Self-efficacy and organizational commitment among Spanish nurses: the role of work engagement

Aim: The objective of this study was to verify the mediating role of work engagement between self-efficacy and affective organizational commitment on the basis of the Job Demands-Resources Model in a sample of Spanish nursing staff. Background: Affective organizational commitment is a key element, both for the permanence of nursing staff and for the provision of an excellent quality of care of health organizations. However, the relationships between self-efficacy, work engagement and affective commitment to the organization have been little explored within the nursing context. Methods: A total of 527 nursing professionals from Spanish public hospitals in Andalusia were surveyed, obtaining a convenience sample of 324 participants (52.96% nurses, 47.04% nursing assistants). The mediating role of work engagement was examined using structural equation modelling and the bootstrapping method. Results: The results showed that affective organizational commitment was positively predicted by self-efficacy and work engagement. Work engagement had a direct effect on affective organizational commitment, while the effect of self-efficacy on affective commitment was totally mediated by work engagement. Conclusions: The results give empirical support to the Job Demands-Resources Model, which raises the mediating role of work engagement between self-efficacy (personal resource) and affective organizational commitment (organizational result). Implications for nursing practice: Health organizations should be aware that a greater perception of efficacy beliefs and work engagement strengthens the affective bond with the organization, thus improving the corporate image of the health institution. Implications for nursing policy: Policy changes are necessary to create work environments that enhance the self-efficacy of nursing staff and generate high levels of work engagement, such as flexible training plans and informal support groups

Detection, Quantification and Monitoring of Prosopis in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa using Remote Sensing and GIS

Invasive Prosopis species pose a significant threat to biodiversity and  ecosystem services in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The objective of the study was to use Remote Sensing and Geographical  Information System (GIS) techniques to: (i) reveal areas susceptible to future invasion, (ii) describe the current extent and densities and, (iii)  reveal the spatial dynamics of Prosopis over the past 30 years in the  Northern Cape. Image classification products were generated using spectral analysis of seasonal profiles, various resolution image inputs, spectral indices and ancillary data. Classification approaches varied by scene and spatial resolution as well as application of the data. Coarse resolution  imagery and field data were used to create a probability map estimating the area vulnerable to Prosopis invasion using relationships between actual Prosopis occurrence, spectral response, soils and terrain unit. Multi-temporal Landsat images and a 500m x 500m point grid enabled vector analysis and statistical data to quantify the change in distribution and density as well as the spatial dynamics of Prosopis since 1974.  Fragmentation and change of natural vegetation was quantified using a combined cover density class, calculating patch density per unit (ha) for each biome. The extent of Prosopis cover in the Northern Cape Province reached 1.473 million ha or 4% of the total land area during 2007. The ability of the above mentioned remote sensing and GIS techniques to map the extent and densities of Prosopis in the study area demonstrated a high degree of accuracy (72%)

Symbiotic performance and characterization of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) Rhizobia occurring in South African soils

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is an important grain legume, which, like several other legumes, depends on the process of biological nitrogen fixation for its nitrogen (N2 ) requirement by forming a symbiotic association with rhizobia. Compared to other tropical legumes, however, the productivity of pigeonpea in South Africa is low, despite the extensive interests in developing it for wider markets. To assist this process, the objectives of the current study were to (i) characterize putative indigenous rhizobial strains that were previously derived from local soils with no previous history of legume cultivation and (ii) confirm their nodulation abilities on a local landrace and a genetically improved (exotic) genotype of pigeonpea. DNA-based analyses using the 16S rRNA and recA genes showed that the strains predominantly represented Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium, although we also recovered Phyllobacterium and Paraburkholderia. These rhizobia nodulated both the local landrace and the improved pigeonpea genotype that were included for comparative purposes. In many cases, rhizobia performed similarly on the two genotypes, although the locally sourced landrace mostly performed better in terms of nodulation and plant biomass. While the current study generated vital information regarding the diversity of indigenous rhizobia associating with pigeonpea, further screening (including field inoculation trials) would be necessary to identify possible elite nitrogen-fixing rhizobial strains for development as inoculants to enhance South African pigeonpea production.The University of Venda Research and Publications Committee.The University of Venda Research and Publications CommitteeBiochemistryGenetic

RENEB accident simulation exercise

Purpose: The RENEB accident exercise was carried out in order to train the RENEB participants in coordinating and managing potentially large data sets that would be generated in case of a major radiological event. Materials and methods: Each participant was offered the possibility to activate the network by sending an alerting email about a simulated radiation emergency. The same participant had to collect, compile and report capacity, triage categorization and exposure scenario results obtained from all other participants. The exercise was performed over 27 weeks and involved the network consisting of 28 institutes: 21 RENEB members, four candidates and three non-RENEB partners. Results: The duration of a single exercise never exceeded 10 days, while the response from the assisting laboratories never came later than within half a day. During each week of the exercise, around 4500 samples were reported by all service laboratories (SL) to be examined and 54 scenarios were coherently estimated by all laboratories (the standard deviation from the mean of all SL answers for a given scenario category and a set of data was not larger than 3 patient codes). Conclusions: Each participant received training in both the role of a reference laboratory (activating the network) and of a service laboratory (responding to an activation request). The procedures in the case of radiological event were successfully established and tested

Readability following cultural and linguistic adaptations of an Internet-based Intervention for Tinnitus for use in the United States

Purpose: An Internet-based tinnitus intervention for use in the United States could improve the provision of tinnitus-related services. Although such interventions have undergone clinical trials in Europe, the UK, and Australia, their suitability for adults with tinnitus in the US has not been established. The aim of this study was to improve the cultural and linguistic suitability, and lower the readability level, of an existing program for tinnitus to ensure its suitability for US English-and Spanish-speaking populations. Method: Guidelines for cultural adaptation were followed and involved four phases: (i) cultural adaptations, as interventions targeted at specific cultures have been shown to improve outcomes; (ii) creating Spanish materials to improve access of the materials to the large Spanish-speaking population in the US; (iii) professional review of the materials for acceptability as an intervention tool for a US population; and (iv) literacy level adjustments to make the content accessible to those with lower levels of health literacy skills. Results: Cultural adaptations were made by using word substitutions, changing examples and modifying the spelling of certain words. The materials were then translated into Spanish and cross-checked. Professional review ensured suitability of the chapters. Literacy level adjustments ensured all chapters were within the guidelines for readability grade levels below the 6th-grade level. Conclusions: The previously developed tinnitus materials were revised to adhere to best practice guidelines and ensure cultural suitability for adults with tinnitus in the US. As it is also available in Spanish, members of the large Hispanic community also have access to the intervention in their first language. Further studies should determine whether these changes improve patients’ self-efficacy, engagement, and motivation to complete the intervention

An overview of the first decade of PollyNET : an emerging network of automated Raman-polarization lidars for continuous aerosol profiling

© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 LicenseA global vertically resolved aerosol data set covering more than 10 years of observations at more than 20 measurement sites distributed from 63° N to 52° S and 72° W to 124° E has been achieved within the Raman and polarization lidar network PollyNET. This network consists of portable, remote-controlled multiwavelength-polarization-Raman lidars (Polly) for automated and continuous 24/7 observations of clouds and aerosols. PollyNET is an independent, voluntary, and scientific network. All Polly lidars feature a standardized instrument design with different capabilities ranging from single wavelength to multiwavelength systems, and now apply unified calibration, quality control, and data analysis. The observations are processed in near-real time without manual intervention, and are presented online at http://polly.tropos.de/. The paper gives an overview of the observations on four continents and two research vessels obtained with eight Polly systems. The specific aerosol types at these locations (mineral dust, smoke, dust-smoke and other dusty mixtures, urban haze, and volcanic ash) are identified by their Ångström exponent, lidar ratio, and depolarization ratio. The vertical aerosol distribution at the PollyNET locations is discussed on the basis of more than 55 000 automatically retrieved 30 min particle backscatter coefficient profiles at 532 nm as this operating wavelength is available for all Polly lidar systems. A seasonal analysis of measurements at selected sites revealed typical and extraordinary aerosol conditions as well as seasonal differences. These studies show the potential of PollyNET to support the establishment of a global aerosol climatology that covers the entire troposphere.Peer reviewe

Pathogenic mycobacteria achieve cellular persistence by inhibiting the Niemann-Pick Type C disease cellular pathway

Background. Tuberculosis remains a major global health concern. The ability to prevent phagosome-lysosome fusion is a key mechanism by which intracellular mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, achieve long-term persistence within host cells. The mechanisms underpinning this key intracellular pro-survival strategy remain incompletely understood. Host macrophages infected with intracellular mycobacteria share phenotypic similarities with cells taken from patients suffering from Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC), a rare lysosomal storage disease in which endocytic trafficking defects and lipid accumulation within the lysosome lead to cell dysfunction and cell death. We investigated whether these shared phenotypes reflected an underlying mechanistic connection between mycobacterial intracellular persistence and the host cell pathway dysfunctional in NPC.  Methods. The induction of NPC phenotypes in macrophages from wild-type mice or obtained from healthy human donors was assessed via infection with mycobacteria and subsequent measurement of lipid levels and intracellular calcium homeostasis. The effect of NPC therapeutics on intracellular mycobacterial load was also assessed.  Results. Macrophages infected with intracellular mycobacteria phenocopied NPC cells, exhibiting accumulation of multiple lipid types, reduced lysosomal Ca 2+ levels, and defects in intracellular trafficking. These NPC phenotypes could also be induced using only lipids/glycomycolates from the mycobacterial cell wall. These data suggest that intracellular mycobacteria inhibit the NPC pathway, likely via inhibition of the NPC1 protein, and subsequently induce altered acidic store Ca 2+ homeostasis. Reduced lysosomal calcium levels may provide a mechanistic explanation for the reduced levels of phagosome-lysosome fusion in mycobacterial infection. Treatments capable of correcting defects in NPC mutant cells via modulation of host cell calcium were of benefit in promoting clearance of mycobacteria from infected host cells.  Conclusion. These findings provide a novel mechanistic explanation for mycobacterial intracellular persistence, and suggest that targeting interactions between the mycobacteria and host cell pathways may provide a novel avenue for development of anti-TB therapies