bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complexity Prediction Instrument to detect ‘complex cases’ in respiratory wards: instrument development
Authors: Lobo Elena , Rabanaque Maria‐Jose , De Jonge Peter , Barcones Maria‐Fe , Cazcarra Rosa‐Ana , Huyse Frits J. , Lobo Antonio
Published: September 2008

Title.  Complexity Prediction Instrument to detect ‘complex cases’ in respiratory wards: instrument development.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to test the hypothesis that the Spanish version of the Complexity Prediction Instrument is a reliable and valid measure of complexity of patients with respiratory disease and to identify the frequency of positive indicators of potential complexity.

Background.  Respiratory patients are often disabled and severely ill, with co‐morbid physical conditions and associated psychosocial problems and need complex nursing care.

Method.  Trained nurses assessed 299 consecutive adult patients admitted to a respiratory service in Spain from May 2003 until June 2004 with the new, Spanish version of the instrument. Criterion‐related validity was tested by studying its ability to predict complexity of care in terms of: severity of illness, scored using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale; length of hospital stay; ‘multiple consultations’ during admission; and ‘multiple specialists’ after discharge.

Findings.  The hypothesis was supported: patients rating above the standard cut‐off point on the Complexity Prediction Instrument scored statistically significantly higher on most of the measures of care complexity studied. Linear regression models showed that the tool was associated with ‘length of hospital stay’, and predicted both ‘multiple consultations’ and ‘multiple specialists’, after controlling for potential confounders. The proportion of ‘probable complex cases’ was 59·5%. Five positive indicators of potential complexity had a frequency higher than 50%.

Conclusion.  The Complexity Prediction Instrument is reliable and valid in a new clinical area, respiratory disease. It may be used by nurses for the early prediction of complexity of care. International comparisons may be facilitated with this new Spanish version.
Maternal role development following childbirth among Australian women
Authors: Emmanuel E. , Creedy D.K. , St John W. , Gamble J. , Brown C.
Published: September 2008

Title. Maternal role development following childbirth among Australian women.

Aim. This paper is a report on the examination of demographic, birthing and social correlates of maternal role development in childbearing women.

Background. Successful adaptation to the maternal role provides a mother with confidence and satisfaction in her ability to nurture and care for her infant. Despite the importance of this developmental process for maternal well‐being, little attention has been given to social and demographic predictors of positive role development in recent years.

Methods. A prospective study was undertaken at three publicly‐funded metropolitan antenatal clinics in Queensland, Australia between March and November 2003. A total of 605 women completed a survey at 36 weeks gestation and 12 weeks postpartum, with a response rate of 78% (n = 473). A self‐report questionnaire was used to collect data about personal and birth variables, domestic violence, social support and maternal role development.

Findings. The majority of women (81%) were of White ethnic background, modal age was 30–45 years (40%,n = 189) and 66 percent (n = 312) were in paid employment. Bivariate analysis identified age, marital status, length of relationship and social support to be statistically significantly associated with maternal role development. Optimal scaling showed social support to be the most important factor in maternal role development.

Conclusion. Maternal role development following childbirth is complex and can be adversely affected by older maternal age, married status, inadequate social support and short partner relationships. A deeper understanding of this process is needed if healthcare professionals are to assist mothers in making a smooth transition to motherhood.
Diversity, attrition and transition into nursing
Authors: Mulholland Jon , Anionwu Elizabeth N. , Atkins Richard , Tappern Mike , Franks Peter J.
Published: September 2008

Title. Diversity, attrition and transition into nursing.

Aim. This paper is a report of a study to explore the relationship between selected diversity variables (sex, country of birth, ethnicity, age, educational qualifications, and additionally visa status, application route, absence rates), and nursing students’ progression and attrition.

Background. Debates on levels, forms and causation of nursing student attrition have been professional, academic and political concerns for some time on an international level. However, a more systematic approach to studying the topic is needed. We lack commonly operationalized national and international data on the relationship between attrition and diversity variables, and their implications for cost, social justice and demographic representativeness in nursing.

Methods. A longitudinal cohort design was used. Data were collected from 2003 to 2005 from routinely collected data in student records.

Results. Males had lower odds of completing the programme than females, as did younger students. Compared with United Kingdom‐born students, those born in Ireland, Zimbabwe, or other English‐speaking countries were more likely to complete the programme. Students born overseas in non‐English‐speaking countries did not differ statistically significantly from United Kingdom‐born students. Those at all qualification levels had similar odds of completion, except students already qualified at degree level, who were less likely to complete.

Conclusion. Further national and international research is needed to understand better the causal variables underpinning differential attrition rates, with particular regard to understanding how different groups may experience the relationship between education and their broader circumstances and between the theoretical and the clinical elements of nurse education itself.
Development of an internet‐based intervention for parents of infants
Authors: Salonen Anne H. , Kaunonen Marja , Åstedt‐Kurki Päivi , Järvenpää Anna‐Liisa , Tarkka Marja‐Terttu
Published: September 2008

Title.  Development of an internet‐based intervention for parents of infants.

Aim.  This paper reports on a study to describe the development of an internet‐based intervention for parents with infants and to compare the participants and hospitals at baseline.

Background.  There is a need for interventions to support parenting and for more research into the use of information technology as an intervention strategy. The design and development of healthcare interventions is a complex task, but these are rarely discussed in research reports.

Methods.  A quasi‐experimental study was conducted. The data (N = 1300 families) were collected using a structured questionnaire at the hospital or no later than 1 week after discharge during the winter of 2006. The results were used to develop the intervention and to compare the participants at baseline. Statistically significant differences were determined by chi‐squared or Fisher’s exact tests for percentages and one‐way anova for means. The internal consistency relialibility of the scales was analysed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients.

Findings.  Participants in the intervention (n = 469 mothers, n = 307 fathers) and control (n = 394 mothers, n = 218 fathers) hospitals were comparable in respect of parent and infant attributes. There were statistically significant differences between the hospitals in fathers’ overnight stays and their access to social support from professionals on the maternity ward. Exclusive breastfeeding was more common in the intervention hospital. More support for infants’ cues and behaviour, and day‐rhythm and sleep were needed in the intervention hospital.

Conclusion.  More research is needed to gain a clearer understanding of the effect size of the differences for a reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of the proposed intervention.
Investigating the determinants of health‐related quality of life among childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Cantrell Mary Ann , Lupinacci Paul
Published: September 2008

Title.  Investigating the determinants of health‐related quality of life among childhood cancer survivors.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to survey early childhood cancer survivors’ perceived health‐related quality of life and its determinants and to estimate the reliability of known psychometric scales used in the measurement of these determinants.

Background.  Young adult survivors of childhood cancer are considered to be a high‐risk, vulnerable population for experiencing medical and psychosocial sequelae from their treatment that can adversely affect their health‐related quality of life. Achieving an adequate level of health‐related quality of life among childhood cancer survivors has been identified as a significant outcome in measuring the success of cancer treatment for these survivors throughout the world.

Method.  An on‐line survey approach was used, and data were collected from December 2005 to May 2006 in the United States of America. Specific determinants measured were physical health status, perceived sense of hopefulness, self‐esteem, social support and affect. The internal consistency of the instruments to measure these constructs among early survivors of childhood cancer was evaluated.

Findings.  Early survivors of childhood cancer had a lower level of health‐related quality of life, perceived self‐esteem, physical health status and social support when compared with previously reported findings among samples of adolescents in active treatment for cancer, healthy same‐age peers and other samples of childhood cancer survivors.

Conclusion.  Investigations using web‐based approaches to measure determinants of health‐related quality of life among young adult survivors of childhood cancer have the potential to include international samples of childhood cancer survivors.
Celluloid angels: a research study of nurses in feature films 1900–2007
Authors: Stanley David J.
Published: September 2008

Title.  Celluloid angels: a research study of nurses in feature films 1900–2007.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study examining the influence on how nursing and nurses are portrayed in feature films made between 1900 and 2007, with a nurse as their main or a principle character and a story‐line related specifically to nursing.

Background.  Nurses and the nursing profession are frequently portrayed negatively or stereotypically in the media, with nurses often being portrayed as feminine and caring but not as leaders or professionals capable of autonomous practice.

Methods.  A mixed method approach was used to examine feature films made in the Western world. Over 36,000 feature film synopses were reviewed (via CINAHL, ProQuest and relevant movie‐specific literature) for the keywords ‘nurse’/‘nursing’. Identified films were analysed quantitatively to determine their country of production, genre, plot(s) and other relevant data, and qualitatively to identify the emergence of themes related to the image of nurses/nursing in films.

Findings.  For the period from 1900 to 2007, 280 relevant feature films were identified. Most films were made in the United States of America or United Kingdom, although in recent years films have been increasingly produced in other countries. Early films portrayed nurses as self‐sacrificial heroines, sex objects and romantics. More recent films increasingly portray them as strong and self‐confident, professionals.

Conclusion.  Nurse‐related films offer a unique insight into the image of nurses and how they have been portrayed. Nurses need to be aware of the impact the film industry has on how nurses and nursing are perceived and represented in feature films.
Genetic Variability in Phosphorus Acquisition and Utilization Efficiency from Sparingly Soluble P‐Sources by Brassica Cultivars under P‐Stress Environment
Authors: Akhtar M. S. , Oki Y. , Adachi T.
Published: September 2008

Plants display an array of classical strategies to maximize phosphate (Pi) acquisition from sparingly soluble P sources. Acclimation to Pi‐stress via elegant Pi‐starvation induced (PSI) adjustments would reduce our current overreliance on expensive, polluting and non‐renewable Pi‐fertilizers. Nevertheless, differences in the ability of various species to solubilize sparingly soluble P‐sources have been often evidenced; inter‐cultivar variations are scarcely documented. Brassica is known as an effective, non‐mycorrhizal user of sparingly soluble P‐sources. Various growth parameters and biomass accumulation by genetically diverse Brassica cultivars were determined in four experiments using hydroponics and quartz sand culture media. Role of PSI root mediated pH changes, organic anions (OAs) exudation and altered root architecture in mobilization and acquisition of sparingly soluble P‐forms [Jordan rock‐P (RP) at 2 g l−1 and Ca3(PO4)2 (TCP) at 0.2 g l−1 respectively] was investigated. Cultivars showed considerable genetic variations in biomass accumulation, various growth parameters and root–shoot ratio. Concentration and total uptake of P, specific absorption rate of P, P‐transport rate and P‐utilization efficiency (PUE) were also significantly (P < 0.001) different for various cultivars and their dry matter was significantly correlated with P‐uptake [r = 0.94** (significant at 1% level)]. P‐tolerant cultivars showed substantial decrease in solution media pH because of H+ efflux and exuded more carboxylates than low P‐sensitive cultivars under P‐starvation. P‐uptake by cultivars increased linearly with decreasing pH. The amount and types of OAs exuded from the roots of P‐starved plants differed from those of plants grown under P‐sufficient environment. In split pot study, with TCP and RP supplied spatially separated from other nutrients, efficient cultivars were still able to mobilize RP and TCP more efficiently than inefficient cultivars. In rhizobox study, the elongation rates of primary roots decreased but the elongation rates of the branched zones of primary roots and the length of lateral roots increased under P‐starvation. Tested cultivars showed genetic diversity in accessing, mobilization, acquisition and utilization of Pi from sparingly soluble P forms. An arrange marriage of plant traits can explain cultivar’s access to different forms of sparingly soluble P, and in addition to altered lateral root topology and enhanced P‐uptake and PUE, enhanced H+ efflux and OAs exudation are key factors in Pi scavenging from extra cellular sparingly soluble P‐forms.
Sugarcane Response to Nitrogen Fertilization on a Histosol with Shallow Water Table and Periodic Flooding
Authors: Glaz B. , Reed S. T. , Albano J. P.
Published: September 2008

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is increasingly exposed to periodic floods and shallow water tables on Histosols in Florida’s Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). In the past, when these soils were usually well drained, they provided excess N for sugarcane through microbial oxidation. It is not known if supplemental N would now improve yields because microbial oxidation is reduced by shallow water tables and periodic floods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of N fertilizer rates on two sugarcane cultivars exposed to a 25‐cm water‐table depth with and without repeated 2‐day floods. Two studies were planted in containers in 2001 and 2002 with two sugarcane cultivars and five equally spaced rates of N fertilizer from 0 to 200 kg ha−1. Leaf, stalk and root weights were reduced by periodic flooding and the magnitude of the reduction sometimes differed between cultivars. Plant weights, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) and leaf N content were often highest near an N rate of 100 kg ha−1. Usually, N fertilizer rate did not interact with water treatment. Nitrogen fertilization may be useful for sugarcane exposed to water‐table depths of 25 cm with and without 2‐day repeated floods on EAA Histosols.
Improvement of Time‐Driven Models of Lamina Cocksfoot Digestibility by a Process‐Based Model to Take Account of Plant N Nutrition and Defoliation
Authors: Duru M.
Published: September 2008

For management purposes, models of lamina digestibility (DW) that are thermal time driven (Tsum) fail to account for plant nitrogen status (0 < Ni < 1) and defoliation intensity (residual sheath height: Sr). The objective of this paper was to enrich them using a functional processed‐based model, which assumes that the decline in DW over time depends on the metabolic : structural tissue ratio and plant ageing. An experiment combining two N fertilizer rates and two defoliation regimes (differences in Sr) for two spring and two summer regrowth was done to analyse DW of laminae (youngest fully expanded) and tiller (whole green lamina) levels. For laminae, we show that both processes contribute to explain the decline in DW at a rate that depends on Ni but not on Sr. For tillers, consistent results were found justifying the use of a simple model: DW = f(+Ni; −Ni × Tsum; −Sr). Two different databases (from experiment and commercial farms) were used for validation: RMSD varied from 35 to 49 g kg−1. The process‐based model strengthened the empirical model and improved the comprehensiveness of how management practices change DW. We used both models to create applications for reasoning yield in function of herbage mass in complement than in function of time.
Optimal utilization of non‐additive quantitative trait locus in animal breeding programs
Authors: Li Y. , Van der Werf J.H.J. , Kinghorn B.P.
Published: September 2008

Optimal selection on a single identified quantitative trait locus (QTL) with four modes of inheritance: normal autosomal, sex‐limited, imprinting and X‐linked, was evaluated in four breeding structures: single line selection (SLS), two‐way crossing (2WC), three‐way crossing (3WC) and reciprocal crossing (RC) by comparing extra benefit from mate selection over index selection to demonstrate effectiveness of mate selection in exploiting non‐additive QTL. The results showed that the superiority varied at different QTL inheritance modes, initial favourable allele frequencies and breeding structures. The superiority tended to decrease with the increase of the favourable allele frequency except for over‐dominant QTL and imprinted QTL in all breeding structures. Less superiority (below 9%) was observed for a recessive and a fully dominant QTL than for an over‐dominant QTL (up to 27.11%). Normal autosomal and sex‐linked QTL led to a similar trend of superiority from mate selection but the magnitude of the superiority with the latter was slightly higher than with the former for most combinations of the parameters. A high superiority (6.41–41.54%) was observed from mate selection over index selection for an imprinted QTL. A maternally imprinted QTL tended to lead to higher superiority from mate selection than a paternally imprinted QTL. X‐linked QTL led to less superiority from mate selection than the other modes of QTL. A larger superiority from mate selection was observed for a recessive and a fully dominant QTL in structures 3WC and 2WC than structures RC and SLS. The superiority from autosomal QTL and X‐linked QTL was lower in the structure RC than in other structures examined.
Developing professional autonomy in advanced nursing practice: The critical analysis of sociopolitical variables
Authors: Laperrière Hélène
Published: September 2008

The conceptual tools prevailing in scientific literature can carry an unexamined ballast of implicit references to current sociopolitical debates that dominate their times. Professional autonomy is not only freedom for action but also freedom for thought. The paper aims to increase external validity by enhancing the awareness of uncontrollable variables and their very real impact on results. The method is a critical review of use of the concepts of vulnerability, participation and autonomy generally related to the public health discourse. It raises practical uncertainties regarding the overestimated prerequisite of ‘advanced’ and ‘evidence‐based’ practices when governing directives destined to be realized in social contexts fraught with unpredictability. This paper argues for the development of those skills necessary to analyse the influence of society‐dependent concepts on our daily practices and the impact institutions have on the construction of our values, ideologies and practices.
Is there a place for ontological hermeneutics in mental‐health nursing research? A review of a hermeneutic study
Authors: Chang Kam Hock , Horrocks Stephen
Published: September 2008

A lot of research carried out within the context of mental‐health nursing using qualitative data collection tools claims that it is hermeneutical, with usually just a short section describing the hermeneutical methodology as though it is a very broad philosophical approach. Criticisms of the latter approach more often than not concentrate on the level of the data collection tools without getting to grips with the underlying hermeneutical philosophy. This paper examines the difference between methodological and ontological hermeneutics and then gives an example of a piece of research using the latter approach. It is then argued that criticisms of the hermeneutical approach usually only concentrate on methodological hermeneutics with the consequence that they seriously misapply their criticisms if the research is using ontological hermeneutics.
Truth‐telling, honesty and compassion: A virtue‐based exploration of a dilemma in practice
Authors: Begley Ann M
Published: September 2008

In this paper a discussion of the strengths of a virtue‐based approach to ethics in nursing is discussed. Virtue ethics is often depicted as vague and lacking in any convincing application to the reality of practice. It is argued that exploring issues from a virtue perspective offers the possibility of a sensitive moral response which is grounded in the context of the client and his family. Far from being vague, virtue ethics offers guidance in practice, but this guidance acknowledges the complexity of individual lives as opposed to the impartiality and abstract nature of traditional moral theory, rules and principles. The vehicle for discussion is a case in practice. The position presented here is that in taking account of the salient features of each individual case, withholding the truth from adults with a life threatening illness can be justified for compassionate reasons.
Nurses' work environment and nursing outcomes: A survey study among Finnish university hospital registered nurses
Authors: Tervo‐Heikkinen Tarja , Partanen Pirjo , Aalto Pirjo , Vehviläinen‐Julkunen Katri
Published: September 2008

The aim was to assess the interrelationships between nurses' work environment and nursing outcomes. A cross‐sectional survey of 664 registered nurses (RN) on 34 acute care inpatient hospital wards was used to measure nurses' perceptions. Patient data (n = 4045) consisting of a total patient satisfaction indicator were collected simultaneously with the nurse data during year 2005. RN's assessments of staffing adequacy, respect and relationships were the most important factors of work environment having an influence on job‐related stress, job satisfaction, patient satisfaction and adverse events to patients and nurses. Some 77% of the RN reported adverse nurse events and 96% reported adverse patient events during a 3 month retrospective period. Ensuring sufficient and suitably qualified nurses' availability in delivering nursing care is an important management issue. Nurses are concerned about the quality of care, and the concerns perceived by nurses can influence their clinical work.
Nursing practice environment: How does one Australian hospital compare with magnet hospitals?
Authors: Middleton Sandy , Griffiths Rhonda , Fernandez Ritin , Smith Bronwyn
Published: September 2008

Magnet hospitals are recognized institutions of nursing excellence that provide an environment for the promotion of nursing and high‐quality patient care. The Magnet Recognition Program, developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Centre, acknowledges health‐care institutions that not only attract and retain nursing staff but also recognize nursing excellence in the delivery of quality patient care. Our study aimed to adapt the existing Practice Environment Scale to the Australian context and to pilot its use in measuring the nursing practice environment at a metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia. Nursing staff from four wards at a 400 bed major metropolitan acute general hospital in Sydney, Australia completed a self‐administered questionnaire about their practice environment. Data were compared with the published norms from magnet and non‐magnet hospitals in the USA, and means of two subscales were not significantly different from magnet hospital means. Hospitals could benefit from undertaking a similar practice environment baseline measure prior to applying for accreditation, thus enabling targeting of pre‐identified service gaps and areas for improvement.
Self‐management in older patients with chronic illness
Authors: Gallagher Robyn , Donoghue Judith , Chenoweth Lynn , Stein‐Parbury Jane
Published: September 2008

Chronic illness causes the majority of disease burden and health costs in developed countries; however, this could be substantially reduced by optimal patient self‐management. This study examined the levels of self‐management in patients (n = 300) with chronic illness (chronic heart failure, chronic respiratory disease, Parkinson's disease and chronic schizophrenia) of moderate severity who had experienced an illness exacerbation in the last month. Patient's perceptions of self‐efficacy in relation to their self‐management and their sense of coherence were also assessed at baseline and 1 month later. No changes occurred in self‐perceptions or self‐management from baseline to follow‐up. Patients at risk of poor self‐management included people with low self‐efficacy, poor sense of coherence, older age and a primary diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia. As self‐efficacy is the only predictor known to be amenable to intervention, self‐efficacy enhancing support should be promoted.
Compliance of kidney transplant patients to the recommended lifestyle behaviours: Single centre experience
Authors: Gheith Osama Ashry , EL‐Saadany Samia Ali , Abuo Donia Shadia Ahmed , Salem Yusria Mouhamed
Published: September 2008

Successful management of kidney transplant patients requires lifelong therapeutic regimen. Lifestyle changes of the patients after transplantation is the key link between the process of transplantation and its outcome, which is why those patients are in great need for complying with their recommended lifestyle behaviours. The aim of the study was to identify compliance of kidney transplant patients to the recommended lifestyle behaviours. One hundred adult kidney transplant patients of 6 months duration and more participated in this study regardless of age or sex. A structured questionnaire was developed which included socio‐demographic characteristics, the recommended lifestyle behaviours of the kidney transplant patients and the kidney transplant patient's health condition and his results from the laboratory tests. The time spent with each patient ranged between 45 and 60 min. About three or four patients were interviewed on each visit. The results found that patients have good compliance with immunosuppressive agents with partial degree to other lifestyle behaviours. The conclusion is that intensive assessment of patients before and after transplantation should be done to identify their needs which help to improve their compliance. The nurse must provide the kidney transplant patients with the necessary knowledge of the recommended lifestyle behaviours.
The cultural–ecological orientation of graduate nurses (novice) in medical–surgical nursing
Authors: Oliver Mary
Published: September 2008

The aim of this research was to understand the process of clinical reasoning and decision‐making and the impact that trajectory of experience has on the decision‐making of graduate nurses by investigating the clinical practice of 10 novice nurses. An ethnographic interpretive approach was used to study the clinical practice of novice nurses in medical–surgical nursing. An in‐depth interview was conducted following the periods of observation. The findings of this research demonstrate that the graduates who participated in this study were instrumental in creating a cultural–ecological orientation to their practice, and inherent in their practice was a highly developed perceptual awareness of the individual needs of patients and their families, which resulted in a close bond with their patients.
A comparison of patients' and nurses' assessments of pain intensity in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Davoudi Nayyereh , Afsharzadeh Pooran , Mohammadalizadeh Sakineh , Haghdoost Ali Akbar
Published: September 2008

Self‐report of pain is the single most reliable indicator of pain intensity. The purpose of this study was to compare patients' and nurses' ratings of patients' pain. The sample comprised 76 patients and 65 nurses in coronary care units that rated the patient's pain intensity on a 0–10 numeric rating scale. Results showed that the mean scores of nurses were lower than their patients significantly (P < 0.01). Also, nurses assessed patients' pain intensity accurately 60% of the time. Overestimations and underestimations were 12.4% and 27.6% respectively. In addition, there were positive, moderate and significant correlations between patients' and nurses' ratings (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Underestimation of patient's pain can have negative effects if appropriate treatment is withheld. This emphasizes the importance of a systematic assessment and acceptance of the patient's self‐reported of pain.
Visual inspection with acetic acid test qualities in a secondary setting
Authors: Chumworathayi Bandit , Eamratsameekool Wachara , Kularbkaew Churairat , Chumworathayi Pansu
Published: September 2008

Aim:  To evaluate the visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) test qualities in a secondary (follow‐up) setting, 1 year after cryotherapy treatment performed as part of the Safety, Acceptability and Feasibility demonstration project designed to evaluate the safety, acceptability and feasibility of VIA. An immediate offer of cryotherapy was made to those who test positive and are eligible for treatment.

Methods:  At 1 year after cryotherapy, 648 women received both a secondary (follow‐up) VIA test by nurse‐providers, and colposcopy with biopsy, if indicated, by trained physician colposcopists at a referral hospital. All pathologic specimens were sent for examination by a single pathologist.

Results:  VIA nurse‐providers assessed 42 of the 648 women (6.5%) referred as abnormal (i.e. they tested positive or were suspected of having cancer). Among the 42, the final colposcopic‐based diagnosis was HSIL or higher in three cases (7.1%), of which two were HSIL and one was adenocarcinoma. Of the 606 VIA negative women, the colposcopic‐based diagnosis was HSIL in only two cases (0.3%).

Conclusions:  The VIA test qualities in this setting were: a positive rate of 6.5%, a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 93.9%, a positive predictive value of 7.1%, a negative predictive value of 99.7% and an accuracy of 93.7%. These results are comparable to those of Pap smear in most settings.
The Performance Differential between Private and State Owned Enterprises: The Roles of Ownership, Management and Market Structure
Authors: Goldeng Eskil , Grünfeld Leo A. , Benito Gabriel R. G.
Published: September 2008

abstract  This article examines differences in performance between private companies (POEs) and state owned enterprises (SOEs), with an emphasis on the effects of market structure. The study uses a comprehensive panel covering in principle all registered companies during the 1990s in Norway, a country where SOEs play an important role in regular markets. Return on assets as well as costs relative to sales revenue are used as measures of performance in markets where SOEs and POEs compete with each other. Overall, POEs perform significantly better than SOEs. The study tests the hypothesis that SOE managers may learn from POE managers in environments with stronger competition, but finds only weak empirical support for such a learning mechanism.
Coevolution of Institutions and Corporations in Emerging Economies: How the Salim Group Morphed into an Institution of Suharto's Crony Regime
Authors: Dieleman Marleen , Sachs Wladimir M.
Published: September 2008

abstract We investigate whether large family groups in emerging economies can proactively change their environment. We use a coevolutionary approach, which accounts for the influence of context on the entrepreneur and for the freedom of the latter to modify it. We find that entrepreneurs can shape institutions to their advantage, illustrated by the Salim Group, which achieved growth by aligning with and influencing politicians, eventually ‘morphing into an institution’. We unravel unique coevolutionary patterns, which we use to extend existing theories. Our first contribution is to initiate a new line of inquiry in coevolution theory, focusing on individual companies coevolving with institutions. Secondly, we document factors that increase and decrease strategic choice for family groups in emerging economies. Thirdly, we find that the Salim Group became part of the crony Suharto regime. The group became both an institutional entrepreneur and an entrepreneurial institution, demonstrating that companies and institutions are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
FOCUS ON PRACTICE: Teacher nomination of ‘mathematically gifted children with specific learning difficulties’ at three state schools in Jordan
Authors: Al‐Hroub Anies , Whitebread David
Published: September 2008

In this article, Anies Al‐Hroub, assistant professor of educational psychology and special educational needs at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, and David Whitebread, senior lecturer in psychology and education in the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education, discuss the identification, by teachers, of children who are gifted in mathematics and who also experience reading difficulties or specific learning difficulties. The findings reported here are based on research carried out in three state schools in Jordan, and reveal the extent to which teachers accurately nominated the ‘dual‐exceptional’ children studying in their classes. The paper reviews the issues and evidence relating to teacher nomination of these children and examines the quality of teacher nominations by comparing them with identification procedures using psychological and dynamic testing. Anies Al‐Hroub and David Whitebread reveal that the accuracy of the teacher nominations recorded in their research was highly variable and explore a series of factors influencing the processes of teacher nomination. They argue that teacher nomination is an essential first element in the identification process and can be easily improved. The authors call for professional development for teachers in order to raise awareness and to enable them to provide support for children with complex special educational needs more effectively.
INCLUSION: Confusion about inclusion: patching up or system change?
Authors: Wedell Klaus
Published: September 2008

In this article, Klaus Wedell, Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London, looks back over 35 years of developments in the worlds of special and inclusive education. He engages directly with the complexities – for example, the tensions between the standards agenda and policy on inclusion – that have led some commentators to adopt controversial positions and that have engendered heated debate. Klaus Wedell also discusses a dilemma that is emerging as a key issue in the field – the relationships between ‘difference’, stigma, equality of opportunity and ‘special’ or separate provision. The response provided here takes, as a starting point, the notion of a flexible education system that could recognise diversity among learners while making provision for all. Klaus Wedell explores this possibility in terms of the curriculum, pedagogy, school structures and local authorities. He indicates points at which policies contradict one another and where practice has not evolved to address the challenges raised by innovative thinking. He provides evidence of the need for systemic change. He argues that all young people should be valued as individuals so that the differences between them can be acknowledged without prejudice. Only in this way, suggests Klaus Wedell, can the artificial separation of special educational needs policy and mainstream thinking be ended.
SPECIAL SCHOOLS: What future for special schools and inclusion? Conceptual and professional perspectives
Authors: Norwich Brahm
Published: September 2008

In this article, Brahm Norwich, Professor of Education at the University of Exeter, examines the roles that special schools can play within inclusive educational systems. He notes that the percentage of young people in special schools in England has remained broadly stable over a number of years, despite inclusive policy initiatives. Brahm Norwich suggests that policy makers and practitioners have found it hard to understand how a broad and shifting notion like inclusion should be operationalised, especially when valued positions, such as meeting individual needs and providing a sense of belonging and participation, can appear to generate such tensions and contradictions. Brahm Norwich summarises findings on teachers' attitudes towards this crucial ‘dilemma of difference’ from three countries and argues that it is time to develop more sophisticated ways of thinking about provision. Rather than insisting on locating ‘mainstream’ and ‘special’ at opposite ends of a one‐dimensional placement continuum, Brahm Norwich puts forward a multi‐dimensional model in which a number of attributes can be considered when analysing provision. The ‘flexible interacting continua’ provided in this model concern identification, participation, placement, curriculum and teaching and governance and Brahm Norwich shows how schools, whether mainstream or special, need to strive towards commonality in terms of all five dimensions rather than simply in terms of placement. Policy makers as well as staff in both mainstream and special schools will be interested in exploring the implications of these ideas.
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR: The impact of challenging student behaviour upon teachers' lives in a secondary school: teachers' perceptions
Authors: Axup Tina , Gersch Irvine
Published: September 2008

In this article, Tina Axup, an educational psychologist working in Southend‐on‐Sea, and Irvine Gersch, director of educational and child psychology programmes at the University of East London, describe a small‐scale study of teachers' attitudes regarding the impact of student behaviour on their professional lives. Anecdotal evidence within a local authority educational psychology service suggested that increasing teacher concern about student disruptive behaviour was causing significant professional anxiety. Tina Axup formulated a brief questionnaire to explore teacher perceptions of the student responses that appeared to cause them stress. Although it is difficult to generalise from the results because of the small sample size and low return, the most frequently selected behaviours seen as challenging were found to be ‘low level’, ‘verbal’, ‘work avoidance’ and ‘out of seat behaviour’. The most frequent teacher reactions were said to be ‘frustration’, ‘bewilderment’, ‘shock’ and concern about the impact on other students in the class. The key favoured coping strategies reported included behaviour management techniques, praise and trying to understand the difficult behaviour, while personally talking to peers, switching off after the lesson, taking exercise and talking to family and friends. For future help, the preferred teacher options included the employment of more specialist behaviour support staff. Tina Axup and Irvine Gersch discuss the implications of these findings and identify further areas for research.
RESEARCH SECTION: The self‐esteem of pupils in schools for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties: myth and reality
Authors: Swinson Jeremy
Published: September 2008

The self‐esteem of pupils has long been regarded as a key variable affecting both pupils' learning and behaviour, although the relationship between the two may not be as strong as many in education have always assumed. In this article, Jeremy Swinson, an educational psychologist and honorary lecturer in educational psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, reports the findings from a study in two parts. Firstly, an examination was made of 35 Statements written by officers from seven different education authorities in the north‐west of England for pupils attending two independent schools that specialise in working with pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). It was found that, of the 35 Statements examined, 34 included self‐esteem as one area of special need. The second phase of the study examined the self‐esteem of 60 pupils in four specialist schools for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The results showed that the average scores for self‐esteem for both the primary and secondary sample were very similar to the scores obtained by previous researchers in mainstream schools. However, it was apparent that more pupils than expected appeared to have either very low or very high self‐esteem. In terms of locus of control, it was found that a large number of secondary pupils had a high score although this was not found to be the case for the primary pupils in the sample. Jeremy Swinson discusses these results and presents his analysis of their implications for teachers, educational psychologists and education officers.
RESEARCH SECTION: Between a rock and a hard place: parents' attitudes to the inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools
Authors: Runswick‐Cole Katherine
Published: September 2008

In this paper, Katherine Runswick‐Cole, a researcher at the Research Institute for Health and Social Change at Manchester Metropolitan University, engages with parents' attitudes to the placement of their children with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. She sets her review of parents' views within the current policy and legislative context. She then moves on to explore parents' attitudes to inclusion by drawing on the social model of disability as an analytical tool and developing a typology of parental school choices. The study reported in this paper involved 24 parents who were contacted through voluntary organisations and interviewed, either in their own homes or on the telephone. The views of seven professionals were also gathered. The findings reveal that parents' attitudes to mainstream and special schooling are influenced by their engagement with models of disability. The parents' experiences suggest that, despite the shifts in policy we have seen since 1997, the process of inclusive education continues to be fragile.
A survey on Mesh Segmentation Techniques
Authors: Shamir Ariel
Published: September 2008

We present a review of the state of the art of segmentation and partitioning techniques of boundary meshes. Recently, these have become a part of many mesh and object manipulation algorithms in computer graphics, geometric modelling and computer aided design. We formulate the segmentation problem as an optimization problem and identify two primarily distinct types of mesh segmentation, namelypartsegmentation andsurface‐patchsegmentation. We classify previous segmentation solutions according to the different segmentation goals, the optimization criteria and features used, and the various algorithmic techniques employed. We also present some generic algorithms for the major segmentation techniques.
Statistical optimization of octree searches
Authors: Castro Rener , Lewiner Thomas , Lopes Hélio , Tavares Geovan , Bordignon Alex
Published: September 2008

This work emerged from the following observation: usual search procedures for octrees start from the root to retrieve the data stored at the leaves. But as the leaves are the farthest nodes to the root, why start from the root? With usual octree representations, there is no other way to access a leaf. However, hashed octrees allow direct access to any node, given its position in space and its depth in the octree. Search procedures take the position as an input, but the depth remains unknown. This work proposes to estimate the depth of an arbitrary node through a statistical optimization of the average cost of search procedures. As the highest costs of these algorithms are obtained when starting from the root, this method improves on both the memory footprint by the use of hashed octrees, and execution time through the proposed optimization.
Displacement Mapping on the GPU — State of the Art
Authors: Szirmay‐Kalos László , Umenhoffer Tamás
Published: September 2008

This paper reviews the latest developments of displacement mapping algorithms implemented on the vertex, geometry, and fragment shaders of graphics cards. Displacement mapping algorithms are classified as per‐vertex and per‐pixel methods. Per‐pixel approaches are further categorized as safe algorithms that aim at correct solutions in all cases, to unsafe techniques that may fail in extreme cases but are usually much faster than safe algorithms, and to combined methods that exploit the robustness of safe and the speed of unsafe techniques. We discuss the possible roles of vertex, geometry and fragment shaders to implement these algorithms. Then the particular GPU‐based bump, parallax, relief, sphere, horizon mapping, cone stepping, local ray tracing, pyramidal and view‐dependent displacement mapping methods, as well as their numerous variations are reviewed providing also implementation details of the shader programs. We present these methods using uniform notations and also point out when different authors called similar concepts differently. In addition to basic displacement mapping, self‐shadowing and silhouette processing are also reviewed. Based on our experiences gained having reimplemented these methods, their performance and quality are compared, and the advantages and disadvantages are fairly presented.
Surface Reconstruction from Unorganized Point Data with Quadrics
Authors: Vančo Marek , Hamann Bernd , Brunnett Guido
Published: September 2008

We present a reverse engineering method for constructing a surface approximation scheme whose input is a set of unorganized noisy points in space and whose output is a set of quadric patches. The local surface properties, necessary for the subsequent segmentation, are estimated directly from the data using a simple and efficient data structure—the neighborhood graph. Our segmentation scheme, based on principal curvatures, constructs initial point subsets, which may be enlarged or further subdivided based on associated approximation error estimates obtained through approximation of the initial segments by quadric surfaces. Our method is highly efficient and produces a high‐quality piecewise quadric surface approximation of engineering objects, which we demonstrate for several simple and complex example data sets.
Interference Shaders of Thin Films
Authors: Sun Yinlong , Wang Qiqi
Published: September 2008

This paper presents a systematic study of light interferences at single thin films. Based on Fresnel's law, we have derived generic expressions of reflectance and transmittance for film interference, as well as specific expressions for free thin films and films coated on transparent or opaque objects. By combining film interference and volume absorption, we have obtained the reflectances and transmittances of film‐coated thin objects such as ribbons. Illumination models for all interference cases of single thin films are presented, and they have been implemented and tested for various structures and materials.