bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Readjustment 5 months after a first‐time myocardial infarction: reorienting the active self
Authors: Brink Eva , Karlson Bjorn W. , Hallberg Lillemor R.‐M. 
Published: January 2006

Aim.  This paper reports on an interview study exploring the self‐regulation process in women and men, 5 months after a first‐time myocardial infarction.Background.  Somatic, psychological and social factors affect readjustment after a first‐time myocardial infarction, and studies have demonstrated substantial rates of depression in patients after myocardial infarction Women report poorer mental health and physical condition than do men. Reconstruction of the self begins when disease poses novel problems and is more likely to occur in cases of long‐lasting and disruptive illnesses. Experiencing myocardial infarction is likely to alter a person's mental representation of self. However, the self‐regulation process following first‐time myocardial infarction is not yet fully understood.Method.  Twenty‐one people (11 women, 10 men) were interviewed 5 months after first‐time myocardial infarction. The grounded theory method provided the strategies for data collection and analysis.Findings.  Interviewees’ definition of themselves as active was threatened by fatigue and other health problems that kept them from taking part in activities as they had done before the heart attack. Although reorienting the active self was central to the process of recovery from myocardial infarction, reorienting was restricted by illness perception and coping.Conclusion.  Participants had not established a stable health condition 5 months after first‐time myocardial infarction. They mainly preferred to moderate rather than radically change their daily life activities. They needed more knowledge and support. Nurses can help with information and advice on managing daily life activities, including dialogue about lifestyle changes at this phase of readjustment.
Development of an evidence‐based practice questionnaire for nurses
Authors: Upton Dominic , Upton Penelope 
Published: January 2006

Aim.  The aim of this paper is to report the development and validation of a self‐report measure of knowledge, practice and attitudes towards evidence‐based practice (EBP).Background.  Evidence‐based practice has become increasingly important in health care since the mid‐1990s as it provides a framework for clinical problem‐solving. However, to date no means exist to quantify the extent to which barriers, such as lack of time in the working day, lack of appropriate skills and negative attitudes, may prevent greater uptake of EBP.Methods.  Questionnaire development was based on established psychometric methods. Principal component factor analysis was used to uncover the underlying dimensions of the scale. Internal consistency of the scale was assessed by Cronbach's α. Finally, construct validity was assessed via convergent and discriminant validity.Results.  The final questionnaire comprised three distinct scales (EBP, attitudes towards EBP and knowledge of EBP), which had robust validity and internal reliability.Conclusion.  This tool can be used to measure the implementation of EBP.
Understanding paradigms used for nursing research
Authors: Weaver Kathryn , Olson Joanne K. 
Published: January 2006

Aims.  The aims of this paper are to add clarity to the discussion about paradigms for nursing research and to consider integrative strategies for the development of nursing knowledge.Background.  Paradigms are sets of beliefs and practices, shared by communities of researchers, which regulate inquiry within disciplines. The various paradigms are characterized by ontological, epistemological and methodological differences in their approaches to conceptualizing and conducting research, and in their contribution towards disciplinary knowledge construction. Researchers may consider these differences so vast that one paradigm is incommensurable with another. Alternatively, researchers may ignore these differences and either unknowingly combine paradigms inappropriately or neglect to conduct needed research. To accomplish the task of developing nursing knowledge for use in practice, there is a need for a critical, integrated understanding of the paradigms used for nursing inquiry.Methods.  We describe the evolution and influence of positivist, postpositivist, interpretive and critical theory research paradigms. Using integrative review, we compare and contrast the paradigms in terms of their philosophical underpinnings and scientific contribution.Findings.  A pragmatic approach to theory development through synthesis of cumulative knowledge relevant to nursing practice is suggested. This requires that inquiry start with assessment of existing knowledge from disparate studies to identify key substantive content and gaps. Knowledge development in under‐researched areas could be accomplished through integrative strategies that preserve theoretical integrity and strengthen research approaches associated with various philosophical perspectives. These strategies may include parallel studies within the same substantive domain using different paradigms; theoretical triangulation to combine findings from paradigmatically diverse studies; integrative reviews; and mixed method studies.Conclusion.  Nurse scholars are urged to consider the benefits and limitations of inquiry within each paradigm, and the theoretical needs of the discipline.
Communication skills and cultural awareness courses for healthcare professionals who care for patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Thomas Veronica J. , Cohn Tom 
Published: January 2006

Aims.  This paper reports a project evaluating the efficacy and impact of a pilot communication skills and cultural awareness course for healthcare professionals who care for patients with sickle cell disease.Background.  Poor communication between patients with sickle cell disease and healthcare professionals causes suspicion and mistrust. Many patients feel that they are negatively labelled by the healthcare system and are sceptical of opening themselves to an unsympathetic system. They may therefore appear hostile and aggressive when interacting with healthcare professionals, which in turn leads to distortions and misunderstandings between both groups. The use of good communication skills by healthcare professionals is therefore vital for good healthcare practice.Methods.  Forty‐seven healthcare professionals took part in a series of three pilot courses each lasting 3 days. Healthcare professionals were taught a repertoire of communication skills and cultural awareness strategies to use in challenging situations that arise in their care of sickle cell patients. Expert facilitators used a variety of teaching techniques, such as professionally‐made videos, role‐play, and group exercises. Participants’ confidence in dealing with challenging situations was assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 3‐ and 6‐month postintervention.Findings.  A repeated measures anova revealed a statistically significant increase in confidence from pre‐ to postcourse scores. Confidence scores further increased from immediately postcourse and 3 months postcourse follow‐up. These were then maintained at 6 months postcourse.Conclusion.  The overall findings of this local study demonstrated that this type of communication skills and cultural awareness training had a positive and enduring impact on professionals’ perceived ability and confidence in communicating with patients with sickle cell disease. Participants attributed this to the learner‐centred approach of the course that provided them with the opportunity to transfer and apply the taught skills in their daily practice. This type of training might be helpful in reducing mistrust and increasing empathetic responses in healthcare professional.
Evaluation of a cultural competence educational programme
Authors: Brathwaite Angela Cooper , Majumdar Basanti 
Published: January 2006

Aim.  This paper reports a study, which evaluated the effectiveness of a cultural competence educational programme to increase Public Health Nurses’ cultural knowledge.Background.  Cultural competence has great significance for practising nurses and has become a priority and commitment of the Nursing profession. Public Health Nurses interact regularly with clients from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds. Thus, there is a need for an integrated programme with theoretical and experiential knowledge related to cultural competence for PHNs to enhance their knowledge and skills to better meet the needs of the population.Design.  This study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. A one‐group Repeated Measures design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the educational programme.Method.  The sample consisted of 76 Public Health Nurses who attended a cultural competence educational programme, which was offered over five consecutive weeks, of 2 hours duration and reinforced by a booster session at 1 month postimplementation of the programme. Cultural knowledge was measured on the Cultural Knowledge Scale, which was a valid, reliable, 25‐item Likert scale. Data were collected at four points in time and were analysed with repeated measures analysis of variance. Qualitative data were content analysed.Results.  Findings revealed that the intervention was effective [Wilks’ Lambda was F(3,69) = 142·02, P < 0·01] in increasing the nurses’ cultural knowledge. Qualitative results complemented the quantitative findings. Participants reported that the programme was effective in increasing their cultural knowledge.Conclusion.  Although Public Health Nurses, who attended the educational programme increased their cultural knowledge, these findings are not generalizable to nurses working in other settings. However, the programme has clinical utility and could be adapted and given to nurses in other settings.
Eating together is important: using a dining room in an acute elderly medical ward increases energy intake
Authors: Wright L. , Hickson M. , Frost G. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAim  To investigate the effect of eating in a supervised dining room, on nutritional intake and weight, for elderly patients on an acute medicine for the elderly ward.Method  Patients on the intervention ward were encouraged to attend a dining room every lunchtime by a trained nursing assistant as part of the rehabilitation process. The patients on the control ward ate only by their bedside. Food intake and weight data were collected over the study period on each patient.Results  Forty‐eight patients participated in the study. At the lunchtime meal studied the dining room group had higher intakes of energy compared with the controls [489 kcal (95% CI: 438–554) versus 360 kcal (95% CI: 289–448), P < 0.013]. There was no difference in protein intake between the groups [18.9 g (95% CI: 16.6–21.2) versus 17.7 g (95% CI: 13.2–22.2), P = 0.63]. No significant difference in weight gain between the two groups was seen (P = 0.6). However, there was a trend towards weight gain in the dining room group.Conclusion  Food intake can be improved by using a supervised dining room, and this will potentially lead to weight gain and corresponding improvements in nutritional status and rehabilitation.
Frequency of under‐ and overfeeding in mechanically ventilated ICU patients: causes and possible consequences
Authors: Reid C. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIntroduction  In critically ill patients enteral nutrition (EN) is frequently associated with underfeeding and intolerance, whilst parenteral nutrition (PN) has been associated with a greater risk of infectious complications and overfeeding.Materials and methods  The adequacy of nutritional support provided to critically ill patients was prospectively recorded and compared with estimated requirements. The incidence of, and practices contributing to, under‐ (<80% of energy requirements) and overfeeding (>110% of energy requirements) were identified.Results  Overall patients received approximately 81% and 76% of prescribed energy and protein intakes respectively. Underfeeding occurred on 50.3% of days. Reasons for patients failing to achieve adequate intakes included, fasting for airway management procedures (21%) and gastrointestinal intolerance (14%). Overfeeding, although less common (18.6% of days), was more likely to occur in patients with a tracheostomy requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (>16 days). The combination of oral and nasogastric feeding or use of nutrient‐dense feeds were most frequently associated with overfeeding.Discussion  The overall adequacy of nutritional intakes in the present study was similar to those reported elsewhere. However, the incidence of overfeeding was greater than anticipated and occurred in patients already experiencing delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation.
An audit of diabetes control, dietary management and quality of life in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and a comparison with nondiabetic subjects
Authors: Tahbaz F. , Kreis I. , Calvert D. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjectives  The study's objective was to audit current diet and disease management in a community‐based sample of people with type 1 diabetes.Methods  The study involved adults with type 1 diabetes and control subjects. Reported amounts of dietary intake were collected. Indices of diabetes control were determined by standard methods. Quality of life of both groups was assessed with appropriate measures. Results were compared between two groups.Results  Mean HbA1c concentration was 8.5% (SD 2.21%) for women with diabetes and 8.6% (SD 1.91%) for men. There was no significant difference between the diabetic and control subjects in self‐reported energy intake and macronutrient intake, with the exception that the contribution of saturated fatty acid to energy intake was higher in male controls than in male diabetics.There was no association between dietary intakes and glycemic control in diabetic subjects. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and plasma lipids in patients were within normal range and not significantly different from the controls. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was higher in patients. Diabetic subjects did not have a diminished quality of life.Conclusions  Dietary management in these patients was generally focused on controlling carbohydrate intake. Most had suboptimal diabetes control.
Identification of nutritionally adequate mixtures of vegetable oils by linear programming
Authors: Darmon N. , Darmon M. , Ferguson E. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractObjective  To determine the types and proportions of vegetable oils to recommend for a healthy diet.Methods  Optimal vegetable oil combinations were designed, using linear programming and, as decision variables, nine single oils and 29 basic food items. ‘Oil models’ were run to determine whether reasonable amounts of individuals oils or oil mixtures satisfied a set of constraints on essential fatty acids and vitamin E. ‘Meal models’ were run to test whether selected mixtures could be used as the sole source of added fat in a meal that met micronutrient and macronutrient recommendations.Results  The cheapest mixture (0.97 € L−1) that solved the oil models contained 81% rapeseed and 19% sunflower oils. About 10–15 g of this mixture, alone or with olive, soya bean, wheat germ or walnut oils, also solved the meal models. Mixtures that contained a high proportion (≥50%) of the tasty olive and walnut oils also solved the models but were more expensive (4.9 € L−1 and 8.5 € L−1, respectively).Conclusions  The consumption of a mixture composed of rapeseed and sunflower oils in a 4 : 1 proportion is an inexpensive and simple way to meet current dietary recommendations for essential fatty acids and vitamin E, favouring overall dietary nutrient adequacy.
Distinct and overlapping roles of two gibberellin 3‐oxidases in Arabidopsis development
Authors: Mitchum Melissa G. , Yamaguchi Shinjiro , Hanada Atsushi , Kuwahara Ayuko , Yoshioka Yasushi , Kato Tomohiko , Tabata Satoshi , Kamiya Yuji , Sun Tai‐ping 
Published: January 2006

SummaryGibberellin (GA) 3‐oxidase, a class of 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenases, catalyzes the conversion of precursor GAs to their bioactive forms, thereby playing a direct role in determining the levels of bioactive GAs in plants. Gibberellin 3‐oxidase in Arabidopsis is encoded by a multigene family consisting of at least four members, designated AtGA3ox1 to AtGA3ox4. It has yet to be investigated how each AtGA3ox gene contributes to optimizing bioactive GA levels during growth and development. Using quantitative real‐time PCR analysis, we have shown that each AtGA3ox gene exhibits a unique organ‐specific expression pattern, suggesting distinct developmental roles played by individual AtGA3ox members. To investigate the sites of synthesis of bioactive GA in plants, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis that carried AtGA3ox1–GUS and AtGA3ox2–GUS fusions. Comparisons of the GUS staining patterns of these plants with that of AtCPS–GUS from previous studies revealed the possible physical separation of the early and late stages of the GA pathway in roots. Phenotypic characterization and quantitative analysis of the endogenous GA content of ga3ox1 and ga3ox2 single and ga3ox1/ga3ox2 double mutants revealed distinct as well as overlapping roles of AtGA3ox1 and AtGA3ox2 in Arabidopsis development. Our results show that AtGA3ox1 and AtGA3ox2 are responsible for the synthesis of bioactive GAs during vegetative growth, but that they are dispensable for reproductive development. The stage‐specific severe GA‐deficient phenotypes of the ga3ox1/ga3ox2 mutant suggest that AtGA3ox3 and AtGA3ox4 are tightly regulated by developmental cues; AtGA3ox3 and AtGA3ox4 are not upregulated to compensate for GA deficiency during vegetative growth of the double mutant.
The 3′ untranslated region of a soybean cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) affects transcript stability and protein accumulation in transgenic alfalfa
Authors: Ortega Jose L. , Moguel‐Esponda Salvador , Potenza Carol , Conklin Cristina F. , Quintana Anita , Sengupta‐Gopalan Champa 
Published: January 2006

SummaryHigher plants assimilate nitrogen in the form of ammonia through the concerted activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT). The GS enzyme is either located in the cytoplasm (GS1) or in the chloroplast (GS2). Glutamine synthetase 1 is regulated in different plants at the transcriptional level and there are some reports of regulation at the level of protein stability. Here we present data that clearly establish that GS1 in plants is also regulated at the level of transcript turnover and at the translational level. Using a Glycine max (soybean) GS1 transgene, with and without its 3′ untranslated region (UTR), driven by the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter in Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), we show that the 3′ UTR plays a major role in both transcript turnover and translation repression in both the leaves and the nodules. Our data suggest that the 3′ UTR mediated turnover of the transcript is regulated by a nitrogen metabolite or carbon/nitrogen ratios. We also show that the 3′ UTR of the gene for the soybean GS1 confers post‐transcriptional regulation on a reporter gene. Our dissection of post‐transcriptional and translational levels of regulation of GS in plants shows that the situation in plants strongly resembles that in other organisms where GS is regulated at almost all levels. Multistep regulation of GS shows the high priority given by organisms to regulating and ensuring optimal control of nitrogen substrates and preventing overproduction of glutamine and drainage of the glutamate pool.
Molecular cloning and characterization of Arabidopsis thaliana Golgi α‐mannosidase II, a key enzyme in the formation of complex N‐glycans in plants
Authors: Strasser Richard , Schoberer Jennifer , Jin Chunsheng , Glössl Josef , Mach Lukas , Steinkellner Herta 
Published: January 2006

SummaryN‐glycosylation is one of the major post‐translational modifications of proteins in eukaryotes; however, the processing reactions of oligomannosidic N‐glycan precursors leading to hybrid‐type and finally complex‐type N‐glycans are not fully understood in plants. To investigate the role of Golgi α‐mannosidase II (GMII) in the formation of complex N‐glycans in plants, we identified a putative GMII from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtGMII; EC 3.2.1.114) and characterized the enzyme at a molecular level. The putative AtGMII cDNA was cloned, and its deduced amino acid sequence revealed a typical type II membrane protein of 1173 amino acids. A soluble recombinant form of the enzyme produced in insect cells was capable of processing different physiologically relevant hybrid N‐glycans. Furthermore, a detailed N‐glycan analysis of two AtGMII knockout mutants revealed the predominant presence of unprocessed hybrid N‐glycans. These results provide evidence that AtGMII plays a central role in the formation of complex N‐glycans in plants. Furthermore, conclusive evidence was obtained that alternative routes in the conversion of hybrid N‐glycans to complex N‐glycans exist in plants. Transient expression of N‐terminal AtGMII fragments fused to a GFP reporter molecule demonstrated that the transmembrane domain and 10 amino acids from the cytoplasmic tail are sufficient to retain a reporter molecule in the Golgi apparatus and that lumenal sequences are not involved in the retention mechanism. A GFP fusion construct containing only the transmembrane domain was predominantly retained in the ER, a result that indicates the presence of a motif promoting ER export within the last 10 amino acids of the cytoplasmic tail of AtGMII.
Aggregation Behavior in Wildtype and Transgenic Zebrafish
Authors: Snekser Jennifer L. , McRobert Scott P. , Murphy Caleb E. , Clotfelter Ethan D. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractRecent advances in the development and availability of genetically modified animals enable researchers to examine the effects of phenotypic characters on social behavior. In fish, shoaling behavior is known to be influenced by characteristics such as body coloration, striping pattern, body shape, and size. GloFishTMare genetically engineered zebrafish (Danio rerio) that express red fluorescent protein (RFP), resulting in on overall red coloration under the dark longitudinal stripes. The GloFish pattern is distinct from the light body coloration underlying the dark longitudinal stripes seen in wildtype zebrafish. We presented wildtype and transgenic RFP zebrafish with same‐sex shoals of both strains of fish in dichotomous choice tests. No preference for either of the shoals was shown, however, both strains showed significant preferences for swimming near shoals vs. swimming near an empty tank compartment. When presented with opposite‐sex individuals of both strains, no preference was shown by either sex of either strain. Thus, the red body coloration of transgenic zebrafish does not appear to affect choice of social partner, in either a shoaling or a potentially reproductive context.