bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Private prayer as a suitable intervention for hospitalised patients: a critical review of the literature
Authors: Hollywell Claire , Walker Jan 
Published: December 2008

Aim.  This critical review seeks to identify if there is evidence that private (personal) prayer is capable of improving wellbeing for adult patients in hospital.Background.  The review was conducted in the belief that the spiritual needs of hospitalised patients may be enhanced by encouragement and support to engage in prayer.Design.  Systematic review.Method.  A systematic approach was used to gather evidence from published studies. In the absence of experimental research involving this type of population, evidence from qualitative and correlational studies was critically reviewed.Results.  The findings indicate that private prayer, when measured by frequency, is usually associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety. Most of the studies that show positive associations between prayer and wellbeing were located in areas that have strong Christian traditions and samples reported a relatively high level of religiosity, church attendance and use of prayer. Church attenders, older people, women, those who are poor, less well educated and have chronic health problems appear to make more frequent use of prayer. Prayer appears to be a coping action that mediates between religious faith and wellbeing and can take different forms. Devotional prayers involving an intimate dialogue with a supportive God appear to be associated with improved optimism, wellbeing and function. In contrast, prayers that involve pleas for help may, in the absence of a pre‐existing faith, be associated with increased distress and possibly poorer function.Conclusion.  Future research needs to differentiate the effects of different types of prayer.Relevance to clinical practice.  Encouragement to engage in prayer should be offered only following assessment of the patient’s faith and likely content and form of prayer to be used. Hospitalised patients who lack faith and whose prayers involve desperate pleas for help are likely to need additional support from competent nursing and chaplaincy staff.
Leadership as part of the nurse consultant role: banging the drum for patient care
Authors: McIntosh Jean , Tolson Debbie 
Published: December 2008

Aims and objectives.  This paper draws upon an evaluation of the first group of nurse consultants in Scotland. The evaluation aimed to identify the extent to which they fulfilled the remit of their posts which comprised four core functions. One of these functions was to provide professional leadership and this paper focuses on this element of the role and aims to explore it in relation to the attributes of transformational leadership.Background.  Nurse consultants were introduced in the UK in 2000. Their purpose was to achieve better outcomes for patients and strengthen leadership. Nursing research identifies leadership as a key element of the role, with postholders adopting transformational leadership approaches. Research from the fields of sociology and psychology identifies difficulties in formulating a coherent theory of leadership, arguing for better understanding of leadership processes.Design.  Qualitative.Methods.  This paper draws on 31 semi‐structured interviews with four nurse consultants who were interviewed twice over six to nine months and 23 other ‘stakeholders’ who worked with them.Results.  Varied leadership activity at ward, NHS Trust and strategic levels was identified. Postholders used approaches that resonated with the attributes of transformational leadership. Leadership processes included developing a vision for the service, acting as mediator and champion, and exerting control over complex change initiatives. Techniques of leadership included taking a ‘softly softly’ approach, pacing change initiatives and arguing assertively with those in senior positions. Interview findings also identified the level of preparation that was required to meet the remit of the posts, highlighting the importance of interpersonal skills and intellectual effort in achieving outcomes.Conclusions.  Nurse consultants require considerable technical expertise, cognitive and interpersonal skills, and the ability to take risks. The data suggest that the leadership attributes required are transformational in nature but that they also exceed those identified in much of the literature. These posts require appropriate support if they are to be sustainable.Relevance to clinical practice.  This paper adds to our understanding of the complexity of the nurse consultant role and highlights the challenge of providing appropriate professional development for postholders.
Factors associated with perceived sleep quality of nurses working on rotating shifts
Authors: Chan Moon Fai 
Published: December 2008

Aims.  To explore nurses’ perceived sleep quality and examine factors that contribute to insufficient sleep quality.Background.  Shift work is an important source of disturbances in the health and well‐being of nurses. However, nursing services must be available on a 24‐hour basis, making shift work a necessity. Sleep disorders tend to occur among nurses typically working on a rotating schedule. Although many studies related to nurses’ sleep quality have been carried out in the West, few have investigated factors linked to nurses’ sleep quality in Hong Kong.Design.  A cross‐sectional study.Method.  The study was conducted during the period November 2005–June 2006 in two local hospitals in Hong Kong. Nurses (n = 163) completed a self‐reported questionnaire. Demographic data and information on health status, strain and symptom levels and perceived sleep quality were collected.Results.  More than 70% of the nurses reported having insufficient sleep and strain and symptom levels were higher in this group. Older age, perceived poor sleep status, gastrointestinal symptoms and higher strain and symptom levels were risk factors that contributed to insufficient sleep.Conclusions.  Evaluation of internal stressors and modification of shift work schedules are important areas of future research; these should aim at finding the best compromise between productivity and employees’ sleep quality, health and performance.Relevance to clinical practice.  Healthcare workers’ job task analysis, the evaluation of internal stressors and the modification of shift work schedules are important areas of future research and should result in the best compromise between productivity and employees’ sleep quality, health and performance.
Both allergic and nonallergic asthma are associated with increased FENO levels, but only in never‐smokers
Authors: Malinovschi A. , Janson C. , Högman M. , Rolla G. , Torén K. , Norbäck D. , Olin A.‐C. 
Published: December 2008

Background:  Allergic asthma is consistently associated with increased FENO levels whereas divergence exists regarding the use of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) as marker of inflammation in nonallergic asthma and in asthmatic smokers. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of having allergic or nonallergic asthma on exhaled nitric oxide levels, with special regard to smoking history.Methods:  Exhaled NO measurements were performed in 695 subjects from Turin (Italy), Gothenburg and Uppsala (both Sweden). Current asthma was defined as self‐reported physician‐diagnosed asthma with at least one asthma symptom or attack recorded during the last year. Allergic status was defined by using measurements of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE). Smoking history was questionnaire‐assessed.Results:  Allergic asthma was associated with 91 (60, 128) % [mean (95% CI)] increase of FENO while no significant association was found for nonallergic asthma [6 (–17, 35) %] in univariate analysis, when compared to nonatopic healthy subjects. In a multivariate analysis for never‐smokers, subjects with allergic asthma had 77 (27, 145) % higher FENO levels than atopic healthy subjects while subjects with nonallergic asthma had 97 (46, 166) % higher FENO levels than nonatopic healthy subjects. No significant asthma‐related FENO increases were noted for ex‐ and current smokers in multivariate analysis.Conclusions:  Both allergic and nonallergic asthma are related to increased FENO levels, but only in never‐smoking subjects. The limited value of FENO to detect subjects with asthma among ex‐ and current smokers suggests the predominance of a noneosinophilic inflammatory phenotype of asthma among ever‐smokers.
Studies in Hypothermia
Authors: Svanes Knut 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARYMice, anaesthetized with pentobarbital, were kept at normal body temperature or cooled to 21‐22°C. The capillary circulation was studied in the conjunctiva. The oedema produced by subcutaneous injection of turpentine was estimated by the trypan blue technique.Intravenous injection of 3 mg/kg trypan blue caused haemoconcentration in hypothermic but not in normothermic mice. In a dose of 1.5 mg/kg, trypan blue did not cause changes in haematocrit, and therefore this dose was used for the estimation of turpentine oedema.In normothermic mice under light anaesthesia vasoconstriction with an ischaemic capillary bed was usually observed in the conjunctiva. With increasing depth of anaesthesia vasodilatation and hyperaemia occurred with increasing frequency. In hypothermic mice a similar relation between depth of anaesthesia and changes in microcirculation was found, although there was a relative tendency to vasodilatation. Trypan blue increased the tendency to vasodilatation under hypothermia, but not at normal body temperature.In both normothermic and hypothermic mice the formation of turpentine oedema was found to be inversely related to the depth of anaesthesia. In hypothermic mice under light anaesthesia the oedema formation was less than in normothermic mice under light anaesthesia.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGMit Pentobarbital narkotisierte Mäuse wurden entweder bei normaler Körpertemperatur gehalten oder auf 21‐22%dGC unterkühlt. Dabei wurde der Kapillarkreislauf in der Konjunktiva untersucht. Ferner wurde eine Schätzung des durch subcutane Terpentininjektion erzeugten Ödems mit Hilfe der Trypanblaumethode vorgenommen.Die i.v. Injektion von 3 mg/kg Trypanblau führte zu Hämokonzentration bei den hypothermen, nicht aber bei den normothermen Mäusen. Eine Dosis von 1.5 mg/kg Trypanblau hatte keine Änderung des Hämatokrits zur Folge, weshalb diese Dosierung zur Bestimmung des Terpentinödems verwendet wurde.Bei den normothermen Mäusen war unter oberflächlicher Narkose eine Vasokontriktion mit ischämischem Kapillarbett in der Konjunktiva die Regel. Bei zunehmender Narkosetiefe trat in vermehrtem Masse Vasodilatation und Hyperämie auf. Bei den hypothermen Mäusen fand sich ein ähnliches Verhältnis zwischen der Narkosetiefe und den Veränderungen der Mikrozirkulation. Es bestand jedoch eine relative Tendenz zur Vasodilatation. Trypanblau förderte die Neigung zur Gefässerweiterung unter Hypothermic, nicht jedoch bei normaler Körpertemperatur.Sowohl bei den normothermen als auch bei den hypothermen Tieren stand das Terpentinödem in einem umgekehrten Verhältnis zur Narkosetiefe. In oberflächlicher Narkose war die Ödembildung bei den hypothermen Mäusen geringer als bei den normothermen.
β‐Aminobutyric Acid‐induced Resistance in Cucumber against Biotrophic and Necrotrophic Pathogens
Authors: Walz Andreas , Simon Oliver 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe non‐protein amino acid β‐aminobutyric acid (BABA) protects plants against a wide range of pathogens. Protection of cucumber plants by BABA depends on the potentiation of pathogen specific defence responses. To contribute to the analyses of the mode of action of BABA, we established a protocol for a fast and reproducible leaf disc assay to evaluate the effect of this chemical compound on cucumbers infected with either the biotrophic downy mildew fungus Pseudoperonospora cubensis, or the necrotrophic microbial pathogen Colletotrichum lagenarium. Accumulation of callose could be found in interactions with both pathogens after BABA‐treatment. Furthermore, a localized rapid cell death and the production of reactive oxygen intermediates were detected after downy mildew attack. In contrast to this, degenerated primary hyphae were found in BABA induced tissue after inoculation with C. lagenarium.
POSTNATAL REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY: PROMOTING RELATIONAL AUTONOMY AND SELF‐TRUST IN NEW PARENTS
Authors: GOERING SARA 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTNew parents suddenly come face to face with myriad issues that demand careful attention but appear in a context unlikely to provide opportunities for extended or clear‐headed critical reflection, whether at home with a new baby or in the neonatal intensive care unit. As such, their capacity for autonomy may be compromised. Attending to new parental autonomy as an extension of reproductive autonomy, and as a complicated phenomenon in its own right rather than simply as a matter to be balanced against other autonomy rights, can help us to see how new parents might be aided in their quest for competency and good decision making. In this paper I show how a relational view of autonomy – attentive to the coercive effects of oppressive social norms and to the importance of developing autonomy competency, especially as related to self‐trust – can improve our understanding of the situation of new parents and signal ways to cultivate and to better respect their autonomy.
The invasive shrub Buddleja davidii performs better in its introduced range
Authors: Ebeling Susan Kathrin , Hensen Isabell , Auge Harald 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTIt is commonly assumed that invasive plants grow more vigorously in their introduced than in their native range, which is then attributed to release from natural enemies or to microevolutionary changes, or both. However, few studies have tested this assumption by comparing the performance of invasive species in their native vs. introduced ranges. Here, we studied abundance, growth, reproduction, and herbivory in 10 native Chinese and 10 invasive German populations of the invasive shrub Buddleja davidii (Scrophulariaceae; butterfly bush). We found strong evidence for increased plant vigour in the introduced range: plants in invasive populations were significantly taller and had thicker stems, larger inflorescences, and heavier seeds than plants in native populations. These differences in plant performance could not be explained by a more benign climate in the introduced range. Since leaf herbivory was substantially reduced in invasive populations, our data rather suggest that escape from natural enemies, associated with increased plant growth and reproduction, contributes to the invasion success of B. davidii in Central Europe.
Vision‐Enhancing Interventions in Nursing Home Residents and Their Short‐Term Effect on Physical and Cognitive Function
Authors: Elliott Amanda F. , McGwin Gerald , Owsley Cynthia 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of vision‐enhancing interventions (cataract surgery or refractive error correction) on physical function and cognitive status in nursing home residents.DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study.SETTING: Seventeen nursing homes in Birmingham, Alabama.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 187 English‐speaking adults aged 55 and older.INTERVENTION: Participants took part in one of two vision‐enhancing interventions: cataract surgery or refractive error correction. Each group was compared against a control group (persons eligible for but who declined cataract surgery or who received delayed correction of refractive error).MEASUREMENTS: Physical function (ability to perform activities of daily living and mobility) was assessed using a series of self‐report and certified nursing assistant ratings at baseline and at 2 months for the refractive error correction group and at 4 months for the cataract surgery group. The Mini Mental State Examination was also administered.RESULTS: No significant differences existed within or between groups from baseline to follow‐up on any of the measures of physical function. Mental status scores significantly declined from baseline to follow‐up for the immediate (P=.05) and delayed (P<.02) refractive error correction groups and for the cataract surgery control group (P=.05).CONCLUSION: Vision‐enhancing interventions did not lead to short‐term improvements in physical functioning or cognitive status in this sample of elderly nursing home residents.
The Usage of Opportunity Cost to Maximize Performance in Revenue Management*
Authors: Deng Honghui , Wang Qiwen , Leong G. Keong , Sun Sherry X. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTTo meet customer requirements efficiently, a manager needs to supply adequate quantities of products, capacity, or services at the right time with the right prices. Revenue management (RM) techniques can help firms use differential pricing strategies and capacity allocation tactics to maximize revenue. In this article, we propose a marginal revenue‐based capacity management (MRBCM) model to manage stochastic demand in order to create improved revenue opportunities. The new heuristic employs opportunity cost estimation logic that is unique and is the reason for the increased performance. The MRBCM model generates order acceptance policies that allocate available capacity to higher revenue generating market segments in both service and manufacturing environments. To evaluate these models, we design and conduct simulation experiments for 64 scenarios using a wide range of operating conditions. The experimental results show that the MRBCM model generates significantly higher revenues over the first come, first served rule when capacity is tight. In addition, we also show that the MRBCM model generally performs better than a recent RM model published in the literature.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Association of Apoprotien E Polymorphisms with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Goodman Chelsi , Goodman Cyle S. , Hur Jee , Jeyendran R. S. , Coulam Carolyn 
Published: December 2008

Problem  We have previously reported the role of polymorphisms of thrombogenic genes involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis as risk factors for recurrent pregnancy loss. Thrombophilia has been viewed as a multigenic disorder rather than a monogenetic clinical phenotype and Apo E has been shown to play an important role in lipid metabolism in pregnancy. As individuals carrying the E4 allele of the ApoE gene have the highest risk for thrombosis, we evaluated the frequency of the Apo E4 genotype among women suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss.Method of study  Buccal swabs were obtained from 69 women with a history of two or more consecutive spontaneous abortions and 37 women with at least two live births and not more than one miscarriage. DNA was extracted from the buccal swabs and PCR amplification of Apo E2, E3, and E4 was performed.Results  Women experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss had a significantly higher prevalence of Apo E3/4, E4/4 genotypes (21.7%) compared with control women (5.4%) (P = 0.036).Conclusion  Apo E4 polymorphism may contribute to the thrombophilic risk factors contributing to recurrent pregnancy loss.
Child eating patterns and weight regulation: a developmental behaviour genetics framework
Authors: Kral Tanja V E , Faith Myles S 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThere is relatively limited knowledge about the development of child eating patterns and how they may contribute to excess weight gain in early life. Particularly scarce are genetically informative studies that addressed environmental and genetic influences which can be challenging to disentangle. A review of this literature can help identify ongoing themes in the field and may stimulate new ideas for future research. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about how select environmental factors (e.g. the portion size of foods) and parental feeding practices (e.g. dietary restriction) can affect children's eating behaviour and weight status. The second part of the review explains in more detail the types of studies that can be employed to assess genetic influences (e.g. heritability estimates) on child food intake and body weight and composition. The review closes with suggestions for future research emphasizing the importance of collaborations among investigators from different disciplines to further elucidate gene–environment interactions in the domains of child eating behaviour and obesity.
Effects of Foliar Endophytic Fungi on the Preference and Performance of the Leaf BeetleChelymorpha alternansin Panama
Authors: Van Bael Sunshine A. , Valencia Mariana C. , Rojas Enith I. , Gómez Nélida , Windsor Donald M. , Herre Edward A. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTFoliar endophytic fungi live inside healthy plant leaves, and in some cases they confer herbivore resistance to the host. All previous studies of endophyte–herbivore interactions have occurred in temperate areas, and many use correlations rather than experiments. In Panama,Glomerella cingulatais a common endophyte species found in healthy leaves, andChelymorpha alternansis a common herbivore onMerremia umbellata, a tropical vine. We manipulated the abundance ofG. cingulatain the leaves ofM. umbellata. We then assessed the effects of high and low endophyte densities on the food choice, development, and reproductive success of the leaf beetle,C. alternans. In ‘choice’ experiments, adult females with a history of feeding on wild plants showed no preference when offered food plants with high and low endophyte densities. Further, in ‘no‐choice’ experiments,C. alternanslarvae that were fed high‐ or low‐density endophyte leaves did not differ in development or survivorship. However, when larvae fed on leaves with low endophyte densities became adults, they produced 80 percent more offspring. This suggests high endophyte levels in hosts can have a negative effect on herbivore fecundity. Further experiments are necessary to understand whether the reproductive effects are due to feeding on low‐density endophytes in the larval or adult stages, and whether changes in reproductive success are motivated by the adult's perception of food quality or by physiological constraint due to food quality.
Vertebrate Fruit Removal and Ant Seed Dispersal in the Neotropical Ginger Renealmia alpinia (Zingiberaceae)*
Authors: García‐Robledo Carlos , Kuprewicz Erin K. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTPlants frequently display fruit characteristics that support multiple seed‐dispersal syndromes. These ambiguous characteristics may reflect the fact that seed dispersal is usually a complex process involving multiple dispersers. This is the case for the Neotropical ginger Renealmia alpinia (Zingiberaceae). It was originally suggested that the aromatic fruits of R. alpinia located at the base of the plant are adapted for terrestrial mammal seed dispersal. However, the dark‐purple coloration of the fruits and bright orange aril surrounding the seeds suggest that birds may play a role in R. alpinia seed dispersal. At La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, we used camera traps to record vertebrate visits to infructescences of R. alpinia. Most visitors were toucans and aracaris (Ramphastidae). However fruits were also removed by terrestrial mammals (coatis and armadillos). In addition to vertebrate fruit removal, some of the fruits dehisce and the seeds that fall on the ground are dispersed by ants. Fruitfall traps showed that 77 percent of fruits are removed by vertebrates. However, 15 percent of fruits fall to the base of parent plants to be potentially dispersed by ants. Experiments using a laboratory ant colony showed that ants are effective seed dispersers of R. alpinia. Ant seed manipulation increased germination success and reduced time to germination. In conclusion, primary seed dispersal in the Neotropical ginger R. alpinia is mostly performed by birds, additionally ants are effective dispersers at short distances. Seed dispersal in R. alpinia is a complex process involving a diverse array of dispersal agents.