bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DMOSS: Open source software documentation assessment
Authors: Carvalho Nuno , Simões Alberto , Almeida José
Published: May 2014

Besides source code, the fundamental source of information about open source
software lies in documentation, and other non source code files, like README,
INSTALL, or How-To files, commonly available in the software ecosystem. These
documents, written in natural language, provide valuable information during
the software development stage, but also in future maintenance and evolution
tasks. DMOSS3 is a toolkit designed to systematically assess the quality of
non source code content found in software packages. The toolkit handles a
package as an attribute tree, and performs several tree traverse algorithms
through a set of plugins, specialized in retrieving specific metrics from
text, gathering information about the software. These metrics are later used
to infer knowledge about the software, and composed together to build reports
that assess the quality of specific features. This paper discusses the
motivations for this work, continues with a description of the toolkit
implementation and design goals. This is followed by an example of its usage
to process a software package, and the produced report.
Modeling constraint-based processes: A supervisory control theory application
Authors: Santos Eduardo , Vieira Agnelo , Schaidt Sauro , Loures Eduardo
Published: May 2014

Constraint-based processes require a set of rules that limit their behavior
to certain boundaries. In these processes, the control flow is defined
implicitly as a set of constraints or rules, and all possibilities that do
not violate any of the given constraints are allowed to be executed. The
present paper proposes a new approach to deal with constraint-based
processes. The proposed approach is based on Supervisory Control Theory, a
formal foundation for building controllers for discrete-event systems. The
controller proposed in this paper monitors and restricts execution sequences
of activities such that constraints are always obeyed. We demonstrate that
our approach may be used as a declarative language for constraint-based
processes. In order to provide support for users of such processes and to
facilitate the using of our control approach, we offer a set of constraints
modeled by automata. This set encompasses the constraints frequently needed
in workflow system.
Digital subtraction angiography evaluation of extracranial and intracranial atherosclerotic arterial stenosis in patients of ischemic stroke with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Chowdhury MSJH , Islam M , Chowdhury AH , Ahmed S , Baqui M , Rahman M , Khan SU , Mohammad QD
Published: May 2014

Stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological damage, even death. An ischemic stroke typically results from blockage of an artery that supplies the brain, most commonly a branch of one of the internal carotid arteries. In diabetic people, atheromatous lesions occur earlier in life and are more extensive and severe. This retrospective observational study was conducted among the patients having ischemic stroke with diabetes mellitus who were admitted in DMCH through out patient department during March 2010 to February 2011 to evaluate the extracranial and intracranial atherosclerotic arterial stenosis. A total of 30 patients with ischemic stroke and diabetes mellitus were included in the study. CT scan was done to every patient to confirm the diagnosis. Digital subtraction angiography was performed for complete evaluation. The mean age was 57.9 ±9.2 years with range from 43 to 80 years and male female ratio was 29:1. Among the 30 diabetic patients with ischemic stroke evaluated by DSA, 70% had extracranial stenosis where as 30 % had intracranial stenosis. Occurrence of extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis is more than intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in ischemic stroke patients among diabetic population of Bangladesh. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v42i1.18977 Bangladesh Med J. 2013 Jan; 42 (1): 28-30
Penetrating injury to the neck - Three case reports with review of literatures
Authors: Aich ML , Alam ABMK , Abdullah M , Sardar AR
Published: May 2014

Penetrating neck wounds are potentially dangerous and require emergency management because of the presence of vital structures in the neck. Organic foreign bodies further carry a risk of wound infection. Three interesting penetrating neck injury with foreign bodies are presented of which two are metallic, one with bamboo stick penetrating the neck tissue without damaging any vital structures except facial nerve injury. Mod e of entry, the peculiarity of the foreign body, the management protocol and the outcomes of neck injury are evaluated in the three cases of this case report. Review of literature revealed that few such cases have been reported. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v42i1.18978 Bangladesh Med J. 2013 Jan; 42 (1): 31-33
One year activities as upazila health & family planning officer in Manikchari upazila health complex of Khagrachari district
Authors: Islam MD
Published: May 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v42i1.18981 Bangladesh Med J. 2013 Jan; 42 (1): 39
Testimony and Translation
Authors: Davies Peter
Published: May 2014

This article discusses some recent critical approaches to the translation of Holocaust testimony, looking in particular at the way in which genre expectations may affect the translator's decisions about how to make the text readable as testimony in the target culture. Engaging with theories of testimony as genre by Robert Eaglestone and Eva Lezzi, the essay explores translators’ prefaces to works by Stefan Szende, Lucie Adelsberger, Miklós Nyiszli, Anatoli Kuznetsov, and others, showing how these documents give us an insight into the tensions inherent in translating a testimony text into a new context in which views about the relationship of text to experience may be quite different.
A “Democratization” of Markets? Online Consumer Reviews in the Restaurant Industry
Authors: Mellet Kevin , Beauvisage Thomas , Beuscart Jean-Samuel , Trespeuch Marie
Published: May 2014

This article examines the promise of market democratization conveyed by consumer rating and review websites in the restaurant industry. Based on interviews with website administrators and data from the main French platforms, we show that review websites contribute to the democratization of restaurant criticism, which first started in the 1970s, both by including a greater variety of restaurants in the reviews, and by broadening participation, opening restaurant reviewing to all. However, this twofold democratic ambition conflicts with the need to produce fair and helpful recommendations, leading review websites to seek compromises between these two dimensions.
A tale of two doctoral students: social media tools and hybridised identities
Authors: Bennett Liz , Folley Sue
Published: May 2014

This paper explores the experiences of two doctoral students who embraced Web 2.0 tools in their digital scholarship practices. The paper gives an insider perspective of the challenges and potential of working with online tools, such as blogs, and participating in online communities, such as Twitter’s #phdchat. We explore by drawing on our personal experiences as to how this participation was affected by our hybridised identity as both members of staff at a UK university and as PhD students. We argue that social media tools provide access to a community of doctoral students and knowledgeable others that reduce isolation and provide challenge and support along the challenging journey of undertaking a doctoral study. Whilst the tools involved exposure and risk in relation to managing our hybridised identities, our experience of their use was one we would recommend to others.Keywords: doctoral students; liminality; blogging; Web 2.0; Twitter(Published: 26 May 2014)Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2014, 22: 23791 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v22.23791
Dynamique des salaires dans une cohorte
Authors: Magnac Thierry , Roux Sébastien
Published: May 2014

Dans cet article, nous examinons les données de salaires annuels, de 1976 à 1998, d’une cohorte d’hommes, entrés sur le marché du travail en 1976. La richesse des données nous permet d’analyser la dynamique des salaires, au cours d’une partie du cycle de vie de cette cohorte, à la différence de la quasi-totalité des autres études sur ce sujet, qui doivent mêler des cohortes différentes, pour avoir un nombre suffisant d’observations. Nous estimons, par pseudo-maximum de vraisemblance, différents modèles dynamiques de panel, de type ARMA, en présence d’effets individuels et de variances hétérogènes temporellement. Les résultats montrent que la variance des salaires, et donc l’inégalité, croît significativement, au cours du début de cycle de vie, mais semble stagner, avant l’arrêt de la croissance des salaires. L’estimation montre que les ordres des processus sont significativement plus élevés, que ceux avancés dans la littérature et sont du type ARMA (4,2). Ces estimations mettent en avant le poids de la composante permanente, liée aux effets individuels, qui rend compte de 60 % de la variance des résidus de salaires.
Le rendement apparent de la formation continue dans les entreprises : effets sur la productivité et les salaires
Authors: Aubert Patrick , Crépon Bruno , Zamora Philippe
Published: May 2014

We estimate the productivity returns and wage returns to firm-provided training in a panel of French firms. The productivity returns are positive. For instance, an increase in training intensity of EUR150 per worker raises a firm’s labor productivity by 0,4 %. Moreover, firms benefit from providing training to their workers, since they keep most of the gain from training : the post-training wage increase is less than half of the productivity increase. However , our study measures only apparent returns. Although it tries to control short-run simultaneity biases, it does not separate the direct effects of training from the effects of factors that generally accompany or motivate training in the medium / long run, such as technological and organizational changes.
Un modèle de carrières types dynamiques pondérées pour le régime général d’assurance vieillesse : une application aux conséquences de la réforme de 2003
Authors: Briard Karine
Published: May 2014

The heterogeneity of private-sector career paths raises many problems for estimating future retirees’ pensions, which are calculated according to complex rules. Using a projection model based on typical and weighted career profiles, we can grasp the mechanisms involved and assess intra-and intergenerational disparities. Our study of the effects of France’s latest pension reform illustrates the potential of such a model.
Le rôle des conditions de travail dans les absences pour maladie : le cas des horaires irréguliers
Authors: Afsa Cédric , Givord Pauline
Published: May 2014

Souvent négligées par la littérature économique, les conditions de travail sont susceptibles d’influencer les comportements d’activité. Cette étude s’intéresse en particulier à leur impact sur les absences pour maladie. Le modèle théorique développé dans une première partie suggère deux effets contradictoires : de mauvaises conditions de travail dégradent l’état de santé et accroissent les absences pour maladie, mais l’absentéisme peut être inversement freiné par un effet salaire, si les conditions de travail défavorables sont compensées par un salaire plus élevé. L’évaluation empirique, dans le cas spécifique des horaires irréguliers pour les ouvriers travaillant dans le secteur privé, montre que le premier effet prédomine, particulièrement aux âges élevés.
Les apports de la micro-simulation aux modèles d’équilibre général : application au cas de l’Afrique du Sud
Authors: Hérault Nicolas
Published: May 2014

Dans la lignée des travaux de Savard (2004), ce papier se propose d’examiner les apports de la micro-simulation aux analyses en équilibre général. Il s’agit de montrer comment l’analyse en équilibre général peut être enrichie par l’utilisation d’un modèle de micro-simulation. L’application de ces deux approches, de manière séquentielle, à l’étude des effets de la libéralisation commerciale en Afrique du Sud en fournit une illustration. La conclusion est que les modèles d’équilibre général calculable ne constituent pas des outils appropriés pour l’analyse des impacts sur la distribution des revenus, de part les biais issus de l’utilisation de ménages représentatifs. La micro-simulation permet de corriger ces biais et autorise une analyse plus fine des effets en termes de distribution des revenus.
L’impact des décisions des agences de notation sur le prix des actions : une comparaison du cas français avec les cas européen et américain
Authors: Teïletche Jérôme , Pochon Florent , Iankova Evguenia
Published: May 2014

This paper analyses the response of equities to credit-rating announcements by agencies (S & P, Moody’s , Fitch). We compare the reactions observed in the French stock market equities with those of European and U.S. markets in 1990-2004. We apply a standard event-study methodology but enhance it with non-parametric tests and bootstrap techniques. We find that the asymmetry of price reactions to bad news (downgrades and negative outlooks ) is less clear in France and Europe than in the U.S. Our assessment of price-reaction determinants suggests that macroeconomic factors outweigh microeconomic ones.
Comment appliquer la directive nitrates et à quel coût ? Une modélisation spatiale du marché de l’épandage
Authors: Tauber Mélanie , Le Goffe Philippe , Djaout Fabien
Published: May 2014

En Bretagne, la concentration des élevages est responsable de la pollution de l’eau. La politique française de l’eau n’est pas conforme à la directive européenne, à la différence des pays du nord où le principe pollueur-payeur a stimulé les marchés de l’épandage. Notre objectif était de chiffrer le coût de la directive nitrates et de simuler le fonctionnement des marchés de l’épandage en Bretagne. Un modèle linéaire minimise le coût de gestion des effluents d’élevage sous contrainte de la directive nitrates. Les élevages traitent ou exportent leurs effluents à court terme et réduisent leur cheptel à long terme, de 20 à 40 % selon les espèces. Le marché procure des économies importantes par rapport à l’absence d’échanges ou un plan de maintien de l’élevage.
Le bilan de santé de la politique agricole commune : faut-il des exceptions au traitement général ?
Authors: Gohin Alexandre
Published: May 2014

La Politique agricole commune évolue depuis 1992 vers le découplage des soutiens agricoles de l’acte de production et leur ciblage aux fonctions non marchandes de l’agriculture. Le processus de découplage est quasiment achevé dans les principaux secteurs végétaux et au contraire encore partiel dans les secteurs animaux. Dans le cadre du bilan de santé de la Pac prévu en 2008, se pose la question de savoir s’il doit y avoir des exceptions à ce processus de découplage au sein même des productions herbivores. Nos simulations menées avec un modèle européen d ’ équilibre général calculable montrent que les impacts d’un découplage total sur la production d’herbivores, lait et bovins, sont assez limités du fait notamment du maintien de la préférence communautaire.
Croissance et chômage à long terme
Authors: Tripier Fabien
Published: May 2014

Cet article est consacré à la relation de long terme entre le taux de croissance de la productivité du travail et le taux de chômage. L’application de différentes mesures des comouvements dans le domaine des fréquences montre que cette relation est fortement négative pour tous les pays étudiés (Etats-Unis, Canada, Japon, Grande-Bretagne, France, Italie, Allemagne). Une explication théorique de cette relation, fondée sur le salaire d’efficience, est proposée.
Économie d’un accord global sur le climat : une introduction
Authors: Bureau Dominique
Published: May 2014

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol outlined an architecture for international action to cope with climate risk. The framework combines greenhouse-gas emission targets that are legally binding on individual countries and a mechanism for trading these quotas. We use a canonical model to study the economics of emission-permit markets applied to greenhouse gases. We stress the fact that, in this case, absent a higher authority, the quota market needs to be set up through negotiations between countries. Using the model as a benchmark, we review the issues currently under discussion regarding changes in the United Nations Framework Convention Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Stockage des déchets radioactifs et incertitude
Authors: Ayong Le Kama Alain , Fodha Mouez
Published: May 2014

L’objectif de ce travail est l’étude du traitement optimal des déchets nucléaires. Nous analysons la politique d’enfouissement des déchets radioactifs en prenant en considération un risque futur de déstockage accidentel des déchets préalablement enfouis. Nous montrons que, sous certaines conditions, l’énergie nucléaire peut être une solution de long-terme, malgré l’accumulation des déchets radioactifs. Cette solution nécessite en revanche l’enfouissement d ’ une part constante de la production de déchets nucléaires. L’incertitude sur la sécurité des sites d’enfouissement des déchets conduit naturellement le planificateur social à choisir un taux optimal d’enfouissement des déchets plus faible que celui en vigueur en l’absence de risque. Nous montrons en outre que, malgré cette règle de prudence, le stock total de déchets enfouis peut s’accroître.
Séquestration du carbone et politique climatique optimale
Authors: Grimaud André , Rougé Luc
Published: May 2014

Nous présentons un modèle de croissance endogène dans lequel l’utilisation d’une ressource naturelle non renouvelable polluante génère des émissions de CO2, dont une partie peut être séquestrée. Ceci rompt l’habituel lien systématique entre utilisation de la ressource et émissions polluantes. Le stock accumulé des émissions restantes affecte négativement l’utilité des ménages et la productivité des entreprises. Si la séquestration accélère le rythme optimal d’extraction, elle peut aussi générer de plus fortes émissions à court-terme. De plus, elle est défavorable à la croissance économique. Nous étudions l’impact d’une taxe sur les émissions de carbone ; le niveau de cette taxe compte ici, son niveau optimal est positif, et elle peut être interprété ex post comme une taxe ad-valorem décroissante sur la ressource.
Performance environnementale et économique de l’entreprise
Authors: Ambec Stefan , Lanoie Paul
Published: May 2014

Is environmental protection always detrimental to firms’ competitiveness ? This articles highlights that environmental and economic performance are not always substitute but might sometime be complement for firms. Relying on economic theory, illustrative examples and a review of empirical evidences, we analyse the mechanisms of profitable green strategies. We distinguish among four channels of both increasing of environmental and economic performance : demand, technology, organizational design and financing.
Assurance, intervention publique et ambiguïté : une étude expérimentale auprès de propriétaires forestiers privés
Authors: Brunette Marielle , Cabantous Laure , Couture Stéphane , Stenger Anne
Published: May 2014

Cet article examine l’effet de programmes d’aides publiques sur les comportements d’assurance de propriétaires forestiers privés. Nous analysons l’incidence de trois types de programmes publics, actuellement utilisés par différents gouvernements pour réguler la demande d’assurance : une aide forfaitaire, une aide forfaitaire contingente à l’assurance et une subvention à l’assurance. Nous nous interrogeons également sur l’impact de l’ambiguïté relative à la probabilité d’occurrence du risque sur la demande d’assurance. Dans un premier temps, nous proposons des prédictions théoriques portant sur les effets de ces deux composantes sur le comportement d’assurance. Ces différentes prédictions sont, dans un second temps, testées empiriquement. Les résultats de notre expérience , réalisée avec des propriétaires forestiers, confirment nos prédictions. Nous observons en effet que l’aide publique forfaitaire et la subvention à l’assurance réduisent la demande privée d’assurance des propriétaires. Nous constatons également que l’aide contingente engendre une réduction de demande privée d’assurance moins importante que l’aide forfaitaire. De plus, nos résultats montrent que les propriétaires forestiers ont un consentement à payer pour l’assurance plus fort en situation ambiguë qu’en situation risquée. Ce résultat prouve que les propriétaires forestiers sont averses à l’ambiguïté.
Perception des risques industriels dans une zone estuarienne : une analyse hédoniste spatiale
Authors: Travers Muriel , Bonnet Emmanuel , Chevé Morgane , Appéré Gildas
Published: May 2014

Using the spatial hedonic price method , we analyze the impact of the proximity of petrochemical parks on housing prices in the estuary area of Port-Jérôme (Seine-Maritime, France) over the period 2001-2002. The simultaneous presence of two natural assets (the Seine river and the Vernier marshland) makes this analysis more complex. Our results show that the presence of Seveso-classified industries near dwellings strongly depreciates selling prices, yet this effect was not accentuated by the September 2001 explosion of the AZF factory in Toulouse. We also show that the proximity of natural assets, far from offsetting the negative presence of the petrochemical parks, steepens the price decline.
Ad Urbanitatem informare : la langue et l’éducation dans les comédies de Catherine II (exemple de O temps !).
Authors: Evstratov Alexeï
Published: May 2014

Catherine the Great’s first comedy Oh These Times ! (1772) provides an inventory of the key themes and literary devices that feature in the Empress’s early plays. By way of literary, dramatic and semiotic analyses of the play, this article demonstrates the ways in which Catherine II structured her dramatic works in order to showcase her political goals. The antithesis between Moscow and St Petersburg, which was central to the Empress’s political vision, underpins the action in Oh These Times ! It is above all the question of education that opposes the two towns, which were worlds apart in terms of way of life and values. Khristina, the central protagonist, is faced with a choice. She must choose a language of a social communication. Reading in Russian is represented as the way to progress in this comedy. In the light of the increased number of publications of Russian-language belle-lettres during the reign of Catherine the Great, Oh These Times ! is revealing as to the Empress’s cultural projects : it was through reading that the hearts and minds of the new generation of Russian subjects were to be educated.
Exploring the Impact of Perceived Teaching Style on Behavioral Intention toward Moodle Reading System
Authors: Lin Peng-Chun , Lu Hsin-Ke , Fan Shu-Mai
Published: May 2014

The advances of information technology have significantly changed ways of teaching and learning in education. Compared to Computer Aided Instruction (CAI), Computer Aided Learning (CAL) is student-centered and has become one of the popular ways in learning in different fields. As we all know, the Internet has been commonly used, and a variety of e-learning systems and materials have been designed and applied in schools. Researchers have applied theoretical models, such as TAM, TPB and UTAUT to explore individuals’ adoption and acceptance of technologies. In some researches, demographic individual difference has been proposed as an essential factor in adopting technologies. However, more studies have examined cognitiveoriented individual difference, especially Learning Style and Teaching Style, for users’ acceptance toward system usage. In this study, we explored how Perceived Teaching Style affects ESL/EFL (English as a Second/Foreign Language) students’ adoption of the Moodle Reader System by using a revised TAM. Our results indicated that the ways how Perceived Ease to Use (PE) relates to Perceived Usefulness (PU) from the two Perceived Teaching Style clusters are different. This is valuable information for English course designers or instructors when they consider incorporating e-learning projects into their curriculum. It is also useful for system designers for developing their new learning management systems. For future studies, both Learning Style and Teaching Style will be examined to find out the relationship between the two factors and how they influence system users’ acceptance toward the learning management platform.
AIDS: Problems encountered in anthropological research
Authors: Boulogne G.
Published: May 2014

Medical science has up to now not discovered a means to fight HIV and it is obvious that the epidemic can only be controlled by prevention. Those disciplines from the humanities that could make the most meaningful contribution in this regard would be those that study, or ought to study sexuality, namely, psychology, sociology and anthropology. The communication sciences and nursing belong here as well and ought to play a crucial role.
Belewenis van moeders van jong hiperaktiewe kinders
Authors: Cilliers A. J. , Greeff M. , Poggenpoel M.
Published: May 2014

An exploratory contextual study was undertaken to expand the insight into and the meaning of the perceptions of the mother of a hyperactive child. The phenomenological method of interviewing was used to gather data. The interviews were recorded on tape and later transcribed verbatim. The random test population consisted of eight participants who you're specially selected for the purpose of this study. Data was analysed by way of content analysis. The results firstly crystallised in the mother's experiences with her hyperactive child and secondly in the elements which influenced these experiences. The mothers experience is contained in her involvement with her child and in her interaction with Mm. She experiences vehement feelings of anger, empathy, insufficiency, guilt and depression. At the same time there is the perception that she is responsible for her child's hyperactivity and the accompanying behavioural problems. The mother finds herself in a stressful situation where she is a buffet between her child and the world. Her experience is influenced inter alia by her religious system, personal stress, the behaviour of the hyperactive child, and the availability of support systems.
Depressive symptomatology in hospitalised children
Authors: Rangaka M. , Rose C. , Richter L.
Published: May 2014

This study was undertaken to determine the extent and nature of depressive symptoms exhibited by black South African children during hospitalisation for orthopaedic procedures. Social factors associated with the risk for depression, in response to hospitalisation, were also examined. Pre- and post-test assessments were conducted on a sample of 30 children aged between 6 and 12 years. The assessment entailed a structured interview, together with the following psychometric instruments: A Global Mood Scale, a Depressive Symptoms Checklist, a Hospital Fears Rating Scale and a Self Report Depression Rating Scale. A large proportion of the children were rated by ward sisters as showing high levels of depressive symptomatology two weeks after admission to hospital. As expected, discrepancies were found between adult and child self-ratings of depression. The results of this study indicate that hospitalisation for orthopaedic child patients is associated with the development of depressive symptomatology. It is suggested that emphasis be placed on the development of supportive programmes and procedures aimed at maximising children's coping responses to hospitalisation, particularly for children who find themselves Isolated from their communities and families, as a result of both centralised health services and poor socio-economic conditions.
Short report: Experience of black patients in a critical care unit in a hospital in Pietermaritzburg
Authors: Gwala R. M. S.
Published: May 2014

At the time of this study, the researcher was working as the matron in charge of the Critical Care Units (CCU) of a large hospital in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg. She was aware of an abundance of literature on the C.C.U. environment and its effect on both staff and patients in overseas work but found nothing documenting reactions of South African black patients to their C.C.U. experience.
Academic nurse leaders’ interpretation of concepts and priorities related to the examination of scientific short papers, dissertations and theses – Part 2
Authors: Brink H.
Published: May 2014

During the first round of the study panel members were asked to comment on the kinds of evaluation instruments they considered appropriate. The responses did not indicate clearly their preferences except that no one was in favour of a detailed evaluation instrument which indicated weights for each criterion.
Mental health policy: Options for South Africa
Authors: Pillay Y. G.
Published: May 2014

This paper emphasizes the need for mental health professionals to become involved in developing mental health policies in South Africa. In particular, it examines three options that are currently the focus of attention with respect to national health options, i.e. a free market system, a national health service (NHS) and a national health insurance system (NHIS). While the paper does not provide support for any one of these options it does attempt to investigate some of the implications of each option for the funding and delivery of mental health care.
Audiovisual education and breastfeeding practices: A preliminary report
Authors: Nikodem V. C. , Hofmeyr G. J. , Kramer T. R. , Gülmezoglu A. M. , Anderson A.
Published: May 2014

A randomized control trial was conducted at the Coronation Hospital, to evaluate the effect of audiovisual breastfeeding education. Within 72 hours after delivery, 340 women who agreed to participate were allocated randomly to view one of two video programmes, one of which dealt with breastfeeding. To determine the effect of the programme on infant feeding a structured questionnaire was administered to 108 women who attended the six week postnatal check-up. Alternative methods, such as telephonic interviews (24) and home visits (30) were used to obtain information from subjects who did not attend the postnatal clinic. Comparisons of mother-infant relationships and postpartum depression showed no significant differences. Similar proportions of each group reported that their baby was easy to manage, and that they felt close to and could communicate well with it. While the overall number of mothers who breast-fed was not significantly different between the two groups, there was a trend towards fewer mothers in the study group supplementing with bottle feeding. It was concluded that the effectiveness of aidiovisual education alone is limited, and attention should be directed towards personal follow-up and support for breastfeeding mothers.
Family focused nursing education
Authors: Thompson R. A. E.
Published: May 2014

At the present time the majority of nurse education programmes are firmly tied to the perspectives of curative medicine within hospitals - they are disease and hospital oriented. This model, which indicates a 'sickness’ concept of nursing is entirely inappropriate if contemporary and future health care needs are to be met. The shift in education should be towards a health, family and whole person centered approach. The family is the most fundamental and dynamic unit in society with a profound influence upon its members. Besides performing a variety of other functions, the family has a central role in promoting and maintaining the health of its members. Because the family unit is the microcosm of society and accurately reflects the needs of society at large it is appropriate that this should be a key area of experience. Family attachments during training provide opportunities for close and committed contact with people in their everyday world and for learning what is really important to them.
Verpleegmannekragsituasie in Suid-Afrika – ’n vergelykende perspektief oor 5 jaar: 1989 en 1993
Authors: Bester M. E. , Welmann E. B.
Published: May 2014

A retrospective, non-experimental, descriptive study was undertaken to determine the trends in nursing resources in South Africa between 1989 and 1993. Results obtained from data-analysis in 1993 were compared to a similar study done by Professor Kotze in her capacity as president of the South African Council of Nursing in 1989. It is shown that there was a continuous decline in the growth rate of registered nurses over the period from 9,4% in 1989 to 1,88% in 1992, with a slight increase of 3,18% in 1993. In the student category, a negative growth was found during 1990 (-6,05%), 1992 (-1,69%) and an even worse rate of - 25,91% in 1993. The ratio of registered nurses versus the sub-professional group worsened and varied between 0,94% in 1988,1,02 in 1989 an d 0,98 in 1993.
A profile of the socio-demographic background of children admitted with acute diarrhoea to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Cape Town
Authors: Huskisson J. M. , Feulbach S.
Published: May 2014

The demographic and health profile and anthropometry of 106 young children hospitalised with acute diarrhoea during winter at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, is reported. Information regarding socio-economic status, feeding practices and mothers' knowledge/perceptions about the aetiology of diarrhoea and the use of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) was collected on a predetermined questionnaire in English or Xhosa. The findings underline the need for an aggressive, well-targeted education programme to reduce the morbidity and mortality of vulnerable children as well as the financial drain on the hospital budget.
A study of attitudes of colostomy patients towards a stoma
Authors: Majola S. G. , Ntombela B. B. , Zungu B. M.
Published: May 2014

The researcher experienced that colostomy patients in the community are overprotected by their family members who viewed them as sick persons and do not permit them to continue with their household chores and daily activities. The patients are also stigmatised and labelled and this hurts and humiliates them especially if one has to shout in public about them. The colostomy patients are withdrawn, depressed and lonely.
Blood donation behaviour and beliefs among a sample of high school students in Mmabatho
Authors: Mwaba K. , Kelkelame M. J.
Published: May 2014

This study was aimed at establishing the extent of blood donation and beliefs about donating blood among high school students in Mmabatho. A random sample of 40 Standard 10 students (20 males, 20 females; mean age = 20.8 years) was selected to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to determine blood donation behaviour and accompanying beliefs. The results showed that although 80 percent of the participants believed that donating blood was important only 17.5 percent had actually ever donated blood. The data also showed that donating blood was a health risk or uncertain if donating blood was safe. It is recommended that public appeals for blood donors should include information to dispel myths about dangers of donating blood.
The South African nursing council: 50 years of professional self-regulation
Authors: Kotzé W. J.
Published: May 2014

Self-regulation of the professions of nursing and midwifery became a reality in South Africa on 8 November 1944, when the first council meeting of the South African Nursing Council took place in Pretoria. Most appropriately, the opening speaker on this occasion was Mr Harry Gordon Lawrence, the Minister of Welfare and Demobilization, who had piloted the Nursing Act, No.45 of 1944, through Parliament. Exactly 50 years later, on 8 November 1994 the Council held its 108th meeting, this time in its own building, with a magnificent view of the venue where that historic first meeting took place - the west wing of the Union buildings.
Psigiatriese verpleegkundige begeleiding aan ’n gesin van ’n pasiënt in ’n onkologiese eenheid: Deel 1
Authors: Dippenaar I. L. , Greeff M.
Published: May 2014

The family of a patient in an oncology unit or at home, experiences mental discomfort as a result of additional pressure placed on the family system due to long-term implications of cancer. Families are often uncertain about ways of effective coping in their stressful situation, As a result of this uncertainty, they tend to withdraw from one another, thereby worsening their mental discomfort and impeding their pursuit of wholeness. An exploratory, descriptive and contextual study was carried out during the course of which the design for case studies was used. The purpose of the study was to determine the contribution made by a psychiatric nursing specialist offering psychiatric nursing accompaniment to the family of a patient in an oncology unit or at home, regarding the lessening of their mental discomfort. A further goal was to set guidelines as to the manner in which this accompaniment should be presented by the registered nurse in order to lessen the mental discomfort of the family of such a patient.
Neonatal nursing workload – can it be measured?
Authors: Van den Heever J. M.
Published: May 2014

Continuing pressure an tertiary hospitals 10 reduce expenses has inevitably meant a demand to reduce nursing staff. This intensified the need to ensure that staffing allocation is appropriate. A method to calculate staffing needs based measurement of neonatal workload is explored.
Afstandskontakonderrig oorbruggingsprogram: Algemene verpleegkunde
Authors: Joubert A. , Du Plessis P.
Published: May 2014

Distance-or distance contact education provides registered nurses with an ideal opportunity for professional growth. This method also fulfils a need to study without the problem of being absent from family, occupational and social responsibilities. It seemed that students are enthusiastic about their studies despite personal, financial and other difficulties. At the end of the course students claimed that their self-confidence improved and that they were better equipped to give high quality nursing care. Using the Spearman Correlation Coefficient there was substantial correlation between the matric results and the final course symbol for this group of students [alpha .05 (p.002)]. No correlation existed between the selection average of 1-9 and the different subjects as for example General Nursing and Ethos.
Na-basiese verpleegstudente se persepsies van die vak Etos van Verpleging
Authors: Kirstein H.
Published: May 2014

The registered nurse's pursuit of professionalism is of prime importance in the execution of her task. This research attempts to assess the perceptions concerning the subject Ethos of Nursing held by post-registration nursing students - after they had written the examination on the subject. The purpose was to determine the extent of the student's pursuit of professionalism, as her perception of Ethos is synonymous with her attitude towards professionalism. During the student's basic education in Nursing Science site was taught the fundamental principles of Ethos. This research revealed that this basic teaching failed to meet the requirements of the nurse subsequent to registration. It appeared that the students' perceptions changed from negative to positive during their studies at Unisa. This finding supported the assumption that the subject Ethos, and its impact on the nurse practitioner's pursuit of professionalism, might only reach its full potential at the post-basic level
The experiences of parents where pregnancy ended in an unplanned caesarean section
Authors: Ceronio C. C. , Dörfling C. S. , Nolte A. G. W.
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study to determine the experiences of parents prior to, during and following an unplanned caesarean section. Parents who experienced this event had mixed emotions. The related occurrences may have influenced their behaviour and consequently their relationships with their spouses, themselves and their environment. These continually interacted with each other and thus needed to be looked at in context. 'The Nursing of the Whole Person Theory’ ensured a holistic approach to the parents. Unstructured, in-depth interviews held with five mothers and five fathers, respectively, on day three post-delivery, were transcribed and analysed. At six weeks a follow-up semi-structured questionnaire was answered by these same respondents and analysed The experiences of the parents were then compared,
‘n Ondersoek na die persoonlike ervaring van bevoegdheid van studentvroedvroue in die uitvoer van episiotomie-hegtings
Authors: Bester M. E. , Lamprecht H. A.
Published: May 2014

A nan-experimental, descriptive study was conducted to determine the knowledge and efficiency of student midwives in the performing of episiotomy repairs. A questionnaire was administered to 50 students front the two universities and affiliated colleges in the Western Cape. Sixty percent (N = 3O) of the respondents regarded themselves as efficient. However, only one of these respondents had all the necessary knowledge concerning perineal repairs with 15 (50%) of these respondents' knowledge that could be considered as insufficient. Fifty-four percent of the respondents (N = 27) considered it necessary to repair more than 3 episiotomies in order to feel confident.
Companionship in labour: Do the personality characteristics of labour supporters influence their effectiveness
Authors: Chalmers B. , Wolman W. L. , Nikodem V. C. , Gulmezoglu A. M. , Hofmeyer G. J.
Published: May 2014

Recent research has revealed beneficial post-partum, psychosocial effects on the mother following labour which was accompanied by supportive companions. Whether these effects are obtained as a result of having companionship during labour or because of specific personality characteristics of the companions provided is important and is explored in this paper. Although findings revealed few differences in adjustment between women who were supported by different companions, some variability in the post-partum state anxiety and depression scores were noted which suggest that selection of an appropriate supporter is an important aspect of such programmes.
‘n Videogebaseerde tutor onderrig- en ondersteuningsprogram vir eerstejaar verpleegkunde studente
Authors: Du Rand P. P. , Bitzer E. M.
Published: May 2014

A video-based method of instruction was introduced to develop students academically as well as to implement parallel medium instruction. An action research approach was followed Lectures were video-taped beforehand and worked through with the students by a tutor in scheduled Afrikaans or English periods. Simultaneously a live class situation was handled by the lecturer in the other language. Over and above these methods additional video-based support sessions were conducted by tutors for high risk students. A survey indicated that 85% of students were satisfied with this method of instruction. The perceptions of high risk students to VSI were positive and they passed the examinations. Video lectures need to be carefully planned in order to be acceptable as one of a number of possible instruction methods at a multi-cultural university.
Development and operalisation of a support programme for nursing service managers: Part 2
Authors: Poggenpoel M. , Gmeiner A.
Published: May 2014

This paper describes research conducted to develop and implement a support programme for nursing service managers suffering from fatigue. The support programme was developed on the basis of results obtained from a survey that ascertained nursing service managers' views about the problems they were experiencing in their everyday lives. A multiple case-study design was utilised to describe the operationalisation of the support programme. The sample consisted of forty-eight English speaking and fifty-two Afrikaans speaking nursing service managers from the old Transvaal region (Gauteng, North West and Eastern Transvaal The support programme was implemented during two one-day workshops, one with the Afrikaans speaking group and one with the English speaking group of nursing service managers. Data were gathered about operationalisation of the support programme through multiple methods: observation, audiotape recordings, written documents and field notes. The data were analysed by utilising the methods of descriptive analysis.
The information needs of cancer patients in the Pretoria and Witwatersrand area
Authors: McLoughlin H. A. , Oosthuizen B. L.
Published: May 2014

More than 48 500 South Africans annually are confronted with the diagnosis of cancer. (Sitas, 1994) Judging from the literature it would seem that the acquisition of information about the various aspects of their disease is a very important coping mechanism for the cancer patient. Various studies concerning the information needs of cancer patients have been published in the USA, the UK and Australia, Similar studies have not yet been published in South Africa.
The role of the community mental health nurse in Botswana: The needs and problems of carers of schizophrenic clients in the community
Authors: Kgosidintsi A.
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the role of the psychiatric/community mental health nurse in the context of primary health care in which mental health is an integral part of the general health care system and in a specific socio-economic background. Nine (9) community mental health nurses who graduated from a local training program for community mental health nurses at post basic level, twenty five (25) carers responsible for daily care and welfare of schizophrenic clients from rural, semi-rural, urban and semi-urban areas country wide participated in the study. The study was exploratory and both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using semi structured interviews, unstructured observation and documentary search methods were used. Data analysis for both qualitative and quantitative data was done through simple frequency counts.
Self-directed learning in the context of a nursing curriculum: Development of a learning plan
Authors: Majumdar B.
Published: May 2014

The rapid pace at which biological health breakthroughs and advancements in technology occur is creating unique challenges to health care programmes. The curricula of all health care programmes will need to be set in learning environments where students will be able to develop learning skills that are transportable across situations, over a whole lifetime. This article attempts to focus on self-directed learning (SDL) concepts and the development of a learning contract/plan, including the roles of both the student and faculty in self-learning approaches and contractual development.
Indigenous healers in the North West province: A survey of their clinical activities in health care in the rural areas
Authors: Shai-Mahoko S. N.
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical conditions brought to indigenous healers by people in the rural areas in search of health care. The demographic variables and preventive, promotive, curative and follow-up activities of indigenous healers were investigated. Data were collected from a simple random sample of 35 indigenous healers. A questionnaire designed by Mogoba (1984) for investigation of training and functioning of traditional doctors in Southern Africa was modified and used to collect data.
Health Seeking Behaviour by Cape-Townians: A mini-research by first year student nurses at a College for Nursing in Cape Town
Authors: Haegert S.
Published: May 2014

The author was asked by a student nurse to use South African examples when teaching, as the textbooks were either American or English, and they wanted sociology that applied to their own environment. In the next year of teaching the prescribed objectives concerning "Health Seeking Behaviour", it was suggested that the students question the populace, and find out for themselves how South Africans behaved when they thought they were ill. By doing this it was hoped that it would also give deeper insights into the meaning people attributed to illness/sickness.