bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Prevention of Alcohol Related Problems: A Growing Reality in the 1980's
Authors: Noble Ernest P.
Published: July 2007

Abstract: During the author's tenure of the directorship of the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism a public health approach to preventing alcohol‐related problems was proposed. Three key elements need to be considered — the host, the environment and the agent. The greatest emphasis in modern U.S. history has been on the host — his or her biological or psychosocial susceptibilities, knowledge and attitudes on alcohol. The second element is concerned with the setting in which drinking takes place and attempts to modify the consequences of drinking. The last element involves regulating the supply of alcoholic beverages and is the most politically contentious. A plea is made for strong emphasis to be placed on regulating supply and for the per capita level of consumption to be one of the key indicators of success in the prevention of alcohol problems.
Book Review
Authors: Wodak Alex D.
Published: July 2007

Book reviewed in this article:

And The Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic. By Randy Shilts.
Book Review
Authors: Mackintosh N. J. , Ross Helen , Longuet-Higgins Christopher , Booth D. A. , Booth D. A. , Ross Helen , Mayo P. R. , Smith Philip , Smith Philip
Published: July 2007

GRAY, J. A. Elements of a Two-Process Theory of Learning. London: Academic Press. 1975. Pp. 423. £6.60.

STOCKBRIDGE, H. C. W. Behaviour and the Physical Environment: Case Studies in Psychology and Ergonomics. London: Batsford. 1975. Pp. 191. £7.50.

CRYSTAL, D. The English Tone of Voice-Essays in Intonation, Prosody and Paralanguage. London: Edward Arnold. 1975. Pp. 198. £3.75.

MCFARLAND, D. J. (Ed.). Motivational Control Systems Analysis. London and New York: Academic Press. 1974. Pp. xii + 523. £11.00.

IVERSEN, S. D. and IVERSEN, L. L. Behavioral Pharmacology. New York and London: Oxford University Press. 1975. Pp. xiv + 310. £2.75.

LEVITT, R. A. Psychopharmacology. A Biological Approach. New York: Wiley. 1975. Pp. x + 502. £9.45.

DOWNS, R. M. and STEA, D. (Eds). Image and Environment. Chicago: Aldine. 1973. (London: Arnold). Pp. xxii + 439. £6.75.

MACCOBY, E. E. and JACKLIN, C. N. The Psychology of Sex Differences. London: Oxford University Press. 1975. Pp. 634. £7.00.

MASSARO, D. W. (Ed.). Understanding Language. New York: Academic Press. 1975. PP. 438. £7.90.

HILGARD, E. R., ATKINSON, R. C., and ATKINSON, R. L. Introduction to Psychology. Sixth Edition. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. 1975. Pp. 658. £8.10.
Reaffirming the Neutrality of the Social Marketing Tool Kit: Social Marketing as a Hammer, and Social Marketers as Hired Guns
Authors: Dann Stephen
Published: July 2007

Social marketing has been a discipline founded on the open and robust exchange of ideas regarding the nature of social change, the adaptation and adoption of commercial marketing, and the ethics of influencing behavior for beneficial outcomes. As a practical discipline, with a strong theoretical and philosophical framework, it also relies on the open communication between academic and practitioner to ensure those researching and those implementing are speaking the same social marketing language. In early 2006, the international social marketing mailing list (SOC-MKT) was subject to a short, albeit critical, debate on the ethics and nature of social marketing, the social marketing tool kit, and the role of social marketers. This article reports on the summary and implications of the debate among academics, practitioners, and founders of the social marketing discipline.
Disulfide Bond-mediated Multimerization of Ask1 and Its Reduction by Thioredoxin-1 Regulate H2O2-induced c-Jun NH2-terminal Kinase Activation and Apoptosis
Authors: Nadeau Philippe J. , Charette Steve J. , Toledano Michel B. , Landry Jacques
Published: July 2007

Apoptosis signal-regulated kinase-1 (Ask1) lies upstream of a major redox-sensitive pathway leading to the activation of Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and the induction of apoptosis. We found that cell exposure to H2O2caused the rapid oxidation of Ask1, leading to its multimerization through the formation of interchain disulfide bonds. Oxidized Ask1 was fully reduced within minutes after induction by H2O2. During this reduction, the thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) became covalently associated with Ask1. Overexpression of Trx1 accelerated the reduction of Ask1, and a redox-inactive mutant of Trx1 (C35S) remained trapped with Ask1, blocking its reduction. Preventing the oxidation of Ask1 by either overexpressing Trx1 or using an Ask1 mutant in which the sensitive cysteines were mutated (Ask1-ΔCys) impaired the activation of JNK and the induction of apoptosis while having little effect on Ask1 activation. These results indicate that Ask1 oxidation is required at a step subsequent to activation for signaling downstream of Ask1 after H2O2treatment.
Simulation study on the disordered state of an Alzheimer's β amyloid peptide Aβ(12–36) in water consisting of random‐structural, β‐structural, and helical clusters
Authors: Ikebe Jinzen , Kamiya Narutoshi , Ito Jun‐Ichi , Shindo Heisaburo , Higo Junichi
Published: July 2007

The monomeric Alzheimer's β amyloid peptide, Aβ, is known to adopt a disordered state in water at room temperature, and a circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy experiment has provided the secondary‐structure contents for the disordered state: 70% random, 25% β‐structural, and 5% helical. We performed an enhanced conformational sampling (multicanonical molecular dynamics simulation) of a 25‐residue segment (residues 12–36) of Aβ in explicit water and obtained the conformational ensemble over a wide temperature range. The secondary‐structure contents calculated from the conformational ensemble at 300°K reproduced the experimental secondary‐structure contents. The constructed free‐energy landscape at 300°K was not plain but rugged with five clearly distinguishable clusters, and each cluster had its own characteristic tertiary structure: a helix‐structural cluster, two β‐structural clusters, and two random‐structural clusters. This indicates that the contribution from the five individual clusters determines the secondary‐structure contents experimentally measured. The helical cluster had a similarity with a stable helical structure for monomeric Aβ in 2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol (TFE)/water determined by an NMR experiment: The positions of helices in the helical cluster were the same as those in the NMR structure, and the residue–residue contact patterns were also similar with those of the NMR structure. The cluster–cluster separation in the conformational space indicates that free‐energy barriers separate the clusters at 300°K. The two β‐structural clusters were characterized by different strand–strand hydrogen‐bond (H‐bond) patterns, suggesting that the free‐energy barrier between the two clusters is due to the H‐bond rearrangements.
Structural and functional analysis of the ligand specificity of the HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain
Authors: Zhang Yingnan , Appleton Brent A. , Wu Ping , Wiesmann Christian , Sidhu Sachdev S.
Published: July 2007

The mitochondrial serine protease HtrA2/Omi helps to maintain mitochondrial function by handling misfolded proteins in the intermembrane space. In addition, HtrA2/Omi has been implicated as a proapoptotic factor upon release into the cytoplasm during the cell death cascade. The protein contains a C‐terminal PDZ domain that packs against the protease active site and inhibits proteolytic activity. Engagement of the PDZ domain by peptide ligands has been shown to activate the protease and also has been proposed to mediate substrate recognition. We report a detailed structural and functional analysis of the human HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain using peptide libraries and affinity assays to define specificity, X‐ray crystallography to view molecular details of PDZ–ligand interactions, and alanine‐scanning mutagenesis to probe the peptide‐binding groove. We show that the HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain recognizes both C‐terminal and internal stretches of extended, hydrophobic polypeptides. High‐affinity ligand recognition requires contacts with up to five hydrophobic side chains by distinct sites on the PDZ domain. However, no particular residue type is absolutely required at any position, and thus, the HtrA2/Omi PDZ domain appears to be a promiscuous module adapted to recognize unstructured, hydrophobic polypeptides. This type of specificity is consistent with the biological role of HtrA2/Omi in mitochondria, which requires the recognition of diverse, exposed stretches of hydrophobic sequences in misfolded proteins. The findings are less consistent with, but do not exclude, a role for the PDZ domain in targeting the protease to specific substrates during apoptosis.
The structure of receptor‐associated protein (RAP)
Authors: Lee Donghan , Walsh Joseph D. , Migliorini Molly , Yu Ping , Cai Tao , Schwieters Charles D. , Krueger Susan , Strickland Dudley K. , Wang Yun‐Xing
Published: July 2007

The receptor‐associated protein (RAP) is a molecular chaperone that binds tightly to certain newly synthesized LDL receptor family members in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and facilitates their delivery to the Golgi. We have adopted a divide‐and‐conquer strategy to solve the structures of the individual domains of RAP using NMR spectroscopy. We present here the newly determined structure of domain 2. Based on this structure and the structures of domains 1 and 3, which were solved previously, we utilized experimental small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) data and a novel simulated annealing protocol to characterize the overall structure of RAP. The results reveal that RAP adopts a unique structural architecture consisting of three independent three‐helix bundles that are connected by long and flexible linkers. The flexible linkers and the quasi‐repetitive structural architecture may allow RAP to adopt various possible conformations when interacting with the LDL receptors, which are also made of repetitive substructure units.
Toward rational protein crystallization: A Web server for the design of crystallizable protein variants
Authors: Goldschmidt Lukasz , Cooper David R. , Derewenda Zygmunt S. , Eisenberg David
Published: July 2007

Growing well‐diffracting crystals constitutes a serious bottleneck in structural biology. A recently proposed crystallization methodology for “stubborn crystallizers” is to engineer surface sequence variants designed to form intermolecular contacts that could support a crystal lattice. This approach relies on the concept of surface entropy reduction (SER), i.e., the replacement of clusters of flexible, solvent‐exposed residues with residues with lower conformational entropy. This strategy minimizes the loss of conformational entropy upon crystallization and renders crystallization thermodynamically favorable. The method has been successfully used to crystallize more than 15 novel proteins, all stubborn crystallizers. But the choice of suitable sites for mutagenesis is not trivial. Herein, we announce a Web server, the surface entropy reduction prediction server (SERp server), designed to identify mutations that may facilitate crystallization. Suggested mutations are predicted based on an algorithm incorporating a conformational entropy profile, a secondary structure prediction, and sequence conservation. Minor considerations include the nature of flanking residues and gaps between mutation candidates. While designed to be used with default values, the server has many user‐controlled parameters allowing for considerable flexibility. Within, we discuss (1) the methodology of the server, (2) how to interpret the results, and (3) factors that must be considered when selecting mutations. We also attempt to benchmark the server by comparing the server's predictions with successful SER structures. In most cases, the structure yielding mutations were easily identified by the SERp server. The server can be accessed at http://www.doe‐mbi.ucla.edu/Services/SER.
Genetic selection reveals the role of a buried, conserved polar residue
Authors: Johnson R. Jeremy , Lin Shawn R. , Raines Ronald T.
Published: July 2007

The burial of nonpolar surface area is known to enhance markedly the conformational stability of proteins. The contribution from the burial of polar surface area is less clear. Here, we report on the tolerance to substitution of Ser75 of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A), a residue that has the unusual attributes of being buried, conserved, and polar. To identify variants that retain biological function, we used a genetic selection based on the intrinsic cytotoxicity of ribonucleolytic activity. Cell growth at 30°C, 37°C, and 44°C correlated with residue size, indicating that the primary attribute of Ser75 is its small size. The side‐chain hydroxyl group of Ser75 forms a hydrogen bond with a main‐chain nitrogen. The conformational stability of the S75A variant, which lacks this hydrogen bond, was diminished by ΔΔG = 2.5 kcal/mol. Threonine, which can reinstate this hydrogen bond, provided a catalytically active RNase A variant at higher temperatures than did some smaller residues (including aspartate), indicating that a secondary attribute of Ser75 is the ability of its uncharged side chain to accept a hydrogen bond. These results provide insight on the imperatives for the conservation of a buried polar residue.
Pelagic larval duration of 10 temperate cryptobenthic fishes
Authors: Beldade R. , Pedro T. , Gonçalves E. J.
Published: July 2007

The pelagic larval duration (DPL) for 10 temperate cryptobenthic species belonging to three families: Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae and Blenniidae was investigated. Overall, the Gobiesocidae presented short DPLs varying between 11 and 18 days, the Gobiidae’s DPL ranged between 14 and 39 days, and Parablennius pilicornis (Blenniidae) had an average of 33 days (range 31–37 days). Two subtypes of settlement marks were found among individuals of the same species.
Effect of group size on feed intake, growth and feed efficiency of juvenile perch
Authors: Strand Å. , Alanärä A. , Magnhagen C.
Published: July 2007

Feed intake, growth and feed efficiency of juvenile perch Perca fluviatilis were significantly affected by group size, with fish in groups of 12 having lower feed intake, higher growth and higher feed efficiency than solitary individuals. The same trend was seen for fish in groups of 12 compared to fish in groups of four, and for fish in groups of four compared to solitary individuals, although the differences were not always significant. The high growth and low feed efficiency for fish in groups may be caused by benefits obtained from shoaling such as reduced levels of stress.
Fractionation of δ15N and δ13C for Atlantic salmon and its intestinal cestode Eubothrium crassum
Authors: Persson M. E. , Larsson P. , Stenroth P.
Published: July 2007

Stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) were measured for Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and their intestinal cestode, Eubothrium crassum, sharing the same diet. Atlantic salmon muscle tissues were enriched in 15N and depleted in 13C compared to their prey (sprat Sprattus sprattus sprattus) and their intestinal cestode. There was no significant difference in δ15N or δ13C between E. crassum and the sprat. Differences in nutrient uptake and intestine physiology between Atlantic salmon and E. crassum are discussed, as well as how these may give rise to different fractionations of stable isotopes between a host and its parasites. Furthermore, Atlantic salmon contained a significantly higher lipid content than their prey, which may partly explain differences in δ13C values between the host and its cestode. In addition, cestodes inhabiting lipid‐rich hosts were also lipid rich. Larger Atlantic salmon were enriched in 15N compared to smaller fish. Cestodes inhabiting large hosts were also enriched in 15N compared to parasites living in smaller hosts. The last two results were explained by larger fish possibly feeding from a higher trophic level, or from larger and older prey, that resulted in both a higher lipid content and an enrichment in 15N.
Effects of complete replacement of fish oil with plant oil on gastrointestinal cell death, proliferation and transcription of eight genes’ encoding proteins responding to cellular stress in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.
Authors: Olsvik P. A. , Torstensen B. E. , Berntssen M. H. G.
Published: July 2007

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were fed fish feeds based on 100% replacement of fish oil (FO) with plant oil (PO) as compared to a 100% FO‐based diet. The transcript levels of eight genes’ encoding proteins involved in the cellular response to stressors [metallothionein‐A isoform (MT‐A), cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), heat‐shock protein 70 (HSP70), catalase (CAT), glutathione S‐transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase 6A] were quantified and compared to cell division (% PCNA‐positive cells) and apoptosis [% terminal transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling technique (TUNEL)‐positive cells] in the mid intestinal (MI) section of the gastrointestinal tract. Five of these genes were also quantified in the pylorus caeca region (PR). Fish fed 100% PO‐based diets had significantly lower density of both PCNA and TUNEL‐positive cells in the MI section compared to fish fed a 100% FO‐based diet. The transcription levels of GST and caspase 6A were found to be significantly lower in the MI section of individuals fed a PO‐based diet compared to a FO‐based diet, analysed by a t‐test. In the PR, GR expression was significantly lower in the PO group compared to the FO group. The apoptosis markers PCNA and TUNEL were lower in the group fed a PO‐based diet. The results suggest that the transcription levels of three of the studied genes, GST, caspase 6A and GR, can be used as indicators of the MI response to feeding S. salar a PO‐based diet.
The effects of remifentanil on haemodynamic stability during rigid bronchoscopy
Authors: Prakash N. , Mcleod T. , Gao Smith F.
Published: July 2007

We examined the effect of remifentanil on the haemodynamic response to rigid bronchoscopy in 22 adult ASA 2–4 patients, randomly allocated to receive 1.0 µg.kg−1 remifentanil over 1 min followed by 0.5 µg.kg−1.min−1 (remifentanil group) or 2.0 µg.kg−1 fentanyl followed by a saline infusion (control group). Following the initial infusion, all patients received a sleep dose of propofol followed by rocuronium 0.6 mg.kg−1 and their lungs were ventilated using a Sander's injector attached to the rigid bronchoscope. Direct arterial blood pressures, heart rate and ST segment changes on the CM5 lead configuration of the electrocardiograph were measured at 1‐min intervals from before induction of anaesthesia until the end of bronchoscopy. Arterial pressures and heart rate were similar in the two groups before and after induction of anaesthesia. Remifentanil attenuated the haemodynamic response to bronchoscopy (p < 0.05 for increases in arterial pressures and heart rate). Four patients in the remifentanil group had ST segment depression compared with eight patients in the control group, but this was not statistically significant.
Emotional intelligence: a review of the literature with specific focus on empirical and epistemological perspectives
Authors: Akerjordet Kristin , Severinsson Elisabeth
Published: July 2007

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this literature review was to evaluate and discuss previous research on emotional intelligence with specific focus on empirical and epistemological perspectives.

Background.  The concept of emotional intelligence is derived from extensive research and theory about thoughts, feelings and abilities that, prior to 1990, were considered to be unrelated phenomena. Today, emotional intelligence attracts growing interest worldwide, contributing to critical reflection as well as to various educational, health and occupational outcomes.

Method.  Systematic review.

Findings.  The findings revealed that the epistemological tradition of natural science is the most frequently used and that, therefore, few articles related to humanistic sciences or philosophical perspectives were found. There is no agreement as to whether emotional intelligence is an individual ability, non‐cognitive skill, capability or competence. One important finding is that, regardless of the theoretical framework used, researchers agree that emotional intelligence embraces emotional awareness in relation to self and others, professional efficiency and emotional management. There have been some interesting theoretical frameworks that relate emotional intelligence to stress and mental health within different contexts. Emotional learning and maturation processes, i.e. personal growth and development in the area of emotional intelligence, are central to professional competence.

Conclusions.  There is no doubt that the research on emotional intelligence is scarce and still at the developmental stage. Clinical questions pertaining to the nursing profession should be developed with focus on personal qualities of relevance to nursing practice. Different approaches are needed in order to further expand the theoretical, empirical and philosophical foundation of this important and enigmatic concept.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Emotional intelligence may have implications for health promotion and quality of working life within nursing. Emotional intelligence seems to lead to more positive attitudes, greater adaptability, improved relationships and increased orientation towards positive values.
Illuminating the essential elements of the role of the clinical placement co‐ordinator: a phenomenological inquiry
Authors: McNamara Martin S
Published: July 2007

Aims and objectives.  The research aims to illuminate the essential elements of the role of the clinical placement co‐ordinator.

Background.  Clinical placement co‐ordinators were introduced to Irish health‐care settings to support the clinical learning of nursing students after the ending of the apprenticeship model of nurse training and in the context of reforms culminating in the introduction of the BSc (Nursing) degree as the sole route of entry to practice in 2002.

Design.  A phenomenological design was used in order to explicate the necessary and sufficient elements of the role from clinical placement co‐ordinators’ accounts of their experiences of and in the post.

Methods.  In‐depth, unstructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of five clinical placement co‐ordinators. The interview process was guided by Crotty's framework for phenomenological data collection and analysed using Moustakas’ modification of Van Kaam's method of data analysis.

Results.  Analysis and interpretation of the rich, narrative descriptions elaborated for each of the five participants revealed three essential elements pervading each account: being a dedicated presence for nursing students; facilitating the establishment, maintenance and development of the clinical teaching partnership between staff nurses and students; and monitoring the clinical learning environment to ensure safe practice. Each element emerged as necessary and sufficient from the accounts of each respondent, thus capturing the essence of the clinical placement co‐ordinator role.

Conclusions.  The exclusive focus on students’ clinical learning needs is the essential element of clinical placement co‐ordinators’ role, requiring them to marshal human and other resources to optimize the clinical learning environment.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Optimizing students’ clinical learning is a joint endeavour but benefits from the availability in clinical settings of a dedicated support person for students and staff.
Predictors of recognition and practice of family nursing among healthcare professionals in Japan
Authors: Takemoto Hitomi , Hagihara Akihito , Kinoshita Miyuki , Matsuoka Midori , Baba Michie , Nobutomo Koichi
Published: July 2007

Abstract  Background.  Although many nurses have become aware of the importance of family‐centered nursing, very little is known about the advanced knowledge and intervention skills of family nursing in Japan.

Objectives.  We examined the characteristics of their recognition of family nursing and factors related to the practice of family nursing.

Methods.  The subjects were nursing staff at a large hospital in Fukuoka, Japan (n = 596). A study using self‐administered questionnaires was conducted in October 2002. Factor analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyse the data.

Results.  Of 596 nurses, 376 returned questionnaires (63·6%). The study achieved the following findings. (1) The nurse's recognition of family nursing had four subscales: skills required to interview family members to construct a trusted relationship; assessment of family structure and family functioning; interventional skills of family nursing; and skills to collect information on family members. (2) The predictors of family nursing recognition were ‘gender’, ‘job position in hospital’, ‘individual experience of caring for their family members’, ‘length of clinical experience’ and ‘types of wards where they work’. (3) The predictors of practice of family nursing were ‘interventional skills of family nursing’, ‘skills to collect information on family members’ and the ‘total of four skills’.

Conclusions.  It is implied that the acquisition of knowledge and skills of family nursing in hospital settings are invaluable to consciousness‐raising and practice of family nursing.

Relevance to clinical practice.  As the factors related to practice or recognition of family nursing have been identified, the present findings are useful for hospital administrators who want to promote family nursing in their hospitals.
Postpartum Taiwanese women: their postpartum depression, social support and health‐promoting lifestyle profiles
Authors: Chen Ching‐Min , Kuo Shu‐Fen , Chou Yu‐Hua , Chen Hsiu‐Chuan
Published: July 2007

Background.  To reach the Millennium Development Goals, maternal health‐promoting behaviours need to be encouraged after childbirth; little is known about the health‐promoting behaviour among first‐time mothers during their postpartum period.

Aim.  To examine levels of engagement in health‐promoting behaviours and related factors among postpartum women in Taiwan.

Methods.  This cross‐sectional study was conducted through a convenience sample of 122 qualified women. Participants self‐completed a questionnaire and mailed it back using a stamped, self‐addressed envelope from July to September 2003. Instruments of this study included a demographic questionnaire as well as three Likert‐type scales: the Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression scale and a self‐developed social support scale.

Results.  The average overall Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile score was low (mean, 2·83 SD 1·35), with exercise rated lowest among the six subscales. Postpartum women perceived that they had high levels of social support from their mothers‐in‐law, mothers and husbands. An astonishing 42·6% of women experienced postnatal depression. Based on results of multiple regressions, 25% of the variance in health‐promoting lifestyle practices was explained by postpartum depression and social support. Social support was found to predict all subscales significantly except exercise. Postpartum depression can significantly predict self‐actualization, interpersonal relationships, nutrition and stress management. All modifying factors were excluded from the regression model.

Conclusions.  This study validates the theoretical relationships among concepts in the Health Promotion Model. Nursing interventions are recommended which are tailored to enhance women's social support and decrease their depression to promote their pursuit of healthy lifestyles.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study highlights the implications of social support to nursing practice, especially in Chinese culture which has a strict ritual during a women's postpartum period. Findings of this study provide information and data for service planning and community care to support postpartum care in the communities.
Seizing possibilities for positive family caregiving in nursing homes
Authors: Kellett Ursula
Published: July 2007

Aims.  This paper explores the ways family members reconstruct meaning through seizing possibilities for positive caregiving in nursing homes.

Background.  The importance of the ability of family caregivers to adapt and accommodate has been well documented in international family caregiving research. Through engagement in caregiving activities, families learn to modify, adapt and accommodate to changes in their situation and relationships. The support family caregivers experience in learning to accommodate change is crucial in enabling them to reconstruct positive aspects of caregiving in a long‐term aged care context.

Method.  In this study, a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was adopted informed by the philosophical world views of Heidegger and Gadamer. Data collected by in‐depth interviews and participant observations, from a purposeful sample of 14 family caregivers, underwent hermeneutic analysis.

Results.  Five shared meanings associated with seizing possibilities for positive caregiving were revealed: accommodating new and different ways of caring; feeling a part of the nursing home community; seeing the whole picture; learning to care in stress‐reducing ways and learning to seize possibilities for self.

Conclusion.  This paper illustrates how families, through caregiving experience in nursing homes, learn to become active managers, negotiating, accommodating and redeveloping a sense of future viewed with hope, strength and positive anticipation.

Relevance to clinical practice.  By highlighting what is attributed significance by families, a critical examination of the difficult issues which obstruct the development of meaningful partnerships among nurses, family and their relatives is facilitated. In particular, an examination of tensions at an ideological level supports the need for future research to focus its efforts on examining the ways of implementing nursing care that facilitates partnerships that incorporate and build upon positive and equal relations among staff, families and residents in the context of the nursing home setting.
Ethics approval, guarantees of quality and the meddlesome editor
Authors: Long Tony , Fallon Debbie
Published: July 2007

Aims.  The authors aim to challenge accepted views about the dissemination of ethically acceptable research, presenting a case for adopting an alternative strategy.

Background.  A previous editorial proposed additional ethical censorship of articles submitted for publication in JCN based on the requirement to produce evidence of formal research ethics committee approval.

Main arguments.  Such regulation would be both ineffective and undesirable. Much worthwhile, ethical research in the UK falls outside the remit of National Health Service research ethics committees but is subject to alternative means of ethical guidance and scrutiny. A case study demonstrates the difficulties faced by such researchers and illuminates alternative means to ensure and demonstrate ethical research conduct. If researchers comply with relevant requirements pertaining to their discipline, this should be sufficient for the journal. A full discussion should be presented by the author of ethical difficulties faced in the project and how these were addressed.

Conclusion.  Regulation of the ethical acceptability of work published in journals has not been widely addressed in the literature. This paper presents challenging arguments, introducing wider perspectives on ethical regulation from other disciplines and proposing an alternative strategy. Answers to the specific questions posed by the editor are offered, concluding that the proposed scheme should not be implemented. The normal process of peer‐review should be the means of ensuring the publication of ethically acceptable research.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Health care in the UK is situated both within the National Health Service and in the private and voluntary sectors, and the boundary between health and social care continues to be eroded. More clinical research studies will be undertaken that do not fall within the remit of National Health Service research ethics committees. The issues discussed here will become pertinent to an ever‐wider group of researchers and clinicians.
Clinical effects of acrylic resilient denture liners applied to mandibular complete dentures on the alveolar ridge
Authors: KIMOTO S. , KIMOTO K. , GUNJI A. , KAWAI Y. , MURAKAMI H. , TANAKA K. , SYU K. , AOKI H. , TOYODA M. , KOBAYASHI K.
Published: July 2007

Summary  The purpose of this study was to investigate whether resilient denture liners has the potential to decrease problems affecting the alveolar ridge mucosa during the first adjustment session following the initial fitting of the denture. Interventions were complete denture treatment with permanent acrylic resilient denture liner dentures (RLD) in mandibles and conventional heat‐activated acrylic resin dentures (ARD) in mandibles. Maxillary dentures were fabricated with conventional heat‐activated ARD. Seventy‐four subjects were randomly allocated to the RLD and ARD groups by random permuted blocks within the strata method after obtaining written informed consent. A randomized controlled parallel clinical trial with two hospital centres was conducted from April 2004 to July 2006. The problems were comprehensively evaluated by three outcomes with subjective and objective factors as follows: (i) numbers of sore spots, (ii) duration of wearing dentures and (iii) pain perception with 100 mm Visual Analog Scale. The numbers of sore spots in the mandibular support and border areas for the RLD group were significantly less than those for the ARD groups (P < 0·05). The RLD wearers were able to wear their dentures an additional day longer than the ARD wearers (P < 0·05). The maxillary and mandibular pain ratings for the RLD group were significantly lower than those for the ARD group (P < 0·05). Application of resilient denture liners to mandibular complete dentures provided edentulous patients with fewer problems affecting the alveolar during the first adjustment session following the initial fitting of the denture when compared with conventional denture treatments.
Functional bases of host‐acceptance behaviour in the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi
Authors: LAROCCA ANNA , FANTI PAOLO , ROMANO VITO ANTONIO , MARSICOVETERE EMILIA , ISIDORO NUNZIO , ROMANI ROBERTO , RUSCHIONI SARA , PENNACCHIO FRANCESCO , BATTAGLIA DONATELLA
Published: July 2007

Abstract The host acceptance behaviour in Aphidius ervi is investigated, assessing the role of both external and internal host‐associated cues, offered to the experimental parasitoids with parafilm‐made aphid dummies. The reaction to internal cues present in the host haemolymph is clearly evident, and its intensity is enhanced by external cues. Parasitoid females lay few eggs in aphid dummies filled with host haemolymph. A significant increase in the number of both oviposition reactions (host stinging) and egg laying is observed only when these dummies are coated with cornicle secretion. However, this enhancement is not observed when the aphid dummies contain distilled water. Thus, the host acceptance behaviour of A. ervi females appears to be controlled by the integration of both external and internal chemical cues. The physiological basis of this behavioural response is investigated with a detailed study on the anatomy and ultrastructure of A. ervi ovipositor. The detection of chemical cues present in the host haemolymph that act as kairomones is made possible by the presence of gustatory sensilla on the tip of the ovipositor. These sensilla consist of porous areas, reached by unbranched dendrites running inside both the lower valves (i.e. first valvulae) and the unpaired upper valve (i.e. second valvulae). The mechanosensory function during oviposition appears to be provided mostly by the basiconic sensilla found on the tip of external valves (i.e. third valvulae). A tentative functional model accounting for the observed oviposition behaviour of A. ervi is proposed.
Oral and dental conditions of children with selective IgA deficiency
Authors: Tar Ildikó , Kiss Csongor , Maródi László , Márton Ildikó J
Published: July 2007

Oral conditions in selective IgA deficiency in children have rarely been published. Our aims were to investigate their mucosal, periodontal, and cariological conditions in IgA deficient children matched with healthy controls and to draw data on their oral health in the North‐East Region of Hungary. Thirty four patients and 111 healthy controls, matched by age and sex, were studied for oral mucosal disorders, periodontal disease, and caries. Mucosal diseases were found in 10 (29%) patients. The severity of periodontal lesions characterized by plaque index, gingival index and pocket depth (exceeding more than 3 mms) was similar in patients and controls. A significant difference was observed in caries experience of the primary, but not in the permanent dentition as assessed by the dmf/DMF‐t/T; s/S system used universally to quantitate decayed, missing, and filled teeth and tooth surfaces both in primary (small letters) and in permanent (capital letters) dentitions. Patients with IgA deficiency had significantly higher dmft, and dmfs indices than controls, supporting the notion that children with selective IgA deficiency exhibit an increased risk for developing dental caries. However the severities of mucosal or periodontal disorders are comparable with that in the normal population.
Neutrophil function and molecular analysis in severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I without separation delay of the umbilical cord
Authors: Tsai Yi‐Chan , Lee Wen‐I , Huang Jing‐Long , Hung Iou‐Jih , Jaing Tang‐Her , Yao Tsung‐Chieh , Chen Mai‐Tzu , Kuo Ming‐Ling
Published: July 2007

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD I) is characterized by recurrent and fatal bacterial infections, and caused by the mutation of the CD18 gene. A 9‐month‐old infant whose umbilical cord separated at day 10 of life had sepsis, complicated otitis media and neutrophilia. Molecular analysis showed homozygous intron 7 (+1) g > a in the CD18 gene, resulting in three splicing transcriptions that inserted 64, 298 (5′ end of intron 7), and 1157 (whole intron 7) nucleotides into the 300th amino acid of Ile and stopped at the 326th (inserted 64 and 1157 nucleotides) and the 344th (inserted 64 nucleotides), respectively. The two truncated mutations lost cysteine‐rich, transmembrane, and cytoplasma domains. Increased susceptibility to infections correlated to polymorphonuclear cell dysfunction, including absent expression of adhesion molecule (CD11b/CD18), impaired chemotaxis, and decreased phagocytosis. Both his heterozygous parents revealed non‐random skewing only to the wild type. The skewing pattern and severe phenotype make stem cell transplantation an optimal option.
Stressful life events and asthma in adolescents
Authors: Turyk Mary E. , Hernandez Eva , Wright Rosalind J. , Freels Sally , Slezak Julie , Contraras Alicia , Piorkowski Julie , Persky Victoria W.
Published: July 2007

Recent studies suggest that psychosocial factors may contribute to asthma. We examined associations of stressful life events with asthma prevalence and morbidity among Chicago adolescents. Self‐reported asthma, measures of asthma morbidity, and 15 life events were collected from 2026 seventh to ninth grade students from 34 Chicago Catholic schools as part of the International Study of Allergies and Asthma in Childhood in 1994–95. Life events were reported by 77% of adolescents and overall asthma prevalence was 15.5%. Stressful life events in adolescents were significantly related to both asthma and asthma morbidity. Odds of asthma was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07, 1.95) for those reporting two to three stressful events and 1.92 (95% CI = 1.41, 2.62) for subjects endorsing more than three stressful events. In adolescents with asthma, number of asthma symptoms (odds ratio [OR] for increase in one event = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.27), asthma‐related school absenteeism (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.32), physician visits for asthma (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.29), and hospitalization for asthma (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.001, 1.44) were significantly associated with the number of stressful events, independent of home exposure to cigarette smoke and dampness, use of inhaled substances, and sociodemographic factors. While these results are not sufficient to assign causality in the relationship between stress and asthma, they are supported by a number of other studies and by plausible biologic mechanisms. Assessing and addressing the effects of stressful life events may be helpful in managing asthma in inner city adolescents.
Cytokine levels in supernatants of whole blood and mononuclear cell cultures in adults and neonates reveal significant differences with respect to interleukin‐13 and interferon‐gamma
Authors: Silberer Jutta , Ihorst Gabriele , Kopp Matthias Volkmar
Published: July 2007

Findings regarding cytokine levels in neonates and their impact on the development of allergic diseases are controversial. This might be attributed to different laboratory approaches. To compare cytokine levels in supernatants of whole blood (WB) and mononuclear cell (MC) cultures in response to unspecific and allergen specific stimuli. A total population of n = 25 healthy full‐term neonates and n = 25 adults was recruited. WB was diluted 1 in 5 and incubated with phytohaemagglutinine (PHA; 20 μg/ml) and the cows’ milk protein betalactoglobulin (BLG) for 24 and 120 h. In parallel, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated, and cells were cultured with PHA and BLG in the same concentrations in a medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) and in a serum‐ free medium (only PBMC from adults). The cytokines interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), and IL‐13 in the cell culture supernatants were measured using the ELISA technique. IFN‐γ and IL‐10 levels in response to PHA in supernatants of MC of neonates were significantly lower compared to that in adults (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon two‐sample test). IL‐13 levels were significantly higher in response to PHA in neonates. In adults, only levels of IL‐10 were significantly correlated in WB and PBMC cultures (PHA: rS 0.6; p = 0.002; BLG: rS 0.54; p = 0.005). In neonates, IL‐10 (PHA: rS 0.77; p < 0.001; BLG: rS 0.63; p < 0.001) and IFN‐γ (PHA: rS 0.48; p = 0.02; BLG: rS 0.4; p < 0.047) were significantly correlated. Supernatants of PBMC cultured with an FCS‐supplemented medium showed a significant lower IFN‐γ release (PHA 1297 pg/ml; BLG 2762 pg/ml) compared to serum‐free cell cultures (PHA 6592.5 pg/ml, p < 0.0001; BLG 14228 pg/ml, p = 0.04). IFN‐γ and IL‐13 levels in WB and MC supernatants revealed significant differences. Our data indicate the need for thoroughly defined and standardized culture conditions for the detection of in vitro cytokine levels.
Oxidative stress induction by Prunus necrotic ringspot virus infection in apricot seeds
Authors: Amari Khalid , Díaz‐Vivancos Pedro , Pallás Vincente , Sánchez‐Pina María Amelia , Hernández José Antonio
Published: July 2007

Prunus necrotic ringspot rvirus (PNRSV) was able to invade the immature apricot seed including the embryo. The amount of virus was very high inside the embryo compared with that present in the cotyledons. PNRSV infection produced an oxidative stress in apricot seeds as indicated by the increase in lipid peroxidation, measured as thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances. This lipid peroxidation increase was parallelled with an imbalance in the seed antioxidant enzymes. A significant decrease in the ascorbate–GSH cycle enzymes as well as in peroxidase (POX) activity took place in infected seeds, suggesting a low capability to eliminate H2O2. No changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD) or catalase activity were observed. A significant decrease in polyphenoloxidase (PPO) activity was also observed. Native PAGE revealed the presence of three different SOD activity bands in apricot seeds: a Mn‐containing SOD and two CuZn‐containing SODs. Only an isozyme with catalase, glutathione reductase (GR) or PPO activity was detected in both healthy and infected apricot seeds. Regarding POX staining, three bands with POX activity were detected in native gels in both healthy and infected seeds. The gel results emphasise that the drop detected in POX, GR and PPO activities in PNRSV‐infected apricot seeds by kinetic analyses was also evident from the results obtained by native PAGE. The oxidative stress and the imbalance in the antioxidant systems from PNRSV‐infected apricot seeds resemble the hypersensitive response observed in some virus–host interactions. This defence mechanism would inactivate PNRSV during seed formation and/or the storage period or even during seed germination. Those results can explain the decrease in seed germination and the low transmission of PNRSV by seeds in apricot trees.
Identification of active methanotrophs in a landfill cover soil through detection of expression of 16S rRNA and functional genes
Authors: Chen Yin , Dumont Marc G. , Cébron Aurélie , Murrell J. Colin
Published: July 2007

Active methanotrophs in a landfill soil were revealed by detecting the 16S rRNA of methanotrophs and the mRNA transcripts of key genes involved in methane oxidation. New 16S rRNA primers targeting type I and type II methanotrophs were designed and optimized for analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Direct extraction of RNA from soil enabled the analysis of the expression of the functional genes: mmoX, pmoA and mxaF, which encode subunits of soluble methane monooxygenase, particulate methane monooxygenase and methanol dehydrogenase respectively. The 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for type I methanotrophs detected Methylomonas, Methylosarcina and Methylobacter sequences from both soil DNA and cDNA which was generated from RNA extracted directly from the landfill cover soil. The 16S rRNA primers for type II methanotrophs detected primarily Methylocella and some Methylocystis 16S rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of mRNA recovered from the soil indicated that Methylobacter, Methylosarcina, Methylomonas, Methylocystis and Methylocella were actively expressing genes involved in methane and methanol oxidation. Transcripts of pmoA but not mmoX were readily detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), indicating that particulate methane monooxygenase may be largely responsible for methane oxidation in situ.
POSTING MULTIPLE PRICES TO REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSUMER PRICE SEARCH*
Authors: IRELAND NORMAN J.
Published: July 2007

In a model of competition with imperfect consumer price information and incomplete price search, some consumers may end up comparing prices originating from the same supplier: either because one firm sets multiple prices or because a group of firms colludes. This leads to added monopoly power for these firms, and average prices in the mixed strategy equilibrium become higher. There is a shift in welfare from consumers to producers, both with exogenous and endogenous consumer search behaviour. However consumers might search more or less with multiple prices. The implications for the price‐setting equilibrium, competition policy and recent judgements are considered.
THE ROLE OF EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS IN FACILITATING MARKET TRANSACTIONS*
Authors: MATOUSCHEK NIKO , RAMEZZANA PAOLO
Published: July 2007

We examine the relationship between market conditions and the adoption of exclusive contracts. In particular, we develop a matching model in which agents may decide to adopt exclusive contracts to reduce bilateral bargaining inefficiencies in the presence of private information. We show that it is optimal for agents to adopt exclusive contracts in thin markets but not in thick markets and that for intermediate levels of market thickness strategic complementarities lead to multiple equilibria. We study the welfare properties of market equilibria and discuss under what circumstances courts should enforce exclusive contracts.