bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mathematical analysis of the sodium sensitivity of the human histamine H3 receptor
Authors: Wittmann Hans-Joachim , Seifert Roland , Strasser Andrea 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Purpose
It was shown by several experimental studies that some G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) are sensitive to sodium ions. Furthermore, mutagenesis studies or the determination of crystal structures of the adenosine A2A or δ-opioid receptor revealed an allosteric Na+ binding pocket near to the highly conserved Asp2.50. Within a previous study, the influence of NaCl concentration onto the steady-state GTPase activity at the human histamine H3 receptor (hH3R) in presence of the endogenous histamine or the inverse agonist thioperamide was analyzed. The purpose of the present study was to examine and quantify the Na+-sensitivity of hH3R on a molecular level.

Methods
To achieve this, we developed a set of equations, describing constitutive activity and the different ligand-receptor equilibria in absence or presence of sodium ions. Furthermore, in order to gain a better understanding of the ligand- and Na+-binding to hH3R on molecular level, we performed molecular dynamic (MD) simulations.

Results
The analysis of the previously determined experimental steady-state GTPase data with the set of equations presented within this study, reveals that thioperamide binds into the orthosteric binding pocket of the hH3R in absence or presence of a Na+ in its allosteric binding site. However, the data suggest that thioperamide binds preferentially into the hH3R in absence of a sodium ion in its allosteric site. These experimental results were supported by MD simulations of thioperamide in the binding pocket of the inactive hH3R. Furthermore, the MD simulations revealed two different binding modes for thioperamide in presence or absence of a Na+ in its allosteric site.

Conclusion
The mathematical model presented within this study describes the experimental data regarding the Na+-sensitivity of hH3R in an excellent manner. Although the present study is focused onto the Na+-sensitivity of the hH3R, the resulting equations, describing Na+- and ligand-binding to a GPCR, can be used for all other ion-sensitive GPCRs.
The mechanics and behavior of Cliff Swallows during tandem flights
Authors: Shelton Ryan M. , Jackson Brandon E. , Hedrick Tyson L. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are highly maneuverable social birds that often forage and fly in large open spaces. Here we used multi-camera videography to measure the three dimensional kinematics of their natural flight maneuvers in the field. Specifically, we collected data on tandem flights, defined as two birds maneuvering together. These data permit us to evaluate several hypotheses on the high-speed maneuvering flight performance of birds. We found that high speed turns are roll-based, but that the magnitude of the centripetal force created in typical maneuvers varied only slightly with flight speed, typically reaching a peak of ~2 body weights. Turning maneuvers typically involved active flapping rather than gliding. In tandem flights the following bird copied the flight path and wingbeat frequency (~12.3 Hz) of the lead bird while maintaining position slightly above the leader. The lead bird turned in a direction away from the lateral position of the following bird 65% of the time on average. Tandem flights vary widely in instantaneous speed (1.0 to 15.6 m s-1) and duration (0.72 to 4.71 s), and no single tracking strategy appeared to explain the course taken by the following bird.
Challenges in Designing Pre-School Education Standard
Authors: �����  , Mayer Aleksey , ���������  , Timofeeva Liliya 
Published: May 2014

The positions of system approach in the development of preschool educational standard are represented due to the contest of social, economic, demographic,
psychological, pedagogical and law changes. It is considered that family dysfunctions, the long-time strategy absence and neglect of the
preschool progressive practice are determining the actual situation of the childhood development.
The key directions and risks of preschool educational standard introduction are analyzed. The preschool education had been analyzed due to basic
features � object, content, technology and result. It determined the data in the projection of the standard in preschool education. It was shown that
underestimation of the basic process in preschool education represented a real threat to the quality of standard.
The actual problems in standardization are detected. It can help to determine the optimal directions in the realization of federal educational standard of
preschool education according to the practice of educational organizations.
The morphological peculiarities of the cerebrum arteries under the hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in the patients with the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Chuiko Natalia 
Published: May 2014

In this article, the results of the morphological study of the cerebral arteries in the patients with the hemorrhagic ischemic stroke on the background of metabolic syndrome were submitted. We established that under hemorrhagic stroke on the background of metabolic syndrome one could observe the atherosclerotic damages in the form of plaques, hyalinosis of vessels walls, destructive and necrotic changes of the middle coat of vessel wall, which are, in our opinion, the main reason in morphogenesis of hemorrhagic stroke. The atherosclerotic affection of the cerebral vessels with the lipidosis and fibrotic plaques in the vessel wall, which caused in disorganization of the vessel wall in the form intimae proliferation, structural reconstruction of the internal elastic membrane which resulted in narrowing of the vessel lumen and development of ischemia is the morphological basis for the ischemic stroke with the metabolic syndrome. Also diabetic microangiopathy with the development of the hyalinosis, vessels walls sclerosis, which provoked the microcirculatory and metabolism processes injury in the cerebral substance that complicate the disease course is the important factor of cerebral blood circulation damage.
Comparing standard primigravidae and low parity women in Tanzania
Authors: Kidanto HL , Fadhlun MA , Projestin M 
Published: May 2014

The concept of standard primigravidae is relatively new and has only been used in the past twenty years. It is a tool to assess performance of different obstetric units taking into account the similarities. This study was conducted to determine the proportion of standard primigravid women and compare their pregnancy outcome with women of low parity delivering at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es salaam, Tanzania. This is a cross-sectional study carried out from July to December 2007. A total of 775 women were analysed; 296 were standard primigravidae and 479 were women of low parity. The standard primigravid group had a higher emergency caesarean section rate compared to women of low parity. Augmentation of labour and episiotomies were more often given to standard primigravid compared to the low parity group. There were higher rates of prolonged labour and fetal distress than the low parity women. There were lower Apgar scores (LAS) in the primigravid group than in the low parity group. Neonatal unit admissions were more compared to low parity women and the proportion of birth asphyxiated neonates was higher in the standard primigravidae. This study found that standard primigravidae have a slightly higher risk of poor pregnancy outcome compared to low parity women. There is a need for a more aggressive intrapartum monitoring system in this group.
Knowledge, views and practices of mothers regarding postnatal care at Zomba Central Hospital, Malawi
Authors: Sakala Betty 
Published: May 2014

Background: Two thirds of all women who deliver in an urban hospital in Malawi do not return for postnatal care at 1 and 6 weeks after labour. Factors that influence their postnatal visit are not well established. Aim: This study investigates factors influencing the attendance at postnatal visits at 1 and 6 weeks among mothers at Zomba Central Hospital in Malawi. Specifically, the study assessed mothers' knowledge about postnatal care at 1 week and 6 weeks, and determined the characteristics of mothers who did or did not attend postnatal appointments on these dates. Method: A descriptive quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess mothers' knowledge. Data were collected using a structured interview. A convenient sample of 154 mothers participated in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Malawi College of Medicine Ethical Review Board. Data were analysed using SPSS. Findings: A sample of 154 mothers participated in the study who were all attendees at an under-fives clinic and had infants who were between 8 weeks and 12 months old. More than 75% of participants were aged between 20 and 30 years old. The main factor that hindered attendance was lack of advice given by midwives to return for postnatal care. Awareness of postnatal services, mothers' educational level and growth monitoring all promoted utilisation of postnatal care at 1 and 6 weeks. These findings have implications for training and practice: training institutions should emphasise the importance of postnatal care at 1 and 6 weeks; and, with reference to practice, supervisors of midwives should ensure that mothers are booked for postnatal care at 1 week and 6 weeks.
Description of a module on the theory and practice of reflection
Authors: Rafferty Michael , Lewis David , Mabbett Gaynor , Vine Janet 
Published: May 2014

This paper is a description of a module to prepare community studies students for reflective practice skills, and which provides a model of collaboration between service and educational practitioners. Details are given of the taught, experiential and organisational elements of the programme and the practice issues examined are also identified. Group process issues indicate that formal reflective practice may create uncertainty and anxiety due to the need to share practice thinking and actions. Strategies and interventions are identified to contain such inevitable reactions, which centre upon informed consent, consideration of feelings and the establishment of the conditions necessary for trust. Student evaluations of the module indicate both scepticism about, and hope for, formal reflection upon practice. The issues arising from this module have relevance to all practitioners engaged in reflective practice and clinical supervision.
Evidence-based practice in primary care
Authors: Jones K , Wilson A , Russell I , Roberts A , O’Keeffe C , McAvoy B , Hutchinson A , Dowell A , Benech I 
Published: May 2014

Evidence-based practice comprises four fundamental steps: the formulation of clear clinical questions from a patient’s perspective; searching the literature; critically appraising the evidence and incorporating into practice. The Network for Evidence-Based Practice in Northern and Yorkshire (NEBPINY) seeks to establish a multi-disciplinary network of primary healthcare practitioners committed to evidence-based practice. Four interventions have been offered as part of an implementation programme: critical appraisal skills teaching; evidence-based guidelines; support for clinical audit and in-practice facilitation. Currently, three main issues are emerging from the nursing perspective: access to the evidence; knowledge of and confidence in applying critical appraisal skills, and the importance of teamwork. In-practice facilitation has encouraged meetings, for the common purpose of exploring the evidence-based guidelines and their potential impact upon practice. For some it has also been an opportunity to: discuss their own individual management of care with colleagues; to increase their awareness of the different roles played by each member and to exchange information and ideas.
Developing advanced nursing practice
Authors: Sams Debbie 
Published: May 2014

What exactly is meant by advanced nursing practice, and what opportunities currently exist within community practice to develop it? This paper explores such questions by reflecting on attempts to develop advanced nursing practice within a community trust. Transforming nursing practice does not occur overnight because change is inevitably a gradual process. In this paper, equal consideration is given to current challenges, pitfalls, stumbling blocks and – more positively – ways in which these can be overcome.
Reflections on the history of health visiting
Authors: Billingham Kate , Morrell Jane , Billingham Clive 
Published: May 2014

1996 has been a year for celebrating the centenary of the Health Visitors Association. It has also been a time for reflecting on the history of the profession at a time of great uncertainty. This paper gives a historical account of the development of health visiting within an economic, political and social context. Drawing on original and contemporary texts the paper begins with the work of the early public health philanthropists and traces the development of health visiting through to the NHS reforms of the 1990s. Throughout the history of health visiting the voice of the user has been markedly absent, in particular the perspective of women. The history of health visiting reveals a number of themes that have preoccupied the profession and its observers since its inception: social control, confusion in understanding the role and scope of health visiting, medical domination and the tension between individualism and population approaches to public health. Today the profession has to fight to secure its position in a health service dominated by a bio-medical model. The challenge to prove their worth is one that the health visitors of today and tomorrow have to rise to if the profession is to survive in a world of resource constraint and evidence-based practice.
Validation and usefulness of the Tamil version of the GHQ-12 in the community
Authors: John S , Vijaykumar C , Jayaseelan V , Jacob KS 
Published: May 2014

The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), increasingly used to screen for common mental disorders (CMD) in primary care, has been validated in different languages and cultures. However, the validity and usefulness of the Tamil version has not been established for use in the community. This article reports a study to validate the Tamil version of the GHQ-12 in a rural setting in southern India. The research found that 16.5% of people interviewed satisfied international criteria for CMD. However, the predictive value of the tool as a tool for screening was found to differ from that found in studies undertaken in a hospital setting. While screening instruments need to be validated in specific types of populations before being employed, such tests may be less useful in community surveys where the prevalence of common mental disorders is low. Strategies which artificially increase the prevalence of common mental disorders in the sample screened will improve the performance of the instrument.
‘Look After Your Legs’: patients’ experience of an assessment clinic
Authors: Freeman Elaine , Gibbins Annabel , Walker Mark , Hapeshi Julie 
Published: May 2014

Venous leg ulcers are a chronic, recurring condition and a major cause of morbidity, especially in older people. Two inner city district nursing teams initiated a weekly, nurse-led, leg ulcer assessment clinic, and a monthly support group for patients with healed or almost healed leg ulcers. The group supports and empowers patients with self-care ‘look after your legs’ health promotion messages. The support group uses a similar model to the expert patient programme (Department fo Health, 2001). Patients in the group coined the unique name ‘patient ambassador’. Patient ambassadors, with nursing support, are used to promote self care and lifestyle changes to members of the group to prevent recurrence of leg ulceration. The aim of the research reported here was to evaluate the ‘Look after Your Legs’ (LAYL) service and the benefit to others of the patient ambassador role.
Kidney Research UK’s: A better life through education and empowerment
Authors: Jain Neerja 
Published: May 2014

Over 3 million people are affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidney Research UK, a national charity dedicated to research that will lead to better treatment and cures for kidney disease has developed the innovative and successful ‘A better life through education and empowerment’ (ABLE) programme which researches and raises awareness of the issues among ‘at risk’ groups and helps prevent or slow its progression. Initially the programme focused on the black and minority ethnic (BME) communities who are up to 5 times more likely to develop kidney failure than white caucasians. This is largely due to hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Recently the scope of the programme was broadened to encompass all those at risk and the useful lessons learned from the 7 initial projects are being used to inform the future of ABLE and other CKD projects. The programme has been funded by a cross section of organizations including the Department of Health and the Big Lottery Fund. Outcomes from the first two completed projects as well as an update on the other ABLE work are summarized.
Liberating new talents: an innovative pre-registration community-focused adult nursing programme
Authors: Arnott Jane 
Published: May 2014

The drive for a more community-focused approach to pre-registration nursing education as identified in Modernising Nursing Careers, (Department of Health, 2006a) has continued to gather momentum. The research literature identifies that the community context impacts significantly on care delivery, with student nurses often missing the underlying complexities of working in this context; focusing on the task in hand rather than the broader landscape of care (Carr, 2004). In 2008, a community focused pre-registration adult nursing degree pathway was started at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), to prepare a cohort of 16nursing students to work in the community and general practice setting at the point of registration. Placement learning has been focused within general practice and community through a hub and spoke approach to enable students to develop a deep understanding of the complexities of care in this setting with particular reference to the management of risk and unpredictability. The pilot is being formally evaluated with a particular emphasis on the meaning and relevance of practice learning within these settings. The emerging data will not only provide evidence to promote the community and general practice agenda within pre-registration curricula, but help to clarify the essential skills and knowledge required to prepare students nurses for working in these settings.
Advanced physical assessment skills: implementation of a module
Authors: Aldridge-Bent Sharon 
Published: May 2014

This article aims to explore and examine advanced physical assessment skills and the role of the district nurse. It will particularly highlight district nurses' perceptions of how they may implement skills learnt on a new module introduced into the Community Health Care Nursing degree at a university in London. Physical assessment skills have traditionally been viewed as part of a doctor's role; however, with the advancement of nursing roles, it is argued that it has become a key nursing skill. As Government policy continues to expect health professionals to keep patients in the community who have complex health and social care needs, the role of the district nurse presents as ‘best placed’ to take on this challenge ( Department of Health (DH), 2005a ; 2005b ). Evaluation of the district nurses' perceptions of their practice is shared here, highlighting some of the challenges that they face. The article will address the complexity of developing a curriculum in response to the DH initiatives and the importance of listening to students on courses.
Intravenous therapy: guidance on devices, management and care
Authors: Ogston-Tuck Sherri 
Published: May 2014

This article aims to provide guidance for practitioners on intravenous therapy devices, their management and care. It explains the indications for their use and considerations when selecting devices for intravenous therapy and treatment. Both PVADs and CVADs are discussed in detail to provide the practitioner with a clear understanding for each. Infection control and how to reduce infection risks are also addressed with recommendations for best practice guidance on flushing devices, minimising complications and documentation. This article addresses the importance of safe practice and aims to help practitioners to improve their knowledge and clinical decision-making for patients undergoing intravenous therapy.
Physical activity among the elderly in China: a qualitative study
Authors: Li Yanling , Du Xiaojing , Zhang Chunfang , Wang Sibao 
Published: May 2014

The benefits of physical activity are well known, but little is known about the views of elderly Chinese people regarding physical activity, and what factors affect this. This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of the elderly community regarding physical activity and to gain a better understanding of these. A qualitative study of 12 elderly Chinese people was undertaken using the Colaizzi phenomenological approach and using semi-structured interviews to gather data. Three key themes emerged relating to current physical activity status, beliefs about physical activity and factors influencing physical activity. This study provides new knowledge about the elderly community's experiences and perceptions of physical activity. By understanding these, we may show that promoting active lifestyles and building physical activity into and around day-to-day activities are important strategies in increasing levels of activity. Furthermore, the need for appropriate activity facilities, available space, peer motivation and general social support could promote activity beliefs and subsequent adherence among the elderly community.
Higher apprenticeships: a way into nursing for HCAs?
Authors: Glasper Alan 
Published: May 2014

The creation of an all-graduate nursing profession, coupled with the abolition of the practice-based state enrolled nurse (SEN) role, has left a vacuum for the rest of the caring professions in the health sector. Following the reports of Robert Francis and Camilla Cavendish in 2013, the Government has asked the sector to come up with a ‘higher apprenticeship’ route into nursing for unregulated staff, such as healthcare assistants. This article discusses this government initiative to introduce higher apprenticeship schemes leading to nurse registration for those who have proven they can deliver health care.
What do patients want to know when they are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Heisters Daiga 
Published: May 2014

There are about 120 000 people with Parkinson's diseasein the UK, and 10 000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year. Being diagnosed with a long-term and progressive condition can be extremely distressing. The way in which this diagnosis is given can signifi cantly affect the person's wellbeing and his/her approach to the condition. This article explains how the use of audio and visual aids, as well as the development of a sensitive method of communicating with patients, can greatly enhance a patient's perception of his/her diagnosis. It gives practical examples of tools available to help communication. Increasing patient understanding of Parkinson's disease should help them manage their condition more effectively and make fewer demands on limited health resources.