An exploration of nurse preceptors’ perspectives of a pre-registration nursing clinical preceptorship programme in an acute hospital context in Egypt: A constructivist grounded theory approach

Background: The proposed reforms of Egyptian nursing education are based on competencies to achieve well-educated nurse graduates. There is a shortage of clinical faculty and increasing demands for nurse preceptors to act as clinical instructors. There is no national framework to prepare nurse preceptors or clinical instructors, nor a clear framework for implementation of an evidence-based competency-based pre-licensure internship. Research is needed to explore factors influencing the preparation of preceptors and preceptorship programme priorities in the nursing context in Egypt. Aim: To explore preceptors’ perspective of their previous preceptorship experiences and the factors that influence their professional role and development while introducing competency-based internship in an acute critical care hospital in Egypt. Purpose: To develop a contextual preceptorship model to help prepare professional nurse preceptors as clinical leaders within their organizations. Methodology: A qualitative inquiry approach was used with two phases of spiral Constructivist Grounded Theory to develop the proposed theoretical themes. The first study phase engaged semi-structured interviews and comparative analysis of data to construct initial codes. The second phase shared theoretical sampling with participant focus groups. Further data verified initial codes and analysis continued until theoretical themes emerged. Results: The concepts of self-awareness and self-esteem become first steps in an over-arching theme of developing preceptors as lifelong learners. These concepts emerged from the core themes of, ‘Education misalignment issues’, ‘Preceptor selection criteria’ and ‘Developing preceptors as lifelong learners. Discussion: The study analyzed findings with comparison to relevant research literature. A contextualized developmental model of competency-based preceptorship programme is proposed as based on four key phases ‘Discovery’, ‘Selection’, ‘Socialization’ and ‘Development’. Conclusion: A critical component of the conceptual model is improving self-esteem through promoting self-awareness. The proposed program can help academic and hospital leaders to sustain the competency-based internship, orientation and preceptorship to improve the quality of nursing care

The Dilemma of Maternity between Need and Duty: A Feminist Reading of Doris Lessing's the Fifth Child

Doris Lessing is widely known as one of the most celebrated contemporary female writers in English literature. Unlike other feminist writers who advocate equality between women and men, Lessing’s feminism is mainly concerned with defending women in the context of the different social pressures they are exposed to in a given society. The Fifth Child is one of Lessing novels in which she adopts the implicit feminist approach in portraying the character of Harriet Lovatt. Harriet Lovatt wants to lead a free life disregarding the conventions of marriage and maternal life in the sixties by getting married to David and having a large family. Therefore, she is scapegoated by her society for deviating from the prevailing norms. The main aim of the study is to analyze The Dilemma of Maternity between need and obligation, based on the Feminist Reading of Doris Lessing's the Fifth Child. The study demonstrates that how Harriet has to adapt to her adverse situation and, in doing so, she has to overcome a lot of hardships in the process of constructing a new self. In a word, Lessing wants to underscore how the condition of any woman who wants to live on her own is worsened just because of deviating from the prevailing norms in her community. Moreover, in this study, we attempt to point out the maternity dilemma in today’s society, and finally, draw some conclusion

An Efficient Measure for Nonlinear Distortion Severity due to HPA in Downlink DS-CDMA Signals

This paper deals with the nonlinear distortion (NLD) effects of high power amplifiers (HPAs) on direct sequence-code division multiple access systems. Such a distortion drastically degrades the system performance in terms of bit error rate (BER) degradation and spectral regrowth. Much effort has been conducted to minimize NLD. A key requirement to do so is to define a certain measure for the HPA nonlinearity, which when reduced often allows NLD to also be reduced. Several measures were proposed such as peak-to-average power ratio, instantaneous power variance, and cubic metric. In this paper, we show that such measures are not closely related to NLD and their reduction does not always lead to optimum performance. Hence, we introduce an efficient measure, namely, nonlinearity severity (NLS), to characterize NLD effects, as an alternative to the existing measures. The NLS is characterized by having direct link to the system performance as it is formulated based on the signal characteristics contributing to BER performance and spectral regrowth. Additionally, a major advantage of the NLS measure is that it is linked to the IBO level allowing

Biochemical and Histological Study of Aminoacylase-1 Purified from Amniotic Fluid in Rats with Oxidative Stress Induced by Lead Acetate

تضمن البحث فصل ودراسة إنزيم أمينواسيليز-1 (ACY1) من السائل الأمنيوني للحوامل  الاصحاء، إذ تم فصل حزمة رئيسية واحدة فقط ذات فعالية عالية بتقنية التبادل الايوني السالب نوع DEAE-cellulose للراسب البروتيني الناتج عن ترسيب البروتينات باستخدام كبريتات الامونيوم (65%) بعد عملية الفرز الغشائي، اذ وصلت عدد مرات التنقية الى (19) مرة, وعند استخدام عمود الترشيح الهلامي باستخدام سيفادكس من نوع G-100 تم الحصول على نقاوة عالية للإنزيم وصلت عدد مرات التنقية له الى (38), وقد وجد ان الوزن الجزيئي لإنزيم المعزولة كان بحدود 46698 دالتون عند استخدام تقنية كروماتوغرافي الترشيح الهلامي. درس تأثير إنزيم  ACY1المعزول على الجرذان المصابين بالإجهاد التأكسدي المستحدث بخلات الرصاص (LA) بجرعة 40 ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذي وتمت مقارنتها مع الطبيعيين وذلك من خلال قياس المتغيرات الكيموحيوية المختارة والتي تضمنت: الكلوتاثايون (GSH) والمالوندايالديهايد(MDA) وإنزيم اسبارتيت أمينوترانسفريز (AST) وإنزيم ألانين أمينوترانسفريز(ALT) وكذلك من خلال الفحص النسيجي للكبد والكلية. اذ أظهرت النتائج ارتفاعاً معنوياً في مستويات (MDA وAST وِALT) وانخفاضها في مستوى (GSH) مقارنة مع مجموعة السيطرة السالبة، كما لوحظ ان هناك انخفاضاً معنوياً في مستويات (MDA وAST وِALT) وارتفاع في GSH عند حقن إنزيم ACY1 4  ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذي مع LA بجرعة 40 ملغم /كغم. وأظهرت نتائج الفحص النسيجي وجود تغيرات مرضية عالية لأنسجة الكبد للجرذان المعاملة بمادة LA 40 ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذان عند مقارنتها مع الطبيعيين، لقد حصل تحسن لأنسجة الكبد والكلية عند استخدام إنزيم ACY1 4  ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذان مع LA، وهذه النتائج تثبت دور انزيم ACY1 في الحماية من الاجهاد التأكسدي والتقليل من حدة الأمراض المختلفة. درس تأثير إنزيم  ACY1المعزول على الجرذان المصابين بحالة الكرب التأكسدي المستحدث بواسطة خلات الرصاص بجرعة 40 ملغم /كغم من وزن الجسم ومقارنتها مع الجرذان الطبيعيين وذلك من خلال قياس المتغيرات الكيموحيوية المختارة والتي تضمنت: الكلوتاثايون (GSH) والمالوندايالديهايد(MDA) وإنزيم اسبارتيت أمينوترانسفريز (AST) وإنزيم ألانين أمينوترانسفريز(ALT) وكذلك من خلال الفحص النسيجي للكبد والكلية. اذ أظهرت النتائج ارتفاعاً معنوياً في مستويات (MDA وAST وِALT) وانخفاضها في مستوى (GSH) مقارنة مع مجموعة السيطرة، كما لوحظ ان هناك انخفاضاً معنوياً في مستويات (MDA وAST وِALT) وارتفاع مستوى GSH عند استخدام الإنزيم المعزول بجرع4  ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذان مع خلات الرصاص بجرعة 40 ملغم /كغم. وأظهرت نتائج الفحص النسيجي وجود تغيرات مرضية عالية لأنسجة الكبد للجرذان المعاملة بخلات الرصاص بجرعة 40 ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذان عند مقارنتها مع الجرذان الطبيعيين، وحصول حالة تحسن لأنسجة الكبد والكلية عند استخدام الإنزيم المعزول بجرع 4  ملغم /كغم من وزن الجرذان مع خلات الرصاص، وهذه النتائج تثبت دور الإنزيم المعزول في حماية الجسم من الكرب التأكسدي والتقليل من حدة الأمراض الناتجة عنه.This work involves separating and studying the aminoacylase-1 (ACY1) of amniotic fluid from healthy pregnant, mainly one peak with higher activity has been isolated by DEAE-Cellulose ion exchange from the proteinous supernatant produced by deposition of proteins using ammonium sulfate  (65%) after dialysis. The purification folds reaching to 19 folds also gave one protein peak when injected into the gel filtration column, a high ACY1 purity was obtained, with 38 folds of purification. It was found that the molecular weight of the isolated ACY1 was up to 46698 Dalton when using gel chromatography technique.The effect of ACY1 isolate was studied on rats with oxidative stress caused by lead acetate(LA) at 40 mg / kg body weight and compared with normal rats by measuring the selected biochemical parameters which included: Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) through liver and kidney tissue examination. The results showed a significant increase in the levels of (MDA, AST, ALT) and a decrease in the level of GSH compared with the control group, Also it has been observed there that was a significant decrease in the levels of (MDA, AST, ALT) and high level of GSH when injecting the ACY1 isolate in a dose of 4 mg / kg of rat weight with LA at 40 mg/kg. The results of the tissue examination demonstrated high pathological changes in the liver tissue of rats treated with LA at 40 mg/kg of rat weight when compared with normal rats. The liver and kidney tissue improved when treated with isolate at 4 mg / kg rat weight and LA. These results demonstrate the role of ACY1 in protecting from oxidative stress then can reduce the severity of various diseases. Studying the effect of ACY1 isolated on rats with oxidative stress caused by lead acetate at a dose of 40 mg / kg body weight and compared with normal rats by measuring the selected biochemical parameters which included: Glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as through liver and kidney tissue examination. The results showed a significant increase in the levels of (MDA, AST, ALT) and a decrease in the level of GSH compared with the control group, It was also observed that there was a significant decrease in the levels (MDA, AST, ALT) and high level of GSH when using the enzyme isolated in a dose of 4 mg / kg of rat weight with lead acetate at a dose of 40 mg/kg. The results of the tissue examination showed high pathological changes in the liver tissue of rats treated with lead acetate at a dose of 40 mg/kg of rat weight when compared with normal rats, and liver and kidney tissue improvement when isolated enzyme is administered at 4 mg / kg rat weight with lead acetate. These results demonstrate the role of isolated enzyme in protecting the body from oxidative stress then can reducing the severity of various diseases

Ventilatory functions response to breathing training versus aerobic training in asthmatic children

Background: There is worldwide public interest in physical therapies for asthma. Objective: To compare the effects of a program of breathing training and aerobic training on ventilatory functions in children with bronchial asthma. Methods: Forty asthmatic children from both genders (22 boys and 18 girls) were recruited to participate with age range 6-13 years. The children were divided into two groups of equal number, group A received a program of breathing training and group B received a program of aerobic training on cycle ergometer three times per week for three months. Ventilatory functions were measured before beginning and after finishing the training. Results: The results showed high statistical significant differences in the FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF25-75% and MVV within each group while on comparing the two groups, the ventilatory functions were comparable. Conclusion: Breathing training and aerobic training can be used as a safe complement to medical treatment in asthma.Keywords: Asthmatic children; ventilatory functions, breathing training; aerobic trainingEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(1):33-3

THE IMPACT OF ONLINE ADVERTISMENT PERSONALIZATION AND TRANSPARENCY ON INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE RESPONSES AND ENGAGMENT

This study identifies the different individual defensive responses that are triggered by ad personalization. We investigate how these responses impact user engagement behavior on social media. The study also examines the role of transparency in advertising and the perceived benefits of personalization on user engagement in Europe. To conduct our study, we are theoretically grounded in the defensive response model. A multi-step quantitative approach constituting two experiments and a survey is used. With 154 and 199 participants each, the experiments allowed us to define the theoretical model. The experiment identified paradoxical findings. We indent surveying online ads-users to examine the impact of personalization on individual defensive responses and the role transparency plays in predicting user engagement. Our research contributes to the theory by identifying defensive responses that explain the engagement behavior, and the impact of transparency on personalized advertising

Expression of the Caenorhabditis elegans aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand binding domain

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which mediates the potent toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds. AhR is regulated by the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the AhR, and so determining how the binding of ligand activates AhR is of considerable interest. However, there are no structural data on mammalian AhR LBDs, and expression of the mouse AhR LBD in E. coli yields insoluble protein. Expression in more complex systems, such as insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda), yields soluble AhR LBD, but only ~10% of the total protein is in a ligand-binding competent form. In order to address the structure of the AhR LBD, we have used a model system. There is good amino acid sequence similarity between human AhR and C. elegans AhR (CeAhR). We have investigated whether the three dimensional structure of CeAhR LBD will help in understanding this structure in mammals. CeAhR LBD was cloned into the vector pRSET to give histidine-tagged protein. The clones were then transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) or Arctic Express strains, followed by induction with IPTG. Bacteria were lysed and 100000g supernatants were prepared. Proteins were purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography. Expression of recombinant proteins in the bacterial system revealed that the induced protein from the pRSET.CeAhR LBD construct was ~29 kDa, as predicted. Large amounts of these proteins were produced (~5-10% of total bacterial protein) and the vast majority was insoluble. However, on preparation of a 100000g supernatant, the samples yielded small amounts of soluble CeAhR LBD fusion protein. This is in contrast to results obtained with mouse AhR LBD, which yielded no detectable protein in a 100000g supernatant. The CeAhR LBD proteins were successfully purified by affinity chromatography and were obtained in good yield from the original cytosols. However, the yield of soluble AhR fusion protein was ~100 microgrammes of protein per litre of BL21(DE3) bacterial culture. The experiment was repeated using Arctic Express bacteria, which have a constitutively expressed chaperonin, and express at 12°C. However, the yield of protein was similar, at ~100 microgrammes of protein per litre. Thus the CeAhR LBD yields soluble protein in a bacterial expression system, but the levels of expression are too low to enable this protein to be purified for use in structural studies. Trials to express CeAhR LBD in transgenic C. elegans and Pichia pastoris yielded no soluble protein. The research moved to look for ligands for CeAhR by using a lethality test with C. elegans in vivo studies. The results showed that TCDD and AZ1c (from AstraZeneca) affect the wild type C. elegans, but without killing them. Repeating this test on AhR null animals showed that the effects were abolished. Thus the CeAhR is a receptor that appears to bind TCDD and AZ1c, albeit weakly, contrary to previous reports in the literature

Improving growth and productivity of tomato by some biostimulants and micronutrients with or without mulching

Two field experiments were doled out during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons to assess tomato growth and yield as affected by some biostimulants and micronutrients with or without mulching type. Certain physiological characters were also examined, plant height, the number of branches per plant chlorophyll a, nitrogen %, red fruit weight and total yield per plant as well as fruit firmness and ascorbic acid concentration in fruit was increased in tomatoes under black plastic mulch compared with bar soil. Application of either biostimulants or micronutrient used to increase all growth and yield characters as well as photosynthetic pigments, ions percentage, and fruit quality. Additive effects were shown under mulching, seaweed extract proved to be the most effective in this respect. It could be recommended that spraying tomato crop at 35 and 50 days from transplanting with 500 mg/l seaweed extract under clear or black plastic mulch in order for inducing the highest yield and improve fruit quality

Expression of the Caenorhabditis elegans aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand binding domain

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which mediates the potent toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds. AhR is regulated by the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the AhR, and so determining how the binding of ligand activates AhR is of considerable interest. However, there are no structural data on mammalian AhR LBDs, and expression of the mouse AhR LBD in E. coli yields insoluble protein. Expression in more complex systems, such as insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda), yields soluble AhR LBD, but only ~10% of the total protein is in a ligand-binding competent form. In order to address the structure of the AhR LBD, we have used a model system. There is good amino acid sequence similarity between human AhR and C. elegans AhR (CeAhR). We have investigated whether the three dimensional structure of CeAhR LBD will help in understanding this structure in mammals. CeAhR LBD was cloned into the vector pRSET to give histidine-tagged protein. The clones were then transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) or Arctic Express strains, followed by induction with IPTG. Bacteria were lysed and 100000g supernatants were prepared. Proteins were purified by Ni2+ affinity chromatography. Expression of recombinant proteins in the bacterial system revealed that the induced protein from the pRSET.CeAhR LBD construct was ~29 kDa, as predicted. Large amounts of these proteins were produced (~5-10% of total bacterial protein) and the vast majority was insoluble. However, on preparation of a 100000g supernatant, the samples yielded small amounts of soluble CeAhR LBD fusion protein. This is in contrast to results obtained with mouse AhR LBD, which yielded no detectable protein in a 100000g supernatant. The CeAhR LBD proteins were successfully purified by affinity chromatography and were obtained in good yield from the original cytosols. However, the yield of soluble AhR fusion protein was ~100 microgrammes of protein per litre of BL21(DE3) bacterial culture. The experiment was repeated using Arctic Express bacteria, which have a constitutively expressed chaperonin, and express at 12°C. However, the yield of protein was similar, at ~100 microgrammes of protein per litre. Thus the CeAhR LBD yields soluble protein in a bacterial expression system, but the levels of expression are too low to enable this protein to be purified for use in structural studies. Trials to express CeAhR LBD in transgenic C. elegans and Pichia pastoris yielded no soluble protein. The research moved to look for ligands for CeAhR by using a lethality test with C. elegans in vivo studies. The results showed that TCDD and AZ1c (from AstraZeneca) affect the wild type C. elegans, but without killing them. Repeating this test on AhR null animals showed that the effects were abolished. Thus the CeAhR is a receptor that appears to bind TCDD and AZ1c, albeit weakly, contrary to previous reports in the literature