bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Short‐term control of maize cell and root water permeability through plasma membrane aquaporin isoforms
Authors: HACHEZ CHARLES , VESELOV DMITRY , YE QING , REINHARDT HAGEN , KNIPFER THORSTEN , FRICKE WIELAND , CHAUMONT FRANÇOIS 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAlthough it is widely accepted that aquaporins are involved in the regulation of root water uptake, the role of specific isoforms in this process is poorly understood. The mRNA expression and protein level of specific plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) were analysed in Zea mays in relation to cell and root hydraulic conductivity. Plants were analysed during the day/night period, under different growth conditions (aeroponics/hydroponics) and in response to short‐term osmotic stress applied through polyethylene glycol (PEG). Higher protein levels of ZmPIP1;2, ZmPIP2;1/2;2, ZmPIP2;5 and ZmPIP2;6 during the day coincided with a higher water permeability of root cortex cells during the day compared with night period. Similarly, plants which were grown under aeroponic conditions and which developed a hypodermis (‘exodermis’) with Casparian bands, effectively forcing more water along a membranous uptake path across roots, showed increased levels of ZmPIP2;5 and ZmPIP1;2 in the rhizodermis and exodermis. When PEG was added to the root medium (2–8 h), expression of PIPs and cell water permeability in roots increased. These data support a role of specific PIP isoforms, in particular ZmPIP1;2 and ZmPIP2;5, in regulating root water uptake and cortex cell hydraulic conductivity in maize.
CONSTANS and ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 1 complex is involved in the induction ofFLOWERING LOCUS Tin photoperiodic flowering in Arabidopsis
Authors: Song Young Hun , Lee Ilha , Lee Sang Yeol , Imaizumi Takato , Hong Jong Chan 
Published: September 2011

SummaryPlants monitor changes in day length to coordinate flowering with favorable seasons to increase their fitness. The day‐length specific induction ofFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT) regulated by CONSTANS (CO) is the crucial aspect of photoperiodic flowering inArabidopsis thaliana. Recent studies have elucidated some mechanisms of CO‐dependentFTinduction. Here, we demonstrate another mechanism of CO‐dependentFTregulation. Our results indicate that CO protein partially regulatesFTtranscription by forming a complex with ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 1 (AS1) protein, which regulates leaf development partly by controlling gibberellin (GA) levels. We identified AS1 as a CO‐interacting protein in yeast and verified their interactionin vitroandin planta. We also showed that the temporal and spatial expression pattern ofAS1overlapped with that ofCO. In addition,as1mutants showed GA‐independent delayed flowering under different light/dark conditions.FTexpression levels in theas1mutants and theSUC2:CO‐HA/as1line under long‐day and 12‐h light/12‐h dark conditions were reduced compared with wild‐type plants and theSUC2:HA‐COline, respectively. Moreover, AS1 bound directly to the specific regions of theFTpromoterin vivo. These results indicate that CO forms a functional complex with AS1 to regulateFTexpression and that AS1 plays different roles in two regulatory pathways, both of which concomitantly regulate the precise timing of flowering.
Exclusion of plastid nucleoids and ribosomes from stromules in tobacco and Arabidopsis
Authors: Newell Christine A. , Natesan Senthil K. A. , Sullivan James A. , Jouhet Juliette , Kavanagh Tony A. , Gray John C. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryStromules are stroma‐filled tubules that extend from the surface of plastids and allow the transfer of proteins as large as 550 kDa between interconnected plastids. The aim of the present study was to determine if plastid DNA or plastid ribosomes are able to enter stromules, potentially permitting the transfer of genetic information between plastids. Plastid DNA and ribosomes were marked with green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions to LacI, the lac repressor, which binds to lacO‐related sequences in plastid DNA, and to plastid ribosomal proteins Rpl1 and Rps2, respectively. Fluorescence from GFP–LacI co‐localised with plastid DNA in nucleoids in all tissues of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) examined and there was no indication of its presence in stromules, not even in hypocotyl epidermal cells, which contain abundant stromules. Fluorescence from Rpl1–GFP and Rps2–GFP was also observed in a punctate pattern in chloroplasts of tobacco and Arabidopsis [Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.], and fluorescent stromules were not detected. Rpl1–GFP was shown to assemble into ribosomes and was co‐localised with plastid DNA. In contrast, in hypocotyl epidermal cells of dark‐grown Arabidopsis seedlings, fluorescence from Rpl1–GFP was more evenly distributed in plastids and was observed in stromules on a total of only four plastids (<0.02% of the plastids observed). These observations indicate that plastid DNA and plastid ribosomes do not routinely move into stromules in tobacco and Arabidopsis, and suggest that transfer of genetic information by this route is likely to be a very rare event, if it occurs at all.
Density dependence of weed seed predation by invertebrates and vertebrates in winter wheat
Authors: BARAIBAR B , DAEDLOW D , DE MOL F , GEROWITT B 
Published: September 2011

BaraibarB,DaedlowD,DeMolF&GerowittB (2011). Density dependence of weed seed predation by invertebrates and vertebrates in winter wheat.Weed Research 52, 79–87.SummaryWeed seed predation has the potential to limit weed population growth within agricultural fields. Its success depends in part on the ability of predators to detect weed patches and respond in a direct density‐dependent way to increasing weed seed densities. To test for density‐dependent responses, an experiment was conducted in north‐eastern Germany in four winter wheat fields during October 2008 and 2009. Zero, 1000, 2500 and 5000 seeds m−2ofLolium multiflorumwere applied to four adjacent 15 m × 15 m plots in each field. Seed predation was measured in 20 randomly located trays per plot that were accessible to all predators (eight per plot) or excluded vertebrates (12 per plot). Seeds were exposed in the field for 18 days. Remaining seeds were recovered from the soil and counted. In addition, 20 seed cards were randomly placed in each plot, half of them with vertebrate exclosure cages. Seeds on cards were counted every other day. Seed predators were identified. Predation rates measured by trays were low (32.7% per 18 days) and may have been caused by low densities of predators. Vertebrates responded in a direct density‐dependent way to increasing seed densities, whereas the response of invertebrates was density independent. Seed predation from seed cards confirmed the density‐dependent responses obtained using trays. Seed predators only needed a few days to detect and preferably exploit the high density plots. Weed seed patches are likely to persist in fields where invertebrates are the main predators, while they could be better controlled where granivorous rodents predominate.
Risk factors for basal cell carcinoma in a southern Brazilian population: a case–control study
Authors: Gon Airton , Minelli Lorivaldo 
Published: September 2011

AbstractBackground  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer to occur in Caucasian populations, and its incidence is increasing. Despite its frequency, there is a paucity of data on risk factors for BCC in some regions.Objectives  This study investigated the association between pigmentary characteristics, distinctive patterns of solar exposure, habits and lifestyle, and risk for BCC among patients attending a dermatology center in a region in southern Brazil.Methods  We conducted a hospital‐based, case–control study that included 127 case patients with histologically confirmed BCC and 280 cancer‐free control subjects with other dermatologic conditions, observed between January 2006 and December 2007. The study was conducted using a questionnaire and physical examination by a dermatologist. Relative risks were estimated using exposure odds ratios generated by cross‐tabulation and logistic regression models.Results  Risk for BCC was associated with family history of skin cancer, Fitzpatrick skin type I, and the presence of actinic keratoses, solar lentigines, leukoderma, and elastosis romboidalis nuchae. No effect was found for different patterns of solar exposure, eye, hair or skin color, exposure to non‐solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), or lifestyle‐related habits such as sunscreen use and cigarette smoking.Conclusions  The results of this study suggest that skin type and family history of skin cancer may be important in establishing risk for developing BCC. Additionally, the detection by clinical examination of skin markers related to UVR action is important in establishing which patients are more likely to develop BCC.
Effects of integrated genetic evaluations for Icelandic horses on predictive ability, accuracy and selection bias
Authors: Albertsdóttir E. , Árnason T. , Eriksson S. , Sigurdsson Á. , Fikse W.F. 
Published: September 2011

SummaryThe genetic evaluation of Icelandic horses is currently based on results from breeding field tests of riding ability and conformation. The effect of integrating competition traits and/or test status into the genetic evaluation was studied concerning estimation bias, predictive ability, accuracy, correlations between breeding values and ranking of sires. Breeding field test data included 19 954 records from horses assessed in 11 countries during 1994–2008. Competition data included 44 160 records from 7687 horses competing in Iceland and Sweden in 1998–2008. Test status was defined as attendance of horses born in Iceland at breeding field tests and/or in competition. Overall, there were trivial differences between different genetic evaluation models regarding estimation bias and predictive ability. Very strong correlations were estimated between breeding values for combined indexes of conformation, riding ability and total score from different models. Higher accuracy was achieved for most of the traits when competition traits and/or test status were added to the model. Sires ranked differently when the new traits were added to the genetic evaluation model. It was concluded that competition traits should be integrated into the genetic evaluation. Further analyses on genetic parameters for test status and its relationship with the other traits are needed for future inclusion of test status in the genetic evaluation.
Grapevine Fleck Virus Isolates Split into Two Distinct Molecular Groups
Authors: Glasa Miroslav , Predajňa Lukas , Komínek Petr 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAlthough Grapevine fleck virus (GFkV) has a worldwide distribution, data about its molecular variability are very scarce. A genome region encoding the central part of the capsid protein gene was amplified from 36 GFkV isolates recovered from a relatively restricted area (Slovakia and the Czech Republic). The nucleotide identities between isolates ranged from 88 to 100%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the GFkV isolates divided into two groups. Although group I comprised the majority of the isolates, the analysis of the mean nucleotide intragroup divergence showed that group I was less variable than group II. The dN : dS ratio was <1 for each group, suggesting a negative selective pressure for amino acid changes in this portion of the genome.
Managing ethically questionable parental requests: Growth suppression and manipulation of puberty
Authors: Isaacs David , Tobin Bernadette , Hamblin Julie , Slaytor Emma , Donaghue Kim C , Munns Craig , Kilham Henry A 
Published: September 2011

AbstractDoctors sometimes struggle with ethically challenging requests for treatment from children's parents. For instance, we have recently had two requests by parents of children, a girl and a boy, each with a severe developmental disability, for hormonal therapy to suppress growth and puberty: the girl's parents requested, in addition, hysterectomy and mastectomy. We propose a reliable approach to assessing the ethical and legal aspects of these and other requests for ‘non‐therapeutic’ treatment of a minor who lacks the capacity to give informed consent. We argue that a doctor should first assess whether the request is one that he or she can, in conscience, accede to, and then, if it is, seek the authorisation of a court. We outline considerations relevant to the doctor's assessment of both the ethical issues and to the need for court authorisation.
Expressing ethical principles of treatment and care in a charter: What value?
Authors: Kilham Henry A 
Published: September 2011

AbstractMore than ever before, public institutions are expected to have accessible guidelines on what they do, both for their staff and for those served by them. With this in mind, some principles of treatment and care of sick children were drafted for the Children's Hospital at Westmead. These were centred on ethics, primarily of what was best for the child. They were neither all‐inclusive nor specific. They were labelled as a charter. They were rejected by a parent committee and met with unenthusiastic responses at meetings of hospital and ethics professionals. Reasons for this are unclear, but it is speculated that fear of the unknown and distrust of institutions may be factors. To date, the charter has not proved useful, except in provoking further discussion on how general guidelines are written, used and valued and on end‐of‐life decision‐making more generally.
Consent and public engagement in an era of expanded childhood immunisation
Authors: Leask Julie , Braunack‐Mayer Annette , Kerridge Ian 
Published: September 2011

AbstractChildhood immunisation programmes have seen well‐heralded successes in disease control. An increasing number of scheduled vaccines, narrowing risk–benefit ratios and public attention to vaccine safety raise new questions about consent. We first explore the challenges that this highly dynamic environment poses for valid consent. Then, we broaden this discussion to wider public engagement by suggesting how the public – the bearers of vaccine risk and benefit – can be better involved in immunisation policy.
Too big to swallow
Authors: Sawyer Susan M 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe failure of current treatment approaches to severe obesity has resulted in significant investment by the scientific community to develop new treatments for this challenging health problem. Any new treatment must be scientifically tested to determine its potential role and any innovation in healthcare can be associated with moral and ethical challenges. This reflective piece is based on the experience of running the first randomised controlled trial to compare laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding to an intensive behaviourally‐based intervention in adolescents with severe obesity during which many moral and ethical concerns were articulated by other health professionals. Five different types of responses are described (preventers, druggies, deferrers, slippery slopers and simplifiers). While raising important concerns, these responses also deflect attention from the urgent need to develop and test new treatments for the most severely obese adolescents. The stigma of obesity is posed as an underlying yet unaddressed issue.
Gynaecological issues in adolescents with disability
Authors: Grover Sonia R 
Published: September 2011

AbstractMenstruation and contraception is a concern for families who have a daughter with a significant disability, either physical or developmental. Accessing information regarding options may be difficult. Maternal experiences of menses further impact on the anxiety. The onset of menses is a reminder that their daughter is at risk of sexual abuse and pregnancy. It may highlight the fact that they are at their limits of coping – without the addition of yet another problem, of managing menses. Parental and carer concern is about the practicalities of how the adolescent will manage menstruation – both the hygiene aspects of menses and also the potential pain. Additionally, information is required about the possible need for contraception and the role and importance of reproductive hormones for preventing cardiac disease and osteoporosis. Recognition that a number of other medical problems may be related to reproductive hormones – such as cyclic seizure, behavioural difficulties and osteoporosis – is important as this gives an alternative avenue for intervention. The focus of this paper will be on the gynaecological aspects of young women with significant disabilities, rather than those with mild disabilities.
Ethical issues in genetics
Authors: Wilcken Bridget 
Published: September 2011

AbstractGenetic disorders are caused by abnormalities in genes and chromosomes and for the most part have implications for family members, affecting such matters as confidentiality and disclosure to third parties. Genetic testing can be not only diagnostic but also predictive, raising issues of the need for pre‐test counselling, protection of children from unwanted testing, and most importantly, the imprecision of interpretation of future risk. The rise in availability of direct‐to‐consumer testing is a fresh cause for concern, as are the new possibilities in reproductive medicine. New technologies and the falling cost of whole genome sequencing ensure that ethics will be a prominent concern for clinical genetics.
Bad, mad and sad: Rethinking the human condition in childhood with special relevance to moral development
Authors: Nunn Kenneth 
Published: September 2011

AbstractIdentifying the territory, between what is subject to change and what is not in human functioning, is an extremely important strategy for limiting the range in which wisdom (discretion, judgment and the management of uncertainty) must be exercised. Over the last 30 years, child and adolescent psychiatry has seen an immense shift from the ‘cannot change’ category to the ‘change category’ and an even bigger shift to the territory between changeable and unchangeable. The question of the capacity for change in humans and the more traditional notion of ‘the human condition’ are in need of re‐evaluation. The possibility that there might be elements of the human condition that are beyond good and evil is especially relevant to the psychiatric treatment of children and young people. The notion of the human condition in children and adolescents becomes problematic if an essential element of the human condition is the irreducibly unchangeable, as the essence of youth is change and the capacity to change. The notion of personality disorder, and the persistence of disturbed behaviour that the diagnosis implies, are completely out of place in childhood and adolescence. There is a telling discrepancy between the small number of mental health treatment facilities and the large number of juvenile detention facilities in Australia. The problem is that we can achieve change, and there is little political or community will to enable it to happen.
Parents know best: Or do they? Treatment refusals in paediatric oncology
Authors: Alessandri Angela J 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAlthough treatment refusal is an infrequent occurrence in paediatric oncology, it is an important issue that threatens the ongoing therapeutic relationship between the health‐care team and families. While there are good reasons to support the decision‐making authority of parents in the medical setting, parents' rights in this respect are not absolute. Fortunately, most disagreements between clinicians and parents regarding treatment decisions for children are resolved within the health‐care team/family dyad or with the objective advice of other clinicians or clinical ethics services. The increasing appeal of ‘natural therapies’ and unsubstantiated confidence with which they are prescribed may lead to more frequent refusal of conventional, evidence‐based oncology treatment in the future. The harm principle may assist paediatric oncologists in the difficult task of determining when it is justifiable to refer a case for judicial intervention.
Role and function of a paediatric clinical ethics service: Experiences at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
Authors: Gold Hugo , Hall Georgina , Gillam Lynn 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThis article explores and analyses the role and functions of a clinical ethics service in paediatrics. It is based on the experiences of developing ethics capacity at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, which has evolved since 2002 from a multidisciplinary advisory panel into Australia's first dedicated paediatric Children's Bioethics Centre, which opened in 2008. The ultimate goal is building ethics capacity and literacy across the hospital and continuing to support clinical staff managing patients and their families in ethically problematic cases. This is achieved through current case consultation, education and training, research and institutional policy, and guideline development. The experience of building a clinical ethics service has led to many changes to its structure over the years, with issues like timeliness of meeting, constitution of the group and referral and reporting structures arising as key elements of evolution. Challenges include resourcing and structure, institutional support, and family involvement in ethics consultations.
Ethics at the end of life: Who should make decisions about treatment limitation for young children with life‐threatening or life‐limiting conditions?
Authors: Gillam Lynn , Sullivan Jane 
Published: September 2011

It is now ethical orthodoxy that parents should be involved in the decision‐making about their children's health care. This extends to decisions about whether to continue or to limit life‐sustaining medical treatment for a child with a life‐limiting or life‐threatening condition. What remains contested and uncertain is the extent and nature of parental involvement, especially in this emotionally charged situation. In particular, should it be the parents, who are the ultimate decision‐makers, taking final responsibility, should it be a shared decision, or should it be a medical decision that parents are simply asked to consent to?One approach to this issue is to consider the in‐principle ethical arguments and weigh their merits. The two key principles here are parental rights and authority, and the best interests of child, and the contested issue is what to do if these appear to clash. Another approach is to consider the principles in the practical clinical context. What would be the implications and consequences of adopting the model of parents as final decision‐makers? Are parents able to carry out this role, and do they really want it? What is the effect on parents of taking this role? Answers to these questions could modify the in‐principle ethical position. In this paper, we review the empirical evidence currently available on these questions, in relation to parents of infants and young children. Overall, the literature suggests that parents do want to be involved and do not suffer adverse psychological consequences from their involvement. However, the crucial ethical implication of the evidence is that the level and nature of parental involvement in decision‐making should be negotiated with the parents in each case, because parents have a range of different views about taking final responsibility for decisions.