Chemical composition of bottom sediments and rocks from DSDP Holes 3-14 through 64-477

Data on analyses of chemical composition of DSDP samples of bottom sediments and rocks carried out in P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology are reported. Basal sediments and sedimentary rocks prevail in the sample set.

Stable isotopic and carbonate cyclicity in deep sea sediments from different DSDP Holes

Oxygen and carbon isotopic variability of the dominant (<38 µm) carbonate fraction within bedded, organic-carbon rich Lower Cretaceous sediment intervals from various DSDP sites are closely correlated with preservational changes in the carbonates. Isotopic fluctuations are absent where carbonate contents vary little and where the carbonate fraction is dominated by biogenic phytoplankton remains. Within each of the studied intervals oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios become increasingly more negative in samples with carbonate contents higher than about 60% in which the proportion of diagenetic microcarbonate increases rapidly. Carbon isotopic ratios show a trend towards positive values in samples with carbonate contents of less than 40% and strong signs of dissolution. The taxonomic composition of nannofossil assemblages varies little within single intervals, despite significant differential diagenesis among individual beds; this points towards ecological stability of oceanic surface waters during the deposition of alternating beds. Bedding is, however, closely related to changing bioturbation intensity, indicating repeated fluctuations of the deep-water renewal rates and oxygen supply. Various microbial decomposition processes of organic matter leading to bed-specific differential carbonate diagenesis resulted in an amplification of primary bedding features and are considered responsible for most of the observed fluctuations in the stable isotopic ratios and carbonate contents.

Dinoflagellate cysts of the Early Cretaceous North Atlantic Ocean

Early Cretaceous dinoflagellate cysts were reinvestigated from nine deep-sea sites of the North and Central Atlantic. In general the zonation scheme developed for the western Central Atlantic (Habib, 1977; Habib and Drugg, 1983 ) can also be applied to the eastern Central Atlantic. Comparison with the probabilistic zonation of Gradstein et al. (1992) show, however, that the first occurrences of the important marker species Druggidium apicopaucicure, Druggidium deflandrei, Druggidium rhabdoreticulatum and Odontochitina operculata appear to occur slightly later in the eastern Central Atlantic in respect to nannofossils and benthic foraminifers. Muderongia neocomica has a shorter stratigraphic range in the eastern Central Atlantic than in the western Central Atlantic.

(Table 1) Helium concentration in sediments

Two decades ago, Merrihue (1964) reported 3He/4He ratios of >10**-4 in ferromagnetic separates from a Pacific deep ocean red clay and concluded that the high ratio is due to extraterrestrial debris amounting to ~1% of the sediment. A decade later Krylov et al. (1973) compiled 3He/4He isotopic data on ocean sediments measured in the Soviet Union and observed that the 3He/4He ratio is generally higher in pelagic sediments where the sedimentation rate is lower. They suggested that the high 3He/4He ratio was attributable to extraterrestrial materials which were concentrated in slowly accumulating ocean floor. However, these important discoveries were almost completely neglected until we re-examined the problem. We have measured 39 sediments from 12 different sites, 10 sites from the western to central Pacific and two sites from the Atlantic Ocean. We find 3He/4He ratios >5 * 10**-5 for six sites, well above the values generally observed in common terrestrial materials. The very high 3He/4He ratio in the sediments is probably due to input of extraterrestrial materials. Input of stratospheric dust of <1 p.p.m., which corresponds to a fallout rate of ~2,000 tons per year, can explain the observation.

Diferentes Perfis de Aminoácidos para Frangos de Corte no Período de 43 a 56 Dias de Idade

Um experimento foi conduzido para avaliar o desempenho e rendimento de carcaça de duas marcas comerciais de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes perfis de aminoácidos. Dados de desempenho (ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar), carcaça (rendimento de carcaça, peito, pernas, dorso, asas, pés, cabeça e gordura abdominal) e vísceras comestíveis (moela, fígado e coração) foram coletados. O experimento foi realizado no período de 43 a 56 dias de idade e o delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x4 (duas marcas comerciais -- Hubbard e HI-Yield, e quatro perfis de aminoácidos - NRC (1994), Rostagno et al. (1992), Degussa (1997) e AEC (1993)), com quatro repetições de 50 aves cada. Quando as diferentes recomendações foram comparadas, o nível de lisina foi mantido constante, utilizando o nível do NRC (1994) como padrão. As aves alimentadas com dietas formuladas segundo recomendações do NRC (1994) apresentaram menor ganho de peso e pior conversão alimentar. As aves da marca comercial Hubbard apresentaram melhor ganho de peso, porém o consumo e a conversão alimentar não foram alterados. O rendimento de carcaça não diferiu entre os tratamentos. Contudo, as aves da marca comercial Hubbard apresentaram melhor rendimento de pernas e as aves HI-Yield, melhor rendimento de peito. A gordura abdominal foi afetada pelos tratamentos estudados em que aves da marca comercial Hubbard e alimentadas de acordo com os níveis recomendados pelo AEC (1993) apresentaram menor porcentagem de gordura abdominal. Não ocorreu efeito significativo para as vísceras comestíveis.

Factors that influence Information Systems decisions and outcomes: A summary of key themes from four case studies" (2006). ACIS 2006 Proceedings. Paper 43.

This paper reports a summary of key findings from an examination of Information Systems decision making in four organisations. The study focused on what factors influenced decision makers during the critical preimplementation phase of Information Systems projects when systems were evaluated, selected and acquired. Using data gathered from interviews and organisational documentation, a critical hermeneutic analysis was performed in order to build an understanding of how informational and contextual influences acted on decision makers. Eight broad themes of factors were identified as having influence on decision makers and outcomes.

Quality of work life and turnover intention in primary healthcare organisations : a cross-sectional study of registered nurses in Saudi Arabia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to improve the retention of primary healthcare (PHC) nurses through exploring and assessing their quality of work life (QWL) and turnover intention. Design and methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used in this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire comprising four sections (Brooks’ survey of Quality of Nursing Work Life [QNWL], Anticipated Turnover Intention, open-ended questions and demographic characteristics). A convenience sample was recruited from 143 PHC centres in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. A response rate of 87% (n = 508/585) was achieved. The SPSS v17 for Windows and NVivo 8 were used for analysis purposes. Procedures and tests used in this study to analyse the quantitative data were descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, General Linear Model (GLM) univariate analysis, standard multiple regression, and hierarchical multiple regression. Qualitative data obtained from responses to the open-ended questions were analysed using the NVivo 8. Findings: Quantitative findings suggested that PHC nurses were dissatisfied with their work life. Respondents’ scores ranged between 45 and 218 (mean = 139.45), which is lower than the average total score on Brooks’ Survey (147). Major influencing factors were classified under four dimensions. First, work life/home life factors: unsuitable working hours, lack of facilities for nurses, inability to balance work with family needs and inadequacy of vacations’ policy. Second, work design factors: high workload, insufficient workforce numbers, lack of autonomy and undertaking many non-nursing tasks. Third, work context factors: management practices, lack of development opportunities, and inappropriate working environment in terms of the level of security, patient care supplies and unavailability of recreation room. Finally, work world factors: negative public image of nursing, and inadequate payment. More positively, nurses were notably satisfied with their co-workers. Conversely, 40.4% (n = 205) of the respondents indicated that they intended to leave their current employment. The relationships between QWL and demographic variables of gender, age, marital status, dependent children, dependent adults, nationality, ethnicity, nursing tenure, organisational tenure, positional tenure, and payment per month were significant (p < .05). The eta squared test for these demographics indicates a small to medium effect size of the variation in QWL scores. Using the GLM univariate analysis, education level was also significantly related to the QWL (p < .05). The relationships between turnover intention and demographic variables including gender, age, marital status, dependent children, education level, nursing tenure, organisational tenure, positional tenure, and payment per month were significant (p < .05). The eta squared test for these demographics indicates a small to moderate effect size of the variation in the turnover intention scores. Using the GLM univariate analysis, the dependent adults’ variable was also significantly related to turnover intention (p < .05). Turnover intention was significantly related to QWL. Using standard multiple regression, 26% of the variance in turnover intention was explained by the QWL F (4,491), 43.71, p < .001, with R² = .263. Further analysis using hierarchical multiple regression found that the total variance explained by the model as a whole (demographics and QWL) was 32.1%, F (17.433) = 12.04, p < .001. QWL explained an additional 19% of the variance in turnover intention, after controlling for demographic variables, R squared change =.19, F change (4, 433) = 30.190, p < .001. The work context variable makes the strongest unique contribution (-.387) to explain the turnover intention, followed by the work design dimension (-.112). The qualitative findings reaffirmed the quantitative findings in terms of QWL and turnover intention. However, the home life/work life and work world dimensions were of great important to both QWL and turnover intention. The qualitative findings revealed a number of new factors that were not included in the survey questionnaire. These included being away from family, lack of family support, social and cultural aspects, accommodation facilities, transportation, building and infrastructure of PHC, nature of work, job instability, privacy at work, patients and community, and distance between home and workplace. Conclusion: Creating and maintaining a healthy work life for PHC nurses is very important to improve their work satisfaction, reduce turnover, enhance productivity and improve nursing care outcomes. Improving these factors could lead to a higher QWL and increase retention rates and therefore reinforcing the stabilisation of the nursing workforce. Significance of the research: Many countries are examining strategies to attract and retain the health care workforce, particularly nurses. This study identified factors that influence the QWL of PHC nurses as well as their turnover intention. It also determined the significant relationship between QWL and turnover intention. In addition, the present study tested Brooks’ survey of QNWL on PHC nurses for the first time. The qualitative findings of this study revealed a number of new variables regarding QWL and turnover intention of PHC nurses. These variables could be used to improve current survey instruments or to develop new research surveys. The study findings could be also used to develop and appropriately implement plans to improve QWL. This may help to enhance the home and work environments of PHC nurses, improve individual and organisational performance, and increase nurses’ commitment. This study contributes to the existing body of research knowledge by presenting new data and findings from a different country and healthcare system. It is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, especially in the field of PHC. It has examined the relationship between QWL and turnover intention of PHC nurses for the first time using nursing instruments. The study also offers a fresh explanation (new framework) of the relationship between QWL and turnover intention among PHC nurses, which could be used or tested by researchers in other settings. Implications for further research: Review of the extant literature reveals little in-depth research on the PHC workforce, especially in terms of QWL and organisational turnover in developing countries. Further research is required to develop a QWL tool for PHC nurses, taking into consideration the findings of the current study along with the local culture. Moreover, the revised theoretical framework of the current study could be tested in further research in other regions, countries or healthcare systems in order to identify its ability to predict the level of PHC nurses’ QWL and their intention to leave. There is a need to conduct longitudinal research on PHC organisations to gain an in-depth understanding of the determents of and changes in QWL and turnover intention of PHC nurses at various points of time. An intervention study is required to improve QWL and retention among PHC nurses using the findings of the current study. This would help to assess the impact of such strategies on reducing turnover of PHC nurses. Focusing on the location of the current study, it would be valuable to conduct another study in five years’ time to examine the percentage of actual turnover among PHC nurses compared with the reported turnover intention in the current study. Further in-depth research would also be useful to assess the impact of the local culture on the perception of expatriate nurses towards their QWL and their turnover intention. A comparative study is required between PHC centres and hospitals as well as the public and private health sector agencies in terms of QWL and turnover intention of nursing personnel. Findings may differ from sector to sector according to variations in health systems, working environments and the case mix of patients.

Clergy Sexual Abuse Litigation: Survivors Seeking Justice By Jennifer M. Balboni (Boulder: First Forum Press, 2011, 180pp. £43.77)

Balboni identifies her interest as being the processes of official disclosure and the path taken to civil litigation by survivors of child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic Clergy. The empirical data, on which this work is based, come in the form of in-depth face-to-face interviews with 22 survivors of clergy sexual abuse who have pursued litigation and 13 of their advocates. Balboni provides a space for survivors’ accounts of the ‘why’ behind their decision making and the impact of civil litigation on their lives to be heard, discussed and contextualized with both clarity and sensitivity. She acknowledges the breadth and depth of survivor responses, and the perspectives of their legal advocates, employing defiance theory, symbolic interaction and other points of analysis, to capture the journey of survivors towards litigation and beyond. Balboni’s work is deeply poignant in its recognition of survivors’ voices, the complex transformative capacity of litigation, the effects of community forming amongst survivors and the complex nature of ‘empowerment’ obtained by survivors through civil litigation. Acknowledging that, for many survivors, litigation becomes a means of identity change and truth telling, Balboni admits that ‘these survivors helped me understand that litigation is more about voice than monetary settlement’ (p. 149). This work is not deeply analytical or theoretically rich but privileges the voices of survivors and their advocates with sufficient frameworks to contextualize and explain participants’ perspectives and experiences.

Soluble laminin and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid containing peptides differentially regulate type IV collagenase messenger RNA, activation, and localization in testicular cell culture

Rat testicular cells in culture produce several metalloproteinases including type IV collagenases (Sang et al. Biol Reprod 1990; 43:946-955, 956-964). We have now investigated the regulation of testicular cell type IV collagenase and other metalloprotemases in vitro. Soluble laminin stimulated Sertoli cell type IV collagenase mRNA levels. However, three peptides corresponding to different domains of the laminin molecule (CSRAKQAASIKVASADR, FALRGDNP, CLQDGDVRV) did not influence type IV collagenase mENA levels. Zyniographic analysis of medium collected from these cultures revealed that neither soluble laminin nor any of the peptides influenced 72-Wa type IV collagenase protein levels. However, peptide FALRGDNP resulted in both, a selective increase in two higher molecular-weight metalloprotemnases (83 kDa and 110 Wa and in an activation of the 72-Wa rat type IV collagenase. Interleukin-1, phorbol ester, testosterone, and FSH did not affect collagenase activation, lmmunocytochemical studies demonstrated that the addition of soluble laminin resulted in a redistribution of type IV collagenase from intracellular vesicles to the cell-substrate region beneath the cells. Peptide FALRGDNP induced a change from a vesicular to peripheral plasma membrane type of staining pattern. Zymography of plasma membrane preparations demonstrated triton-soluble gelatinases of 76 Wa, 83 Wa, and 110 Wa and a triton-insoluble gelatinase of 225 Wa, These results indicate that testicular cell type IV collagenase mRNA levels, enzyme activation, and distribution are influenced by laminin and RGD-containing peptides.

Adenovirus species C is associated with chronic suppurative lung diseases in children

Background The role of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in chronic respiratory disease pathogenesis is recognized. However, no studies have performed molecular sequencing of HAdVs from the lower airways of children with chronic endobronchial suppuration. We thus examined the major HAdV genotypes/species, and relationships to bacterial coinfection, in children with protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB) and mild bronchiectasis (BE). Methods Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples of 245 children with PBB or mild (cylindrical) BE were included in this prospective cohort study. HAdVs were genotyped (when possible) in those whose BAL had HAdV detected (HAdV+). Presence of bacterial infection (defined as ≥104 colony-forming units/mL) was compared between BAL HAdV+ and HAdV negative (HAdV−) groups. Immune function tests were performed including blood lymphocyte subsets in a random subgroup. Results Species C HAdVs were identified in 23 of 24 (96%) HAdV+ children; 13 (57%) were HAdV-1 and 10 (43%) were HAdV-2. An HAdV+ BAL was significantly associated with bacterial coinfection with Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, or Streptococcus pneumoniae (odds ratio [OR], 3.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.38–7.75; P = .007) and negatively associated with Staphylococcus aureus infection (P = .03). Young age was related to increased rates of HAdV+. Blood CD16 and CD56 natural killer cells were significantly more likely to be elevated in those with HAdV (80%) compared with those without (56.1%) (P = .027). Conclusions HAdV-C is the major HAdV species detected in the lower airways of children with PBB and BE. Younger age appears to be an important risk factor for HAdV+ of the lower airways and influences the likelihood of bacterial coinfection

The antigen 43 structure reveals a molecular velcro-like mechanism of autotransporter-mediated bacterial clumping

Aggregation and biofilm formation are critical mechanisms for bacterial resistance to host immune factors and antibiotics. Autotransporter (AT) proteins, which represent the largest group of outer-membrane and secreted proteins in Gram-negative bacteria, contribute significantly to these phenotypes. Despite their abundance and role in bacterial pathogenesis, most AT proteins have not been structurally characterized, and there is a paucity of detailed information with regard to their mode of action. Here we report the structure–function relationships of Antigen 43 (Ag43a), a prototypic self-associating AT protein from uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The functional domain of Ag43a displays a twisted L-shaped β-helical structure firmly stabilized by a 3D hydrogen-bonded scaffold. Notably, the distinctive Ag43a L shape facilitates self-association and cell aggregation. Combining all our data, we define a molecular “Velcro-like” mechanism of AT-mediated bacterial clumping, which can be tailored to fit different bacterial lifestyles such as the formation of biofilms.