bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health status in women with Turner syndrome: a questionnaire study on health status, education, work participation and aspects of sexual functioning
Authors: Næss Eva Elisabeth , Bahr David , Gravholt Claus H. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryContext  Turner syndrome (TS) is a complex medical condition with specific cognitive and psychosocial characteristics and frequent medical morbidity. Few studies have investigated the influence this has on health status, education and ability to work.Objective  To explore health status, level of education, work participation, medical conditions, physical activity, satisfaction with life and aspects of sexual functioning in adult TS women and compare with a matched control group.Design  A questionnaire was sent to 168 adult women with TS >18 years registered in a database of Frambu Resource Centre for Rare Disorders and The TS Association in Norway. We assessed health status with Short Form 36, education with Norwegian Standard Classification of Education, and employment with The General Nordic Questionnaire. Life satisfaction was measured with LiSat‐9, and questions on psychological strain during life phases were included.Results  Eighty women with TS (34·0 ± 11·7 years) and 214 controls (32·9 ± 10·6) responded. The TS group reported significantly more health problems and impaired health status in the two subscales “physical functioning” and “general health” (P < 0·001). Level of education and work participation was similar among TS and controls. TS moved away from their parents’ home later than controls (20·4 ± 4·0 vs. 18·7 ± 2·1, P = 0·001). Age at sexual debut differed significantly (21·2 ± 4·3 vs. 17·3 ± 2·4 years, P < 0·001).Conclusion  TS attains the same level of education and level of employment as controls, they report more frequent occurrence of medical conditions, but scored lower on only two subscales in the SF‐36. Despite considerable medical morbidity, TS seem to cope well with life.
Variation of soil and biomass carbon pools in beech forests across a precipitation gradient
Authors: MEIER INA C. , LEUSCHNER CHRISTOPH 
Published: September 2009

AbstractTemperate forests have recently been identified as being continuing sinks for carbon even in their mature and senescent stages. However, modeling exercises indicate that a warmer and drier climate as predicted for parts of Central Europe may substantially alter the source/sink function of these economically important ecosystems. In a transect study with 14 mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests growing on uniform geological substrate, we analyzed the influence of a large reduction of annual precipitation (970–520 mm yr−1) on the carbon stocks in fast and slow pools, independent of the well‐known aging effect. We investigated the C storage in the organic L, F, H layers, the mineral soil to 100 cm, and in the biomass (stem, leaves, fine roots), and analyzed the dependence of these pools on precipitation. Soil organic carbon decreased by about 25% from stands with > 900 mm yr−1 to those with < 600 mm yr−1; while the carbon storage in beech stems slightly increased. Reduced precipitation affected the biomass C pool in particular in the fine root fraction but much less in the leaf biomass and stem fractions. Fine root turnover increased with a precipitation reduction, even though stand fine root biomass and SOC in the organic L, F, and H layers decreased. According to regression analyses, the C storage in the organic layers was mainly controlled by the size of the fine root C pool suggesting an important role of fine root turnover for the C transfer from tree biomass to the SOC pool. We conclude that the long‐term consequence of a substantial precipitation decrease would be a reduction of the mineral soil and organic layer SOC pools, mainly due to higher decomposition rates. This could turn temperate beech forests into significant carbon sources instead of sinks under global warming.
Using carbon isotope analysis of the diet of two introduced Australian megaherbivores to understand Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions
Authors: Bowman David M. J. S. , Murphy Brett P. , McMahon Clive R. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAim  Australia lost a diverse assemblage of large marsupial herbivores in the late Pleistocene, with suggestions that the extinctions were biased towards browsers. In modern times two bovines, the Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and banteng (Bos javanicus), have established feral populations in the Northern Territory, Australia. Buffalo have aggressively expanded throughout the savanna landscape, yet banteng remain near their point of introduction on the Cobourg Peninsula. We hypothesized that this difference is related to feeding ecology, possibly reflecting a legacy of the Pleistocene extinctions.Location  Western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia.Methods  Analysing a previously published dataset of body mass and feeding ecology of extinct and extant marsupial herbivores, we evaluated whether browsers were at greater risk of extinction than grazers. We compared the carbon isotope composition and nitrogen content of banteng and buffalo dung in order to evaluate the hypotheses that the differences in invasion success are related to feeding ecology, and that seasonal variation in browse consumption is linked to changing nutritional quality of grass.Results  Controlling for body mass, the Pleistocene extinctions were clearly biased towards browsers. Introduced banteng appear to be primarily browsers, with their diets comprising 40% grass in the wet season and 15% in the late dry season. Buffalo have a more variable diet, with an increasing proportion of browse from the wet (30%) to the late dry season (75%), and can therefore be described as switching from grazer to browser. The decline of grass in the diet of both species appears to reflect the decline in the nutritional value of grass through the dry season, an inference supported by the negative relationship between δ13C values and the nitrogen content of dung.Main conclusions  Banteng and buffalo are much larger than extant native herbivores, of which browsers are restricted to isolated rocky habitats. This suggests that banteng and buffalo have filled niches made vacant following the Pleistocene extinctions. The success of buffalo appears to be related to their greater dietary breadth, which enables them to graze and browse in eucalypt savannas, whilst the browsing banteng remain tethered to a mosaic of rain forest patches. The restriction of browsers may be a long‐range consequence of habitat transformations associated with Aboriginal landscape burning.
Functions and regulation of the Nox family in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina: a new role in cellulose degradation
Authors: Brun Sylvain , Malagnac Fabienne , Bidard Frédérique , Lalucque Hervé , Silar Philippe 
Published: September 2009

SummaryNADPH oxidases are enzymes that produce reactive oxygen species. Studies in mammals, plants and fungi have shown that they play important roles in differentiation, defence, host/pathogen interaction and mutualistic symbiosis. In this paper, we have identified a Podospora anserina mutant strain impaired for processes controlled by PaNox1 and PaNox2, the two Nox isoforms characterized in this model ascomycete. We show that the gene mutated is PaNoxR, the homologue of the gene encoding the regulatory subunit p67phox, conserved in mammals and fungi, and that PaNoxR regulates both PaNox1 and PaNox2. Genome sequence analysis of P. anserina reveals that this fungus posses a third Nox isoform, PaNox3, related to human Nox5/Duox and plant Rboh. We have generated a knock‐out mutant of PaNox3 and report that PaNox3 plays a minor role in P. anserina, if any. We show that PaNox1 and PaNox2 play antagonist roles in cellulose degradation. Finally, we report for the first time that a saprobic fungus, P. anserina, develops special cell structures dedicated to breach and to exploit a solid cellulosic substrate, cellophane. Importantly, as for similar structures present in some plant pathogens, their proper differentiation requires PaNox1, PaNox2, PaNoxR and the tetraspanin PaPls1.
The coat morphogenetic protein SpoVID is necessary for spore encasement in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Wang Katherine H. , Isidro Anabela L. , Domingues Lia , Eskandarian Haig A. , McKenney Peter T. , Drew Kevin , Grabowski Paul , Chua Ming‐Hsiu , Barry Samantha N. , Guan Michelle , Bonneau Richard , Henriques Adriano O. , Eichenberger Patrick 
Published: September 2009

SummaryEndospores formed by Bacillus subtilis are encased in a tough protein shell known as the coat, which consists of at least 70 different proteins. We investigated the process of spore coat morphogenesis using a library of 40 coat proteins fused to green fluorescent protein and demonstrate that two successive steps can be distinguished in coat assembly. The first step, initial localization of proteins to the spore surface, is dependent on the coat morphogenetic proteins SpoIVA and SpoVM. The second step, spore encasement, requires a third protein, SpoVID. We show that in spoVID mutant cells, most coat proteins assembled into a cap at one side of the developing spore but failed to migrate around and encase it. We also found that SpoIVA directly interacts with SpoVID. A domain analysis revealed that the N‐terminus of SpoVID is required for encasement and is a structural homologue of a virion protein, whereas the C‐terminus is necessary for the interaction with SpoIVA. Thus, SpoVM, SpoIVA and SpoVID are recruited to the spore surface in a concerted manner and form a tripartite machine that drives coat formation and spore encasement.
Effects of elevated ozone on photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of two soybean varieties: a case study to assess impacts of one component of predicted global climate change
Authors: Singh E. , Tiwari S. , Agrawal M. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractGlobal climatic change scenarios predict a significant increase in future tropospheric ozone (O3) concentrations. The present investigation was done to assess the effects of elevated O3 (70 and 100 ppb) on electron transport, carbon fixation, stomatal conductance and pigment concentrations in two tropical soybean (Glycine max L.) varieties, PK 472 and Bragg. Plants were exposed to O3 for 4 h·day−1 from 10:00 to 14:00 from germination to maturity. Photosynthesis of both varieties were adversely affected, but the reduction was higher in PK 472 than Bragg. A comparison of chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics with carbon fixation suggested greater sensitivity of dark reactions than light reactions of photosynthesis to O3 stress. The O3‐induced uncoupling between photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in PK 472 suggests the reduction in photosynthesis may be attributed to a factor other than reduced stomatal conductance. An increase in internal CO2 concentration in both O3‐treated soybean varieties compared suggests that the reduction in photosynthesis was due to damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, leading to accumulation of internal CO2 and stomatal closure. The adverse impact of O3 stress increased at higher O3 concentrations in both soybean varieties leading to large reductions in photosynthesis. This study suggests that O3‐induced reductions in photosynthesis in tropical and temperate varieties are similar.
Resuscitation with Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor in traumatic haemorrhagic shock: Cardiopulmonary performance, oxygen transport and tissue inflammation
Authors: Wu Dongmei , Qi Jiansong , Dai Hui , Doods Henri , Abraham William M 
Published: September 2009

Summary1. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE‐1) on cardiopulmonary performance, oxygen carrying capacity and tissue inflammation in a pig model of traumatic haemorrhage–resuscitation.2. In 12 instrumented anaesthetized pigs, traumatic haemorrhage was modelled by producing tibia fractures, followed by haemorrhage of 25 mL/kg for 20 min, and then a 4 mm hepatic arterial tear with surgical repair after 20 min. Animals then underwent low‐volume fluid resuscitation with either Hextend (vehicle; n = 6; Hospira, Lake Forest, IL, USA) or 3 mg/kg BIIB513 (an NHE‐1 inhibitor) + Hextend (n = 6). The experiment was terminated 6 h after the beginning of resuscitation.3. Compared with vehicle‐treated controls, the addition of NHE‐1 inhibition with BIIB513 significantly improved the left ventricle stroke work index and attenuated increases in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. Furthermore, BIIB513 treatment significantly increased the oxygenated haemoglobin ratio, blood oxygen content and mixed venous blood oxygen saturation and improved blood oxygen delivery. In addition, BIIB513 treatment reduced lung tissue levels of interleukin‐6 by 80%, tumour necrosis factor‐α by 37% and myeloperoxidase activity by 38%. Nuclear factor‐κB DNA binding activity in the lung was also slightly and significantly attenuated following BIIB513 treatment.4. In conclusion, the present study shows that NHE‐1 inhibition facilitates the response to fluid resuscitation after traumatic haemorrhage by improving cardiac function, pulmonary vascular function and oxygen carrying capacity, which results in reduced tissue inflammatory injury.
Perspectives and experiences of elective surgery patients regarding pain management
Authors: Rejeh Nahid , Vaismoradi Mojtaba 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of elective surgery patients regarding pain management. A qualitative design, based on the content analysis approach, was used to collect and analyze the experience of 20 elective surgery patients who all had abdominal surgery in surgical wards in two teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. After employing purposeful sampling for the selection of the participants, semistructured interviews were held for data collection. During the data analysis, three main themes emerged: “perceptions of pain management goals”, “patients' views of nurses' role in pain management”, and “interaction in pain management”. It was concluded that understanding the factors that influence pain management after surgery from the patients' viewpoint will contribute to the body of knowledge of nurses in order to promote the quality of nursing care.
Distortion of auditory space in hemianopia
Authors: Lewald Jörg , Peters Sören , Tegenthoff Martin , Hausmann Markus 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSound localization was investigated in patients with homonymous hemianopia, a visual field defect characterized by a loss of vision in one hemifield that is caused by unilateral brain lesions involving the visual cortex or its afferents. The primary aim was to clarify whether or not the known distortion of visual space in hemianopia results in processes of long‐term cross‐modal spatial adaptation, thus eventually inducing related alterations in auditory space perception. For this purpose, patients were tested by using tasks of either head pointing or manual pointing to acoustic targets in the azimuthal plane, under anechoic conditions in total darkness. The results obtained with both tasks consistently indicated slight, but significant, systematic errors compared with normal controls. In particular, the errors found can be interpreted by both rotation and compression of auditory space toward the anopic side. These findings can be explained by a visual miscalibration of the auditory space, as has been analogously demonstrated in studies on normal‐sighted subjects after exposure to consistent auditory–visual disparity, for example by wearing prism lenses. The precision in sound localization of hemianopic patients was generally reduced across both hemispaces. Taken together, one may conclude that processes of cross‐modal spatial adaptation, but not those of compensatory plasticity, occurred in patients with hemianopia.
Parental perceptions regarding healthy behaviours for preventing overweight and obesity in young children: a systematic review of qualitative studies
Authors: Pocock M. , Trivedi D. , Wills W. , Bunn F. , Magnusson J. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryEvidence is increasingly pointing towards the importance of early life strategies to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. This systematic review synthesizes qualitative research concerning parental perceptions regarding behaviours for preventing overweight and obesity in young children. During May and June 2008, a range of electronic databases were searched and together with lateral searching techniques 21 studies were identified for review. Data extraction and synthesis using thematic content analysis revealed six organizing and 32 finer level themes. These related to child factors, family dynamics, parenting, knowledge and beliefs, extra‐familial influences and resources and environment. Themes were mapped to a socioecological model which illustrated how factors at individual, interpersonal, community, organizational and societal levels interact in complex ways to impact on parental perceptions about healthy behaviours for preventing child overweight. Although parents suggested several ideas to promote healthy child weight‐related behaviours, many of their views concerned perceived barriers, some of which may be amenable to practical intervention. Furthermore, intergenerational influences on parental health beliefs and knowledge suggest that health promotion strategies may be more effective if directed at the wider family, rather than parents alone. Significantly, many parents believed strategies to promote healthy weight should start early in a child's life.
Interest in Medieval Accounts: Examples from England, 1272–1340
Authors: BELL ADRIAN R. , BROOKS CHRIS , MOORE TONY K. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractThe charging of interest for borrowing money, and the level at which it is charged, is of fundamental importance to the economy. Unfortunately, the study of the interest rates charged in the middle ages has been hampered by the diversity of terms and methods used by historians. This article seeks to establish a standardized methodology to calculate interest rates from historical sources and thereby provide a firmer foundation for comparisons between regions and periods. It should also contribute towards the current historical reassessment of medieval economic and financial development. The article is illustrated with case studies drawn from the credit arrangements of the English kings between 1272 and c.1340, and argues that changes in interest rates reflect, in part, contemporary perceptions of the creditworthiness of the English crown.
Treatment of trichostasis spinulosa with a 755‐nm long‐pulsed alexandrite laser
Authors: Toosi S , Ehsani AH , Noormohammadpoor P , Esmaili N , Mirshams‐Shahshahani M , Moineddin F 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground  Trichostasis spinulosa (TS) is a common disorder of hair follicle, characterized by spinous plugs. Topical treatments offer temporary relief but permanent removal of the abnormal follicles using hair removal lasers may result in a definite cure.Objective  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 755‐nm alexandrite laser for the treatment of TS lesions.Patients and methods  Two consecutive 755‐nm alexandrite laser treatments were performed one month apart. The clinical response and adverse effects were assessed four weeks after the first and second treatments and 20 weeks after the second treatment.Results  Thirty one patients with skin phototypes II to IV completed the study. At the last follow up visit, a decrease in dark‐plug density of greater than 50% was noted in 16 patients (51.3%), while only three patients (9.7%) had an improvement of greater than 75%. Ten of the 21 patients (47.6%) with skin type III and six of the seven patients (85.7%) with skin type IV achieved at least 50% improvement in lesions at the last follow up visit (P = 0.1).Conclusion  The 755‐nm alexandrite laser can safely and effectively reduce TS lesions lasting for a relatively long time in patients with skin types III–IV.
Genetic and attachment influences on adolescents’ regulation of autonomy and aggressiveness
Authors: Zimmermann Peter , Mohr Cornelia , Spangler Gottfried 
Published: September 2009

Background:  Adolescence is a time when intense emotions are elicited within the parent–adolescent relationship, often when autonomy subjectively is endangered. As emotion dysregulation is one of the risk processes for the development of psychopathology, adolescence may be perceived as a highly sensitive period for maladjustment. Inter‐individual differences in emotionality and emotion regulation have been shown to be influenced or moderated by molecular genetic differences in the serotonin transporter gene (5‐HTT) and by attachment patterns. We investigated whether both the 5‐HTT and attachment are associated with emotionality and emotion regulation in an observed adolescent–mother interaction and the personality traits aggressiveness and anxiety in adolescence.Methods:  Ninety‐one adolescents at age 12 were observed in interaction with their mothers during a standardized emotion‐eliciting social task to assess emotionality and emotion regulation in relation to autonomy. Adolescents’ aggressiveness and anxiety were assessed by mother report. Concurrent attachment quality was determined by an attachment interview. DNA samples were collected in order to assess the 5‐HTTLPR, a repeat polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene.Results:  While the short allele of the serotonin transporter gene was associated with a higher overall rate of autonomy behaviors, attachment security was related to more agreeable and less hostile autonomy. A significant interaction revealed a moderating effect of attachment security. Carriers of the short version of the 5‐HTTLPR showed more agreeable autonomy when they had a secure attachment behavior strategy but showed more hostile autonomy when they were insecurely attached. Carriers of the short version of the 5‐HTTLPR and insecurely attached adolescents were rated as more aggressive.Conclusions:  The study suggests a gene–attachment interaction in adolescents where the adolescent’s attachment status moderates a genetically based higher negative reactivity in response to threats to autonomy in social interactions.
Prediction of anxiety symptoms in preschool‐aged children: examination of maternal and paternal perspectives
Authors: Edwards Susan L. , Rapee Ronald M. , Kennedy Susan 
Published: September 2009

Background:  Little is known about risk factors for anxiety in young children. The current study investigated the value of a set of theoretically derived risk factors to predict symptoms of anxiety in a sample of preschool‐aged children.Methods:  Mothers (n = 632) and fathers (n = 249) completed questionnaires twice, 12 months apart. Measures were selected to assess several risk factors derived from current theory, including parental negative affectivity, child inhibition, parent overprotection, and impact of life events.Results:  Even at this young age anxiety across 12 months was moderately to highly stable (r’s = .75 and .74 based on maternal and paternal report respectively). Over and above this stability, according to maternal report, anxiety at 12 months was significantly predicted by prior maternal overprotection, impact of negative life events, child’s inhibition, and maternal negative affectivity. According to paternal report, anxiety at 12 months was significantly predicted by prior paternal overprotection and impact of negative life events. The models did not differ significantly for girls and boys.Conclusions:  The results support theories of the development of anxiety, especially the role of parental and external environmental factors, and point to possible targets for prevention of heightened anxiety in young children.