bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pup Growth Rates and Breeding Female Weight Changes in Two Populations of Captive Bred Degus (Octodon degus), a Precocial Caviomorph Rodent
Authors: Long CV , Ebensperger LA 
Published: September 2010

ContentsCaviomorph rodents are renowned for comparatively long gestations and producing relatively precocious offspring. The degu (Octodon degus) is one such caviomorph, originating in central Chile and providing communal pup care within wild groups. Reported are pup growth data for two populations of captive bred degus in Britain and Chile (representing wild populations), for the first time analysing pup development over the postpartum and weaning period in detail. Pups in both colonies were found to be similarly precocial at birth as assessed by open eyes and presence of full body hair. Degu pups in the British colonies put on weight at a rate of 2–3 g/day, while pups in the Chilean colonies put on weight at a rate of 1–2 g/day over the first 14 days. At birth, individual neonates weighed 5 ± 1% of maternal mass for the British sample and 6 ± 0.5% for the Chilean sample. Sexual dimorphism occurred in the weight and growth rates of pups in both samples, despite the lack of sexual dimorphism in adults of the species. Data for breeding female weight changes were also analysed, providing the first reported observations for this crucial period. Pregnant female weight gain was found to vary over the course of gestation, and post partum weight changes varied significantly between breeding females in accordance with litter size.
Molecules, morphology and maps: New directions in evolutionary genetics
Authors: Bachmann Konrad 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWith the characterization of a complete nucleotide sequence of a plant genome within sight, we are getting access to the ultimate source of data for evolutionary genetics. This achievement could hardly have been imagined twenty years ago. The rapid progress in methods is generating novel results that require a reassessment of our ideas about the relationship between the evolution of genomes and organisms, and of the relationship between genotype and phenotype. The widespread incongruence between chloroplast and nuclear (organismal) phylogenies was not previously suspected. It shows that introgression based on ‘wide crosses’ is a regular process in natural populations, and geneflow among species and genera must influence the distribution of genes and alleles as much as linear, phyletic inheritance. Speciation from hybrids at the diploid level seems to be stabilized by the creation of new epistatic interactions. Speciation via allopolyploidy also involves more than the additive action of the combined genomes; rearrangements and homogenization of non‐coding repetitive sequences seems to occur quickly, and repetitive rDNA sequences of the combined genomes are homogenized to one of the parental sequences or to a recombinant sequence. Diploidization of allopolyploid genomes involves the evolution of redundant genes. This has profound effects on morphological evolution. Extrapolation from the developmental genetics of model systems (e.g.Arabidopsis) has shown that single mutations in regulatory genes can explain major differences in diagnostic characters between taxa. This seems to be in conflict with the general assumption that morphological evolution proceeds gradually by the selection of allelic polymorphisms in populations. Where plants with major morphological character differences can be crossed to produce fertile offspring, genetic analysis aided by molecular marker maps confirms that major regulatory genes are involved. At the same time, such experiments suggest a hypothesis integrating saltatory evolution and population genetics. The key factor is genetic redundancy through duplicate or modifier genes that reduce the phenotypic penetrance of the major gene. A low incidence of the new, at first unadapted phenotype, possibly mainly under environmental stress conditions, facilitates selection for the proper genetic background and for a new ‘integrated genotype’. Such episodes of saltatory evolution are likely to be linked to reticulate evolution; wide hybrids are likely to break up the protective modifier networks and expose major gene effects, while polyploidy immediately generates genetic redundancy
Evolution of interactions between plants and their pollinators
Authors: Morgan Martin T. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractOur theoretical understanding of plant reproductive character evolution often only implicitly includes pollinator behavior and the community ecological context of pollination. Reciprocal reservations apply to studies of pollinator evolution. I recast selection models to incorporate interaction between plants of one species with the pollinators of another, emphasizing primarily the plant perspective. I then include pollination and community processes, such as optimal foraging and interspecific competition for pollinators. This highlights how many models implicitly assume that a plant species exerts a monopoly on its pollinators. Such an assumption is at odds with the observation of widespread generalist interactions. Reconsideration of previous literature surveys and studies of plant–pollinator interaction illustrate this perspective.
Genetic diversity and conservation of common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) in China
Authors: SONG ZHIPING , LI BO , CHEN JIAKUAN , LU BAO‐RONG 
Published: September 2010

AbstractCommon wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.), known as the ancestor of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), is the most important germplasm for rice improvement. The first male sterility gene was found in the wild rice, and introduced to the cultivated rice, which launched the fast development of the high‐yielding hybrid rice. Other agronomically beneficial traits in the wild rice, such as rice tungro virus resistance, bacterial leaf blight (Xa21 gene) resistance and acid sulfate soil tolerance, have played important roles in rice breeding. China has the northernmost distribution area of wild rice possessing great genetic diversity. However, most of the populations of this species have disappeared in China over the last three decades, mainly caused by habitat loss, fragmentation and other human disturbances. Unfortunately, the decline of existing populations still continues. In the present study, we reviewed studies on genetic diversity and conservation of this wild rice in China, concentrating on population structure, pollen competition, pollen/gene flow from cultivated rice to wild rice, and ecological restoration in relation to in situ conservation. The relatively high genetic diversity of populations of O. rufipogon in China suggests that there is great value for conservation. Considerable gene flow from cultivated rice to wild rice may alter the genetic structure of natural populations of O. rufipogon and eventually lead to its genetic erosion. Pollen competition between wild and cultivated rice has caused a low rate of crop‐to‐wild gene flow, but it does not completely prevent gene flow from the crop. Effective isolation measures should be undertaken in the regions where in situ conservation of O. rufipogon is carried out. Reintroduction is an important alternative for the in situ conservation of wild rice species. As wild rice is an important genetic resource, both in situ and ex situ conservation strategies are needed.
Microscale variations in the mating system and heterospecific incompatibility mediated by pollination competition in alpine snowbed plants
Authors: KUDO GAKU , KASAGI TETSUYA 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe effects of pollination competition between related species on pollen limitation, selfing ability and heterospecific incompatibility were studied in the alpine snowbed shrubs,Phyllodoce caeruleaandPhyllodoce aleutica(Ericaceae) along local snowmelt gradients. The flowering season of these species highly overlapped and they shared the same method of pollination (via bumblebees). The floral density and nectar production were higher inP. caeruleain the early snowmelt habitat, but they were higher inP. aleuticain the late snowmelt habitat, reflecting the species‐specific sensitivity to a short growing season. Bumblebee preference shifted fromP. caeruleatoP. aleuticaalong the snowmelt gradient, reflecting the changes in the relative reward level between the species. The extent of pollen limitation ofP. caeruleawas severe in the late snowmelt habitat, whereas that ofP. aleuticawas obvious in the early snowmelt habitat. A pollination experiment revealed thatP. caeruleashowed a consistently low selfing ability, whereasP. aleuticashowed a high selfing ability in the early snowmelt habitat and shifted to an obligate outcrosser in the late snowmelt habitat. The frequency of interspecific bumblebee movement forP. caeruleafromP. aleuticaincreased in the late snowmelt habitat. To the contrary, the frequency of interspecific movement forP. aleuticafromP. caeruleadecreased along the snowmelt gradient.P. caeruleadid not indicate heterospecific incompatibility toP. aleuticapollen. In contrast,P. aleuticaindicated heterospecific incompatibility toP. caeruleapollen, reflecting the high risk of receiving heterospecific pollen as a result of interspecific bumblebee movement. However, heterospecific compatibility ofP. aleuticadisappeared in the late snowmelt habitat, where the risk of heterospecific pollen receipt was low. Therefore, changes in interspecific bumblebee movement might have been responsible for the variation in heterospecific incompatibility amongP. aleuticapopulations. The local snowmelt gradient creates diverse biological interactions and mating system evolution in the alpine ecosystem.
Life‐history monographs of Japanese plants. 3: Allium monanthum Maxim. (Alliaceae)
Authors: KAWANO SHOICHI , NAGAI YUKIO , HAYASHI KAZUHIKO 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe life‐history characteristics and demography of Allium monanthum Maxim. (Alliaceae) are described here. This is a typical spring ephemeral of temperate broad‐leaved deciduous forests in the Japanese Islands and adjacent Far East regions. It possesses a very specialized life‐history strategy because it is a monocarpic ‘pseudo‐annual’. This tiny wild onion species, with one or two (or very rarely, three) small slender aerial leaves measuring only 10 cm long and 4–6 mm wide, has an exceedingly complex sexuality (i.e. male, female, hermaphrodite, andromonoecy and gynomonoecy). Populations including male and hermaphrodite sexualities are exceedingly limited, and thus far have been found only in a few localities in Yamanashi and Niigata Prefectures, Central Honshu. The sexuality and reproductive systems of this species are extremely complex. The exceedingly low efficiency of sexual reproduction is apparently supplemented by vegetative propagation. A. monanthum is karyologically very complex, including a polyploid series of 2x (2n = 16), 3x (2n = 24) and 4x (2n = 32), with the basic karyotype of n (x = 8) = 7 V + 1I. Also, unique translocations, denoted as TrI, TrIIA, TrIIB and TrIII, are found in diploid males. Some other cytotypes, such as 4x/5I, 4x + 1 and 4x − 1, are also found in tetraploid plants. Such cytological peculiarities form the background of the complex sexuality and predominant asexual reproduction of A. monanthum.
A comparative study of antipsychotic medication taking in people with schizophrenia
Authors: McCann Terence V. , Deans Cecil , Clark Eileen , Lu Sai 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTMedication adherence is problematic in all chronic illnesses, none more so than in individuals with schizophrenia. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the factors that impacted upon antipsychotic medication taking in people with schizophrenia living in regional–rural and metropolitan Victoria, Australia, and to assess if differences existed between these two groups of participants in the factors that affected medication taking. The Factors Influencing Neuroleptic Medication Taking Scale was used with a non‐probability survey sample of 81 people with schizophrenia. Ethics approval was given by university and hospital ethics committees. The results showed, overall, that there were no significant differences between the sets of participants in several demographic characteristics, insight, stigma, substance abuse, types of antipsychotic medications, significant others' support, and access to case managers and general practitioners. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning living circumstances, involvement in religious/spiritual activities, perceived impact of medication side‐effects, and access to psychiatrists. However, there were no statistically significant relationships between these factors and medication omission. The implications of the findings for consumers, mental health nurse case managers, families, mental health service provision, and further research, are considered.
Effectiveness of home visits by mental health nurses for Japanese women with post‐partum depression
Authors: Tamaki Atsuko 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTPost‐partum depression affects 10–13% of Japanese women, but many do not receive appropriate treatment or support. This intervention study evaluated the effectiveness of home visits by mental health nurses for Japanese women with post‐partum depression. Eighteen post‐partum women met the inclusion criteria and were randomly allocated into the intervention (n = 9) or control (n = 9) group at 1–2 months after giving birth. The intervention group received four weekly home visits by a mental health nurse. Control group participants received usual care. Two women in the intervention group did not complete the study. Depressive symptoms and quality of life were measured at 1 and 6 weeks' postintervention. In addition, participants completed an open‐ended questionnaire on satisfaction and meaning derived from the home visits. Women in the intervention group had significant amelioration of depressive symptoms over time and reported positive benefits from the home visits, but there were no statistically significant differences between groups. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed at times 2 and 3 between groups in terms of increased median scores of physical, environmental, and global subscales, and the total average score of the World Health Organization/quality of life assessment instrument. On the psychological subscale, significant differences (P = 0.042) were observed between groups at time 2. The qualitative analysis of comments about home visitation revealed four categories related to ‘setting their mind at ease’, ‘clarifying thoughts’, ‘improving coping abilities’, and ‘removing feelings of withdrawal from others’. These results suggest that home visits by mental health nurses can contribute to positive mental health and social changes for women with post‐partum depression. A larger trial is warranted to test this approach to care.
Developing the concept of family involvement and the alienation questionnaire in the context of psychiatric care
Authors: Ewertzon Mats , Lützén Kim , Svensson Elisabeth , Andershed Birgitta 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTResearch shows that family members of people with a mental illness often experience a lack of involvement in the psychiatric care of their relative. An interpretation of the findings of these studies raises the question of whether the family members' experience of not being involved can be conceptualized in terms of alienation towards mental health services from their encounter with psychiatric care. In order to explore this possibility, the Family Involvement and Alienation Questionnaire (FIAQ) was constructed, guided by relevant theoretical frameworks and empirical research. The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by two groups of experienced researchers who had sound knowledge of the theoretical frameworks used. Validity based on the response process was evaluated by the parents of people with mental illness. The reliability of the questionnaire was evaluated by a test–retest design with a group of 15 family members. The data were analyzed by a non‐parametric statistical method. The results of the validity and reliability evaluations showed that of the 46 original items in the questionnaire, 28 would be useful in exploring the concept of family involvement and alienation in the context of psychiatric care. Further, minor modifications could make the FIAQ useful in exploring these concepts in other settings.
Healthy babies for mothers with serious mental illness: A case management framework for mental health clinicians
Authors: Hauck Yvonne , Rock Daniel , Jackiewicz Tanyana , Jablensky Assen 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTWomen with a serious mental illness (SMI), notably schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders are considered high risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, which in turn, are associated with poor neurodevelopment in the child. Failure to access antenatal care, poor adherence with folate supplementation, an unhealthy lifestyle, and inappropriate health decisions can contribute to poor outcomes. Many women with SMI continue contact with mental health services while pregnant. This primary prevention project aimed to develop a framework for community mental health clinicians to improve the reproductive health outcomes for women with SMI. The consultation process involved discussions with key stakeholders, an environmental scan to determine current service delivery issues, a literature review, and individual and group interviews with community mental health clinicians, consumers, general practitioners, and midwives. Three key elements underpin the framework: early detection and monitoring of pregnancy, providing reproductive choices, and implementing a ‘small known team approach’ in the management of the pregnant client. Specific modules within the framework focus upon establishing a professional support network, assessing the risk of pregnancy, the early detection of pregnancy, monitoring during pregnancy, preparing for birth, and planning for the postnatal period. Implementation of the framework has the potential to significantly improve obstetric and neonatal outcomes for this high‐risk group.
‘I'm not an outsider, I'm his mother!’ A phenomenological enquiry into carer experiences of exclusion from acute psychiatric settings
Authors: Wilkinson Claire , McAndrew Sue 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTContemporary standards and policies advocate carer involvement in planning, implementing, and evaluating mental health services. Critics have questioned why such standards and policies fail to move from rhetoric to reality, this particularly being applicable to carer involvement within acute psychiatric settings. As there is only limited UK research on this topic, this interpretive phenomenological study was undertaken to explore the perceived level of involvement from the perspective of carers of service users who were admitted to acute inpatient settings within the previous 2 years. Interviews were conducted with four individuals who cared for a loved one with a mental illness. The interview analysis was influenced by Van Manen, whose interpretive approach seeks to generate a deeper understanding of the phenomenon under study. Four main themes emerged: powerlessness, feeling isolated, needing to be recognized and valued, and a desire for partnership. The findings reflect the views expressed by carers in other studies, identifying that while carers seek to work in partnership with health‐care professionals, at a clinical level they often feel excluded. The study concludes by discussing ways of improving and promoting carer involvement and advocating a partnership in care approach within acute psychiatry.
Consumer perspectives on recovery: A focus on housing following discharge from hospital
Authors: Browne Graeme , Hemsley Martin , St. John Winsome 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTHousing is a critical element in recovery from mental illness. Without suitable housing, people have little chance of maintaining other resources in their lives, such as supportive social relationships and meaningful activities. This study investigated consumers' perspectives on the recovery needs of people who are living with a mental illness, especially those who might need supported accommodation as part of their reintegration into the community. Good quality housing is a critical element in recovery for people living with a mental illness. Findings indicate that when people become unwell, they can destroy resources in their lives, such as housing and friendships. A lack of financial stability can be a problem and exacerbate other difficulties. Having a mental illness means living with loss, stigma, and loneliness, but having someone who understands contributes significantly to recovery. The literature suggests that ‘recovery’ can relate to the relief of symptoms or from the stigma of the illness, recovering from the effects of treatment, from the lack of opportunities, and from the destructive aspects of mental illness. Findings from this study support these aspects, but also that recovery seems to be more. After spending time with the participants, the authors concluded that recovery also means the recovery of a life that includes supportive friends, living in a community in which at least some people ‘understand’, and of recovering a life that includes activities that give that life meaning. Consumers can make a significant contribution to our understanding of mental illness and recovery.
Cell envelope architecture in the Chloroflexi: a shifting frontline in a phylogenetic turf war
Authors: Sutcliffe Iain C. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryIt is important that attempts to understand bacterial phylogeny take into account fundamental bacterial characteristics such as cell envelope composition and organization. Several prominent phylogenetic studies have assumed that the cell envelopes of members of the phylum Chloroflexi are ‘Gram‐negative’ (diderm, i.e. defined by both an inner plasma membrane and an outer membrane) and some of these studies have placed the branch leading to the extant Chloroflexi near the root of the bacterial phylogenetic tree. This Correspondence summarizes the compelling evidence that the Chloroflexi are in fact monoderm, i.e. have only a single cellular membrane. The phylogenetic implications of this conclusion are discussed. The data reviewed also shed interesting light on the distribution of protein secretion systems in diderm bacteria.
Metabolic networks, microbial ecology and ‘omics’ technologies: towards understanding in situ biodegradation processes
Authors: Vilchez‐Vargas Ramiro , Junca Howard , Pieper Dietmar H. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryMicrobial degradation is the main mechanism responsible for the recovery of contaminated sites, where a huge body of investigations is available in which most concentrate on single isolates from soils capable of mineralizing pollutants. The rapid development of molecular techniques in recent years allows immense insights into the processes in situ, including identification of organisms active in target sites, community member interactions and catabolic gene structures. Only a detailed understanding of the functioning and interactions within microbial communities will allow their rational manipulation for the purpose of optimizing bioremediation efforts. We will present the status of the current capabilities to assess and predict catabolic potential of environmental sites by applying gene fingerprinting, catabolome arrays, metagenomics and complementary ‘omics’ technologies. Collectively, this will allow tracking regulation and evolution within microbial communities ultimately aiming to understand the mechanisms taking place in large scale bioremediation treatments for aromatic decontamination.