bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nursing students administering medication: appreciating and seeking appropriate supervision
Authors: Reid‐Searl Kerry , Moxham Lorna , Walker Sandra , Happell Brenda
Published: February 2010

reid‐searl k., moxham l., walker s. & happell b. (2010) Nursing students administering medication: appreciating and seeking appropriate supervision.Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3),532–541.

Aim. This paper is a report of a study of undergraduate nursing students’ experience of administering medication in the clinical setting.

Background. Safe administration of medication is an important component of skilled nursing practice, and nursing students require personal and supportive supervision from Registered Nurses to enhance learning and promote safety. A review of the literature revealed a lack of research addressing students’ experiences in administering medication.

Methods. A grounded theory methodology was used. In‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 27 undergraduate nursing students in Queensland Australia in 2005.

Findings. Supervision emerged as the central category in this study. Participants acknowledged the need for and importance of supervision according to the following sub‐themes: a university requirement; scope of practice; and safety, the five rights. They also described behaviours they adopted to seek supervision, including negotiating, chasing, waiting and avoiding.

Conclusion. Universities and healthcare settings need to collaborate more closely to ensure that adequate supervision is provided to ensure safe practices.
Making sense of patients’ use of analgesics following day case surgery
Authors: Older Claire G. , Carr Eloise C.J. , Layzell Mandy
Published: February 2010

older c.g., carr e.c.j. & layzell m. (2010) Making sense of patients’ use of analgesics following day case surgery. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 511–521.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study exploring patients’ use of analgesics following day case surgery, with particular focus on patients’ decision‐making about analgesic use.

Background.  Day case and ambulatory surgery continue to be the preferred format for many elective surgical procedures. However, many patients’ experience unacceptable postoperative pain when they return home after day surgery. Previous research investigating barriers to pain management suggests that patients may not use their analgesics appropriately.

Method.  A qualitative approach using interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to explore the experiences of 28 patients admitted for day case surgery. The patients were interviewed on the fourth postoperative day. Data were collected in 2005–06.

Findings.  We identified an explanatory framework with three high level themes and 12 mid‐level themes, with the mid‐level themes broken down into a number of lower level themes. Patients’ use of analgesics was a complex intentional decision‐making process based on a matrix of beliefs surrounding pain, analgesics and day surgery. They did not always adhere to their analgesic regimes at home, many describing how they avoided analgesics and often withstood high levels of postoperative pain.

Conclusion.  Interventions need to go beyond the provision of pain management information (as in current practice), and overcome some of the erroneous beliefs held by patients. Further research is required to identify ways in which these erroneous beliefs can be overcome.
Protocols for pressure ulcer prevention: are they evidence‐based?
Authors: Chaves Lidice M. , Grypdonck Mieke H.F. , Defloor Tom
Published: February 2010

chaves l.m., grypdonck m.h.f. & defloor t. (2010) Protocols for pressure ulcer prevention: are they evidence‐based? Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 562–572.

Aim.  This study is a report of a study to determine the quality of protocols for pressure ulcer prevention in home care in the Netherlands.

Background.  If pressure ulcer prevention protocols are evidence‐based and practitioners use them correctly in practice, this will result a reduction in pressure ulcers. Very little is known about the evidence‐based content and quality of the pressure ulcer prevention protocols.

Method.  In 2008, current pressure ulcer prevention protocols from 24 home‐care agencies in the Netherlands were evaluated. A checklist developed and validated by two pressure ulcer prevention experts was used to assess the quality of the protocols, and weighted and unweighted quality scores were computed and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results.  The 24 pressure ulcer prevention protocols had a mean weighted quality score of 63·38 points out of a maximum of 100 (sd 5). The importance of observing the skin at the pressure points at least once a day was emphasized in 75% of the protocols. Only 42% correctly warned against the use of materials that were ‘less effective or that could potentially cause harm’.

Conclusion.  Pressure ulcer prevention commands a reasonable amount of attention in home care, but the incidence of pressure ulcers and lack of a consistent, standardized document for use in actual practice indicate a need for systematic implementation of national pressure ulcer prevention standards in the Netherlands to ensure adherence to the established protocols.
Is nurse–patient agreement of importance to cancer nurses’ satisfaction with care?
Authors: Mårtensson Gunilla , Carlsson Marianne , Lampic Claudia
Published: February 2010

mårtensson g., carlsson m. & lampic c. (2010) Is nurse–patient agreement of importance to cancer nurses’ satisfaction with care? Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 573–582.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of situational (nurse–patient agreement), personal and occupational factors of potential importance to oncology nurses’ satisfaction with care provided and general work satisfaction.

Background.  Nurses have a general tendency to attribute to patients with cancer more problems and suffering than patients themselves report. However, little is known about whether dis/agreement between oncology nurses and patients with cancer concerning perceptions of patients’ situation is of importance to nurses’ satisfaction with their work.

Methods.  The study had a comparative and prospective design. Data were collected in 2005 using self‐administrated questionnaires with 81 consecutively recruited nurse–patient pairs. Data were analysed with non‐parametric tests (for comparison between subgroups) and with multiple regression analyses (for identifying predictors).

Results.  Initial nurse–patient agreement concerning patients’ emotional distress, coping resources and quality of life did not appear to be important to nurses’ subsequent satisfaction with the care directed at a specific patient. However, higher satisfaction with care provided as well as general work satisfaction was reported by nurses with more experience of cancer care and with a lower workload.

Conclusion.  To improve oncology nurses’ opportunities to provide high quality cancer care, novice nurses and advanced beginners in particular should receive support and nurses’ working conditions must be improved. Further research is needed to examine whether there are other aspects of the nurse–patient relationship that contribute to oncology nurses’ satisfaction with the care provided to specific patients.
Accidental falls in hospital inpatients: evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of two risk assessment tools
Authors: Lovallo Carmela , Rolandi Stefano , Rossetti Anna Maria , Lusignani Maura
Published: February 2010

lovallo c., rolandi s., rossetti a.m. & lusignani m. (2010) Acciden‐tal falls in hospital inpatients: evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of two risk assessment tools. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 690–696.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study comparing the effectiveness of two falls risk assessment tools (Conley Scale and Hendrich Risk Model) by using them simultaneously with the same sample of hospital inpatients.

Background.  Different risk assessment tools are available in literature. However, neither recent critical reviews nor international guidelines on fall prevention have identified tools that can be generalized to all categories of hospitalized patients.

Method.  A prospective observational study was carried out in acute medical, surgical wards and rehabilitation units. From October 2007 to January 2008, 1148 patients were assessed with both instruments, subsequently noting the occurrence of falls. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and Receiver Operating Characteristics curves were calculated.

Results.  The number of patients correctly identified with the Conley Scale (n = 41) was higher than with the Hendrich Model (n = 27). The Conley Scale gave sensitivity and specificity values of 69·49% and 61% respectively. The Hendrich Model gave a sensitivity value of 45·76% and a specificity value of 71%. Positive and negative predictive values were comparable.

Conclusion.  The Conley Scale is indicated for use in the medical sector, on the strength of its high sensitivity. However, since its specificity is very low, it is deemed useful to submit individual patients giving positive results to more in‐depth clinical evaluation in order to decide whether preventive measures need to be taken. In surgical sectors, the low sensitivity values given by both scales suggest that further studies are warranted.
Rehabilitation programme after stem cell transplantation: randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bird Lydia , Arthur Antony , Niblock Tara , Stone Rebecca , Watson Lynn , Cox Karen
Published: February 2010

bird l., arthur a., niblock t., stone r., watson l. & cox k. (2010) Rehabilitation programme after stem cell transplantation: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 607–615.

Aim.  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of two methods of rehabilitation after stem cell transplantation on health and quality of life.

Background.  Stem cell transplantation is routinely used in the treatment of haematological malignancy. However, it is an intensive treatment often associated with deterioration in wellbeing and the need for prolonged recovery.

Methods.  During a 14‐month data collection period (August 2005 to October 2006), patients who had had a stem cell transplant (n = 58) were randomly allocated to either a healthcare professional‐led rehabilitation programme or a self‐managed rehabilitation programme. The primary outcome measure, physical functioning as measured by the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey, was recorded at baseline and 6 months after randomization. Secondary health and quality of life measures included the seven other dimensions of the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey, General Health Questionnaire, Graham and Longman Quality of Life Scale and a Shuttle Walk Test.

Findings.  There was no difference in change in Short Form 36 physical functioning scores between the two groups at follow‐up (mean difference 0·19 points, 95% confidence interval 10·77–11·16). No evidence of a difference between the two modes of rehabilitation was observed for any of the trial outcomes.

Conclusion.  One approach for providing a flexible service may be for staff and individual patients to work together, selecting from a series of specified options a programme with the appropriate content and duration to meet that individual’s needs.
Community‐based individual knowledge construction in the classroom: a process‐oriented account
Authors: Looi C.‐K. , Chen W.
Published: February 2010

This paper explores the process of knowledge convergence and knowledge sharing in the context of classroom collaboration in which students do a group learning activity mediated by a generic representation tool. In analysing the transcript of the interactions of a group, we adapt the group cognition method of Stahl and the uptake analysis methodology of Suthers to understand how the members of the group did meaning making in their interactions, and how individual members did uptakes of their interactions and applied their new shared knowledge or understanding in new situations. The transcript is taken from our school‐based research using the Group Scribbles software technology which provides representation spaces for individual, group or class work to support collaborative practices. Our work contributes toward a methodology for explaining a process‐oriented account of a small group interaction through face‐to‐face communication over external shared representations.
Two sources of endogenous hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli
Authors: Korshunov Sergei , Imlay James A.
Published: February 2010

Mechanisms of hydrogen peroxide generation in Escherichia coli were investigated using a strain lacking scavenging enzymes. Surprisingly, the deletion of many abundant flavoenzymes that are known to autoxidize in vitro did not substantially lessen overall H2O2 formation. However, H2O2 production diminished by 25–30% when NadB turnover was eliminated. The flavin‐dependent desaturating dehydrogenase, NadB uses fumarate as an electron acceptor in anaerobic cells. Experiments showed that aerobic NadB turnover depends upon its oxidation by molecular oxygen, with H2O2 as a product. This reaction appears to be mechanistically adventitious. In contrast, most desaturating dehydrogenases are associated with the respiratory chain and deliver electrons to fumarate anaerobically or oxygen aerobically without the formation of toxic by‐products. Presumably, NadB can persist as an H2O2‐generating enzyme because its flux is limited. The anaerobic respiratory enzyme fumarate reductase uses a flavoprotein subunit that is homologous to NadB and accordingly forms substantial H2O2 upon aeration. This tendency is substantially suppressed by cytochrome oxidase. Thus cytochrome d oxidase, which is prevalent among anaerobes, may diminish intracellular H2O2 formation by the anaerobic respiratory chain, whenever these organisms encounter oxygen. These two examples reveal biochemical and physiological arrangements through which evolution has minimized the rate of intracellular oxidant formation.
Localization of muscarinic receptors M1R, M2R and M3R in the human colon
Authors: Harrington A. M. , Peck C. J. , Liu L. , Burcher E. , Hutson J. M. , Southwell B. R.
Published: February 2010

Background Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (MR) are involved in multiple intestinal reflexes. The cellular localization of subtypes of MRs within enteric circuits mediating muscle and mucosal reflexes remains to be demonstrated. This study aimed to localize the three functionally significant subtypes of MRs in human colon.

Methods Reverse transcriptase‐PCR was used to determine expression levels of muscarinic receptor subtype (MRs) M1Rs, M2Rs and M3Rs in human colon. Indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy was used to localize MRs in cryostat‐cut sections of human colon. Sections were double labeled for multiple cellular and neurochemical markers. Western blotting was used to confirm specificity of the muscarinic antisera used.

Key Results All three MR subtypes were expressed in human colon. Immunoreactivity (IR) for M2Rs and M3Rs was most abundant in circular and longitudinal muscle. M1R‐IR was most abundant on myenteric and submucosal nerve cells, both cholinergic and nitrergic. M3R‐IR was also present on populations on myenteric nerve cell bodies. Immunoreactivity for all three receptors was present on nerve fibers in the circular muscle.

Conclusions & Inferences In the human colon, subtypes of MRs were present on multiple cell types within the enteric circuits underlying motility, secretory and vasoactive reflexes. The cellular distribution for MRs found in this study agrees with data from functional studies, providing insight into the role MRs have in mediating enteric cholinergic neurotransmission.
REVIEW: Consilient research approaches in studying gene × environment interactions in alcohol research
Authors: Sher Kenneth J. , Dick Danielle M. , Crabbe John C. , Hutchison Kent E. , O'Malley Stephanie S. , Heath Andrew C.
Published: February 2010

This review article discusses the importance of identifying gene‐environment interactions for understanding the etiology and course of alcohol use disorders and related conditions. A number of critical challenges are discussed, including the fact that there is no organizing typology for classifying different types of environmental exposures, many key human environmental risk factors for alcohol dependence have no clear equivalents in other species, much of the genetic variance of alcohol dependence in human is not ‘alcohol specific’, and the potential range of gene‐environment interactions that could be considered is so vast that maintaining statistical control of Type 1 errors is a daunting task. Despite these and other challenges, there appears to be a number of promising approaches that could be taken in order to achieve consilience and ecologically valid translation between human alcohol dependence and animal models. Foremost among these is to distinguish environmental exposures that are thought to have enduring effects on alcohol use motivation (and self‐regulation) from situational environmental exposures that facilitate the expression of such motivations but do not, by themselves, have enduring effects. In order to enhance consilience, various domains of human approach motivation should be considered so that relevant environmental exposures can be sampled, as well as the appropriate species to study them in (i.e. where such motivations are ecologically relevant). Foremost among these are social environments, which are central to the initiation and escalation of human alcohol consumption. The value of twin studies, human laboratory studies and pharmacogenetic studies is also highlighted.
REVIEW: Understanding the construct of impulsivity and its relationship to alcohol use disorders
Authors: Dick Danielle M. , Smith Gregory , Olausson Peter , Mitchell Suzanne H. , Leeman Robert F. , O'Malley Stephanie S. , Sher Kenneth
Published: February 2010

There are well‐established links between impulsivity and alcohol use in humans and other model organisms; however, the etiological nature of these associations remains unclear. This is likely due, in part, to the heterogeneous nature of the construct of impulsivity. Many different measures of impulsivity have been employed in human studies, using both questionnaire and laboratory‐based tasks. Animal studies also use multiple tasks to assess the construct of impulsivity. In both human and animal studies, different measures of impulsivity often show little correlation and are differentially related to outcome, suggesting that the impulsivity construct may actually consist of a number of more homogeneous (and potentially more meaningful) subfacets. Here, we provide an overview of the different measures of impulsivity used across human and animal studies, evidence that the construct of impulsivity may be better studied in the context of more meaningful subfacets, and recommendations for how research in this direction may provide for better consilience between human and animal studies of the connection between impulsivity and alcohol use.
REVIEW: Human and laboratory rodent low response to alcohol: is better consilience possible?
Authors: Crabbe John C. , Bell Richard L. , Ehlers Cindy L.
Published: February 2010

If people are brought into the laboratory and given alcohol, there are pronounced differences among individuals in many responses to the drug. Some participants in alcohol challenge protocols show a cluster of ‘low level of responses to alcohol’ determined by observing post‐drinking‐related changes in subjective, motor and physiological effects at a given dose level. Those individuals characterized as having low level of response (LR) to alcohol have been shown to be at increased risk for a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol dependence (AD), and this relationship between low LR and AD appears to be in part genetic. LR to alcohol is an area where achieving greater consilience between the human and the rodent phenotypes would seem to be highly likely. However, despite extensive data from both human and rodent studies, few attempts have been made to evaluate the human and animal data systematically in order to understand which aspects of LR appear to be most directly comparable across species and thus the most promising for further study. We review four general aspects of LR that could be compared between humans and laboratory animals: (1) behavioral measures of subjective intoxication; (2) body sway; (3) endocrine responses; and (4) stimulant, autonomic and electrophysiological responses. None of these aspects of LR provide completely face‐valid direct comparisons across species. Nevertheless, one of the most replicated findings in humans is the low subjective response, but, as it may reflect either aversively valenced and/or positively valenced responses to alcohol as usually assessed, it is unclear which rodent responses are analogous. Stimulated heart rate appears to be consistent in animal and human studies, although at‐risk subjects appear to be more rather than less sensitive to alcohol using this measure. The hormone and electrophysiological data offer strong possibilities of understanding the neurobiological mechanisms, but the rodent data in particular are rather sparse and unsystematic. Therefore, we suggest that more effort is still needed to collect data using refined measures designed to be more directly comparable in humans and animals. Additionally, the genetically mediated mechanisms underlying this endophenotype need to be characterized further across species.
REVIEW: Reward sensitivity: issues of measurement, and achieving consilience between human and animal phenotypes
Authors: Stephens David N. , Duka Theodora , Crombag Hans S. , Cunningham Christopher L. , Heilig Markus , Crabbe John C.
Published: February 2010

Reward is a concept fundamental to discussions of drug abuse and addiction. The idea that altered sensitivity to either drug–reward, or to rewards in general, contributes to, or results from, drug‐taking is a common theme in several theories of addiction. However, the concept of reward is problematic in that it is used to refer to apparently different behavioural phenomena, and even to diverse neurobiological processes (reward pathways). Whether these different phenomena are different behavioural expressions of a common underlying process is not established, and much research suggests that there may be only loose relationships among different aspects of reward. Measures of rewarding effects of drugs in humans often depend upon subjective reports. In animal studies, such insights are not available, and behavioural measures must be relied upon to infer rewarding effects of drugs or other events. In such animal studies, but also in many human methods established to objectify measures of reward, many other factors contribute to the behaviour being studied. For that reason, studying the biological (including genetic) bases of performance of tasks that ostensibly measure reward cannot provide unequivocal answers. The current overview outlines the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches that hinder the conciliation of cross‐species studies of the genetics of reward sensitivity and the dysregulation of reward processes by drugs of abuse. Some suggestions are made as to how human and animal studies may be made to address more closely homologous behaviours, even if those processes are only partly able to isolate ‘reward’ from other factors contributing to behavioural output.
Clinical and molecular characterization of individuals with recurrent genomic disorder at 10q22.3q23.2
Authors: Alliman S , Coppinger J , Marcadier J , Thiese H , Brock P , Shafer S , Weaver C , Asamoah A , Leppig K , Dyack S , Morash B , Schultz R , Torchia BS , Lamb AN , Bejjani BA
Published: February 2010

Alliman S, Coppinger J, Marcadier J, Thiese H, Brock P, Shafer S, Weaver C, Asamoah A, Leppig K, Dyack S, Morash B, Schultz R, Torchia BS, Lamb AN, Bejjani BA. Clinical and molecular characterization of individuals with recurrent genomic disorder at 10q22.3q23.2.

The identification of genomic imbalances in young patients can affect medical management by allowing early intervention for developmental delay and by identifying patients at risk for unexpected medical complications. Using a 105K‐feature oligonucleotide array, we identified a 7.25 Mb deletion at 10q22.3q23.2 in six unrelated patients. Deletions of this region have been described in individuals with cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, including autistic features, and may represent a recurring genetic syndrome. All four patients in this study for whom clinical information was available had mild dysmorphic features and three had developmental delay. Of note is the emerging clinical phenotype in these individuals with similar dysmorphic features such as macrocephaly, hypertelorism, and arachnodactyly, and neurodevelopmental delay that includes failure to thrive, hypotonia, and feeding difficulties in the neonatal period, and receptive and expressive language delay with global neurodevelopmental delay after the neonatal period. However, there is no pattern of abnormalities, craniofacial, behavioral, or otherwise, that would have aroused clinical suspicion of a specific syndrome. Finally, the patients' deletions encompass BMPR1A but not PTEN, and these patients may be at risk for colon cancer and should be referred for appropriate prophylactic care and surveillance. Of the two patients in this study who had colonoscopy following the array results, neither had polyps. Therefore, the magnitude of the increased risk for colon cancer is currently unknown.
Delineation of 15q13.3 microdeletions
Authors: Masurel‐Paulet A , Andrieux J , Callier P , Cuisset JM , Le Caignec C , Holder M , Thauvin‐Robinet C , Doray B , Flori E , Alex‐Cordier MP , Beri M , Boute O , Delobel B , Dieux A , Vallee L , Jaillard S , Odent S , Isidor B , Beneteau C , Vigneron J , Bilan F , Gilbert‐Dussardier B , Dubourg C , Labalme A , Bidon C , Gautier A , Pernes P , Pinoit JM , Huet F , Mugneret F , Aral B , Jonveaux P , Sanlaville D , Faivre L
Published: February 2010

Masurel‐Paulet A, Andrieux J, Callier P, Cuisset JM, Le Caignec C, Holder M, Thauvin‐Robinet C, Doray B, Flori E, Alex‐Cordier MP, Beri M, Boute O, Delobel B, Dieux A, Vallee L, Jaillard S, Odent S, Isidor B, Beneteau C, Vigneron J, Bilan F, Gilbert‐Dussardier B, Dubourg C, Labalme A, Gautier A, Pernes P, Bidon C, Pinoit JM, Huet F, Mugneret F, Aral B, Jonveaux P, Sanlaville D, Faivre L. Delineation of 15q13.3 microdeletions.

The increasing use of array‐comparative genomic hybridization (array‐CGH) to identify copy number variations (CNVs) in patients with developmental delay (DD), mental retardation and/or dysmorphic features has allowed the recent recognition of numerous genomic imbalances, including the 15q13.3 microdeletion. Patients with this microdeletion generally present with relatively consistent breakpoints at BP4 and BP5, which include the CHRNA7 gene. About 100 index cases have been reported since the first publication in 2008. This large number of patients ascertained through highly variable samples has been necessary to describe the full phenotypic spectrum of this microdeletion, ranging from mental retardation with dysmorphic features, epilepsy, neuropsychiatric disturbances with or without cognitive impairment to complete absence of anomalies. Here, we describe a collaborative study reporting a new cohort of 12 index patients and 13 relatives carrying a heterozygous BP4–BP5 microdeletion out of a series of 4625 patients screened by array‐CGH for DD. We confirm the clinical expressivity of the disease as well as the incomplete penetrance in seven families. We showed through a review of the literature that males are more likely to be symptomatic. Sequence analysis of CHRNA7 yielded no data to support the unmasking of recessive variants as a cause of phenotypic variability. We also report the first patient carrying a 15q13.3 homozygous microdeletion inherited from both parents. He had severe epileptic encephalopathy with retinopathy, autistic features and choreoathetosis. Besides the classical ∼1.5 Mb BP4–BP5 microdeletion, we also describe three index patients and two relatives with a smaller 500 kb microdeletion, including the CHRNA7 gene.
Epidemiology of Van der Woude syndrome from mutational analyses in affected patients from Pakistan
Authors: Malik S , Kakar N , Hasnain S , Ahmad J , Wilcox ER , Naz S
Published: February 2010

Malik S, Kakar N, Hasnain S, Ahmad J, Wilcox ER, Naz S. Epidemiology of Van der Woude syndrome from mutational analyses in affected patients from Pakistan.

Mutations inIRF6cause Van der Woude syndrome (VWS), one of the most common syndromes associated with cleft lip (CL) with or without cleft palate (CP). The presence of pits on the lower lip of patients is the most characteristic feature of the syndrome. We have identified three novel and seven previously reportedIRF6mutations in 12 of 16 unrelated families segregating VWS from Pakistan. The three newly identified mutations include a frameshift (c.568delG) and two missense mutations c.295G>A (p.G99S) and c.1219T>C (p.S407P). Recent functional studies on IRF6 and the three‐dimensional structure of IRF5 carboxy (C) terminus, a protein encoded by a paralog ofIRF6, shed light on the p.S407P substitution. Additionally, the identification of the same mutations responsible for VWS in Pakistan, as reported in other global populations worldwide, marks these residues as mutational hotspots and indicates their essential role in structural stability or function of IRF6. This is the first study of VWS in Pakistan and we estimate that 1 in 100 patients with CL with or without CP (CL/P) are affected in the Pakistani population predominantly from the Punjab area.
Population differences in behaviour are explained by shared within‐population trait correlations
Authors: PRUITT JONATHAN N. , RIECHERT SUSAN E. , ITURRALDE GABRIEL , VEGA MAURICIO , FITZPATRICK BENJAMIN M. , AVILÉS LETICIA
Published: February 2010

Correlations in behavioural traits across time, situation and ecological context (i.e. ‘behavioural syndromes’ or ‘personality’) have been documented for a variety of behaviours, and in diverse taxa. Perhaps the most controversial inference from the behavioural syndromes literature is that correlated behaviour may act as an evolutionary constraint and evolutionary change in one’s behaviour may necessarily involve shifts in others. We test the two predictions of this hypothesis using comparative data from eighteen populations of the socially polymorphic spider, Anelosimus studiosus (Araneae, Theriidae). First, we ask whether geographically distant populations share a common syndrome. Second, we test whether population differences in behaviour are correlated similarly to within‐population trait correlations. Our results reveal that populations separated by as much as 36° latitude shared similar syndromes. Furthermore, population differences in behaviour were correlated in the same manner as within‐population trait correlations. That is, population divergence tended to be along the same axes as within‐population covariance. Together, these results suggest a lack of evolutionary independence in the syndrome’s constituent traits.
Heritability of resistance to oxidative stress in early life
Authors: KIM S.‐Y. , NOGUERA J. C. , MORALES J. , VELANDO A.
Published: February 2010

Oxidative stress has recently been suggested to play an important role in life‐history evolution, but little is known about natural variation and heritability of this physiological trait. Here, we explore phenotypic variation in resistance to oxidative stress of cross‐fostered yellow‐legged gull (Larus cachinnans) chicks. Resistance to oxidative stress was not related to plasma antioxidants at hatching, which are mostly derived from maternal investment into eggs. Common environmental effects on phenotypic variation in resistance to oxidative stress were not significant. Heritability was relatively low and nonsignificant in hatchlings, but interestingly, the chicks of age 8 days showed high and significant heritability (h2 = 0.59). Our results suggest that resistance to oxidative stress is determined mainly by the genotype as chicks grow. Further work is required to explore the genetic role of oxidative stress in life‐history evolution.
Habitat‐specific population structure in native western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta, Thysanoptera)
Authors: BRUNNER P. C. , FREY J. E.
Published: February 2010

Invasions by pest organisms are among the main challenges for sustainable crop protection. They pose a serious threat to crop production by introducing a highly unpredictable element to existing crop protection strategies. The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta, Thysanoptera) managed to invade ornamental greenhouses worldwide within < 25 years. To shed light on possible genetic and/or ecological factors that may have been responsible for this invasion success, we studied the population genetic structure of western flower thrips in its native range in western North America. Analysis of nucleotide sequence variation and variation at microsatellite loci revealed the existence of two habitat‐specific phylogenetic lineages (ecotypes) with allopatric distribution. One lineage is associated with hot/dry climates, the second lineage is restricted to cool/moist climates. We speculate that the ecological niche segregation found in this study may be among the key factors determining the invasion potential of western flower thrips.
Fungal carbohydrate support in the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis: a review
Authors: Nehls U. , Göhringer F. , Wittulsky S. , Dietz S.
Published: February 2010

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is a mutualistic interaction between certain soil fungi and fine roots of perennial plants, mainly forest trees, by which both partners become capable of efficiently colonising nutrient‐limited environments. The success of this interaction is reflected in the dominance of ECM forest ecosystems in the Northern hemisphere. Apart from their economic importance (wood production), forest ecosystems are essential for large‐scale carbon sequestration, leading to substantial reductions in anthropogenic CO2 release. The biological function of ECM symbiosis is the exchange of fungus‐derived mineral nutrients for plant‐derived carbohydrates. Improved plant nutrition as a result of this interaction, however, has a price. Together with their fungal partner, root systems of ECM plants can receive about half of the photosynthetically fixed carbon. To enable such a strong carbohydrate sink, the monosaccharide uptake capacity and carbohydrate flux through glycolysis and intermediate carbohydrate storage pools (trehalose and/or mannitol) of mycorrhizal fungi is strongly increased at the plant–fungus interface. Apart from their function as a carbohydrate store, trehalose/mannitol are additionally considered to be involved in carbon allocation within the fungal colony. Dependent on the fungal species involved in the symbiosis, regulation and fine‐tuning of fungal carbohydrate uptake and metabolism seems to be controlled either by developmental mechanisms or by the apoplastic sugar content. As a consequence of the increased carbohydrate demand in symbiosis, trees increase their photosynthetic capacity. In addition, host plants control and restrict carbohydrate flux towards their partner to avoid fungal parasitism. The mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still largely unknown but rates of local sucrose hydrolysis and hexose uptake by rhizodermal cells are thought to restrict fungal carbohydrate nutrition under certain conditions (e.g., reduced fungal nutrient export).
Cloning and expression of cytochrome P450 CYP6B7 in fenvalerate‐resistant and susceptible Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) from China
Authors: Zhang H. , Tang T. , Cheng Y. , Shui R. , Zhang W. , Qiu L.
Published: February 2010

Our previous studies have found that the levels of cytochrome P450 and oxidative activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases were enhanced in a fenvalerate‐resistant strain (HDFR) of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in China, comparing with those of a susceptible strain (HDS). Here, we report the molecular cloning and gene expression of a specific P450 CYP6B7 from HDFR and HDS strain of H. armigera. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence showed that there were three substitutions of amino acids in the coding region of CYP6B7 cDNA of HDFR strain, comparing with that of HDS strain. Meanwhile, there were three mutative nucleotides in the intron of CYP6B7 genomic DNA in HDFR strain. Northern blotting analysis showed that the expression of CYP6B7 mRNA in HDFR strain of H. armigera was more than 5‐fold higher than that in HDS strain. Further studies indicated that the expression of CYP6B7 mRNA increased as the larvae developed; however, it was rarely detected in the pupae and adult stages. The results suggested that cytochrome P450 CYP6B7 plays an important role in the pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate resistance of HDFR strain of H. armigera; over‐expression of CYP6B7 combined with relevant substitution of amino acids might be responsible for fenvalerate‐resistance in H. armigera from China.
Changes of Connexin43 Expression in Non‐pregnant Porcine Myometrium Correlate with Progesterone Concentration During Oestrous Cycle
Authors: Karasinski J , Galas J , Semik D , Fiertak A , Bilinska B , Kilarski WM
Published: February 2010

Contents

Connexin43 (Cx43) is a major protein of myometrial gap junctions. The number of Cx43 gap junctions increase dramatically with the onset of labour in association with development of synchronized uterine contractions. The formation of myometrial gap junctions follows an increase in the oestrogen to progesterone ratio indicating an important role of steroid hormones in regulating Cx43 expression at term. However, no relationship has been established between the expression of Cx43 in the non‐pregnant myometrium and concentration of steroid hormones during the oestrous cycle. Here, we used immunofluorescence and Western blotting to analyse the expression of Cx43 gap junctions in the myometrium of pre‐pubertal pigs (n = 7) and mature pigs at pre‐ovulatory (n = 7), luteal (n = 5) and late luteal (n = 3) stages of the oestrous cycle. The number of Cx43 gap junctions calculated per 1 mm2 of the myometrial section was low in pre‐pubertal pigs and significantly higher (p < 0.022) in pre‐ovulatory animals. In relation to pre‐ovulatory animals the number of myometrial gap junctions was significantly lower (p < 0.019) at the luteal phase and correlated with significantly higher (p < 0.005) concentration of endogenous progesterone. Phosphorylated isoforms of Cx43 protein were expressed in the myometrium of pre‐pubertal pigs and mature animals at pre‐ovulatory and late luteal phases, while they were down regulated at the luteal stage. These results indicate that changes of Cx43 expression in the porcine myometrium during the oestrous cycle may be regulated by progesterone concentration and may contribute to the modulation of uterine motility.
Positron emission tomography: current status and future challenges
Authors: Lin M. , Shon I. Ho , Lin P.
Published: February 2010

Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine‐18–2‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐d‐glucose (FDG) has made a major impact in clinical oncology in diagnosing, staging and restaging malignancy as well as in monitoring therapy response. Over the past decade, there has been an enormous growth in the scientific and clinical evidence supporting PET including recent important contribution from the Australian PET Data Collection Project. Since 2001, hybrid PET‐computed tomography has also largely replaced PET alone systems with significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy. This review is a brief update on the current status of FDG‐PET focusing on its oncologic applications.
Reversible posterior encephalopathy syndrome associated with bortezomib
Authors: Terwiel E. , Hanrahan R. , Lueck C. , D'Rozario J.
Published: February 2010

Reversible posterior encephalopathy (RPES) is an uncommon neurological syndrome that is being increasingly reported in association with anti‐neoplastic therapies. The first case of reversible posterior encephalopathy associated with the proteosome inhibitor bortezomib is described and the reported experience of the occurrence of RPES with other antineoplastic therapies reviewed. Dysregulation of cerebral vasomotor autoregulation is postulated as the underlying pathophysiology in this case of bortezomib associated RPES.
Guest Editors' Introduction
Authors: O'Sullivan Mary , Graham Margaret B. W.
Published: February 2010

abstract

There are already manifold interactions between business history and management studies but, to date, they have tended to be more particular and patchy than general and systematic. In this introduction we summarize the arguments that scholars from business history, management studies and social science have made for closer contact between these fields which emphasize the benefits to be gained both for theoretical and historical research on business. We highlight how the articles published in this Special Issue show the wide variety of intellectual purposes, approaches, and benefits that closer engagement between business history and management theories might entail. Yet, concerns have also been raised about the value of a closer alliance between business history and management studies and we suggest that they are worthy of further consideration and discussion. To that end, we propose a more deliberate conversation about what it is we do as historians and theorists of business and what we seek to accomplish. Such a discussion would help us not only to better understand the limits to fruitful integration but also how to work together more productively in the collaborations that seem most worthwhile.
Postcolonial Transitions in Africa: Decolonization in West Africa and Present Day South Africa
Authors: Decker Stephanie
Published: February 2010

abstract

Black Economic Empowerment is a highly debated issue in contemporary South Africa. Yet few South Africans realize that they are following a postcolonial trajectory already experienced by other countries. This paper presents a case study of British firms during decolonization in Ghana and Nigeria in the 1950s and 1960s, which saw a parallel development in business and society to that which occurred in South Africa in the 1990s and 2000s. Despite fundamental differences between these states, all have had to empower a majority of black citizens who had previously suffered discrimination on the basis of race. The paper employs concepts from social capital theory to show that the process of postcolonial transition in African economies has been more politically and socially disruptive than empowerment in Western countries. Historical research contributes to our understanding of the nature of institutional shocks in emerging economies.
Systematic review of the effectiveness of weight management schemes for the under fives
Authors: Bond M. , Wyatt K. , Lloyd J. , Taylor R.
Published: February 2010

Overweight and obesity in pre‐school children are an increasing problem, with poor diet and exercise habits laying the foundation for serious health risks in later life. Yet most research into childhood obesity has focused on school‐age children. Two previous systematic reviews of pre‐school children have included uncontrolled designs and self‐report outcomes potentially biasing the results in favour of the interventions. We have conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of weight management schemes for the under fives restricting the inclusion criteria to controlled trials with objective measures. We found four effectiveness randomized controlled trials of prevention. No treatment or cost‐effectiveness studies were found. Only one study in a Latino community showed a statistically significant advantage from the intervention in a slower rate of increase in body mass index. However, trends in decrease in body mass index and weight loss favoured the intervention groups in other studies. From the studies characteristics we hypothesize that important features to include in future interventions may be; cultural sensitivity, sustained moderate to vigorous exercise, active engagement of the parents in the programme and as role models of healthy living and active engagement of the children in nutrition education. Further randomized controlled trials are needed in this population.
Saving graces: Impact of partner support and maternal attachment on partner attachments in an individualistic and a collectivist context
Authors: Ho Man Yee , Zhang Hong , Lin Dan , Lu Aitao , Bond Michael Harris , Chan Clare , Friedman Michael
Published: February 2010

The current study investigated the relationships between current attachment to mother and attachment to romantic partners, and the role of current partner support and culture as moderators of that relationship. University students who were currently in a romantic relationship were recruited from Hong Kong and USA, and completed measures on attachment styles and partner support. Results showed that maternal attachment anxiety was correlated with romantic attachment anxiety; maternal attachment avoidance was correlated with romantic attachment avoidance, but this linkage varied by level of current partner support. Romantic attachment avoidance was also associated with current partner support, but this linkage was stronger for HK Chinese than for Americans. These results are discussed in terms of how interpersonal and personality factors promoted by culture can affect the developmental course of romantic relationships.
Role identities versus social identities: Masculinity, femininity, instrumentality and communality
Authors: Echabe Agustin Echebarria
Published: February 2010

Three studies were designed to prove that while instrumentality and communality are mainly dimensions related to role identities, and thus determined by occupational status, masculinity and femininity are social identities linked to gender. Some ideas are put forward as to the reasons that have led historically to the overlapping of role and gender identities. The studies showed that people differentiate communality/instrumentality and masculinity/femininity, perceiving the former as linked to professional status and the latter to gender membership. Finally, current representations of masculinity and femininity are explored.
Moderating effect of Zhong Yong on the relationship between creativity and innovation behaviour
Authors: Yao Xiang , Yang Qian , Dong Nini , Wang Lei
Published: February 2010

The present study examined the moderating effect of Zhong Yong on the relationship between perceived creativity and innovation behaviour in Chinese companies. A total of 273 paired questionnaires were collected with employee self‐rated creativity and Zhong Yong and supervisor‐rated innovation behaviour. The results show that for people higher on Zhong Yong, their creativity was not correlated with innovation behaviour; for people less immersed in Zhong Yong, this correlation is significant. This finding provides a new insight into the effects of Zhong Yong on the creativity‐innovation behaviour transformation processes. The implications for future research are also discussed.
PATENTLY (UN) CLEAR
Authors: Reitzig Markus , Wagner Stefan
Published: February 2010

After developing a great product or process, it's important to protect it. Markus Reitzig and Stefan Wagner have done extensive research on the benefits of using internal patent lawyers versus outsourcing the task. Here's the inside story.
TURBULENT TIMES AND GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES
Authors: Sull Don
Published: February 2010

For those feeling storm‐tossed by today's economy, Don Sull believes there's much to learn from Carnival Cruise Lines, a company that discovered that turbulence often has an upside.
BOOSTING STRATEGY WITH AN ONLINE COMMUNITY
Authors: Gratton Lynda , Casse Joel
Published: February 2010

A programme that merged online communities with strategic development and implementation at Nokia has provided valuable lessons about the new ways employees are able to engage and interact. Lynda Gratton and Joel Casse tell how “deep involvement” evolved into the “Booster Programme”.