| 1. |
- Moles, A. T., et al.
(author)
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Putting plant resistance traits on the map : A test of the idea that plants are better defended at lower latitudes
- 2011
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In: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 191:3, s. 777-788
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It has long been believed that plant species from the tropics have higher levels of traits associated with resistance to herbivores than do species from higher latitudes. A meta-analysis recently showed that the published literature does not support this theory. However, the idea has never been tested using data gathered with consistent methods from a wide range of latitudes. • We quantified the relationship between latitude and a broad range of chemical and physical traits across 301 species from 75 sites world-wide. • Six putative resistance traits, including tannins, the concentration of lipids (an indicator of oils, waxes and resins), and leaf toughness were greater in high-latitude species. Six traits, including cyanide production and the presence of spines, were unrelated to latitude. Only ash content (an indicator of inorganic substances such as calcium oxalates and phytoliths) and the properties of species with delayed greening were higher in the tropics. • Our results do not support the hypothesis that tropical plants have higher levels of resistance traits than do plants from higher latitudes. If anything, plants have higher resistance toward the poles. The greater resistance traits of high-latitude species might be explained by the greater cost of losing a given amount of leaf tissue in low-productivity environments. © 2011 New Phytologist Trust.
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| 2. |
- Moles, Angela T, et al.
(author)
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Correlations between physical and chemical defences in plants : tradeoffs, syndromes, or just many different ways to skin a herbivorous cat?
- 2013
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In: New Phytologist. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 198:1, s. 252-263
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Most plant species have a range of traits that deter herbivores. However, understanding of how different defences are related to one another is surprisingly weak. Many authors argue that defence traits trade off against one another, while others argue that they form coordinated defence syndromes. We collected a dataset of unprecedented taxonomic and geographic scope (261 species spanning 80 families, from 75 sites across the globe) to investigate relationships among four chemical and six physical defences. Five of the 45 pairwise correlations between defence traits were significant and three of these were tradeoffs. The relationship between species' overall chemical and physical defence levels was marginally nonsignificant (P=0.08), and remained nonsignificant after accounting for phylogeny, growth form and abundance. Neither categorical principal component analysis (PCA) nor hierarchical cluster analysis supported the idea that species displayed defence syndromes. Our results do not support arguments for tradeoffs or for coordinated defence syndromes. Rather, plants display a range of combinations of defence traits. We suggest this lack of consistent defence syndromes may be adaptive, resulting from selective pressure to deploy a different combination of defences to coexisting species.
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| 3. |
- Kleijn, David, et al.
(author)
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Delivery of crop pollination services is an insufficient argument for wild pollinator conservation.
- 2015
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is compelling evidence that more diverse ecosystems deliver greater benefits to people, and these ecosystem services have become a key argument for biodiversity conservation. However, it is unclear how much biodiversity is needed to deliver ecosystem services in a cost-effective way. Here we show that, while the contribution of wild bees to crop production is significant, service delivery is restricted to a limited subset of all known bee species. Across crops, years and biogeographical regions, crop-visiting wild bee communities are dominated by a small number of common species, and threatened species are rarely observed on crops. Dominant crop pollinators persist under agricultural expansion and many are easily enhanced by simple conservation measures, suggesting that cost-effective management strategies to promote crop pollination should target a different set of species than management strategies to promote threatened bees. Conserving the biological diversity of bees therefore requires more than just ecosystem-service-based arguments.
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| 4. |
- Fox, Kristen R, et al.
(author)
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Smoking among adult congenital heart disease survivors in the United States: Prevalence and relationship with illness perceptions.
- 2021
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In: Journal of behavioral medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-3521 .- 0160-7715. ; 44, s. 772-783
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relationship between smoking and illness perceptions among congenital heart disease (CHD) survivors is unknown. The primary aims of the present study were to compare the smoking prevalence among CHD survivors to a nationally representative U.S. sample and examine the relationship between smoking and illness perceptions. CHD survivors (N=744) from six U.S. sites participated in the study. The smoking prevalence among CHD survivors (9.3%) was lower than the general population (15.3%). However, 23.3% of CHD survivors with severe functional limitations smoked. Smoking prevalence differed by U.S. region, with a greater proportion of those attending CHD care in the Midwest reporting smoking (11.8%). The illness perception dimensions of Concern and Emotional Response were independently associated with smoking. Differences in illness perceptions enhance our understanding of smoking among CHD survivors and may guide interventions promoting positive health behaviors. The protocol for the study from which the present analyses were conducted was recorded at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02150603.
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| 5. |
- Holbein, Christina E., et al.
(author)
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A multinational observational investigation of illness perceptions and quality of life among patients with a Fontan circulation
- 2018
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In: Congenital Heart Disease. - : Computers, Materials and Continua (Tech Science Press). - 1747-079X .- 1747-0803. ; 13:3, s. 392-400
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective First, to compare QOL and illness perceptions between patients with a Fontan circulation and patients with anatomically simple defects (ie, atrial septal defects [ASD] or ventricular septal defects [VSD]). Second, to explore illness perceptions as a mediator of the association between congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis and QOL. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting Twenty-four cardiology centers from 15 countries across five continents. Patients Four hundred thirty-five adult patients with congenital heart disease (177 Fontan and 258 ASD/VSD) ages 18-83 years. Outcome Measures QOL and illness perceptions were assessed by the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, respectively. Results Patients with a Fontan circulation reported lower QOL (Wald Z = −3.59, p = <.001) and more negative perceptions of their CHD (Wald Z = −7.66, p < .001) compared with patients with ASD/VSD. After controlling for demographics, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and New York Heart Association functional class, path analyses revealed a significant mediation model, αβ = 0.15, p = .002, 95% CI = 0.06-0.25, such that CHD diagnosis was indirectly related to QOL through illness perceptions. Conclusions The Fontan sample’s more negative perceptions of CHD were likely a reflection of life with a more complex defect. Illness perceptions appear to account for unique differences in QOL between groups of varying CHD complexity. Psychosocial screening and interventions may be important treatment components for patients with CHD, particularly those with Fontan circulations.
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| 6. |
- Holbein, Christina E, et al.
(author)
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Perceived Health Mediates Effects of Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Patients With a Fontan Circulation
- 2019
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In: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 124:1, s. 144-150
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patients with a Fontan circulation are at risk of a sedentary lifestyle. Given the direct relationship between physical activity and health, promotion of physical activity has the potential to improve outcomes, including quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to describe self-reported physical activity levels in adult Fontan patients and examine associations between physical activity, perceived health status and QOL. The sample consisted of 177 Fontan patients (Mage = 27.5 ± 7.6 years, 52% male) who reported their physical activity, perceived health status, and QOL as part of the cross-sectional Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease - International Study. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses of variance with planned contrasts were computed to describe physical activity characteristics. Mediation analyses tested whether perceived health status variables mediated the association between physical activity and QOL. Forty-six percent of patients were sedentary while only 40% met international physical activity guidelines. Higher physical activity was associated with younger age, lower NYHA class, higher perceived general health, and greater QOL. Patients who commuted by walking and engaged in sports reported better perceived health and QOL. Mediation analyses revealed that perceived general health but not NYHA functional class mediated the association between physical activity and QOL (αβ = 0.22, 95% confidence interval = 0.04 to 0.49). In conclusion, Fontan patients likely benefit from regular physical activity, having both higher perceived general health and functional capacity; greater perceived health status may contribute to enhanced QOL. In conclusion, these data support the pivotal role of regular physical activity for Fontan patients.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Rassart, Jessica, et al.
(author)
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Illness perceptions in adult congenital heart disease : A multi-center international study.
- 2017
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In: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 244, s. 130-138
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Illness perceptions are cognitive frameworks that patients construct to make sense of their illness. Although the importance of these perceptions has been demonstrated in other chronic illness populations, few studies have focused on the illness perceptions of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). This study examined (1) inter-country variation in illness perceptions, (2) associations between patient characteristics and illness perceptions, and (3) associations between illness perceptions and patient-reported outcomes.METHODS: Our sample, taken from APPROACH-IS, consisted of 3258 adults with CHD from 15 different countries. Patients completed questionnaires on illness perceptions and patient-reported outcomes (i.e., quality of life, perceived health status, and symptoms of depression and anxiety). Patient characteristics included sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, CHD complexity, functional class, and ethnicity. Linear mixed models were applied.RESULTS: The inter-country variation in illness perceptions was generally small, yet patients from different countries differed in the extent to which they perceived their illness as chronic and worried about their illness. Patient characteristics that were linked to illness perceptions were sex, age, employment status, CHD complexity, functional class, and ethnicity. Higher scores on consequences, identity, and emotional representation, as well as lower scores on illness coherence and personal and treatment control, were associated with poorer patient-reported outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes that, in order to gain a deeper understanding of patients' functioning, health-care providers should focus not only on objective indicators of illness severity such as the complexity of the heart defect, but also on subjective illness experiences.
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| 9. |
- Veldtman, G R, et al.
(author)
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Creation and enlargement of atrial defects in congenital heart disease.
- 2005
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In: Pediatric cardiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0172-0643 .- 1432-1971. ; 26:2, s. 162-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transcatheter creation and enlargement of interatrial defects (IAD) may improve hemodynamics; however, procedural outcomes have not been well defined. Hospital records were reviewed for children who underwent percutaneous procedures to create and enlarge an IAD and were grouped as follows: (1) right and (2) left heart obstructive lesions, (3) left atrial (LA) decompression during left heart assist, (4) failing Fontan circulation, and (5) miscellaneous. Forty-five children (mean age, 3.4 +/- 4.7 years; 30 (67%) male) were identified. In group 1 (n = 6), all achieved endpoints of right atrial (RA) decompression (n = 2), improved left ventricular filling (n = 3), or improved arterial saturations (n = 1). In group 2 (n = 18), mean LA pressure decreased (21 +/- 6 to 13 +/- 5 mmHg, p < 0.001) and arterial saturations increased (61 +/- 13% to 78 +/- 11%, p < 0.001). All except 2 patients achieved definitive repair, further palliation (n = 9), or heart transplantation (HTX) (n = 7). In group 3 (n = 5), the LA was decompressed (21 to 13 mmHg, p = 0.03) in all, and all except 1 patient survived to HTX (n = 2) or full recovery (n = 2). In group 4 (n = 11), of 7 patients with a low cardiac output syndrome after surgery, despite improved atrial shunting, 3 died and 1 required a HTX. In group 5 (n = 5), RA decompression (n = 1) or improved arterial saturation (n = 4) was achieved in all. Overall, 5-year HTX free survival was 75%. Mechanical ventilation before the procedure (p < 0.001), the need for a blade septostomy (p = 0.002), and higher LA pressures after the procedure (p = 0.04) independently predicted mortality or the requirement for HTX. Transcatheter optimization of an atrial communication can help optimize treatment strategies and has a low procedural risk.
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