Combining participatory action research and emerging ways of collective action to promote institutional change toward social commitment: Groundings, strategies, and implications of an experience.

AIMS: This study reports the foundations, strategies, and results of an institutional change experience based on the combination of participatory-action-research and new currents of collective mobilization and political participation. It aimed to achieve the institution's greater social commitment and a more participatory and transparent management. METHODS: The process took place in a Spanish public university and was promoted and coordinated by a Work Group that emerged from grassroots university community. Collective diagnosis was performed through face-to-face strategies (global, sectorial, and faculty meetings) and virtual tools (web-blog, on-line surveys, shared documents). Collective action combined nonformal with formal institutional participation and applied hybrid activism, self-organization in horizontal structures and integrative conflict management. RESULTS: A sequential process of diagnosis, collective action, and negotiation was implemented. As a result, the university Governing Team, representatives from different sectors and members of the Work Group worked jointly to define several institutional actions that were thereafter launched. Those actions aimed to improve institutional participation and transparency, and greater institutional social commitment. CONCLUSION: The combination of participatory-action-research and new ways of collective action can be an excellent tool to draw institutions towards greater social engagement, thus contributing to sustainable social change. A model to guide institutional change is drafted.

Effects of indomethacin on prostanoid synthesis and vasomotor responsiveness in endothelium-denuded abdominal and thoracic aortas of Wistar rats.

In endothelium-denuded abdominal (but not thoracic) aortas of rats, the nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, indomethacin, suppressed contractions evoked by α-adrenergic agonists hypothetically mediated by prostanoids. We aimed to identify these non-endothelial-derived contractile prostanoids released by α-adrenergic receptors activation. Endothelium-denuded abdominal and thoracic aortas of Wistar rats were used for biochemical and functional analyses. Western blot analysis showed that COX-1 and COX-2 protein levels were respectively equivalent in endothelium-denuded abdominal and thoracic aortas. Enzyme immunoassay data supported direct evidence of phenylephrine-stimulated release of prostanoids (PGI2, PGE2, and PGF2α) by thoracic and abdominal aortas without endothelium, and their almost complete inhibition by 1 µM indomethacin. Isometric force measurements established that 10 µM indomethacin-but no lower concentrations-inhibited the contractions evoked by phenylephrine in endothelium-denuded abdominal aorta. In this preparation, 10 µM indomethacin also depressed the contractions provoked by angiotensin II and high K+ (80 mM). In fact, indomethacin (up to 1 mM) caused concentration-dependent reductions in all abovementioned contractile responses. In endothelium-denuded thoracic aortas, however, only 1 mM indomethacin significantly depressed the contractile activity stimulated by either phenylephrine, angiotensin II, or high K+. Hence, there was a clear quantitative difference in response to indomethacin between abdominal and thoracic aortas without endothelium. Altogether, the results indicate that prostanoids induced by phenylephrine in abdominal and thoracic aortas were derived from non-endothelial COX-mediated metabolism; notably, the decrease in prostanoid synthesis could not account for the inhibition of vasoconstrictor responses by indomethacin: Through COX-independent actions, indomethacin inhibited aortic smooth muscle contractility.

Activation of upregulated angiotensin II type 2 receptors decreases carotid pulse pressure in rats with suprarenal abdominal aortic coarctation.

Our aim was to determine whether angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2R) are involved in the depression of carotid pulse pressure (PP) in rats with suprarenal aortic coarctation (SrC). We tested the effects of losartan, PD123319, and CGP42112 on PP in SrC and Sham-operated anesthetized rats. PP increased in SrC rats. Neither losartan nor PD123319 affected PP in SrC and Sham-operated rats. CGP42112 reduced PP, in SrC rats, combined with losartan. Moreover, PD123319 blocked this effect. AT2R protein increased in the thoracic aortas of SrC rats. Thus, upregulated AT2R stimulation by CGP42112 mediates depression of PP in rats under pressure overloading.

Factors related to attitudes toward organ donation after death in the immigrant population in Spain.

Considering the relevance of the migratory processes in Western societies, the attitudes toward organ donation after death are analyzed by means of a survey applied to a representative random sample of the resident immigrant population in Spain, comprising 1202 subjects (estimated margin of error of ± 2.88%, p = q, p < 0.05). Considered variables were disposition toward own organ donation, disposition toward deceased relatives' donation in different situations, arguments against donation, socio-demographic indicators, religious beliefs, social integration, and information about organ donation and transplantation. Predisposition to donate varies strongly across geographical origin and religious beliefs and also shows relationships with additional socio-demographic, social integration, and informative variables. In turn, the relationship between religious beliefs and attitude toward donation varies as a function of the degree of social integration. In Spain, the immigrant population is a heterogeneous collective that requires differential strategies to promote donation. Such strategies should be aimed at reinforcing the existing positive attitudes of citizens from West Europe and Latin America, and at familiarizing and informing about donation in citizens from the East, and at making specific efforts to break down the cultural and religious barriers toward donation in African citizens, with special emphasis on people of the Muslim faith.

Analysis of the attitudes and motivations of the Spanish population towards organ donation after death.

Starting with the relevance of the Spanish experience, this study analyses the population's disposition towards organ donation after death by means of a representative survey of the adult Spanish population (N = 1206, estimated error ±2.87%, P < 0.05). Of the participants, 8.1% were declared donors, 59.3% were likely to donate, 14.5% were against donating and 18.1% did not know or did not respond; 87.3% would donate relative's organs if the deceased favoured donation, 50.2% if the deceased's wishes were unknown and 13.1% even if the deceased opposed donation. Among people who were favourable towards donation, the main motives expressed were the will to save other people's lives, solidarity and knowing they might someday need a donation. The most important motives for not donating among participants who were against it were the fear of premature organ extraction, of premature pronouncement of death and of mutilation. Reticence to donate is associated with low socio-economic and cultural level, advanced age and high religious commitment; it is also associated with a low perception of transplant efficacy, not directly knowing any transplanted people and the lack of qualified information. The results support diverse potentially effective strategies for promoting donation in the general population.

Do psychosocial factors mediate the appearance of musculoskeletal symptoms? Evidence of an empirical study about the role of mental workload in computer workers.

The emergence of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs) in computer workers is a relevant occupational health problem. This study tests a multilevel model of analysis of risk factors in the appearance of musculoskeletal pain and discomfort in computer workers that integrates indicators from different areas: temporal usage patterns, ergonomic factors, psychosocial factors, and individual variables, specifically testing the possible mediating role of the mental workload. A cross-sectional study was performed through online registration with a non-probabilistic sample of 1198 workers from Spanish organizations. The results show that mental workload has a higher association than the rest of the factors with the onset of pain and discomfort in various body areas: neck in men, neck, shoulders and upper back in women. They also support the mediation role of mental workload in the relationship between usage patterns and the appearance of musculoskeletal symptoms. The use of multilevel theoretical models that adequately consider the complexity of the relationships between the different risk factors is necessary for a better understanding and intervention on MSSs in computer workers.

Grief Reactions of Potential Organ Donors' Bereaved Relatives: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Most family members of potential organ donors experience the death of their relative in an intensive care unit. While under an emotional burden, bereaved relatives must make a decision that will affect the life of other patients. A better understanding of grief within the context of organ donation will help intensive care unit staff better support families during this process. OBJECTIVES: To empirically describe the emotional reactions of potential organ donors' family members facing a loved one's death and analyze the relationship of these reactions to factors that occur in the process of illness and death. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted in 16 Spanish hospitals for 36 months. Data of 421 relatives of potential organ donors, collected through a previously validated instrument, included relatives' emotional responses, deceased's and relatives' characteristics, circumstances of death, and behavior of health care staff. RESULTS: Unexpected deaths were linked to more intense emotional reactions and less acceptance of death than were anticipated deaths. Additional stressors, such as perception of poor treatment by hospital staff, perception of deficient medical care, and poor relationships among family members, were associated with stronger reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Observation and analysis of the factors studied may help hospital staff members anticipate bereaved relatives' emotional reactions and provide better support during the grieving process, increasing family members' well-being and facilitating a better-informed organ donation decision.

Left ventricular phosphorylation patterns of Akt and ERK1/2 after triiodothyronine intracoronary perfusion in isolated hearts and short-term in vivo treatment in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of triiodothyronine (T3) intracoronary perfusion in isolated hearts and short-term administration in rats on the left ventricular (LV) phosphorylation patterns of Akt and ERK1/2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cardiodynamic and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated in Langendorff-perfused hearts. Left ventricles were used for histomorphometric and Western blot analyses. Short-term hyperthyroidism was established by T3 (500 µg.kg-1.d-1; subcutaneous injection) for 1 (T31d), 3 (T33d), and 10 (T310d) days. RESULTS: Isolated hearts receiving T3 perfusion did not modify LV developed pressure, +dP/dtmax, -dP/dtmin, heart rate, and coronary perfusion pressure compared with vehicle-perfused hearts. P-ERK1/2 and p-Akt levels in LV tissues after 5, 15, or 60 min of T3 or vehicle perfusion were similar. Compared with their time-matched controls, isolated hearts of T33d and T310d rats exhibited LV hypertrophy and increased absolute values of +dP/dtmax and -dP/dtmin (i.e., positive inotropic and lusitropic effects). P-ERK1/2 decreased in LV tissues of T31d and T310d but not in those of T33d rats, and p-Akt levels augmented in left ventricles of T33d and stayed unaltered in those of T31d and T310d rats. CONCLUSION: T3 intracoronary perfusion did not alter cardiodynamics and hemodynamics nor influence the activation of Akt and ERK of normal hearts. Accordingly, the rapid non-genomic effects of T3 were not evident. Short-term T3 treatment provoked cardiac hypertrophy coincidental with increased LV function and associated with transient Akt activation and cyclic ERK1/2 inhibition; which implies activation of physiological hypertrophy signaling and deactivation of pathological hypertrophy signaling, respectively.

New Patterns of Information and Communication Technologies Usage at Work and Their Relationships with Visual Discomfort and Musculoskeletal Diseases: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study of Spanish Organizations.

This cross-sectional study analyses the usage patterns of the new communication and information technologies (ICTs) and their relationship with visual discomfort and musculoskeletal diseases in an intentional sample of 1259 workers of Spanish organizations. The usage pattern with the greatest incidence of visual and muscular-skeletal disorders, especially in the wrist and neck, combines the use of laptops and desktops during long working hours. However, the group of workers primarily using mobile devices and working mostly at mobile posts does not appear to be particularly vulnerable to the musculoskeletal diseases and visual fatigue. The ratio of taking a short pause per hour and the implantation of certain technical and preventive measures is related to lower incidence of disorders in the workers as a whole. Current usage of ICTs is very complex and should be addressed using empirical analysis of the different forms of usage and their impacts on health.

Are Sexist Attitudes and Gender Stereotypes Linked? A Critical Feminist Approach With a Spanish Sample.

This study aims to verify the psychometric properties of the Spanish versions of the Social Roles Questionnaire (SRQ; Baber and Tucker, 2006), Modern Sexism Scale (MS), and Old-Fashioned Sexism Scale (OFS; Swim et al., 1995; Swim and Cohen, 1997). Enough support was found to maintain the original factor structure of all instruments in their Spanish version. Differences between men and women in the scores are commented on, mainly because certain sexist attitudes have been overcome with greater success in the current Spanish society, while other issues, such as distribution of power in organizational hierarchies or distribution of tasks in the household, where traditional unequal positions are still maintained. In all cases, it was found that men showed greater support for sexist attitudes. The correlations between the three instruments were as expected in assessing sexist attitudes that tend to relate to each other. Eventually, we found no empirical evidence for the postulated link between sexist attitudes and traditional gender stereotypes. Our results call for the validity and effectiveness of the classic theories of gender psychology, such as gender schema theories (Bem, 1981; Markus et al., 1982) and the notion of a gender belief system (Deaux and Kite, 1987; Kite, 2001).

An Integrated Psychosocial Model of Relatives' Decision About Deceased Organ Donation (IMROD): Joining Pieces of the Puzzle.

Organ transplantation remains currently limited because the demand for organs far exceeds the supply. Though organ procurement is a complex process involving social, organizational, and clinical factors, one of the most relevant limitations of organ availability is family refusal to donate organs of a deceased relative. In the past decades, a remarkable corpus of evidence about the factors conditioning relatives' consent has been generated. However, research in the field has been carried out mainly by means of merely empirical approaches, and only partial attempts have been made to integrate the existing empirical evidence within conceptual and theoretically based frameworks. Accordingly, this work articulates the proposal of an Integrated Psychosocial Model of Relatives' Organ Donation (IMROD) which offers a systematic view of the factors and psychosocial processes involved in family decision and their interrelations. Relatives' experience is conceptualized as a decision process about the possibility of vicariously performing an altruistic behavior that takes place under one of the most stressful experiences of one's lifetime and in the context of interaction with different healthcare professionals. Drawing on this, in the proposed model, the influence of the implied factors and their interrelations/interactions are structured and interpreted according to their theoretically based relation with processes like rational/heuristic decision-making, uncertainty, stress, bereavement, emotional reactions, sense of reciprocity, sense of freedom to decide, and attitudes/intentions toward one's own and the deceased's organ donation. Our model also develops a processual perspective and suggests different decisional scenarios that may be reached as a result of the combinations of the considered factors. Each of these scenarios may imply different balances between factors that enhance or hinder donation, such as different levels of uncertainty and potential decisional conflict. Throughout our work, current controversial or inconsistent results are discussed and interpreted on the basis of the relationships that are posited in the proposed model. Finally, we suggest that the structure of the relationships and interactions contained in our model can be used by future research to guide the formulation of hypotheses and the interpretation of results. In this sense, specific guidelines and research questions are also proposed.

Bereaved relatives' decision about deceased organ donation: An integrated psycho-social study conducted in Spain.

RATIONALE: Family refusal to organ donation of a deceased relative represents one of the most important barriers to organ transplantation. Although a large literature about family decisions has amassed, the existing evidence needs further integration and structuring. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to analyse relationships between bereaved relatives' decisions and a wide range of factors that converge in the family decision process, including interactions and complex relationship patterns, and taking psychosocial theoretical frameworks as reference to conceptualize empirical findings. METHOD: This observational study examined 16 Spanish hospitals during a 36-month period. Transplant coordination teams collected data of 421 cases of family decision processes about donation (338 donations/83 refusals) through a previously validated instrument. Indicators of the following factors were collected: deceased's characteristics; circumstances of death; bereaved relatives' characteristics, beliefs, and expressions; behaviour of health and coordination staff; and family's emotional responses. Three global hypotheses related to bivariate and multivariate relations of factors with family decisions and relationships/interactions among factors were tested. RESULTS: Relatives' beliefs about the deceased's wishes concerning donation are the strongest predictor of family decisions. However, family decisions are also related to the deceased's characteristics, relatives' characteristics, satisfaction with medical attention, satisfaction with personal treatment and relatives' emotional responses, and other factors. Relatives' emotional reactions are related to satisfaction with health-staff interventions and condition family decision, even if deceased's will concerning donation is known and positive. Relatives' beliefs about deceased's wishes concerning donation vary as a function of deceased's characteristics and according to relatives' characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of family decisions underlying organ donation may greatly benefit from a more complex, integrated, and theoretically based approach. Educational efforts should stress the need to register or simply communicate own willingness to donate organs. However, an adequate training and performance of the health-staff involved in the organ donation process may generate substantive differences in consent rates.

Relations between mental workload and decision-making in an organizational setting.

ASBTRACT: BACKGROUND: The complexity of current organizations implies a potential overload for workers. For this reason, it is of interest to study the effects that mental workload has on the performance of complex tasks in professional settings. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to empirically analyze the relation between the quality of decision-making, on the one hand, and the expected and real mental workload, on the other. METHODS: The study uses an ex post facto prospective design with a sample of 176 professionals from a higher education organization. Expected mental workload (Pre-Task WL) and real mental workload (Post-Task WL) were measured with the unweighted NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire; difference between real WL and expected WL (Differential WL) was also calculated; quality of decision-making was measured by means of the Decision-Making Questionnaire. RESULTS: General quality of decision-making and Pre-Task WL relation is compatible with an inverted U pattern, with slight variations depending on the specific dimension of decision-making that is considered. There were no verifiable relations between Post-Task WL and decision-making. The subjects whose expected WL matched the real WL showed worse quality in decision-making than subjects with high or low Differential WL. CONCLUSIONS: The relations between mental workload and decision-making reveal a complex pattern, with evidence of nonlinear relations.

Relations between mental workload and decision-making in an organizational setting

Asbtract Background The complexity of current organizations implies a potential overload for workers. For this reason, it is of interest to study the effects that mental workload has on the performance of complex tasks in professional settings. Objective The objective of this study is to empirically analyze the relation between the quality of decision-making, on the one hand, and the expected and real mental workload, on the other. Methods The study uses an ex post facto prospective design with a sample of 176 professionals from a higher education organization. Expected mental workload (Pre-Task WL) and real mental workload (Post-Task WL) were measured with the unweighted NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire; difference between real WL and expected WL (Differential WL) was also calculated; quality of decision-making was measured by means of the Decision-Making Questionnaire. Results General quality of decision-making and Pre-Task WL relation is compatible with an inverted U pattern, with slight variations depending on the specific dimension of decision-making that is considered. There were no verifiable relations between Post-Task WL and decision-making. The subjects whose expected WL matched the real WL showed worse quality in decision-making than subjects with high or low Differential WL. Conclusions The relations between mental workload and decision-making reveal a complex pattern, with evidence of nonlinear relations.