bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aggressive behaviour in at‐risk children: contribution of subjective well‐being and family cohesion
Authors: Hamama Liat , Arazi Yael 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTWe examined the contributors to aggressive behaviour in 111 at‐risk Israeli children aged 9–13 years who attended day centres over several years to prevent removal from their homes. This non‐normative transition to a day centre represents a difficult period of change for these children, which often manifests in aggressive behaviours, at least in the short term. To elucidate predictors of aggressive behaviour, we investigated a familial variable (family cohesion) and a personal variable (subjective well‐being [SWB]) that were previously shown to correlate with various aspects of children's aggression. Children's self‐reports underscored the importance of SWB for their aggressive behaviour. SWB's cognitive component – life satisfaction – correlated significantly with all four measures of aggressive behaviour (physical violence, verbal violence, anger and hostility). SWB's emotional component – negative affect – correlated significantly with all but verbal violence. Interestingly, SWB was found to mediate the hostility dimension of aggression (as well as family cohesion). Other significant findings revealed that family cohesion correlated positively with SWB (life satisfaction and positive affect) and correlated negatively with aggression (physical violence, verbal violence, anger and hostility). Various explanations were discussed alongside implications for day care staff's individual and family interventions.
Molecular evidence for Pleistocene refugia at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: ZHAN XIANGJIANG , ZHENG YIFANG , WEI FUWEN , BRUFORD MICHAEL W. , JIA CHENXI 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe role of the Quaternary ice ages in forming the contemporary genetic structure of populations has been well studied in a number of global regions. However, due to the different nature of glaciations and complex topography, their role in shaping eastern Eurasian genetic diversity, particular in areas surrounding the Tibetan Plateau have remained largely unstudied. We aimed to address this question by examining the genetic structure of an alpine forest‐associated taxon, the blood pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) to infer its phylogeographic history. We detected three phylogenetic lineages and four current population groups. By comparing molecular and palaeovegetation data, we found that major glaciations during the Pleistocene have had a major impact upon the current genetic diversity of this species. Coalescent simulations indicate that the populations retreated to different refugia during some glacial periods in the Pleistocene, but persisted through the last glacial maximum (LGM). The most significant recent population expansion was found to have occurred before the LGM, during which palaeoclimatic data indicate that the climate was both warmer and wetter than today. In contrast, during the LGM populations may have adopted an altitudinal shift strategy in order to track changes in alpine glaciers, exemplifying a general response for montane species in the region where alpine glaciations were not large enough to cause qualitative changes in vegetation. Although analysis based on a plumage related gene showed that divergent selection may have contributed to current patterns of intra‐specific diversity, demographic isolation is inferred to have played a more dominant role.
Colonization of the Tibetan Plateau by the homoploid hybrid pine Pinus densata
Authors: WANG BAOSHENG , MAO JIAN‐FENG , GAO JIE , ZHAO WEI , WANG XIAO‐RU 
Published: June 2011

AbstractPinus densata is an intriguingly successful homoploid hybrid species that occupies vast areas of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau in which neither of its parental species are present, but the colonization processes involved are poorly understood. To shed light on how this species colonized and became established on the plateau, we surveyed paternally inherited chloroplast (cp) and maternally inherited mitochondrial (mt) DNA variation within and among 54 populations of P. densata and its putative parental species throughout their respective ranges. Strong spatial genetic structure of both cp and mtDNA were detected in P. densata populations. Mitotypes specific to P. densata were likely generated by complex recombination events. A putative ancestral hybrid zone in the northeastern periphery of P. densata was identified, and we propose that the species then colonized the plateau by migrating westwards. Along the colonization route, consecutive bottlenecks and surfing of rare alleles caused a significant reduction in genetic diversity and strong population differentiation. The direction and intensity of introgression from parental species varied among geographic regions. In western parts of its range, the species seems to have been isolated from seed and pollen flow from its parent species for a long time. The observed spatial distribution of genetic diversity in P. densata also appears to reflect the persistence of this species on the plateau during the last glaciation. Our results indicate that both ancient and contemporary population dynamics have contributed to the spatial distribution of genetic diversity in P. densata, which accordingly reflects its evolutionary history.
Accelerating yield potential in soybean: potential targets for biotechnological improvement
Authors: AINSWORTH ELIZABETH A. , YENDREK CRAIG R. , SKONECZKA JEFFREY A. , LONG STEPHEN P. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTSoybean (Glycine max Merr.) is the world's most widely grown legume and provides an important source of protein and oil. Global soybean production and yield per hectare increased steadily over the past century with improved agronomy and development of cultivars suited to a wide range of latitudes. In order to meet the needs of a growing world population without unsustainable expansion of the land area devoted to this crop, yield must increase at a faster rate than at present. Here, the historical basis for the yield gains realized in the past 90 years are examined together with potential metabolic targets for achieving further improvements in yield potential. These targets include improving photosynthetic efficiency, optimizing delivery and utilization of carbon, more efficient nitrogen fixation and altering flower initiation and abortion. Optimization of investment in photosynthetic enzymes, bypassing photorespiratory metabolism, engineering the electron transport chain and engineering a faster recovery from the photoprotected state are different strategies to improve photosynthesis in soybean. These potential improvements in photosynthetic carbon gain will need to be matched by increased carbon and nitrogen transport to developing soybean pods and seeds in order to maximize the benefit. Better understanding of control of carbon and nitrogen transport along with improved knowledge of the regulation of flower initiation and abortion will be needed to optimize sink capacity in soybean. Although few single targets are likely to deliver a quantum leap in yields, biotechnological advances in molecular breeding techniques that allow for alteration of the soybean genome and transcriptome promise significant yield gains.
Sulphur dioxide evokes a large scale reprogramming of the grape berry transcriptome associated with oxidative signalling and biotic defence responses
Authors: GIRAUD ESTELLE , IVANOVA ANETA , GORDON COLIN S. , WHELAN JAMES , CONSIDINE MICHAEL J. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTThe grape and wine industries are heavily reliant on sulphite preservatives. However, the view that sulphites act directly on bacterial and fungal pathogens may be simplistic. Mechanisms of sulphur‐enhanced defences are largely unknown; many sulphur‐rich compounds enhance plant defences and sulphite can also have oxidative consequences via production of H2O2 or sulphitolysis. To investigate the effects of sulphur dioxide (SO2) on fresh table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. ‘Crimson Seedless’), transcriptome analysis was carried out on berries treated with SO2 under commercial conditions for 21 d. We found a broad perturbation of metabolic processes, consistent with a large‐scale stress response. Transcripts encoding putative sulphur‐metabolizing enzymes indicated that sulphite was directed towards chelation and conjugation, and away from oxidation to sulphate. The results indicated that redox poise was altered dramatically by SO2 treatment, evidenced by alterations in plastid and mitochondrial alternative electron transfer pathways, up‐regulation of fermentation transcripts and numerous glutathione S‐transferases, along with a down‐regulation of components involved in redox homeostasis. Features of biotic stress were up‐regulated, notably signalling via auxin, ethylene and jasmonates. Taken together, this inventory of transcriptional responses is consistent with a long‐term cellular response to oxidative stress, similar to the effects of reactive oxygen species.
Intron splicing suppresses RNA silencing in Arabidopsis
Authors: Christie Michael , Croft Larry J. , Carroll Bernard J. 
Published: June 2011

SummarySilencing of introduced transgenes constitutes a major bottleneck in the production of transgenic crops. Commonly, these transgenes contain no introns, a feature shared with transposons, which are also prime targets for gene silencing. Given that introns are very common in endogenous genes but are often lacking in transgenes and transposons, we hypothesised that introns may suppress gene silencing. To investigate this, we conducted a genome‐wide analysis of small RNA densities in exons from intronless versus intron‐containing genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that small RNA libraries are strongly enriched for exon sequences derived from intronless genes. Small RNA densities in exons of intronless genes were comparable to exons of transposable elements. To test these findings in vivo we used a transgenic reporter system to determine whether introns are able to suppress gene silencing in Arabidopsis. Introducing an intron into a transgene reduced silencing by more than fourfold. Compared with intronless transcripts, the spliced transcripts were less effective substrates for RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase 6‐mediated gene silencing. This intron suppression of transgene silencing requires efficient intron splicing and is dependent on ABH1, the Arabidopsis orthologue of human cap‐binding protein 80.
The MADS box gene, FOREVER YOUNG FLOWER, acts as a repressor controlling floral organ senescence and abscission in Arabidopsis
Authors: Chen Ming‐Kun , Hsu Wei‐Han , Lee Pei‐Fang , Thiruvengadam Muthu , Chen Hong‐Ie , Yang Chang‐Hsien 
Published: June 2011

SummaryThe ectopic expression of a MADS box gene FOREVER YOUNG FLOWER (FYF) caused a significant delay of senescence and a deficiency of abscission in flowers of transgenic Arabidopsis. The defect in floral abscission was found to be due to a deficiency in the timing of cell separation of the abscission zone cells. Down‐regulation of INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) may contribute to the delay of the floral abscission in 35S:FYF flowers. FYF was found to be highly expressed in young flowers prior to pollination and was significantly decreased after pollination, a pattern that correlated with its function. Ethylene insensitivity in senescence/abscission and the down‐regulation of ETHYLENE RESPONSE DNA‐BINDING FACTOR 1 (EDF1) and EDF2, downstream genes in the ethylene response, in 35S:FYF Arabidopsis suggested a role for FYF in regulating senescence/abscission by suppressing the ethylene response. This role was further supported by the fact that 35S:FYF enhanced the delay of flower senescence/abscission in ethylene response 1 (etr1), ethylene‐insensitive 2 (ein2) and constitutive triple response 1 (ctr1) mutants, which have defects in upstream genes of the ethylene signaling pathway. The presence of a repressor domain in the C‐terminus of FYF and the enhancement of the delay of senescence/abscission in FYF+SRDX (containing a suppression motif) transgenic plants suggested that FYF acts as a repressor. Indeed, in FYF‐DR+VP16 transgenic dominant‐negative mutant plants, in which FYF was converted to a potent activator by fusion to a VP16‐AD motif, the senescence/abscission of the flower organs was significantly promoted, and the expression of BOP2, IDA and EDF1/2 was up‐regulated. Our data suggest a role for FYF in controlling floral senescence/abscission by repressing ethylene responses and regulating the expression of BOP2 and IDA in Arabidopsis.
Nitric oxide accumulation in Arabidopsis is independent of NOA1 in the presence of sucrose
Authors: Van Ree Kalie , Gehl Bernadette , Wassim Chehab E. , Tsai Yu‐Chang , Braam Janet 
Published: June 2011

SummaryNitric oxide signals diverse responses in animals and plants. Whereas nitric oxide synthesis mechanisms in animals are well understood, how nitric oxide is synthesized and regulated in plants remains controversial. NOA1 is a circularly permuted GTPase that is important for chloroplast function and is implicated in nitric oxide synthesis. However, the reported consequences of a null mutation in NOA1 are inconsistent. Whereas some studies indicate that the noa1 mutant has severe reductions in nitric oxide accumulation, others report that nitric oxide levels are indistinguishable between noa1 and the wild type. Here, we identify a correlation between the reported ability of noa1 to accumulate nitric oxide with growth on sucrose‐supplemented media. We report that noa1 accumulates both basal and salicylic acid‐induced nitric oxide only when grown on media containing sucrose. In contrast, nitric oxide accumulation in wild type is largely insensitive to sucrose supplementation. When grown in the absence of sucrose, noa1 has low fumarate, pale green leaves, slow growth and reduced chlorophyll content. These phenotypes are consistent with a defect in chloroplast‐derived photosynthate production and are largely rescued by sucrose supplementation. We conclude that NOA1 has a primary role in chloroplast function and that its effects on the accumulation of nitric oxide are likely to be indirect.
The cure model: an improved way to describe seed germination?
Authors: ONOFRI A , MESGARAN M B , TEI F , COUSENS R D 
Published: June 2011

Onofri A, Mesgaran MB, Tei F & Cousens RD (2011). The cure model: an improved way to describe seed germination? Weed Research51, 516–524.SummaryTraditional methods of data analysis (anova and linear/non‐linear regression) may often not be appropriate for datasets resulting from seed germination/emergence assays. One major problem is that they take the form of ‘time to event’ data with censoring, i.e. the event is only known to have occurred within an interval of time. Parametric survival models have, therefore, been proposed as appropriate alternatives. These, in turn, have the disadvantage that they assume that all the seeds will germinate at some future time, conflicting with the fact that a proportion of ungerminated viable seeds is frequently observed at the end of an experiment. The ‘cure’ model, which we present here, has been used in cancer research as an extension to parametric survival models, to account for a final fraction of individuals that is cured from the disease under study and will not die because of that cause. We show that the ‘cure’ model holds the potential to be used successfully in germination assays, as an extension to non‐linear regression and conventional accelerated failure time (AFT) models, with several logical improvements in terms of distributional assumptions and censoring. By way of selected examples, it is shown that the ‘cure’ model can separate the effect of factors/covariates on germination capacity (final germination percentage) from that on germination velocity (germination rate) and uniformity (synchrony of germination), which may represent an advantage from a biological point of view.
Litter effects on seedling establishment interact with seed position and earthworm activity
Authors: Donath T. W. , Eckstein R. L. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractSeedling establishment is influenced by litter cover and by seed predators, but little is known about interactions between these two factors. We tested their effects on emergence of five typical grassland species in a microcosm experiment. We manipulated the amounts of grass litter, seed sowing position and earthworm activity to determine whether: (i) the protective effect of litter against seed predation depends on cover amount and seed sowing position, i.e., on top or beneath litter; (ii) seed transport by earthworms changes the effect of seed sowing position on seedling emergence; and (iii) seeds transported into deeper soil layers by earthworms are still germinable. Litter cover and presence of earthworms lowered seedling emergence. The impact of seed position increased with seed size. Emergence of large‐seeded species was reduced when sown on the surface. Additionally, we found an important seed position × earthworm interaction related to seed size. Emergence of large‐seeded species sown on top of the litter was up to three times higher when earthworms were present than without earthworms. Earthworms also significantly altered the depth distribution of seeds in the soil and across treatments: on average 6% of seeds germinated after burial. In contrast to the seed position effect, we found no size effect on mobility and germinability of seeds after burial in the soil. Nevertheless, the fate of different‐sized seeds may differ. While burial will remove large seeds from the regeneration pool, it may enhance seed bank build up in small‐seeded species. Consequently, changes in the amount of litter cover and the invertebrate community play a significant role in plant community composition.
Pedometer walking plus motivational interviewing program for Thai schizophrenic patients with obesity or overweight: A 12‐week, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Methapatara Waritnan , Srisurapanont Manit 
Published: June 2011

Aim:  The aim of this study was to design and examine a program called the ‘pedometer walking plus motivational interviewing (PWMI) program’ in schizophrenic patients who are obese or overweight.Methods:  This was a 12‐week, randomized, parallel, open‐label, controlled trial in mildly ill schizophrenic patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 23.0 kg/m2 or more. Each participant in the intervention or control group was given a leaflet entitled ‘What is a healthy lifestyle?’ The 1‐week, PWMI program consisted of five 1‐h sessions of individual motivational interviewing, group education, goal‐setting, and practising of pedometer walking. The pedometers were given to the intervention group only. Weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were assessed at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. The primary outcome of this trial was the changed bodyweight at week 4, week 8, and week 12.Results:  Of 64 participants, 32 each were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. All participants completed the study. Only the means of changed bodyweight at week 12 were significantly different between groups (P = 0.03). At this week, the bodyweight of the intervention group decreased significantly more than that of the control group with a mean difference of 2.21 kg (95% confidence interval of 4.12–0.29).Conclusion:  Increased physical activity by pedometer walking plus individual motivational interviewing may be an effective program for the reduction of bodyweight and BMI in Thai schizophrenic patients who are obese or overweight. Its efficacy may be comparable to other cognitive/behavioral programs. Further studies in larger sample sizes are warranted.
Prevalence and severity of voice and swallowing difficulties in mitochondrial disease
Authors: Read Jennifer L. , Whittaker Roger G. , Miller Nick , Clark Sue , Taylor Robert , McFarland Robert , Turnbull Douglass 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground: Mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cause a broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that voice and swallow problems are a common feature of these diseases.Aims: To characterize accurately the prevalence and severity of voice and swallow problems in a large cohort of patients with mitochondrial disease.Methods & Procedures: Patients with proven mitochondrial disease were sent validated questionnaires to assess both voice and swallow function. The presence of voice and swallow symptoms was correlated with other clinical features of mitochondrial disease in affected patients.Outcomes & Results: From the original 177 patients contacted, 98 swallowing status questionnaires and 96 Voice Handicap Index questionnaires were returned, response rates of 55% and 54%, respectively. Swallow: 48% of patients reported more difficulties with swallowing than control participants. Patients with single mtDNA deletions were most likely to report problems (65.2%), with patients with an m.8344A>G point mutation least likely (33.3%). All genotypes had a mean severity score in excess of the normal range, the highest mean score being found in the single large‐scale mtDNA deletion group (10.12), the lowest in the m.3243A>G group (5.56) Voice; 48% of patients reported some difficulty with voice. Patients with single large‐scale deletions showed the highest prevalence (65.2%), patients with the m.3243A>G mutation the lowest (33%). The most severe voice difficulties were reported by patients with an m.8344A>G point mutation. Patients with an m.3243A>G point mutation had the mildest and lowest incidence of voice problems. All genotypes scored outside of the normal range expected on the VHI overall (≥11.5 in control trials). Patients with an m.8344A>G point mutation reported a significantly higher degree of physical voice handicap than m.3243A>G patients (13.13 versus 4.40, p = 0.02). In patients with either single or multiple mtDNA deletions the likely pathophysiological mechanism is of proximal muscle weakness, whereas in patients with the m.8344A>G mutation cerebellar ataxia is the likely cause.Conclusions & Implications: Dysphagia and dysarthria have been identified as symptoms in previous research, however the prevalence and pathophysiology of these symptoms have not been explored. This paper indicates that voice and swallow problems are a common, though predominantly mild feature of mitochondrial disease and that there is a core group of pathophysiological symptoms linked to the presence of voice and swallowing problems. This paper recommends early referral to speech and language therapists to identify emerging dysphonia and dysphagia and to provide appropriate intervention.
Neuroculture, active ageing and the ‘older brain’: problems, promises and prospects
Authors: Williams Simon J. , Higgs Paul , Katz Stephen 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThis article explores the characteristics of a newly emergent ‘neuroculture’ and its relationship to cultures of ageing; in particular, the social meanings associated with ‘active ageing’ and ‘cognitive health’ and the discourses and sciences around memory and the ‘ageing brain’. The argument proposes a critical perspective on this relationship by looking at the shifting boundaries between standards of normality and abnormality, values of health and illness, practices of therapy and enhancement, and the lines demarcating Third Age (healthy, active and agentic) and Fourth Age (dependency, loss and decline) periods of ageing. Conclusions offer further reflections on the complex questions that arise regarding expectations, hopes and ethics in relation to the promises and perils of a neurocultural future.