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The high prevalence of child maltreatment requires innovative, scaleable solutions. Three community-wide surveys (2012, 2013, and 2016) in Touwsranten, South Africa, assessed parents’ positive parenting and corporal punishment; their mental health, substance misuse, parenting stress and intimate partner violence; children’s mental health; and interest in parenting support, in preparation for an intervention to support positive parenting. The first two surveys followed parents longitudinally. Focus group discussions were also held in 2017. Across surveys one and two, corporal punishment and positive parenting were reported as frequent. Child and parent mental health problems, parenting stress, intimate partner violence, and risky alcohol use increased across surveys 1 and 2 and remained steady at the third survey. Survey 3 revealed no change in corporal punishment, parent or child mental health, or intimate partner violence; reports of risky alcohol use and parenting stress increased; and there was a small increase in use of positive parenting strategies. Qualitative data suggested that corporal punishment, alcohol use, and intimate partner violence may have been under-reported. Parents indicated a desire for parenting support. The consequent intervention design included the delivery of four parenting programs alongside a social activation process intended to amplify the message of parenting programs, with the intention of increasing positive parenting and reducing corporal punishment community-wide.

Aggressogenic parenting styles are associated with increased rates of callous and unemotional traits, and in turn, with antisocial behaviours. Traumatic brain injury is also associated with antisocial behaviour, but not callous and unemotional traits specifically. No study has previously investigated these three variables, aggressogenic parenting, traumatic brain injury, and callous and unemotional traits, in a single study. The study setting was Cape Town, South Africa. The sample included high school boys (N= 54), aged 13–21 years in an observational, descriptive study. We hypothesised that boys who reported that they had sustained a traumatic brain injury and who had been exposed to aggressogenic parenting would display increased levels of callous and unemotional traits, and that those with traumatic brain injury but had experienced positive parenting would display lower levels of such traits. The main measures included the Comprehensive Health Assessment Tool, the Inventory of Callous/Unemotional traits, and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire. Results show that almost 41% (22/54) of participants reported sustaining a traumatic brain injury. Aggressogenic parenting significantly moderated callous and unemotional traits only in participants with traumatic brain injury, F(1.46) = 4.76, p= .03, while positive parenting and substance use did not. In conclusion, traumatic brain injury in the presence of aggressogenic parenting is associated with greater callous and unemotional traits in this sample of adolescent boys.

Issues are presented concerning the position of the lender in cases of lease defaults on equipment and machinery which poses an environmental hazard. The responsibility of the lender if contamination occurs are discussed.

The author tells lenders how to assess, prior to the loan transaction, the condition of real property secured as collateral to ensure that no hazardous environmental releases or discharges are occurring. The specific investigative and protective steps described by the author do not require loan officers to become environmental specialists and do not necessitate charging the potential borrower with fees so excessive that the borrower backs away from the deal.

Diabetes increases the risk for cognitive impairment and doubles the rate of cognitive decline after diagnosis. In turn, cognitive dysfunction makes diabetes self-management more difficult. Nurses who help manage these conditions are focused on identifying patients at risk for complications, promoting symptom management, and preventing further decline. The purpose of the current study was to develop and pilot test a nurse-led comprehensive cognitive training intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the Memory Attention and Problem Solving Skills in Persons With Diabetes Mellitus (MAPSS-DM). The 8-week intervention combined in-person classes and online computer training. Development included: (a) adaptation of established, tested interventions; (b) interviews with stakeholders; (c) integration of course content; and (d) pilot testing of the intervention in a one-group, pre-/posttest design (Diabetes increases the risk for cognitive impairment and doubles the rate of cognitive decline after diagnosis. In turn, cognitive dysfunction makes diabetes self-management more difficult. Nurses who help manage these conditions are focused on identifying patients at risk for complications, promoting symptom management, and preventing further decline. The purpose of the current study was to develop and pilot test a nurse-led comprehensive cognitive training intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the Memory Attention and Problem Solving Skills in Persons With Diabetes Mellitus (MAPSS-DM). The 8-week intervention combined in-person classes and online computer training. Development included: (a) adaptation of established, tested interventions; (b) interviews with stakeholders; (c) integration of course content; and (d) pilot testing of the intervention in a one-group, pre-/posttest design (N= 19). Postintervention scores improved in all areas; improvements were statistically significant for diet adherence (t[18] = −2.41, p< 0.005), memory ability (t[18] = 5.54, p< 0.01), and executive function (t[18] = 3.11, p< 0.01). Fifty-eight percent of participants stated the intervention helped their diabetes self-management, and 74% indicated they wanted to continue using cognitive strategies learned in the intervention. Results from this study showed the MAPSS-DM to be a promising cognitive training intervention for individuals with T2DM.Targets:Individuals with T2DM.Intervention Description:In-person classes and online computer training of a cognitive training intervention.Mechanisms of Action:Participants who completed the intervention would show improved cognitive function, which would result in improved self-management adherence followed by better glycemic control.Outcomes:Improved diabetes self-management and sustained use of learned cognitive strategies.[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2019; 12(4):203–212.]

Burgeoning research on the well-being of young people in recent years has made it difficult to identify conceptual gaps in the literature. We conducted a review of South African research in this area to better understand the use and measurement of the construct, as well as factors associated with it. The search of multiple databases identified 28 studies published in academic journals between 2000 and 2016. Within this period, studies that referred to well-being and its related subjective components varied significantly in terms of how they defined and operationalised these constructs, resulting in a fragmented body of work. The review highlights the need for a coherent research agenda in this area given the centrality of well-being research in promoting optimal outcomes in young people. Recommendations for strengthening South African research in this area are provided.

AbstractMigratory journeys beget questions of the self. How does time spent in transit, intermeshed in varying cultures, affect one’s identity? Moreover, how does it contribute to a character’s understanding of home, that deceptively simple term pointing to so much more than just one’s residence? Maryse Condé’s Heremakhononexplores the effect spatial positioning has on identity through protagonist Veronica Mercier. The text, originally written in French, explores Veronica’s triangular migration as a cultural, linguistic, and sexual journey in addition to merely geographical. Counterintuitive to expectations of migration, Veronica’s journey is a privileged return, despite the presence of political chaos that often prompts forcible displacement. This paper will unpack the notion of home to explore the manner in which Veronica discovers that home and the associated power of ancestral roots are within, despite presumptions about home as place.

When companies move into new offices and settle in for a few years, sometimes the furthest thing on their mind is renewing the lease. Most tenants do not focus on [...]

Potentially harmful stimuli are detected at the skin by nociceptor sensory neurons that drive rapid protective withdrawal reflexes and pain. We set out to define, at a millisecond timescale, the relationship between the activity of these sensory neurons and the resultant behavioral output. Brief optogenetic activation of cutaneous nociceptors was found to activate only a single action potential in each fiber. This minimal input was used to determine high-speed behavioral responses in freely behaving mice. The localized stimulus generated widespread dynamic repositioning and alerting sub-second behaviors whose nature and timing depended on the context of the animal and its position, activity, and alertness. Our findings show that the primary response to injurious stimuli is not limited, fixed, or localized, but is dynamic, and that it involves recruitment and gating of multiple circuits distributed throughout the central nervous system at a sub-second timescale to effectively both alert to the presence of danger and minimize risk of harm.

Introduction:Vegan diets are often encouraged for a myriad of health reasons, traditionally for control of blood lipid, cholesterol, and lipoprotein values. We proposed looking at other markers of health, including serum trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, or vitamin B12 in identical twins assigned to either a vegan or omnivore diet.Hypothesis:We hypothesized that the healthy vegan diet would lead to lower TMAO, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin (better), and lower vitamin B12 (worse) than the healthy omnivore diet.Methods:Identical twins were recruited and randomized to a healthy vegan or healthy omnivore diet. All twins consumed an omnivorous diet before enrollment. Meals were provided via a meal delivery service from baseline through week 4, with participants supplementing the delivered meals with their own diet adherent snacks. For delivered meals, both the healthy vegan and healthy omnivore diets were designed to consist of whole grains, legumes, and produce, with the main difference being omnivore diets provided ~1/3 of energy intake from animal-sourced foods. Participants prepared their own meals and snacks from weeks 5-8. Participants received nutrition education at baseline via orientation and were encouraged to choose “healthy” snacks, which for those on the vegan diet included legumes, nuts, seeds, and produce, and for those on the omnivore diet included dairy, nuts, seeds and produce. To assess compliance and intake, 24-hour dietary recalls were taken at weeks 0, 4, and 8. Clinical labs were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8 through Stanford Medicine and analyzed both onsite and at Washington University St. Louis.Results:No significant differences between baseline and 4 or 8 weeks were seen in serum TMAO, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, or vitamin B12 between vegan and omnivorous twins (n=44).Conclusions:Vegan diets are often encouraged for their health promoting benefits; however, a healthy omnivorous diet can lead to comparable clinical lab outcomes.Funding:This study was supported by a generous donor, by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH 5T32HL007034), and the Stanford Clinical and Translational Science Award (NIH UL1TR001085).

Introduction:Vegan diets, where animal- and all their by-products are excluded from the diet, have gained popularity. Growing evidence suggests potential cardiovascular benefits of vegan diets due to improvements in diet quality (i.e., higher consumption of vegetables, fruits whole grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds).Methods:The TwiNS randomized controlled trial examined the cardiometabolic impact of a healthy vegan diet compared to a healthy omnivorous diet (NCT05297825). These diets were examined in 22 pairs of identical twins, where one twin followed the vegan diet, and the other twin followed the omnivorous diet for 8 weeks. Diet specific meals were provided via a meal delivery service from baseline through week 4, and during weeks 5-8 participants prepared their own diet appropriate meals and snacks. The primary outcome was difference in LDL cholesterol from baseline to week 8. Secondary outcome measures included change in triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and body weight. Adherence to study diets, ease/difficulty in following the diets, participant energy levels, and sense of wellbeing were also measured. A linear mixed model was used to investigate a difference in the change in primary and secondary outcomes from baseline and included a random effect for twin pair, to account for the correlation between identical twins.Results:Participants were generally healthy adults, average age 39.6 years, primarily non-Hispanic White, and had an average BMI of 26.2. On average, twins randomized to the healthy vegan diet had decreased their LDL-cholesterol more after 8 weeks compared to twins on the healthy omnivorous diet (-15.2 vs. -2.3mg/dL, 95% CI: 4.3-24.8). Participants on the healthy vegan diet also had decreased their body weight more after 8 weeks (-1.9 vs. -0.29 kg, 95% CI: 0.9-3.0). No significant differences were observed between the vegan and omnivorous diets for secondary outcomes of triglycerides or HDL-C.Conclusion:This study contributes to growing evidence that vegan diets may offer a protective cardiometabolic advantage compared to a healthy, omnivorous diet. Further analyses of the TwINS trial will examine changes to the gut microbiome (i.e., microbial diversity), inflammatory markers, and other health factors.

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Skin grafts intended for autologous transplant may be dropped on the operating room floor during handling. The authors examined optimal procedures for decontaminating tissue intended for burn surgery. Porcine skin (5 × 5 cm sections) harvested from expired animals using standard procedures was inoculated with either 106CFU/ml Staphylococcus aureusor Klebsiella pneumoniae. Decontaminating strategies were compared: 10% povidone iodine, 0.04% chlorhexidine, or 50 U/ml bacitracin for injection, and mechanical agitation using normal saline or sterile water; each agent was applied for 60 seconds. Each skin section was blended and plated on agar for bacterial enumeration using the spread plate method. Tissue viability was evaluated in parallel using a cell viability reagent, along with a control (heat at 200°C for 5 min). Bacterial counts were log transformed; one-way ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer HSD analysis were performed. Concentration of organisms <105CFU/g was considered clinically insignificant colonization. Eight donors provided 21 S. aureusand six K. pneumoniaesamples. After exposure, mean organism concentration (CFU/g) was <105for povidone iodine (S. aureus2.83 × 104; K. pneumoniae1.85 × 104), chlorhexidine (S. aureus4.52 × 104; K. pneumoniae1.77 × 104), and normal saline (K. pneumoniae8.76 × 104) treated groups. After log transform, only povidone iodine and chlorhexidine were found to be different from control in both groups. Viability was decreased in the positive control group, but not in treatment groups. Agents routinely used for surgical skin prep (povidone iodine and chlorhexidine), reduced both Gram-positive and Gram-negative contamination in tissue intended for skin grafting procedures. Antiseptic treatments did not impair the cellular viability of porcine skin.

'The '90s-decade of the environment.' Perhaps this is an appropriate slogan. One thing is clear, however--environmental issues are at the forefront of public concern, and this is unlikely to change [...]

Abstract

Dear Editor, I would be interested to hear from colleagues who have had experience of (or who may be currently in the process of) establishing a practice nursing bank. I [...]

The frank loss of a large volume of skeletal muscle (i.e., volumetric muscle loss [VML]) can lead to functional debilitation and presents a significant problem to civilian and military medicine. Current clinical treatment for VML involves the use of free muscle flaps and physical rehabilitation; however, neither are effective in promoting regeneration of skeletal muscle to replace the tissue that was lost. Toward this end, skeletal muscle tissue engineering therapies have recently shown great promise in offering an unprecedented treatment option for VML. In the current study, we further extend our recent progress (Machingal et al., 2011, Tissue Eng; Corona et al., 2012, Tissue Eng) in the development of tissue engineered muscle repair (TEMR) constructs (i.e., muscle-derived cells [MDCs] seeded on a bladder acellular matrix (BAM) preconditioned with uniaxial mechanical strain) for the treatment of VML. TEMR constructs were implanted into a VML defect in a tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of Lewis rats and observed up to 12 weeks postinjury. The salient findings of the study were (1) TEMR constructs exhibited a highly variable capacity to restore in vivofunction of injured TA muscles, wherein TEMR-positive responders (n=6) promoted an ≈61% improvement, but negative responders (n=7) resulted in no improvement compared to nonrepaired controls, (2) TEMR-positive and -negative responders exhibited differential immune responses that may underlie these variant responses, (3) BAM scaffolds (n=7) without cells promoted an ≈26% functional improvement compared to uninjured muscles, (4) TEMR-positive responders promoted muscle fiber regeneration within the initial defect area, while BAM scaffolds did so only sparingly. These findings indicate that TEMR constructs can improve the in vivofunctional capacity of the injured musculature at least, in part, by promoting generation of functional skeletal muscle fibers. In short, the degree of functional recovery observed following TEMR implantation (BAM+MDCs) was 2.3×-fold greater than that observed following implantation of BAM alone. As such, this finding further underscores the potential benefits of including a cellular component in the tissue engineering strategy for VML injury.

Compartment syndrome (CS) is a serious complication arising from a variety of extremity injuries and resultant swelling within the fascicles of the muscle tissue. The current standard of care for CS is fasciotomy, which relieves the intracompartmental pressure of CS but inflicts further tissue damage. The development of new techniques to treat CS include angiogenic therapy, antifibrosis treatments, and stem cell therapy, all which aim to enhance tissue regeneration and functional recovery. Current rodent models of skeletal muscle injury do not accurately mimic the complex physiological tissue damage found in CS in human patients, and large-animal models of CS cannot be used as an experimental model of human cell therapy because of the lack of immunocompromised animals. We developed a rat model of CS that mimics the sequelae of the human condition. Compression of the hindlimb of rats using neonatal blood pressure cuffs maintaining 120 to 140 mmHg for 3 hours resulted in considerable muscular, vascular, and neural damage. Histological and functional analyses documented the initial degeneration and subsequent regeneration of the muscle tissue over time. The complex muscular, vascular, and neural injury observed in this model provides an ideal platform for testing cellular, biological, and pharmacological agents for the restoration of muscle volume and function.

A recent report demonstrated that a laboratory-grown neobladder tissue could be successfully used for cystoplasty in young patients with myelomeningocele who were otherwise healthy. This remarkable achievement portends well for the application of tissue engineering/regenerative medicine technologies to the treatment of end-organ failure due to a variety of causes (ie, congenital, acquired, age or disease related). Nonetheless, the broader clinical use of these groundbreaking technologies awaits improved understanding of endogenous regenerative mechanisms, more detailed knowledge of the boundary conditions that define the current limits for tissue repair and replacement in vivo, and the parallel development of critical enabling technologies (ie, improved cell source, biomaterials, bioreactors). This brief report will review a number of the most salient features and recent developments in this rapidly advancing area of medical research and detail some of our own experience with bladder and skeletal muscle regeneration and replacement as examples that highlight both the promise and challenges facing regenerative medicine/tissue engineering.

Research has identified a wide range of health conditions related to alcohol and drug use in studies conducted primarily in developed countries and in populations with severe alcohol and drug problems. Little is known about medical conditions in those with less severe alcohol and drug use in developing countries. We used WHO AUDIT and ASSIST screeners to identify hazardous drinking or drug use in public health clinics in Cape Town, South Africa, and included questions about doctor-diagnosed medical conditions. Using logistic regression we examined the relationship of medical conditions to hazardous alcohol, drug and tobacco use. Those with hazardous substance use had higher prevalence of many health conditions including tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, migraine, chronic bronchitis, and liver cirrhosis. Optimal treatment for some medical conditions may include treatment of underlying hazardous substance use, particularly use of drugs other than alcohol. In these populations, access to substance use treatment is limited and even brief interventions or advice may be useful.

Parenting interventions and conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes are promising strategies to reduce the risk of violence against children, but evidence of the effectiveness of combining such programmes is lacking for families in low- and middle-income countries with children over two years of age. This study examined the effectiveness of a locally adapted parenting programme delivered as part of a government CCT system to low-income families with children aged two to six years in Metro Manila, Philippines.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder involving benign growths in multiple organ systems of affected patients. Variable phenotypes from mild to severe have been reported for related as well as unrelated patients affected by TSC. The two causative genes, TSC1and TSC2, which code for hamartin and tuberin respectively, play central roles in regulating cell survival and proliferation signaling pathways. The severity of disease phenotypes of TSC patients is influenced by the activities of genes both up and down-stream in the associated pathways.

AbstractTraditionally teaching nursing students psychomotor skills took place in a laboratory setting; however, recent developments in computer technology have revolutionised how educators can transfer knowledge. To meet the need for an efficient and interactive learning experience a software product was required to educate nursing students about health assessment techniques. This paper presents how existing ‘old technology’ of a video was given new life by embracing new technology, resulting in development of an interactive CD-ROM with supporting WebCT. This innovation reflects a more flexible approach to learning as it is dynamic, portable, self-paced and more convenient for adult learners especially those in remote areas.

AbstractCareer paths selected by completing nursing students are of significant interest to educators and professional agencies. This paper presents part of a larger study which investigated students’ influences and motivations for selecting nursing as a career path. The aim of this study was to identify career goals of completing nursing students, what factors influence these goals, preferred areas in which to work and if aged care is considered a career option.. The study employed a cross sectional approach utilizing Ford’s (1986) taxonomy of human goals as a theoretical framework. A questionnaire was administered to 25 students in the final semester of their nursing degree. Preliminary findings showed goals for future practice were limited to midwifery and paediatrics whilst elder care was not perceived as a viable career option. Negative images of nurses continue to prevail and implications for nursing are considered. Despite the small sample, the study provides evidence that to provide suitable care for all members of the community it is essential that all career options within the profession are positively promoted.

As a first step toward understanding how noctuid moths evolve species-specific pheromone communication systems, we hybridized and backcrossed two closely related moth species, Heliothis virescens(Hv) and H. subflexa(Hs), which differ qualitatively and quantitatively in their multi-component sex pheromone blends. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker-based mapping of backcross families to determine which of the 30 autosomes in these moths contained quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling the percentages of specific chemical components in the pheromone blends. In two previous backcrosses to Hs, we found a strong depressive effect of Hv-chromosome 22 on the percentage of three acetate components in the pheromone gland. These acetates are present in Hs and absent in Hv. Here, we describe how we introgressed Hv-chromosome 22 into the genomic background of Hs. Selection for Hv-chromosome 22 started from backcross 3 (BC3) females. All females that had Hv-chromosome 22 and a low percentage of acetates (< 3% of the total amount of pheromone components present) were backcrossed to Hs males. In BC5to BC8, we determined whether Hv-chromosome 22 was present by a) running only the primer pairs that would yield the markers for that chromosome, and/or b) determining the relative percentages of acetates in the pheromone glands. Either or both genotype and phenotype were used as a criterion to continue to backcross these females to Hs males. In BC9, we confirmed the isolation of Hv-chromosome 22 in the Hs genomic background, and backcrossed the males to Hs females to eliminate the Hv-sex chromosome as well as mitochondrial DNA. The pheromone composition was determined in BC3, BC5, and BC11females with and without Hv-chromosome 22. All backcross females with Hv-chromosome 22 contained significantly less acetates than females without this chromosome. In addition, BC3females with Hv-chromosome 22 contained significantly more Z11-16:OH than BC3females without Hv-chromosome 22. However, in BC5and BC11females, the correlation between Z11-16:OH and Hv-chromosome 22 was lost, suggesting that there are separate QTL for the acetates and for Z11-16:OH, and that the relative amount of the alcohol component is only affected in epistasis with other (minor) QTL. Now that we have succeeded in isolating the chromosome that has a major effect on acetate production, we can test in behavioral experiments whether the presence of acetates may have been a driving force for a shift in pheromone composition. Such tests are necessary to move towards an evolutionary understanding of the differentiation in sexual communication in Heliothisspp. moths.

Objective — This study aimed to assess the reliability of an adaptation of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire for use in epidemiological investigations of adolescents' exposure to violence and related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.Method — The exposure items of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire were adapted for the South African context. The symptoms scale was left intact. Self-report questionnaires were administered on two occasions to 104 students in four high schools in Cape Town, South Africa. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Cohen's kappa (k) and observed agreement, as well as a concordance correlation coefficient for the symptoms scale. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency of the symptoms scale.Results — All but one item showed at least fair test-retest reliability. Cronbach's alpha for the symptoms scale was 0.92, and the concordance correlation coefficient between the total symptoms score at time 1 and time 2 was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.51-0.74).Conclusions — Results suggest that the instrument may be sufficiently reliable for use in epidemiological studies of adolescent populations, although this sample is limited in several key respects. Further studies should investigate reliability in broader samples, as well as examining validity.

AbstractTo raise children in a new country without the support of family and community may prove problematic for some women. This study explored the possible impact of a lack supportive social network on mothering. A cross sectional design using both quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative approaches (interview) was used to investigate the child rearing experience of migrant women from the United Kingdom (UK) (N=154) currently living in Western Australia (WA); 40 women were selected for interview.Bowlby’s (1969) mother-infant attachment theory provides the theoretical framework to investigate the perceived loss of attachment to the homeland, attachment figure, country, culture and family. The results indicated that migrant women with children missed the close support of family networks; and indicate that all migrant mothers, regardless of origin, require a social support network to survive.

The global shortage of nurses indicates that strategies must be in place to attract individuals to the profession. The purpose of this study was to explore the specific motivations/influences that encourage students to undertake a nursing career, their perceived status of nurses, their perceived goals as nurses and their future career pathways. The study involved a cross sectional approach using Ford’s (1986) taxonomy of human goals as a theoretical framework. A questionnaire was administered to 126 nursing students enrolled in the first semester of a nursing degree and 80 students in the final semester. Results revealed the image of nurses continues to be influenced by the media. Findings also show how the perceived status of nurses, within a hospital and community setting differ compared to other health care workers. This result highlights the participants’ lack of knowledge in regard to the role of professionals within the health care industry. Results have implications for nurse education (long and short term) in relation to the role of nurses.

Objective — Social disorganisation of communities, family bonds, school bonds, the peer group and age, have been shown to be related (either positively or negatively) to delinquency. This study addressed gaps in the literature by (1) using a large and randomly drawn sample of adolescents, within a large number of randomly selected communities; (2) investigating the influence of community social disorganisation directly on delinquency, while including in the same model the moderating effect of community social disorganisation on the micro-contexts of family, school, and peer group, as well as the direct effects of these micro-contexts; and (3) including age as a variable likely to have both direct effects on delinquency and moderating effects on the micro- and macro-level social contexts.Method — The public-use data set of Wave I of the (US) National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health was used. The model was tested using hierarchical linear modelling and included the social disorganisation of communities; adolescents' bonds to school and family, family controls and involvement with a deviant peer group; and age and its interaction with these social contexts.Results — Community social disorganisation was found to be positively related to delinquency, but effects of micro-level contexts were not found to be moderated by social disorganisation. Family bonds and controls, and school bonds, were negatively related to delinquency. No effect of peer group was found. Age was found to have a direct effect; effects of the interaction of age with family controls and age with school bonds were also significant.Conclusions — Results strengthen those from previous studies (using more limited samples) which show that integrated views of macro- and micro-level social contexts and developmental trends are necessary to understand delinquency.

Natural antibodies directed against cell surface carbohydrates are thought to be vital to host defense and to initiate the rejection of xenografts and ABO-incompatible allografts. The biophysical properties underlying the association and dissociation of these antibodies from cell surfaces is incompletely understood. We investigated those properties for the binding of Gal1-3Gal antibodies to porcine endothelial cell surfaces, because such interactions might be relevant to the clinical application of xenotransplantation.

AbstractCaring is synonymous with nursing and, regardless of the culture, race, lifestyle or sexuality of clients, nurses should care for all clients. However, the emergence of HIV/AIDS brought a new and quite different challenge to nurses with regard to willingness to care. Some nurses expressed a negative attitude toward, and reluctance to care for, those clients with HIV/AIDS, mainly due to fear of contagion based on ignorance about the disease.The purpose of this cross-sectional study was firstly to determine if there were differences in attitudes toward caring for clients with HIV/AIDS in the three different at-risk groups (homosexuals, intravenous drug users and haemophiliacs), as expressed by nursing students at the beginning (Semester 1) and at the end (Semester 7) of a three-and-a-half-year nursing degree programme. The second determination was whether or not there were differences between the two groups of students regarding their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Data results indicated no significant difference between the two groups of students in regard to caring attitude towards members of the at-risk groups and knowledge of AIDS. This paper discusses the implications of the research findings for nursing and further research.

Objective — This study aimed to assess the reliability of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale for epidemiological investigations of adolescents' symptoms.Method — Self-report questionnaires were administered on two occasions to 104 students in four private high schools in Cape Town, South Africa. Test-retest reliability was assessed using Cohen's kappa and observed agreement. Internal consistency of each scale was assessed using Cronbach's alpha.Resuls — All items of the BDI and all but four of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale had at least fair Kappa scores. The remaining four items of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale had reasonable observed agreement and reflect more transient states that are likely to change between administrations.Conclusions — The results give encouraging indication that these instruments may be reliable in developing contexts. However, the study is limited by a sample that is small and not sufficiently representative of the broader South African population. Future studies should include larger and more representative samples, in order to explore item bias in different race and gender subgroups. Validity also needs investigation.

Mice lacking the HSN2 form of the kinase WNK1 are protected from neuropathic pain due to nerve injury.