bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate change alters plant biogeography in Mediterranean prairies along the West Coast, USA
Authors: Pfeifer‐Meister Laurel , Bridgham Scott D. , Reynolds Lorien L. , Goklany Maya E. , Wilson Hannah E. , Little Chelsea J. , Ferguson Aryana , Johnson Bart R.
Published: July 2015

Projected changes in climate are expected to have widespread effects on plant community composition and diversity in coming decades. However, multisite, multifactor climate manipulation studies that have examined whether observed responses are regionally consistent and whether multiple climate perturbations are interdependent are rare. Using such an experiment, we quantified how warming and increased precipitation intensity affect the relative dominance of plant functional groups and diversity across a broad climate gradient of Mediterranean prairies. We implemented a fully factorial climate manipulation of warming (+2.5–3.0 °C) and increased wet‐season precipitation (+20%) at three sites across a 520‐km latitudinal gradient in the Pacific Northwest, USA. After seeding with a nearly identical mix of native species at all sites, we measured plant community composition (i.e., cover, richness, and diversity), temperature, and soil moisture for 3 years. Warming and the resultant drying of soils altered plant community composition, decreased native diversity, and increased total cover, with warmed northern communities becoming more similar to communities further south. In particular, after two full years of warming, annual cover increased and forb cover decreased at all sites mirroring the natural biogeographic pattern. This suggests that the extant climate gradient of increasing heat and drought severity is responsible for a large part of the observed biogeographic pattern of increasing annual invasion in US West Coast prairies as one moves further south. Additional precipitation during the rainy season did little to relieve drought stress and had minimal effects on plant community composition. Our results suggest that the projected increase in drought severity (i.e., hotter, drier summers) in Pacific Northwest prairies may lead to increased invasion by annuals and a loss of forbs, similar to what has been observed in central and southern California, resulting in novel species assemblages and shifts in functional composition, which in turn may alter ecosystem functions.
Negative Effect of Proton‐pump Inhibitors (PPIs) on Helicobacter pylori Growth, Morphology, and Urease Test and Recovery after PPI Removal – An In vitro Study
Authors: Saniee Parastoo , Shahreza Somayeh , Siavoshi Farideh
Published: July 2015

Background

Proton‐pump inhibitor (PPI) consumption does lead to false‐negative results of Helicobacter pylori diagnostic tests such as biopsy culture and rapid urease test (RUT).

Materials and Methods

Helicobacter pylori isolates from 112 dyspeptic patients with (56.5%) or without (43.5%) PPI consumption were recruited for examining the negative effects of omeprazole (OMP), lansoprazole (LPZ), and pantoprazole (PAN) on H. pylori viability, morphology, and urease, in vitro. The effect of a sublethal concentration of OMP on bacterial features and their recovery after removal of OMP was also assessed.

Results

Of 112 culture‐positive gastric biopsies, 87.5% were RUT positive and 12.5% RUT negative. There was a significant correlation between negative RUT results and PPI consumption (p < .05). OMP (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC 32 μg/mL) and LPZ (MIC 8 μg/mL) inhibited the growth of 78.6% of H. pylori isolates. OMP and LPZ inhibited urease of 90.3% of isolates between 0 and 40 minutes and 54.4% between 20 and 40 minutes, respectively. PAN did not inhibit H. pylori growth and urease. Three 3‐day (9 days) consecutive subcultures of H. pylori on brucella blood agar (BBA) supplemented with OMP resulted in reduced bacterial viability (1+), compared with control (4+), change of spiral morphology to coccoid, and reduction in pink color intensity in urea agar. Bacterial growth (1+), morphology, and urease test did not improve after the first 3‐day and second 3‐day (6 days) subcultures on BBA. However, relative recovery occurred after the third 3‐day (9 days) subculture and complete recovery was observed after the fourth 3‐day (12 days) subculture, as confluent growth (4+), 100% spiral cells, and strong urease test.

Conclusion

Proton‐pump Inhibitors exert transient negative effects on H. pylori viability, morphology, and urease test. Accordingly, cessation of PPI consumption at least 12 days before endoscopy could help avoiding false‐negative results of H. pylori diagnostic tests.
Dental sealant knowledge, opinion, values and practice of Spanish dental hygienists
Authors: San Martin L , Huertos‐Marchante A , Galvan‐Martos J , Rodriguez‐Lozano FJ
Published: July 2015

Objectives

Dental sealants have proved to be an effective approach to prevent pit and fissure caries. This study examines the knowledge, opinion, values and practice (KOVP) of dental hygienists concerning sealant use in the southwest region of Andalusia, Spain.

Methods

Spanish dental hygienists (n = 400) volunteered to complete a 31‐item, self‐administered, pretested questionnaire to assess their knowledge, opinion, values and practice regarding pit and fissure sealants. Wilcoxon matched‐pairs signed ranks test, the Friedman nonparametric repeated‐measures anova and Spearman's correlation were used to analyse the data.

Results

The mean scores for knowledge, opinion, values and practice were 3.57 ± 0.41; 2.17 ± 0.42; 2.58 ± 0.77 and 3.56 ± 0.46, respectively. Knowledge differed by years of experience (P < 0.01) and place of work (P < 0.01); opinion differed by years of experience (P = 0.03) and sector (P < 0.01). Similarly, practice about sealants differed by years of experience (P < 0.01). Conversely, values around sealant placement did not statistically differ by sex, years of experience, practice sector or place of work. Statistically, significant correlations were found between knowledge, opinion and value, while it was found no significant correlation between practice and the other variables (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Most dental hygienists have sufficient knowledge about pit and fissure sealants. They also acknowledge the importance of use of dental sealants and have positive opinion/attitude about using sealants. Practice of dental sealants in clinics was found adequate. However, they were not following the specific guidelines and standardized procedures.
La qualité de l'emploi en Amérique latine: théorie et faits
Authors: RAMOS Joseph , SEHNBRUCH Kirsten , WELLER Jürgen
Published: July 2015

Traditionnellement, la littérature sur le développement consacrée aux marchés du travail d'Amérique latine s'est concentrée sur le nombre d'emplois et la productivité. Mais, étant donné la persistance d'une forte proportion d'emplois informels ou précaires, pour que l'analyse ait du sens, il faut aussi considérer des implications du statut professionnel sur la qualité de l'emploi. Partant d'observations faites ces dernières décennies, les auteurs concluent que la plupart des aspects de cette qualité – protection sociale comprise – dépendent de la signature d'un contrat écrit. Ce constat les conduit à formuler quelques suggestions pour stabiliser l'emploi formel et assurer un financement suffisant de la protection sociale.
Heat Stress Effects are Stronger on Spikelets Than on Flag Leaves in Rice Due to Differences in Dissipation Capacity
Authors: Zhang C. X. , Fu G. F. , Yang X. Q. , Yang Y. J. , Zhao X. , Chen T. T. , Zhang X. F. , Jin Q. Y. , Tao L. X.
Published: July 2015

Rice is most sensitive to heat stress at the flowering stage, with different degrees of heat damage in spikelets and leaves. To investigate the heat damage in spikelets and flag leaves, two rice genotypes, N22 (heat‐tolerant) and GT937 (heat‐sensitive), were subjected to a heat‐stress treatment (40 °C for 15 days). The results showed that more damaging was found in spikelets than in flag leaves and the heat stress significantly decreased the seed‐setting rate by 12.41 % in N22 and by 65.02 % in GT937. However, the difference in the net photosynthetic rate of the flag leaf between heat‐stressed and control was not significant. Moreover, the difference of temperatures in spikelets and flag leaves was attributed to the differences in heat dissipating. Under heat stress, the transpiration rate was significantly higher in flag leaves than in spikelets, and the temperature in flag leaves were at least 4 °C cooler than in spikelets. Although the spikelet temperatures did not differ significantly between the two genotypes under heat stress, spikelets of GT937 were more severely damaged than those of N22, which might result from the differences in the antioxidant capacities between genotypes. Results showed that little difference of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase activities of spikelets was found in N22, while significant reduction was found in GT937 under heat stress, compared with control. These results suggest that organ temperature is controlled mainly by transpirational cooling, and that heat stress is an indirect result of oxidative stress, rather than a direct result of heat damage.
Effect of Hf 4+ Concentration on Oxygen Grain‐Boundary Diffusion in Alumina
Authors: Wu Qian , Chan Helen M. , Rickman Jeffrey M. , Harmer Martin P.
Published: July 2015

The kinetics of oxygen grain‐boundary diffusion in alumina was studied as a function of HfO2 concentration. The oxidation of Ni marker particles to NiAl2O4 spinel was utilized to delineate the position of the oxidation front. The HfO2 doping levels spanned the solubility limit, ranging from 100 to 2000 ppm (Hf:Al concentration). For each dopant level, the parabolic rate constant (k) was determined for oxidation anneals carried out at 1400°C. Relative to undoped alumina, HfO2 doping slowed the oxygen transport kinetics by a factor of approximately 3–8, depending on the dopant concentration. At 1400°C, the solubility limit of HfO2 was found to be between 100 and 200 ppm. The results showed that the level of benefit saturated at the dopant level corresponding to the solubility limit (sollim), where 100 ppm < sollim < 200 ppm. The results of the transport experiments were also examined with respect to the fractional grain‐boundary coverage (f), as opposed to overall HfO2 content. An approximate linear relationship between the rate of oxygen transport and f was observed, which can be rationalized in terms of a site‐blocking model.
Structure and Thermal Expansion of YSZ and La2Zr2O7 Above 1500°C from Neutron Diffraction on Levitated Samples
Authors: Ushakov Sergey V. , Navrotsky Alexandra , Weber Richard J. K. , Neuefeind Joerg C.
Published: July 2015

High‐temperature time‐of‐flight neutron diffraction experiments were performed on cubic yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ, 10 mol% YO1.5) and lanthanum zirconate (LZ) prepared by laser melting. Three spheroids of each composition were aerodynamically levitated and rotated in argon flow and heated with a CO2 laser. Unit cell, positional and atomic displacement parameters were obtained by Rietveld analysis. Below ~1650°C the mean thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) for YSZ is higher than for LZ (13 ± 1 vs. 10.3 ± 0.6) × 10−6/K. From ~1650°C to the onset of melting of LZ at ~2250°C, TEC for YSZ and LZ are similar and within (7 ± 2) × 10−6/K. LZ retains the pyrochlore structure up to the melting temperature with Zr coordination becoming closer to perfectly octahedral. Congruently melting LZ is La deficient. The occurrence of thermal disordering of oxygen sublattice (Bredig transition) in defect fluorite structure was deduced from the rise in YSZ TEC to ~25 × 10−6/K at 2350°C–2550°C with oxygen displacement parameters (Uiso) reaching 0.1 Å2, similar to behavior observed in UO2. Acquisition of powder‐like high‐temperature neutron diffraction data from solid‐levitated samples is feasible and possible improvements are outlined. This methodology should be applicable to a wide range of materials for high‐temperature applications.
Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Calcium Hexaboride Powder via Transient Boron Carbide Formation
Authors: Kakiage Masaki , Shiomi Shuhei , Yanase Ikuo , Kobayashi Hidehiko
Published: July 2015

Calcium hexaboride (CaB6) powder was synthesized by carbothermal reduction using a low‐temperature synthesis method for boron carbide (B4C) powder. A B4C precursor consisting of boron oxide (B2O3) and carbon components was prepared from a condensed boric acid (H3BO3)‐poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) product by thermal decomposition in air, which was then mixed with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) powder. CaB6 was formed via the transient formation of calcium borate (Ca3B2O6) and B4C, which were in close contact owing to the finely dispersed B2O3/carbon structure of the B4C precursor. CaB6 powder with fine particles was synthesized by heat treatment at 1400°C for 10 h in an Ar flow.
Crystal Growth in the Combustion Synthesis of α‐Si3N4 Using Si with Different Particle Sizes
Authors: Ge Yiyao , Wang Qi , Cui Wei , Zou Yifeng , Xie Zhipeng , Chen Kexin
Published: July 2015

In this present work, Si3N4 powders with high α‐phase contents and distinct crystal morphologies were prepared via a promising approach of combustion synthesis (CS), using Si powders with different particle sizes as reactants. The influence of Si particle size on phase composition and crystal morphologies in the products was systematically investigated. Two unique crystal morphologies, radial‐spheroidal‐cluster and flowerlike, were observed in the Si3N4 products. The crystal growth mechanisms of Si3N4 granules in the CS system with disparate Si have been proposed based on experiments and thermokinetic calculations. As conclusion, the α‐phase content in the final product was synergetically dominated by the vaporization process of Si particles and the α–β phase transformation of Si3N4 during the after‐burn period. Si3N4 powders with high α‐phase content can be obtained from Si powders with an appropriate particle size.
A protocol for a systematic review of effective home support to people with dementia and their carers: components and impacts
Authors: Clarkson Paul , Giebel Clarissa M. , Larbey Matthew , Roe Brenda , Challis David , Hughes Jane , Jolley David , Poland Fiona , Russell Ian ,   Members of the HoSt‐D (Home Support in Dementia) Programme Management Group
Published: July 2015

Aim

To review the evidence for home support approaches directed at tertiary prevention; ameliorating difficulties and enhancing well‐being.

Background

With population ageing dementia represents a significant care challenge with 60% of people with dementia living at home. However, little is known about existing forms of home support and their relative effectiveness.

Design

A two‐stage design: First, an overview of systematic reviews of psychosocial interventions for dementia to identify their components; second, a systematic review of the effectiveness of home support interventions to older people with dementia/their carers.

Methods

We will search electronic databases using specific search terms with additional searches of other known studies. Data will be extracted by two reviewers according to pre‐determined categories. An initial synthesis will elicit components of interventions from stage 1 and operationalize them in terms of specific techniques. These will then be used in synthesis of data in stage 2, to determine the extent to which each home support intervention relies on these components and distill evidence concerning outcomes. Studies from stage 2 are expected to be methodologically diverse; if so, a narrative approach to synthesis will be taken. Study findings will be explored with Patient, Public and Carer Involvement groups.

Discussion

The review seeks to develop a theory of home support: how and why interventions may work; in what contexts; and for whom. We will identify effective home support approaches, informing policy‐makers and establishing how they might be experienced by people with dementia and their carers.
n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces insulin resistance in hepatitis C virus infected patients: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Freire T. O. , Boulhosa R. S. S. B. , Oliveira L. P. M. , de Jesus R. P. , Cavalcante L. N. , Lemaire D. C. , Toralles M. B. P. , Lyra L. G. C. , Lyra A. C.
Published: July 2015

Background

Insulin resistance promotes liver disease progression and may be associated with a lower response rate in treated hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation may reduce insulin resistance.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of n‐3 PUFA supplementation on insulin resistance in these patients.

Methods

In a randomised, double‐blind clinical trial, 154 patients were screened. After applying inclusion criteria, 52 patients [homeostasis model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR ≥2.5)] were randomly divided into two groups: n‐3 PUFA (n = 25/6000 mg day−1 of fish oil) or control (n = 27/6000 mg day−1 of soybean oil). Both groups were supplemented for 12 weeks and underwent monthly nutritional consultation. Biochemical tests were performed at baseline and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney test for comparisons and the Wilcoxon test for paired data. Statistical package r, version 3.02 (The R Project for Statistical Computing) was used and P < 0.05 (two‐tailed) was considered statistically significant.

Results

Comparisons between groups showed that n‐3 PUFA supplementation was more effective than the control for reducing HOMA‐IR (P = 0.015) and serum insulin (P = 0.016). The n‐3 PUFA group not only showed a significant reduction in HOMA‐IR 3.8 (3.2–5.0) versus 2.4 (1.8–3.3) (P = 0.002); serum insulin 17.1 (13.8–20.6) μIU mL−1 versus 10.9 (8.6–14.6) μIU mL−1 (P = 0.001); and glycated haemoglobin 5.4% (5.0–5.7%) versus 5.1% (4.8–5.6%) (P = 0.011), but also presented an increase in interleukin‐1 97.5 (0.0–199.8) pg mL−1 versus 192.4 (102.2–266.8) pg mL−1 (P = 0.003) and tumour necrosis factor 121.2 (0.0–171.3) pg mL−1 versus 185.7 (98.0–246.9) pg mL−1 (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

n‐3 PUFA supplementation reduces insulin resistance in genotype 1 HCV infected patients.
Impact of school‐based dental program performance on the oral health‐related quality of life in children
Authors: Amalia Rosa , Schaub Rob M. H. , Stewart Roy E. , Widyanti Niken , Groothoff Johan W.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To assess the association between the performance of school‐based dental programs (SBDPs) and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in school children, in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, taking into account untreated caries and sociodemographic factors.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was administered with 1906 children aged 12 and participating in SBDPs. Four SBDPs were chosen to represent good and poor performance in urban and rural areas. Caries was assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, whereas the children were interviewed for the OHRQoL and sociodemographic data. The OHRQoL was assessed using the Condition‐Specific Child‐Oral Impact on Daily Performances (CS Child‐OIDP) index related to dental caries.

Results

The mean CS Child‐OIDP score was 1.63 (SD ± 3.20) for good performance SBDP and 6.89 (SD ± 8.85) for poor performance SBDP. Analysis by negative binomial regression showed that being served by a poorly performing SBDP (RR = 4.45, 95% CI = 3.87–5.13), and to some extent living in a rural area and being a girl, were significantly associated with a greater risk of having a lower quality of life than were the counterparts. Untreated caries did not show an association with OHRQoL.

Conclusion

There are substantial indications that SBDP performance is related to children's OHRQoL.
Fiscal Transfers and Fiscal Sustainability
Authors: POTRAFKE NIKLAS , REISCHMANN MARKUS
Published: July 2015

We examine whether the U.S. and German state governments pursue sustainable fiscal policies taking into account fiscal transfers. Using panel data techniques we investigate whether the debt‐to‐GDP ratio had a positive influence on the primary surplus (Bohn model). We show that including/excluding fiscal transfers changes the results. If fiscal transfers are not included in the primary surplus, the test results do not indicate that the U.S. and German state governments pursued sustainable fiscal policies. Our results also suggest that fiscal transfers were positively related to debt. These findings indicate that intergovernmental transfers have implicitly subsidized debts.
Distance, Language, Religion, and the Law of One Price: Evidence from Canada and Nigeria
Authors: FIELDING DAVID , HAJZLER CHRISTOPHER , MACGEE JAMES
Published: July 2015

We examine the impact of physical distance, language, and religion on Law of One Price (LOP) deviations across interwar Canadian and modern Nigerian cities. The data comprise monthly average retail prices for narrowly defined goods collected by national statistical agencies. We find that differences in the fraction of the city population sharing a common language and religion have a significant impact on LOP deviations. The impact of language differences is consistent with a recently developed theory in which both trade costs and differences in signal–noise ratios contribute to LOP deviations.
The Quality of Nurses’ Work Environment and Workforce Outcomes From the Perspective of Swiss Allied Healthcare Assistants and Registered Nurses: A Cross‐Sectional Survey
Authors: Lacher Stefanie , De Geest Sabina , Denhaerynck Kris , Trede Ines , Ausserhofer Dietmar
Published: July 2015

Background

Anticipating nursing shortages, the Swiss healthcare system recently introduced the position of allied healthcare assistant (AHA). However, indicators of AHAs’ integration and stability, particularly their perceptions of their work environment quality and related outcomes (i.e., burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave), remain unclear.

Aims

(a) To describe AHAs’ ratings of the quality of the nurse work environment, job satisfaction, burnout, and intention to leave their workplaces; (b) to compare AHAs’ and registered nurses’ (RNs’) work environment quality ratings and related outcomes; and (c) to assess links between AHAs’ work environment quality ratings and related workforce outcomes.

Design

A secondary analysis of RN4CAST data (October 2009 to June 2010) on 61 AHAs and 466 RNs in 13 Swiss acute care hospitals.

Methods

We used descriptive statistics to summarize data of AHAs and RNs on their units and hospitals. Via binary logistic regression models, we compared AHAs and RNs and identified associations between work environment ratings and workforce outcomes.

Findings

AHAs’ work environment quality ratings were significantly higher than those of RNs, and were associated with lower odds of burnout and intention to leave their current job and higher odds of reported job satisfaction.

Conclusions

This study provides primary evidence linking AHAs’ work environment quality ratings to burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave in acute care hospitals.

Clinical Relevance

Given the increasing importance of AHAs for nursing care provision, hospitals should assess the quality of nurse work environment and nurse outcomes from the perspective of all nurses.
Newly Graduated Nurses' Competence and Individual and Organizational Factors: A Multivariate Analysis
Authors: Numminen Olivia , Leino‐Kilpi Helena , Isoaho Hannu , Meretoja Riitta
Published: July 2015

Objective

To study the relationships between newly graduated nurses’ (NGNs’) perceptions of their professional competence, and individual and organizational work‐related factors.

Methods

A multivariate, quantitative, descriptive, correlation design was applied. Data collection took place in November 2012 with a national convenience sample of 318 NGNs representing all main healthcare settings in Finland. Five instruments measured NGNs’ perceptions of their professional competence, occupational commitment, empowerment, practice environment, and its ethical climate, with additional questions on turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and demographics. Descriptive statistics summarized the demographic data, and inferential statistics multivariate path analysis modeling estimated the relationships between the variables.

Results

The strongest relationship was found between professional competence and empowerment, competence explaining 20% of the variance of empowerment. The explanatory power of competence regarding practice environment, ethical climate of the work unit, and occupational commitment, and competence's associations with turnover intentions, job satisfaction, and age, were statistically significant but considerably weaker. Higher competence and satisfaction with quality of care were associated with more positive perceptions of practice environment and its ethical climate as well as higher empowerment and occupational commitment.

Conclusions

Apart from its association with empowerment, competence seems to be a rather independent factor in relation to the measured work‐related factors. Further exploration would deepen the knowledge of this relationship, providing support for planning educational and developmental programs. Research on other individual and organizational factors is warranted to shed light on factors associated with professional competence in providing high‐quality and safe care as well as retaining new nurses in the workforce.

Clinical Relevance

The study sheds light on the strength and direction of the significantly associated work‐related factors. Nursing professional bodies, managers, and supervisors can use the findings in planning orientation programs and other occupational interventions for NGNs.
Symptom Experience Associated With Immunosuppressive Medications in Chinese Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Teng Sha , Zhang Shuping , Zhang Wenxin , Lin Xiaohong , Shang Yabin , Peng Xiao , Liu Hongxia
Published: July 2015

Purpose

Kidney transplant recipients require lifelong treatment with immunosuppressive medications to avoid graft rejection and graft loss. Symptoms experienced may influence recipients’ perceived quality of life and medication adherence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the symptom experience associated with immunosuppressive medications in adult kidney transplant recipients and to explore the association between the symptom experience and adherence to immunosuppressive medications.

Design

A cross‐sectional design was used. The study was conducted in a general hospital in China from October 2013 to September 2014. A total of 231 recipients with a follow‐up of at least 1 year after kidney transplantation were included.

Methods

Symptom experience associated with immunosuppressive medications was measured by the 13‐item Symptom Experience of Immunosuppressive‐related Side Effects Scale. Self‐reported adherence to immunosuppressive medications was assessed using the Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scale. Ridit analysis was used to rank symptom distress items.

Findings

A proportion of 60.6% of recipients were male; the time after kidney transplantation was arbitrarily divided into a short‐term cohort (1–4 years) and a long‐term cohort (4–16 years) according to the median duration of follow‐up (4 years). High blood pressure, hair loss, and tiredness were the three most distressing symptoms over all items of the whole sample. High blood pressure was the most distressing symptom for the 1‐ to 4‐year cohort and the 4‐ to 16‐year cohort. For men high blood pressure was the most distressing symptom, whereas for women hair loss was the most distressing symptom. Recipients in the 4‐ to 16‐year cohort perceived a higher level of symptom distress compared with those in the 1‐ to 4‐year cohort, especially in excess hair growth and difficulty sleeping. A negative relationship was found between symptom distress and adherence to immunosuppressive medications (r = ‐.541, p = .000).

Conclusions

Recipients in the 4‐ to 16‐year cohort perceived a higher level of symptom distress compared with those in the 1‐ to 4‐year cohort, especially in excess hair growth and difficulty sleeping. No significant difference was found between gender groups. Recipients who reported a higher level of symptom distress were more likely to be nonadherent.

Clinical Relevance

Understanding symptom experience of immunosuppressive medications is of importance for healthcare providers to offer sophisticated education and develop strategies to improve quality of life and medication adherence during follow‐up post‐transplantation.
The human medial amygdala: structure, diversity, and complexity of dendritic spines
Authors: Dall'Oglio Aline , Dutra Ana Carolina L. , Moreira Jorge E. , Rasia‐Filho Alberto A.
Published: July 2015

The medial nucleus of the amygdala (Me) is a component of the neural circuit for the interpretation of multimodal sensory stimuli and the elaboration of emotions and social behaviors in primates. We studied the presence, distribution, diverse shape, and connectivity of dendritic spines in the human Me of adult postmortem men. Data were obtained from the five types of multipolar neurons found in the Me using an adapted Golgi method and light microscopy, the carbocyanine DiI fluorescent dye and confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Three‐dimensional reconstruction of spines showed a continuum of shapes and sizes, with the spines either lying isolated or forming clusters. These dendritic spines were classified as stubby/wide, thin, mushroom‐like, ramified or with an atypical morphology including intermediate shapes, double spines, and thorny excrescences. Pleomorphic spines were found from proximal to distal dendritic branches suggesting potential differences for synaptic processing, strength, and plasticity in the Me neurons. Furthermore, the human Me has large and thin spines with a gemmule appearance, spinules, and filopodium. The ultrastructural data showed dendritic spines forming monosynaptic or multisynaptic contacts at the spine head and neck, and with asymmetric or symmetric characteristics. Additional findings included en passant, reciprocal, and serial synapses in the Me. Complex long‐necked thin spines were observed in this subcortical area. These new data reveal the diversity of the dendritic spines in the human Me likely involved with the integration and processing of local synaptic inputs and with functional implications in physiological and various neuropathological conditions.
Assessment of tissue levels of dickkopf‐1 in androgenetic alopecia and alopecia areata
Authors: Fawzi Marwa M T , Mahmoud Sara B , Shaker Olfat G. , Saleh Marwah A
Published: July 2015

Background

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the commonest form of hair loss in men. Alopecia areata (AA) is an organ‐specific autoimmune disease. Studies revealed that Dickkopf 1 (DKK‐1), a powerful suppressor of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, induced anagen‐to‐catagen transition in mice. Moreover, in vitro studies suggested that DKK‐1 played a role in dihydrotestosterone (DHT)‐induced balding.

Aim

To evaluate the tissue levels of DKK‐1 in patients with AGA and AA, to assess its possible role as a pathogenetic mechanism in both disorders.

Methods

This study included 24 patients with AGA, 31 patients with AA, and 33 healthy controls. Scalp biopsies were taken from all participants for the detection of tissue DKK‐1 levels.

Results

Tissue DKK‐1 levels were significantly higher in patients with AGA than in controls (P = 0.000) as well as in patients with AA than in controls (P = 0.001). In addition, they were significantly higher in patients with AGA than in patients with AA (P = 0.000). DKK‐1 was higher in male than in female patients with AGA. DKK‐1 was negatively correlated with disease duration in AGA.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study suggests an important role for DKK‐1 in the pathogenesis of AGA and AA through documenting higher tissue DKK‐1 levels in patients with both hair disorders compared to controls and suggests that DKK‐1 may be a promising therapeutic target for these hair diseases.
Discerning the healing path – how nurses assist patient spirituality in diverse health care settings
Authors: Giske Tove , Cone Pamela H
Published: July 2015

Aims and objectives

To examine nurses' experiences in spiritual care in diverse clinical settings, preferably not palliative care.

Background

Spirituality is part of holistic nursing care. The concept of spiritual literacy is introduced as the nurse's ability to read the spiritual signs of the human experience.

Design

Classical grounded theory methodology with open and selective coding was used to identify the participants' main concern and the strategies they used to resolve it, and to develop a substantive grounded theory.

Method

Data were collected in 2008 and 2014 during eight focus group interviews with a total of 22 nurses recruited from a master's programme, postgraduate programmes and a local hospital. Data were analysed through constant comparison until the grounded theory emerged.

Results

The participants' main concern was how to assist the patient to alleviation. The participants resolved this by Discerning the healing path, which comprises three stages: Tuning in on spirituality, Uncovering deep concerns and Facilitating the healing process. These three stages are accompanied all the way by the participants' Willingness to overcome own comfort zone and Building a trusting relationship.

Conclusion

Spirituality is of relevance for all areas of nursing care, not just dying patients or those in palliative care. Spirituality relates to the deep and important things in life and affects how patients face health issues. Nurses attend to spirituality in patients because the pain of the soul touches them and the calmness of spiritual peace amazes them.

Relevance to clinical practice

The professional culture in the health care team socialises nurses into the workplace, and leaders need to pay close attention to how they can foster openness to spiritual matters. The personal and professional maturity of the nurse is fundamental to his or her willingness and ability to overcome own comfort zone.
Learning to ensure patient safety in clinical settings: comparing Finnish and British nursing students’ perceptions
Authors: Tella Susanna , Smith Nancy‐Jane , Partanen Pirjo , Jamookeeah David , Lamidi Marja‐Leena , Turunen Hannele
Published: July 2015

Aims and objectives

To explore and compare Finnish and British nursing students’ perceptions of their learning about patient safety in clinical settings.

Background

Patient safety culture and practices in different health care organisations and clinical units varies, posing challenges for nursing students’ learning about patient safety during their clinical placements. Patient safety as a growing international concern has challenged health care professionals globally requiring a comprehensive review. International studies comparing nursing education about patient safety are lacking.

Design

A cross‐sectional comparative study.

Method

The participants were final year preregistration nursing students from two universities of applied sciences in Finland (n = 195) and from two universities in England, UK (n = 158). The data were collected with the Patient Safety in Nursing Education Questionnaire and analysed with principal component analysis, Pearson Chi‐Square and Mann–Whitney U tests and logistic regression.

Results

Finnish nursing students had significantly more critical perceptions on their learning about patient safety in clinical settings than their British peers. A strong predictor for differences was supportive and systems‐based approaches in learning to ensure patient safety. Notably, fewer Finnish students had practiced reporting of incidents in clinical settings compared to British students. In both countries, the students held learning about patient safety in higher esteem compared to their learning experiences in clinical settings.

Conclusions

Nursing students appear to want more learning opportunities related to patient safety compared to the reality in clinical settings. Learning systematically from errors in a supportive environment and having systems‐based approaches to ensure patient safety are essential elements for nursing students’ learning about safe practice. Finnish students seem to experience more barriers in learning about safe practices and to report errors than the British students.

Relevance to clinical practice

Health care organisations and professionals with responsibilities for patient safety should seek to standardise the preparation of nursing students incorporating requisite international standards and benchmarks.
Compassion: a critical review of peer‐reviewed nursing literature
Authors: McCaffrey Graham , McConnell Shelagh
Published: July 2015

Aims and objectives

To provide a critical review of nursing literature about compassion, identifying major themes, questions arising and directions for future investigation of the topic.

Background

Compassion has emerged as a topic of broad social concern in recent years and is particularly pertinent to nurses.

Design

Critical review was selected as the most appropriate way of analysing literature from both qualitative research studies and conceptual articles.

Methods

An electronic database search was conducted, discovering articles published between 1952 and 2013. The search was then limited to publications since 2000 to capture recent development of the concept. The search was limited to peer‐reviewed literature, excluding a large body of editorial material, resulting in 20 relevant articles. Two books were also added that contributed important perspective to the analysis. Critical analysis of the resulting material was undertaken to identify themes, tensions and implications in the literature.

Results

Major themes were compassion as practice and compassion as a moral virtue, holding implications for how nurses can demonstrate compassion in relation to contemporary healthcare values. A third major theme was the influence of institutional environments in facilitating or limiting the expression of compassion.

Conclusions

Compassion is a human experience of deep significance to nursing and needs understanding in the context of healthcare environments dominated by discourses of efficiency and rationalisation. There is an emergent literature about how compassion may be understood, taught and sustained among nurses but it is a topic that requires continued attention.

Relevance to clinical practice

More precise understanding of compassion will support nurses in advocating for compassionate care, participating in interdisciplinary dialogue, and contributing to the design of healthcare environments that are conducive to compassionate care.
Perceptions of reporting practices and barriers to reporting incidents among registered nurses and physicians in accredited and nonaccredited Jordanian hospitals
Authors: AbuAlRub Raeda F , Al‐Akour Nemeh A , Alatari Nour H
Published: July 2015

Aims and objectives

To explore the awareness of the incident reporting system, incident reporting practices and barriers to reporting incidents among Jordanian staff nurses and physicians in accredited and nonaccredited hospitals.

Background

Reporting medical incidents is an important element of patient safety enhancement and quality of care improvement and it should be an integral part of the organisational culture.

Design

A descriptive exploratory survey was used for the present study.

Methods

A modified version of the Incident Reporting Questionnaire was used to collect data from 307 nurses and 144 physicians at seven hospitals (four accredited and three not accredited) in Jordan. The response rate was 28·8% for nurses and 58·8% for physicians.

Results

Nurses were more aware of the incident reporting system than physicians. Physicians were less likely to report any incident on 50% or more of occasions. The major three barriers to reporting incidents were believing that there was no point in reporting near misses, lack of feedback and fear of disciplinary actions.

Conclusion

The study showed significant differences between nurses in accredited and nonaccredited hospitals regarding barriers to reporting incidents and reporting practices.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurse administrators should modify existing systems for reporting incidents to overcome the barriers as shown in the present study.
Translation and psychometric evaluation of a French version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale
Authors: Mabire Cedric , Lecerf Thierry , Büla Christophe , Morin Diane , Blanc Genevieve , Goulet Celine
Published: July 2015

Aims and objectives

To evaluate the reliability and the factor structure of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale – French version.

Background

The patient's perspective is essential when assessing risk for adverse events at hospital discharge. Developed in the USA, the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale is the only instrument that measures an individual's self‐perception of readiness before leaving the hospital. A French version of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale was developed and validated.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A convenience sample of 265 older inpatients from four medical units was selected. The translation and cultural adaptation of the scale involved experts in gerontology and the French language and included back translation. The items were semantically evaluated and pretested in 10 older inpatients. The scale's psychometric properties were internally validated by using confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Reliability was assessed by examining the internal consistency of its items.

Results

Goodness‐of‐fit indices of the confirmatory factor analyses were not adequate, but reliability was acceptable (Cronbach's α = 0·80). Exploratory factor analysis of the French version provided results close to those described for the English version, with three similar subscales (physical and emotional readiness,coping with medical treatmentandpersonal care), whereas the initially described Expected Support subscale was not identified in the French version.

Conclusion

The Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale – French version appears to be partially consistent with its original English version, but requires additional adaptation to fully take into account the Swiss context and culture to achieve its original aim.

Relevance to clinical practice

Assessing patient readiness for hospital discharge before leaving hospital could help nurses to improve the discharge planning process and achieve better patient preparedness and care coordination.
Oral lichen planus: salival biomarkers cortisol, immunoglobulinA, adiponectin
Authors: Lopez‐Jornet Pia , Cayuela Cristina Aznar , Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Parra‐Perez Francisco , Escribano Damian , Ceron Jose
Published: July 2015

Background

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous disease, inflammatory and autoimmune in character, in which the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Psychological stress has also been implicated in triggering or exacerbating the disease.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological profile, sleep, and salivary biological markers—cortisol, immunoglobinA(IgA), and adiponectin – in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP).

Methods

The sample consisted of 65 patients (33 withOLPand 32 control patients). Patients completed hospital anxiety and depression scales (HADD,HADA). Questionnaires were used to assess sleepiness: thePittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and theEpworth sleepiness scale (ESS). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used for rating pain. Unstimulated whole saliva was evaluated, together with total proteins: cortisol,IgA, and adiponectin.

Results

Patients withOLPobtained significantly higherHADAandPSQIscores than control subjects (P = 0.001,P = 0.012, respectively). Total salivary protein (flow at rest) analysis found that total proteins were higher in theOLPgroup (P = 0.001). In theOLPgroup,IgAwas 80.3 ± 51.3 vs. the control group 48.9 ± 32.8 (P = 0.005). Mean cortisol was 0.5 ± 0.3 μg/dl in theOLPgroup vs. 0.4 ± 0.2 μg/dl in the control group (P = 0.010). TheOLPgroup showed a correlation between theHADAvariable and pain (r = 0.358;P = 0.041),HADD(r = 0.568;P = 0.001), andPSQI(r = 0.537;P = 0.001).

Conclusions

OLPpatients presented worse psychological profiles and sleep disturbances, as well as higher values forIgA, cortisol, and total proteins than control subjects.
The Effect of New Product Preannouncements on the Evaluation of Other Brand Products
Authors: Thorbjørnsen Helge , Dahlén Micael , Lee Yih H.
Published: July 2015

Some firms preannounce new products long before they are actually available on the market. Previous research has investigated the effects of such new product preannouncements (NPPs) on consumer and competitor responses. This paper examines how NPPs affect consumers' construal of and preferences for the new product and, in turn, how these evaluations influence their preferences for the brands' other products. Specifically, the paper demonstrates that consumers' construal level of NPPs spills over to their construal of other products in the brand family, causing a positive, biased evaluation of these products. Three experimental studies reveal that the mere information about an NPP can shift evaluation of currently available brand products in a positive direction through construal‐level spillover and increased perceptions of similarity. The studies contrast NPPs to new product announcements (NPAs) and consistently find more positive results for the former. Moreover, the studies find that product newness has a moderating effect on the results, such that the positive spillover effects are more pronounced for really new products than for incrementally new products. The results also show that the effects are contingent on the credibility of the NPP: If consumers do not consider the NPPs credible, no positive spillover effects will materialize. Finally, the studies demonstrate that the positive evaluative spillover is specific to the products in the brand family and does not affect consumers' perceptions or choice of competitor products. Consumers actually rate the competing brand's remaining products lower when the focal brand engages in NPPs. The study has important implications for managers regarding how to use NPPs to influence consumers' construal and evaluations of brand products.
Effect of feeding guanidinoacetic acid and L‐arginine on the fertility rate and sperm penetration in the perivitelline layer of aged broiler breeder hens
Authors: Sharideh H. , Esmaeile Neia L. , Zaghari M. , Zhandi M. , Akhlaghi A. , Lotfi L.
Published: July 2015

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and L‐arginine (ARG) on fertility and sperm penetration (SP) rate of broiler breeder hens. In the first experiment, a total of 200 broiler breeder hens (Ross 308) aged 53 week were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments (0, 0.6, 1.2 and 1.8 g GAA/kg diet) with five replicates of 10 birds each. In the second experiment, 320 broiler breeder hens (Ross 308) were used from 53 to 62 weeks of age in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement (0 or 1.2 g GAA/kg diet along with 0, 3, 6 or 9 g ARG/kg diet). The hens received a diet containing 2800 kcal ME/kg and 14% CP. Sixteen sexually mature Ross 308 breeder roosters (34 weeks old) were used to artificially inseminate the hens. Fertility of the hens was determined in 61 and 62 weeks of age. The sperm penetration holes in the inner perivitelline layer (IPL) overlying the germinal disc were enumerated on days 3 and 7 following each insemination. Adding GAA to the breeder diet increased the number of SPs in the IPL and fertility in both experiments (p < 0.01). The interactive effect of ARG and GAA on the SP and fertility was significant. Supplementary ARG increased the SP rate in the IPL (p < 0.01). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of GAA and ARG might be potentially used to improve the fertility of broiler breeder hens at the later phase of the egg production period.