bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between clinical indicators, coping styles, perceived support and diabetes‐related distress among adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Karlsen Bjørg , Oftedal Bjørg , Bru Edvin 
Published: June 2011

karlsen b., oftedal b. & bru e. (2012) The relationship between clinical indicators, coping styles, perceived support and diabetes‐related distress among adults with type 2 diabetes.Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(2), 391–401.AbstractAim: This article is a report of a cross‐sectional study examining the degree to which clinical indicators, coping styles and perceived support from healthcare professionals and family are related to diabetes‐related distress.Background: Many people with type 2 diabetes experience high levels of distress stemming from concerns and worries associated with their disease. Diabetes‐related distress has predominantly been studied in relation to diabetes management and metabolic control, and to some extent in relation to coping styles and perceived social support. To date, little is known about the relative contribution of clinical indicators, coping styles and perceptions of social support to perceived distress among people with type 2 diabetes.Methods: A sample comprising 425 Norwegian adults, aged 30–70, with type 2 diabetes, completed questionnaires assessing coping styles, perceived social support from health professionals and family and diabetes‐related distress assessed by the Problem Areas in Diabetes Scale. Demographical and clinical data were collected by self‐report. Data were collected in October 2008.Findings: Results from the regression analyses showed a greater variance in emotional distress accounted for by coping styles (21·3%) and perceived support (19·7%) than by clinical indicators (5·8%).Conclusion: Findings may indicate that healthcare providers should pay more attention to non‐clinical factors such as coping styles and social support, when addressing diabetes‐related distress. They should also be aware that interventions based on psychosocial approaches may primarily influence distress, and not necessarily metabolic control.
Reduced size and starvation resistance in adult mosquitoes,Aedes notoscriptus, exposed to predation cues as larvae
Authors: van Uitregt Vincent O. , Hurst Timothy P. , Wilson Robbie S. 
Published: June 2011

Summary1. Many prey organisms exhibit adaptive phenotypic plasticity in life‐history traits that facilitate a better chance of survival in the presence of predators. The evolution of such plastic traits requires that the defensive phenotype incurs a cost in the absence of predation.2. Model systems that are used to examine predator‐induced defences are often organisms with complex life histories that only induce defences during the larval stage. While many studies have detected costs of inducible defences during the larval stage, detecting the costs of larval defences after metamorphosis is also important.3. We examine the benefits and costs of inducible larval defences in the urban mosquito,Aedes notoscriptus, by rearing them in the presence and absence of predation cues. We compared survival of larvae inducing behavioural defences, when exposed to predation cues, in predation trials with predatory fishHypseleotris galiito that of larvae reared in the absence predation cues. We also compared life‐history traits of predator‐exposed larvae to larvae reared in control conditions.4. Larvae exposed to chemical predation cues limited activity and were able to avoid predation for longer in trials withH. galii. However, predator‐exposed larvae suffered retarded larval growth and development, were smaller at metamorphosis and less resistant to starvation as adults.5. While it is difficult to understand the ‘fitness costs’ that poorer starvation resistance might confer to adult mosquitoes, it is likely that smaller adult size of predator‐exposed individuals would reduce fitness, particularly for females where body size limits the size of blood meal they could take to facilitate egg production. We suggest that the demonstrable costs of inducible defences in mosquito larvae make this a good system for testing theoretical models for the evolutionary maintenance of adaptive phenotypic plasticity.
Evaluation of the psychometric properties of a modified Chinese version of the Caregiver Task Inventory – refinement and psychometric testing of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory: a confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Lee Regina LT , Mok Esther SB 
Published: June 2011

Aim.  To test the reliability and validity of the modified Chinese version of the Caregiver Task Inventory.Background.  The original Caregiver Task Inventory was developed in 1983 by Clark and Rakowski in the USA. It was used to measure Chinese family caregivers’ needs in Hong Kong. Its failure to evaluate the psychometric properties of the instrument measuring the needs of family caregivers across cultures limited its scientific rigor.Design.  A quantitative study method was used to test the psychometrics of the modified Chinese version of the Caregiver Task Inventory.Methods.  A convenience sample of 114 family caregivers completed the Caregiver Task Inventory in 2005 to test different aspects of the validity and reliability and confirm items of the short form of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory‐25.Results.  The content validity of the 25 items of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory was validated by six experts, who assessed the correlation between caregiving tasks and the five refined sub‐scales. The construct validity was determined by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The χ2 goodness‐of‐fit, χ2: df ratio, goodness‐of‐fit index (GFI), adjusted GFI and root mean square residual were obtained and used to assess the fit of the model. The internal consistency and stability of the Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory‐25 were determined by Cronbach’s method (0·93) and the internal reliability (item total correlation) for the five refined sub‐scales ranged from 0·67–0·86. CFA and internal consistency analysis showed a strong degree of fit between the conceptualisation and the development of the measurement.Conclusions.  The Chinese Caregiver Task Inventory‐25 is a relevant and culturally appropriate research instrument to measure the needs of Chinese family caregivers.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study reveals that stroke nurses should assess the impacts of caregiving tasks on caregivers’ physical and psychological stress levels prior to planning relevant interventions.
A systematic review of the effects of e‐health on chronically ill patients
Authors: Eland‐de Kok Petra , van Os‐Medendorp Harmieke , Vergouwe‐Meijer Aly , Bruijnzeel‐Koomen Carla , Ros Wynand 
Published: June 2011

Aims and objectives.  We aimed to investigate whether e‐health is equal to or better than usual face‐to‐face care with regard to outcomes on health, quality of life, patient satisfaction and costs. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the literature on e‐health in chronically ill patients compared with or as an addition to usual care.Background.  Interactive websites on internet are increasingly used to inform and treat patients. This type of contact between patients and health care providers, which is called e‐health, is easily accessible and particularly interesting for chronically ill patients.Design.  A systematic review.Methods.  We searched the databases PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Database of systematic reviews, DARE and CENTRAL for articles published between January 2000–July 2009.Results.  The search strategy yielded in total 695 possibly relevant references, which resulted in 12 RCTs after application of the in‐ and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies were well designed according to the Cochrane criteria for RCTs. The studies are divided into e‐health vs. usual care and e‐health as addition to usual care. e‐Health consisted of monitoring, treatment instructions, self‐management training and general information and communication between patient and caregiver. Most of the studies showed small to moderate positive effects on health outcomes. Cost‐effectiveness, quality of life and patient satisfaction were rarely investigated in the included studies.Conclusions.  e‐Health interventions for chronically ill patients, offered instead of usual care or in addition to usual care, lead to small to moderate positive effects on primary health outcomes. However, the evidence was not fully convincing, because of the limited number of studies available and the methodological limitations. Further research is needed to confirm the cost‐effectiveness of e‐health interventions for patients with chronic diseases.Relevance to clinical practice.  e‐Health is a promising tool for treatment and self‐management training of chronically ill patients.
Narratives of the heart: telling the story of children with a cardiac condition through a bead program
Authors: Redshaw Sarah , Wilson Valerie , Scarfe Gabrielle , Dengler Lexi 
Published: June 2011

Aims. To present and discuss the significance of a bead program in assisting families to put together the story of a child’s journey through cardiac intervention. The main focus of the article is the importance to families of developing a narrative in making sense of the experience of discovering their child has a cardiac condition and how this is enhanced by the bead program.Background. The Heart Beads Program involved giving families beads related to procedures and processes the children undergo while they are in hospital. Research on narratives related to illness suggests that forming a narrative that incorporates the health condition facilitates the ability to talk about these experiences and helps to make sense of and deal with the stressors related to such traumatic life events.Design. A qualitative methodology was used to evaluate the program employing semi‐structured interviews and content analysis following a grounded theory approach.Methods. Interviews were undertaken with 11 families to highlight their experiences of being involved in the Heart Beads Program. Themes were identified from the interviews and critical discussion was used to structure and connect the themes.Results. The major theme that emerged from the analysis of the interviews was the importance of the beads in enabling the telling of the child’s story. Five subthemes were identified in this theme: symbolism, encouraging/uplifting, acknowledgement, connection with others and imagining the future. The themes are outlined and expressed through specific comments from interviews.Conclusions. The Heart Beads are seen as presenting a significant way for children and families to comprehend their time in hospital as part of the child’s life story.Relevance to clinical practice. The program can offer the opportunity for health care professionals to relate to the child and family’s story and to engage with that story in a person centred way.
Comparison of 1:1 and 1:m CSCL environment for collaborative concept mapping
Authors: Lin C.‐P. , Wong L.‐H. , Shao Y.‐J. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis paper reports an investigation into the effects of collaborative concept mapping in a digital learning environment, in terms of students' overall learning gains, knowledge retention, quality of student artefacts (the collaboratively created concept maps), interactive patterns, and learning perceptions. Sixty‐four 12‐year‐old students from two 6th grade classes (32 from each class) participated in the study. Guided by the methodology of quasi‐experimental research, group scribbles 1.0 was adopted in which students carried out collaborative concept mapping activities for social studies in two different settings: (1) 1:1 (one‐device‐per‐student) – students working in pairs with one Tablet PC assigned to each of them; and (2) 1:m (one‐device‐to‐many‐students) – multiple students sharing a Tablet PC. Both settings were evaluated and the interactional patterns of the student groups' concept mapping were identified. The results indicated that in both 1:1 and 1:m settings, students had improved their learning results and retention. Nevertheless, while 1:1 groups had demonstrated more consistency in group participation, improved communication and interaction, the 1:m groups had instead generated superior artefacts as all the notes were well discussed among the group members. The findings suggest that a higher quality of collaborative processes does not necessarily lead to improved student artefacts.
Use of a collaborative database for epidemiological analyses and professional practice evaluation
Authors: Decullier Evelyne , Juillard Laurent , Bailly Mathilde , Maurice Christelle , Favé Sophie , Roux Adeline , Favre Hélène , Laville Maurice 
Published: June 2011

AbstractRationale  In nephrology, the NEOERICA project assessed the feasibility of the diagnosis scheme based on a general practice database. This approach opened a new area where routinely collected data could be used for purposes other than patient management, such as epidemiological analysis and professional practice evaluation. In Lyon, the TIRCEL network is made up of a coordination team and an online database. In 2008, a total of 468 professionals participated and 983 patients were in the database corresponding to 4114 consultations and 9250 biological assessments.Objective  To investigate the impact of a quality control process on the data from operational databases.Methods  We set up a quality control process and we described the impact of this process on data. We also specifically investigated the role of measurement scales in error frequency and we studied the impact of data quality on variables which could be used for professional practice evaluation.Results  Quality control allowed us to detect as inconsistent data 7.5% of tested data. This rate is linked to the parameters and varied from less than 1% (weight, diastolic blood pressure and urinary sodium) to more than 30% (serum iron and ferritin). Quality control led mainly to the validation of the identified data for 80.4%, a direct correction was realized for 12.9%, 5.6% by the lab and only 1.2% were set to missing. Average proteinuria was modified with the quality control process (2.09 g per 24 hours vs. 0.82 g per 24 hours); however, the median remained stable (0.21 g per 24 hours).Conclusion  Specialty databases such as TIRCEL could not be used for epidemiological research or for the extraction of indicators for professional practice evaluation without strict quality control or the set‐up of data‐entering limits and alarms.
Reduced sleep quality in healthy girls at risk for depression
Authors: CHEN MICHAEL C. , BURLEY HANNAH W. , GOTLIB IAN H. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryDepression is characterized by sleep difficulties, but the extent to which subjective and objective sleep disturbances precede depression are unclear. This study was designed to examine perceptions of sleep quality in addition to actigraphy‐ and diary‐measured sleep variables in healthy girls at low and high familial risk for major depressive disorder. Forty‐four healthy daughters and their mothers completed a week of daily sleep diary and actigraphy; 24 girls had mothers with no history of psychopathology (low risk, mean age 14.92 years), and 20 girls had mothers with recurrent depression during the daughter’s lifetime (high risk, mean age 14.12 years). All daughters had no current or past psychopathology. High‐risk girls reported significantly poorer subjective sleep quality than did low‐risk girls (P = 0.001). The two groups of participants did not differ in actigraphy‐ or diary‐measured sleep duration, onset latency or snooze duration. Healthy girls at high familial risk for depression report poorer sleep quality than do girls at low risk for depression, despite the absence of group differences in objective sleep disturbances as measured by actigraphy or daily diary. This pattern of findings may reflect a broader cognitive or physiological phenotype of risk for depression.
Role for Sit4p‐dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in mediating the shortened chronological lifespan and oxidative stress sensitivity of Isc1p‐deficient cells
Authors: Barbosa António Daniel , Osório Hugo , Sims Kellie J. , Almeida Teresa , Alves Mariana , Bielawski Jacek , Amorim Maria Amélia , Moradas‐Ferreira Pedro , Hannun Yusuf A. , Costa Vítor 
Published: June 2011

Summary Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells lacking Isc1p, an orthologue of mammalian neutral sphingomyelinase 2, display a shortened lifespan and an increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. A lipidomic analysis revealed specific changes in sphingolipids that accompanied the premature ageing of Isc1p‐deficient cells under severe calorie restriction conditions, including a decrease of dihydrosphingosine levels and an increase of dihydro‐C26‐ceramide and phyto‐C26‐ceramide levels, the latter raising the possibility of activation of ceramide‐dependent protein phosphatases. Consequently, deletion of the SIT4 gene, which encodes for the catalytic subunit of type 2A ceramide‐activated protein phosphatase in yeast, abolished the premature ageing and hydrogen peroxide sensitivity of isc1Δ cells. SIT4 deletion also abolished the respiratory defects and catalase A deficiency exhibited by isc1Δ mutants. These results are consistent with catabolic derepression associated with the loss of Sit4p. The overall results show that Isc1p is an upstream regulator of Sit4p and implicate Sit4p activation in mitochondrial dysfunction leading to the shortened chronological lifespan and oxidative stress sensitivity of isc1Δ mutants.
The secretion ATPase ComGA is required for the binding and transport of transforming DNA
Authors: Briley Jr Kenneth , Dorsey‐Oresto Angella , Prepiak Peter , Dias Miguel J. , Mann Jessica M. , Dubnau David 
Published: June 2011

SummaryTransformation requires specialized proteins to facilitate the binding and uptake of DNA. The genes of the Bacillus subtilis comG operon (comGA–G) are required for transformation and to assemble a structure, the pseudopilus, in the cell envelope. No role for the pseudopilus has been established and the functions of the individual comG genes are unknown. We show that among the comG genes, only comGA is absolutely required for DNA binding to the cell surface. ComEA, an integral membrane DNA‐binding protein plays a minor role in the initial binding step, while an unidentified protein which communicates with ComGA must be directly responsible for binding to the cell. We show that the use of resistance to DNase to measure ‘DNA uptake’ reflects the movement of transforming DNA to a protected state in which it is not irreversibly associated with the protoplast, and presumably resides outside the cell membrane, in the periplasm or associated with the cell wall. We suggest that ComGA is needed for the acquisition of DNase resistance as well as for the binding of DNA to the cell surface. Finally, we show that the pseudopilus is required for DNA uptake and we offer a revised model for the transformation process.
Duodenal ulcer disease, gastroduodenal motor function and reflux esophagitis – a cross‐sectional survey in a subset of Taiwanese patients
Authors: Su Y.‐C. , Chen Y.‐W. , Wu D.‐C. , Wang W.‐M. , Jan C.‐M. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground  To investigate the association between the gastric emptying rate and the presence of erosive esophagitis in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients among a population with high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.Methods  Cross‐sectional survey was performed in a cohort of 60 male patients with either active or healed DU, with or without the presence of erosive esophagitis. Clinical and social‐demographic data, blood level of fasting gastrin, pepsinogen I & I/II ratio, and scintigraphic measurement of half emptying time (t1/2) of the solid phase gastric emptying were evaluated.Key Results  Patients with active DU and erosive esophagitis tended to have higher plasma level of fasting gastrin than those without erosive esophagitis (75.11 ± 13.74 vs 45.81 ± 5.06 pg mL−1, P = 0.059). In the absence of H. pylori infection, patients with healed DU and erosive esophagitis had a trend to have longer half‐emptying time (t1/2: 96.5 ± 6.4 vs 69.1 ± 11.3 min, P = 0.0572) than those without erosive esophagitis, and statistically significant longer after excluding those diagnosed with hiatal hernia (t1/2: 100.8 ± 7.9 min vs 69.1 ± 11.3 min, P < 0.05) from the former group. Among the healed DU patients, those with negative H. pylori infection, hiatal hernia and overweight (body mass index ≥24) had significantly increased risk of severe esophagitis.Conclusions & Inferences  Presence of erosive esophagitis in a subset of Taiwanese patients with healed DU and negative H. pylori status was associated with slower solid phase gastric emptying.
Producing parasitic helminth reference and draft genomes at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Authors: HOLROYD N. , SANCHEZ‐FLORES A. 
Published: June 2011

SummaryThe Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (WTSI) is producing de novo reference quality genomes for parasitic helminth species from platyhelminth tapeworms (cestodes), flukes (trematodes) and roundworms (nematodes) primarily using second‐generation (Illumina and 454) sequencing technologies. The reference genomes will be followed with draft coverage from a number of related strains or species. Comparing species‐ or strain‐specific differences will help to unravel the genomic basis for differences in the organism’s biology and ultimately contribute towards identifying potential novel targets for vaccine therapies. Second‐generation sequencing technologies are revolutionizing parasite genomics. This article reviews the impact that sequencing technologies has had on genomics and how it has shaped the parasitic helminth genome sequencing initiative at WTSI.
Spatial variation in photosynthetic CO2 carbon and oxygen isotope discrimination along leaves of the monocot triticale (Triticum × Secale) relates to mesophyll conductance and the Péclet effect
Authors: KODAMA NAOMI , COUSINS ASAPH , TU KEVIN P. , BARBOUR MARGARET M. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTCarbon and oxygen isotope discrimination of CO2 during photosynthesis (Δ13Cobs and Δ18Oobs) were measured along a monocot leaf, triticale (Triticum × Secale). Both Δ13Cobs and Δ18Oobs increased towards the leaf tip. While this was expected for Δ18Oobs, because of progressive enrichment of leaf water associated with the Péclet effect, the result was surprising for Δ13Cobs. To explore parameters determining this pattern, we measured activities of key photosynthetic enzymes [ribulose bis‐phosphate carboxylase‐oxygenase (Rubisco), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and carbonic anhydrase) as well as maximum carboxylation and electron transport rates (Vcmax and Jmax) along the leaf. Patterns in leaf internal anatomy along the leaf were also quantified. Mesophyll conductance (gm) is known to have a strong influence on Δ13Cobs, so we used three commonly used estimation methods to quantify variation in gm along the leaf. Variation in Δ13Cobs was correlated with gm and chloroplast surface area facing the intercellular air space, but unrelated to photosynthetic enzyme activity.The observed variation could cause errors at higher scales if the appropriate portion of a leaf is not chosen for leaf‐level measurements and model parameterization. Our study shows that one‐third of the way from the base of the leaf represents the most appropriate portion to enclose in the leaf chamber.