclusion. In female patients <66 years surviving ACS, important independent predictors of long‐term all‐cause mortality were sedentary lifestyle, low physical fitness and inadequate pulse rate and SBP increase during exercise. Predictors of cardiovascular mortality were sedentary lifestyle and inadequate blood pressure response during exercise.
Expression of cellular adhesion molecule ‘OPCML’ is down‐regulated in gliomas and other brain tumours
Authors: Reed J. E. , Dunn J. R. , Du Plessis D. G. , Shaw E. J. , Reeves P. , Gee A. L. , Warnke P. C. , Sellar G. C. , Moss D. J. , Walker C.
Published: January 2007

The four GPI‐anchored cell adhesion molecules that exemplify the IgLON family are most highly expressed in the nervous system and associate to form up to six different heterodimeric ‘Diglons’ that can modify cell adhesion and inhibit axon migration. Recently, two members, OPCML and LSAMP, were identified as putative tumour suppressor genes in ovarian and renal carcinomas respectively. In this study, we investigated OPCML expression in nonneoplastic brain tissue and 35 brain tumours (18 glioblastoma multiformes, five anaplastic gliomas, five meningiomas, six metastases and one medulloblastoma) and four glioma cell lines using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). OPCML was highly expressed in cerebellum, less so in cerebral cortex, frontal lobe and meninges and was significantly reduced or absent in 83% of brain tumours and all cell lines compared with nonneoplastic whole brain. Two OPCML splice variants have been identified in humans, termed α1 and α2, but the latter has not been demonstrated in human neural tissues. Using PCR with specific primers, nonneoplastic brain and 3/6 of tested brain tumours expressed both splice variants, whereas the remaining brain tumours only expressed the α2 variant. Hypermethylation of the α1 OPCML promoter, associated with down‐regulation of expression in ovarian tumours, did not correlate with expression levels in the subset of brain tumours tested, implying transcription of OPCML from an alternative promoter or a different mechanism of down‐regulation. This study demonstrates that OPCML down‐regulation occurs in the majority of brain tumours tested, warranting further investigation of OPCML and other IgLONs in the development and progression of brain tumours.
TROY and LINGO‐1 expression in astrocytes and macrophages/microglia in multiple sclerosis lesions
Authors: Satoh J. , Tabunoki H. , Yamamura T. , Arima K. , Konno H.
Published: January 2007

Nogo constitutes a family of neurite outgrowth inhibitors contributing to a failure of axonal regeneration in the adult central nervous system (CNS). Nogo‐A is expressed exclusively on oligodendrocytes where Nogo‐66 segment binds to Nogo receptor (NgR) expressed on neuronal axons. NgR signalling requires a coreceptor p75NTR or TROY in combination with an adaptor LINGO‐1. To characterize the cell types expressing the NgR complex in the human CNS, we studied demyelinating lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) brains by immunohistochemistry. TROY and LINGO‐1 were identified in subpopulations of reactive astrocytes, macrophages/microglia and neurones but not in oligodendrocytes. TROY was up‐regulated, whereas LINGO‐1 was reduced in MS brains by Western blot. These results suggest that the ternary complex of NgR/TROY/LINGO‐1 expressed on astrocytes, macrophages/microglia and neurones, by interacting with Nogo‐A on oligodendrocytes, might modulate glial–neuronal interactions in demyelinating lesions of MS.
Increased level of active GSK‐3β in Alzheimer’s disease and accumulation in argyrophilic grains and in neurones at different stages of neurofibrillary degeneration
Authors: Leroy K. , Yilmaz Z. , Brion J.‐P.
Published: January 2007

The somatodendritic accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins is an early event preceding the appearance of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and might be necessary for their formation. Glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) is a physiological kinase for tau that generates many tau phosphorylation sites identified in NFT and in other tau‐positive inclusions. We have studied the cellular distribution and the expression of the active form of GSK‐3β (GSK‐3 pTyr216) in AD patients, in argyrophilic grain disease and in diffuse Lewy body disease. By Western blotting analysis, a significant increase in the level of GSK‐3 (pTyr216) was observed in the frontal cortex of AD patients. A population of neurones showed a somatodendritic accumulation of GSK‐3 (pTyr216) but not of the inactive form of GSK‐3β (GSK‐3 pSer9). Most of these GSK‐3 (pTyr216)‐positive cells were positive for six different phosphotau epitopes known to be generated by GSK‐3β. By using a quadruple labelling method using GSK‐3 (pTyr216) and phosphotau immunolabelling combined with Gallyas and DAPI staining, we examined neurones containing a somatodendritic GSK‐3 (pTyr216) immunoreactivity at different stages of neurodegeneration. A majority of neurones at the pretangle stage without Gallyas‐positive inclusions were GSK‐3 (pTyr216) positive and this GSK‐3 (pTyr216) immunoreactivity remained in most cells containing Gallyas and phosphotau‐positive inclusions excepted in extracellular NFT. A GSK‐3 (pTyr216) immunoreactivity was present in argyrophilic grains but not in cortical Lewy bodies. These results directly suggest that the activity of GSK‐3β is increased in AD and that somatodendritic accumulation and activation of GSK‐3β is an early event preceding and accompanying the formation of NFT and of other tau‐positive inclusions.
Abnormalities of the nucleus and nuclear inclusions in neurodegenerative disease: a work in progress
Authors: Woulfe J. M.
Published: January 2007

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized pathologically by the abnormal accumulation of pathogenic protein species within the cell. Several neurodegenerative diseases feature intranuclear protein aggregation in the form of intranclear inclusion bodies. Studies of these intranuclear inclusions are providing important clues regarding the cellular pathophysiology of these diseases, as exemplified by recent progress in defining the genetic basis of a subset of frontotemporal dementia cases. The precise role of intranuclear inclusion bodies in disease pathogenesis is currently a focus of debate. The present review provides an overview of the diverse family of neurodegenerative diseases in which nuclear inclusions form part of the neuropathological spectrum. In addition, current pathogenetic concepts relevant to these diseases will be reviewed and arguments for and against a protective role for intranuclear inclusions will be presented. The relationship of pathological intranuclear inclusions to functional intranuclear bodies will also be discussed. Finally, by analogy with pathological intranuclear inclusions, I will speculate on the possibility that intranuclear protein aggregation may represent a constitutive cellular protective mechanism occurring in neurons under physiological conditions.