Endogenous rhythmic growth in oak trees is regulated by internal clocks rather than resource availability.

Common oak trees display endogenous rhythmic growth with alternating shoot and root flushes. To explore the mechanisms involved, microcuttings of the Quercus robur L. clone DF159 were used for (13)C/(15)N labelling in combination with RNA sequencing (RNASeq) transcript profiling of shoots and roots. The effect of plant internal resource availability on the rhythmic growth of the cuttings was tested through inoculation with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Piloderma croceum. Shoot and root flushes were related to parallel shifts in above- and below-ground C and, to a lesser extent, N allocation. Increased plant internal resource availability by P. croceum inoculation with enhanced plant growth affected neither the rhythmic growth nor the associated resource allocation patterns. Two shifts in transcript abundance were identified during root and shoot growth cessation, and most concerned genes were down-regulated. Inoculation with P. croceum suppressed these transcript shifts in roots, but not in shoots. To identify core processes governing the rhythmic growth, functions [Gene Ontology (GO) terms] of the genes differentially expressed during the growth cessation in both leaves and roots of non-inoculated plants and leaves of P. croceum-inoculated plants were examined. Besides genes related to resource acquisition and cell development, which might reflect rather than trigger rhythmic growth, genes involved in signalling and/or regulated by the circadian clock were identified. The results indicate that rhythmic growth involves dramatic oscillations in plant metabolism and gene regulation between below- and above-ground parts. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis may play a previously unsuspected role in smoothing these oscillations without modifying the rhythmic growth pattern.

Genome Sequence of the Mycorrhiza Helper Bacterium Streptomyces sp. Strain AcH 505.

A draft genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. strain AcH 505 is presented here. The genome encodes 22 secondary metabolite gene clusters and a large arsenal of secreted proteins, and their comparative and functional analyses will help to advance our knowledge of symbiotic interactions and fungal and plant biomass degradation.

Draft Genome Sequence of Streptomyces sp. Strain 150FB, a Mushroom Mycoparasite Antagonist.

Streptomyces sp. strain 150FB, isolated from the cap surface of a bolete mushroom, inhibits the growth of the mycoparasitic Sepedonium species. Functional annotation of the strain 150FB draft genome identified 22 putative secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and genes encoding secreted proteins, which may contribute to the inhibition of the mycoparasite.

Families' experiences of interaction with the public health nurse at the child health clinic in connection with mother's post-natal depression.

The birth of a new family member causes many changes in the way a family functions. Annually some 10% of mothers giving birth suffer from post-natal depression. This depression affects the mother herself, the baby and the functioning of the entire family. The healthcare personnel are faced with an important task in supporting the family in the course of changes occasioned by the birth of a baby. According to earlier studies, families with small children are fairly satisfied with the service provided by the child health clinics. The purpose of the present study was to form a theory of interaction with the public health nurse in the child health clinic when the mother is suffering from post-natal depression from the viewpoint of family. The data for the study were gathered by interviewing nine families (nine mothers and five fathers) where the mother had displayed symptoms of post-natal depression. The data were analysed using continuous comparative analysis of grounded theory. The concepts of the theory emerged as a lack of continuing relationship, a need to be equal partners, a lack of individuality and a lack of family care. The relationships between categories were lack of discussing, lack of being confidential and lack of getting help enough. The core category emerging was lack of holistic cooperation with unique family. In spite of the emphasis placed on family centeredness in the operating principles of the work in child health clinics, its implementation in practical work cannot be taken for granted. Because of the limited resources available to the clinics, it is the experience of depressed mother in particular that they are not treated sufficiently as individuals and that they are subjected to adjudication in the clinics. The parents felt that the personality of the public health nurse was crucial to how they felt about the service they obtained from the clinic.

Family dynamics and postnatal depression.

Research has shown that postnatal depression (PND) affects 10-15% of mothers in Western societies. PND is not easily identified and therefore it often remains undetected. Untreated depression has a detrimental effect on the mother and child and the entire family. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the state of family dynamics after delivery and whether the mother's PND was associated with family dynamics. The study used a survey covering the catchment area of one Finnish university hospital. Both primi- and multiparas took part and data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for mothers and the Family Dynamics Measure II (FDM II) for both mothers and fathers. The data were analysed using SPSS statistical programme and frequency and percentage distributions, means and standard deviations were examined. Correlations were analysed using Spearman's correlation coefficients. The significance of any differences between mothers' and fathers' scores was determined with a paired t-test. Of the families participating in the study (373 mothers and 314 partners), 13% of the mothers suffered from PND symptoms (EPDS score of 13 or more). As a whole, family dynamics in the families participating in the study were reported to be rather good. However, mothers having depressive symptoms reported more negative family dynamics compared with other families. With the exception of individuation, mothers having depressive symptoms reported more negative family dynamics than their partners. With the exception of role reciprocity, non-depressed mothers reported more positive family dynamics than their partners. Knowledge of the association of mothers' PND with family dynamics could help to develop nursing care at maternity and child welfare clinics and maternity hospitals. Depressed mothers and their families need support to be able to make family dynamics as good as possible.

Fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of fear and anxiety in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting and the factors associated with high fear and high anxiety. DESIGN: The survey included 240 patients placed on the waiting list for coronary artery bypass grafting at one hospital. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and seven patients completed the questionnaire. INSTRUMENTS: The Bypass Grafting Fear Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used. RESULTS: Half of the patients experienced low fear and anxiety. Twenty-five percent had high fear, but only 5% had high anxiety. Patients who felt high fear were mainly women, had no vocational education, were on sick leave, were depressed, had a tendency towards anxiety, and had a short wait for operation. Patients who displayed medium or high anxiety were mostly under 55 years of age and had depression, but only low or no pain. CONCLUSIONS: The results facilitate better identification of predictors of high fear and anxiety as well as direct support and information for those patients.

Teacher candidates' reflective teaching and learning in a hospital setting - changing the pattern of practical training: a challenge to growing into teacherhood.

UNLABELLED: AIMS OF THE PROJECT: The main goal of the 'teacher candidates' reflective teaching and learning' project was to integrate theories of reflection in education and nursing practice. This was realised through teacher candidates' practical training in a hospital setting providing them with personal experiences of reflection in different forms and contexts. In this paper one teacher candidate pair's experiences of developing documentation in one operating theatre are described. BACKGROUND: The power of reflection is acknowledged in health care education and, on the other hand, also in nursing practice. Reflection, however, is not spontaneous but it requires active contribution. The key persons in this respect seem to be healthcare teachers. The challenges for today are that, for example, the theoretical background of reflection is multi-fold and that the concept of reflection is popularised in common use. DESIGN OF THE PROJECT: The project (1995-1998) was accomplished in one of the biggest university hospitals in Finland. On the collaborating wards, systematic team supervision was in progress. Teacher candidates planned and implemented in-service-training modules for teams based on educational needs raised during team supervision sessions. FINDINGS: The contribution of the project can be assessed as important to health care teacher education, but also to nursing practice. Practical training in a hospital setting enhanced teacher candidates' ability to work as teachers in a hospital organisation as well as a nursing college/polytechnic by providing them with a new viewpoint. They learned valuable lessons from applying theory, as planning in-service-training required continuous reflective discussion with the nursing staff but also theoretical reflection. Improvements in nursing practice were also promoted as staff educational needs were met. CONCLUSIONS: Shifting the teacher candidates' practical training into a hospital setting and emphasising reflection seemed to promote their professional development towards teacherhood and improve nursing practice.

Characterization of small GTPases Cdc42 and Rac and the relationship between Cdc42 and actin cytoskeleton in vegetative and ectomycorrhizal hyphae of Suillus bovinus.

This work reports the isolation and molecular characterization of CDC42 and RAC1 cDNAs from the ectomycorrhiza forming filamentous homobasidiomycete Suillus bovinus. Previously, no RAC gene was described from filamentous fungi and no CDC42 gene was described from homobasidiomycetes. Southern hybridization with SbCDC42 and SbRAC1 cDNAs indicated that the S. bovinus genome contains only one CDC42 and one RAC1 gene. The predicted amino acid sequence of SbRaclp is 77% identical with the Rac1B protein of chick, whereas SbCdc42p is most identical with Schizosaccharomyces pombe Cdc42p, showing 88% identity. In the predicted amino acid sequences of SbRaclp and SbCdc42p, the five guanine nucleotide binding regions, switch I and II, and the effector domain are highly identical to those known in other small GTPases. These domain structures suggest that in S. bovinus, SbRac1p and SbCdc42p function as molecular switches regulating the organization of actin cytoskeleton, similar to yeasts and mammals. SbRAC1 and SbCDC42 were expressed in vegetative and ectomycorrhizal hyphae, and SbCdc42p was detected in ectomycorrhiza-forming hyphae if growth and differentiation of the symbiotic hyphae took place. Cdc42p and actin were localized at the tips of S. bovinus vegetative hyphae. Similar to yeast, in filamentous fungi Cdc42p may be necessary to maintain the actin cytoskeleton at hyphal tips, making the polarized growth of the hyphae possible. In developing ectomycorrhiza, Cdc42p and actin were visualized in association with plasma membrane in swollen cells typical to the symbiotic hyphae. The role of Cdc42p and actin in regulation of the growth pattern and morphogenesis of ectomycorrhizal hyphae is discussed.

Scots pine expresses short-root-specific peroxidases during development.

Nine short-root-specific proteins from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) detected and isolated as individual spots by 2D-PAGE were identified. The similar peptide mass maps obtained for all nine polypeptide spots together with lectin-blotting results suggest that they represent forms of the same modified protein. N-Terminal sequence analysis of two of the peptides showed high similarity to peroxidases. RT-PCR with oligonucleotide primers corresponding to determined peptide sequences and conserved regions in plant peroxidases led to isolation of Psyp1 cDNA which is most abundantly expressed in short roots. Psyp1 is the first peroxidase cDNA to be isolated from the genus Pinus. It encodes a 363-amino-acid class-III peroxidase with a calculated molecular mass of 35.7 kDa and theoretical pI of 4.74. The predicted PSYP1 amino-acid sequence is grouped with other class-III peroxidases in phylogenetic analyses, but it has a unique amino-acid sequence which may be associated with its function in short roots or with its phylogenetic group. The presence of a signal sequence for extracellular transport indicates that PSYP1 belongs to the group of secreted class-III peroxidases. The presence of 10 tyrosine residues and putative auxin-binding regions in PSYP1 suggests that the function of the enzyme is associated with cell-wall formation in short roots. The downregulation of Psyp1 expression in symbiotic short roots hosting the ectomycorrhizal fungus Suillus bovinus is perhaps related to the change in cell-wall structure necessary for ectomycorrhizal development.

Gender differences and fears in patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting.

The study aimed at ascertaining the gender differences and fears among patients awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting. Data were collected using a mailed questionnaire from patients (n=207) scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting at one hospital. Intensity of fear was measured on a 10-point scale including 12 objects of fear. The results showed that demographic data, lifestyle and functional capacity differed between the sexes. Patients' fears differed with respect to their objects and intensity, with women reporting more intense fears. Men also had fears, but the objects of fear differed from those in women. Apart from gender, the intensity of fear was associated with physical exercise, emotional problems and depression. Nursing interventions could be developed to meet the different needs for information and support, especially among women but also among men, to relieve their fears during the wait for coronary artery bypass grafting.

The impact of supportive telephone call intervention on grief after the death of a family member.

This study describes the impact of a supportive telephone call on grief 4 months after the death of a family member. The study design involved a quasi-experimental intervention group (n = 70) and a control group (n = 155). The intervention was a supportive telephone call after the death of a family member. Grief reactions were measured with the Hogan Grief Reactions Checklist. Results were completed by content analysis of family members' experiences of the intervention. Chi-square and t tests were used to compare the associations with demographic data, and logistic regression analysis was used to compare the responses. The results pointed to differences in despair and personal growth between the groups. The participants experienced the supportive telephone call positively for the most part. Negative experiences were associated with promises to call in which the call never reached the participant. Grieving family members' positive experiences of the call indicate that there is a need for individual support after the death, given by nurses of the wards in which the deceased received care.

How first-time mothers cope with child care while still in the maternity ward.

The aim of the study was to ascertain those factors that are related to the way first-time mothers assess themselves to be coping with child care when leaving the maternity hospital. The study is part of a wider longitudinal project that follows-up first-time mothers' growth into motherhood for a period of 8 months after the birth. Data collection was done using a questionnaire distributed between January and May 1995. The sample comprised 271 first time mothers. The mothers completed the questionnaire on average on the fifth day after childbirth. A stepwise regression analysis was applied. The mothers who assessed themselves to be coping better with child care were those who went home feeling rested and in a good frame of mind and who had positive experience of child care in the maternity ward. The more functional support the mother perceived herself to receive from members of her social network the better she assessed herself to be coping with child care. Those mothers who had previous experience of taking care of infants also assessed themselves to be coping better with child care. On the basis of the research findings it may be stated that the first-time mother needs support from both nursing professionals and close relatives in order to trust their own abilities to cope better with child care during early motherhood.

Peer evaluation in nurses' professional development: a pilot study to investigate the issues.

Peer evaluation in nursing is a method by which the nurse evaluates the work of a peer, according to set evaluation criteria. The aim of the study was to clarify the potential significance of peer evaluation with regard to nurses' career development and relates to the introduction of a career development programme for nurses in a Finnish University Hospital. The research concepts were created on the basis of literature analysis. The concepts served as a basis for data collection, and five open-ended questions were devised from them. Informants (n = 24) gave free-form essay-type answers to these questions. The material was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results indicate that self-evaluation constitutes the basis for peer evaluation. Peer evaluation allows nurses to give and receive professional and personal support promoting professional development. Professional support offers possibilities for change and alternative action. Personal support requires respect for the peer's equality and individuality. Personal peer support can decrease feelings of uncertainty and insecurity caused by work. The conclusion is drawn that peer evaluation is a means of promoting nurses' professional development to further on-the-job learning in collaboration with peers.

Oncology ward nurses' perspectives of family grief and a supportive telephone call after the death of a significant other.

To improve family nursing in oncology wards, a new nursing intervention was created: a supportive telephone call after the death of the patient. Nurses who participated in the intervention kept diaries after the call (n = 95). Data were collected also from hospital records. The numerical data were analyzed by using descriptive statistical analysis and the qualitative data by using content analysis. In the diaries, nurses described family grief and mourning as well as content of the supportive telephone call after the death of a family member. Multidimensionality described the family member's grief. The funeral was an important part of the culturally dictated mourning. Support for the family during the patient's last days at the hospital was meaningful with regard to the grief and the onset of coping. Closeness of the nurse-family relationship varied from a close relationship to an uncertain one. A supportive atmosphere during the call made it possible for the survivor to ask questions and talk. During the call, nurses were able to evaluate the family's coping. They also got feedback concerning the nursing care delivered. The call served as a finishing analysis of the family nursing process. The implications of these results for supporting the grieving family by a telephone intervention are considered.

Molecular characterization of actin genes from homobasidiomycetes: two different actin genes from Schizophyllum commune and Suillus bovinus.

The actin-encoding genes Scact1 and Scact2 of the homobasidiomycete Schizophyllum commune are the first actin genes isolated from higher filamentous fungi. Their isolation shows that homobasidiomycetes have two actin encoding genes instead of one typical to yeasts and filamentous ascomycetes. This result was further confirmed by cloning two actin encoding genes, Sbact1 and Sbact2, from another homobasidiomycete Suillus bovinus. The comparison of the genomic and cDNA sequences of the actin genes showed that Scact1 and Scact2 genes of S. commune contain seven introns, five of which are at the same position in the two genes while S. bovinus actin genes contain nine similarly positioned introns. In the four genes, five intron positions are shared, which indicates a close relationship between the actin encoding genes from S. commune and S. bovinus. Northern hybridization and analysis of two-dimensional immunoblots showed a difference in the expression levels between the two actin genes in each fungus. No actin protein could be detected from S. commune Scact2. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Scact2 gene also differs considerably from any other known actin protein. These data suggest that the Scact2 gene either has a special as yet unidentified function in S. commune life cycle or is a transcribed but no longer translated pseudogene. Scact2 gene has a putative microORF (short open reading frame) and Scact1 gene an intron in the 5'-untranslated region, which could reduce the translational efficiency and increase the transcriptional efficiency of the Scact2 and Scact1 genes, respectively. During mating in S. commune or at formation of ectomycorrhiza in S. bovinus, the expression of actin genes was similar to that in vegetative hyphae. This result suggests that the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton in response to extra- and intracellular signals in higher filamentous fungi could be directly regulated by members of signalling pathways well characterized in yeast and mammalian cells.

The staff's experience of the death of a child and of supporting the family.

The purpose of the study was to describe how staff members experience the death of a child and how they support the grieving family. The goal is to find means to improve supporting activities in the university hospital. The data for this study were collected with a questionnaire given to the staff who encounter the death of a foetus or infant at their work (n = 102). The questionnaire contained both structured and open-ended questions. Altogether, 69 members of the staff (68%) answered the questionnaire. The open-ended questions were analysed using content analysis. The staff experiences of a child's death manifested themselves in grief, feelings of injustice, experiences of one's limited resources, and relief. About half (51%) of the respondents estimated that they were able to support families rather well. Education in supporting the grieving family increased the ability to support families. Social support for families included emotional, informational, and concrete support. The majority of the staff expected support from colleagues after the death of a child. The study results show that the hospital staff supports the grieving family, but also recognizes their inadequacy as supporters. The staff also needs support in order to be able to support the grieving family.

First-time mothers and child care when the child is 8 months old.

The aim of the present study was to examine those resources and strengths that mothers find helpful for coping with child care when the child was 8 months old. This study is part of a more extensive longitudinal study project in which the growth into motherhood of first-time mothers was followed for 8 months postpartum. Data were collected by using structured questionnaires between August 1995 and March 1996. The sample comprised 254 first-time mothers and 248 mothers returned the questionnaires by mail. The multivariate method used was a stepwise regression analysis. Predictors included in the multivariate method to explain coping with child care were as follows: the mother's competence, mother's attachment to the child, mother's self-concept, relation to the spouse, breastfeeding, decision-making support from the public health nurse and activity of the child. The strongest predictor was competence as a mother. The more competent the mother felt and the more attached the mother was to her child, the better her coping. The better the mother's self-concept and relationship with the spouse were, the better she succeeded in taking care of the child. If the mother still breastfed her child and received decision-making support from public health nurses, she coped better in child care. Finally the more active the child was, the more the risk for unsuccessful child care increased. The results indicate that the first-time mother's successful coping with child care when the child is 8 months old is associated with her own resources and attachment to the child as well as activity of the child and breastfeeding. A good relationship between the spouses and support for decision making from the public health nurse also contribute to coping with child care.

Importance of the midwife in the first-time mother's experience of childbirth.

The aim of this study was to examine factors related to how the first-time mother experiences childbirth. The data were collected by questionnaire in a sample of 326 first-time mothers in Tampere University hospital in Finland. The multivariate method used was a stepwise regression analysis. The most important predictors for the nature of the childbirth experience were the characteristics of the midwife, such as empathy, friendliness, tenderness, calmness and lack of hurry; the attitude of the child's father toward the pregnancy; the duration of delivery; and the mother's age and marital status. The more positive the experience the mother had of the attending midwife caring for her, the more positively she experienced childbirth. The positive attitude of the child's father toward the pregnancy and a short duration of delivery were also predictors for a positive childbirth experience. Young and unmarried mothers also had more positive experiences of childbirth. On the basis of the research results, we can state that positive childbirth experiences of first-time mothers are enhanced by the positive characteristics and professional skills of the attending midwife, positive attitude of the spouse/child's father toward the pregnancy, and a short duration of delivery.

Grief and social support after the death of a spouse.

The death of a spouse is one of the most stressful events in a person's life. Social support has been shown to be widely beneficial in moderating the effects of both chronic and acute stress. The answers of Finnish widows and widowers (n=318) were analysed in order to investigate the sources of social support, what is the nature of support received, and whether social support is connected with coping with grief. The Hogan Grief Reactions Checklist was used to describe the grief as well as answers to open-ended questions about what helped the widowed persons cope with their grief. Kahn's theory of social support was used as a framework in the content analysis of the open-ended answers. The results showed that Finnish widows and widowers receive social support most often from their own family and friends. They perceived the received support most helpful, but also the support that the grieving person can give to other family members is seen as important. Results suggest that those who had had social support were able to grieve by allowing themselves to disorganize and experience panic behaviour.

Social support provided by public health nurses and the coping of first-time mothers with child care.

The purpose of this study was to look at the factors related to the first-time mother's coping with child care when her child is 3 months old. This study is part of an extensive longitudinal project in which the development of mothering skills of first-time mothers was followed up for 8 months postpartum. The data were collected with a questionnaire between March and September 1995, in a sample of 271 first-time mothers. The mothers filled in the questionnaire when their babies were 3 months old. Coping with child care was assessed using Spearman correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis. Positive correlation was found between the mother's competence, attachment to the child, health, depression, relationship with the spouse, sense of isolation and role restriction, and the mother's coping with child care. The strongest correlation existed between the mother's competence and her coping. Positive correlation was also found between the child's mood, demandingness and acceptability, and the mother's coping with child care, with the child's demandingness having the strongest correlation. Positive correlation was again found between social support--the average functional support the mother received from her own social network, plus affect, affirmation, and aid from the public health nurses--and the mother's coping with child care. The predictors included in the multivariate method were the mother's competence, health, depression, and attachment to her child; the child's mood and ease or difficulty of care; and the affect and affirmation from the public health nurse. The results show that the first-time mother's coping with child care, when the child is 3 months old, is affected by the characteristics of both mother and child, as well as by the social support received from their social network and from the public health nurses at the child welfare clinic.