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Introduction: The shortage of nursing staff is a major problem in an ageing population. One of the reasons for leaving the profession is an unsupportive working environment, including bullying. The aim of this study is to gain an in-depth insight into nurses' perceptions of workplace bullying. Methods: A qualitative descriptive interpretive method was used. A semi-structured interview was used to collect data. Nine nurses from all levels of healthcare participated in the study. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was used to analyse the data. Results: Respondents described in detail their views on bullying in nursing and their personal experiences. Data analysis identified five themes: (1) causes of workplace bullying, (2) experiences of workplace bullying, (3) characteristics of perpetrators and victims, (4) ways of responding to and coping with bullying, and (5) consequences of workplace bullying. This study provides a comprehensive examination of nurses' perceptions of workplace bullying, underscoring its pervasiveness in healthcare settings. It underscores the imperative for organisational interventions to mitigate its impact. Conclusion: To improve conditions in healthcare and reduce bullying, it is necessary to implement organisational changes that focus on zero-tolerance policies, staff education, and improved staff relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and land‐use change are key drivers of global change. Full‐factorial field experiments in which both drivers are manipulated are essential to understand and predict their potentially interactive effects on the structure and functioning of grassland ecosystems. Here, we present 8 years of data on grassland dynamics from the Global Change Experimental Facility in Central Germany. On large experimental plots, temperature and seasonal patterns of precipitation are manipulated by superimposing regional climate model projections onto background climate variability. Climate manipulation is factorially crossed with agricultural land‐use scenarios, including intensively used meadows and extensively used (i.e., low‐intensity) meadows and pastures. Inter‐annual variation of background climate during our study years was high, including three of the driest years on record for our region. The effects of this temporal variability far exceeded the effects of the experimentally imposed climate change on plant species diversity and productivity, especially in the intensively used grasslands sown with only a few grass cultivars. These changes in productivity and diversity in response to alterations in climate were due to immigrant species replacing the target forage cultivars. This shift from forage cultivars to immigrant species may impose additional economic costs in terms of a decreasing forage value and the need for more frequent management measures. In contrast, the extensively used grasslands showed weaker responses to both experimentally manipulated future climate and inter‐annual climate variability, suggesting that these diverse grasslands are more resistant to climate change than intensively used, species‐poor grasslands. We therefore conclude that a lower management intensity of agricultural grasslands, associated with a higher plant diversity, can stabilize primary productivity under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenological shifts due to changing climate are often highly species and context specific. Land‐use practices such as mowing or grazing directly affect the phenology of grassland species, but it is unclear if plants are similarly affected by climate change in differently managed grassland systems such as meadows and pastures. Functional traits have a high potential to explain phenological shifts and might help to understand species‐specific and land‐use‐specific phenological responses to changes in climate. In the large‐scale field experiment Global Change Experimental Facility (GCEF), we monitored the first flowering day, last flowering day, flowering duration, and day of peak flowering, of 17 herbaceous grassland species under ambient and future climate conditions, comparing meadows and pastures. Both climate and land use impacted the flowering phenology of plant species in species‐specific ways. We did not find evidence for interacting effects of climate and land‐use type on plant phenology. However, the data indicate that microclimatic and microsite conditions on meadows and pastures were differently affected by future climate, making differential effects on meadows and pastures likely. Functional traits, including the phenological niche and grassland utilization indicator values, explained species‐specific phenological climate responses. Late flowering species and species with a low mowing tolerance advanced their flowering more strongly under future climate. Long flowering species and species following an acquisitive strategy (high specific leaf area, high mowing tolerance, and high forage value) advanced their flowering end more strongly and thus more strongly shortened their flowering under future climate. We associated these trait–response relationships primarily with a phenological drought escape during summer. Our results provide novel insights on how climate and land use impact the flowering phenology of grassland species and we highlight the role of functional traits in mediating phenological responses to climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whereas temporal variability of plant phenology in response to climate change has already been well studied, the spatial variability of phenology is not well understood. Given that phenological shifts may affect biotic interactions, there is a need to investigate how the variability in environmental factors relates to the spatial variability in herbaceous species' phenology by at the same time considering their functional traits to predict their general and species-specific responses to future climate change. In this project, we analysed phenology records of 148 herbaceous species, which were observed for a single year by the PhenObs network in 15 botanical gardens. For each species, we characterised the spatial variability in six different phenological stages across gardens. We used boosted regression trees to link these variabilities in phenology to the variability in environmental parameters (temperature, latitude and local habitat conditions) as well as species traits (seed mass, vegetative height, specific leaf area and temporal niche) hypothesised to be related to phenology variability. We found that spatial variability in the phenology of herbaceous species was mainly driven by the variability in temperature but also photoperiod was an important driving factor for some phenological stages. In addition, we found that early-flowering and less competitive species characterised by small specific leaf area and vegetative height were more variable in their phenology. Our findings contribute to the field of phenology by showing that besides temperature, photoperiod and functional traits are important to be included when spatial variability of herbaceous species is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Phenology has emerged as key indicator of the biological impacts of climate change, yet the role of functional traits constraining variation in herbaceous species' phenology has received little attention. Botanical gardens are ideal places in which to investigate large numbers of species growing under common climate conditions. We ask whether interspecific variation in plant phenology is influenced by differences in functional traits.We recorded onset, end, duration and intensity of initial growth, leafing out, leaf senescence, flowering and fruiting for 212 species across five botanical gardens in Germany. We measured functional traits, including plant height, absolute and specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf carbon and nitrogen content and seed mass and accounted for species' relatedness.Closely related species showed greater similarities in timing of phenological events than expected by chance, but species' traits had a high degree of explanatory power, pointing to paramount importance of species' life‐history strategies. Taller plants showed later timing of initial growth, and flowered, fruited and underwent leaf senescence later. Large‐leaved species had shorter flowering and fruiting durations.Taller, large‐leaved species differ in their phenology and are more competitive than smaller, small‐leaved species. We assume climate warming will change plant communities' competitive hierarchies with consequences for biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of KONTAKT - Journal of Nursing & Social Sciences related to Health & Illness is the property of University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Lilloa is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dr. Caitlin Moyer discusses the implications, for women globally, of restricting access to abortion care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in phenology induced by climate change occur across the globe with important implications for ecosystem functioning and services, species performance and trophic interactions. Much of the work on phenology, especially leaf out and flowering, has been conducted on woody plant species. Less is known about the responses in phenology of herbaceous species induced by global change even though they represent a large and important part of biodiversity worldwide. A globally coordinated research effort is needed to understand the drivers and implications of such changes and to predict effects of global change on plant species phenology and related ecosystem processes.Here, we present the rationale of the PhenObs initiative—botanical gardens as a global phenological observation network. The initiative aims to collect data on plant phenology in botanical gardens which will be used alongside information on plant traits and site conditions to answer questions related to the consequences of global change: What is the variation in plant phenology in herbaceous species across the growing season and in response to changes in climate?How can plant phenology be predicted from species' trait composition, provenance, position and extent of the distribution range and species' phylogeny?What are the implications of this variation with respect to species performance and assembly, biotic interactions (e.g. plant–pollinator interactions) as well as ecosystem processes and services under changing land use and climate?Here, we lay out the development of a straightforward protocol that is appropriate for monitoring phenology across a vast diversity of growth forms of herbaceous species from various habitats and geographical regions.To focus on a key number of stages necessary to capture all aspects of plant species phenology, we analysed associations between 14 phenological stages. These data were derived from a 2‐year study on 199 species in four German botanical gardens.Based on the relationships of the phenological stages, we propose to monitor three vegetative stages ('initial growth', 'leaves unfolding' and 'senescence') and two reproductive stages ('flowers open' and 'ripe fruits') to fully capture herbaceous species phenology. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger joints with standard geometries and adhesives used for joining coniferous wood are not sufficient in terms of strength when gluing beech wood. A numerical model of finger joined beech lamellas was prepared and simulations of tension tests were made. Parametric studies with multiple variables referring to geometrical properties of finger joints and two different types of applied adhesives were performed. The results showed a high influence of the finger joint geometrical parameters. Experimental tests on the tension strength of the finger joints were performed. To validate the numerical model, 20 mm long finger joints were produced and tested. Two types of adhesives were used, MUF and PRF. The finger joints were pressed under two different pressures. Prior to tension testing, the dynamic modulus of elasticity was measured with a strength grading machine and strength grade assignments were made. The influence of joining of the boards on the dynamic modulus of elasticity was analysed. The results of the tension tests of the finger joints showed a clear influence of the finger joint geometry, where highest strengths were obtained with longer and thinner fingers, while the influence of the adhesive seems to decrease with the length of finger joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the functional and structural influences on posture abnormalities and how they contribute to the development of low back pain (LBP). An example of postural change that leads to functional LBP which is caused by postural abnormalities and poor mechanics during participation in work, sport or recreational activities, is presented. The structural defect called spondylolysis is the most frequent cause of structural LBP in adolescents. It discusses the interrelationship between functional and structural LBP.

Athletes with Nail-Patella Syndrome (NPS) face unique challenges in athletic participation.Fingernail abnormalities are the most common deformity found in persons with NPS.NPS deformities include small, irregularly square-shaped patellae or completely absent patellae.Athletes with NPS often have range of motion limitations in elbow extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes how Nail-Patella Syndrome (NPS) manifests itself in high school athletes. It is reported that NPS is a genetic disorder that causes skeletal deformities, especially in the fingernails and patella bones. The author suggests that athletes with NPS often have range of motion limitations in their elbows and knees.

To create multi-functional and integrated project teams, and to adopt a team perspective in the early design stages, it is recognised in the literature that a more effective process is required; one that reduces the probability of costly changes and difficulties during construction. This paper presents an evaluation of project team collaboration during early design and development of construction documents for bridges in Sweden. The purpose was to study key variables influencing the performance of integrated project teams by using importance performance analysis (IPA). A self-evaluation questionnaire addressed clients, contractors, and structural engineering consultants in the Swedish bridge construction industry. The questionnaire addressed three essential cornerstones of value-creation during the engineering design process; culture, structure and competence. These were addressed at three organisational hierarchy levels, the organisation, project, and the individual level. Our results show that increased support and resources are required at the project level for better project team performance. Results further identify that project culture needs to be developed including both collaboration and social relationships as well as project competence, especially the ability to solve mutual issues. This research offers a 'generalised' and prioritised view of the challenges in the Swedish bridge construction industry in terms of creating integrated project teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a multi-level strategy with increased complexity through four levels of structural analysis of concrete bridges. The concept was developed to provide a procedure that supports enhanced assessments with better understanding of the structure and more precise predictions of the load-carrying capacity. In order to demonstrate and examine the multi-level strategy, a continuous multi-span prestressed concrete girder bridge, tested until shear failure, was investigated. Calculations of the load-carrying capacity at the initial level of the multi-level strategy consistently resulted in underestimated capacities, with the predicted load ranging from 25% to 78% of the tested failure load, depending on the local resistance model applied. The initial assessment was also associated with issues of localising the shear failure accurately and, consequently, refined structural analysis at an enhanced level was recommended. Enhanced assessment using nonlinear finite element (FE) analysis precisely reproduced the behaviour observed in the experimental test, capturing the actual failure mechanism and the load-carrying capacity with less than 4% deviation to the test. Thus, the enhanced level of assessment, using the proposed multi-level strategy, can be considered to be accurate, but the study also shows the importance of using guidelines for nonlinear FE analysis and bridge-specific information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented in which the editor discusses the various articles published within the issue on such topics as machine learning (ML) in health care and medicine, ML in coronary ischemia diagnosis, and ML in pneumonia diagnosis via chest radiography.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003974.]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this month's editorial, the PLOS Medicine Editors discuss the challenges of addressing a growing population with Alzheimer disease and dementia amidst disappointing news from the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In PLOS Medicine's first editorial of 2018, editorial board members and other leading researchers share their hopes, pleas, concerns, and expectations for this year in health research and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of April 28, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported 6,009 civilian casualties of this brutal conflict (comprising 2,829 people killed and 3,180 injured), noting that the true figures are expected to be considerably higher [[1]]. The Russian Federation's "special military operation" in Ukraine began on February 24 and, at the time of writing, shows no sign of abating. [Extracted from the article]

Call for Papers: PLOS Medicine Special Issue on Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance - Surveillance and Prevention The guest editors and I PLOS Medicine i editors seek high-quality and high-impact research submissions related to the main drivers, surveillance and prevention of bacterial antimicrobial resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income settings. The editors of I PLOS Medicine i , together with guest editors Timothy Walsh, Ramanan Laxminarayan and Ana Cristina Gales, announce a forthcoming Special Issue dedicated to bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). [Extracted from the article]

The Laboratory of Aviation Safety and Security at CTU in Prague has recently started a project aimed at runway protection zones. The probability of exceeding by a certain distance from the runway in common incident/accident scenarios (takeoff/ landing overrun/veer-off, landing undershoot) is being identified relative to the runway for any airport. As a result, the size and position of safety areas around runways are defined for the chosen probability. The basis for probability calculation is a probabilistic model using statistics from more than 1400 real-world cases where jet airplanes have been involved over the last few decades. Other scientific studies have contributed to understanding the issue and supported the model's application to different conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a multi-level assessment strategy for reinforced concrete bridge deck slabs. The strategy is based on the principle of successively improved evaluation in structural assessment. It provides a structured approach to the use of simplified as well as advanced non-linear analysis methods. Such advanced methods have proven to possess great possibilities of achieving better understanding of the structural response and of revealing higher load-carrying capacity of existing structures. The proposed methods were used for the analysis of previously tested two-way slabs subjected to bending failure and a cantilever slab subjected to a shear type of failure, in both cases loaded with concentrated loads. As expected, the results show that more advanced methods yield an improved understanding of the structural response and are capable of demonstrating higher, yet conservative, predictions of the load-carrying capacity. Nevertheless, the proposed strategy clearly provides the engineering community a framework for using successively improved structural analysis methods for enhanced assessment in a straightforward manner. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For the 2016 end-of-the-year editorial, the PLOS Medicine editors asked 7 global health leaders to discuss developments relevant to the equitable provision of medical care to all populations. The result is a collection of expert views on ethical trial design, research during outbreaks, high-burden infectious diseases, diversity in research and protection of migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On our 15th anniversary, the PLOS Medicine editors discuss progress in open access, medical publishing and the journal's mission over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PLOS Medicine Editors discuss migrant and refugee health, and announce a forthcoming special issue devoted to the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PLOS Medicine Editors discuss issues of vaccination uptake in the context of recent and ongoing measles outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004102.]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the efficiency of new structures and perform safety evaluations of existing structures, it is necessary to model and analyse the non-linear behaviour of reinforced concrete. The applicability of the safety formats in present design codes is unclear for indeterminate structures subjected to loading in several directions. The safety formats in fib Model Code 2010 have been evaluated for a reinforced concrete frame subjected to vertical and horizontal loading and the influence of load history studied. Basic reliability methods were used together with response surfaces to assess the failure probabilities and one safety format did not meet the intended safety level. The results indicate the importance of load history and it is concluded that more research is required regarding how load history influences the safety level of complex structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this month's editorial, the PLOS Medicine editors note recent progress towards data sharing as the community norm in medical research and the barriers that remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the year-end editorial, the PLOS Medicine editors ask 11 researchers and clinicians about the most relevant challenges, promising research, and important initiatives in their fields as we head into 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PLOS Medicine Editors reflect on the future of research reporting checklists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this month's editorial, the PLOS Medicine Editors discuss the role of preprints in human health research and propose a 3-part framework for ensuring benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PLOS Medicine Editors take stock of changes in the reporting of observational studies following our new transparency guidelines from August 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Comechingonia: Revista de Arqueología is the property of Comechingonia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many studies on the structural effects of corrosion in reinforcement have been conducted. However, most of them are based on artificially corroded test specimens. Thus, the knowledge available entails one major uncertainty, i.e. whether the results are reliable enough to be used for naturally corroded structures. The purpose of this study was to develop a test method and carry out experiments on naturally corroded specimens taken from an existing structure to investigate the anchorage capacity. Beam specimens were taken from the edge beams of a bridge at repair. The specimens showed corrosion-induced damage to a varying extent from no sign of corrosion to extensive cracking and spalling of the concrete cover. A four-point bending test indirectly supported by suspension hangers was chosen. The beams were strengthened with transverse reinforcement around the suspension hangers to avoid premature failure. Eight successful tests were carried out; in all these tests, diagonal shear cracks preceded a splitting induced pull-out failure; i.e. anchorage failure was achieved as intended. The results showed around 10 % lower capacity for the corroded specimens than for the reference ones. The average bond stress in the anchorage zone was estimated based on the applied load and available anchorage length. The stress was about 16 % lower in the beams with corrosion cracks, and 9 % lower in the beams with cover spalling compared to the reference specimens; there was also a larger variation among the damaged specimens than for the reference specimens. The results extend our knowledge concerning the structural behaviour of corroded reinforced concrete structures during field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proustia is an Andean genus traditionally considered to have three species and ten infraspecific taxa, which has often been placed in tribes other than Nassauvieae mainly because of its distinctive style features. Currently, each of the three species of Proustia is included in its own section denoting a consistent morphological variability within the genus. The heterogeneity among Proustia species mainly relies on habit, spiny structures arrangement, capitula arrangement, and pappus features. On the contrary, the forms or varieties within each species are apparently more homogeneous. The phylogenetic analysis performed here is based on morphological features and includes all the species, and all but two varieties and forms of Proustia. We test the boundaries of Proustia and the hypothesis that morphological discontinuities in the genus are phylogenetically uninformative. A total of 26 taxa and 29 morphological, anatomical, and palynological characters were studied. A maximum parsimony analysis yield six most parsimonious trees that showed almost identical topologies. Our results do not support the current generic concept of Proustia. Independently, each species of Proustia was monophyletic when taxa at sub-specific level were considered. Proustia pyrifolia was retrieved sister to the genus Berylsimpsonia although this clade did not obtain significant support. The spiny structures usually referred to as diagnostic for Proustia are not homologous for the genus. Characteristics of habit, spiny structures, secondary inflorescences and pappus support clades representing each species of Proustia, which may in turn, represent different genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]