bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidermal Cell Death in Rice Is Confined to Cells with a Distinct Molecular Identity and Is Mediated by Ethylene and H2O2 through an Autoamplified Signal Pathway
Authors: Steffens Bianka , Sauter Margret 
Published: January 2009

AbstractRice (Oryza sativa) forms adventitious root primordia at stem nodes during normal development. Root emergence is preceded by ethylene-induced, H2O2-mediated local death of epidermal cells. Exogenous H2O2 or enhancement of endogenous H2O2 promoted epidermal cell death in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase lowered ethylene-induced cell death rates. Inhibition of ethylene perception by 1-methylcyclopropene did not abolish H2O2-induced cell death, indicating that H2O2 acts downstream of ethylene. Microarray studies of epidermal cells that undergo cell death identified 61 genes coregulated by the ethylene-releasing compound ethephon and by H2O2, supporting a joint signaling pathway. Regulation of the ethylene biosynthetic genes 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Oxidase1 and Ethylene Overproducer-Like1 and downregulation of Metallothionein2b (MT2b), which encodes a reactive oxygen scavenger, indicated mutual enhancement of ethylene and H2O2 signaling. Analysis of MT2b knockdown mutants showed that cell death rates were inversely related to MT2b transcript abundance. Epidermal cells above adventitious roots have a morphological and molecular identity distinct from other epidermal cells. Pro-death signals regulated several transcription factor genes with a proposed function in cell type specification. It is hypothesized that induction of cell death is dependent on epidermal cell identity.
STARCH-EXCESS4 Is a Laforin-Like Phosphoglucan Phosphatase Required for Starch Degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Kötting Oliver , Santelia Diana , Edner Christoph , Eicke Simona , Marthaler Tina , Gentry Matthew S. , Comparot-Moss Sylviane , Chen Jychian , Smith Alison M. , Steup Martin , Ritte Gerhard , Zeeman Samuel C. 
Published: January 2009

Abstract
Starch is the major storage carbohydrate in plants. It is comprised of glucans that form semicrystalline granules. Glucan phosphorylation is a prerequisite for normal starch breakdown, but phosphoglucan metabolism is not understood. A putative protein phosphatase encoded at the Starch Excess 4 (SEX4) locus of Arabidopsis thaliana was recently shown to be required for normal starch breakdown. Here, we show that SEX4 is a phosphoglucan phosphatase in vivo and define its role within the starch degradation pathway. SEX4 dephosphorylates both the starch granule surface and soluble phosphoglucans in vitro, and sex4 null mutants accumulate phosphorylated intermediates of starch breakdown. These compounds are linear α-1,4-glucans esterified with one or two phosphate groups. They are released from starch granules by the glucan hydrolases α-amylase and isoamylase. In vitro experiments show that the rate of starch granule degradation is increased upon simultaneous phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of starch. We propose that glucan phosphorylating enzymes and phosphoglucan phosphatases work in synergy with glucan hydrolases to mediate efficient starch catabolism.
What limits fire? An examination of drivers of burnt area in Southern Africa
Authors: ARCHIBALD SALLY , ROY DAVID P. , Van WILGEN BRIAN W. , SCHOLES ROBERT J. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe factors controlling the extent of fire in Africa south of the equator were investigated using moderate resolution (500 m) satellite‐derived burned area maps and spatial data on the environmental factors thought to affect burnt area. A random forest regression tree procedure was used to determine the relative importance of each factor in explaining the burned area fraction and to address hypotheses concerned with human and climatic influences on the drivers of burnt area. The model explained 68% of the variance in burnt area. Tree cover, rainfall in the previous 2 years, and rainfall seasonality were the most important predictors. Human activities – represented by grazing, roads per unit area, population density, and cultivation fraction – were also shown to affect burnt area, but only in parts of the continent with specific climatic conditions, and often in ways counter to the prevailing wisdom that more human activity leads to more fire. The analysis found no indication that ignitions were limiting total burnt area on the continent, and most of the spatial variation was due to variation in fuel load and moisture. Split conditions from the regression tree identified (i) low rainfall regions, where fire is rare; (ii) regions where fire is under human control; and (iii) higher rainfall regions where burnt area is determined by rainfall seasonality. This study provides insights into the physical, climatic, and human drivers of fire and their relative importance across southern Africa, and represents the beginnings of a predictive framework for burnt area.
Environmental and economic factors determine the number of feral goats commercially harvested in Western Australia
Authors: Forsyth David M. , Parkes John P. , Woolnough Andrew P. , Pickles Greg , Collins Marnie , Gordon Ian 
Published: January 2009

Summary

Many species of wildlife are harvested for sale but there are few time‐series analyses of the factors determining the number of animals harvested. Economic theory predicts that price paid per animal is likely to be an important determinant of the harvest, but prices paid for alternative activities could reduce the harvest, and environmental factors such as rainfall could either constrain or enhance the harvest.
About 1 million feral goats Capra hircus L. are commercially harvested annually in the semi‐arid rangelands of Australia, and there is much interest in how the harvest can be maximized so that the environmental impacts of the goats are minimized.
We developed 27 candidate models to explain monthly variation in the numbers of feral goats commercially harvested in Western Australia during July 1988 to June 2003. We fitted linear AR(1) models to the first 89 months of data and used Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sample size to identify the model(s) with substantial support. We then evaluated how much variation in the latter 88 months of the time series each model explained.
Almost 2·9 million feral goats were harvested in the study period. The two models with substantial support accounted for 70·5% and 70·6% of variation in the number of feral goats harvested during the first 89 months and 64·6% and 66·7% of variation in the subsequent 88 months. The models both included month of harvest and negative effects of rainfall in both the month of harvest and the previous month. One of the models also included a strong positive effect of the Australian Consumer Price Index‐adjusted average price paid per feral goat on the number of feral goats harvested, and this model had the most support when fitted to the entire time series.
Synthesis and applications. This is the first study to demonstrate how both an environmental factor (rainfall) and an economic factor (average price paid per animal) can influence the size of a commercial wildlife harvest. Whilst managers can seldom modify environmental factors, our results suggest that the size of a wildlife harvest can be manipulated by altering the economics of the harvest.
Assuring the integrity of the family: being the father of a very low birth weight infant
Authors: Lee Tzu‐Ying , Lin Hung‐Ru , Huang Tsu‐Hsueh , Hsu Chyong‐Hsin , Bartlett Robin 
Published: January 2009

Aim.  The purpose of this study was to explore the paternal role of fathers of very low birth weight infants during their first year of life.Background.  Following birth, very low birth weight infants often require extended hospitalisation and long‐term care. The birth experience and the infant’s hospitalisation often overwhelm parents and may hinder the development of their parental roles. The father is known to be an important supporting figure for the mother, but most studies in Taiwan have focussed on mothers.Design.  A qualitative design using a grounded theory approach was employed in this study.Methods.  In‐depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of fathers during home visits.Each father was interviewed twice at one to three months and seven to nine months after his very low birth weight infant’s discharge from the hospital. Data were analysed using constant comparison and repeated verification.Results.  Twelve fathers were included in the study. During the first year of life of their very low birth weight infants, the fathers experienced ‘protecting the wife–baby dyad’, ‘concentrating on the child’s health and growth’, and ‘possessing a complete family’. Subcategories within each major category also emerged.Conclusion.  In this study, Taiwanese fathers of very low birth weight infants learned different and broader dimensions of the paternal role and continually made adjustments to assure their family’s integrity.Relevance to clinical practice.  These findings can help nurses understand paternal perceptions and behaviours related to having a very low birth weight infant and in turn help fathers adjust to their role.
The relationship between caregiver’s strain and social support among mothers with intellectually disabled children
Authors: Tsai Shu‐Mei , Wang Hsiu‐Hung 
Published: January 2009

Aims and objectives. To explore caregiver’s strain, the relationship between social support and caregiver’s strain and the predictors of caregiver’s strain among mothers with school‐aged intellectually disabled children in Taiwan.Background. Strain is a common condition among mothers who take care of intellectually disabled children; this correspondingly reduces their ability to care for children, thereby affecting the functioning of the entire family. Yet, there have been very few studies on caregivers of intellectually disabled children of school age.Design. Cross‐section correlational design.Methods. Data collection consisted of face‐to‐face interviews combined with a structured questionnaire. Instruments employed were the Caregiver Strain Index, Social Support Scale and three open‐ended questions. In total, 127 mothers completed the questionnaire.Results. Results showed that mothers with intellectually disabled children had a rather high level of strain and received inadequate social support. Social support and strain had a significant and negative correlation. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that mothers’ health status, social support and amount of time spent as a caregiver, as well as the intellectually disabled children’s dependent degree of daily living activity, were major predictors of caregiver’s strain, which accounted for 38·4% of the total variance.Conclusions. The results provide a guide for healthcare professionals in designing effective interventions and preventive care to reduce the level of strain in mothers with intellectually disabled children. This, in turn, could improve the quality of life of the mother and her family.Relevance to clinical practice. In Taiwan, care of intellectually disabled children is primarily provided by family members. Therefore, we should emphasise family‐centred care to enable healthcare professionals to become more effective as case managers in local clinics, schools and communities.
Informal carers of older family members: how they manage and what support they receive from respite care
Authors: Salin Sirpa , Kaunonen Marja , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi 
Published: January 2009

Aims.  To describe informal carers’ coping strategies and their experiences of the support provided by respite care.Background.  The target set in the Finnish national old age policy strategy is that 90% of the population over 75 should be able to live at home. A major source of support for older people and their families is respite care in an institution.Design.  Survey.Methods.  The data were collected among informal carers who regularly use respite care services (n = 143). Two structured questionnaires were used: the Carers’ Assessment of Managing Index (Nolan et al. 1995) and an index developed by the researchers.Results.  Informal carers who provided care for younger individuals or people who needed less help had a better quality of life. Spouse carers and older informal carers were less satisfied with their quality of life than younger carers. Periods of respite care had a major influence on informal carers’ quality of life: 93% said they felt invigorated. Care periods remained rather isolated episodes in the lives of the older patients in that there was hardly any discussion at the institution about the family’s situation, the objectives of respite care, or about how the informal carer was coping. Altogether, 47% of the nurses remained fairly distant. The most useful coping strategies involved creating alternative perspectives in the caring relationship.Conclusions.  The results strengthen the knowledge base of informal caregiving by showing how caregivers cope and what kind of support they need in their demanding caring role.Relevance to clinical practice.  Respite care nurses should invest greater effort in supporting informal carers. The service should be developed as an integral part of home care for older people. Nurses and informal carers should see each other as partners who share a common goal, i.e. the well‐being of the entire family.
A review of the information and support needs of family carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Caress Ann‐Louise , Luker Karen A , Chalmers Karen I , Salmon Margaret P 
Published: January 2009

Aims and objectives.  The objectives of this narrative review were to identify: (1) The information and support needs of carers of family members with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; (2) appropriate interventions to support carers in their caregiving role; (3) information on carers’ needs as reported in studies of patients living with COPD in the community.Background.  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major health problem in the UK resulting in significant burden for patients, families and the health service. Current National Health Service policies emphasise, where medically appropriate, early discharge for acute exacerbations, hospital‐at‐home care and other models of community care to prevent or reduce re‐hospitalisations of people with chronic conditions. Understanding carers’ needs is important if health care professionals are to support carers in their caregiving role.Design.  A narrative literature review.Methods.  Thirty five papers were reviewed after searching electronic databases.Results.  Few studies were identified which addressed, even peripherally, carers’ needs for information and support, and no studies were found which described and evaluated interventions designed to enhance caregiving capacity. Several studies of hospital‐at‐home/early discharge, self care and home management programmes were identified which included some information on patients’ living arrangements or marital status. However, there was little or no detail reported on the needs of, and in many cases, even the presence of a family carer.Conclusions.  This review highlights the dearth of information on the needs of carers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and the need for future research.Relevance to clinical practice.  There is little research based knowledge of the needs of carers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and interventions to assist them in providing care. This knowledge is critical to ensure that carers receive the information they need to carry out this role while maintaining their own physical and emotional health.
Development and validation of a food frequency index using nutritional biomarkers in a sample of middle‐aged and older adults
Authors: Freisling H. , Elmadfa I. , Schuh W. , Wagner K.‐H. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground: An index of diet quality, which examines different aspects of a diet concurrently, may facilitate the identification of poor dietary habits in population sub‐groups. The objectives of the present study were to develop a food frequency index (FFI) and to test its associations with nutritional biomarkers and nutrient intake.Methods: The study comprised a cross‐sectional survey among 444 adults aged 55 years and older in Vienna, Austria, and a sub‐sample of 226 subjects who provided fasting blood specimen. Data from a qualitative 28‐item food‐frequency questionnaire were used to develop the FFI.Results: FFI scores were positively correlated with plasma concentrations of beta‐carotene (r = 0.26), beta‐cryptoxanthin (r = 0.31), zeaxanthin (r = 0.19), lutein (r = 0.21), phylloquinone (r = 0.19), 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (r = 0.20), and serum high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol (r = 0.24) and were negatively correlated with the ratio of total : HDL‐cholesterol (r = −0.23). Sub‐groups with higher FFI scores had, on average, lower intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol and higher intakes of total carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and most of the examined micronutrients.Conclusion: The FFI as a measure of diet quality has the ability to discern population sub‐groups, with reasonable validity, into low‐ or high‐risk dietary habits.
Estimation of total body water from bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy in oncology outpatients receiving radiotherapy and agreement with three prediction equations
Authors: Isenring E. , Colombo M. , Cross G. , Kellett E. , Swaney L. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) may be more accurate in determining total body water (TBW) than bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The present study compared the agreement between three TBW prediction equations developed using BIA and BIS‐derived TBW in oncology outpatients.Methods:  A cross‐sectional, observational study was conducted in 37 outpatients receiving radiotherapy (27 males/10 females, aged 68.3 ± 10.2 years). TBW was estimated by BIS (TBWBIS) and three BIA TBW prediction equations (TBWca‐u: underweight cancer patients; TBWca‐n: normal‐weight cancer patients; and TBWrad: patients receiving radiotherapy). Bland–Altman analyses determined agreement between methods. BIS‐derived TBW using new resistivity constants was calculated.Results:  The mean ± SD of TBW estimated by BIS was 39.8 ± 8.3 L, which was significantly different from the prediction equations; TBWrad 35.1 ± 7.9 L, TBWca‐u 33.1 ± 7.5 L and TBWca‐n 32.3 ± 7.3 L, (P < 0.001). Using new resistivity constants, TBW was 36.2 ± 8.1 L but this still differed from the equations (P < 0.001). Bias between TBWBIS and that predicted by the equations was in the range 4.7–7.4 L or 1.1–3.9 L using new resistivity constants.Conclusions:  TBW estimated by BIS cannot be directly compared with oncology‐specific BIA equations, suggesting that BIS cannot be used at the group level in outpatients receiving radiotherapy. There was a reduced bias with BIS using new resistivity constants; however, further research should determine any advantage of BIS over BIA in this population.
The long‐term influence of orlistat on dietary intake in obese subjects with components of metabolic syndrome
Authors: Svendsen M. , Helgeland M. , Tonstad S. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that reduces the intestinal absorption of fat and may enhance the effects of dietary and behavioural therapy on weight loss and maintenance. The present study examined the effect of orlistat on dietary intake, especially fat intake, during long‐term weight maintenance.Methods:  Subjects comprised 44 men and women (aged 18–63 years; body mass index 37.5 ± 4.3 kg m−2) included in the Scandinavian Multicenter study of Obese subjects with the metabolic syndrome, a 3‐year clinical trial of orlistat or placebo following an 8‐week, very low energy diet (VLED). Two months after the end of the trial when the use of orlistat was optional, 33 subjects remained in the study. A dietary interview based on a validated food frequency questionnaire was conducted before the VLED, after 1 year of treatment with orlistat or placebo and 2 months after the end of the trial.Results:  At 1 year, dietary intake did not differ between the orlistat and placebo group. Energy percent (E%) fat was reduced and E% carbohydrate was increased within both groups. Two months after the end of the trial, E% fat was 32.6% (SD 6.2%) in subjects that chose to take orlistat and 27.7% (SD 5.5%) in subjects not taking orlistat [between group difference −5.0% (95% confidence interval −9.2 to −0.7); P = 0.021].Conclusions:  The use of orlistat compared with placebo in a lifestyle modification programme does not appear to influence dietary intake. Subjects that chose to take orlistat after the end of the programme did not comply with dietary recommendations and this may hamper the effect of the drug.
The role of diet in the management of gout: a comparison of knowledge and attitudes to current evidence
Authors: Shulten P. , Thomas J. , Miller M. , Smith M. , Ahern M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Evidence supports dietary modifications in the management of gout. Despite this, the degree of implementation of this evidence by nutrition professionals and rheumatologists and those affected by gout is unknown. The present study aimed to compare usual dietary practices of patients with gout to evidence for dietary management of gout and to investigate whether the knowledge and attitudes of nutrition professionals and rheumatologists reflects current evidence.Methods:  A food frequency questionnaire was used to determine usual dietary intake of patients with gout, a separate questionnaire examined gout‐related dietary modifications (n = 29). Online questionnaires to examine attitudes towards dietary management of gout were completed by nutrition professionals and rheumatologists.Results:  Proportions of participants whose reported intakes were inconsistent with current evidence for the dietary management of gout were: alcohol, n = 14 (48%); beer, n = 18 (62%); seafood, n = 29 (100%); meat, n = 7 (24%); beef/pork/lamb, n = 24 (83%); dairy products, n = 12 (41%); vitamin C supplementation, n = 29 (100%). Of the 61 rheumatologists and 231 nutrition professionals who completed the online survey, the majority considered that weight loss and decreased alcohol intake were important or very important outcomes. Proportions were lower for decreased purine intake. Thirty‐four (56%) rheumatologists do not refer patients with gout to dietetic services and, of those who do, the majority refer less than half.Conclusions:  Overall, patients with gout in the present study were not implementing evidence for dietary management of their condition and complex dietary issues were evident.