Reliability and Validity of the Alberta Context Tool (ACT) with Professional Nurses: Findings from a Multi-Study Analysis

Although organizational context is central to evidence-based practice, underdeveloped measurement hindersitsassessment. The Alberta Context Tool, comprised of 59 items that tap10 modifiable contextual concepts, was developed to address this gap. The purpose of this study to examine the reliability and validity of scores obtained when the Alberta Context Tool is completed by professional nurses across different healthcare settings. Five separate studies (N = 2361 nurses across different care settings) comprised the study sample. Reliability and validity were assessed. Cronbach’s alpha exceeded 0.70 for9/10 Alberta Context Tool concepts. Item-total correlations exceeded acceptable standards for 56/59items. Confirmatory Factor Analysescoordinated acceptably with the Alberta Context Tool’s proposed latent structure. The mean values for each Alberta Context Tool concept increased from low to high levels of research utilization(as hypothesized) further supporting its validity. This study provides robust evidence forreliability and validity of scores obtained with the Alberta Context Tool when administered to professional nurses.     

The reaction between thiols and 8-azidoadenosine derivatives.

Thiols react at room temperature in dilute solution with 8-azidoadenosine and its nucleotides to give the corresponding 8-aminoadenosine derivatives. The reaction which takes place in the dark is base-catalysed and is particularly rapid when dithiols, e.g. dithiothreitol are used.     

Macrolide antibiotic biosynthesis: isolation and properties of two forms of 6-deoxyerythronolide B hydroxylase from Saccharopolyspora erythraea (Streptomyces erythreus)

A cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase that catalyzes the hydroxylation of 6-deoxyerythronolide B, an intermediate of erythromycin A biosynthesis in Saccharopolyspora erythraea (formerly Streptomyces erythreus), was resolved into two forms, P-450I and P-450II, by hydroxylapatite chromatography. These two proteins were purified to homogeneity from the CA 340 strain and found to have a P-450 content of 17.5 and 15.2 nmol/mg of protein, respectively. Either enzyme catalyzed the NADPH-dependent hydroxylation of 6-deoxyerythronolide B and (9R)- or (9S)-9-deoxo-9-hydroxy-6-deoxyerythronolide B in vitro when reconstituted with other electron-transport components from S. erythraea. Both of them had a Mr of 44,220 +/- 1350, a pI of 4.6, similar amino acid compositions, and an identical N-terminal sequence for the first five amino acids. They also showed identical antigenicity and cross-reactivity against polyvalent and specific antibodies and contained cytochrome P-450 in the low spin state with absorption maxima at 416, 532, and 565 nm. Their distinguishing characteristics were different activities toward the (9S)-9-deoxo-9-hydroxy-6-deoxyerythronolide B substrate and slightly different absorbance maxima in their dithionite-reduced CO-complexed spectra.     

Rodent zoonoses in North Queensland: the occurrence and distribution of zoonotic infections in North Queensland rodents

A study of potentially zoonotic infections was carried out on 351 rodents trapped in north-eastern Queensland. Their ecosystems included towns, agricultural and livestock areas, wookland and rainforest. Nine serotypes of salmonellae were obtained from asymptomatic carries in predominantly settled locations. Two strains of Ps. pseudomallei occurred in rainforest near Innisfail and one on a cattle property adjacent to Townsville. Ps. aeruginosa caused bronchopneumonia in one animal from Townsville harbour. Ifection by leptospirae of six serogroups and seven serovars were identified by serological or cultural examinations. Enzootic foci occurred on the Mount Spec rainforest where celledoni and australis were being excreted by rats adjacent to the Paluma dam system. In addition to the scrub typhus locations at Rocky Creek, Atherton Tableland and Bullocky Creek, near Ingham, which were confirmed, a new focus of infection by R. tsutsugamushi was identified at El Arish near Tully. Water rat (H. chrysogaster) at Townsville harbour constituted a reservoir of toxoplasmosis. In addition to the known human pathogenic helminths H. nana and H. diminuta, localized foci of hookworms (Ancylostoma spp.) were found. Histological evidence of cytomegalic disease of the salivary glands or kidneys was a common finding.     

Photographic identification of individuals of a free‐ranging,small terrestrial vertebrate

Recognition of individuals within an animal population is central to a range of estimates about population structure and dynamics. However, traditional methods of distinguishing individuals, by some form of physical marking, often rely on capture and handling which may affect aspects of normal behavior. Photographic identification has been used as a less‐invasive alternative, but limitations in both manual and computer‐automated recognition of individuals are particularly problematic for smaller taxa (<500 g). In this study, we explored the use of photographic identification for individuals of a free‐ranging, small terrestrial reptile using (a) independent observers, and (b) automated matching with the Interactive Individual Identification System (I³S Pattern) computer algorithm. We tested the technique on individuals of an Australian skink in the Egernia group, Slater's skink Liopholis slateri, whose natural history and varied scale markings make it a potentially suitable candidate for photo‐identification. From ‘photographic captures’ of skink head profiles, we designed a multi‐choice key based on alternate character states and tested the abilities of observers — with or without experience in wildlife survey — to identify individuals using categorized test photos. We also used the I³S Pattern algorithm to match the same set of test photos against a database of 30 individuals. Experienced observers identified a significantly higher proportion of photos correctly (74%) than those with no experience (63%) while the I³S software correctly matched 67% as the first ranked match and 83% of images in the top five ranks. This study is one of the first to investigate photo identification with a free‐ranging small vertebrate. The method demonstrated here has the potential to be applied to the developing field of camera‐traps for wildlife survey and thus a wide range of survey and monitoring applications.     

Regulation of Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein Oligomerization by Phosphorylation

In the influenza virus ribonucleoprotein complex, the oligomerization of the nucleoprotein is mediated by an interaction between the tail-loop of one molecule and the groove of the neighboring molecule. In this study, we show that phosphorylation of a serine residue (S165) within the groove of influenza A virus nucleoprotein inhibits oligomerization and, consequently, ribonucleoprotein activity and viral growth. We propose that nucleoprotein oligomerization in infected cells is regulated by reversible phosphorylation.     

Pulmonary Emphysema and α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

Of 72 patients with radiological evidence of pulmonary emphysema, emphysema occurred either alone or in association with bronchitis in 61, and 8 of these (13%) were found to have α₁-antitrypsin deficiency. The main features of this condition are: exertional dyspnoea of relatively early onset (generally between 30 and 45 years of age), severely impaired FEV₁ and T_LCO, and radiological emphysema predominantly affecting the lower zones of the lungs. It is probable that any patient with all the above abnormalities has α₁-antitrypsin deficiency. There is evidence to suggest that cigarette smoking may hasten the onset of this type of emphysema.     

Thermostable polynucleotide phosphorylases from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Thermus aquaticus.

Polynucleotide phosphorylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been purified to homogeneity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis run under denaturing conditions indicates that the enzyme is a tetramer with subunits of apparent molecular weight 51,000 daltons. A partial purification of polynucleotide phosphorylase from Thermus aquaticus has also been effected. The two enzymes show similar catalytic properties, which differ little from those of mesophilic polynucleotide phosphorylases. The use of thermostable polynucleotide phosphorylases for in vitro nucleic acid synthesis is discussed.