bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of technology in critical care nursing
Authors: Crocker Cheryl , Timmons Stephen 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTitle. The role of technology in critical care nursing.Aim. This paper is a report of a study to identify the meaning for critical care nurses of technology related to weaning from mechanical ventilation and to explore how that technology was used in practice.Background. The literature concerned with the development of critical care (intensive care and high dependency units) focuses mainly on innovative medical technology. Although this use of technology in critical care is portrayed as new, it actually represents a transfer of technology from operating theatres.Method. An ethnographic study was conducted and data were collected on one critical care unit in a large teaching hospital over a 6‐month period in 2004. The methods included participant observation, interviews and the collection of field notes.Findings. The overall theme ‘The nursing–technology relation’ was identified. This comprised three sub‐themes: definition of technology, technology transferred and technology transformed. Novice nurses took a task‐focussed approach to weaning, treating it as a ‘medical’ technology transferred to them from doctors. Expert nurses used technology differently and saw its potential to become a ‘nursing technology’.Conclusion. Nurses need to examine how they can adapt and to ‘reconfigure’ technology so that it can be transformed into a nursing technology. Those technologies that do not fit with nursing may have no place there. Rather than simply extending and expanding their roles through technology transfer, nurses should transform those technologies that preserve the essence of nursing and can contribute to a positive outcome for patients.
Educational gaming in the health sciences: systematic review
Authors: Blakely Gillian , Skirton Heather , Cooper Simon , Allum Peter , Nelmes Pam 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTitle.  Educational gaming in the health sciences: systematic review. Aim.  This paper is a report of a review to investigate the use of games to support classroom learning in the health sciences.Background.  One aim of education in the health sciences is to enable learners to develop professional competence. Students have a range of learning styles and innovative teaching strategies assist in creating a dynamic learning environment. New attitudes towards experiential learning methods have contributed to the expansion of gaming as a strategy.Data sources.  A search for studies published between January 1980 and June 2008 was undertaken, using appropriate search terms. The databases searched were: British Education Index, British Nursing Index, The Cochrane Library, CINAHLPlus, Medline, PubMed, ERIC, PsychInfo and Australian Education Index.Methods.  All publications and theses identified through the search were assessed for relevance. Sixteen papers reporting empirical studies or reviews that involved comparison of gaming with didactic methods were included.Results.  The limited research available indicates that, while both traditional didactic methods and gaming have been successful in increasing student knowledge, neither method is clearly more helpful to students. The use of games generally enhances student enjoyment and may improve long‐term retention of information.Conclusion.  While the use of games can be viewed as a viable teaching strategy, care should be exercised in the use of specific games that have not been assessed objectively. Further research on the use of gaming is needed to enable educators to gaming techniques appropriately for the benefit of students and, ultimately, patients.
Integrated health programme: a workplace randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tveito Torill H. , Eriksen Hege R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractTitle.  Integrated health programme: a workplace randomized controlled trial. Aim.  This paper is the report of a pilot study to assess if an Integrated Health Programme would reduce sick leave and subjective health complaints, and increase coping in a population of nursing personnel.Background.  The work group in Norway with most sick leave is healthcare workers. More than 50% of the sick leave is because of subjective health complaints. Work place physical exercise interventions have a documented positive effect on sick leave.Method.  After baseline screening, employees who had agreed to participate (n = 40) were randomized to an intervention or control group. The intervention group participated in an Integrated Health Programme twice weekly during working hours. The programme consisted of physical exercise, stress management training, health information and an examination of the participants’ workplace. The control group was offered the same intervention after the project was finished. This study was carried out from 2001 to 2002.Findings.  There were no statistically significant effects on sick leave or health‐related quality of life. The intervention group reported fewer neck complaints compared to the control group, but otherwise there were no effects on subjective health complaints. However, the subjective effects were large and highly statistically significant, the intervention group reporting improvement in health, physical fitness, muscle pain, stress management, maintenance of health and work situation.Conclusion.  The Integrated Health Programme was not effective in reducing sick leave and subjective health complaints, but may be of use to employers wanting to increase employee job satisfaction and well‐being.
Ethnobotanical ground‐truthing: indigenous knowledge, floristic inventories and satellite imagery in the upper Rio Negro, Brazil
Authors: Abraão Marcia Barbosa , Nelson Bruce W. , Baniwa João Cláudio , Yu Douglas W. , Shepard Jr Glenn H. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAim  To assess the utility of indigenous habitat knowledge in studies of habitat diversity in Amazonia.Location  Baniwa indigenous communities in Rio Içana, upper Rio Negro, Brazil.Methods  Six campinarana vegetation types, recognized and named by a consensus of Baniwa indigenous informants according to salient indicator species, were studied in 15 widely distributed plots. Floristic composition (using Baniwa plant nomenclature only, after frustrated attempts to obtain botanical collection permits), quantitative measures of forest structure and GPS waypoints of the 4‐ha composite plot contours were registered, permitting their location on Landsat satellite images. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination was carried out using pc‐ord software.Results  The NMDS ordinations of the plot data revealed a clear gradient of floristic composition that was highly correlated with three quantitative measures of forest structure: basal area, canopy height and satellite reflectance.Main conclusions  Baniwa‐defined forest types are excellent predictors of habitat diversity along the structural gradient comprising distinctive white‐sand campinarana vegetation types. Indigenous ecological knowledge, as revealed by satellite imagery and floristic analyses, proves to be a powerful and efficient shortcut to assessing habitat diversity, promoting dialogue between scientific and indigenous worldviews, and promoting joint study and conservation of biodiversity.
Relationships between lipoprotein components and risk of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in the Apolipoprotein MOrtality RISk study (AMORIS)
Authors: Holme I. , Aastveit A. H. , Hammar N. , Jungner I. , Walldius G. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Objectives.  To compare lipoprotein components associated with ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke by age and gender in the Apolipoprotein MOrtality RISk (AMORIS) Study (n = 148 600).Design.  Prospective follow‐up study (11.8, range 7–17 years) of fatal and nonfatal ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke through linkage with Swedish hospital discharge and mortality registers.Setting.  Measurements of lipoprotein components from health check‐ups in the larger Stockholm area.Results.  Ischaemic stroke was more common than haemorrhagic stroke (5 :1), but case fatality was higher in haemorrhagic stroke. An elevated apoB/apoA‐1 ratio and triglycerides, non‐HDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and the total cholesterol to high‐density cholesterol (TC/HDL‐C) ratio were associated with increased incidence of nonfatal and fatal ischaemic stroke as well as all cerebrovascular events (n = 7480) in both genders. The associations were somewhat stronger for nonfatal than fatal events. In ischaemic stroke the apoB/apoA‐1 ratio was a stronger predictor than the TC/HDL‐C ratio in all subjects, in those below 65 years of age and in those with LDL‐C below 3 mmol L−1. Haemorrhagic stroke was not associated with elevated atherogenic lipoproteins except for increased risk of fatal haemorrhagic stroke in women with a high apoB/apoA‐I ratio.Conclusions.  Dyslipidaemia is associated with an increased risk of ischaemic stroke but few relations were seen in haemorrhagic stroke. Use of the apoB/apoA‐I ratio as a marker of dyslipidaemia is at least as efficient as conventional lipids, for the identification of subjects at increased risk of stroke, especially ischaemic stroke. Practical advantages, fasting is not needed, speak in favour of using apoB and apoA‐1 in stroke risk prediction.
Heart rate variability, overnight urinary norepinephrine and C‐reactive protein: evidence for the cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway in healthy human adults
Authors: Thayer J. F. , Fischer J. E. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Objectives. C‐reactive protein (CRP) has been identified as an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in population‐based studies. Recent advances have suggested a prominent role for the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in the regulation of inflammation. However, noin vivohuman studies have examined indices of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity simultaneously in relationship to inflammatory markers in apparently healthy adults. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the immunomodulatory effects of the ANS.Methods and results. The study population comprised 611 apparently healthy employees of an airplane manufacturing plant in southern Germany. Urinary NE was positively associated with white blood cell count (WBC) in the total sample. We found an inverse association between indices of vagally mediated heart rate variability and plasma levels of (CRP), which was significantly larger in females than in males after controlling for relevant covariates including NE. Similar results were found using the percentage of interbeat interval differences >50 ms and WBC.Conclusions. We report here for the first time, in a large sample of healthy human adults, evidence supporting the hypothesis of a clinically relevant cholinergic anti‐inflammatory pathway after controlling for sympathetic nervous system activity. This suggests an important role for the vagal control of systemic inflammatory activity in cardiovascular disease.
Factors associated with elevated or blunted PTH response in vitamin D insufficient adults
Authors: Gunnarsson Ö. , Indridason Ó. S. , Franzson L. , Sigurdsson G. 
Published: November 2008

Abstract.Objectives.  The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with high or low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in relationship to vitamin D insufficiency.Design.  This was a cross‐sectional study consisting of 516 healthy men and women, aged 30–85, all Caucasians with vitamin D insufficiency [serum 25(OH)D < 45 nmol L−1]. The group was divided into quartiles by PTH levels and the highest and lowest quartiles were compared with regard to various factors likely to affect calcium metabolism. We used stepwise multivariable logistic regression to determine the independent association between PTH levels and other variables for men and women separately.Results.  We found that men in the lowest PTH quartile were significantly younger, had less energy intake, lower body mass index (BMI) and better kidney function compared with the highest PTH quartile. They had also higher ionized calcium, insulin‐like growth factor (IGF1) and testosterone and were more likely to smoke. Women within the lowest PTH quartile were younger, had lower BMI and magnesium values and higher IGF1 levels and were more likely to smoke. Stepwise multivariate regression showed that IGF1, testosterone and BMI were significantly associated with PTH in men (R2 = 0.472) but smoking, BMI and kidney function in women (R2 = 0.362).Conclusions.  Our results indicate that during vitamin D insufficiency, factors other than calcium and vitamin D may modify PTH response. These factors may be different between sexes and we have identified novel factors, IGF1 and testosterone in men which may be compensatory in nature and confirmed previous factors such as smoking, BMI and kidney function in women.
Phosphorylation of the RitR DNA‐binding domain by a Ser–Thr phosphokinase: implications for global gene regulation in the streptococci
Authors: Ulijasz Andrew T. , Falk Shaun P. , Weisblum Bernard 
Published: November 2008

SummaryWe report selective phosphorylation of the DNA‐binding domain of theStreptococcus pneumoniaetranscriptional regulator RitR. RitR is annotated as a two‐component response regulator, but lacks a cognate His kinase as a neighbouring locus in the genome. In addition, Asn replaces Asp at the expected acceptor site. By the use of combinatorial phage display, we identified PhpP, aS. pneumoniaeSer–Thr eukaryotic‐like PP2C phosphatase as an interacting partner of RitR. RitR interacts with the phage‐displayed peptide VADGMGGR which forms a part of the active‐site sequence of PhpP. RitR is phosphorylatedin vitroby StkP, the presumed cognate kinase of PhpP, and the site on RitR that is phosphorylated has been localized to the RitR DNA‐binding domain. PhpP together with its cognate kinase StkP appear to be necessary for Piu haem transporter expression.In vitrostudies suggest that PhpP and StkP interact competitively with RitR in that RitR–PhpP–piupromoter ternary complexes are disrupted by StkP. Our findings indicate a regulatory link between RitR and Ser–Thr kinase–phosphatase‐based bacterial signal transduction.
Rv1675c (cmr) regulates intramacrophage and cyclic AMP‐induced gene expression in Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐complex mycobacteria
Authors: Gazdik Michaela A. , Bai Guangchun , Wu Yan , McDonough Kathleen A. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryCyclic AMP (cAMP) has recently been shown to be a global regulator of gene expression in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this study we identified a new cAMP‐associated regulon in Mtb and Mycobacterium bovis BCG, which is distinct from the previously described CRPMt regulon. Proteomic comparison of wild‐type M. bovis BCG with a Rv1675c (cmr) knockout strain showed dysregulated expression of four previously identified proteins encoded by the cAMP‐induced genes (cAIGs) mdh, groEL2, Rv1265 and PE_PGRS6a. Regulated expression of these four cAIGs also occurred during macrophage infection, and this regulation required cmr in both Mtb and M. bovis BCG. Purified His‐Cmr bound to the DNA sequences upstream of three cAIGs (mdh, groEL2, Rv1265) in electrophoretic mobility shift assays, suggesting direct regulation of these genes by Cmr. We also found that low pH stimulated cAMP production in both Mtb and M. bovis BCG, but broadly affected cAIG regulation only in M. bovis BCG. These studies identify Cmr as a transcription factor that regulates cAIGs within macrophages, and suggest that multiple factors affect cAMP‐associated gene regulation in tuberculosis‐complex mycobacteria. cAMP signalling and Cmr‐mediated gene regulation during Mtb infection of macrophages may have implications for TB pathogenesis.
Identification of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor‐modifying β1‐3 N‐acetylglucosaminyl transferase in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Izquierdo Luis , Nakanishi Masayuki , Mehlert Angela , Machray Greg , Barton Geoffrey J. , Ferguson Michael A. J. 
Published: November 2008

Summary Trypanosoma brucei expresses complex glycoproteins throughout its life cycle. A review of its repertoire of glycosidic linkages suggests a minimum of 38 glycosyltransferase activities. Of these, five have been experimentally related to specific genes and a further nine can be associated with candidate genes. The remaining linkages have no obvious candidate glycosyltransferase genes; however, the T. brucei genome contains a family of 21 putative UDP sugar‐dependent glycosyltransferases of unknown function. One representative, TbGT8, was used to establish a functional characterization workflow. Bloodstream and procyclic‐form TbGT8 null mutants were created and both exhibited normal growth. The major surface glycoprotein of the procyclic form, the procyclin, exhibited a marked reduction in molecular weight due to changes in the procyclin glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor side‐chains. Structural analysis of the mutant procyclin GPI anchors indicated that TbGT8 encodes a UDP‐GlcNAc: β‐Gal‐GPI β1‐3 GlcNAc transferase. This is only the second GPI‐modifying glycosyltransferase to have been identified from any organism. The glycosylation of the major glycoprotein of bloodstream‐form T. brucei, the variant surface glycoprotein, was unaffected in the TbGT8 mutant. However, changes in the lectin binding of other glycoproteins suggest that TbGT8 influences the processing of the poly N‐acetyllactosamine‐containing asparagine‐linked glycans of this life cycle stage.
Bordetella Bsp22 forms a filamentous type III secretion system tip complex and is immunoprotective in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Medhekar Bob , Shrivastava Ruchi , Mattoo Seema , Gingery Mari , Miller Jeff F. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryType III secretion system (T3SS) tip complexes serve as adaptors that bridge the T3SS needle and the pore‐forming translocation apparatus. In this report we demonstrate that Bsp22, the most abundantly secreted substrate of the Bordetella T3SS, self‐polymerizes to form the Bordetella bronchiseptica tip complex. Bsp22 is required for both T3SS‐mediated cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells and haemoglobin release from erythrocytes. Bacterial two‐hybrid analysis and protein pull‐down assays demonstrated the ability of Bsp22 to associate with itself and to bind BopD, a component of the Bordetella translocation pore. Immunoblot and cross‐linking analysis of secreted proteins or purified Bsp22 showed extensive multimerization which was shown by transmission electron microscopy to lead to the formation of variable length flexible filaments. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed Bsp22 filaments on the surface of bacterial cells. Given its required role in secretion and cell‐surface exposure, we tested the protective effects of antibodies against Bsp22 in vitro and in vivo. Polyclonal antisera against Bsp22 fully protected epithelial cells from T3SS‐dependent killing and immunization with Bsp22 protected mice against Bordetella infection. Of the approximately 30 genes which encode the Bordetella T3SS apparatus, bsp22 is the only one without characterized orthologues in other well‐characterized T3SS loci. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis indicated that Bsp22 defines a new subfamily of T3SS tip complex proteins. Given its immunogenic and immunoprotective properties and high degree of conservation among Bordetella species, Bsp22 and its homologues may prove useful for diagnostics and next‐generation subunit vaccines.
Vacuole inheritance regulates cell size and branching frequency of Candida albicans hyphae
Authors: Veses Veronica , Richards Andrea , Gow Neil A. R. 
Published: November 2008

SummaryHyphal growth of Candida albicans is characterized by asymmetric cell divisions in which the subapical mother cell inherits most of the vacuolar space and becomes cell cycle arrested in G1, while the apical daughter cell acquires most of the cell cytoplasm and progresses through G1 into the next mitotic cell cycle. Consequently, branch formation in hyphal compartments is delayed until sufficient cytoplasm is synthesized to execute the G1 ‘START’ function. To test the hypothesis that this mode of vacuole inheritance determines cell cycle progression and therefore the branching of hyphae, eight tetracycline‐regulated conditional mutants were constructed that were affected at different stages of the vacuole inheritance pathway. Under repressing conditions, vac7, vac8 and fab1 mutants generated mycelial compartments with more symmetrically distributed vacuoles and increased branching frequencies. Repression of VAC1, VAM2 and VAM3 resulted in sparsely branched hyphae, with large vacuoles and enlarged hyphal compartments. Therefore, during hyphal growth of C. albicans the cell cycle, growth and branch formation can be uncoupled, resulting in the investment of cytoplasm to support hyphal extension at the expense of hyphal branching.
Cloning, expression and immunoprotective efficacy of rHaa86, the homologue of the Bm86 tick vaccine antigen, from Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum
Authors: AZHAHIANAMBI P. , DE LA FUENTE J. , SURYANARAYANA V. V. S. , GHOSH S. 
Published: November 2008

SUMMARY The Bm86 homologue of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Izatnagar isolate was cloned and expressed in methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris as intracellular, glycosylated and particulated form. It was named as rHaa86, the first recombinant protein of H. a. anatolicum. Seven epidermal growth factor‐like domains predicted in Haa86 were structurally similar with that of its Bm86 counterpart. The identity between the corresponding EGF like domains of Bm86 and Haa86 were ranging from 51·3% to 78·3%. The molecular weight of the rHaa86 was 120–140 kDa, with possible 50–70 kDa glycosylation. The purified rHaa86 was characterized immunologically and evaluated for its immunoprotective potential against homologous challenge infestation in three groups of cross‐bred calves. The immediate rejection percentage of females of H. a. anatolicum was 36 5%, 12·4% and 10·1% fed on immunized (group 1), adjuvant control (group 2) and untreated control (group 3) calves, respectively. The percent rejection of female ticks fed on immunized calves was 24·1% and 26·4% higher than for the ticks fed on control groups 2 and 3, respectively (P < 0·05). The reduction of number of females, mean weight of eggs, adult females and efficacy of immunogen were 58·0%, 9·0%, 5·0% and 61·6%, respectively. The mean reproductive index of females fed on group 1 calves was significantly lower (P < 0·05) than the females fed on the control groups and 44% reduction in the number of engorged larvae was recorded from the group 1 calves. The data demonstrated that rHaa86 antigen based vaccine could serve as one of the effective components in the integrated control of H. a. anatolicum.