bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dealing with existential anxiety in exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation: a phenomenological‐hermeneutic study of patients' lived experiences
Authors: Simonÿ Charlotte P , Pedersen Birthe D , Dreyer Pia , Birkelund Regner 
Published: May 2015

Aims and objectivesTo investigate patients' lived experiences of exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation.BackgroundExercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation is used to enable patients with cardiac problems to move forward to lead satisfying lives. However, knowledge of patients' concerns while they follow the current programmes is sparse.DesignThis study, which included nine men and two women with unstable angina pectoris and non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction, used a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach.MethodsThe patients were followed by field observations during exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation. Focus group interviews were conducted at the programme end, and individual interviews were performed one to two months later. The interpretation comprised three methodological steps: naïve reading, structural analysis, and comprehensive interpretation and discussion.FindingsAlthough both physically and psychologically challenged, the patients were encouraged to maintain an active lifestyle. Three themes were identified: anxiety regarding exercise, whereby the patients are initially insecure about how to behave with their diseased hearts; encouragement from training together, whereby the patients support each other in exercising; and growing confidence in the heart, whereby the patients enjoy being physically active.ConclusionsIn exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation, patients' insecurity with respect to their heart disease is revealed as an existential anxiety. Through peer support and a positive physical perception, the patients gain renewed self‐efficacy, helping them to continue their lives in an active and satisfying way.Relevance to clinical practiceKnowing that patients are confronted with an existential anxiety during exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation is important because it requires specific care. Recognising this anxiety also highlights how participating in the programme can be very demanding, which can help us understand aspects of adherence problems. Of greatest importance is that exercise‐based cardiac rehabilitation enables patients to find a new foothold, which comprises enjoying being physically active.
Fatigue two months after myocardial infarction and its relationships with other concurrent symptoms, sleep quality and coping strategies
Authors: Fredriksson‐Larsson Ulla , Alsén Pia , Karlson Björn W , Brink Eva 
Published: May 2015

Aims and objectivesTo explore fatigue levels two months after myocardial infarction and examine the associations with other concurrent symptoms, sleep quality and coping strategies.BackgroundFatigue has been found to be the most frequent and bothersome symptom after myocardial infarction, influencing health‐related quality of life negatively.DesignThe present study was explorative and cross‐sectional. The focus was on fatigue two months postmyocardial infarction, complemented with a comparative analysis of fatigue dimension levels.MethodsThe sample included 142 persons (mean age 63 years), treated for myocardial infarction, who responded to a questionnaire package measuring fatigue, depression, health complaints (symptoms), sleep quality and coping strategies.ResultsThe main results showed that a global fatigue score two months postmyocardial infarction was associated with concurrent symptoms, such as breathlessness and stress, and coping strategies such as change in values, intrusion and isolation. In comparisons of present fatigue dimension levels (general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity and mental fatigue) two months postmyocardial infarction with baseline measurements (first week in hospital), the results showed that levels of fatigue dimensions had decreased. In comparisons with levels of fatigue four months postmyocardial infarction in a reference group, we found lower levels of fatigue two months postmyocardial infarction.ConclusionThe present findings indicated that postmyocardial infarction fatigue is lowest two months postmyocardial infarction. This may thus be the right time to identify persons experiencing postmyocardial infarction fatigue, as timely fatigue relief support may prevent progression into a state of higher levels of fatigue.Relevance to clinic practiceMeasuring fatigue two months postmyocardial infarction would enable healthcare professionals to identify persons experiencing fatigue and to introduce fatigue relief support. Tailored rehabilitation support should include stress management and breathlessness relief support. If maladaptive use of the coping strategies isolation and intrusion is observed, these strategies could be discussed together with the patient.
Neonatal nurses’ beliefs about almost continuous parent–infant skin‐to‐skin contact in neonatal intensive care
Authors: Mörelius Evalotte , Anderson Gene Cranston 
Published: May 2015

Aims and objectivesTo describe what nurses believe about almost continuous skin‐to‐skin contact for preterm infants between 320–360 weeks gestation.BackgroundSkin‐to‐skin contact a few hours per day has become standard care for preterm infants in most high‐technology neonatal intensive care units. However, few units practice Kangaroo Mother Care which involves almost continuous skin‐to‐skin contact.DesignA qualitative descriptive design.MethodsAn online questionnaire with open‐ended questions was administered to 129 nurses at three neonatal units. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis.FindingsNurses believed they would lose control because of limited access to the infant and would not be able to provide adequate care. Nurses also believed that mothers practicing almost continuous skin‐to‐skin contact would feel trapped and would experience stress if they could not meet the demands of the method.ConclusionsAlthough the nurses can describe several of the documented benefits of almost continuous skin‐to‐skin contact, an underuse continues to exist.Relevance for clinical practiceBeliefs described by the nurses are important to consider and resolve if the goal is to implement and provide Kangaroo Mother Care.
Do personality states predict momentary task performance? The moderating role of personality variability
Authors: Debusscher Jonas , Hofmans Joeri , De Fruyt Filip 
Published: May 2015

We investigated how state neuroticism and state conscientiousness related to momentary task performance and tested whether these relationships were affected by the extent to which a person varies in his level of state neuroticism/conscientiousness across situations. We hypothesized that state neuroticism relates negatively, while state conscientiousness relates positively to momentary task performance. Moreover, for both personality dimensions, we expected the state personality–momentary task performance relationship to be stronger for employees who behave, feel, and think more consistently across situations. These hypotheses were tested using a 10‐day experience sampling study in a large financial institution. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that state neuroticism related negatively and state conscientiousness positively to momentary task performance. Moreover, the relationship between state conscientiousness and momentary task performance was stronger for people lower in situational within‐person conscientiousness variability. From a theoretical point of view, our findings suggest that personality states relate to momentary task performance and that this relationship is stronger for people low in situational within‐person variability. From a practical point of view, they emphasize the importance of taking into account an employee's state personality levels and the variability herein, in addition to assessing his/her overall trait level of personality.Practitioner points

Apart from the stable between‐person differences in personality (i.e., personality traits), a recruiter should also gain insight into situation‐related fluctuations in the candidate's personality states, which will allow the recruiter to determine how this candidate will perform in these situations.

Recruiters should weigh the information they get from personality assessments differently for people showing low levels of situational within‐person (personality) variability compared to those who are high in situational within‐person (personality) variability.
Interactions Between Risk Taking, Capital, and Reinsurance for Property–Liability Insurance Firms
Authors: Mankaï Selim , Belgacem Aymen 
Published: May 2015

AbstractFinancial theory has long recognized the structural relationship between capital and risk. This article posits reinsurance usage as a new endogenous decision variable and analyzes its effect on this decision mix from a sample of U.S. property–liability insurance firms. Empirical results obtained from a simultaneous equation model confirm the mutual interactions among capital, reinsurance and risk taking. Risk taking is positively related to capital, which highlights the effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms and the relevance of the capital buffer hypothesis. Reinsurance is negatively associated with capital, for which it displays a substitutive effect. These results seem to vary with the insurers’ level of capitalization, affiliation with a group, size, and organizational form. Unlike other decision variables, the capital ratio is adjusted to its target level.
Melatonin attenuates impairments of structural hippocampal neuroplasticity in OXYS rats during active progression of Alzheimer's disease‐like pathology
Authors: Stefanova Natalia A. , Maksimova Kseniya Y. , Kiseleva Elena , Rudnitskaya Ekaterina A. , Muraleva Natalia A. , Kolosova Nataliya G. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractTranslational research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) has often focused on reducing the high cerebral levels of amyloid‐β (Aβ) as a key characteristic of AD pathogenesis. There is, however, a growing body of evidence that synaptic dysfunction may be crucial for the development of the most common (sporadic) form of AD. The applicability of melatonin (mainly produced by the pineal gland) to the treatment of AD is actively evaluated, but usually, such studies are based on animal models of early‐onset AD, which is responsible for only ~5% of AD cases. We have shown previously that in OXYS rats (an established model of sporadic AD), accumulation of toxic forms of Aβ in the brain occurs later than does the development of signs of neurodegenerative changes and synaptic failure. In this regard, recently, we uncovered beneficial neuroprotective effects of melatonin (prophylactic dietary supplementation) in OXYS rats. Our aim here was to evaluate, starting at the age of active progression of AD‐like pathology in OXYS rats, the effects of long‐term oral administration of melatonin on the structure of synapses and on neuronal and glial cells of the hippocampus. Melatonin significantly increased hippocampal synaptic density and the number of excitatory synapses, decreased the number of inhibitory synapses, and upregulated pre‐ and postsynaptic proteins (synapsin I and PSD‐95, respectively). Furthermore, melatonin improved the ultrastructure of neuronal and glial cells and reduced glial density. Based on our past and present results, the repair of neuroplasticity by melatonin is a promising strategy against AD.
Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence testing of five commercial formulations of omeprazole in the horse
Authors: Sykes B. W. , Underwood C. , Greer R. , McGowan C. M. , Mills P. C. 
Published: May 2015

Omeprazole is widely used in the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. To date, little is known about the relative pharmacokinetics of the different formulations making comparisons between products difficult. The objectives of the study were to investigate the relative pharmacokinetics of five commercially available formulations of omeprazole in the horse and to test for bioequivalence of four of the formulations using one of the formulations as a reference standard. Twelve matureThoroughbred horses were fasted for 16 h then administered 2 g of each formulation in a cross‐over design. Serial blood samples were collected and plasma omeprazole concentration was determined by ultra high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐MS). No significant differences were present between three of the formulations and the reference formulation, while the fourth formulation had a lowerCmaxand longerTmaxthan the reference formulation. Bioequivalence against the reference formulation could not be demonstrated for any of the formulations tested. The findings of the study suggested that the method of protection utilised by different formulations of omeprazole (enteric‐coated granules vs. buffering) does not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Further work to establish bioequivalence is needed before direct comparisons can be drawn between different formulations.
Personal Characteristics of MPs and Legislative Behavior in Moral Policymaking
Authors: Baumann Markus , Debus Marc , Müller Jochen 
Published: May 2015

AbstractTheoretical and empirical models of legislative decision making in parliamentary democracies typically neglect the policy preferences of individual MPs and instead focus on political parties and possible institutional constraints. We argue that MPs actually make judgments and decisions on the basis of their preferences, which are shaped by their personal characteristics. However, given the strength of parties in most parliamentary systems, the impact of personal characteristics on legislative behavior is rarely visible. Therefore, we examine a moral issue. Looking at cosponsorship, parliamentary speeches, and votes in the German Bundestag, we analyze the legislative procedure on the regulation of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in Germany in 2011. We show that the legislative behavior of MPs does not only reflect partisan conflict but is also influenced by the preferences of the constituents and MPs’ own personal characteristics such as: religious denomination, gender, and parental status.
Phenotypic integration in the feeding system of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)
Authors: Margres Mark J. , Wray Kenneth P. , Seavy Margaret , McGivern James J. , Sanader Dragana , Rokyta Darin R. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractSelection can vary geographically across environments and temporally over the lifetime of an individual. Unlike geographic contexts, where different selective regimes can act on different alleles, age‐specific selection is constrained to act on the same genome by altering age‐specific expression. Snake venoms are exceptional traits for studying ontogeny because toxin expression variation directly changes the phenotype; relative amounts of venom components determine, in part, venom efficacy. Phenotypic integration is the dependent relationship between different traits that collectively produce a complex phenotype and, in venomous snakes, may include traits as diverse as venom, head shape and fang length. We examined the feeding system of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) across environments and over the lifetime of individuals and used a genotype–phenotype map approach, protein expression data and morphological data to demonstrate that: (i) ontogenetic effects explained more of the variation in toxin expression variation than geographic effects, (ii) both juveniles and adults varied geographically, (iii) toxin expression variation was a result of directional selection and (iv) different venom phenotypes covaried with morphological traits also associated with feeding in temporal (ontogenetic) and geographic (functional) contexts. These data are the first to demonstrate, to our knowledge, phenotypic integration between multiple morphological characters and a biochemical phenotype across populations and age classes. We identified copy number variation as the mechanism driving the difference in the venom phenotype associated with these morphological differences, and the parallel mitochondrial, venom and morphological divergence between northern and southern clades suggests that each clade may warrant classification as a separate evolutionarily significant unit.
Nucleoid organization in the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Passot Fanny Marie , Nguyen Hong Ha , Dard‐Dascot Cloelia , Thermes Claude , Servant Pascale , Espéli Olivier , Sommer Suzanne 
Published: May 2015

SummaryProcesses favoring the exceptional resistance to genotoxic stress of Deinococcus radiodurans are not yet completely characterized. It was postulated that its nucleoid and chromosome(s) organization could participate in the DNA double strand break repair process. Here, we investigated the organization of chromosome 1 by localization of three chromosomal loci including oriC, Ter and a locus located in its left arm. For this purpose, we used a ParB‐parS system to visualize the position of the loci before and after exposure to γ‐rays. By comparing the number of fluorescent foci with the number of copies of the studied loci present in the cells measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), we demonstrated that the 4–10 copies of chromosome 1 per cell are dispersed within the nucleoid before irradiation, indicating that the chromosome copies are not prealigned. Chromosome segregation is progressive but not co‐ordinated, allowing each locus to be paired with its sister during part of the cell cycle. After irradiation, the nucleoid organization is modified, involving a transient alignment of the loci in the late stage of DNA repair and a delay of segregation of the Ter locus. We discuss how these events can influence DNA double strand break repair.
Cued satiety: How consumer expectations modify responses to ingested nutrients
Authors: Yeomans M. R. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractSatiety, the suppression of appetite after food consumption, involves a complex integration of cognitive, sensory and post‐ingestive signals generated by the consumed product. A better understanding of how these different signals interact could allow the development of novel products optimised to produce satiety, thereby helping to counteract the effects of obesogenic lifestyles. This report highlights recent studies, conducted largely as part of the BBSRC DRINC initiative, which examined how beliefs about satiety before food ingestion and the sensory experience during ingestion together influence how the consumer responds to food. These studies highlight the integrative nature of satiety and pave the way for updated models of satiety and novel products that should aid consumers' ability to regulate their appetite.
30 g of fibre a day: An achievable recommendation?
Authors: Hooper B. , Spiro A. , Stanner S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recently published its draft report on Carbohydrates and Health, in which new recommended intakes for fibre were proposed for children and adults, following an in‐depth review of the scientific evidence base. The recommendation for the adult population of 30 g/day, measured by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists' (AOAC) method, is somewhat higher than current recommendation and, according to intakes reported in the recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey, would require men to increase their fibre intakes by around 50% and women by 75%.This paper discusses current fibre intakes in the UK and describes the main contributors of fibre to the diet. Simple dietary modelling was carried out to investigate the feasibility of the recommendation by SACN in the context of other nutrient recommendations and food‐based guidelines. This demonstrated that it is possible to consume 30 g of AOAC fibre a day in the context of a healthy diet that meets other dietary recommendations if all meals are based on starchy foods (including mainly wholegrain options and potatoes with their skins), high fibre snacks are selected and the diet is rich in fruit and vegetables (around 8 portions daily).Barriers to meeting the recommendation are considered, including the negative consumer perceptions of starchy foods and a lack of awareness regarding the health benefits of fibre, particularly those beyond bowel health. Labelling regulations may pose further challenges, as there is not an agreed definition for ‘wholegrain’ and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that there is, as yet, insufficient evidence to warrant an official health claim for dietary fibre (as a general food ingredient).Although feasible in the context of other dietary guidelines, the required dietary pattern to achieve 30 g of AOAC fibre a day is not reflective of average diets in the UK. Achieving this population recommendation will therefore be a considerable challenge. Co‐operation and collaboration is likely to be required from a number of stakeholders including the food industry, health professionals and regulatory bodies to raise awareness of the benefits of dietary fibre and encourage greater consumption of higher fibre foods. Innovative high fibre ingredients may also be needed to make it easier for consumers to boost their fibre intakes.
A proposed approach to systematically identify and monitor the corporate political activity of the food industry with respect to public health using publicly available information
Authors: Mialon M. , Swinburn B. , Sacks G. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryUnhealthy diets represent one of the major risk factors for non‐communicable diseases. There is currently a risk that the political influence of the food industry results in public health policies that do not adequately balance public and commercial interests. This paper aims to develop a framework for categorizing the corporate political activity of the food industry with respect to public health and proposes an approach to systematically identify and monitor it. The proposed framework includes six strategies used by the food industry to influence public health policies and outcomes: information and messaging; financial incentive; constituency building; legal; policy substitution; opposition fragmentation and destabilization. The corporate political activity of the food industry could be identified and monitored through publicly available data sourced from the industry itself, governments, the media and other sources. Steps for country‐level monitoring include identification of key food industry actors and related sources of information, followed by systematic data collection and analysis of relevant documents, using the proposed framework as a basis for classification of results. The proposed monitoring approach should be pilot tested in different countries as part of efforts to increase the transparency and accountability of the food industry. This approach has the potential to help redress any imbalance of interests and thereby contribute to the prevention and control of non‐communicable diseases.
The concept of geodesic curvature applied to optical surfaces
Authors: Barbero Sergio 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPurposeTo propose geodesic curvature as a metric to characterise how an optical surface locally differs from axial symmetry. To derive equations to evaluate geodesic curvatures of arbitrary surfaces expressed in polar coordinates.MethodsThe concept of geodesic curvature is explained in detail as compared to other curvature‐based metrics. Starting with the formula representing a surface as function of polar coordinates, an equation for the geodesic curvature is obtained depending only on first and second radial and first order angular derivatives of the surface function. The potential of the geodesic curvature is illustrated using different surface tests.ResultsGeodesic curvature reveals local axial asymmetries more sharply than other types of curvatures such as normal curvatures.ConclusionGeodesic curvature maps could be used to characterise local axial asymmetries for relevant optometry applications such as corneal topography anomalies (keratoconus) or ophthalmic lens metrology.