bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A qualitative study exploring the nurse telephone follow‐up of patients returning home with a colostomy
Authors: Zhang Jun‐E , Wong Frances KY , You Li M , Zheng Mei C 
Published: August 2011

Aim.  The aim of this study was to explore and describe the content of telephone intervention conversations conducted by an enterostomal nurse with patients discharged home with a colostomy.Background.  People discharged home with a new colostomy often encounter stoma‐related difficulties. Postdischarge care with telephone follow‐up by an enterostomal nurse is a helpful way to provide support for patients and ensure continuity of care. There is a paucity of studies reporting the content of telephone follow‐up of colostomy patients. Information on the content of such follow‐up is important in helping to formulate telephone call protocols that can help these patients.Design.  A qualitative exploratory study conducted in a university‐based cancer centre in China.Methods.  The contents of 25 intervention phone calls to colostomy patients from January–August 2009 were subject to qualitative content analysis.Results.  Five themes emerged from the qualitative content analysis: ‘education for stoma care’, ‘access to stoma care’, ‘encouraging stoma self‐care’, ‘resuming normal living’ and ‘general postoperative problems’.Conclusions.  Colostomy patients experienced stoma‐related problems and difficulties after discharge, most of which could be effectively managed via telephone follow‐up by an enterostomal nurse. The telephone follow‐up satisfied patients’ need for information and facilitated their adjustment to the permanent stoma. The findings suggested that patients had unmet needs after discharge and needed follow‐up on returning home.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study provides important information to guide practice and education. The themes extracted from the qualitative content analysis provide a useful framework to guide the nurse in discussing care with the stoma patients and ensuring patients’ adjustment to the permanent stoma. Further work can be done using this framework to develop protocols as standards of care and education materials when educating nurse specialists in stoma care.
Investigating the learning‐theory foundations of game‐based learning: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Wu W‐H. , Hsiao H‐C. , Wu P‐L. , Lin C‐H. , Huang S‐H. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractPast studies on the issue of learning‐theory foundations in game‐based learning stressed the importance of establishing learning‐theory foundation and provided an exploratory examination of established learning theories. However, we found research seldom addressed the development of the use or failure to use learning‐theory foundations and categorized these learning theories into relative types and synthesized their development. We investigate this issue from the perspective of learning theories invoked to underpin educational computer game design and use based on the four types of learning theories: behaviourism, cognitivism, humanism and constructivism. Because the investigation needs to examine and analyse the results from a large number of independent previous studies, this study applied the meta‐analysis method to present a more comprehensive description and discussion of the influence and implications of the findings. This study shows the distribution of development trends for the use of learning theory as a theoretical foundation, as opposed to those that fail to use learning theory in game‐based learning, along with the distribution of types and principles of learning theories that used a learning‐theory foundation. These new findings can supplement the results of previous studies with regard to the issue of learning‐theory foundations in game‐based learning. The contributions of this study for the issue of learning‐theory foundations in game‐based learning are discussed.
Extensive clonal spread and extreme longevity in saw palmetto, a foundation clonal plant
Authors: TAKAHASHI MIZUKI K. , HORNER LIANA M. , KUBOTA TOSHIRO , KELLER NATHAN A. , ABRAHAMSON WARREN G. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe lack of effective tools has hampered out ability to assess the size, growth and ages of clonal plants. WithSerenoa repens(saw palmetto) as a model, we introduce a novel analytical framework that integrates DNA fingerprinting and mathematical modelling to simulate growth and estimate ages of clonal plants. We also demonstrate the application of such life‐history information of clonal plants to provide insight into management plans.Serenoais an ecologically important foundation species in many Southeastern United States ecosystems; yet, many land managers considerSerenoaa troublesome invasive plant. Accordingly, management plans have been developed to reduce or eliminateSerenoawith little understanding of its life history. Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms, we genotyped 263Serenoaand 134Sabal etonia(a sympatric non‐clonal palmetto) samples collected from a 20 × 20 m study plot in Florida scrub.Sabalsamples were used to assign small field‐unidentifiable palmettos toSerenoaorSabaland also as a negative control for clone detection. We then mathematically modelled clonal networks to estimate genet ages. Our results suggest thatSerenoapredominantly propagate via vegetative sprouts and 10 000‐year‐old genets may be common, while showing no evidence of clone formation bySabal. The results of this and our previous studies suggest that: (i)Serenoahas been part of scrub associations for thousands of years, (ii)Serenoainvasion are unlikely and (ii) onceSerenoais eliminated from local communities, its restoration will be difficult. Reevaluation of the current management tools and plans is an urgent task.
A de novo synthesis citrate transporter, Vigna umbellata multidrug and toxic compound extrusion, implicates in Al‐activated citrate efflux in rice bean (Vigna umbellata) root apex
Authors: YANG XIAO YING , YANG JIAN LI , ZHOU YUAN , PIÑEROS MIGUEL A. , KOCHIAN LEON V. , LI GUI XIN , ZHENG SHAO JIAN 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTAl‐activated organic acid anion efflux from roots is an important Al resistance mechanism in plants. We have conducted homologous cloning and isolated Vigna umbellata multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (VuMATE), a gene encoding a de novo citrate transporter from rice bean. Al treatment up‐regulated VuMATE expression in the root apex, but neither in the mature root region nor in the leaf. The degree of up‐regulation of VuMATE was both partially Al concentration and time dependent, consistent with the delay in the onset of the Al‐induced citrate efflux in rice bean roots. While La3+ moderately induced VuMATE expression, Cd2+ and Cu2+ did not induce the expression. Electrophysiological analysis of Xenopus oocytes expressing VuMATE indicated this transporter can mediate significant anion efflux across the plasma membrane. [14C]citrate efflux experiments in oocytes demonstrated that VuMATE is a H+‐dependent citrate transporter. In addition, expression of VuMATE in transgenic tomato resulted in increased Al resistance, which correlated with an enhanced citrate efflux. Taken together, these findings suggest that VuMATE is a functional homolog of the known citrate transporters in sorghum, barley, maize and Arabidopsis. The similarities and differences of all the known citrate transporters associated with Al stress in the MATE family are also discussed.
Localized egg‐cell expression of effector proteins for targeted modification of the Arabidopsis genome
Authors: Even‐Faitelson Liron , Samach Aviva , Melamed‐Bessudo Cathy , Avivi‐Ragolsky Naomi , Levy Avraham A. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryTargeted modification of the genome is an important genetic tool, which can be achieved via homologous, non‐homologous or site‐specific recombination. Although numerous efforts have been made, such a tool does not exist for routine applications in plants. This work describes a simple and useful method for targeted mutagenesis or gene targeting, tailored to floral‐dip transformation in Arabidopsis, by means of specific protein expression in the egg cell. Proteins stably or transiently expressed under the egg apparatus‐specific enhancer (EASE) were successfully localized to the area of the egg cell. Moreover, a zinc‐finger nuclease expressed under EASE induced targeted mutagenesis. Mutations obtained under EASE control corresponded to genetically independent events that took place specifically in the germline. In addition, RAD54 expression under EASE led to an approximately 10‐fold increase in gene targeting efficiency, when compared with wild‐type plants. EASE‐controlled gene expression provides a method for the precise engineering of the Arabidopsis genome through temporally and spatially controlled protein expression. This system can be implemented as a useful method for basic research in Arabidopsis, as well as in the optimization of tools for targeted genetic modifications in crop plants.
Two high linolenic mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana contain megabase‐scale genome duplications encompassing the FAD3 locus
Authors: O’Neill Carmel M. , Baker David , Bennett Gawain , Clarke Jonathan , Bancroft Ian 
Published: August 2011

SummaryUnderstanding the quantitative control of fatty acid desaturation during the biosynthesis of seed storage oil has become a priority area for research, as a consequence of its importance for both human health and the substitution of mineral oil for industrial applications. We have analysed the genome structure of two mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana that show substantially elevated content of the omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid linolenic acid in their seed oil. In one, rfc4, sequences totalling approximately 2 Mb from chromosome 2 have been duplicated and inserted into chromosome 3. In the other mutant, ife, chromosome 2 sequences totalling approximately 1.4 Mb have been duplicated and inserted into a linked position. In both cases, the duplications encompass the FAD3 locus, which encodes the linoleate desaturase responsible for the biosynthesis of linolenic acid for accumulation in seed storage oil. The results show that mutagens such as fast neutrons (used for the induction of rfc4) and T‐DNA (used for the induction of ife, which is not linked to the T‐DNA present in the line) can result in the duplication of very large genome segments. They also show that increasing the dosage of the FAD3‐containing genomic region results in an increase in the linolenic acid content of seed oil. Consequently, screening methods for duplication of FAD3 orthologues in oil crops may be an appropriate approach for the identification of germplasm for breeding varieties with increased proportions of linolenic acid in the oil that they produce.
Genetic variation for maternal effects on parasite susceptibility
Authors: STJERNMAN M. , LITTLE T. J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe expression of infectious disease is increasingly recognized to be impacted by maternal effects, where the environmental conditions experienced by mothers alter resistance to infection in offspring, independent of heritability. Here, we studied how maternal effects (high or low food availability to mothers) mediated the resistance of the crustaceanDaphnia magnato its bacterial parasitePasteuria ramosa. We sought to disentangle maternal effects from the effects of host genetic background by studying how maternal effects varied across 24 host genotypes sampled from a natural population. Under low‐food conditions, females produced offspring that were relatively resistant, but this maternal effect varied strikingly between host genotypes, i.e. there were genotype by maternal environment interactions. As infection withP. ramosacauses a substantial reduction in host fecundity, this maternal effect had a large effect on host fitness. Maternal effects were also shown to impact parasite fitness, both because they prevented the establishment of the parasites and because even when parasites did establish in the offspring of poorly fed mothers, and they tended to grow more slowly. These effects indicate that food stress in the maternal generation can greatly influence parasite susceptibility and thus perhaps the evolution and coevolution of host–parasite interactions.
Rates of phenotypic evolution of ecological characters and sexual traits during the Tanganyikan cichlid adaptive radiation
Authors: GONZALEZ‐VOYER A. , KOLM N. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractTheory suggests that sexual traits evolve faster than ecological characters. However, characteristics of a species niche may also influence evolution of sexual traits. Hence, a pending question is whether ecological characters and sexual traits present similar tempo and mode of evolution during periods of rapid ecological divergence, such as adaptive radiation. Here, we use recently developed phylogenetic comparative methods to analyse the temporal dynamics of evolution for ecological and sexual traits in Tanganyikan cichlids. Our results indicate that whereas disparity in ecological characters was concentrated early in the radiation, disparity in sexual traits remained high throughout the radiation. Thus, closely related Tanganyikan cichlids presented higher disparity in sexual traits than ecological characters. Sexual traits were also under stronger selection than ecological characters. In sum, our results suggest that ecological characters and sexual traits present distinct evolutionary patterns, and that sexual traits can evolve faster than ecological characters, even during adaptive radiation.
Effect of several supplemental Chinese herbs additives on rumen fermentation, antioxidant function and nutrient digestibility in sheep
Authors: Qiao G. H. , Zhou X. H. , Li Y. , Zhang H. S. , Li J. H. , Wang C. M. , Lu Y. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryTwo experiments were carried out in this study. Experiment 1 was conducted to examine the effects of several supplemental Chinese herbs on antioxidant function and slaughtered body weight in sheep. Results indicated that Fructus Ligustri Lucidi supplementation improved the blood antioxidant function [higher concentration of glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase and lower concentration of malondialdehyde] and slaughtered body weight in sheep (p < 0.05). Experiment 2 was conducted to investigate the effect of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract (FLLE) on rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility in sheep. Four levels of FLLE treatments, i.e. 0, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg dry matter (DM), were used in this part. Addition of FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM increased total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and propionate proportion, decreased ammonia‐N concentration in the ruminal fluid, reduced blood urea nitrogen concentration at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after morning feeding (p < 0.05). Addition of FLLE at all dosages had no effect on ruminal pH value and acetate concentration at all sampling time points in sheep (p > 0.05). Dynamic degradation coefficient c of maize DM was significantly increased by supplementing FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM (p < 0.05). Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition had no effect on degradation coefficients a, b, c of DM and nitrogen of soybean meal; a, b of maize DM; a, b, c of maize nitrogen; and a, b, c of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) of Chinese wildrye (p > 0.05). Addition of FLLE at 300 or 500 mg/kg DM increased DM and organic matter digestibility of diet (p < 0.05). Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition had no effect on digestibility of diet’s NDF, ADF and crude protein (p > 0.05). From the aforementioned results, it is indicated that FLLE improved antioxidant status and slaughtered body weight. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract addition has capability to modulate rumen fermentation, increase the maize degradation rate, total volatile fatty acid concentration and propionate proportion in sheep.
Apoptotic proteins as prognostic markers and indicators of radiochemosensitivity in stage II/III rectal cancers
Authors: Fucini C. , Messerini L. , Saieva C. , Orzalesi L. , Carroni V. , Bartolini N. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAim  The expression of pro‐apoptotic (Bax) and anti‐apoptotic (mutated p53, Bcl‐2, Bclxl) proteins was determined retrospectively using immunohistochemistry in pre‐treatment biopsy samples from patients with rectal cancer treated with or without preoperative chemoradiation to investigate their role as prognostic markers and indicators of radiochemosensitivity.Method  Biopsy samples from 67 patients operated for stage II/III rectal cancer and enrolled in an active follow‐up programme were examined 8–10 years after surgery. Thirty‐three had been treated with immediate surgery followed, in selected cases, by adjuvant postoperative chemoradiation. Thirty‐four had preoperative chemoradiation. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out using an automated immunostainer on sections of paraffin‐embedded tissue.Results  Independent prognostic factors for rectal cancer death were pN status (hazard ratio 3.82; 95% CI 1.67–8.73) and a high level of Bclxl positivity (hazard ratio 4.75; 95% CI 2.10–10.72) according to multivariate regression analysis by stepwise selection. Bax expression was associated with downstaging and higher survival in irradiated patients (P = 0.0004).Conclusion  Pretreatment evaluation of apoptotic Bax and anti‐apoptotic Bclxl factors in biopsy samples of stage II/III rectal cancers may be helpful in selecting tumours that will respond to chemoradiation or in identifying patients who will have limited benefit from chemoradiation and should therefore be selected for a more aggressive systemic regimen.
Determinants of healthy eating: a cross‐national study on motives and barriers
Authors: Michaelidou Nina , Christodoulides George , Torova Katerina 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe paper investigates the impact of motives and barriers to healthy eating on individuals' healthy eating intention and behaviour using a cross‐national design. Data were collected from the UK and the Czech Republic via a self‐completion questionnaire. Findings highlight the significance of intrinsic motives and psychological barriers in predicting both intention and healthy eating behaviour for both UK and Czech consumers, albeit their weight as well as the variance captured by these factors differs across the two national cultures. Findings also indicate that physical barriers are in fact unimportant when it comes to adopting a healthy eating diet. These findings are discussed in the light of previous research, while their implications for policy makers and researchers are highlighted.
Hidden prenatal malnutrition in the rat: role of β1‐adrenoceptors on synaptic plasticity in the frontal cortex
Authors: Flores Osvaldo , Pérez Hernán , Valladares Luis , Morgan Carlos , Gatica Arnaldo , Burgos Héctor , Olivares Ricardo , Hernández Alejandro 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem.(2011)119, 314–323.AbstractModerate reduction in the protein content of the mother’s diet (hidden malnutrition) does not alter body and brain weights of rat pups at birth, but leads to dysfunction of neocortical noradrenaline systems together with impaired long‐term potentiation and visuo‐spatial memory performance. As β1‐adrenoceptors and downstream protein kinase signaling are critically involved in synaptic long‐term potentiation and memory formation, we evaluated the β1‐adrenoceptor density and the expression of cyclic‐AMP dependent protein kinase, calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase and protein kinase Fyn, in the frontal cortex of prenatally malnourished adult rats. In addition, we also studied if β1‐adrenoceptor activation with the selective β1agonist dobutamine could improve deficits of prefrontal cortex long‐term potentiation presenting these animals. Prenatally malnourished rats exhibited half of β1‐adrenoceptor binding, together with a 51% and 65% reduction of cyclic AMP‐dependent protein kinase α and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase α expression, respectively, as compared with eutrophic animals. Administration of the selective β1agonist dobutamine prior to tetanization completely rescued the ability of the prefrontal cortex to develop and maintain long‐term potentiation in the malnourished rats. Results suggest that under‐expression of neocortical β1‐adrenoceptors and protein kinase signaling in hidden malnourished rats functionally affects the synaptic networks subserving prefrontal cortex long‐term potentiation. β1‐Adrenoceptor activation was sufficient to fully recover neocortical plasticity in the PKA‐ and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II‐deficient undernourished rats, possibly by producing extra amounts of cAMP and/or by recruiting alternative signaling cascades.
Electrospun Small‐Diameter Polyurethane Vascular Grafts: Ingrowth and Differentiation of Vascular‐Specific Host Cells
Authors: Bergmeister Helga , Grasl Christian , Walter Ingrid , Plasenzotti Roberto , Stoiber Martin , Schreiber Catharina , Losert Udo , Weigel Guenter , Schima Heinrich 
Published: August 2011

AbstractNo small‐diameter synthetic graft has yet shown comparable performance to autologous vessels. Synthetic conduits fail due to their inherent surface thrombogenicity and the development of intimal hyperplasia. In addressing these shortcomings, electrospinning offers an interesting alternative to other nanostructured, cardiovascular substitutes because of the close match of electrospun materials to the biomechanical and structural properties of native vessels. In this study, we investigated the in vivo behavior of electrospun, small‐diameter conduits in a rat model. Vascular grafts composed of polyurethane were fabricated by electrospinning. Prostheses were implanted into the abdominal aorta in 40 rats for either 7 days, 4 weeks, 3 months, or 6 months. Retrieved specimens were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemical staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. At all time points, we found no evidence of foreign body reaction or graft degradation. The overall patency rate of the intravascular implants was 95%. Within 7 days, grafts revealed ingrowth of host cells. CD34+ cells increased significantly from 7 days up to 6 months of implantation (P < 0.05). Myofibroblasts and myocytes showed increasing cell numbers up to 3 months (P < 0.05). Ki67 staining indicated unaltered cell proliferation during the whole follow‐up period. Besides biomechanical benefits, electrospun polyurethane grafts exhibit excellent biocompatibility in vivo. Cell immigration and differentiation seems to be promoted by the nanostructured artificial matrix.