Prime Position (prime + position)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Basmati rice: a review

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2002
Paramita Bhattacharjee
India contributes about one-third of the world acreage under rice. Rice is available in over 5000 varieties, of which Basmati rice occupies a prime position on account of its extra long superfine slender grains, pleasant, exquisite aroma, fine cooking quality, sweet taste, soft texture, length-wise elongation with least breadth-wise swelling on cooking and tenderness of cooked rice. This article reviews the quality and aroma traits of Basmati rice, particularly the varieties grown in different parts of India and Pakistan, the agronomy, breeding and physiology of the grain, the trade scenario, Agmark grade designation for export and the US patent of new hybrid strains of Basmati. [source]


Decision-making about artificial feeding in end-of-life care: literature review

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 1 2008
Els Bryon
Abstract Title.,Decision-making about artificial feeding in end-of-life care: literature review. Aim., This paper is a report of a review of nurses' roles and their perceptions of these roles in decision-making processes surrounding artificial food and fluid administration in adult patients. Background., Of all caregivers, nurses have the closest and most trusting relationship with severely ill patients and their families during the entire end-of-life care process. As a result, nurses become closely involved in complex ethical decision-making processes concerning artificial administration of food or fluids for these patients. Data sources., We searched seven electronic databases (1990,2007) and examined the reference lists of relevant papers. Review methods., This mixed methods review was conducted with guidance of the United Kingdom Centre for Reviews and Dissemination guidelines on systematic reviews. Results., Although their direct impact is limited, nurses play a significant indirect role during decision-making processes. Because of their unique position, they often initiate decision-making processes, function as patient advocates and provide guidance, information and support to patients and families. Although nurses considered their role to be very valuable, they felt that their role was not always defined clearly or appreciated. Whether nurses experience decision-making processes positively depended on several contextual factors. Conclusion., Given their knowledge and practice skills, nurses are in a prime position to contribute valuably to decision-making processes. Nevertheless, they remain sidelined. For nurses to receive sufficient recognition, their decision-making tasks and responsibilities need to be clarified and made manifest to other participants. [source]


The Medial Amygdala Modulates Body Weight but not Neuroendocrine Responses to Chronic Stress

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
M. B. Solomon
Stress pathologies such as depression and eating disorders (i.e. anorexia nervosa) are associated with amygdalar dysfunction, which are linked with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) axis hyperactivity. The medial amygdaloid nucleus (MeA), a key output nucleus of the amygdaloid complex, promotes HPA axis activation to acute psychogenic stress and is in a prime position to mediate the deleterious effects of chronic stress on physiology and behaviour. The present study tests the hypothesis that the MeA is necessary for the development of maladaptive physiological changes caused by prolonged stress exposure. Male rats received bilateral ibotenate or sham lesions targeting the MeA and one half underwent 2 weeks of chronic variable stress (CVS) or served as home cage controls. Sixteen hours post CVS, all animals were exposed to an acute restraint challenge. CVS induced thymic involution, adrenal hypertrophy, and attenuated body weight gain and up-regulation of hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone mRNA expression. Consistent with previous literature, lesions of the MeA dampened stress-induced increases in corticosterone after 30 min of exposure to acute restraint stress. However, this effect was independent of CVS exposure, suggesting that the MeA may not be critical for modulating neuroendocrine responses after chronic HPA axis drive. Interestingly, lesion of the MeA modestly exaggerated the stress-induced attenuation of weight gain. Overall, the data obtained suggest that the MeA modulates the neuroendocrine responses to acute but not chronic stress. In addition, the data suggest that the MeA may be an important neural component for the control of body weight in the face of chronic stress. [source]


Systematic review: role of health promotion in vascular dementia

JOURNAL OF NURSING AND HEALTHCARE OF CHRONIC ILLNE SS: AN INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010
BSc(Hons), Rachel S Price MSc
price rs & keady j (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 2, 88,101 Systematic review: role of health promotion in vascular dementia Aims., This narrative synthesis of the literature investigates the areas of vascular dementia and modifiable risk factors in order to identify the evidence base and opportunities for specific health promotion work and nursing involvement. Background., Strategies for well-being, prevention and health promotion are becoming increasingly important determinants of a quality dementia care service. In England, this emphasis is manifest in the recently launched National Dementia Strategy (February 2009) and areas that address modifiable vascular risk factors are helpful starting points for the enactment of such goals. Design and methods., A comprehensive search strategy identified primary and secondary search terms that were used systematically in order to search for relevant information and literature; 128 articles were finally included in the overall design and these were broken down into 116 articles obtained through the formal search process using the online databases and 12 articles from the ,grey literature'. Results., A narrative synthesis of the included material generated a thematic framework that revealed four discrete but overlapping themes: vascular risk factors (1); prevention and reduction of vascular risk factors (2); treatment and intervention in vascular dementia (3); and vascular health promotion (4). Relevance to clinical practice., Nursing is in a prime position to undertake health promotion initiatives in modifiable risk behaviours in vascular dementia, an approach that should be commenced for the general population in mid-life (50 years and over). [source]


The MERC at CORD Scholars Program in Medical Education Research: A Novel Faculty Development Opportunity for Emergency Physicians

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2009
Jeffrey N. Love MD
Abstract Medical educators are increasingly charged with the development of outcomes-based "best practices" in medical student and resident education and patient care. To fulfill this mission, a cadre of well-trained, experienced medical education researchers is required. The experienced medical educator is in a prime position to fill this need but often lacks the training needed to successfully contribute to such a goal. Towards this end, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Educational Affairs developed a series of content-based workshops that have resulted in Medical Education Research Certification (MERC), promoting skills development and a better understanding of research by educators. Subsequently, the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) partnered with the AAMC to take MERC a step further, in the MERC at CORD Scholars Program (MCSP). This venture integrates a novel, mentored, specialty-specific research project with the traditional MERC workshops. Collaborative groups, based on a common area of interest, each develop a multi-institutional project by exploring and applying the concepts learned through the MERC workshops. Participants in the inaugural MCSP have completed three MERC workshops and initiated a project. Upon program completion, each will have completed MERC certification (six workshops) and gained experience as a contributing author on a mentored education research project. Not only does this program serve as a multi-dimensional faculty development opportunity, it is also intended to act as a catalyst in developing a network of education scholars and infrastructure for educational research within the specialty of emergency medicine. [source]