bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing Communications Effectiveness in Meeting Corporate Goals of Public Health Organizations
Authors: Brown Gordon D. , Bopp Kenneth D. , Boren Suzanne Austev 
Published: May 2024

Much evaluation of health communications in public health is considered from a program perspective of smoking cessation, weight reduction, education on sexually transmitted diseases, etc. These studies have advanced the knowledge base of communications theory and evaluation and have contributed to program effectiveness. In program-based evaluation the communications process is structured as part of the program itself. This article extends program-based communications evaluation to view communications from the perspective of the consumer and how effectively public health departments respond to consumer expectations. It develops a conceptual model for evaluating elements of communications such as its importance in defining mission and goals within the community, managing strategic constituencies, and enlisting individuals and groups as customers and co-producers of health. It gives a broader perspective on how communications in public heath organizations are managed and a basis for assessing whether they are being managed effectively.
Meaning in Motivation: Does Your Organization Need an Inner Life?
Authors: Morrison Eileen E. , Burke George C , Greene Lloyd 
Published: May 2024

Leaders of health care organizations are increasingly interested in ways to attract, retain, and gain commitment from their employees. This interest is created in part because high turnover rates and the lack of commitment negatively affect the provision of care and the bottom line in their organizations. In a quality and cost conscious health care environment, health care managers need to find solutions for these difficult issues; solutions that are effective, efficient and sustainable. What can be done? This article reviews, amplifies, and extends work that has been done in the area of “meaningfulness of work” in the context of employee retention and commitment. It begins with an exploration of the problems caused by lack of employee engagement and commitment including their impact on quality and costs. It then summarizes both the theoretical and applied research in the area of meaning and work. It also introduces the basic principles of Viktor Frankl's logotherapy (Frankl, 1998) as a foundation for encouraging the integration of meaning and work. The seminal work by Pattakos (2004) is used to demonstrate how Frankl's principles can be applied to healthcare work settings. Finally, the article provides suggestions for increasing employee commitment and engagement through identifying meaning and purpose in work.
Health Literacy and English Language Comprehension among Elderly Inpatients at An Urban Safety-Net Hospital
Authors: Cordasco Kristina M. , Asch Steven M. , Franco Idalid , Mangione Carol M. 
Published: May 2024

Objective To evaluate the relationship between health literacy and age in chronically-ill inpatients at a safety-net hospital. Setting and Participants We recruited 399 English- and Spanish-speaking inpatients being evaluated or treated for Congestive Heart Failure or Coronary Artery Disease at a large, urban safety-net teaching hospital in Southern California. Design Participants were interviewed to ascertain education, English comprehension, and in-home language use. Health literacy was assessed using The Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). We compared by age (aged 65 or more, 51 to 64 years of age, and less than age 50) levels of health literacy, educational attainment, English comprehension, and language use. Results Prevalence of inadequate health literacy significantly increased with increasing age (87.2% in ≥65, 48.9% for 51–64, and 26.3% in ≤50, p<0.001). The correlation between older age and lower health literacy persisted when controlling for educational achievement, race, ethnicity, gender, and immigration status. Additionally, older patients were more likely to have never learned to read (34.9% in ≥65, 6.5% for 51–64, and 1.5% in ≤50, p<0.001), no formal education (27.9% in ≥65, 9.0% for 51–64, and 0.8% in ≤50, p<0.001), have limited English comprehension (74.2% in ≥65, 43.5% for 51–64, and 35.8% in ≤50, p<0.001), and speak a non-English language at home (82.3% in ≥65, 70.2% for 51–64, and 62.2% in ≤50, p=0.015). Conclusions To prepare to meet the chronic disease needs of a growing older patient population, and ameliorate the negative health effects of associated low literacy, safety-net hospital leaders and providers need to prioritize the development and implementation of low-literacy educational materials, programs, and services.
Economic Impact of Public Sector Spending on Health Care
Authors: Hy Ronald John 
Published: May 2024

Public sector spending on health care clearly has a positive economic impact on local communities. Not only does such spending provide residents with better health care, but it is widely recognized as an investment that returns continual dividends in the form of better jobs, higher incomes, and additional state and local tax revenues. The results of a static input/output model shows that public sector spending on health care of approximately $46 billion (in 2009 dollars) in the state of Texas yields over 588,000 jobs, $74.2 billion in total output, $26.3 billion in personal income, $22 billion in employee compensation, and $1.8 billion in state and local taxes; it clearly has a considerable positive economic impact on local economies and their quest for economic development.
Practical Nurses’ Health and Safety in Nursing Homes
Authors: Palumbo Mary Val , Mclaughlin Vicki , Mcintosh Barbara , Rambur Betty 
Published: May 2024

Purpose Practical nurses (PNs) rated their general and emotional health and their employers’ attention to their health and safety. These components were examined in relationship to work setting and intention to leave for the purpose of exploring workforce issues involving these important care providers of frail elders. Design/Methods A relicensure survey mailed to all PNs in one rural state included the Minimum Data Set for nurse workforce supply plus questions from the Health and Retirement Survey. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric ANOVA, t-test, and chi-square tests. Results Of the state's working PNs, 813 responded, (71%) and 34% (n=269) reported nursing home employment. Overall, age and work role were not significantly associated with self-rated general health (p=0.14 and p=0.12). Males reported poorer general (p=0.09) and emotional (p=0.004) health. PNs working in nursing homes rated their general and emotional health lower than PNs in other settings (p<0.001). of the PNs in nursing homes, 28% reported they were likely to leave their position within one year, versus 19% in other work settings (p=0.003). PNs with higher evaluations of their employer safety practices were less likely to leave. Implications Understanding PNs perceived general/emotional health and perceptions of workplace health/safety efforts can inform interventions to reduce turnover.
From Threat to Opportunity: A Head Start Program's Response to State-Funded Pre-K
Authors: Wrobel Sharon 
Published: May 2024

Early childhood education and childcare have traditionally been dominated by nonprofit and other grant-funded agencies. However, public education agencies are increasingly involved with early childhood education through state funded pre-K program initiatives. As public pre-school programming has steadily expanded, programs such as Head Start have to compete for enrollment. As funds for these programs are tied directly to enrollment, the sustainability of these programs is uncertain. Not all such agencies view state funded pre-K as a threat however. Some have seized this as an opportunity to improve service delivery through interagency collaboration. This case study examines the partnership between an urban school district and its local Head Start program. Responding, in part, to the potential threat from state-funded Pre-K, Head Start partnered with the school district to provide enhanced services to Head Start eligible children in the district's early childhood education programs. Through an examination of secondary data and staff surveys, the collaboration is first evaluated in terms of the use of best practices. the success of the collaboration is measured through teacher and administrator perceptions. From these results, specific recommendations for early education and childcare providers are offered.
Linkages between Organization Climate and Work Outcomes: Perceptual Differences among Health Service Professionals as a Function of Customer Contact Intensity
Authors: Scotti Dennis J. , Harmon Joel 
Published: May 2024

The delivery of high-quality service, rendered by health service professionals who interact with customers (patients), increases the likelihood that customers will form positive evaluations of the quality of their service encounters as well as high levels of customer satisfaction. Using linkage theory to develop our conceptual framework, we identify four clusters of variables which contribute to a chain of sequential events that connect organization climate to personal and operational work outcomes. We then examine the perceptual differences of service professionals, grouped by intensity of customer contact, with respect to these variables. National data for this project were obtained from multiple sources made available by the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA). Cross-group differences were tested using a series of variance analyses. the results indicate that level of customer-contact intensity plays a significant role in explaining variation in perceptions of support staff, clinical practitioners, and nurses at the multivariate and univariate levels of analysis. Contact intensity appears to be a core determinant of the nature of work performed by health service professionals as well as their psychological responses to organizational and customer-related dynamics. Health service professionals are important resources because of their specialized knowledge, labor expense, and scarcity. Based on findings from our research, managers are advised to survey employees’ perceptions of their organizational environment and design practices that respond to the unique viewpoints of each of the professional groups identified in this study. Such tailoring should help executives maximize the value of investments in human resources by underwriting patient satisfaction and financial sustainability.
The Cms Innovation Center's Expansion Authority and the Logic of Payment Reform through Rulemaking
Authors: Williams Jackson 
Published: May 2024

Many models in the early CMMI portfolio appear not to be amenable to expansion, as their payment component is tenuous. In considering models for expansion, CMS will need to assess their generalizability, codifiability, and political viability as well as whether they saved money. Challenges to CMS in exercising expansion authority include choosing or coordinating among models that target the same beneficiaries, transitioning from distributive mode to potentially contentious rulemaking, and deciding whether APMs will exist as voluntary adjunct payment options alongside traditional fee-for-service payment codes or will supplant certain FFS payment codes on a mandatory basis.
Challenges of Increased Diabetes Prevalence: Implications of Cardio and Renal Comorbidities for Hispanic and White Middle-Aged Nursing Home Residents Diagnosed with Diabetes in Texas, 1999 and 2009
Authors: Coxe Leland M. , Lennertz Kathie , Martine Roberta R. 
Published: May 2024

Increased prevalence of diabetes and related comorbidities has emerged as a major challenge for community resilience in the United States. While attention has been directed towards the impacts of this development for the general population, the nursing home population has received little examination. This research analyzes change in the prevalence of particular cardio and renal comorbidities for Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White nursing home residents in Texas aged 50–64 diagnosed with diabetes for 1999 and 2009 using data from the federal Minimum Data Set. Comparisons are made by ethnicity and gender to identify trends and possible disparities. Important findings include that the prevalence of congestive heart failure increased for all groups, and the changes were statistically significant for Hispanic Women and Non-Hispanic White Men. Statistically significant differences were found in the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease as rates were higher for Hispanics of both genders for both years, indicating substantial and ongoing disparities. Disturbingly high rates for renal failure were found for Hispanics that indicate substantial disparities. Recommendations for meeting this challenge include emphasizing prevention measures and updating for models regarding the dynamics nursing home admission.
Social Support and Types of Treatment for Illness in Fonfrede Haiti
Authors: Frederickson Keville , Pierre-Louis Jean , Pierre-Louis Francois , Ashby Christina 
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between sources of social support and subjects’ preferred treatment of illness. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, health care workers and facilities were scarce; 10 percent of Haiti's health care staff was killed and 60 percent of the health care facilities destroyed. The study was based on social support as a psychosocial factor serving as an intermediary between environmental stress and an individual's preference for treatment of their illness. The literature suggests that social support improves treatment of illness and health outcomes through stress buffering and main effects. This study of 110 Haitians was conducted two years after the earthquake in a small town outside Port au Prince. Participants mean age was 39.85 years; 57% were female. The instrument used was designed to determine the sources of social support (family, friends, church, community) and how illnesses were managed (“ medsin” prepared by an herbalist and often related to voodoo, tonics or teas, vitamins and prescription drugs). A backwards stepwise logistic regression was conducted for each of the variables. If the church was used for social support, prescription drugs were primarily used (r = 0.20; p = 0.0261); if friends provided illness care, vitamins were used (r = 0.20; p = 0.0263); if community organizations used, vitamins were used (r = 0.20; p = 0.027) and when family provided care, medsin and teas were used (r = 0.20; p = 0.0268). Participants relied on a variety of sources for illness and included prescription medicines, herbal remedies and a Haitian tea. Participants indicated a high importance placed on the church as a source of social support. Reliance on the church is understandable based on the culture and often provides comfort.
Reference measures of lower-limb joint range of motion, muscle strength, and selective voluntary motor control of typically developing children aged 5–17 years
Authors: Scherff Emily , Schnell Sabrina Elisabeth , Siebert Tobias , D’Souza Sonia 
Published: May 2024

Background: Joint range of motion based on the neutral null method, muscle strength based on manual muscle testing, and selective voluntary motor control based on selective control assessment of the lower extremity are standard parameters of a pediatric three-dimensional clinical gait analysis. Lower-limb reference data of children are necessary to identify and quantify abnormalities, but these are limited and when present restricted to specific joints or muscles. Methods: This is the first study that encompasses the aforementioned parameters from a single group of 34 typically developing children aged 5–17 years. Left and right values were averaged for each participant, and then the mean and standard deviation calculated for the entire sample. The data set was tested for statistical significance ( p < 0.05). Results: Joint angle reference values are mostly consistent with previously published standards, although there is a large variability in the existing literature. All muscle strength distributions, except for M. quadriceps femoris, differ significantly from the maximum value of 5. The mean number of repetitions of heel-rise test is 12 ± 5. Selective voluntary motor control shows that all distributions, except for M. quadriceps femoris, differ significantly from the maximum value of 2. Conclusion: Since typically developing children do not match expectations and reference values from the available literature and clinical use, this study emphasizes the importance of normative data. Excessively high expectations lead to typically developing children being falsely underestimated and affected children being rated too low. This is of great relevance for therapists and clinicians. Level of evidence: 3.
Essential role of glycoprotein Ibα in platelet activation
Authors: Yan Rong , Xia Yue , Zhou Kangxi , Liu Jun , Sun Yueyue , He Chunyan , Ge Xinxin , Yang Mengnan , Sun Chenglin , Yuan Liuxia , Li Shujun , Yang Biao , Meng Fanbi , Cao Lijuan , Ruan Changgeng , Dai Kesheng 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα), the ligand-binding subunit of platelet GPIb-IX complex, interacts with von Willebrand factor (VWF) exposed at the injured vessel wall, initiating platelet adhesion, activation, hemostasis, and thrombus formation. The cytoplasmic tail of GPIbα interacts with 14-3-3ζ, regulating the VWF-GPIbα–elicited signal transduction and VWF binding function of GPIbα. However, we unexpectedly found that the GPIbα–14-3-3ζ association, beyond VWF-dependent function, is essential for general platelet activation. We found that the myristoylated peptide of GPIbα C-terminus MPαC, a potential GPIbα inhibitor, by itself induced platelet aggregation, integrin αIIbβ3 activation, granule secretion, and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure. Conversely, the deletion of the cytoplasmic tail of GPIbα in mouse platelets (10aa−/−) decreased platelet aggregation, integrin αIIbβ3 activation, granule secretion, and PS exposure induced by various physiological agonists. Phosphoproteome-based kinase activity profiling revealed significantly upregulated protein kinase C (PKC) activity in MPαC-treated platelets. MPαC-induced platelet activation was abolished by the pan-PKC inhibitor and PKCα deletion. Decreased PKC activity was observed in both resting and agonist-stimulated 10aa−/− platelets. GPIbα regulates PKCα activity by sequestering 14-3-3ζ from PKCα. In vivo, the deletion of the GPIbα cytoplasmic tail impaired mouse hemostasis and thrombus formation and protected against platelet-dependent pulmonary thromboembolism. Therefore, our findings demonstrate an essential role for the GPIbα cytoplasmic tail in regulating platelet general activation and thrombus formation beyond the VWF–GPIbα axis.
Effect of storage conditions on the quality of equine and canine mesenchymal stem cell derived nanoparticles including extracellular vesicles for research and therapy
Authors: Klymiuk Michele Christian , Balz Natalie , Elashry Mohamed I. , Wenisch Sabine , Arnhold Stefan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNanoparticles including extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells are of increasing interest for research and clinical use in regenerative medicine. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including also previously named exosomes, provide a promising cell-free tool for therapeutic applications, which is probably a safer approach to achieve sufficient healing. Storage of EVs may be necessary for clinical applications as well as for further experiments, as the preparation is sometimes laborious and larger quantities tend to be gained. For this purpose, nanoparticles were obtained from mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue (AdMSC) of horses and dogs. The EVs were then stored for 7 days under different conditions (− 20 °C, 4 °C, 37 °C) and with the addition of various additives (5 mM EDTA, 25–250 µM trehalose). Afterwards, the size and number of EVs was determined using the nano tracking analyzing method. With our investigations, we were able to show that storage of EVs for up to 7 days at 4 °C does not require the addition of supplements. For the other storage conditions, in particular freezing and storage at room temperature, the addition of EDTA was found to be suitable for preventing aggregation of the particles. Contrary to previous publications, trehalose seems not to be a suitable cryoprotectant for AdMSC-derived EVs. The data are useful for processing and storage of isolated EVs for further experiments or clinical approaches in veterinary medicine.
Variation and plasticity in life-history traits and fitness of wild Arabidopsis thaliana populations are not related to their genotypic and ecological diversity
Authors: de la Mata Raul , Mollá-Morales Almudena , Méndez-Vigo Belén , Torres-Pérez Rafael , Oliveros Juan Carlos , Gómez Rocío , Marcer Arnald , Castilla Antonio R. , Nordborg Magnus , Alonso-Blanco Carlos , Picó F. Xavier 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Despite its implications for population dynamics and evolution, the relationship between genetic and phenotypic variation in wild populations remains unclear. Here, we estimated variation and plasticity in life-history traits and fitness of the annual plant Arabidopsis thaliana in two common garden experiments that differed in environmental conditions. We used up to 306 maternal inbred lines from six Iberian populations characterized by low and high genotypic (based on whole-genome sequences) and ecological (vegetation type) diversity.

Results
Low and high genotypic and ecological diversity was found in edge and core Iberian environments, respectively. Given that selection is expected to be stronger in edge environments and that ecological diversity may enhance both phenotypic variation and plasticity, we expected genotypic diversity to be positively associated with phenotypic variation and plasticity. However, maternal lines, irrespective of the genotypic and ecological diversity of their population of origin, exhibited a substantial amount of phenotypic variation and plasticity for all traits. Furthermore, all populations harbored maternal lines with canalization (robustness) or sensitivity in response to harsher environmental conditions in one of the two experiments.

Conclusions
Overall, we conclude that the environmental attributes of each population probably determine their genotypic diversity, but all populations maintain substantial phenotypic variation and plasticity for all traits, which represents an asset to endure in changing environments.