bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A concept analysis of situational awareness in nursing
Authors: Fore Amanda M. , Sculli Gary L.
Published: March 2013

Aim

This article reports an analysis of the concept of situational awareness in nursing.

Background

Situational awareness is a fundamental and well‐understood concept used to maintain operational safety in high reliability organizations; however, it has not been studied in nursing. Nurses play a critical role in providing vigilance in health care and what they do or fail to do is directly related to patient outcomes.

Data sources

Multiple databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, JSTOR, and Google Scholar, were searched with the term, ‘situational awareness’. The primary search, used to identify all uses of the concept, did not employ date criteria. A secondary search for articles measuring situational awareness as an independent or dependent variable was completed using 2009–2011 articles.

Design

Concept Analysis.

Review methods

The concept of situational awareness was examined using Walker and Avant's eight step method of analysis.

Results

Three defining attributes of situational awareness include perception, comprehension, and projection. Situational awareness is defined as the perception of the elements in the environment in a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future. Although situational awareness is related to other terms in nursing, there is increasing recognition that the concept, which is likely a consolidation of the related terms, has an impact on healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

Failures in perception, comprehension, and/or projection can significantly reduce the accuracy and appropriateness of patient care decisions. Therefore, as a precursor to decision making, poor or inadequate levels of situational awareness present serious threats to patient safety. Situational awareness needs to be examined in a theoretical context, studied systematically and openly recognized as a key factor in the delivery of safe patient care.
Efficacy of Additional Radiofrequency Applications for Spontaneous Dissociated Pulmonary Vein Activity After Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: DOi ATSUSHI , SATOMI KAZUHIRO , MAKIMOTO HISAKI , YOKOYAMA TERUKI , YAMADA YUKO , OKAMURA HIDEO , NODA TAKASHI , AIBA TAKESHI , AIHARA NAOHIKO , YASUDA SATOSHI , OGAWA HISAO , KAMAKURA SHIRO , SHIMIZU WATARU
Published: March 2013

Radiofrequency Applications for Spontaneous Dissociated Pulmonary Vein Activity

Background

The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of additional radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) for spontaneous dissociated pulmonary vein activity (DPV‐spike) after PV isolation (PVI) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

One hundred fifty‐two consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF referred for RFCA were enrolled. When DPV‐spike was documented after PVI, we randomly assigned these patients to receive additional RFCA for DPV‐spike or only PVI. We divided them into 4 groups: 87 patients without DPV‐spike after PVI (No‐spike group), 31 without DPV‐spike after additional RFCA (Successful group), 8 with remaining DPV‐spike after additional RFCA (Unsuccessful group), and 26 with DPV‐spike after only PVI (Spike group). AF recurrence was evaluated among the 4 groups.

Results

After PVI, DPV‐spike was documented in 87 PVs (14%) from 65 patients. During 16 ± 9 months of follow‐up, the incidence of the freedom from AF was significantly higher in the No‐spike group than that in the Spike group and Unsuccessful group (P < 0.05), and tended to be higher in the Successful group than that in the Spike group and Unsuccessful group (P = 0.08 and 0.11, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, the remaining PV‐spike after ablation was an independent predictor of AF recurrence (HR 2.44; CI 1.10–5.43, P < 0.05). No major complications including PV stenosis were observed during the follow‐up.

Conclusions

DPV‐spike after PVI may be associated with higher electrical activity within the PVs and may be one of the risk factors for AF recurrence. Additional RFCA for DPV‐spike was effective to reduce the AF recurrence after PVI.
Educational needs concerning disaster preparedness and response: A comparison of undergraduate nursing students from Istanbul, Turkey, and Miyazaki, Japan
Authors: Öztekİn Seher Deniz , Larson Eric Edwin , Altun Uğraş Gülay , Yüksel Serpil
Published: March 2013

Aim

To compare 4 year undergraduate nursing students' educational needs concerning disaster preparedness and response in Istanbul and Miyazaki.

Methods

This was a 13 question descriptive/comparative survey.

Results

Females, aged 18–22 years, and in their second year of their nursing programs, rarely participate in disaster preparedness and response courses at their universities (75.2%) or outside (89.8%). Educational needs of Miyazaki's students who had already participated in these courses (85%) were higher than in Istanbul's (67.2%). Of those whose educational needs had not been met, 55.9% were considering taking another lecture/course in one of the following years (Istanbul, 47.4%; Miyazaki, 71.4%). The majority of students from Istanbul reported some knowledge about disaster preparedness and response from courses at their universities while Miyazaki's students showed less. Effective teaching methods/resources were mock drills. Nursing interventions in disaster situations in “response competencies” were preferred issues to be included in course content (Istanbul, 90.4%; Miyazaki, 93.1%). Most student nurses had no expectations on skills that could be gained from a disaster preparedness and response course/culture of disaster lecture (Istanbul, 48.7%; Miyazaki, 34.5%).

Conclusion

Nursing students in both cities seem more likely to participate in disaster preparedness and response courses/lectures. The present study also addresses the need to incorporate mass casualty care and disaster management skills into undergraduate curricula. Core contents for nursing curricula in both cities need to be continued. Outcome competencies must be identified and validated through further research.
Correlations between serum levels of beta amyloid, cerebrospinal levels of tau and phospho tau, and delayed response tasks in young and aged cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Darusman H.S. , Sajuthi D. , Kalliokoski O. , Jacobsen K.R. , Call J. , Schapiro S.J. , Gjedde A. , Abelson K.S.P. , Hau J.
Published: March 2013

Background

In an attempt to explore cynomolgus monkeys as an animal model for Alzheimer's disease, the present study focused on the Alzheimer's biomarkers beta amyloid 1–42 (Aβ42) in serum, and total tau (t‐tau) and phosphorylated tau (p‐tau) levels in cerebrospinal fluid.

Methods

We measured biomarker levels in Young and Aged cynomolgus monkeys and correlated these with performance on three delayed response tasks.

Results

The Aβ42 concentration of the Aged monkeys was significantly lower than in the Young subjects, while the t‐tau and p‐tau did not significantly differ between the groups. The Young subjects performed significantly better than the Aged individuals on the memory tests. Only Aβ42 levels were significantly correlated with performance in the three delayed response tasks.

Conclusions

Circulating Aβ42 levels were lower in Aged monkeys and were correlated with inferior performance on delayed response tasks in Aged animals; therefore, both measures may be useful in establishing cynomolgus monkeys as models for studies of AD.
Development of a Proactive Care Program (U‐CARE) to Preserve Physical Functioning of Frail Older People in Primary Care
Authors: Bleijenberg Nienke , ten Dam Valerie H. , Drubbel Irene , Numans Mattijs E. , de Wit Niek J. , Schuurmans Marieke J.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Care for older patients in primary care is currently reactive, fragmented, and time consuming. An innovative structured and proactive primary care program (U‐CARE) has been developed to preserve physical functioning and enhance quality of life of frail older people. This study describes in detail the development process of the U‐CARE program to allow its replication.

Methods

The framework of the Medical Research Council (MRC) for the development and evaluation of complex interventions was used as a theoretical guide for the design of the U‐CARE program. An extended stepwise multimethod procedure was used to develop U‐CARE. A team of researchers, general practitioners, registered practice nurses, experts, and an independent panel of older persons was involved in the development process to increase its feasibility in clinical practice. A systematic review of the literature and of relevant guidelines, combined with clinical practice experience and expert opinion, was used for the development of the intervention.

Findings

Based on predefined potentially effective guiding components, the U‐CARE program comprises three steps: a frailty assessment, a comprehensive geriatric assessment at home followed by a tailor‐made care plan, and multiple follow‐up visits. Evidence‐based care plans were developed for 11 geriatric conditions. The feasibility in clinical practice was tested and approved by experienced registered practice nurses.

Conclusions

Using the MRC Framework, a detailed description of the development process of the innovative U‐CARE program is provided, which is often missing in reports of complex intervention trials. Based on our feasibility‐pilot study, the general practitioners and the registered practice nurses indicated that the U‐CARE intervention is feasible in clinical practice.

Clinical Relevances

The U‐CARE program consists of promising components and has the potential to improve the care of older patients.
OLIGOPOLY EXPERIMENTS IN THE CURRENT MILLENNIUM
Authors: Potters Jan , Suetens Sigrid
Published: March 2013

We present a general overview of papers that employ laboratory experiments to study oligopoly markets. We focus on papers that have been published since 2000. We categorize studies into three broad classes: (1) oligopoly competition from a static perspective, (2) dynamics, convergence, and learning, and (3) collusion and policy.
HYDROCARBON SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF LATEST ORDOVICIAN – EARLIEST SILURIAN TANEZZUFT FORMATION SHALES FROM THE EASTERN KUFRA BASIN, SE LIBYA
Authors: Meinhold G. , Whitham A. G. , Howard J. P. , Stewart J. C. , Abutarruma Y. , Thusu B.
Published: March 2013

This paper summarizes the results of Rock‐Eval pyrolysis data of 43 shale samples collected from the latest Ordovician – earliest Silurian (Tanezzuft Formation) interval in the CASP JA‐2 well at Jebel Asba on the eastern margin of the Kufra Basin, SE Libya. The results are supported by analysis of cuttings samples from an earlier well of uncertain origin nearby, referred to here as the UN‐REMSA well. The Tanezzuft Formation succession encountered in the JA‐2 well can be divided into three intervals based on Rock‐Eval pyrolysis data. Shales in the shallowest interval (20 – 46.5 m depth) are altered probably by weathering and lack significant amounts of organic matter. Total organic carbon (TOC) contents of shales from the intermediate interval (46.5 – 68.5 m depth) vary between 0.19 and 0.75 wt%. Most samples in this interval have very limited source rock potential although a few have Hydrogen Index (HI) values up to 378 mg S2/g TOC. Tmax values of 422 – 426°C indicate the organic matter is immature. Shales from the deepest interval (68.5 – 73.9 m depth) are diagenetically altered, perhaps by fluids flowing along a nearby fault or along the contact between the Tanezzuft Formation and the underlying Mamuniyat Formation and apparently lack any organic matter. Cuttings samples from the UN‐REMSA well have TOC contents of 0.48–0.87 wt%, HI values of 242–252 mg S2/g TOC, and Tmax values of 421–425°C. These results offer little support for the presence of the basal Silurian (Tanezzuft Formation) source rock which is prolific elsewhere in SW Libya and eastern Algeria and, together with the overall immaturity of the equivalent section, reduces the probability of finding major oil reserves in the eastern part of the Kufra Basin.
MODELLING HYDROCARBON GENERATION IN THE PALAEOZOIC AND MESOZOIC SUCCESSIONS IN SE POLAND AND WEST UKRAINE
Authors: Kosakowski P. , Wróbel M. , Krzywiec P.
Published: March 2013

The Lower Palaeozoic succession in SE Poland and West Ukraine has source rock potential, particularly the Ordovician and Silurian which contain oil‐prone Type II kerogen. The thermal maturity of these units ranges from early to late‐phase oil window (locally up to gas window). Within the Mesozoic succession, source rock potential is highest in the Middle Jurassic which has TOC of up to 26 wt% and a genetic potential of up to 39 mg/g of rock, with organic matter dominated by gas‐prone Type III kerogen. In SE Poland, the organic matter in this unit is generally immature, whereas maturities in West Ukraine are sufficient for hydrocarbon generation to occur.

Modelling of hydrocarbon generation suggested that petroleum in Lower Palaeozoic source rocks began to be generated in the Early Carboniferous. Peak generation took place from the late Visean to the early Namurian, and terminated either as a result of source rock depletion or Variscian inversion. Expelled hydrocarbons migrated during post‐Carboniferous and Mesozoic uplift. Middle Jurassic source rocks in SE Poland have only reached the early oil window. Higher thermal maturities in the Ukraine resulted in hydrocarbon generation and expulsion. This took place after Miocene burial and maturation.

A number of small hydrocarbon accumulations occur in Mesozoic reservoirs in SE Poland / West Ukraine, and hydrocarbons have migrated from Cambrian and Ordovician source rocks. However, the prospectivity of the study area is reduced as a result of phases of uplift and intense erosion which allowed hydrocarbons to escape from structural traps.
GEOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BEACH TAR FROM THE SE COAST OF THE PARIA PENINSULA, NE VENEZUELA: DERIVATION FROM NATURAL SEEPAGES
Authors: Márquez G. , Galarraga F. , Fernández R. , De Freitas K.A. , Lorenzo E. , Escobar M. , Sierra C. , Gallego J.R.
Published: March 2013

Tar residues (“tarballs”) occur frequently on the SE coast of the Paria Peninsula, NE Venezuela. This paper reports on tarballs recovered from approximately 14 km of shoreline during monthly sampling over a two‐year period ending in April, 2011. The tarballs were analysed geochemically and results show that more than 70% of them could be included within a single compositional group on the basis of their physical and organoleptic properties. The tarballs were fingerprinted using biomarkers (hopanes, steranes, alkanes, aromatic steroids, phenanthrenes and dibenzothiophenes) by gas chromatography and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. Sulphur and trace element contents were also determined. These analyses indicate that the tarballs do not have an anthropogenic origin, but that they probably originated from petroleum generated by argillaceous limestones in the Turonian – Campanian Naparima Hill Formation. This formation includes marls and organic‐rich shales and limestones, and is an important source rock at oilfields in Trinidad and the southern Gulf of Paria. In the southern part of the Gulf, petroleum escapes from Neogene reservoirs to the seafloor via natural seepages associated with the Los Bajos and other fault systems. It is inferred that the petroleum is then transported by wind and tidal currents to the coast of the SE Paria Peninsula where it strands as tarballs. The geochemistry of the tarballs collected is discussed to investigate their source.
Antimicrobial activity of newly synthesized methylsulfanyl-triazoloquinazoline derivatives
Authors: Al-Salahi Rashad , Marzouk Mohamed , Awad Ghada , Al-Omar Mohamed , Ezzeldin Essam
Published: March 2013

Objective

The aim of this research was to study and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a novel 2-methylsulfanyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline and its derivatives. Antibacterial activity of the target compounds was tested against a variety of species of Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, and Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27953 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. In addition some yeast and fungi, Candida albicans NRRL Y-477 and Aspergillus niger, respectively, were screened.

Methods

Antimicrobial tests were carried out by the agar well diffusion method, using 100 μl of suspension containing 1 × 108 CFU/ml of pathological tested bacteria, 1 × 106 CFU/ml of yeast, and 1 × 104 spore/ml of fungi spread on nutrient agar (NA), Sabourand dextrose agar (SDA), and potato dextrose agar (PDA), respectively.

Key findings

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the tested compounds was determined using the broth double dilution method (serially diluted technique) in proper nutrient. For comparison, ciprofloxacin and ketoconazole were used as antibacterial and antifungal reference drugs, respectively. Compounds 6, 9, 13, 14, and 11 were found to have the highest broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC 29213, B. subtilis ATCC6633 and Gram-negative bacteria such as P. aeruginosa ATCC27953 and E. coli ATCC 25922 with MIC values of 6.25 and 12.50 μg/ml.

Conclusions

It was clear that many of the synthesized compounds exhibited good antimicrobial activity. This study has revealed that compounds 6, 9, 13, 14, and 11 have been disclosed as moderate antimicrobial agents. These compounds could be useful as templates for further development through modification or derivatization to design more potent antimicrobial agents.
Determination of intestinal permeability of rigosertib (ON 01910.Na, Estybon): correlation with systemic exposure
Authors: White Michael P , Babayeva Mariana , Taft David R , Maniar Manoj
Published: March 2013

Objectives

Rigosertib (ON 01910.Na, Estybon) is a novel, anticancer agent undergoing phase 3 clinical trials for a lead indication against myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). In this research, the permeability of rigosertib was evaluated using the in-situ perfused rat intestine (IPRI) model to support development of an oral formulation for rigosertib for treating cancer patients.

Methods

Experiments (n = 6 per group) were conducted using male Sprague-Dawley rats. Studies evaluated permeability across various intestinal segments and assessed the dose-linearity of absorption over the entire intestinal length. Drug concentrations in the portal and jugular vein were collected to correlate permeability parameters with presystemic and systemic exposure.

Key findings

Rigosertib permeability was highest in the jejunum, although parameter estimates indicated that rigosertib was a medium permeability compound. The compound displayed nonlinear absorption in the IPRI model, suggesting a saturable transport process. Transport inhibition studies using Caco-2 cells demonstrated that rigosertib was a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate. Absolute bioavailability of rigosertib (10 and 20 mg/kg, 1-h infusion) in rats was estimated to be 10–15%. However, the fraction absorbed in humans predicted from IPRI data (52%) was consistent with published clinical data for rigosertib (35% oral bioavailability).

Conclusions

The results of this research indicated that rigosertib is a promising candidate for oral delivery. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential impact of P-gp and other intestinal transporters on the oral absorption of this promising anticancer agent.
Effect of nifedipine on the expression of keratinocyte growth factor and its receptor in cocultured/monocultured fibroblasts and keratinocytes
Authors: Di C‐P. , Sun Y. , Zhao L. , Li L. , Ding C. , Xu Y. , Fan Y.
Published: March 2013

Background and Objective

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and its receptor (KGFR) are involved in hyperplastic diseases. This study explored the effect of intercellular communication on KGF and KGFR in cocultured/monocultured gingival fibroblasts and keratinocytes following treatment with nifedipine.

Material and Methods

Human gingival fibroblasts and keratinocytes were monocultured and cocultured, respectively. MTT was used to investigate the effects of nifedipine on the proliferation of gingival fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Monoculture and coculture systems were treated with different concentrations (0, 0.2 or 20 μg/mL) of nifedipine, and the expression of KGF and KGFR mRNAs was examined by RT‐PCR, whilst the secretion of KGF and the expression of KGFR on the membrane were analyzed using ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results

Nifedipine (0, 0.2 and 20 μg/mL) had no influence on cell proliferation within 3 d. KGF and KGFR mRNAs were up‐regulated, but only in the cocultures. In coculture, the secretion of KGF was significantly increased by nifedipine, while it was only significantly up‐regulated by 20 μg/mL of nifedipine in monoculture. Moreover, the level of KGFR protein in the membrane was significantly increased by 20 μg/mL of nifedipine in monocultures, while it was significantly down‐regulated by 20 μg/mL of nifedipine in cocultures.

Conclusion

The expression of KGF and KGFR are influenced by the interplay of gingival keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Epithelial keratinocytes and mesenchymal fibroblasts may interplay to dynamically regulate gene expression, which may have an effect on the gingival condition following treatment with nifedipine.
Factors Predicting Publication of Sexual Medicine Abstracts Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association
Authors: Berookhim Boback M. , Kaya Yekta , Deveci Serkan , Nelson Christian J. , Mulhall John P.
Published: March 2013

Introduction

At sexual medicine meetings throughout the world, hundreds of scientific abstracts are presented each year. To our knowledge, no previous studies have looked at the rate of publication of these studies in a peer-reviewed journal.

Aim

To define the fate of abstracts presented at sexual medicine sessions at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) and to describe the factors predicting ultimate publication in scientific journals.

Methods

All abstracts presented at the 2006 and 2007 AUA annual meeting were surveyed to find sexual medicine abstracts. Publication status as of October 2009 was assessed using the Medline database. Abstract parameters were recorded including number of authors, country of origin, clinical or basic research, and area of sexual research. Predictors of publication were analyzed using a multivariable model.

Main Outcome Measure

Publication status of all sexual medicine abstracts presented at the 2006 and 2007 AUA annual meetings.

Results

A total of 208 sexual medicine abstracts were presented in 2006 and 2007. Fifty-one percent of these were published by October 2009. On univariate analysis, the predictors of publication in a peer-reviewed journal included the number of authors (r = 0.22, P < 0.01), studies pertaining to erectile dysfunction (RR 1.3, CI 1–1.8, P = 0.05), and studies originating from academic centers (RR 2.7, CI 1.7–4.3, P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, the predictors of publication included the number of authors (OR 1.3, CI 1–1.4, P < 0.01) and having a study originate from an academic center (OR 5.9, CI 2.8–12.7, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Fifty-one percent of the sexual medicine abstracts presented at the 2006 and 2007 annual AUA meetings have been published within 2 to 3 years of the date of presentation. Studies originating from academic centers were six times more likely to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Assessment of Female Sexual Function in Patients with Psoriasis
Authors: Abul Maaty Al Shaymaa H. , Gomaa Amal H.A. , Mohammed Ghada F.A. , Youssef Ismail M. , Eyada Moustafa M.K.
Published: March 2013

Introduction

Psoriasis has a major impact on sexual health due to the disfiguring skin lesions affecting self-image and self-esteem. However, this topic has not been fully explored.

Aim

The study aims to assess sexual function in female patients with psoriasis.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 52 sexually active female patients with psoriasis regardless of their age (group I) and 30 normal volunteers (who were age matched with the patients) who served as a control group (group II). Full history taking, general and systemic examination, including sexual history, together with clinical examination to evaluate the extent of skin disease using Psoriasis Assessment Severity Index (PASI) score and evaluation of sexual function using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire, were done for all the subjects enrolled in the study.

Main Outcome Measures

Correlation between PASI and FSFI domain scores was determined in matched groups using Pearson correlation.

Results

This study revealed a negative correlation between the PASI score and the overall sexual satisfaction in the studied group. Also, psoriatic female patients with genital psoriasis have more significantly impaired sexual function compared with either those without genital lesions or those with lesions elsewhere in the body.

Conclusions

It is imperative to do full sexual and psychological assessment of psoriatic patients to improve outcomes and increase patients' compliance with treatment.
Actigraphic assessment of periodic leg movements in patients with restless legs syndrome
Authors: Cippà Maria A. T. , Baumann Christian R. , Siccoli Massimiliano M. , Bassetti Claudio L. , Poryazova Rositsa , Werth Esther
Published: March 2013

The diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) relies upon diagnostic criteria which are based on history only, and dopaminergic treatment is not normally the first choice of treatment for all patients. It would be worthwhile to identify patients non‐responsive to dopaminergic treatment beforehand, because they may suffer from a restless legs‐like syndrome and may require alternative treatment. We included retrospectively 24 adult patients fulfilling the four essential criteria for restless legs and 12 age‐matched healthy controls. They were investigated by ambulatory actigraphy from both legs over three nights, and patients started treatment with dopamine agonists after this diagnostic work‐up. We examined 12 responders to dopaminergic treatment and 12 non‐responders and studied the association between response to dopaminergic treatment and the periodic limb movement index (PLMI) as assessed with actigraphy. Demographic characteristics, excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue at baseline were similar in all three groups. Baseline RLS severity was similar between responders and non‐responders [International Restless Legs Severity Scale (IRLS): 25 ± 9 and 24 ± 8]. Group comparisons of PLMI before treatment initiation showed significant differences between the three groups. Post‐hoc pairwise comparisons revealed that healthy controls had significantly lower PLMI (4.9 ± 4.5) than responders (29.3 ± 22.7) and non‐responders (13.3 ± 11.2). Similarly, the PLMI in responders was lower than in non‐responders. PLMI day‐to‐day variability did not differ between responders and non‐responders and there was no correlation between treatment effect, as assessed by the decrease of the IRLS and baseline PLMI. Our retrospective study indicates that actigraphy to assess periodic limb movements may contribute to a better diagnosis of dopamine‐responsive restless legs syndrome.
Creating opportunities for improving lake‐focused stakeholder engagement: knowledge–action systems, pro‐environment behaviour and sustainable lake management
Authors: Bell Kathleen P. , Lindenfeld Laura , Speers Ann E. , Teisl Mario F. , Leahy Jessica E.
Published: March 2013

Managers, policymakers, non‐government organizations and community groups are increasingly relying on stakeholder participation to bolster lake management efforts. The growing portfolio of lake‐focused stakeholder engagement cases offers valuable information about the efficacy of alternative stakeholder engagement strategies. While attention has been devoted to inventorying these instances, lesser emphasis has been given to evaluating the effectiveness of different participation and engagement approaches. There is arguably no panacea for involving stakeholders in lake and basin management. Lake management challenges in distinct natural and human systems necessitate diverse approaches for interacting with stakeholders. As calls for stakeholder participation increase and management budget constraints tighten, the urgency of exploring and documenting the effectiveness of alternative approach rises. This paper examines lake‐focused stakeholder participation activities targeting individuals and households, summarizes and shares recent findings from research of knowledge–action processes and pro‐environment behaviours, and offers encouragement and guidance for lake managers to create opportunities for improving lake‐focused stakeholder engagement.
Salient ecological functions of a tropical freshwater wetland
Authors: Madurapperuma Buddhika D. , Amarasinghe Mala D. , Oduor Peter G.
Published: March 2013

An ecological survey was carried out for the Iriyawetiya freshwater wetland in Sri Lanka. The goal was to characterize this unique wetland, about which little ecological information was available. The areal extent of the wetland was 87 ha, with a marshy cover of approximately 52 ha. Water samples to assess physico‐chemical parameters were collected at monthly intervals for six months from four study sites along the stream length through the wetland. A 1 m × 0.5 m quadrat was used for vegetation sampling at 5 m intervals along a 50‐m transect, aligned perpendicular to a reference shore line. Constituent plant species of each quadrat, both floating and attached, were identified and enumerated. Multivariate analysis using PC‐ORD4 software (MJM software, Gleneden Beach, Oregon, USA) was performed to identify plant associations. Four distinguishable clusters of plant associations were identified using a TWINSPAN analysis; namely (i) bank side floral community, (ii) dense marginal stand, (iii) graminoid and (iv) reed cyperous communities. The water in bank side floral association had a high biological oxygen demand (BOD). The reed plant community was confined to stream outlet and exhibited high dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. The two stream inlets displayed high nitrate concentrations, whereas the outlet and mid‐wetland sampling sites exhibited low nitrate levels. In this study, the DO concentrations increased downstream, while the phosphate, nitrate and BOD concentrations, and turbidity gradually declined towards the outlet, indicating the purifying effect of the wetland. In this preliminary analysis, it was ascertained that the proximity of this wetland to an urban area is propitious, as the wetland could be ecologically engineered to provide water that would need less treatment.
Nothing Is Not One: Revisiting the ex nihilo
Authors: Burrus Virginia
Published: March 2013

This article seeks to encounter the late ancient doctrine of creatio ex nihilo from a new angle, gently questioning both its distinctive Christianness and its inevitable alignment with a theology of absolute sovereignty. Franz Rosenzweig's idiosyncratic elaboration of this doctrine opens up new lines of thought: multiplying the “nothing” while also emphasizing its fecundity, he articulates not only a negative theology but also a negative anthropology and cosmology; insisting on the irreducible relationality of God, human, and world, he also posits their non‐essentiality. Admittedly, early versions of creatio ex nihilo (Irenaeus, Tertullian) foreground the omnipotence of the creator and the goodness of the created world, and these concerns continue to be expressed by later proponents of the ex nihilo, Jewish as well as Christian. However, beginning in the fourth century there are hints of something new as well, something more Rosenzweigian—namely, a preoccupation with the nothing itself. What comes increasingly to the fore in these articulations of the ex nihilo is not mastery but mystery, not power but fragility, not separation but intimacy—and paradoxically so, given that the gap between creator and created has never before seemed to yawn so widely. This shift is manifest in the opening passages of Genesis Rabbah, I would suggest. It is also evident in the locus classicus of post‐Constantinian Christian ex nihilo doctrine, namely Athanasius's On the Incarnation of the Word of God.
Thomas Aquinas's Understanding of Prayer in the Light of the Doctrine of Creatio Ex Nihilo
Authors: te Velde Rudi
Published: March 2013

This article discusses Thomas Aquinas's view on the ‘utility’ of prayer in the light of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo. ‘Creatio ex nihilo’ means, among other things, that nothing can exist that is not caused by the universal power of God. The universal causality of creation implies that God cannot receive from the world or react to any activity on our part. This claim of divine immutability throws into question the intelligibility of prayer: does it make sense to pray to God when his providence is certain and immutable? I argue that the God Thomas conceives is not the God of the ancient régime, the sovereign deity of absolute power who is in charge of everything; on the contrary, it is a God who grants the secondary causes within the world their own power and operation. The human activity of prayer belongs to this sphere of ‘second causes’, through which God realizes his providential plan. God's providence provides good things to us, one of which is the fulfillment of our prayers.
Contemplation, Charity and Creation ex nihilo in Dante's Commedia
Authors: Montemaggi Vittorio
Published: March 2013

In this article I reflect on the importance of creation ex nihilo for our understanding of Dante's Commedia. I do so, in particular, by reflecting on the inextricable relationship existing in Dante's poem between creation ex nihilo, contemplation and charity. More specifically, I attempt to outline an understanding of how Dante's idea of the relationship between these three can be seen to underlie the very structure and narrative form of the Commedia. Through reflection on the relationship between contemplation, charity, and creation ex nihilo, I suggest, form and content might be seen, from a theological point of view, to be perfectly at one. Underlying these reflections are also some broader questions. What is the Commedia ultimately about? What is Dante's final end in writing his poem? What bearing does this have on our understanding of the form of Dante's text as a narrative poem? And what, in turn, are the broader theological implications of all this?
Luther's Topology: Creatio Ex Nihilo and the Cultivation of the Concept of Place in Martin Luther's theology
Authors: Mackenzie Jon
Published: March 2013

This article contends that, although Luther does develop a fascinating concept of the human subject within his writings, he does not make this subjectivity methodologically basic. Instead, Luther locates human subjectivity within a more fundamental framework of “place”—a concept he develops over a span of thirty years, maturing from its earliest appearances, as a corollary of the theologia crucis, into a more expansive framework for his later thinking. After briefly sketching the concept of place within Luther's theology through to its apex—the Genesisvorlesung delivered in the final ten years of Luther's life—the subsequent prominence of the doctrine of creation, particularly the language of creatio ex nihilo, is examined with a view to showing how Luther's theology might be re‐placed more constructively within contemporary thinking.
pamela masik and the forgotten exhibition: Controversy and Cancellation at the Museum of Anthropology
Authors: Pinto Meg
Published: March 2013

This paper examines the exhibition process behind Pamela Masik's The Forgotten at the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology. Set to open in February 2011, the exhibition featured 69 portraits of missing and murdered women from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Masik's work is highly controversial, and the museum chose not to proceed with the exhibition after local Aboriginal activists from the Women's Memorial March intercepted the curatorial process. I argue that the way the museum staff negotiated the collaborative process reflects a contact zone mentality that has been deeply internalized in museums. This normalization of conflict poses the risk of negatively affecting relationships with communities and ought to be rethought by those in the field. [missing women, Downtown Eastside Vancouver, contact zones, controversy, colonialism, Women's Memorial March, Pamela Masik]
Axon regeneration and exercise‐dependent plasticity after spinal cord injury
Authors: Houle John D. , Côté Marie‐Pascale
Published: March 2013

Current dogma states that meaningful recovery of function after spinal cord injury (SCI) will likely require a combination of therapeutic interventions comprised of regenerative/neuroprotective transplants, addition of neurotrophic factors, elimination of inhibitory molecules, functional sensorimotor training, and/or stimulation of paralyzed muscles or spinal circuits. We routinely use (1) peripheral nerve grafts to support and direct axonal regeneration across an incomplete cervical or complete thoracic transection injury, (2) matrix modulation with chondroitinase (ChABC) to facilitate axonal extension beyond the distal graft–spinal cord interface, and (3) exercise, such as forced wheel walking, bicycling, or step training on a treadmill. We and others have demonstrated an increase in spinal cord levels of endogenous neurotrophic factors with exercise, which may be useful in facilitating elongation and/or synaptic activity of regenerating axons and plasticity of spinal neurons below the level of injury.
GluA1 promotes the activity‐dependent development of motor circuitry in the developing segmental spinal cord
Authors: Jablonski Angela M. , Kalb Robert G.
Published: March 2013

The neuronal dendritic tree is a key determinant of how neurons receive, compute, and transmit information. During early postnatal life, synaptic activity promotes dendrite elaboration. Spinal motor neurons utilize GluA1‐containing AMPA (2‐amino‐3‐(3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐isoxazol‐4‐yl) propanoic acid) receptors (AMPA‐R) to control this process. This form of developmental dendrite growth can occur independently of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors (NMDA‐R). This review focuses on the mechanism by which the GluA1 subunit of AMPA‐R transforms synaptic activity into dendrite growth, and describes the essential role of the GluA1 binding partner SAP97 (synapse‐associated protein of 97 kDa molecular weight) in this process. This work defines a new mechanism of activity‐dependent development, which might be harnessed to stimulate the recovery of function following insult to the central nervous system.
Hypoxia‐induced phrenic long‐term facilitation: emergent properties
Authors: Devinney Michael J. , Huxtable Adrianne G. , Nichols Nicole L. , Mitchell Gordon S.
Published: March 2013

As in other neural systems, plasticity is a hallmark of the neural system controlling breathing. One spinal mechanism of respiratory plasticity is phrenic long‐term facilitation (pLTF) following acute intermittent hypoxia. Although cellular mechanisms giving rise to pLTF occur within the phrenic motor nucleus, different signaling cascades elicit pLTF under different conditions. These cascades, referred to as Q and S pathways to phrenic motor facilitation (pMF), interact via cross‐talk inhibition. Whereas the Q pathway dominates pLTF after mild to moderate hypoxic episodes, the S pathway dominates after severe hypoxic episodes. The biological significance of multiple pathways to pMF is unknown. This review will discuss the possibility that interactions between pathways confer emergent properties to pLTF, including pattern sensitivity and metaplasticity. Understanding these mechanisms and their interactions may enable us to optimize intermittent hypoxia‐induced plasticity as a treatment for patients that suffer from ventilatory impairment or other motor deficits.
Imaging spinal neuron ensembles active during locomotion with genetically encoded calcium indicators
Authors: Hinckley Christopher A. , Pfaff Samuel L.
Published: March 2013

Advances in molecular‐genetic tools for labeling neuronal subtypes, and the emerging development of robust genetic probes for neural activity, are likely to revolutionize our understanding of the functional organization of neural circuits. In principle, these tools should be able to detect activity at cellular resolution for large ensembles of identified neuron types as they participate in specific behaviors. This report describes the use of genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs), combined with two‐photon microscopy, to characterize V1 interneurons, known to be critical for setting the duration of the step cycle. All V1 interneurons arise from a common precursor population and express engrailed‐1 (En1). Our data show that although neighboring interneurons that arise from the same developmental lineage and share many features, such as projection patterns and neurotransmitter profiles, they are not irrevocably committed to having the same pattern of activity.
Analysis of cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase 1 in photoperiod‐influenced responses to ozone using Arabidopsis knockout mutants
Authors: DGHIM ATA ALLAH , MHAMDI AMNA , VAULTIER MARIE‐NOËLLE , HASENFRATZ‐SAUDER MARIE‐PAULE , LE THIEC DIDIER , DIZENGREMEL PIERRE , NOCTOR GRAHAM , JOLIVET YVES
Published: March 2013

Oxidative stress caused by ozone (O3) affects plant development, but the roles of specific redox‐homeostatic enzymes in O3 responses are still unclear. While growth day length may affect oxidative stress outcomes, the potential influence of day length context on equal‐time exposures to O3 is not known. In Arabidopsis Col‐0, day length affected the outcome of O3 exposure. In short‐days (SD), few lesions were elicited by treatments that caused extensive lesions in long days (LD). Lesion formation was not associated with significant perturbation of glutathione, ascorbate, NADP(H) or NAD(H). To investigate roles of two genes potentially underpinning this redox stability, O3 responses of mutants for cytosolic NADP‐isocitrate dehydrogenase (icdh) and glutathione reductase 1 (gr1) were analysed. Loss of ICDH function did not affect O3‐induced lesions, but slightly increased glutathione oxidation, induction of other cytosolic NADPH‐producing enzymes and pathogenesis‐related gene 1 (PR1). In gr1, O3‐triggered lesions, salicylic acid accumulation, and induction of PR1 were all decreased relative to Col‐0 despite enhanced accumulation of glutathione. Thus, even at identical irradiance and equal‐time exposures, day length strongly influences phenotypes triggered by oxidants of atmospheric origin, while in addition to its antioxidant function, the GR‐glutathione system seems to play novel signalling roles during O3 exposure.
Assessment of Extent of Apoptosis and DNA Defragmentation in Chilled Semen of Stallions During the Breeding Season
Authors: Krakowski L , Obara J , Wąchocka A , Piech T , Bartoszek P , Kostro K , Tatara MR
Published: March 2013

Contents

The objective of the study was to assess apoptosis and DNA defragmentation in equine semen diluted and chilled to +4°C. Semen was collected from nine fertile stallions, including four Arabian thoroughbreds and five coldbloods. Examinations were carried out immediately after semen collection (0) and at five storage times (24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h). The basic semen evaluation was performed in terms of volume, sperm concentration, viable sperm percentage, progressive motility and morphology. Using flow cytometry, DNA defragmentation and cell membrane integrity of spermatozoa were determined. The results of basic tests did not demonstrate significant differences amongst stallions, except for progressive sperm motility, which was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the semen of Arabian stallions. In the semen of the same stallions, a significant decrease in the percentage of alive spermatozoa was observed at 72, 96 and 120 h of storage, whereas a significant increase in the number of spermatozoa with DNA defragmentation was found after 24 h storage. In the semen of coldblood stallions, significantly reduced live spermatozoa percentage was observed at 96 and 120 h, while increased DNA defragmentation was observed at 48 h. These findings demonstrated that the semen of Arabian stallions chilled to +4°C retained original characteristics until 24 h of storage, whereas in coldbloods, these were preserved up to 48 h of storage.
Using Strategic Environmental Assessments to Guide Oil and Gas Exploration Decisions: Applying Lessons Learned from Atlantic Canada to the Beaufort Sea
Authors: Doelle Meinhard , Bankes Nigel , Porta Louie
Published: March 2013

The Macondo oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has spurred renewed global interest in the regulation of offshore oil and gas exploration, particularly in deepwater areas. At the same time, many jurisdictions are experimenting with strategic environmental assessment (SEA) processes to fill gaps in more traditional project‐based decision‐making processes. This article explores the potential of SEA to enhance decision making for exploration in deepwater environments. It does so by examining the experience with SEAs on the east coast of Canada, and applying the lessons learned to the Beaufort Sea. By looking at the issue in two very different environments, we can draw lessons that may also apply to deepwater exploration elsewhere.
Innovation and Technology Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies: The Need to Engage in a Substantive Debate
Authors: Correa Carlos M.
Published: March 2013

It is often suggested that the rate of innovation in a country is essentially dependent on the availability of intellectual property protection. However, the economic literature, particularly on the role of patents, generally dismisses a direct and automatic relationship between such protection and innovation. Patents may not encourage innovations when some contextual factors are not present, while other mechanisms may be more effective. Patents, in addition, are not a good indicator of innovation. Moreover, the proliferation of patents, including in the area of technologies relevant to address climate change, may block innovation and create barriers to the transfer of technology to developing countries. This article argues that a serious discussion on the role of intellectual property, so far eluded by developed countries, should be undertaken in the context of climate change negotiations.
Limiting the ACA's Threats to Small Group Health Insurance Markets
Authors: Monahan Amy B. , Schwarcz Daniel
Published: March 2013

We identify three threats to small group health insurance markets that may result from the 2014 implementation of certain provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). First, small employers with predominantly low‐income employees may tend to opt out of small group markets because their employees will be better off with subsidized individual coverage. Second, small employers with employees of heterogeneous income levels will have strong incentives to offer coverage that is either “unaffordable” or fails to provide “minimum value” in order to preserve the availability of government subsidies for their low‐income employees. Finally, small employers that continue to offer group plans will face increased incentives to self‐insure those plans, further contracting small group markets and subjecting them to adverse selection. Collectively, these forces may destabilize small group markets and increase the ACA's fiscal cost. We therefore conclude by offering various reforms aimed at offsetting these risks and preserving the viability of small group markets.