Cloning and characterisation of a maize carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (ZmCCD1) and its involvement in the biosynthesis of apocarotenoids with various roles in mutualistic and parasitic interactions

Colonisation of maize roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi leads to the accumulation of apocarotenoids (cyclohexenone and mycorradicin derivatives). Other root apocarotenoids (strigolactones) are involved in signalling during early steps of the AM symbiosis but also in stimulation of germination of parasitic plant seeds. Both apocarotenoid classes are predicted to originate from cleavage of a carotenoid substrate by a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase (CCD), but the precursors and cleavage enzymes are unknown. A Zea mays CCD (ZmCCD1) was cloned by RT-PCR and characterised by expression in carotenoid accumulating E. coli strains and analysis of cleavage products using GC¿MS. ZmCCD1 efficiently cleaves carotenoids at the 9, 10 position and displays 78% amino acid identity to Arabidopsis thaliana CCD1 having similar properties. ZmCCD1 transcript levels were shown to be elevated upon root colonisation by AM fungi. Mycorrhization led to a decrease in seed germination of the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica as examined in a bioassay. ZmCCD1 is proposed to be involved in cyclohexenone and mycorradicin formation in mycorrhizal maize roots but not in strigolactone formatio

Design of the Resistance and Endurance exercise After ChemoTherapy (REACT) study: A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise interventions after chemotherapy on physical fitness and fatigue

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preliminary studies suggest that physical exercise interventions can improve physical fitness, fatigue and quality of life in cancer patients after completion of chemotherapy. Additional research is needed to rigorously test the effects of exercise programmes among cancer patients and to determine optimal training intensity accordingly. The present paper presents the design of a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a high intensity exercise programme compared to a low-to-moderate intensity exercise programme and a waiting list control group on physical fitness and fatigue as primary outcomes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>After baseline measurements, cancer patients who completed chemotherapy are randomly assigned to either a 12-week high intensity exercise programme or a low-to-moderate intensity exercise programme. Next, patients from both groups are randomly assigned to immediate training or a waiting list (i.e. waiting list control group). After 12 weeks, patients of the waiting list control group start with the exercise programme they have been allocated to.</p> <p>Both interventions consist of equal bouts of resistance and endurance interval exercises with the same frequency and duration, but differ in training intensity. Additionally, patients of both exercise programmes are counselled to improve compliance and achieve and maintain an active lifestyle, tailored to their individual preferences and capabilities.</p> <p>Measurements will be performed at baseline (t = 0), 12 weeks after randomization (t = 1), and 64 weeks after randomization (t = 2). The primary outcome measures are cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength assessed by means of objective performance indicators, and self-reported fatigue. Secondary outcome measures include health-related quality of life, self-reported physical activity, daily functioning, body composition, mood and sleep disturbances, and return to work. In addition, compliance and satisfaction with the interventions will be evaluated. Potential moderation by pre- and post-illness lifestyle, health and exercise-related attitudes, beliefs and motivation will also be assessed. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of both exercise interventions will be evaluated.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This randomized controlled trial will be a rigorous test of effects of exercise programmes for cancer patients after chemotherapy, aiming to contribute to evidence-based practice in cancer rehabilitation programmes.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>This study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR2153)</p

Somatically ill persons’ self-nominated quality of life domains: review of the literature and guidelines for future studies

OBJECTIVE: To review which domains somatically ill persons nominate as constituting their QoL. Specific objective is to examine whether the method of enquiry affect these domains. METHODS: We conducted two literature searches in the databases PubMed/Medline, CINAHL and Psychinfo for qualitative studies examining patients' self-defined QoL domains using (1) SEIQoL and (2) study-specific questions. For each database, two researchers independently assessed the eligibility of the retrieved abstracts and three researchers subsequently classified all QoL domains. RESULTS: Thirty-six eligible papers were identified: 27 studies using the SEIQoL, and nine presenting data derived from study-specific questions. The influence of the method of enquiry on patients' self-nominated QoL domains appears limited: most domains were presented in both types of studies, albeit with different frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides a comprehensive overview of somatically ill persons' self-nominated QoL domains. However, limitations inherent to reviewing qualitative studies (e.g., the varying level of abstraction of patients' self-defined QoL domains), limitations of the included studies and limitations inherent to the review process, hinder cross-study comparisons. Therefore, we provide guidelines to address shortcomings of qualitative reports amenable to improvement and to stimulate further improvement of conducting and reporting qualitative research aimed at exploring respondents' self-nominated QoL domains

Onderzoek stuurlicht Freesia winter 2012-2013 : praktijkonderzoek met lage intensiteit LED belichting tijdens de donkerperiode

Low intensity red or far-red LED light (4 µmol.m-2.s-1) during the dark period was tested in a commercial greenhouse (Akerboom Freesia). During the day assimilation lighting was used. The trial showed no clear effect on production. At the first planting date, plants showed symptoms of virus, so no production counts were carried out. At the second planting date, only small differences in production were observed (max. 6% difference in production) and there was no clear correlation with the treatments. This might be a result of low intensities of red and far-red light reaching the control plots and/or the variety used in this experiment (Ambassador). The production increase varied from 5% for the variety Albatros to 22% for the variety Red Beauty in a previous experiment with red and far-red LED light on Freesia. Ambassador maybe less sensitive to low intensity LED light during the dark period than the other cultivars

Onderzoek stuurlicht Freesia winter 2012-2013 : praktijkonderzoek met lage intensiteit LED belichting tijdens de donkerperiode

Low intensity red or far-red LED light (4 µmol.m-2.s-1) during the dark period was tested in a commercial greenhouse (Akerboom Freesia). During the day assimilation lighting was used. The trial showed no clear effect on production. At the first planting date, plants showed symptoms of virus, so no production counts were carried out. At the second planting date, only small differences in production were observed (max. 6% difference in production) and there was no clear correlation with the treatments. This might be a result of low intensities of red and far-red light reaching the control plots and/or the variety used in this experiment (Ambassador). The production increase varied from 5% for the variety Albatros to 22% for the variety Red Beauty in a previous experiment with red and far-red LED light on Freesia. Ambassador maybe less sensitive to low intensity LED light during the dark period than the other cultivars

The pragmatic concept of culture or... what might happen next?

Despite major criticism leveled against its use in anthropology and the other social sciences, the concept of culture remains an indispensible one in sociology. Three major pitfalls of cultural explanation are discussed in this article: idealism, groupism, and the focus on order. This short essay also considers contemporary approaches adopted by sociologists to the concept of culture which seek to overcome the very real problems associated with its uncritical use in the past. First, those who adopt these new approaches no longer use the concept idealistically to explain and predict human behavior; instead, culture is seen as part of ongoing social practice. Second, under these new approaches culture is no longer identified with or through groups, instead, group making and unmaking are analyzed as part of cultural practice. Third, these new approaches do not see culture as being concerned with ordered consensus, instead, culture expresses concerns, troubles, contradictions, tensions and anxieties. When we take these shifts into account, cultural explanation becomes focused on the ways in which people themselves try to make sense of the world. What comes to matter most are the variety of ways in which people use language and other meaningful forms of expression. The contemporary concept of culture in sociology invites us to look closely at how people live life and how they struggle, often with each other, to live it differently