bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three‐year mortality and predictors after release: a longitudinal study of the first‐time drug offenders in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Chuan‐Yu , Wu Pei‐Ning , Su Lien‐Wen , Chou Yiing‐Jenq , Lin Keh‐Ming
Published: February 2010

Aims  To assess the possible increase in mortality rate and associated socio‐demographic and judiciary determinants among first‐time drug offenders during the first 3 years after release from correctional facilities.

Setting and participants  A total of 22 224 male and 4444 female adults who had served a sentence of at least 1 day in correctional facilities for illegal drug‐related offences were identified from the judiciary records of the Ministry of Justice, Taiwan.

Design and measurements  The underlying causes of death were defined by the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision.

Findings  All‐cause standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were 7 for schedule I (e.g. heroin) and 3 for schedule II (e.g. methamphetamine) drug offenders, respectively; accidents, suicide and circulatory diseases were three leading causes of death. After release, the risk of death among those drug offenders without subsequent incarceration increased gradually until the 9th month. Those who were aged 30 years or older, had an engagement with a higher‐ranked schedule substance or who received severe sentences were two to three times more likely to die. Substantial reduction in the risk of death was linked with re‐imprisonment.

Conclusions  The SMR estimates for external causes were greater than those for disease‐related causes in drug offenders, and schedule I drugs‐related mortality rate was twice as high as that with schedule II drugs. In transitioning from the correctional setting to the community, the health needs of drug offenders should be addressed by the provision of continuous, adequate medical care tailored to individual background, medical history and drug experience.
Actin filaments and microtubule dual‐granule transport in human adhered platelets: the role of α‐dystrobrevins
Authors: Cerecedo Doris , Cisneros Bulmaro , Mondragón Ricardo , González Sirenia , Galván Iván J.
Published: February 2010

Upon activation with physiological stimuli, human platelets undergo morphological changes, centralizing their organelles and secreting effector molecules at the site of vascular injury. Previous studies have indicated that the actin filaments and microtubules of suspension‐activated platelets play a critical role in granule movement and exocytosis; however, the participation of these cytoskeleton elements in adhered platelets remains unexplored. α‐ and β‐dystrobrevin members of the dystrophin‐associated protein complex in muscle and non‐muscle cells have been described as motor protein receptors that might participate in the transport of cellular components in neurons. Recently, we characterized the expression of dystrobrevins in platelets; however, their functional diversity within this cellular model had not been elucidated. The present study examined the contribution of actin filaments and microtubules in granule trafficking during the platelet adhesion process using cytoskeleton‐disrupting drugs, quantification of soluble P‐selectin, fluorescence resonance transfer energy analysis and immunoprecipitation assays. Likewise, we assessed the interaction of α‐dystrobrevins with the ubiquitous kinesin heavy chain. Our results strongly suggest that microtubules and actin filaments participate in the transport of alpha and dense granules in the platelet adhesion process, during which α‐dystrobrevins play the role of regulatory and adaptor proteins that govern trafficking events.
Genetic susceptibility, smoking, obesity and risk of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Severinsen Marianne T. , Overvad Kim , Johnsen Søren P. , Dethlefsen Claus , Madsen Poul H. , Tjønneland Anne , Kristensen Søren R.
Published: February 2010

The F5 G1691A (Factor V Leiden) and F2 G20210A (prothrombin) mutations are linked to an increase in the incidence rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but their effects are highly variable. We investigated whether the effects of smoking and obesity might explain this variability. In a case‐cohort study including the participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health study, we computed incidence rates and Cox proportional hazard ratios for VTE in individuals with and without the mutations, categorized by weight and tobacco consumption. The sole effect of heavy smoking was 128 extra VTE events per 100 000 person years in individuals with the F5 G1691A mutation versus 59 in individuals without. The sole effect of obesity was 222 extra VTE events per 100 000 person years in individuals with the F5 G1691A mutation, versus 103 in individuals without this mutation; and 705 extra VTE events per 100 000 person years in individuals with the F2 G20210A mutation versus 107 in individuals without this mutation. The F5 G1691A and F2 G20210A mutations conferred increased susceptibility to the unfavourable effects of smoking and obesity on the risk for VTE. Thus, individuals with genetic risk factors for VTE might benefit from maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Non‐Homologous End‐Joining Gene Profiling Reveals Distinct Expression Patterns Associated with Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Roddam Philippa L. , Allan James M. , Dring Ann M. , Worrillow Lisa J. , Davies Faith E. , Morgan Gareth J.
Published: February 2010

Repair of DNA strand breaks induced during lymphoid antigen receptor rearrangement involves non‐homologous end‐joining (NHEJ). We investigated NHEJ in the aetiology of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) and the disease subtypes therein through real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR gene expression analysis. Lower expression of XRCC6 and MRE11A was observed in all tumours, with higher expression of both XRCC4 and RAD50 observed only in multiple myeloma (MM). Hierarchical clustering enabled tumours to be clearly distinguished from controls, and by morphological sub‐type. We postulate this identifies targets worthy of investigation in the genetic predisposition, pathogenesis and prognosis of lymphoid malignancies.
Managing anticoagulated patients during neuraxial anaesthesia
Authors: Green Laura , Machin Samuel J.
Published: February 2010

The widespread use of central neuraxial block (CNB) and the prevalence of anticoagulation for different indications have led to an inevitable overlap between the two. The most serious complication of CNB in anticoagulated patients is the risk of spinal/epidural haematoma. Performing CNB in these patients is a complex decision that should take into account the twin risks of bleeding and venous/arterial thrombosis if anticoagulation therapies were to be stopped. Various guidelines have been issued to achieve normal haemostasis and thus allow safe administration of CNB. However, the evidence base for many such recommendations is weak, relying mainly on case reports, small studies and pharmacokinetics of the drugs. Given these limitations it is crucial to fully assess individual risk factors and understand anticoagulant pharmacokinetics in order to appropriately set time intervals for catheter insertion/removal. This paper will review traditional and newer anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapies with a view to improving the management of anticoagulated patients undergoing CNB.
Multifocusing revisited ‐ inhomogeneous media and curved interfaces*
Authors: Landa Evgeny , Keydar Shemer , Jan Moser Tijmen
Published: February 2010

We review the multifocusing method for traveltime moveout approximation of multicoverage seismic data. Multifocusing constructs the moveout based on two notional spherical waves at each source and receiver point, respectively. These two waves are mutually related by a focusing quantity. We clarify the role of this focusing quantity and emphasize that it is a function of the source and receiver location, rather than a fixed parameter for a given multicoverage gather. The focusing function can be designed to make the traveltime moveout exact in certain generic cases that have practical importance in seismic processing and interpretation. The case of a plane dipping reflector (planar multifocusing) has been the subject of all publications so far. We show that the focusing function can be generalized to other surfaces, most importantly to the spherical reflector (spherical multifocusing). At the same time, the generalization implies a simplification of the multifocusing method. The exact traveltime moveout on spherical surfaces is a very versatile and robust formula, which is valid for a wide range of offsets and locations of source and receiver, even on rugged topography. In two‐dimensional surveys, it depends on the same three parameters that are commonly used in planar multifocusing and the common‐reflection surface (CRS) stack method: the radii of curvature of the normal and normal‐incidence‐point waves and the emergence angle. In three dimensions the exact traveltime moveout on spherical surfaces depends on only one additional parameter, the inclination of the plane containing the source, receiver and reflection point. Comparison of the planar and spherical multifocusing with the CRS moveout expression for a range of reflectors with increasing curvature shows that the planar multifocusing can be remarkably accurate but the CRS becomes increasingly inaccurate. This can be attributed to the fact that the CRS formula is based on a Taylor expansion, whereas the multifocusing formulae are double‐square root formulae. As a result, planar and spherical multifocusing are better suited to model the moveout of diffracted waves.
Trust in Nurses Scale: construct validity and internal reliability evaluation
Authors: Radwin Laurel E. , Cabral Howard J.
Published: February 2010

radwin l.e. &cabral h.j. (2010) Trust in Nurses Scale: construct validity and internal reliability evaluation.Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 683–689.

Aim. This paper is a report of the continued psychometric evaluation of the Trust in Nurses Scale.

Background. Qualitative analyses indicate that trust in nurses is critically important to adult patients. Instruments that distinctively measure this concept are lacking. A middle‐range theory of patient‐centred nursing care provided the theoretical basis for the Trust in Nurses Scale. Content validity was assessed by an expert panel and patient interviews. Construct validity and reliability were found acceptable using multi‐trait/multi‐item analysis techniques. These findings were previously reported.

Methods. Construct validity and reliability of the Trust in Nurses Scale was assessed in 2007 using data collected during 2004–2005 from 187 hospitalized patients in a haematology‐oncology setting. Trust in nurses (the latent factor) was operationalized by five items (manifest variables) using confirmatory factor analyses. Fit statistics included comparative fit index, Tucker‐Lewis Index, root mean square error of approximation and the standardized root mean square residual. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using coefficient alpha.

Findings. Both a five‐item and a four‐item version demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties. The five‐item version met three fit statistics criteria. Fifty‐nine per cent of the variance was explained. A four‐item version met all fit statistics criteria. Sixty‐six per cent of the variance was explained. Acceptable internal consistency reliability was found for both versions.

Conclusion. Previous psychometric testing of the Trust in Nurses Scale provided evidence of the instrument’s reliability, content validity and construct validity. The presented analyses further support construct validity. Thus, cumulative findings indicate that the instrument measures with a few items the underlying concept of trust.
Evaluation of five search strategies in retrieving qualitative patient‐reported electronic data on the impact of pressure ulcers on quality of life
Authors: Gorecki Claudia A. , Brown Julia M. , Briggs Michelle , Nixon Jane
Published: February 2010

gorecki c.a., brown j.m., briggs m. & nixon j. (2010) Evaluation of five search strategies in retrieving qualitative patient‐reported electronic data on the impact of pressure ulcers on quality of life. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 645–652.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study conducted to compare the effectiveness of qualitative methodology search strategies with subject‐specific (health‐related quality of life) search strategies in the retrieval of qualitative patient‐reported data of the impact of pressure ulcers on health‐related quality of life.

Background.  Methods to locate qualitative patient‐reported health‐related quality of life research data electronically have undergone little replication and validation. A major problem in searching for this type of data is that it is reported in accounts of both primary qualitative research as well as mixed methods research.

Data sources.  We combined five search strategies with terms for pressure ulcer and searched seven electronic databases from inception to October 2007.

Methods.  The sensitivity, specificity, precision and accuracy for each search strategy were assessed.

Results.  A subject‐specific (health‐related quality of life) search strategy, developed by us, had a high yield (100% sensitivity), but low specificity (<50%). The research methodology‐based strategies had lower yields (sensitivity 72–83%) but high specificity (79–83%). Importantly, subject‐specific search strategies identified all studies reporting qualitative patient‐reported health‐related quality of life data, whereas, research methodology‐based strategies did not identify qualitative data reported in mixed method studies, making subject‐based strategies more effective in retrieving qualitative patient‐reported health‐related quality of life research.

Conclusion.  An important consideration in the health‐related quality of life field is that qualitative data are reported in both qualitative and mixed methodology research and searching for this type data involves trade‐offs between yield, sensitivity and specificity. Accurate indexing of subject‐specific outcomes and methodology used in electronic databases and publications is also needed.
Occupational stress among hospital nurses: cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Wu Hui , Chi Tie‐Shuang , Chen Li , Wang Lie , Jin Ya‐Ping
Published: February 2010

wu h., chi t.‐s., chen l., wang l. & jin y.‐p. (2010) Occupational stress among hospital nurses: cross‐sectional survey. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 627–634.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study conducted to explore factors associated with occupational stress among female hospital nurses in China.

Background.  Nursing is a highly stressful occupation, and high levels of occupational stress are believed to affect the physical and mental health of nurses. Occupational stress among nurses is the result of exposure to a combination of working environment and personal factors.

Method.  A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 2008. The study population consisted of 2613 female nurses from 20 hospitals in the Liaoning province of China. Occupational stress was measured by questionnaires that included the Chinese version of Personal Strain Questionnaire, and data were collected on respondents’ demographics, working situations, occupational roles, and personal resources. Of the nurses solicited for enrolment in the study, 79·2% returned the completed questionnaire. A general linear regression model was applied to analyse the factors associated with occupational stress.

Results.  Mean Personal Strain Questionnaire score was 86·9, and this score was correlated, in descending order of standardized estimate, with role boundary, role insufficiency, responsibility, social support, self‐care, nurse–patient relationship, chronic disease, role overload, rational coping and night shift.

Conclusion.  Role boundary and role insufficiency were the factors that had the highest association with occupational stress. Occupational health education and occupational training programmes may be necessary to improve the knowledge and ability of nurses to cope with job demands and reduce occupational stress.
Psychometric testing of the Health Quotient questionnaire: a measure of self‐reported holistic health
Authors: Guo Jia , Dixon Jane K. , Whittemore Robin , He Guo‐Ping
Published: February 2010

guo j., dixon j.k., whittemore r. & he g.‐p. (2010) Psychometric testing of the Health Quotient questionnaire: a measure of self‐reported holistic health. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 653–663.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a test of the psychometric properties of the Health Quotient questionnaire.

Background.  The Health Quotient questionnaire is an existing self‐reported holistic health measure developed by integrating Western and Eastern perspectives, but limited psychometric properties have been reported.

Methods.  Content validity was estimated by five experts. A pilot study allowed for feasibility testing and examination of reliability and validity. A total of 1874 Chinese college undergraduates took part in the study in 2007–2008. Internal consistency reliability of the five dimensions (Self‐Care, Health Knowledge, Lifestyle, Mind Health and Life Skills) of the Health Quotient questionnaire was examined and item‐to‐dimension score correlation analysis was also completed. Construct validity was determined using the convergent validity, hypothesis testing approach and factor analysis. The single‐item self‐rated health status assessment by the American College Health Association‐National Council was used to measure health status.

Results.  Strong content validity and internal consistency reliability correlations were demonstrated. Test‐retest reliability was acceptable, ranging from 0·72 to 0·82 for the five dimensions. Statistically significant relationships between the Health Quotient’s total and dimension scores with self‐rated health status (P < 0·001) provided evidence of convergent validity. In exploration of the factor structure by dimensions, four of five dimensions were consistent with the theoretical framework, with only the Life Skills dimension demonstrating lack of theoretical fit.

Conclusion.  The results provide some evidence for the reliability and validity of the Health Quotient questionnaire, as well as several recommendations for further research on the questionnaire.
Models of disability: their influence in nursing and potential role in challenging discrimination
Authors: Scullion Philip Andrew
Published: February 2010

scullion p.a. (2010) Models of disability: their influence in nursing and potential role in challenging discrimination. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 697–707.

Aim.  This paper presents a discussion of medical and social models of disability associated with experiences of disabled people as citizens and patients.

Background.  Disability is fairly universally a negative concept. Disabled people have frequent contact with health services, however much of this experience is viewed as discriminatory.

Data sources.  Literature was obtained using the Psych‐INFO, Medline and CINAHL databases for the years 1989–2009, using derivatives of the concept ‘disability’ and associated ‘models’, and then these terms combined with ‘nursing’.

Discussion.  Nursing as a profession embraces the need to avoid discrimination, yet disability as an equal opportunity issue is relatively neglected in nursing. Nursing has a moral, professional and, in some countries, a legal responsibility to promote disability equality in the provision of nursing services. Insights offered by the social model of disability may be instrumental in empowering nurses to respond to this obligation. While some groups may not be well‐represented in this model and there is risk in embracing the social model of exposing a policy‐practice divide, it nevertheless represents a powerful tool for strengthening nurses’ advocacy role. In particular, ‘social advocacy’ may be enhanced by a paradigm shift away from the medical model of disability.

Implications for nursing.  Nurses have an obligation to promote disability equality in relation to the provision of health care. Adoption of the social model of disability in nursing practice, education and research as a strategy to challenge discrimination should be seriously considered.

Conclusion.  The utility value of the social model of disability in strengthening the social advocacy role of nurses should be investigated.
Development of a tool to assess fidelity to a psycho‐educational intervention
Authors: Song Mi‐Kyung , Happ Mary Beth , Sandelowski Margarete
Published: February 2010

song m.‐k., happ m.b. & sandelowski m. (2010) Development of a tool to assess fidelity to a psycho‐educational intervention.Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 673–682.

Aim. This paper is a description of a method to develop and conduct a customized psycho‐educational intervention fidelity assessment as part of pilot work for an efficacy study. A tool designed to assess treatment fidelity to a psycho‐education intervention for patients with end‐stage renal disease and their surrogate decision makers, Sharing the Patient’s Illness Representations to Increase Trust, is presented as an illustration.

Background. Despite the specificity and idiosyncrasy of individual interventions and the call to systematically evaluate treatment fidelity, how to accomplish this goal has not been clarified. Tools to adequately measure treatment fidelity are lacking.

Methods. We developed the Sharing the Patient’s Illness Representations to Increase Trust Treatment Fidelity Assessment tool by identifying elements that were idiosyncratic to the intervention and those that could be adapted from existing tools. The tool has four components: overall adherence to the intervention content elements; pacing of the intervention delivery; overall dyad responsiveness; and, overall quality index of intervention delivery. The study was undertaken between 2006 and 2008.

Results. Inter‐rater reliability ranged from 0·80 to 0·87 for the four components. The tool showed utility in training and monitoring, such as detecting unplanned content elements delivered and the use of proscribed communication behaviours.

Conclusion. Psycho‐educational interventions are one of the most common types of nursing interventions worldwide. Use of fidelity assessment tools customized to the individual interventions may enhance systematic evaluation of training and monitoring treatment fidelity.
Huntington disease: families’ experiences of healthcare services
Authors: Skirton Heather , Williams Janet K. , Jackson Barnette J. , Paulsen Jane S.
Published: February 2010

skirton h., williams j.k., barnette j.j. & paulsen j.s. (2010) Huntington disease: families’ experiences of healthcare services. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 500–510.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of the perceptions of family caregivers regarding the availability and adequacy of health and social care services for their family member with Huntington disease, and to compare findings from these reports in United Kingdom and United States of America samples.

Background.  Huntington disease is an inherited neurodegenerative condition. Family members often take responsibility for care of relatives with long‐term conditions. Studies have demonstrated there are both positive and negative outcomes for carers.

Methods.  During 2006 and 2007, respondents from the United Kingdom (n = 108) and the United States (n = 119) who were caring for a relative affected with Huntington disease completed the Community Health Care Services Scale to identify areas of concern and the extent to which specific issues bothered carers. Data were analysed using statistical tests including chi‐square, t‐tests and factor analysis. Results were compared between carers in the two cohorts.

Results.  Three main factors were derived: ‘community resources’, ‘individualized care’ and ‘knowledge of Huntington disease’. Carers had concerns about the knowledge of healthcare professionals providing care and thought that there were insufficient services to support them and the affected person. There were different challenges for carers when the affected person had a long‐term neurodegenerative condition because these carers were also likely to have responsibilities for earning and caring for children.

Conclusion.  Comprehensive facilities and resources are needed to support families affected by long‐term complex conditions. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the health needs of carers as well as those of the affected person.
Efficacy beliefs predict collaborative practice among intensive care unit nurses
Authors: Le Blanc Pascale M. , Schaufeli Wilmar B. , Salanova Marisa , Llorens Susana , Nap Raoul E.
Published: February 2010

le blanc p.m., schaufeli w.b., salanova m., llorens s. & nap r.e. (2010) Efficacy beliefs predict collaborative practice among intensive care unit nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 583–594.

Aim.  This paper is a report of an investigation of whether intensive care nurses’ efficacy beliefs predict future collaborative practice, and to test the potential mediating role of team commitment in this relationship.

Background.  Recent empirical studies in the field of work and organizational psychology have demonstrated that (professional) efficacy beliefs are reciprocally related to workers’ resources and well‐being over time, resulting in a positive gain spiral. Moreover, there is ample evidence that workers’ affective commitment to their organization or work‐team is related to desirable work behaviours such as citizenship behaviour.

Methods.  A longitudinal design was applied to questionnaire data from the EURICUS‐project. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyse the data. The sample consisted of 372 nurses working in 29 different European intensive care units. Data were collected in 1997 and 1998. However, our research model deals with fundamental psychosocial processes that are not time‐dependent. Moreover, recent empirical literature shows that there is still room for improvement in ICU collaborative practice.

Results.  The hypotheses that (i) the relationship between efficacy beliefs and collaborative practice is mediated by team commitment and (ii) efficacy beliefs, team commitment and collaborative practice are reciprocally related were supported, suggesting a potential positive gain spiral of efficacy beliefs.

Conclusion.  Healthcare organizations should create working environments that provide intensive care unit nurses with sufficient resources to perform their job well. Further research is needed to design and evaluate interventions for the enhancement of collaborative practice in intensive care units.
Predictors of fear and anxiety nine years after coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Koivula Meeri , Hautamäki‐Lamminen Katja , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi
Published: February 2010

koivula m., hautamäki‐lamminen k. & åstedt‐kurki p. (2010) Predic‐tors of fear and anxiety nine years after coronary artery bypass grafting. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 595–606.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to identify (i) associations between fear and anxiety with variables of demography, symptoms, treatment and perceived health, (ii) associations between fear, anxiety, depression and social support and (iii) predictors of fear and anxiety nine years after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background.  Earlier research shows that anxiety and fear are common, but there is a lack of knowledge about the long‐term (>five years) situation of people after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Method.  A convenience sample (n = 170) was formed of patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 723) in one university hospital in 2007, nine years after surgery, by postal questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to 152 surviving patients, and 114 responded (75%).

Results.  Fear had a connection to female sex, age under 65 years, more chest pain, hospitalization and poor perceived health. Anxiety had a connection to age under 65 years, living alone, more chest pain and poor perceived health. Social support had a low negative correlation with anxiety. Age under 65 years and chest pain explained 28% of the variance in fear. Age under 65 years and depressive symptoms explained 51–57% of the variance in anxiety.

Conclusion.  Anxiety in people with coronary heart disease can be alleviated by developing social support from peers and professionals. Those aged under 65 years should be recognized as at greater risk of a predictor of long‐term fear and anxiety after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Nurses’ experiences with telephone triage and advice: a meta‐ethnography
Authors: Purc‐Stephenson Rebecca J. , Thrasher Christine
Published: February 2010

purc‐stephenson r.j. & thrasher c. (2010) Nurses’ experiences with telephone triage and advice: a meta‐ethnography. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(3), 482–494.

Aims.  This study is a meta‐ethnography of nurses’ experiences with telephone triage and advice and factors that facilitate or impede their decision‐making process.

Background.  Telephone triage and advice services are a rapidly expanding development in health care. Unlike traditional forms of nursing practice, telenurses offer triage recommendations and advice to the general public without visual cues.

Data sources.  Published qualitative research on telephone triage and advice were sought from interdisciplinary research databases (1980–2008) and bibliographical reviews of retrieved studies.

Review methods.  Our systematic search identified 16 relevant studies. Two researchers independently reviewed, critically appraised, and extracted key themes and concepts from each study. We followed techniques of meta‐ethnography to synthesize the findings, using both reciprocal and refutational translation to compare similar or contradictory findings, and a line‐of‐arguments synthesis.

Results.  We identified five major themes that highlight common issues and concerns experienced by telenurses: gaining and maintaining skills, autonomy, new work environment, holistic assessment, and stress and pressure. A line‐of‐arguments synthesis produced a three‐stage model that describes the decision‐making process used by telenurses and highlights how assessments largely depend on the ability to ‘build a picture’ of the patient and the presenting health issue.

Conclusion.  Telenurses experience a range of common concerns and issues which either impede or facilitate the decision‐making process. Although ‘building a picture’ of the patient is key to making assessments over the telephone, final triage decisions are influenced by balancing the conflicting demands of being both carer and gatekeeper to limited healthcare services.
The conserved and divergent roles of carbonic anhydrases in the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus nidulans
Authors: Han Kap‐Hoon , Chun Yoon‐Hee , De Castro Pimentel Figueiredo Bárbara , Soriani Frederico Marianetti , Savoldi Marcela , Almeida Agostinho , Rodrigues Fernando , Cairns Charlie Timothy , Bignell Elaine , Tobal Jaqueline Moisés , Goldman Maria Helena S. , Kim Jong‐Hwan , Bahn Yong‐Sun , Goldman Gustavo Henrique , Da Silva Ferreira Márcia Eliana
Published: February 2010

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and its hydration product bicarbonate (HCO3‐) are essential molecules in various physiological processes of all living organisms. The reversible interconversion between CO2 and HCO3‐ is in equilibrium. This reaction is slow without catalyst, but can be rapidly facilitated by Zn2+‐metalloenzymes named carbonic anhydrases (CAs). To gain an insight into the function of multiple clades of fungal CA, we chose to investigate the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and A. nidulans. We identified four and two CAs in A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, respectively, named cafA‐D and canA‐B. The cafA and cafB genes are constitutively, strongly expressed whereas cafC and cafD genes are weakly expressed but CO2‐inducible. Heterologous expression of the A. fumigatus cafB, and A. nidulans canA and canB genes completely rescued the high CO2‐requiring phenotype of a Saccharomyces cerevisiaeΔnce103 mutant. Only the ΔcafAΔcafB and ΔcanB deletion mutants were unable to grow at 0.033% CO2, of which growth defects can be restored by high CO2. Defects in the CAs can affect Aspergilli conidiation. Furthermore, A. fumigatusΔcafA, ΔcafB, ΔcafC, ΔcafD and ΔcafAΔcafB mutant strains are fully virulent in a low‐dose murine infection.
Adjusting to alien genes
Authors: Johnsen Pål J. , Levin Bruce R.
Published: February 2010

From the perspective of a bacterium, higher eukaryotes are oversexed, unadventurous and reproduce in an inconvenient way. Sex, or recombination following horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events, to be less provocative, is a rare event for a bacterium, but a potentially profound one. Through HGT a bacterium can acquire DNA from distant as well as closely related species and, thereby, instantly obtain genes that encode novel functions or replace its existing genes with better ones. While there is an abundance of retrospective evidence for HGT in bacteria, there has been little consideration of the dynamics of the process. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology Lind et al. explore these dynamics theoretically, and then experimentally by substituting Salmonella Typhimurium ribosomal genes with orthologues from various microbial origins. The authors show that the majority of these newly acquired ribosomal proteins reduce fitness in S. Typhimurium, but within short order (40–250 generations) subsequent evolution will mitigate the fitness costs of the alien alleles. The presented results suggest that that at least the initial phase of adapting to alien genes of this informational core ilk is not by changing them but rather by increasing their level of expression by gene amplification. Lind et al. argue that their results provide an explanation as to why duplicated genes are overrepresented among horizontally transferred genes.
REVIEW: Acute withdrawal, protracted abstinence and negative affect in alcoholism: are they linked?
Authors: Heilig Markus , Egli Mark , Crabbe John C. , Becker Howard C.
Published: February 2010

The role of withdrawal‐related phenomena in the development and maintenance of alcohol addiction remains under debate. A ‘self‐medication’ framework postulates that emotional changes are induced by a history of alcohol use, persist into abstinence, and are a major factor in maintaining alcoholism. This view initially focused on negative emotional states during early withdrawal: these are pronounced, occur in the vast majority of alcohol‐dependent patients, and are characterized by depressed mood and elevated anxiety. This concept lost popularity with the realization that in most patients, these symptoms abate over 3–6 weeks of abstinence, while relapse risk persists long beyond this period. More recently, animal data have established that a prolonged history of alcohol dependence induces more subtle neuroadaptations. These confer altered emotional processing that persists long into protracted abstinence. The resulting behavioral phenotype is characterized by excessive voluntary alcohol intake and increased behavioral sensitivity to stress. Emerging human data support the clinical relevance of negative emotionality for protracted abstinence and relapse. These developments prompt a series of research questions: (1) are processes observed during acute withdrawal, while transient in nature, mechanistically related to those that remain during protracted abstinence?; (2) is susceptibility to negative emotionality in acute withdrawal in part due to heritable factors, similar to what animal models have indicated for susceptibility to physical aspects of withdrawal?; and (3) to what extent is susceptibility to negative affect that persists into protracted abstinence heritable?
REVIEW: A comparison of selected quantitative trait loci associated with alcohol use phenotypes in humans and mouse models
Authors: Ehlers Cindy L. , Walter Nicole A. R. , Dick Danielle M. , Buck Kari J. , Crabbe John C.
Published: February 2010

Evidence for genetic linkage to alcohol and other substance dependence phenotypes in areas of the human and mouse genome have now been reported with some consistency across studies. However, the question remains as to whether the genes that underlie the alcohol‐related behaviors seen in mice are the same as those that underlie the behaviors observed in human alcoholics. The aims of the current set of analyses were to identify a small set of alcohol‐related phenotypes in human and in mouse by which to compare quantitative trait locus (QTL) data between the species using syntenic mapping. These analyses identified that QTLs for alcohol consumption and acute and chronic alcohol withdrawal on distal mouse chromosome 1 are syntenic to a region on human chromosome 1q where a number of studies have identified QTLs for alcohol‐related phenotypes. Additionally, a QTL on human chromosome 15 for alcohol dependence severity/withdrawal identified in two human studies was found to be largely syntenic with a region on mouse chromosome 9, where two groups have found QTLs for alcohol preference. In both of these cases, while the QTLs were found to be syntenic, the exact phenotypes between humans and mice did not necessarily overlap. These studies demonstrate how this technique might be useful in the search for genes underlying alcohol‐related phenotypes in multiple species. However, these findings also suggest that trying to match exact phenotypes in humans and mice may not be necessary or even optimal for determining whether similar genes influence a range of alcohol‐related behaviors between the two species.
Transgenerational memory effect of ageing in Drosophila
Authors: BURNS JAMES G. , MERY FREDERIC
Published: February 2010

Children born to older parents tend to have lower intelligence and are at higher risk for disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Such observations of ageing damage being passed on from parents to offspring are not often considered within the evolutionary theory of ageing. Here, we show the 25% memory impairment in Drosophila melanogaster offspring solely dependent on the age of the parents and also passed on to the F2 generation. Furthermore, this parental age effect was not attributed to a generalized reduction in condition of the offspring but was specific to short‐term memory. We also provide evidence implicating oxidative stress as a causal factor by showing that lines selected for resistance to oxidative stress did not display a memory impairment in offspring of old parents. The identification of the parental age‐related memory impairment in a model system should stimulate integration between mechanistic studies of age‐related mortality risk and functional studies of parental age effects on the fitness of future generations.
Ontogenetic and spatial variation in size‐selective mortality of a marine fish
Authors: JOHNSON D. W. , HIXON M. A.
Published: February 2010

Although body size can affect individual fitness, ontogenetic and spatial variation in the ecology of an organism may determine the relative advantages of size and growth. During an 8‐year field study in the Bahamas, we examined selective mortality on size and growth throughout the entire reef‐associated life phase of a common coral‐reef fish, Stegastes partitus (the bicolour damselfish). On average, faster‐growing juveniles experienced greater mortality, though as adults, larger individuals had higher survival. Comparing patterns of selection observed at four separate populations revealed that greater population density was associated with stronger selection for larger adult size. Large adults may be favoured because they are superior competitors and less susceptible to gape‐limited predators. Laboratory experiments suggested that selective mortality of fast‐growing juveniles was likely because of risk‐prone foraging behaviour. These patterns suggest that variation in ecological interactions may lead to complex patterns of lifetime selection on body size.
The genetic basis of early‐life morphological traits and their relation to alternative male reproductive tactics in Atlantic salmon
Authors: PáEZ D. J. , MORRISSEY M. , BERNATCHEZ L. , DODSON J. J.
Published: February 2010

Although heritability estimates for traits potentially under natural selection are increasingly being reported, their estimation remains a challenge if we are to understand the patterns of adaptive phenotypic change in nature. Given the potentially important role of selection on the early life phenotype, and thereby on future life history events in many fish species, we conducted a common garden experiment, using the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), with two major aims. The first objective is to determine how the site of origin, the paternal sexual tactic and additive genetic effects influence phenotypic variation of several morphological traits at hatching and emergence. The second aim is to test whether a link exists between phenotypic characteristics early in life and the incidence of male alternative tactics later in life. We found no evidence of a site or paternal effect on any morphological trait at hatching or emergence, suggesting that the spatial phenotypic differences observed in the natural river system from which these fish originated are mainly environmentally driven. However, we do find significant heritabilities and maternal effects for several traits, including body size. No direct evidence was found correlating the incidence of precocious maturation with early life characteristics. We suggest that under good growing conditions, body size and other traits at early developmental stages are not reliable cues for the surpassing of the threshold values associated with male sexual development.
Putting information back into biological communication
Authors: CARAZO P. , FONT E.
Published: February 2010

At the heart of many debates on communication is the concept of information. There is an intuitive sense in which communication implies the transfer of some kind of information, probably the reason why information is an essential ingredient in most definitions of communication. However, information has also been an endless source of misunderstandings, and recent accounts have proposed that information should be dropped from a formal definition of communication. In this article, we re‐evaluate the merits and the internal logic of information‐based vs. information‐free approaches and conclude that information‐free approaches are conceptually incomplete and operationally hindered. Instead, we propose a functional notion of information that follows logically from previous adaptationist accounts. The ensuing definition of communication provides a wider, more inclusive theoretical scope that reflects more accurately the evolutionary scenario shaping animal signals. Additionally, it is a definition better equipped to deal with the extraordinary diversity of animal signals, facilitates the distinction of honest and deceptive signals at a proximate level and accommodates a number of conceptual and practical issues (e.g. redundancy, alerting components) that are lost when we fail to acknowledge the informative content of animal signals.
Adaptation of experimental yeast populations to stressful conditions in relation to population size
Authors: SAMANI P. , BELL G.
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this experiment was to find out how a population becomes adapted to extremely stressful conditions as its environment deteriorates. We created a deteriorating environment for experimental selection lines of yeast by a stepwise increase in the concentration of salt in the growth medium. After each step, we tested the ability of the lines to grow at a high concentration of salt near the lethal limit for the ancestral strain. We found that mutations enhancing growth in this highly stressful environment began to spread at intermediate salt concentrations. The degree of enhancement was related to effective population size by a power law with a small exponent. The effect size of these mutations also increased with the population size in a similar fashion. From these results, we interpret adaptation to lethal stress as an indirect response to selection for resistance to previous lower levels of stress in a deteriorating environment. This suggests that the pattern of genetic correlation between successively higher levels of stress is an important factor in facilitating evolutionary rescue.
The role of abscisic acid and auxin in the response of poplar to abiotic stress
Authors: Popko J. , Hänsch R. , Mendel R.‐R. , Polle A. , Teichmann T.
Published: February 2010

The plant hormones auxin and abscisic acid may at first sight appear to be a conflicting pair of plant regulators. Abscisic acid content increases during stress and protects plant water status. The content of free auxin in the developing xylem of poplar declines during stress, while auxin conjugates increase. This indicates that specific down‐regulation of a signal transduction chain is important in plant adaptation to stress. Diminished auxin content may be a factor that adapts growth and wood development of poplar during adverse environmental conditions. To allow integration of environmental signals, abscisic acid and auxin must interact. Data are accumulating that abscisic acid–auxin cross‐talk exists in plants. However, knowledge of the role of plant hormones in the response of trees to stress is scarce. Our data show that differences in the localisation of ABA synthesis exist between the annual, herbaceous plant Arabidopsis and the perennial woody species, poplar.
Nitrogen nutrition of poplar trees
Authors: Rennenberg H. , Wildhagen H. , Ehlting B.
Published: February 2010

Many forest ecosystems have evolved at sites with growth‐limiting nitrogen (N) availability, low N input from external sources and high ecosystem internal cycling of N. By contrast, many poplar species are frequent constituents of floodplain forests where they are exposed to a significant ecosystem external supply of N, mainly nitrate, in the moving water table. Therefore, nitrate is much more important for N nutrition of these poplar species than for many other tree species. We summarise current knowledge of nitrate uptake and its regulation by tree internal signals, as well as acquisition of ammonium and organic N from the soil. Unlike herbaceous plants, N nutrition of trees is sustained by seasonal, tree internal cycling. Recent advances in the understanding of seasonal storage and mobilisation in poplar bark and regulation of these processes by temperature and daylength are addressed. To explore consequences of global climate change on N nutrition of poplar trees, responses of N uptake and metabolism to increased atmospheric CO2 and O3 concentrations, increased air and soil temperatures, drought and salt stress are highlighted.
Molecular and histochemical characterisation of two distinct poplar Melampsora leaf rust pathosystems
Authors: Boyle B. , Levée V. , Hamel L.‐P. , Nicole M.‐C. , Séguin A.
Published: February 2010

In this study, we compared interactions of two Melampsora foliar rust species with poplar, which resulted in either limited or abundant pathogen proliferation. In the pathosystem exhibiting limited pathogen growth, a defence response was observed after invasion of poplar leaf tissues by the biotroph, with late and clear production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other products. Characterisation of the histological, biochemical and transcriptional events occurring in both pathosystems showed striking similarity with components of plant defence reactions observed during qualitative resistance. Key components associated with development of an active defence response, such as up‐regulation of pathogenesis‐related (PR) genes, were observed during infection. Moreover, the time course and strength of gene induction appear to be critical determinants for the outcome of the tree–pathogen interaction. This work provides basic biochemical characterisation and expression data for the study of so‐called partial resistance in the poplar–rust pathosystem, which is also applicable to other plant–pathogen interactions resulting in quantitative disease resistance.