bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HIV infection of the male genital tract – consequences for sexual transmission and reproduction
Authors: Le Tortorec A. , Dejucq‐Rainsford N.
Published: June 2009

Despite semen being the main vector of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dissemination worldwide, the origin of the virus in this bodily fluid remains unclear. It was recently shown that several organs of the male genital tract (MGT) are infected by HIV/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and likely to contribute to semen viral load during the primary and chronic stages of the infection. These findings are important in helping answer the following questions: (i) does the MGT constitute a viral reservoir responsible for the persistence of virus release into the semen of a subset of HIV‐infected men under antiretroviral therapy, who otherwise show an undetectable blood viral load? (ii) What is the aetiology of the semen abnormalities observed in asymptomatic HIV‐infected men? (iii) What is the exact nature of the interactions between the spermatozoa, their testicular progenitors and HIV, an important issue in the context of assisted reproductive techniques proposed for HIV‐seropositive (HIV+) men? Answers to these questions are crucial for the design of new therapeutic strategies aimed at eradicating the virus from the genital tract of HIV+ men – thus reducing its sexual transmission – and for improving the care of serodiscordant couples wishing to have children. This review summarizes the most recent literature on HIV infection of the male genital tract, discusses the above issues in light of the latest findings and highlights future directions of research.
Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oil from the peel of bingtang sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck)
Authors: Tao Neng‐guo , Liu Yue‐jin , Zhang Miao‐ling
Published: June 2009

The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the peel of Bingtang sweet orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty‐seven components were identified. The monoterpenes and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons with 96.03% (w/w) of the total oil were the principal compound groups. Among which, limonene was observed dominant (77.49%), followed by myrcene (6.27%), α‐farnesene (3.64%), γ‐terpinene (3.34%), α‐pinene (1.49%), sabinene (1.29%) and other minor components. Results by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination method showed that the essential oil had a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with their inhibition zones ranging from 14.57 mm to 23.37 mm and the MIC ranging from 4.66 μL mL−1 to 18.75 μL mL−1.
Study of the anti‐lactic acid bacteria compounds in table olives
Authors: Medina Eduardo , García Aranzazu , Romero Concepción , De Castro Antonio , Brenes Manuel
Published: June 2009

The analysis and formation of anti‐lactic acid bacteria compounds in olive brines was performed for the main worldwide olive varieties intended for table olives. The results demonstrated that the growth of lactic acid bacteria in the brines of olives non‐treated with NaOH is, in some way, variety dependant. Likewise, the most active antimicrobial compound, the dialdehydic form of decarboxymethyl elenolic acid linked to hydroxytyrosol, was not detected in fresh fruits but it was formed during brining from the hydrolysis of oleuropein and this reaction was enzymatically catalysed. Thus, the inactivation of the enzyme by heating the olives produced (i) an accumulation of oleuropein in olives and brines, (ii) the inhibition of the formation of antimicrobials and (iii) the growth of Lactobacillus pentosus in olive brines. These results provide tools for a full understanding of the growth or inhibition of lactic acid bacteria during fermentation of table olives.
Evaluation of isoflavone content and antioxidant activity of soy‐wheat pasta
Authors: Baiano Antonietta , Terracone Carmela , Gambacorta Giuseppe , La Notte Ennio
Published: June 2009

The purposes of this work were to determine isoflavones profile and antioxidant activity of two soy flours and spaghetti produced from semolina blended with increasing amount of these flours. Defatted and toasted soy flour (DSF and TSF, respectively) showed different isoflavone profiles though glucosides were the most abundant isoflavone forms in both the meals. The pasta‐making procedure determined an increase of the aglycone forms that was at least 37 and 21% in TSF and DSF pasta, respectively. Cooking operations induced severe decreases of the isoflavone content (the losses ranged from 60.44 to104.91 mg kg−1 for TSF pasta and from 85.41 to 469.33 mg kg−1 for DSF pasta). The results of the antioxidant activity were quite different as a function of the methods applied but they resulted generally well correlated with the isoflavone contents of the samples. Cooking induced significant decreases of the antioxidant activity in almost all samples. This result appears well correlated with the decrease of the total isoflavone content and the presence of antioxidant activity in the cooking water.
Improvement of Chemlali olive oil oxidative stability by blending with Chétoui and Rekhami cultivars
Authors: Issaoui Manel , Flamini Guido , Hassine Kaouther Ben , Chehab Hechmi , Brahmi Faten , Hammami Mohamed
Published: June 2009

In order to improve the quality of Chemlali olive oil, characterised by a very low stability (2.09 h), blending with two different monovarietal oils in various proportions: Chétoui and Rekhami (known by their higher stability 7.79 and 13.99 h, respectively) was carried out. Results showed that blended oils had an improved oil composition compared to that of Chemlali. In fact, the highest percentage of Chétoui and Rekhami olive oils (90% of blending) can reduce the acidity up to 68.79% and 79.61%, respectively. At 50% blending, oleic acid increased from 53% to 59.54%, while palmitic acid decreased from 20.97% to 14.89% with Chétoui olive oil. At the lowest percentage (10–20%), chlorophylls in Chemlali olive oil underwent significant increase (from 0.18 to 0.47 and 0.65 mg kg−1, respectively). The amount of carotenoids was higher when Chemlali was blended by 20–40% with Chétoui olive oil (from 2.23 to 4.13 and 4.33 mg kg−1). Blending can be used in industrial applications to provide oils with improved composition related to stability, nutrition and functionality and endowed with the characteristics requested by consumers’ preferences.
Properties of sericin–glucomannan composite films
Authors: Sothornvit Rungsinee , Chollakup Rungsima
Published: June 2009

Sericin is a natural silk protein which is removed from silk in a process called degumming. Thus, finding a use for the extracted sericin as a biopolymer film will create added value which will benefit both the economy and society. It was found that extracted sericin could not form stand‐alone films. Therefore, glucomannan was incorporated with or without glycerol to form a flexible film. Sericin and glucomannan ratio (S:G) affected film properties. Increasing sericin content (S:G = 2:1) slightly reduced film water vapour permeability (WVP) without adding glycerol (Gly). This indicated that sericin provided film flexibility without increasing film WVP. As expected, increasing glycerol content increased film WVP as well as decreased tensile strength and elastic modulus but increased dramatically % elongation. It is interesting that adding beeswax to form a composite film did not improve film water vapour barrier. Thus, sericin‐based film properties are dependent on components used to form film and can tailor to form the desired film flexibility and minimise permeability of films for application.
Analysis of isothiocyanates in newly generated vegetables, Baemuchae (×Brassicoraphanus) as affected by growth
Authors: Lim Sooyeon , Lee Joonhee , Kim Jong‐Kee
Published: June 2009

Isothiocyanates in Brassica exhibit anticancer properties related to induction of phase II detoxification enzymes. Currently, variations of isothiocyanates was evaluated in Baemuchae (×Brassicoraphanus), which was newly generated by inter‐specific hybrid crops between radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis). A high‐performance liquid chromatography system coupled with an evaporative light scattering detector and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry were utilised to identify and quantify isothiocyanates including sulforaphene and sulforaphane in prepared plants. Sulforaphene constituted a major isothiocyanate in Baemuchae and radish, while sulforaphane was detected in broccoli. Sulforaphane contents varied during broccoli growth, with a constant decrease noted from 144.9 ± 8.69 in sprouts to 8.1 ± 1.07 μg g−1 in young leaves. Sulforaphene contents in Baemuchae and radish sprouts were 172.6 ± 11.23 and 131.3 ± 4.08 μg g−1, respectively, and were rarely affected by plant growth. The result supported that newly generated crop Baemuchae had potential to be utilised as functional material because of presence of sulforaphene.
Mathematical modelling of O2 consumption and CO2 production rates of whole mushrooms accounting for the effect of temperature and gas composition
Authors: Iqbal Tariq , Rodrigues Fernanda A. S. , Mahajan Pramod V. , Kerry Joe P.
Published: June 2009

Investigation of respiration rate of fresh produce, under different gas composition and temperatures, and respective mathematical modelling is central for the modified atmosphere packaging design. This work investigates the effect of temperature (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 °C) and gas composition (O2 between 3 to 21% and CO2 between 0 to 15%) on respiration rate of whole mushrooms. Oxygen and carbon dioxide respiration rates increased significantly (3–4 fold) as the temperature elevated from 4 to 20 °C and were in the range of 13.23 ± 3.12 to 102.41 ± 2.132 mL kg−1 h−1) and 14.33 ± 1.56 to 97.02 ± 2.51 mL kg−1 h−1) respectively. Low O2 and high CO2 levels reduced O2 consumption and CO2 production rates of whole mushrooms on average by a circa 47–60% at all temperatures as compared to the respiration rate at ambient air. Mathematical models were developed for RO2 and RCO2, by combining the Arrhenius and Michaelis–Menten uncompetitive equations. These models predicted well, O2 consumption and CO2 production rates of whole mushrooms as a function of both temperature and gas composition.
Hot‐air drying of whole fruit Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Miller): physicochemical properties of dried products
Authors: Fang Shuzheng , Wang Zhengfu , Hu Xiaosong , Datta Ashim K.
Published: June 2009

Drying characteristics of whole fruit was studied as distinct from fruit slices. Taking Chinese jujube as an example, shrinkage, density, vitamin C, colour and rehydration of whole fruit were measured in hot‐air drying at 50, 60 and 70 °C. Unlike fruit slices or lumps where shrinkage volume typically equals the volume of removed water, volumetric shrinkage of Chinese jujube was much more than the volume of removed water. Change in shrinkage with moisture content was described using three linear regions. Increased drying temperature increases the retention of vitamin C and the extent of browning, while decreasing shrinkage and the density. The findings are useful for industrial drying of whole fruit of Chinese jujube but also possibly extend to drying of other drupes.
Different packaging strategies for fresh‐cut ‘barattiere’ melon cultivar (cucumis melo L.)
Authors: Conte Amalia , Scrocco Carmela , Brescia Incoronata , Del Nobile Matteo Alessandro
Published: June 2009

Optimising packaging for minimally processed ‘Barattiere’ melon cultivar (Cucumis melo L.) is addressed in this work. Melon slices were dipped in water solution containing ascorbic acid (1%) and calcium chloride (0.2%). Dipped and untreated fresh‐cut produce was packaged in four different polymeric materials (two biodegradable films, a commercially available multilayer film (MLF) and polypropylene), before storing at 5 °C. During storage, headspace gas composition, microbial quality, pH and mass loss were monitored for a period of 2 weeks. Results suggest that film characteristics strongly influenced gas concentrations in the headspace, microbial growth and weight. Among the tested packaging materials, the MLF seemed to delay significantly the detrimental phenomena involved in quality acceptance, even if clearly anaerobic atmospheres were recorded. The biodegradable films, combined with a dipping pre‐treatment, could represent a good compromise between film performance and environmental impact.
Optimisation of enzymatic pretreatment of soybean oil deodoriser distillate for concentration of tocopherols
Authors: Zhou Wen‐Wu , Qin De‐Huai , Qian Jun‐Qing
Published: June 2009

Tocopherols have been purified from the deodoriser distillate produced in the final deodorisation step of vegetable oil refining by a process including molecular distillation. The deodoriser distillate contains mainly tocopherols, sterols and free fatty acids (FFAs); the presence of FFAs hinders tocopherol purification. In general, Candida rugosa lipase recognised FFAs as substrates but not tocopherols, and esterification of FFAs with methanol (MeOH) could be processed in an organic solvent‐free system. Several factors affecting esterification of FFAs were investigated in detail and optimised by the Plackett–Burman and the central composite design. The optimal reaction conditions are as follows: water content 21.05%, lipase 115.45 U g−1 mixture, temperature 28.95 °C and addition of methanol and FFA in a molar ratio of 4:1 in four steps, with degree of decrease of acid value (AV) above 93% in 18 h; this was a much efficient process. No significant tocopherol losses were observed during the process. In conclusion, enzymatic esterification of FFAs in soybean oil deodoriser distillate for concentration of tocopherols was shown to be a technically viable process.
Effect of heat treatment on curcuminoid, colour value and total polyphenols of fresh turmeric rhizome
Authors: Prathapan A. , Lukhman M. , Arumughan C. , Sundaresan A. , Raghu K. G.
Published: June 2009

Studies were undertaken to examine the effect of heat treatment on total phenolic content (TPC), colour value (yellowishness and brightness), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and curcuminoid of fresh turmeric rhizome. Fresh turmeric rhizomes were subjected to heat treatment at different temperatures (60–100 °C) for different durations (10–60 min), causing a reduction in browning which was evident from the improved yellowishness and brightness. Activity of PPO was also decreased during heat treatment and PPO was almost inactivated when heated at 80 °C for 30 min. TPC of heat‐treated turmeric after drying (powder) is significantly higher than that after the fresh process. TPC values increased gradually when samples were heated from 60 to 80 °C. At 90 and 100 °C, TPC values were almost identical. Maximum brightness and yellowishness were obtained when the turmeric was heated above 80 °C. Quantitation of curcuminoids in the turmeric sample was made with high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). There was no significant change in the concentration of curcuminoids among the heat‐treated samples. But in the sun‐dried samples, a significant reduction in curcuminoid concentration was observed.
Storage stability of a stimulant coconut water–acerola fruit juice beverage
Authors: Da S. Lima Andréa , Maia Geraldo A. , De Sousa Paulo H. M. , Do Prado Giovana M. , Rodrigues Sueli
Published: June 2009

The objective of this work was to study the stability of a beverage formulated with acerola fruit juice and green coconut water with added caffeine. The beverage was prepared with 25% acerola pulp, 75% green coconut water and sugar up to 12°Brix, and caffeine (125 mg L−1), heat processed at 90 °C for 30 s and packed in 250‐mL glass bottles. Chemical, physicochemical, microbiological and sensory analyses of the beverage were performed just after processing and during 6 months of storage at room temperature (27 °C). The vitamin C content decreased significantly throughout storage, from 399.5 to 189.6 mg 100 mL−1, although it has remained relatively high. The anthocyanins initially present (0.025 mg 100 mL−1) were completely lost during the storage at a mean rate of 4 μg 100 mL−1 month−1. The product was microbiologically stable during storage. Colour changes were also observed with absorbance at 420 nm, with average values ranging from 0.19 to 0.24. However, according to the sensory analyses the product was acceptable during the 6 months of storage, presenting sensory scores (colour, taste and global acceptance) from 6.5 to 5.5, which suggests its potential for market.
Effects of casein‐ and whey protein–dextran conjugates on the stability of bog bilberry anthocyanin extract
Authors: Zheng Nan , Bucheli Peter , Jing Hao
Published: June 2009

Bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) contains a high concentration of anthocyanins. Anthocyanin stability depends on many factors, including pH, temperature and composition of food matrices in a product, such as protein and polysaccharide. The effect of casein–dextran and whey protein–dextran conjugates on the stability of bog bilberry anthocyanin extract (BBAE) was investigated in an accelerated model system. Cyanidin‐3‐glucoside was the main anthocyanin (79%) found in BBAE. The cyanidin‐3‐glucoside content, absorbance and ABTS [2, 2‐Azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt] radical scavenging activity of BBAE significantly (P < 0.05) decreased after heating at pH 8.0 and 80 °C for 60 min. The addition of casein–dextran and whey protein–dextran conjugates significantly (P < 0.05) prevented cyanidin‐3‐glucoside from degradation, and increased the absorbance and ABTS radical scavenging activity of heated BBAE. The protection of casein–dextran conjugate on BBAE was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of whey protein–dextran conjugate. The results suggest that protein–dextran conjugates have the ability to stabilise BBAE.
Modelling the long‐term sustainability of indigenous hunting in Manu National Park, Peru: landscape‐scale management implications for Amazonia
Authors: Levi Taal , Shepard Jr Glenn H. , Ohl‐Schacherer Julia , Peres Carlos A. , Yu Douglas W.
Published: June 2009

1.  Widespread hunting throughout Amazonia threatens the persistence of large primates and other vertebrates. Most studies have used models of limited validity and restricted spatial and temporal scales to assess the sustainability.

2.
 We use human‐demographic, game‐harvest and game‐census data to parameterize a spatially explicit hunting model. We explore how population growth and spread, hunting technology and effort, and source–sink dynamics impact the density of black spider monkeys Ateles chamek over time and space in the rainforests of south‐eastern Peru.

3.  In all scenarios, spider monkey populations, which are vulnerable to hunting, persist in high numbers in much of Manu National Park over the next 50 years. Nonetheless, shotguns cause much more depletion than traditional bow hunting by Matsigenka (Machiguenga) indigenous people.

4.  Maintenance of the current indigenous lifestyle (dispersed settlements, bow hunting) is unlikely to deplete spider monkeys and, by extension, other fauna, despite rapid human population growth. This helps explain why large, pre‐Colombian human populations did not drive large primates to extinction. When guns are used, however, spider monkeys quickly become depleted around even small settlements, with depletion eventually reversing the short‐term harvest advantage provided by shotgun hunting. Thus, our models show that when guns are used, limits on settlement numbers can reduce total depletion.

5.
 Synthesis and applications. Our framework lets us visualize the future effects of hunting, population growth, hunting technology and settlement spread in tropical forests. In Manu Park, the continued prohibition of firearms is important for ensuring long‐term hunting sustainability. A complementary policy is to negotiate limits on new settlements in return for development aid in existing settlements. The advantage of the latter approach is that settlement numbers are more easily monitored than is hunting effort or technology. Similar policies could help to reduce landscape‐scale depletion of prey species in human‐occupied reserves and protected areas throughout the Amazon.
Unaccounted mortality in salmon fisheries: non‐retention in gillnets and effects on estimates of spawners
Authors: Baker Matthew R. , Schindler Daniel E.
Published: June 2009

1.  Effective and sustainable natural resource management is enhanced when the consequences of exploitative practices are fully understood and acknowledged. Commercial fisheries devote considerable resources to maximize the harvest of target species and minimize interference with non‐target stocks. Appropriately, bycatch and discard of non‐target stocks are recognized as critical economic and conservation concerns. Few studies, however, have examined non‐retention mortality in target stocks. Non‐retention, where fish are engaged by fishing gear but not landed, is rarely quantified and the effects on stocks are unknown. Mortality due to non‐retention may have important effects on the dynamics of exploited populations.

2.
 We surveyed spawning populations of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka that had traversed commercial fisheries in Bristol Bay, Alaska, to estimate the incidence of non‐retention in gillnets and the severity of injuries associated with entanglement. To better understand how gillnet injury affects spawning success, we tagged and monitored stream‐spawning fish and applied a maximum likelihood model to mark–recapture data.

3.  A substantial portion (11–29%) of spawning sockeye salmon exhibited clear signs of past entanglement with commercial gillnets. Survival among such fish was significantly reduced. More than half of the fish that reach natal spawning grounds with fishery‐related injuries fail to reproduce. This suggests that estimates of spawning stocks are inflated by 5–15% at minimum.

4.
 Synthesis and applications. Our analyses indicate that non‐retention in gillnet fisheries is an important and under‐appreciated consequence of the exploitation of salmon. Stock estimates for exploited populations that do not account for non‐retention mortality overestimate the number of reproductively viable fish. Unaccounted mortality and interannual variation in the magnitude of this mortality may prevent accurate estimates of viable spawners, confound our understanding of the relationship between stock size and recruitment, impede optimal management and obscure the ecosystem impacts of migratory stocks in coastal watersheds. Given the magnitude of non‐retention in this fishery, explicit consideration of non‐retention mortality may be warranted across a wide range of exploited populations.
A global risk assessment for the success of bird introductions
Authors: Vall‐llosera Miquel , Sol Daniel
Published: June 2009

1.  Concern over the impact of invasive species has led to the development of risk assessment methodologies to identify potential invaders and prevent future ecological and economic problems. However, developing a risk assessment tool is challenging because of the difficulties of accurately predicting the outcome of species introductions.

2.  In this study, we develop a global risk assessment for birds. We integrate two approaches, generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and hierarchical tree models, to help identify those introductions with the highest risk of establishment success.

3.  Past work has shown that the number of individuals released is the main factor influencing establishment success in animals, a conclusion that was supported in our analyses. Establishment success was also higher for species with broader ecological niches and larger brains relative to body size. These features should increase the likelihood of finding an appropriate niche in the region of introduction.

4.  The GLMM and tree model predicted the probability of establishment success of birds in Europe and Australia with high accuracy (over 80% of introductions correctly classified). This highlights that establishment risk can be reasonably assessed with information on general habitat use, brain size and the size of the founder population. When compared with an alternative risk assessment tool based on a qualitative ranking, our quantitative approaches achieved higher accuracy with less information.

5.
 Synthesis and applications. Quantitative risk assessments based on traits related to establishment success are difficult but feasible, providing a useful tool for guiding preventive polices aimed at mitigating the impact of invasive species.
Review: nurses can improve patient nutrition in intensive care
Authors: Ros Caroline , McNeill Liz , Bennett Paul
Published: June 2009

Aims and objectives.  To review the literature and identify opportunities for nutritional practice improvement in the critically ill and opportunities to improve nurses’ knowledge relating to enteral feeding.

Background.  The literature reports varying nutritional practices in intensive care.

Design.  Systematic review.

Methods.  A systematic search, selection, analysis and review of nursing, medical and dietetic primary research articles was undertaken. Fifteen studies met the selection criteria.

Results.  Delivery of nutrition to the critically ill varied widely. Patients were frequently underfed and less frequently, overfed. Both under‐ and overfeeding have been linked with unacceptable consequences including infections, extended weaning from mechanical ventilation, increased length of stay and increased mortality. Underfeeding was related to slow initiation and advancement of nutrition support and avoidable feed interruptions. The most common reasons for interrupting feeds were gastrointestinal intolerance and fasting for procedures. Certain nursing practices contributed to underfeeding such as the management of gastric residual volumes.

Conclusions.  Consistent and reliable nutrition support in intensive care units is hampered by a lack of evidence leading to varying nutrition practices. Factors impeding delivery of enteral nutrition were considered avoidable. A new concept of a therapeutic range of energy delivery in the critically ill has emerged implying the need for re‐evaluation of energy recommendations and improved delivery of enteral nutrition.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This review supports the multi‐disciplinary development and implementation of an evidence‐based enteral feeding protocol in intensive care units as a strategy to improve adequacy of nutritional intake. Critical care nurses are well placed to improve this process.
Thinking ‘taller’: sharing responsibility in the everyday lives of children with asthma
Authors: Meah Angela , Callery Peter , Milnes Linda , Rogers Sam
Published: June 2009

Aims.  To explore negotiation of responsibilities for asthma self‐care between a group of preadolescent children aged 7–12 and their parents/carers and to explore the meaning of responsibility to these children and their adult carers.

Background.  Living with asthma requires the distribution of a range of responsibilities between children and their adult carers, highlighting tensions between protection and promotion of autonomy. Previous studies have identified diverse factors associated with transfer of responsibility but a better understanding is required of the meaning of responsibility in children’s lives and how parents and children negotiate responsibilities.

Design.  The design was qualitative.

Methods.  Eighteen child participants aged 7–12 years and their parents/carers participated in open‐ended, conversational‐style interviews. The framework approach was used to analyse the data and interpretation of data drew upon both feminist epistemology and sociological understandings of children, health and the body which relocate subjective experience at the heart of scientific enquiry.

Results.  Children demonstrated responsibility by avoiding asthma exacerbators and limiting the effect of asthma on themselves and their parents but there were limitations on children’s opportunities to exercise some responsibilities.

Conclusions.  It is possible to consider responsibility as the exercise of agency by children rather than simply as compliance with adults’ instructions and prescriptions.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Some parents would like more assistance from health professionals in managing the process of increasing independent self‐care by children. It is important to maintenance of the health of children with long‐term conditions that the distribution of responsibilities between adults and children both ensures children’s safety and provides appropriate preparation for independence in adult life. Understanding the process by which parents and children negotiate distribution of responsibilities for long‐term conditions could provide a basis for development of interventions to respond to parents’ requests for more professional support for managing this process.
Review of nursing care for patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a patient journey approach
Authors: Rolley John X , Davidson Patricia M , Salamonson Yenna , Fernandez Ritin , Dennison Cheryl R
Published: June 2009

Aim.  To evaluate the existing literature to inform nursing management of people undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background.  Percutaneous coronary intervention is an increasingly important revascularisation strategy in coronary heart disease management and can be an emergent, planned or rescue procedure. Nurses play a critical role in delivering care in both the independent and collaborative contexts of percutaneous coronary intervention management.

Design.  Systematic review.

Method.  The method of an integrative literature review, using the conceptual framework of the patient journey, was used to describe existing evidence and to determine important areas for future research. The electronic data bases CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane and the Joanna Briggs data bases were searched using terms including: (angioplasty, transulminal, percutaneous coronary), nursing care, postprocedure complications (haemorrhage, ecchymosis, haematoma), rehabilitation, emergency medical services (transportation of patients, triage).

Results.  Despite the frequency of the procedure, there are limited data to inform nursing care for people undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Currently, there are no widely accessible nursing practice guidelines focusing on the nursing management in percutaneous coronary intervention. Findings of the review were summarised under the headings: Symptom recognition; Treatment decision; Peri‐percutaneous coronary intervention care, describing the acute management and Postpercutaneous coronary intervention management identifying the discharge planning and secondary prevention phase.

Conclusions.  Cardiovascular nurses need to engage in developing evidence to support guideline development. Developing consensus on nurse sensitive patient outcome indicators may enable benchmarking strategies and inform clinical trial design.

Relevance to clinical practice.  To improve the care given to individuals undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, it is important to base practice on high‐level evidence. Where this is lacking, clinicians need to arrive at a consensus as to appropriate standards of practice while also engaging in developing evidence. This must be considered, however, from the central perspective of the patient and their family.
The challenge of caring for patients in pain: from the nurse’s perspective
Authors: Blondal Katrin , Halldorsdottir Sigridur
Published: June 2009

Aim. To increase understanding of what it is like for nurses to care for patients in pain.

Background. Hospitalised patients are still suffering from pain despite increased knowledge, new technology and a wealth of research. Since nurses are key figures in successful pain management and research findings indicate that caring for suffering patients is a stressful and demanding experience where conflict often arises in nurses’ relations with patients and doctors, it may be fruitful to study nurses’ experience of caring for patients in pain to increase understanding of the above problem.

Design. A phenomenological study involved 20 dialogues with 10 experienced nurses.

Results. The findings indicate that caring for a patient in pain is a ‘challenging journey’ for the nurse. The nurse seems to have a ‘strong motivation to ease the pain’ through moral obligation, knowledge, personal experience and conviction. The main challenges that face the nurse are ‘reading the patient’, ‘dealing with inner conflict of moral dilemmas’, ‘dealing with gatekeepers’ (physicians) and ‘organisational hindrances’. Depending upon the outcome, pain management can have positive or negative effects on the patient and the nurse.

Conclusions. Nurses need various coexisting patterns of knowledge, as well as a favourable organisational environment, if they are to be capable of performing in accord with their moral and professional obligations regarding pain relief. Nurses’ knowledge in this respect may hitherto have been too narrowly defined.

Relevance to clinical practice. The findings can stimulate nurses to reflect critically on their current pain management practice. By identifying their strengths as well as their limitations, they can improve their knowledge and performance on their own, or else request more education, training and support. Since nurses’ clinical decisions are constantly moulded and stimulated by multiple patterns of knowledge, educators in pain management should focus not only on theoretical but also on personal and ethical knowledge.
Factors contributing to nursing task incompletion as perceived by nurses working in Kuwait general hospitals
Authors: Al‐Kandari Fatimah , Thomas Deepa
Published: June 2009

Background.  Unfinished care has a strong relationship with quality of nursing care. Most issues related to tasks incompletion arise from staffing and workload.

Objectives.  This study was conducted to assess the workload of nurses, the nursing activities (tasks) nurses commonly performed on medical and surgical wards, elements of nursing care activities left incomplete by nurses during a shift, factors contributing to task incompletion and the relationship between staffing, demographic variables and task incompletion.

Design.  Exploratory survey using a self‐administered questionnaire developed from IHOC survey, USA.

Participants.  All full time registered nurses working on the general medical and surgical wards of five government general hospitals in Kuwait.

Methods.  Research assistants distributed and collected back the questionnaires. Four working days were given to participants to complete and return the questionnaires. A total of 820 questionnaires were distributed and 95% were returned.

Data analysis.  Descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS‐11.

Results.  The five most frequently performed nursing activities were: administration of medications, assessing patient condition, preparing/updating nursing care plans, close patient monitoring and client health teaching. The most common nursing activities nurses were unable to complete were: comfort talk with patient and family, adequate documentation of nursing care, oral hygiene, routine catheter care and starting or changing IV fluid on time. Tasks were more complete when the nurse‐patient load was less than 5. Nurses’ age and educational background influenced task completion while nurses’ gender had no influence on it.

Conclusions.  Increased patient loads, resulting in increased frequency of nursing tasks and non‐nursing tasks, were positively correlated to incompletion of nursing activities during the shift.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Emphasis should be given to maintaining the optimum nurse–patient load and decreasing the non‐nursing workload of nurses to enhance the quality of nursing care.
The meaning of autonomy in nursing practice
Authors: Skår Randi
Published: June 2009

Aim.  To illuminate the meaning of nurses’ experiences of autonomy in work situations.

Background.  Professional autonomy means having the authority to make decisions and the freedom to act in accordance with one’s professional knowledge base. An understanding of autonomy is needed to clarify and develop the nursing profession in rapidly changing health care environments and internationally there is a concern about how the core elements of nursing are taken care of when focusing on expansion and extension of specialist nursing roles.

Design.  Qualitative study.

Methods.  This paper reports part of a project aimed at exploring the education and work qualifications required by the nursing profession. Eleven Norwegian nurses, each with 2–3 years of work experience since graduation, participated in both in‐depth interviews and focus group interviews in 2006. A qualitative hermeneutic approach, inspired by Gadamer’s philosophy, guided the research process and the analysis and interpretation of the transcribed interview‐texts.

Results.  The nurses’ descriptions of their experiences of autonomy in work situations emerged as four themes: ‘to have a holistic view’, ‘to know the patient’, ‘to know that you know’ and ‘to dare’. To be knowledgeable and confident was found to be the coherent meaning of autonomy in nursing practice.

Conclusions.  Authority of total patient care, the power to make decisions in a relationship with the patient and next of kin and the freedom to make clinical judgements, choices and actions seem to be connected to the meaning of autonomy in nursing practice.

Relevance to clinical practice.  To gain autonomous practice, nurses must be competent and have the courage to take charge in situations where they are responsible. This study shows the challenges in handling this autonomous practice.
Effective nursing care of adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa: the patients’ perspective
Authors: Van Ommen Joyce , Meerwijk Esther L , Kars Marijke , Van Elburg Annemarie , Van Meijel Berno
Published: June 2009

Aims and objectives.  The purpose of this study is to develop – from the patients’ perspective ‐ a tentative theoretical model explaining the effectiveness of inpatient nursing care of adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.

Background.  The continuous and direct involvement of nurses with patients is likely to play a significant role in the recovery process of patients with anorexia nervosa. However, only limited evidence is available on what patients with anorexia nervosa themselves consider important and effective in terms of nursing care.

Design.  The design of this study was qualitative.

Methods.  A grounded theory approach was applied where 13 adolescents with anorexia nervosa were interviewed to generate data for the model.

Results.  Participants stated that nurses contributed significantly to their recovery from anorexia nervosa. Three recurring themes emerged from the data: (1) normalisation, (2) structure and (3) responsibility. The focus of nursing care with respect to these themes shifted during the phases of recovery.

Conclusions.  Based on patients’ experiences a theoretical model is developed describing effective nursing care of adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Patients identified the key components of this model as essential to their weight recovery.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The model may be used to improve the quality of nursing care of adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa through analysis of current practice with respect to the key components of our model. Interventions that are based on these components closely follow the patients’ needs.
Not feeding, not coming home: parental experiences of infant feeding difficulties and family relationships in a neonatal unit
Authors: Swift Michelle Carr , Scholten Ingrid
Published: June 2009

Aim.  This study had two main objectives: (1) to describe the experiences of parents who had a child in the Flinders Medical Centre neonatal unit with a feeding difficulty at 36 weeks gestational age and (2) to develop a preliminary model from the data as an account of the parents’ experiences to identify considerations for future and current neonatal unit staff.

Background.  Family centred care is an important part of nursing practice. Research looking individually at the neonatal unit experience and childhood feeding difficulties has found that they can be stressful situations for parents. However, very little research has been conducted into parental experiences of feeding infants in a neonatal unit and there is no known research which has specifically looked at the effect on parents of having a child with a feeding difficulty in a neonatal unit.

Design.  A qualitative phenomenological research design was employed.

Method.  Nine parents whose children had feeding difficulties while in the Flinders Medical Centre neonatal unit, South Australia, participated via retrospective in‐depth interviews.

Results.  Responses were coded to describe parents’ experiences and a preliminary model was proposed to explain the data. The main theme linking parental experiences was the desire to take the baby home. The feeding difficulty prevented this from occurring, shifting the feeding interaction from one of relationship development to one of weight gain.

Conclusion.  This research identifies trigger points that may be acted on to encourage positive parent‐child feeding interactions.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Family centred care is encouraged in paediatric nursing practice. This research identifies trigger points which may inform clinical practice involving parents of infants with feeding difficulties.
Global patterns in plant height
Authors: Moles Angela T. , Warton David I. , Warman Laura , Swenson Nathan G. , Laffan Shawn W. , Zanne Amy E. , Pitman Andy , Hemmings Frank A. , Leishman Michelle R.
Published: June 2009

1.  Plant height is a central part of plant ecological strategy. It is strongly correlated with life span, seed mass and time to maturity, and is a major determinant of a species’ ability to compete for light. Plant height is also related to critical ecosystem variables such as animal diversity and carbon storage capacity. However, remarkably little is known about global patterns in plant height. Here, we use maximum height data for 7084 plant Species × Site combinations to provide the first global, cross‐species quantification of the latitudinal gradient in plant height.

2.
 The mean maximum height of species growing within 15° of the equator (7.8 m) was 29 times greater than the height of species between 60° and 75° N (27 cm), and 31 times greater than the height of species between 45° and 60° S (25 cm). There was no evidence that the latitudinal gradient in plant height was different in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere (P = 0.29). A 2.4‐fold drop in plant height at the edge of the tropics (P = 0.006) supports the idea that there might be a switch in plant strategy between temperate and tropical zones.

3.
 We investigated 22 environmental variables to determine which factors underlie the latitudinal gradient in plant height. We found that species with a wide range of height strategies were present in cold, dry, low productivity systems, but there was a noticeable lack of very short species in wetter, warmer, more productive sites. Variables that capture information about growing conditions during the harsh times of the year were relatively poor predictors of height. The best model for global patterns in plant height included only one term: precipitation in the wettest month (R2 = 0.256).

4.
 Synthesis. We found a remarkably steep relationship between latitude and height, indicating a major difference in plant strategy between high and low latitude systems. We also provide new, surprising information about the correlations between plant height and environmental variables.
Seedling establishment shapes the distribution of shade‐adapted forest herbs across a topographical moisture gradient
Authors: Albrecht Matthew A. , McCarthy Brian C.
Published: June 2009

1. In deciduous forests, herb distribution patterns can shift dramatically across topographical gradients, yet it remains unclear whether topographical associations reflect regeneration niche differences that arise during early life‐history stages.

2. We examined: (i) whether seedling recruitment patterns were consistent with topographical distributions of established populations and (ii) how environmental heterogeneity at two spatial scales influences spatial patterns of seedling recruitment in four shade‐adapted forest herbs (Actaea racemosa,Hydrastis canadensis,Panax quinquefoliusandSanguinaria canadensis), which are harvested from the wild for their medicinal properties but differ in life histories and seed mass. Topographical distributions were quantified in transect surveys of forest stands, and then seed was experimentally transplanted into litter microenvironments (bare, shallow and deep) on opposing topographical positions (NE‐facing cove forest and SW‐facing oak forest).

3. Forest herbs that were more frequent in moist NE‐facing cove forests (A. racemosa,H. canadensisandS. canadensis) suffered higher mortality when their seeds were dispersed into the drier SW‐facing oak forest, although the stages that limited recruitment differed among species.

4. ForA. racemosaandS. canadensis, the selectivity of the slope topographical filter varied in strength among years that differed in soil moisture. Seedling distributions expanded across the topographical gradient during a ‘wet’ year but contracted during a ‘dry’ year.

5. Litter effects were often context‐dependent. Litter‐removing disturbance increased seedling recruitment ofH. canadensis, but only in the NE‐facing cove forest. When soil moisture was limiting in either space or time, microenvironments where litter was present tended to enhance emergence and/or survival relative to litter‐free microenvironments.

6. ForP. quinquefolius, which has been harvested from the wild for over 200 years, seed limitation is a fundamental constraint on its distribution along a topographical moisture gradient. Across all microenvironments, the net recruitment rate ofP. quinquefolius, the largest‐seeded and least abundant species, was an order of magnitude greater than that ofA. racemosa, the smallest‐seeded and most abundant species.

7. Synthesis.Many shade‐adapted forest herbs are declining in abundance due to anthropogenic factors. Conservation efforts must consider dispersal limitation in the spatial context of environmental filters that can vary in strength and quality over time.