bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of mobile phones to support women’s entrepreneurship in the Arab countries
Authors: Ameen Nisreen A. , Willis Rob
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how mobile phones can be used to support women’s entrepreneurship in Arab countries. The objective is to explore new ways to close the gender gaps in terms of entrepreneurship in these countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this research is an in-depth analysis of the existing literature and recent reports on women’s entrepreneurship and on the adoption and use of mobile phones in Arab countries.

Findings

The findings of this research indicate that female Arab entrepreneurs are interested in using mobile phones. However, they have not yet realised the full potential of mobile technology in empowering them beyond its basic use. Several challenges facing women entrepreneurship in the Arab countries were identified. Mobile phones can be used to overcome these challenges.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on the collection and analysis of secondary data rather than primary data to support the findings.

Practical implications

There is a need for collaboration between telecommunication companies operating in the Arab region and government initiatives to build a solid environment in which female Arab entrepreneurs can operate.

Originality/value

This research provides new insights and recommendations for reducing the gender gaps in terms of entrepreneurship by using new and improved techniques to address women’s needs for economic independence. This will also increase the profit gained by the telecommunication companies operating in Arab countries and bring additional income to this region.
Convection heat transfer and temperature analysis of oil jet lubricated spur gears
Authors: Wang Yanzhong , Niu Wentao , Chen Yanyan , Song Guanhua , Tang Wen
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an analytic technique for determining the convection heat transfer and temperature of oil jet lubricated spur gears.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiphase flow model is developed to calculate the convection heat transfer coefficients on different gear faces during different contact conditions. The frictional heat is calculated and a method to distribute between the two gears is developed. A finite element model is established to calculate the temperatures in both meshing and cooling processes.

Findings

The convection heat transfer coefficients on different surfaces are obtained successfully. Area-related formulae are developed to calculate the heat distribution coefficients. The gear temperature reaches a maximum at the beginning of meshing, then reduces and gets minimum at pitch point, after that it increases again. The gear temperature descends rapidly to steady temperature during the short time of jet cooling process. The tendency of computational results coincides well with the experimental results.

Originality/value

The research presented here could be used in the design phase of the jet lubricated spur gears. The precise temperature is obtained to assess the thermal capacity of gears, from which the gear parameters and oil supply conditions could be adjusted and designed.
Team psychological safety and team learning: a cultural perspective
Authors: Cauwelier Peter , Ribière Vincent M. , Bennet Alex
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate if the concept of team psychological safety, a key driver of team learning and originally studied in the West, can be applied in teams from different national cultures. The model originally validated for teams in the West is applied to teams in Thailand to evaluate its validity, and the views team members have on the antecedents of team psychological safety are analyzed.

Design/methodology/approach

The core of the sequential explanatory mixed method research was an experiment with nine teams from a single engineering organization (three teams from each the USA, France and Thailand). Team learning behaviors were analyzed from the conversations between team members. Team psychological safety was analyzed through a quantitative instrument and one-on-one structured interviews with each team member.

Findings

The results showed that the original model is confirmed for the teams from the USA and France but not confirmed for teams from Thailand. The thematic analysis of the one-on-one interviews highlights important differences between teams from the USA and France on the one hand and teams from Thailand on the other hand when it comes to the role of the team manager and the views that team members have on the diversity between them.

Originality/value

This research confirms that the concept of team psychological safety, and its impact on the way teams learn, needs to be adjusted if it is to be applied to teams in countries with national cultures different from those prevalent in the West. The implications are that researchers who develop theories in the social sciences field should evaluate how cultural differences impact their models, and that managers who implement learning and solutions should take national cultural differences into consideration.
Housing suitable for an ageing population
Authors: Morrison Angela
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The older population is growing but there is too little housing being built and very little suits their needs. The purpose of this paper is to describe what is on offer now and looks at the viability of the chalet bungalow as a desirable, affordable option which could attract older people to downsize from a family house.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a viewpoint piece.

Findings

An age-friendly dwelling is one where all types of people can age in place. Traditionally the bungalow fulfilled this niche however as more pressure is put on land and its value the style has gone out of favour. Whereas at the top end of the market developers are offering large cottages with a reception room that can be used as a ground floor bedroom the less well off owner occupier is not catered for until they need care. The dwindling supply of suitable properties has led to older people feeling trapped in homes too big for their needs at a time when there is a chronic shortage of family houses. This leads to poor health and well-being and a later life move into expensive housing with care.

Originality/value

Mainstream developers have avoided building bungalows because single storey dwellings are “land hungry”. This paper reviews a chalet bungalow solution which can be built to a greater density and is of a size and style that is age friendly, future proof and affordable. This message if more widely disseminated could help solve the housing crisis.
Microbial community composition but not diversity changes along succession in arctic sand dunes
Authors: Poosakkannu Anbu , Nissinen Riitta , Männistö Minna , Kytöviita Minna‐Maarit
Published: November 2016

The generality of increasing diversity of fungi and bacteria across arctic sand dune succession was tested. Microbial communities were examined by high‐throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes (bacteria) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (fungi). We studied four microbial compartments (inside leaf, inside root, rhizosphere and bulk soil) and characterized microbes associated with a single plant species (Deschampsia flexuosa) across two sand dune successional stages (early and late). Bacterial richness increased across succession in bulk soil and leaf endosphere. In contrast, soil fungal richness remained constant while root endosphere fungal richness increased across succession. There was, however, no significant difference in Shannon diversity indices between early and late successional stage in any compartment. There was a significant difference in the composition of microbial communities between early and late successional stage in all compartments, although the major microbial OTUs were shared between early and late successional stage. Co‐occurrence network analysis revealed successional stage‐specific microbial groups. There were more co‐occurring modules in early successional stage than in late stage. Altogether, these results emphasize that succession strongly affects distribution of microbial species, but not microbial diversity in arctic sand dune ecosystem and that fungi and bacteria may not follow the same successional trajectories.
Newly isolated Nodularia phage influences cyanobacterial community dynamics
Authors: Coloma S. E. , Dienstbier A. , Bamford D. H. , Sivonen K. , Roine E. , Hiltunen T.
Published: November 2016

Cyanophages, that is, viruses infecting cyanobacteria, are a key component driving cyanobacterial community dynamics both ecologically and evolutionarily. In addition to reducing biomass and influencing the genetic diversity of their host populations, they can also have a wider community‐level impact due to the release of nutrients by phage‐induced cell lysis. In this study, we isolated and characterized a new cyanophage, a siphophage designated as vB_NpeS‐2AV2, capable of infecting the filamentous nitrogen fixing cyanobacterium Nodularia sp. AV2 with a lytic cycle between 12 and 18 hours. The role of the phage in the ecology of its host Nodularia and competitor Synechococcus was investigated in a set of microcosm experiments. Initially, phage‐induced cell lysis decreased the number of Nodularia cells in the cultures. However, around 18%–27% of the population was resistant against the phage infection. Nitrogen was released from the Nodularia cells as a consequence of phage activity, resulting in a seven‐fold increase in Synechococcus cell density. In conclusion, the presence of the cyanophage vB_NpeS‐2AV2 altered the ecological dynamics in the cyanobacterial community and induced evolutionary changes in the Nodularia population, causing the evolution from a population dominated by susceptible cells to a population dominated by resistant ones.
Glycerol metabolism and transport in yeast and fungi: established knowledge and ambiguities
Authors: Klein Mathias , Swinnen Steve , Thevelein Johan M. , Nevoigt Elke
Published: November 2016

There is huge variability among yeasts with regard to their efficiency in utilizing glycerol as the sole source of carbon and energy. Certain species show growth rates with glycerol comparable to those reached with glucose as carbon source; others are virtually unable to utilize glycerol, especially in synthetic medium. Most of our current knowledge regarding glycerol uptake and catabolic pathways has been gained from studying laboratory strains of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The growth of these strains on glycerol is dependent on the presence of medium supplements such as amino acids and nucleobases. In contrast, there is only fragmentary knowledge about S. cerevisiae isolates able to grow in synthetic glycerol medium without such supplements as well as about growth of non‐Saccharomyces yeast species on glycerol. Thus, more research is required to understand why certain strains and species show superior growth performance on glycerol compared with common S. cerevisiae laboratory strains. This mini‐review summarizes what is known so far about the gene products and pathways involved in glycerol metabolism and transport in yeast and fungi as well as the regulation of these processes.
Improving the non‐technical skills of hospital medical emergency teams: The Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM™)
Authors: Cant Robyn P , Porter Joanne E , Cooper Simon J , Roberts Kate , Wilson Ian , Gartside Christopher
Published: November 2016

Objectives

This prospective descriptive study aimed to test the validity and feasibility of the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM™) for assessing real‐world medical emergency teams' non‐technical skills. Second, the present study aimed to explore the instrument's contribution to practice regarding teamwork and learning outcomes.

Methods

Registered nurses (RNs) and medical staff (n = 104) in two hospital EDs in rural Victoria, Australia, participated. Over a 10 month period, the (TEAM™) instrument was completed by multiple clinicians at medical emergency episodes.

Results

In 80 real‐world medical emergency team resuscitation episodes (283 clinician assessments), non‐technical skills ratings averaged 89% per episode (39 of a possible 44 points). Twenty‐one episodes were rated in the lowest quartile (i.e. ≤37 points out of 44). Ratings differed by discipline, with significantly higher scores given by medical raters (mean: 41.1 ± 4.4) than RNs (38.7 ± 5.4) (P = 0.001). This difference occurred in the Leadership domain. The tool was reliable with Cronbach's alpha 0.78, high uni‐dimensional validity and mean inter‐item correlation of 0.45. Concurrent validity was confirmed by strong correlation between TEAM™ score and the awarded Global Rating (P < 0.001), with 38.4% of shared variance. RNs praised the instrument as it initiated staff reflection and debriefing discussions around performance improvement.

Conclusion

Non‐technical skills of medical emergency teams are known to often be suboptimal; however, average ratings of 89% were achieved in this real‐world study. TEAM™ is a valid, reliable and easy to use tool, for both training and clinical settings, with benefits for team performance when used as an assessment and/or debriefing tool.
The Interrater Reliability of Nursing Outcome Classification (NOC): “Caregiver Performance: Direct Care”
Authors: Adistya Vera Kurnia , Nurjannah Intansari , Subekti Heru
Published: November 2016

PURPOSE

The article investigates the interrater reliability of Nursing Outcome Classification (NOC) “Caregiver Performance: Direct Care” in Indonesian language.

METHODS

Two raters assessed 31 caregivers of clients with mental disorders using NOC “Caregiver Performance: Direct Care” in January 2016. This NOC was translated into Indonesian and each indicator was operated in accordance with caregivers’ need in taking care of clients. Kappa and percent agreement were used for the analysis.

FINDINGS

The overall kappa value of NOC “Caregiver Performance: Direct Care” was 0.752, while the percent agreement was 80.

CONCLUSIONS

The interrater reliability of NOC “Caregiver Performance: Direct Care” in Indonesian was at the level of substantial reliability.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE

NOC “Caregiver Performance: Direct Care” can be used in the clinical setting.
Manic switches induced by antidepressants: an umbrella review comparing randomized controlled trials and observational studies
Authors: Allain N. , Leven C. , Falissard B. , Allain J.‐S. , Batail J.‐M. , Polard E. , Montastruc F. , Drapier D. , Naudet F.
Published: November 2016

Objective

We aimed to explore whether the prevalence of manic switch was underestimated in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared to observational studies (OSs).

Method

Meta‐analyses and simple and systematic reviews were identified by two reviewers in a blinded, standardized manner. All relevant references were extracted to include RCTs and OSs that provided data about manic switch prevalence after antidepressant treatment for a major depressive episode. The primary outcome was manic switch prevalence in the different arms of each study. A meta‐regression was conducted to quantify the impact of certain variables on manic switch prevalence.

Results

A total of 57 papers (35 RCTs and 22 OSs) were included in the main analysis. RCTs underestimated the rate of manic switch [0.53 (0.32–0.87)]. Overestimated prevalence was related to imipraminics [1.85 (1.22–2.79)]; to serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [1.74 (1.06–2.86)]; and to other classes of drugs [1.58 (1.08–2.31)], compared to placebo treatment. The prevalence of manic switch was lower among adults than among children [0.2 (0.07–0.59)]; and higher [20.58 (8.41–50.31)] in case of bipolar disorder.

Conclusion

Our results highlight an underestimation of the rates of manic switch under antidepressants in RCTs compared to the rates observed in observational studies.
Effect of health status on fattening performance in young crossbred polish Holstein‐Friesian × Limousin Bulls and steers
Authors: Wielgosz‐Groth Zofia , Sobczuk‐Szul Monika , Nogalski Zenon , Pogorzelska‐Przybyłek Paulina , Purwin Cezary
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of disease incidence on selected parameters of cattle fattening performance and carcass quality, and the fatty acid profile of beef. The experimental materials comprised 16 bulls and 16 steers, Polish Holstein‐Friesian × Limousin crossbreeds (including 10 healthy and six treated animals of each category). At 5 weeks of age, bloodless castration was carried out using a rubber elastrator. The calves were fed milk replacer provided in automatic feeding stations. Until 540 days of age, the animals were fattened in an Animal Research Laboratory equipped with the Roughage Intake Control (RIC) system (Insentec, the Netherlands). In comparison with healthy (untreated) bulls and steers, sick (treated) animals had lower average body weight at 180 days of age, by 37 kg (P ≤ 0.05) and lower average final body weight at 540 days of age, by 56 kg (P ≤ 0.05). Sick animals were characterized by lower feed intake and worse feed efficiency (not statistically significant differences). Hot carcass weight reached 318 kg in healthy animals and 258 kg in treated bulls (P ≤ 0.05). In treated steers, the percentage of lean meat and bones in the three‐rib section was higher and the percentage of fat was lower, compared with their healthy counterparts (P ≤ 0.01). There was a category × health status interaction for carcass tissue composition. There were no significant influences of type of sickness on analyzed traits. In comparison with healthy steers, intramuscular fat of Musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) from treated steers had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐6 and n‐3) and a lower content of conjugated linoleic acid.
Effect of increased feeding of dietary α‐linolenic acid by grazing on formation of the cis9,trans11–18:2 isoform of conjugated linoleic acid in bovine milk
Authors: Yamaguchi Mio , Naito Taki , Nagao Yoshikazu , Kabuyama Yukihito , Hashimoto Kei , Azuma Norihiro , Maeda Isamu
Published: November 2016

Feeding systems such as grazing affect the fatty acid profile of bovine milk fat. In addition, milk fat is formed as the product of fatty acid metabolism in cow bodies before being secreted into milk. However, how grazing influences milk fatty acid profile through the metabolism has not been completely characterized. When fatty acid concentrations in Holstein milk were compared between grazing and non‐grazing periods, α‐linolenic acid was significantly higher in the grazing period than in the non‐grazing period. This could be explained with an increase in α‐linolenic acid feeding with grazing. α‐linolenic acid had a linear positive correlation with conjugated linoleic acid (9c,11t‐18:2) (CLA) and vaccenic acid (VA) during the grazing period, whereas CLA had higher correlation with linoleic acid rather than with α‐linolenic acid during the non‐grazing period. These data indicate that the high content of dietary α‐linolenic acid affects CLA and VA formation in milk of grazing periods via α‐linolenic acid metabolism into VA.
Social comparison, personal relative deprivation, and materialism
Authors: Kim Hyunji , Callan Mitchell J. , Gheorghiu Ana I. , Matthews William J.
Published: November 2016

Across five studies, we found consistent evidence for the idea that personal relative deprivation (PRD), which refers to resentment stemming from the belief that one is deprived of deserved outcomes compared to others, uniquely contributes to materialism. In Study 1, self‐reports of PRD positively predicted materialistic values over and above socioeconomic status, personal power, self‐esteem, and emotional uncertainty. The experience of PRD starts with social comparison, and Studies 2 and 3 found that PRD mediated the positive relation between a tendency to make social comparisons of abilities and materialism. In Study 4, participants who learned that they had less (vs. similar) discretionary income than people like them reported a stronger desire for more money relative to donating more to charity. In Study 5, during a windfall‐spending task, participants higher in PRD spent more on things they wanted relative to other spending categories (e.g., paying off debts).
Neurodegeneration and NLRP3 inflammasome expression in the anterior thalamus of SOD1(G93A) ALS mice
Authors: Debye Berthold , Schmülling Lena , Zhou Lepu , Rune Gabriele , Beyer Cordian , Johann Sonja
Published: November 2016

Nowadays, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is considered as a multisystem disorder, characterized by a primary degeneration of motor neurons as well as neuropathological changes in non‐motor regions. Neurodegeneration in subcortical areas, such as the thalamus, are believed to contribute to cognitive and behavioral abnormalities in ALS patients. In the present study, we investigated neurodegenerative changes including neuronal loss and glia pathology in the anterodorsal thalamic nucleus (AD) of SOD1(G93A) mice, a widely used animal model for ALS. We detected massive dendrite swelling and neuronal loss in SOD1(G93A) animals, which was accompanied by a mild gliosis. Furthermore, misfolded SOD1 protein and autophagy markers were accumulating in the AD. Since innate immunity and activation inflammasomes seem to play a crucial role in ALS, we examined protein expression of Nod‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase‐1 recruitment domain (ASC) and the cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL1β) in AD glial cells and neurons. NLRP3 and ASC were significantly up‐regulated in the AD of SOD1(G93A) mice. Finally, co‐localization studies revealed expression of NLRP3, ASC and IL1β in neurons. Our study yielded two main findings: (i) neurodegenerative changes already occur at an early symptomatic stage in the AD and (ii) increased inflammasome expression may contribute to neuronal cell death. In conclusion, neurodegeneration in the anterior thalamus may critically account for cognitive changes in ALS pathology.
Morphological evolution of the mammalian jaw adductor complex
Authors: Lautenschlager Stephan , Gill Pamela , Luo Zhe‐Xi , Fagan Michael J. , Rayfield Emily J.
Published: November 2016

The evolution of the mammalian jaw during the transition from non‐mammalian synapsids to crown mammals is a key event in vertebrate history and characterised by the gradual reduction of its individual bones into a single element and the concomitant transformation of the jaw joint and its incorporation into the middle ear complex. This osteological transformation is accompanied by a rearrangement and modification of the jaw adductor musculature, which is thought to have allowed the evolution of a more‐efficient masticatory system in comparison to the plesiomorphic synapsid condition. While osteological characters relating to this transition are well documented in the fossil record, the exact arrangement and modifications of the individual adductor muscles during the cynodont–mammaliaform transition have been debated for nearly a century.

We review the existing knowledge about the musculoskeletal evolution of the mammalian jaw adductor complex and evaluate previous hypotheses in the light of recently documented fossils that represent new specimens of existing species, which are of central importance to the mammalian origins debate. By employing computed tomography (CT) and digital reconstruction techniques to create three‐dimensional models of the jaw adductor musculature in a number of representative non‐mammalian cynodonts and mammaliaforms, we provide an updated perspective on mammalian jaw muscle evolution.

As an emerging consensus, current evidence suggests that the mammal‐like division of the jaw adductor musculature (into deep and superficial components of the m. masseter, the m. temporalis and the m. pterygoideus) was completed in Eucynodontia. The arrangement of the jaw adductor musculature in a mammalian fashion, with the m. pterygoideus group inserting on the dentary was completed in basal Mammaliaformes as suggested by the muscle reconstruction of Morganucodon oehleri. Consequently, transformation of the jaw adductor musculature from the ancestral (‘reptilian’) to the mammalian condition must have preceded the emergence of Mammalia and the full formation of the mammalian jaw joint. This suggests that the modification of the jaw adductor system played a pivotal role in the functional morphology and biomechanical stability of the jaw joint.
Detecting and avoiding likely false‐positive findings – a practical guide
Authors: Forstmeier Wolfgang , Wagenmakers Eric‐Jan , Parker Timothy H.
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT

Recently there has been a growing concern that many published research findings do not hold up in attempts to replicate them. We argue that this problem may originate from a culture of ‘you can publish if you found a significant effect’. This culture creates a systematic bias against the null hypothesis which renders meta‐analyses questionable and may even lead to a situation where hypotheses become difficult to falsify. In order to pinpoint the sources of error and possible solutions, we review current scientific practices with regard to their effect on the probability of drawing a false‐positive conclusion. We explain why the proportion of published false‐positive findings is expected to increase with (i) decreasing sample size, (ii) increasing pursuit of novelty, (iii) various forms of multiple testing and researcher flexibility, and (iv) incorrect P‐values, especially due to unaccounted pseudoreplication, i.e. the non‐independence of data points (clustered data). We provide examples showing how statistical pitfalls and psychological traps lead to conclusions that are biased and unreliable, and we show how these mistakes can be avoided. Ultimately, we hope to contribute to a culture of ‘you can publish if your study is rigorous’. To this end, we highlight promising strategies towards making science more objective. Specifically, we enthusiastically encourage scientists to preregister their studies (including a priori hypotheses and complete analysis plans), to blind observers to treatment groups during data collection and analysis, and unconditionally to report all results. Also, we advocate reallocating some efforts away from seeking novelty and discovery and towards replicating important research findings of one's own and of others for the benefit of the scientific community as a whole. We believe these efforts will be aided by a shift in evaluation criteria away from the current system which values metrics of ‘impact’ almost exclusively and towards a system which explicitly values indices of scientific rigour.
On the Practical Interpretability of Cross‐Lagged Panel Models: Rethinking a Developmental Workhorse
Authors: Berry Daniel , Willoughby Michael T.
Published: November 2016

Reciprocal feedback processes between experience and development are central to contemporary developmental theory. Autoregressive cross‐lagged panel (ARCL) models represent a common analytic approach intended to test such dynamics. The authors demonstrate that—despite the ARCL model's intuitive appeal—it typically (a) fails to align with the theoretical processes that it is intended to test and (b) yields estimates that are difficult to interpret meaningfully. Specifically, using a Monte Carlo simulation and two empirical examples concerning the reciprocal relation between spanking and child aggression, it is shown that the cross‐lagged estimates derived from the ARCL model reflect a weighted—and typically uninterpretable—amalgam of between‐ and within‐person associations. The authors highlight one readily implemented respecification that better addresses these multiple levels of inference.
Deep sequencing of the TCR-β repertoire of human forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)+ and FoxP3– T cells suggests that they are completely distinct and non-overlapping
Authors: Golding A , Darko S , Wylie W H , Douek D C , Shevach E M
Published: November 2016

Maintenance of peripheral tolerance requires a balance between autoreactive conventional T cells (Tconv) and thymically derived forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)+ regulatory T cells (tTregs). Considerable controversy exists regarding the similarities/differences in T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires expressed by Tconv and tTregs. We generated highly purified populations of human adult and cord blood Tconv and tTregs based on the differential expression of CD25 and CD127. The purity of the sorted populations was validated by intracellular staining for FoxP3 and Helios. We also purified an overlap group of CD4 T cells from adult donors to ensure that considerable numbers of shared clonotypes could be detected when present. We used deep sequencing of entire TCR-β CDR3 sequences to analyse the TCR repertoire of Tconv and tTregs. Our studies suggest that both neonatal and adult human Tconv and tTreg cells are, in fact, entirely distinct CD4 T cell lineages.
Ustekinumab in the treatment of palmoplantar pustular psoriasis – a case series of nine patients
Authors: Buder Valeska , Herberger Katharina , Jacobi Arnd , Augustin Matthias , Radtke Marc Alexander
Published: November 2016

Background

Palmoplantar pustular psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is associated with considerable impairment in quality of life and resilience. Given the lack of approved pharmacological agents for this indication and the frequently recalcitrant disease course, therapeutic options are limited.

Patients and methods

Following unsatisfactory therapeutic attempts with other treatment modalities, nine patients (six women; three men) were treated with ustekinumab (45 mg in individuals < 100 kg body weight, 90 mg in individuals > 100 kg) at weeks 0, 4, 12, and 24. Latent tuberculosis was ruled out prior to treatment. Regular follow‐up was done at week 4 and 12, and every 12 weeks thereafter.

Results

Average age at the beginning of treatment was 48 years. Four patients achieved 75 % improvement in the palmoplantar Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). Overall, there was an average improvement in the palmoplantar PASI of 71.6 % after 24 weeks. Two patients exhibited complete resolution after 24 weeks. Besides local injection site reactions and mild infections, no adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions

This case series provides further evidence for the effectiveness and tolerability of ustekinumab in the treatment of palmoplantar pustular psoriasis. Controlled studies and observations in the context of patient registries are required to assess long‐term efficacy and safety as well as the potential therapeutic benefit of intermittent therapy.
S1 guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of scabies – short version
Authors: Sunderkötter Cord , Feldmeier Hermann , Fölster‐Holst Regina , Geisel Bertram , Klinke‐Rehbein Sabine , Nast Alexander , Philipp Sandra , Sachs Bernhardt , Stingl Julia , Stoevesandt Johanna , Hamm Henning
Published: November 2016

The goals of this German guideline are the improvement of diagnosis and therapy of scabies, the implementation of a coordinated action in outbreaks of scabies, and the control of this infestation in large migration or refugee flows.Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis is transmitted by direct skin‐to‐skin contact of sufficient duration. The infectivity of female mites when removed from patients does not exceed 48 hours at room temperature (21°C) and relative humidity of 40‐80%. The risk of infection rises proportionally to the number of mites on the skin and is particularly high in crusted scabies. As elderly persons tend to develop crusted scabies due to disease‐ or medication‐related immunosuppression, there is an increased risk for outbreaks of scabies at nursing homes and extended‐care facilities. The guideline contains detailed recommendations for management of such outbreaks. In refugees the prevalence of scabies is higher than in the general population in Germany, but the risk for outbreaks is not high. Scabies infestation should be considered when a recent onset of itching is associated with eczema and presence of burrows or comma‐like papules at predilection sites. It is confirmed by dermatoscopic detection of mites or by microscopic identification of mites, mite eggs or fecal matter (scybala) from skin scrapings.The treatment of choice for common scabies is topical permethrin 5% cream applied for 8‐12 hours. Permethrin can be considered for off‐label use also in infants of less than 3 months of age and pregnant women. For this group crotamiton is another option, which, besides benzyl benzoate, presents a good second line therapy for the other indications. Indications for oral ivermectin, which has just been licensed in Germany, include patients with immunosuppression, severe dermatitis, and low adherence.Crusted scabies is preferentially treated by a combination of topical permethrin and oral ivermectin. Affected patients should be isolated, and all contact persons should be treated. The guideline contains lists for additional measures, including possible treatment of contact persons, clothes, linen and other possibly infested articles.
Topical preparations and their use in dermatology
Authors: Wohlrab Johannes
Published: November 2016

The challenges of everyday clinical routine require dermatologists to have a basic knowledge of the composition of topical preparations as well as the regulatory background associated with their prescription. Proper selection, prescription, and application of topical preparations, depending on the respective indication, are key to professional and responsible medical practice. Problems commonly arise with respect to regulatory classifications (medicinal products, medical devices, or cosmetics), eligibility for reimbursement by the statutory health insurances (GKV), and insufficient declaration of vehicle systems. Apart from selecting the appropriate active substance and its proper concentration, choosing a suitable pharmaceutical (galenic) formulation – and thus utilizing the intrinsic effects thereof – is pivotal in enhancing the intended therapeutic effects. When prescribing individual formulations, dermatologists should, to the greatest extent possible, always resort to standardized extemporaneous preparations. Given the multitude of potential ingredients available for pharmaceutical formulations as well as the complexity resulting therefrom, arbitrary changes in quality or quantity of individual components are associated with a high risk of instability, thus jeopardizing safety and the rationale behind any given formulation. Optimal use of topical preparations also requires basic knowledge in pharmacokinetics as well as evidence‐based treatment planning.
Designing research funding schemes to promote global health equity: An exploration of current practice in health systems research
Authors: Pratt Bridget , Hyder Adnan A.
Published: November 2016

International research is an essential means of reducing health disparities between and within countries and should do so as a matter of global justice. Research funders from high‐income countries have an obligation of justice to support health research in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs) that furthers such objectives. This paper investigates how their current funding schemes are designed to incentivise health systems research in LMICs that promotes health equity. Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were performed with 16 grants officers working for 11 funders and organisations that support health systems research: the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, Comic Relief, Doris Duke Foundation, European Commission, International Development Research Centre, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Research Council of Norway, Rockefeller Foundation, UK Department of International Development, UK Medical Research Council, and Wellcome Trust. Thematic analysis of the data demonstrates their funding schemes promote health systems research with (up to) five key features that advance health equity: being conducted with worst‐off populations, focusing on research topics that advance equitable health systems, having LMIC ownership of the research agenda, strengthening LMIC research capacity, and having an impact on health disparities. The different types of incentives that encouraged proposed projects to have these features are identified and classified by their strength (strong, moderate, weak). It is suggested that research funders ought to create and maintain funding schemes with strong incentives for the features identified above in order to more effectively help reduce global health disparities.
Exploring partners’ perspectives on participation in heart failure home care: a mixed‐method design
Authors: Näsström Lena , Luttik Marie Louise , Idvall Ewa , Strömberg Anna
Published: November 2016

Aim

To describe the partners’ perspectives on participation in the care for patients with heart failure receiving home care.

Background

Partners are often involved in care of patients with heart failure and have an important role in improving patients’ well‐being and self‐care. Partners have described both negative and positive experiences of involvement, but knowledge of how partners of patients with heart failure view participation in care when the patient receives home care is lacking.

Design

A convergent parallel mixed‐method design was used, including data from interviews and questionnaires.

Methods

A purposeful sample of 15 partners was used. Data collection lasted between February 2010 ‐ December 2011. Interviews were analysed with content analysis and data from questionnaires (participation, caregiving, health‐related quality of life, depressive symptoms) were analysed statistically. Finally, results were merged, interpreted and labelled as comparable and convergent or as being inconsistent.

Results

Partners were satisfied with most aspects of participation, information and contact. Qualitative findings revealed four different aspects of participation: adapting to the caring needs and illness trajectory, coping with caregiving demands, interacting with healthcare providers and need for knowledge to comprehend the health situation. Results showed confirmatory results that were convergent and expanded knowledge that gave a broader understanding of partner participation in this context.

Conclusion

The results revealed different levels of partner participation. Heart failure home care included good opportunities for both participation and contact during home visits, necessary to meet partners’ ongoing need for information to comprehend the situation.
Paying patient and caregiver research participants: putting theory into practice
Authors: Polacsek Meg , Boardman Gayelene , McCann Terence V.
Published: November 2016

Aim

To review and discuss the ethical and practical considerations about paying patient and caregiver participants in nursing research and, based on this review, to develop a set of guiding principles about payment of participants.

Background

To increase recruitment and retention, it is becoming increasingly common in nursing research to provide some form of payment to participants. The risk is that the promise of a payment may influence a patient or caregiver's decision to participate in research. However, research ethics protocols seldom provide explicit guidance about paying participants. Even where formal policies or fee schedules exist, there is little consistency in determining how payments should be calculated or administered. This has resulted in highly variable payment practices between locations, disciplines and institutions.

Design

Discussion paper.

Data sources

PubMed, MEDLINE with Full Text, CINAHL and Health Source (Nursing/Academic Edition) were searched for terms related to paying research participants published between 2000 – August 2016.

Implications for nursing

Nurse researchers must comply with international, national and institutional ethical standards. Important ethical and practical considerations should guide the decision‐making process about whether to pay research participants and how to determine the nature or value of the payment. Guiding principles can support researchers by highlighting key factors that may direct their decision‐making in this regard.

Conclusion

A deeper understanding of the fundamental ethical and practical considerations is needed to support researchers in their deliberations about paying participants in nursing research.
A comparison of nursing tasks undertaken by regulated nurses and nursing support workers: a work sampling study
Authors: Roche Michael A. , Friedman Sarah , Duffield Christine , Twigg Diane E. , Cook Rebecca
Published: November 2016

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine which tasks unregulated nursing support staff spend their work time undertaking and to determine differences between the work undertaken by licensed/regulated nurses on units which have nursing support workers and those on units which do not.

Background

Acute hospital nursing teams often include nursing support staff; little is known about what kinds of tasks these unregulated support workers do and how it affects the work tasks of their licensed/regulated team members.

Design

Cross‐sectional analysis of nurse work sampling data.

Methods

Data collection took place between March–October 2013. The proportion of time spent on 25 work activities by nursing support staff and licensed/regulated nursing staff was compared. Logistic regression models estimated whether nursing support staff or licensed/regulated nurses were more likely to conduct direct and indirect patient care tasks and whether licensed/regulated nurses on units with nursing support staff were more likely to conduct direct or indirect tasks compared with those on units without nursing support workers.

Results

Nursing support staff spent the majority of their time engaged in direct care tasks, e.g. admission and assessment, hygiene and mobility. Although licensed/regulated nurses were less likely to undertake direct care tasks compared with support workers, those who worked on units with support workers undertook more direct care compared with those who worked on units without support workers.

Conclusions

Nursing support workers were given tasks that required substantial amounts of patient interaction. These staff may be associated with an increase in direct care tasks for licensed/regulated nurses, who may duplicate the direct care done by nursing support workers.
Mothering with an Intellectual Disability: A Phenomenological Exploration of Making Infant‐Feeding Decisions
Authors: Guay Amanda , Aunos Marjorie , Collin‐Vézina Delphine
Published: November 2016

Background

Mothers with intellectual disability are less likely than mothers without intellectual disability to breastfeed their infants, but there is little literature that addresses infant‐feeding decisions among this population. This study explores experiences of mothers with intellectual disability in making and carrying out infant‐feeding decisions.

Methods

Using a phenomenological approach, in‐depth interviews were conducted with four mothers with intellectual disability.

Results

Analysis focused on making and carrying out infant‐feeding decisions. Three sub‐themes of making infant‐feeding decisions emerged: being familiar with benefits of breastfeeding, owning the initial decision and preparing for infant‐feeding. Two sub‐themes of carrying out infant‐feeding decisions transpired: facing challenges and receiving support.

Conclusions

The prenatal period was a crucial time for the mothers regarding infant‐feeding decisions. It is the time in which they felt the most decision‐making power, yet opportunities to prepare for possible challenges were missed.
Alleviating Parenting Stress in Parents with Intellectual Disabilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Video‐feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting
Authors: Hodes Marja W. , Meppelder Marieke , de Moor Marleen , Kef Sabina , Schuengel Carlo
Published: November 2016

Background

Adapted parenting support may alleviate the high levels of parenting stress experienced by many parents with intellectual disabilities.

Methods

Parents with mild intellectual disabilities or borderline intellectual functioning were randomized to experimental (n = 43) and control (n = 42) conditions. Parents in both groups received care‐as‐usual. The experimental group also received an adapted version of video‐feedback intervention for positive parenting and learning difficulties (VIPP‐LD). Measures of parenting stress were obtained pre‐test, post‐test and 3‐month follow‐up.

Results

Randomization to the experimental group led to a steeper decline in parenting stress related to the child compared to the control group (d = 0.46). No statistically significant effect on stress related to the parent's own functioning or situation was found.

Conclusions

The results of the study suggest the feasibility of reducing parenting stress in parents with mild intellectual disability (MID) through parenting support, to the possible benefit of their children.
The Impact of Affiliate Stigma on the Psychological Well‐Being of Mothers of Children with Specific Learning Disabilities in India: The Mediating Role of Subjective Burden
Authors: Banga Gazal , Ghosh Subharati
Published: November 2016

Background

Knowledge of the impact of affiliate stigma on the wellbeing of caregivers to children with specific learning disability (SLD) in India is limited. To fill in this gap in knowledge a cross‐sectional quantitative study was undertaken to assess the impact of affiliate stigma on the psychological well‐being of mothers with children with SLD in India, and test the mediating role of subjective burden, using an adapted version of Pearlin's stress and adaptation model.

Methods

Sample included 100 mothers of children with SLD. Data was collected using a structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, correlation and stepwise regression were used as the primary analytic tools.

Results

Affiliate stigma experienced by mothers significantly predicted low levels of psychological well‐being and subjective burden mediated the relationship between affiliate stigma and psychological wellbeing.

Conclusions

The findings call for developing targeted interventions to address affiliate stigma and positive appraisal of the caregiving situation, with the goal of improving the psychological well‐being of mothers of children with SLD.
Quality of life measurement in atopic dermatitis. Position paper of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force on quality of life
Authors: Chernyshov P.V. , Tomas‐Aragones L. , Manolache L. , Marron S.E. , Salek M.S. , Poot F. , Oranje A.P. , Finlay A.Y. ,   the EADV Quality of Life Task Force
Published: November 2016

There is a need for researchers to have easy reference to the wide spectrum of different types of quality of life (QoL) instruments that can be used in atopic dermatitis (AD). Previous reviews on QoL in AD do not cover the full spectrum of QoL measures used in studies on AD. This study, on behalf of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force on QoL, contains information on instruments available for health‐related QoL and family QoL assessment in AD including information on validation, experience of QoL assessment in AD for different purposes, peculiarities of QoL assessment in different age groups, expert analysis of available instruments including data on limitations of their use and recommendations of the Task Force.