This study demonstrates that this intervention has the potential of positively impacting the health of broad populations of individuals with diabetes, not just the minority who are ready for change.

The fumarate reductase enzyme complex, encoded by thefrd4BCD operon, aliows Escherichia coi to utilize fumarate as a terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic oxidative phosphorylation. To analyze the expression of fumarate reductase, protein and operon fusions were constructed between the fidA and the lacZ genes and introduced onto the E. coli chromosome at the lambda attachment site. Expression of Pg from either fusion was increased 10-fold during anaerobic versus aerobic cell growth, increaed an additonal 1.5-fold by the presence of fumarate, the substrate, and decreased 23-fold by nitrate, a preferred electron acceptor. The addition of trimethylamine-N-oxide as an electron acceptor did not signcy alterfrdA'-' cZ expression. Control offrd operon expression is therefore exerted at the transcriptional level in response to the availability of the electron acceptors oxygen, fumarate, and nitrate. Anaerobic induction of frd4'-'lacZ expression was impaired in an fnr mutant and was restored when the fnr+ gene was provided in trans, thus establishing that thefnr gene product, Fnr, is responsible for the anaerobic activation ofifloperon expression.Nitrate repression of fidA'-'lacZ expression was observed under either aerobic or anaerobic celi growth conditions in both wild-type and fnr mutant strains, demonstrating that the mechanism for nitrate repression is independent of nitrate respiration and oxygen control Imparted by Fnr. Studies performed with afar-'lacZ protein fusion confirmed that thefar gene is expressed both aerobically and anaerobicaliy. A model is proposed for the regulation of frdABCD operon expression in response to the availability of the alternate terminal electron acceptors oxygen, nitrate, and fumarate.Escherichia coli can utilize a number of terminal electron acceptors for electron transport-coupled oxidative phosphorylation (24). These terminal oxidants, in order of decreasing theoretical energy yield, include oxygen, nitrate, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and fumarate (4, 24). Fumarate reductase catalyzes the reduction of fumarate to succinate in the terminal step of anaerobic electron transfer to fumarate. This enzyme is a membrane-bound complex composed of four nonidentical polypeptides designated FrdA, FrdB, FrdC, and FrdD. The FrdA subunit is a 69-kilodalton (kDa) protein which contains a covalently bound flavin adenine dinucleotide (12,51). The 27-kDa FrdB protein appears to contain the iron-sulfur centers of the enzyme (6,11,35). The FrdC and FrdD polypeptides of 15 and 13 kDa, respectively, are integral membrane proteins which bind the catalytic FrdAB domain to the inner side of the cytoplasmic membrane (5, 6, 20, 31).The genes encoding the four individual fumarate reductase polypeptides are located at 94 min on the E. coli genetic map (30). Thefrd locus has been cloned (6, 13, 17, 21, 32), and the DNA sequence of the genes has been determined (11,12,20). We have previously reported the location of a single promoter for the expression of the frdABCD genes (27). The frdABCD mRNA was found to ini...

This review provides evidence that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller populations across Europe struggle to exercise their right to healthcare on account of multiple barriers; and related to other determinants of disadvantage such as low literacy levels and experiences of discrimination. Some promising strategies to overcome barriers were reported but the evidence is weak; therefore, rigorous evaluations of interventions to improve access to and engagement with health services for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people are needed.

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OBJECTIVES -To identify diabetes-related characteristics of individuals at different stages of readiness to change to healthy, low-fat eating.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -Stage-based differences in demographic, eating-related, health care utilization, and psychosocial factors were examined in a sample of 768 overweight (BMI Ͼ27 kg/m 2 ) individuals with diabetes enrolled in a randomized behavioral intervention trial.RESULTS -Stage-based differences occurred for type 1 diabetic participants on percent of calories from fat and number of daily vegetable servings. For type 2 diabetic participants, sex, disease-specific quality of life, percent calories from fat, and number of daily vegetables servings differed across stages. Those in action stages were more likely to be female and have a better quality of life and healthier eating habits. Type 2 diabetic insulin-requiring participants in action stages were more likely to be married. Social support was highest for those in the contemplation stage and lowest for those in the action stage. Type 2 diabetic participants on pills in the action stages were older, had a lower BMI, ate more fruit, were nonsmokers, recently attended diabetes education, had a better quality of life and social support, and had less stress. One anomalous finding for type 2 diabetic participants was that precontemplators scored similarly to those in action stages.CONCLUSIONS -These data validate the Transtheoretical Model, where those in the action stages displayed healthier eating. They also indicate that demographic and psychosocial factors may mediate readiness to change diet. Precontemplators were a heterogeneous group and may need individually tailored interventions.

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SummaryRelative to crop plants, the domestication of forest trees is still in its infancy. For example, the domestication of many crop plants was initiated some 10 000 years ago in the so-called 'Fertile Crescent' of the Middle East. By contrast, the domestication of forest trees for the purposes of producing more fibre began in earnest in the last half century. The application of biotechnology to forest trees offers a great potential to hasten the pace of tree improvement for desirable end uses. This review outlines some of the progress that has been made in the application of biotechnology to forest trees, and considers the prospects for biotechnologically based tree improvement in the future.

Summary Background Current UK guidance recommends that adolescents with obesity attend a family‐based multi‐component obesity intervention. However, these programmes suffer from low recruitment and high rates of attrition. Understanding the views of adolescents is necessary for developing future interventions. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize and explore the views of adolescents who have attended an obesity intervention. Methods Published literature was identified by searching six databases. Studies of adolescents (12–17 years) who attended an obesity intervention were examined. Only studies that collected and analysed data qualitatively were included. Full texts were analysed using thematic synthesis. Results Twenty‐eight studies were included. Thirty‐five analytical themes were developed that were broadly divided into seven domains. Key themes included ensuring adolescents receive a ‘tailored intervention’ that involves ‘active engagement’. Support from professionals, family and peers were valued highly. Adolescents expressed ‘prior fears of attending interventions’ and wanted ‘longer term support’. ‘Enjoyment of sport and physical activity’ was evident, and adolescents were strongly motivated by improving body image and social desirability. Discussion Considering the views of adolescents attending obesity interventions may help to inform policy makers in the development of future interventions. This may lead to an improvement in recruitment and attrition rates.