bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic review: Effective home support in dementia care, components and impacts – Stage 2, effectiveness of home support interventions
Authors: Clarkson Paul , Hughes Jane , Roe Brenda , Giebel Clarissa M. , Jolley David , Poland Fiona , Abendstern Michele , Chester Helen , Challis David ,   Members of the HoSt‐D (Home Support in Dementia) Programme Management Group
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to explicate the outcomes of home support interventions for older people with dementia and/or their carers to inform clinical practice, policy and research.BackgroundMost people with dementia receive support at home. However, components and effectiveness of home support interventions have been little explored.DesignSystematic review with narrative summary.Data sourcesElectronic searches of published studies in English using PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Applied Social Science Index and CSA Social Services Abstracts. Databases and sources were searched from inception to April 2014 with no date restrictions to locate studies.Review methodsThe PRISMA statement was followed and established systematic review methods used. Using 14 components of care for people with dementia and their carers, identified previously, data across studies were synthesized. Interventions were grouped and described and effectiveness ratings applied. Qualitative studies were synthesized using key themes.ResultsSeventy studies (four qualitative) were included. Most were directed to carers and of high quality. Seven interventions for carers and two for people with dementia were identified, covering 81% of studies. Those relating to daily living, cognitive training and physical activity for people with dementia were absent. Measures of effectiveness were influenced mainly by the intensity (duration and frequency) of interventions. Those containing education, social support and behaviour management appeared most effective.ConclusionThese interventions reflect emergent patterns of home support. Research is required to identify effective interventions linked to the stage of dementia, which can be applied as part of routine clinical care.
Developing a positive patient experience with nurses in general practice: An integrated model of patient satisfaction and enablement
Authors: Desborough Jane , Phillips Christine , Mills Jane , Korda Rosemary , Bagheri Nasser , Banfield Michelle 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimTo develop a conceptual model that provides a comprehensive understanding of the structures and processes underpinning patient enablement and satisfaction in general practice nurse consultations.BackgroundCurrent evidence regarding patient satisfaction and enablement arising from general practice nursing care is either quantitative or qualitative. To date, no studies have integrated the results of mixed methods research to provide a deeper understanding of processes that facilitate their achievement.DesignA concurrent mixed methods study.MethodsOur 2013–2014 concurrent mixed methods study comprised a quantitative study that analysed variables identified in interviews with general practice nurses, patients and practice managers with data from a cross‐sectional survey of 678 patients receiving nursing care in 21 general practices; and a qualitative study that used a grounded theory approach to in‐depth interviews with nurses and patients from these same practices. Using joint displays, we compared and integrated the results of the multilevel analyses and the grounded theory model derived from these studies.FindingsWe conceptualized a model—‘developing a positive patient experience with nurses in general practice’—in which time, continuity of care, nursing scope of practice and autonomy, and patients’ health conditions provide platforms for the processes of triggering healthcare partnerships and tailoring care in nurse consultations.ConclusionThis model builds on previous evidence describing processes and characteristics that optimize the quality of care in general practice nurse consultations. It provides a practical tool to inform education and training for general practice nurses and other clinicians.
Ecological legacies of anthropogenic burning in a British Columbia coastal temperate rain forest
Authors: Hoffman Kira M. , Lertzman Ken P. , Starzomski Brian M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimFew long‐term fire histories have been reconstructed in coastal temperate rain forests, and little is known regarding the spatial and temporal characteristics of lightning and human ignitions. We use a multidisciplinary approach to assess the impact, scale and ecological legacies of historic fires.LocationWe focus on perhumid temperate rain forests located on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada.MethodsWe reconstructed 700 years of temporal and spatial aspects of fire activity with 30 plots on Hecate Island using fire scars and forest‐stand establishment. We then conducted a paired study of 20 former indigenous habitation and control sites on 15 islands to relate fire activity to patterns of human settlement. We mapped 15 years of lightning strike densities and use mixed‐effects modelling to assess whether fire activity predicted the distribution and abundance of traditional plants.ResultsSixteen low‐ and mixed‐severity fires were recorded from 1376 to 1893. The abundance of traditional plants and the density of western redcedar trees were best predicted by the location of former habitation sites and shorter mean fire intervals. Lightning is too rare to explain the pattern of fire activity in the study area. No fire activity was detected after 1893, coinciding with the relocation of indigenous groups from the study area.Main conclusionsFire was strongly associated with former indigenous habitation sites during the periods of occupation. People likely utilized fire as a tool for resource management to influence the densities of specific plants by creating mosaics of vegetation in different stages of succession. By assessing the ecological impacts of historic fire events, we gain a better understanding of the abrupt changes that occurred in the 20th century. Our ability to understand present‐day temperate rain forest ecosystems may be compromised if we underestimate the role of humans in driving historic fire activity.
Evaluation of a parent‐delivered early language enrichment programme: evidence from a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Burgoyne Kelly , Gardner Rachel , Whiteley Helen , Snowling Margaret J. , Hulme Charles 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundIt is widely believed that increasing parental involvement can improve children's educational outcomes although we lack good evidence for such claims. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent‐delivered early language enrichment programme.MethodsWe conducted a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 208 preschool children and their parents living in socially diverse areas in the United Kingdom. Families were allocated to an oral language programme (N = 103) or an active control programme targeting motor skills (N = 105). Parents delivered the programmes to their child at home in daily 20‐min sessions over 30 weeks of teaching.ResultsChildren receiving the language programme made significantly larger gains in language (d = .21) and narrative skills (d = .36) than children receiving the motor skills programme at immediate posttest. Effects on language were maintained 6 months later (d = .34), and at this point, the language group also scored higher on tests of early literacy (d values=.35 and .42). There was no evidence that the movement programme improved motor skills.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence for the effectiveness of a parent‐delivered language enrichment programme. Further large‐scale evaluations of the programme are needed to confirm and extend these findings.
Levels of serum‐circulating angiogenic factors within 1 week prior to delivery are closely related to conditions of pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and/or fetal growth restriction
Authors: Nanjo Sakiko , Minami Sawako , Mizoguchi Mika , Yamamoto Madoka , Yahata Tamaki , Toujima Saori , Shiro Michihisa , Kobayashi Aya , Muragaki Yasuteru , Ino Kazuhiko 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimWe aimed to investigate maternal serum angiogenic marker profiles within 1 week prior to delivery in cases of gestational hypertension (GH), pre‐eclampsia (PE), and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR) with different clinical conditions.MethodsWe enrolled 165 women with singleton pregnancy. The participants were classified based on three characteristics: (i) proteinuria (GH and PE); (ii) FGR (PE with FGR [PE + FGR], PE alone, and FGR alone); and (iii) onset (early onset PE [EO PE] and late‐onset PE [LO PE]). All sera were obtained within 1 week prior to delivery, and soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt‐1), soluble endoglin (sEng), and placental growth factor (PlGF) were measured with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results(i) In PE, a significantly increased sFlt‐1, sEng, and sFlt‐1 to PlGF ratio (sFlt‐1/PlGF) and significantly decreased PlGF were observed compared with GH and Term control, whereas in GH, only sFlt‐1/PlGF was significantly higher than Term control. (ii) In PE + FGR, similar changes were more markedly shown compared with PE alone. The FGR alone group exhibited similar tendencies as PE, although significant differences were found in PlGF and sEng levels. (iii) In EO PE, significant changes were observed in all factors compared with LO PE or Term control, while no significant change in PlGF levels was observed between LO PE and Term control.ConclusionWe demonstrated that the levels of circulating angiogenic factors just before delivery are correlated with the severity of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and FGR. Profiling these specific markers may contribute to better understanding of the clinical conditions in individual patients and their pathogenesis.
Chromium supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tang Xiao‐Lei , Sun Zheng , Gong Lei 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimIncreasing evidence has suggested that chromium supplementation may improve the clinical symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), yet the results have been inconsistent. To derive a more precise estimation of the efficacy of chromium, a meta‐analysis was performed.MethodsStudies published in PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library up to April 2017 were retrieved. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95%CI were calculated for net changes using random‐effects or fixed‐effects models.ResultsA total of six randomized clinical trials (RCT) with 351 PCOS women were ultimately collected in this meta‐analysis. All included RCT were of moderate–high quality. On pooled analysis, insulin resistance was significantly decreased (SMD, −0.84; 95%CI: −1.30 to −0.38; P = 0.0004), while the total testosterone (SMD, 0.36; 95%CI: 0.07–0.65; P = 0.02) and free testosterone (SMD, 0.80; 95%CI: 0.48–1.12; P < 0.00001) were markedly increased in chromium‐treated PCOS patients compared with control groups. No significant difference was found in other indexes of insulin metabolism (body mass index, fasting insulin, fasting blood sugar and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index), hormone status (luteinizing hormone, follicle‐stimulating hormone and prolactin) and lipid profiles (cholesterol and triglycerides) between the two groups.ConclusionSupplementation with chromium may not have significant benefits for women with PCOS. More RCT with low heterogeneity, however, are required to corroborate the present findings.
Scaling α‐ and β‐diversity: bryophytes along an elevational gradient on a subtropical oceanic Island (La Palma, Canary Islands)
Authors: Hernández‐Hernández Raquel , Borges Paulo A. V. , Gabriel Rosalina , Rigal François , Ah‐Peng Claudine , González‐Mancebo Juana María 
Published: September 2017

AbstractQuestionsWe addressed three questions: (1) what is the variation of α‐ and β‐diversity of bryophyte communities across spatial scales in an elevational gradient; (2) is spatial variation characteristic of different phylogenetic (mosses/liverworts) and/or ecological groups (terrestrials/epiphytes); and (3) what is the contribution of species richness and species replacement (true turnover) to β‐diversity along the elevational gradient?LocationLa Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.MethodsAn elevational transect spanning 0–2200 m a.s.l was sampled at altitudinal intervals of ca. 200 m, two 10 m × 10 m plots were established at each elevation and inside each plot three 2 m × 2 m quadrats were randomly selected. Within each quadrat, bryophytes were sampled in three replicate microplots of 10 cm × 5 cm, for each substrate: soil, rocks, leaves, humus, decaying wood and tree trunks at three heights. We evaluated α‐ and β‐diversity at plot and elevational level for all bryophytes and for phylogenetic and ecological groups. Values of β‐diversity were further decomposed into replacement and richness differences. We tested the relationship between α‐ and β‐diversity and elevation using linear models with and without a quadratic term (elevation2) in an AICc‐based framework.ResultsA total of 121 species were recorded along the transect. Alpha‐diversity showed a hump‐shaped pattern with elevation for all bryophytes, liverworts and epiphytic species, however, terrestrial species and mosses displayed no clear pattern. Species replacement was the main driver of β‐diversity for all bryophytes and also for mosses and terrestrial species, and at different scales (elevational belt and quadrat). The contribution of species replacement increased with elevation, except for epiphytes and terrestrials.ConclusionsOur study contributes towards an understanding of the spatial organization of bryophyte diversity at different scales along an insular elevational gradient. We showed that bryophyte diversity was mostly influenced by species replacement at the largest scale. The observed differences in β‐diversity decomposition between bryophyte phylogenetic and ecological groups could be dependent on climatic conditions and substrate availability. The strong differences observed along the elevational gradient related to true turnover are especially important in the current global change scenario.
Circadian genes polymorphism and breeding phenology in a resident bird, the yellow‐legged gull
Authors: Romano A. , Possenti C. D. , Caprioli M. , Gatti E. , Gianfranceschi L. , Rubolini D. , Saino N. , Parolini M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIn species living in seasonally variable environments, the ability to synchronize the timing of breeding with the peak of critical resources is under positive selection within populations. The temporal scheduling of animal annual cycle is controlled by endogenous rhythms, which are set by ‘circadian clock’ genes. Many studies have supported the hypothesis that length polymorphism in some ‘phenological genes’ is associated with differences in the photoperiodic responses among individuals and populations. However, evidence is inconsistent across species, genes and phenological traits. Among birds, there is a dearth of knowledge concerning the gene‐phenotype association in non‐migratory species. To contribute filling this gap, here we analyzed clutch initiation date of females of a species resident at temperate latitudes, the yellow‐legged gull (Larus michahellis), in relation to the length polymorphism at four loci previously associated with breeding and migration phenology in other species: Adcyap1 and Npas2 genes, as well as two regions of the Clock gene. Although polymorphism was observed at three loci, allele size of the candidate genes seems not to predict the timing of breeding in females. In addition, similar genotype frequencies of all the analyzed genes were observed in early compared to late breeding females. Our results therefore suggest that the associations between photoperiodic candidate genes and breeding phenotype are not general across species and might represent adaptations of individual populations to the local environment.
Actin–membrane interactions mediated by NETWORKED2 in Arabidopsis pollen tubes through associations with Pollen Receptor‐Like Kinase 4 and 5
Authors: Duckney Patrick , Deeks Michael J. , Dixon Martin R. , Kroon Johan , Hawkins Timothy J. , Hussey Patrick J. 
Published: September 2017

Summary

During fertilization, Pollen Receptor‐Like Kinases (PRKs) control pollen tube growth through the pistil in response to extracellular signals, and regulate the actin cytoskeleton at the tube apex to drive tip growth.

We investigated a novel link between membrane‐integral PRKs and the actin cytoskeleton, mediated through interactions between PRKs and NET2A; a pollen‐specific member of the NETWORKED superfamily of actin‐binding proteins.

We characterize NET2A as a novel actin‐associated protein that localizes to punctae at the plasma membrane of the pollen tube shank, which are stably associated with cortical longitudinal actin cables. NET2A was demonstrated to interact specifically with PRK4 and PRK5 in Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression assays, and associated at discreet foci at the shank membrane of Arabidopsis pollen tubes. Our data indicate that NET2A is recruited to the plasma membrane by PRK4 and PRK5, and that PRK kinase activity is important in facilitating its interaction with NET2A.

We conclude that NET2A–PRK interactions mediate discreet sites of stable interactions between the cortical longitudinal actin cables and plasma membrane in the shank region of growing pollen tubes, which we have termed Actin‐Membrane Contact Sites (AMCSs). Interactions between PRKs and NET2A implicate a role for NET2A in signal transduction to the actin cytoskeleton during fertilization.
The effect of 18O‐labelled water vapour on the oxygen isotope ratio of water and assimilates in plants at high humidity
Authors: Lehmann Marco M. , Goldsmith Gregory R. , Schmid Lola , Gessler Arthur , Saurer Matthias , Siegwolf Rolf T. W. 
Published: September 2017

Summary

Our understanding of how temporal variations of atmospheric water vapour and its isotopic composition (δ18OV) influence water and assimilates in plants remains limited, restricting our ability to use δ18O as a tracer of ecophysiological processes.

We exposed oak (Quercus robur) saplings under wet and dry soil moisture conditions to 18O‐depleted water vapour (c. − 200‰) at high relative humidity (c. 93%) for 5 h, simulating a fog event. We then traced the step change in δ18OV into water and assimilates (e.g. sucrose, hexoses, quercitol and starch) in the leaf lamina, main veins and twigs over 24 h.

The immediate δ18OV effect was highest for δ18O of leaf lamina water, but 40% lower on δ18O of main vein water. To a smaller extent, we also observed changes in δ18O of twig xylem water. Depending on the individual assimilation rate of each plant, the 18O‐label was partitioned among different assimilates, with highest changes in δ18O of starch/sucrose and lowest in δ18O of quercitol. Additionally, 18O‐label partitioning and allocation towards leaf starch and twig phloem sugars was influenced by the plant water status.

Our results have important implications for water isotope heterogeneity in plants and for our understanding of how the δ18O signal is incorporated into biomarkers.
The roles of AaMIXTA1 in regulating the initiation of glandular trichomes and cuticle biosynthesis in Artemisia annua
Authors: Shi Pu , Fu Xueqing , Shen Qian , Liu Meng , Pan Qifang , Tang Yueli , Jiang Weimin , Lv Zongyou , Yan Tingxiang , Ma Yanan , Chen Minghui , Hao Xiaolong , Liu Pin , Li Ling , Sun Xiaofen , Tang Kexuan 
Published: September 2017

Summary

The glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) on Artemisia annua leaves have the capacity to secrete and store artemisinin, a compound which is the most effective treatment for uncomplicated malaria. An effective strategy to improve artemisinin content is therefore to increase the density of GSTs in A. annua. However, the formation mechanism of GSTs remains poorly understood.

To explore the mechanisms of GST initiation in A. annua, we screened myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor genes from a GST transcriptome database and identified a MIXTA transcription factor, AaMIXTA1, which is expressed predominantly in the basal cells of GST in A. annua. Overexpression and repression of AaMIXTA1 resulted in an increase and decrease, respectively, in the number of GSTs as well as the artemisinin content in transgenic plants.

Transcriptome analysis and cuticular lipid profiling showed that AaMIXTA1 is likely to be responsible for activating cuticle biosynthesis. In addition, dual‐luciferase reporter assays further demonstrated that AaMIXTA1 could directly activate the expression of genes related to cuticle biosynthesis.

Taken together, AaMIXTA1 regulated cuticle biosynthesis and prompted GST initiation without any abnormal impact on the morphological structure of the GSTs and so provides a new way to improve artemisinin content in this important medicinal plant.
Positive regulation of AMS by TDF1 and the formation of a TDF1–AMS complex are required for anther development in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Lou Yue , Zhou Hai‐Sheng , Han Yu , Zeng Qiu‐Ye , Zhu Jun , Yang Zhong‐Nan 
Published: September 2017

Summary

Tapetum development and pollen production are regulated by a complex transcriptional network that consists of a group of tapetum‐specific Arabidopsis transcription factors (TFs). Among these TFs, DEFECTIVE IN TAPETAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION 1 (TDF1) encodes an R2R3 MYB factor, and ABORTED MICROSPORE (AMS) encodes a basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) factor. However, knowledge regarding the regulatory role of TDF1 in anther development remains limited.

Here, we discovered that TDF1 directly regulates AMS via an AACCT cis‐element. We found the precocious AMS transcript and absence of AMS protein in ams−/− gpTDF1:AMS‐FLAG lines, suggesting the timing of the TDF1‐regulated AMS expression is a prerequisite for AMS functioning.

We found that TDF1 interacts with AMS. Additionally, the TDF1–AMS complex additively promotes the expression of AMS‐regulated genes, suggesting that TDF1 and AMS regulate the downstream genes through a feed‐forward loop.

EPXB5, encoding a beta‐expansin family protein, is another direct target of TDF1, and it is highly expressed in the tapetum and pollen grains. The TDF1–AMS complex acts in concert to activate EXPB5 expression through a feed‐forward loop. The identification of the regulatory pathway between TDF1 and AMS provides an interlocked feed‐forward loop circuit that precisely regulates the transcriptional cascades that support anther development.