bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating factors associated with depression of older women in Macau
Authors: Chan Moon Fai , Zeng Wen 
Published: September 2009

Background.  Mental health burdens pose a grave threat to quality of life and economic productivity worldwide. Women must balance the economic, emotional and health needs of the household with their own emotional and health needs.Aims.  The purpose of this study is to explore the depression level of a group of older women in the community in Macau, and to identify factors associated with depression.Design.  A descriptive survey.Research method.  The survey was conducted during the period July and August 2004 in six parishes in Macau; 1042 older people aged 60–98 completed a structured questionnaire.Outcome measures.  Four main outcome variables were employed in the study: predisposing characteristics, physical, psychosocial and health needs/behaviours outcomes.Results.  Among the women, 11·9% (n = 124) had been identified as depressed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify a model to predict older women who will have depression. The results showed that variables like having hypertension (p = 0·010), a poor social network (p < 0·001), low self‐perceived scores on health status (p < 0·001) and ability to meet living costs (p < 0·001), and a low level of ability to do housework (p < 0·001) were significant risk factors for depression.Conclusion.  Providing a suitable living environment and improving health conditions for older people may improve depressive symptoms, and maintaining their cognitive function and improving their functional abilities may be crucial for preventing suffering from depressive symptoms. Apart from the findings, these conclusions resonate with recent Macau guidance on managing depression in older women. This stresses the importance of prevention, early detection and stepped care, with more intensive treatment for greater severity of illness and a multifaceted approach to management.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is important to regularly screen for depressive symptoms among older women in the community. Focusing on older women with increasing physical disability and social isolation should help in both the prevention and recognition of onset of depression. Light therapy and antidepressants were suggested and providing a suitable living environment and improving health conditions for older people may improve depressive symptoms; maintaining their cognitive function and improving their functional abilities may be crucial for preventing suffering from depressive symptoms.
The effect of health education through the internet on university female students’ hepatitis B knowledge and cognition
Authors: Huang Ya‐Wen , Hung Chich‐Hsiu 
Published: September 2009

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of internet health education on female university students’ knowledge and cognition regarding hepatitis B.Background.  One of the focal points of preventing hepatitis B is to improve students’ knowledge of hepatitis B. The internet is thought to attract learners, ensure privacy and provide channels for help.Design.  Cluster sampling was used to select 189 female students from two universities in Kaohsiung City. The participants were divided into 130 participants who agreed to participate in an internet health education program and 59 who did not.Method.  The participants were administered questionnaires on ‘hepatitis B knowledge’ and ‘hepatitis B cognition’ before, two weeks after and four weeks after the health education intervention. The experimental group received an additional ‘user satisfaction’ survey at two weeks after the health education intervention.Results.  Participants in the internet hepatitis B educational program scored significantly higher in knowledge of hepatitis B at two and four weeks post intervention. No significant score differences were found in hepatitis B cognition in either of the groups two and four weeks. Sixty per cent of the experimental group indicated that the program was easy to understand, 67·69% found it helpful, 66·15% were generally satisfied with the content. Almost 67% (66·92%) thought the university should adopt and promote the web site.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study provides health professionals with a reference for hepatitis B health education programs.
Hospital‐based home care for people with severe mental illness in Taiwan: a substantive grounded theory
Authors: Huang Xuan‐Yi , Lin Mei‐Jue , Yang Tuz‐Ching , Sun Fan‐Ko 
Published: September 2009

Aim and objectives.  The purpose of this study is to generate a substantive theory of hospital‐based home care for people with severe mental illness in Taiwan.Background.  Despite the documented advantages of hospital‐based home care services, there is a lack of information and understanding regarding the practices, functions and limitations. Currently, there is no model for how those services are to be provided and what factors will affect these services.Design.  The grounded theory method of Strauss and Corbin (Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques, SAGE Publications, 1990) was used to develop a substantive theory through a paradigm model, including causal conditions, context, intervening conditions, action/interaction strategies and consequences.Methods.  This study was conducted in six different hospital areas in Central Taiwan in 2007–2008. Data were collected using semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews. Constant comparative analysis continued during the open, axial and selective coding process until data saturation occurred. Participants were selected by theoretical sampling. When theoretical saturation was achieved, 21 clients with mental illness, 19 carers and 25 professionals were interviewed.Results.  A substantive theory of hospital‐based home care for people with severe mental illness in Taiwan was developed. The core category was the process of hospital‐based home care in helping people with severe mental illness, with 15 categories and 33 sub‐categories of the substantive theory.Conclusion.  The substantive theory is the first to emerge from hospital‐based home care services in Taiwan. Results showed those services had several effective functions for helping people with severe mental illness and their families.Relevance to clinical practice.  The recommendations based on the findings of this research can be used as a guide to improve the delivery of hospital‐based home care services to community‐dwelling people with severe mental illness and their carers.
Matrix‐free UV‐laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometric imaging at the single‐cell level: distribution of secondary metabolites of Arabidopsis thaliana and Hypericum species
Authors: Hölscher Dirk , Shroff Rohit , Knop Katrin , Gottschaldt Michael , Crecelius Anna , Schneider Bernd , Heckel David G. , Schubert Ulrich S. , Svatoš Aleš 
Published: September 2009

SummaryThe present paper describes matrix‐free laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometric imaging (LDI‐MSI) of highly localized UV‐absorbing secondary metabolites in plant tissues at single‐cell resolution. The scope and limitations of the method are discussed with regard to plants of the genus Hypericum. Naphthodianthrones such as hypericin and pseudohypericin are traceable in dark glands on Hypericum leaves, placenta, stamens and styli; biflavonoids are also traceable in the pollen of this important phytomedical plant. The highest spatial resolution achieved, 10 μm, was much higher than that achieved by commonly used matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging protocols. The data from imaging experiments were supported by independent LDI‐TOF/MS analysis of cryo‐sectioned, laser‐microdissected and freshly cut plant material. The results confirmed the suitability of combining laser microdissection (LMD) and LDI‐TOF/MS or LDI‐MSI to analyse localized plant secondary metabolites. Furthermore, Arabidopsis thaliana was analysed to demonstrate the feasibility of LDI‐MSI for other commonly occurring compounds such as flavonoids. The organ‐specific distribution of kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin, and their glycosides, was imaged at the cellular level.
LEW3, encoding a putative α‐1,2‐mannosyltransferase (ALG11) in N‐linked glycoprotein, plays vital roles in cell‐wall biosynthesis and the abiotic stress response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Zhang Min , Henquet Maurice , Chen Zhizhong , Zhang Hairong , Zhang Yi , Ren Xiaozhi , Van Der Krol Sander , Gonneau Martine , Bosch Dirk , Gong Zhizhong 
Published: September 2009

Summary N‐linked glycosylation is an essential protein modification that helps protein folding, trafficking and translocation in eukaryotic systems. The initial process for N‐linked glycosylation shares a common pathway with assembly of a dolichol‐linked core oligosaccharide. Here we characterize a new Arabidopsis thaliana mutant lew3 (leaf wilting 3), which has a defect in an α‐1,2‐mannosyltransferase, a homolog of ALG11 in yeast, that transfers mannose to the dolichol‐linked core oligosaccharide in the last two steps on the cytosolic face of the ER in N‐glycan precursor synthesis. LEW3 is localized to the ER membrane and expressed throughout the plant. Mutation of LEW3 caused low‐level accumulation of Man3GlcNAc2 and Man4GlcNAc2 glycans, structures that are seldom detected in wild‐type plants. In addition, the lew3 mutant has low levels of normal high‐mannose‐type glycans, but increased levels of complex‐type glycans. The lew3 mutant showed abnormal developmental phenotypes, reduced fertility, impaired cellulose synthesis, abnormal primary cell walls, and xylem collapse due to disturbance of the secondary cell walls. lew3 mutants were more sensitive to osmotic stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Protein N‐glycosylation was reduced and the unfolded protein response was more activated by osmotic stress and ABA treatment in the lew3 mutant than in the wild‐type. These results demonstrate that protein N‐glycosylation plays crucial roles in plant development and the response to abiotic stresses.
Enhancing adherence to antiretroviral therapy at the HIV clinic in resource constrained countries; the Tanzanian experience
Authors: Mugusi F. , Mugusi S. , Bakari M. , Hejdemann B. , Josiah R. , Janabi M. , Aboud S. , Aris E. , Swai H. , Mhalu F. , Biberfeld G. , Pallangyo K. , Sandstrom E. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryObjective  To evaluate various strategies aimed at improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods  Patients initiated on ART at Muhimbili National Hospital HIV clinic were randomly assigned to either regular adherence counseling, regular counseling plus a calendar, or regular counseling and a treatment assistant. Patients were seen monthly; during these meetings self‐reported adherence to treatment was recorded. Disease progression was monitored clinically and immunologically.Results  Of the 621 patients randomized, 312 received regular counseling only, 242 regular counseling and calendars, while 67 had treatment assistants in addition to regular counseling. The mean (SD) follow‐up time was 14.5 (4.6) months. During follow‐up 20 (3.2%) patients died, and 102 (16.4%) were lost to follow‐up; this was similar in all groups. In 94.8% of all visits, patients reported to have adhered to treatment. In only 39 (0.7%) visits did patients report a ≤95% adherence. There were no differences in adherence (P = 0.573) or differences in CD4 count and weight changes over time in the interventions.Conclusions  Good adherence to ART is possible in resource constrained countries. Persistent adherence counseling in clinic settings by itself may be effective in improving adherence to ART.
Safety of anti‐IgE treatment with omalizumab in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis undergoing specific immunotherapy simultaneously
Authors: Kamin Wolfgang , Kopp Matthias Volkmar , Erdnuess Frank , Schauer Uwe , Zielen Stefan , Wahn Ulrich 
Published: September 2009

Kamin W, Kopp MV, Erdnuess F, Schauer U, Zielen S, Wahn U. Safety of anti‐IgE treatment with omalizumab in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis undergoing specific immunotherapy simultaneously. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: e160–e165. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/SIntroduction  Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) affects at least 10–25% of the Caucasian race and about 40% of patients are children. Standard treatment of SAR is specific immunotherapy (SIT), but anti‐allergic drugs can significantly enhance efficacy of SIT. One candidate is the humanized monoclonal anti‐IgE antibody omalizumab.Material and Methods  Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multi‐centre trial in Germany. A total of 221 children were randomly assigned to four different groups and treated with SIT (either grass or birch pollen), starting at least 14 wk before the local birch pollen season. After the 12‐wk SIT titration phase, either anti‐IgE (omalizumab) or placebo (NaCl 0.9%) therapy was added. This combination therapy with SIT and anti‐IgE or placebo lasted 24 wk. To record local reactions and adverse events (AE), the injection site was examined by a clinician 20 min after application of study medication. Further, patients stated any AE and the use of rescue medication by means of a diary 3 days after every injection. Finally, any AE or serious adverse event (SAE) reported by the patients was specified on a standard form by clinicians. Overall tolerance was judged by the doctors according to the patient’s diaries. To test differences between the groups, we used either the two‐sided Wilcoxon rank‐sum test or the two‐sided chi‐square test.Results  Tolerability of SIT and omalizumab treatment was good (82% of patients). Only some AE with possible causal relationship to treatment occurred slightly more often in the verum groups, i.e. local reactions (16.8 vs. 12.3%) and gastrointestinal (2.7 vs. 0.9%) and ear symptoms (1.8 vs. 0%). Most AE (93.4% in omalizumab and 87.2% in placebo group) were judged by the patients as mild to moderate. SAE were restricted to four patients with asthma in the placebo group, two subjects with headache in the verum group and three patients with infections (two in verum and one in placebo group). Only the cases of asthma were judged to be possibly related to study medication. Further, redness and swelling at the SIT injection site appeared significantly more often in the placebo group which suggests a positive effect of omalizumab on local reaction induced by SIT.Conclusion  Omalizumab represents an important clinical advance in the management of allergic diseases and can be considered to be safe in children.
Space, sympatry and speciation
Authors: MALLET J. , MEYER A. , NOSIL P. , FEDER J. L. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractSympatric speciation remains controversial. ‘Sympatry’ originally meant “in the same geographical area”. Recently, evolutionists have redefined ‘sympatric speciation’ non‐spatially to require panmixia (m = 0.5) between a pair of demes before onset of reproductive isolation. Although panmixia is a suitable starting point in models of speciation, it is not a useful definition of sympatry in natural populations, because it becomes virtually impossible to find or demonstrate sympatry in nature. The newer, non‐spatial definition fails to address the classical debate about whether natural selection within a geographic overlap regularly causes speciation in nature, or whether complete geographic isolation is usually required. We therefore propose a more precise spatial definition by incorporating the population genetics of dispersal (or ‘cruising range’). Sympatric speciation is considerably more likely under this spatial definition than under the demic definition, because distance itself has a powerful structuring effect, even over small spatial scales comparable to dispersal. Ecological adaptation in two‐dimensional space often acts as a ‘magic trait’ that causes pleiotropic reductions of gene flow. We provide examples from our own research.
Evolution of host resistance and trade‐offs between virulence and transmission potential in an obligately killing parasite
Authors: BÉRÉNOS C. , SCHMID‐HEMPEL P. , MATHIAS WEGNER K. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractStandard epidemiological theory predicts that parasites, which continuously release propagules during infection, face a trade‐off between virulence and transmission. However, little is known how host resistance and parasite virulence change during coevolution with obligate killers. To address this question we have set up a coevolution experiment evolving Nosema whitei on eight distinct lines of Tribolium castaneum. After 11 generations we conducted a time‐shift experiment infecting both the coevolved and the replicate control host lines with the original parasite source, and coevolved parasites from generation 8 and 11. We found higher survival in the coevolved host lines than in the matching control lines. In the parasite populations, virulence measured as host mortality decreased during coevolution, while sporeload stayed constant. Both patterns are compatible with adaptive evolution by selection for resistance in the host and by trade‐offs between virulence and transmission potential in the parasite.
The maintenance of sex: host–parasite coevolution with density‐dependent virulence
Authors: LIVELY C. M. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWhy don’t asexual females replace sexual females in most natural populations of eukaryotes? One promising explanation is that parasites could counter the reproductive advantages of asexual reproduction by exerting frequency‐dependent selection against common clones (the Red Queen hypothesis). One apparent limitation of the Red Queen theory, however, is that parasites would seem to be required by theory to be highly virulent. In the present study, I present a population‐dynamic view of competition between sexual females and asexual females that interact with co‐evolving parasites. The results show that asexual populations have higher carrying capacities, and more unstable population dynamics, than sexual populations. The results also suggest that the spread of a clone into a sexual population could increase the effective parasite virulence as population density increases. This combination of parasite‐mediated frequency‐dependent selection, and density‐dependent virulence, could lead to the coexistence of sexual and asexual reproductive strategies and the long‐term persistence of sex.
Spatially heterogeneous stochasticity and the adaptive diversification of dormancy
Authors: Rajon E. , Venner S. , Menu F. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractDiversified bet‐hedging, a strategy that leads several individuals with the same genotype to express distinct phenotypes in a given generation, is now well established as a common evolutionary response to environmental stochasticity. Life‐history traits defined as diversified bet‐hedging (e.g. germination or diapause strategies) display marked differences between populations in spatial proximity. In order to find out whether such differences can be explained by local adaptations to spatially heterogeneous environmental stochasticity, we explored the evolution of bet‐hedging dormancy strategies in a metapopulation using a two‐patch model with patch differences in stochastic juvenile survival. We found that spatial differences in the level of environmental stochasticity, restricted dispersal, increased fragmentation and intermediate survival during dormancy all favour the adaptive diversification of bet‐hedging dormancy strategies. Density dependency also plays a major role in the diversification of dormancy strategies because: (i) it may interact locally with environmental stochasticity and amplify its effects; however, (ii) it can also generate chaotic population dynamics that may impede diversification. Our work proposes new hypotheses to explain the spatial patterns of bet‐hedging strategies that we hope will encourage new empirical studies of this topic.
Connecting behaviour and performance: the evolution of biting behaviour and bite performance in bats
Authors: SANTANA S. E. , DUMONT E. R. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractVariation in behaviour, performance and ecology are traditionally associated with variation in morphology. A neglected part of this ecomorphological paradigm is the interaction between behaviour and performance, the ability to carry out tasks that impact fitness. Here we investigate the relationship between biting behaviour and performance (bite force) among 20 species of ecologically diverse bats. We studied the patterns of evolution of plasticity in biting behaviour and bite force, and reconstructed ancestral states for behaviour and its plasticity. Both behavioural and performance plasticity exhibited accelerating evolution over time, and periods of rapid evolution coincided with major dietary shifts from insect‐feeding to plant‐feeding. We found a significant, positive correlation between behavioural plasticity and bite force. Bats modulated their performance by changing their biting behaviour to maximize bite force when feeding on hard foods. The ancestor of phyllostomids was likely a generalist characterized by high behavioural plasticity, a condition that also evolved in specialized frugivores and potentially contributed to their diversification.
Evaluation of novel particles as an inhalation system for GLP‐1
Authors: Leone‐Bay A. , Grant M. , Greene S. , Stowell G. , Daniels S. , Smithson A. , Villanueva S. , Cope S. , Carrera K. , Reyes S. , Richardson P. 
Published: September 2009

Aim: The feasibility of administering native glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) as GLP‐1 Technosphere® Inhalation Powder for diabetes therapy has been demonstrated in a rat model.Methods: GLP‐1 Technosphere Inhalation Powders containing 5, 10 and 15% GLP‐1 were prepared and administered to healthy female Sprague–Dawley rats and to male Zucker diabetic obese rats. Rats received a single dose of GLP‐1 Technosphere Powder by pulmonary insufflation. GLP‐1 pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic responses were measured.Results: Maximum circulating GLP‐1 concentrations were achieved at ∼10 min after dosing with detectable levels at 40 min. In a food consumption study, Sprague–Dawley rats receiving GLP‐1 Technosphere Powder once‐daily consumed less food than control rats for up to 24 h after dosing. Cumulative food consumption was decreased approximately 10% after 78 h. In an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, Zucker diabetic fatty rats receiving 2 mg GLP‐1 Technosphere Powder (0.3 mg GLP‐1) by pulmonary insufflation exhibited lower glucose concentrations and higher insulin concentrations than control rats. Pancreatic evaluations showed no differences in apoptotic index or cell proliferation of β‐cells. In addition, a dose‐related increase in insulin expression within the pancreas was observed.Conclusions: These data demonstrate the feasibility of administering native GLP‐1 as GLP‐1 Technosphere Inhalation Powder for diabetes therapy.