bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Centralization and research governance: does it work?
Authors: Howarth Michelle , Kneafsey Rosie , Haigh Carol 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Centralization and research governance: does it work? Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to evaluate the impact and success of the United Kingdom centralized Research Management and Governance model.Background.  Research is crucial to the generation of new knowledge and for the development of nursing services. However, poor research conduct has prompted a growing international impetus to govern and monitor research activity. In 2004, a centralized Research Management and Governance Model aimed at fostering a quality research culture through streamlining bureaucratic management processes was implemented across 14 primary care provider organizations in the United Kingdom.Methods.  A questionnaire survey was undertaken in 2004 to explore researchers’ experiences (n = 76) of the model across the 14 organizations, and semi‐structured interviews were conducted with five research and development managers. The interview transcripts were independently thematically analysed.Findings.  Governance processes were seen as useful or very useful by 36·8% (n = 28) of researchers viewed, and 47·3% (n = 36) thought they were a hindrance or not useful. Managers suggested that the model supported the research infrastructure and had reduced paperwork. The benefits of centralization were balanced against managers’ perceptions of reduced autonomy and control.Conclusions.  Centralizing research governance is an effective way of maximizing research resources, but researchers still may not value the process. Partnership working can streamline research governance mechanisms, but needs to be adequately resourced and transparent. This model could be of benefit to international colleagues who are charged with the management of research.
Existential struggle and self‐reported needs of patients in rehabilitation
Authors: Sigurgeirsdottir Jonina , Halldorsdottir Sigridur 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Existential struggle and self‐reported needs of patients in rehabilitation Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to increase understanding of patients’ experience of rehabilitation and their self‐reported needs in that context.Background.  Nurses need to be able to recognize patient needs to plan effective and individualized care. Needs‐led nursing care is emphasized in the nursing literature, but few studies in rehabilitation have explored needs from the patient’s perspective.Method.  The sample of this phenomenological study was purposively selected and the data consisted of 16 in‐depth interviews with 12 people aged between 26 and 85 years. The data were collected in 2005.Findings.  The findings showed that being a patient in rehabilitation involves existential struggling, as the reason behind patients’ rehabilitation, accident or illness usually leads to trying to cope with existential changes while needing to adapt to new characteristics of life and self. This makes patients vulnerable and their self‐reported needs include individualized caring and emotional support from family, peers and staff. Participants also reported a need for a sense of security in a stable and homelike environment, with assistance, help and presence. Finally, they reported needing goal‐oriented and progressive care in which realistic and achievable goals were established. Individualized patient education enhanced their independence and empowered them towards a new and progressive lifestyle.Conclusion.  A new emphasis is needed in rehabilitation nursing, involving assessment of existential well‐being of patients by means of skilful interpersonal relationship based on individualized caring and emotional support and recognition of each patient’s own hierarchy of needs.
Symptom manifestations and expressions among Korean immigrant women suffering with depression
Authors: Bernstein Kunsook Song , Lee Jeong‐Seop , Park So‐Youn , Jyoung Joung‐Pyo 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Symptom manifestations and expressions among Korean immigrant women suffering with depression Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to investigate the culture‐specific symptom manifestation and expression of depression in Korean immigrant women in the United States of America (USA).Background.  The literature indicates that Korean immigrants to the USA report higher levels of depressive symptoms than immigrants from other Asian ethnic groups, and women immigrants tend to encounter more gender‐related emotional difficulties. However, because of traditional cultural beliefs, immigrants may not seek treatment for depression and, when they do, tend to leave treatment prematurely.Methods.  We used an ethnographic method based on Spradley’s Developmental Research Sequence with a sample of 17 Korean immigrant women who scored mild‐to‐severe depression on a Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Inventory Scale. Data were collected from 2005 to 2006, and consisted of tape‐recorded interviews, field notes and diaries.Findings.  Depressive symptoms were complex, intertwined and felt in all domains of the person’s existence. They were expressed mainly through emotional and physical suffering, and the expression of suffering as a way of life. Themes elicited were emotional entrapment, shame and failure as women, disappointment at not being able to live a normal life and emotional restraint, as emotions were not generally expressed verbally but instead were expressed somatically, bodily and metaphorically.Conclusion.  Being aware of culture‐specific symptoms of depression among Korean immigrant women can assist nurses in caring for them and thus improving their therapeutic alliances and preventing them from prematurely terminating treatment.
Preparing nurses to prescribe medicines for patients with diabetes: a national questionnaire survey
Authors: Courtenay Molly , Carey Nicola 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Preparing nurses to prescribe medicines for patients with diabetes: a national questionnaire survey Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to examine Nurse Independent/Nurse Supplementary Prescribing for people with diabetes and the extent to which these nurses feel prepared for this role.Background.  An area of care in which nurses, caring for people with diabetes, are involved is the management of medications. There is little or no evidence examining the prescription of medicines by nurses for people with this condition.Methods.  The United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council database was used to select a random sample of 1992 Registered Nurse Independent/Nurse Supplementary Prescribers. Of these, 1400 questionnaires were returned. Medicines for people with diabetes were prescribed by 439 respondents. This paper reports on the findings of these 439 nurses. The data were collected in 2006.Results.  Four hundred and nine (95·1%) participants had used independent prescribing and 214 (49·8%) used supplementary prescribing. The majority of respondents were highly experienced and worked in primary care. Some nurses (7·6%) reported that the prescribing programme did not meet their need. The needs of nurses who had undertaken specialist training in diabetes were met to a statistically and significantly greater extent than those without this training. Nurse prescribing was viewed positively by nurses prescribing for people with diabetes.Conclusion.  Prescribing has extended the role that nurses in the United Kingdom are able to play in the management of diabetes. Specialist training is a prerequisite for nurses adopting this role. There is a need to explore the prescribing programme and the extent to which it meets the needs of nurses prescribing for people with diabetes.
Accident and emergency staff opinion on the effects of family presence during adult resuscitation: critical literature review
Authors: Walker Wendy 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Accident and emergency staff opinion on the effects of family presence during adult resuscitation: critical literature review. Aim.  This paper is a report of a critical literature review to identify the positive and negative effects of family presence during adult resuscitation, as perceived by accident and emergency healthcare staff based in primary (out‐of‐hospital) and secondary (in‐hospital) environments of care.Background.  The controversial practice of family presence during resuscitation of adults has stimulated debate over the past two decades, giving rise to a growing body of literature and the development of clinical guidelines for practice.Methods.  A search was carried out for the period 1987–2007 using the Science Direct, CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, psychINFO and BNI databases and the search terms resuscitation, witnessed resuscitation, family presence, relatives’ presence, attitudes and opinions and accident and emergency.Results.  Eighteen studies were included in the critical review, primarily comprising retrospective survey research. The majority of studies were descriptive in design. A standardized approach to the appraisal process was achieved through the utilization of guidelines for critiquing self‐reports. The findings revealed that accident and emergency healthcare staff perceive both positive and negative effects as a consequence of family presence during adult resuscitation and their opinions suggest that there are more risks than benefit.Conclusion.  Further research is essential if family presence during resuscitation of adults is to be better defined and understood. Qualitative methods of enquiry are recommended as a way of gaining a deeper insight into and understanding of this practice.
Hypertension control, predictors for medication adherence and gender differences in older Chinese immigrants
Authors: Li Wen‐Wen , Wallhagen Margaret I. , Froelicher Erika S. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTitle.  Hypertension control, predictors for medication adherence and gender differences in older Chinese immigrants Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore the relationship between demographic and cultural factors and antihypertensive medication adherence in older Chinese immigrants.Background.  Hypertension is a well‐known controllable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases worldwide, but only 20–80% of patients who take antihypertensive medications adhere adequately to their treatment regimen.Methods.  A cross‐sectional study was conducted between 2002 and 2003, with a convenience sample of 75 older men and 69 older women (n = 144, response rate 80%). Medication adherence was defined as ≥80% of the total score on the Morisky scale.Findings.  Age (75·2 ± 5·7 vs. 75·9 ± 7·0 years, P = 0·51) and length of stay in the United States of America (12·7 ± 6·4 vs. 12·7 ± 6·6 years, P = 0·97) were similar for men and women. More men were married (85% vs. 46%, P < 0·01). A smaller proportion of men were poor (39% vs. 65%, P < 0·01), believed in religion (49% vs. 70%, P = 0·01), and could speak no English (32% vs. 57%, P < 0·01). Fewer men used Chinese herbs to treat hypertension (4% vs.13%). Hypertension control was low for men and women (53% and 48%, P = 0·51). Adherence in men and women was 69% and 75% (P = 0·42) respectively. For men, shorter length of stay in the United States of America was negatively associated with non‐adherence (OR = 0·16; 95% CI: 0·05, 0·57). No association between length of stay and non‐adherence was found for women.Conclusion.  More research, including gender‐specific studies, is needed to understand better how to develop an effective and culturally sensitive strategy to help older Chinese immigrants manage their hypertension.
Global estimation of invasion risk zones for the western corn rootworm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera: integrating distribution models and physiological thresholds to assess climatic favourability
Authors: Aragón Pedro , Baselga Andrés , Lobo Jorge M. 
Published: August 2010

Summary 1. Biological invasions represent a major threat to human health, ecosystem functioning and global biodiversity. Insect pests affecting agriculture and forestry are of special importance. Estimations of climatic similarity between a species’ native range and potential zones of invasion can be useful for preventing new invasions, spreads and ulterior contacts among populations from multiple invasions. 2. We estimated areas climatically favourable for the establishment of the western corn rootworm (WCR), an insect pest of maize Zea mays in North America that has recently invaded Central Europe through multiple invasions, and it has the potential of invasion mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. 3. We used complementary techniques to assess the biological relevance of predictors and obtain areas of climatic favourability. The biological relevance of variables was first assessed accounting for two main components of the WCR’s environmental niche (marginality and specialisation). Then, the most relevant predictors were used to obtain either climatic envelopes or environmental distances regarding the WCR’s native range. Model outputs and predictor relevance were independently assessed in the currently invaded region of Europe and through the spatial projection of proposed physiological thresholds from previous empirical studies. Lastly, as examples of application for given time periods, we fed back results of environmental distances with maize data for a 10‐year period in Europe, and refined global risk maps with the main maize zones for the year 2000. 4. We present global zones of climatic favourability and invasion risk for the WCR, with emphasis on the Northern Hemisphere. The northern and north‐west range limits predicted by the climatic envelope in the WCR’s native range mirrored the independently characterised physiological limits. Also, our model outputs explained some of the patterns observed in Europe supporting the validity of our procedures. 5. Synthesis and applications. Assessments of climatic favourability for the western corn rootworm can provide information on areas of invasion risk. Our study highlights the combination of holistic and reductionist approaches as a useful protocol to evaluate models and/or infer causality. Our methodology can be an efficient tool in combating future potential invasions, spreads and secondary contact zones of insect pests by reducing uncertainty regarding where to allocate prevention and/or eradication efforts.
Adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to ruminant and equine hosts involves SaPI‐carried variants of von Willebrand factor‐binding protein
Authors: Viana David , Blanco José , Tormo‐Más María Ángeles , Selva Laura , Guinane Caitriona M. , Baselga Rafael , Corpa Juan M. , Lasa Íñigo , Novick Richard P. , Fitzgerald J. Ross , Penadés José R. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryStaphylococci adapt specifically to various animal hosts by genetically determined mechanisms that are not well understood. One such adaptation involves the ability to coagulate host plasma, by which strains isolated from ruminants or horses can be differentiated from closely related human strains. Here, we report first that this differential coagulation activity is due to animal‐specific alleles of the von Willebrand factor‐binding protein (vWbp) gene, vwb, and second that these vwb alleles are carried by highly mobile pathogenicity islands, SaPIs. Although all Staphylococcus aureus possess chromosomal vwb as well as coagulase (coa) genes, neither confers species‐specific coagulation activity; however, the SaPI‐coded vWbps possess a unique N‐terminal region specific for the activation of ruminant and equine prothrombin. vWbp‐encoding SaPIs are widely distributed among S. aureus strains infecting ruminant or equine hosts, and we have identified and characterized four of these, SaPIbov4, SaPIbov5, SaPIeq1 and SaPIov2, which encode vWbpSbo4, vWbpSbo5, vWbpSeq1 and vWbpSov2 respectively. Moreover, the SaPI‐carried vwb genes are regulated differently from the chromosomal vwb genes of the same strains. We suggest that the SaPI‐encoded vWbps may represent an important host adaptation mechanism for S. aureus pathogenicity, and therefore that acquisition of vWbp‐encoding SaPIs may be determinative for animal specificity.
Biochemical analysis of PIFTC3, the Trypanosoma brucei orthologue of nematode DYF‐13, reveals interactions with established and putative intraflagellar transport components
Authors: Franklin Joseph B. , Ullu Elisabetta 
Published: August 2010

SummaryDYF‐13, originally identified in Caenorhabditis elegans within a collection of dye‐filling chemosensory mutants, is one of several proteins that have been classified as putatively involved in intraflagellar transport (IFT), the bidirectional movement of protein complexes along cilia and flagella and specifically in anterograde IFT. Although genetic studies have highlighted a fundamental role of DYF‐13 in nematode sensory cilium and trypanosome flagellum biogenesis, biochemical studies on DYF‐13 have lagged behind. Here, we show that in Trypanosoma brucei the orthologue to DYF‐13, PIFTC3, participates in a macromolecular complex of approximately 660 kDa. Mass spectroscopy of affinity‐purified PIFTC3 revealed several components of IFT complex B as well as orthologues of putative IFT factors DYF‐1, DYF‐3, DYF‐11/Elipsa and IFTA‐2. DYF‐11 was further analysed and shown to be concentrated near the basal bodies and in the flagellum, and to be required for flagellum elongation. In addition, by coimmunoprecipitation we detected an interaction between DYF‐13 and IFT122, a component of IFT complex A, which is required for retrograde transport. Thus, our biochemical analysis supports the model, proposed by genetic analysis in C. elegans, that the trypanosome orthologue of DYF‐13 plays a central role in the IFT mechanism.
Ether cleaving methyltransferases of the strict anaerobe Acetobacterium dehalogenans: controlling the substrate spectrum by genetic engineering of the N‐terminus
Authors: Kreher Sandra , Studenik Sandra , Diekert Gabriele 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe anaerobic cleavage of ether bonds of methoxylated substrates such as vanillate or veratrol in acetogenic bacteria is mediated by multi‐component enzyme systems, the O‐demethylases. Acetobacterium dehalogenans harbours different inducible O‐demethylases with various substrate spectra. Two of these enzyme systems, the vanillate‐ and the veratrol‐O‐demethylases, have been characterized so far. One component of this enzyme system, the methyltransferase I (MT I), catalyses the cleavage of the substrate ether bond and the subsequent transfer of the methyl group to a corrinoid protein. For the C‐termini of the methyltransferases I of the vanillate‐ and the veratrol‐O‐demethylases, a TIM barrel structure of the enzymes was predicted, whereas the N‐termini are not part of this conserved structure. The deletion of the N‐terminal regions led to a significant increase of activity (up to 20‐fold) and an extended substrate spectrum of the mutants, which also comprised non‐aromatic compounds such as the thioether methionine and diethylether. The exchange of the N‐termini of the two methyltransferases I resulted in chimeric enzymes whose substrate specificities were those of the enzymes from which the N‐termini were derived. This demonstrated the crucial role of the N‐termini for the substrate specificity of the methyltransferases.
General stress response in α‐proteobacteria: PhyR and beyond
Authors: Staroń Anna , Mascher Thorsten 
Published: August 2010

SummaryIn addition to stress‐specific responses, most bacteria can mount a general stress response (GSR), which protects the cells against a wide range of unspecific stress conditions. The best‐understood examples of GSR are the σB‐cascade of Bacillus subtilis and the RpoS response in Escherichia coli. While the latter is conserved in many other proteobacteria of the β‐, γ‐ and δ‐clades, RpoS homologues are absent in α‐proteobacteria and their GSR has long been a mystery. Recent publications finally unraveled the core of the GSR in this proteobacterial class, which is mediated by EcfG‐like σ‐factors. EcfG activity is controlled by NepR‐like anti‐σ factors and PhyR‐like proteins that act as anti‐anti‐σ factors. These unusual hybrid proteins contain an N‐terminal EcfG‐like domain that acts as a docking interface for NepR, and a C‐terminal receiver domain typical for bacterial response regulators. Upon phosphorylation, PhyR titrates NepR away from EcfG, thereby releasing the σ‐factor to recruit RNA polymerase and initiate transcription of its target genes. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Herrou et al. describe the function and three‐dimensional structure of PhyR from Caulobacter crescentus. This structure is key to understanding the mechanism of the reversible, phosphorylation‐dependent partner switching module that orchestrates the GSR in α‐proteobacteria.
PROFILE OF ALOPECIA AREATA IN NORTHERN INDIA
Authors: SHARMA VINOD K. , DAWN GOUTAM , KUMAR BHUSHAN 
Published: August 2010

Abstract Background. Epidemiologic studies of alopecia areata (AA) are available from USA, Japan, and European countries, but there is a paucity of literature on AA from Asian countries, especially from the Indian subcontinent. Methods. In a prospective, hospital‐based study lasting for a decade (1983–1992), the epidemiology of AA was studied, including associated diseases and risk factors for development of severe AA. Simultaneously a similar study was carried out in age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Results. Eight hundred and eight patients (532 men, 276 women) and 572 age‐ and sex‐matched controls (370 men, 202 men) were studied. The incidence of AA was 0.7% of new dermatology outpatients. The majority of patients (712, 88%) were below 40 years of age, including 196 children < 16 years of age (24%). Almost half (46%) of the women patients had onset of AA in childhood, compared to only 19% in men (P < 0.001).Alopecia was total, universal, or extensive in 154 patients (19%). An onset in the first two decades was more often associated with severe alopecia (P < 0.001), especially in men (P < 0.01). Alopecia areata was recorded in family members of 70 patients (9%), being more frequent in the severe forms of AA (16%). Evidence of atopy was recorded in a total of 146 instances (18%). The frequency of atopy was the same in circumscribed alopecia (18.1%) and severe alopecia (18.2%). Nail changes were found in 162 patients (20%) and were more frequent in 76 (47%) with the severe form of AA (P < 0.001). On 39 occasions (5%), autoimmune‐related diseases were detected: vitiligo in 15 (1.8%), thyroid disorders in 8 (1%), lichen planus in 6 (0.7%), collagen vascular diseases in 5 (0.6%), diabetes mellitus in 4 patients (0.4%), and pemphigus foliaceus in 1 (0.1%) patient. Patients with family members having vitiligo (recorded in 5.9% of patients), were more frequently affected with severe alopecia (P < 0.001). Conclusions. Alopecia areata in North Indians showed a preponderance in men (M:F = 2:1) and the majority of persons with disease (88%) were below 40 years of age. Onset in childhood was more frequent in girls or women, but the incidence of severe alopecia was higher in boys or men with onset at an earlier age. Diseases associated with autoimmunity were seen in only 5% of patients. Atopy was found to be associated in 18% of patients, but its reported association with younger age of onset and severe alopecia was not confirmed. Presence of vitiligo in family members and onset before 20 years of age, especially in boys or men, were found to be risk factors for severe alopecia.Int J Dermatol 1996; 35:22–27